Seeing the Light
Luis Cortez is an ex-D11 school teacher. He is a former member of the Colorado Springs Education Association. He heads the League of United Latin American Citizens of Colorado Springs (LULAC). He is also a former city councilman. Luis was a strong supporter of the recall movement against Eric Christen and Sandy Shakes. He believed the rhetoric of the anti-reform crowd when they claimed that the reform movement was all about the destruction of our public schools. He believed them when they said that only anti-reformers had the best interests of "the children" in mind. Luis believed them when they said that the administration was truly working hard to improve the state of education in D11.
The following Oped was written by Luis Cortez. It appeared in the December 19th Gazette, just over a year after the recall election.
This past spring, the School District 11 Board of Education voted to close East Middle School. This came only months after a successful recall campaign against reform board members who, we were told, were plotting to “close schools and destroy neighborhoods.” It turns out that these accusations were shock tactics designed to inflame passions and halt much needed change in D11. I worked hard on the recall, passed out petitions, gathered signatures, donated money, and walked my neighborhood, hoping D11 would stabilize, wisely use the half billion dollar budget it controls and educate our children. Will it ever happen? I hope so. It’s not happening now and probably never will given the status of D11.
After the closure of East, a Configuration and Use Study Committee was formed to offer recommendations to the board through the superintendent regarding the reopening of East by 2008. The SCAUSE, made up of 31 original members, voted 14-2, and recommended to the superintendent he pursue opening East as a math/science Magnet School with the $5 million integration grant approved by the Federal Department of Education. As a volunteer on this committee, my suspicions as to the integrity of the committee process were aroused when the administration screened out applicants with established opposing views, hand-picked leaders for the committee rather than allowing the committee membership to choose its own leadership, and stacked the Committee with D11 agents.
It began to sink in that the interpretation of our charge and the purpose of our committee were to make recommendations for the closure of schools. I did not read it that way. Our charge, as I saw it, was to recommend school improvements and techniques to increase student achievement. I saw our role as to collect data to determine what best practices and methodologies would work at East and other struggling middle schools to increase graduation rates, to reduce the dropout rate and close the learning gap for Latino, black and other poor Anglo students.
I thought long and hard about what has transpired and what I had learned from this exercise. Have we elected to the board individuals who value the administration's business-as-usual, the "to get along, go along" and “harmony over truth” way of creating an unhealthy learning environment at the expense of D11 children?
Having attended numerous board meetings, met with the Latino community, and spoken with numerous parents and students, I am led to believe that the "old" board may have been right. I, for decades, was a committed and strong supporter of D11. I was against charter schools and vouchers, I voted for and worked for bond issues because I believed the district was doing its best by students, parents and the community. How wrong I was! Although I was not entirely in concert with the "reformers," my gut feeling is that they had the best interests of students and student achievement as top priority.
Latinos placed their trust in D11, thinking the district would educate their children, provide every element of expertise and professionalism to ensure a quality education for their kids. Instead, they were rewarded with betrayal, and scapegoating, They endured disrespect and were referred to as “those” kids, and saw their neighborhood schools closed.
Yet I see a reluctant, unaccountable educational bureaucracy, controlled by the “good ole boy/girl” interests within D11 that resists discussing with candor, transparency, honesty and professionalism, Latino education issues. The top three "bonus babies" and their minions are in complete denial that a problem exists, as witnessed by their smug attitudes and pronouncements that D11 is doing a great job. They failed miserably to meet the challenges brought in by the new wave of Latino, black and poor Anglo students with unique learning capacities.
They lack creativity, leadership, moral courage, and a desire to alleviate the crisis faced by the Latino children they profess to serve. I don't use the term “crisis” lightly; there is no more accurate way to describe the situation that exists in D11.
As a former City Councilman, I understand the role of elected officials. Their role is to stand watch for the community. They serve to ensure public employees are focused on providing quality service to the taxpayers. The role of the board of education is to advocate for the parents and students of the district. It's time the D11 community - business people, Latino, black, poor Anglo students and parents - informs the board that protecting the status quo is over. It is time for students to take priority over the administration.
After the recall, Luis had his eyes opened to what we reformers had been saying all along. There is a rampant disregard by D11 administrators and anti-reform board members for making the type of effort needed to improve this school district.
Yes, it is a good ole boy network designed to appease adults. Yes, there is no accountability for poor performing teachers or administrators. Yes, D11 is in a crisis that will not resolve itself and that will not be resolved by weak willed leadership. Yes, the current board covers for the administration rather than representing the public.
