Friday, April 26, 2019 at 7:22:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Subject: Re: May 1 Decision - Parent's View

Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 10:14:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Heather ScoG _ Staff - Superintendent
To: Lindsay Arant

Ms. Arant,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns.

Sincerely,

Heather ScoG
Board of EducaPon District 1
919-564-6891 (mobile)

From: Lindsay Arant <arant.lindsay@gmail.com>

Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 5:09 PM
To: James MarPn _ Staff - Superintendent
Cc: Heather ScoG _ Staff - Superintendent; mjohnsonhostler@wcpss.ne; Roxie Cash _ Staff - Superintendent;
Keith SuGon _ Staff - Superintendent; ChrisPne Kushner _ Staff - Superintendent; Bill Fletcher _ Staff -
Superintendent; Lindsay Mahaffey _ Staff - Superintendent; Chris Heagarty _ Staff - Superintendent
Subject: May 1 Decision - Parent's View

Dear Mr. MarPn –

I understand the physical challenges the May 1 rally has presented for WCPSS. However, I am
incredibly disappointed to see your call for parents to support what amounts to a NCAE-sponsored
strike. I am beyond appalled and offended that you would consider asking parents to endorse the use
of children as pawns in a funding game.

I echo State Superintendent Mark Johnson's senPments about the May 1 educator rally:

“Protes(ng is a right that can be just as effec(ve during non-school hours. Closing schools affects not
only students’ learning and nutri(on, but also parents, other school employees, and other teachers.”

Luckily, my child receives three hot meals each day and has parents who are able to supplement his
educaPon at home. You and I both know that every child is not that fortunate, and I hope that weighs
incredibly heavy on the board's collecPve conscience on May 1.

Public schools constantly decry the aGenPon and funding charter schools receive. But when you
consider the downright poliPcal games you and your fellow board members play, it’s no surprise that
the county's enrollment grew by a whopping 42 students in 2018.

In the three years my son has been enrolled in WCPSS I have never once emailed or complained about
the county system. Your email today ends my silence. No reply is necessary for obvious reasons. I just
feel it incredibly important that the WCPSS board hear from all consPtuents on this issue.

Sincerely,
Lindsay Arant

Page 1 of 7
Parent, WCPSS 2nd Grader
Underwood Elementary

Page 2 of 7
 Friday, April 26, 2019 at 7:22:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Subject: Re: May 1 Decision - Parent's View

Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 10:10:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: James MarPn _ Staff - Superintendent
To: Lindsay Arant

Dear Ms. Arant,

While I respeciully disagree, thank you for noPng your perspecPve. I do note that the WCPSS had no
role in the planing of the May 1 event. However, we must respond as a system when employees
choose to uPlize one of their legally authorized personal days for purposes that are a consPtuPonally
guaranteed right for free expression.

I can assure you that we are working to address the issue of providing breakfast and lunch for students
who depend on those services.

With respect to the Charter school issue you raise, please recognize that under the current model
7.9%, moving to more that 8.5%, of every locally appropriated dollar goes to Charter schools
irrespecPve of whether or not the Charter school provides that service. For example, 7.9% of our
recent request to repair and replace school bus engines will go to Charter schools even though none of
the Charter schools operate busses that need the engine replacement. With all due respect that
"Charter tax" is not fiscally responsible. I submit that if Charters are to be able to operate, they should
have to operate under the same requirements as any other public school system.

I, and my colleagues on the Board are not interested in poliPcal games. Instead, we will conPnually
advocate to have a strong and robust public school system.

Respeciully,

Jim MarPn

From: Lindsay Arant <arant.lindsay@gmail.com>

Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 5:09:14 PM
To: James MarPn _ Staff - Superintendent
Cc: Heather ScoG _ Staff - Superintendent; mjohnsonhostler@wcpss.ne; Roxie Cash _ Staff - Superintendent;
Keith SuGon _ Staff - Superintendent; ChrisPne Kushner _ Staff - Superintendent; Bill Fletcher _ Staff -
Superintendent; Lindsay Mahaffey _ Staff - Superintendent; Chris Heagarty _ Staff - Superintendent
Subject: May 1 Decision - Parent's View

Dear Mr. MarPn –

I understand the physical challenges the May 1 rally has presented for WCPSS. However, I am
incredibly disappointed to see your call for parents to support what amounts to a NCAE-sponsored
strike. I am beyond appalled and offended that you would consider asking parents to endorse the use
of children as pawns in a funding game.

I echo State Superintendent Mark Johnson's senPments about the May 1 educator rally:

“Protes(ng is a right that can be just as effec(ve during non-school hours. Closing schools affects not

Page 3 of 7
only students’ learning and nutri(on, but also parents, other school employees, and other teachers.”

Luckily, my child receives three hot meals each day and has parents who are able to supplement his
educaPon at home. You and I both know that every child is not that fortunate, and I hope that weighs
incredibly heavy on the board's collecPve conscience on May 1.

Public schools constantly decry the aGenPon and funding charter schools receive. But when you
consider the downright poliPcal games you and your fellow board members play, it’s no surprise that
the county's enrollment grew by a whopping 42 students in 2018.

In the three years my son has been enrolled in WCPSS I have never once emailed or complained about
the county system. Your email today ends my silence. No reply is necessary for obvious reasons. I just
feel it incredibly important that the WCPSS board hear from all consPtuents on this issue.

