Finally Posting the Podcast for School Board Workshop

As I mentioned in my posting back on July 8, the school board and the new superintendent had a workshop to discuss policies and goals.

I have finally posted the podcast for this workshop at http://cmsbears.podbean.com. It is broken into 3 parts which conveniently coincide with dead batteries or other technical difficulties. Also, the whole thing lasts about 4 hours.

I have listened to the whole thing. There's a lot of talk...talk...talk. It remains to be seen how much "do" happens. However, some of the key points that I took away were:

1. The "grades" had just come out from PED. LOTS of talk about this. As we have seen in the past, it seems like no one really knows how these grades are set. There was some talk of PED "sandbagging" so they can hold up future grades and tout the amazing progress in New Mexico education. (Part 1, approx. time code 46 minutes). Seems like a plausible conspiracy theory to me.

2. One component of the "grade" is a survey that students take. Our schools failed the question "do you have an opportunity to learn." (Part 1 approx. timecode 49 minutes). So there was discussion on how to "explain" to our students how to answer those questions...someone even used the term "coaching." That makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

3. There was talk about opening the school on Mondays for teachers to access their classrooms, and even setting aside a place for students to get tutoring. In fact, opening the school on Mondays would even allow the school to use some of the expensive ITV equipment that it hasn't been able to use because our 4 day week schedule did not jive with other schools (Part 1, timecode 1hr 28 min).

4. There was discussion about how the school needed some positive PR, especially since they don't want people blaming the poor grades on the 4 day week. (throughout Part 1, and at timecode 1 hr. 38 minutes)

5. New superintendent Travis Dempsey asked the school board to give him their goals for him (part 2 timecode 12 minutes). Some of the conversation included: communication and exposure with the community and the teachers, getting to know the teachers and drop into classrooms, build a team mentality. At 19 minutes into part 2, and again at 1 hr. 2 minutes, Dempsey says he will start providing a Friday update to the leadership team and the school board. Sounds like a public document to me, so you can expect me to be asking for it.

6. Arlan Ponder wanted the superintendent to be evaluated by teachers, principals and parents (part 2, timecode 38 minutes). Jackie Cates Doyle was against this. (For what it's worth, I'm FOR it.)

7. Some board members want the school to start requiring new teachers to coach (part 3, timecode 1 minute). This makes me wonder what the priority is, coaching or teaching.

8. Board members wanted to know how teacher evaluations are being handled (part 3 timecode 17 minutes). If you listen to the podcast and hear a real answer, please let me know.

9. Dempsey says he wants teachers to teach "from bell to bell" (part 3 timecode 25 minutes). He is not in favor of kids lining up to leave 4 minutes before the bell rings, and says he will convey that to teachers.

Maybe you can listen to all of this during your commute or your next long car trip. For me, it was lots of talk, platitudes and "kumbaya" moments. However, there were a few commitments made and agreed to that we will just have to wait and see if they come to fruition.

I remain hopeful, but also realize that hope is not a strategy.