144 Eisenhower
Ames, IA 50248

New year has started and nothing has changed. Very disappointed in the willingness of staff and principal to engage in dialog about staff choices, curriculum. I understand they cannot respond to everyone all the time, but would think they would be responsive to positive, constructed input.

Most teachers are skilled and work hard to provide a good learning experience. Some are clearly biding their time, but this is true for most public schools. I am most deeply disappointed in the administration of the system. Suffering from an intense level of nepotism, there is no sense of quality control or improvement; meanwhile the world begins to pass the students by. Administrators are intensely overpaid. The athletics program is a particular disappointment - especially the football program which lacks coaching skill and leadership ability, let alone a focus on student success.

We have had several children study at RS. Middle School. The extracurricular activities have high standards and are well done. The academic level of basic subject matter is and has been very weak. Requires too much supplemental work to prepare youth for entry to high school. School is very adverse to input for improvement. Recently retired principal led good program but was quick to dismiss comment for improvement. More interested in pillars of character and DARE program than basics of instruction. Staff do not get along, and subsequently air their differences with students, and worse - take out their differences through students. They really need to address this problem. Math instruction has been the best of the academic programs. Sciences across the board are abysmal. Music program is excellent.