Luis has discovered that the board members and administrators who promised to do so much good, if only the reformers would stop picking on them, are not honest people. They are not honest about the state of the district, and they certainly are not honest about making efforts to fix what is wrong.
The anti-reformers will have to come up with a new name for Luis Cortez. They can't call him a right-wing zealot, because he certainly isn't right-wing. Rest assured, they will think of some way to attack and belittle him for betraying the trust of the status quo crowd. Nobody is allowed to criticize the elitists on the current board or in the administration. Just feed them 1/2 billion in tax dollars each year and keep your mouths shut.
Thank you, Mr. Cortez, for having the courage to tell it like it is. There are thousands more people in this district who can relate very well to what you have written. The more eyes that are opened, the more chance there is for thousands of D11 students who are being grossly under served.
The following Oped was written by Luis Cortez. It appeared in the December 19th Gazette, just over a year after the recall election.
This past spring, the School District 11 Board of Education voted to close East Middle School. This came only months after a successful recall campaign against reform board members who, we were told, were plotting to “close schools and destroy neighborhoods.” It turns out that these accusations were shock tactics designed to inflame passions and halt much needed change in D11. I worked hard on the recall, passed out petitions, gathered signatures, donated money, and walked my neighborhood, hoping D11 would stabilize, wisely use the half billion dollar budget it controls and educate our children. Will it ever happen? I hope so. It’s not happening now and probably never will given the status of D11.
After the closure of East, a Configuration and Use Study Committee was formed to offer recommendations to the board through the superintendent regarding the reopening of East by 2008. The SCAUSE, made up of 31 original members, voted 14-2, and recommended to the superintendent he pursue opening East as a math/science Magnet School with the $5 million integration grant approved by the Federal Department of Education. As a volunteer on this committee, my suspicions as to the integrity of the committee process were aroused when the administration screened out applicants with established opposing views, hand-picked leaders for the committee rather than allowing the committee membership to choose its own leadership, and stacked the Committee with D11 agents.
It began to sink in that the interpretation of our charge and the purpose of our committee were to make recommendations for the closure of schools. I did not read it that way. Our charge, as I saw it, was to recommend school improvements and techniques to increase student achievement. I saw our role as to collect data to determine what best practices and methodologies would work at East and other struggling middle schools to increase graduation rates, to reduce the dropout rate and close the learning gap for Latino, black and other poor Anglo students.
I thought long and hard about what has transpired and what I had learned from this exercise. Have we elected to the board individuals who value the administration's business-as-usual, the "to get along, go along" and “harmony over truth” way of creating an unhealthy learning environment at the expense of D11 children?
Having attended numerous board meetings, met with the Latino community, and spoken with numerous parents and students, I am led to believe that the "old" board may have been right. I, for decades, was a committed and strong supporter of D11. I was against charter schools and vouchers, I voted for and worked for bond issues because I believed the district was doing its best by students, parents and the community. How wrong I was! Although I was not entirely in concert with the "reformers," my gut feeling is that they had the best interests of students and student achievement as top priority.
Latinos placed their trust in D11, thinking the district would educate their children, provide every element of expertise and professionalism to ensure a quality education for their kids. Instead, they were rewarded with betrayal, and scapegoating, They endured disrespect and were referred to as “those” kids, and saw their neighborhood schools closed.
Yet I see a reluctant, unaccountable educational bureaucracy, controlled by the “good ole boy/girl” interests within D11 that resists discussing with candor, transparency, honesty and professionalism, Latino education issues. The top three "bonus babies" and their minions are in complete denial that a problem exists, as witnessed by their smug attitudes and pronouncements that D11 is doing a great job. They failed miserably to meet the challenges brought in by the new wave of Latino, black and poor Anglo students with unique learning capacities.
They lack creativity, leadership, moral courage, and a desire to alleviate the crisis faced by the Latino children they profess to serve. I don't use the term “crisis” lightly; there is no more accurate way to describe the situation that exists in D11.
As a former City Councilman, I understand the role of elected officials. Their role is to stand watch for the community. They serve to ensure public employees are focused on providing quality service to the taxpayers. The role of the board of education is to advocate for the parents and students of the district. It's time the D11 community - business people, Latino, black, poor Anglo students and parents - informs the board that protecting the status quo is over. It is time for students to take priority over the administration.
