Beauchman: Who’s driving the school bus?

Our country is at a crucial point, and the impact will be deeply felt in our schools. The path our schools have journeyed over recent years has been rocky and inconsistent at best, and the road ahead will pose even greater challenges and risks. Hopefully, we won’t have to go over the cliff before we recognize the real threats to our education system and democracy.

An opinion article in San José Spotlight written by several community leaders — Public Education in Santa Clara County Needs a Defender — frames the Santa Clara County Office of Education crisis around lost union jobs at the county’s office. One of the co-authors is the president of the SEIU union at the office of education, and the expressed ideas are understandable. Indeed, no one wants to see anyone lose their job, especially those who serve children with special needs. But how can we ignore a reality where local districts are closing schools and laying off personnel?

However, the disappointing oversight was the omission in the opinion article of what has happened at the office of education over the past six months. First, the board unceremoniously dismissed the superintendent. Then, an interim superintendent proposed personnel cuts in response to state requirements that school employees be notified months in advance if their positions might be eliminated. It’s common practice in education to give these notifications and then withdraw them once more information about the upcoming year becomes available. Subsequently, a new superintendent inherited this difficult situation and has had little time to evaluate or plan.

It’s impossible to overstate how our education system and democracy are on a dangerous course, pushed by declining funding from federal and state governments, with more cuts likely ahead. Given the economic uncertainty we face, public education needs to stay focused on its most significant challenges. Our schools have traditionally been unable to meet the academic needs of students living in poverty, especially if they are Black or brown. The pandemic only made things worse.

Literacy continues to be a barrier to academic success and higher education. Recent state testing performance data indicate only 38% of socio-economically disadvantaged students met reading standards. The results for Black and Hispanic students were similar, 42% and 32% respectively. Asian and white student scores were significantly better, with 82% and 75% respectively, meeting standards. We know that reading competency by the third grade is a consistent indicator of future academic success. Accordingly, these results mirror the proportion of high school students graduating meeting the University of California and California State University requirements. This inequity is at the heart of the crisis confronting our schools and society.

Our current challenge is an opportunity to honestly and collectively assess our commitment to creating a system that works for all students. In many ways, California discourages new approaches due to institutional sclerosis and special interests, whether the interests be business, labor or otherwise. The suggestions provided by the opinion article mentioned above failed to adequately recognize or address the real challenges caused by short-term budget concerns or the long-term effectiveness of the system.

We must come together in dialogue to find innovative ways to break down bureaucratic barriers between the county, cities and districts and work to rethink how our limited resources can be best used to support all students and safeguard our future as a democratic society. Our schools must do better. Let’s get on the school bus. All aboard.

Leon Beauchman is president of the Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators and served as a board trustee at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. He has worked as a therapist supporting students in local school districts.