Aerospace Magnet grant proposal

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OFFICE OF DESEGREGATION MONITORING Review of Aerospace Technology Magnet Grant Proposal 1. LRSD Aerospace Magnet Grant Proposal Statement, Page 20: "The ten magnet schools currently in Little Rock serve all three districts. The magnet schools are as follows: Booker Fine Arts
Carver Math-Science
Gibbs International Studies
Rockefeller Early Childhood
Washington Math-Science
Williams Basic Skills
Dunbar Jr. High International Studies/Gifted and Talented
Mann Jr. High Arts and Math-Science
Central High International Studies
Parkview High School Arts and Science." ODM Comment: To list Rockefeller and Central as magnet schools in the context of this page is inaccurate and highly misleading. Rockefeller is actually an Incentive School which presently has only an early childhood education magnet program for infants through K. Only the early childhood program is racially balanced
the upper grades are predominantly (80%) black. Central has a very limited international studies magnet program. The district has been unable to provide ODM with the number of students in the program, the racial balance of program participants, nor the number of M-to-M students who participate in the program. 2. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 21: "The District submitted revised desegregation plans to the Federal Court in 1989 and in 1990. Both plans included the continuation of the interdistrict magnet schools. The 1990 plan included the design and implementation of a 7-12 Aerospace Technology Program that would be housed in a new school facility." ODM Comment: These statements falsely imply that an Aerospace Magnet has been in the hopper for some time, indeed has been before the Court since 1989. The desegregation plans which were submitted to the Court by the LRSD in 1989 were those of January 31, 1989, followed by the Interdistrict Desegregation Plan of February 15, 1989 (both part of the "Settlement Plans.") Settlement plans do not refer to any sort of aerospace or aviation program or school. As a matter of fact, page 5 of the Interdistrict Plan states that "The Little Rock District shall continue to operate the six present magnet schools" ( emphasis original.) There is no mention of additional magnets in the LRSD. The only plan submitted to Court in 1990 was the Desegregation Plan crafted by the OMS. This plan Aerospace/Technology and Pre-Engineering Magnet, for to open in 1991-92 in a new facility near the airport. in December 1989 at Mr. Reville's request, the LRSD 1 Tri-District proposed an grades 7-12, Previously, submitted to the Office of the Metropolitan Supervisor a revised preliminary desegregation plan which proposed an "Aviation and Transportation/Math-Science Magnet" for grades 7 and 8 in 1991-92, expanding to include grade 9 in 1992-93. The LRSD proposed that "if sufficient interest is shown, a specialized high school program will be implemented" based on a 91-92 survey of students. 3. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 21: "The December 12 order allows the parties in the case to agree to adjust the Settlement Plan 'to produce an appropriate fit between their future application and existing circumstances.' One of the proposed adjustments to the Settlement Plan includes the design and implementation of a 7-12 Aerospace/Technology Magnet Program that will be offered in three schools in the District." ODM Comment: The LRSD implies that the Aerospace Magnet "adjustment" has been agreed upon by the parties and also proposed to the Court. This section also refers to an aerospace magnet program being offered in three schools, the first mention of this number to our knowledge. 4. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 23: "Recently, the Magnet Review Committee which has been part of Little Rock Desegregation plans since 1986, assessed the magnet school program. As a result of that assessment, the Committee have made the following recommendations/statements: ... " A list of six provisions of the Tri-District Plan follows, including one which calls for sibling preference in magnet schools. ODM Comment: These "recommendation/statements" are not from the Magnet Review Committee. They came from the parent committees which helped to write the Tri-District Plan. LRSD has been vehemently opposed to granting sibling preference at magnets and vigorously lobbied Mr. Reville not to include it in the TriDistrict Plan. Page 4 of the LRSD January 31, 1989 (Settlement) Plan states: "Sibling transfers do NOT apply to magnet schools" (emphasis original.) To our knowledge, the MRC never officially endorsed the magnet provisions of the Tri-District Plan. We are unaware of any record which substantiates the Grant's assertion that the "recommendations/statements" on page 23 were made or endorsed by the MRC. Rather, they are extrapolated from the plan which the LRSD strongly opposed. 2 5. LRSD Grant Statement, Pages 24 and 25: " ... Two junior high schools ... are to be featured in the first year of the operation of the Magnet School Aerospace Program project ... Forest Heights Jr. High [ and] Henderson Junior High. . . The District proposes to establish aerospace magnet programs at these two junior high schools." ODM Comment: Forest Heights and Henderson Junior Highs have never been previously mentioned as possible sites for magnet programs (aerospace or otherwise) in any plan submitted to this office or the Court. 6. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 26: "The District proposes to implement a high school program partially at a temporary site, continue planning in the first year of this grant, and implement fully in the second year of the grant an aerospace high school that will be a new program. This school is currently under construction and will open in the fall of 1992." ODM Comment: No school is currently under construction. 7. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 27: "This new school will be racially balanced at a 60:40 ratio ... " ODM Comment: The 60:40 ratio for magnets is a provision of the Tri-District Plan, a departure from the February 15, 1989, Interdistrict Plan which, on page 5, provides that magnets "shall be racially balanced to a point of between 50% and 55% black." The Settlement does allow for 60:40 in new "Interdistrict Schools," but not in magnet schools. 3 8. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 29: "In every case, as noted below, [magnets] were racially balanced the very first year of the magnet program. Rockefeller, 72% black in 1990-91 ... Washington 57% black in 1990-91 ... Central, 60% in 1990-91. ODM Comment: As noted above, both Rockefeller and Central are not magnet schools, but schools with .limited magnet programs. As an incentive school, Rockefeller has attained racial balance only within its early childhood education magnet program which is 59% black
