It’s time for serious change in Youngstown schools
It’s time for serious change in Youngstown schools
EDITOR:
I agree wholeheartedly with the person who wrote in from Canfield about Youngstown schools. Any adult who has the capacity to think clearly has been aware of our poor standing prior to the news from the state that placed us academically at the very bottom.
Taking time to review on line what the requirements are for board membership clarifies points regarding how the board can or cannot micromanage. The board’s powers regarding discipline and academics are only a reference point. Actual administration of discipline and academic achievements are left to local superintendents and their staff. In our district, discipline has been left to the superintendent and her subordinates. I am aware that the board has had final say in some disciplinary appeal actions.
Also she has utilized so many grants for programs that have not helped academics. We no longer enjoy a “watch” standing; but now have an “academic emergency” standing. It is my hope that this academic commission the state is sending will do much more than the fiscal emergency commission has done. We property owners are now in deeper debt such that I will not live long enough to see us emerge from this indebtedness. It will take “double digit” years to pay off.
It is time we stopped looking at what a nice person our administrator is and require her to meet the academic mark. It is time for her to generate some real change with the tools she has or else find someone who can. It is strictly business. Where else can you keep your job with a progressively poor work performance? It is time for a superintendent who will make some serious gains, use some creative thinking and achieve some measurable goals. All the gains in programs means nothing unless we meet the reasons we have schools in the first place, to educate our prime resource, our children.
It’s time to stop ignoring discipline just to keep the attendance numbers up. It’s not time to placate, but to educate.
DELORES T. WOMACK
Youngstown