Comments on: Do school renovations make a difference? http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/ Your source to discuss and learn about education in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:20:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kim->CommunityRadar.com http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-2/#comment-6229 Kim->CommunityRadar.com Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:07:00 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-6229 Someone above wrote: "Has anything ever come of this blog? Has anything a blogger brought up ever lead to a story on the AJC’s part, which then lead to a substantive change?" I can't speak for what measures up to your definition of "substantial change" but I can tell you that the coverage by this paper and other media has brought a surge in public support for this isolated school. In less than 2 and 1/2 weeks we brought in over $1000 in new paperback novels for the English Dept. Readers from as far away as Texas and other points ordered and shipped books to this deserving bunch of kids. I have had community members offer their services to help with coaching, donate grant writing and legal services and more. You may or may not call this substantive but I can assure you these things will have an immediate and tangible benefit for the students. More work to be done, for sure, - however, I am grateful that the AJC has covered this story and asked for public comment. Someone above wrote: “Has anything ever come of this blog? Has anything a blogger brought up ever lead to a story on the AJC’s part, which then lead to a substantive change?”

I can’t speak for what measures up to your definition of “substantial change” but I can tell you that the coverage by this paper and other media has brought a surge in public support for this isolated school. In less than 2 and 1/2 weeks we brought in over $1000 in new paperback novels for the English Dept. Readers from as far away as Texas and other points ordered and shipped books to this deserving bunch of kids. I have had community members offer their services to help with coaching, donate grant writing and legal services and more.

You may or may not call this substantive but I can assure you these things will have an immediate and tangible benefit for the students. More work to be done, for sure, – however, I am grateful that the AJC has covered this story and asked for public comment.

]]> By: Renee Peek http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-2/#comment-5477 Renee Peek Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:11:37 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-5477 I hate to see how awful Dekalb county school system has become .When I moved from Savannah in 1980.Dekalb county was segreated very much still.My 5 yr old sister came home told my mom.Mom there aren't any blacks in my class.Even in 1980 Chatham County was properly intergrated.Which is why Dekalb has had court issues regarding intergration. Listening to these racist degrading statments burn me up.My child was born in Kolkata India and does have brown skin but that makes him no less a person.His disabilities don't make him desreve less either.Dekalb would not consider giving him Inclusion under IDEA laws and chose to keep him in a seperate classroom.They don't segrate based on just race and color.Once again Chtham County/Savannah came up on top being a full inclusion county.Placing him in a regular ed classroom.The student Dekalb swore was "retarded" passed the CRCT here.He was 1 of 5 out of a class of 16 3rd graders who passed. The attacks on Cross Keys bother me as a 91 graduate.I got a good education and yes I was exposed to so many cultures and different types of people.Exposure to different things makes you a well rounded person.The blantly hate is disgusting. I hate to see how awful Dekalb county school system has become .When I moved from Savannah in 1980.Dekalb county was segreated very much still.My 5 yr old sister came home told my mom.Mom there aren’t any blacks in my class.Even in 1980 Chatham County was properly intergrated.Which is why Dekalb has had court issues regarding intergration.
Listening to these racist degrading statments burn me up.My child was born in Kolkata India and does have brown skin but that makes him no less a person.His disabilities don’t make him desreve less either.Dekalb would not consider giving him Inclusion under IDEA laws and chose to keep him in a seperate classroom.They don’t segrate based on just race and color.Once again Chtham County/Savannah came up on top being a full inclusion county.Placing him in a regular ed classroom.The student Dekalb swore was “retarded” passed the CRCT here.He was 1 of 5 out of a class of 16 3rd graders who passed.
The attacks on Cross Keys bother me as a 91 graduate.I got a good education and yes I was exposed to so many cultures and different types of people.Exposure to different things makes you a well rounded person.The blantly hate is disgusting.

