In his last year on the Roanoke City School Board due to tenure rules, Chairman Todd Putney had once more chance to address the annual convocation at the Civic Center. That’s the yearly pep talk delivered to educators and administrators at city public schools. Each school bands together, wearing the same T-shirt for example, while they listen to highlights from the previous school year and listen to what might be ahead.
Putney says there is plenty to be thankful for: a high school graduation rate once in the high 50’s is now at least 82 percent for starters. William Fleming High School will be fully accredited this fall for the first time in recent memory says Putney – without any warnings or strings attached. The school system is attracting talented students said the chair in part because of a growing reputation (“the result of our successes”) and the attrition rate among teachers is declining as more elect to stay in the system longer.
“We’ve got a lot to be proud of,” said Putney in recalling his remarks to the convocation. “We’re on the right track and we’ve got great people who do this work for very special reasons that not everyone understands.” Putney says that upward trajectory must and should continue.
Putney said an improving graduation rate, which appears to have inched up several points from last year, is good news for the entire Roanoke Valley, not just for the city. “The valley is vested in Roanoke City,” said Putney, “and in Roanoke City schools.” (Graduating high school students are more likely to find a better job or go to college, creating less of a drag on services for one thing. They also lead to a higher-skilled workforce more attractive to companies looking to hire or locate here.)
The turnaround at Fleming – which installed Archie Freeman as principal a year ago as it attempted to achieve full accreditation – was “probably one of the bigger challenges we faced and wanted to solve,” said Putney. “We’ve gotten over the hump, now we have to maintain [accreditation]. They’ve had their share of challenges and have risen to the occasion.” Putney gives William Fleming students a good deal of the credit – along with what he calls stable leadership – in achieving their new coveted status.
As for the coming school year and going forward, Putney said there would always be more challenges. “Hold on to the things that got us here. We’ve been hungry and have operated as an underdog in some ways. That’s been a [motivator]. It’s certainly motivated me in my role [Putney assumed the School Board chair when David Carson left the board to become a judge].”
Continue to “hold on to great people,” don’t try to be something the school system is not – with a number one priority of continuing to hold on to and hire good teachers. “They have very tough jobs,” note Putney, who delivered that message at the convocation. “We don’t recognize them enough … but on the other hand there’s probably not a more fulfilling role you can play in society. What [teachers] do means something.”
In an urban school system with a high proportion of students from lower-income environments (the majority receive free or reduced price lunches) Putney said the challenges are being met. “I just feel it’s really important to take stock of what you’ve accomplished,” said Putney of his convocation remarks, “especially in our school system where there are so many challenges. This is the one time a year that we do that. The list [of accomplishments] is pretty substantial.”
– Gene Marrano
