The following letter was sent to the Board of Education.
I am a kindergarten teacher at Point Dume Marine Science School and I used to be a teacher at SMASH. I am a big fan of the small school. To that end I had an idea. I appreciate that the district is in a financial pinch and I thought of a win-win scenario that would benefit the small schools in the district.
I am proposing that central office administrators conduct their duties, most of which, I believe, are done by phone or e-mail, at the small school sites on the days when the site administrator is off campus. I am actually proposing more than that. I am proposing that a central office administrator create a working relationship with a small school so that they not only have someone who can be extra support on campus but also someone who is an advocate for the school throughout the district.
I am often the “administrator in charge” when Chi Kim is not there and I have truly appreciated having Dr. Samarge-Powell on campus so that I can focus on my classroom students and not have to worry about the other things that occur on a daily basis at a small school. I think that my colleagues at the other small schools in the district would enjoy the same kind of relationship.
I have put together a suggested list of administrators and sites that might create a compatible relationship which would benefit students, teachers and the entire learning community of the district’s small schools and not cost one penny. I would be happy to forward my suggested list to anyone at the district office.
Kennith Harris