Dr. Nancy
Zambito, Superintendent of Schools, opened the initial
meeting of the task force on April 26, 2007 at 6:00 pm.
Over thirty-five invited members of the school and
community were present. Dr Zambito told participants
that she loved working for the Jackson-Madison County
School System and that she recognized that there were
issues that needed to be addressed. She said she had
heard from many different groups and had been given lots
of good ideas but she did not believe she had heard from
the true voice of the community. Members of the Task
Force will provide that voice as they look at important
factors that are critical to a school system.
Dr. Zambito
noted that the work of the Task Force would be time
certain with definite beginning and ending dates. Dr.
Zambito told participants that the school board would be
ready to receive a final report on April 8, 2008. Dr.
Zambito urged participants to not only discuss what they
currently know but to find out what other school
communities across the county are doing. She encouraged
the Task Force to consider carefully whether the
initiatives of other communities would be successful in
Jackson-Madison County. Dr. Zambito encouraged Task
Force members to be open to differences of opinions and
to engage in calm, reflective discussions. She told
members of the Task Force that she believed “we can have
whatever we want.”
Dr. Zambito then
introduced Dr. Allan Sterbinsky, Co-Chairperson of the
Task Force. Dr. Zambito explained that Dr. Sterbinsky
is a new employee of the school system with a history in
education research with both Vanderbilt University and
the University of Memphis. Dr. Zambito then introduced
Co-Chairperson Ernest Brooks II, a long-term resident of
Jackson and current member of the Jackson City Council.
Dr. Zambito then concluded her remarks by telling Dr.
Sterbinsky, Mr. Brooks and all members of the Task Force
that she was very grateful for the work that they would
be doing over the next year. She then turned the
meeting over to Dr. Sterbinsky.
Dr. Sterbinsky
expressed appreciation to members of the Task Force for
the time they would be contributing. He also expressed
appreciation to Dr. Zambito for putting her trust in
him, Mr. Brooks and all the Task Force Members. He
noted that one thing inspires us all. “We love the
children of our city and county. That will unite us in
getting our task accomplished. We have a wide range of
ideas on how to get where we need to be. That is our
diversity and will be a source of strength to the Task
Force.”
Dr. Sterbinsky
then pointed out the focus areas of the Task Force:
Quality of Education, Student Assignment/Transportation,
Faculty Assignment, Extracurricular Activities,
Facilities, and Mission Statement. He noted that the
structure of the Task Force will include sub-committees
for each focus area. Each subcommittee will conduct its
own meetings and maintain its own minutes.
Sub-committee work will be carried on in addition to the
monthly meetings of the Task Force. He stated that the
sub-committee members will be encouraged to research the
successes and failures in other similar communities so
can leverage from their successes and not repeat their
mistakes. Sub-committees will also determine what the
community expects by gathering data from focus groups,
surveys, town-hall meetings, etc.
Dr. Sterbinsky
then briefly explained each of the focus areas. The
Quality of Education Subcommittee will study student
achievement including the need for higher levels of
learning for all students and the need to close the
achievement gap between black and white students. The
subcommittee will also look at the kinds of programs the
community may want and expect. Dr. Sterbinsky
recommended that this subcommittee brainstorm what would
work well in Jackson-Madison County.
The Student
Assignment/Transportation Subcommittee will look at the
issues surrounding racial balance, including
neighborhood schools, busing and student choice. Again
this subcommittee will look at what has been
accomplished in other communities and determine what
would work best in Jackson-Madison County.
The Faculty
Assignment Subcommittee will examine the need for
diversity in the school system’s teaching staff. The
subcommittee will also look at the requirements for
teacher equity as found in No Child Left Behind.
The
Extra-Curricular Activities Subcommittee will look at
student opportunities for sports, the arts, clubs,
industry mentoring (such as robotics), etc.
Facilities will
look at the current school building but also at what is
needed. Do we need lots of small neighborhood schools
or large consolidated schools with more diverse
programs?
Mission
Statement will determine how the Task Force will know if
we are successful when the Task Force completes it work
in April.
Dr. Sterbinsky
then asked Task Force members to think about the
subcommittee to which they could provide the most
value. Dr. Zambito noted that the work of the
subcommittees was not about unitary status but rather
about the critical areas of focus that will make our
school system the very best.
Dr. Sterbinksy
then introduced co-chair Ernest Brooks II. Mr. Brooks
informed Task Force Members that his one reason for
co-chairing was that he was “a concerned parent.” The
work of the Task Force will be the nuts and bolts of how
we become a better school system. Mr. Brook then asked
the members if they would like a crisp $100 bill, which
he held up? The answer was of course affirmative. He
then crumpled the bill, again surveying the members’
interest. Again the answer was affirmative. He then
stomped on the bill and asked the same question. Mr.
Brooks said that his $100 bill represented many of the
students in the Jackson-Madison County. They may be
crumpled or stomped on but they still have value. He
encouraged members to work hard on behalf of all the
students.
Mr. Brooks then
instructed members of the Task Force to choose a
subcommittee. Each subcommittee was told to select a
chairperson and a recorder, complete a members list
including contact information, set dates for
subcommittee meetings, and come up with at least three
issues to be studied and reported on back to the Task
Force.
