“Looking into alleged School Board policy violations”: controversy over “Club GAIN” dominates School Board meeting

BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Numerous members of the community came to the September 19 Alachua County School Board meeting to speak about a recent meeting of “Club GAIN,” or Pre-Collegiate Club, at Gainesville High School.
Controversy began with parent’s questions about a club meeting
Documents including a parent’s original email request for more information, a response from Superintendent Shane Andrew, and a response from the parent were briefly posted on the School District’s website and then removed; they are currently available from a link posted by the Gainesville Sun.
The first email was from a Gainesville High School parent to numerous School Board email addresses and stated that her son had been given a note on August 22 that instructed him to attend a meeting of “Club G.A.I.N.” during lunch on August 23; the note said, “You are expected to arrive on time” and was signed by Brooksie McGraw, Gainesville High School Family Liaison. The meeting was postponed to August 24, and she said her son attended and came home upset because “They told us a bunch of terrible statistics about black men and that we should do better.”
School Board Member Diyonne McGraw posted on her Facebook page that she attended the club meeting on August 24, “And it was Choo choo AWESOME!!”

Diyonne McGraw also posted a picture of the meeting, along with a slide that says, “5 out of 10 black males in their 20s WITH diplomas are jobless; 72% of black males who dropout [sic] in their 20s are unemployed.” The parent wrote that these messages do damage to children and added, “I cannot believe I have to take the time to explain how wrong this is.”

The parent wrote that she couldn’t find anything about the club or Brooksie McGraw on the school’s website. She asked a series of questions about who approved the program, who supervises the program, who pays for the program and the food that was served, and how students were chosen.
Two weeks later, on September 11, Andrew wrote a letter on his letterhead that said the proper name for the club is Pre-Collegiate and that it has been “active for many years at GHS and other high schools in Alachua… The name ‘Club Gain’ was coined this year as a sub-group of the Pre-Collegiate Club.” He said the name “Club Gain” had been discontinued. He said invitations were given to “all 9th grade boys who were minorities or underrepresented” as per Florida statutes and that there were two sessions that day, with “Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic, and African American students” at the other session.
Andrew said Brooksie McGraw’s employment was approved by the School Board at their August 1 meeting (Diyonne McGraw abstained from the vote) and that she does not “run” Pre-Collegiate but is “involved with the club” and made the presentation that day.
Andrew twice referred to the meeting as being held on August 22, which was incorrect, according to the parent.
In her response to Andrew’s letter, the parent asked for the item to be added to a School Board agenda and wrote, “What should have been a simple process with a simple list of questions turned into a weeks-long process.” She wrote that the first response she received from Brooksie McGraw to her questions “accused me of running for school board against her mother” and that “Member Diyonne McGraw has spent the last week calling people and telling them that I am trying to destroy Pre-Collegiate overall.”
She wrote that there were several inaccuracies in Andrew’s email, including his assertion that the presentation was provided to her in the first response from Brooksie McGraw and his statement that the “Club Gain” name is no longer being used; she said there was another “Club GAIN” meeting held by Brooksie McGraw on September 14: “It still exists and the name is still used.”
The parent encouraged the School Board to “not only address the current situation but to also ensure that [policies that follow State rules] are adhered to consistently in the future.”
September 19 School Board Meeting
Although the meeting included a “Pre-Collegiate Club” agenda item, Chair Tina Certain allowed many people to speak on the issue during the Citizen Input period at the beginning of the meeting instead of asking them to wait to speak during that agenda item.
Stephanie Seawright said she was at the meeting at GHS, and she was excited when she heard the Gainesville Sun had written about it “because I was like, ‘Oh, good, they’re gonna get some good press!’ And lo and behold, I read it, and it was one of the worse-written pieces I had ever seen, as someone who was there and saw the presentation.” She said the statistics presented at that meeting by Brooksie McGraw “are what they are.” She said Brooksie McGraw “stayed in Gainesville to work for the School Board… And it’s unfortunate that we are running great people away… because they’re trying to do something different.” She said the meeting was “a majority of African American and Hispanics” but “all different ethnicities” and that a second group came in after the one that was written about in the Sun and shown in Diyonne McGraw’s picture.
Tina Days said, “There were mistakes on everyone’s part.” She said the parent who requested information about the club should have received it: “She should have got some information because now this has blown up, in my opinion.” Days said that the parent “has it all against [the McGraw family]” and “the [McGraw family] has it against [the parent]” and “if it was any other parents, they probably would have gotten the information.” She said everyone involved had been “messy.”
