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GREENSBORO — It’s back to the drawing board for four Guilford County magnet schools as the district attempts to address the failing programs.

District officials will remodel the curriculum at Bluford, Hampton, Montlieu and Parkview elementary schools.

That decision comes after a review of the district’s 42 magnet schools. That review found 11 of those programs are failing to meet testing and diversity goals and integration of the program theme.

A magnet program incorporates an educational specialty or theme into its curriculum in an attempt bolster learning through specific interest and to draw new students to the school. For example, program themes in Guilford County include foreign language immersion, performing arts and science.

Many parents argue the programs are simply an attempt to draw high-performing students to failing schools in an effort to lift academic performance and diversity at the school.

The school district will spend the rest of the year reviewing current themes and possibly developing new ones for the schools. The four schools will hold meetings with parents, teachers and others Nov. 9-13 to get input on what should be done.

The remaining seven programs are not up for changes because their data was inconclusive or they are still in their initial stages.

Michelle Ungurait, director of magnet and choice schools, said for a magnet school to succeed, the theme must be well-integrated into the curriculum and receive support from the school board and faculty.

“I think that magnet schools engender high expectations for students, parents and teachers, and therefore, are suitable for any school that has that goal,” she said.

There are those, however, who question whether magnet programs are right for every school.

“The relevancy of magnet programs is now something that needs to be evaluated,” said school board Vice Chairman Amos Quick.

Quick said if the board approves a magnet school, it must also be willing to support it financially. There are six schools receiving grants for their magnet programs. But once those grants end, the school system is often left to pick up the extra costs.

“If we’re not committed to five to 10 years of having these themes, then you have to question 'What are we doing?’ Are we just chasing grant dollars,” Quick said.

Quick wants upcoming discussions about the four magnet schools to include “relevant themes” like gender-specific schools. The debate, he said, should also include returning the schools to a standard curriculum.

Parents have mixed feelings about the magnet programs. Some programs, such as the one at Peeler Elementary that focuses on the performing arts, have strong parental support. But other programs have alienated parents who say they don’t see the relevancy.

Marcella Crook’s daughter Marshama is a kindergartner at Hampton Leadership Academy. Crook said she likes the leadership magnet program and wants to see it maintained while her daughter is enrolled at Hampton.

“What these students are getting academically, compared to other schools, has set a standard that some of the other schools have not met,” Crook said.

Katherin Brooks teaches third grade at Hampton. She said most teachers support the leadership program and believe in its effect on their students. “We should continue on with the leadership focus,” Brooks said. “It gives our children a chance.”

But Brooks echoed concerns about financial support and resources for the program. “It’s more than just putting it up on the wall; you have to have support for it.”
 

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com