--- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "asburycouple" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
>
What are they're test scores today? Aren't they still in Jersey City?
Here's an example of the impact a state takeover of the school systm
> can have to break the logjam and improve the results.
>
>
> By ANDY NEWMAN
> Published: August 8, 1996
> Seven years into a state takeover of the Jersey City school system,
> students' scores on standardized tests are showing marked
> improvement, the State Education Department said yesterday. This
past
> school year, 73 percent of the city's eleventh graders passed tests
> required for graduation, up from 66 percent in 1994-95. Eighth
> graders showed similar gains. Peter Peretzman, a spokesman for the
> department, said that once 85 percent of the city's students have
> passed standardized tests, the state would consider relinquishing
> control of the district.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "asburycouple" <asburycouple@>
> wrote:
> >
> > It appears that there has been much greater damage to any rapport
> on
> > the boe than just the addition of this one person. I sense a
> > bitterness in these postings among the voting board members that
> > might make it almost impossible for the boe to function properly
> > regardness of Mr. Hopson involvement.
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "Fred" <asburydogma@> wrote:
> > >
> > > --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "asburycouple"
<asburycouple@>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > People, his term is up in April. VOTE HIM OUT! PERIOD.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Below is all I could find on Google related to Mr. Hopson.
> > Nothing
> > > at
> > > > all is either racist or homophobic. That doesn't mean there
> isn't
> > > > anything to the accusations but given the serious nature of
the
> > > claims I
> > > > certainly hope someone actually provides some evidence behind
> > them,
> > > or
> > > > steps up and apologizes if they can't.
> > > >
> > > > However the two excerpts below do illustrate the continued
> > division
> > > and
> > > > disagreement that will continue to plague the school board
going
> > > > forward. Whether he was right or wrong is not what worries
> me.
> > > How the
> > > > current board and he will be able to coexist and get things
> done
> > is
> > > > beyond me given the history below. I see a future with more
> > > arguing by
> > > > adults resulting in more failure for kids.
> > > >
> > > > I think that the only thing that's been proven over the past
> > several
> > > > years is that Asbury Park simply will not be able to fix our
own
> > > > schools. Too many egos, too much croneyism, far too many
> agendas
> > > other
> > > > than the kids. As a kid when things went this horribly wrong
> > we'd
> > > call
> > > > a do-over. We need the state to come in here and give us do-
> > over.
> > > Run
> > > > the system without all of the history. See what works. Be
> open
> > to
> > > > trying things without the baggage of worrying about who's
> > friend's
> > > job
> > > > might be impacted. And reward performance rather than
politics.
> > > >
> > > > Here are the quotes...
> > > >
> > > > From August, when the status of Dr. Lewis and the football
> coach
> > > were in
> > > > question:
> > > >
> > > > Since that time, several parents have come forward to protest
> the
> > > move
> > > > and voice support for the coach.
> > > >
> > > > A small group of parents and football players took a bus trip
> to
> > > Trenton
> > > > last Friday and met with Deputy Commissioner of Education
Isaac
> > > Bryant.
> > > >
> > > > Greg Hopson, one of the parents who organized the trip, said
> the
> > > group
> > > > asked Bryant to suspend the Asbury Park school board for
> > repeatedly
> > > > denying candidates for employment submitted by Superintendent
> of
> > > Schools
> > > > Antonio Lewis.
> > > >
> > > > D'Alessandro contested that allegation.
> > > >
> > > > "Ninety-five percent of everything Lewis asks for are
routinely
> > > > agreed to," he said. "We have had a couple of high profile
> > > > candidates who have not been hired."
> > > >
> > > > Regarding the football coach:
> > > >
> > > > Greg Hopson, Asbury Park, has two sons who played for Coach
> > Stinson.
> > > > Gregory Junior will be going to West Virginia, Wesleyan or
> > Delaware
> > > > State University in the fall with an academic and athletic
> > > scholarship.
> > > > He has offers to play football for both teams.
> > > >
> > > > His younger brother Frederick is going into his junior year.
> > > >
> > > > Hopson is very upset about the delay in hiring a football
coach
> > and
> > > will
> > > > be attending tonight's meeting.
> > > >
> > > > Young Gregory said Coach Stinson has been a role model and a
> > mentor.
> > > >
> > > > "He helped me on and off the field, academically and
> athletically.
> > > > Since he joined the program it has been going up and up. More
> > kids
> > > are
> > > > going to college," said Gregory.
> > > >
> > > > He added that Stinson helped him throughout his four years.
> > > >
> > > > "Everything I asked him to do, he did, he was just there, you
> > > > didn't have to ask."
> > > >
> > > > Hopson says his son played both defensive and offensive
> positions
> > > and in
> > > > his opinion always gave 110 percent.
> > > >
> > > > "Being his father, I want to say I motivated him. At home I
> did,
> > but
> > > > at school it was the coach."
> > > >
> > > > Hopson said many parents are fighting for Coach Stinson to be
> > > rehired.
> > > > When they learned that Stinson had not yet had his contract
> > renewed,
> > > > they attended the last board meeting to voice concerns.
> > > >
> > > > "He had not been re-appointed. We went to the meeting and we
> > pushed
> > > > the point," said Hopson. "We are not bullies; we are a bunch
of
> > > > concerned parents who want answers. The ninth and 12th
graders
> > are
> > > all
> > > > suffering. I think the fault lies with the board."
> > > >
> > > > Hopson believes the Board of Education is not taking the
> > leadership
> > > role
> > > > it should in the school community.
> > > >
> > > > "I feel the athletic director is being managed by other
sources
> > with
> > > > their own agendas," he said.
> > > >
> > > > DiSanto said yesterday that he had not seen the board agenda
> and
> > as
> > > far
> > > > as he is concerned, board members will "vote their conscious"
at
> > > > the meeting tonight.
> > > >
> > > > Lewis and athletic director Ronald Standridge could not be
> > reached
> > > for
> > > > comment.
> > > >
> > > > Hopson is so concerned about the current atmosphere at the
> school
> > > that
> > > > he sent a letter to the commissioner of education, Lucille E.
> > Davy,
> > > > detailing his concerns. He also believes someone with access
to
> > his
> > > > son's school records sent erroneous information about his son
to
> > > > colleges.
> > > >
> > > > Because of the situation, Hopson's son was put on home
> instruction
> > > > for the remainder of the year.
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
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