"As people focus their attention on the so-called failing schools, failing teachers, and failing students, we can’t help but look at our state and federal legislators and feel that they are failing Middletown"

Two on the school board who refuse to take responsibility, instead, blaming the legislators and the state for the poor performance. COP OUT. The game is what it is. Adapt, overcome and make changes to accomodate the required rules for success. Stop making excuses and do your job that you volunteered for, school board people.

Answer this....why are there school districts with the same demographics and similar situations Middletown has, yet, perform within acceptable levels and are at least average on test scores and certainly have more indicators met than 6 of 24 after a decade. They must do things differently than Middletown AND/OR their school personnel/school board members are more skilled than those in Middletown.

"We are proud of our students because of who they are and where they come from. Our children are smart, they are motivated, they push their limits, and they want to be successful."

If true, then why is the end result always this abysmal and this district is ALWAYS on the bottom of the list? If the limits are pushed, they are smart and motivated, then why does something like this happen? Something doesn't make sense here school board people. It has to be in the way the information is presented to them if it isn't the students. If it ain't the kids, it must be the school people who are failing.

"We are working to make this happen"

We, the taxpayer, have heard this line for decades. It is an old saying that has no clout anymore. Many before you have been "working to make this happen" for over a decade yet the numbers are the same, the indicators haven't gone up and the district is still a bottom feeder compared to even the lowest of the low around this area. Your line is wearing thin.

"Throughout the community, city leaders, Middletown alumni, business professionals, church leaders, and neighborhood volunteers ask us what they can do to help our children. As a board, we are currently undertaking the beginning stages of developing a strategic plan. With the participation and inclusive voice of Middletown residents, we intend to craft a vision for our schools that is reflective of the uniqueness of our city. From this point, we can implement a reasoned plan to address our challenges."

But we have heard this all before from many superintendents and past school boards. They have all failed to move the bar upward. The bar is stuck at complacent/stagnant and trending downward at best. By now. all avenues have been examined. What makes you think your group can find the answers? You are more inclined to re-invent the wheel of failure again than find a new approach.

"With the participation and inclusive voice of Middletown residents, we intend to craft a vision for our schools that is reflective of the uniqueness of our city. From this point, we can implement a reasoned plan to address our challenges."

More than likely, a waste of time and effort. Been there, done that. It failed.

"the report stigmatizes school districts"

Not an issue if you get your act together and try new concepts rather than calling old ideas new and repeating failed history and practices time and time again. Other districts, rich and poor, aren't "stigmatized".

"This propagates a cycle of dividing communities and schools into those with wealth and those without"

Can't use this as an excuse as long as there are poor districts meeting the criteria.

Be like Nike. Just do it. Stop making excuses and playing the passification game to get out of the line of fire. It is a waste of time on your part and ours. Emulate success. Go to a school district who is considered one of the poorer ones yet has a history of acceptable performance under the state's educational rules and compare notes to see what you can adapt to your program. It is not a sin to seek people who are smarter than you are.

Sound like a couple obama voters drunk on the kool aide, just throw more money at it and it will be lovely.