Minority issues raised in public schools

Friday, March 22, 2013

The number of minorities working in Jefferson City Public Schools has dwindled in the past six years, a situation that has dismayed several people affiliated with the Jefferson City’s NAACP chapter.

On Monday about two dozens parents, school employees and other interested people — the majority of whom were black — met on the Lincoln University campus to discuss strategies for addressing the slide.

According to data provided by the school district and distributed at the meeting, between 2004 and 2007, almost 7 percent of the district’s total full-time workforce were minority groups. This school year, only 4 percent of the district’s faculty and staff are considered minorities.

In comparison, according to the 2010 census, 21.7 percent of Jefferson City’s population is considered either black; American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; of Hispanic or Latino origin; or a mix of two or more races. Of that number, the majority — 16.9 percent — are black.

In Cole County, about 16 percent of the population is considered a minority; of that group, 11.5 percent are black.

According to school district personnel, about 25 percent of the students who attend the Jefferson City Public Schools are minorities.

Rod Chapel, who serves as president of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told listeners a number of complaints about the retention situation, and other race-related circumstances, have accumulated in the last 12 months. Chapel also reported the local chapter has fielded concerns from minority families who feel their children are disciplined more severely or are being bullied.

Although the NAACP has requested information from the district on disciplinary referrals — broken down by race — the group has not received the data they are looking for yet.

He said the complaints vary from district employees who feel they “are being treated differently” to students who are tired of insensitive jokes and insinuations they are “dirty” or “thieves.”

Chapel also noted the perception exists that qualified applicants with the correct teaching certifications can’t get hired in the district.

Penney Rector, assistant to the superintendent for human resources and legal matters, said administrators are trying hard to identify strong, minority candidates.

“The charge I was given on the very first day of the job was to hire the very best teachers for our district. I take that charge very, very seriously,” Rector said.

The pool of minority applicants isn’t very large, she added, and the competition is quite intense. For every one open position in the district, about 100 resumes are received. She said the district has the luxury to consider candidates who bring more to the table than the correct certification.

She noted it’s a challenge to recruit high-quality, minority candidates. “Are we happy with the numbers? Absolutely not,” she said. “I don’t think the situation is unique to our district,” she said.

Rector said administrators are interested in hearing possible solutions.

In the past decade, the district has typically employed an average of about 20 black elementary and secondary classroom teachers. This year 15 elementary and secondary teachers are black; 486 are white.

At the administrative level this year, of the 52 people who work in management, 49 are white and three are minorities. Seven blacks were administrators three years ago.

“We are concerned there is no plan to stop the attrition, or fix it,” Chapel said. “We don’t have any verification from the school district that they have a plan to address this problem.”

Some of the black leaders in the room held up the mirror to their own community, arguing that good educational outcomes start with conscientious, caring parenting.

Emmanuel Adjuzie, an LU economics and agribusiness professor, said he deals with high school graduates who don’t appear committed to their own education. They exhibit poor work skills, such as running late for class, habits he believes are learned at home.

“I ask them: Why are you here? When do you think your future starts?” he said.

“Your future is now ... in front of me,” he tells his students.

Joe Hardy, an NAACP member, was dismayed by the lack of minority teachers in the Jefferson City Public School.

Hardy said he has seen students matriculate through Lincoln University, achieving the appropriate degrees to be educators. “They apply and they do not get hired, although they have the qualifications,” he lamented. “What can we do? They want to stay in Jefferson City, but they leave for opportunities where they know they can be effective.”

Marc Peoples lamented that students who are frequently in in-school and out-of-school suspension — even with work sent home — are missing the main ingredients of their education and their work will be sub-par as a result.

Peoples worried that students who don’t see people who look like them at school will be less likely to aspire to succeed. “The issue really is having people you identify with, who are like you, spread across the system,” he said. “I went to a large high school, predominantly white, but we had a lot more African-American faculty. We just don’t have that in Jefferson City.”

Former Jefferson City school board member Jackie Coleman lamented she sat through similar retention meetings for a decade, without seeing much in the way of results. Coleman suggested listeners avoid making the district’s problems “a racial thing.”

“It really isn’t. It’s an achievement problem,” she said.

As a relatively new hire herself, Rector has one hiring cycle under her belt and is in the midst of her second. This year her office is participating in seven job fairs in Missouri and Arkansas, four of which are at Historically Black Colleges, like Harris Stowe State University in St. Louis.

“One of my goals is to build relationships with those regional colleges,” Rector said.

She said she often hears younger teachers and college students say Jefferson City is too far from the cities where they live. “It’s a lot to ask any teacher to relocate without more than a one-year commitment,” Rector said.

More like this story

JCLifer 2 months ago

Sad...

usmc007 2 months ago

Get another NAACP

President who's really truly about the Cause first of All, and not someone who's Day job consists of being an Attorney for the state. NEXT, why when I Darryle McGregor had the word Nggr written on my desk,assaulted, and then forced to withdraw for reporting it,I also was stripped of my educational benefits as well in doing so as a proud Marine the local chapter is a Flat out Joke especially when Mr. CHAPEL say it was my fault. I guess....where is Justice? Guess we pick and choose whats right and wrong, theres no shame here....have finally contacted outside sources. DOESNT pay to play with the locals.

