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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The perspective of youth at the superintendent search

In an article in the Times Union about the superintendent search a local high school student had some profound thoughts.

Kahla Coney, a senior at Robert E. Lee High School, is among seven student representatives — all high school students — on the committee.

She said the committee is a good opportunity for the community, students, teachers and principals to get involved in selecting the superintendent. It would be better, however, if more students could be involved, she said.
“I don’t think they have enough student input in choosing this because, after all, this is for the students and how we’re going to be treated in the classroom …” said Coney, who will talk to other students at her school beginning today, then bring their input to the next committee meeting so they can have a voice, too.

One of the new superintendent’s top priorities, Coney said, should be ensuring that all students not only can read at grade level but also actually comprehend what they are reading.

“A lot of students in high school and middle school levels cannot read on their grade level,” said Coney, noting many of her senior classmates had to retake the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in reading this year.
“Also, higher graduation rates with no need for remediation in college,” needs to be another top priority, Coney said.

Ms. Coney is exactly right, kids arriving to high school unprepared and leaving there the same is a huge problem we have in the county. It is also a problem that the super and board have exacerbated.

If a high school student at a local neighborhood school can see it, why can’t the rest of the city?

To read the Times Union article, paste this into your browser, http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-04-10/story/duval-superintendent-search-starts-public-comments

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