This week snapped us back to reality. To stop the bleeding, the school is cheerleading to tell everyone how much better everything will be this year. But consider the following:

1. We have a new director who, like the former director, seems to think his main role is to fulfill the board's mandate rather than fix obvious problems. That's not good. Doesn't matter, we all know who continues to run the show. It certainly isn't any of the professional educators.

2. Imbalanced workloads remain farcical. Last year, the high school principal chuckled smugly when stating that many people were going to be furious with him due to our schedules for 2010-11. He was right and he blew it, by design, yet again.

3. We caught a break when the IT Head disappeared, but little will improve with the principal still sticking his nose in the department. The school must pass authority to bonafide technology experts rather than hobbyists who naively aspire to run a school's computer department just because they happen to dig cool computer stuff.

4. This year we've admitted dozens of new students on scholarships. Say goodbye to some of the favorably small classes. The already pale international flavor has been further diluted. Prepare for the elimination of class cohesion as students on scholarships or from different social spheres are notoriously bullied and ostracized. Some "adults" blurt that this is part of learning in a tough society. I'd counter that some responsible guidance is urgently needed from a counselor who should be helping students traverse the difficult teen years rather than act like one.

5.. Still no resource lab to handle the needs of dozens of wonderful students who would prosper more from special assistance rather than become victims of a school that pretends to be academically stringent. Still no individualized learning paths unless you know somebody. The survey about learning accountability was a good, albeit naive, start. What about a locktight policy to curb parents and administors from coercing blatant grade fabrication?

6. The office staff are still disorganized and slow. Complain and they're just plain ornery.

7. In a school perennially lacking in faculty and learning resources, why focus on further building projects at this time? For local educators who prioritize academic excellence over social image, you can cut the frustration with a knife. For serious international educators who travel to teach as opposed to tourists who travel by teaching, the disillusion is building.

I don't see how anything can improve this year when the objectives fail to tackle the problems. Of course not, the latter determine the former.

There aren't enough fingers to go around during the blame game. Even staunch critics are now trying to earn brownie points with administrators by blasting the previous ISR reviews. An opportunity to acknowledge and correct problems is being squandered even though the director himself publicly admitted there is truth in the reviews and the principal offered an open apology to those who felt mistreated. Was this sincere contrition or manipulative pandering to save face? The proof will be in the pudding next year.

The director and others expressed regret that the ISR reviewers didn't consider the students or the school community before writing. They missed the point entirely. The focus points of the reviews were precisely the quality of education that could be offered if it weren't for admin-inflicted deterrents and skewed priorities. It's disheartening that a small percentage of colleagues are too public-image conscious to recognize the hope-filled angle of the critiques. It's time to stop sweeping the issues under the carpet. Jamaicans and Americans are historically famous for their spirit and unity when challenged. I haven't seen much of that lately since denial is more prevalent.

Only a few of the concerns raised should be considered potential red flags for international hires since many mirror conditions found in many schools. Cost of living compared to salary, honoring agreed responsibilities, no PD records and refusal to give written references are serious enough to international hires to warrant discussion. AISK isn't a great international school by any standard but there are far worse. As duly stated in the reviews, the gravity lies in a small handful of individuals who hold school-shaping authority for which they are not remotely qualified. Hopefully they'll learn something over the summer through honest reflection. Considering their arrogance in problem avoidance to date, doubts are inevitable.