Principally Speaking is Back....

After a six month hiatus, in part due to a much busier schedule and also the need to clear my head, Principally Speaking is back!

What I have discovered over the past few months is that I find it difficult to write on a regular basis, not because of a lack of topics or issues, but because I often seem overwhelmed with stuff about which I want to write. I think what I need to do is narrow my focus and so for the immediate future I will be concentrating on issues relating to regionalization, sharing my thoughts and opinions in an effort to assist in the process of merging our two fine schools in a positive fashion. We currently have so much going on from curriculum committee work to the tireless efforts of the building committee. And most excitingly, there is progress being made and that is what needs to be shared with the public. Of course, if other issues arise, you can be sure I will write about them as well.

So what has really brought me back to my blog is an interesting article (actually a chapter from Stephen Covey's book The Eighth Habit) I recently read entitled Blending Voices - Searching for the Third Alternative in which the author suggests that in situations such as the one we face with regionalization, too much energy is wasted arguing about which of the two competing interests would be best for the new school we are creating. What we ought to be doing is searching for that third alternative, one that is ultimately better than either or even a combination of the two. He states, "The Third Alternative isn't my way, it isn't your way - it's our way. It's not a compromise halfway between your way and my way; it's better than a compromise. A third alternative is...a higher middle position that is better than either of the other two ways....." The operative word here is better. What we should be striving for in every situation that arises through the regionalization process is how we can create the best school possible to maximize opportunities for our students.

The concept of a third alternative could not come at a more opportune time. One of the major decisions which will have to be made soon is what type of schedule will Monomoy Regional High School use. It is timely because so many other curriculum and instruction decisions might possibly hinge on the type of schedule that is selected. Until now the focus has been on the schedules currently in place in the two schools. Chatham employs a fixed 4 X 4 long block schedule and Harwich operates on a hybrid schedule with a rotating long block. Both schedules have advantages and disadvantages but serve their respective schools very well. Both schedules have advocates for their adoption for the new school. However, if we approach the schedule decision with Covey's Third Alternative in mind hopefully we will be looking for the schedule which will best serve the interests of our students in the new school, one that is neither theirs nor ours, but something entirely new and better than what we both have now.

Without consciously thinking about it, we employed Covey's philosophy a last month when a decision was made concerning which student management system (SMS) the new school district would adopt. Currently, each district uses an SMS that has proven effective at running its schools, managing everything from student records, scheduling, attendance, and finances. We like ours and they like theirs. Seemingly, a decision was not going to come easily. Deb Morgan, the combined district Director of Technology, did some research on the best SMS programs available and then set up a day of vendor presentations for involved parties in both schools. Interestingly, one of the three choices was the system currently used by Chatham. After the presentations everyone was asked for their feedback and, ultimately a choice was made. The result was a third alternative because it was clearly the best choice and it was recently approved by the Monomoy Regional School Committee. So those who use the student management system every day will have some work to do learning an entirely new system and we all know that change is not easy or comfortable. But we will do what is necessary because we believe that this third alternative is a big improvement over what we both now use and it is exciting to think that we will be implementing this new system in our new school.

As we go forward there will be many situations where we will be faced with a decision to be made between my way or your way for the new Monomoy Regional High School. I would respectfully suggest that our mantra should be Let's search for the Third Alternative. Let's focus on what will be the best for teaching and learning at Monomoy Regional High School. Our students, faculty, and parents deserve nothing less.