The Vol. 12 Edition 9 Free Thursday April 27, 2017
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S ERVING C OLUMBUS , F T. B ENNING , P HENIX C ITY & S URROUNDING A REAS
Camelot Education... The Voice Of The Community
Answers to Your Questions...Know The Facts
Page 4
A List Of Current Behavioral Services Vendors Page 9
Local Entrepreneur Sells 8,000 Notebooks In Twenty Page 10 Four Hours
Behind The Scenes
It’s Time To Be Honest With Our Children, There Are More Opportunities “Behind The Camera” Than In Front Of It. Page 11
Columbus Scholars Awards Scholarships
Ten Fifth Grade Honor Students Were Recently Awarded Scholarships
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The Street Committee
THURSDAY April 27, 2017
Susan Cooper Named Urban League CEO According to the street committee, after serving as interim director since 2015, the Urban League of Greater Columbus named Susan Cooper it’s permanent CEO. Cooper is the owner of Centennial Realty and Mortgage.
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson Appears on MSNBC’s AM Joy The street committee noted that Mayor Tomlinson appeared on AM Joy this past Sunday. Host Joy Reid asked her opinion on the recent 6th District election and impending runoff in June. It was a great set-up for her if she intends a statewide run. According to the street committee opportunities like that just don’t happen. That had to be an orchestrated event.
Waiting On Kia According to the street committee a number of are taking issue with Kia Chambers move to delay the vote on Camelot education. Theresa El-Amin head of the Southern Anti-Racism Network has filed a complaint with AdvancedEd one of the accrediting agencies that governs the local school district. The street committee has learned that the Courier newspaper spoke with Chambers in an effort to give her an opportunity to air her concerns. Her response was she did not want to do interviews because she felt anything she would say would be seen as politicizing the situation. She did, however, say that she would respond with a list of her concerns in writing. As of the print deadline there has been no response.
IN MEMORIAM
Sarah Porter
The Lord gave you to us March 8,1948 He called you home on April 24, 2014 We miss you and think of you every day. You will always be in our hearts.
Love always, from your family and dearest friend. Forever missed never forgotten
Request for Bids/Qualifications
RFB No. 17-0039 Roofing Services at Public Services – Building E Due: May 10, 2017 – 2:30 PM Della Lewis, CPPB Buyer Specialist
A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference/Site Visit will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 26,
RECOGNIZING 25 INDIVIDUALS/ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE PROVIDED DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITY
Nominations Are Now Being Accepted
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD NOMINATION FORM
Name of Nominee________________________________________________ Why You Are Nominating Them_____________________________________
Their Address____________________________________________________ City____________________________State___________Zip__________ Business Phone________________Home Phone__________________ Deadline May 5, 2017
Please complete the nomination form and mail to the address below : Courier / Eco Latino P.O. Box 5747 Columbus, Georgia 31906 or Email to: couriereconews@gmail.com
SAVE THE
DATE
SATURDAY JULY 22, 2017
6:30 PM
COLUMBUS CONVENTION & TRADE CENTER COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31901
2017, at Public Services - Building E, 602 11th Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901.
RFB No. 17-0037 Dodge Charger Due: May 3, 2017 – 2:30 PM Sandra Changer, Buyer RFQ No. 17-0001
Pre-qualification for Storm Drain Rehabilitation through Internal Pipe Lining - Priority 1 Pipes - Contract VDue: May 12, 2017 – 5:00 PM Della Lewis, CPPB Buyer Specialist
Sealed responses must be received and time/date stamped by the respective due dates shown above, by the Finance Department/Purchasing Division of Columbus Consolidated Government, 100 Tenth Street, Columbus, GA 31901.
To obtain specifications, visit the City's website at http://www.colum-
busga.org/finance/Excel_Docs/Bid_Opportunities.htm, notify the respective Buyer via email schandler@columbusga.org and dlewis@columbusga.org, fax 706.225.3033 or telephone 706.653.4105. Andrea J. McCorvey Purchasing Manager The Courier Eco Latino Newspaper is published bi-weekly *Any editorial content are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper, publisher or staff” Office Location The Courier Eco Latino Newspaper 1300 Wynnton Rd, Suite 104 Columbus, Georgia 31906 Email: couriereconews@gmail.com Phone: 706.225.0106 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5747 Columbus, Ga 31906 Visit Us Online At: www.couriernews.org
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A VIEW FROM A PEW
THURSDAY APRIL 27, 2017
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There Is A Right Way To Do Wrong...Rule #2: You Don’t Get Your “Side Chick” Pregnant night. A bonus rule to #1 is simple: Turn your cell phone off when you are at home. Better yet keep a separate cell phone for your “side chick”. When you get home leave it in the trunk of your car or someplace you know your wife won’t go.
As the result of recent headlines revealing the indiscretion of Carmelo Anthony of the NBA, I felt compelled to dust off a column I wrote a few years ago.
Let's get this straight right now; people are going to cheat. It has nothing to do with not loving the one they are with it just is, what it is. I’m not saying it is right to do so, I’m just saying it was going on in Jesus day, it’s going on today and it will be going on tomorrow. As a matter of fact some of you reading this right now are in the midst of breaking commandments #7 and #10. First of all I'm making a great sacrifice in sharing this valuable information but, for the sake of saving some of my brothers I will tread forward.
Understand that a true “playa” never shares everything but I'm going to offer a few rules to live by just in case you are considering stepping out on your woman.
