Tattoos express feelings, beliefs
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Vitamin Water: Healthy or Waste?
The Northridge
r e t r o Re p
http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com/news/
February 24, 2011 • Volume 8, Issue 5
page 7 Athletes sign to colleges page 8 Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406
State of Change
roving reporter
Superintendent resigns after eight-year term anu pandit editor-in-chief
challenges associated with it. Dr. Levey faced those challenges, and the t the Tuscaloosa City School Board school system as a whole meeting on Jan. 25, Dr. Joyce had success in some areas, Levey announced her resignation and did not meet with the from her position as superintendent. success that she pursued in Her resignation is effective at the end of other areas,” he said. her contract, which is May 31. However, As Dr. Levey resigned starting Feb 1, she was absent on paid leave, before the end of her with an interim superintendent acting in her contract, there was a place. necessity to find an interim Dr. Levey occupied the seat of to take her place until the superintendent for eight years. end of her term. Dan Meissner, president of the board of On Feb . 1, the board education, said that Dr. Levey worked “long of education named and hard” during her eight year tenure. Dorothy Richardson Levey “She worked for the students of our acting superintendent. She previously system as served as Assistant The superintendent’s position superintendent Superintendent for is very important. Anytime and during General Administration. her other prior “The board is there is a shift in this posipositions. I beginning the process of tion, there can be be a subappreciate her the selection of a new stantial impact on the climate dedication superintendent [to replace of the school system. and wish her Levey], and it will be the all the best in decision of the board as a ~ Isaac Espy, principal the future,” he whole,” he said. said. “Whether [Dr. Levey’s] resignation Meissner said that there were no probable was beneficial or detrimental cannot candidates as of yet. be determined at this time, but will be “I am sure that the board members will determined by whatever changes come in have individual ideas that we will discuss the future.” together,” he said. Isaac Espy, principal, said Dr. Levey was Isaac Espy, principal, said that there very influential during her term, not only to is a potential for major change with this the system but also to him personally. transition. “She took part in many positive changes, “The superintendent’s position is very one of the most important to me being the important. Anytime there is a shift in this simple fact that she recommended me as position, there can be a substantial impact on principal of this school. The position of the climate of the school system,” he said. superintendent has many, many, many Espy said that although the superintendent
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oretta Scott King award-winning author Nikki Grimes visited Northridge on Wednesday, Jan. 26 and discussed both her novels and childhood with English classes in the auditorium between 12:45 and 2:00 p.m. Prior to Grimes’s arrival, the book club read her novel Bronx Masquerade, which contains stories and poems written by different teenage characters who hide behind fake personas in order to hide their true personalities. The book won a Coretta Scott King Award for Grimes. According to her website, Grimes began writing as a child and had her first works published while she was in high school. photo by kate davis Her autobiography A Dime a Dozen Grimes speaks to English classes in contains poems and other works that she the auditorium on Jan. 26. began writing as a young child.
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He or she needs to be able to help all students, not just the patrons to the system. -Andrew Lattner, junior
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He or she must be a strong leader, but humble, and should have good communication skills. -Jackie Hudgins, counselor
photo by eddie mcclinton
would change, the main goal would not. “A new superintendent will bring a personal set of ventures, initiatives and priorities. But all of these will certainly have the academic success of students at the forefront,” he said. Nick Motz, sophomore, said the transition gives him little hope for the future. “Although I didn’t agree with everything Dr. Levey did, she was a good superintendent. [The transition to a new superintendent] leaves a lot of uncertainty about what to expect. We don’t know what interests he or she would push, or what she’d be in favor of,” he said. Jesse Parker, junior, said that he feels that this may solve some of the problems the school system faces. “Dr. Levey was a great leader, but there was just too much stuff for her to cover. We need a new perspective to come in and see things in a different light. Maybe then we can get things done,” he said.
Author speaks of childhood, importance of reading jah’meka baxter staff writer
What qualities are important in an interim or superintendent?
Grimes also won the Coretta Scott King Award in 2003 for her novel Jazmin’s Notebook, a story about a young girl who writes despite moving between foster homes, a situation similar to Grimes’s own childhood. She said many of her stories were inspired by her childhood experiences in different cities in the state of New York. Grimes said her inspiration came from reading poetry and the themes it portrays. “I have always been fascinated with the power of words in poetry,” she said. Grimes said that aspiring authors should attempt to make their work known. “Start off by having your work published in literary journals and magazines,” she said. Shanquella Jones, senior, was inspired the most by Grimes’s novel Bronx Masquerade. “It opened up a new point of view towards the way you think and evaluate other people” she said.
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He or she should be open to change, encourage advancement, and should embrace the individuality of all students. -Meredith Horn, senior
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He or she should promote the school system as a whole, not just certain aspects of it. -Hamilton Cook, senior
SEE EDITORIAL ON PAGE 2.
in brief
Nurse schedule changes
jah’meka baxter staff writer
Nurse Deda Donaldson will now schedule her visits differently to ensure her ability to meet scheduled nursing procedures and dispense medications to students after 11:30 a.m. Donaldson also nurses students at Rock Quarry and Verner elementary schools. “As an RN, I am required to visit other schools where I meet with the LPN’s of the schools to help them,” Donaldson said. Erica Murray, senior, said she is not affected by the change in the nursing schedule. “The only time I notice [the nurse] is when I walk by the office, but she is there when I need her for my medication,” Murray said. Donaldson will leave her keys in her box for access and will sign out with her school destination listed. She will also use a radio to notify others that she is leaving campus and tell where she is going. If an emergency occurs, students can contact Debbie Freedman, secretary, in the main office.