I'm confused about the school committee discussion on "marketing" Sandwich High School.
I buy the idea of "improving the brand". But, if I was shopping for a high school for one of my kids (and I am), I'd be more concerned about the quality of the education and the financial stability of the District than about the number of radio spots the District was willing to pay for. In fact, I'd be concerned about a district that chose to spend scarce educational dollars on "marketing" (or pool cabanas !!).
Seriously, the District has been under siege for two years. The best thing that could be done to "improve the brand" is to stay out of the damn newspaper!
Of course, it would also be helpful if everyone was rowing in the same direction.
While Town and most school employees agreed to wage freezes, the Teachers Union has been unwilling to settle their contract for the past two years. The union leadership did, however, find time to drive out a Superintendent, and file inumerable foolish grievances. Now that they've had their fun, its time for the union leadership to settle the contract and begin rebuilding some public trust.
On a related note, its also time for the School Committee to turn over contract negotiations to professionals. Sending in uneducated, inexperienced volunteers to negotiate with their kid's homeroom teacher and the union's professional negotiators is like leaving a plate of scallops wrapped in bacon in front of my cat. He'll bat them around for awhile -- and then eat them whole! There's some Committee members that I wouldn't let run a deli cash register -- yet one of them is responsible for negotiating a multi-million dollar teachers' contract!
Another thing that may build some public confidence -- resolve the Community School issue. The Community School was warned at least three years ago that their financial statements were essentially bogus and that they were heading for financial armageddon. Two years ago, an outside auditor was brought in and raised similar concerns. Today, (Surprise!) the Community School is on the verge of drowning in its own pool. Pool revenues don't even cover operating costs --- let alone provide any funding for required capital maintenance. (Although, now there are some "cabanas" on the pool deck.) Hopefully, the Superintendent will be able to locate three independent professionals to serve as Trustees and do what needs to be done. Dr. Canfield is paid to run a school system -- not manage a pool club for the nice people of Cotuit, Marston Mills, and Mashpee!
There's a great quote in the Emptyprize this week:
School committee member Marie A. Kangas objected to the idea of using educational dollars for non-educational purposes.“Honestly,” she told the committee, “I would rather see new science books in the high school than spend $12,000 on a new website when we already have one.”While I agree with her on this issue (THAT is a phrase I NEVER thought I would utter!!), It's ironic she doesn't feel the same way about using educational dollars to maintain the swimming pool.
There is always some "creative tension" between us "Bean Counters" and those "Marketeers" (which sounds way too much like "Mouseketeer!). I agree the District desparately needs better Public Relations -- but I don't think this is a problem that can be easily solved by throwing scarce educational dollars at it.
25 comments:
As I recall, you supported the guy who was pushing this proposal?
Hear Hear Bob. All the marketing in the world won't change the fundamental problem of bad press beginning with the gossip factor. And you are so right. An already stressed budget has been cut significantly in the past two years. Sandwich is not impressive with per pupil expenditures and we have been going through superintendents very fast for the past 6 years. But you must admit the SC has gotten much better this year. I understand the branding issue but unfortunately Sandwich is branded already.
There is no point putting one penny into marketing until we fix what is wrong. The schools need to improve in terms of their environment. There are good people there, but I can assure you, the gossip has taken it's toll on the school district and its success ratio. The exodus now is likely to create a financial imbalance that the district will not be able to recover from. All the feel good stuff is great but the budget is the thing. Bob's right. And you have people in the system that should not be there.
Put some money into training your people in the schools to keep it professional. Put some money into training teachers not to use video's when they don't have their lesson plan. Put some money into fixing the community school problem. But in fact what money do you have to put into any of it? I heard of freshman in High School getting grade points for bringing in tissues. We are back to supplies being begged for and teachers paying for supplies when they shouldn't have to.
Dr. Canfield seems to be on top of things. Let's hope he can help us turn this around. It seems like he wants to and he certainly has the skills. Best wishes. The union is a problem, a big one. Unions are good organizations in principal but I think this one may need to rethink its goals. Sandwich Schools seem to have been run by the teachers for too long.
1:42, I still do. I dont expect everyone to agree on every issue. I think the new members are doing a good job -- Its going to take some time to un-do the damage and embarrassment caused by the previous board.
Hopefully we'll be able to add some more qualified people at the next election to help them and to support Dr. Canfield's efforts.
I hate to start thinking about next election already; but Its going to be important to put Linehan into retirement. and both cahill and killian are up also. Thhe union could end up controllimng the board again if nobody respectable runs. Mabe tgats why theyre stalling the contract discussion?
There is and always has been a conflict of interest where Ms. Linehan is concerned. The state ethics has to go by the book. Their ruling is not the end all beat all. Perception of conflict of interest does as much damage and many good people stay away from public service because of it knowing the damage it might do the process. Ms. Linehan has proven she is bias over and over again. When she first ran, people gave her the benefit of the doubt, but now we have experience to gauge.