Rule #1: A real player never plays after hours. Why spend energy explaining your whereabouts when coming in the house early in the morning? Do your playing during the day and be home with your family at a decent hour. Avoid the hassle, screaming, hollering and throwing of pots and pans all through of what is left of the
Rule #2: You don’t get your side chick pregnant or Never cheat with someone who has less to lose than you do. What does that mean? If you are married you need to cheat with a married woman. Why? Because both of you have something to lose. You will be more careful “slippin’ and dippin’, and peepin’ and creepin” when that is the case. If you're married and you cheat with a single person what does she have to lose by letting your wife know about the relationship? She will just move on to the next married man while you are sitting on the curb somewhere homeless, car-less, and woman-less crying; “I can't believe she did that to me”. Now as a player you always need to be cognizant of the possibility that the married woman you are having an affair with may use your tryst as a way to get out of her marriage by telling her husband, in the midst of a heated argument that she is sleeping with you. Now there are ways to get out of the situation when the husband shows up at your job or calls you in the middle of the night threatening you with bodily harm. That however is covered under rules #11 - #20.
Rule #3: Never let your right hand no what your left hand is doing. When it comes to cheating you don't have any friends. If you're going to do wrong do wrong by yourself. You can run and tell your boys if you want to, but you need to know your boys will betray you. Your “partners” will snitch on you in a heartbeat. Rest
assured, at least one of your so-called “boys” will be jealous of you because either they want the woman you got at home or your side chick.
Always be wary of one of three brothers, 1) the one that says I can't believe you would do your woman like that, 2) the one that wants the playby-play of your extramarital relationship and finally, 3) the one that never says anything. He just sits back and listens. They all pose a problem for you but that last one, number three is the one you really need to watch. He is the one you will catch playing Mr. Jody. For you young “wanna be playas” ask somebody about Johnny Taylor. All I am saying is; sometimes when you leave the house you need to double back. Rule #4: Cheat up, not down. If you're going to cheat at least do so with someone who looks as attractive or better looking than the one you're with. I mean no disrespect ladies but brothers if you’re living with someone that is fine, don't hook up with one who looks like they’ve been rode hard and put away wet. I'm just saying. Now to some, that may seem a bit insensitive and I understand. But I also understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that is why someone else is holding them. Rule #5: Place a computer Geek on retainer. You will need one when your “side chick” always seems to show up at the same event you and your wife are at, such as the movies, restaurants, the park etc. Or why, every time you look in your rearview mirror, you swear you see your wife's car two vehicles behind you. Thanks to technology there is a new monkey wrench that has been injected into “a playas” program, it’s called GPS. Unless you are computer savvy you might want
to become friends with someone who is. They will be able to find ways to keep you invisible.
Rule #6: Never get your P&%$#@ where you get your paycheck. Many a supervisor who has crossed the line has learned the hard way that once you do that you will never get any work done out of that individual. In addition they will make sure others in the office know they are sleeping with you which will ultimately lead to a serious morale problem. And let's not mention the breakup. By the time it’s over they would have compiled enough information during the relationship to come back and haunt you for the rest of your days. You thought the information you shared about your employees while you were cuddling after a night of passion was just between the two of you? End the affair and see what happens. Rule #7: Leave no evidence. Don't send letters, don't send cards signed with your name, don't send e-mails, don't send texts, don't take or send photos with and through your cell phone, don't videotape or be videotaped. Enough said.
Rule #8: Just because you think you got it going on doesn't necessarily mean you do. If you find yourself in an affair with a much younger woman, don't get caught up as if you are “the man”. Keeping it real, she's not attracted to you; she's attracted to your money. If you are 65 and she is 25 what do you really have in common? She's on Facebook and you are at the plastic surgeon trying to keep your face from falling. She is on twitter and you’re searching for tweezers, trying to pull the hairs out of your ears. Don't fall in love,
just enjoy the ride and if you're lucky, at your funeral, your boys will file past your casket in their wheelchairs and walkers with envy saying, “at least he died with a smile on his face.”
Rule #9: Never leave your wife for the other person. If you want to leave your relationship then leave. But don’t do it because you think you are getting something better. Contrary to what you’ve heard “the grass ain't always greener on the other side”. If you have spent 10 years with your wife you know all of her problems, issues, and idiosyncrasies. Likewise she knows yours. You have no earthly idea what kind of baggage this “new grass is going to bring” but you can best believe, she is going to bring some. It may seem all cute and cozy and “LuvvyDovey” now but after the night is over, after the night before, you're going to find out what you had wasn't that bad.
Rule #10: When it is done let it be done. When she says it's over let it go. Don't follow them in your car and don't follow them in your friend's car. Don't waste your time sending flowers and gifts. Don't stand outside their window singing or serenading. Don't continue to call or text begging to get back together. I promise you if you continue to harass her on her job it will not end well for you. Well that’s the end of class for today. That's all I can do for you. The Bible says; “My people perish for a lack of knowledge.” I feel as though I've done my part. The rest is up to you “playa”. Oh yes, by the way, don't be surprised or get mad at your wife when you realize you've been living with a "Playette", after all what's good for the goose is good for the gander
Wane A. Hailes
PAGE 4
On pages 4, 6 and 7 we have provided the questions individuals from our community have asked regarding the Camelot controversy. Included are the answers to those questions as provided by representatives of the Muscogee County School District and Camelot Education. Will students in transitional school receive therapy? Yes, students enrolled in the Transitional School will receive therapy if an identified need exists. Will these students’ parents be offered assistance, training, and therapy as needed? Yes, Camelot will provide parent outreach, so students have access to support while at school and home.
