Currently the proposed Vision 2020 is suggesting a school closure as means to reduce the budget. We disagree with this extreme & aggressive measure. We ask that the superintendent and school board first address these 4 items before closing a school, especially considering Dr Tate's license will most likely be lost after his ethics hearing at the end of June.
1.) No school closures until the new superintendent taking over for Dr Tate has held the position for one year.
2.) Representation of Parents & Community members of all economic, & racial backgrounds while also ensuring the disabled community is represented in this mix are included in the Search and Selection Committee for both the interim & permanent Superintendent.
3.)DCSD inequities can no longer be ignored. The district's Equity Committee has not met since 2012. This is not acceptable. The committee must be reformed to include Community representatives, parents, scholars, City of Davenport leaders to create a plan to bridge the gap & correct this issue.
4.) DCSD Special Education has been audited & found to be in violation of 7 different state & federal laws resulting in denying free, appropriate public education as the dictates for our students. There currently is no plan in place to ensure this doesn't happen again. This is unacceptable. We must demand a plan be presented with public input to right this wrong. We need to recreate the Special Education Council that was created to incorporate a wide range of parents of different backgrounds, Community representatives and educators who are invested in lessening the achievement gap, as well as give parents & teachers support in this system while creating a better school culture for the children in order to provide the education that the law has required for these children.
It is a simple, reasonable request to ask for DCSD to use best practice with on going major issues and have plans to address them prior to rushing into another school closure. Please sign our petition to tell them you agree.
