Open Letter Rescinded
Open Letter Rescinded
I changed my mind. From what I have learned recently, merging Lincoln Heights and Villa Heights is a bad idea. So I let the board know in the letter below. Please note that these emails are to elected government officials and are public record as set forth in the Freedom of Information Act, although some might rather not have this so readily available and searchable in Google, I’m breaking no laws or social mores.
Subject: An open Letter to the CMS board
Date: September 15, 2008 1:49:15 PM EDT
To: superintendent@cms.k12.nc.us, coachjoew@cms.k12.nc.us, kayemcgarry@cms.k12.nc.us, trent.merchant@cms.k12.nc.us, v.leake@cms.k12.nc.us, ken.gjertsen@cms.k12.nc.us,
To whom it may concern,
My name is Andrew {LAST_NAME }, I am a Villa Heights Academic Center parent. Enclosed within are my personal views and opinions. I only speak for myself.
Since my initial writing I have learned much more about this plan and I would like to rescind my previous comments. I was under the impression that this was a well thought out strategic initiative that only needed a greater level of detail to execute. I see now that I was mistaken and this is not the case.
First, I learned that a vital component to the success of Villa Heights is its small size. Moving the program to a larger school would be detrimental to its continued success. To serve the demand in the community at large for this service we need to replicate, not merge and enlarge.
Second, I learned that this isn't a well thought out strategic initiative, but a "pet project" of one of the members of the board. I was told that Vilma Leake is the initiator of this proposal, that she is in the Lincoln Heights district and she's trying to save her school, all I'm sure in good faith. This proposal however, will not promote the prosperity of her district, nor the prosperity of any child in these two schools.
A critical flaw in this proposal is the contingency on the faculty, staff and students of Villa Heights actually moving to Lincoln Heights; trust me, that won't happen -- I am actually considering selling my home and leaving Mecklenburg county because of this.
Vilma's plan will not help Lincoln Heights in any way. This plan will only destroy one of the best performing schools in the county!
Thank you.
--
Andrew {LAST_NAME }
The original letter is published at:
I will either update the above open letter, or post a new entry on that blog in 24 to 48 hours.
I thought it was a powerful letter where I spoke my mind and gave good reasoning.
I received a reply from Peter Gorman thanking me for my comments, which is a perfect response because what I truly wanted was to be heard. I wanted to be counted; to share my ideas. His simple reply told me that he read it and at the very least appreciated the time it took for me to put it down in an email, spell check it, and send it.
That’s what made getting the following reply so shocking:
From: trent.merchant@cms.k12.nc.us
Subject: Re: An open Letter to the CMS board
Date: September 15, 2008 2:08:24 PM EDT
Mr. {LAST_NAME },
Your email of September 9, sent at 2:28am, makes more sense than the uninformed, confrontational drivel you sent today. If you want to help Villa Heights, you probably need to refrain from sending any more emails.
I have copied Bill {LAST_NAME }, whom your blog indicates is responsible for leading a committee in Communication with the Board of Education.
Sincerely,
Trent Merchant
Board of Education, At Large
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Extremely unprofessional and very unbecoming of an elected official. He actually chastised me for being brusque and did so in a way that was far more confrontational. In this letter I put a name to a proposal. I also thought I was pretty altruistic placing the phrase “I’m sure in good faith” in the above email. My meaning being that I think Vilma Leake was doing nothing crafty, shady or underhanded. I think she’s honestly trying to help. I’m sure she has the best of intentions.
But what Trent’s message told me was that he didn’t even bother reading and understanding my simple, brief opening paragraph. “I am me, and I speak for myself.” Why did he feel the need to involve Bill? Bill’s a great guy, but he is not my keeper. I was offended by this letter on many levels. I really did have all I could do to refrain from stooping to his level. The email reply below was my best attempt at being civil.
Subject: Re: An open Letter to the CMS board
Date: September 15, 2008 2:29:28 PM EDT
To: trent.merchant@cms.k12.nc.us
Cc: superintendent@cms.k12.nc.us, coachjoew@cms.k12.nc.us, kayemcgarry@cms.k12.nc.us, trent.merchant@cms.k12.nc.us, v.leake@cms.k12.nc.us, ken.gjertsen@cms.k12.nc.us,
Mr. Trent Merchant,
Uninformed, confrontational drivel? I don't understand what about my latest letter was confrontational. I thought I was being very rational and calm. Now, to your point of me being misinformed, please enlighten me.
