By Sean Rice

ST. MARY’S TODAY

LEONARDTOWN --- Black students in St. Mary’s County Public Schools are falling through cracks in the "bridge to excellence" agreement between the school district and county government.

Black students in the St. Mary’s County Public School are not receiving the same quality education that white, Asian, Hispanic and Native America students are getting.

R. Lorraine Fulton, interim superintendent of the school district, presented St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners with the first "report card" under the "excellence" program, outlining progress in 2003-2004.

Black students are not meeting "state measurable objectives" in 8th- and 10th-grade math. In reading scores, black students in 5th and 8th grade did not make the grade.

A look at all students combined, St. Mary’s kids in all grades are nearly doubling state guideposts, except in 8th- and 10th-grade reading and math, but the numbers well exceed state suggestions.

As for the African-American students, the state measurable objectives that were met, were only barely met.

In math, the state objective score for 3rd grade is 49.8. Black students scored 50.5, white students: 81.3, Asian students: 95, American Indian: 90, Hispanic 81.3.

In 10th-grade reading scores, the state objective is 45.5. Black students averaged 46, white students 76.3.

"That is not anything we want to have representing our school system," Fulton told the commissioners last week.

"We’re all in the same boat, we have to grow together," she continued. "Every piece of data I’ve shared with you is a human, a child."

Board President Tommy McKay said the bridge to excellence standards were "set at a higher standard than exists today," and they were not expected, by many people, to be met the first year.

McKay touted a school budget that has ballooned $30 million in three budget years. "We are certainly heading in the right direction."

Fulton, nor the commissioners, discussed any plans to boost African-American education in the county, other than continuing community "diversity forums."

"What can we do to get these people back on board," Commissioner Larry D. Jarboe asked. "We need to try to plant seeds and work as a community to pull these things together."

He suggested after school programs, study sessions and other direct intervention.

Commissioner Tom Mattingly noted that only active parents, whose students are achieving, are attending diversity forums.

"We’ve got a group of folks out there that needs to come along for the ride," he said. "You can throw all the money you want at it."