Watchdog: Concern over more race-based programs in Antioch school district

Watchdog-LogoBy Barbara Zivica

My recent column regarding an African-American graduation ceremony in Antioch provoked a lot of response and prompted a reader to inform me about the African American Male High School Preparatory Academy (summer school). Wondering what was going on in the district, I checked their website and found out something that may have been the cause behind district decisions, which I consider to be discriminatory.

It seems that on March 26, 2015, the district issued a press release in response to a complaint brought by Willie Mims, Education Chair of the East County Branch of the NAACP, charging the district with disproportionately suspending African American students and students with disabilities.

Claire Smith, AUSD Board of Trustees President at the time said “I am so pleased to share that the Board of Education gave direction in closed session to accept a plan of action that will fortify our work in areas of student equity and access and provisionally resolve the issued raised by the advocacy organizations.”

The District’s web site now includes a non-discrimination statement. Perhaps this is the reason the district scheduled African American Male Achievement Initiative Committee Meeting dates during 2014-15 to which the public was apparently welcome, although it’s the first I’ve heard about them. The African American Male Achievement Initiative goal is to increase graduation rates for AA males, increase the number of students who graduate, decrease the number of AA male students referred to special education, and decrease the number of AA male students suspended from school.

The district’s former RAAMP program – Raising Academic Achievement Multicultural Program Charter Academy was deemed a failure by the California Charter Schools Association, and called for its closure due to low standardized test scores.

Check the district’s website in regard to information for the following programs: Credit recovery summer school, African-American Male Initiative – Bridge Program, Alternative Education, and Independent Study summer school, all held at Deer Valley High School. (June 15 through July 21, Monday through Thursday). Incidentally, these summer programs offer free breakfast and lunch as do elementary schools in the district (K-8) during June and July.


17 Comments to “Watchdog: Concern over more race-based programs in Antioch school district”

  1. Julio says:

    Parents no longer are required to feed their children Barbara, you and I are, three squares a day even at Antioch High School. Inclusive of all races that qualify.

  2. Reginald Jamal Brown says:

    Yup. Our tax money is spent on underachieving black males. Forget about focusing on the kids with a 4.0 GPA or the ones who really strive for higher education. Forget about the kids Who really want help and will accept help. Let’s focus our dollars on educating the stupid black males would rather smoke weed, become rappers, and football players.

    Obama nation at its fines. Praise the idiots and vilify the smart and talented.

    • Peggy Vertin says:

      Truly a shame and also equates to racism.

      • Reginald Jamal Brown says:

        Yawn.

        I’m black. I attribute my success to hard work and education, but most importantly not lowering my self expectation.

        You on the other hand, is a race baiter.

  3. Rich says:

    Something I am curious about and can’t seem to put my finger on . . . just how much do the tax payers of Antioch pay in to the AUSD? Are there specific tax(es)? Or are there other additional “contributions” we make to the AUSD. It’s no wonder the “schools” want parents to “donate” time and supplies, they are supplying the food 🙁

    • Julio says:

      Look on your county tax bill Rich. It is all there. No additional contributions except what the Sate of California bestows on them.

  4. Rich says:

    A rather LARGE can of worms has been opened regarding “AUSD”. Now it’s time to be proactive and address the issues. Notice that the obvious strategy now is to let things calm down AND hope they don’t have to do anything in response to all the other issues (which were supposed to be investigated) that were raised recently. I guess it’s “business as usual” for the AUSD – their silence and actions are not only deafening, their inactions are unacceptable.

  5. Joe says:

    Willie Mims is the biggest racist in the East County.

    • Reginald Jamal Brown says:

      Willie Mims is treated like a messiah in Antioch.

      • Julio says:

        No he really isn’t. I have respect for his being active in the communities but believe me no one treats him like the messiah. Crack pot mostly, radical also. Don’t kid yourself RJB.

        • Reginald Jamal Brown says:

          The sane people would believe the crack pot persona, but the rest of the Antioch idiots? He and his black KKK are looked up too like Demi-gods.

          If you don’t believe me, the Mayor a s Mims have a strong relationship. The AUSD treat the NAACP in Antioch as consultants.

          • Julio says:

            The mayor, Mims and the NAACP thick? Of course, they have much in common. Neither of them are anything near being treated as a messiah. What they may think of themselves may be different.

