Open Letter from Parent

Parent Holly Hughes sent the following letter for posting to the blog:

Hi Margo,

 

Did want to say thank you so much for this Cloudcroft school blog.  It has been very informative and a useful source of information for us and we had no idea this even existed until just a week or so ago.  Ed & I have been struggling to survive some terrible hits to our business since the economy plummeted and have been working our tails off 7 days a week year round for over 2 years now, so we have been majorly out of the loop as far as school politics/policies during this time, outside of hearsay.  We have a grown son who graduated from the "old" Cloudcroft H.S. back in  2003 and have seen many changes since our daughter entered Kindergarten, now ready to enter the "new" H.S. this year.

 

As we fought hard for ANY information regarding the building/funding of the new H.S. and football field, we ran into one dead end after another and were met with a peculiar lack of transparency during this entire process, left only with rumor/opinion and political jargon.  This is one reason we just could not sacrifice our very livelihood to attend a series of less than entertaining "magic shows" with the school board meetings.

 

Our daughter has been in the "gifted" program since about 3rd grade and while we religiously attend the scheduled IEP meetings, we always voiced that the funding the school was receiving for our daughter was just not reflected with any "action" outside of the laborious, annual IEP meetings.  I now see there is currently an administrative positionfor a "Special Education" coordinator and am absolutely appalled.  I certainly hope this position is not filled as it seems all monies given the CC school district for the "gifted" program, which falls under the category of "Special Education" are spent on the administrator position, the screening process and the paperwork associated with this program.  When we repeatedly asked what tangible benefit our daughter was receiving each and every year, dating back to when "Dr." Jan Hunter was in this position, we were told things like Knowledge Bowl and Science Olympiad were funded by this money.  We of course asked why kids NOT in the gifted program were allowed this benefit and never got a straight answer.  We did go to the State Board of Education several times to try and not only get more information, but report our daughter was NOT receiving the things listed in the paperwork for the IEP meeting every year, but due to our eventual extenuating circumstances, we had to drop this pursuit.

 

If this "special education" administrative position being currently advertised is indeed funded by some kind of Federal or State grant, then that's all well and fine.  However, I'm under the strong impression it is not and my daughter, an honor roll student for her entire school career to date, just as my son was, is STILL not receiving any direct benefit from the funds being repeatedly give to the CC school district on her behalf and we're being coerced to continually sign the official IEP documents that suggest all kinds of lovely plans for her every year that have never come to fruition.

 

I also am frustrated with the CC School district's website (which we suggested years ago to the school board) as even upon its initial inception, we suggested a school supply list, registration dates and orientation dates.  Well, they've managed an elementary and middle school supply list, finally, but there is no information regarding those preparing to enter H.S. for the first time. 

 

Further, when viewing the "District" section, the only mention of any music program is "Marching Band" and there is so very much more to it than that.  I can guarantee you more Cloudcroft students have gone to college on scholarships offered from the music program achievements than the athletic program here in Cloudcroft.  For example, my son, Daniel, graduating with honors in 2003 from CloudCroft, H.S. is still the first and only male student to have made the All State Mixed Choir.  My daughter, who lettered in Band for flute in 8th grade, is hoping to enter the choral music program as well in HS as it was not offered to Middle School students before.  I received a partial vocal scholarship to Julliard in NY and a full vocal scholarship to Westminster in Boston from my choral music achievements while attending Memorial H.S. (Houston, Tx) in the late 1970's and shudder to see how grossly downplayed this extremely valuable music program is.

While I can not promise/commit to much crusading at this time, I would greatly appreciate anyone who can follow up and follow through with what is NOT happening with the "Gifted Program" (within this "Special Education" umbrella) and explore why there is an administrative position being filled and how this salary is funded, especially for such an extraordinarily small school district.  And, why the entire music program is so trivialized, not properly promoted and celebrated is unacceptable; it's treated as an afterthought, especially considering this is a major vehicle for higher education scholarships.

 

Of course, our jaws are still dropped regarding the outlandish salary of any superintendent for a district this size, let alone having all school employees work less for same or more pay, when much of America is having to do the opposite, including our family.  This absolutely defies any reason or logic and all that can be said is shame on all those responsible for these unethical (bordering on) criminal decisions and those who justify accepting them.

 

I haven't the time nor focus to polish this, but if you would like to use any of this in your blog, please feel free to use any/all and you may use my name.

 

Thank you for your time and attention in these matters,

 

Holly H. Hughes

Cloudcroft, NM