People have different perceptions about our schools and district. A
look at the dictionary tells us that perception, however, is not
always reality, particularly when such perception is not based in
fact.
Perceptions vary from person to person, and different people
perceive different things about the same situation. But more than
that, we assign different meanings to what we perceive. The following
examples highlight three perceptions that the Glendale school staff
faced this year, and not one of them was based in fact.
A small but vocal group of parents had the perception that
district and school staff members were using English Language
learners and student health screening services to generate undeserved
state funds for the district. These parents went on television and
talked to the press to spread their misinformation and innuendos and
made inaccurate charges and accusations. Their allegations resulted
in a state audit that consumed many months of inquiries, paper
shuffling, investigations, audits and hundreds of totally wasted
hours and untold thousands of wasted dollars by our district and the
state. Last month, the state issued the district a clean bill of
health of all of those allegations that were based on an inaccurate
and misinformed perception. What a waste of time and money that could
have been better spent on kids and their learning.
Another wrong perception has to do with the academic quality of
our high schools. Certain parents perceive that their local school is
not as good academically as the one across town whose students have
higher test scores. Parents are known to fake their address, use a
relative's address or even move in order to have their children
attend one high school over another. Such a perception is wrong and
unfortunate. Each of our schools is held to the same high standard as
the others. All teachers are qualified, experienced, skilled and
dedicated to their students and the profession. All programs,
textbooks and materials are the same. All schools have hundreds of
their students enrolled in Advanced Placement, Gifted and Talented,
advanced mathematics, English, science, history art, music and every
other program. Each of our high schools graduates the same high
percentage of seniors who attend major colleges and universities.
Granted, one high school may have higher test scores than the
other. A high school with a large percentage of English learners who
have been in this country for a short time cannot be expected to have
