Cummings and why the program is struggling(and Graham)

[SheriffEdTomBell]

I have a family member that is an employee within the school system. So that is where I am getting my information.

Cummings and Graham will both be becoming magnet schools without athletic programs soon. All the students that attend either school will be able to play sports through their home base school. The home base school is the school of which district the student lives in.

Cummings and Graham both have the lowest paid coaching staffs in the county in part of the effort to phase out both schools athletic programs.

A new high school is also being built some point in the county as well.

Also, the ABSS superintendent wanted to make Williams HS go the same route as Cummings and Graham, but too many higher ups would not let that happen.

I think it is sad, but it is what it is.

 

[freshdl3]

Adult politics at its worst

 

[ConnerP]

Your information is partial and incorrect. Graham & Cummings MAY(probably) become magnet schools. It hasn't been decided yet. The plan has really come up in the last year and has ZERO to do with the athletic program declines. Has far more to do with demographics and the number of kids coming out for sports teams & others focusing on just 1 sport (not football).

I have no idea on the coaching staff pay. I do know that some recent hires have left some scratching their heads. The declines at these programs have been going on for years.

Williams wasn't even discussed as a magnet school. There is talk that an IB program will be added there.

A new high school has been proposed. It is NOT being built. A bond would definitely have to be passed to fund this. It isn't on the ballot and is an iffy proposition to pass.

None of this stuff has been approved nor voted on. It has absolutely ZERO bearing on the current struggles.

 

[dolfan01]

ConnorP, you are wrong about one thing. Williams was discussed as being a magnet school (or at least being repurposed), but the powers that be (i.e. West Burlington $$$) spoke up and got that stopped ASAP.

You are correct about the demographics part. Cummings and Graham are both 75% or more hispanic and black. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Western and Southern are both 80% or more white. Cummings and Graham are right at or slightly below capacity numbers. Western and Southern, along with Eastern and Williams are all well over capacity. Redrawing attendance lines isn't going to fly because those 4 schools, especially Western, have screamed bloody murder over that option. IMO, converting Cummings and Graham to magnet schools and redistributing the students from those two attendance zones is the ABSS's way of trying to balance the demographics and not move students at the other 4 schools.

 

[btango]

It is my understanding from someone that would know that Williams was looked at to add a magnet program not make it a full magnet. That may have changed somewhere in the process. This is in agreement with what ConnorP posted.

Normally magnet schools and programs are geographically central to the student base they serve. Would be surprised that a county the size of Alamance would have two full magnet only schools. Remember the students currently attending a school that will become a full magnet will need to move schools if they are not participating in an offered magnet program which dolfan noted.

 

[SheriffEdTomBell]

well either way, regardless of who is right....Cummings football is pretty much dead.

 

[Sportsnut17]

well either way, regardless of who is right....Cummings football is pretty much dead.

Remarks like that are not allowed.

 

[SheriffEdTomBell]

?? How so??