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School Board to vote on agreement with NAACP By Roslyn Ryan
Mar 26, 2008 The Powhatan County School Board is expected to vote on the approval of a mediation agreement between the Board and the NAACP on April 2. The document, which was drawn up with the guidance of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, includes a number of stipulations that the School Board would agree to should they vote to approve the agreement. One of those is that the Powhatan school system will put together a packet of information for prospective African American teachers detailing the resources available to African Americans in the County. Another section of the agreement states that both the school system and the NAACP agree “to continue to examine the racial balance of classes as part of their class scheduling process.” The mediation agreement was drawn up after a series of meetings between Powhatan County School Superintendent Dr. Margaret S. Meara and leaders from the local NAACP chapter. The meeting followed complaints made by the NAACP that African-American students were being treated unfairly in Powhatan Schools. Those claims reportedly stem from a fight that occurred at Powhatan High School two years ago, after one group of students allegedly taunted another group with racial slurs and other derogatory language. The incident evoked a strong response from a number of African-Americans in the community, who claimed during a School Board meeting that unequal treatment was a legitimate problem in the school system. According to School Board member Jason Moore, who said Monday that he was planning to vote against adopting the agreement, the document does little to solve any of the problems previously brought forth. “It makes it look like the Board has done something wrong,” he said. Current School Board Chairman Valarie Ayers said she sees the document as “a positive thing,” and indicated Tuesday that she planned to vote in favor of signing it.
The issue has been placed on the agenda for the April 2 School Board meeting which will take place at Pocahontas Elementary School at 7 p.m.
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Dr. Margaret Meara and Valarie Ayers are referred to by their full names and titles in this article which is the correct and respectful thing to do. So I ask you; who is Moore and why does he not merit the same treatment? Was there no contact person from the NAACP to be interviewed? It is a very serious matter when Powhatan Public Schools engages in a contract with a political entity like the NAACP. A lot more sunlight is called for in my opinion. --c. dickson of powhatan Mar. 26, 2008 at 01:42 PM It seems to me we settled these matters with a Federal Law over 50 years ago. I do not see the need for Powhatan to enter into another agreement on this matter. Fair and equal treatment is not an option at our schools, it is the law.
Dave Osbourne of Powhatan Apr. 2, 2008 at 11:24 AM A contract with NAACP? A legal document that our school system abides by with what implications? Will the School Board run our school system or with the contract will the NAACP? Discrimination in hiring is against law. If the county has discriminated against hiring African American teachers then this is a human resource matter. If a school has discriminated against a student, whatever the race, then it is an issue with that particular student, the school and the school board. This is a scary situation when contracts are made with political organizations without knowing what is in that contract. Make it public...allow the parents and teachers and students to review the contract. They are the ones being affected directly by decisions within the School Board and will be affected directly by decisions by NAACP if the School Board gives them control within the district. The School Board knows federal laws against discrimination and I do not feel that the NAACP has to have a contract with the county to remind them of those federal laws. --G. Hoover of Powhatan Apr. 6, 2008 at 01:53 PM You Know I am sick of the school boards and the NAACP deciding whats best for the community . In all aspects you know the word Politicaly Correct wasnt outspoken until the clintons were in Office and they werent concerned for the People iF you know what I mean. I think the citizens of Powhatan have a say in the contracts that effect their children not some Organization based on racial profiling and equal rights , in my oppinion doesnt exist . what about the American Indians who were forced to live confined in land givin to them by the government to “ Keep their communitys were is there NAACP ? what about The Mexican Americans weres thiers . Quit crying All School Districts are based on were you live not the color of your skin and the language you speak --Allen Barnes of Midlothian va Apr. 16, 2008 at 12:49 AM
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