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UPDATE - Intimidation tactics threaten CSD Petitioners


By Elizabeth Scheinberg
Update:  This morning, I received a veiled threat against the petitioners of the Christina School District who publicly presented their request to the Board of Education at its last meeting for a 6-8 honors program at the H building on the Christiana High School Campus.  This threat has been reported to the applicable law enforcement agencies.  In an effort to protect these citizens and their rights to participate in our democracy, especially the utilization of the first amendment, freedom of speech, I have removed the link to the petition.  While I redact addresses and emails, the petition will be unavailable for viewing.  However, It will go back up.

Big Surprise:  CSD board approved an honors academy for 6-8 grade at Christiana and they encountered an engineered public backlash.  No matter what path CSD takes, they will never be given credit for doing anything right.  Someone will always find a reason to criticize them.

The decision to create this Academy did not come from within the board or even the administration.  It started with a petition signed by countless residents who wanted to see CSD put those referendum promises into action. 

When the resolution was passed last week, it was already the second read.  The public had had a month to supply comment.  Board members had had a month to do research, gather data, and get feedback.  And the administration had had a month to answer questions and prepare the structure of the academy.  (It was rather lousy that the two-page action item passed and it was a week before the administration actually started communicating with the public about the new choice option available to rising 6th grades.)

The point I'm making is this didn't just pop up out of nowhere.  Yes, it moved quickly by some accounts,  but it was one of the more responsive movements I've ever witness by this board.  And if you don't believe it, click the link above and check the dates of the 100 + residents who put their name on the petition that motivated the board to make this broad stroke of genius and vote favorably although not unanimously. 
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