MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Dozens of parents and children protested about the possible takeover of their school by the Achievement School District.
Parents said their students are already improving their reading and math scores.
Some state leaders told us they’re afraid the kids will suffer if the Achievement School District steps in.
About 60 parents and their children stood outside of Sheffield Elementary chanting “leave us alone” and they had the same message.
They don’t want change.
The ASD has the authority to intervene to help turnaround schools on the priority list, or those in the bottom 5% in the state.
“I would say Sheffield is on the priority list but guess what, they have excellent growth numbers, so if you really want to go around and help schools go to the ones that need it the most, the ones that are trying to do turnarounds and they just can’t get it right,” said State Representative Raumesh Akbari.
“We don’t want a takeover, we like what our principal is doing. She’s laying a solid foundation. We want to give her the opportunity to build on what she did,” said Barbara Riddle, a grandmother.
Community leaders held a protest last week similar to that one outside Raleigh Egypt Middle.
The Achievement School District is talking about possibly taking over that school as well.
Last year, Raleigh Egypt High was in the same position in that the state almost stepped on.
Some parents said if any school is on the priority list the state should step in.
ASD released the following statement:
“We continue to welcome the voices of Sheffield Elementary parents throughout this process. This is exactly what the Community Input Process is designed to do—elevate parent and community voice in conversion decisions through the Neighborhood Advisory Councils (NACs). We stand firmly behind this year’s process and the new ways in which it puts power directly in the hands of parents.
The criteria for ASD eligibility are clear, and since the recent passing of the TVAAS law championed by Representative Akbari, it is now clearer than ever. Sheffield Elementary has been on the state’s Priority list since 2012 and earned a level 3 composite TVAAS last year, making it eligible to join the ASD.
The Kirby-Sheffield NAC is asking tough, thoughtful questions of Aspire Public Schools regarding their Application for School Transformation and vision for what a partnership with Sheffield Elementary could look like. We have also surveyed dozens of Sheffield parents. We feel confident that we will be able to make a thoughtful decision about potential conversion of Sheffield, inclusive of neighborhood voices, in early December.
Direct questions about the process, information requests, and requests for in-person meetings can be sent to the NAC via email atASDNAC@gmail.com. Sheffield Elementary parents and community members are encouraged to contact Aspire Public Schools’ Regional Director of Community Engagement Dr. Nick Manning (901) 262-9955 to schedule a time to meet and ask questions about the Aspire Public Schools academic program.”