State of Our Schools Address
By Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools
Good evening and thank you all for being here.
First I want to say thank you to Austin and Anjelica for their courage to stand up tonight in front of all these people to share their thoughts about GRPS.
Please join me in giving them a round of applause.
I want to thank Principal Mary Ann Prisichenko, our great teachers Ms. Stallworth and Ms. Stoddard, our UPrep parent Ms. Gentry, and Speaker Andy Dillon and Senator Wayne Kuipers for sharing their thoughts about the GRPS Success Story.
I also want to thank Susan Heartwell and Lynn Afendoulis of the Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation, Jim Hackett from Steelcase, and Doug DeVos and Steve Van Andel from Amway for taking time out of their schedules to participate in the event tonight.
And most importantly, before I begin, let me say thank you to our students.... Thank you to our parents...thank you to our volunteers...thank you to our hard working teachers, administrators and support staff, and of course thank you to the Grand Rapids Board of Education.
The GRPS Success Story is real and it is happening because of the hard work, dedication and commitment of these individuals!
Congratulations on a job well done!
As you saw and heard tonight, we have quite a story to tell.
This story - our GRPS success story - has just begun and I firmly believe that the best is yet to come.
As much fun as it is to sit back and dream about the past - about how it was when we went to school, about how great thing once were, about the good old days, and all that we have accomplished - I am not here tonight to talk about the past.
I am here to talk about the future --- about the critical next chapter in the GRPS story that will either make us or break us as a school district and as a community.
We have made four years of dramatic academic gains, we've expanded school choices, we are transforming our instructional practices, we are creating better schools and a better education for the children we are fortunate to serve.
We achieved these remarkable results while at the same time we were cutting budgets, laying off staff, closing school buildings, and making other difficult, but necessary decisions to bring our finances and facilities in line with our enrollment and the educational needs of students.
There are only so many times and so many ways to keep pulling a rabbit out of a hat...we've run out of rabbits, the hat no longer fits, and it's time for a new hat.
In fact, the old hat is part of the problem facing GRPS and public schools across the state and the nation.
The public education system in America is broken, it's outdated, and in need of a major overhaul.
Our public education system is still based on a 1908 Carnegie model --- take approximately 25 kids, put them in a square box, with neatly lined rows of desks, with a teacher at the head of the class.
Class is 5 days a week Monday through Friday, approximately 6 hours a day, 9 months a year and all the children have the summer off to go work on the farm.
And in Michigan, the start of school is based on the tourism industry not the educational interests of children.
Our public education system was not designed based on the needs of students - particularly the 21st Century student - it is based on an agricultural-manufacturing model that applies a one-size-fits-all approach that may still work for some, but for many it is not working and students are being left behind.
Our public education system is also built around rules, policies and laws that are more focused on protecting the status quo, adult special interests, and geographic strong holds as opposed to what's in the best interest of students.
These laws overprotect failure, stifle true competition, restrain innovation, and foster segregation and inequality.
It is time for these laws to change. It is time for public education in America to change.
It is time that we re-tool, re-imagine, and re-position our schools based on the needs and interests of the 21st Century student.
This is a message that is being delivered across the nation, in a bi-partisan way, by some unlikely political pairings including President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, the Rev. Al Sharpton and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.
This is why in Michigan, thanks to the leadership of Superintendent Flanagan, Governor Granholm, Speaker Andy Dillon, Senator Kuipers, Rep. Melton, and many others, the state Legislature passed the most sweeping education reform legislation since Proposal A.
And this is why GRPS submitted a bold and innovative Project Re-Imagine proposal that was selected as one of only 14 education reform models in the state.
While GRPS will continue to be at the forefront of the debates on the state and national stage, we cannot pin our hopes and future plans on potential legislative changes or budget solutions coming out of Lansing or Washington.
We must continue to move our reform efforts forward.
We need to rally the troops and align our stakeholders like we have never done before.
So how do we keep the momentum going?
How do we build upon the successes we have achieved?
How do we take our reform efforts to the next level knowing that at the same time we have to cut costs and find more efficiency?
And how do we do this while at the same time dealing with a state budget crisis and an outdated public education system?
While this seems impossible, let's find comfort in the fact that this has been our world for the last four years - in fact it has been our world for the last decade - and yet we still produce dramatic results.
This is why GRPS is gaining state and national recognition for our right-sizing efforts, education reforms, and dramatic academic gains.
