Letter to the Editor: Concerns about SBRSD raised

Letter to the Editor:

Respectfully I have become increasingly concerned and very troubled by the decline in enrollment for various reasons in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District (SBRSD), specifically at Mount Everett.

According to an article published in the September 7-13 2012 edition of The Berkshire Record, a total of “142 students have choiced out of the district while only 128 students have choiced in from other districts.”

This trend is very alarming as it is defined as “this image problem is costing SBRSD approximately $70,000 this year.”

Apparently, there is a clear and direct correlation between the declining enrollment and the self righteous attitudes and arrogance of certain faculty/staff members, specifically at Mount Everett. This further complicates a well-recognized and ongoing image problem at our school. In light of this alarming status, I would like to provide readers a summation of facts which are as follows:
As a graduate of Mount Everett Regional High School, Class of 1983, I am increasingly troubled by the actions of a select few faculty/staff members over the past years. My concern is not alone, but adds to a growing number of parents that have expressed major concerns and outrage at a select few faculty/staff members’ handling of policies and procedures, far exceeding their authority, becoming involved in the personal lives of students and their families, engaging in soap opera antics and failing to distinguish between fact and fiction.

The aforementioned complaints do not reflect upon the faculty/staffs’ qualifications, credentials, experience or job performances. However, they do extend specifically to their self-righteous attitudes and substantial arrogance, for example, “How dare you question us!” This mentality applies only to a select few faculty/staff, specifically from the guidance department, medical department, administration and teachers.

This status is evident by an undetermined number of parents who have chosen to remove their children from SBRSD, specifically Mount Everett, for various reasons. Obviously, this status does not apply to the outstanding teachers and administration that have literally dedicated their lives to providing an outstanding education to all students.

In my opinion, sadly enough, a select few faculty/staff members have directly contributed to the declining school population, understandably these individuals’ actions have far reaching consequences, not even mentioning costing the SBRSD and district taxpayers approximately $70,000 this year alone.

Joseph Johnston
35 School Street
Ashley Falls, MA 01222

Posted by Staff Reports on September 27, 2012. Filed under Letters to the Editor,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry