dustbury.com: Four years and counting

13 November 2005

Four years and counting

It's the fourth anniversary of MAPS for Kids, a massive upgrading of Oklahoma City schools funded by a seven-year, one-cent sales tax. The price tag for everything on the want list was close to $700 million; 70 percent will go to the Oklahoma City Public Schools, and 30 percent to suburban districts which extend into the city limits.

So what have we gotten for this incredible number of dollars? The Oklahoman dug up some numbers:

Before: Average age of a district school bus, 20 years.
Now: 2-3.

Before: Average odometer reading on buses, 300,000 miles.
Now: 25,000-30,000.

Before: Consistently got unqualified audit opinions.
Now: Two consecutive clean audits.

Before: Poor bond rating.
Now: Improved.

Before: Percentage of schools making adequate yearly progress on state-mandated tests: 54 percent of elementaries; 20 percent of middle schools; 20 percent of high schools.
Now: 96 percent of elementaries; 80 percent of middle schools; 67 percent of high schools.

It is of course true that spending a lot of money does not necessarily result in good schools. But this strikes me as a heck of a lot of progress in just four years from what was by all accounts a fairly horrid operation.

Some thoughts outside the box, from a principal who shall remain nameless:

Unfortunately, to think in a divergent way is not really supported in traditional public education.

In fact, it can make you downright unpopular with the status quo (or anyone who is commanding the direction in an educational enterprise). It is so much easier to educate as it has always been done with a "working harder, longer or better" mentality. For to think and act in a divergent way that challenges the status quo can cause one to be labelled as a problematic person (me).

I just thought I would throw that in ... just in case there is someone else out there who is thinking divergently. Divergent thinking and practices do not get supported (except at your own school with your own folks who see the simplistic beauty of practicing so that every child succeeds). And, there are no overnight answers ... it's one step at a time (and sometimes side-stepping to avoid the bureaucratic sludge in the middle of the road). I would be really worried about writing this if I thought anyone but my loyal faculty and staff might read this post; luckily, I think I am safe.

Let's hope some of that $700 million got spent for sludge removal.

Posted at 12:35 AM to Almost Yogurt , City Scene