A student from GHS said he felt Club GAIN was “very beneficial because it’s a lot of people from different types of ethnicities, but it’s mainly African American students. So I feel like it just surrounds us with people we already can make a brotherhood with and help each other.” He said the students have to keep their grades at 3.5 or higher, and they have the opportunity to visit colleges and get free food. He added, “Join the program because it’s something that can help you, and we’re surrounded by trusted adults that can help us. They actually care about our education.”
Parents’ Bill of Rights led to issue being placed on the agenda
Anne Koterba said she understood the purpose of the club and that she believed the people involved in it “have the best of intentions. And I totally am not talking about that. What I am talking about is the Parents’ Bill of Rights… It is statute.” She pointed out that under the statute, the parent who had requested information from GHS about the club had the right to ask that the issue be placed on the agenda because she didn’t receive a response to her questions within 10 days. She added, “In a way, I like the Parents’ Bill of Rights in this regard, because I have worked with parents for so many years whose complaints and concerns were sort of blown off, and our children did not thrive because of that… [I’m] not criticizing the club, but I am criticizing the procedures and protocols, and they need to be improved so this doesn’t happen again.”
Armando Grundy-Gomes said the Parents’ Bill of Rights is “not a request; it’s not a want. It’s a state statute. And I feel like some folks up there on the board [are] maybe confused, not understanding what a statute is… If [Parents’ Bill of Rights] is good for those parents that might be of a different political ideology, it’s also good for… people that look like me, look like you. Black parents, it’s good for you. You should have the ability to be able to speak to your respective administrators, you should be able to speak to your teachers, and it should not be questioned, and you should not be ignored.”
Grundy-Gomes continued, “We spent $90 billion of extra money, and black children dropped in reading from 20% down to 18%. And we’re talking about several schools in this county where black children are not on grade level. That’s not a Ron DeSantis problem. That’s a you-all problem, and it starts up there [on the dais].”
Evelyn Foxx said the district should provide the parent with the requested information, “but don’t let that be a hindrance on that program.”
Stephen Marsh, the father of the student whose mother originally asked the questions, said Brooksie McGraw had called him on August 28, four days after the original club meeting, to talk to him about the statistics that had been presented and that she sent him the presentation slides well before the 10-day deadline. He said it was a “misconception… that the materials were withheld. In fact, they were provided in a reasonably timely fashion.” He said he appreciated his ex-wife’s advocacy on behalf of their son and noted that the club had been described as being both for high-achieving students and at-risk youth: “As an engineer, as a black man, as an underrepresented minority in my field, in engineering, why not both?”
Dr. Melvina Wilson requested that the board “clarify for everybody and for the record, what was actually done, on what timeframe, and what you will be doing going forward.” She encouraged parents to exercise their rights, come to school board meetings, and get their children to school on time.
Board discussion
When the board reached the agenda item regarding the Pre-Collegiate Club, Board Chair Tina Certain said the item had been placed on the agenda because a parent had requested information and appealed to the board after not receiving the information within 10 days; she said, “The parent may appeal the denial to the district School Board; the district School Board must place a parent’s appeal–it says ‘must,’ I didn’t have an option in this, it says, you know, we don’t have an option… And so that’s why the item is here on the agenda.”
Certain said the parent “sent a statement that is pretty long” and the board had just received it “at 4:46 today… so it’s not attached to the agenda material.” Certain asked Andrew to develop some procedures for principals and other school leaders to address parental concerns and questions “so that when this comes up again, if it should come up again, that the parent is addressed in a timely manner, so they don’t have to make an appeal to the board… That’s all I have to say on that.”
Certain asked Andrew if he had anything to say, and he didn’t, so Certain said, “So that concludes our discussion item.”
Second public comment period
During the second public comment period, the Eastside High School Student Body President, who is also the Vice President and spokesperson of the school’s Pre-Collegiate Club, said she was looking forward to their FAMU college tour on September 23: “And that’s really the point of Pre-Collegiate, whether it be introducing scholarships… [or] taking college tours… whether it be for high-achieving students or high-risk students.”
Dr. Wilson asked why her questions had not been answered, and Certain said, “It is not our policy to dialogue”; she added that the parent never asked for the club to be discontinued, and the responsibility for follow-up belonged to Andrew: “That’s an operational issue… That’s under the Superintendent’s purview.”
Andrew: “We’re looking into alleged School Board policy violations”
Andrew said, “So to keep my comments fairly simple, it has been stated that we do need to move on… We have supported Pre-Collegiate and will continue to do so… Rather than doing some things in the public forum, we do need to move on to serve our kids.” He said a formal complaint has been submitted to the Human Resources office: “If you’re wondering why I’m being quiet, it’s the prudent thing to do because certain things eventually may land on my desk. So out of an abundance of caution, just so you know, that’s where I’m at. And we’re looking into alleged School Board–I said ‘alleged,’ let me repeat that, we’re looking into alleged School Board policy violations, according to the complaint that was submitted. So that’s where we’re at.”
