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School Board: Close Underperforming School Save Email Print
Reporter: Eli Ross
Email Address: eli.ross@kwtx.com
36 comments
A | A | A

(August 7, 2008) - East Waco Residents are vowing to keep fighting, after the Waco Independent School Board voted to close a long-troubled school.

The School Board votes 4-3 on Thursday night to close G.L. Wiley Middle School. The decision takes effect immediately.

The vote came after more than 3 hours of deliberation, that included testimony from more than a dozen students, parents, and community leaders.

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott had given the school a one-year waiver to improve, after the school was rated "Academically Unacceptable" for the fifth straight year.

School Administrators say they've been planning several contingency plans should G.L. Wiley close, and will execute those plans in the coming weeks.
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Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Aug 15, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Well before my future step-son arrived in Killeen, he was 4 grades behind his peers because the teachers in Arkansas did not know how to handle his condition. Since being here he is now only 1 grade behind and we expect to get him up to level by the end of the year. I make sure HE does ALL of his homework, not just the modified areas, but I cant be there to help him during testing which can be difficult for alot of kids and especially hard for those with learning disabilities. Personally, we and especially him and his mother love the killeen school district, at least so far. Having said that, there is definetly a problem with the TAKS testing and criteria and it needs to be looked at closely. Also, parents, cmon, it begins at home. He has been with me for 3 years now and I felt strongly enough that I joined the PTA last year. This year I am Vice President. Know how many people we average at each meeting? 9 So before all you parents start pointing fingers, look in the mirror.
Posted by: JJ Location: NOT WACO on Aug 13, 2008 at 12:05 PM
What a great city...schools closing, murdering people left and right, more theifs elected to run office, babies shootin out with no families. But hey, we do need that $610,000 fence. Way 2 GO WACO! My vote for the smartest, best city to raise a family!!
Posted by: Mac Location: TX on Aug 13, 2008 at 06:48 AM
G.L. Wiley, was more of a zoo than a school.
Posted by: michelle Location: killeen on Aug 13, 2008 at 03:41 AM
I feel that the wrong decision was made to close this school, while the performance scores are 'unacceptable' for several years, why did the board not step up to the plate and do the right thing to help these students? As far as the rating, the admin for THIS school just did not know how the 'work the system' to get the great score that many Killeen school have. My son was in 9th grade and could not read or write above a 3rd grade level! AND he attended one of those schools that got the highest rating!!! So much for education! I finally put him in a homeschool program, paying over $100 a month, and within 18 months my son has excelled in academics, and now reads and writes on level! So much for these schools with their 'excellent' ratings! Anyway, disrupting these childrens lifes by changing their schools just a couple of weeks before school starts shows those at the Waco school board do not have the kids best interest in mind, only their pride!
Posted by: RCB Location: RIESEL on Aug 12, 2008 at 10:01 PM
THERE WILL PROBABLY BE MORE SCHOOL CLOSINGS IN THE FUTURE IF THE TEA DOES NOT DROP THE TAKS AND START LETTING THE TEACHERS TEACH FROM TEXT BOOKS AGAIN AND DRAWING UP THEIR OWN TEST FOR THE STUDENTS TO PASS OR FAIL. THAT'S HOW IT USED TO BE.
Posted by: Mimi Location: roesbeck on Aug 12, 2008 at 06:51 PM
Personally I think the schools here in central Texas stink! I’ve walked into a few of the schools here and thought I was warped back in time. No science labs, no biology labs, no “real” teachers in some of the smaller schools. In these smaller schools they have people teaching with only a teaching certificate. I had to apologize to my children for bring them down here from their schools back east and plop them down at “Little House On The Prairie” When my daughter graduated in 2000 there were 8 members of her graduating class who could not read or write. I’m glad my children had the advantage of having the world wide web to advance their learning past the disadvantages of their school.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 12, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Parent/Waco, read the entire discussion before making ignorant statements. Thank you.
Posted by: Parent Location: Waco on Aug 12, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Mother of three: who cares what color you are? Just curious! LOL!
Posted by: TEXASLEGAL on Aug 12, 2008 at 06:49 AM
When is the last time any of these parents went and spent the day at the school to actually see what goes on? To see how little johnny or sue conducts him/herself? How their childrens friends acted? How the teachers taught and handled discipline? Schools are not meant to be babysitters. It is not the schools job to teach the difference between right and wrong and how to conduct themselves. That is the PARENTS job. So if you are a parent and the only time you visit the school is when your child is in trouble, you are part of the problem. A big part of the problem is that the schools can no longer discipline children that need it. If children were actually afraid of getting in trouble would make a big difference. When the teachers and staff spend most of their time trying to control unruly children, that takes away learning time. I say leave the school open.
Posted by: Mother of Three Location: Temple on Aug 11, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Yes I'm white and you can guarantee I will be moving out of Temple when my oldest hits Junior High age. I am not fond of Temple schools at all past elementary. I just still can't understand why they are fighting so hard NOW when the school has been in jeopardy for the past five years??
