Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 1 September 2005 — Page 11

The Muncie Times

September 1, 2005 • Page 11

1VICS from page 1 the gap, but will put pressure on schools to find ways to close the achievement gap. It is not a choice, but an obligation. Schools must demand high academic performance from all children. There should be no lowering of standards. However, many speakers spoke to the need of providing all students with the tools students need to reach these standards. Teachers must be prepared to deal with students from all cultures. Children of poverty, no matter what their racial or ethnic background, require highly skilled teachers who understand poverty. Parental involvement is essential to our success with our students. All speakers agreed that educators need to make parent involvement a high tyThe summit’s keynote speaker, Dr. Robert L. Green, Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University, was a fascinating speaker, Creasy shared with MCS administrators. Along with Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Green worked for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 1960’s. He is a champion for excellence in education for all children, saying, “In our schools, what you expect is what you will get. If we don’t hold and expect high expectations of academic achievement from our children, we won’t get it.” Dr. Green also stressed the need to utilize the successes of Black males, stating, “We need to have them talk about how they

were able to overcome problems when others failed. We need to have them work with our students, especially with poverty students and Black male students, encouraging these students.” Ron Price, founder of NAASBMA, wholeheartedly agreed. In his session, Price stated, “It is vital for our success to engage Black males in the social education of our young Black males. We don’t have time to play the blame game.’ Our children are in need of our attention now. In the United States, 58 percent of Black children do not graduate on time with their classmates. We must demand more out of our children. Our children look to us for solutions.” Also during the conference, Dr. Creasy participated in a Congressional Hearing on “The State of African American Children in Education,” conducted by members of the Congressional Black Caucus. The session was chaired by Congressman Mel Watt, the current Chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus. He was joined by Congressmen Bobby Scott, G.K. Butterfield, Chaka Fattah, and Donald Payne. “Closing the Gap” cannot be just a theme, it has to become a reality, according to Dr. Creasy. Every school employee must be committed to seeking real answers to how to close the gap. Quoting Ambassador Young, Creasy also stressed that successful

schools have a principal who cares. Ambassador Young believes this is even more important than the classroom teachers. Good teachers are important, but a good principal demands that teachers be successful with our children. Principals who care demand teachers show an interest in every child. Every child in these successful schools KNOWS their teachers and the principal cares about every child. Dr. Creasy reiterated in his report to administrators, “School corporations across our nation are searching for answers on how to close the achievement. We know we have to find solutions.” Students have packed up their bags and moved on. To a new school, that is. by Nicole Johnson August 18th marked the first day that MorrisonMock and Claypool Elementary Schools have been closed. Those students attending those schools have been transferred to other areas schools. This is also a school year that carries 75 less teachers and support staff, which has increased the student/teacher ratio. In a time of economic distress, not particularly for the nation, but for the area, several changes have been made in order for the school district to adjust to a $4 million loss from the state over the next two years. It’s a shame to say it, but less money equals less

teachers and support and larger classrooms. Dr. Marlin Creasy, superintendent of Muncie Community Schools and president of Indiana Urban School Corporation, said that while the administration is setting new goals for the community, he and the rest of the district will continue to strive to meet the ultimate goal: to continue offering the best education for the kids. For the 2005-06 academic year, many new goals have been identified. Among them, minorities are being identified as a high priority. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, each school is required to document Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) across a wide range of demographic groups. The groups are divided by household income, race, sex, special educational needs, etc. “There is a definite achievement gap in this community,” Creasy said as he explained the difference in achievements among black and white students. Currently the school district has begun identifying and targeting specific groups to ensure AYP standards across the board. As a long-term vision, a parental involvement program is being implemented in each of the schools. In order to do this, a Parent Outreach Committee has been instated, and parent coordinators have been hired at every school to encourage involvement, Creasy said.

“We have to have the parents involved,” Creasy said. “It seems impossible, but many people are working hard to make it happen.” Right now marks a pivotal time for Muncie Community Schools. This is the first time in 15 years that a school has been shut down. Creasy said as he referred to Riley Alternative School which was shut down earlier last year. Those students attending Riley have been redirected to a program housed in Central High School. Steady population decreases over the past 15 years, Creasy said, could have been the spurring factor in the turmoil the school district is facing right now. On a brighter note, Creasy said he is awaiting approval for funding to renovate Central and South Side High Schools and Longfellow Elementary School. South Side will be the primary focus of the renovations, but Longfellow will expand with 10 new classrooms and Central will be upgraded. Longfellow’s expansion will issue some relief to the increased student/teacher ratio caused by the closings. Another recent change effecting Longfellow is the newly signed partnership with Connelly Library, located just across the street, which will allow students to use those resources as their base school library. See Ambassador Young’s Biography on page 12