Main Line Media News (mainlinemedianews.

com)

Main Line Suburban Life > Opinion

As I See It: Does Radnor Township value education?

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

By Sandhya N. Taghavi

On June 7, upward of 35 stakeholders came to the Middle School Library for a Public Open House on Radnor Schools.
Attendees were able to review a 10-board info display. They were also able to dialogue in a safe, no-holds-barred, untimed
environment. A warm thank-you to all attendees, especially Superintendent Grobman, Sharon Learn, Lisa Williamson and
Board Member Chuck Madden for taking two-plus hours to listen and respond to questions and concerns their participation
demonstrated commitment to the good of the process and concern for our students.

An overview with data has been posted to www.Facebook.com/RadnorValuesEducation. No Facebook account is needed.
More Q&A and details will be posted each day this week.

When the FB page was started, the intent was to disseminate information but to not take a position. However, after weeks of
data analysis, research and dialogue, we can no longer refrain from taking a position. There are viable alternatives to a furlough
if we share the burden.

Radnor Values Education recognizes that we must make tough choices. We realize the administration has worked hard to
engage input and put together a proposal to satisfy stakeholders as much as possible. When we challenge an element of the
proposal, it is not to discount the Administrations efforts or perspective. It is simply expression of a different lens.

For example, RTSD made an exceptional choice in hiring the music teacher currently in her third year in the district at Wayne
Elementary School. Any reduction in music is likely to mean she is furloughed. Per parental observation during education week,
this teacher creates unique lessons and puts her soul into teaching 500-plus students in 25-30 sections per week. She does
not rely on check the box instruction based on CDs or books. The students absolutely respond to her. Parents note the energy
and sparkle in their children in daily life and during performances. There is repeated proof that music affects and works on all
levels of development: social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth. It defies logic to think that for about $50k plus benefits,
500-plus WES students will lose this special opportunity to have music feed their holistic growth.

The current proposal modifies instructional support with potential risk to students anywhere on the learning spectrum.
Instructional Support enables the staff to collectively identify and meet the needs of all students as quickly and accurately as
possible. An IST teacher is a generalist who observes and assesses students, works with teachers to ID strategies, provides
learning support to students and monitors effectiveness. As a common thread on all cases, the IST teacher can apply
standards consistently, is efficient in documentation and has a broad database of strategies to share among different cases.
Transferring IST responsibility to the classroom teachers, guidance and specialists creates significant inefficiency. To date there
has been no detailed plan or pilot of a new process with the IST-teacher role eliminated. We do not know of a school district
with similar student needs and parental expectations that has eliminated this role. We will rise to the challenge is not sufficient
planning. When we stress the system, we drop kids. There are viable alternatives if we share the burden.

Our situation is a complex, highly constrained situation. In any solution, it is essential we give due consideration to risks and
long-term implications.
Effectiveness = quality acceptance Through dialogue and by leveraging our collective brainpower, we can create the highest
quality solution. With transparency and more dialogue, we gain acceptance. In this way, we create the most effective solution to
put children first and for Radnor education in the long term.

The budget is not final until the June 22 Board Meeting 7 p.m. at Iven Avenue. Come and show that Radnor does indeed value
education.

Sandhya N. Taghavi lives in Wayne.

URL: http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2010/06/18/main_line_suburban_life/opinion/doc4c18fabda3fc4706641737.prt

2010 mainlinemedianews.com, a Journal Register Property