D McGraw apparently enjoys pushing people around (she is BIG) for the benefit of herself and her family, the repercussions are just propwash.
Recall https://alachuachronicle.com/hearing-postponed-on-repeated-code-violations/
“Things got messy.” Yeah, that happens when you get busted violating the rules.
Home school if you can
Can you imagine if they had a white male only club what a up roar the naacp would be here by the 100s protesting filling lawsuit’s
Black people don’t like white people or anybody, for that matter, telling them they are wrong about anything, and the reverse is true. It isn’t anything but the old devil stirring hatred up, white, black & hispanic’s need to get a grip on it. Stay calm, all races, and colors have plenty of room for improvement, AMEN.
I agree except for your opening sentence. That’s not true…not for everyone.
That being said, we all have needs for improvement.
You have a Principal and three assistant
Principals at GHS. Plus, a full-time Activities Director who oversees all the clubs. That is before you even head up to the Superintendent’s staff.
This is an excellent example of failed leadership on so many levels. Absolutely nothing should be happening or meeting on that campus with out full knowledge and approval. The change of name etc. The topic pre presented and approved. This is exactly why parents are pulling kids out and seeking alternative schooling. Full investigation needs to be completed. Had this facilitator been finger printed and background checked?
What are her qualifications and exactly whose responsibility is it to check on her? Why problems start and should answers begin.
You are correct.
DAMN!
Grundy-Gomes, “We spent $90 billion of extra money, and black children dropped in reading from 20% down to 18%. And we’re talking about several schools in this county where black children are not on grade level. That’s not a Ron DeSantis problem. That’s a you-all problem, and it starts up there [on the dais].” You go!
That’s worth repeating… “That’s NOT A RON DESANTIS PROBLEM. THAT’S A YOU-ALL PROBLEM, AND IT STARTS UP THERE [ON THE DAIS].”
Anyone wonder what they’re really doing with those funds? Don’t worry, fairly certain that Certain and McNealy will come up with some excuse. McNealy for sure, in her years at the district she’s bound to have a couple hidden away somewhere. Maybe she’ll just say the records request was eaten by the dog.
Certain, in typical liberal fashion decided to punt. “That’s an operational issue… That’s under the Superintendent’s purview.” LOL! Since when has that ever prevented her from meddling in the operational responsibilities of the Superintendent?
Something tells me there may be more to this than meets the eye.
It’s all fun & games till one person poops in the pool. Nothing but the best in the ACSB.
“It is not our policy to dialog”……your policy is that you answer to no one?
Well, I hope the Club really helps college track kids who come from non-colleged parents, and that’s a good intent.
At the same time, they shouldn’t shame non-college prep students. We need all kinds in this world. And if the simpler citizen kids are not treated good, they’ll just be replaced with illegal migrant kids pouring across the border.
Our country needs to treat lower class youth better, starting with homeownership as an incentive to graduate high school/GEDs and show up reliably to min. wage jobs. There’s nothing wrong with that. We need all kinds.
Homeownership as an incentive? Like being productive and self-sufficient isn’t a good enough reason?
Hope you’re not suggesting their reward be a taxpayer provided home, we already do that enough as it is.
McGraw is one of the most immoral and corrupt people to ever be elected in Alachua county, and that’s saying something. That her daughter was recently hired by the school board for some obscure position through obvious nepotism is no surprise.
That being said, in regard to the main story, what was wrong with giving black students actual facts about their community?
They don’t want to hear the facts. That’s what’s wrong with it. The statistics on black educational achievements is abysmal. I’d list the stats but then my response would never get published, I suggest you look them up for yourself. It’s appalling.
I hope they’re discussing how the culture degenerated the last 60 years, from LBJ hijacking MLK’s legacy.
“They told us a bunch of terrible statistics about black men and that we should do better.”
Well….at least someone told you the truth for a change. Parents??? Oh that’s right too busy creating the kind of culture that breeds success.
And Black women have to pick up the extra slack for the men, tell that too.
If they’re, (parents and school personnel), are waiting until kids are in high school to press upon them the importance of an education and doing things to make yourself a better person, they’re too late. The war may wage on but the battle is lost.
