Follow Up to Ratings and Rankings From the 05/11/2023 Meeting – John’s Notes Part II, The Revenge

Because I just can’t let this shit go….

While I addressed many of Dr. Varley’s narratives surrounding our rankings decline based on a data set that she then claimed not to be aware of, I think it’s essential for the public to be aware of the extent of the BOE’s ignorance in this area. If you recall last year, Dr. Varley pretty much responded to public inquiry about an earlier data set in very much the same way. She provided no real coherent analysis. I asked for it almost a year ago, so she really shouldn’t be surprised that the same request is being made again on essentially a newer version of the report.

Here are the criteria surrounding the report that I was in possession of weeks ago that apparently a majority of the BOE or Dr. Varley were not familiar with:

https://bit.ly/3nXNiqC

It’s readily available and a big deal because it’s the basis for the first report of its kind since 2020 – despite Ms. Bradford’s poo-pooing.

While I addressed the Algebra I argument on the post from last night and here (on the earlier data set) its important to point out where CMS stands (where Dr. Varley says we are doing well).

CMS’s Summative Score was 68 (D+) and its ranking was a 75 (C). While higher than New Providence, Madison, Chatham, and Summit in the Middle School ratings, we are still below Millburn and Westfield.

So we are #3 in Middle Schools out of the 7 Districts we’ve been tracking but dead last in both elementary and high schools.

And Dr. Foregger and Ms. Khanna were being kind. Governor Livingston dropped 52 points (not 25) and our elementary schools are, again, last of the seven comparable Districts.

And across ALL Schools, our highest Summative Rating is a D+ (CMS), and our highest summating ranking is a C (CMS). Elementary and High Schools were D and F, respectively.

Also remember we have the highest per pupil cost out of ALL these schools.

Is this “doing well”?

As for “the reason for our low scores is because our best students give up on it”- every school can say that – like COVID- AP students are not unique to Berkeley Heights. It is bizarre statements like this that make people feel the District is hiding something or being deceptive.

The fact that the BOE refused to have Dr. Varley discuss this publicly at the next meeting (in another month)-something everyone has been discussing for weeks- is ridiculous and simply adds to the problem.

The fact that Dr. Varley didn’t say something to the effect of “we are aware of this, of course, and we were already working on understanding the data and will be ready and interested to discuss this. Thank you, Dr. Foregger, for being on top of this.” is both expected and shocking.

The other weird thing is that BOE Members went into panic mode. They asked for a source, and eventually got it. Then they asked for more information (exactly what Dr. Foregger was requesting) yet could not bring themselves to make Dr. Varley provide this to the public.

Instead of a respectful and earnest desire to work with the public in understanding this, we got deflection and feigned (or maybe actual) ignorance.

This was the second opportunity in as many years for Dr. Varley to explain this and it looks like it will get stuck in yet another committee the public will not have access to.

Yesterdays Notes (Part I)