We are beating the odds.
We are doing what many said could not be done.
Now, we need to do more, do it better, do it more efficiently, and do it in a way that maintains and enhances educational services for all students across the district.
The good news is we have a strong foundation to build upon and GRPS is well positioned to weather through this economic storm and emerge stronger and better than ever.
First, we have a track record of success that proves we can do this.
The hard facts and figures around our academic success over the last four years speak for themselves.
Second, we have a plan.
We have a 5 Year Strategic Direction that is helping focus our efforts and align internal and external stakeholders around a common vision and common goals.
We have a plan that has been selected as one of only 14 across the state as a model for education reform.
This plan - our Project Re-Imagine plan -- includes continued instructional reforms, new High School options, expanded early childhood initiatives, and alternative education reform among other things.
We are already well into the implementation phase of our reform plans with the Centers of Innovation, alternative education restructuring, and our effort-based learning model.
Third, we have public-private partnerships.
In just four short years, we have secured more than $4 million in private investment to support our strategic direction.
Just weeks ago, the Board of Education approved two cutting-edge agreements that raise the bar on public-private partnerships.
One, GRPS is entering into a lease agreement with a non-public, Christian school that will be co-located at Southeast Academy Center - a GRPS school.
As a result, the revenue generated will help to off set the cost of operations for a school that was on the brink of closure due to low enrollment.
Two, GRPS is entering into an innovative buy-sell agreement with the Grand Rapids University Prep Academy Board.
With this agreement, GRPS will sell the old City building on the corner of College and Fountain for $1 to UPrep.
UPrep will then investment more than $8 million in private funds to renovate and expand the facility.
Then 20 years later, the building reverts back to GRPS.
In short, our GRPS students, in a GRPS school get a newly renovated and expanded state of the art school - all of which will be done at no cost to taxpayers.
This unique public-private partnership is a win-win-win for our students, city taxpayers, and the neighborhood.
We are also currently in talks with other schools districts - both public and private - to explore opportunities in which we can collaborate, cooperate, and share services or costs together.
One area in particular where GRPS has a leg up is food service.
Did you know that GRPS has one of, if not the single largest food service operation in the region?
We are the Sam's Club of food service with big buying power, streamlined services, and a well-oiled operation that delivers tens of thousands of meals daily.
We are already doing some food service operations for a Catholic school. And we are in discussions with one additional Catholic schools and a nearby public school district about shared services.
I think there is lot more we can do in the way of cooperation, collaboration and partnership - and I pledge to the taxpayers of Grand Rapids tonight that GRPS will continue seeking every opportunity for cost sharing, consolidation, and other non-traditional sources of revenue to create efficiencies and cost savings - so that more dollars are going to support student success.
Fourth, we have the people.
There is a reason why school districts from across the state try and recruit staff from GRPS.
It is because we have among the best, brightest, and most dedicated group of teachers, principals, and support staff in the state. Bar none.
We also have a large group of talented parents, volunteers, and public-private partners all working for the good of the students.
You heard earlier tonight about how the CEO/president of one of the top general contractors in the region is literally sitting elbow to elbow with our teachers working to develop a hybrid curriculum for one of our Centers of Innovation.
This is just one small example of the dynamic people and relationships that are help to make GRPS what it is today.
The pieces, parts, plans, partnerships and people are all here.
Now let's talk about how we are going to take our reforms, improvements and success to the next level - and accelerate our students, our students, and our instructional practices well into the 21st Century.
Before I get into the details, let's take a moment and watch a video that I recently discovered on YouTube.
The video is titled "A Vision of K12 Students Today" and it focuses on the 21st Century learner.
RUN VIDEO
I choose to air this video tonight because I believe that this really speaks to the problems with the existing educational model.
It speaks to the urgency of the need for new ideas, greater use of technology, changes in how educational services are provided, and just an overall different approach at what public education must look like in order to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
Make no mistake, the changes we are already implementing as well as the proposals being offered tonight are focused on the educational needs to prepare 21st Century learner. Students needs and students interests are and always will be at the very root of every reform we seek to enact.
With that said, the other big elephant in the room is the $15 million budget shortfall facing GRPS now through next school year --- with potentially more of the same in years to come.
I could spend 20 minutes on the budget issues - declining enrollment, rising expenses such as wages, health care, retirement, declining state funding, inequitable state funding, and unfunded mandates.