]]> By: Brooke http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-2/#comment-5474 Brooke Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:55:00 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-5474 JUST FIX THE SCHOOL! TOO MUCH TALK NOT ENOUGH ACTION! (former graduate of Cross Keys) JUST FIX THE SCHOOL! TOO MUCH TALK NOT ENOUGH ACTION! (former graduate of Cross Keys)

]]> By: Kim->CommunityRadar.com http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-5473 Kim->CommunityRadar.com Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:49:40 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-5473 @cgregister: "However, the children who lived in my neighborhood, went to the school in their/my neighborhood. The parents were very involved both working and non working. They supported the school and the teachers there." While I agree with your call for folks to engage in positive change efforts, I must assume you are either not aware or are not sympathetic to the situation of Cross Keys HS. There used to be an attendance zone that could provide exactly the type of support you describe. That is no longer the case. While some of the elementary schools along Buford Hwy are very much part of their community, Cross Keys is artificially isolated and does not benefit from a natural support community. This combined with the challenges of poverty and the high number of non-native English speakers have created a uniquely weak support community for the High School. See the map and details at: http://www.communityradar.com/story.php?title=does-cross-keys-hs-have-a-community If by pointing this out I am complaining, then I am guilty as charged. @cgregister: “However, the children who lived in my neighborhood, went to the school in their/my neighborhood. The parents were very involved both working and non working. They supported the school and the teachers there.”

While I agree with your call for folks to engage in positive change efforts, I must assume you are either not aware or are not sympathetic to the situation of Cross Keys HS. There used to be an attendance zone that could provide exactly the type of support you describe. That is no longer the case.

While some of the elementary schools along Buford Hwy are very much part of their community, Cross Keys is artificially isolated and does not benefit from a natural support community. This combined with the challenges of poverty and the high number of non-native English speakers have created a uniquely weak support community for the High School. See the map and details at:

http://www.communityradar.com/story.php?title=does-cross-keys-hs-have-a-community

If by pointing this out I am complaining, then I am guilty as charged.

]]> By: Sean Mahwir http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-5155 Sean Mahwir Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:38:16 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-5155 It is embarrassing to live in DeKalb County where some people think that a quality education is only for a selected few. We all should learn more about accepting all students no matter where their parents were born. A clean, comfortable environment sets the stage for positive teaching and learning. Every child deserves that. Too bad the school system isn't boiling over with money to fix all the schools at the same time. It is embarrassing to live in DeKalb County where some people think that a quality education is only for a selected few. We all should learn more about accepting all students no matter where their parents were born. A clean, comfortable environment sets the stage for positive teaching and learning. Every child deserves that. Too bad the school system isn’t boiling over with money to fix all the schools at the same time.

]]> By: cgregister http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-4684 cgregister Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:42:56 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-4684 When will everyone learn that is a community (parents/students/private and public enterprises) that can make or break a school. When I grew up there was no air conditioning in any school that I attended, until I went to college. True, we didn't start school until the Tuesday after Labor Day and got out in mid June. However, the children who lived in my neighborhood, went to the school in their/my neighborhood. The parents were very involved both working and non working. They supported the school and the teachers there. In fact, quite a few of the teachers lived in the community where they worked, therefore, they also took more pride in their school and their job. INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING SO MUCH, GET OUT AND GET INVOLVED IN A POSITIVE WAY! When will everyone learn that is a community (parents/students/private and public enterprises) that can make or break a school. When I grew up there was no air conditioning in any school that I attended, until I went to college. True, we didn’t start school until the Tuesday after Labor Day and got out in mid June. However, the children who lived in my neighborhood, went to the school in their/my neighborhood. The parents were very involved both working and non working. They supported the school and the teachers there. In fact, quite a few of the teachers lived in the community where they worked, therefore, they also took more pride in their school and their job. INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING SO MUCH, GET OUT AND GET INVOLVED IN A POSITIVE WAY!