We have several schools under-populated; Marshall is in very bad shape. Would it not be better to rearrange the population of a better location to house this program? The Marshall facility is in relatively good shape. The majority of the modification is cosmetic or replacement of items that moved to other locations when Marshall closed.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Knowing The Facts About Camelot Education District administration will make a recommendation to close and consolidate schools at a later date. The School Board will make the final decision if campuses are consolidated or closed.
Can transitional school students attend the therapeutic day school it they do not have an IEP? No, the Therapeutic Day School is open only to students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Will students be able to return to their assigned high school to graduate with their class? Yes, students will be able to return to their assigned high school so they may graduate with their class.
How much psychological help will be given to the students on a regular basis? Students will receive assistance in varying amounts based on identified need.
Will art therapy be available for Camelot students? Yes, art therapy will be available. What is the percentage of SPED stu-
dents in the district that require the specialized services Camelot is proposed to provide? About two (2) percent of the special education population will participate in the Therapeutic Day School. We anticipate that approximately fourteen (14) percent of the population in the Transitional School and EXCEL Academy will be special education. What is the percentage of students in the district that require certified mental health counselors? Approximately twenty (20) percent of students have mental health issues, one out of every five students.
Camelot is using the building, the systems lunch room staff. What we are losing are staff. Does Camelot have to be a package deal? AIM can stand alone. How will the transitional school differ from AIM? Yes, Camelot is a package deal. AIM does not provide the behavioral and therapeutic services that Camelot provides. Will MCSD pay utilities for Marshall? Yes, we will transfer the utility expenses from AIM. Who will pay for the maintenance of
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the building? Since Marshall Learning Center is district property, we will take care of the maintenance of the building, the same as our other properties in the district. Camelot-GA is a new company. Does it have any assets in GA? Other schools or is this the first? Camelot does not have any assets in Georgia. We will be the first school district in Georgia to establish a partnership with them.
What other companies did you look at besides Camelot? We reviewed several different providers, and after eighteen (18) months of research, we chose Camelot as the best fit for our school district. How will this impact local teacher jobs? Are you going to hire anyone locally? Camelot will hire teachers, and MCSD will continue to hire teachers. There will not be a negative impact to local teacher jobs. Yes, Camelot will hire teachers from Columbus and the surrounding area. Do you ever hire unaccredited teachers? No, all teachers must have appropriate Georgia teaching certification.
Continued On Page 6
Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance Sponsors Youth Baseball Team
The local IMA (Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance), as part of their outreach efforts are sponsoring a youth baseball team consisting of youth who live in the Terminal Court are. Funding for the sponsorship comes from the Columbus Crime Prevention Grant they received. Churches contributing include: Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church, St. James AME and St. James Baptist Church. The teams play in the East Columbus League.
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By Wane A. Hailes The Courier
On Monday April 10, 2017 the majority of the Muscogee County School Board voted to table Superintendent David Lewis’ recommendation to hire Camelot Education until July of this year. Camelot Education of Austin, Texas, is a private, for-profit company Lewis is recommending to run alternative education programs in the Muscogee County School district for $6.4 million annually. During this timeframe the Muscogee County School Board is expected to form a community advisory committee to explore its options.
The bottom line is our school district must change the way it educates our students with special needs, those with emotional or behavioral needs and the ones who are over-age and under-credited. Everyone can agree something needs to be done. For those who are opposed to Camelot we would ask if not them then who?
On pages 4, 6 and 7 we have provided the questions individuals from our community have asked regarding the Camelot controversy included the answers to those questions as provided by representatives of the Muscogee County School District and Camelot Education.
We would advise you that there is much misinformation about this recommendation. With African Americans representing 74% of the student population we owe it to our children to be informed.
As always we are not choosing sides for you our responsibility, as we see it is to inform our readers of the facts.
Camelot Education, LLC has over a decade of experience operating all three types of programs with some of the most aggressive students in some of the roughest areas of the country. The strength and consistency of their model were evident when observed in eight different locations by the district administration over the past eighteen months.
COVER STORY
If Not Camelot Then What?
Camelot’s behavior management model centers around an active and intentional positive peer culture implemented through a system of positive recognition with interrelated levels of student “status.” Camelot’s normative culture aligns with the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) framework. MCSD is currently implementing PBIS in 28 schools. Also, Camelot utilizes our primary social-emotional learning curriculum, which has been rolled out in all pre-k classrooms and 15 of our elementary and middle schools.
Becoming an integral member of our school system, Camelot will use our school district curriculum, supplemental instructional programs, and student management system so students can seamlessly transition back-and-forth between Camelot’s programs and the student’s zoned residential school location.
Camelot employs a consistent instructional model across all programs, which mirror the types of instructional best practices we expect our teachers to use on a regular basis.
ing academic, social and behavioral expectations. - Provides an opportunity for students with aggressive behaviors to participate in a leveled vocational training class as driven by the student’s IEP.
Create an EXCEL Academy - Provides a proactive opportunity for students to catch back up with their peer group and graduate on time as well as provides hope for students who are extremely behind. Students who are over age, lack credits, or who desire something different than a traditional school setting - Students enrolled in the EXCEL Academy are not identified by a grade level. Instead, they interact with appropriate age cohorts as they earn credits toward graduation. - Engages students in well-rounded transitional planning ensuring students have a plan after graduation including entering the world of work or continuing their
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education. Create a Transitional School - Students start in a new environment restoring their dignity and allowing them the opportunity to learn the social-emotional components necessary for them to be successful when they return to the traditional academic environment. - Supports seamless transition of students from the Transitional School to the EXCEL Academy if in the best interest of the student. - Students participate in Restorative Justice programming which strengthens their lack of executive function skills and integrates them as a productive member of the community.
