This is a state that is 42nd in the nation in high school completion (65.6 percent) and the Kent School District completion rate (58.2 percent) is less than that of the state of Washington according to “Education Week.”
The changes that are required to improve the Kent School District will require courage to face the “hard” issues and to take decisive actions that will alter the “Business as Usual” approach that most school districts in this state have taken.
“Change is hard, particularly when you think you are doing well. Washington state is a leader in this.” This was the statement made by an advisor to the Secretary of Education in May in Renton.
He also stated that, “more money” would not be available either from the state or the federal governments.
In a recent article in our daily paper there was mention of the need for a new labor force to fill the jobs of retiring aerospace workers as well. Our school districts in this state are currently not up to this task.
Why?
In all too many cases it is the school boards who, because they are volunteers, and because the decisions that need to be made will upset some in their communities, are reluctant to make the changes that would be required to make our schools competitive with our world competition.
Leslie Hamada has demonstrated that she is ready to enter the lion’s den and attempt to slay the lion.
Our children deserve a “lion slayer,” or they will be eaten!
Charles Hoff
Kent
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