Guest column: There is a better option than Real World Academy

For the last two years I have attended nearly all school board meetings. Like a majority of the community, I was deeply concerned about the change from the voter-approved bond to build a second high school in Moses Lake. During those two years, the consistent message from board president Elliott Goodrich has been “if you’re not happy about a board decision, provide a solution.” The implied message is that if you provide a solution that is different from what the board chose, the board would give that solution a fair amount of thought and deliberation.

I contacted Mr. Goodrich to present an alternate plan that would give this community a real second high school as well as a long-term model for building schools in our community. Here are the very basics of the plan: Create a “network of schools” in Moses Lake that continually updates and adapts to the educational needs of the future. The network of schools in Moses Lake will consist of small schools of choice with permanent capacities of 500 to 900 students – meaning students from any location within the district will be able to choose which high school they want to attend. Each high school within the district will have its own focus (examples are science/mathematics focus or business/trade focus). Each school’s focus is in addition to teaching the core curriculum each high schooler is required to learn. These schools will be built with flexible learning spaces that can be adapted to any change in focus for the future. In addition, the district will have shared facilities that all high schools use to reduce cost.

When comparing small schools of choice with career academies (like Real World Academy), there are stark differences in student outcomes. Here are some of the most important differences:

• Dropout rates: Career academies improve dropout rates for students who attend them full time by 2 percent – if Real World Academy is at full capacity, that equals 18 fewer dropouts over four years. Small schools of choice improved dropout rates between 5 and 10 percent for all full time on-campus students – that means 100-200 less dropouts for this district over four years.

• Math and reading proficiency: Career academies show no improvement in math and reading proficiency. High schools enrolling 600-900 students show significant math and reading improvement

• Discipline: High schools enrolling 600-900 students show improvements in the following categories when compared to high schools enrolling 1,200 students or more: 24 percent less robbery/theft, 26 percent less vandalism, 10 percent less possession of weapons, 27 percent less verbal abuse of teachers, 40 percent less use of illegal drugs, 35 percent less use of alcohol, 14 percent less widespread disorder in classrooms.

The only area in which Real World Academy outperforms the plan I have put together is that it costs a little less money. I have shared this plan as well as the supporting data and studies with Mr. Goodrich as well as other board members and district staff. The information I have presented is undisputed.

So where do we stand now? Mr. Goodrich told me that he hasn’t seen enough to convince him to change his mind. I asked him if he had reviewed the information I sent him, and he told me that he had not reviewed much of it. Mr. Goodrich gave me specific criteria to meet for changing the current plan, and then didn’t bother to read the proof that I have a better option.

It is now time for the other members of the school board to step up and show us that they are willing to put the best interests of the community, students and staff of the Moses Lake School District first. We can be fiscally responsible without building the largest high school in the state. We can provide more opportunities than Real World Academy and improve student outcomes at the same time. It’s not too late to make the right decision. If the board is not willing to make the right decision, the community has a responsibility to continue to voice our objections.

Matt Paluch is a resident of Moses Lake. He can be reached at mattpaluch@gmail.com