Important Note: The students participating in the Camelot programs will remain enrolled in MCSD. Individual student academic and behavior data will return to the student home school location for reporting purposes.
A wide variety of students will be able to participate in the EXCEL Academy, and in conjunction with JD Davis Elementary, this will ensure that therapeutic students have access to typical peers and opportunities to transition into lesser restrictive environments within these settings. Also, students will have access to a variety of academic, social, and emotional models with adult supervision and supports.
All three programs provide a support system that works with students and staff to address student behavioral, emotional, academic, vocational, and social concerns.
Create a Therapeutic Day School - Increase behavioral and therapeutic services beyond what is available in a typical school environment to address the needs of more students. - Expand services for the most aggressive students in the school system - Provides summer extended school year (ESY) services for students enrolled in Camelot with the most aggressive behaviors to ensure continuity in reach-
1514-5th Avenue Phenix City, AL 334.298.0364
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Camelot is using the building, the systems lunch room staff. What we are losing are staff. Does Camelot have to be a package deal? AIM can stand alone. How will the transitional school differ from AIM? Yes, Camelot is a package deal. AIM does not provide the behavioral and therapeutic services that Camelot provides. Will MCSD pay utilities for Marshall? Yes, we will transfer the utility expenses from AIM. Who will pay for the maintenance of the building? Since Marshall Learning Center is district property, we will take care of the maintenance of the building, the same as our other properties in the district. Camelot-GA is a new company. Does it have any assets in GA? Other schools or is this the first? Camelot does not have any assets in Georgia. We will be the first school district in Georgia to establish a partnership with them.
What other companies did you look at besides Camelot? We reviewed several different providers, and after eighteen (18) months of research, we chose Camelot as the best fit for our school district. How will this impact local teacher jobs? Are you going to hire anyone locally? Camelot will hire teachers, and MCSD will continue to hire teachers. There will not be a negative impact to local teacher jobs. Yes, Camelot will hire teachers from Columbus and the surrounding area.
Do you ever hire unaccredited teachers? No, all teachers must have appropriate Georgia teaching certification.
Is there a plan to separate the transitional students according to need? For example, chronic discipline problems and low academically versus students with minimal discipline problems and academically issues in the same setting. The Transitional Students will be integrated and enrolled in the same courses as their transfer location. All students will have an individualized plan based on identified student needs.
At this time, what are the number of contracted or outsourced workers who service students with behavioral and academic problems? We do not currently have any contracted or outsources workers who serve students with behavioral or academic problems. We do have contracted services for training teachers.
If students receive a modified graduation curriculum at the Excel Academy are there provisions in place to prevent this from becoming a “fall back” plan for non-motivated students who do not truly need to use this service? Students do not have a modified graduation curriculum. They will still be responsible for meeting all state graduation requirements. Camelot uses a modified block schedule called a 5x5. The schedule accommodates students to complete ten (10) credits per year, permitting graduation within 2.5 years. Students may not graduate before their original graduation cohort. Enrolled in the EXCEL Academy requires an application and acceptance into the program.
Are all the unfilled positions which will absorb the layoff positions that will be filled in time? Teachers from AIM and Woodall are not being laid off. They will fill current vacancies that are already available for the 2017-2018 school year. Do all the salaries of the unfilled positions equal or exceeding the salaries of the laid off? Correct that this is not a zero sum? All staff from AIM and Woodall will have jobs and will not receive a pay cut for their new positions.
Are teachers at Camelot going to fall under a different pay scale than what the state mandates? No, Camelot is not required to pay a salary that is commensurate with the state salary schedule.
Will therapeutic services and vocational programs be offered to students in both the transitional and therapeutic school as well as to regular special education students? Yes, therapeutic and vocational programs will be available to all students.
Wasn’t there a recent law that was passed stating special needs stu-
dents cannot be segregated from the general population? The school district must provide a Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Students in the Therapeutic Day School (K-5) will remain on the JD Davis Elementary campus, so they will remain in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and can be integrated with other elementary students as specified in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Students in grades 6-12 will be on the Marshall Learning Center campus, remaining in an LRE so they can integrate with other secondary students enrolled in the EXCEL Academy as specified in their IEP. The EXCEL Academy is a “choice” school, not alternative education which is open to regular and special education students throughout Muscogee County. How many metal detectors do we have in MCSD schools at this time? We have one metal detector at AIM. If enough money was the concern, why wouldn’t the SPLOST funding be used to pay for additional training, hiring of appropriate staffing, or building a therapeutic school instead
of hiring a “for profit” organization that will We could have built the therapeutic day school if it were part of the current 2015 eSPLOST referendum, but unfortunately, it was not a specified project. According to state law, eSPLOST may not be used to hire staff or train teachers. How long will a child stay with Camelot? Max Time? Depending on the type of program, there will be varying amounts of time that a student will participate in Camelot programs. Transitional School - Students attend until the tribunal assigned time complete. Therapeutic Day School - Students attend until an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team makes the decision that it is time for the student to return to their home school location. EXCEL Academy - Students attend until they are ready to transition back to their home school location. What does a typical day look like for a child that needs Therapeutic
Services? Each student enrolled in the Therapeutic Day School has an individualized schedule based on identified needs.
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Where will their staff come from? MCSD teachers or are they bringing in other people? Camelot will transition staff from other locations as well as hire staff from Columbus and the surrounding area.
Will the home school be trained in the behavior management for the students returning to the homeschool? Camelot and district staff will collaborate to provide school outreach as each student transitions back to the traditional setting to ensure the transfer school is aware of the behavior modifications that were successful for the student.
