School leader must answer for test scores

The District 51 school board is currently negotiating with the superintendent of schools to renew his contract.
After their recent election, the two new board members commented how pleased they were with the direction of the district. Recently the board president rejoiced when the superintendent was not hired by another district.
Last week’s third-grade CSAP scores tied the record low performance for the district and continue a consecutive four-year slide from the high of 77 percent proficient and advanced to the current 65 percent.
District 51 is now 17th out of the 20 largest districts in Colorado. Recently the district admitted a graduation rate of only 69 percent. Results on other measurements are dropping.
And yet, when given an opportunity to comment on this year’s third-grade CSAP reading scores, the superintendent was “unavailable for comment.”
As a parent, a community member, a taxpayer and a long-time observer of district activities, I suggest it is time to cease negotiations on any new contract for the current superintendent. Allow the contract to expire and allow him to move along. Then conduct a real search for a proven reformer, no more home-grown friends.
Bring in a real reformer. Give and expect him or her to make personnel and policy changes needed to change student outcomes.
There are obvious problems in this organization and the board needs to acknowledge that the direction of the district is alarming and needs to change, now! Anything less is simply perpetuating the current disastrous situation of this school district.
DOUG STARKGrand Junction

Where are legal workers
for agricultural jobs

I read recently in GJSentinel.com about the problems one employer was having getting help on his farm because of the current law on illegal immigrants.
My question is: Where are all the legal workers who are supposedly waiting in line to take the place of the illegal immigrants?
HOWARD GALYEANPuerto Penasco, Mexico

Hiring illegals is not
only option for business

I feel the front page May 1 article titled, “Worker Erosion,” is worthy of some comments.
If someone reading the article was unfamiliar with the issues surrounding illegal immigration, they might well think that Grand Valley Hybrids is suffering unnecessarily due to some misguided attempt at securing our country’s borders. It appears obvious from Mark Harris’ comments that he is lamenting the “good old days” when he had a ready pool of illegal immigrant workers he could employ.
There is no “unfriendly climate toward immigrants in Colorado,” as he states. This is a distortion. The reason there are fewer illegal workers from which to draw is because the American people have become fed up with all the problems associated with illegal immigration and have demanded at least token enforcement of our laws.
Anyone who has ever run a business can see that Mr. Harris clearly has options. He can raise the wages he is offering to attract citizens and legal immigrants to work.
Still can’t find workers? Mr. Harris can bring in an unlimited number of agricultural workers from other countries under the H2A Visa program. Yes, there are forms to fill out and procedures that must be adhered to, just as with any business.
If Grand Valley Hybrids must raise the prices of its products to cover increased labor costs, then so be it. We, as a society, will all be better off.
GARY AKERSFruita

This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 10:00 am and is filed under Printed letters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.