Tuesday the 11th was the 90th anniversary of the World War I armistice. According to the front page of a paper I skimmed while in Columbus that day, there are 2,269,000 vets alive from Operation Desert Shield/Gulf War. There are 7,125,000 Vietnam vets. Followed by 2,307,000 Korean War vets and 2,306,000 World War II vets. And one remaining World War I vet.
My intent the past few days was to write about the annual trip to Columbus to the Capital Conference and Trade Show put on by the Ohio School Boards Association. This was the 53rd such event and claimed over 10,000 attendees. That will have to wait.
One of the vendors at the show wanted to get more information to me about her product and she asked innocently, “Do you use email very much?” The question caused the same feelings that I get when a person in their 40’s or 50’s calls me “Sir.” Gotta be the graying hair and lining face causing this deferential treatment and assumed technological incompetence.
I replied slowly enough to watch her reaction vary from dang to wonderful as I said, “Only every couple of hours or so.” But I had been away from home for over a day and had not checked my email yet Tuesday. I used one of the complimentary stations and checked email about an hour later. It was then I knew there were problems afoot.
A local gentleman had written a polite but pointed email to me detailing his disappointment in finding our school calendar had chosen Monday the 10th instead of Tuesday the 11th to celebrate Veterans Day. He assured me that if we chose to make this same mistake again his children would be among the absent on the real holiday to celebrate and honor our vets appropriately.
Several emails back and forth over the next 24+ hours showed that indeed, at least one other time in the past 10 years the district’s calendar chose a day other than the actual 11th of November to celebrate Veterans Day. I suspect it was either a Friday or Monday to provide an extended week-end.
Not only had I received that email, but Central Office had received several phone calls with the same concern. Mr. Young fielded all of those calls for which he was available and assured the callers that as long as he had anything to do with it the error would not be repeated.
A friend recently offered me sympathy for the plight of school board members. When I asked why the sympathy he offered that he understood “…how little control you have.”
While his concern is valid overall, there are still many opportunities to shape the policies and activities of schools to reflect community values. Certainly determining the dates of holidays falls within the control of board members.
In spite of the many challenges facing us this is truly an exciting time for Marietta City Schools. Our academic scores have been on the upswing which speaks volumes about our staff and students. Our future with respect to buildings has many options which we will know shortly from the evaluations being done by the state.
We owe those veterans honored Tuesday no less than taking advantage of the freedoms they fought for and won for us. We owe our future generations no less than to honor the past and do the best we can to provide for the brightest future possible. The foundation of both debts is an investment in and commitment to education.
We erred. We will endeavor to not repeat the error. God Bless America.
A forum for Marietta City Schools constituents and board members. Comments, suggestions, observations and information invited.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
New Buildings?
New school buildings! In Marietta? How can we be talking of such things? And when should somebody get married?
As we searched for a new school superintendent nearly 4 years ago a local resident and former school board member mentioned that he knew of a superintendent who would be great for Marietta. Sadly, he also knew that the superintendent was not available at that time.
Those familiar with the past three years remember the process of selection we underwent and the results and the wonderful progress made in our academic ratings over the period. Turns out we got the right superintendent at the right time to do the job that needed to be done at the time. Our system gleamed, our students performed.
When the position was again available this year I remembered that long ago conversation, shared it with another board member and he said, “We have to talk to anybody in a position to help. Let’s find him.”
I went to the person who had first mentioned Mr. Young to me and asked how I might find him to see if he was available as an interim superintendent. Fortunately, a phone number was available.
In the first call Mr. Young said, “I have wanted to be the superintendent at Marietta for years but the timing was never right. When can we meet?”
He was just finishing a job in South Point, Ohio and would be available to us in a few weeks time. Phone and personal interviews with board members were arranged and background checks were done. It looked like we had a very experienced superintendent, who had lived in Marietta, wanted to return and had a great record of accomplishment. A seasoned veteran was just what we needed.
Immediately upon hiring Mr. Young he began visiting our buildings. He looked closely at the conditions and compared them with what he knew from his many years in other districts. He also factored in security demands and technology changes and operating efficiencies. The demands of modern education.
