Education Week - June 8, 2022 - 3

Video, State Pressure Force
District to Repair School
The power of videotape-along with the backing of the state's
schools chief-can go a long way. Just ask the students at a Georgia
high school, who were instrumental in getting their school board to
do an about-face.
Druid Hills High School will now get a $50 million overhaul after
the DeKalb County school board approved the renovation, despite
voting against it three previous times.
" I am proud to say today that we're in unison, that we want what's
good for this district, " said board chair Vickie Turner. " It feels quite
refreshing that we've made this progress. "
The dispute over Druid Hills climaxed after students made a video
about poor conditions, including raw sewage, crumbling restrooms,
and signs warning of possible electrical shock around utilities in one
room. Still, the board rejected plans to overhaul the high school, instead
voting to make minor repairs at all district schools.
Students from at least two other DeKalb high schools have since
posted similar videos. The dispute dredged up racial and class tensions
that often divide the 93,000-student district between a wealthier
white minority in its northern end and a poorer Black majority in
the southern end.
State schools Superintendent Richard Woods intervened in the dispute
by saying the state would refuse to approve the district's facility
plans until it addressed issues at Druid Hills. Such a refusal would
have blocked the district from obtaining state facilities money.
On top of that, the state appointed a special adviser to oversee the
system's building upgrades and maintenance.
In the meantime, board members fired Cheryl Watson-Harris as
superintendent.
Work slated to begin in September will include roofing, plumbing,
and heating and air conditioning. The district will use local sales-tax
collections to pay for the renovation.
Vol. 41 * Issue 35 * June 8, 2022
4 As Nation Reels From School Shooting,
Supreme Court to Rule on Wider Right
To Carry Guns
6 States Grill Districts on How They'll Spend
Their ESSER Money for Learning Recovery
8 Some States Want to Lock in Universal
Free School Meals as Federal Waivers End
10 The Rise of Tutoring
And Where It Falls Short, in Charts
14 Using Virtual Teachers to Fill Vacancies:
Smart Solution or Big Mistake?
16 Responding to Student Threats:
Schools Wrestle With How to Prevent
Violence
18 The Names: 19 Children, 2 Teachers
Killed in Uvalde School
OPINION
20 Don't Numb Yourself
To the Horror of School Shootings
21 How to Build a Healthier School Culture
24 You Can't Change Schools
Without First Changing Yourself
DEPARTMENTS
2 Briefly Stated
5 What the Research Says
22 Letters to the Editor
23 EdWeek Top School Jobs
FROM OUR FOLLOWERS
Here's a sampling of insights and perspectives from the educators who follow us on social media.
'Looping' With Students:
When It Works and When It Doesn't
On social media, teachers give mixed reviews of
" looping " -the practice of matching students with
the same teacher for two years (or more) in a row.
edw.link/TeachersLooping
Flash Card Brouhaha Leads
To Pre-K Teacher Departure
Check off another couple boxes when it comes to the culture wars.
A North Carolina preschool teacher resigns after a parent complains
about flash cards in the classroom. And police show up on campus to ensure
children's safety.
The controversy apparently ignited when North Carolina House
Speaker Tim Moore issued a press release saying Rep. Erin Paré had been
contacted by a constituent about flash cards being used to teach colors.
Both Republicans focused on one card, saying it showed a pregnant man.
It shows a drawing of a pregnant person with short hair.
Paré contacted the principal, who had the cards removed. The district
said the principal did not know the cards were being used and called them
an " inappropriate instructional resource " in preschool.
The incident at Ballentine Elementary School in Wake County blew up
on social media, with conservatives condemning the teacher, the school,
and the district.
Meanwhile, some parents praised the unnamed teacher. " She is an
amazing teacher who has worked tirelessly in an unpredictable school
year to provide a safe, loving, and inclusive classroom for our children to
grow, " Jackie Milazzo said last week.
Milazzo, a parent, accused Republican lawmakers of misstating how
the flash cards were used. She said they weren't used for any direct instruction.
Instead, she said they were displayed on a wall in the art center.
" They wanted to get people riled up at the expense of the safety of our
children, " Milazzo said. " My special-needs child is being used as a prop,
and I hope that anyone reading about this remembers this come November
when it comes time to vote that this is not supporting our children, not
supporting our teachers, not supporting our schools. "
" It's catering to the loudest hate-filled voices in the community that
don't represent the Ballentine community. "
Police officers were on campus at the request of the district's security
department. A spokeswoman said no specific threats had been made, but
some parents were concerned about their children's safety following the
response to the flash cards.
Teachers Share Affirmations
That Work And Some That Don't
We asked our social media followers to share
affirmations that resonate with them. The most
popular: " The work I do matters. "
edw.link/Affirmations
Is Homework a Waste of Time?
Educators Weigh In
What do teachers really think about homework?
Is it outdated and unnecessary or crucial to
learning? Here's what they had to say.
edw.link/HomeworkThoughts
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Education Week - June 8, 2022

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