Our Opinion: Education strategies

Characterizing education as complex would be an understatement.

In an attempt to illuminate some of the issues, national, state and local viewpoints will be included on the Opinion pages today through Sunday.

On the schedule are:

• Today's commentary on Common Core by Ann McFeatters.

• Saturday's Red/Blue America pro-con on Common Core.

• Sunday's local perspective by David Wilson, an associate principal at Jefferson City High School, about his conversation with state Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, on education.

The complexity surrounding education issues was readily apparent in Wednesday's News Tribune story headlined: "Board examines JCPS strategic goals."

The report listed five "approved strategies" for the 2025-16 school year, with each containing additional strategies. The strategic planning effort is expected to occupy 12,000 hours of staff time to devoted to tactical and strategic tasks.

As part the strategic plan, the board also heard discussion about the district's strengths and weaknesses.

Weaknesses identified by focus groups include:

• The need for more and better facilities.

• A lack of discipline and student accountability.

• A negative public perception of the district and a lack of trust in its leadership.

As we said earlier, these are complex problems that defy simple solutions.

That said, positive steps can generate momentum.

Let's begin with facilities, because the district's Long Range Facilities Planning Committee recently culminated its work with a series of recommendations. Among them were building a second public high school and a new elementary school to replace the overcrowded East School.

The seven-member Board of Education decided - wisely, in our opinion - not ask voters to finance the overall plan, based on poll results.

But is addressing the East School overcrowding doable without asking voters to support a ballot issue?

Ideas to ease overcrowding range from adding trailers - with classrooms - to a replacement school.

Solving the elementary problem would accomplish two goals: it would generate momentum on facilities and potentially eliminate the elementary component from a future ballot issue on secondary schools.

Saturday: Student discipline and negative perceptions.