STEM (Part 2)

School Picture Day?

In addition to concerns about the way the STEM concept is being "sold" to parents & taxpayers (see Part 1), I have a few more specific thoughts after watching much of last week's School Committee meeting.

Safety -- The loudest recurring theme coming out of this meeting seemed to be the safety of the incoming 7th & 8th graders.  Ironically, it seems many folks are less concerned about adult strangers off the street wandering around the pool area than they are about allowing 12 year-olds in the same building with 17 year-olds.  To hear some parents talk, you would swear that SHS is marketing hash pipes and maternity clothes with the Blue Knights logo.  We do need to hear a the plan for limiting interaction between the 7th & 8th graders and the "general population" -- but it's probably not a deal breaker for me.

Money -- How much and where from?

Wing School -- Move the 7th & 8th grades AND keep the Wing?  Interesting idea, but that eliminates a huge incentive.  People may accept some financial upheaval if it is pointed out that we will be eliminating the most expensive of 4 schools.  Otherwise, the only incentive in keeping the Wing open may be to keep the Wing parents & staff from fighting any effort to change the status quo.  This could easily be a deal-breaker. 

STEAM? --  Please, No!  Adding "Arts" to Science, Technology, Engineering & Math" defeats the purpose of focusing on STEM.  The focus of STEM is to produce students with the necessary skills to improve the World.   There is a reason for the growing popularity of vocational-technical training.  We need to focus to teaching skills which are economically beneficial. The idea that we could produce the Best Ballerinas but the Worst Engineers is unsettling.  STEM is not a fad.  At the risk of sounding like an Accountant, I see STEM as a "course correction" to years of wandering starry-eyed away from vocational training.

School Administration Space?-- Assuming STEM takes over the A-Wing, the Superintendent & his Gang need a new home.  If the District planned to surrender the Wing School, it would seem to be an easy deal to shift the Town Departments housed at the Human Services Building to Wing (along with the town offices currently at Jan Sebastian, The Annex, Oak Crest Cove, etc.) and free up space to put the School Administration in a very centrally-located offices.  (Somebody just needs to pay for it.)  Of course, if the Wing won't  be surrendered, somebody is going to be working out of trailer in the parking lot!

The Big Picture -- The Schools aren't the only show in town.  In addition to all the proposed school-related reno/moving costs,  the town is still "discussing" Public Safety Buildings, Libraries, Road Maintenance, etc.  If the Power Plant is decommissioned, there could also be a substantial tax increase as homeowners absorb the tax liabilities previously paid by the Power Plant.  To make this work, there will need to be a lot of coordination and cooperation between School & municipal financial planning -- not something Sandwich is known for!

Staffing -- Gil Newton is a great choice for STEM Director; he is widely respected as a science teacher and college professor, and he was widely respected as the head of the Teachers Union many years ago.  BUT, there are still serious labor issues to be resolved.  Unless the teachers and administrators who are unwilling/unable to do their job are replaced, it is likely the malaise will continue and headcount will continue to drop.  One of the advantages of a Charter School is that bad teachers can be terminated -- that will always be an advantage.

Motivation -- somebody said this isn't about Science, it's about headcount.  I don't disagree.  If the District is to be competitive  it needs to do something to differentiate itself -- or people will vote with their feet.  It is very possible in a few years that those students with an interest in Science, technology, etc. migrate towards Sandwich, while those with interests in Theater, Drama, etc., migrate towards Barnstable.  With a shrinking student pool, every school can not afford to teach every subject.  We're just starting to see a wave of regionalization & specialization that will only increase as time goes on.

Politics & Special Interests-- It's telling that during this serious meeting about the potential restructuring of the School District, Kangas & Crossman decided to waste more time re-arguing pool access.  The Superintendent has already asked them to close it to public access, he has already pointed out the amount of administration time that gets wasted discussing pool issues, and he has already pointed out that it is the School District -- NOT the Community School, that pays the operating costs of the pool -- yet the arguments continue.   If the Committee can't even embrace these simple concepts and support the Superintendent they hired to enact appropriate pool policies; how in the name of God will they be able to handle the major restructuring issues involved with a STEM implementation?  Hopefully these two will become an amusing memory after next May, but I can't see them being a big asset during any discussion of an FY '14 STEM start-up.

The fun is just beginning and we haven't even officially entered budget season!