Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 31, 1997, edition 1 / Page 6
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6A YEAR IN REVIEW / The Charlotte Post Wednesday, December 31, 1997 Pupil assignment was bruising issue Simmons Smith Cline Continued from page 3A another was brewing at West Charlotte High, where principal Kenneth Simmons’ efforts to improve the performance of black students left white teachers and parents chafing. Many threat ened to transfer if Simmons stayed. In June, Supt. Eric Smith removed Simmons after 16 months at West Charlotte, and replaced him with middle school princi pal Tferry Cline from Smith’s former district in Newport I News, Va. femith also decided to completely i'e-staff the school and required ^11 teachers and staff, even jani- Jors, to re-apply. Many did not return. But some, includ ing some of those who threatened to transfer if Simmons stayed, were rehired. The move angered black parents and Simmons sup- ;porters. Although Smith tried to ease tensions by trotting out supporters like former school board member George Battle and Wachovia executive Isaiah 'Tidwell, the move left a bad taste in the mouths of many on the westside. Restaffmg has caused a num ber of problems at West Charlotte, including addition of SO teachers with no prior experi ence. And there has been difficul ty in filling slots for advanced ;placement classes and special ized courses such as journalism. "The popular gospel choir, begun during Simmons’ tenure, was left 'Without an adult advisor and con- 'tinues as an ensemble without 'Supervision. ! Simmons says he was aban- Idoned by Smith in a battle ;against rich white pairents from ;Eastover and Myers Park who objected to his efforts to bring more black students into higher level courses. Other critics charged the iremoval of Simmons and other 'black administrators and segre- Igation of black and white chil- Idren into separate classrooms are common in Charlotte- Mccklenburg. 'The West Charlotte controversy gave a boost to the school board candida cy of longtime teacher Vilma Leake, who soundly defeat ed incumbent Sam Reid for District 2’s board seat in November. ; Leake got 66 percent of the vote jand won all but one precinct in Jthe district. She even carried 'Reid’s home precinct. No. 16. . Reid admitted that West •Charlotte was a constant under- icurrent during the campaign. JNeither candidate talked openly ;about West Charlotte, but Leake Jainted herself as someone who ;would speak out, while Reid was Jjraised as a dedicated worker |who built consensus behind the scenes. The outspoken Leake’s election made clear there would be kime changes on the board, but few expected the surprise election of Arthur Griffin as board chair- ynan. Griffin ousted Susan ^Burgess, who then resigned, after several board members approached him to offer support. John Lassiter, an at-large mem ber of the board from southeast Charlotte, was elected vice chair. The board’s attention turns how to replacing Burgess, a round of elementary and middle school rcassignments and spend ing $415 million in bonds Leake approved in November. Other key issues include deciding where to build new schools, including a technical high school. Also, the federal courts are again reviewing the legality of busing to achieve racial balance. Integration supporters asked to re-open the original Swann v. Board of Education lawsuit, after a white southeast Charlotte par ent filed a lawsuit to stop the use of race to determine where chil dren attend school Bob Capacchione’s lawsuit is being handled by the law firm which defended the school sys tem against the original Swarm lawsuit and a high-powered Houston law firm which has rep resented social conservatives in legal battles, including the suits contesting majority-minority con gressional districts in Virginia and South Carolina. Bill Simms’ lies Bill Simms, one of Charlotte’s most powerful African Americans, was set to return to Los Angeles to accept a promo tion when news broke that he had lied on his resume. Simms, president of TransAmerica Life’s Risk Management Products and Services Group, had been named to head the newly-created Insurance Products Division and would oversee sale and market ing of 'TransAmerica Life insur ance products in the United States and Asia. He would have managed 1,200 employees - up from 350 in Charlotte — and supervised new product and market develop ment. Instead, he left Charlotte in dis grace and moved to Atlanta. Simms revealed that he lied about his educational back ground and winning an Olympic gold medal. Ironically, he had achieved more than most African American businessmen ever hoped and, as the highest rank ing black business executive in Charlotte, was a role model for many. His influence had been felt in many areas, including the call for a race summit, which he did not attend. Simms, 'The Simms Post’s 1995 Newsmaker of the Year, was in line to become head of the Charlotte Chamber in 1998 and is a partner in the Carolines Panthers NFL fimichise. Though Simms became the subject of some debate after the community learned he had bed, many sup ported the man who, upon com ing to Charlotte five years ago, became a model of how business executives could give back to their communities. Simms was everywhere. Helping secure an NFL team for the city, leading arts and sports fund raising dri ves, chairing the local Urban League and working on behalf of young black males and pregnant girls. His name was synonymous with action. Amid the din of anger and pain a few paused to reflect on how Simms - with less than a year of college - rose from being a clerk at 'TransAmerica to being named to lead one of its largest divisions. Some wondered if Simms would have gotten an opportunity at all without lying - adding a degree in computer science from the University of Southern California to his resume as well as a mas ter’s degree in business and an Olympic gold medal. “That’s the irony of America,” said business consultant Bill Zero to thrilled in 5 seconds. That’s all it takes when you read The Post. Check out the hottest rides before you get behind the wheel with Winfred Cross, one of America’s leading automotive writers. Read Test Drive every week in Che Charlotte ^oSt. How Selling Financial Security For MetLife* Can Make You Financially Secure. All you need is determination and ambitioa Because, quite simply, if you make big sales, you’ll get big pay. MetLife Sales R(^s can make more than our own CEO does. We will train you to sell our financial products and services. Once we teach you how to select target markets, you can choose your clients. And our training allowance will help you get started. As a Met Rep, you control your success. So, if you have the drive, we have the opportunities for you. Call us now to start a rewarding career. ROBERT FIACCO or SULE LEWIS (704)423-0300 JOIN MET. IT PAYS. Uh ImrtKtM OwpMT, N«« Tati, NT 10010 An E9«alOp9ertat^ OtOMlX-MU&U) Gantt McCullough. “We are a country more concerned about titles, and diplomas and degrees and we fail to look at individuals in terms of how they can contribute to soci ety.” McDonald’s Cafeteria McDonald’s Cafeteria and hotel may reopen in time for next sum mer’s family reunion. A Harvey Gantt-led group called Westside 2000, Ltd. purchased the complex on Beatties Ford Road at 1-85. 'The complex was once val ued at more than $2.5 million. The group plans to renovate the cafeteria and the hotel, then reopen them in the spring, per haps before Memorial Day. 'The adjacent Fun City theme park will be dismantled and that land redeveloped. R.J. Deeper, Inc. will be the general con tractor. Westside 2000 share- holders include, in addition to Gantt, Rep. Mel Watt, Lincoln- Mercury dealer Sam Johnson, Dr. Telezee Foster, and Floyd D. Young, owner of FDY food service company. FDY would manage the restau rant, which was one of the city's most popular eating places prior to John McDonald's death in 1995. McDonald's widow, Eunice McDonald, ran the complex after his death, but the westside land mark closed in August. Financial problems led to a mortgage fore closure and the deterioration of the cafeteria and hotel. The Northwest Corridor busi ness community breathed a sigh of relief upon learning the Gantt- led group had acquired the McDonald’s holdings. Many had worried about the impact of los ing such a strong anchor. The owners said the cafeteria's interior will be modernized, with a new seating layout, new fur nishings and increased capacity, from 150 to 250 seats. A smaller banquet/meeting room win be redone to accommo date 150 seats. 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The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 31, 1997, edition 1
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