The Echo

Published Online: December 10, 2010


EXCHANGE: Schools head denounces Rockford racism

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Superintendent LaVonne Sheffield cited the community's racial divide as an obstacle to providing excellent public education for all children.

Her State of the Schools address, during a luncheon with business and community leaders Thursday at Cliffbreakers, was hosted by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. She spoke in her usual straightforward style, and began with a warning that she wouldn't just focus on "nice things, warm and fuzzy things, feel-good things."

She didn't.

She instead blamed racism for recent angst over the possible elimination of high school honors courses.
"Students who want to keep honors courses freely admit that they don't want the additional rigor of AP studies, but they do want to be separated from 'those other students' who they believe don't want to learn. They said so as recently as two days ago at the special Board of Education meeting. ...

"The ugly truth is that honors classes are not rigorous but serve as a contemporary form of segregation."

Parents and students rallied at the Nov. 23 and Dec. 7 board meetings against cutting honors courses.

Sheffield said some of those same people are criticizing the district because more answers aren't available about potentially shuffling the district's gifted programs.

"My concern is that I don't see anyone who looks like me in the crowds jamming recent board meetings, which means that we aren't hearing from 70 percent of our population," she said.

Of the district's 27,000-plus students, 37 percent are white, 30 percent are black and 23 percent are Hispanic, according to the 2010 report card from the Illinois State Board of Education.

The lack of diversity at meetings, she said, is a socioeconomic issue.

"Typically folk who are struggling to make ends meet don't find time. Folk who are working two jobs don't find time" to attend additional meetings, she said.

Mayor Larry Morrissey said he was frustrated by what he described as a confusing message. Sheffield, he said, took time during her address to tout a number of positive community partnerships between the district and Alignment Rockford, Rock Valley College and Rockford College, and police and court systems.

"That doesn't sound to me like the racist community she described," he said.

Anqunette Parham of Crusader Community Health applauded Sheffield for being bold enough to discuss the issue of race.

She recalled being in fourth grade when sanctions from the People Who Care lawsuit came down.

"It requires courage to get the job done," she said.

Tiana Cooper, an administrator with Rock Valley, said she appreciated the bluntness of Sheffield's speech, dubbed "Having the courage to put children first."

"She showed exactly that, which was very encouraging to hear," Cooper said.

Sheffield made a point during her speech to thank School Board President David Kelley and board members Lisa Jackson and Jeanne Westholder. Sheffield made no mention of board members Harmon Mitchell, Alice Saudargas, Jude Makulec or Bob Evans, who have been critical of her administration in recent months.

Sheffield told the audience that she's paid a "huge personal price" and been subject to personal attacks working in Rockford.

"In case you didn't know, quelling rumors is not in my job description," she said.

Though Sheffield signed a four-year contract with the district in 2009 and has repeatedly stated she's in Rockford "for the long haul," she admitted she's having second thoughts.

"In recent days, I'm sad to say, I've started to wonder. As a biracial woman, the daughter of a German mother and African-American father, two people who married in 1950 and who fought the good fight for human justice, I have lived in both worlds. And I will not serve as superintendent of a school system being sued for racial discrimination."

Makulec said Sheffield has focused on race since she first arrived in Rockford. Sheffield's comment about a possible lawsuit reinforces that the superintendent's interests spread beyond the district to the city itself.

"That doesn't show allegiance to your job in the district," she said.

Sheffield's speech was heartfelt and explained the challenging times the district is in, Rockford dentist Cyrus Oates said.

"I was surprised by the bluntness of it," he said.

Oates said he wonders now whether the community will step up to the plate and help.

A typical Chamber of Commerce luncheon draws about 250 people, but about 350 attended Thursday, said Einar Forsman, the agency's president and CEO.

Paul Logli, CEO of the United Way of Rock River Valley, described Sheffield's address as one of the more direct presentations the chamber has hosted.

"The community needs to take some time to digest what she said," Logli said.
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Information from: Rockford Register Star, http://www.rrstar.com