OPEN LETTER TO THE ST. JOHNS COMMUNITY

Over the past several weeks, much has been said and written about the federal government’s Race to the Top (RTTT) initiative. The highly touted program allows states to compete for federal Recovery Act funds designed to improve the nation’s poorest performing schools. In order to be eligible for the funds, the Michigan Legislature passed a series of school reforms signed into law by Governor Granholm on January 5.

The St. Johns Board of Education voted unanimously at a special meeting January 7 to decline participation in the RTTT initiative.

Board members are skeptical of the willingness of both the state and federal governments to allow local school districts to spend RTTT funds the way they see fit. It is very likely that any funds provided to Michigan schools will come with multiple strings attached. There is also no way of knowing, at this point, the cost of implementing the program and its requirements. It is possible that the new expectations put in place by the reforms will outstrip the resources being considered.

In addition, board members were concerned that RTTT required an unacceptable compromise of our values as a community. Foremost among their concerns was the idea that teacher quality would be measured very narrowly by MEAP scores. The board recognizes that a sound education is so much more than a score on a standardized test.

It was evident to the board that while additional funds—especially in this economy—are alluring, the cost of eligibility that compromises our integrity, beliefs and values  is just too high.

Sincerely,

Ken Ladouceur, Ph.D.

Superintendent