Sandwich has to decide who they want to be, a dysfunctional small town or a responsible small city. The union getting people on is proven disaster since the union is not truly a community motivated group. For all the speeches about teachers walking on water, they want to believe they are and I know they are all decent people. But it is time for Sandwich to grow up and show who they want leading them, a circle of climbers who think there is magic to their insights since they are townies or were in the first big group who came to the Cape in the 1970's, or people who want to do the job and not play small town politics. Give me some smart articulate people like the two elected last May. There is a lot of real work to do and little time before the district crashes and burns.
Oh and please local politician types, please don't think about using the School Committee as a jumping off point for Fin Com or the BOS. Only rational, people who truly believe that our children are our future need apply. It is impressive to see some growing collaboration between the schools and the municipal side. It is one town, as I've heard so many say.
Funny how we are now living into the predictions of several years ago about what would happen to Sandwich if the schools aren't funded. Property values are down and enrollment decreasing and students flocking to schools outside the district. Healthy schools mean a healthy community. Of course the budget needs to include things other then salary and benefits.
IS THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE TEACHERS AND THE TOWN BEING CONDUCTED BY TOWN ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN NEGOTIATING?
Yes. School committee negotiates school contracts but the Town Manager negotiates town dept contracts (not the selectmen)
Good Morning!
As the parent of a child who will be attending high school in the next couple of years, I will not be sending my child to Sandwich H.S., as it is now.
My reasons are as follows:
1. The drug/alcohol problem at the H.S. (It's everywhere but very prevalent in Sandwich.)
2. The middle of the road kids (the B's and C's kids, except in gym) do not get any focus. They just slide through under the radar and are left floundering. The school spends more time on the "Self-motivated Kids" and the "Mischief Makers" than the kids, who with additional support would thrive in school.
3. No preparation for the kids that don't go on to further education. We don't have a lot to offer in the way jobs here, never mind for 18 years olds with no prepartion for the outside world.
4. The teachers need to show more of an interest in the kids and the school. Not just getting through the day. (Heard this from many parents.} Don't get me wrong I know there are some great teachers, but for the vast majority it's just a paycheck with some great benefits.
5. The number of town employees that are opting to send their kids to other schools.
That being said I believe in public education, but the schools/employess need to show they care. If they care the students/parents will.
Some elected officials obviously do have experience and on the union side you have experience. The Selectman do not get involved in negotiations at the town level, but one serves on the negotiating team. There is not rhyme or reason as to who it is or why as far as I can tell.
I think you missed his point. There is no member of the School Committee negotiating team with any experience in labor negotiation (or management, or anything else!).
You are "obviously" wrong.
Of course there's experience on the union side!! They have a professional negotiator from the MTA!! The School Committee has ... Marie Kangas.
That's the problem. They aren't running a bake sale for the softball team -- this is a multi-million dollar labor contract. You need professional people at the table.
On the Town side, Dunham negotiates the contracts for BOS approval -- not members of the BOS. The Schools should do something similar.
It's interesting to me that my informal poll of 6 sets of parents of children who left the district this year reveals that none (not one) were asked "why?" by anyone associated with the schools.
Based on this data, it would seem that there has been little to no effort to collect meaningful insight of actual community perceptions of our schools.
Something is amiss when more than 30% of Sandwich students opt out of the Sandwich high school experience. Isnt it worth asking why this happens?
Instead, it appears that a marketing and branding effort is to be undertaken that says in effect: Hey, sure 30% of our clients fire us but trust us, its all good here. No worries.
Is this really worth time, effort and taxpayer moneys?
Sandwich has lost 15.61% and Cape Cod as a whole has lost 17.93% of student enrollment. That is 6,478 for the last ten years. Turn these undeniable statistics around Sandwich and you will have quite the secret in a bottle indeed. School choice is not the cause.
Well said 6:56 anon. It is consistent with what I have experienced and hear about.
I was thinking of seasoned members of the School Committee, gaining their experience through several or many negotiation cycles. But I see your point anon 12:48, about the current make up. I do think Mass Gen. Law applies differently to the School District when it comes to who participates and how the negotiation is accomplished. Don't forget also that if one town union gets a better deal, they all go after the top deal. It all seems overly complicated and expensive when you consider that.
My grandmother always said, "you can't put a shine on a sneaker!" The product needs more than "good" marketing. Word of mouth is often the best free marketing any product can hope for! Just ask the parents at Forestdale School whose kids are left in the pouring rain and inclement weather until the clock hits 8:02 am precisely while the Principal watches the clock from inside the office. Good judgement and common sense seem to be an anomoly in that building. The new principal will argue vociferously that leaving children in the pouring rain, soaked to their skivies is justifiable and appropriate. Marketing can only be as effective if your product is sound. Talk to some of the parents at Forestdale and hear what they have to say! Spend some of that money on a decent search for principals and then talk to us about spending money on a marketing plan.
