The New Normal: Leading Schools in an Era of Declining Reso - PowerPoint Presentation

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The New Normal: Leading Schools in an Era of Declining Resources

Ron WilliamsonEastern Michigan UniversityHoward JohnstonUniversity of South Florida

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The New Normal

“I am here to talk today about…the New Normal. For the next several years…educators…face the challenge of doing more with less. [T]his challenge can, and should be, embraced as an opportunity to make dramatic improvements. [E]

normous opportunities for improving the productivity of our education system lie ahead if we are smart, innovative, and courageous in rethinking the status quo. It's time to stop treating the problem of educational productivity as a grinding, eat-your-broccoli exercise. It's time to start treating it as an opportunity for innovation and accelerating progress

.”- Arne Duncan, US Secretary of EducationSlide3

The New Normal

Or, Put More Succinctly…“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” - Ram Emmanuel, Chicago MayorSlide4

Features of the New Normal

Fewer general funds resourcesResources are targeted or program specificIncreased accountability at lower levels of system

More competition from alternative school organizationsLoss of job security, stepped salary increases, union protectionsSlide5

What Probably Won’t Work

Waiting for things to get back to “normal.” This is it – the New Normal.Getting more funding from traditional sources. 1960 ~70% households had kids in school2010 ~20% households had kids in schoolMoving to another state. (Well…maybe Wyoming or North Dakota)Slide6

Opportunity Knocks?

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.Thomas Edison

I hate the fact that we have less money, but this current [budget] crisis does give us some leverage to do things we’ve wanted to do…needed to do…but lacked both the internal and public support, and, frankly, the political will, to do.Florida SuperintendentSlide7

The Four Rs

Reduce – Making necessary cuts in a fair, reasonable, transparent and humane mannerRefine – reorganize, streamline, or improve efficiencies without harming the school’s core mission

Re-Prioritize – Link activity to core mission and provide for review as finances changeRegenerate – generate additional resources or find new sources of funding for innovation and growthSlide8

The Four Rs in Practice

REDUCE

Irrigon - Used Kindles and iPads; recovered costs first year by reducing textbook purchases (Got grants for the technology.)

Reedsport Charter - Had to reduce elective staff; used "registered" teachers – lay folks with temporary permit to teach a class or two

Stanfield

- moved to 4day week; saved on transportation/heating/food service. Used Friday for PD and for staff planningSlide9

The Four Rs in Practice

REFINE2. LaGrange Park, IL – integrated exploratory units into core subjects and made core classes 90 minutes. (STEM units are now in science; art in language arts; music in social studies; health in math).

3. Florida – ELL software and technology provided for students and their families.

West Desert –

Use online classes to meet needs of specific students (advanced mathematics, languages, sciences, AP prep).Slide10

The Four Rs in Practice

REGENERATEPowers, Myrtle Point, Coquille, Camas Valley – hire one Spanish teacher, advanced science and math teachers; streamed instruction into the four districts. Some face-to-face time in each school

Yoncalla ES/MS – sought external funds to support greenhouse and hands-on projects for students; used greenhouse as basis for more grants & partnerships. Slide11

The Four Rs in Practice

REGENERATE 2Elkton JHS/HS – sought grants to build and staff a science/math center and then became a charter to attract students from other districts

Ann Arbor Pioneer HS – sought cell phone towers for grounds; provided access for both students and staff; moved toward BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) initiative to improve instructionSlide12

The Four Rs in Practice

RE-PRIORITIZEKansas – Changing demographics boost need for ELL programs. (1) content-based ELL courses offered in core subjects; (2) re-designed exploratories are ELL rich.

Oregon – Double periods of math and English provide grade level instruction and need-based tutorials.Flipped Classrooms –

use technology for information delivery; class time is used for practice, tutorials, and coaching.Slide13

Necessary Leadership Skills

VisionaryInspirationalStrategicDisciplinedConfidentAction-Oriented and DecisiveEthicalEntrepreneurial