KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo School Superintendent Michael Rice gave his annual State of the Schools report to the School Board last night, noting the accomplishments of the past few years and laying out the challenges that still lay ahead.
He noted that test scores continue to improve, graduation rates are up and continue to climb despite the enormous challenges this district faces, with one of the highest poverty rates in the state. He says despite a state Government that has not been supportive and at times openly hostile to public education,
they have continued to improve at a faster pace than other comparable districts. Rice says continuing to improve scores in their high poverty schools, reforming public education funding, maintaining teaching staff and maintaining the schools are all challenges they continue to face.
The address was warmly received by members of the school Board.
It took Dr. Rice nearly an hour to deliver the address, listing all their accomplishments.
Trustee Carol McGlinn says her takeaway was there is no magic solution, it takes a million little things to move the needle and the district continues to find new ways to do that.
Board President Patty Sholler-Barber was amazed at how well the district is doing compared to similar urban school districts, which she said was a super human achievement.
Rice says test scores continue to improve, the graduation rate is up but there is always room for improvement, and that’s what they are working on.
