Case StudyOverview

Presented by :Evelyn MendezBrian PiazzaJoyell Simmons

Brookside School District

There are four elementary schools in the Brookside School District:

● Park Elementary● Fieldhouse School● School Three● School Four

Key Players in Brookside District

● Jennifer (Geno) Bradley - Superintendent of Schools

● Desmond Bennett - Asst. Superintendent in charge of community relations

● Fritz (Fritzy) Benson - President, Board of Education

● Joe Smith - Prominent Black Minister in Brookside

● John Dean - State Dept. of Ed. Staff Member● Drew Phillips - Member, Board of Education

Brookside School District

Superintendent led ProposalMay 7, 2014

District Agenda Issues● Park Elementary School is

overcrowded● Brookside School District has 21.5%

minority population● According to State Education Law,

“...no one school in a district can enroll more than 50% minority students...”

Superintendent’s Solution

● The planning committee, led by assistant superintendent Desmond Bennett, has developed a plan that will alleviate overcrowding at Park Elementary.

● By changing the attendance boundaries slightly for all elementary schools, we will be able to lessen overcrowding, while only affecting less than 50 students.

Educational Research to support the Superintendent’s solution

#1

Under Benson’s plan Minority enrollment increases at Fieldhouse elementary

school putting it out of compliance. Superintendent Bradley believes that

Benson’s plan ‘flagrantly violates the state desegregation guidelines.’ Ultimately,

Bradley can argue that according to Title VI of the Civil rights Act of 1964,

“Schools are responsible for providing Equal Educational opportunities for

students. School systems are responsible for assuring that students of a

particular race, color, or national origin are not denied the opportunity to obtain

the education generally obtained by other students…” (HEW "SCHOOL

DESEGREGATION GUIDELINES,” 1969).

Brookside School District

Board of Education led Meeting against ProposalMay 7, 2014

● Move students from Park School to Fieldhouse School

● Fieldhouse has the space to house students● Park and Fieldhouse are closest to each

other allowing students to maintain academic and social continuity

Board President’s Solution

● Superintendent Bradley has a radical plan to uproot our students

● The consequences of this move can mean interrupted education for our students

● Students will have to become acclimated to new school and peers

● Alternative Solution-mobilize community leaders, parents, and the Press

Board President’s Agenda Issues

Educational Research to support the Board President’s solution

#1

Benson has a point- Children become disconnected from school when they have interrupted instruction. Students who, “After being repeatedly uprooted, many become withdrawn and unresponsive. Teachers report having great difficulty in getting oft -moved children to put forth the energy needed to build effective connections with their new teacher and classmates,” (Brouillette, 1996).

Superintendent’s Rationale

Adjusting the attendance boundaries will allow us to:● Relieve overcrowding● Remain in compliance with State Law regarding

minority enrollment● Receive our full state funding and remain an

autonomous school district● Continue to provide excellent educational

opportunities to all Brookside School District students

Educational Research to support the Superintendent’s rationale

#2

Vaughan (2008) highlights in an interview on Chalkbeat.org with Dennis Walcott, former Chancellor of NYC Public Schools, he validates Bradley’s argument that in order to relieve overcrowding in schools one solution might be to “...look not just at city or district level enrollment statistics, but also at individual neighborhoods where “pockets of overcrowding” exist — or pockets of underutilized space. ...Resolving overcrowding on a neighborhood basis might require communities to make tough choices, such as moving one program or school from a crowded building into an underutilized one,” (p. 1).

● Superintendent Bradley’s plan will remove 50 students from their home schools and change the course of their personal, academic and social development.

● Students will be separated from their friends and moved to one of the three other elementary schools.

Why the Superintendent’s Plan is wrong for our children?

Educational Research to support the Board President’s argument

#2

Fritz Benson, the Board President is ultimately protecting the interest of the parents of the children being moved. While the Superintendent and the Board President should work together, sometimes they may be at odds and must act in the interest of who they represent. According to Caruso Jr. (2001), the Board can, “Try to understand what motivates others and have patience with ideas that differ. But ultimately, they are entrusted to do the work of the public, watching over their schools and their children and the public has the right to watch the board fulfill its obligations,” (p.1-3).

Board Members please vote on the following proposals:

Superintendent’s Proposalvs.

Board President’s Solution

Board of Education Vote

Which do you think is better?

Option 1(Superintendent’s)

● Change attendance boundaries

● Remain in compliance with state law

● Relieve overcrowding

Option 2 (Board President’s)

● Move students from Park to Fieldhouse

● Keep academic and social continuity

● Relieve overcrowding

Case Study Resolution

● Board votes 7-1 in favor of Superintendent’s Plan

● Community outreach by Reverend Smith increased parent and community involvement at Board Meeting

● Pressure from State Education Department and parents led District to support Superintendent’s plan

Long term and Short termEffects and Responses

Long Term Effects● Lose state Funding● Autonomous District

Long Term Response#1 Have more parental involvement in decision making regarding their children and the school.

Short Term Effects● Losing social & emotional

development● Students readjusting to

moving constantly

Short Term Response#1 Have more transparency in the future about enrollment projections.

ReferencesBrouillette, L. (1996). A Geology of School Reform : The Successive Restructurings of a School

District. Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press.

Caruso, Jr., N. D. (2001, February 1). 12 mistakes Board members make. Retrieved May 2,

2014, from http://www.psba.org/new-members/resources/12-mistakes-Caruso.asp

HEW "SCHOOL DESEGREGATION GUIDELINES". (1969). Congressional Digest, 48(2), 39.

Vaughan, K. (2008, October 8). DOE: Relieving overcrowding not just about building more

schools. Retrieved May 2, 2014, from DOE: Relieving overcrowding not just about building

more schools