            AUSD and the NAACP have a different relationship. AUSD fears NAACP and the ACLU and other radicals.

  6. Lawrence Rasheed says:

    The acronym for R.A.A.M.P. Charter Academy stood for- Raising Academic Achievement Multi-cultural Program. Please get your fact check- Thanks!. Also those of you whom continuously look at Black students – especially Black males from a deficit perspective please read some books and, or articles. This does nothing but reify the pathological perceptions that are so pervasive in the dominant society. https://www.facebook.com/griotmentoring?fref=ts
    G.R.I.O.T.’s accomplishments, activities, events, and exposure over the past 10 Months
    * 6 mentees promoted to high school 3 with GPA’s over 3.0/ 1 student body president 3.8 GPA
    * 1 Graduating senior recipient of the College Bound Brotherhood scholarship
    * 2 juniors- 1 over a 3.0 GPA and 1 State finalist in wrestling
    * 1 sophomore 4.0 GPA
    * 2 freshmen – 1 with a 3.0 GPA- EAOP summer program at UC Berkeley invitee

    * 5 middle school mentees- 2 honor roll recipients over 3.0 GPA- 1st prize in African American Easy contest
    * 5 elementary students – 2 honor roll recipients
    * Collectively over 100 hours in community involvement (services)
    • Attended the Pittsburg Seafood Fest
    • Attended the African- American Health Empowerment Expo
    • Attended the NAACP Youth& College division conference
    • Attended Oakland’s Ending Mass Incarceration conference
    • Google Trip
    • Political Canvassing
    • Participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King Program at Antioch High
    • Hosted the inaugural national MLK Mentoring Day
    • Participated in Ruah Ministries’ African American Essay Contest
    • Participated in Ruah Ministries’ Kwanzaa celebration
    • Community service provided at Ruah Ministries’ African American History Banquet
    • Attended Ruah Ministries’ African American History Exhibit
    • Attend/participated in GradNation Summit- Increasing Graduation Rates Among Boys of Color
    • Participated in Antioch’s parade Delites Joy of the Holidays ( 1st place)
    • Membership within the East County Branch of NAACP
    • Attended/Participated in Delta Bay Church of Christ’s Anniversary
    • Co-hosted Tackling The Taboo- Molestation Within the African American Community
    • Participated in school supply donations
    • Hosted 2nd Annual Mother’s Recognition/Brunch

    *Special guest have included: Anthony Browder, Locksmith, Dr. Kunjufu, Keith Archuleta, Anita Blount, Tina Hayes, and Jasiri X
    Support our Greatness at Paypal @ power_1906@yahoo.com

    • Publisher says:

      Lawrence,
      Thank you for reading the Herald and for your comment.
      I’ve made the correction to Barbara’s column regarding the name of RAAMP.
      Allen Payton, Publisher
      NOTE: The original acronym R.A.A.M.P. stood for “Reaching African-American Males’ Potential.”

      • Lawrence Rasheed says:

        No problem! Your paper is the only paper that shares the positive things that our young men are doing in the schools and the community. Thanks!

    • Reginald Jamal Brown says:

      Wow with all these achievements then why even have an “African American graduation celebration” or why does AUSD spend tons of money and time to get black males to graduate and or achieve a higher goal?

      I don’t get it. The moment someone speaks up about the truth of underachieving blacks people get offended and start mouthing off about how superior they are when clearly AUSD has acknowledged the issue by creating programs specifically to get them to do more.

      FYI college level courses such as Issues Facing African Americans teaches the lack of black male achievements amongst other truthful issues WE black males face. Yes, I used the word WE because I am black.

      And to emphasize my point about underachieving black males, the public outlook and statistics are true of their persona. All you need to do is look at the past articles in this online news website or east county today. What ethnicity do you see that is doing the most heinous crime in East County. Enough said.

  7. Genevieve says:

    Barbra did you by any chance see the Channel 5 segment regarding this? I only caugt a few minutes of it and I heard a man speaking about another program in addition that will allow African American students with a GPA of 2.2 or lower to stil graduate or be promoted to a higher grade? I really missed most of the story and would be very interested to find out the details. Thank you

Leave a Reply to Genevieve