The new superintendent must earn the trust of EVERYONE in an increasingly diverse constituency after years of temporary occupants in the same position merely putting window dressing on academic decline while they chase their career aspirations. This will be a tall order. Most superintendents have no experience managing for sustainable long term improvement.
Our traditions that instilled pride in our schools are increasingly under attack. We’re selling out our future in how we handle debt instruments. Isn’t it ironic to be dedicated to our youth in education but we have no qualms saddling them with mountains of debt for our needless extravagances!
A good first step would be to offer in-district school choice for all students, not just for students of employees. Taxpayers should not be stuck with their children in underperforming schools while we offer school choice for staff, including tuition-free school choice for non-resident staff. (The majority of the professional staff are non-residents.) It is hypocritical for educators to oppose vouchers when their children are not subject to our captivity.
Overspending on facilities by deferring bond principal repayments on debt for over 22 years while advising taxpayers they should support (the 2008) bonds because of no tax increase is pathetic. We should have $30 million left over from the 2008 bonds because construction costs dropped by one third after the bond election.
Academic decline is accelerating. Smaller class sizes were not the answer. All that does is increase cost, taking money from instruction. Preliminary results for the spring 2012 end of course exams have been published. In Chemistry 46.1% of students were rated unsatisfactory; 35.3% in Physics, 28.7% in English Reading I, 46.8% on English Writing I, 69.4% in English Reading III, 86.5% in English Writing III, 42.6% in World History and 45.3% in U.S. History were unsatisfactory on first testing. No wonder so many educators hate this new test.
If you want to continue doing the same thing, you don’t need a $200,000 plus superintendent and $70,000-plus spouse administrator employed at Hays CISD on another four-year gig.
We are desperate for an inspiring leader.
Bryce Bales
Manchaca
