Lamar High School was the site of a meeting tonight to address magnet schools and the report from Magnet Schools of America. Speakers were Harvin Moore HISD Board Member, Ann Best Human Resources HISD, and John Allen HISD Special Improvement officer. The auditorium was packed with parents, past students and teachers all wanting to be a part of the public forum.
The meeting started with HISD providing the following information
- HISD is committed to choice, Magnet programs, and Vanguard programs.
- Transportation for 2011-2012 Magnet and Vanguard programs will continue next year.
- Students in a Magnet program this year can remain in their school even if it is re-designated as a neighborhood school.
- Schools may continue to have a theme or focus even if re-designated as a neighborhood school.
Ann Best said, “HISD wants our school system to remain a school system of choice. There are 40 different opportunities to transfer schools. Magnet school came into popularity in the 1970’s as a voluntary way to achieve school segregation.”
HISD Magnets
113 Magnet Programs
· 55 elementary
· 31 Middle
· 27 high school
42,469 students – 21% of overall population
13,690 Magnet school bus riders
Harvin Moore said “you can not say you are doing what you need to do when the community chooses to send their children to other schools. Anglos make up 25% of the population of Houston, but only 8% of the school system is Anglo. There needs to be an action plan. Magnets enhance the schools and if HISD closes magnet programs even more families will leave the district”
Findings by (MSA) Magnet Schools of America
- Inconsistent decision making regarding funding and themesInefficient use of funds and disparities in funding
- Lack of Monitoring and oversight
- Lack of program implementation
- No standards for enrollment
Much of the question from the audience questioned the finding of the MSA. The great majority of the audience wanted the magnet program left alone, and neighborhood schools were considered not a good choice. The general theme was Education is a pathway out of poverty, and no one was in favor of cutting funding for education. In summary Harvin Moore said” make plans for next year with the Status Quo and not on what the report said.”
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Source: HISD