The Board of Education last night addressed the critical issue of our low high school graduation. The tone was set by an air of annoyance that we were even discussing this issue and then it moved to one of “we knew this all along”. It concluded with a PowerPoint presentation highlighting what we all know and with no new information: After Mr. Hastie asked what new programs had been implemented this past year; Mr. Conetta found it difficult to identify any new programs except for the introduction of software that tracked students. No new Ideas. No Vision. No realization that perhaps thinking outside the box is a welcomed endeavor. No hard questions from the Board Members. While they presented a careful recompilation of items that presumably benefit the Hispanic students, what about the African-American students? Nothing! Then there was the overall graduation rate of 66% – 66%. It was embedded in a myriad of other statistics intentionally placed to hide and distract from the issue. Was it discussed at length and conclusively? NO. It was simply mentioned in passing as if embarrassed that it was even there. There were questions during the presentation by the Board Members, but none were allowed by the community present. There was a chart on ethnicity of our school children. I wanted to ask who decided the ethnicity of our children. School officials? Who? How is it determined that a child is of more than one race? White-Black? Hispanic-White? Then there was a chart on progress of AP/Honors students over the last several years. Clearly it showed many more students in total and many more minority students taking AP/Honors classes. This was a misleading chart because it showed more students than there really are (especially white). You see, you have one student who may take 3, 4, or 5 AP classes and they are counted as five students. So in reality, the number of students is less. Typical school smoke and mirrors.
Solutions. We need creative leadership who will address the difficult questions of why our children do not graduate on time. I realize that school officials say that NYS Education Department has created a very low achievement bar. So we meet our yearly threshold by barely going over 55% on many of our goals. No need to be better. As a community of elected leaders, we must have the fortitude to ask the tough questions without the fear of offending our realtors or a corrupt Mayor. We must present a vision of perhaps introducing longer school days; teachers staying afterschool instead of leaving in droves as soon as the last bell rings; we must work to ensure that our student-athletes are given proper academic support and not simply applying a win, win attitude as we pimp our students. We must accept and change a policy of having two middle schools that are not equal. IYMS because of its poor leadership has succumbed to mediocrity. It sends poor performing students to our high school because they are poorly prepared and no one cares. Every one knows this, but refuses to speak about it. Lastly, in the whole presentation last night no effort was made to include our parents in the discussion of helping us to partner a better solution. Regrettable. An opportunity lost. I was disappointed last night, but at least the question has been posed. Over the next year, I will continue to ask questions. Hopefully, the new members will ask questions and they will vote for the recommended certified graduation next June 2011. I invite the community to have the courage to speak up!
Martin Sanchez
