Before examining its policy on magnet schools, Evanston/Skokie School District 65 board members said at Monday night’s meeting that they need more information on how the special schools affect the rest of the district.
“We want to look at the question of skimming,” Board President Mary Rita Luecke said. “Do magnet schools draw off top students from other schools?”
The board is in the process of examining the purpose of the magnet school policy, which was last amended in 1996. The policy states that the magnet schools should help District 65 achieve racial balance and relieve overcrowding.
The assessment of magnet schools also is listed as one of the district’s 2003-04 academic year’s annual goals. District 65’s two magnet schools are King Lab School, 2424 Lake Street, and Timber Ridge School, 3701 Davis Street.
King Lab School parent Beth Lange, representing a group of magnet schools parents, said she wanted to clear up stereotypes that some residents might hold.
“I’m worried about erroneous perceptions that the magnet schools get more money and skim desirable students from other schools,” she said.
Getting further information on magnet schools can help debunk some of these myths, Luecke said. One perception to examine is the belief that admissions policies for magnet schools are driven by the district’s guideline of not exceeding 60 percent of any one racial group in each school, Luecke said.
“We need to look at some myths, such as, you can’t get in if you’re white on the south side (of Evanston) or black on the north side,” Luecke said.
Board member Jonathan Baum said the district also should examine the reasons parents choose magnet schools.
“We need a research vehicle beyond anecdotes,” Baum said.
Superintendent Hardy Ray Murphy suggested adding a question to the magnet school applications that would ask parents why they wanted their children to go to a magnet school.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, Director of Research Paul Brinson presented the opening of schools report, a summary of enrollment and demographics at the beginning of the year.
The report showed an increase in Asian-American and Latino populations and a decrease in white and black populations in the schools, Brinson said. The school district is 43 percent black, 39 percent white, 12 percent Latino and 4 percent Asian American, according to the report.
Board member Bob Eder said he hoped to see a more comprehensive history accompanying the data but was pleased with the overall report.
Also Monday, Director of Special Services Valerie Gudgeon presented a discipline management report to the board. The report documents the success of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, a new plan that focuses on reducing behavior problems.
The plan uses a three-tiered approach to prevent behavior problems through working with cases on schoolwide, group and individual levels with existing cases.
“If the school puts time and effort into implementing this program, they will see results,” board member Mary Erickson said.
The board also postponed discussion on goals development for the 2004-2005 academic year because of time constraints at the meeting.
