July 31, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Thomas Lawrence, P.E.
Division of Public Works
Office: (901) 576-0720

Storm Water Matters Task Force Provides 800 Local Teachers with Materials to Educate Students About Preventing Storm Water Pollution and Bottles of Memphis Water as They Brave the Heat to Wait in Line to Gather Much Needed Supplies Donated by Local Businesses.

Memphis, TN July 29, 2004 - Storm water matters, but why? The Storm Water Matters Task Force will kick off their campaign to increase awareness of storm water related issues by providing teachers with SWEEP (Storm Water Environmental Education Program) teacher guides. The guides will be distributed to Memphis City School teachers on August 7th between 8am and 4pm during the Partnership Sharing Center Teacher Supply Day at the Partnership Sharing Center at Poplar and Claybrook. The Task Force will also provide a bottle of our own wonderful Memphis Water to help the teachers quench their thirsts as they wait in line to receive much needed supplies.

The Storm Water Matters Task Force is a group of concerned citizens that works in partnership with The City of Memphis Storm Water Program to educate the public about the causes of non-point source pollution and to inform the community about methods of preventing storm water pollution.

Unlike many other cities, the storm drain system in Memphis is separate from the sewer system. This means storm water is not treated before it is released into the environment.

Litter and urban runoff enter storm drains that are channeled directly into the Loosahatchie River, Nonconnah Creek or the Wolf River. These waterways discharge into McKellar Lake and the Mississippi River. Yard waste, fertilizers and pesticides, litter, animal waste, and hazardous waste that is not disposed of properly can end up in the storm drain system and damage fish and wildlife populations, kill native vegetation and increase the risk of street flooding by clogging storm drains.

According to a survey prepared for the City of Memphis Dept. of Environmental Engineering, 95% of Memphians are interested in learning how they can help prevent pollution to the Mississippi River. But only 23% of Memphians are aware that the city has a storm water pollution problem.

For more information contact:
Thomas Lawrence, P.E.
Environmental Engineer
Division of Public Works
Phone (901) 576-0720

For more information about SWEEP or storm water issues visit:
www.cityofmemphis.org/stormwater

July 30, 2004

Be a tutor - change a life
MCS offers training sessions for volunteer tutors

Memphis City Schools offers many opportunities for Memphians to make a positive investment in its schools and in the academic achievement of a child. On Aug. 17, members of the community may sign up to tutor MCS students through its premier volunteer tutoring program.

Our Children-Our Future, a program that puts volunteers to work tutoring MCS students, will hold training sessions for people interested in being a volunteer tutor during the 2004-05 academic school year. Trained tutors are paired with students in kindergarten through 12th grade to focus on improving reading and math skills.

"These training programs will offer volunteers the opportunity to become equipped with the tools and materials they need to make their tutoring experience with our students a joint success," said Barbara Dawson, Our Children-Our Future program manager. "Research has shown that one-on-one tutoring has a tremendous impact on improving students' academic skills, so we encourage the community to support our program and our students."

How can you get involved? Simply contact Our Children-Our Future at 325-5732 or 416-5732 and enroll in a training session.

Available dates and times for elementary reading and math training are as follows:

Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to noon
Thursday, Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Available dates and times for elementary, middle and high school reading and math training are as follows:

Saturday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m. to noon
Thursday, Sept. 2, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

All training workshops will be held at the Training and Learning Academy, 2485 Union Ave.

July 30, 2004

Mark your calendar: MCS announces
registration dates for free ESL classes

As a benefit to the Memphis community, Memphis City Schools is offering free English classes to foreign-speaking Memphians. The free ESL, or English-as-a-second-language, classes are being offered for the fall, and registration begins soon.

Fall registration for ESL day and night classes is scheduled as follows:

DAY CLASS REGISTRATION
Aug. 10, 2004 9 a.m. Messick Adult Center
Aug. 12, 2004 9 a.m. Messick Adult Center
Registration and testing will begin at 9 a.m., so please arrive at 8:45 a.m.

NIGHT CLASS REGISTRATION
Aug. 9, 2004 6 p.m. Messick Adult Center
Aug. 11, 2004 6 p.m. Messick Adult Center
Registration and testing will begin at 6 p.m., so please arrive at 5:45 p.m.

Aug. 16, 2004 5:30 p.m. Craigmont High
Aug. 18, 2004 5:30 p.m. Craigmont High
Registration and testing will begin at 5:30 p.m., so please arrive at 5:15 p.m.

Aug. 23, 2004 5:30 p.m. Kirby High School
Aug. 25, 2004 5:30 p.m. Kirby High School
Registration and testing will begin at 5:30 p.m., so please arrive at 5:15 P.M.

Aug. 30, 2004 6 p.m. Messick Adult Center
Registration and testing will begin at 6 p.m., so please arrive at 5:45 p.m.