After the recall, Luis had his eyes opened to what we reformers had been saying all along. There is a rampant disregard by D11 administrators and anti-reform board members for making the type of effort needed to improve this school district.
Yes, it is a good ole boy network designed to appease adults. Yes, there is no accountability for poor performing teachers or administrators. Yes, D11 is in a crisis that will not resolve itself and that will not be resolved by weak willed leadership. Yes, the current board covers for the administration rather than representing the public.
Luis has discovered that the board members and administrators who promised to do so much good, if only the reformers would stop picking on them, are not honest people. They are not honest about the state of the district, and they certainly are not honest about making efforts to fix what is wrong.
The anti-reformers will have to come up with a new name for Luis Cortez. They can't call him a right-wing zealot, because he certainly isn't right-wing. Rest assured, they will think of some way to attack and belittle him for betraying the trust of the status quo crowd. Nobody is allowed to criticize the elitists on the current board or in the administration. Just feed them 1/2 billion in tax dollars each year and keep your mouths shut.
Thank you, Mr. Cortez, for having the courage to tell it like it is. There are thousands more people in this district who can relate very well to what you have written. The more eyes that are opened, the more chance there is for thousands of D11 students who are being grossly under served.
posted by Craig Cox | 12:50 PM
8 Comments:
Welcome in Luis, the water is warm. While you are late tot he game your passion for kids is welcome and needed.
Now, let's figure out to deal with this awful status quo in D11!
Wonder if this indvidual is the only Chaoser to feel this way? If there are others, I hope they come forward. Boy, those folks were certainly brave enough when they were telling the lies and mistruths to regain control. Hope it happens sooner than later, too.
Terry Bishop's actions regarding East and the minority community are certainly questionable. Cortez is right on that point. But how he makes the leap to say that the recall shouldn't have happened is puzzling. The so-called reformers weren't doing anything to fix anything. Yes, they pointed out every problem (and every perceived problem) in D-11. Big deal. And they became part of the larger problem, as witnessed by the blatherings of Christen and Cox. So do the people who worked on the recall regret their actions. I doubt it. Getting rid of the Shuckites was definitely worth the effort. Does that mean the D-11 administration gets a free pass on anything and everything they do? Nuh uh. Anybody who saw the Bishop-Gustafson caught-in-the-headlights looks at Wednesday's board meeting realize that serious questions are being raised... not the preening and posturing for the cameras and press that Christen and Cox engaged in; that was all for show.
Didn't you vote to fire the former superintendent and hire Bishop, Cox? Was that yet another one of your "gosh, I'm sorry I made that istake" moments?
"Terry Bishop's actions regarding East and the minority community are certainly questionable. Cortez is right on that point. But how he makes the leap to say that the recall shouldn't have happened is puzzling."
Craig: He made that very clear, didn't he? These current board members are Koolaid drinkers for the administration. They lack honesty, leadership, and ideas. That seems pretty straight forward.
"The so-called reformers weren't doing anything to fix anything. Yes, they pointed out every problem (and every perceived problem) in D-11. Big deal."
Craig: Weren't doing anything, huh? We implemented an employee evaluation system for the first time in D11 history (accountability); we put controls on purple packet hiring for the first time in history (accountablity, budget); we implemented a hiring freeze to free up money for the schools (budget); we implemented site based management for the same reason (accountability, budget, student focused instruction); we implemented hard-fast achievement goals for each school in the district for the first time in D11 history (accountability, performace); we implemented an employee bonus system for the first time in D11 history (incentive for achievement); we implemented an RTI system to identify young students with learning difficulties; we placed a bond on the ballot that was the first to pass in a decade; we demanded accountability for the first time in D11 history, resulting in a 3% overall CSAP gain in 04-05 (a small gain which you could not replicate prior to or after us); we cut D11's involvement in meaningless organizations (budget priorities).
Those are just a few. I'll stack my 3 year accomplishments against your 30 year record any day. Go ahead and list your big wins for the students. I'll start for you: you lost 9,000 students in 10 years in a growing county (including 511 more this past year); you are responsible for a 62% male graduation rate and a 74% female graduation rate; you are responsible for a 45% black and Hispanic reading proficiency; you are responsible for a 5.8% black and 10% Hispanic math proficieny; you are responsible for vouchers to select few board members and employees, but not to deserving students.
I'll let you run with it from here. I can see why you are so proud of what you have accomplished, and yes, it really makes you wonder why Luis would be critical.
