Merrimack residents are quickly finding out that 2Revolutions offers their district nothing they want for their kids. Their focus on Critical Race Theory should tell parents that this organization is not hired to help their children with math, science, history or any other important core subjects.
2Revolutions has been around for a long time, which means they should have some kind of track record of success. So why doesn’t anyone produce their results? Why don’t they champion their success at helping children in the core academic classes? That’s because the products they sell do not focus on academic achievement, which is what most parents want for their children.
They’re a vendor hired to implement federal D.C. fad reforms that do not focus on academic excellence.
SAU16 parents figured that out when they sat through a presentation by 2Revolutions a few months ago. Parents in the crowd watched their presentation at a local school board meeting questioning what it is they actually do for their children. They heard a lot of edu-babble about how 2Rev will transform the school, but parents never asked for that. They are looking for a track record on academic achievement and noted that during the presentation, that was never mentioned.
On their web page 2Rev makes no claims about helping your children become better readers or proficient in math. It’s all marketing with no substance.
There you go. They will help schools innovate. HUH? More edu-babble.
Problems are best resolved by those closest to the problem. In other words, if you want to improve upon what is going on in the school, start asking your teachers, involve the parents, and find solutions. The principle of subsidiarity is always the best means to addressing problems. This tenet holds that nothing should be done by a larger and more complex organization which can be done as well by a smaller and simpler organization.
In the email to parents below, Bill Olsen says they hired 2Revolutions to develop, “a new vision, mission statement and strategic plan for the district.” Are you kidding me? Isn’t that what you pay administrators and elect board members to do?
Why are taxpayers on the hook for paying 2Rev to do what your administrators and board members should be doing? If the administration cannot handle this task, then maybe the taxpayers need to find people who can.
2Rev did have a relationship with the New Hampshire Department of Education, but that is not true anymore. If it was such a success, why did that relationship end? Why didn’t Bill Olsen bring this up in his email?
Let’s look at the NAEP Scores in New Hampshire during 2011-2018 when they were consulting with the New Hampshire Dept.
of Education:
Grade 12 proficiency dropped from 2013 to 2019
Grade 4 proficiency level remained essentially the same in grade 4 mathematics
Same with Grade 8. Essentially the same with no improvement.
In 2018 about 43 percent of New Hampshire’s fourth-graders scored at or above proficient in reading, and 48 percent of fourth-graders scored at or above proficient in math. 45 percent of eighth-graders scored at or above proficient in both reading and math.
So what exactly did 2Revolutions do for New Hampshire’s students? This is what 2Revolutions reported. Note that they mention nothing about helping to improve proficiency in the core academic subjects.
Read the email below from Bill Olsen, there is nothing about how 2Rev will work to improve the proficiency in the core subjects. Well at least they’re not selling you something you want only to find out later, it did nothing to help your child the way you expected.
The list of tasks included in Bill’s email are done every day in other schools that do not waste money on consultants. How is it, private schools can accomplish these tasks without hiring outside consultants?
When your district administrators have to rely upon consulting, that should have you questioning why they can’t get the job done. A mission statement? That should come from your school board in conjunction with feedback from parents and community members. They need a consultant for that task?
A strategic plan? You pay your superintendent a 6-figure salary every year for what? And the Superintendent cannot develop a strategic plan with the kind of talent working in the school, serving on the board and from members of the community? That does take vision and leadership which are skills they should possess.
The term parents used to describe 2Revolutions after their presentation to parents in SAU16 was SNAKE OIL. Parents could see that the money they were spending on these consultants amounted to nothing they were looking for.
As the Chief Executive Officer, I have high expectations for those earning a substantial salary and charged with the task of educating children in our public schools. I question anyone’s ability to perform at this high level who feels the need to hire consultants like this. It doesn’t bode well for the top executive hiring an organization to do the job that other top executives are doing in other districts.
2Revolutions comes with a specific agenda in mind. They are not a group focused on grass-roots solutions. They are 3rd party vendors hired to implement Federal Reforms that were never a priority for the Merrimack parents who simply want their children to learn basic math.
