CCSD's Phase I Public Engagement for Real

This will be a reality check on Monday night's meeting at Burke High School.

CCSD Website:

On Monday, September 15th, the District launched the first phase of this plan, with over 100 people attending the public engagement meeting at Burke High School. District 20 Participant: It was another well-represented cross section of District 20. This must be unnerving to McGinley because her CCSD staff was unprepared as usual. They had only enough participant packages for 100 participants. Twice as many showed up. During each meeting, the Superintendent provides an overview of the School Redesign Plan and process. McGinley did a monologue for 40 minutes. Then in her well-practiced way to avoid direct questions, she ended her lecture by directing the nearly 200 people to five break-out sessions. Following this presentation, attendees break into small groups, where they are led by a group leader—a member of the CCSD staff—who helps them to fill out a survey form on the proposed criteria; These groups were managed by senior staff. There was no question who was in charge. No democracy here, no debates, not even a discussion. It was another one-sided engagement. answers any questions they might have; In the same acoustically challenged auditorium all five groups competed for sound. They lasted not much more than 20 minutes. and records feedback from each participant on a flip-chart. Only half, at most, of the 16 criteria were discussed in the time allowed. But no matter; it was just for appearances. A second-grade teacher might have allowed more dialogue in the two dozen minutes allowed to the 40 or so people in each group to address the 16 items that will be used to bury a few more of [McGinley's] mistakes. To view the survey, please click here. To see a list of the proposed criteria with definitions, click here. We encourage your thoughts. McGinley is sadistic. Who would have thought she could entice the public into participating in this brutal mass execution of their own schools? Please send any thoughts, questions or suggestions about the School Redesign Initiative--and any related criteria, factors, options, or plans--to us at schoolredesign@charleston.k12.sc.us, or by calling us at 937-6303. Your feedback is critical to this process! Thank you. They don't get it at 75 Calhoun, do they? This is exactly why so many have given up on Charleston's public schools. It's not the poor schools; it's the poor management.

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