1. Interim Superintendent
Superintendent’s Response to the Desegregation Advisory Committee’s Report
Christie Finley
Interim Superintendent
July 12, 2018

2. Overview
The Consent Order requires the DAC to complete an annual report each year by June 1 of each year.
This year, the DAC submitted its report on May 31, 2018.
The Consent Order requires that “No later than the Board’s first meeting in July, the Superintendent will present the DAC’s report and her commentary as to that report to the Board during a meeting of the Board.”
Tonight, I will summarize my commentary, and tomorrow our attorneys will file my commentary and the DAC’s report with the Court.

3. Superintendent’s Response to: Introduction
In this section, the DAC discussed:
The general composition of the DAC and
The names of the DAC members.
My response:
I want to thank the DAC members for their hard work.
I want to remind everyone that we expanded the pool of possible student members by including rising juniors.

4. Superintendent’s Response to: Chairman’s Comments
In this section, the DAC chair discussed:
Her goal of creating a “United Front” with HCS and
Her view that the racial discipline gap is not just a Huntsville problem but an important national problem.
My response:
I want to thank the DAC chair for her hard work.
I agree that closing the discipline racial gap is an important focus of our school system.

5. Superintendent’s Response to: Administrative Work of the DAC
In this section, the DAC discussed:
Its efforts to improve communications and
Its efforts to develop internal procedures as required by the Amended Consent Order.
My response:
I want to highlight the District’s continued support of the DAC’s communications.
I want to encourage the DAC to continue its focus on collecting feedback from the community.

6. Superintendent’s Response to: Report Findings of the DAC
In this section, the DAC:
Discussed its findings regarding each Green factor and
Offered its areas of concern and suggestions.
My response:
I will address the comments about each Green factor.
I have and will continue to consider the suggestions of the DAC, and, while I appreciate the DAC’s feedback, I know there are many of the DAC’s suggestions that I will not be able to do.

7. Superintendent’s Response to: Student Assignment Findings of the DAC
In this section:
The DAC focused exclusively on the M-to-M program.
The DAC’s suggestions demonstrated its desire to better understand why certain schools are selected for M-to-M transfers.
The DAC’s suggestions also assumed that all M-to-M transfers are “Title I” students.

8. Superintendent’s Response to: Student Assignment Findings of the DAC
In My Response:
I corrected some of the inaccuracies/false assumptions in the DAC Report.
I identified “building culture” as an important aspect of every school, and the importance of training staff on cultural awareness.
I briefly discussed the PST process and its role in supporting students with interventions.

9. Superintendent’s Response to: Equitable Access Findings of the DAC
In this section, the DAC:
Identified areas of success and concern, and made multiple suggestions.
Discussed its concern about teachers receiving adequate training on topics of cultural awareness.
Shared its desire to have access to information pertaining to Problem Solving Team plans and progress and community/industry partnership information.
Requested that the District increase the number of reports that it creates.

10. Superintendent’s Response to: Equitable Access Findings of the DAC
In My Response:
I explained that our current reports cover many of the topics that the DAC requested; however, if the DAC wants more specific information, the District would be willing to work with them.
I corrected misstatements in the DAC’s report (i.e. GATE Talent Development).
I provided some details about the diversity training provided to teachers and the operation of PLPs.

11. Superintendent’s Response to: Extracurricular Activities Findings of the DAC
In this section, the DAC discussed:
Concerns about the criteria for National Honor Society.
Proposed solutions to improve and expand Power Hour.
My response:
I agree that the NHS standards need to be clear and consistent.
Secondary Programs has worked with high school principals to develop procedures for Power Hour, but there are no plans to expand it at this time.

12. Superintendent’s Response to: Faculty Findings of the DAC
In this section, the DAC discussed:
The need for strong professional development and possible improvements.
The need for proactive measures to ensure diverse and experienced faculty at each school.
My response:
I agree professional development can and should be improved when possible.
I explained that Human Resources and Talent Management work year round to meet Singleton Ratio and to ensure comparable faculty across all schools.

13. Superintendent’s Response to: Facilities Findings of the DAC
In this section, the DAC discussed:
The need to actively maintain equity in facilities.
Its request that the District update the community about issues and repairs for new facilities or identified issues.
My response:
I agree and believe that we must work to ensure that our facilities are equitable.
Ensuring that we have clean, well-maintained buildings is critical to our success, and this will be part of the strategic plan.

14. Superintendent’s Response to: Student Discipline Findings of the DAC
In this section, the DAC discussed:
Issues pertaining to high school awards ceremonies.
Issues of climate including student and teacher morale.
The lack of “standardized implementation . . .”
Its objection to the way that the District has been reporting student discipline data over the last few years.
Suggestions concerning the need to increase teacher capacity and to grow and improve surveys regarding student discipline.

15. Superintendent’s Response to: Student Discipline Findings of the DAC
In My Response:
I addressed the award ceremony, teacher capacity, and survey issues.
I agreed that improving the standardization of student discipline practices in the District is critical (i.e., all schools need to implement the BLG and Matrices with fidelity).
I disagreed with DAC’s characterization of the District’s reporting of student discipline data.
The District has repeatedly acknowledged the racial discipline gap in its reports and in public status conferences.

16. Superintendent’s Response to: Transportation Findings of the DAC
In this section, the DAC :
Did not make any official suggestions.
Instead, the DAC identified issues with transportation that existed during the school year.
My response:
I agree and believe that we must let Apple Bus have a chance to correct those issues and to improve on what the District had previously.