Are We Talking About Names or Labels?

By Terri Rector Michal Lets not waste time dancing around the subject. BOE board member Jeannie Robinson exposed the truth about the Johnson name change in a recent comment made for channel 19. There is no effort to change the Grissom name and there is no need to change the Grissom name, said Dr. Robinson. It is not a failing school and has a great reputation. Board member David Blair was quoted by AL.com last August as saying "Failing schools affect the Hampton Coves and Blossomwoods of the world" So now we know the real reason they wish to change the name.to get off the failing school list and improve Huntsvilles image, this has nothing to do with actually IMPROVING our schools. It is no secret that our schools on the North end have been on failing lists before. The first was in 1996. We had 12 on the list and it seems moving and name changes havent helped them much. A few of them have closed. Stone was merged with Westlawn. (A school that is now in restart after being on the failing list for so long) West Mastin Lake changed its name to Dawson Elementary (still on the failing list) and Colonial Hills became Martin Luther King Elementary (also on the failing list). In essence, moving schools and name changes have been useless in turning our schools around. Of course we ALL want our schools off the failing school listbut those with a vested interest (Students, parents, alumni, etc.) would like it to happen by actually improving the schools, not by taking advantage of some legal loophole. Lets, for a moment, look at JO Johnsons history and see just how bad it is that we need to change the name out of complete embarrassment. JOJs graduation rate over the last seven years has exceeded that of the states average graduation rate 3 times. (07,08 and 09) On two occasions it was only lower than the states by 5 points or less. (05 and 10) In 2011 its graduation rate plummeted from 86% the previous year to 62%. We must ask ourselves WHY? The question becomes even more crucial when you look at all the other high schools in Huntsville. It seems all of our High Schools had some sort of setback in the 2010-2011 year that is reflected through the AYP (Average Yearly Progress) reports and/or in graduation rates. Huntsville High Schools graduation rate dropped from 97 the year before to 81. Matter of fact Grissoms even fell, from 99 the year before to

88. Johnson made AYP (adequate yearly progress) in the 05 - 06 school yearsince then it has met over 90% off its goals for AYP 3 years, just missing making AYP. The two lowest scores it has gotten over the past seven years (data is only available up to the 11-12 school year) is in the 10-11 and the 11-12 school years. They went from making 92.31 of their goals in 09-10 to an astonishing 53.85 in 10-11. I say all this to make this point.how bad is Johnson failing and how much are we failing Johnson? I do not believe it is possible for a school to report such drastic changes in numbers without outside forces influencing it. Whether it is the economic struggles of our community or the political struggles of this city..something is affecting our schools and our students. If we continue to throw band aids, like name changes and lap tops, at our students then we are not doing our duty as tax payers, citizens and elected officials to ensure that ALL of our students are receiving an equal, quality education. Approx. 24 of the 72 schools placed on the failing list across this state missed the testing standards for 6 years. These schools will have the longest wait, four more years, to have a chance at getting of the list. The new Johnson school will not be completed until the 2016-2017 school year. If they are one of those 24 schools then they still could potentially be off the list by 2017 with no name change at all. However, it will take all of us, the citizens, city leaders and the BOE, coming together to begin addressing the REAL problems, not school names. For example, we all know that poverty plays a role in academic performance. Some may argue as to how much of a role it plays but none can argue that it isnt a factor. Until we begin addressing the issue of poverty our schools will continue to struggle. The final point Id like to make is the fact that the Johnson family has publicly stated its desire to have the Johnson name carried on to the new facility. James Oliver Johnsons nephew has contacted the BOE and Dr. Wardynski himself to make sure there is no misunderstanding about the familys wishes. I can only imagine what an insult it would be to him and to his familys honor if we do not abide by their wishes.