Seattle Schools: Laser-like focus

One of the buzzwords in business and politics is "laser-like focus." It simply means clearly defining your objective and then ignoring any distraction that limits the ability to deliver results.

Consider the dozens of fixes that could be first for Seattle Public Schools. "We could probably list 150 things to work on, but the reality is we can't do 150 things well," Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson said. First, "we have a foundation to build."

That's exactly so. It's important that the foundation includes a few well-defined, ambitious but achievable goals. It's clear that improving academic performance for students is at the top of the list of goals. We like the clarity of making certain that more seventh-graders, for example, meet or exceed the state's math standards (to 80 percent by 2011-12).

Shaping that vision -- the laser-like focus -- starts with the school system, but must also include parents and the broader community. District meetings over the next couple of weeks should narrow that concentration. Then it's time to ignore and deliver results.