Reaction Mixed on Student Plans: Teachers and Union Raise Concerns on Richmond Proposal
By Olympia Meola, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.
Nov. 13–If Richmond public schools give each student a personalized education plan, the plan should address not just academics but behavior, responsibility, dress and conduct.
About 20 parents and community members who attended a forum last night at John Marshall High School gave those opinions and seemed generally pleased with the idea of the individual plans, which call for a teacher, parent, student and possibly a counselor to create a plan for each child.
Teachers and Richmond Education Association officials raised concerns.
Richard O’Brien, a fifth-grade teacher at Summer Hill Elementary School, said having to sit for even 30 minutes with every family to formulate a plan would take 13 hours. He expressed concern about the time demands for a high school teacher with 15 students per class for seven classes.
“I love my kids, and I have a blast at Summer Hill,” he said after the meeting. “My fear is that I don’t get snowed under with additional paperwork.”
Richmond Education Association President Wade Ellegood said teachers and association officials have not met with the school administration or School Board to discuss the plan.
“You’re talking about rolling out this plan, but you haven’t talked to us about what we’re going to do,” Ellegood said after the forum. He added that he will set up a meeting to discuss the proposal with teachers and he hopes to see the same turnout of administrators as were in attendance last night.
Last night’s forum was the first of five to draw input about the School Board’s “New Direction” plan, designed to raise student achievement, broaden choices for study and career paths, and expand sports and out-of-school activities.
Yvonne Brandon, deputy superintendent of Richmond schools, said the administration will gauge whether additional staff could be needed or whether additional hours could be added to teacher contracts for the individual plans.
Superintendent Deborah Jewell-Sherman has said the system would test the personal education plans as a pilot program at select schools as early as next September.
Last night’s presentation did not address the potential cost of the program.
The School Board will hold additional forums tonight at Thomas Jefferson High School, Nov. 26 at Armstrong High School, Nov. 27 at Huguenot High School and Nov. 29 at George Wythe High School. All are from 6 to 8 p.m. Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or omeola@timesdispatch.com.
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