A Failure of Leadership: CSSRP Under Fire Yet Again
Written by Cindy · Filed Under Local Ink, The School Yard
April 28, 2008 | Print this post
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A long-awaited independent review of the high school reform plan known as CSSRP was provided to the Board of Education by Leadership Capacity, Inc. at the board’s work session Monday, April 21st in Bel Air. The board received a 300-page report reiterating many of the issues brought to the board’s attention by teachers, parents, students and administrators as far back as 2005.
Particular interest was sparked by focus group reports indicating a low level of support among teachers for many aspects of CSSRP ranging from the block schedule to the mandatory class “Living in a Contemporary World”.
Board president Tom Fidler wasted no time concluding that this reflected of a “failure of leadership” on the part of Superintendent Jackie Haas and senior staff members Dave Volrath and Gerry Scarborough.
Is it possible that Mr. Fidler has grown weary of being misguided by certain members of senior staff? If so, he could do a real service to the students of Harford County Public Schools by embracing the feedback from this report and using it to guide immediate changes to CSSRP.
Or is his laser-like focus on the failures of others an attempt to deflect comparisons with the board’s history of discounting input from stakeholders who raised doubts about the plan?
The report from Leadership Capacity mirrored a presentation the board received from Councilman Dick Slutzky on March 17th. Slutzky’s address was prompted by constituents who were frustrated when the board did not address reasonable concerns in a timely way and turned to the county council to advocate on their behalf. (To anyone who may question what supporters of an elected school board mean by “accountability”, the council has provided a good example.)
It remains to be seen whether Mr. Fidler will avoid the temptation bury this report and instead lead the way to improvements in CSSRP. With only a few months left in his tenure, he has an opportunity, but not much time.
On the other hand, what is it called when someone charged with oversight points fingers when they should take action?
Oh right, a failure of leadership.
Click here to read the entire 300 page report on CSSRP
I hope the survey results were a wake up call.
This is the legacy of Dr. Haas and the Board and one would suspect that the band aids will soon be put on their fatal wounds. That Dr. Haas, said “no surprises” and there is “good and bad news” is the shocker to me. Those statements reek of “pointing fingers” elsewhere.
We desperately need leaders…not beaurocrats.
This was a long report and I hope that Cindy will be able to read and digest all the information within and supply we Dagger readers with more detail on the results. In yesterday’s Baltimore Sun, an article on this same issue stated that Harford County test results on the MD state assessment tests were up last year (as was the case statewide making me wonder if part of the increase was the test content itself.) Conversely, our county’s student scores on the SAT and AP tests were lower than previous years. Worrisome!
SZQ- the MD Assessment Test scores will continue to rise. It’s not a function of the test content, rather it is the result of teachers becoming better and better at preparing their students to take the tests (call that “teaching to the test”) as is their mandate.
Read the conclusions and recommendations. This sums it up quite nicely-
“Only school principals could identify in the focus group sessions any specific ways that they were involved in decision making prior to adopting the reforms. Teachers seemed largely unaware of any CSSRP pre-adoption discussions and felt that ‚there wasn’t extensive classroom teacher involvement? in the CSSRP development process. Some teachers mentioned awareness of a district-level committee that was addressing secondary school reform, but no respondents other than principals were clear about how or when this team was created. A few participants also mentioned open forums that addressed secondary school reform, but again, when prompted, offered few specifics.”
From the Madison Park article in the Sun –
“In standardized exams, Harford improved in all four High School Assessments, but declined in all three SAT subjects and Advanced Placement passing rates.”
It had been brought to the BOE by parents may times in recent months that in the 2006-2007 school year, for the first time, students that were not deemed “ready” to pass the HSA were not required to take the test. When you remove what might be classified as known failures from the cohort of students taking the test, logically the % of improvement will increase.
Unfortunately, that 8.6% increase in HSA scores in Harford County for 06-07, was because they were not measured the same way as they were in 05-06. Apparently, no one told Leadership Capacity Inc. that they were comparing apples and oranges when it came to HSA results.
