New Press Interview

By Deborah Fuss

News Press Interview Wins Endorsement

The structural reorganization initially appears to be having a positive impact. However, the findings of the Organizational Review and its subsequent implementation, may have led to some unnecessary changes that were very difficult for the community. I do believe that the creation of a Chief Academic Officer position is allowing for a greater focus on curriculum and teacher performance in the classroom. For example, because the bulk of the administrative duties have been moved to the Dean of Students, the CAO has been able to establish schedules to allow teachers to establish "Professional Learning Communities". These learning groups provide the opportunity for teachers to discuss "best practices" and to work together to ensure excellence in the classroom. The teachers I have spoken with this year are truly inspired and excited to be in the classroom and that is positively impacting the children in important ways every day.

During the Organizational Review process that took place last fall and spring the Board tried extremely hard to include anyone who wanted to participate. It is fair to say that there was a significant breakdown in communication once the report came out that stated the Principal position was going to be divided into two, the CAO and Dean of Students. I would have anticipated the impact on families in our community and addressed the issue much earlier and proactively. Through a greater effort to communicate what was happening, people may not have liked, or truly understood, the outcome but at least they would have felt heard and informed.

What would you do to restore the confidence of parents who say the board has not been listening to them?

I believe you have to earn trust. With three new members joining the Board it will take some time but when the community sees an effective, committed Board that can work together in an atmosphere of civility, trust and respect we will begin to earn their trust back.

Actual Board meetings provide limited interaction with the community but there are a number of ways to allow parents and the broader community to interact with the Board. Having been at every Board meeting for almost 3 years, I would like to have "blue card" questions asked after initial Board discussion. This allows people to understand many of the underlying issues that affect a particular topic, allowing for more informed questions. Town Hall meetings on a quarterly basis is another way for the community to raise issues and have a dialog with the Board. The establishment of various Board level committees, like the Strategic Planning Committee, made up of teachers, parents and community members also allows for a greater sense of participation in making MUS exceptional.

Do you anticipate having to take severe measures with the current declining enrollment? If so, how would you approach the issue. If not, why?

In fact, we don't have declining enrollment. For the past three years our enrollment has been increasing. This year we have 431 students, last year 413 and the year prior 399. Also, as a Basic Aid district, MUS is funded by property taxes so the number of students doesn't have an impact on the funding of the school.

Who do you believe should become the State Superintendent of Public Instruction this November: Larry Aceves or Tom Thorlaksen? Why?

Having recently been a part of the interview team for our new Chief Academic Officer, it was clear how passionate our teachers were that our new instructional leader have a background that included teaching in the classroom similar to our former principal. It was their belief that to add value to their Professional Learning Community, and in the classroom, that the leader needed to have been a teacher. Although I have not been following this election closely, I believe that Mr. Aceves' background as a teacher, principle and superintendent will give him a solid understanding of the issues facing teachers in the classroom today.

 What is one decision the board has made with which you agree? What is one decision with which you disagree?

I supported the Board's decision to undertake a complete Organizational Review when our former Superintendent, Mr. Douglas, retired. During the Strategic Planning process it became evident that a review of roles and responsibilities needed to be addressed. The teachers were frustrated and found it was difficult to know where to go to get things done. They were also confused by the decision making process which often seemed arbitrary. Mr. Douglas' retirement created the perfect opportunity for the Board to address these concerns and to conduct a thorough analysis of job descriptions vs. job function in an effort to understand what people were supposed to do vs. what they actually did. This helped the overall systems at the school and streamlined the decision making process.

I was personally disappointed in how the Board handled the issue of Ms. Bergstrom's role once the Organizational Review was complete. Ms. Bergstrom was a much loved principal at MUS and how it was handled by the Board was unnecessarily damaging to both Ms. Bergstrom and the community. When there is an issue, like this one, it is important to open up communication with the community, not retreat from it.

 Are API scores an adequate method in determining the effectiveness of MUS, policies or leadership?

No. Standardized test scores have their place but they shouldn't be the only measurement of school, or student achievement. During the Strategic Planning process we discussed how to accurately measure whether or not a child is reaching their individual potential. There was unanimous consensus among the committee, made up of administration, teachers, staff, parents, and community members that test scores were only the beginning and that a more complex matrix of measurements was necessary to assess the "whole child."

The new administrative team is working with teachers to develop a more frequent data driven assessment, in combination with less tangible aspects of a child's learning profile. This will likely end up in a portfolio of assessments that will allow teachers to teach more effectively to the individual child's strengths and areas for improvement.

 Do children enrolled in MUS benefit by the union representing the teachers, assuming, of course, that the union represents the teachers.

I don't think the children at MUS are directly impacted by whether or not our teachers are represented by a union or teacher association. As many recent research reports have highlighted, the greatest impact on a child's ability to achieve their academic potential is the quality of the teacher in the classroom. At Montecito Union we are fortunate to have such an exceptional, inspiring group of teachers who show our children every day the value of being life-long learners.

 What do you see as the new future model for public education in Montecito?

Montecito is a small community school that is made up of a "team" of talented administrative leadership, inspired teachers, involved parents, and a community that appreciates the importance of education. As a school we are committed to establishing benchmarks that compare our programs and performance not just against other California schools but against leading national and international programs as well.

As a member of the Strategic Planning Committee I was inspired by the many ideas that were discussed from instituting an International Baccalaureate program, utilizing technology to engage with students and teachers from around the world, implementation of "Visible Thinking" across all grade levels, and many others that will prepare our children to succeed in our increasingly complex world. As we prioritize the Strategic Plan many of these innovative ideas will become reality.

Montecito Union is committed to meeting the needs of the "whole" child and is constantly analyzing and incorporating new best practices and technologies to ensure an exceptional public education and that each child has the opportunity to achieve his or her potential.