SO MUCH TO DO SO LITTLE TIME

How did we get here?  As educators we talk about expectations in detail this time of the year.  What is your expectation for students, for staff, for learning, for safety, for the football team?  You get the drift.  Everyone has great expectations going into a new year.  How are expectations sustained throughout the year?  How can administrators give the time necessary to meet the safety expectations of the district?  And now the Office of Safety & Security (Texas Education Agency’s newest accountability office) releases a new reporting mechanism for school districts to upload district safety & security data.  This is after the same office released a 9-page document request and vulnerability assessment that will be followed up with a vulnerability audit.  District dates for audits forthcoming.

Don’t get me wrong.  I am in complete agreement with any necessary steps taken to assure the safety of staff and students.  However, as districts have been preparing for the start-up of a new school year, the State sends out the initial vulnerability assessment on June 3rd and the “Sentinel” data collection software July 24th.  Now on top of preparation for a new school year administrators must work into their schedule the TIME to complete these expectations.  The assumption must be that each district’s safety & security director will be the person responsible the completion and implementation of the newest expectations.  The unfortunate concern is that many school districts do not have a position that is solely responsible for safety.  The person who is given that role has a plate that is already full.

Enough said for today.  Overwhelming for districts.  Hoping that there isn’t a lot of box checking.