Lynchburg City Schools would like to thank everyone who attended the “Solutions to the Achievement Gap” community meeting on Sunday, March 25, 2012 at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation.

An estimated 150 people attended the meeting, which included parents, students, city leaders, teachers and administrators. A panel of current and former educators and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School graduates addressed the achievement gap and shared their suggestions for improving achievement for all students.  The panelists were: Carolyn McCain, Sandra Mitchell, Hyland Hubbard, LeVerne Marshall, Meg Smith and Jacqueline Early Taliaferro.

Along with Interim Superintendent, Dr. Larry Massie’s remarks, Rev. Owen C. Cardwell, who was one of the first two black students to integrate E. C. Glass High School, gave a special presentation. A point made by Rev. Cardwell was that educators needed to understand who their students are and realize many of them come to school with distractions such as hunger, family issues and other factors that affect their ability to focus.

This initial community meeting produced many suggestions and ideas that will serve as a catalyst for future strategy development and community engagement as we work together to eliminate the student achievement gap.

For more information or to help in future efforts, please contact Ethel R. Coles, (434) 522-3700 ext. 134 or by e-mail at coleser@lcsedu.net.