Results of Michael Sanz’s first public meeting on school culture and academic rigor
Results of Michael Sanz’s first public meeting on school culture and academic rigor
Michael Sanz, the Bluffton High School teacher who has gone public with his concerns about the low level of academic accomplishment and student behavior in the Beaufort County public schools, completed his first public meeting on school culture and academic rigor this past Wednesday, July 28.
“It was a great start with representation from parents, teachers, community members, school board members, school administrators and district administrators,” Sanz reports. “There was a fluid open dialogue with a positive focus on improving the academic environment for our children. As a group we brainstormed and came up with a list of possible solutions for recommendation to the Superintendent and the School Board.”
Here is the list of possible solutions:
1. Consistency in discipline – Starting with enforcement of the uniform policy.
2. Improved communication with parents
3. Focus attention of concern on particular schools. Those that are doing well, continue on the right path.
4. Equitable treatment of all students
5. Facilite self-reflection programs for parents
6. Enhanced adult-ed programs
7. Every administrator enforces policies established by Beaufort County School Board.
8. More focus on positive feedback for students
9. Make it “Cool” to do the right thing
10. All stakeholders need to stand up for what is correct and “Do the right thing”.
11. Teachers, administrators and staff developing better relationships with students
12. Direct more attention on proper placement of students
13. Homogeneous classes throughout district
14. Enhanced evaluation of home environments
The group also listed comments related to what is going well in the district:
1. Strive to Excel program
2. Uniform policy is heading in right direction.
3. Testing results have improved
4. Student recognition programs
5. PTAs are effective and doing well
6. The vast majority of teachers and administrators are caring, dedicated and doing a very good job
7. Teacher mentoring programs
8. The school board is trying to support development of great schools everywhere despite limited funds.
Sanz stated that he will be scheduling the next meeting for the last week in August to be held in a location north of the Broad. “I’ll keep moving the meetings throughout the district so that all those interested will have equitable travel time,” he said.
“Our goal for the next meeting will be to determine two to three major focal points for solution recommendations. We need to reestablish respect and discipline as the foundation for supporting academic rigor. We also must have strong courageous leaders to step forward and direct the building of that foundation.”
Related posts:
- Mike Sanz announces public meeting aimed at Beaufort County School District reform
- Board of Education issues statement about superintendent’s job performance, delays evaluation of her academic results
- School Superintendent Valerie Truesdale’s salary frozen, academic results withheld, employment contract renewed
- $102,517 academic improvement officer in public school system to lead local private academy
- School district makes new budget public after Beaufort Tribune news article