Registration sites are as follows:

Craigmont High, 3333 Covington Pike, 416-4312
Kirby High, 4080 Kirby Parkway, 416-1960
Messick Adult Center, 703 South Greer, 325-4840

If you have further questions, please call:
Barbara Hermann, counselor, 325-4855
Matthew Sharp, supervisor, 325-4848

July 30, 2004

Play It Again Memphis pairs MCS students with musical instruments

It's that time again — time to buy back-to-school supplies and clothes. Unfortunately, all those expenses don't always leave room for Memphis City Schools parents to buy musical instruments for their budding music students.

But the annual Play It Again Memphis Radiothon is here to help. Radio personalities from FM100, 93X and SportsPlus 790 and Memphis musicians will join volunteers and donors Friday, Aug. 6, at Wolfchase Galleria Center Court to put instruments in the hands of eager children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to learn, love and play music.

Ron, Steve & Karen in the morning, Jill Bucko and Tom Prestagiacomo with FM100; Sydney and Rob Cressman with 93X; and Dennis & Curly and Scott Sanders with SportsPlus 790 will broadcast live during the drive, from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be performances from local artists and musicians, including Scott Sudbury, Billy Gibson, Bill Ellis, Wayne Leloy, Pat Register, David Spencer and Jay Harrington.
Mid-South individuals, organizations and companies are encouraged to support the musical talents of Memphis’ youth by donating musical instruments in exchange for tickets to Ticketmaster events. There will be exciting incentives and prizes for cash donations, too.

Thanks to the support of the Memphis community, Play It Again Memphis has put more than 600 instruments in the hands of children with a desire and willingness to learn. The hope of the Play It Again Memphis program is that every child in Memphis who wants to learn, love and play music can be given that opportunity.

Call 1-866-340-KIDS for information or to make a donation!

July 30, 2004

Memphis City Schools Administration Making Transition To New Telephone System

The school district's central administration is converting to a new telephone system, in the last phase of a district-wide changeover to XO Communications. District schools were converted to the new telephone system last year.

While most of the school district telephone numbers have the same last four digits as before, offices and schools now have, in most cases, the same prefix - 416. Below are the new main numbers for key offices in the Frances Coe Administration Building:

Adopt-A-School 416-5622
Assessment 416-5450
Chief of Staff 416-5528
Communications 416-5628
Contract Management 416-6659
Customer Relations 416-5721
Deputy Superintendent 416-5800
Elementary Academic Director/Area 1 416-0490
Elementary Academic Director/Area 2 416-5822
Elementary Academic Director/Area 3 416-5465
English-As-A-Second Language 416-5411
Student Enrollment & Records 416-5830
Facility Planning 416-4720
Facility Services 416-5644
Fiscal Services 416-5461
Graphic Services 416-5673
High School Academic Director 416-5360
Human Resources 416-5304
Human Resources/Benefits 416-5344
Labor Relations 416-5323
Library Services 416-5382
Middle School Academic Director 416-5764
Operations - 416-1130
Optional Schools 416-5338
Payroll 416-5402
Policy & Planning 416-4730
Purchasing 416-5376
Records 416-5843
Security 416-5860
Superintendent's Office 416-5444
Textbook Services 416-5870

Telephone numbers with the old "325" exchanges will continue to be valid during the transition so that the public may continue to reach offices and staff during registration and the first part of the school year. After the phase-in period is completed during the fall semester, callers who use the "325" exchange when calling a Memphis City Schools administrative number will hear a recording advising them of the new number.

July 29, 2004

MCS holds registration for adult education classes

It's back-to-school time, and not just for children. Memphis City Schools is offering registration for classes at the Adult High School, as well as for GED and vocational classes.

To register for classes at Memphis Adult High School, prospective students must have 15 class credits, must be 18 years old or, if 17 years old, have a waiver from regular school attendance, and they must have an official sealed transcript from the last school they attended.

Fall registration for day and night classes offered through Memphis Adult High School is scheduled as follows:
July 29, 2004 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Messick Adult Center
July 30, 2004 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Messick Adult Center
July 31, 2004 8 a.m. - noon Messick Adult Center
Aug. 3, 2004 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Messick Adult Center
Aug. 9, 2004 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Messick Adult Center
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Messick, Craigmont, Whitehaven
Aug. 10, 2004 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Messick Adult Center
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Messick, Craigmont, Whitehaven

Classes will begin Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at the following locations:
Messick Adult Center, 703 South Greer (day and night classes)
Craigmont High School, 3333 Covington Pike (night only classes)
Whitehaven High School, 4851 Elvis Presley Blvd. (night only classes).
Students who enroll in a GED class must take the Test for Adult Basic Education, which is administered on the day of registration. Students must be seated by 8:30 a.m. (for the day class) or 5 p.m. (for the night class) and be prepared to stay a minimum of three hours.