Is participation optional? At what point will the program become mandatory? Transitional Schoo l- Participation is mandatory as student placement is through the district’s Tribunal Process due to a discipline infraction. Therapeutic Day School- An Individualized Education Program (IEP) team determines if a student will participate. Students placement in schools does not occur through their IEP. Instead, the team decides what services the student needs, and then the student attends a school where the district can provide those specified services. EXCEL Academy- Participation is optional; students will have to complete an application and be accepted based on space availability.
What is the dollar amount granted or needed to service each child with an IEP for both MCSD and Camelot? Dollar amounts vary based on the services specified in the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
How are average children going to be separated from those with behavior issues? How is Camelot going to keep children with disabilities safe in a building with children who are acting out to the point of harming someone? Students enrolled in each Camelot program transition separately, and there is always an adult readily accessible. Students are not allowed to circulate throughout the building without an adult present. When behaviors escalate, Camelot staff immediately intervene and provide assistance to modify student behavior through targeted intervention using prescribed standard protocol.
Continued On Page 7
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Students in the Therapeutic Day School (TDS) will be served based on individual IEP-driven needs. The programming and support will be different for students with disabilities with aggressive behaviors versus the students who may have more intensive needs but not the extreme behavioral concerns. There are seventy-five (75) seats in the Therapeutic Day School. MCSD has approximately 4,200 special education students. The TDS will serve just under two (2) percent of the current special education population. Students that have either extreme aggression or need intensive medical or functional supports. Individual students with academic, mild behavioral, social concerns or typical functional students should not meet the requirements to participate in the TDS model. They receive services in our other MCSD schools. What are the number of open lawsuits Camelot have at this time? Camelot does not have any open current lawsuits.
What percentage of students expelled or quit after participating in the program? Camelot is not permitted to expel our students from their programs. Students will go through the Tribunal Process, the same as all of the other schools throughout the school system. Camelot’s average graduation rate is 95%. (2006 through 2016)
Why is this vote only in the hands of the school board members and not the entire population of Muscogee County? Each of the School Board members represents a designated area of the county. They are the voting members that represent their constituencies and vote on their behalf. Citizens are encouraged to contact their Board members directly to share their support or concerns for school district initiatives.
Are these physical pat downs for all students? Is this before or after the student walks through the metal detectors? All students will walk through a metal detector or be scanned with a wand when they arrive on campus each day. Is Camelot another CEDU or Brown school? Camelot Education, LLC is not associated with the Brown Schools.
Is the 6.4 million for the first year
of Camelot or the entire contract? It is the annual expense for the Camelot contract.
What if my kids are a year behind grade level wise and want to be in the right grade but don’t want to go to a different school from people they are used to? Participation in the EXCEL Academy is optional. Students will not be required to attend unless their parent/guardian consents to their participation. There will be an application process due to the number of limited seats.
What if one of my kids have depression and bipolar disorder and I try to explain certain things to the teachers and the principal and they still give my child a hard time? If your student enrolls in a Camelot program, then please reach out to the school administration who oversees their respective program to convey your concern. Camelot staff should have the opportunity to address each parent concern before contacting the school system. What happens if there is no Camelot? What other options are there? How will students be serviced if Camelot is not approved? We will continue to provide IEP-driven services for all students with disabilities. The IEP team determines which services each student receives. Students without disabilities will continue to receive the same services we already provide in the school system. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide the additional intensive services that Camelot is being contracted to provide.
Would Camelot accept/use volunteers to help with instruction? (Ex. Helping teachers provide individual tutoring within the classroom setting) Yes, but the volunteer must clear a background check to provide assistance.
Who/How will Camelot be evaluated? Camelot has a Quality Management Team that monitors whether or not programs are meeting intended expected outcomes. The school district administration will also evaluate Camelot to ensure all programs are meeting student outcomes as expected. A school district region chief will visit the campus on a regular basis.
We already had the programs that you mentioned, and they were disbanded in 2013. Why can’t we bring
back ASC at a cost saving? ASC did not provide the behavioral and therapeutic services at the same level as Camelot provides.
Has MCSD withdrawn from the GNET system? The school district has notified the State and other RESA districts of its intent to withdraw from GNETS. MCSD will serve all of our current students enrolled at Woodall. The services for these students will be determined based on individual student data as review and determined by the IEP team. Is Marshall an approved building for DOE purposes? If not, how will this issue be addressed? If the Camelot proposal passes, then a letter will be written to the state to reactivate the Marshall campus.
If we do not do Camelot, how short on teachers will we be next year? Employees sign contracts for next school year in May. Without Camelot, the school district will have to replace current special education teachers that do not sign their contracts and add new teachers for the students that Camelot was going to serve. We anticipate needing at least six (6) teachers next year, several additional paraprofessionals, and related service providers.
How is Marshall going to be State approved now when it was not state approved when it was Woodall? Woodall has never been on the Marshall campus. At the time Woodall moved, there were not peers on the Marshall campus, so it was not an appropriate choice. With the additional programs at Marshall, there will be access to a variety of peers. If GNET students are served at Marshall, how are they segregated as they are now? How is Camelot lawful in light of segregation laws that our state has already warned about GNETS/Woodall? Students in the Therapeutic Day School (K-5) will remain on the JD Davis Elementary campus, so they will remain in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and can be integrated with other elementary students as specified in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Students in grades 6-12 will be on the Marshall Learning Center campus, remaining in an LRE so they can integrate with other secondary students enrolled in the EXCEL Academy as
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specified in their IEP. The EXCEL Academy is a “choice” school, not alternative education which is open to regular and special education students throughout Muscogee County. Since Camelot is a for-profit company where does their profit come from? Just the contract or other places? Camelot reinvests the majority of the contract profit into each school program. Additional company profits come from investments. Will there be a principal? Who will be in charge of the campus? An Executive Director and a principal oversee the Camelot programs. What can the parent do to help pay for the supplies my child/student is using in school? Camelot provides all supplies for students enrolled in each program.
