NAACP Meets With Superintendent Hargens

Louisville’s NAACP branch met with Superintendent Donna Hargens on Tuesday as part of Hargens’s 90-Day Plan she introduced after being hired as the new JCPS Superintendent.The meeting was a success and Hargens listened, said Raoul Cunningham, president of Louisville’s NAACP branch.The NAACP was against the hiring of either superintendent candidate during the interview process this past summer. It has since said it will give Hargens a chance but it still has concerns regarding key issues regarding the district, like student assignment and busing.JCPS was in the Kentucky Court of Appeals earlier this month regarding its student assignment plan, which was questioned by the panel of three judges. Judge Kelly Thompson said JCPS should consider reverting back to neighborhood schools.The JCPS Board of Education will be hearing recommendations about its student assignment plan from expert Dr. Gary Orfield on Sept. 12.Cunningham said Tuesday’s meeting brought nothing controversial and he expects Hargens to be available for future discussions if necessary.Hargens’s 90-Day Plan focuses on five strategic priorities: student achievement, teamwork, engage the community, high quality employees, and fiscal and organizational accountability. As of Tuesday, around 16 percent of its initiatives within the five goals have been complete.Click here to see a copy of the results.Click here to see supplemental documents supporting the initiatives.