Registration for GED classes will be held as follows:
Aug. 9-12, 2004 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Messick Adult Center
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Craigmont, Messick, Whitehaven
Aug. 16-19, 2004 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Messick Adult Center
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Craigmont, Messick, Whitehaven
Registration for adult vocational classes will begin Monday, Aug. 2, 2004, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for day and night sites and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at day only sites, at the following schools:

Messick Adult Center, 703 South Greer, 325-4840 (day and night classes)
Kansas Career and Technology Center, 80 W. Olive, 416-7300 (day only classes)
Sheffield Career and Technology Center, 4350 Chuck, 416-2340 (day only classes)
Southwest Career and Technology Center, 3746 Horn Lake, 416-8186 (day only classes)

Trezevant Career and Technology Center, 3224 Range Line, 416-3800 (day and night classes).

Vocational classes will begin Aug. 23, 2004, and GED classes will begin Monday, Aug. 30, 2004. Please call 325-4840 for locations and times.

July 28, 2004

Georgian Hills Junior High Fresh Start teachers take to the streets to meet parents, community members

With a new school year just around the corner, the new principal of Georgian Hills Junior High, one of five "Fresh Start" schools, is sure parents have plenty of questions for her. So Rosalind Martin and her teaching staff are hitting the neighborhood streets to show community members that they're here to help.

" We want to show that we are serious about improving our school and our test scores," said Martin, who was appointed principal of Georgian Hills after serving as assistant principal of East High School.

To get her point across, Martin organized a community walk for Thursday, July 29. Faculty members, volunteer parents and Martin will meet at the school, 3925 Denver Rd., at 5:30 p.m. and begin canvassing the surrounding neighborhood at 6 p.m.

" A lot of times, parents can't make it to the school, so we're going to them," Martin said. "We're encouraging parents to participate in activities at the school. This is an open invitation."

Faculty members and parents will be in tow with material to distribute to parents - everything from registration information to information on the school's new features, such as a foreign language course for every ninth grade student and a new piano lab.

The faculty's primary objective is to encourage parents to visit Georgian Hills Junior High.

" The message we want to send to parents is that it's OK to come to the school - we want them there," she said.

Parents and community members who want to participate in the community walk can meet the Georgian Hills Junior High staff Thursday in front of the school at 5:30 p.m. Faculty members will be on hand at the school for parents who wish to take advantage of early registration, which begins Thursday, July 29 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Georgian Hills Junior High, a high priority school, is one of five schools that have been "Fresh Started" by Superintendent Carol Johnson to improve student achievement. The "Fresh Start" process involves replacing a school's principal, faculty and staff.

Memphis City Schools
INVITES THE PUBLIC TO
A TOWN HALL MEETING

TO HEAR AND DISCUSS

SCHOOL FUNDING AND BUDGET CUTS
TO THE 2004-05 SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY
TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

AT 5:30 P.M. ON THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2004
IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AUDITORIUM,
2597 AVERY

PARENTS, TEACHERS AND CITIZENS
ARE URGED TO ATTEND!

July 23, 2004

The Memphis City Schools Board of Education Budget Committee will meet on Monday, July 26 at 3:30 p.m. in room 216 of the Frances E. Coe Administration Building. The committee meeting will be followed by a Board/Staff Conference at 5:30 p.m. to discuss potential 2004-05 budget cuts. The conference will be held in the Board of Education auditorium.

July 23, 2004

"Germanshire Elementary School is Safe and Not Sinking," said Expert Consultant

Board approves repairs to begin Monday at no cost to taxpayersGermanshire Elementary School is not sinking, and students will be able to return to a safe and nurturing learning environment when school begins on August 9, according to a structural engineering expert hired to investigate building issues at the school.

During a meeting held at the school, the expert reiterated to Board Commissioners that the building is not sinking and is safe.

"There is a very limited area of settling, but the school is not sinking out of site," said Richard Howe, geotechnical engineering consultant. "The school is safe and an effective remedy is at hand."

Inman Construction, Inc. will begin resolving the issue on Monday, July 26 at no cost to taxpayers. The process will take about four weeks and will not interrupt the start of school.

In a comprehensive report presented Thursday, July 29 to the Memphis City Schools Board of Education Capital Improvement (CIP) committee, Commissioners learned that distressed areas are two small sections of the school's complex in Building A and C, one approximately twenty to thirty feet in diameter and the other ten by twenty feet. The sections experienced settlement about two to three inches more than normal due to building subsidence. According to the report, building subsidence occurs when soil is carried away by water due to elevated levels of ground water passing through leaks into the sanitary sewer lines. As a result, a loss of soil in the areas will be indicated.