the upper grades are 80% black. The LRSD has been unable to provide this office with figures about Central's magnet program, neither the number of students in the program, the racial balance of the program, nor the number of M-to-M students participating in the program. However, from our direct observations in monitoring visits to Central, we are aware of pronounced racial imbalance within the program. Washington Magnet's racial makeup of 57% (black)-43% (white) is an overall figure and does not hold true for the school's first grade classes which are 70% black. 9. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 29: "Central' s program has succeeded in stabilizing the black percentage by attracting White students from the North Little Rock and Pulaski County School Districts." ODM Comment: The LRSD is unable to provide data which substantiates this claim. 10. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 31: "Student recruitment will be carried on within all three districts by the Magnet Education Team (MET) of the Magnet Review Committee (MRC)." ODM Comment: The MRC was created by the Circuit Court to oversee the original six magnet schools. The Settlement Plans contains language specific to this limited role of the MRC. While this office has no objection to the MRC working on behalf of new magnets, there nevertheless has been no official clarification of the role of the MRC in relation to new magnets nor has there been Court approval for the MRC to expand its oversight or recruitment role to new magnets. To our knowledge, the matter of an expanded MRC role has not been brought before the court. 4 11. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 39: "Each of the proposed magnet schools will have an Instructional Specialist." ODM Comment: The use of the plural "magnet schools" raises a question about the total number of schools which are being proposed as magnets in this grant. Are Forest Heights and Henderson Junior Highs actually to be magnet schools rather than magnet programs? (There are additional referrals to "Aerospace Magnet schools" elsewhere in the grant proposal.) 12. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 43: "The Magnet Review Committee (MRC) ... was established ... to oversee the implementation and operation of the interdistrict magnet schools in Pulaski County." ODM Comment: As stated in number 10 above, the relationship or obligation of the MRC to any magnets beyond the six original schools is not clear. 13. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 44: This page is a "Management Time line" which enumerates certain tasks. Whether these tasks relate to the proposed aerospace magnet high school and/or to one or both of the two junior highs is not specified. ODM Comment: The numerical sequence of the sixteen tasks listed makes neither chronological nor management sense. For example, the first and second items, "Recruit Students, April-August, 1991" and "Assign Students to Programs, May-August, 1991" come before such basics as number S, "Develop magnet curriculum, August-June, 1991- 92," number 9, "Develop and Initiate Public Information, October, 1991" and before number 11, "Establish District Advisory Committee, September, 1991." 14. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 52: "The District's planning process is designed to utilize a wealth of community resources to plan the new Aerospace High School. The Airport Commission, the FAA, the Air National Guard, and the airlines and concessionaires who serve the Little Rock Airport have all expressed support for the project. Business and community leaders are currently engaged in a fund raising effort to support the construction of the aviation museum which is being built in conjunction with the proposed magnet school. The community is and will continue to be a part of the planning process. A list of business and community members engaged in this effort is included in the Appendices ... The development of the magnet school plan will be a comprehensive community project." 5 ODM Comment: The implication here, as elsewhere in the grant, is that there is widespread planning involvement and unilateral support for an aerospace magnet school . However, Joshua has publicly expressed reservations about the school and has (so far as is presently known) withheld endorsement of any new magnet. Furthermore, conversations between this office and chief administrators in NLRSD and PCSSD in late November 1990, revealed that these two districts not only had not been involved in planning for the Aerospace Magnet (as provided in the Tri-District Plan) but were not even aware that planning was going on. Yet, the February 15, 1989, Interdistrict Desegregation (Settlement) Plan states on Page 19: "Joint Pursuit of Federal Magnet Grant: The school districts in Pulaski County including the NLRSD are committed to the joint pursuit of federal magnet grants for the operation of the multi-district Magnet and Interdistrict schools." However, the Magnet Review Committee was not informed by the LRSD that a magnet school grant was being written until questioned by committee members on December 4, 1990. As a matter of fact, at a November 20, 1990, meeting of the MRC, the LRSD denied that an aerospace magnet grant proposal was being contemplated by the district even though an LRSD report to its Board of Directors stated that a grant writer had been hired. Not until December 4, 1990, was the MRC informed that a grant proposal was being prepared and that a letter of support for the grant was being requested by the LRSD from the MRC. (The MRC did provide such a letter on December 6, 1990.) 15. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 36: "The Aerospace/Technology Program will require students to have a firm grasp of basic skills. Students with low basic skills would be at a disadvantage in participating in the program and in keeping up in class. In order for the school to foster the success of every student in mastering the subject matter, effort will be made to bring students up to the standard of the school ... For this to be done the district will support and accelerate the learning of the student who is behind and provide new skills and techniques to the teachers. " Also LRSD Grant Statement, Page 58: "To improve minority achievement, the District will use a variety of methods that have been proven to improve academic achievement. There will be a summer school program available for all students enrolled in the magnet school program. This will allow students the opportunity to catch up on any work from the school year and to do advanced work. The summer school will also reduce the drop in retention usually experienced by students over the summer. " 6 ODM Comment: We have serious concerns about how successful the district will be in assuring that black children are adequately prepared for the sophisticated classes proposed for the aerospace magnet. Unfortunately, the district's "variety of methods" to improve academic achievement have not proven successful, resulting in a persistant academic achievement disparity between blacks and whites. A curriculum audit of the LRSD (conducted at the request of the LRSD by the National Curriculum Audit Center during 1990 and released to the public in January 1991) states on page 79: "This disparity in achievement of races is little changed over time, indicating that the Little Rock School District is making little impact on closing the deplorable and unnecessary gap between its student racial groups." The disparity history of the LRSD, coupled with the grant's lack of a solid remediation proprarn proposal, leave us unconvinced that black students can expect to fully participate or achieve in an aerospace magnet. 16. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 97: "Within the District, all curriculum is multicultural in its approach and content. Additionally, no tracking of students occurs in the District as a matter of policy." ODM Comment: The ODM has long been aware of and troubled by the uneven teaching of multicultural curriculum and the pervasive tracking of students. The grant's implication that all curriculum is in fact being taught to all students through a multicultural approach is inaccurate. The curriculum audit finds that "A specific example of inequitable curriculum monitoring is the multicultural curriculum... In many schools, there is no systematic observation of the implementation of this relatively new curriculum. At schools where principals do not monitor implementation of the multicultural curriculum, teachers often did not report a plan to teach the new curriculum. There is also no evidence of a systematic plan to link observed teacher training needs in this new curriculum to current staff development efforts. Furthermore, there is no evidence of any effort to disaggregate and analyze student achievement data for acquisition of multicultural objectives." ( Page 54.) Tracking of students in the LRSD may be prohibited as a matter of policy, but it is pervasive as a matter of practice. The same curriculum audit report quoted above finds tracking rampant in the LRSD: " ... The auditors found a distinct pattern of 'tracking' which was implemented along racial lines for certain course and educational offerings, which had the appearance of 'resegregation' and inequity ... " (Page 49.) "According to the Pulaski County School Desegregation Case Settlement Agreement of March, 1989, classes in gifted and talented, as well as in special education, were prohibited from being racially identifiable, but the auditors found this mandate was not being followed. " ( Page 55, emphasis 7 original.) "Student placement in classes in various basic skill areas (math, English, social studies, etc.) appear to have deleterious characteristics of tracking by ability which results in resegregation of races. ( Page 59.) "These discrepancies in English classes amount to 'resegregation' or 'tracking' of races on a homogeneous basis, which shows gross inconsistency and wrongful inequities in education opportunities for minority students... The obvious conclusion is that there is great inconsistency and inequity in the assignment of students to classes on the basis of ability resulting in greater racial disparities." (Page 60.) Yet the Settlement Plan states: "There shall be a presumption that racial disparity in programs and activities need not exist ... Special attention shall be given to any imbalance in placement into special education, honors, talented and gifted, advanced placement classes
extracurricular activities
expulsions and suspensions
and reward and punishment systems." ( Interdistrict Desegregation Plan, February 15, 1989, page 8.) 17. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 101: "The staff of the Little Rock School District has extensive experience in and knowledge related to desegregation strategies. Since 1985, the District has devoted considerable time to inservice related to desegregation. ODM Comment: A school district with as much experience, knowledge, and staff development as this statement indicates should be able to document considerable progress in desegregation matters. Unfortunately, the reverse is true, as cited in number 15 above. In monitoring activities during the fall of the 1990-91 school year, the OMS found staff development in the LRSD to be grossly inadequate, both in quality and scope, with little or no link between offered training, desegregation goals, and the learning needs of staff. This inadequacy was also noted by the National Curriculum Audit Center in this summary statement on page 66 of their audit report: "Staff development is inadequate and provided inconsistently to teachers and administrators in the Little Rock Schools." 8 18. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 102: "Traditionally, the Little Rock District has been a state leader in curriculum development and innovative programs. These programs include ... Program for Accelerated Learning ... [and] Model School Program ( at Central) National Governor's Association." ODM Comment: There is no evidence to indicate that the Program for Accelerated Learning (PAL) has been even moderately successful in its goals of providing effective remediation for reading and math students and narrowing the achievement gap between the races. However, the program has succeeded in costing millions of dollars in desegregation money. The Model School Program at Central has faltered after a shaky two years, despite some significant progress in positive school climate, student discipline, and faculty morale which can be attributed at least in some measure to the program. The demise of the Model School effort can be directly linked to lack of support from the superintendent and other chief administrators. 19. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 111: "The cost for the program is high because it includes a brand new full magnet school which requires large start-up costs. This of course will be reduced over a number of years after the program has reached its full enrollment ... For example, once the Aerospace Education Center reaches full enrollment the per pupil cost will drop dramatically to $278.00." ODM Comment: It is assumed that "Aerospace Education Center" is an alternate name for the Aerospace Technology Magnet School. A drop to "$278.00 per pupil" will be dramatic indeed. This amount is unquestionably erroneous. 20. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 121: "The District has adequate facilities to house the proposed Aerospace Program. Space is available in the designated junior high schools to house the number of students being projected." ODM Comment: The LRSD has had serious problems with adequate junior high capacity. Last September, in the OMS Preliminary Monitoring Report, we found a decided shortage of seats for junior high students at the beginning of the school year. Eighth graders were particularly affected, many of them remaining out of school for several days because no seats were available. At that time, a LRSD student assignment officer said there were at least 120 more eighth graders than had been expected in 1990-91. (There had been a similar surprise with the number of seventh graders in 1989-90.) 9 At this date, according to LRSD figures, Forest Heights has a capacity of 780. The grant enrollment figures of 754 (69% black) mean the school is at 97% capacity. Henderson has a capacity of 960. Its current 893 students, 75% of whom are black, bring the school to 93% capacity. These figures indicate that there is inadequate capacity for a new magnet program designed to draw white students to the schools. If increased numbers of whites were admitted to the schools, what does the district propose to do with the blacks who must be siphoned off the school roles in order to seat all students? Interestingly, LRSD has recently awarded contracts for a major twostory addition (including 32 classrooms and a library) to Forest Heights Junior High, yet the grant application assures (in the present tense) that there is capacity at the school adequate to house a magnet program. Expansion of capacity at Forest Heights or any other school will require court approval since the Settlement Agreement provides that "All school construction shall be subject to the court's prior approval and shall promote desegregation" ( Page 6, Interdistrict Desegregation Plan, February 15, 1989.) Expanding the capacity of schools in white neighborhoods does not promote desegregation but does assure that the burden of bussing remains on black children. 21. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 125: "Forest Heights Junior High School is being completely renovated. Plans are already underway for this process which is to begin in the 1991-92 school year. To the extent necessary, the renovation project will include capacity modification at the seventh, eighth and ninth grade levels." ODM Comment: This indication of capacity modification conflicts with the earlier grant claim (on page 121) that "Space is available in the designated junior high schools to house the number of students being projected." 22. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 125: "The enrollment at Henderson Junior High School has experienced fluctuations since the 1987-88 school year. The enrollment has declined in some years and remained stable in others. Henderson will have adequate space to accommodate the aerospace technology program." ODM Comment: How can the LRSD be confident of adequate capacity, given this history of enrollment fluctuations and current Henderson enrollment at 93% of capacity? 10 23. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 130: "Currently the District provides $3,370 per student in magnet support beyond the regular school costs associated with curriculum, personnel, support services, etc., on average." ODM Comment: This statement is false on three counts. First, magnet school per pupil costs are $3,100, not $3,370. Page 3 of the (financial) Settlement Agreement states: "Magnet Operational Charge: The current per pupil operational charge for magnet students ($3,100) will remain in force until changed by the Magnet Review Committee, or in the event the Magnet Review Committee is restructured or eliminated, then by agreement of the parties, subject to the review of the district court in any event." As the Court is aware, the MRC has proposed an increase to $3,370 per pupil, a change which has not yet gained Court approval to our knowledge. Secondly, the LRSD does not provide $3,370 (or even $3,100) per magnet student. The costs of magnet schools are shared by the three school districts and the State according to the Settlement formula. Thirdly, the per pupil figure is not "beyond the regular school costs" but rather represents total costs, not an addition amount above the regular school costs of $2,165 on the average (according to figures quoted in the grant.) 24. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 132: "The desegregation plan attached to this application is being implemented by the applicant. It was ordered by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 12, 1990. Modifications to include the aerospace theme have been approved by the parties and will be submitted to the District Court for timely approval. The implementation date for the proposed modification to the plan is August, 1991." ODM Comment: We are not aware that all parties to this case have been persuaded that an aerospace magnet is an acceptable modification of the Settlement. We are also not aware that an implementation date for any plan modifications has been submitted to nor approved by the Court. The proposed "Management Timeline" on page 44 of the grant lists four tasks which are to be undertaken before August 1991. 11 25. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 132: "The District will present a modified desegregation plan to the Federal Court by January, 1991, for approval prior to the February 4 deadline." ODM Comment: The text of the grant does not explain the "February 4 deadline" that is referenced here. It is our understanding, however, that February 4, 1991, is a deadline extension given to LRSD by the federal granters to allow for changes in the grant which may be due to Court action . 26. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 136: "The Little Rock School District needs federal assistance to implement the Aerospace program described in this application. The program is an expensive one to implement and the District has very limited resources. Although the District did realize some financial assistance by virtue of the settlement, those monies were for the most part to defray desegregation costs already incurred under the 1986 ordered plan." ODM Comment: We agree that the Aerospace program as presented is indeed expensive. We also agree that it is appropriate and within the bounds of the Settlement to request a financial grant. We do not agree that the District realized "some" financial assistance from the Settlement, but rather a great deal of financial assistance. If, in fact, these settlement monies "were" for the most part used to defray desegregation costs already incurred, the LRSD may be in violation of the Circuit Court ruling of December 12, 1990, which states on page 50: " ... a portion of the initial payments from the State may go to retire deficits ... " (emphasis added.) We sincerely hope that the LRSD remains mindful of the Circuit Court's December 12, 1990, admonition (pages 49 and 50) that " ... the parties' obligation to abide by these plans is unconditional ... If the District Court becomes convinced in the future that money is being wasted, and that desegregation obligations contained in the settlement plans are being flouted, it will be fully authorized to take appropriate remedial action." 12 27. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 143: " ... Parent meetings held during the development of the 1990 Interdistrict Plan led to the choice of this theme." ODM Comment: These parent meetings were conducted by Mr. Reville during the fall of 1989. Although the possibility of an aerospace theme was discussed briefly at one or more of the meetings, discussion was initiated not by parents but by members of the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society who were lobbying for a magnet school as a means to help finance their dream of an Arkansas Museum of Aviation History. In a July 12, 1989, letter to Mr. Reville, Dick Holbert, Chairman of the Board of the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society, stated: "Earlier this year, the Society commissioned a feasibility study, the results of which concluded that private support did exist to provide a significant portion of the cost necessary to build and maintain an aviation museum at Little Rock's Adams Field. In visiting with Skip [Rutherford], it became crystal-clear to me that a public school, built in conjunction with this museum, would be a tremendous asset to our community. " 28. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 144: "The staff of the District uses the available resources very efficiently and effectively." ODM Comment: Certainly a highly debatable matter of opinion--as well as record. 13 OFFICE OF DESEGREGATION MONITORING Review of Aerospace Technology Magnet Grant Proposal 1. LRSD Aerospace Magnet Grant Proposal Statement, Page 20: "The ten magnet schools currently in Little Rock serve all three districts. The magnet schools are as follows: Booker Fine Arts