]]> By: Gilcrosskeysindians.org http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-4643 Gilcrosskeysindians.org Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:43:40 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-4643 As a Cross Keys alumni I think steps to transform CK into a modern learning facility are wonderful. I still communicate with some of the teachers and faculty. I can also assure you that the problem is not the kids, it is environment. I believe in the students and faculty...just give them a chance. As a Cross Keys alumni I think steps to transform CK into a modern learning facility are wonderful. I still communicate with some of the teachers and faculty. I can also assure you that the problem is not the kids, it is environment. I believe in the students and faculty…just give them a chance.

]]> By: Kim->CommunityRadar.com http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-4621 Kim->CommunityRadar.com Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:34:45 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-4621 Brookhaven Neighbor (and I mean that literally!): "None of us tax-paying homeowners have any interest in sending our kids to a school that looks like it belongs in a 3rd world country." So, if the $20 million plus or minus and any additional improvements make Cross Keys look like it is a modern, "1st world" school, you would send your kids there? Trust me, I get the facilities part - it is unacceptable and that's why I would like tax payers like you talking to our Board of Education. Please elaborate on your view of the overall situation and your choices. Have you shared your views or sense of outrage with the School System leadership, for example? Brookhaven Neighbor (and I mean that literally!): “None of us tax-paying homeowners have any interest in sending our kids to a school that looks like it belongs in a 3rd world country.”

So, if the $20 million plus or minus and any additional improvements make Cross Keys look like it is a modern, “1st world” school, you would send your kids there? Trust me, I get the facilities part – it is unacceptable and that’s why I would like tax payers like you talking to our Board of Education. Please elaborate on your view of the overall situation and your choices. Have you shared your views or sense of outrage with the School System leadership, for example?

]]> By: Brookhaven neighbor http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-4466 Brookhaven neighbor Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:20:43 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-4466 My neighborhood is about a mile from Cross Keys. It is the closest school, but our neighborhood is zoned for Chamblee High school. Most of the people I know in my neighborhood have their kids enrolled in Marist, St. Pius or other private school. We see the busloads of kids from the Buford Highway corridor coming and going all the time. Obviously, these folks have taken over the school, and they can have it. None of us tax-paying homeowners have any interest in sending our kids to a school that looks like it belongs in a 3rd world country. My neighborhood is about a mile from Cross Keys. It is the closest school, but our neighborhood is zoned for Chamblee High school. Most of the people I know in my neighborhood have their kids enrolled in Marist, St. Pius or other private school. We see the busloads of kids from the Buford Highway corridor coming and going all the time. Obviously, these folks have taken over the school, and they can have it. None of us tax-paying homeowners have any interest in sending our kids to a school that looks like it belongs in a 3rd world country.

]]> By: Kim->CommunityRadar.com http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/07/21/do-school-renovations-make-a-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-4387 Kim->CommunityRadar.com Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:41:24 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=844#comment-4387 @David S: "... warm fuzzy that bitching and complaining about your kids failing school and the unbelievable waste and bureaucracy do. How’s that going by the way??" I do not have kids in the system. Whether parents use public, private, or combination of such resources to educate their children, I want them to succeed. You want to end the public system? Fine, go ahead. Vouchers? Where are mine? Home-schooling? Big fan! Different subject ... I am trying to support the actual families and kids that are right now spending their days in my neighborhood high school. While you work on changing the world, I'll keep "bitching" about the need for a safe and conducive learning environment at Cross Keys HS. @David S: “… warm fuzzy that bitching and complaining about your kids failing school and the unbelievable waste and bureaucracy do.

How’s that going by the way??”

I do not have kids in the system. Whether parents use public, private, or combination of such resources to educate their children, I want them to succeed. You want to end the public system? Fine, go ahead. Vouchers? Where are mine? Home-schooling? Big fan! Different subject …

I am trying to support the actual families and kids that are right now spending their days in my neighborhood high school. While you work on changing the world, I’ll keep “bitching” about the need for a safe and conducive learning environment at Cross Keys HS.

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