"No other areas evidencing appreciable distress due to foundation or subgrade support issues have been discovered during thorough inspections," said Howe.

The school does not need immediate repairs, according to the expert. However, to solve the settlement problem, compaction grouting proposed by the general contractor will effectively address the concern of building subsidence regardless of the specific cause for the elevated water level.

The specific source of the water has not been pinpointed by experts as of yet, but, consultants will continue to search for the water source.

July 23, 2004

MCS Adds Flexible Dates to Improve Registration for School, Parents can register students on July 29, 30, 31 and August 3

Memphis, Tenn. - To offer parents and students better flexibility for school registration, Memphis City Schools will provide an expanded schedule of registration dates for the 2004-05 school year. For the first time in recent history, registration will expand from just one day to providing four days beginning on Thursday, July 29 and continuing on Friday, July 30; Saturday morning, July 31; and Tuesday, August 3.

The additional registration dates will allow more schedule flexibility for working parents to register their children for school. Rather than a single date and times, this additional registration period offers four days and includes flexible times after typical work hours and even on Saturday morning for working parents to meet with school officials and register their children. The first day of classes will be Aug. 9 with a half-day to allow for teacher planning.

"The district is striving to provide a welcoming, customer-friendly registration process this school year," said Dr. Carol Johnson, Superintendent. "To avoid the potential for long lines and give parents multiple opportunities to register their children, an expanded registration period will be offered."

The new registration dates and times are as follows:
Thursday, July 29 ( 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)
Friday, July 30 ( 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
Saturday, July 31 ( 8 a.m. - noon)
Tuesday, August 3 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

For students in kindergarten and first grade who are new to Memphis City Schools, parents will need to bring to registration a copy of the child's birth certificate, Tennessee Immunization Record, proof of medical exam, Social Security card (if available) and proof of residence or transfer. In addition, first graders who are new to the district will also need to show proof of attendance in an approved kindergarten program.

Children enrolling in kindergarten must be five years old on or before Sept. 30, 2004.
All other students will need to bring their most recent report card, summer school report card (if applicable), proof of residence that shows a parent or guardian's name and address, and proof of transfer (if the child received an approved transfer).

For more information on registration and/or enrollment requirements, call the Office of Enrollment Services at 416-5830.

July 23, 2004

To All Memphis City School Teachers:

In need of school supplies? Papermate® is offering $40 in free school supplies to all school teachers. Please click on the following attachment to find out more information and to submit your supply list. Supply kits are limited so log on now and submit your information. Go to the Papermate Web site at www.papermate.com and click on "promotions" for more details.

July 22, 2004

Geeter Middle School to Host
'Get-Acquainted' Meeting

Geeter Middle School will host a "meet and greet" session from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27 so that parents and students at the school may get acquainted with the school's new principal, Jada Meeks, and the school's new adopters.

Geeter students and their parents are invited to attend, and dinner will be served at the conclusion of the meeting.

For more information, call Geeter Middle School at 416-8157.

July 21, 2004

Memphis City Schools District-Wide Assembly

Dear Employees:

As you know, the new school year is just around the corner. Thousands of dedicated and committed staff are busily preparing to welcome our students and parents on the first day of classes on August 9 and begin the journey to achieve academic excellence in all of our schools.

To kickoff the new school year, I am inviting you to join me and your colleagues to participate in the first Memphis City Schools District-Wide Assembly Wednesday, August 4 from 10 a.m. until noon inside The Pyramid arena.

Your time is very valuable, and we recognize that the beginning of the school year is a very busy time for staff and schools. We believe this gathering of more than 16,000 members of the MCS family will be an informative and exciting opportunity for us to connect as a learning community.

All staff are encouraged to wear the colors of their school, division or department and to sit with their school or team members for a special "roll call" by Stan Bell of KJMS-101.1 FM and fellow MCS employee, who will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

The doors will open at 9:00 a.m. and we expect everyone to be seated by 9:45 a.m. Free parking is available at the arena, but you are encouraged to carpool to The Pyramid from your school. Also, free bus transportation by Laidlaw will be provided for employees at ten locations on a first-come, first-served basis. Buses will leave each site at 8 a.m. and will depart from The Pyramid no later than 1 p.m. Roundtrip transportation will be available at the following sites:

While our budget challenges do not permit us to provide food, concessions at The Pyramid will be open for lunch immediately following the program.

To assist your group with event planning, a pre-briefing session to review parking, seating arrangements, programming and other information will be held Friday, July 30 at 9 a.m. at The Pyramid's Tiger Club. Each school and department are encouraged to send a team member to this meeting. Please provide the name and telephone number of your group representative to Wayne Booker at 416-5330 or bookerw@mcsk12.net no later than Tuesday, July 27.

