Today I submitted recommendations to the School Board on selecting a new Superintendent of Schools. Here is the full text of the letter: Ms. Teresa M. Birge President Board of Education of Anne Arundel County 2644 Riva Road Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Dear President Birge: The Board of Education is in the process of making the most important decision it will make for many years to come: the selection of a new Superintendant of Anne Arundel County Public Schools. As a two-term State Delegate and Chairman of the County Delegation, I would like to offer respectfully my suggestions regarding the priorities the Board might wish to consider in selecting the new Superintendant. In my view, the new Superintendant should: 1. Have a Proven Track Record in Advancing Large School Systems: Anne Arundel County’s public school system is the 47th largest in the United States and is, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Kevin Maxwell and the Board, a very good one. The challenge before us now, as Dr. Maxwell has frequently remarked, is to take the system from good to great. This is no small task given the size and complexity of our school system. I urge the Board to select a new Superintendant who has a proven track record of advancing a large school system from good to great so that he or she brings to our County a full complement of already proven best practices and methods. 2. Be Committed to Data-Driven, Measurable Outcomes: Maryland in general and Anne Arundel County in particular have been leaders in the use of data-driven tools (including standardized tests, teacher qualifications, attendance records, AP participation rates, etc.) to measure student and school performance. These tools have been critical to enabling the Board, policymakers and the public to monitor outcomes, channel resources and intervene where necessary. I urge the Board to select a new Superintendant who is committed to using measurable, objective, data-driven tools to monitor student and school performance. 3. Share Our Commitment to High-Level and Employer-Connected Programming: Dr. Maxwell will surely be remembered for his efforts to develop, implement and expand the reach of a broad range of high-level and employer-connected programs, including STEM, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, Magnet, Technology Center and Signature programs. These programs are preparing our young people for higher education and the job market better than ever before and have made Anne Arundel County Public Schools an example for the rest of the Country. I urge the Board to select a new Superintendant who is deeply committed to this type of high-level and employer-connected programming. 4. Be Supportive of Educational Alternatives: The public school system is one of the great achievements of our society, and that system meets the needs of the vast majority of families and students. However, every family and every student is different, and the traditional public school system cannot meet the needs of every student. Accordingly, we must nurture the full range of educational alternatives, including public charter schools, independent schools, parochial schools and home schooling. I urge the Board to select a new Superintendant who recognizes the need for and is supportive of the full range of educational alternatives. 5. Recognize the Need to Reduce the Size of Our High Schools: Anne Arundel County public high schools are among the largest average size in the United States – the average high school in Anne Arundel County is about 1,850 students as compared to the national average of about 800. Furthermore, four of our high schools have more than 2,000 students. Large schools promote student anonymity, are not neighborhood-based because they draw from overly-large geographic areas, and have limited extra-curricular opportunities for students. As Speaker of the House of Delegates Mike Busch has often pointed out, regardless of whether a high school is 700 or 2,700 students, there is still only one football team. There is a large body of academic research that suggests the ideal size of a high school is less than 1,000 students. I urge the Board to select a new Superintendant who has a long-term vision to reduce the average size of Anne Arundel County’s high schools. 6. Consider Lower-Cost Methods of School Construction: Anne Arundel County’s current approach to school construction is overly expensive. A new high school in our County costs about $125 million, or $425 per square foot, which is about 25% more per square foot than in nearby Howard County. This expensive approach (along with our traditional commitment to very large schools) has effectively put a block on new school construction in Anne Arundel County. We have not built a new high school in our County since 1982. I urge the Board to select a new Superintendant who recognizes the need to lower the cost of school construction and who is familiar with alternative methods of school financing. Thank you for considering my input into this important matter. Sincerely, Steven R. Schuh Delegate, Anne Arundel County
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 16:29:23 +0000
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