Our first meeting with him after those inspections was a bit stunning. He challenged the board to begin the process to “Provide this community and its kids with the kind of facilities that will enable it to compete in the modern world and provide a good education comparable to other places.”
A tall order, and a completely new line of thinking for us. Fortunately we had not committed to any contracts to spend the capital improvement monies approved in the spring of the previous year. We were free to correct our course and chart a new direction with the community’s permission after evaluation by the state.
And that’s where we find ourselves today. Still awaiting final word from the state as to the condition and needs of our buildings. Waiting to hear what their recommendations and requirements will be and then seeking community approval to move forward.
There is much to be done and already Mr. Young is addressing community groups about the various possibilities and needs of the future. The results are encouraging. Those who have heard about what is possible are excited about making it happen.
Aside from churches there is nothing that speaks more clearly about a community than its investment in education and the future of its children. That investment is a beacon to employers and future residents and sends a message of hope and promise.
These may not be the easiest of times to undertake such a project. But as with marriage, if one waits for just the right moment to marry, one is destined to be single.
As we searched for a new school superintendent nearly 4 years ago a local resident and former school board member mentioned that he knew of a superintendent who would be great for Marietta. Sadly, he also knew that the superintendent was not available at that time.
Those familiar with the past three years remember the process of selection we underwent and the results and the wonderful progress made in our academic ratings over the period. Turns out we got the right superintendent at the right time to do the job that needed to be done at the time. Our system gleamed, our students performed.
When the position was again available this year I remembered that long ago conversation, shared it with another board member and he said, “We have to talk to anybody in a position to help. Let’s find him.”
I went to the person who had first mentioned Mr. Young to me and asked how I might find him to see if he was available as an interim superintendent. Fortunately, a phone number was available.
In the first call Mr. Young said, “I have wanted to be the superintendent at Marietta for years but the timing was never right. When can we meet?”
He was just finishing a job in South Point, Ohio and would be available to us in a few weeks time. Phone and personal interviews with board members were arranged and background checks were done. It looked like we had a very experienced superintendent, who had lived in Marietta, wanted to return and had a great record of accomplishment. A seasoned veteran was just what we needed.
Immediately upon hiring Mr. Young he began visiting our buildings. He looked closely at the conditions and compared them with what he knew from his many years in other districts. He also factored in security demands and technology changes and operating efficiencies. The demands of modern education.
Our first meeting with him after those inspections was a bit stunning. He challenged the board to begin the process to “Provide this community and its kids with the kind of facilities that will enable it to compete in the modern world and provide a good education comparable to other places.”
A tall order, and a completely new line of thinking for us. Fortunately we had not committed to any contracts to spend the capital improvement monies approved in the spring of the previous year. We were free to correct our course and chart a new direction with the community’s permission after evaluation by the state.
And that’s where we find ourselves today. Still awaiting final word from the state as to the condition and needs of our buildings. Waiting to hear what their recommendations and requirements will be and then seeking community approval to move forward.
There is much to be done and already Mr. Young is addressing community groups about the various possibilities and needs of the future. The results are encouraging. Those who have heard about what is possible are excited about making it happen.
Aside from churches there is nothing that speaks more clearly about a community than its investment in education and the future of its children. That investment is a beacon to employers and future residents and sends a message of hope and promise.
These may not be the easiest of times to undertake such a project. But as with marriage, if one waits for just the right moment to marry, one is destined to be single.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
No Zero Zone
The No Zero Zone. What gets measured improves. This innocent phrase has much power in its few words.
If you were to count your steps each day do you think you would tend to look for opportunities to add steps toward that magic 10,000 we are all supposed to take for better health? What about calories?
The same is true of nearly all areas of life. If we pay attention and measure what is important, it tends to improve.
Video cameras in schools have positively impacted behavior in schools. The presence of cameras says behavior is being observed, measured. Improved behavior and safety are major outcomes.
Homework is a measure of student work and accomplishment. Done or not is one measure. Done well or not is another measure. Not doing homework is an indicator of lack of commitment, effort or caring. And results in getting a zero for the assignment.
It used to be relatively easy for a student to choose mediocrity and just skip doing homework as long as he was willing to accept a reduced grade. The schools, however, are judged on the accomplishments of students, not the choices of students.