I hope you will make every effort to join us as we begin the school year focused on academic achievement for all Memphis City Schools students.

Thank you,

Dr. Carol R. Johnson
Superintendent

July 20, 2004

Statement From Superintendent Carol Johnson on
Mayor Herenton's Proposal

"We are deeply concerned, because Memphis City Schools has already reduced spending by $60 million over the last two years. Any further reduction will have a significant impact on effectively reaching our goals for improving student achievement and graduation rates for all of our schools. We believe there should be increased opportunities to invest in pre-school education, and this certainly jeopardizes our efforts to intervene earlier and improve our students' chances for success. I am deeply troubled about the potential outcome. However, we certainly look forward to having discussions with City and County leaders on how we will provide an adequate education for our students."

July 20, 2004

MCS Board Policy Committee Scheduled To Meet Wednesday
CIP Committee to meet at Germanshire Elementary Thursday

The Memphis City Schools Board of Education Policy committee has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, July 21 at 12 p.m. to review and update the school district’s policy manual and discuss corporal punishment.

The committee meeting will be held in room 216 of the Frances E. Coe Administration Building, located at 2597 Avery Avenue.

On Thursday, July 22, the MCS Board of Education’s Capital Improvement (CIP) committee will hold its meeting at Germanshire Elementary School to review a report from an independent structural engineering expert on the condition of Germanshire. The school is located at 3965 S. Germantown Road.

The detailed survey of the school’s buildings is expected to determine the nature and extent of building movement. Underlying soils supporting the school have been reviewed to determine why building and subgrade settlement are occurring. In addition, elevation surveys were made at two-week intervals to establish settlement patterns over time, and soil samples from inside and outside the buildings were lab-tested. Plumbing and other building systems have been thoroughly checked for leaks and other factors possibly contributing to the problem. Inman Construction has agreed to fix problems at Germanshire at no cost to taxpayers.

Following the CIP committee meeting, the full Board will hold a special call meeting at 1 p.m. to consider recommendations for resolving building issues at Germanshire. The special call meeting will be held at the school.

July 16, 2004

MCS Board Meeting Update

The Memphis City Schools Board of Education, as originally scheduled, will meet on Monday, July 19.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Board of Education Auditorium located at 2597 Avery Avenue. A Board/Staff Conference originally set for July 19 has been rescheduled for Monday, July 26 at 5:30 p.m. to allow staff additional time to review proposed 2004-05 budget cuts. The staff is currently gathering additional funding data, analyzing findings and will make recommendations to Board of Commissioners in an effort to minimize the impact on classroom instruction. The July 26th Board/Staff Conference will be held in the Board of Education auditorium.

The first priority of MCS administrators has been to protect the classroom from budget cuts, but without additional funding support, tough decisions affecting classroom instruction are unavoidable. MCS has already identified $16 million in cuts by streamlining and combining administrative areas, using more energy-efficient technology, and outsourcing some services. The needed increase of 8.4% in the school district's operating budget is primarily due to state and federal unfunded mandates required by law to provide certain services.

Board Commissioners are expected to approve the school district's 2004-05 budget during a regular scheduled meeting on Monday, August 2 at 5:30 p.m.

July 15, 2004

Hirsh, Brooks Selected for Educational Reform Training
At National Institute

Deni Hirsh and Willie Brooks Jr., members of the Memphis City Schools Board of Education, have been selected to participate in a major nationwide effort to reform urban schools, funded by billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad.

Saying that America's public schools won't improve until school boards do, Los Angeles-based philanthropist Eli Broad will bring new school board members from 10 urban districts together in Park City, Utah July 24 - 30 for an intense crash program in reform.

"Memphis is a very important urban school district, and success there can inspire success elsewhere in America," Broad said. "I asked these two members of the Memphis Board of Education to come to the Institute because they care about public education, and I know they can be among the leaders of this nationwide effort to improve the way public schools are governed."

All expenses for the training are paid for by The Broad Institute.

New board members from Atlanta, Denver, Cleveland, Memphis, Long Beach, Providence, Charlotte, Wichita, Anchorage and Christina (Delaware), will come together for the program.
Commissioner Hirsh was elected to the Memphis City Schools Board in November of 2002 to represent District 2, which includes Cordova, Hickory Hill and parts of East Memphis. Commissioner Brooks represents District 1, which includes Frayser, Raleigh and other parts of North Memphis.

The Memphis board members said they are excited about the challenge of being part of Broad’s nationwide reform effort.

"I am very excited to be afforded this opportunity to be part of the discussion regarding reform efforts for urban education. I look forward to discussing the issues with my peers from around the country, in the hope that we might set the stage for renewed interest in supporting urban education," said Deni Hirsh, Commissioner representing District 2.