"And they became part of the larger problem, as witnessed by the blatherings of Christen and Cox."
Craig: Does this sentence even mean anything?
"So do the people who worked on the recall regret their actions. I doubt it. Getting rid of the Shuckites was definitely worth the effort."
Craig: You are big on talk, but short on specifics. Why was it good to remove people who were doing something? Be specific when you tell us what you have accomplished before or after.
"Does that mean the D-11 administration gets a free pass on anything and everything they do? Nuh uh. Anybody who saw the Bishop-Gustafson caught-in-the-headlights looks at Wednesday's board meeting realize that serious questions are being raised..."
Craig: Are you serious? Somebody raised serious questions? Wow, that is a HUGE first step. Who did it? Did they get answers? Next thing you know, they won't just be asking serious questions, they might ask really, really serious questions. That is worth a huge pat on the back. Bishop and the gang must be shaking.
"...not the preening and posturing for the cameras and press that Christen and Cox engaged in; that was all for show."
Craig: Um, I believe it is your side whose big objective is to become elected officials, period. No ideas, no plans, just getting elected is the priority, to feel as if they are "somebody." Remember, it is you who keeps saying that we are "nothings" because we are no longer on the board. It is you who thinks that board membership is some type of special club worthy of high honor. I hear sounds of preening coming straight from your direction.
"Didn't you vote to fire the former superintendent and hire Bishop, Cox? Was that yet another one of your "gosh, I'm sorry I made that istake" moments?"
Craig: I did vote to fire Thomas. Why did your side vote to hire her? Yes, the Bishop hiring was a mistake. He made a lot of big promises for the district in public forums. He wasn't truthful - that's on him, but the consequences harm the entire district. He is in this for himself and his buddies.
And so the attacks on Mr. Cortez begin with an anonymous posting. Until the OPED he was one of them, strong, seeing the light, understanding how "bad" those reformers were for "public education." Now, he apparently has lost his ability to think clearly, and become and embarrassment to the status quo. There answer to all who disagree with the status quo is always the same, attack, attack, the messenger, not the message, thereby hoping to cover up the minority achievement gap that has existed in D11 for over a decade. They seem to believe that if they can tie anyone to Cox and Christen they will doom them to the same fate.
As for the real efforts of the administration, let's look at the recent Math and Science Magnet school fiasco. They applied for a grant that can only be used at one location, a location that was closed by the "new board." Now, they are putting that school on the fast track, claiming it has to be done right now, and that any unanswered questions will be "worked out" in the future. They must have it opened by August, they need additional funds to do that, yet they have no idea how they will fund it after the grant runs out. Sounds like another bond issue.
The rush to get this school going reminds me of the lemmings running off of the cliff, just because they were following the "leaders." Scam artists always have one thing in common, the need to get it done right away, right now, before it is too late. Sound familiar? Does anyone in the district or on the board really know how this will help close the achievement gap? Just to get it going, some students will need summer school to get up to par. Has anyone asked why they are so deficient in math and science? Does that mean that kids going on to "regular" middle schools are also deficient in math and science? Or, is this just another rush to spend taxpayer money? Yes the grant money is ours, not D11's, yet we sit by and seem oblivious to the real crisis, the education of our kids who are our future.
It is time to wake up, Mr. Cortez did, what will it take to get others to fess up?
In defense of Dr. Bishop: if the former board was still in place, Bishop would be doing what needs doing. Because there is a board full of novices who are more concerned about their own political futures than the future of these children, Bishop is floundering, basically unguided by the board that is supposed to be representing us, the community, and giving him clear direction.
I like Bishop, I was glad he replaced the former, and am just as disappointed as the next guy, but I understand the "why" he isn't making any monumental improvements. Nobody is telling him to.
Paying, the only problem I have with what you say is that Bishop now makes $140,000 per year, plus bonus and at-risk pay. What does it say about his leadership that he is just sitting around waiting to be told what to do? That is just plain sad.
Agreed, it is sad, but it is the way it is, across this nation.
Until such time that a board with the cojones tells the super to teach them all and teach them well, we'll continue to roll the train through with way too many cronies on board.
Until the unions stop running the public school systems into the dirt; until mediocre teachers quit or retire; until administrations become lean and mean and incredibly cost effective, nada will change.
You guys came close. Very close. How long will it be before we have a board as brave as you guys were? Hope I live long enough to see it.
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