Wednesday
Jan072009
« GCPS handles flexibility proposal poorly »
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 9:31PM
Before Christmas, I blogged about the proposed "flexibility contract" the Gwinnett County School Board was submitting to the state Board of Education. I discussed the content of the proposal in that post, but the aspect of the situation that I think merits the most attention at this point is how the school board handled the public input and approval process, a process that brought criticisms due to a "cloak of secrecy."
Though this is the opinion of one person, there is enough evidence to suggest that Dietz has a valid point. (Just to note, Mrs. Dietz was one of my English teachers at Central Gwinnett High School. While I was very fond of her, I am in no way an apologist for "government schools," thus there is no bias in my assessment of her comments.) This is particularly troubling in the wake of how socialized garbage was underpublicized and foisted upon the county, especially given that the legislation that governs these proposals calls for "parents and teachers to be part of the process."
One needs little more reason to question the school board's commitment to community input than to consider the comment of school spokesperson Sloan Roach regarding the number of hearings for the proposal:
Well, by all means, let's not dare exceed the law's requirements if that is what is needed to get substantive input from the community. Such an outlook strikes me as arrogant and disdainful on the part of the school board. Even for the sole hearing that was held, an agenda for the meeting was not posted on the school system website until three days before the meeting! This sparse publicity just seems like "déjà vu all over again" with Gwinnett County government entities and high-impact programs.
Even the hearing seems to have been of limited benefit, having had, according to Gwinnett teacher Brian Westlake, the feeling of "simply another necessary step in the process." Board member Carole Boyce reportedly told the audience that the meeting was "not a question-and-answers session." So let me get this straight. The state legislation asks for input from the community. Only a single hearing is required, but at that hearing, the ability to provide input (and asking questions is an integral part of providing feedback) is limited at best. Sounds like a muted interest in receiving community feedback to me. Ironically, a few days later, Boyce stated that "we are welcoming any calls or questions people have." Just don't expect an answer, right, Carol?
Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks has assured us that parents and teachers would have the chance to get involved as individual schools decide implementation details of the program. However, while perhaps technically meeting the requirements of the law - my observation, not Sloan Roach's - the horse is out of the barn at that point. In the implementation phase, Gwinnett's committment to the state has been made, the general framework is in place, and parents may only be able to provide "tweaks" to the plan. I would suggest that by then the value of community input will be significantly reduced.
I see a lot of potential in what the school board is trying to do for Gwinnett schools, and I applaud them for thinking outside the box. However, they have bungled the proposal and acceptance of this flexibiilty program. They seemed to have left the impression of having made up their minds and then only going through the motions required by law before they could vote to approve the program. Boyce has effectively told us to trust them: "It will be a great thing, it really will." Sorry, but such a promise is not a waiver of the need for community feedback.
Leadership sometimes means having to make tough decisions that do not please all stakeholders. Sincerely soliciting and considering input from those stakeholders can only improve the process, even if the process is lengthened. Nevertheless, the board has approved the proposal and it has been accepted by State School Superintendent Kathy Cox. The commnunity now needs to ensure that they get involved in the implementation phase at their local schools, lest we see a repeat of the socialized garbage fiasco in our school system.
References:
“The county has not been willing to share the plan. It’s like we are hiding something here, and that really bothers me,” said Susan Dietz, co-president of the Gwinnett County Association of Educators.
Though this is the opinion of one person, there is enough evidence to suggest that Dietz has a valid point. (Just to note, Mrs. Dietz was one of my English teachers at Central Gwinnett High School. While I was very fond of her, I am in no way an apologist for "government schools," thus there is no bias in my assessment of her comments.) This is particularly troubling in the wake of how socialized garbage was underpublicized and foisted upon the county, especially given that the legislation that governs these proposals calls for "parents and teachers to be part of the process."
One needs little more reason to question the school board's commitment to community input than to consider the comment of school spokesperson Sloan Roach regarding the number of hearings for the proposal:
Only one hearing is scheduled bceause that is all "that is required by law," Roach said.
Well, by all means, let's not dare exceed the law's requirements if that is what is needed to get substantive input from the community. Such an outlook strikes me as arrogant and disdainful on the part of the school board. Even for the sole hearing that was held, an agenda for the meeting was not posted on the school system website until three days before the meeting! This sparse publicity just seems like "déjà vu all over again" with Gwinnett County government entities and high-impact programs.
Even the hearing seems to have been of limited benefit, having had, according to Gwinnett teacher Brian Westlake, the feeling of "simply another necessary step in the process." Board member Carole Boyce reportedly told the audience that the meeting was "not a question-and-answers session." So let me get this straight. The state legislation asks for input from the community. Only a single hearing is required, but at that hearing, the ability to provide input (and asking questions is an integral part of providing feedback) is limited at best. Sounds like a muted interest in receiving community feedback to me. Ironically, a few days later, Boyce stated that "we are welcoming any calls or questions people have." Just don't expect an answer, right, Carol?
Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks has assured us that parents and teachers would have the chance to get involved as individual schools decide implementation details of the program. However, while perhaps technically meeting the requirements of the law - my observation, not Sloan Roach's - the horse is out of the barn at that point. In the implementation phase, Gwinnett's committment to the state has been made, the general framework is in place, and parents may only be able to provide "tweaks" to the plan. I would suggest that by then the value of community input will be significantly reduced.
I see a lot of potential in what the school board is trying to do for Gwinnett schools, and I applaud them for thinking outside the box. However, they have bungled the proposal and acceptance of this flexibiilty program. They seemed to have left the impression of having made up their minds and then only going through the motions required by law before they could vote to approve the program. Boyce has effectively told us to trust them: "It will be a great thing, it really will." Sorry, but such a promise is not a waiver of the need for community feedback.
Leadership sometimes means having to make tough decisions that do not please all stakeholders. Sincerely soliciting and considering input from those stakeholders can only improve the process, even if the process is lengthened. Nevertheless, the board has approved the proposal and it has been accepted by State School Superintendent Kathy Cox. The commnunity now needs to ensure that they get involved in the implementation phase at their local schools, lest we see a repeat of the socialized garbage fiasco in our school system.
References:
- Schools seek leniency from state mandates (AJC)
- Some parents in dark on Gwinnett school plan (AJC)
- School flexibility plan gets a hearing Thursday (AJC)
- Vote on school flexibility plan set for Wednesday morning
- Georgia’s largest school system opts out of state rules
- State superintendent OKs Gwinnett school plan
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