Agenda - 12-11-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 REMARKS BY GENE CAUSBY NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION 22ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7,1991 STRONG MESSAGES FOR NORTH CAROLINA AND ITS SCHOOLS I have always been proud to be a North Carolinian. I still am. We have recently received some messages that speak volumes about the state of our state that are most troublesome. This is not by any means a complete list, but some examples: p Last week we had our first bank failure since 1943. We were told that 9 other N. C. banks were on a "watch" status. a We learned two weeks ago that N.C. is the first state OSHA has taken over the monitoring of work place safety in the 21 -year history of OSHA. a We learned recently N. C. finished dead last in a multi -state math achievement test. a We've risen from dead last in SAT scores to a less than lofty tie for 48th. p Recently ranked worst in the nation for infant mortality. ra We have the dubious distinction of having the most out- houses of any state in the nation. [> We have just experienced the biggest revenue shortfall in our history. In Raleigh- -like most state capitals - -there have been well- intended efforts to craft sweeping school reform. Governors, lawmakers, state boards, state departments, the North Carolina School Boards Association and many others have been involved in these efforts. If you looked long enough and hard YOU cot id h -some good that has cunit; f om these effort_ l3ottoin line, though, they have been largely ineffective. They have failed to produce the dramatic school improvement that was intended. NCSBA has always had a legislative program for which you and I have worked hard. There has been a measure of success to show for those efforts. We have one now. It is a good one. It will not, in and of itself, produce the dramatic school im- provement we need. The State Superintendent and the Department of Public Instruction have their 20 points. Generally speaking, they are good. They will not result in the kind of school improvement that is wanted and needed. Governor Jim Martin convened an education summit. He was considerate enough to include NCSBA as a part of the summit. We, along with the other participants, gave it an honest effort. To my knowledge nothing came of it. The Legislature also convened its education summit. They, too, were thoughtful enough to include us. Again, I do not question their intent or sincerity, but I can't tell you one thing that came out of it that improved schools. 1