Plan B?

Poor teachers, who see a child’s disappointing test scores, simply schedule a "make-up" test. They tell themselves their student hadn’t been paying attention; the student was having an off day; the student suffered from outside distractions. Poor teachers dismiss low numbers as accidental and temporary. So, the child is tested again. And if necessary again. Until by repetition or practice or good luck, the numbers come out higher. Then THOSE scores are meaningful, official, and final. If not, well, a poor teacher’s attitude is "Tough luck, kid."

A great teacher, though, will study the results of a poor test; to learn and adapt. Great teachers know students may fail to learn, but teachers, too, may, fail to teach. Great teachers understand no one can succeed by merely "going through the motions" again and again and again. For a student who hasn’t learned from lecture; a reading assignment may work or a hands-on project.may break though. A teacher who wants different results will teach a different way. And this is no hardship; great teachers always have more than one lesson plan in the portfolio. Every test – good results or bad – provides meaningful direction towards helping a child.

Lancaster ISD has some great teachers. But does the district have a great school board, and a great superintendent?

When the numbers from the May ’06 Bond Election came in, and the $93 Million bond proposal had failed, would the district demonstrate greatness? Or would they treat adult voters and taxpayers as slightly stupid children who failed to pay attention, got fatally distracted by noise, and were just suffering from an off day?

Now we know.

Why can't the district offer a new plan for putting children first? Why must they simply change the dates on the old plan and try another bond, another massive construction project, another tax increase, and another slick and glossy political indoctrination campaign in another election? Why is "Plan B" the same as "Plan A" ? Can't our district have, like a great teacher, more than one plan in its portfolio?

Why must the district continue to propose tearing down the elementary schools where children are safely and productively attending this year? Why does the district continue to demand the design of large (600-or-more students each) elementary schools, farther apart, instead of small neighborhood schools our kids can walk to? Why can't the district renovate existing schools, build small new schools inside the new neighborhoods, and get focused on first-graders?

At the high school level, why does the district come back for the third time in two years asking to construct additional classrooms? Can't Advanced Placement/college level classes be "outsourced" to dual-diploma programs at Cedar Valley or Richland College? Will the district continue to let new classrooms sit idle 18 hours a day or emulate Dallas ISD and try a voluntary second shift in the late afternoons? Will the district attempt to re-invent technology solutions for itself or cooperate with the TEA Region Ten "Virtual Academy" programs – which only require kids in a classroom two days a week? And why can a century old High School be sucessfully renovated to plush offices for adminstrative staff, but 40-year-old elementary school buildings must be completely demolished and replaced? Why not move high school students to Centre Street? Why not move adminstrators to the Dallas Ave/Pleasant Run facility that (contrary to promises made in 2004) still hasn't sold to a commercial developer.

Whether an additional High School is at Centre Street or in new construction -- will academics finally matter? Or will SAT continue to slide and graduation rates continue to fall? Will over 30% of the 9th graders entering the school this year flunk, quit, or quietly "disappear" before graduation?

Can't new Trustee Marie Elliott bring new ideas, new direction, and new energy to the Lancaster ISD school board? Must she, like her peers, always "go along to get along"?

In May 2006 , the voters spoke. The numbers are recorded, and the bond failed. Isn't it time for Plan B?

*sigh*.

Plan A. Again. Borrow and Spend. Just keep voting until the voters get it "right".

Oh well. Maybe, in December, we can hear Plan B.