Leadership Matters March 2014

Public education forecast: Time to think about retooling

Edwards, Superintendent of Mooresville, initiated a 1:1 computer program in his school district several years ago. Mooresville has increased its student academic scores to one of the highest performing districts in the state with one of the lowest per- student expenditures. You can read and view much more about Mooresville Graded School District at http:// americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/ personalized-learning/ and https://www.youtube.com/ watch? v=L15pelU3eUE&list=PLhdwy3ASoEfmBYOQI- ZTdRX-ulErQ1OpG The following has been copied from the above- mentioned article from American Radio Works; “Before the laptop program began in 2008, only 73 percent of students in Mooresville were scoring proficient on the state's standardized tests. In 2012, 89 percent of students scored proficient. Mooresville was the second-highest performing school district in North Carolina. The high school graduation rate went from 77 percent to 90 percent in that same time. Students from poor families are now graduating at nearly the same rate, on average, as other students: 86 percent. And African-American students are doing better than any other group. The black graduation rate went from 67 percent in 2007 to 95 percent in 2012. It's impossible to say whether the district's success is because of the laptop program, and school leaders are up front about that. "We did mess up the research," says Mooresville Middle School principal Carrie Tulbert, because other aspects of the school district changed, too. "We didn't do it on purpose, obviously. But it would not be accurate to say" that laptops are the only reason Mooresville Schools have improved. When Superintendent Mark Edwards came to Mooresville, he made a number of changes, such as adjustments to the curriculum and a new program focused on building better relationships between teachers and students. Any one of these things could have made a difference. And it could just be that people in Mooresville got behind something new and by all pulling in the same direction, they improved their (Continued on page 11)

Never 42-year educational career have I witnessed the dire financial condition of the State of Illinois like it is today. I have kept detailed figures and analysis of state funding for public education over the 32 years I have been involved in educational administration and the lack of state support for public education is at an all- time low. Considering the following: reading and listening to the various candidates for in my

Dr. Richard Voltz IASA Associate Director/ Professional Development

governor, the large-scale pension changes already enacted, the expiration date of the temporary state income tax increase, the continued explosion of families in need of public assistance, the newly enacted health care law, the multitude of mandated changes to public education from NCLB to PERA and much, much more… How are we going to deal with all these issues at the same time state support for public education is at a historic low point? I think the only way public education can survive is to retool itself. We need to start thinking outside the traditional box of public education and start to incorporate different processes, strategies, teaching techniques, bargaining methodologies, class size restrictions, and much more in order to educate the students of tomorrow. I suggest that every district that is experiencing financial difficulties start a process immediately to develop a new strategic plan around the concept of changing the traditional methods of teaching and learning. Most school districts spend 70 percent to 80 percent of their expenditures on salaries for staff. Districts can make headlines by cutting sports, music, extracurricular activities, administrators, supplies, field trips, etc., but in the end these expenditures will have a minimal impact on the overall budget. The real savings comes from cutting teaching staff. Many districts have cut staff over the past several years only to see increased spending in special education services that are mandated. Mooresville Grade School District in Mooresville, North Carolina would be an interesting case study for Illinois school districts to investigate. Dr. Mark

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