I do have to give credit to Bill for at least putting a hold on this fiasco. Gilmanton cut their ties when parents figured out what 2Revolutions was all about. SAU16 parents are going ignored after they discovered that 2Revolutions was teaching their teachers the Critical Race Theory agenda in professional development. Many parents are not happy about this relationship.
2Revolutions made it very clear, from their own materials, they consider the parents in Merrimack to be white supremacists.
These are the consultants you want working in your district? Ones that are ok with discriminating against your teachers and children because of their radical worldview?
If you want your community divided instead of united towards a common goal of academic achievement, continue down this path–because that’s basically what you get with their consultants. It’s happening in SAU16 where their school rankings have dropped and the community is bitterly divided. (Something Bill didn’t mention in his email to parents)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES on 2REVOLUTIONS:
https://granitegrok.com/blog/2021/08/gilmanton-parents-want-to-know-what-2revolutions-is-and-why-it-is-in-their-schools
https://www.westfordcatnews.org/2020/06/poor-evaluation-prompts-superintendent-to-defend-his-legacy/?fbclid=IwAR2ON8yDl1A49TrCvlDe6nZ_Yvk7DfpqO2_7olQq6hXWXgXneWqs0rvgUWE
=============================================================================
From: Bill Olsen
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2021 1:30 PM
Subject: Information Regarding 2Revolutions
September 29, 2021
Dear Merrimack Neighbors,
During the last school year, the school board hired a consultant to assist the school district and community in developing a new vision, mission statement and strategic plan for the district. 2Revolutions was hired to accomplish this important task. The company has some history of working with the state of New Hampshire and some individual school districts in the state. Many private sector and public organizations periodically engage in a strategic planning process to establish operational and fiscal priorities.
Recently there have been some concerns from the Merrimack community over the intended work of 2Revolutions and if it will result in the teaching of Critical Race Theory in Merrimack. This is not the intent of the partnership with 2Revlolutions. Nevertheless, given the public concern, we have placed a temporary hold on the school and community collaboration with 2Revolutions while we respond to public concerns and provide additional information on the nature of their work with our school staff and the greater community. The following information is presented to provide more clarity to the strategic planning partnership between SAU26 and 2Revolutions.
2Revolutions is a strategic planning facilitator for school districts. Their role is to:
- Maximize communication between community stakeholders as WE, the citizens, teachers, staff, administration, and School Board of Merrimack work together to determine OUR new vision, mission, values, and strategic plan for the district.
- Provide data collections of voluntary surveys, focus groups, as well as provide a communication structure for all stakeholder groups to communicate their desires for each of the above areas.
- Note: all survey work or communication with students will comply with all RSA requirements and state laws. Finally, all outcomes of this work will be shared with the community.
To help clarify to the public about 2Revolutions, it is important to highlight a few areas that are out of their domain. A few things 2Revolutions will not be participating in that are to our benefit:
- 2Revolutions does not provide curriculum, teaching, or instruction to students or teachers
- 2Revolutions does not determine the core values or any other aspect of the strategic plan
WE, the stakeholders of Merrimack, will do this important work together. Additionally, 2Revolutions has no influence, say, or participation in the selection of the new superintendent. Once WE, the town of Merrimack have completed our initial vision work, it will be communicated to McPherson and Jacobson, LLC. This company, which specializes in executive recruitment and development, has been hired to conduct the search for our new superintendent. McPherson and Jacobson has no affiliation with 2Revolutions. The community-developed vision for our school district will provide a framework for the selection of a superintendent who represents the best fit for Merrimack and its strategic direction for the future. McPherson & Jacobson will also be engaging all stakeholders in our district, and community to understand the personal and professional qualities that we seek in the next superintendent who will be tasked with implementing the strategic plan.
We look forward to working with all of you in the future, and request that when surveys, focus groups, and opportunities to give your input are available, you will make it a priority to participate. Please be looking for future communication of timelines and participation opportunities.
Sincerely,
Merrimack School District
