We Get Letters

A recent event provoked this letter/email below. As is usually the case, emotions run pretty high when your children are involved. I have edited the comments because names and schools were mentioned. Some would argue I shouldn't post the letter - that it is too negative - which it is. But, if we are to improve as a district, we need to be able to discuss the good with the bad. I should point out,  contrary to statements made, Rock Hill is one of the few communities designated as family friendly in the country and the Rock Hill School District was mentioned as one of the reasons for the designation.


Why don't you focus on academic improvement and achievement in this district.   Doing so just might encourage white collar companies and employees to be willing to set up shop in Rock Hill and educate their children right here in the Rock Hill School District. Some might say that image is everything.   The impressions that are conveyed through the choice of issues discussed  in the public eye and in newsprint and online websites (busing, rezoning, transportation, athletics, drug testing athletes, feeding students, etc) or more importantly, the issues that don’t receive a lot of attention by this district (academics, the pursuit of grants by teachers and principals, high student AND teacher AND principal expectations) influence  the perceptions of the parents of the school children in this very district.  
   
While the RHSD has no control over the pervasive urban blight across Rock Hill, or the abundance of apartment units and rentals that don’t exactly create involved, committed community members, this district needs to understand they are part of the economic development tool that is used to court potential businesses and home buyers.   This affects everyone, not just those with school age children.  Success breeds success.    
    
Educated, professional couples considering a move to York County want to hear about academic achievements and accomplishments when considering a district to entrust with their children.  Discussions about  other issues,  if spoken and bantered about long enough, leave one feeling that  what should be the core mission of a school district-educating children-is somewhere further down on the list of  priorities.   This district needs to stop the bleeding of its middle class parents that are the school volunteers and school support  this district won’t be able to function without.   It is the responsibility of the district to nurture the education and academic achievement of children, not be a surrogate parent, provider, or caregiver.   
  
This district is a laughingstock.   Your words, decisions, and comments linger in the memories  and  influence your community.  
  
I hold a grudge against  seasoned, experienced principals who receive  generous taxpayer funded salaries, benefits, and retirement, yet have no rapport with  students and parents.  The  principals who wander around the school grounds chatting on the cell phone as if they have nothing to do.  I observed a principal fail to greet or welcome  students and their families, fail to come on stage and address the audience and introduce his hardworking music teacher and be the school leader he is hired to be, and fail to offer any crowd control in a very packed room with students and parents filling the center aisle
.   
Are your principals and teachers writing grants to improve resources and learning for students?  If not, they need to be.  
     
Lastly, test scores are only one tool to judge a district’s success.   To not receive any work back that your child is working on during the year and then to arrive at a conference and just see a check mark on your child’s work that is full of misspellings, yet has no comments or feedback, is not teaching.   You don’t need a certified teacher to do that, more like an assistant or bus driver.   
    
My recommendation is that somehow or someway, parent, student, and teacher surveys are used to gain feedback, and begin improvements in learning and building badly needed community in  schools.  Parent and student voices need to be heard .   I’m sure there might be some (ideas) that would be gathered from these surveys.   
  
My best wishes to this district, its personnel, and students.