By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A long-range plan for the St. Joseph School District is more than just a proposal to reduce the number of high schools in the city from three to two.
It also contains proposals to keep good teachers as well as raise student academic scores.
St. Joseph School Superintendent Gabe Edgar proposed adopting a four-day school week as a way to attract more quality teachers to the district. The St. Joseph School Board narrowly defeated the proposal. Edgar says there really aren’t many options to get and keep the teachers St. Joseph needs.
“In order to get people in the classrooms, you’re going to have to pay them more or you’re going to have to have something outside of the box like the four-day week,” Edgar tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post during an interview in his office. “And those are your only two options.”
This is the conclusion of our two-part series on the long-range plan school administrators have drafted.
The St. Joseph School District is considering asking voters to approve a 51-cent increase in the school levy in August to increase teacher pay. Edgar says recruiting quality teachers and raising student academic scores go hand-in-hand.
Edgar adds he is concerned about recent low student test scores.
“I’m worried,” Edgar acknowledges. “I’ve said this. People have heard me say this. I’ve said it publicly. I really think that we’re at a crossroads and we’re going to have to get something figured out. Big change has to happen in order to fix the academics.”
The district is considering individualized academic plans for each student and not just academic, but vocational-technical as well; plans designed to fit the individual student.
“We have to do a better job of offering an education to every kid, not just a certain group of kids,” Edgar says. “And I think once we get to the ‘every kid,’ then that’s where we become successful.”
Edgar points to the success of the Hillyard Technical Center and states students who might not enjoy academics, might see promise in getting their hands dirty and learning a skill that could lead to a high-paying job. But he says the district must get to those students early, before they get discouraged and drop out. Absenteeism plays a big role in poor academic scores. Edgar says the district must find the interest of the student and tailor course work toward that interest.
Edgar says administrators drafted the long-range plan for a reason.
“Gets attention,” Edgar replies simply. “That’s my biggest hope is that people realize that we do have problems recruiting and retaining (teachers). We do have academic problems. We do have facility problem and something has to happen.”
Edgar says he hopes the long-range plan evokes discussion, maintaining his belief that the St. Joseph School District is on the brink of opportunity.
Click HERE for a link to the long-range plan.
Click HERE for Part One.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.