Will they participate in district sports? Students at the Transitional School are not eligible to participate in sports due to placement in the program through the Tribunal Process. Students in the other two programs are eligible to participate in district sports at their home school locations.
Is there a maximum number of students that can be enrolled in each program than the current numbers? Transitional Schoo - 250 students Therapeutic Day School - 75 students EXCEL Academy - 125 students We anticipate over time that we will need fewer seats in the Transitional School and more seats in the EXCEL Academy. The cost per pupil as outlined in the contracts is the same for each student in these programs, so the seats are interchangeable. Will open records request apply to Camelot, the same as the school district? Yes, the Open Records Request applies per Georgia Law. Will the school have a library and gym? Yes, Marshall Learning Center has a library and gym. Will Marshall continue to be property of the MCSD or is it possible that it will be deeded to Camelot? Marshall Learning Center will remain a school board property.
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Columbus, Georgia
706.685.8023
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Call 706-323-3367 Sr. Pastor Roderick Green
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Metropolitan Baptist Church
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Service Sunday School 9:30 A.M Monday Night Tuesday Bible Study Pastor Curtis Crocker, Jr.
St. James Missionary Baptist Church “Put God First”
5214 St. James Street Columbus, Georgia Church 706.687.6420
First African Baptist Church 901 5th Avenue
April 27, 2017
Schedule Sunday Worship 11:00 A.M Prayer 6:00 P.M 12:00 P.M & 5:30 P.M
Mission Statement A growing church for growing Christians attempting to grow the Kingdom, one soul at a time.
Dr. Ralph W. Huling Senior Pastor
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Let’s Talk About This $6.3 Million
By Wane A. Hailes The Courier
Too many of us have been caught up with what it will cost Camelot Education to provide its services, $6.3 million. What most of us fail to understand is that this amount is not new money. The Muscogee County School District is paying that much or more now through private for profit vendors.
The superintendent spent eighteen m o n t h s searching for a company that would provide the same servic-
es more efficiently. Three companies were researched but only Camelot was willing to use our curriculum and our Discipline Code of Ethics. What needs to be understood is that currently the $6.3 million is being spent on the parents who know they have options.
To put it bluntly: when Kip and Becky throws a chair in school they are sent to their family doctor who diagnoses them with a disability, prescribes them medication and they are back in school the next day placed in a program or with one of the assigned counseling vendors or programs. When Ray
Ray and Shaquita throws a chair they are unaware that they have the same option instead they receive a three day or longer suspension. What is missed is that this program is about finding how the school district can officially serve the needs of all children in our district with the same money we are already spending. It levels the playing field. Is this the perfect company who knows but again we must do something
Below is a list of current vendors, when they were approved and the amount of their contract. Nov 14, 2011 Board Work Session The Superintendent of Education recommends awarding the following contracts: Marcus Autism Center, $118,000.00, behavior assessments, Programs for Exceptional Students Marcus Autism Center, $69,000.00, intensive behavioral services for a student, Programs for Exceptional Students Jul 07, 2014 - Called School Board Meeting and Work Session The Superintendent of Education recommends approval of the following system-wide contracts/purchases: David Ebron C o u n s e l i n g Services, Inc., $975.00 increase for FY14, Student Services UHS of Laurel Heights, $50,000.00, FY15 professional services, Student Services Marcus Autism, $132,000.00, FY15
professional services, Student Services Maxim Healthcare, $25,000.00, FY15 professional services, Student Services Pediatria Healthcare, $35,000.00, nurse services for FY15, Student Services SHC Services, Inc., $65,000.00, specialty healthcare, Student Services Soliant Health, $65,000.00,. SLP and HCP Services, Student Services StaffRehab, Inc., $65,000.00, Speech Language Pathologist Services, FY15, Student Services The Autism Learning Center, $31,800.00, FY15 behavioral analysis & intervention services, Programs for Exceptional Children Jun 13, 2016 - Called Meeting and Board Work Session 5:00 P.M The Superintendent of Education recommends approval of the following Exception G purchases:
M a r c u s A u t i s m C e n t e r, $188,898.00, Autism training, Program for Exceptional Students Mentoring and Behavioral Services, $16,962.50, behavioral services, Program for Exceptional Services Mentoring and Behavioral Services, $200,000.00, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) services, Program for Exceptional Services David Ebron, $40,000.00, Comprehensive services for students with disabilities, Woodall Psychoeducational Center Pediatria Healthcare Services, $35,000.00, nursing staffing for Individualized Education Plan (IEP) driven services, Program for Exceptional Services Soliant Healthcare Services, $730,000.00, contract personnel for IEP driven services, Program for Exceptional Services Supplemental Healthcare (SHC), $85,000.00, contract personnel for IEP driven services, Program for Exceptional Services
EXTRAORDINARY INTENTIONS
By Jonathan “Bam” Rivers
Blame Yourself
Charles Swindoll once said life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it. Having said that, it is time to stop blaming other people for what stage your life is currently in. Your current situation has nothing to do with your circumstances, but everything to do with the decisions you have made. You can't control someone trying to stop your grind or crush your dream, but you can control whether or not you let them succeed. You are capable of doing extraordinary things in life to bless yourself and others, but you have to make the decision to be stronger than your circumstances. You have not been promised a life free from storms, but you have been promised that no weapon formed against you shall prosper! Do you believe that? Do you know you are fearfully and wonderfully made? Do you know you have already been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places? If you don't know, now you know! A graduate of Shaw High School and Auburn University Jonathan Rivers is a motivational speaker and TV host. Rivers can be reached at 706.593.7800 and TEAM B.A.M. at www.jonathanbamrivers.com
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COVER STORY
April 27, 2017
Local Entrepreneur Nneka Brown-Massey Sells 8,000 Notebooks In Twenty-Four Hours was founded. A 2007 graduate of Kendrick High School Nneka’s business manufactures and markets school supplies utilizing high school students from her alma mater. “Since day one I have employed high school students providing work experience and training,” Brown-Massey says. “Some of the skills they learn are filling orders, team work, social media marketing and customer relations.”
