Protecting Our Children Must Come Before Test Scores

I have to say, I might have made a slight miscalculation when I decided to run for local office as I begin my life as a kindergarten parent. Don’t panic, I’m not having any second thoughts. I think what troubles me is that someone else is now responsible for ensuring their safety for the majority of the day. Until now, we have been responsible for their protection and well-being. Given the level of violence throughout the country and what we have seen in this state alone, you can understand my anxiety. Coupling this with the fact that I do not see them nearly as much because of the campaign, and it has been a major struggle for me to work through.

Be that as it may, the responsibility of this work is what dictates the amount of time I spend on it. In order to serve, I must be able to hear directly from the people in our district doing the work. I won’t be successful by simply applying what I have learned from my master’s program, or 15 year career, to the challenges facing this district. The conversations I have with staff are a crucial part of my decision-making process. Unsurprisingly, our teachers and school leaders are concerned with more than student outcomes. It is clear that they are focused on one thing above all else: protecting our children.

As straightforward as that may seem, our schools look and operate differently based on a variety of factors, each one posing its own unique challenge for that building to deal with. For instance, folks who drive by Jeffers Pond on Eagle Creek know that any phone call you are on might drop as you drive past. Annoying for us, but detrimental to cell communication amongst Jeffers Pond staff. Recently, I joined a Jeffers Pond PTC meeting and found out more information. Due to the cell phone issue, this has required the building to purchase radios to stay in contact with staff throughout the building and grounds; something essential should there be a real emergency. They have made communication a priority, increasing the level of safety for all students, including my own.

What shocked me was that the Jeffer’s Pond PTC raised a large portion of money and donated it to the school to ensure that all staff can have a radio. This is not something provided by the district. And, according to Mr. Glynn, the principal, "They (the district) would like to help, but simply do not have the financial resources". So, it is up to the school’s leaders, staff, and parents to raise funds for this critical need.

I discovered a similar situation when I visited a different building in our district. Again, when discussing the needs of the school, safety was the top priority. However, as we toured the building I was told additional steps are needed to properly secure the building due to the school’s age and infrastructure. This is deeply troubling, knowing that when preventative measures are enacted to keep our children safe, they are only doing part of the job.

We need to do better. Not only do our children deserve better, but so do the staff that we entrust them with. When we talk about being able to operate a school from a budget perspective, we simply cannot afford to keep talking about it as though the academic outcomes are the beginning and end of these discussions. What good is academic excellence if our children can’t be kept safe from harm?