Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Parent Eila Gregory collects signatures Thursday in front of 100 Academy of Excellence charter school. The petition is to reinstate Timothy Goler as principal.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Parent Kim Beard signs a petition Thursday calling for Timothy Goler to be reinstated as principal of 100 Academy of Excellence.
Sun Archives
- 100 Academy supporter says parents' view of school matters (11-17-2008)
- A principal fired, a campus on thin ice (11-13-2008)
- Time is on charters' side (7-23-2008)
- Charter school on thin ice (6-10-2008)
Sun Coverage
Beyond the Sun
Wanda Hobbs stood awhile on the sidewalk after dropping off her 9-year-old granddaughter at the 100 Academy of Excellence charter school Wednesday morning, waiting, it seemed, for a sign.
She had just found out that Timothy Goler, the school’s third principal in as many years, had been placed on administrative leave the week before. She had signed a petition to bring Goler back. She wanted to know what was happening to her child’s school, what else she could do to make things right.
“It seemed like such a family,” she said of the few short weeks Goler had been in charge. She and others mentioned how the new principal said good morning to all, shook everybody’s hand. “But now,” Hobbs wondered, “how are you supposed to feel?”
And pointing to her surroundings, a historically black neighborhood with high unemployment and poverty figures, she added, “It’s always too good to be true, especially in this community.”
Hobbs’ family was one of dozens that seemed to be galvanized by the unexplained suspension of Goler on Sept. 2. He had been named principal in July. Before that, he taught a fourth grade class at 100 Academy, and before that, Goler founded a think tank called Policy Bridge in Cleveland that worked on issues of concern to the black community of Ohio. He declined to comment for this story.
When he was suspended, Goler, school staff and parents of 100 Academy students didn’t have the avenue available to families of other public school students — going to the School Board. The board’s purview over charter schools is much more limited. So the suspension instead spurred a petition drive, as well as talk of organizing, and, perhaps most notably, threats of removing children from the school on or before Sept. 18.
That’s the state’s “count day” for charter schools, when the number of students in class translates to money that the state allocates to each school’s budget. If parents follow through on their threat, each student’s absence will cost the school $6,433 for the year.
As of Wednesday, families had pulled about 35 students from the school, leaving enrollment at fewer than 500, according to a school official. If it stays that low on Sept. 18, the student body would be smaller than it was during any of the school’s previous three counts.
On Thursday, Tina Turner’s son remained enrolled in 100 Academy’s fourth grade, but she was considering sending him to a different school. She was at the year’s first meeting of the school’s board, on Aug. 27, one of an estimated 100-plus parents and relatives of students who made for what several who were there say was among the school’s best-attended board meetings.
Turner has had her son in the school since it opened in 2006. “We’ve never had that many parents at a meeting,” she said.
And although estimates of attendance that night vary, the observation is noteworthy, because Turner and others said Goler’s personal invitation spurred their decision to go to the meeting, and they assume his removal four days later was because dozens of parents spoke about the school’s needs. Some said the physical education program should be improved, and others said 100 Academy needed a school nurse, for example.
Turner, the president of the school’s newly formed parent-teacher organization, said that group got a boost at the board meeting after dozens signed up to join.
But Vickie Frazier-Williams, regional vice president of Imagine Schools Inc., the Virginia-based company that runs the 100 Academy, discounted the version of events that Turner and others had of the meeting and subsequent suspension of Goler.
“It’s a fallacy. It’s untrue that he’s on administrative leave because he got a lot of parents to come to the meeting,” she said. She also declined to comment on Goler, saying it was a personnel issue.
Five minutes earlier, a parent had approached Frazier-Williams in the school lobby about removing her child from the school.
There’s a sort of circular irony to these events. After all, three years ago, in the days before the school opened, Frazier-Williams told the Sun the academy was needed in part because “there is a general feeling (in the community) that children of color aren’t getting the best education they could.”
Now members of that same community are rising up against Frazier-Williams for a decision they see as a direct rebuff to their needs and desires.
“She looks like she has something to hide and would prefer that parents not get involved,” said Eila Gregory, who has five children in the academy and stood outside the school this week gathering signatures for the petition to reinstate Goler.
Gregory said she had also gone to the board meeting because of the principal’s personal invitation. “He walked up to us, asked us to get involved. That’s something this community needs,” she said.
Frazier-Williams countered that meeting dates and locations have always been posted in public places, and that she tapped Goler to lead the school in part because “he’s connected to parents.”
Now many of those same parents want to know why they weren’t informed about Goler’s removal until a week had passed, with a note sent home Wednesday afternoon.
