I see from reviewing the LO Deck that several of you have been inquiring as to why the Lakewood City Schools did not participate in “Race to the Top.”
One of the reasons the Lakewood City Schools has been so successful over the years is our focus on the most important work for accomplishing our educational mission with Lakewood’s students. Make no mistake that we have been and are more than willing to get involved with whatever it takes to get federal funding to benefit our students, help with our educational mission, and keep costs down. For example, this year Title I services have been expanded in all our elementary schools and extended to Lincoln.
After careful consideration, the Lakewood City Schools chose not to get involved in “Race to the Top” for the following reasons:
- 1. “Race to the Top” is a reform effort. Its intent is to throw out everything and do things differently. Given all the efforts in recent years that resulted in achieving our “Excellent” rating, the Lakewood City Schools does not think that this approach is appropriate for Lakewood. We know that there are things we need to do better. We need to continually improve. But, we do not need reform to the extent federally mandated by “Race to the Top.”
2. In the short time frame available for making the decision to participate in “Race to the Top,” it was impossible to determine if the funding Lakewood would receive would be adequate to meeting the responsibilities and expectations of participating in this program.
3. The approach mandated by “Race to the Top” was: jump on board, you will get money, the federal government will tell you more of what you have to do later, and the federal government promises that you will like it … whatever the “it” is.
4. While many school districts in the area applied for the program, not all did, and each has to determine whether it made sense for their district. In essence, “Race to the Top” is designed to find innovative ways to turn around failing schools or districts. While every school, including ours, can be improved, the changes that make sense for some schools do not necessarily make sense for the Lakewood City Schools. For us, the Lakewood City Schools has to balance the funds with the required changes that would be imposed.
5. Just as important, participation in “Race to the Top” would cause the Lakewood City Schools to lose the local control and decision-making ability that has brought our school district success.
6. In the end, hesitancy by both the administration and our teachers led the Lakewood City Schools to decline to apply for this program. We simply cannot justify the radical changes that would be imposed on the programs, classes, and staff that have produced achievement for the Lakewood City Schools and value to our Community.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Dr. P. Joseph Madak directly. And, as always, please feel free to attend our next regular school board meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., at Horace Mann Cafetorium, 1215 West Clifton Boulevard, Lakewood, Ohio.
Matt
