Where do I start with Bentley? After spending two years* there with my son, I
feel a certain level of investment with its success. But, by no means do I feel entitled to
anything, even perhaps a say in its future.
I am not a Bentley parent or stakeholder…just another community
member. I will be clear - Bentley was not a choice
for us when choosing a kindergarten.
Part of this was based on our experience there at the Early Childhood
Center (leading to my choice not to enroll either of my other children there). The fact that Bentley is a level four school
did not scare me. The added funding,
oversight and innovation actually attracted me.
I know how the school needs more involved parents – and I would have
been one of them. But, I also worried
about instability – what if the plan didn’t work? I know the challenges the school faces and,
with three children, my time is limited with what I can do inside and outside
of the school. I experienced enough
instability there as my son had five teachers over the course of two years at
the Early Childhood Center. (Mind you,
they were all great teachers.) Geographic
proximity factored in a little bit – it is not our neighborhood school. When we were one of the 25 families that did
not get assigned in the first round in 2011, I had to decline the offer of a
spot at Bentley. This was more painful
than most would assume – we had connections there, we knew many of the teachers
and staff, the principal…there was some level of comfort that would make the
transition to kindergarten easier.
I share the background because I don’t want anyone to think
that I approach this topic without any concern for the teachers and families
there. I know very well what the
potential disruption could mean for the community – especially for a group of students
who are already at a disadvantage. I
wanted to say at Monday’s meeting that I sincerely respect the impact that this
decision will have. In the immediate
sense, it impacts every individual who sets foot in that building, whether it
be teacher, staff or student. It also
affects their families. When the net is
cast that large, I feel compelled to take a step back and really think about rushing
to say “yay” or “nay”.
I will say that I felt a little intimidated by the sea of
green Bentley shirts. But I admire the
solidarity and passion. There were many
moments that I wanted to cry with them.
It is easy to see this discussion as “us” versus “them”. In the very basic sense, it easily comes down
to that. Abandoning the current model
for something different gives the impression that the community is giving up or
feels that faculty/staff aren’t doing enough to make the needed progress. I do understand that progress is being made
and I see and hear it. People there are
working their asses off – blood, sweat, and tears. Is it possible that their “all” is not enough? Is it possible that it was never enough and
they were fighting a losing battle? I
feel that intervention might have come too late for Bentley. I don’t want to re-hash the “why?” and “how?” And, to a fair degree, I understand why the
district opted for this model. Both the
principal at Bentley and Superintendent were new – perhaps given their lack of
history in the district, they did not understand how deep the issues ran. Given the lack of oversight as Bentley turned
south, it’s unlikely that anyone understood the whole picture. But, with that in mind, it seems fair to give
everyone a shot to try to turn things around.
I was cautiously optimistic…concerned whether it was really possible,
but hopeful. Hindsight, working as it
does, probably dictates otherwise. Making
a bold change (like the one presented Monday) from the get go might have also
seemed unfair and rash - not much different than it does now.
I don’t have the luxury of being in the room during all of
these meetings going on behind the scene.
I also don’t need to see all of the data to know that we are not making
the progress we need to make. At the end
of the day, or three years, the decision rests with the DESE. If they are saying that we are not making
adequate progress, I think we need to heed the warning. I hear that the will and desire is there to
make this happen - but is it enough to pull this off in a year and a half? Do we have the time to make the gains that we
needed to make (plus a little extra now) a year and a half ago? This plan was a little risky back then…now,
half way in, I am scared. Really. If the consequences were not so dire, like
sliding from level 3 to 4, I would feel a little more inclined to stay the
course. But the consequences are much more
serious. Right now we are at the table
with flexibility and control. If things
don’t trend sharply upward, the state will take over…and take all that
flexibility and control with them.
Please trust in my sincerity with this – it makes me sick to
my stomach that we are at this point. I
didn’t want it to come to this. I do not
approach this casually given the implications.
And, there are more conversations to have, things to consider, and
questions to ask. But, the decision is
pretty clear to me. I like the option of
a state takeover a great deal less than I like the option of handing the school
over to Justin Vernon and colleagues. I
don’t see another option in the equation, despite all of the care and
effort. I also like that Mr. Vernon is
local – he has a vested stake in this beyond academics. I think that the Bentley community would
greatly benefit from a fresh start. At
least we are in the driving seat and in a position to stipulate some of the
details now. We need to take advantage
of that because some of the words from DESE were ominous. And as harsh as their words seem, I feel that
they are being kind.
In closing, I will shift to some positive thoughts. Can you imagine families hoping and praying
to send their children to Bentley? Or
families asking to transfer their children from other schools in Salem to
Bentley? I can. That could certainly help with shifting the
demographic there. I feel that everyone
benefits from diversity – not just low-income or non-low-income students,
English-speakers or non-English-speakers.
But, sadly, I don’t see this happening without big changes. Okay, I will stop rambling now.
*My son spent a third year in the Bentley school as a
Saltonstall kindergartener, due to the construction last year.