No good deed goes unpunished. As noted, the intent was good and the information valuable, but like so much in today’s politics and especially surrounding schools, mistrust rules and parents of all opinions and races are ready to fight rather than hear anything challenging their kids or even implying criticism of their parenting. This comment board demonstrates all those characteristics in spades. One would think we live in times of autocratic school administrations and public corruption. Of course nothing could be further from the truth. Except for the governors office where the legislature has removed much of his activities from public scrutiny, in what used to be a national model for transparency in state government, there are eyes watching and required reporting of all public transactions. Read some history to recognize that America’s past governments at all levels were not always so transparent and big political machines flourished because they could.
Hey DJ Jizzy Jeff, I want you to know I support you and your desire to be a “TransParent”, I think you are very brave, and you have the right to believe what you want about yourself. Just for clarity what are your pronouns?
It’s probably just another case of “the left eating the left.” None of them are smart enough to work together for the greater good. Sit down, talk with the woman, and smooth things over. But they’re too dumb.
Jazz,
Given the current situation in education the lack of trust is well founded.
This club may be a good idea but like everyone else the people in charge need to follow the same rules as everyone else does.
They didn’t follow their own policies.
More importantly, no child should be asked to join a school club without informing their parents.
A parent has the complete right to know what their child is doing and being taught so they can make decisions about the child’s education.
Politics or not. Big R or Big D…it doesn’t matter. This is a parental issue.
The real crime in Alachua County is only 49 percent of the students in the third grade can read at third grade levels.
https://thefloridascorecard.org/
The link is provided in case you are interested were the number came from.
Thanks for the thoughtful comments That Guy
We can’t disagree on the facts of the matter, in this case the underachieving results of students at our public schools, but we might differ on how we got there and how we fix it, though Florida has never set records for educational standards.
In my opinion, the problem is asking and expecting schools to fix larger societal problems and especially when we treat those schools with suspicion bordering on hostility. Teaching is a difficult job under any circumstances, but especially without the full support and trust of parents who telegraph that attitude to their kids as well as the schools, and when schools are no longer sheltered from those larger societal problems. Parents of all races and political beliefs share this attitude, as can be seen from the perpetual chip-on-the-shoulder viewpoints expressed here by mostly right wing commenters.
As to parents being fully informed on club memberships, in this case that should have happened and could have led to even better results, though it could have just as easily killed it. On the French Club and Homecoming Committee, not in my day, but that was when the Gov was Leroy Collins, at least for elementary school. As an aside, though I knew my way to the Dean’s Office for classroom antics in high school, I was never paddled, but if I had, no permission would have been requested. By the time our son was in jr. high school in the 80s (Mebane), the dean called and got my wife to ask permission to paddle him. Listening to her arguing with the dean our son asked for the phone and said “Mom, say OK. I want to get out of here!” She did, he did. Can you imagine that happening nowadays?
In short, we might try appreciating these difficulties and reorient ourselves to treating OUR SCHOOLS as the community efforts to educate and socialize our kids which they are. Again, this is not easy work and to try and do it with bullets flying, almost impossible.
Jazz,
Thank you for the excellent response:
Our classrooms are a lot like our community in general. It’s a mess.
You will understand this:
We expect openness with any school our children attend. We expect there to be two-way communication between parents who care, and teachers who care.
What no one wants is a surprise.
That’s what happened here. It would never have been an issue if they had followed their own rules.
We need to stay focused on the basics and the rest will come along just fine.
We need to lay that foundation with the greatest of care.
We can’t expect everything to be solved within the classrooms when we have chronic problems within our homes.
What everyone can expect is the best effort to teach our children the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics required to be part of our community.
We can solve this one.
Yes we can, and shared good intentions is maybe the best we can do as a starting point.
Yes, yes, yes, Jizzer your thoughts of resorting to violence toward our kids is exactly what we need. Spare the rod and don’t bruise the child (or something like that) is a recipe for well-adjusted children. Yes, in today’s schools/society these hoodlums we call kids don’t get the chance to experience the consequences of their deviate actions. I am with you and your story was a perfect example of a wayward, lost, child begging his mom for permission so the school could beat him. You know, a lot of people don’t recognize the benefits that comes from the use of violence, but I agree with you it is something we should demand, for the benefit of the children.
I don’t think his son was a “wayward, lost child begging to be paddled”.
As for the violence, there’s a difference in the application of discipline and a violent act on a child. Contrary to what you insinuate, not all children are hoodlums either.
Everything doesn’t have to be twisted to inflect your specific ideas on society. That’s part of the problem.
The true story about our son remains a funny family tale, retold at numerous Thanksgivings, etc. No, he was not traumatized by the paddling and no, my wife still disagrees with paddling as a normal disciplining procedure, though she tells the story and laughs now too. I don’t advocate for physical treatment of students for discipline, but hey, like a funny story and am not mentally brutalized by the image. It was regular stuff back in my day.