A popular high school incentive program that has been in the city for nearly four decades is being phased out, at least temporarily, by the Richmond School District.
Ironically, the Grade 8-10 program espouses the very values of the new curriculum being espoused district-wide.
“Where they want to go with the new curriculum barely scratches the surface of where this incentive program has gone,” said Mark Ellens, a parent concerned about the impending cancellation of the Incentive Outdoor Academy presently housed at MacNeill secondary.
The three-year program promotes self-learning and focuses on individual strengths, not unlike the new curriculum. It also has a strong focus on recreational activity to develop academic and life skills.
A teacher shortage is being blamed on the program’s demise.
Board of Education chair Eric Yung said last week while the program “will exist in some form” next year for returning students, it will no longer accept new (Grade 8) students. However Superintendent Sherry Elwood wrote to parents on May 24 stating that an interim and revised program would be available for Grade 8. A parent-staff meeting was scheduled today (May 31) at MacNeill to discuss the interim options.
Yung also said district staff will look to “refresh” the program at a later date. He added the board has not made any permanent decisions or changes.
“The board’s opinion is no different now than three weeks ago,” said Yung, referring to when parents and students received initial notice from Elwood that the program was to end.
Timing is a major issue with parents and students, as many are out of catchment and have made life plans around the program.
“I was in shock because it was two to three weeks before our annual adventure week,” said Alicia Lee, a Grade 8 student who is now petitioning the board to keep the program alive.
“We would like to fight back. It was so sudden and they didn’t give us any help,” said Nathan Quach, a Grade 10 student who is graduating from the program this year.
Quach described the program as like a family.
“The fact that it is so sudden is really unfair to us,” he said.
“Many people criticize teens for not going outdoors and being on their phones too much, and this is what this program is about — going outdoors and learning new experiences,” he remarked.
What exactly is behind the cancellations has parents such as Ellens stumped.
“We don’t know. There was no consultation,” said Ellens prior to two meetings this month with Elwood, staff and trustees.
Still, after, Ellens remains bewildered.
Ellens said this week he fears the interim solutions “may eliminate critical aspects without even realizing the impact of those changes.
“Of course, we are just guessing but that is the whole problem with (Elwood’s) non-collaborative approach.”
At the root of the initial cancellation is two retiring incentive teachers (math and science/social studies). These positions have not been posted internally by the district. Instead, said Ellens, the program was simply phased out.
“So, with seemingly little effort, they have managed to kill a unique and progressive program that has thrived for over 40 years,” he said.
“Parents are very frustrated at the lack of process and got pretty angry last night when the Superintendent wouldn’t answer their questions and explain why she hasn’t posted the positions nor if she will post the positions,” said Ellens.
He contends the positions are not specialty positions, although the district believes them to be and, as such, would take a backseat to hiring regular staff in the midst of a teacher hiring crunch.
Richmond Teachers’ Association president Liz Baverstock agreed with the parents, saying there are no special qualifications needed for these positions.
But Yung said he understood this to be “a restrictive program that has a specialized portfolio of teaching requirements.”
Regardless, parents and students say they hope for a quick about-face — one Yung has yet to rule out.
