Ms. B’s Thoughts

ED640
Interview with Mr. Jim Derocher
Superintendent of Negaunee Public Schools
Sara VanAbel
September 2008

Mr. Derocher was kind enough to sit and discuss school policy and procedures with my colleague Abby Standerford and I for approximately 30 minutes one afternoon.  It is interesting, as well as enlightening, to focus on an aspect of teaching I took for granted.  Mr. Derocher was well informed and confident in his answers.  It was easy to see he has a deep understanding of the policy and procedures set forth in the Negaunee District.  The following narrative provides answers to specific questions, addtional information he offered as well as my reflections upon the experience.

Questions:

1.  How were the policies for your district developed?
Our school board works with NEOLA, a company that specializes in board policy, school by-laws and administrative guidelines.  He said that when he first started in administration, there was a time when they actually wrote policy, had it approved by lawyers, etc.  With all of the changes in school law, the liability schools face, they now rely solely on NEOLA and their group of lawyers to help them maintain policy standards.

2.  How frequently are they reviewd for potential revisions?  How are updates communited within the organization?
Mr. Derocher said that everything is in continous reviewing.  They recieve frequent updates as laws change, as court cases are held, and as the times change, wording, addtions and subractions to the policy occur.  He actually communicates with NEOLA, receives the changes then presents them to the board for review.

3.  How do the adminstrators differentiate between policies, by-laws and administrative guidelines?
He described it as the board sets or adopts policy, the by-laws help describe or define the policy and then the administrative guidelines are written by the supertindent as to how the board policy is going to be implemented.

4.  What other information was shared regarding the implementation of these policies, by-laws and administrative guidelines?
Mr. Derocher shared with us information regarding a current look at policy in regards to food allergies.  He spent time with NEOLA and did his own research looking into how other districts are handling the rapid increase in potentially life-threatening food allergies.  Then he presented the information to the school board, worked with the staff at the elementary building, and developed a plan with our school nurse and the parents of the children in question.  It was determined that we would not have peanut-free buildings.  That we would encourage parents not to bring nut products into the buildings.  He stressed that there was no change in board policy.  The policy is to work with parents of students with special dietary needs to develop a plan that is safe for all students.  It is a plan.  Not a change in policy.

Reflection:

When I first stumbled upon the thought of pursuing an advanced degree, I never gave a minute of thought to the actual topics of the classes I would be taking.  Educational leadership.  Simple, right?  School Policy and Governance.  I really never thought about the importance of school policy.  It was there.  It annoyed me at times and I was thankful for it at other moments.  I have always been that squeaky wheel.  An advocate for staying current, always learning and looking at ways to improve our educational systems.  After speaking with Mr. Derocher and listening to Dr. Schafer tell stories of the great educational change experienced in special education I realized that the way to solid sustainable change wasn’t through the grass roots efforts of my classroom door-to classroom door campaign, but through change in policy.  If I could help people see that a change in policy was necessary.  That change would occur.  district wide.  It is still important to collaborate and communicate with colleagues as you all work towards fine tuning the educational system to meet the needs of the every changing clientel.  I believe this.  But this method is so often met with skepticism and with apathy, that I often find myself frustrated.              
Teachers come together with a myriad of ideals, skills, energy, passion and motivation.  We don’t always all see the big picture or share the same goals.  Change is difficult in a culture that has maintained virtually the same status quo for the last 100 years.  Add to that the fact that teachers are constantly being pressured to increase student performance, to add huge chunks of information and skills to their curriculum and to meet the ever changing needs of students challenged by the changes in our society.  It is no wonder many of them feel hopeless about the future of schools and are content to always do what they have always done. It is enough to gather their paychecks and go home to their families.
Sometimes those of us who are able to see the big picture–need to lead.  There needs to be changes that occur on a grand scale.  Those that affect the big picture–that allow that very picture to come into a clear focus.  It is through changes in policy that we can get most (if not all) of us looking through the same lens, working toward the same goals and providing a clear, efficient and meaningful education for all students.  That’s part of what I am starting to realize.  It is all coming into focus for me.  Listening to Dr. Schafer speak about the her history of being champion for progress, the vision we share for all learners, the ability to see, sometimes what is unclear to others–that has made me think differently about school policy.  And I am motivated to learn more.