What do Hercules (and Pinole) parents want from their schools?

This week, an Ohlone Elementary school teacher asked me what it was I wanted from her school.  This was in response to some thoughts, observations and suggestions I shared at this week's Hercules Democratic Club meeting.  

I had previously been told by another Ohlone teacher that I should take my daughter elsewhere, that Ohlone would never meet the needs of any parent with high expectations for their child.   She cited the children of less proactive parents as the potential source of my expectations not being met, that these other children might negate my efforts.  So am I to join those parents who have acquired a doctor’s note for purpose of having their child enrolled at the award-winning Hanna Ranch, fraudulently citing that their child was allergic to a fungus found only at Ohlone, known as Penicillium ohloniensis?  

No, I will not begin traveling down that road because it never ends, that no public school on that road will ever be good enough. Instead, I will support the Ohlone team in helping ALL of our children succeed.  That’s what public school is all about.  It’s a village, not a sterile environment where all children are above average.

I do expect and demand functionality from my public school, including competent staff, good management practices, and a defined chain-of-command all the way up to the Superintendent and school board.  I reminded this teacher at the Democratic Club that I am not only a parent, but am also a taxpayer, that I expect all government agencies that I foot the bill for to function efficiently and effectively.   I say this as a public employee who once blew the whistle on my employer for the purpose of quality improvement.

I seek clear lines of communication with my school.  This includes access to their School Site Council meetings which is why I respectfully request that Lupine and Ohlone elementary schools consider following the lead of Hanna Ranch and Hercules Middle and Hercules High Schools by holding these meetings in the evenings, allowing working parents the opportunity to attend.  Our schools need to respond to the changing needs of their stakeholders.  Most parents cannot attend meetings at 2:30 in the afternoon. 

I expect teachers to communicate all expectations, including a clear and accurate schedule of assignments and deadlines.  I expect teachers to use the latest technologies for purpose of keeping parents informed of their child’s progress.  If teachers help me succeed as a parent, I will help the teachers succeed at their mission.  WCCUSD teachers have a very very difficult job, so I do want to help them succeed.  It is a win-win.

I want a school managed by a principal who builds bridges with the community as Principal Matt Burnham has done with Portola Middle School in El Cerrito.  It’s also in their stated job description.  This means having a Superintendent who encourages and supports the building of such relationships instead of constantly relocating our principals.  A principal from another district recently told me it wasn't uncommon for a principal to remain with a particular school for 10 years.  (Side note: As I am writing this, I have just been informed that there is a rumor that there might be a developing story at Ohlone.  I hope this is not the case.)

The byproduct of building such relationships is a community that can better support our teachers, children and principals and other school staff, include School Resource Officers.  The fact that our teachers are having to spend their valuable time making phone calls to parents of truant children means many parents are not doing their part.  We need to hear this from our schools' leaders.  They need to be very vocal.  Some parents need to be reminded to fulfill their responsibilities as a parent.  To parents who are struggling with their child, do not be ashamed.  Ask for help from your friends and neighbors.  I might be doing the same some day judging from the 40 pounds of attitude I’m already being confronted with.  Children after-all, do have minds of their own.  Again, remember the “it takes a village” philosophy.  It really does.

So what do you want from your school?