In short, we are broke. Our public education model is broke.
The time to implement long-term, systemic changes that will fundamental re-position this district and our students for the future is right here and right now.
We need a new educational delivery model that aligns our leadership, instructional practices, and community-based partners with the needs and interests of the 21st Century learner and the demands of the global economy.
I am proposing the following changes:
1. Reconfigure Secondary school leadership and student support services to more clearly focus the energy, time and talent around academics, instruction, and student support.
Our school leadership and student support personnel must be focused like a laser beam on instructional reforms, data measurement, student counseling, and academic achievement.
The new leadership and support service model that I am proposing looks dramatically different than how we are configured today.
It will allow for instruction leaders to focus on capacity building and provide a higher level of support for the emotional, social and academic well being of our students. It will allow for a great degree of student accountability and a rapid response to catch and support students who are struggling before they reach the point of no return.
2. Implement a new blended instructional model that offers students more choices, opportunities and a greater use of technology to support education.
Last summer, GRPS piloted a new Summer School that was 100% on-line.
The results as well as the feedback we received from students and staff spoke volumes about the need and desire for a blend of instructional delivery choices.
This year, the 9th grade students in our High School Centers of Innovation are taking their core classes on-line and all of our students in the new Student Success Centers are engaged in some on-line or blended instruction.
Through these practices, we have developed and are proposing a new blended instructional model that combines the use of Disciplinary Literacy - direct and inquiry based instruction using the Principles of Learning, with online self paced instruction and independent learning opportunities to create an assortment of lessons addressing curriculum standards.
In order to smooth the transition, this change will include making the switch back from trimesters to semesters.
For students, this means a menu of course offerings that range from traditional courses with the teacher at the head of the class and a blended model of both traditional and on-line instruction, to a 100% on-line experience.
The benefits of this new model include among other things:
- Increased graduation rates and academic achievement
- Increased use of technology in learning and instruction
- Better student to adult ratios - instead of 34 to 1; the blended model may be more like 6 to 1.
- More opportunities for "team teaching"
- More opportunities for staff advancement
- Real-time, instant data measurement and student support based on student progress using on-line technology
- Self-paced learning and extra supports for students and teachers
- Reduced behavioral and other classroom management related issues
- Flexible scheduling
- Cost savings and financial sustainability
3. Reconfigure the High School elective model with a blend of traditional and online elective choices as well a concentrated study at designated high school hubs.
As we seek to maintain and enhance educational services for our students, this is one area in particular I believe we can truly offer a higher level of service.
Let me be frank. Rght now, we offer a hodge podge of different elective courses - at best.
As a result, some students have great choices; while others are left behind.
Now close your eyes and imagine this.
What if we could enhance, improve and expand elective offerings - that would be made equally accessible for every child throughout the district - and each of the competitive electives could rival any school in the region and the state.
Try and imagine a group of concentrated elective hubs, co-located on existing high school campuses:
The Center of Theater Production and Performing Arts: Partnered with leading institutions like the Civic Theater, Opera Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Ballet, local universities and more and offering an array of elective choices like choir, theater arts and drama, costume design, dance, musical theater and more.
The Center of Instrumental and Musical Expression: Partnered with the Grand Rapids Symphony, St. Cecilia Music Society, Symphonic Choir, local universities, and more --- offering electives like rock band, orchestra, marching band, jazz band and more.
The Center for Human Services: Partnered with leading social and human service agencies like Network 180, Kent County Department of Social Services, KSSN, and local universities to offer courses in psychology, sociology, forensic sciences, health and wellness, social work, and more.
The Center for Leadership: Partnered with the Grand Rapids BAR Association, local governmental agencies and leaders, local law firms, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, and more to offer mock trial, Model United Nations, debate, forensics, We the People and much more.
And the Center for Design Technology and Visual Arts: Partnered with WMCAT, UICA, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, West Michigan Film Alliance, and local universities to provide courses in architectural drawing, interior design, fashion design, graphic design, web design, photography, sculpture, film and much more.
These HUB concepts are in the infant stage of development and a large group of internal and external stakeholders have met a few times over the last few weeks and will be meeting several times more in the coming weeks and months to flush this out.
We have some work to do but not only do I believe we can do this - I believe we should do this for the students.