Posted by: Sam Bam Location: CenTx on Aug 11, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Sending ignorant students to a passing student body is only going to pull the passing body down. Thats right, the truth really hurts. I seen these students at their best. They have no discipline, carefree parents, no will to learn and a waste of tax payers money! So, send me your blind sided view because, this is a fact. Until, everone looks at the facts, nothing will be corrected. Can't bring the failures up, so pentalize the passing student body by placing them on their level! Perhaps, they should be home schooled that way they want contaminate the successful! Maybe, the parents are the ones spreading this disease.
Posted by: disappointed on Aug 11, 2008 at 03:00 PM
It's a shame that our children have to suffer for not having the proper education now days. they are not being taught to read or write. The closing schools need new teachers and a new adminertration to make sure they children are getting the education they need in life.They need to be taught some thing more than a test that won't help prove a thing later in their life.
Posted by: Me Location: Central Texas on Aug 11, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Mother of Three, I hope you're not White. If you are, you'll likely have to move to get them out of district... desegregation laws override the ridiculous No Child Left Behind Act, and transfers are denied based solely on race.
Posted by: HOT DOG Location: WACO on Aug 11, 2008 at 01:45 PM
TYPICAL. THEY CANT READ OR WRITE , SO IT' NOT THEIR FAULT ITS THE TEACHERS. COME ON . IT IS A LOW PERFORMING SCHOOL IT IS THE KIDS FAULT AS WELL AS THE PARENTS. IF THE PARENTS WOULD SPEND MORE TIME HELPING THE KIDS TO LEARN INSTEAD OF OUT ON THE CORNER AND SELLING DOPE THE KIDS WOULD DO BETTER. THATS RIGHT, THEY WANT TO BLAME SOMEONE ELSE FOR THEIR FAULTS. NOW THATS TYPICAL.
Posted by: Texas Location: Texas on Aug 11, 2008 at 08:14 AM
To TexasTeacher...just to inform you, my kids do very well in school and I am extrmemly active in their classroom and studies. It is ignorant teachers like you who want to blame the student for your failures. How can the child be the lazy one? You say the teacher is just "giving" the grade. Does that mean the teacher is too lazy to teach properly so therefore just passes the poor ignorant child on? Who's fault is that? Certainly not the child OR the parent. I think the saying should be...the horses are begging for water and you are too ignorant to find it.
Posted by: Texas Teacher Location: Temple on Aug 10, 2008 at 06:36 PM
Statistically, if a child is getting A's in class and can't pass the TAKS it is usually an indicator that the teacher is giving grades instead of students earning them. If students do not pass the TAKS this isnt always the teacher's fault. If the child is lazy and the parents do not follow up on their child's education then the child and the parent MUST bear most of the blame. We can lead a horse to water but we cannot make them drink!
Posted by: Former Waco Teacher Location: Temple on Aug 10, 2008 at 06:27 PM
This shows the incompetence of the board members. There was NO need to close this school. TEA allowed them one more year based on their exceptional progress this past school year. Kermit Ward has been an excellent principal and has done great things at Wiley. These students are being served by being bused to other schools who are already crowded. This decision is indicative of the poor leadership that has ran rampant in this district for years. The only alternative left to parents in WISA is to vote every board member out of office that voted to close this school.
Posted by: Texas Location: Texas on Aug 10, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Afetr watching the news report of the closing I couldnt help but feel sad. There was a mother standing there with her daughter a GL WIley student. The daughter was crying and visibly upset. Her mohter was angry and upset because now her daughter wouldnt be able to be a cheerleader, something she had dreamed of. Where was this mother when her daughter was beng failed an education?? She wants to get angry because her daughter cant be a cheerleader, but its okay if she gets a crappy education?? Holy Hannah where the heck are the priorities in this one? What is that teaching the child? *shaking my head*
Posted by: Texas Location: Texas on Aug 10, 2008 at 08:53 AM
TAKS was created to test the teachers ability to teach. Now it is being used to hold our children hostage. Our kids are stressed out on a daily basis by the teachers lirding the TAKS tests over their heads. If 60% of the children in a class dont pass the TAKS, fire the teacher. Dont hold it against the children. All 3 of my daughters are A and High B students yet only do just above standard on TAKS. The stress factor that is put on these poor little kids is rediculous. A child can make all A's all yeard and if they fail the TAKS they fail the grade. That is just stupid reasoning. We as parents who are against the TAKS testing system need to bond together to get it stopped.
Posted by: Reality Check Location: Whack em Waco on Aug 9, 2008 at 11:54 PM
Don't blame the teachers and administers for trying. I blame the ignorant parents that send their ignorant children (who don't know better) to that school. Stupidity breeds stupidity. You raise your children to act the same way that you do, then expect a "miracle" from the school & teachers? Now those "poorly educated" children will be filtered into other schools to bring down their test scores and school ratings. There needs to be more parent involvement in Waco schools...period. And William... from salado...Waco ISD has made numerous changes to the faculty, and that hasn't done anything to change the outcome. Poorly educated parents are to blame for not helping the school and most importantly their own children. It just seems to easy to blame school officials, when the problem is deeper than that.