Carver Math-Science
Gibbs International Studies
Rockefeller Early Childhood
Washington Math-Science
Williams Basic Skills
Dunbar Jr. High International Studies/Gifted and Talented
Mann Jr. High Arts and Math-Science
Central High International Studies
Parkview High School Arts and Science." ODM Comment: To list Rockefeller and Central as magnet schools in the context of this page is inaccurate and highly misleading. Rockefeller is actually an Incentive School which presently has only an early childhood education magnet program for infants through K. Only the early childhood program is racially balanced
the upper grades are predominantly (80%) black. Central has a very limited international studies magnet program. The district has been unable to provide ODM with the number of students in the program, the racial balance of program participants, nor the number of M-to-M students who participate in the program. 2. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 21: "The District submitted revised desegregation plans to the Federal Court in 1989 and in 1990. Both plans .included the continuation of the interdistrict magnet schools. The 1990 plan included the design and implementation of a 7-12 Aerospace Technology Program that would be housed in a new school facility." ODM Comment: These statements falsely imply that an Aerospace Magnet has been in the hopper for some time, indeed has been before the Court since 1989. The desegregation plans which were submitted to the Court by the LRSD in 1989 were those of January 31, 1989, followed by the Interdistrict Desegregation Plan of February 15, 1989 (both part of the "Settlement Plans.") Settlement plans do not refer to any sort of aerospace or aviation program or school. As a matter of fact, page 5 of the Interdistrict Plan states that "The Little Rock District shall continue to operate the six present magnet schools" ( emphasis original.) There is no mention of additional magnets in the LRSD. The only plan submitted to Court in 1990 was the Desegregation Plan crafted by the OMS. This plan Aerospace/Technology and Pre-Engineering Magnet, for to open in 1991-92 in a new facility near the airport. in December 1989 at Mr. Reville's request, the LRSD 1 Tri-District proposed an grades 7-12, Previously, submitted to the Office of the Metropolitan Supervisor a revised preliminary desegregation plan which proposed an "Aviation and Transportation/Math-Science Magnet" for grades 7 and 8 in 1991-92, expanding to include grade 9 in 1992-93. The LRSD proposed that "if sufficient interest is shown, a specialized high school program will be implemented" based on a 91-92 survey of students. 3. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 21: "The December 12 order allows the parties in the case to agree to adjust the Settlement Plan 'to produce an appropriate fit between their future application and existing circumstances.' One of the proposed adjustments to the Settlement Plan includes the design and implementation of a 7-12 Aerospace/Technology Magnet Program that will be offered in three schools in the District." ODM Comment: The LRSD implies that the Aerospace Magnet "adjustment" has been agreed upon by the parties and also proposed to the Court. This section also refers to an aerospace magnet program being offered in three schools, the first mention of this number to our knowledge. 4. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 23: "Recently, the Magnet Review Committee which has been part of Little Rock Desegregation plans since 1986, assessed the magnet school program. As a result of that assessment, the Committee have made the following recommendations/statements: ... " A list of six provisions of the Tri-District Plan follows, including one which calls for sibling preference in magnet schools. ODM Comment: These "recommendation/statements" are not from the Magnet Review Committee. They came from the parent committees which helped to write the Tri-District Plan. LRSD has been vehemently opposed to granting sibling preference at magnets and vigorously lobbied Mr. Reville not to include it in the TriDistrict Plan. Page 4 of the LRSD January 31, 1989 (Settlement) Plan states: "Sibling transfers do NOT apply to magnet schools" (emphasis original.) To our knowledge, the MRC never officially endorsed the magnet provisions of the Tri-District Plan. We are unaware of any record which substantiates the Grant's assertion that the "recommendations/statements" on page 23 were made or endorsed by the MRC. Rather, they are extrapolated from the plan which the LRSD strongly opposed. 2 5. LRSD Grant Statement, Pages 24 and 25: " ... Two junior high schools ... are to be featured in the first year of the operation of the Magnet School Aerospace Program project ... Forest Heights Jr. High [and) Henderson Junior High. . . The District proposes to establish aerospace magnet programs at these two junior high schools." ODM Comment: Forest Heights and Henderson Junior Highs have never been previously mentioned as possible sites for magnet programs (aerospace or otherwise) in any plan submitted to this office or the Court. 6. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 26: "The District proposes to implement a high school program partially at a temporary site, continue planning in the first year of this grant, and implement fully in the second year of the grant an aerospace high school that will be a new program. This school is currently under construction and will open in the fall of 1992." ODM Comment: No school is currently under construction. 7. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 27: "This new school will be racially balanced at a 60:40 ratio ... " ODM Comment: The 60:40 ratio for magnets is a provision of the Tri-District Plan, a departure from the February 15, 1989, Interdistrict Plan which, on page 5, provides that magnets "shall be racially balanced to a point of between 50% and 55% black." The Settlement does allow for 60:40 in new "Interdistrict Schools," but not in magnet schools. 3 8. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 29: "In every case, as noted below, [magnets] were racially balanced the very first year of the magnet program. Rockefeller, 72% black in 1990-91 ... Washington 57% black in 1990-91 ... Central, 60% in 1990-91. ODM Comment: As noted above, both Rockefeller and Central are not magnet schools, but schools with limited magnet programs. As an incentive school, Rockefeller has attained racial balance only within its early childhood education magnet program which is 59% black
