District 6: Why Is It Important?

Imagine for a moment that you had a job where you could get regular pay raises, benefits and stability for years, without any measurable improvement in your achievements.  You could perform at a low level while demanding people recognize you for high-grade performance.  Sounds stupid?  Yes.  And yet it happens every day here in the Greeley/Evans area.

Weld County District 6 is the third largest employer in Weld County.  It is also one of the worst-performing school districts in Colorado.  Let's take a look at some of their own statistics and see if we can understand some of the issues.  Each one of these stats is directly available from District 6 itself.

• Between 2007 and 2010 English Learning students went from a proficiency level of 35.9 percent to 50 percent.  That is a 15.1 percent increase in four years!  Excellent!  Apparently those in the program (teachers and students) were highly motivated to teach and to learn.

• Student attendance in District 6 increased from 91 percent to 93 percent, a 2 percent increase between 2006 and 2010.  These stats show a commitment to be in school by the student.  Excellent once again!

• Student engagement, where students are queried regarding their engagement in learning, has been measured on a scale of 1-5 for the past 3 years.  The three years (2008-2010) have measured high at 3.9 to 3.91 out of five.  Students are engaged in their learning process.

• Students that graduate "on time," based on four years of school attendance beginning in 9th grade have been tracked for 2 years (based on adjusted national standards conformity).  In 2009 only 65.3 percent of 4 year students graduated.  In 2010 this declined to 64.2 percent.  Roughly 35 percent of District 6 students do not graduate on time, or at all.

• Reading:  District 6 students have been measured consistently between 2006-2010 in their reading achievements.  Those reading at a proficient or advanced level were 54.2 percent in 2006.   In 2010 this had increased to only 58.3 percent, a mere 4.1 percent increase.  Reading is a fundemantal teaching mandate.  This is clearly a failing grade.

• Writing:  District 6 students were also measured for their writing skills between 2006-2010.  Writing at a proficient or advanced level stood at 42 percent in 2006; in 2010 it shows a 42.8 percent proficiency rate.  This is appalling, with less than 1 percent improvement in 5 years.

• Math:  Math is even worse.  In 2006 proficiency scores were listed at 37.8 percent.  In 2010 this had "climbed to 41.1 percent, a 2.3 percent climb over 5 years.  Disgusting.

• Science:  District 6 plummets to the bottom in science.  Scores in 2008 measured at 29.5 percent proficiency, and had risen a mere 1 percent to 30.5 percent in 2010.  Even in the best year, 70 percent of District 6 students were below proficient in science!

• To enter college a student must take the ACT or SAT test.  District 6 11th graders scored at a 17.4 on the ACT in 2006.  In 2010 they scored a 17.9.  Most colleges require a minimum of 20 to be accepted at entrance.  Various community colleges have remedial programs to assist students in advancing their career desires.  So District 6 has been bailed out by AIMS Community College and others, while they failed students locally in the K-12 arena.
  

• One aspect of District 6 works very well.  In 2009 94 percent of parents surveyed were satisfied with District 6.  This climbed 1 percent to 95 percent in 2010.  The students are attending, engaged, and the parents are satisfied.  Yet within the 4 walls of the school compound the results are failing at every level.  Every one.

Do we need better educated teachers?  Forty percent of District 6 teachers have master's degrees.  More than 99 percent of District 6 teachers are rated as highly qualified.  Do we need more food?  You and I pay for free or reduced priced meals for 60 percent of the students.  They can eat well if they choose.

What about money?  According to the District 6 2010 Financial Report the net revenues generated for 2010 were more than $172 million.  That's right!  They may have cut $4 million, but that is really a drop in the bucket compared to what they receive from various sources.  District 6 takes tax money from every person in the region, whether your child or grandchild attends one of their schools, or not.  They spend that money as they decide, and you have little or no say in that matter.  (So don't let them tell you that it's none of your business unless you are a parent to a District 6 child.)

So let's get something straight.  We are paying District 6 administration leaders huge amounts of money to continue to fail, or make small, incremental changes, while they tell us how hard they are working and how well things are (when they are not).  We believe in the children, support the teachers, and try to do what we can to stay out of their way.  And the system remains broken.  When businesses and families look at Greeley in comparison to neighboring communities, it's no wonder they locate in Loveland, Eaton or elsewhere.  Yet, most of the attention of the District 6 board is pointed toward hindering charter schools and choice, supporting a failing administration, and constantly pushing for more money from you and me.

This is why the District 6 race is critical.  Many of the candidates are socialist democrats or retreads.  Suzanne Doerner, Richard Reillly, Marlene Schuman, Ed Spindler, Julia Richard, Valerie Leal-Whitehead and Tannis Bator are all Democrats and will definitely want more money (they all support Prop 103), and a liberal agenda that stands against charter schools, etc.  Lidiak has run and lost before, and is not solid on conservative issues such as voting against Prop 103.  Daviet seems to be stuck on one issue only (curriculum) and may face legal issues with her petition gathering process.  Incumbents Hinze and Richardson are far too supportive of the failing system as incumbents.  Listen to Hinze speak long enough and he will tell you his single issue is to support the current, problematic administration.

This leaves a small group of candidates that must do something to turn District 6 around.  They are: Bret Elliott, Logan Richardson, Tim Pike, Geoff Broughton and Scott Rankin (2 year position candidate).  They will have a highly qualified staff at the school/classroom level.  They will have engaged students.  Everything else should be on the table including calling the current administration to task.  It's that important to this region, and for the lives of the more than 19,000 students they will touch in a significant way.

Comments

[Powerball]

Oh but Shirley, You miss the point.
It's not the people who have sex with those of their like gender that is the problem.
It is the people that do it to themselves, unwittingly or not, that are of major concern.
They are the ones with all the questions.

[BobbyJ.]

Greeley Report wrote: "Imagine for a moment that you had a job where you could get regular pay raises, benefits and stability for years, without any measurable improvement in your achievements. You could perform at a low level while demanding people recognize you for high-grade performance."

You just described EVERY government. They have no customer. They have no competition. They use guns to confiscate pay increase (taxes).

[Shirley]

Sam

[Dennis]

Who said anything about gays?

[Dennis]

Why is always the "gay" thing with you?

[Shirley]

Hey Sam AND Reese: what difference does it make if a school board candidate is tolerant of gays, or as you would say, "gays?" And in case you were uncertain, there are men and women who have sex with people of the same sex. Even some Christians! You are a sad failure of a "man" Sam.

[Sam Hill]

Mr. Reilly. I know you are listed as a Democrat and were not in attendance at the Greeley Republican Women forum for District 6 candidates. I also know you are a GLBT supporter, and have an agenda that despises the current school board. You sought to have them recalled, probably until you discovered how much that would cost. If you want to publicly state your stand regarding prop 103, feel free to respond. Greeley Report readers would like to know.

[Richard Reilly]

This is Richard Reilly. I ask you to do some extra research before posting certain claims. I am absolutely for charter schools, as you can see on my website and any other profile or comment I have made in this election. As for prop 103...how do you know my stance? As of yet, not a single person has asked me. Please do your research.