We applaud the decision by West Seattle High School Principal Susan Ders/ to continue honors programs for the 2006-2007 school year.
Not only was the decision made too late to permit parents and students to decide to either accept the program's loss or make other arrangements, it seems to have been based on a misunderstanding of the guidelines for accepting a federal grant.
Unfortunately, too many grants from this federal administration have requirements attached, often forcing school managers to make decisions based on considerations not necessarily consistent with local school choices.
"My understanding was that the honors house would be a violation and so I proposed a series of options," said Ders/ in a website statement. But Seattle School District officials checked with the federal Department of Education to clarify the requirements of the school's Smaller Learning Communities grant. They learned the federal money could be used to support honors classes as long as students are not placed in the classes based upon tests or grades, Ders/ said.
"In fact, students have self-selected into these challenging programs," she said in the website statement. She was not available to reporter Tim St. Clair for his story on Page One of this issue.
On another West Seattle High story, reported by Rebekah Schilperoort on Page One of today's paper, we cautiously support Principal Ders/ in her move to keep the current four-period day. It was implemented in 1994 to meet 11 goals. Before a recent audit, there had been no formal evaluation of whether the goals were being met.
The audit team, consisting of former teachers and administrators, "highly recommends" the school "blank slate the schedule" and look at "alternatives beyond the two traditionally offered," the four 85-minute periods or six 55-minute periods.
"We still think there are things we can do," said Ders/. "There's another way through this."
Give her time. We think there are not enough facts yet available to make a final decision that could disrupt the school and its students.
