When on February 1st of this year a letter arrived in the mail, cheerfully announcing the "Phase 1 Reorganization" plans to our Elementary School, something in our common psyche snapped.
We are a small, rural school, like many in NYS. Our families struggle to put food on the table, pay exorbitant heating bills and taxes, keep transportation running and keep enough money coming in to keep roofs over our heads.
Sure we have a middle class representation, but what does that really mean anymore? Two parents, running insane schedules trying to balance work and family, finding daycare and carpools for kids events, doing homework until 930 at night.
How do we come together? How do we find common ground?
For years, our BOE and Superintendent have made decisions in a top down fashion. In fairness, we haven't been motivated to show up and do our part to govern our schools. Something the management of our schools has taken full advantage of.
Instead of building a strong PTA, engaging in parent outreach, our Superintendent stopped even coming to monthly awards assemblies recognizing our youngest readers and students who have made incredible progress both socially and academically. The Superintendent's office is located on the other side of the parking lot, as is the Assistant Superintendent, who has been hand picked to succeed in the Super role.
Our website boasts that "A close-knit community is an integral part of the district's success. A strong Parent-Teacher Organization and committed community volunteers provide support to help Harpursville students succeed in school and in life".
Our PTA may have as many as 5 members? One is a BOE member, one works for the District office. Another has not had children in school for years. Of course we still applaud the time and work that goes into being a part of this type of organization, but a "strong PTO"? Also, parent volunteers? Do we have those?
The letter that arrived to a select group of residents, announced that our much depended on and experienced Assistant Principal's position would be "vacated" as of March 23rd. A very curious date, well before the end of the year. She has 15 years of Special Education background and 4 years working in the capacity of an Assistant Principal. She is the heart of our FREE after school and summer programs.
As in any school, the task of discipline is a challenging one. In a school with a demographic such as ours, with children who are truly hurting and a high identified Special Education population, it is nearly impossible. This has been her job. She has taken screaming and kicking children out of classrooms and returned them centered, whole and ready to learn. Miracles really.
In addition, the letter stated that our Elementary Principal would move to a job at the District level, focusing on non-instructional tasks. Turns out the job of Principal in a school like ours, is nearly impossible to keep staffed with experienced individuals. Somehow, our test scores are improving. We have made especially big strides when compared to schools with the same poverty and Special Education levels. In reviewing his files, his composite APPR score for last year was an 89, nearly highly effective (91).
Teacher turnover has been virtually non-existent for the past several years. Parents have stated over and over again that they trust both our Principal and our Assistant with their children. That they know their children are safe and cared for. That both know their children, relate to them personally and are REAL people. Our Principal is in his 4th year.
A study published this past fall by the School Leaders Network, referred to the high cost to school districts of losing effective Principals. It also speaks to the negative effects on student performance, morale and teacher turnover. More specifically to the high impact the loss of a school leader has on the very young in a school such as ours.
http://connectleadsucceed.org/sites/default/files/principal_turnover_cost.pdf#page=1&zoom=auto,-15,792
Hence the nearly audible S-N-A-P of our common psyche.
Our Superintendent, clearly underestimated our resolve and care for our children and the environment in which they receive their education.
So, we came together. We came up with a name: STOP HCSD, catchy, simple to the point. We created a Facebook group. Maybe people can't come together for a bake sale, but MAN do we show up for an online powwow! Almost immediately we had 45 members, then 60, then we reached 100....now we are at nearly 300 members!!! Not all of those are active on Facebook, but of the 150 that are, they all have friends and neighbors and families that they are talking to.
Advised to "contact Board of Education Members with any questions", we have done so actively. The mountain of ugly that this mobilization has uncovered is crazy! There is more and more everyday. Our BOE has engaged in so many Open Meeting Law (that's a thing we've learned about) violations, that it is likely none of them have a legitimate claim to their seats at this point. It's sad really, I am sure they had good intentions and then simply fell into Business as Usual. They are still our community members, we welcome them back to the side of good anytime they want to come.
We love our school. We love our kids. We are taking them back. We thank you for the kick in the pants to get us moving.
STOP
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