The best service organizations in the world all have one thing in common: they’re willing to acknowledge mistakes and they fix them promptly.
Does anyone seriously think the biggest problem facing our schools is hiring a full-time trainer? When was the last time any administrator or teacher stood up and said that something, besides furniture, windows, etc was broken and needed fixing?
Parent’s complaints and concerns are numerous and range from the silly (but important) to the serious. Standing in the rain, drunk and drugged kids, drunk teachers, chronic staffing and services shortages and on and on. Its all real and happening every day. Ask any three parents what they think of the schools and two will tell you a horror story.
Shine on a sneaker, lipstick on a pig, its all the same. With our schools, Just Good Enough seems to be the new performance benchmark. Since when did being adequate become the ideal? And, when did all this become acceptable?
Time to clean-up some staff issues -- having the cops break up fist fights between a teacher & jealous spouse, driving a drunken staff member home, and calling in the PD to run the breathalyzer on another one, is no way to "build the brand" !!
The Police & Fire Depts took wage freezes, why didn't the teachers? Now they want marketing money to fill the empty seats of the kids they drove away. Then, they will want more money because their classrooms are too crowded.
Gimme a break!
I've put the brakes on some recent posts. There's way too many people with way too little real knowledge making up statistics and equally nonsensical analysis. Rather than perpetuate the bullshit, I am looking for some real stats from the School Dept. Details to follow.
"Real Stats for the school department"??????
That could be a while..........
I.M. A. You've said it all!
Town contracts came in at a zero for one year and 3% increases for the following two. Let us not forget the details. Zero talk is political theatre. Look at the statistics BOS brought to the table a couple of years ago about increases on school versus municipal salary and benefits. The unions have kept pace with each other. With the cycles slightly different they are never even. Structural Deficit is the issue and holding the line. I got to town when the municipal versus school political rhetoric was all you heard. It lead to retired community versus schools and to a taxpayers association that really seemed to want to balance the budget on the back of the schools. Hope folks can stick to the facts. As least today we don't have articles in the local paper where public employees are constantly blaming the schools. It is all a leadership issue and not just who is in power but leadership that actually wants to figure this stuff out. At least the schools have people accountable like SC members at the table. Municipal side, it is all up to the Town Manager which is fine but his job is to keep the town running and his employees happy. If we can't get the staffing the town really needs, why shouldn't folks get paid well to do the job.
Ok my dander is in a fluff! Opened yesterdays mail and there was a to the parents of from SHS. Enclosed was a 3 page letter (one page two sided) and Colored brochure from the principal for the students in 8th grade.
Now let's just look at the cost factor it wasn't sent bulk mail, which is cheaper, it had the standard 44 cents. Each letter was folded and put into an envelope and sealed. Now the time it took for an employee stand before the copier (Hopefully the copier is able to staple otherwise someone had to staple the 2 pages together.) Then there is 8.5 x 11 folded, color bochure on SHS. Here's the kicker they will hand out the brochure again in February when they visit the 8th graders at the individual schools. Reprint or did they order en masse?
Now here is the 9th grade curriculm per the borchure: Humanites, Earth & Space science, Computer Technology, Math (Geometry or Algebra), Foreign Languge (Spanish, French or Latin), Fine Arts (Exploratory, Band, Chorus or Art I), Physical Education/Health.
Why Humanities? Why Foreign Language when the vast majority of students will never use it? Fine Arts, again alot of kids won't use. Why not more computer and shop classes for kids? The kids need more education that they will use.
This infromation only confirms why I'll be sending my child elsewhere.
Thoughts?
P.S. Letter is dated November 1st and postage stamped October 26th. After quick review at least only one typo in the letter.
Anon 9:33am.
If you have an eighth grader then they probably will get the Upper Cape Tech presentation and brochure. My child brought it home this week. It is an 27 page 8 1/2 x 11 glossy brochure. Guess who is paying for that? The five member towns including Sandwich. This makes the SHS brochure look extremely cost effective. So we pay for the UCT to market their school to our kids and then we pay an assessment for every kid that goes there. Hmmm....
By the way, the Humanities course is a combined English and History course. It would be most unusual if our high school did not offer English and History to ninth graders.
Yes, they need more shop classes and maybe more courses in boat building and animal husbandry. .. and glass blowing. That was good enough for their Sandwich ancestors!
I agree the best PR the SEA can get would be to keep their employees out of the police blotter. ... and to elect new leadership to show taxpayers they are not satisfied with the same old crap.
English and history are subjects that are too important and should not be combined. Learning a foreign language is not important to the vast majority.
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