By Wane A. Hailes The Courier
On July 22, 2016 just two weeks into being enrolled at Columbus State University Nneka Brown-Massey had an epiphany.
“I always liked back to school supplies and now that I’m going to school, I felt it was important to get the right tools that would help me throughout the semester. One of the tools would be notebooks, but when I went into the store, there wasn’t much for me to choose from,” Brown says. “So, I created a couple concepts in my mind and I had them produced and I was blown away by how good they looked. I knew this was something that other people would love as well.”
Five days later, on July 27, 2016, the former U.S. Army sergeant and Human resources specialist, who one day aspires to be a history teacher, launched her Black-owned online retail store providing a collection of school supplies celebrating modern and historic moments in African American culture. She sold over 8,000 orders of custommade notebooks in 24 hours. One year later she has sold over 20,000 notebooks with sales in Singapore, South Korea, Canada and the UK.
She immediately dropped out of school and Innovative Supplies Worldwide, Inc.
Recently, Nneka Brown-Massey and her business Innovative Supplies Worldwide was honored by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal during the Georgia Launching Opportunities By Exporting (GLOBE) Awards. The recognition goes to those businesses that entered an international market in the past year. Brown-Massey met the criteria during the past year with international sales of her products. During the month of May the nation will celebrate Teachers Appreciation Week. Items will be available on her website at www.innovativesupplies.net. The items are also available for sale at Bluebell Artist Market located at 2301 Airport Thruway, Columbus, Georgia
COVER STORY
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April 27, 2017
Behind The Scenes: It’s Time To be Honest With Our Children country making a difference in the lives of young people.
Because of my experiences I know there are young men and women with much more ability than mine, many who have gone on to play and even start on a college team are eventually faced with the fact that they are not going to the next level, the pros.
By Wane A. Hailes The Courier
I am no different from many kids today. I grew up idolizing players like Oscar Robertson, Clyde Frazier, Dr. J and Lew Alcindor before he became Kareem Abdul Jabbar. They provided me with the fantasy that I could one day play professional basketball. Watching track stars like Edwin Moses, Carl Lewis, Evelyn Ashford I also had a vision of one day participating in the Olympics in the Long Jump and Triple Jump.
I made the basketball team in Junior high school but the only playing time I got was in practice. Although my basketball ability was legendary on the outdoor courts and playgrounds of my hometown I didn’t go out for a basketball team again until my senior year in college as a walk-on. I made the team, however, although I could dunk a basketball and was a hustler on defense, again the only playing time I received was during practice.
I faired much better in Track & Field. As a college freshman I lettered as a result of my Long and Triple jumping abilities. As a senior, on my very last jump, at our conference meet, I took over first place and became conference champion in the long jump.
In spite of my dreams, I realized long before my senior year in college that I might not be professional athlete material but I loved being involved with sports. After graduation I spent fifteen years with the YMCA of the USA. It was a career that allowed me to stay close to sports and travel around the
I believe we must start now letting our children know that it’s ok to have dreams but be prepared for the “what if?” What if you get injured and can no longer play? What if you don’t make it to the pros? I contend it’s not the end of the world for them if they truly love the sport. According to an article by the RAM Financial Group, a large financial services group that caters to professional athletes the average career span of a professional athletes are: NFL: NBA: MLB: NHL:
3.5 4.8 5.6 5.5
years years years years
Unfortunately we get so caught up in the glamour we see “in front of the camera”, we fail to realize the opportunities that are available “Behind The Scenes” that can offer a much longer career span. The chart provided here, appeared in USA Today Sports on July 27, 2016 it details, by the numbers, the odds your child has of making a professional team in the six major leagues.
In the coming weeks we will go “Behind The Scenes” of various careers providing our readers with employment opportunities that exist.
Whether its opportunities in the front offices of a professional team or behind the camera at a television network our hope is that we provide alternatives on life after the dream is not realized.
Next issue we address employment opportunities behind the scenes of a television network.
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COVER STORY
10 Economically Disadvantaged 5th Grade Honor Students Awarded Scholarships The students attend monthly enrichment sessions where they learn about everything from the criminal justice system to etiquette.
The Columbus Scholars Fund is administered and controlled by the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley. Funds will be provided to help meet the needs of each student during the college years. Traditional scholarships provide an award to a student who is already going to college. Columbus Scholars sets aside funds to motivate and help more students reach college.
By Wane A. Hailes The Courier
10 academically talented but economically disadvantaged fifth-grade students have been selected to receive a college scholarship and a long-term mentor through a collaboration with The Columbus Scholars Project (CS) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Chattahoochee Valley (BBBSCV), CS Chairman Ben Holden announced. A scholarship “signing ceremony” and celebration for the new Scholars was held Saturday April 22, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Richards Middle School, 2892 Edgewood Road.