“I should’ve been told,” said Ava Johnson, who has had four children at the school since it opened. “It’s not only sad, it’s not well put-together,” she said.
Lamesha Young, who has a son in 100 Academy’s kindergarten, said “there is no spirit, no smiles” in Goler’s absence. “He walked these halls, busted a sweat. He’s fighting for our kids,” she said.
Not all families have been stirred to activism just yet. A group of three parents standing outside the school said they had just found out about the principal. They lamented not getting to know him better, adding that at least they knew Frazier-Williams, who has been in charge since the school opened.
Frazier-Williams said there was “never a decision made not to inform parents.”
The note she sent home Wednesday did not explain why Imagine placed him on administrative leave, calling it a personnel decision.
Still, as Sept. 18 approaches, the charter school that once seemed a promise to a community with its share of troubles faces a turning point.
Families may see the removal of a principal as a rallying cry, and push for more involvement in a school with an unusual triangle of influences: the private corporation that owns it, Imagine Inc.; the nonprofit organization that sends volunteers to its halls, 100 Black Men; and the county school district and state department that help set its academic standards and budget.
Or families may pull so many students out that finances, which have been a problem in the past, become the key factor in determining the school’s immediate future.
“It would be unfortunate if parents dis-enroll,” Frazier-Williams said.
“I want parents to continue to give this school a chance to do right by their children,”
So many words,So little content.
I was highly disturbed when I heard the news of Mr. Goler being placed on administrative leave. Mr. Goler was one of the many reasons, my husband and I decided to un-enroll our children from CCSD and enlist them into the 100 Academy. On my tour of the school, Mr. Goler asked me to enter his office and he took the time to illustrate to me his goals and objective for the school year. Because he was excited, I in return became excited and looked forward to new beginning for my children, especially my son who had a hard time transitioning from elementary to middle school during the 2008-09 school year. So, we viewed this as another opportunity for him to excel in his education.
I received a newsletter today, September 11th, asking parents to boycott school on "count day", I'm disturbed. When did our children's education become okay to gamble? I am interested in getting Mr. Goler reinstated like many of the other parents. I think he is an excellent leader, and is what the boys and girls of the future need. But, are we willing to risk our children's education for his reinstatement? I don't believe Mr. Goler would want that. He fights for our children.
According to the handout, Clark County distributes an estimated $6500.00 for each child in attendance on count day in the public and charter schools. Out of that amount Imagine Schools receive only 12%. That's a disgrace, and really corroborates how the school district values the education of our children who opt to attend charter schools. Nevertheless, boycotting the school on count day will result in more of a disadvantage than the previous year. When I have to by books for 7th grade child to get the best education he can in Reading, that tells me there's a hint of a problem. But, as a parent, I know this is a fairly new charter school and I'm willing to do that because my children deserve the best in education they can receive.
Since learning of the news, my husband and I too must go back to the drawing board to decide what's best for our children. Do we remove them? Do we allow them to stay? Questions a genuine concerned parent would ask. For us, it's not because Mr. Goler is no longer present, it's if you remove greatness from the equation what do you have to offer the children? We refuse to compromise our children's education. It's not fair to them, or the teachers who labor to educate them. Our obligation as parents is to ensure our children receive an education that was bought at a cost. Leaders before us fought so that our children could receive a free education".. FREE!
I will however voice my opinion -- The 100 Academy of Excellence needs to reinstate Mr. Timothy Goler - if their focus is on what's best for our children, and we as parents need to do the same. I will continue voicing my opinion on Mr. Goler's return, and I encourage all parents to pray, keep the faith, and move forward accordingly.
Mrs. Nikki
Concerned Parent of 100 Academy of Excellence
Good luck 100 Academy parents! The exact same thing happened in November of last year at the Imagine school in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The regional director in all of his wisdom fired the principal Bruce Greening. Given that the school had turned around and was doing wonderful under his guidance, the parents were outraged and started their own petitions. Since the Bakkes refused to answer any of the parents' questions or concerns about this dismissal, Mr. Greening got on a plane to hand deliver them. Of course they refused to see him. Bottom line is that Imagine Schools will NOT keep competent or experienced educators in leadership roles. They pose too high of a risk. Experienced educators know what education should look like.
good luck 100 Academy I hope you will succeed for years to come, I for one pulled my child from your school not because Mr Goler was removed from his position but because of the disrespect that my child endured from one of the office staff(Jeannie S.)I feel that I would be less of a parent to let my child continue to be verbally abused.I have even tried to complain but you can never get in touch with the appropriate administrators.(can we get some contact numbers)something needs to be done!
