Despite steep budget cuts and the looming controversy over the district’s decision to not air President Obama’s speech at the beginning of the school year, Bellevue School District superintendent Dr. Amalia Cudeiro continues to push forward.
On Thursday, Cudeiro spoke at a Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Business Lunch where she addressed the district’s tough issues, from the 30 percent achievement gap to the depleted math curriculum.
“Everyone tries to gloss over Bellevue schools, but if you take a deeper look you’ll see the cracks in the cement,” she explained. “I don’t want to sugarcoat the truth about the district. We have a lot to be proud of, but we also have a lot to work on.”
Cudeiro’s main focus since stepping into her new role has been the elimination of the districtwide achievement gap. Bellevue schools are home to a high percentage of students from different ethnic backgrounds and second language learners. The push for Advanced Placement (AP) class enrollment and preparation for higher education has many students scrambling to keep up. Cudeiro views the learning scale as broad and as diverse as the students who enter the classrooms.
“In Bellevue, it’s not about decreasing the achievement gap. It’s about eliminating it,” said Cudeiro. “I have a three-year contract and a 30 percent achievement gap. You do the math.”
Only two months into the school year and Cudeiro has already experienced the pressure of holding the title of superintendent of Bellevue schools.
The district’s decision to not air the Obama speech in classrooms on Sept. 8, received a local backlash from parents and community members who disagreed with the district’s actions in the matter.
“This has been a painful topic for me on several levels,” she said. “It saddens me that as a nation, we have not risen above the racial and political differences that are at the very core of who we are as a country. As a district, I think we tried to listen to the parents concerns and put the children first. In hindsight, I think we failed. If we could go back, we would do things differently.”
The district is undergoing a number of changes, including the appointment of a new cabinet of advisors to the superintendent; the forming of a committee to oversee the adoption of a new secondary math textbook and program for the 2010 school year; and an overall curriculum audit.
State level budget cuts have increased class size across the district, causing a trickle-down effect that has impacted students, teachers and administrators in several areas. The district is taking another look at the seven-day period school day and the future of secondary librarian positions which are currently filled by library aids.
According to Cudeiro, 80 percent of the district’s budget is invested in its people.
“Balancing a school district is complex because it’s a people business,” she explained. “It’s about the children and every cut and decision made impacts not only the students, but those teaching them as well.”
One lesson Cudeiro has learned from her brief experience as superintendent in Bellevue schools is the importance of balance. As an outsider to Bellevue, Cudeiro said she will continue to stay true to her values and beliefs to help guide her as she shapes the future of Bellevue schools.
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.
