The recent reports from the state board of education paint a grim picture of the Monroe City School system’s failure to adequately educate minority students. With the majority of minority students performing below basic expectations in math, science, English, and social studies across most schools, it’s clear that the current approach is not working.
Even schools with seemingly positive letter grades like Wossman “B” or Carroll “C” are not exempt from this troubling trend. Even at these schools, most of the students are performing below basic standards in core subjects. The average ACT score at Carroll is 14 and 15 at Wossman.
The appointment of Rev. Sam Moore, III, as the new superintendent brings hope for change. However, history has shown that merely changing leadership or making minor adjustments is insufficient to address the deeply rooted systemic problems plaguing our schools.
Past efforts, including shuffling principals and teachers, tweaking schedules, and experimenting with new approaches, have yielded minimal improvements at best.
The state superintendent of education wants to take over two dozen schools in Louisiana, including Madison Foster Elementary, which underscores the severity of the situation. State takeovers, while rare, often result in the sweeping changes that local districts are reluctant to implement. These changes can include merging schools, adopting recovery school models similar to charter schools, eliminating hindrances caused by disruptive scheduling and insufficient instructional time, and more.
It’s time for our school leaders to demonstrate courage and commitment to make real change. The easy path of making minor adjustments here and there has proven ineffective.
What we need now are bold, sweeping changes that address the root causes of our educational shortcomings.
These changes may be uncomfortable and may face resistance from those accustomed to the status quo. However, we must remember that the stakes are high. We’re not just talking about statistics or school ratings; we’re talking about the future of our children and our community.
As a community, we should not only expect these sweeping changes but also actively support them when they are proposed. We must be willing to endure short-term discomfort for long-term gain.
Our school board, superintendent, and community leaders need to work together to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for reform.
This may involve rethinking how we structure our schools, how we allocate resources, how we train and support our teachers, and how we engage with families and the community. It may require us to challenge long-held assumptions and be open to innovative approaches that have proven successful in other districts facing similar challenges.
The time for half-measures and incremental changes has passed. If we continue on the current path, we can expect the same disappointing results.
Let us rally behind our new superintendent and encourage him to be bold in his vision and decisive in his actions. Let the chips fall where they may
The education of every child in the system depends on what he does.