Nikki D.
The 12% is the amount the Imagine Schools takes out of the 6500 per pupil the district gives. That is there management fee. Your kids get exactly the amount every other school gets. They are not short changing the school.
This is a common practice with Imagine. I live in GA and have a child in one of their schools. Every Imagine school in our area has had a new principal or two each and every year. A school in Kennesaw GA has taken back control, but it wasn't easy -- they are dumping Imagine and are going to be self-managed. School board there is fighting a good fight. RESEARCH! DO YOUR RESEARCH!
40% of the student fee to pay rent to Imagine? What, they need all of the money??? Just think what you could do with that money if you didn't have to pay it to Imagine. That whole situation should be a criminal act.
Spend some time on Google. You'll find this same sort of situation has happened at many an Imagine School. My children also attend the school in Georgia that is breaking ties with Imagine. Our school district would not approve a charter with Imagine associated with the school because of problems like this, and many, many other Imagine "issues." This happened at our school too. Take a look at http://tinyurl.com/q5pnv9 and this http://tinyurl.com/owcfkg. It's happened in other places too and not just in Ft. Wayne. Imagine is a business, a for profit business regardless of the fact that they try to market themselves as a non-profit. They are out for money and they will do whatever they can to make sure they keep that money. That includes making questionable decisions, cutting student services, shortchanging anywhere they can. They will not keep a principal who puts his or her foot down and says "I'm going to do what is right for these kids even if it isn't the cheapest option." Fiscal responsibility is always a good thing but cutting student services, classroom resources or inflating class size is not in the best interest of the children nor is it "best practice" for education. There is one school in Georgia that recently started their 3rd year. They are now on their 5th principal! Principal turnover rates are astoundingly high for Imagine Schools across the country. Why? It is obviously a fundamental problem company wide because it is not isolated to one small area or a handful of schools scattered across the country, This turnover has been cited by many school boards as one of the reasons for turning down charter requests from schools associated with Imagine. Other reasons include general mismanagement, financial mismanagement including suspicion of fraud, failure to abide by No Child Left Behind requirements, failure to adequately service special needs children as required by law, and many other such concerns. Good luck to the parents at this and other Imagine schools. Unfortunately at other schools where similar things have happened, Imagine officials will now turn their spin machine on the parents leading the charge and asking questions. They will do whatever they can to discredit you. My advice, stand firm! You know you are doing what is right. The only way to stop this practice is to hold them accountable and make them answer the questions.
Spock said it best in the first post.
Close the darn school for all I care and send the kids to the super six schools in the north part of town.
See if the parents complain then.
I never thought he was a good pick to start.You need to be able to maintain a class before you can maintain a whole school. I was told that my child was going to have to be taken out because of a learning disability and that is Leaving a Child Behind. I think that there is something to be said about a person that calls themself a Principal and you don't even want kids with disadvantages in your school be it mental or physical. This should be looked into before this school has a bigger problem than just not having a nurse. There is an injustice going on and the children are the ones that are suffering. He is not the "GOD" that the new parents think he is. If he only got in one month and the other Principals got in one whole year there is a problem with him. Ms. Williams (Vicki) is not much better. In my opinion they both should be gone. The kids education should be more important than these people that are playing tug-a-war with there education. It's Just Wrong. These kids deserve much better.
Unfortunatlly not enough people have taken the time to understand the philosophies of Imagine Inc. Every step taken is for a purpose, understanding the driving power that brought imagine to be in the first place is were people need to look. Try reading "Joy at Work" by Dennis Bakke.
Happy to have my childern in the Imagine Schools System
Read "Joy at Work"?? Are you kidding me? Have you read it yourself?! It's mandated reading for every Imagine School employee and it's horribly written. Fortunately for him, he's already a millioniare and doesn't have to rely on his writing skills (of course when you mandate that all of your schools buy copies for the employees, it makes it appear that it's a high seller! - hmmm ..wonder where the money comes to purchase all of those books?) Anyway, I've read it and I've also worked for him and he means nothing that he says in it. It's a great concept, but it's hype.
I've read Joy at Work. I also know many Imagine employees don't experience Joy at Work. At least not in the ones at the school my kids attend. No matter what an energy magnate thinks he might know about education, when I walk into the office of my kid's school and ask to look at the curriculum and that request is met with blank stares and mouths hanging open, it's bad news. They could not produce a curriculum guide to show me. I thought my kid's teacher just didn't know where it was when I asked her to see it and she said "I don't think we have a curriculum guide." The principal couldn't produce one either. If that doesn't tell you they are all about the cash and not about the kids, I don't know what else could.