Good evening, I am speaking to you tonight as an individual
teacher, parent and member of our community, My views are my own,
whether or not I am a member of the vocal minority or a vocal
representative of the silent majority is up to you to decide.
Good evening, I am speaking to you tonight as an individual teacher, parent and member of our community, My views are my own, whether or not I am a member of the vocal minority or a vocal representative of the silent majority is up to you to decide.
Lately, the debate over the school district’s direction as taken on a renewed importance. Changing times and long unanswered concerns make this discussion very appropriate. In the opening salvos of “information exchange” I have noted a couple of examples of incomplete information that can foster false perceptions.
First, Jacobs Construction has been referred to as the construction management contractor that has overseen Barrett Elementary and the completion of the renovation to Live Oak High School. Live Oak is far from complete. Six buildings have not been touched let alone completed (administration, industrial arts, applied arts, boys locker room, girls locker room, science/lecture hall building). Another has been started but is far from done (old science building), and several exterior projects have been postponed or seemingly forgotten (amphitheater, walkway canopies, landscaping, reconfiguring the parking areas near the stadium, replacing the softball fields etc.) So far Jacobs should most appropriately referred to as a rookie company that built Barrett, the most expensive but average elementary facility of the state, as well as the company that has seen Live Oak through about half of the originally planned renovations.
Second, there appears to be a perception out there that district teachers seem to be wholeheartedly looking forward to the opening of Sobrato High School. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although most instructors that I come in contact with do believe strongly in the merit of a four-year high school, they also have grave concerns about our district’s financial inability to operate two comprehensive high schools. The ripple effect that increasing operating costs have on offering competitive wages, benefits, and quality programs has been a concern that has gone unanswered since the bond election.
Being competitive in the job market should be the primary goal of the district, instead, over the past few years we have lost appreciable ground and therefore employees to neighboring districts. MHUSD is no longer just the place teachers get a start until they move on to a better job; we now have the dubious distinction of being the place that veteran teachers leave to get a raise despite having to give up years of service placement on the pay scale. Until we are well positioned to resume attracting, hiring, and retaining quality instructors, nothing else we do will really matter.
Next, enrollment figures have provided the source of much amusement. Over the course of the last five weeks, Live Oak’s enrollment has been represented as 1,850 in the newsletter, 1,690 at a staff meeting and 1,760 at the following staff meeting. Obviously at least two of these numbers are wrong. But the numbers do share one thing in common, they are all hundreds under the threshold to necessitate double sessions as was threatened during the bond campaign.
Here are some numbers that are just as interesting: Just 10 years ago, Live Oak managed a daily combined lunch, had dozens of thriving clubs, nearly 500 more students, and one less administrator. Now we cut teaching jobs and class sections mid year when overstated enrollment projections catch up with us.
So where have the students gone? Probably to Texas due to the poor economy or so our leadership would have us believe. Administration reports that Live oak has only lost 14 students to private schools. What a relief until you find out that they mean students that checked out after already attending this year. You see, we have rationalized not counting those that leave in the summer or at earlier grades that is just “parental choice.” The fact that we are not servicing our community is never mentioned, in fact our theoreticians often dismiss those who leave as elitists.
Here’s some numbers that matter. Our attendance is down by hundreds, the town population is up. Every 30 kids that get on the bus to private school represent a lost job and the loss of thirty families who obviously have resources that could and would and have helped our schools in numerous ways. 30 kids worth of private school tuition is over a quarter of a million dollars. Students that leave are often those that are the most active in clubs, student government, athletics, and academics – their absence in our schools is felt – just as their presence as ambassadors for private schools in our community is also felt.
You will soon be forming your board goals for the upcoming year. Here’s a suggestion for the only one you really need:
• Restore the public trust
Here’s some action plans to help you meet your goal:
• Find out why families opt for private school and more importantly what we can do to get them back.
• Don’t hire firms that respected employees have given up their jobs to blow the whistle on.
• Continue to ask the hard questions and seek information beyond that supplied by staff.
• Avoid eminent domain on the entrance to Sobrato Site (by coming in through Tilton or abandoning the site altogether)
• Don’t build what you can’t operate – (two comprehensive high schools are not warranted at present – open Sobrato as a second continuation high school for about 500 so that the ninth grade can be move the high school now. Sobrato can be expanded as growth allows and become comprehensive when the enrollment is sufficient – Finish Live Oak!)
• Make a formal statement of policy on shared decision-making and run it up the flagpole for all its worth. The first step to trust is not believing that last year’s disgrace involving advanced classes won’t repeat itself – Trust can be gained only by assuring that such an event cannot repeat itself.
In closing, I would like to thank our newly elected members for the spirit and energy that they bring to the board. More than anything else we need critical leadership. I also refuse to call you junior members and think that whoever uses the term is obviously having a senior moment. The community is behind you. The issues and your stance on them put you in office. Although you may be on a “learning curve” all board members are likewise in need of constantly updating and taking the pulse of the community in these changing times.
Glen Webb teaches physics at Live Oak High. Readers interested in writing a guest column should contact editor Walt Glines at [email protected] or 779-4106.
Editor’s note: Webb presented this at Monday’s Morgan Hill School Board meeting.
