Beech Tree News Network

Dear Editor:

The tone, rhetoric, and policies currently being discussed in Frankfort should have a basis in reality. In 1990, the Kentucky legislature, spurned by a court decision, had the courage to fix funding and create an environment that propelled our schools forward. Will this legislative body have the same courage?  Let me remind you that it is your constitutional duty to provide a system of education for the people.  Here are a few suggestions to start:

 1.   All Kentuckians deserve to view their schools as safe environments, where learning and student achievement are the highest priority. Is it too much to ask to allow the citizens of this Commonwealth the opportunity to vote on additional sources of revenue, earmarked for school safety, and distributed to insure equity for low-income schools? These funds could be used for facility upgrades, mental health counselors, social workers, school security officers with extensive training, fully funded Family Resource/Youth Service Centers, increased guidance counselors for appropriate and recommended student ratios, increased collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, and/or professional learning for school personnel. Each district is unique with different circumstances to consider, and they should be granted the flexibility to spend the funds accordingly.  Modeled after the state lottery and KEES program, this could prove vital for student safety in our schools. Should the people of Kentucky at least not have the opportunity to voice their opinion?

2.   The miscommunication that has existed between Frankfort and our local schools has caused serious trust issues. The rhetoric that suggests we desire high pay, a plush pension, or extra benefits rather than great outcomes for our students is not helpful and destroys that level of trust. It would cost NOTHING to require all state legislators spend 10-15 hours per year in public schools, with at least ½ that time in schools categorized as “low-performing.” Do not come for a photo opportunity, but block off a day and shadow an administrator.  See what we do and what our teachers do each and every day. This can begin to build up trust that is vital for long term success. 

3.   The private sector desires to cut costs, but investment is a proven long-term strategy for monetary gain.  I would implore you to see educational spending as an investment. If we are serious about closing achievement gaps, we must insure that schools with high numbers of gap students have sufficient resources. A school with high numbers of students living in poverty should be able to hire reading and math specialists without sacrificing other teaching positions or having to apply for a short-term grant. Full day, universal pre-K and kindergarten are necessities for closing achievement gaps and ensuring school districts have adequate resources to personalize learning is paramount for our Commonwealth’s future. The arts, career and technology programs, and foreign languages play just as important a role for many students as reading and math. We should not have to choose as educators between a language arts teacher or a music program. As passed in the House budget, increasing SEEK funds is a start towards fulfilling this future.

4.   If charter schools were created to spur innovation in schools, then allow all public schools this same flexibility, and through a system similar to districts of innovation, empower and INCENTIVIZE schools and districts to go further. Many of the restrictive policies and procedures in place do little to prepare students for the 21st Century workforce. We have so many regulations related to finance, personnel, scheduling, graduation requirements, etc. that much of the administrative time is spent trying to maintain compliance, not working with students. Mandates must happen at the local level, where elected school boards advocate for the people they represent. These bodies can be incubators for innovation.

5.   Deeper learning is what’s required for future success. This means that in addition to math and reading, essential skills (attendance habits, collaboration, punctuality, technology, critical thinking, etc.) and quality dispositions (perseverance, grit, compassion, courage, etc.) must play a role in how we educate our students, and this isn’t measured by a simple standardized test. It’s messier and requires a much different approach, but we know it’s what’s better for ALL students. The new accountability system is a step in this direction, but the legislature must ensure that the Department of Education has sufficient funding and local schools have the freedom to develop systems that promote deeper and more authentic learning.

6.   Finally, benefits for teachers are NOT political footballs. We do not ask for exorbitant amounts of retirement funds, but simply to have what has been promised to us and what we have paid for and for the legislature to look for ways to create a system that is stronger moving forward. This will require us to support teachers with a retirement and health insurance system that is financially solvent. Tax reform and pension system reform must go hand-in-hand, for to place the problem solely on the backs of beneficiaries is disheartening and contributes to the lack of trust we have for our state legislators. A tax system that no longer gives away more than it takes in is a good place to start.

 I am an eternal optimist, and believe that we all desire to see Kentucky schools at the top of our nation’s rankings. As our state motto so accurately puts it, United we Stand, Divided we Fall. We need each other and together, we can make the Commonwealth a model for educational envy throughout this nation.

Chase Goff, Principal- Caverna High School