In a Sun-Sentinel story, Valerie Wanza, a Broward Schools Area Director, defended Ann Murray.
“After getting on the School Board, Wanza said, Murray organized a program called Upward Bound. The program brought together several community groups to address the needs of students at Hallandale High, McNicol Middle, Gulfstream Middle and Lanier James Education Center. All are schools with heavy minority populations.”
(http://southflorida.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-murray-profile-20110326,0,3323706.story)
Now, “organize’ can be a nebulous word. But the story gives the impression Murray created or was instrumental in the creation of a program which helps miniority students.
Ann Murray won her first School Board election in 2008. (Before that, she was in the company of school bus drivers.) It seems “Upward Bound” was a “trio program” created during Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty; For those in Broward schools that means 1960s.
“Upward Bound is a college preparatory program that helps high school students to develop the skills and motivation necessary to succeed in high school and ultimately in college and professional careers. Upward Bound is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Upward Bound programs serve all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Palau, Micronesia, and American Samoa. Participants must have completed the 8th grade but not yet have advanced to 12th grade and must meet federal income eligibility requirements and/or be potential first generation college students.”
The Broward County School Board was at least aware of Upward Bound in 2002; The Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Evaluation Report was released on May 2002. Frank Till was superintendent. Dr. Robert D. Parks, Judie S. Budnick, Carole L. Andrews, Darla L. Carter, Paul D. Eichner, Esq., Beverly A. Gallagher, Stephanie Arma Kraft, Esq., Lois Wexler, and Benjamin J. Williams were School Board Members. Ann Murray was still getting lousy seats at Dolphins’ games. The report says:
“A district-level grant facilitator monitored school performance, oversaw that the components of the grant were being implemented, and served as a liaison between district and school staff. In addition, each school had a district support team (Upward Bound support) that regularly visited the schools providing staff development and curriculum support.” (Emphasis Added)
Multiple local universities have Upward Bound programs as well. The University Of Florida started it’s program during the Nixon Adminstration:
“The Upward Bound Program at the University of Florida began during the summer of 1971 with 64 students. Since then, the Program has helped hundreds of students to complete high school and enter college. The University of Florida Upward Bound Program is currently funded to serve 80 students attending high school in Alachua and Bradford counties.”
(http://upwardbound.aa.ufl.edu/home.aspx)
The University Of Miami has Upward Bound as well:
“Upward Bound is an academic program designed to challenge high school students to develop the skills, study habits, discipline and attitude to succeed. The program’s ultimate goal is to prepare and motivate students to pursue a college education.”
(http://www.education.miami.edu/organization/organizations_Detail.asp?Organization_ID=30)
Guess what? Florida International University has it too: (http://www2.fiu.edu/~ubfiuweb/whatis.htm).
So, what did Ann Murray do? Did she reveal the existence of a 40 year old program that helps minority kids to Hallandale High, McNicol Middle, Gulfstream Middle, and Lanier James? Ms Wanza was part of the Lanier James adminstration; Did she not know about a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education? What is Dr. Joel Herbst’s role in all this? Could no one organize an educational program until a 60 year school bus driver supervisor was elected to the Broward County School Board?
About Ann Murray, Wanza told the Sun-Sentinel: “She’s there when it matters.”
Well it matters now. Where are the other Broward County School Board Members? Where are the inspectors general? Where is Governor Rick Scott? Where are the parents, teachers and citizens of Broward County? Where are you?
