Comments for PAR backs Pastorek plan for school boards at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 2 out of 2 comments http://www.theind.com Sat, 25 May 2013 00:26:12 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/home/4065#comment-468 I agree with Layne St. Julien's comment of March 20, "(La. school) problems are related to student performance and an achievement gap between wealthy and poor children." She asks if placing term limits on school board members, along with other restrictions, will have an effect on these problems. Fair question. Early indications from dysfunctional school systems like the deplorable one in Washington DC, indicate the answer to her question is quite possibly yes. But the reasons for the encouraging early progress probably have less to do with setting board term limits and more to do with a radical shift in responsibilty and power within the management of the school system, essentially turning the school board into a policy driver while empowering the school district's superintendent with the primary responsiblity and authority to run the schools. In DC the superintendent's authority now includes the power to fire underperforming teachers and principals, while incentivizing those professionals who meet new performance standards with dramatic increases in pay in exchange for meaningful increases in student performance. According to The New York Times (March 22, 2009), "test results (in the DC system) show more educational gains were made last year than in the previous four years put together." Results like these, even though preliminary, warrant serious attention. In the weeks ahead The Independent will explore these issues in depth as debate begins over the reform proposals of State Education chief Paul Pastorek. We look forward to hearing more from the likes of Ms. St. Julien. Her observations, questions and tone set the bar for all of us. Steve May - Stevem@theind.com Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:12:42 +0100 http://www.theind.com/home/4065#comment-440 What Pastorek, and PAR, fail to tell us is exactly how making these changes in the school boards' structure will in any way improve the schools. PAR rightly notes that Louisiana schools have a lot of problems . . . but these problems are related to student performance and an achievement gap between wealthy and poor children. Will placing term limits on school boards, and putting other restrictions on them, have any effect whatsoever on these difficulties? Tell me how. - Layne St. Julien Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:36:40 +0100