Everyone,

Over the past few weeks we have received a number of emails, letters, phone calls and other inquiries about the High School Instructional Crisis Plan. With few exceptions, the comments and concerns focus on only one of the 34 bullet points in the Plan—the 4 x 4 schedule. Although the comments range from concern about absences, college entrance requirements, the impact on advanced placement courses and others, the overwhelming majority of the feedback causes us to draw two conclusions:

1. We have not sufficiently engaged our school community—parents, teachers and students.
   
2. We need to postpone implementation of the 4 x 4 (or any new schedule) until the fall of 2010.  Each high school will retain its current schedule for the 2009-2010 school year. 

To the first point, while we believed that the past three years of work with the High Schools That Work process involved all stakeholders, the evidence indicates that we need to do a better job. The recent response from parents indicates both interest and willingness to participate in activities to improve their schools. The outcome will be enhanced by dialogue, discussion and transparency. No one cares more or knows more about the needs of children than their parents. We need them. Their response underlines what we already know about our community—they care deeply about their children and their District, and they will participate when given an opportunity. In Hazelwood we have learned before that public engagement always produces positive results. We must continue this commitment. 

While postponing the schedule change is necessary, the rest of the Plan will be implemented. The Plan itself is about instruction. The urgency for improving instruction has not changed. The District is maintaining our full accreditation due to improvements at the elementary and middle school levels, and in spite of declining scores (MAP and ACT) at the high school level. While parents and students may be most inclined to focus on individual progress and individual scores, the fact is that the entire District is judged on the performance of the whole group—every child, in every school, throughout the District. As a District, if we hope to maintain full accreditation, ensure a stable community, and address the needs of our children, we have to be committed to progress for every single child. 

We will continue to work through the High Schools That Work reform process, with an emphasis on adequate parent, teacher and student involvement. The scheduling sub-committees at the high schools will be expanded and charged with careful review and analysis of the current schedule, performance indicators and research to determine the best structure for the instructional program for the fall of 2010.  Any recommendation for change in the schedule must:

• address the needs of all children—those failing, those who are ready to take college credit courses and every student in between;
• allow for quick diagnosis and intervention for both struggling students and those able to move more quickly;
• improve student-teacher relationships through reduced case loads;
• provide an opportunity to earn more credits;
• provide professional development time for training, feedback and coaching during the day; and
• be cost neutral. 

Finally, we want to emphasize that this Plan is about teaching—not teachers. We continue to have great confidence in the men and women who serve our kids. We know that our teaching staff cares deeply about our children and their success. We have many very talented, knowledgeable educators in our classrooms.  They deserve the utmost respect for the work they do each day. Like any professionals, their techniques and procedures must be constantly updated. Like medical professionals, they need to study the best and most effective practices—those that save the most “patients”—learn how to replicate them, and change how they do their work. We will provide whatever support and resources necessary to accomplish this task. We know they can and will be successful.    

We will count on your support as we work to implement the remainder of the High School Instructional Crisis Plan this year and next. Your involvement in studying the best possible schedule for the 2010 school year will be essential. 

Thank you for your continued support.  

Sincerely,

 
Chris L. Wright
Superintendent

Note: The High School Instructional Crisis Plan is currently being updated to reflect these changes. It will be posted the week of Feb. 9-13.