CS, in partnership with BBBSCV, allocates an average of $7,500 per selected Scholar in privately raised funds. These funds are held by the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley. BBBSCV then strives to match the students with a local mentor who supports the dream of college education. The newest Scholars bring to 65 the total number of children who are admitted to the program regardless of race or gender. CS is in its eighth year.
The Scholars who will be honored at Richards Middle School Saturday April 22 are: Lana Crawford, St. Mary’s Elementary School Jamisha Drayton-Davis,
Key Elementary School Quintavious Fudge, Fox Elementary School Camren Harris, J. D. Davis Elementary School TaKay’Sheunna Jordan, Fox Elementary School Nikedriona Keys, Dawson Elementary School Ayden Knighton, Hannan Elementary School Kimberly Riley, Fox Elementary School Clyde Steible, Key Elementary School Christian Youngs, Clubview Elementary School
These students, selected from among applicants from all Muscogee County School District elementary schools, join 55 previously selected 5th-grade Scholars who currently attend MCSD high schools and middle schools across 7 classes between 6th and 12th grades.
The goal of Columbus Scholars is to make college possible for Muscogee County fifth graders who have outstanding academic records but come from difficult family circumstances. “We try to identify these kids before life beats them down. We give them a hand up not a hand out,” said Holden. “One of the core principles of Columbus Scholars is to turn poor kids into middle class kids. Give them a ladder out of poverty.”
As of April 18, 2017, $608,084 in cash and stock-market appreciation has been raised and directed to the Community Foundation by the Columbus Scholars
April 27, 2017
Board. In addition, Columbus State University has guaranteed two students from earlier classes $10,000 each in scholarship funding. 100% of all donations received to date have gone directly into the Columbus Scholars Fund at the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley. All administrative expenses of CS have been borne by Board Members or friends of the program, who contribute to a separate administrative fund. Donations can be sent and made payable to the Community Foundation of the C h a t t a h o o c h e e Va l l e y / C o l u m b u s Scholars Fund, 1340 13th Street, Columbus, GA 31901.
Additional information can be found at www.columbusscholars.org. You may also contact Ben Holden at 706-332-8426.
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Meet...Cristina Richards with SunTrust Bank Recently a Hispanic woman, new to the city, was experiencing difficulty finding a financial institution to assist her. She was referred to Cristina Richards at SunTrust Bank located at Milgen Plaza inside Publix Supermarket. After meeting with Cristina the young lady left a satisfied customer. Richards, originally from Panama has worked with SunTrust Bank for the past five years. Prior to joining the SunTrust family Cristina worked with CB&T for twelve years and with Girls Inc. for close to a year. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family.
27 de Abril 2017
Sífilis Contraataca En un punto, la sífilis fue prácticamente eliminado, pero eso no es verdad hoy. La persistencia de esta enfermedad transmitida sexualmente (ETS) está ahora nuevamente en ascenso y ha alcanzado un alto nivel crítico. En 2015, hubo casi 24.000 casos de sífilis notificados en los Estados Unidos; que era casi un 20% de aumento general desde 2014. Este aumento de las infecciones de sífilis hace una renovada amenaza de salud para muchos. Si se deja sin tratamiento, la sífilis puede causar graves problemas de salud que afectan al cerebro, ojos, corazón y otros órganos, y una mujer embarazada puede transmitir la enfermedad a su bebé durante el embarazo. Tener sífilis también hace que sea más fácil contraer el VIH. Pero hay buenas noticias. La sífilis es fácil de curar con el tratamiento adecuado.
hacen la prueba para estar seguro de que ninguno de los dos tiene una ETS. Vacunarse- la vacuna contra el VPH es una vacunación de rutina para niños y niñas de edades comprendidas entre los 11 y los 12. También es recomendable para las mujeres jóvenes de edades comprendidas entre 13 y 26 años, los varones jóvenes de 13 a 21, gay, bisexuales y otros hombres que tienen sexo con hombres y hombres con sistemas inmunitarios debilitados, hasta la edad de 26 años.
Abril es el Mes de la concientización sobre las ETS. Usted puede protegerse a si mismo de varias maneras: Practicar la abstinencia- la manera más segura de evitar las ETS es no tener relaciones sexuales. Esto significa que el sexo vaginal, oral o anal.
La única manera de saber si usted tiene una ETS es hacerse la prueba. Los 16 condados del oeste del distrito central de salud confidencial ofrecen pruebas y tratamiento de las ETS. Muchas de las ETS son curables y todas son tratables. Por lo tanto, si usted o su pareja pruebas positivas, tanto de usted debe empezar el tratamiento de inmediato para evitar volver a infectarse. Para obtener más información o para encontrar el departamento de salud más cercano a usted, visite www.westcentralhealthdistrict.c om.
Usar condones correctamente cada vez que tenga relaciones sexuales. Tienen menos socios- acepta sólo tienen sexo con una persona que está de acuerdo en que sólo tiene sexo con usted. Asegúrese de que ambas
Hable con su pareja(s) acerca de las ETS y estar seguro antes de tener sexo. Obtención inicia la conversación puede ser incómodo, pero protegiendo su salud es tu responsabilidad. Hágase la pruebamuchas de las ETS no tienen síntomas, pero pueden causar problemas de salud.
Eco Latino Vol. 12
Ediciรณn 9 Gratis
Jueves 27 de Abril 2017
couriernews.org
S ERVING C OLUMBUS , F T. B ENNING , P HENIX C ITY & S URROUNDING A REAS
La voz de la comunidad hispana
Satisfacer Cristina Richards con Suntrust Bank
Sr. Andres McVey Tu Principal Associado
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