Kauai's west side families, students, teachers and community members seek immediate action toward positive improvements for Waimea Canyon Middle School (WCMS) students, their families and teachers to include, but not limited to the following areas:

1. Teacher Retention/Turnover:  In SY2019-2020, before winter break, 6 teachers resigned (approximately 15%) and several intend to resign by the end of the school year due to poor treatment (lack of respect and support), perceived dishonesty, unprofessionalism and unethical practices (also perceived and experienced by parents and families) resulting in low morale and a hostile work environment at WCMS. This impacts students directly. For some students, there was a loss of three (3) core class teachers before the completion of the first semester. As a result, students are left lost, burdened with a lack of stability in their school environment and some students were given an "I" (for incomplete) on their report cards for classes due to these transitions outside of their control. Teacher retention will not improve until immediate actions are taken to improve WCMS's environment.

2. School Quality Survey (SQS):  In the SY2018-2019 School State & Improvement Report, it states "WCMS believes members of the school's community greatly influence a child's attitude toward learning..."  It is of gravest concern that WCMS's School Quality Survey is not distributed to WCMS parents until March 11, 2020, only a few days prior to the submission deadline of March 13, 2020. Other Kauai community schools distributed their respective SQSs in January, soon after its initial release from the Office of the Superintendent. Historical response for WCMS SQS has been very low for parents and this lack of timely approach, notification and communication of the SQS will not afford parents the opportunity to increase response rate. This demonstrates no desire to involve and/or engage WCMS families for their feedback toward positive improvement for our school and community.  In 2018, 457 parent surveys were distributed and only 98 were returned. In 2019, 504 parent surveys were distributed and only 90 were returned.  Despite a higher number of surveys distributed in 2019, a decline in response occurred. In order to rectify this, immediate action is needed to provide parents more than two (2) days notice ensuring the opportunity to return their SQS prior to the deadline. Several parents requested a copy of WCMS SQS in January and February and were denied.

3. School Community Council (SCC):  The above concerns have been raised within the community and brought to the attention of WCMS Administration and Superintendent, William Arakaki. It was recommended these concerns are requested for addition at the next SCC meeting where a group of people are elected by their peers (50/50 ratio of school and community members) to advise the principal on matters that affect student achievement and school improvement. SCC elected members' primary role is to participate in the process that ensures that the needs of all students are addressed in the school's Academic Plan. SCC serves as the official forum for open discussion, problem-solving related to student achievement, collaborative process for improved school culture, classroom practices and student learning, and the development of a strong professional community of educators - a means to involve the community in discussion of educational issues and help schools identify and respond to the educational needs of the community.  Several existing SCC members were not "elected" by peers and the 50/50 ratio is non-compliant. Meeting agenda (to be posted 6 days prior to the meeting), minutes and occurrence of two (2) annual community meeting requirements are non-compliant. An attempt to add the concerns to the tentatively planned February SCC agenda were submitted and remains pending. The date of the next SCC meeting has been postponed without formal update or announcement of a new date. SCC can only be a factor of an improvement plan if executed and practiced as required. To date, and for the last several years, efforts have not been demonstrated to improve an equal representation of SCC members for genuine community involvement of educational issues to help WCMS identify and respond to educational needs of students and the community. Immediate action is required to provide this vehicle for community involvement to affect positive change at WCMS.

4. Strive HI Report:  Historical annual snapshots for SY2017-2018 and SY2018-2019 at WCMS are low. Considering the above three areas of concern, immediate improvements in those areas will enable WCMS students to thrive in their learning environment between a combination of heightened morale within a stable teaching staff and more engaged parent, family and community members.

5. WCMS Community Members became aware of these challenges at the beginning of SY2019-2020 and have held meetings regularly since November 2019 to identify the concerns and solutions for positive improvement at WCMS. All of which have been requested for addition to the agenda for the next SCC meeting without response. These ongoing issues remain unresolved impacting both our student's educational experience on a daily basis and affecting the teaching environment due to the existing poor work conditions coupled with the need to adapt to the unexpected teacher turnover. Response and action to address these issues is required immediately and holistically to truly improve WCMS for the remainder of SY2019-2020 and subsequent years in the future.