School Board hears complaints of insensitivity

Typed in bold-faced letters, "racism" was one of the topics listed on a sign-up sheet for speakers at Tuesday's School Board meeting.

The School Board heard an earful of allegations of racism and insensitivity toward minorities and disadvantaged children. Members and supporters of Alliance for Social Justice, an education advocacy group, held a press conference a day earlier to address similar concerns.

"I can't believe the things you are allowing," Helena Garcia, an alliance member, told the board.

Garcia said a Russian teacher "who barely speaks English" is teaching English Language Learner students.

She also said she has received reports that Jim Bridger Middle School students identified as being low achievers were shuffled into a gymnasium to watch television while their classmates took the Terra Nova test.

After the meeting Superintendent Brian Cram said there are strict testing procedures that have to be followed.

"If there are any variations, they are to be reported," Cram said. "We have not received any information like that."

Linda Palmer, who has a 9-year-old child in Joseph Neal Elementary School, accused a staffer of calling her child's pediatrician to dispute the doctor's diagnosis that the child did not suffer from attention deficit disorder.

Palmer said that when she questioned why it was done, the school called the police on her. She also said she was threatened with retaliation against her and her child.

Uri Clinton spoke about a Cheyenne High School student who remains expelled from school, even though the district attorney's office decided there was no evidence to support criminal charges that she assaulted a staff member.

Board President Ruth Johnson replied that school conduct standards and criminal law are two separate things.

The process for allowing students to get back into school after they are expelled is too slow, said Clinton, who pointed out they are missing valuable class work and testing.

Several times during the meeting, school administrators told speakers they would respond in writing or asked them to "step into the hallway."

Board Member Lois Tarkanian said that she would like as much information as possible to remain public during the public meetings.

"Children should be punished for what they do," board member Shirley Barber said. "But I think we are just too ready to get them out of school."

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