The best conclusion that should have been drawn was that, based on the data provided, it was inconclusive whether or not the HSA results had improved or declined, but test scores had declined in all three SAT subjects and Advanced Placement passing rates.
I wonder if the implementation of CSSRP has anything to do with the teacher cuts in Harford County. Twenty-six teaching positions have been cut in the secondary schools. Do we need fewer teachers because we have teachers teaching an additional class?Think the block schedule has anything to do with that?
Anyone see season 5 of The Wire?
Is it possible that HCPS has adopted the paradoxical “do more with less”
Hopefully Lee Merrell will be named the next school board president, since he was the only one to see this plan for what it was. He has my vote, which of course means #(%)@.
At last night’s board meeting, Mr. Fidler stated that based on the number of e-mails he received during the week, he is now convlnced that “we have majority support for CSSRP”. He thanked Dr. Haas and her staff for their recent actions (without elaboration) and thanked several principals who attended the board meeting to helpfully reiterate their support for the plan.
This stunning turn-around was echoed by several board members who repeated the explanation that the failure relating to CSSRP was one of communication, not leadership.
Board member Pat Hess specifically rejected the idea that there had been a failure of leadership, reacting to a “wonderful on-line report” and newspaper stories as if they were the source of the charge. But it was Mr. Fidler who voted in favor of a failure of leadership, before he voted against it.
Mr. Hess also called for people to focus on how they could help. A good idea to be sure, but he might want to review the section of the report documenting frustration with the sense that CSSRP was a “done deal”, unaffected by stakeholder input. The fact is that other ideas were offered, especially on the block schedule, but so far they have not been part of the discussion. Will they be looked at now?
Only board member Lee Merrell noted concerns about outcomes from CSSRP such as lost instruction time resulting in cuts to the curriculum.
Finally, Dr. Haas directly addressed County Councilman Dick Slutzky who was in attendance, saying that she did indeed take responsiblity for the failure, which was to communicate an implementation and evaluation plan for CSSRP.
So what we have here is a failure to communicate. Is that like the “Cool Hand Luke” failure to communicate? Or will communication finally begin to flow in more than one direction?
See folks, this is how you can hold the school board accountable! They are using emails to build consensus! If we want more classrooms, just send them favorable emails. Don’t like the recent teacher cuts? Send them emails! They will magically change their minds!
Board President Fidler’s email: Thomas.Fidler@hcps.org
Unbelievable. Do they not understand that great communication is the essential trait of great leadership? When CSSRP fails because of poor communication, that is a reflection on the leadership?
What else is new? I guess I was expecting some real changes. Silly Me!!
Okaay…I need more information from Mr. Fidler..Please clarify how emails expressing majority support for CSSRP solve the many issues/concerns raised by not only parents, teachers and community leaders BUT also the ones raised by the Independent analysis –Leadership Capacity?? We are all aware that the CSSRP is complex…do the emails support ALL aspects of the CSSRP?? Career pathways?? Less instructional time?? Block Schedules?? Opportunity for more electives?? (worthwhile ones I hope..) to name a few…
I don’t know maybe I am reading between the lines but if all we have is a failure to communicate, then I guess only the positive effects need communicating..not the negative ones. So lets do a better job communicating and evaluating that we have lower SAT and AP scores as a result of CSSRP…that still doesn’t correct the issues/concerns identified.
I can’t help but feel like there is so much insecurity from the “owners” of the CSSRP that they are unwilling to behave like adults and acknowledge that the CSSRP is not perfect and is truly a work in progress with the students of HCPS being the guinea pigs.
And now we’re continuing the failure of leadership. Let’s not forget that, while all of this was going on, the Board of Education re-hired Dr. Haas without any critiques or reviews. Mr. Fidler believed–for a week, anyway–that there was a failure in leadership: that failure occurred at the time that he, as a school board member, had the power to higher, fire, and advise the superintendent. The leadership failed at the one time the school board was actually in a clear position to lead HCPS!