"My top priorities are improvement of academic achievement by our students, fiscal accountability by the Board and the district, and effective parental involvement. These are critical areas for us at Memphis City Schools," said Willie F. Brooks, Jr., Commissioner for District 1. "We must improve student outcomes, and we must be fiscally responsible and make best use of taxpayer dollars as we do so. In addition, finding ways to help parents to become more involved in their children's schools and in their education is of utmost importance.

Effective communication between homes and schools can make a positive difference for parents, teachers and the school district in working toward our primary goal: quality education for the children of Memphis. "My participation in this program will, I believe, give me additional insight and direction on accomplishing these important objectives."

The Broad Institute for School Boards is a national training and support program for newly elected and newly appointed urban school board members. Each summer, the Institute conducts an intensive one-week residential learning experience modeled after the Harvard Kennedy School's program for new mayors and new members of Congress. The Institute team is led by Don McAdams, former board president of the Houston Independent School District and a nationally recognized expert on school boards.

Dr. McAdams, founder of the Center for Reform of School Systems and the managing director of The Broad Institute for School Boards, will lead the July 24-30 training program which will bring together some of the top leadership in public education to "teach, mentor, and build relationships of trust," McAdams said. The program will dig into original case studies of success and will put the board members through challenging exercises to focus them on attitudes, knowledge and skills required to govern for student achievement.

Eli Broad, who co-founded KB Home and founded Sun America, has put $400 million of his family’s money into The Broad Foundation to help drive reform in urban school districts.

The July 24-30 Institute for School Boards will mark the third time Broad has put new school board members from 10 urban districts through the program designed to "teach new board members early on how to be effective policy and reform leaders – in short, how to stay focused on student achievement," Broad said.

July 15, 2004

Memphis school board members picked for reform effort

July 14, 2004 – Two members of the Memphis City Schools Board of Education have been picked to take part in a major nationwide effort funded by a billionaire philanthropist to reform urban schools.

Saying that America's public schools won't improve until school boards do, Los Angeles-based philanthropist Eli Broad will bring new school board members from 10 urban districts together July 24 through 30 for an intense crash program in reform.

"Memphis is a very important urban school district, and success there can inspire success elsewhere in America," Broad said.

Memphis Board Members Deni Hirsh and Willie Brooks Jr., will be brought to Park City, Utah for the unique program.

"I asked these two members of the Memphis Board of Education to come to the Institute because they care about public education, and I know they can be among the leaders of this nationwide effort to improve the way public schools are governed," Broad said.

All expenses for the training are paid by The Broad Institute.

New board members from Atlanta, Denver, Cleveland, Memphis, Long Beach, Providence, Charlotte, Wichita, Anchorage and Christina (Delaware), will come together for the program.
The Broad Institute for School Boards is a national training and support program for newly elected and newly appointed urban school board members. Each summer, the Institute conducts an intensive one-week residential learning experience modeled after Harvard University's programs for new mayors and new members of Congress. The Institute team is led by Don McAdams, former board president of the Houston Independent School District and a nationally recognized expert on school boards.

Broad, who founded KB Home and founded SunAmerica Inc., building two Fortune 500 companies from the ground up, has put more than $400 million of his family's money into The Broad Foundation to help drive reform in urban school districts.

As the achievement gap between whites and minority students gets wider, and as urban school districts continue to suffer from ineffective leadership, Broad said school boards must be radically reformed.

"The American people are tired of excuses. They don't want to hear school boards complain about not having enough money, or having too many students who don’t speak English, or having too many children from poverty who don't have good family support. There are already too many apologists for public education out there who really are adding zero to this effort. What we need are heroes, not zeroes. What we need are leaders who will say 'I don't care what the obstacles are. We're going to get the job done. Period.' That's the attitude that America wants to hear from its school boards," Broad said.

"If we don’t deal with the problem of urban education, the results for the American economy may be catastrophic," Broad said.

The Memphis board members said they are excited about the challenge of being part of Broad's nationwide reform effort.

"My top priorities are improvement of academic achievement by our students, fiscal accountability by the Board and the district, and effective parental involvement. These are critical areas for us at Memphis City Schools," Brooks said. "We must improve student outcomes, and we must be fiscally responsible and make best use of taxpayer dollars as we do so. In addition, finding ways to help parents to become more involved in their children's schools and in their education is of utmost importance. My participation in this program will, I believe, give me additional insight and direction on accomplishing these important objectives."
Hirsh said: "I am very excited to be afforded this opportunity to be part of the discussion regarding reform efforts for urban education. I look forward to discussing the issues with my peers from around the country, in the hope that we might set the stage for renewed interest in supporting urban education."

