12/21/11: A step toward accountability

This op-ed appeared in The Virginian-Pilot on the date shown.

IT TOOK 17 years for Virginia to pass legislation that allowed for elected school boards. Del. David G. Brickley, a Democrat from Woodbridge, introduced legislation every year beginning in 1976. By the time the law passed in 1992, every state except Virginia allowed elected school boards.

As of 2009, there were 111 elected and 25 appointed school boards in Virginia. Despite previous efforts, Nor-folk continues to fall into the latter category.

One big issue with elected school boards is taxing authority. You need look no further than Virginia Beach’s recent squabbles over funding to realize the importance of that authority. Virginia’s school boards lack the ability to levy taxes to support their operations and objectives and are dependent upon another governmental entity for funding. According to the Education Commission of the States, in 2004 school systems in only nine of the 50 states are so fiscally dependent.

A study of the issue by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission is supported by the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia School Boards Association, and legislation requesting it was first introduced in 2000; however, no such legislation was introduced in 2011.

The research on elected school boards versus appointed ones is mixed. What everyone agrees is that student achievement is the most pressing concern and that academic performance is significantly related to the percentage of students from low-income homes. The primary reason for elected school boards is accountability. There is a belief that elected school boards are more responsive to the taxpayers.

But what exactly does this accountability mean?

For me, it means that the school system is producing students capable of competing in our global society. For me, that means students graduating from high school with the basic three R’s: reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic.

Back in the classroom after an eight-year hiatus, I was surprised at how many students lack these basic skills. My students will tell you that my favorite phrase became “reading is fundamental.” To me, reading is not just the ability to pronounce the words but also to understand what they mean.

Being able to add, subtract, multiply and divide — without using a calculator — seems pretty basic to me. Having handwriting that is legible (is that a 9 or a 4?) and being able to construct a sentence (is that “there” or “their”?) also are requirements.

In his budget, the governor proposed additional funding for STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — disciplines in the state’s colleges and universities. Increasing the number of degrees in these fields is a laudable goal, but you can’t get there unless the students graduating from high school have the necessary basic skills.

I want my tax dollars to be used to move Norfolk toward graduating students with these skills. And I’d love the ability to cast my vote for candidates who promise to deliver.