I’m not saying Dr. Haas should have been fired–but before she was rehired, a performance evaluation, and recommendations from the “leadership” of the school board, certainly would have been appropriate. Instead, the board gave her an enormous raise in salary and benefits. There are no checks and balances in HCPS, however, and we will have a failure in leadership until there are.
What do you mean, Brian? We have checks and balances, as stakeholders. We can always elect school board members who reflect our values and represent our views….wait….no we don’t…..
Over the past months and even years, I have watched the “activities” of our Board of Education and Leaders in the HCPS fairly closely. Up till now, I have been silent in public forums. Based on what I heard transpired at last nights BOE meeting, I feel I can remain silent no more,
While I can express only my opinion and mine alone, I can say with great confidence that a large percentage of the population is on the same side of the fence as I am.
As a newcomer to this party, I will start off slow. For now, I have but one question (albeit rhetorical) for members of the BOE, and slected others who spoke publicly last night…….Please tell me, is the Kool-Aid red or purple??
Whatever color it is Lew it must be plentiful and very tasty. I am afraid to go to BOE meeting because I have an overwhelming urge to stand up and yel THE EMPRESS HAS NO CLOTHES ON!!!!!!!
As for Fidler flip flopping all the time that is because he can’t remeber what his stance was at the last meeeting. He truly makes it up as he goes along. It would be funny to watch if it didn’t effect our children and cost $422 million a year.
It’s official: 4 members of the Board and the Superintendent and the Director of Secondary Education and other senior staff have placed a moratorium on reality and accuracy. CSSRP was self-serving in its genesis, utterly ill-concieved, pushed through dishonestly, and is now being protected by massive walls of misrepresentation. And we all KNOW, that, if there was a shred of positive information on the reform, then we would absolutely drowning in a tsunami of self-congratulatory Powerpoint presentations from the director of secondary education!
But just be quiet all of you unwashed ignorant masses and let the emperor insist he’s wearing clothes. If this wasn’t so disgraceful and malfeasant, it would almost be comical.
This is so sad for our students. And there is nothing we can do about it. Mr. Hess was the crushing blow last night. We expect nothing more from Board members Fidler, Rich and Wolkow than for them to arrogantly and irrationally defend the superintendent and themselves at the expense of the children. But we were hoping that Mr. Hess, as a last resort, had the courage and clarity to stand up to this shameful and transparent attempt to misrepresent a misguided, self-serving failure. But alas, he chose the easy and wrong path; and joined in the inexplicable wagon-circling.
But we are powerless. We can’t fire Haas; we can’t fire Volrath; and we certainly can’t fire the above-mentioned members of the board unless of course the governor, or Mary Dulaney James lets us.
In case you missed it, the board meeting will be broadcast at 8PM and 11:30PM tonight ,Tuesday April 29th, on HCN (Comcast Channel 21 or Clearview Channel 7.)
Thanks, Cindy, I tuned in and it is quite curious that Tom Fidler “thanked” the super and staff without the explanation of why. The rest of the comments I think are predictable given the “us against them” mentality. Working together for answers means– just do what we want. Of course, celebrate the positives but don’t sweep away the negatives. It sounded like Ms. Rich said we need to get the teachers on board, does that mean the Supers way of thinking? Anyway, Mr. Hess who someone thought was out last hope, has the same arrogance, if not more than the others. Not equating leadership with the ability to communicate is ridiculous. Hasn’t that been the same issue that they were going to improve after other battles with the public? We just need to Communicate? Communication was their lowest grade but continues to decline. I would grade them below an E in the latest survey, as shown in the Leadership Capacity Inc results. I also found the Principals comments at the Board meeting again a top down push for the program. Are the principles now in the classrooms teaching? Let’s get the word from the 83% of the teachers who felt they had no say in the CSSRP and do not believe that it is a good program. I still am baffled by the “Do you learn more in the block scheduling class of 82 minutes vs. the 45 minutes? Duh, I don’t know? Does learn mean cover more material with the extra 40 minutes or does it mean retain for the rest of your life or helps you progress? Silly questions with open end meanings to decipher. I wonder why no discussion on the 4th Math Credit only on the LICW course? I would expect little changes to take place other than making sure the teachers are on board for the next survey
I am disheartened, but not surprised by the turnaround in attitude. If you pay close attention, the BOE was allowed to view the report without filters from central office. They read it and interpretted it correctly which led to the comments about a lack of leadership.
