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Health & Fitness

Is Dr. Harter right for the WCCUSD?

Is Dr. Harter right for the WCCUSD?

I am still reeling from an informal assessment I received of my daughter’s future elementary school, Ohlone, in Hercules.  My wife has a friend who is a Senior Researcher with a large non-profit education consulting firm.  I told her I was concerned about the 41 API drop at this school, and asked her to help me better understand the numbers. Her reply is as follows

 “I’d be less worried that API went down last year than the overall pattern over many years, which is a profile of a weak school. It has had a statewide API of 5 (10 is highest performing and 1 is lowest performing, based solely on test scores), but it has an API of 2 or 3 when compared to 100 demographically similar schools. This means that relative to other schools with the SAME student pop it’s doing considerably worse. That says to me that despite the demographic make up of the students (SES and other dis/advantages) this school isn’t performing optimally.”

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This is a school that has some of the more experienced teachers, judging from the average teacher salary of $58,000.  I was told there is little teacher turnover in Hercules.  I understand that the district has been in a state of financial turmoil, but has our Superintendent responded appropriately?  We are constantly reminded of what the WCCUSD does not have, but are we making the most of what we do have?

Recently, trustee Todd Groves communicated to me how busy the five board members were with the bigger troubles in Richmond.  He stated the following.  

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"I believe we should be putting more attention and resources in our most troubled schools which reside mostly in Richmond and San Pablo. I don’t live in either city, but will work hardest for kids with the greatest need. It’s also where I’m spending my greatest amount of time. I can’t see how Hercules, with the best statistics in the district, is being underserved." 

I took this to mean Todd believed everything was fine in Hercules. Todd, all is not fine in Hercules.  I believe we are being underserved.  Perhaps the district is too large for 5 board members who also have to contend with a myriad of financial crises, in addition to the problems of Richmond, a city of greater than 100,000.

A few years back, there was an attempt by some to restructure the WCCUSD board election process, changing it to districts-wards, instead of at-large representation.  This was so cities like Hercules and Pinole could be assured of receiving fair representation.  On at least two election cycles, three of the five board members resided in El Cerrito.  No Hercules citizen has ever been elected.  I do not know if the same applies for Pinole.  Dr. Harter provided testimony at the County Board of Education hearing against this election modification, probably at the request of his superiors, the school board.  This was a discussion for the voter about democracy, not about management of our schools.  

Recently, I attended the Strategic Plan meeting held in El Cerrito.  I was very impressed with the Strategic Plan document, but the meeting caused me much concern.  Meeting attendees were given green and red stickers and instructed to go around the room and place green stickers on objectives they supported and red stickers on those items that were not important to them.  There is a time and place for democracy.  And then there is time and place for leadership.

We are in crisis mode.  My daughter will be attending a “weak school.”  Our board members are fighting fires in Richmond.  And our Superintendent has yet again given us stickers for us to use for helping us climb out of this dire situation.  Imagine this if you will.  You are on an airplane.  Suddenly, something goes terribly wrong, perhaps all engines simultaneously fail.  You are praying that the pilot will rely on all of their expertise, taking control of the situation, and land the plane safely.  Instead, they emerge from the cockpit, with democracy stickers, asking you to help with the decision process.  Perhaps weak schools are not just a product of a financial crisis, but are also a product of weak leadership.  The Strategic Plan should include reviewing the performance of the Superintendent.  Dr. Harter has many positive qualities, but I respectfully must ask is he right for this district?

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