Sincerely,
Lindsay Arant
Parent, WCPSS 2nd Grader
Underwood Elementary

Page 4 of 7
 Friday, April 26, 2019 at 7:22:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Subject: Re: May 1 Decision - Parent's View

Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 5:15:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Lindsay Arant
To: mjohnsonhostler@wcpss.net

Dear Mr. MarPn –

I understand the physical challenges the May 1 rally has presented for WCPSS. However, I am
incredibly disappointed to see your call for parents to support what amounts to a NCAE-sponsored
strike. I am beyond appalled and offended that you would consider asking parents to endorse the
use of children as pawns in a funding game.

I echo State Superintendent Mark Johnson's senPments about the May 1 educator rally:

“Protes(ng is a right that can be just as effec(ve during non-school hours. Closing schools affects not
only students’ learning and nutri(on, but also parents, other school employees, and other teachers.”

Luckily, my child receives three hot meals each day and has parents who are able to supplement his
educaPon at home. You and I both know that every child is not that fortunate, and I hope that
weighs incredibly heavy on the board's collecPve conscience on May 1.

Public schools constantly decry the aGenPon and funding charter schools receive. But when you
consider the downright poliPcal games you and your fellow board members play, it’s no surprise that
the county's enrollment grew by a whopping 42 students in 2018.

In the three years my son has been enrolled in WCPSS I have never once emailed or complained
about the county system. Your email today ends my silence. No reply is necessary for obvious
reasons. I just feel it incredibly important that the WCPSS board hear from all consPtuents on this
issue.

Sincerely,
Lindsay Arant
Parent, WCPSS 2nd Grader
Underwood Elementary

Page 5 of 7
 Friday, April 26, 2019 at 7:22:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Subject: May 1 Decision - Parent's View

Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 5:09:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Lindsay Arant
To: jmarPn4@wcpss.net
CC: hscoG@wcpss.net, mjohnsonhostler@wcpss.ne, rcash@wcpss.net, ksuGon@wcpss.net,
ckushner@wcpss.net, bfletcher@wcpss.net, lmahaffey@wcpss.net, jheagarty@wcpss.net

Dear Mr. MarPn –

I understand the physical challenges the May 1 rally has presented for WCPSS. However, I am
incredibly disappointed to see your call for parents to support what amounts to a NCAE-sponsored
strike. I am beyond appalled and offended that you would consider asking parents to endorse the use
of children as pawns in a funding game.

I echo State Superintendent Mark Johnson's senPments about the May 1 educator rally:

“Protes(ng is a right that can be just as effec(ve during non-school hours. Closing schools affects not
only students’ learning and nutri(on, but also parents, other school employees, and other teachers.”

Luckily, my child receives three hot meals each day and has parents who are able to supplement his
educaPon at home. You and I both know that every child is not that fortunate, and I hope that weighs
incredibly heavy on the board's collecPve conscience on May 1.

Public schools constantly decry the aGenPon and funding charter schools receive. But when you
consider the downright poliPcal games you and your fellow board members play, it’s no surprise that
the county's enrollment grew by a whopping 42 students in 2018.

In the three years my son has been enrolled in WCPSS I have never once emailed or complained about
the county system. Your email today ends my silence. No reply is necessary for obvious reasons. I just
feel it incredibly important that the WCPSS board hear from all consPtuents on this issue.

Sincerely,
Lindsay Arant
Parent, WCPSS 2nd Grader
Underwood Elementary

Page 6 of 7
 Friday, April 26, 2019 at 7:22:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Subject: Board update 4/10/19: Changing May 1 to teacher workday

Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 10:15:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Timothy Simmons _ Staff - CommunicaPons
To: BoardMembers
CC: SupLT, Lisa Luten _ Staff - CommunicaPons, Sara Clark _ Staff - CommunicaPons

Board members,

As of this morning, it has become clear we do not have enough subsPtute teachers to cover for those
requesPng leave on May 1. We will let staff and parents know today that May 1 will be converted to a
teacher workday. The student hours will be covered with the final day of "banked Pme" not yet used in
the 2018-2019 calendar.

The decision to make May 1 a teacher workday is in keeping with decisions last night by Forsyth
County and Guilford County to cancel classes for students May 1. CharloGe-Mecklenburg
Superintendent Clayton Wilcox stopped just short of making the same call with his school board
during its meePng last night. Durham, Chapel Hill and Orange obviously made the decision last week.

While we cannot easily track expected absences among support personnel, anecdotal evidence
suggests more CNS employees, bus drivers and teacher assistants are likely to join teachers this year.
There will sPll be details to handle regarding work schedules for hourly employees who don't
parPcipate in the May 1 rally and don't want to lose their work hours. We also need to address
quesPons about food for children who otherwise would receive free or reduced meals that day.

On an enPrely separate note, we will find out at the same Pme as the rest of the social media world
how many Green Hope HS students choose to parPcipate in their much-discussed walkout to protest
the district's math curriculum. We are starPng to get requests from teachers and others who want to
defend the curriculum so it is quite possible they will start showing up in news accounts. Regardless of
how many students choose to parPcipate today, it is worth noPng that GHHS enrolls about 2,000
students and roughly 800-900 of them have taken an MVP class this year or last.

Happy to answer quesPons.

Best, Tim

--------
Tim Simmons
Chief of CommunicaPons
919-533-7095

Page 7 of 7