The superintendent does not allow her employees to communicate with the BOE directly. Speaking from experience, we are told not to speak with the board. In fact, I was once contacted by a board member directly while I was an administrator and was told that that was not allowed and that the board member would be spoken to.
Brian,
As for deciding the superintendent’s position based on performance evaluations and recommendations…I can only say that my first hand experience is testimony that a life long commitment to public education and stellar evaluations add up to nothing. I would find it interesting if the position of superintendent could be reassigned just because the BOE wanted to wield such power. That power belongs ONLY to the position of superintendent.
I watched the BOE meeting from Monday night and I was really taken back. I saw several teams from Harford County get recognized for a creative problem solving competition and then I heard a board member talk about people not doing anything or being helpful. Really? Weren’t most of the team managers a parent of a team member? I also heard him mention that no one talks about the good things the school system does. Well, there was an example of good things that are going on but that was because of the support of PARENTS. The school system does do some good things but that is mostly because of the teachers and the school community. I was appalled that the principals were paraded in front of the Board and were forced to recite the party line. I thought it was apparent in the survey that the administrators were already indoctrinated by the school administration and it was teachers and school personnel who weren’t sold on it. It was also apparent at the meeting that there are principals in the school system who are doing a horrific job and the school system is not doing much about it. I have a lot of respect for the teachers and school personnel who were willing to voice their opinions. I’m thankful that they are not going to promote a reform movement that does little or nothing to improve student achievement, and even if it does there is no real measurable data to prove it. What data are they going to start using to measure improvement anyway? Did the school system ever consider the reason WHY teachers and others are not happy with CSSRP? Oh yeah they paid a company money to find out, but they are going to basically ignore the comments and findings.
Shame on the Board members who said little or nothing about what this is doing to the students currently enrolled in the school system who are being adversely effected by this. They were so worried about protecting their egos and reputations that they forgot that they are supposed to be working on behalf of all students in Harford County and apparently are suffering from memory loss. I remember several teachers and the former Director of Secondary Education who proposed different types of schedules. The Aegis wrote several articles about how there was only one schedule ever proposed but no other ones considered and every Board member with the exception of John Smilko was on the Board at that time. I bet one of those kids who was on a Destination Imagination team could come up with a schedule that works better than the one we have now but that would mean that the school system would have to admit they might have made a mistake.
Until HCPS is willing to listen to the teachers and other personnel who are delivering the services to our kids, the school system is going to continue to suffer. Communication is only effective when all parties are listening to what the other parties are saying and that is a two way process.
Since I have yet to see one comment which supports the CSSRP, I question where all of Mr. Fidler’s pro-CSSRP e-mails came from. Should we start to send him our comments? Oh I forgot, the parents and teachers are just the little people who, by the way, happened to say the same things that the report did, but nobody listened. Oh, that’s right, they’re still not listening!! I guess you can add paid consultants to the list of baffled masses.
Great “letter to the editor” in the Aegis last night. Again, respected retired or ex teachers and administrators will speak out against or challange the “home office” while present employees fear retaliation for any dissension or constructive criticism. Really just reinforces the fact that the BOE and Administration are hell bent on doing what they want, as the author of the letter says CSSRP was going forward –”come hell or high water”