Accreditation loss stresses would-be valedictorian

Genetta Reeves has spent the past three days turning her Jonesboro High School class ring over and over in her hand.

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Pouya Dianat / pdianat@ajc.com

Genetta Reeves’ mother, Vernetta Reeves (center), attends a public school board meeting.

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For the 17-year-old, the trinket is as important as a wedding band — it symbolizes years of hard work and a promise for the future.

“Valedictorian at Jonesboro has been my goal since the third grade,” said Reeves, who is ranked first in her senior class. “My mom told me it means you’re the smartest and work the hardest in your class and that’s what I’ve worked for.”

On Friday, Reeves wondered if she would still wear the ring at her new school — wherever that is.

Her parents began calling private schools on Thursday – the day Clayton County schools lost accreditation.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools revoked the 50,000-student districts’ accreditation, citing a dysfunctional school board and other problems. Clayton, the fifth-largest school system in Georgia, now becomes the first district to lose accreditation in the nation since 1969.

Reeves fears the loss of accreditation means she may have trouble getting into her top choice of universities. It means she may not get scholarships and her family’s Jonesboro home will probably plummet in value.

“It felt like a funeral,” said her mother, Vernetta Reeves, on Thursday when she heard the news.

Minutes later, she received a text message from Genetta asking if it were true.

“All I could think about was her dream,” the mother of three said.

After telling her band classmates and alerting her two younger siblings, the 17-year-old updated her Facebook status: “Genetta Reeves is officially attending an UNACCREDITED HIGH SCHOOL. :-( “

“It’s almost like a bad dream,” said the younger Reeves, who has a 4.0 GPA. “You’re just hoping to wake up and everything will be OK.”

On Feb. 15, SACS ordered Clayton schools to meet nine mandates in such categories as finance, ethics and board governance or lose accreditation Sept. 1. Since then Genetta has thought about two numbers: nine mandates and first place.

She needs only two classes to graduate this year, but is taking advanced placement calculus and U.S. history, along with three other classes to assure her ranking as No. 1 in her class.

That’s in between basketball, band, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America and half a dozen other clubs.

Last month, doctors diagnosed her with an ulcer.

“All I think about is staying at Jonesboro,” she said.

Two of Genetta’s friends withdrew from Jonesboro on Thursday and now live with relatives and attend high school in a nearby county.

Five others are in a dual enrollment program at Clayton State University which allows them to purchase an accredited diploma through a home-schooling center.

Others are looking at home-schooling.

But most say they have no choice but to hang on.

Clayton school officials say they will appeal the accreditation loss. If they win, accreditation would be restored back to Sept. 1, 2008. If the appeal fails, the school system must begin the accreditation process anew, which likely would take about three years.

Many parents are hoping the appeal is successful.

With about three-fourths of the system’s students falling below the federal poverty level, many lack money for tuition at private or out-of-district schools.

Still, Atlanta Public Schools received more than 200 phone calls to its central office and individual schools have also been contacted, spokesman Joe Manguno said. The system allows students from other districts to pay tuition of $10,440 a year to attend Atlanta schools.

Fayette County schools answered about 50 phone calls Thursday and Fulton has received about 50 a day since accreditation was revoked, district spokesmen said.

Henry County does not admit students from outside the county, spokeswoman Connie Rutherford said.

Genetta’s parents are leaning toward Mount Zion Academy, a SACS-accredited parochial school that will cost the family more than $6,000 a year.

Her father is also thinking about registering his eldest daughter through Georgia Virtual School, an online school accredited through the state Department of Education. But that means she misses prom, senior trip, basketball.

And graduation.

The teen hopes to be accepted to Howard University’s pre-med program and go on to be an anesthesiologist. She worries prestigious schools won’t like her “worthless diploma.”

But officials at Howard, Duke, Auburn and Emory universities offered hope to Clayton County students at week’s end, saying applicants would be considered on an individual basis, and not rejected solely for an unaccredited diploma.

