NAACP and Scarborough at odds

Discussion

March 8, 2013

NAACP and Scarborough at odds 

Group says supt. not being open to them

Anonymous Suwannee Democrat The Suwannee Democrat Fri Mar 08, 2013, 01:21 PM EST

Live Oak — The Suwannee County Branch of the NAACP said they haven’t heard from Superintendent of Schools Jerry Scarborough who stated in this newspaper he would reach out to them personally on the NAACP’s concerns on school reconfiguration. Scarborough said he has reached out through one of his representatives and is now waiting on a formal date to sit down. Meanwhile, the Suwannee County School Board is set to vote on school reconfiguration Tuesday night.  

At a school board workshop on Feb. 12 school board member Catherine Cason asked Scarborough about the complaints submitted by the NAACP to him. The organization submitted a letter to Scarborough dated Feb. 4, citing reasons why they “strongly oppose” reconfiguration.

One of the reasons they object to reconfiguring is they claim the proposed zones for the schools and the way it is composed will re-segregate certain schools.

Scarborough said the NAACP does not have access to the district’s student database to determine their claims.

 Scarborough said that the NAACP had made no requests from him, but he would reach out to them. However, the NAACP is concerned because they said he failed on that.

“He was quoted in (the Democrat) saying that he was going to reach out to us personally, but we haven’t heard one word from him,” NAACP Secretary Alonzo Philmore said. “We have a concern. We’re asking him questions that the public are asking him, we’re just asking him in writing. He should have responded to us.”

Scarborough said by email Thursday one of his representatives met with a representative of the NAACP and are just waiting on a formal meeting date and agenda to be established.

 “Dr. Bill Brothers, director of human resources, met with a representative from the NAACP this week to discuss a proposed meeting date and agenda with the NAACP Executive Committee. We are looking forward to meeting with the NAACP Executive Committee in the near future,” Scarborough wrote.

The NAACP fears it is too late now since the school board will vote on reconfiguration Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

Reconfiguration Task Force opposes reconfiguration 

The Reconfiguration Task Force Committee was formed to look at the possible move to reconfiguration. The committee is made up of Sheriff Tony Cameron, Sheryl Daniels, Crystal Gill, Debbie McCall and Pat Roberts. The committee met Monday to review information gathered from educators and the community and came to the conclusion that reconfiguration should be opposed.

 “This committee unanimously agrees that reconfiguration will not be beneficial to our students, your staff or our Live Oak community,” a letter from the community stated.

 The letter was signed by all five members and was sent to each school board member.

 In the letter, the task force stated five findings: “No proof the reconfiguration will improve scholastic achievement”; “Definite concern that zoning may be equitable in the beginning but it cannot be maintained”; “Doubt that the same standards could be maintained at three separate schools - i.e., curriculum and staff selection”; “Notable atmosphere of fear among teachers about the strategy of placement”; and “Everyone in the community is concerned about the financial cutbacks in all areas; therefore, the reconfiguration proposal is financially unrealistic. Federal cutbacks announced on Friday will have a definite adverse financial effect on the district as a whole”.

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