Monday, March 12, 2012

Dept of Ed sets JPS hearing next month (Video). No JPS audit since 2009. JPS absent (Updated)

The Department of Education set a hearing next month for the Jackson Public School System to present its case for keeping its accreditation. The state placed JPS on probation for problems in its special ed programs. JPS was placed on a corrective action plan of one year in 2010. The term expired in 2011 with no improvement. The meeting today was not to discuss whether the state should revoke accreditation but to determine what the next step should be since the district is not compliant with special education guidelines. The board unanimously voted to give JPS a chance to present its case on April 26 at 10:00 AM. No one from Jackson Public School District appeared at today's meeting (See 23:30 of video).

The problem began in 2010 when the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a complaint against JPS with the Department of Education for discrimination against students with disabilities. The complaint alleged a "systemic" problem in the special education program. Copy of complaint. The state conducted on "on site" investigation in October and determined JPS violated state and federal regulations for special needs students. The state placed the district on probation and ordered it to submit an improvement plan. The state gave the district twelve months to become compliant. The term expired last November with the district still not in compliance.

State Superintendent Tom Burhnam sent a letter to JPS Superintendent Dr. Jayne Sargeant on February 23 notifying her of pending sanctions. Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Ann Moore told the panel there was "a great deal of resistance initially" from JPS but cooperation improved after Dr. Sargeant became interim Superintendent. Ms. Moore said the district hired a new Director of Special Education and the relationship was "excellent". However, Ms. Moore said federal guidelines mandated stronger sanctions be imposed on the district if it failed to meet certain standards. The panel voted to set April 26 as the date for the district to present its case. No decision was made about taking action on the district's accreditation.

The Department of Education also said the Jackson Public School District is in violation of two other standards for maintaining accreditation. The district has not submitted an audit as required by law since 2009. There are no audits of JPS for 2010 and 2011 fiscal years. The State Auditor's website reports 54 school districts have submitted audits for fiscal year 2011, including Desoto County. The district also "has failed to report unexcused absences" as required by the state.










11 comments:

Shadowfax said...

Interesting that not a soul raised their hand when the question was axed, "Is there anyone here representing JPS?" Why no, why would you axe? It's only their entire present and future at risk. Why should they attend?

Lumbergh said...

WTF. JPS didn't bother showing up?

Anonymous said...

Where was the brave voice of Parents for Public Schools....you know, that Democratic PAC that accuses people of racism if they don't want their child in a failing school.

Anonymous said...

7:59: Name one school in Ward 1 that is categorized as failing.

Anonymous said...

What the hell does Ward 1 have to do with it?

Anonymous said...

Were the JPS people on spring break? Seriously . . . .

Anonymous said...

JPS has some good athletic programs. Many students get college and community college scholarships. The programs are very important. Many attend school only to play the sports, not get an education. JPS failure is not only a failure to students, but also City of Jackson and State of MS.

Anonymous said...

JPS has some good athletic programs. Many students get college and community college scholarships. The programs are very important. Many attend school only to play the sports, not get an education. JPS failure is not only a failure to students, but also City of Jackson and State of MS.

KaptKangaroo said...

Blah, blah, blah.

Where is everyone? Are those kids running around in the background noise?

What are they voting on first? No reading of the motion? Vote on a hearing?

OK, this gets funny, dates, official notifications, dates, code, blah, blah, blah.

So three years ago there was notice. It must be time to come up with all the codes to support planting the money tree that is providing shade while mired in bullshit.

They are obviously nervous about being filmed.

Special education is and should be a priority. I've said it before, when we are unable to assist in support of our most vulnerable and frankly those who don't have a choice; we must make effort and overachieve.

This film demonstrates the "systemic" issue in Jackson. Keep everyone down appears to be the motto, especially those who are unable to succeed without our help as a community. This is sick.

PS If you are going to conduct a conference call, at least let them know to put on "mute" while you are busy shopping at Walmart.

NO PUBLIC ACCESS to documents. Went for the legal response. It's called, bullshit - oh, with a smile. Did she really just smile that big?

OMG - really? Finally, someone asks for mute while the noise is SO FREEEEGIN' loud even the people in the room can't hear!

"This meeting is to determine whether to hold a hearing."

"if we decide to not hold a hearing, what happens?"

"It could go to the board." SO WTF do these people do? What are they responsible for?

Commission or Board? How about 3 years no action we should probably have, at a minimum, public discourse over the inability for them to deal with a very real issue.

"Schedule a hearing to allow JPSD to present reasons why accreditation should NOT be withdrawn." How about why it should.

I'm hearing lets just say we are doing a great job and continue to have hearings on why we are doing a great job; while children suffer.

How do they sleep?

Anonymous said...

KK, we agree that we must step up to help our most vulnerable children so that they might become independent adults.

We agree that JPS has bungled their response and duties from start to finish.

But, I wonder if they aren't presented with a " mission impossible" .

I have serious question as to the effectiveness of mainstreaming since its implementation. It seems to me that we got better results with other methods 40 years ago...methods that included specialized schools for those with special needs... both learning disabilities and emotional problems. The problem in many communities back then, was that access to such programs didn't exist.

We added new and expensive responsibilities into our public school systems without adding sufficient resources or structure. Ihe monies once spent elsewhere weren't shifted. In some cases, residential care disappeared altogether as the good programs and specialized schools were eliminated along with the ones that simply warehoused.

One thing we do not seem to want to face is the effect that one time demanding child has on the entire classroom. Literally, time is lost teaching the children who can participate while addressing the actions of a disruptive child or stopping to help the child who cannot follow the directions. And, teachers are not successful in expelling, much less permanently expelling unreachable ( within existing structure) children anymore.

IMHO , one reason bullying is so out of control is that violent children with serious problems now populate our public schools when before, they would have been expelled and their parents forced to seek treatment. Now, parents with violent , troubled children can remain in denial.

Anonymous said...

9:32, are you serious? When have you ever heard of a child with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc. being a bully? Never. Ever. In fact, these kids are usually the first targets of a bully.

The issue is special ed kids and JPS' total, systematic failure over many. many years to provide any meaningful educational program for these children. The issue is not "violent" or "troubled" children who are causing problems at school, because I promise you 99 times out of 100 the troublemaking kids are the "normal" kids who are not in a special ed program.

Finally, the issue is not that a special ed student requires a higher level of classroom support to be in a "typical" classroom. Instead, the issue is JPS' failure to provide the support that allows that student to be in the classroom in a way that does not diminish the classroom experience for all children. And JPS' failure to provide those programs does nor mean we should conclude that mainstreaming is unattainable and therefore these kids should simply be warehoused somewhere else. The last time I looked, JPS was not doing a good job providing educational programs for "normal" kids either. Does that mean we should ship those kids off somewhere, too, since their needs can't be met within the school system?

I assume your comment was made with good intentions. But anyone who suggests that special ed was somehow better 40 years ago is simply uninformed on the topic.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.