The summer, invitation only Institute will mark the third time Broad has put new school board members from 10 urban districts through the program designed to "teach new board members early on how to be effective policy and reform leaders – in short, how to stay focused on student achievement," Broad said.

Broad said there is reason for optimism that the reform effort is taking hold. "This is the third class of new board members we have put through this intense training, and already we're seeing some results. In more than a dozen urban districts around the country, the focus on student achievement is a taking center stage. And we have just begun," Broad said.

Dr. McAdams, founder of the Center for Reform of School Systems and the managing director of The Broad Institute for School Boards, pointed to the continuing achievement gap as evidence that the quality of urban school boards must improve. Noting a study by the Education Trust, McAdams said in school districts where student achievement is the intense focus, the achievement gap is actually getting smaller.

McAdams pointed to the Education Trust report which shows:

"Clearly, this notion that poor and minority kids cannot be expected to perform as well as more affluent white kids is wrong," Dr. McAdams said. "The pockets of progress we see around the country in closing the achievement gap prove it. So it's time for local school districts to stop using poverty and ethnicity as an excuse for the real problem: a failure of school district leadership to focus on student achievement and get the job done."

McAdams will lead the summer training program which will bring together some of the top leadership in public education to "teach, mentor, and build relationships of trust," McAdams said. The program will dig into original case studies of success and will put the board members through challenging exercises to focus them on attitudes, knowledge and skills required to govern for student achievement.

Broad and his wife Edythe created The Broad Foundation to dramatically improve K-12 urban public education through better governance, management, labor relations and competition. Broad has devoted much of his family’s wealth to The Broad Foundation to improve urban public education. The Broad Institute for School Boards is one of the foundation's flagship programs.

The Broad Foundation is having a tremendous impact on education reform across the country. Another of the Foundation's flagship programs, the Urban Superintendent's Academy, already has helped place new superintendents in urban school districts around America. So far, nine graduates of Broad’s Urban Superintendent Academy have gone on to lead urban school districts.

In July 2002, 23 school board members from 10 urban districts attended The Inaugural Broad Institute in Colorado Springs, CO. A total of 52 urban board members from 20 districts have been trained prior to this year.

(For more information, contact The Broad Foundation at 310-954-5050 or the Center for Reform of School Systems at 713-682-9888)

July 14, 2004

MCS registration approaches fast

Mark your calendars, Memphis. Registration and school start dates for Memphis City Schools are fast approaching.

Registration for the 2004-05 school year will take place at students' respective schools Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For students in kindergarten and first grade who are new to Memphis City Schools, parents will need to bring to registration a copy of the child's birth certificate, Tennessee Immunization Record, proof of medical exam, Social Security card (if available) and proof of residence or transfer. In addition, first graders who are new to the district will also need to show proof of attendance in an approved kindergarten program.

Children enrolling in kindergarten must be five years old on or before Sept. 30, 2004.
All other students will need to bring their most recent report card, summer school report card (if applicable), proof of residence that shows a parent or guardian’s name and address, and proof of transfer (if the child received an approved transfer).

The first day of classes will be Aug. 9, the Monday following registration, and will be a half day to allow for teacher planning.

More information on registration and immunization requirements can be found on the district's Web site, at:
http://www.mcsk12.net/special.announcements/registration/registration_chklist.htm

For more information, call the Memphis City Schools Office of Enrollment Services at 325-5830.

July 14, 2004

Board Reschedules CIP Committee Meeting for Thursday, July 22

Memphis, Tenn. - The Board of Education of Memphis City Schools has rescheduled the meeting of the Board's Capital Improvement Committee (CIP) from Thursday, July 15 to the new date of Thursday, July 22 at 11:30 a.m. The Board agreed to reschedule the meeting after the independent structural engineering experts recommended to postpone their presentation to the CIP Committee on Germanshire Elementary and allow adequate time to conduct needed final tests this week, analyze the results and present a complete report next week.

Substantial progress has been accomplished with the evaluation and recommendations for action to solve the building movement issues, however there is still information yet to be received and more yet to be analyzed, said engineering expert Richard W. Howe in a letter received by the Board today.

"Barring major surprises from the several remaining aspects of our investigation, we feel that a much more meaningful statement of the investigation will be available the following week," said Howe, PE. "In summary, we are getting very close to concluding the investigation and establishing an appropriate remedial course of action. It is our feeling that a report to the CIP Committee would be much more meaningful and better serve the Committee's purpose if given late the following week since all reports will have been completed."

The detailed survey of Germanshire's buildings is expected to determine the nature and extent of building movement. To complete the investigation, underlying soils supporting the school are being reviewed to determine why building and subgrade settlement are occurring. In addition, elevations surveys are being made at two-week intervals to establish settlement patterns over time, and soil samples have been obtained from inside and outside the buildings to be lab-tested. Plumbing and other building systems are also being thoroughly checked for leaks and other factors possibly contributing to the problem.