Posted by: concerned Location: waco on Aug 9, 2008 at 06:49 PM
It's unfortunate for the families attending Wiley that they are closing but what about the other schools that are having to absorb those students? Those campuses are facing dealing with angry incoming students as well as their parents. What happens with the discipline and the TAKS scores for those schools? Are they facing closure if their scores go down due to this involuntary transfer, not to mention the discipline problems that are inevitable.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 9, 2008 at 06:28 PM
NO CRAP FIND NEW TEACHERS COME ON! GET REAL!!!!!!!
Posted by: Hmm on Aug 9, 2008 at 06:08 PM
Has anyone ever met any of the little heathens that go to Wiley? I have, and it's obvious their parents were so busy being drug addicts that they didn't have any time or neurons left to invest in raising their kids. All the kids at that school have the decorum of farm animals. The crackhead parents of East Waco think it is the sole responsibility of the teacher to raise their children, and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Posted by: William Location: Salado on Aug 9, 2008 at 07:52 AM
Why close the school, anyone with any common sense would replace the faculty, you cannot tell me that the buildings were at fault, it is obvious that someone in the administration failed.
Posted by: Don Location: Texas on Aug 9, 2008 at 01:16 AM
I agree with Parent. TAKS is out of control and is being misused. It makes me wonder how much of an education children are really getting today. It was very hard-hearted of the WISD Board to close the school 2 weeks before start. These children have friendships that are about to be broken up because they are being split up and sent to different schools. I would hope that WISD is more sensitive to the fact that they should help make the transition for these children as smooth as possible. Personally, I think they should have waited 1 more year to give these children time to adjust to the idea.
Posted by: Kristen Location: Lafayette on Aug 8, 2008 at 11:36 PM
I agree with everything Lisa from Temple says. Schools are going to become overcrowded. It's really going to become Chaos.
Posted by: Lisa Location: Temple on Aug 8, 2008 at 06:33 PM
Isn't it convienent Why wait till 2 weeks before school starts to close down a school, and try to shuffle alot of kids to different schools causing even more overcrowding. when you could have done it at the end of the school year last year. and now the schools that get the kids that didnt pass are in the same boat as G wiley. WTG Waco School Board.
Posted by: Parent Location: Waco on Aug 8, 2008 at 05:16 PM
I believe that the state puts to much in to the TAKS. Teachers spend so much time getting children ready for these test that everything else is left out. There are so many children that don't test well but do very well in their class room work. I believe it is time to change the way these test are given.
Posted by: buyusome Location: Waco on Aug 8, 2008 at 02:36 PM
First I want to say, I am very sad the school is closing. My son loves G. L. Wiley. You people, and I use that term loosely, do not know what you are talking about. The rating of that school does not mean the students did not get an education. Talk about something you know. My son makes very good grades and he passed the taks and he would have graduated with honors had he been able to graduate from Wiley. It's sad the school is closing.
Posted by: BROTHERMAN Location: N.WACO on Aug 8, 2008 at 01:15 PM
NOW HOW WE GONNA GIT AN EDUMACATION
Posted by: WacoWarrior Location: Waco on Aug 8, 2008 at 12:33 PM
I would like to know where have these so called concerned parents been for the last 5 years???...& what has the attendance been like for these parents for PTA meetings???...If the parents don't care then that reflects down on the kids...Half of them can't keep their pants pulled up, much less get an education...JMO...
Posted by: JOE Location: south of Waco on Aug 8, 2008 at 12:11 PM
You think that will fix the problem. reassigning teachers and students to another school. A school that has good performance standards. Sorry, it ain't the building thats at fault, its the management.
Posted by: Mother of Three Location: Temple on Aug 8, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Call me crazy, but the first year my childrens' school is academically unacceptable they will be going somewhere else. FIVE years and they couldn't fix the problems? I don't know that closing it is the best idea but something has to change. Those kids were getting slighted in a BIG way. You don't mess around with your education. And I agree with "Just sayin is all" about the way you speak in a public forum. That does NOT look good to people who haven't formed an opinion yet.
Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Aug 8, 2008 at 07:24 AM
No child left behind? I guess its ok to leave a whole school behind? ALl I know is that my son seems to spend half his time practicing for TAKS testing and the other half taking the tests. Note to the people fighting to keep this school open....if you are going to speak in public on behalf of your school or your childs school....take the time to write notes and speak well. Some of the people I heard this morning are not who I would want speaking in favor of a good education. Its one thing to use slang and poor grammar in everyday life and even on a forum such as this, but not in a public forum.
Posted by: BUBBA Location: Waco on Aug 8, 2008 at 07:21 AM
I feel for the people in the area that would have attended that school. I feel joy that maybe you will now get a proper education at another reputable place. I say give those individuals in opposition a spelling test of moderately difficult words, and see how many can pass. I rest my case.
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