Report of Monday night meeting

We wanted to let everyone know that this [Monday] evening the Committee on Behalf of Concerned Simon and Doyle Parents met with Greg Murry, the new superintendent of Conway schools, at the Conway Schools Administration Building. The interaction was mostly between ourselves and Mr. Murry, but also attending-and contributing to the discussion-were Ms. Whiting (GT coordinator) and Peggy Woosley (Curriculum director) as well as the principals of both Simon and Doyle schools, and the coordinator of
Special Services for Conway schools. The committee politely but forcefully reiterated our concern regarding the reduction in accelerated classes for the 2007-08 year, stressing to Mr. Murry the benefits of
having high achieving students together in the same classroom and our concerns that by eliminating so many accelerated classes incoming students to Simon and Doyle will not have the same experience that
similar students last year did. Mr. Murry emphasized to the committee his desire to make the Conway school system second to none. He mostly listened but did give Ms. Woosley and Ms. Whiting plenty of time to
explain wide-ranging changes being made to the curriculum across the board in the Conway school system, changes that affect both GT and non-GT students. According to Ms. Woosley, these changes will enhance
academic rigor across the board. The committee appreciated the amount of thought and effort that Ms. Woosley, Ms. Whiting, and others had put into the reformed curriculum but remained unconvinced that the
improvements aimed for had to come at the expense of accelerated courses in the fifth and sixth grade level. It was the opinion of the committee that these two concerns could and should go hand in hand. For
many moments during the meeting, Mr. Murray appeared less than willing to accept our arguments. However, when Ken Spatz explained that we needed some kind of answer that we could relay to the parents we
represent, Mr. Murray indicated that he would meet tomorrow morning with Ms. Whiting, Ms. Woosley, and the rest to determine what kind of accommodations could be made. He indicated that he would email
Stephanie tomorrow late morning or afternoon about their decision. Once Stephanie hears from Mr. Murray she will pass along the news.