Please refrain from threatening my first amendment right to free speech. I don't appreciate you trying to bully me into silence.
I'm simply stating that I've changed my views based upon new information I have learned. I've searched the CMS website for a detailed plan or a strategic vision. I've found none. Can you send links to the plans, goals, and costs?
For all intents and purposes I'm a stockholder in CMS. If you go against what I believe is best for the community, I must react by selling my stock in this community -- the only way to do that is to relocate. That's pretty rational thought from where I'm standing.
Also, my letters are open since communicating with government officials makes them by default public record.
Thank you for your comments though.
--
Andrew {LAST_NAME }
The original letter is published at:
I will either update the above open letter, or post a new entry on that blog in 24 to 48 hours.
His email included Bill and I did Carbon Copy the CMS board in my response to his rude reply. Remember, anyone can read his email. Nothing he sends from that account is private or confidential. I’ve also been very forthcoming in all my communications, advertising that my email correspondences will be published. He can’t cry foul.
From: trent.merchant@cms.k12.nc.us
Subject: Re: An open Letter to the CMS board
Date: September 15, 2008 2:40:06 PM EDT
No one is threatening you. I was suggesting that you since you do not have your facts straight (Vilma's pet-project, etc), you may not want to "help" any more.
Write all you want, forward to whomever you like, and - as you correctly affirmed to be your right - move if it makes sense for your family.
I will end my correspondence with you and wish you the best.
Sincerely,
Trent Merchant
Board of Education, At Large
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
trent.merchant@cms.k12.nc.us
Well depending on how you read that, he might have tried to cry foul: “forward to whomever you like”.
But his comment to move “if it makes sense” told me he just didn’t get it. This is about MY CHILDREN and THEIR EDUCATION. This is about closing one of the BEST performing schools in the county.
Now he just suggested that I was wrong. He didn’t actually tell me I was wrong. He offered no evidence to contradict my presumed facts. So I sent one last email:
Subject: Re: An open Letter to the CMS board
Date: September 15, 2008 3:31:19 PM EDT
To: trent.merchant@cms.k12.nc.us
Cc: superintendent@cms.k12.nc.us, coachjoew@cms.k12.nc.us, kayemcgarry@cms.k12.nc.us, v.leake@cms.k12.nc.us, ken.gjertsen@cms.k12.nc.us,
Mr. Trent Merchant,
Please don't just say I'm wrong, that I don't have my facts straight and then offer no correction. If I'm wrong, tell me why. Correct me. Give me the facts.
What I know is there were summer meetings held to evaluate the overall magnet program and the purpose of magnet schools. Our family wrote a letter in support of Villa Heights. I didn't attend the meeting because I didn't think Villa Heights was in jeopardy of being shut down because it is such a successful program. One week into the school year I find out there is an initiative to close Villa Heights and I have one month to react.
My question is "What is driving this proposal? What is the purpose of it?"
I'm not able to attend the meetings because I've been working later than traditional business hours. I'm adamant about having my thoughts and opinions heard on this subject. I would also love to be informed. Please reply if you can give me the information and understanding I seek.
Thank you for your time and kind consideration to my correspondences. It is not my intention to cause ill feelings. Please understand that this is very emotional and personal for me. I'm trying to [be] civil and rational in a time of great stress.
I've copied the pertinent parties on this email to promote an open discussion. Sharing information is the best way to avoid misunderstanding and inaccurate comments. Government can only work for the people's best interests when its business is done in the light of day.
Thank you for your time,
Andrew {LAST_NAME }
The original letter is published at:
I will either update the above open letter, or post a new entry on that blog with these correspondences in 24 to 48 hours.
I’ll give him one thing, he did keep his word. He didn’t reply. I bet he didn’t even read my comments.
Because of the way this was sprung on us, I have little faith that we actually have any chance of changing the predetermined outcome. We’re looking at real estate now in surrounding counties. If they close Villa Heights we will have just under a year to get the hell out of Dodge.
Disclaimer: Contained within are my thoughts and opinions. I reserve the right to change my mind and form new opinions based on additional facts and circumstances that are brought to my attention.
All personal emails and last names of non-public officials were removed from the above correspondences for child safety concerns. The profiles and email addresses of the CMS board members can be found at http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/boardEducation/.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
