Principal Mark Jackson sent this email to all high school staff members regarding the reinstatement of underclass awards for the 2007-2008 academic year:

This email addresses the issue of underclass awards. I’d ask that you read it closely, in its entirety.

Since the April newsletter went home explaining my decision to suspend underclass awards, I have received a steady stream of feedback from primarily parents/guardians with some faculty weighing in as well. All of it has been critical of the decision. I want also to note that the tone and tenor of the feedback has been uniformly even. Those who wrote me situated themselves as problem-solvers. There was little indignation and less finger pointing. I appreciated this.

In my judgment, the centerpiece of the feedback was college admissions. College applications routinely ask students to note awards or prizes they have won. For students to have to leave this section blank is not something that would enhance their admission chances. There is also the appearance of inconsistency. The possibility that some seed of doubt would be sown seems likely where, for example, students earned awards as 9th graders or sophomores and then came up empty as juniors. In the end, this is feedback I couldn’t move around or dismiss. I don’t want us in the position of either not actually doing whatever we can to enhance the admission chances of students or being perceived as such.

So, I need to back up and try to salvage the moment.

But, first, I need to acknowledge I was shortsighted here. I obviously didn’t vet the entire issue sufficiently. Not considering the impact on college admission was a major shortfall. My intent was to lighten the load, which I don’t regret - when staff is cut and class size increases, it is untenable to maintain the same level programming - but picking this issue without sufficient scrutiny was a mistake.

So, this is what I propose:

1. Like we have for the last two years, each department use the original criteria to determine its awardees.

2. The results be forwarded to Erika.

3. The clerical staff prepare certificates and mail them home.

4. We notify kids that they are awardees.

5. We publish all the names in the Bulletin.

6. I email all the parents/guardians/faculty that provided feedback and explain what we are doing.