Oppose The Academy at Cuthbertson

Attention ALL Cuthbertson School Families:

Union County Public Schools (UCPS) under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Ed Davis have decided to establish a new and controversial Alternate Learning Program at Cuthbertson High School (CHS) formerly known as The Academy at Cuthbertson. The existing UCPS Alternate Learning Program serves students who have been long-term suspended: Long-term suspensions, other than those excluded, would primarily be for use, possession, or selling drugs, 2 counts of a false fire alarm, multiple offenses of possession/use of nuisance items, multiple counts of using profane language toward a school employee, multiple incidents of bullying, 5 incidents of tobacco possession, 2 counts of sexual activity on campus, or multiple counts of chronic student misbehavior.

Operation of this proposed new program will require additional financial, personnel, transportation, and safety resources during a time of unprecedented budget shortfalls and will only serve approximately 15 students. No demonstrated need beyond capacity (seats) for the current students in this program has been shown and may be in violation of NCGS 115C-105.47A and Union County Board of Education Policy Chapter 5, Section 5-17.

Under terms of long term suspension, students are barred from entrance to ALL Union County Public School grounds, ALL Union County Public School extra-curricular and athletic events, must pass through metal detectors daily, and never be unsupervised. CHS is the only campus that will include this program. Students, parents, and the community served by Cuthbertson High School feel that establishment of this new program on CHS campus unfairly targets CHS under the guise of utilizing previously unoccupied G Wing of CHS. Over 200 CHS Senior Class of 2011 students had hoped to occupy the G Wing of CHS during the 2010-2011 school year. No notification from CHS Principal Rob Jackson was given prior to the August 1, 2010 announcement. As a result of this timing CHS School families were denied their prevailing right as stakeholders to respond, provide input, objections, or support prior to the presentation of the UCPS Board of Education for support.

Further, CHS students and families feel they will be subject to safety concerns and stigmatism, which many fear will cause a deterioration of the very fragile cohesive school environment as CHS enters only its second year of operation. Fears of decline in discipline, academic integrity, school spirit, desire to attend CHS, and negative impact on property values have also been expressed by all families that object to this proposed program’s presence on CHS campus.

While most families support Alternate Learning Programs for at-risk students, this proposed new program does not align with the traditional and historical solution by UCPS to address over-capacity facilities. As such, this proposed approach to install the new Alternate Learning Program at CHS is not an acceptable action by UCPS.

We, parents, and students, and teachers of CHS do hereby petition Union County Public Schools, Union County Board of Education, and Superintendent Dr. Ed Davis to immediately rescind the proposal to locate the new Alternate Learning Program, formerly known as The Academy At Cuthbertson at Cuthbertson High School.

By signing this petition we take a stand for our children, current and future, who will step through the doors of Cuthbertson High School.