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Health & Fitness

Say It Ain't So

@Liz was right: the title of yesterday's blog was an unfortunate prediction of last night's School Committee meeting.

My hopes and dreams of communication were dashed and any thought that I had that the parents had been heard was kicked to the curb (and shoved down the storm drain.)  If you had something better to do last night (and I certainly hope that you did), allow me to recap:

When I tuned in, the new administrators in the District, including the Fitzgerald's already beloved Dr. Castelline, were being introduced to the SC.  There were very impressive credentials, words of thanks from the new administrators, and warm words of support from the superintendent.  When that business was concluded, an even longer list of resignations (many of which I am sure are retirement related) was read.  When Mr. Tarallo, who may have heard me shouting at my teevee, asked if exit interviews were being done, he was told that professionals who resign are given a questionnaire to complete.  Is that how Waltham is going to find out why we have trouble retaining leaders?  With a questionnaire?  An administrator leaves and we don't even give an in-person exit interview?  Let me assure you that I am decidedly unimportant, however, at every job that I have held since college, I have had an exit interview when I moved on.  Additionally, while the SC members smiled at all of the new administrators, there was no discussion of leadership retention policies or plans to train leaders within the district.

Some time was spent discussing moves in the Central Office: there is new signage that directs visitors to new office locations.  There was NO discussion of moving the office space out of what should be learning space.  In fact, there was no discussion of overcrowding or issues of physical space at all.  I understand that there are data forthcoming, as well as a report from an outside consultant, however, to glibly acknowledge that office and management functions are taking place in the High School while every elementary school has teachers teaching from carts and LBRR students at the Fitz are doubled up with two grades per classroom, while the ELL kids at the Fitz occupy a former teacher's workroom (which, granted, is a step up from the library, where they met last year) is irresponsible.

At one point, Mr. Tarallo once again tried to bring up an action item from a meeting that Fitzgerald parents had with the mayor this summer.  At that meeting, it was suggested that the School Committee meet at the elementary schools.  When Mr. Tarallo brought it up, this idea was quickly crushed because the elementary schools don't have the ability to broadcast the meeting.  It occurred to no one that, perhaps, the elementary school parents could travel to the High School for a meeting.  We do have GPS, in addition to Twitter accounts.  I am certain that it would be unacceptable to suggest that the SC members attend a PTO or School Council meeting at the elementary schools as guests and as a show of good will.  Typically, when group of elected officials is offered a platform to meet with constituents and invested voters, they take it.  That doesn't seem to be the case with this School Committee.

Dr. Nicholson spent a short period of time referring to an article in the US News And World Report in which Waltham HS ranked 48th out of the high schools that were ranked in MA.  No mention was made of the number of high schools that were ranked (which is either 76 or 328 or some other number), or what the criteria were (http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/massachusetts), or why we ranked so high (appears to have a lot to do with small class size.)  That is, there was NO DISCUSSION of this.  By the committee that is elected to set policy at our schools. The discussion was on Twitter, btw.  

There was some discussion about Dr. Nicholson's request to go to China for professional development.  I wonder how involved the parents are there and how the communication channels work.  One of my closest friends works with Randi Weingarten at the American Federation of Teachers.  She went to Asia, including China, to work with teachers there on models of organizing; I'll check in with her to see how the centralized government in China works with respect to education and what role the parents play there.

When I turned off the television at 9, I did a review of what the issues facing the school district are: issues with the use of physical space; issues with leadership retention; issues with communication.  Not one of these were addressed.  And I certainly wouldn't blame Mr. Tarallo if he didn't bother to bring them up again at the next meeting.  Rest assured that I will. 

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