If the school board knows what the problems are, why don't they fix them?

A small but spirited group showed up to discuss the district’s issues with school board this afternoon. The teacher’s all agreed that a lack of student accountability was a huge problem in the district. That kids not exposed to rigor or discipline was setting the district back. We also mentioned how a lack of effective leadership and coherent vision was wearing away at teacher’s morale.

All the time members of the board sat back nodding and then affirmed that knew these were our problems and for us to be the district we can be they must be addressed.

My question is, if they know these are the district’s problems why do we still have them? Why are teachers told to monitor how many Fs and Ds they give and encouraged not to write referrals? Why have we ratcheted up grade recovery? Why have we tied principal’s evaluations to referrals and why do we shuffle administrators and principals around the district when the evidence says they may not be up for the job?

Ladies and gentlemen of the school board, if you know what the districts issues are like you say you do, please for the sake of our students and teachers start addressing them.