JCLifer 2 months ago

US Office of Civil Rights. Do not waste time locally.

usmc007 2 months ago

My point is: If he doesn't stand up for me who was discrimnated against, blatently...so is it the numbers or payout? You are about? Cause in my oppinion you only in it for the title and not what it stands for.

GrumpyGus 2 months ago

usmc, it could be your poor ability to communicate in writing that is hampering your pursuits. I cannot fully understand your scrawling, but I take it you feel you have been victimized in some way.

Rbreb13 2 months ago

Black, white, blue, yellow, red or paisley. It doesn't matter. It should be based on qualifications......period!!! This isn't a racial issue!

usmc007 2 months ago

@ grumpy we are entitled to our oppinions, and i will not entertain your comments. Like i said i did the correct thing, and got let down by A system i fought to protect and had i acted the way they espected me to, there would have been major drama @ Linn! Cnn news is on the case you'll hear about soon maybe then you'll understand their scrollng about your town government, and Cover up. And mostly about your local NAacP.

usmc007 2 months ago

@Rbreb13 just another Example of making a big deal out of Nothing, either you are qualified or your not. I agree its not about race. But my issue was...guess their(NAACP) comparing Apples to Oranges....if it happens we won't do anything about it, if it dont lets fight for that or stand up for that.....Im going to run for NAACP PRESIDENT atleast id be faithful to what it Stands for.....

connor 2 months ago

Ya I am guessing if you turned the so called quota microscope to a different setting you would discover that 49% of the employees weren't male at JCPS either.

usmc007 2 months ago

@ Lifer U.s. JusTice Dept is also a great start as well after exhausting run around with state and local departments, all i wanted was my degree, attempted working with them only to be forgotten about, swept under the semi sort to say...so now we shall see..

usmc007 2 months ago

@ connor high five!

stop1 2 months ago

they all probably got better jobs in the private sector.

usmc007 2 months ago

Hope local reporter contacts me, to report about a real minority issue and not this proper gander to get publicity for NAACP whose really not about the true PRINCIPLE of the organization.

usmc007 2 months ago

Is Dennis Rodman going to be @ the next meeting?

gary_castor 2 months ago

@usmc007, contacting a News Tribune reporter is pretty simple. Their email addresses are under their bylines. Give us your name and allegations, and we'll look into your complaint. Gary Castor, managing editor

usmc007 2 months ago

Will do Gary but,will i get the local swept under rug attitude? Principle and truth is what i live by

kentheco 1 month, 4 weeks ago

Just curious, what is the racial breakdown of students taking Lincoln classes? Reference the NAACP complaint of unfair disciplinary actions at the high school, maybe we should review what has happened at Club Motivation, and the lack of support given the police, and the shootings that have occurred after Lincolns’ Homecomings. Is there a connection?

connor 1 month, 4 weeks ago

Or a breakdown of Lincoln students who pay "activity" fees and then what group benefits from those fees would also be a neat little study.

Talk about disparate impact.

ThePeopleSpeak 1 month, 4 weeks ago

As a non-traditional Lincoln graduate, I can tell you the racial breakdown in approximates.

First of all, it depends on the field of study. Secondly, it depends on the class level, as in 100, 200, 400 etc.

In the 100 and 200 level general classes the breakdown is well over 50% black with some numbers as high as 90% in any given class. I sat in two classes in my career at Lincoln where I was the only or one of say, three white people in the class. These were a 200 level English class, and a 100 level class on Government. There were a smattering of other minorities from time to time but never in any numbers.

In all my other classes the vast majority of students were white. In fact, in the higher level classes they were almost all white.

We attended a meeting once, I was also on staff at Lincoln in the '90s, and the meeting said that black students were largely from out of town and only came to get their basic general education requirements out of the way before moving on in their junior and senior years. They said local white students from the smaller communities around JC made up the bulk of student body after that. I don't remember the number of them that graduated. My experience is that this was very true: Black students from everywhere (Even internationals) come to get the low level stuff out of the way and move on, white students from nearby come to get a degree.

I'd also like to add that My grandfather, aunt, myself, and now my cousin have all attended Lincoln. Myself, my grandfather and aunt graduated from Lincoln. I am a third generation local to attend and graduate. My cousin will graduate in a few years. The reputation Lincoln has around Jefferson City is mostly BS, but is based on a few nuggets of truth.

I know Mr. Chapel well enough, though he'd never remember me. He was a political hire back in the 90s, and has hung around since. I was never impressed with him either, and I got to know many of the leaders at Lincoln during my employment there. Few of them were like him.

My experiences were largely positive outside the bureaucracy. Lots of good people there of all races.

connor 1 month, 4 weeks ago

I would mostly agree with your statement except in the 100 and 200 level courses my experience was about a 50/50 mix and at no point in my four years there did I ever have a course that was more than a 50/50 split Black/White. By the Junior and Senior level courses, some were very often 100% White enrollment.