"We want to wait until the final reports are presented to us, and all of the facts are in to make sure repairs are fixed right and as promptly as possible," said MCS Board President Patrice Jordan-Robinson. "We are communicating with Inman on the problems at the schools, and they continue to express a willingness to correct everything at no additional cost."

The report on the roof leaks at the nine schools is expected to be received by July 30. The Board's goals are to conclude the investigation, determine the findings and begin repairs to correct the problems as quickly as possible or take appropriate action as needed, so the schools can be absolutely safe and ready for students to begin fall classes on August 9.

July 14, 2004

Board-Staff Conference Scheduled to Discuss Budget Cuts

The Memphis City Schools Board meeting scheduled for Monday, July 19 has been postponed so that Board Commissioners can hold a Board-Staff Conference that evening to discuss the budget cuts that must be made to the 2004-05 budget for the city schools.

The Board-Staff Conference will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Board of Education Auditorium.

The Board had given preliminary approval to approximately $16 million in budget cuts a few months ago. An additional $10 million must now be eliminated from the school district's budget for the coming year.

A regular Board meeting will be held on Monday, July 26 at 5:30 p.m. in the Board of Education Auditorium, 2597 Avery.

July 13, 2004

Spaces Still Available for Algebra Camp

Memphis city high school students who need a little help or who just want to prepare for the upcoming school year can still enroll in Algebra Camp, sponsored by the Memphis Urban Systemic Program (MUSP).

Algebra Camp introduces students to the concepts of algebra and is designed as a preview for students who will enroll in Algebra I in the fall.

Algebra Camp will be held at Fairview Junior High from July 22 - 28.

"We want to give our students every chance we can for success on the Gateway Exams and in their regular classes," said Claudine Stansbury of the MUSP. Algebra is one of the areas in which students must pass a Gateway Exam in order to receive a high school diploma.

For a registration form or more information, call the Memphis Urban Systemic Program at 722-4552.

July 12, 2004

East and Hamilton High Students Advance to
National Competition, Take Awards

Students from East High and Hamilton High attended the national conference of Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) June 23-26 in Orlando, FL, having advanced to national competition after winning recognition at the regional and state competitive events.
Students from East High took first place for their Marketing/Visibility Program, receiving the Outstanding HOSA Week Award. In addition, two East students were top 10 finalists in the competitions: Arionna Taylor was in the top 10 in the Medical Assisting Clinical category, and Lasandria Ward came in the top 10 in the Medical Laboratory Assistant category. Receiving special recognition at the conference were Arionna Taylor, April Jones, Korron Hightower, Lasandria Ward, Kharmen Gray, Amber Baxley, Brittaney Canaday and Ceantanna Harrison in the Award of Merit/American Cancer Society category and for their student portfolios.

HOSA advisor/teacher at East High is Sharron Hightower.

Students from Hamilton High also scored a number of awards. The Hamilton High HOSA chapter received the Award of Merit from the American Cancer Society. In addition, nine students received national recognition for their individual student Portfolios. They are: James Cartwright IV, Arthur Payne, Freddie Cunningham, Crystal Washington, Kesha Bailey, Sherrell McCoy, Venue Fowler, Jeremy Nutall and Arsenio Hardrick.

Hamilton High Alumna Shelonda Richardson was recognized for Outstanding Service as she completed her term as National HOSA Region II vice president. The HOSA advisor/teacher for Hamilton is Lovell Cartwright.

HOSA is a national student organization available to all secondary students who are or have been enrolled in a Health Science Education program, as well as post-secondary/collegiate, associate, alumni and professional members. HOSA is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and recognized by the Tennessee Department of Education as the career and technical student organization to support the Health Science Education curriculum.

July 6, 2004

Last Chance to Take TCAP Competency Test
Scheduled This Month

Memphis City Schools 2003-04 seniors and former students who have not passed one or both parts of the TCAP Competency Test will have one last opportunity to take the TCAP Competency Test this month.

The Language subtest of the TCAP Competency Test will be given on Tuesday, July 27; the Mathematics portion of the test will be administered on Wednesday, July 28.

The final administration of both subtests will take place at Kingsbury High School. All testing will begin at 8 a.m. Persons who arrive late will not be allowed to test, and only pre-registered students will be allowed to test. Students who have not yet pre-registered may do so by calling the Memphis City Schools Office of Assessment at 325-5450.

Passing both parts (Language and Math) of the TCAP Competency Test is a requirement for graduating with a regular high school diploma for students who entered the ninth grade in 2000-01 or before. Any student who has not passed one or both parts of the TCAP Competency Test after this final administration will have to pass the three Gateway Exams (Algebra I, English II and Biology I) to meet