Students can achieve a solid education in New London Public Schools, I know that because for the past 18 years I have had at least one child in the system.

But I also know that there are challenges to overcome.

For too long solutions have been offered only as theories, but never put in practice, making them reality. It's time to do that now.

In a recent guest opinion, school Superintendent Nicholas Fischer outlined the challenges in the city's schools. ("Roadmap to success for city's students," Aug. 14.) They were nearly identical to the issues that the two superintendents before him identified. Both came to town, wooed a few people into thinking all was right, and left the same mess behind.

That said, Fischer didn't create the problems, but his commentary suggests New London is no closer to resolving its school challenges than it was before. The "fix" for superintendents always seems to be new programs, holding people accountable, community involvement, and more funding. But none seem to practice what they preach.

Accountability

Teacher accountability is always a top priority. But from my vantage point, if not for the city's tremendous teachers, my children would have been educated elsewhere. Good teachers throughout the district have been stymied the past two years, prevented from teaching as they know best.

Are there inferior teachers? Yes, a few. But the vast majority of city teachers would thrive if they were supported rather than constantly controlled and criticized.

Community support has long been another battle cry. As the city's probate judge, I initiated a truancy program that addressed absences and tardiness in the elementary schools. The concept is simple, intervene at an early stage and address the reason for truancy, rather than wait until it is too late. The first three years the program experienced great success, and many truancy problems were easily resolved. But in the past two years there has only been one referral, and it came near the end of the academic year after the student had missed more than 35 days of classes.

My "community" effort cost the school district nothing, but it's being ignored. That's discouraging.

Money doesn't fix every problem, but it sure seems like that is what they teach in superintendent school. How many times have taxpayers been told: "We need more funds," followed by "to maintain the current level of programs due to contractual obligations"?

Those days are done. School districts must economize. It took years of negotiation to get the city's schools to coordinate with City Hall to affect substantial savings on health insurance. There needs to be more of that kind of cooperation.

And if money is so short, why did the superintendent ask for raises for fellow administrators? That was imprudent.

New ideas

Here are my ideas to improve New London schools:

• Reinstate the truancy program for elementary schools and expand it to middle school. All it takes is a concerted effort of the respective school's staff. The only way to educate a child is if he/she is in school. This seems to be a logical first step.

• Revamp the busing routes. Walking a half-mile to an elementary school or a mile to high school is not appropriate anymore. All other local school districts provide busing for students who live close to the schools. Statistics have shown that on days of inclement weather, attendance is down. Further, many of the school buses have many empty seats as they drive by these students walking. Again, the first step is to get them to school.

• Consolidate services with the city administration. This can save hundreds of thousands of dollars. There is a lack of vision of administrators who only believe that their staff is working hard and expect sacrifices from below. Change needs to start at the top.

• Let teachers teach. Many teachers know what works with their students and can achieve a greater level of success if they are not forced to strictly follow the latest theory or program. Individual children learn differently. Standardized teaching does not work in our system.

• Initiate an SAT program that requires every high school student to participate. Make it a regular course for the year. Unlike many suburban students, many New London students cannot afford to take private SAT preparation classes. SAT scores are very important for college entry. The worst thing that could happen if an SAT program is intiated is that students will learn additional math, reading and writing. I've made this suggestion for two years to no avail.

• Get back to basics. I understand standardized testing is the norm, and in some instances required. But we need to recognize that we are not succeeding: our test scores are low and our students are not learning. At least if we teach them basics for life, they have an opportunity to be successful. This could include courses similar to the old days such as shop and auto mechanics, but adjusted to include more modern-day activities like computers and technology.

• Get better production from the guidance offices. This administration should be more concerned about the production from guidance rather than the teachers. There needs to be greater positive interaction between the guidance office and the students, from middle school until they are accepted into higher education. From my personal and professional experience, but for a couple of people in this department, it seems to be lacking. The enthusiasm and professionalism this past year of the senior class advisor is a clear example of how the guidance department can be successful for the students.

• Stay focused. Every year it seems that there is a new program that will be the savior. Staff is trained, and then, the next year it's another new program. Stop and listen to those in the trenches; the teachers, paraprofessionals, parents/guardians, those who really are the fiber of the schools. Their ideas can be utilized in a much more productive way than experimenting with some new program developed elsewhere that does not address the real issue of educating New London youth.

New Londoners are tired of hearing the same rhetoric of what we need to do and excuses of what went wrong. It is time to do, not talk. The city needs a leader in its schools. The ball is in Dr. Fischer's court to determine if he is that leader. Remember, those who can, do, those who can't make excuses.

Mathew Greene summered in New London until he moved to the city permanently 36 years ago. He is a 1977 New London High School graduate, and his son graduated from the high school this year. Greene is the judge of probate for the New London/Waterford district and administrative judge of the Regional Children's Probate Court, which is the court that was administering the truancy program.