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Dear Think Out Loud,

I am the father of a freshman at Grant, and have been following this redesign process for several weeks now. Essentially, the process is deeply flawed. Superintendent Smith will ask the PPS Board to approve her resolution to redesign our high shcools system on March 8th, and then has 45 days to tender a plan based on the resolution. Thereafter, the plan is to be implemented by Sept. 2011.

That schedule is insanely aggressive. Given the complexities of choosing schools to be closed, and magnet schools to be created, how can 45 days be adequate to craft such a plan?

More importantly, how can 45 days provide adequate time for the community to analyze and participate in planning? A growing group of parents have been trying to get out the word that the reolution's call to close neighborhood schools lacks any basis in evidence that such disruptive machinations will yield the desired results. Yet a bare six weeks is allowed between adopting the flawed resolution and the Board voting on a plan.

Informed parents are deeply skeptical that a sound plan can be crafted in 6 weeks. Moreover, we question if a plan already exists that has not been shared. Our trust in this process and PPS administration is very weak. 

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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