To: Dr. Michael Grego, Superintendent
Members of Pinellas County School Board: Live up to your obligation to Black elementary school...
Dear Members of Pinellas County School Board,
Enough is enough!
We, the undersigned demand you fulfill your promises. Innocent Black elementary school students should not suffer from a re-segregated school district as voted and approved by the school board in 2007.
The students in five elementary schools in South Pinellas County, Campbell Park, Fairmount Park, Lakewood, Maximo and Melrose Elementary schools, were better off in 2007 when members of your board voted to abandon integration.
According to the news article in the August 16th Tampa Bay Times, “Failure Factories,” 84% of Black elementary school students in Pinellas County are failing state math and reading exams. Melrose is ranked as the worst elementary school in Florida, and Fairmont Park is ranked the second worst. This is unacceptable.
We urge you to do your job and live up to the bold promises made in 2007. Return full funding by the County to these schools, so that Title I and other federal funding is used as intended, for improvements. This is an imperative call to action.
We insist that you re-fund programs to support teacher education and training, as well as review and implement evidenced based models which have been successful in educating Black children. The proper education of Black elementary school students in Pinellas County matters.
Enough is enough!
We, the undersigned demand you fulfill your promises. Innocent Black elementary school students should not suffer from a re-segregated school district as voted and approved by the school board in 2007.
The students in five elementary schools in South Pinellas County, Campbell Park, Fairmount Park, Lakewood, Maximo and Melrose Elementary schools, were better off in 2007 when members of your board voted to abandon integration.
According to the news article in the August 16th Tampa Bay Times, “Failure Factories,” 84% of Black elementary school students in Pinellas County are failing state math and reading exams. Melrose is ranked as the worst elementary school in Florida, and Fairmont Park is ranked the second worst. This is unacceptable.
We urge you to do your job and live up to the bold promises made in 2007. Return full funding by the County to these schools, so that Title I and other federal funding is used as intended, for improvements. This is an imperative call to action.
We insist that you re-fund programs to support teacher education and training, as well as review and implement evidenced based models which have been successful in educating Black children. The proper education of Black elementary school students in Pinellas County matters.
Why is this important?
I have been working in the field of education for more than 25 years. All children should be given the opportunity to experience an effective, solid and meaningful education. Our Black children deserve a quality education to prepare them for the future. It is apparent school board members set the educational clock back 60 years or more when they voted and approved to re-segregate several schools in South Pinellas County. It is time to right the wrong that has negatively impacted black children in these five schools.
~Dr. Psalms Mack
~Dr. Psalms Mack