Agenda - 05-18-2004-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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11 Panel III -Education (Part A) Dr. Neil Pedersen, Superintendent, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Dr. Shirley Carraway, Superintendent, Orange County Schools John Boger, Professor, UNC School of Law Sherla Reid, Managing Attorney & Project Director, NC Justice & Community Development Center Facilitator: Sheila Sholes-Ross, Executive Director, Communities in Schools (CIS) of Orange County In opening the first panel, Ms. 5choles-Ross provided a footnote from North Carolina history: "br 1937, the North Carolina General Assembly, fozmd severe educational needs among Afi•icmr-Americans tlu•oughout the state, including tl:e county areas described in the Trimrgle Urbmr League report, Sixty-six,years later, gaps continue in tire, face of some progress ... We must all work together to continue the efforts whether we merge or not. We keep saying drat it talres mr entire village to raise a child; let's begin to demonstrate what that village will look like. " Dr. Pedersen offered a glimpse back in time as well. In 1954, the Chapel Hill-Canboro City Schools were clearly a segregated and dual system. Northside and Lincoln were the two high schools for African-American students and tremendous community support and alumni loyalty were attached to them. "I think that our challenge today," the Superintendent said, "is to build upon the pride and community involvement and commitment to children that existed then and turn it into a system that's more appropriate for today's society." He gave a slide show and made the following points: • In 1994, we had a 40-45 point gap between Whites and African-Americans in reading.. Today, about 80 percent ofAfrican-American students are proficient in reading. • The school district has implemented strategies in terms of SAT test preparation that show potential for improving the test scores for African-Americans • Progress was made in the numbers of African-Americans participating in honors and advanced placement classes • The large proportion ofAfrican-Americans identified for "exceptional education" services was disappointing - an issue the district was continuing to examine • Phoenix Academy was established to "catch kids before they drop out and to graduate them successfully" Dr. Carraway approached the topic from personal experience growing up after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in Kinston, North Carolina.