the upper grades are 80% black. The LRSD has been unable to provide this office with figures about Central's magnet program, neither the number of students in the program, the racial balance of the program, nor the number of M-to-M students participating in the program. However, from our direct observations in monitoring visits to Central, we are aware of pronounced racial imbalance within the program. Washington Magnet's racial makeup of 5 7 % (black)-43% (white) is an overall figure and does not hold true for the school's first grade classes which are 70% black. 9. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 29: "Central' s program has succeeded in stabilizing the black percentage by attracting White students from the North Little Rock and Pulaski County School Districts." ODM Comment: The LRSD is unable to provide data which substantiates this claim. 10. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 31: "Student recruitment will be carried on within all three districts by the Magnet Education Team (MET) of the Magnet Review Committee (MRC)." ODM Comment: The MRC was created by the Circuit Court to oversee the original six magnet schools. The Settlement Plans contains language specific to this limited role of the MRC. While this office has no objection to the MRC working on behalf of new magnets, there nevertheless has been no official clarification of the role of the MRC in relation to new magnets nor has there been Court approval for the MRC to expand its oversight or recruitment role to new magnets. To our knowledge, the matter of an expanded MRC role has not been brought before the court. 4 11. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 39: "Each of the proposed magnet schools will have an Instructional Specialist." ODM Comment: The use of the plural "magnet schools" raises a question about the total number of schools which are being proposed as magnets in this grant. Are Forest Heights and Henderson Junior Highs actually to be magnet schools rather than magnet programs? ( There are additional referrals to "Aerospace Magnet schools" elsewhere in the grant proposal.) 12. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 43: "The Magnet Review Committee (MRC) ... was established ... to oversee the implementation and operation of the interdistrict magnet schools in Pulaski County." ODM Comment: As stated in number 10 above, the relationship or obligation of the MRC to any magnets beyond the six original schools is not clear. 13. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 44: This page is a "Management Timeline" which enumerates certain tasks. Whether these tasks relate to the proposed aerospace magnet high school and/or to one or both of the two junior highs is not specified. ODM Comment: The numerical sequence of the sixteen tasks listed makes neither chronological nor management sense. For example, the first and second items, "Recruit Students, April-August, 1991" and "Assign Students to Programs, May-August, 1991" come before such basics as number 5, "Develop magnet curriculum, August-June, 1991- 92," number 9, "Develop and Initiate Public Information, October, 1991" and before number 11, "Establish District Advisory Committee, September, 1991." 14. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 52: "The District's planning process is designed to utilize a wealth of community resources to plan the new Aerospace High School. The Airport Commission, the FAA, the Air National Guard, and the airlines and concessionaires who serve the Little Rock Airport have all expressed support for the project. Business and community leaders are currently engaged in a fund raising effort to support the construction of the aviation museum which is being built in conjunction with the proposed magnet school. The community is and will continue to be a part of the planning process. A list of business and community members engaged in this effort is included in the Appendices ... The development of the magnet school plan will be a comprehensive community project." 5 ODM Comment: The implication here, as elsewhere in the grant, is that there is widespread planning involvement and unilateral support for an aerospace magnet school. However, Joshua has publicly expressed reservations about the school and has (so far as is presently known) withheld endorsement of any new magnet. Furthermore, conversations between this office and chief administrators in NLRSD and PCSSD in late November 1990, revealed that these two districts not only had not been involved in planning for the Aerospace Magnet (as provided in the Tri-District Plan) but were not even aware that planning was going on. Yet, the February 15, 1989, Interdistrict Desegregation (Settlement) Plan states on Page 19: "Joint Pursuit of Federal Magnet Grant: The school districts in Pulaski County including the NLRSD are committed to the joint pursuit of federal magnet grants for the operation of the multi-district Magnet and Interdistrict schools." However, the Magnet Review Committee was not informed by the LRSD that a magnet school grant was being written until questioned by committee members on December 4, 1990. As a matter of fact, at a November 20, 1990, meeting of the MRC, the LRSD denied that an aerospace magnet grant proposal was being contemplated by the district even though an LRSD report to its Board of Directors stated that a grant writer had been hired. Not until December 4, 1990, was the MRC informed that a grant proposal was being prepared and that a letter of support for the grant was being requested by the LRSD from the MRC. (The MRC did provide such a letter on December 6, 1990.) 15. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 36: "The Aerospace/Technology Program will require students to have a firm grasp of basic skills. Students with low basic skills would be at a disadvantage in participating in the program and in keeping up in class. In order for the school to foster the success of every student in mastering the subject matter, effort will be made to bring students up to the standard of the school ... For this to be done the district will support and accelerate the learning of the student who is behind and provide new skills and techniques to the teachers." Also LRSD Grant Statement, Page 58: "To improve minority achievement, the District will use a variety of methods that have been proven to improve academic achievement. There will be a summer school program available for all students enrolled in the magnet school program. This will allow students the opportunity to catch up on any work from the school year and to do advanced work. The summer school will also reduce the drop in retention usually experienced by students over the summer." 6 ODM Comment: We have serious concerns about how successful the district will be in assuring that black children are adequately prepared for the sophisticated classes proposed for the aerospace magnet. Unfortunately, the district's "variety of methods" to improve academic achievement have not proven successful, resulting in a persistant academic achievement disparity between blacks and whites. A curriculum audit of the LRSD (conducted at the request of the LRSD by the National Curriculum Audit Center during 1990 and released to the public in January 1991) states on page 79: "This disparity in achievement of races is little changed over time, indicating that the Little Rock School District is making little impact on closing the deplorable and unnecessary gap between its student racial groups." The disparity history of the LRSD, coupled with the grant's lack of a solid remediation propram proposal, leave us unconvinced that black students can expect to fully participate or achieve in an aerospace magnet. 16. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 97: "Within the District, all curriculum is multicultural in its approach and content. Additionally, no tracking of students occurs in the District as a matter of policy." ODM Comment: The ODM has long been aware of and troubled by the uneven teaching of multicultural curriculum and the pervasive tracking of students. The grant's implication that all curriculum is in fact being taught to all students through a multicultural approach is inaccurate. The curriculum audit finds that "A specific example of inequitable curriculum monitoring is the multicultural curriculum... In many schools, there is no systematic observation of the implementation of this relatively new curriculum. At schools where principals do not monitor implementation of the multicultural curriculum, teachers often did not report a plan to teach the new curriculum. There is also no evidence of a systematic plan to link observed teacher training needs in this new curriculum to current staff development efforts. Furthermore, there is no evidence of any effort to disaggregate and analyze student achievement data for acquisition of multicultural objectives." (Page 54.) Tracking of students in the LRSD may be prohibited as a matter of policy, but it is pervasive as a matter of practice. The same curriculum audit report quoted above finds tracking rampant in the LRSD: " ... The auditors found a distinct pattern of 'tracking' which was implemented along racial lines for certain course and educational offerings, which had the appearance of 'resegregation' and inequity ... " (Page 49.) "According to the Pulaski County School Desegregation Case Settlement Agreement of March, 1989, classes in gifted and talented, as well as in special education, were prohibited from being racially identifiable, but the auditors found this mandate was not being followed." ( Page 55, emphasis 7 original.) "Student placement in classes in various basic skill areas (math, English, social studies, etc.) appear to have deleterious characteristics of tracking by ability which results in resegregation of races. (Page 59.) "These discrepancies in English classes amount to 'resegregation' or 'tracking' of races on a homogeneous basis, which shows gross inconsistency and wrongful inequities in education opportunities for minority students... The obvious conclusion is that there is great inconsistency and inequity in the assignment of students to classes on the basis of ability resulting in greater racial disparities." ( Page 60.) Yet the Settlement Plan states: "There shall be a presumption that racial disparity in programs and activities need not exist ... Special attention shall be given to any imbalance in placement into special education, honors, talented and gifted, advanced placement classes
extracurricular activities
expulsions and suspensions
and reward and punishment systems." ( Interdistrict Desegregation Plan, February 15, 1989, page 8.) 17. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 101: "The staff of the Little Rock School District has extensive experience in and knowledge related to desegregation strategies. Since 1985, the District has devoted considerable time to inservice related to desegregation. ODM Comment: A school district with as much experience, knowledge, and staff development as this statement indicates should be able to document considerable progress in desegregation matters. Unfortunately, the reverse is true, as cited in number 15 above. In monitoring activities during the fall of the 1990-91 school year, the OMS found staff development in the LRSD to be grossly inadequate, both in quality and scope, with little or no link between offered training, desegregation goals, and the learning needs of staff. This inadequacy was also noted by the National Curriculum Audit Center in this summary statement on page 66 of their audit report: "Staff development is inadequate and provided inconsistently to teachers and administrators in the Little Rock Schools." 8 18. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 102: "Traditionally, the Little Rock District has been a state leader in curriculum development and innovative programs. These programs include ... Program for Accelerated Learning ... [and) Model School Program ( at Central) National Governor's Association." ODM Comment: There is no evidence to indicate that the Program for Accelerated Learning (PAL) has been even moderately successful in its goals of providing effective remediation for reading and math students and narrowing the achievement gap between the races. However, the program has succeeded in costing millions of dollars in desegregation money. The Model School Program at Central has faltered after a shaky two years, despite some significant progress in positive school climate, student discipline, and faculty morale which can be attributed at least in some measure to the program. The demise of the Model School effort can be directly linked to lack of support from the superintendent and other chief administrators. 19. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 111: "The cost for the program is high because it includes a brand new full magnet school which requires large start-up costs. This of course will be reduced over a number of years after the program has reached its full enrollment ... For example, once the Aerospace Education Center reaches full enrollment the per pupil cost will drop dramatically to $278.00." ODM Comment: It is assumed that "Aerospace Education Center" is an alternate name for the Aerospace Technology Magnet School. A drop to "$278.00 per pupil" will be dramatic indeed. This amount is unquestionably erroneous. 20. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 121: "The District has adequate facilities to house the proposed Aerospace Program. Space is available in the designated junior high schools to house the number of students being projected." ODM Comment: The LRSD has had serious problems with adequate junior high capacity. Last September, in the OMS Preliminary Monitoring Report, we found a decided shortage of seats for junior high students at the beginning of the school year. Eighth graders were particularly affected, many of them remaining out of school for several days because no seats were available. At that time, a LRSD student assignment officer said there were at least 120 more eighth graders than had been expected in 1990-91. (There had been a similar surprise with the number of seventh graders in 1989-90.) 9 At this date, according to LRSD figures, Forest Heights has a capacity of 780. The grant enrollment figures of 754 (69% black) mean the school is at 97% capacity. Henderson has a capacity of 960. Its current 893 students, 75% of whom are black, bring the school to 93% capacity. These figures indicate that there is inadequate capacity for a new -magnet program designed to draw white students to the schools. If increased numbers of whites were admitted to the schools, what does the district propose to do with the blacks who must be siphoned off the school roles in order to seat all students? Interestingly, LRSD has recently awarded contracts for a major twostory addition (including 32 classrooms and a library) to Forest Heights Junior High, yet the grant application assures ( in the present tense) that there is capacity at the school adequate to house a magnet program. Expansion of capacity at Forest Heights or any other school will require court approval since the Settlement Agreement provides that "All school construction shall be subject to the court's prior approval and shall promote desegregation" ( Page 6, Interdistrict Desegregation Plan, February 15, 1989.) Expanding the capacity of schools in white neighborhoods does not promote desegregation but does assure that the burden of bussing remains on black children. 21. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 125: "Forest Heights Junior High School is being completely renovated. Plans are already underway for this process which is to begin in the 1991-92 school year. To the extent necessary, the renovation project will include capacity modification at the seventh, eighth and ninth grade levels." ODM Comment: This indication of capacity modification conflicts with the earlier grant claim (on page 121) that "Space is available in the designated junior high schools to house the number of students being projected." 22. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 125: "The enrollment at Henderson Junior High School has experienced fluctuations since the 1987-88 school year. The enrollment has declined in some years and remained stable in others. Henderson will have adequate space to accommodate the aerospace technology program." ODM Comment: How can the LRSD be confident of adequate capacity, given this history of enrollment fluctuations and current Henderson enrollment at 93% of capacity? 10 23. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 130: "Currently the District provides $3,370 per student in magnet support beyond the regular school costs associated with curriculum, personnel, support services, etc. , on average. " ODM Comment: This statement is false on three counts. First, magnet school per pupil costs are $3,100, not $3,370. Page 3 of the (financial) Settlement Agreement states: "Magnet Operational Charge: The current per pupil operational charge for magnet students ($3,100) will remain in force until changed by the Magnet Review Committee, or in the event the Magnet Review Committee is restructured or eliminated, then by agreement of the parties, subject to the review of the district court in any event." As the Court is aware, the MRC has proposed an increase to $ 3, 3 7 0 per pupil, a change which has not yet gained Court approval to our knowledge. Secondly, the LRSD does not provide $3,370 (or even $3,100) per magnet student. The costs of magnet schools are shared by the three school districts and the State according to the Settlement formula. Thirdly, the per pupil figure is not "beyond the regular school costs" but rather represents total costs, not an addition amount above the regular school costs of $2,165 on the average (according to figures quoted in the grant.) 24. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 132: "The desegregation plan attached to this application is being implemented by the applicant. It was ordered by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 12, 1990. Modifications to include the aerospace theme have been approved by the parties and will be submitted to the District Court for timely approval. The implementation date for the proposed modification to the plan is August, 1991." ODM Comment: We are not aware that all parties to this case have been persuaded that an aerospace magnet is an acceptable modification of the Settlement. We are also not aware that an implementation date for any plan modifications has been submitted to nor approved by the Court. The proposed "Management Timeline" on page 44 of the grant lists four tasks which are to be undertaken before August 1991. 11 25. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 132: "The District will present a modified desegregation plan to the Federal Court by January, 1991, for approval prior to the February 4 deadline." ODM Comment: The text of the grant does not explain the "February 4 deadline" that is referenced here. It is our understanding, however, that February 4, 1991, is a deadline extension given to LRSD by the federal granters to allow for changes in the grant which may be due to Court action. 26. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 136: "The Little Rock School District needs federal assistance to implement the Aerospace program described in this application. The program is an expensive one to implement and the District has very limited resources. Al though the District did realize some financial assistance by virtue of the settlement, those monies were for the most part to defray desegregation costs already incurred under the 1986 ordered plan." ODM Comment: We agree that the Aerospace program as presented is indeed expensive. We also agree that it is appropriate and within the bounds of the Settlement to request a financial grant. We do not agree that the District realized "some" financial assistance from the Settlement, but rather a great deal of financial assistance. If, in fact, these settlement monies "were" for the most part used to defray desegregation costs already incurred, the LRSD may be in violation of the Circuit Court ruling of December 12, 1990, which states on page 50: " ... a portion of the initial payments from the State may go to retire deficits ... " (emphasis added.) We sincerely hope that the LRSD remains mindful of the Circuit Court's December 12, 1990, admonition (pages 49 and 50) that " ... the parties' obligation to abide by these plans is unconditional ... If the District Court becomes convinced in the future that money is being wasted, and that desegregation obligations contained in the settlement plans are being flouted, it will be fully authorized to take appropriate remedial action." 12 27. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 143: " ... Parent meetings held during the development of the 1990 Interdistrict Plan led to the choice of this theme." ODM Comment: These parent meetings were conducted by Mr. Reville during the fall of 1989. Although the possibility of an aerospace theme was discussed briefly at one or more of the meetings, discussion was initiated not by parents but by members of the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society who were lobbying for a magnet school as a means to help finance their dream of an Arkansas Museum of Aviation History. In a July 12, 1989, letter to Mr. Reville, Dick Holbert, Chairman of the Board of the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society, stated: "Earlier this year, the Society commissioned a feasibility study, the results of which concluded that private support did exist to provide a significant portion of the cost necessary to build and maintain an aviation museum at Little Rock's Adams Field. In visiting with Skip [Rutherford], it became crystal-clear to me that a public school, built in conjunction with this museum, would be a tremendous asset to our community." 28. LRSD Grant Statement, Page 144: "The staff of the District uses the available resources very efficiently and effectively." ODM Comment: Certainly a highly debatable matter of opinion--as well as record. 13
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