Letter to the Editor: New School Board Outlook Should Bring New Goals

I am writing today to discuss my views on the next generation of the Mehlville School District. This year brings with it a new superintendent and an optimistic vision for the future. For those of us present at the last school board meeting, we had an opportunity to hear , including his thoughts on Project Lead the Way, a pre-engineering program. 

I completely support Dr. Knost's vision he laid out during that board meeting. As the school board meets during their annual retreat, they have an opportunity to work with Dr. Knost to provide goals and priorities that will aid us reaching proficiency not only in the standardized tests, but also the skills that are needed to separate our students from the rest of the world and provide for them a place first in line for collegiate programs and great career prospects. 

The world is changing. We've seen that with the drastic economic changes that have been occurring lately, and only those that change with it will survive in the coming generation. Corporations can focus on the next 3-5 years during their strategic planning cycles because business cycles and focus changes so quickly. The school system needs to look longer term due to the fact that our students will spend at least 13 years with us. 

Long-term planning needs to happen with a vision. A vision from a leader in the community that has the foresight and knowledge necessary to guide, motivate and communicate the "generational plan" that addresses what the district would like to look like as our early childhood students graduate from high school.

What careers are going to be available then? What are the skills we need to teach to provide our students the best chance for success? What do we need to have in-place to teach those skills? As you look toward the long-term future, your tactical goals become more clear and your communication effectiveness improves. I encourage the community to provide support for Dr. Knost and would like the school board to provide the necessary oversight to achieve results on his vision.

I mentioned to the school board recently that the CSIP - Comprehensive School Improvement Plan of the past appears to have been put together as required, but the implementation appears to have faltered. At least I can't find any metrics on the school's communication and website that shows results. For those of you in a professional capacity, you are aware of the term SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. 

As the administration lays out its tactical plan and goals for the next year (in support of their generational plan), I would like to see them keep these traits in mind. Last year's goals started with "Continue to improve..." 

As I read these, I cannot find anything specific or measurable. And, without that, there is no way to know if they are achievable or realistic and timely. I would like to offer some examples of goals, or at least the concepts, I would like to see implemented:

1. Improve student performance in the - Math and Communication so that all students in the elementary grades achieve 70 percent proficiency regardless of school location by the end of the school year testing 2011-2012.

2. Actively engage the parents of our students so that 80 percent of the parents meet with the teachers four times per school year to understand the progress of their child, as well as communicate on a monthly basis (via e-mail, telephone, or in-person) with their teacher since the last interaction.

3. Hold monthly status reports on the progress of the generational plan, and this year's tactical CSIP goals at a location regularly accessible to the public such as the on the weekends and communicate the date and agenda in local media such as newspapers, short television advertisements and small business locations throughout the district.

4. Increase transparency in the certified staff evaluation process and provide multiple source (360 degree) feedback to the staff to better assess teacher performance and results in student achievement. This can be done by providing teacher evaluation feedback forms to the parents of the students, the peers of the staff and the responsible administrative party to gain insight into how well the teacher is performing during the 2011-2012 school year.

Are each of these goals specific? Yes. Measurable? Yes. Achievable? I don't know, we've never measured things this way before. I know there are some in the community that will not support my comments, but I welcome the interaction. I plan on future letters to the editor to better explain some of these concepts and why I chose these goals as I am running out of room in this letter. 

We have an opportunity to set direction to improve our community this week. Everyone who would like to have input into this process, please come to the board retreat at Forder Elementary School this Saturday, Aug. 13 at 9 a.m.

Thanks, and let's kick off this school year right!