So where are the parents?

Appointments to the Academic Standards Review Commission (ASCR) are now complete. They are:

State Board of Education Appointments

Bill Cobey – Chair, North Carolina State Board of Education

Olivia Oxendine – State Board of Education member,  Professor of Education UNC-Pembroke

Governor McCrory Appointment

Andre Peek, IBM, NC Business Committee for Education

Speaker Thom Tillis Appointments

Sara “Katie” Lemons – Stokes County – English Teacher

Dr. Jeffrey  A. Isenhour – Catawba County – Middle School Principal

Ms. Tammy Covil – New Hanover County – New Hanover County Board of Education

Mrs. Sharmel “Denise” Watts – Mecklenburg County – Area Superintendent,  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Senate President Phil Berger Appointments

Dr. John T. Schieck  – Wake County – Retired Professor

Laurie McCullum  – Rockingham County – Assistant Principal

Ann B. Clark – Iredell County – Dep. Supt. of Schools, Member of Central Management Team for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Jeannie Metcalfe – Forsyth County – Winston Salem Forsyth County Board of Education

ASCR by the numbers –

6 – number of commission members who are professional educators

4 – number of commission members  who are current State or local school board members

0 – number of  commission members who listed “parent” on appointment release.

As we feared, the final ASCR appointments are top-heavy with professional educators and administrators and lack representation by those most concerned about the implementation of Common Core Standards, parents. After a year of testimony and research, it looks like the views of parents matter little to this process.

This is not a good start.

Also is it just me or is anyone else bothered by the location of the first meeting, the State Education Building — essentially the DPI offices. Legislation establishing the Commission specified ASCR was to be administered through the State Department of Administration. If that’s the case, why is ASCR meeting essentially in NC DPI’s building? Yes, I know the meeting is in the Construction Room and it’s technically a DOA office in the building. But I also know DOA said the meeting location was a SBE decision, and NOT a DOA decision.

ASCR is supposed to be an independent commission representing a range of interests. Looking at members’ occupations, the preponderance of professional educators and the lack of parental representation, sadly, this list looks like business as usual.

Someone convince me I’m wrong.