4. Expanding school choices consistent with Project Re-imagine and the High School options.
One major component of our Project Re-imagine proposal is aimed at re-configuring our high school options to include a traditional school, a Center of Innovation and a district sponsored charter school all co-located on each of the three existing high school campuses.
The benefits of the GRPS High School Options proposal include:
Increased school choices with district-sponsored charters done so in a strategic, targeted manner aimed at increasing student achievement and graduation rates for high needs/at-risk students in persistently failing schools.
This approach is much more sustainable than simply opening up a series of new, independent charter schools - in essence new school districts - at a time when we need more consolidation and collaboration of school districts and school services.
This would also provide a greater degree of accountability for charter schools that would be governed by an elected school board with full transparency in finances and operations.
Consolidation and collaboration of services to maximize the impact of taxpayer dollars on student outcomes and instructional practices.
The High School options model could included shared facilities, shared food service operations, shared building management, shared technology, shared special education and English Language Learner services, and more.
Healthy "in-district" and "on campus" competition between schools that will help to foster systemic changes in educational service delivery, instructional practices, leadership practices, and more.
No children left behind: The most at-risk, high needs students with the least economic means stand to gain the most with this high school options proposal because it brings the choices and opportunities directly to the students and provides a full menu of educational services and support systems for all children - regardless of the age, income, ability, special needs, native language, etc.
Right now with few exceptions, the current charter school law and school of choice laws benefit students who have minimal special needs, who have the economic means, and whose parents are actively engaged.
The High School options proposal co-locates the menu of school choices all on one campus, each with a unique offering of education services, all specifically centered on the interests, choices, and needs of students.
CONCLUSION
As you can see from these four big bucket proposals, we have some heavy lifting to do and some tough decisions to make.
While much of what is being proposed is really just an extension of the work we have been doing over the last four years, much of it is new territory and uncharted waters for GRPS.
These proposals are not quick fixes or one time shifts just to try and get by for one more year hoping that the state economy recovers or that the Legislature has a change of heart.
The time for one time fixes and short sighed solutions is over.
Those rabbits were pulled from the hat a long time ago and are nowhere to be found.
Now is the time for real, substantive, comprehensive, long term, systemic and sustainable solutions to address the financial and academic challenges facing this school district?.
These proposals are about changing beliefs, changing systems, and creating a new 21st Century educational model that is based on the needs of students.
These proposals are about the future of public education in America and re-positioning Grand Rapids, our schools, and our students to compete in the global economy.
Austerity is our new prosperity.
These times make me think of the quote from Franklin Delano Roosevelt, "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself."
Yes, there will be new challenges.
Yes, there will be changes.
Yes, there are those who are working with us today who may find their work changing.
And yes, there are those whose work might not exist the way it does today if at all.
But we must remain focused on the vision and the goals.
This is what I have pledged myself to doing.
All I can ask is for people's patience, understanding and to come with ideas, offer alternatives, and suggest solutions that can work.
And ultimately, once the direction is set and the decisions are made, help to support the transition and transformation.
If we can all resolve to do that, much as we have seen today, our school system will continue to prosper.
We have shown this community and this state what GRPS can do against all the odds --- something that frankly our teachers, principals and support staff do every single day.
Now, we are asking this community to join with us - to help us - to align support around our plans, goals and strategic direction.
This is where the rubber hits the road for this city and the region.
We can unite as a community, take hold of our future and chart a new course that will accelerate our students into the 21st Century or we can stick with tinkering around with the status quo.
Sticking with the status quo is the easy part. Opposing change is the easy part.
Standing up for and implementing real change is the hard part.
This is why we need your help and support. We need to hear your ideas, concerns, and constructive criticism. We need to hear your questions and provide answers and details.
To that end, we are kicking off a series of meetings with internal and external stakeholders to provide more detail, gather input and flush out these ideas.
On Saturday, March 20, we will be hosting another GRPS Futures Summit starting at 9:00 a.m. at Ottawa Hills High School.
This event is open to the public and will serve as the first in several public opportunities to gather information and share thoughts and concerns.
This is the first part in what will be an aggressive new campaign to engage and inform students, parents, staff and the broader community about the proposed plans and changes.
Please stay tuned for more information and watch for the launch of our new webpage that will be dedicated to sharing information and answering questions, complete with video and audio downloads.
Thank you all for coming and for everything you do to support GRPS!
Good night.
In your voice
