October 17, 2013 Board Meeting

As always, these are my opinions only, and not the opinions of the Pendleton County School Board or any other individual board members.

The Unbridled Learning Test Results were presented tonight.  Our high school was the only school in the district to meet its goals.  Our board discussed steps needed to improve student performance and raise future test scores.  I offered a simple strategy to raise student performance:  Engaged parents plus happy teachers equals successful students.  The two most influential people in a student’s education are their parents and their teachers.  Our district needs to focus on strategies which get the parents engaged in the educational process.  I have had many conversations with teachers in our district, and they don’t feel valued.  One teacher shared with me that she has to spend her weekends writing out word by word what she says in her lesson plans.  I firmly believe that until our district starts actively engaging our parents and making our teachers feel valued we will never see an increase in student performance.

Security Vestibules were discussed at this meeting.  I ultimately ended up voting against it because these security vestibules will not keep guns out.  In fact, Sandy Hook Elementary had security vestibules, and the gunman was buzzed in.  While it gives the school front office control of entry at one doorway, I question their effectiveness at preventing a school shooting.  In my opinion, it gives schools a false sense of security.  My concern is that these security vestibules will simply be “Parent Control Stations” and control their entry into the building.  My goal is to engage the parents and make them partners in the educational process.  I strongly feel those educational dollars would be more wisely spent on counseling that could be directed at the prevention of violence.