Reaping the whirlwind

In the Book of Hosea, the Prophet Hosea said about Israel, "For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind."  (Hosea 8:7, King James Version)  

During the last school year, District decisions created a great deal of anxiety among teachers, staff and administrators.  The anxiety was palpable to anyone who had ears to hear.  We know that there has been a historic turnover of building-level administrators.  The District will see another year of 10%+ turnover of teaching staff

District parents and supporters need to watch for the release of the Missouri MAP scores.  Pay particular attention to the middle school scores.  We expect to see a significant drop in achievement at the middle school level.

The School Board sent a chilling message to its administrators - and the teachers were listening closely.  The residency policy and its across-the-board implementation to existing principals essentially said, "We don't care about your life, your family, your home, your church, your wallet, your future.  Instead, loyalty to ISD is foremost to everything else."  (Interestingly, in political terms, this would be considered fascism when the individual must subjugate himself to the State.)

During the Spring Semester, the vast majority of administrators were - understandably so - preoccupied with their possible future in the District.  Many actively looked for work.  Many were absent for interviews.  Some who found jobs were "checked out".

At the same time, the School Board was hearing proposals to realign the middle schools.  Until March, teachers didn't know whether or not this change would happen in the next or following year.

Both teachers and principals were anxious and preoccupied during the Spring Semester.  It will be said that people should have risen above all this.  That is easier said than done.  Teachers and principals are human just like everyone else.

So, hopefully the dramatic decline in test scores will be seen in its proper light.  District-level decisions and a failure to support its front-line employees led to increased chaos in the schools.

Will the School Board intervene and stop the chaos or will it continue to support decisions which "reap the whirlwind"?