Now the Principals Are Threatening to Quit

According to the February 7th Baltimore Sun article, the principal of the Baltimore Talent Development High School is going to quit if Augusta Fells Savage High School is placed in the same building as his - Harlem Park. A little background in case you don't read the article... As mandated by the State of Maryland, Baltimore City has to close down "x" (I don't know the exact number) square feet of educational space in order to receive a funding increase. One major project in the closure process has been the old Southwestern High School building in West Baltimore. Formerly, four high schools were located in this building, including my own, Vivien T. Thomas. However, after last year my high school as well as the Renaissance Academy relocated to different buildings (we received our own building and Renaissance moved to Booker T.). Remaining are Augustus Fells and the old #412 - now an alternative school. Next year, the School Realignment program has slated Augustus Fells to move to Harlem Park, current home to Talent Development. Talent Development is a semi city-wide school whereby students gain entrance through a lottery process. Right now, TD is making great strides. Essentially, the principal of TD is threatening to quit if AFS moves into their building because he fears that the "atmosphere will be significantly altered." What kind of statement is this? I can't imagine what the students of AFS think of themselves when they see a front page article that says a principal will quit if they're forced to move into his building!

Now, this article brings forth a vast array of issues. However, I'm going to focus on the idea of the realignment being beneficial first. Last year, we moved from the Southwestern building to our own building. For us this was a fantastic move. We got our own new building and it was rehabbed specifically for us (even though I still don't have heat/air or a working doorknob). But, we're the very lucky, extremely few. Everyone else that will be moving will be forced to move into buildings that they will have to share with other high schools. This is an incredible concept to me. I am extremely curious as to the "true" motivations behind this realignment. The plan is terrible overall, and what I see are buildings that have great real estate potential being shut down and sold to private organizations. Is this really for the students? Who's really winning with this whole process?

My next comment has to do with the planning included in this process. Even if the motivations are pure, why is the school system incapable of planning appropriately? At the beginning of this year, our school was maybe 50% ready and moved. Yet, we started the year behind the ball and have not been able to catch up yet. It seems as if the message to the kids is that this year was just a trial run and it more or less a wash... Also, what goes into the planning of combining high schools? The principal of TD may have some valid claims, but what is he saying to the kids of West Baltimore that don't attend his high school? Does he view his school as an oasis amongst the chaos? I feel bad for the whole situation. It doesn't seem like there are any winners here.

My last comment will revolve around the long-term outcomes. Where does the school system see itself in ten years? This is a massive PUBLIC institution, and I have a great deal of trouble finding information about it. As a public entity funded by public tax dollars, shouldn't the process be completely transparent? Everyone who pays property tax is funding this initiative yet it seems like you either have to be behind the curtain or know the man/woman pulling the levers to have any input into the direction of the change. Why are we going year to year without a clear and present long-term goal? If the goal is just to close buildings to receive money, I think we may have misjudged our priorities.

Overall, I think this whole realignment process is doomed to the political wants of vested interests. Very few kids seem to be winning. By going through this process to acquire public funds, we're creating situations whereby a principal of an effective high school is going to the front page of the Maryland section of the Sun to threaten his resignation. We're setting up kids against kids, and schools against schools. Is this really effective change?