“It’s the student, not the school,” said David Jarmul, a spokesman for Duke. Darrin Rankin, vice president for Enrollment Services and Student Affairs at Clark Atlanta University, said currently enrolled students with Clayton County diplomas won’t be affected. “Future determination of how applicants will be handled will be decided by senior administration at a later date,” he said.

The loss of accreditation culminates eight years of turmoil in the Clayton County school system with only a few peaceful interludes — and assures more turbulence to follow. Racial tension has sometimes been a factor.

SACS put the system on probation five years ago, concluding that its board broke its own rules, squelched dissent and meddled in school administration.

As parents and community leaders demanded their resignations, board members countered with charges of racism.

In 2004, the system was elevated from probation to “warned” status and, in 2005, it was cleared. But the district continued to be troubled. By late 2007, the accrediting agency was again raising concerns about the board, including micro-management, abuse of power, misuse of funds and conflicts of interest.

The school system’s situation has dominated everything from Reeves family dinner-table conversations to what’s on TV – always the news — at their house.

Mom unsuccessfully ran for school board and Dad spends hours on the phone with private schools.

In March, Genetta and her friends spoke before about 2,000 people at a school board meeting. She begged the nine members to resign.

Since then, three board members have resigned and one was removed for not living in the county. On Thursday, Gov. Sonny Perdue removed four others.

“It’s just sad that everybody — teachers, students — everybody has to go through this because of a few people on the school board,” Genetta said. “We hoped they had the students’ best interest in mind. It’s obvious they didn’t.”

— Laura Diamond contributed to this article.

Comments

By MyOpinion

Sep 19, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

To sum it up, SACS main mission is to improve the quality of education a student receives.

If the district the student attends is no longer accredited, due to the fault of a few adults, how is SACS improving the quality of education for the student?

By Tiffany

Sep 19, 2008 3:19 AM | Link to this

I am praying for these students, families and teachers because this is just painful. I do believe the Ms. Reeves should finish out her year at Jonesboro High you've worked and proved yourself and you deserve to graduate with the honors you worked hard to achieve. I pray that Howard makes good on their word and carefully reviews and accepts your application and grants you admittance. One thing I do know is that when it comes to applying to private HBCUS they don't just dwell on one negative aspect (I know this from experience) and it seems to me that you have plenty of positive aspects outweighing the one negative. So put you admission packet together and market yourself to Howard. I am sure that they would love to have a determined, well rounded young lady who is at the top of her class and so versatile. Remember with God All things are Possible and nothing is impossible for him to work out!

~God Bless~

By Amari

Sep 16, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this

I am also doing dual enrollment at Clayton State. I didnt know i could purchase an accredited diploma. can someone please send me more information about it

By Alger Prep

Sep 6, 2008 6:35 AM | Link to this

My nephew did not pass the GGT and we found a solution for him that will also work for seniors in Clayton County schools. It is a diploma from a private school that was issued based on the credits he earned at his school. He chose to go to Grambling, but any college/university would have accepted his new diploma. I will be happy to share the solution with anyone who may be interested. jesse@algerprep.com

By Cheryl

Sep 4, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this

To me, sacs is not thinking about the 50000 students who's dreams, and futures that are crushed. They are not picturing if they would be in the situation. they should ask themselves "what would happen if my child's school district lost accredidation" everything is now ruined because of a few board members mistake. I pray that the appeal will follow through. I pray to the Lord every night on this.

By Mike

Sep 4, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

Hi, please send my email address spam. I would love it. Seriously. Anything including, but not limited to, hardcore porn, jokes, incest, grocery topics, etc. I literally mean anything.
Ps the first person gets a roll in the hay with my wife.

miketurner777@yahoo.com

By Clayton Parent and Higher Ed Employee

Sep 3, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

TO ALL Parents of Clayton county students:

Federal aid and student loans are not affected by loss of accreditation by the high school. Students are not eligible for aid if the COLLEGE they are applying to or attending is not accredited. For instance, when Morris Brown lost it's accreditation, students were not eligible for federal aid or student loans. Clayton County students are eligible for federal loans, grants, etc. even if the school is not accredited.

