Every school year begins with promise
Count us among those excited for the start of the new school year this week.
Not because we have kids, tweens or teens who — though we love them the muchest — may have, ummm, pushed our parental patience a time or two during this long, hot and humid summer.
But because the district has worked aggressively to address two of its major impediments to the education of the young people we’ll send off with a smile next week.
As the School District of Lee County has announced over the past few weeks, and as explained well by School Board member Debbie Jordan with whom we share this week’s Opinions page, the district has reduced its teacher vacancy rate.
Greatly reduced its teacher vacancy rate with a big milestone said to be reached — a certified teacher in every classroom.
Officials say the district also has enough bus drivers to fill its multitude of routes this year.
In February we reported that nearly 8,000 students among its 47,000 bus riders were arriving late to class every day, and that almost 19,000 students were being picked up late to go home.
The district changed how it “tiered” its pickup system and addressed start times with the promise it will get students to school on time.
These are important on their own but much more important in the context of student achievement which is not anywhere near where it needs to be.
As the district reported little more than a week ago, its third grade English Language Arts numbers put the district at 10th among the “big 10” districts in the state. What’s more, the number of students achieving the minimum passing level in reading dropped from 52% to 50%, abysmal by any standard.
The district’s implementation of its new Gap Analysis Model will now allow a “deeper dive” into testing statistics which the district says will help it provide students with the assistance they need to succeed and provide it quicker.
We appreciate the effort and the commitment.
Every new school year begins with promise… and with promises.
May both be realized this school year.