One of the ideas that has come from the Professional Learning Community process is the No Zero Zone. It is being used with great results at Marietta Middle School. Now, if a student chooses not to do the homework assignment he gets to spend time after school doing that homework.
Parents are contacted by phone to inform them of the student’s late departure on days when they are assigned to the No Zero Zone. Sadly, some parents have learned to dodge these calls and the student avoids the assignment. A measure of parental commitment that does not speak well of their focus on student success.
One cannot just sit in the Zone but must actually produce the work in order to get credit. If the student chooses to not show up, a note is sent to the Assistant Principal and the result can be assignment to Lunch Detention.
Lunch Detention happens in the cafeteria in an area sectioned off by dividers with no opportunity for socialization. After lunch, the students remain in this section and are not permitted to go out for recess. For some, this is a great disincentive and is having the desired results. On a recent visit an administrator commented to me that he observes students actually doing homework during the lunch period in order to avoid being assigned to the No Zero Zone and starting the process that leads to Lunch detention.
The mere act of observing behavior is a measure in itself. Take for instance, students in hallways between classes. Teachers observing students in hallways after the class bell has rung results in more students being motivated to get to class on time.
This only works if, like No Zero, there is a consequence affixed to behavior beyond acceptable limits. That is, a tardy slip being sent to the Principal for those arriving late to class.
Much of what happens in schools is designed to prepare students for life in the workplace. Arriving a few minutes late is not a good choice at most jobs. Not completing assigned tasks is another poor choice with consequences. Easier to learn these skills at the school level than to lose jobs in later life.
Video cameras are a way of life today. The ones we recently approved for purchase meet state guidelines for new buildings and will be moved to new schools when that time comes. Monies approved last spring enable us to enhance student safety with this addition.
If you were to count your steps each day do you think you would tend to look for opportunities to add steps toward that magic 10,000 we are all supposed to take for better health? What about calories?
The same is true of nearly all areas of life. If we pay attention and measure what is important, it tends to improve.
Video cameras in schools have positively impacted behavior in schools. The presence of cameras says behavior is being observed, measured. Improved behavior and safety are major outcomes.
Homework is a measure of student work and accomplishment. Done or not is one measure. Done well or not is another measure. Not doing homework is an indicator of lack of commitment, effort or caring. And results in getting a zero for the assignment.
It used to be relatively easy for a student to choose mediocrity and just skip doing homework as long as he was willing to accept a reduced grade. The schools, however, are judged on the accomplishments of students, not the choices of students.
One of the ideas that has come from the Professional Learning Community process is the No Zero Zone. It is being used with great results at Marietta Middle School. Now, if a student chooses not to do the homework assignment he gets to spend time after school doing that homework.
Parents are contacted by phone to inform them of the student’s late departure on days when they are assigned to the No Zero Zone. Sadly, some parents have learned to dodge these calls and the student avoids the assignment. A measure of parental commitment that does not speak well of their focus on student success.
One cannot just sit in the Zone but must actually produce the work in order to get credit. If the student chooses to not show up, a note is sent to the Assistant Principal and the result can be assignment to Lunch Detention.
Lunch Detention happens in the cafeteria in an area sectioned off by dividers with no opportunity for socialization. After lunch, the students remain in this section and are not permitted to go out for recess. For some, this is a great disincentive and is having the desired results. On a recent visit an administrator commented to me that he observes students actually doing homework during the lunch period in order to avoid being assigned to the No Zero Zone and starting the process that leads to Lunch detention.
The mere act of observing behavior is a measure in itself. Take for instance, students in hallways between classes. Teachers observing students in hallways after the class bell has rung results in more students being motivated to get to class on time.
This only works if, like No Zero, there is a consequence affixed to behavior beyond acceptable limits. That is, a tardy slip being sent to the Principal for those arriving late to class.
Much of what happens in schools is designed to prepare students for life in the workplace. Arriving a few minutes late is not a good choice at most jobs. Not completing assigned tasks is another poor choice with consequences. Easier to learn these skills at the school level than to lose jobs in later life.
Video cameras are a way of life today. The ones we recently approved for purchase meet state guidelines for new buildings and will be moved to new schools when that time comes. Monies approved last spring enable us to enhance student safety with this addition.