I have resided in Clayton county for 5 years. I have property and my two kids are enrolled in CCPS. CLAYTON COUNTY RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY PARENTS: PLEASE GET INVOLVED. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO FIX THIS MESS. STOP RELYING ON THE INTERNET, HEAR SAY, AND THE AJC FOR INFORMATION. EVERY RESIDENT SHOULD BE AT THE BOARD MEETING TOMORROW WHEN THEY DISCUSS REPLACEMENTS. WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE WE TAKE THIS SITUATION SERIOUSLY?????????????

By Carrie Moore

Sep 3, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this

I think by telling other to stay and not being able to know the future for your childrens education is a very bold thing to do. Have any of the colleges posted any of the requirement or hoops and loops you and your children will have to jump through in order for your children to attend their schools? Let's say they do post everything and you meet their requirements where is the money going to come from because not one scholarship organization or Sallie Mae has come forth to say what special stipulations they would commence in order for you to be approve or eligible for their money. So once again you come back to the issue of accreditation. I'm sorry, I am angry citizen that can't believe this has happen. I am a graduate of Riverdale Highschool class of '99 and this is some B.S. You are talking about making history, yes you're right you are making history alright, because a school system has not lost accreditation since 1969. WOW!!!! some history I'd want to remember.

By Carrie Moore

Sep 3, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this

I think it is sad and I feel so sorry for the students, teachers and the homeowners of Clayton County. I fault not only the school board for their lack of concern, I also fault Govenor Perdue, for he had the power and right to intervene and remove the remaining members of the school board in enough time that a special election could have been held to replace those members or he could have appointed new members to help save Clayton County. My heart goes out to those that remain in Clayton County because their property doesn't and can't even meet value to sale their home, as if the housing market isn't bad enough to have to add a lousy school district on top of it, so with that being said they can't leave. Who is going to want to move to Clayton County? Clayton County at one point in time was a very good area to live in. It's close to the airport not far from attraction areas, Clayton County was a very convenient area to live. If this appeal is denied which, I am quite sure it will because why would they over turn something that has been so prominent for not weeks and definitely months but years now that this was coming. SACS didn't just come in and decide to turn hell and highwater on Clayton County Board of Education, they meant business and they proved it. I feel that every political official of Clayton County should be held responsible for this and what they are taking these students, teacher and homeowners throughs and they owe everyone an apology. Have they not thought about how bad things are going to get if this appeal is not overturned? Have they? No, I don't think so because if they did it would not have got to the point that it is now. I mean three years is a long time for a county school system to be unaccredited. Clayton County will literally be a ghost town. If you have no schools, you have no communities, and if you have no communities you have no money. No, I am not an outsider that is picking on Clayton County I once was a residence for 8 until crime began to worsen.

By Doneshia

Sep 3, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

As a fellow student of the Clayton County School System, I understand how Ms. Genetta is feeling. However, I would encourage her to stay at Jonesboro. Yes, it's unfair to the graduating class of 2009 and those to follow, but going to another school might also ruin everything we have worked so hard for. Most colleges around the United States are saying they will still accept us if we meet their requirements. It would be in the best interest of Ms. Genetta to stay rather than leave because of this. There is a difference from saying, "I would have been valedictorian" and from saying, "I AM valedictorian". Something like that is said only by a few selected people. By going to another school, you lose the opportunity to set yourself apart.
We are making history right now. When we get old and have grandchildren, we will be able to tell them about our struggle and how we overcame. By leaving now, how will you be able to say this? What kind of story would you want to tell your grandchildren? What kind of story could you tell your grandkids?

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