However I will season that statement with a time frame and admit my actual eye witness information is pretty dated so the ratios may well be different now. I would also like to see the areas of focus for actual student recruitment if they are however.

I do agree with your last sentence completely however.

usmc007 1 month, 4 weeks ago

@thpeoplespeak thanks for your comment. I was a victim of MR. CHAPEL's career move. This is just proof of injust in this town, and its all about what message we are sending to our kids as well as the youth of today. We teach them to be whatever they want to be in life but also to believe in justice, and to be a productive citizen in society. All i did was to ask for Help from Mr.chapel and wasnt the little boy who cried wolf, as an adult who was in a hostile racial motivated enviroment created by kids have my childs age. Having been a honorably discharged Marine we "Adjust,Adapt,and OVERCOME"! So i do lead by example for my son and mostly the FREEDOM that I've Earned!

usmc007 1 month, 4 weeks ago

Typo* by kids half my son's age.

JCLifer 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Seems pretty simple and obvious to me. JCPS needs to hire some Lincoln U graduates of color. We have a University right in our own town, and our local school system won't hire their graduates for teaching positions? Come on- get rid of the discrimination and bigotry and hire some minority teachers!

The ratios of teachers and administrators should be identical to the ratio of students and the ration of the local population. If it is different, that means some one is discriminating. It isn't rocket science.

This goes for City Hall and State government. Hire some minorities. We got University graduates right here in town- hire them and support your local university.

usmc007 1 month, 3 weeks ago

It's some individuals in this town! Not all! Maybe a riot or something major happening might force a change, that's about what it's going to come to ...you can on do people wrong for so long before the Christopher Dorhnor' syndrome takes place!!

resident 1 month, 3 weeks ago

To JCLifer: the principle of ratios is ridiculous. Do you want 20% of your football players to be black, another percentage Latin American, another percentage Native American, etc. etc, and the vast majority white? it doesn't reflect ability or merit.

connor 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Minorities have argued for and used ratios and/or quotas based on the actual make up for years to circumvent merit. If you wish to argue against their use than I suppose you are also against affirmative action?

resident 1 month, 3 weeks ago

I do argue against the use of ratios. In short, when the government tries to impose arbitrary standards, I believe it makes the situation worse. When first enacted, I supported affirmative action. I believed that it was necessary for blacks to gain reasonable entry into the workforce. However, I also believe that it is a policy that should end at some point.

JCLifer 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Yes, in public institutions, public programs, and public services the ratios should be followed. Yes, merit and competence should be a consideration too.

In a privately-funded organization, church, school, etc. go ahead and exclude and discriminate all you want. However, if you are getting public funding, you better have a workforce, team, etc. that mirrors the general population. Same for vendors, suppliers, etc. I do not support public entities that purposely hire or do business with more minorities that what the general population looks like. That is called reverse discrimination, and it should be just as illegal. Again, if it is a private organization, knock your little bigotted socks off and have fun.

connor 1 month, 3 weeks ago

I want to be on site eating popcorn the day they include White Men in their little gender/racial party and force the public schools, government agencies and other funding recipients and contractors to have a proper ratio of them on their staff.

I would also buy stock in tissue companies and paper companies for all the crying and sign making they would do. It will make the stock values skyrocket.

JCLifer 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Yes, this little gender/racial party at the expense of us taxpayers that the government has is wrong. Very wrong. if the ratios are ok, then it is OK. No one deserves a better chance over someone else because of their gender or their race. No one.

resident 1 month, 3 weeks ago

I've worked in many government agencies and never worked in one that exactly "mirrored" the general population - some had more blacks, some more whites. I would be curious to know if the LU admin and faculty exactly mirror its student body. I am also curious as to what you mean by "knock your bigoted socks off." Are you saying that every team in the NFL is bigoted? Are you saying that all those agencies that I've had experience with are bigoted? Is Obama bigoted because he didn't appoint a Cabinet with an exact make-up of those he governs?

connor 1 month, 3 weeks ago

While I can't answer for Lifer I find it interesting that you claim to be against quotas but yet state you are only for Affirmative Action going away eventually. Affirmative Action is all about quotas. And furthermore has had the effect of ushering in an over quota effect in almost every Federal agency. To the point that even NASA which has the lowest percentage of Minority hires has achieved a rate of almost 165% over the quota established by the Department of labor via the civil rights act of 1964 and other quota based legal actions . Some agencies stand at percentages of 360+ or more. The numbers scream Bigotry and racial/gender hiring preferences.

As for the NFL and College football recruiting efforts are soundly based on racial preferences as well. Even breaking the mold of racial expectations for certain positions brings with it a stream of hate and accusations of racism where none can possible exist.

Lastly as for LU I assure you unless things have changed drastically the racial makeup of the staff bears no resemblance to the racial make up of the student body as a whole. It may come close if you only look at the Freshman year makeup and/or those who reside on campus.

JCLifer 1 month, 3 weeks ago

I am appalled that NASCAR has few minorities.

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