Lakewood High update

‘Lakewood needs and deserves an effective, caring leadership team committed to educational excellence as the first priority and athletics as supplemental activities,’ said Dr. Goliath Davis, III.

BY GOLIATH J. DAVIS, III, Ph.D., Contributor

ST. PETERSBURG — The saga of Hollywood High continues. Recently, the district posted announcements informing current principals, assistant principals and others that there will be two assistant principal vacancies at Lakewood High for the upcoming school year.

Some predict more announcements are forthcoming. As previously reported, members of Principal Erin Savage’s leadership team were allegedly placed on “success plans” where strengths and deficiencies were delineated along with expected improvements.

Many ask whether or not the school leader was also placed on a “success plan” and, with the current revelations, embrace a slogan that has permeated the community for years: “Fish rot from the head.” In other words, are subordinates going to be sacrificed for leadership failure?

I can honestly say no one is advocating termination for any of the leadership team members, but it is generally believed a total change will benefit the entire Lakewood High community. Perhaps all could benefit from a change of environment. There is little confidence that a partial change will correct the deficiencies and reestablish a culture that values achievement, discipline, and learning.

This is the third consecutive year where approximately half of the seniors at Lakewood are not eligible for graduation for a host of easily identifiable reasons. The question that must be answered is why?

Why aren’t systems in place to identify scholars who are not on track and if said systems exist, why are they not monitored so that corrective measures can be made prior to the crisis that has occurred for the last three years.

Once again, I readily admit parents and scholars must also share some accountability. Additionally, I recognize scholars at other district high schools are also off track for graduation; however, the culture at Lakewood is such that the problem appears more pronounced. The calls I receive question why the situation is allowed to continue.

I recall, over the years, being told the district is committed to site-based management. While I agree in principle with the concept, accountability cannot be ignored.

If the community is aware of Lakewood’s leadership deficiencies, surely those in the district office must also be aware, thereby causing many to wonder why the situation is allowed to persist, given some leaders at other schools are readily removed for less egregious behavior.

So, we must wait and see what remedies will be implemented at Lakewood. Hopefully, the district will be able to place leadership team members in positions where they can be successful and not adversely impact the lives and future careers of the scholars they are entrusted to educate.

Equally important, Lakewood needs and deserves an effective, caring leadership team committed to educational excellence as the first priority and athletics as supplemental activities.

Graduation is now upon us. Parents, grandparents, and siblings will attend graduation ceremonies and cheer for their loved ones. Some will not realize that too many scholars will be allowed to walk across the stage but will need summer school or other interventions to receive a substandard concordance degree.

All components of our community need to be better served by the current situation. Schools need the assistance of parents, scholars, volunteers and service organizations to reverse the current trend.

Goliath Davis is a former chief of police and deputy mayor for the City of St. Petersburg who actively advocates for education in Pinellas County.