BA Superintendent: A-F Report Card System Too Flawed To Make Sense

The superintendent of one Green Country school district says the A-F Report Card system is too flawed for even educators to understand it.

Broken Arrow is one of the largest districts in the state. The superintendent says, even though the district was graded a "C+," parents should not panic.

"I have no confidence in the A-F grading system. It needs to be scrapped," said Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall.

Mendenhall said districts need to be held accountable, but he doesn't think the A-F system accurately reflects schools' performances.

"We are doing a great job in Broken Arrow Public Schools. Our parents are the best barometer in what we do in Broken Arrow. They will tell us how we're doing," Mendenhall said.

The district, overall, got a "C+," but Broken Arrow's high school and both intermediate high schools got "A"s.

"That's how invalid the entire process is. That doesn't even calculate. That doesn't even make sense," Mendenhall said.

Broken Arrow's lowest-scoring school got a "D+," and still managed to pull a "C" average.

11/6/2013 Related Story: Staff At Tulsa's Lowest Ranking School Say 'F' Grade Doesn't Add Up

Union had one failing school and the district scored a "B-" overall.

In a statement, Union's superintendent said, "We seriously question the validity and reliability of Oklahoma's A-F School Report Card when a school like Union's Clark Elementary, which has been recognized as one of the best community schools in the nation, is given a 'D-' in the state's new grading system."

"I just think it's all messed up there," said longtime Broken Arrow teacher Jerry Waymire.

Waymire saw his kids graduate from BA and his grandchildren are now going to school in the district. He doesn't believe the district's report card from the state.

"We've got people over there in the State Department of Education, some of them have very little education background in the classroom. They have no idea what goes on in the classroom," Waymire said.

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