Making hard, responsible choices about future of school district
Declining public comment, Juneau School Board member Alan Schorr instead recently wrote for the press that the board's new contract with Juneau's teachers is, "fiscally and programmatically irresponsible." Thus his sole dissenting, emphatic "no" vote against ratifying the contract (Juneau Empire, Dec.19, 2003, "School Board ratifies raises"). Thank goodness at least five board members don't believe that investing in teachers is "fiscally and programmatically irresponsible" for our schools.
Veteran Juneau teachers are accustomed to Mr. Schorr's negative perspective of the value of teachers (Sept. 5, 2001, My Turn: "Contract takes district in wrong direction"). Fortunately, most of the time I am able to shrug off negative portrayals and manage to be sincerely grateful for the good works done by members of the board, including Mr. Schorr.
But when Mr. Schorr blames the district's contract with teachers for "a staggering increase in class size and a major reduction in course offerings," I feel compelled to ask some hard questions about the priorities of the district, because the real issue is one of priorities.
To me, priority one is teaching students and supporting faculty so that they can do so. Unfortunately, the board's proposed new high school seriously threatens to undermine this ideal.
There are hard questions to be answered about programming a new high school and cutting teachers, while annually increasing the number of district administrators and special contracts.
There are hard questions to be answered about the possibility of closing a neighborhood elementary school while simultaneously devoting much of the district's personnel and resources to pursuing a $62 million state-built, district-maintained and operated community center in the valley, under the guise of a desperately needed new high school.
What if former Assembly member and JDHS English teacher Ken Koelsch is right (Oct. 16, 2003, My Turn: "City needs a time out and realistic date for new school")?
What if former City Manager Dave Palmer is right (Sept. 28, 2003, My Turn: "Now's the time to re-evaluate plans to build new high school")?
What if I am wrong? What if we charge ahead, built a big new high school in the valley and everything works out fine? I guess folks can wag their finger in my face and I'll take my lumps. I'm willing to take that risk.
But what if I'm right? Who is hurt? Our educational community is, including students, parents and public school employees. Who is willing to take that risk?
As a teacher in Juneau, I remain hopeful that community leaders will gather their wits together in time to reconsider and re-assess what is best for Juneau's kids.
"Fiscally and programmatically irresponsible?" It all depends on your point of view. Mine differs from Mr. Schorr's.
• Clay Good has been a science teacher at Juneau-Douglas High School since 1985.