Carnegie Vanguard High School Parent Teacher Organization
Carnegie Vanguard High School Parent Teacher Organization

Greetings!
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR UIL SPORTS PROGRAM?

As most of you have heard, the HISD Board of Trustees voted by a 5-4 margin last night to eliminate UIL Sports at CVHS.  This was the first of two readings (and votes) required to change district policy.  This agenda item was presented to the Board by the District Executive Committee (DEC) this week, with little time for the Board to review this issue.  By their own admission, many Board members were unfamiliar with issues surrounding UIL Athletics at specialty schools.  The discussion illustrated the gaps in the Board's knowledge base,and has given us some insight into the personal agendas of some Board members.

Several board members expressed a dislike for all magnet programs, and a feeling that schools like CVHS are given preferential treatment. They have the perception that CVHS is a "rich, white" school with a sense of entitlement.   The bottom line is that if they don't like us, talking about our awards, rankings, history, and overall success is not helpful.  They have made it clear that they have no interest in replicating our success.
 
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?

This matter is not yet decided. The Board will vote again on the issue at their March 10th meeting, so we have until then to make our case to the Board of Trustees.  We urge you to consider the following points, and to contact members of the Board to share your thoughts.

Below are a number of talking points. It is important to keep your messages brief, and to not make this about Carnegie, but about ALL students.

* We believe that the best way to address the UIL issue is by stressing the importance of equal access.  Several Board members equate "equal" with "fair."  They will object to any policy that gives something to some, but not all, schools.  The angle of "grandfathering" UIL sports at CVHS, while denying them to other specialty schools, is unlikely to be an effective approach.  However, DENYING the option of UIL athletics to some schools does present a an "unfair" environment.  While students at non-UIL schools are technically allowed to participate in sports at their home schools, the scheduling of sports periods  and transportation logistics makes this impossible from a practical standpoint. Furthermore, allowing schools to participate in non-athletic UIL competitions (academics, theatre) while restricting UIL athletics is another area of concern. Not allowing equal access gets into Title IX issues.  So is the board creating an legal nightmare for the district?  

* UIL athletics are not funded by the district, but rather by the individual campuses. All schools must be given the option to participate under a "fair and equal" system. Carnegie is currently the only specialty school that offers UIL athletics, but it is the school's choice, not preferential treatment.  Other specialty schools have opted out of UIL athletics, but the decision was made at the individual school level

* Magnet schools do not recruit students for either academics or athletics. No students are being "stolen" from zoned schools. Families apply to the magnet programs.  The demographics of magnet schools are determined by applications and by the lottery process.  Assertions that we are a "rich, white" school that hand picks our population are unfounded.

*The vote last night was rushed in part out of consideration for Magnet notification in late March. The fact is, admitted students who selected CVHS as their first choice will not have the option of attending one of their other magnet choices. They applied to a school with the understanding that it offered UIL athletics.  The phasing out option of UIL sports after two years effectively diminishes the program in the next school year, as incoming students are unlikely to join teams which will not exist throughout their high school careers.

HISD Board email addresses are linked:

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

Encourage other parents, alumni families, friends, prospective families, other schools, and community members to contact the Board.  This affects ALL schools.

Attend our PTO General meeting next Thursday, February 18th at 6:30 p.m. to learn more.   We will be inviting our trustee, Diana Davila, to hear our concerns.

Attend the March 10 HISD Board meeting.  We need a huge presence at this meeting to demonstrate the diversity and passion of our community!  We need speakers from many schools, many neighborhoods, many cultures.

JOIN A COMMITTEE to help us fight this issue!  We need people willing to look into Title IX legal issues, to talk to the media, and to help spread the word!  Email Joan Khosla to find out how to help.


Stayed tuned.....

Joan Khosla
CVHS PTO President