A key question in the proposal for a new high school that has been lacking from the first is how it will or will not affect student performance and if there are other needs in our district with greater needs that will have more direct benefits on student performance. FHS is a solid structure; yes, it is a hodgepodge collection of add-ons and it lacks an adequate assembly area. I believe that, we as a community, have gotten caught up in trying to keep up with the 'Joneses' in Springdale and Bentonville.

The current structure is also large enough for our current student population (note that this is 10 through 12). A linear line of reasoning by the school board and planning committees considered in isolation the effect of bringing in the 9th grade. My understanding was that this was primarily because 9th grade scores are part of the high school transcripts, and 9th grade classes are part of the high school curriculum. There was never convincing discussion that including 9th grade students in a high school environment benefited their academic or social performance. I would argue that it does not. So, a decision was made to include 9th graders at the high school (for mostly administrative purposes) and now, bam!, the high school is too small.

Completely lacking in the discussion is how a new high school will improve the quality of education. We hear a great deal about '21st Century Leanring Centers' and 'Small Learning Communities' but have teachers bought into these concepts? What does this mean beyond the platitudes? Are there data that show that '21st Century Learning Centers' increase student performance over what is currently in place at FHS? Our teachers and staff do an excellent job as it is. Specifically, how can a new high school improve upon the excellent quality of education our students currently receive at FHS?

The hysteria to build a new high school has diverted attention from other needs that our district has that have direct impact on student performance. Note that the elementary schools this year are terribly over crowded. Elementary students are no longer receiving the same art, music, or physical education that they have in years past.

With finite resources, the bottom line is that the community must choose to support the initiatives that will improve our education the most. I would favor a millage increase for education that would be applied to our most critical needs in the district, but a new FHS is not, by far, our most pressing need for improving district education.

Posted by: quartz

August 20, 2009 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )