25 May 2010

We Won?

26 votes. Now THAT’s a cause for celebration. And CELEBRATE they did. Your tax-payer money at work. Did you get your invite for the referendum results party at the Porter Road School? It was thrown by the Christina School District. Invitation only.


WHAT?!?! You didn’t get your invitation??? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. If my minions are right, NONE of the Principals in the City of Wilmington were invited either. If you’re wondering, as I am, why YOUR invitation never arrived, contact the District’s Facilities Manager. My sources tell me, third-hand (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) that the emailed invites came from her, on behalf of the Queen herself.

You’d think that a more appropriate place for a party of this importance would be in the newly vacant music room at Christiana HS, or the former Latin classroom at Newark, or even in one of the City schools, as a last harrah before we release them back into the wild as part of the Race To The Top initiative. We don’t hide our shame too well in this district, do we? Extorting taxpayer money, while holding their kids hostage, because wasteful expenditures in the past and current administrative blunders are bankrupting the district is NOT a cause for celebration.

SO, what did your hard-earned money buy you, you may ask. Chips and dip? A catered affair? Alcohol? Alcohol consumption in one of our schools?!? Inquiring minds want to know! I’m not kidding, I WANT TO KNOW, don’t you?

24 May 2010

No More Teachers, Lot's of Perks, This Is How It Really Works!

May 24, 2010 10:59 pm US/Eastern I-Team: Superintendents' Super Pay & Perks Reporting


Jim Osman PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―

In these difficult economic times, the CBS 3 I-Team decided to request contracts for school superintendents in 15 districts so we could see how they're compensated.

That includes Cherry Hill where they've cut 45 teachers, sports and music programs.
Superintendent Dr. David Campbell's salary is $277, 392 a year. The state average is 160-thousand a year.
Dr. Campbell says his experience and work ethic justify the pay.
"Most superintendents I know have an average work week of 60 hours and 70 to 80 hours is not uncommon," said Campbell.
Since 2007 Dr. Campbell has been reimbursed more than $23,000 for expenses including since June 2006 a total of $15,000 in payments for a monthly car allowance.
Plus, 16-hundred of your tax dollars paid for Dr. Campbell to go to a five day conference in Florida. That covers airfare and hotel.
We even found a meal receipt at the Capital Grille in Orlando.
We found another $1900 tab for Dr. Campbell for a conference trip to New Orleans.
The Superintendent says the conferences are continuing education.
"To me our goal for young people is to be a life long learner and the Superintendent should be the poster child for life long learning," said Campbell.

In Washington Township education cuts have hit hard as well.
"We lost about 93 positions. Some of them ranged from administrators to gifted and talented teachers to elementary teachers," said Simone.
Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Simone makes $182,000 per year.
She gets a $300 monthly allowance for traveling the district.
She has spent about 10-thousand dollars since 2005 on conference trips.
Simone has agreed to a pay freeze. She will forgo a 5-thousand raise she was due to share in the sacrifice.

Ken Hartman, a former Cherry Hill school board member, says parents need to become involved at a time like this.
"It is not only their right but also their responsibility to ask the difficult questions." said Hartman.

For example, let's take the Medford Township School District.
Dr. Joseph Del Rossi's contract - if he accrues enough unused sick and vacation time - could get a $280-thousand dollar payout when he leaves the district.

In the Lenape High School District, Emily Capella received a 15 percent raise since 2008. She now makes $213,000 a year.
Plus, she receives an additional $12,000 a year in a stipend to pay for expenses.
The district also gives her a car and a computer for use at home.
And she doesn't have her Doctorate degree unlike the other Superintendents in this story.

The Medford and Lenape Superintendents refused to do "on-camera interviews" even when we showed up in person.
Some school superintendents say its market forces which dictate salaries and perks.

Recent changes in New Jersey Department of Education "accountability regulations" have reined in some of the perks in future Superintendent contracts.
For example, in Dr. Campbell's case from Cherry Hill, he'll be reimbursed mileage for any district travel.
There will be no more car allowance.

A number of local superintendents are taking pay freezes but we did find two who are taking massive pay cuts to save jobs.

11 May 2010

Who Knew So Many People Liked Latin?

Na na na na, na na na na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye!


Powerful message, Christina voters! Lesson #1 - learned (voting is a privilege not to be taken lightly). On to lesson #2.

Lesson #2: Now hold them accountable. You elected them to represent YOU. A public school district is NOT a business, even if it sometimes vaguely resembles one. The only purpose of a public school district is to provide children with a free and appropriate education. It’s that simple. The only purpose of the school board is to provide representation for it’s constituents to advocate on the behalf of the children. It’s not about ego. It’s not about perks. It’s most definitely NOT a benevolent dictatorship.

Tonight, we celebrate the potential for positive change. Sleep well, my friends…there is a LOT of work to be done, and a lot of damage to be assessed and repaired, if we are to truly turn around our district. Together, we can accomplish anything.

09 May 2010

And the nominee for best chance of redeeming our school district is...

I'll be honest, I am biased.  As a pro-education tax-payer, I am fed up with the irresponsible and costly antics of the Christina School Board and its Superintendent.  SO, the time has come for me to belly-up to the DE Bar and send the Attorney packing.

While I chide Esquire for making a career out of his time on the Board, I'm also weary of the one and done contributors too.  We need a board member with vested interest.  Someone who can empathize with students and sympathize with the plight of teachers.  Our new Board needs to re-examine and correct some of the destructive decisions made over the past few years and successfully guide Christina through the unavoidable changes of Race To The Top.   

I've done my research. I've been to at least one of the public forums and read all the literature.  I've actually spoken to ALL 3 of the candidates recently.  Bottom line: Esquire must go; Falkowski seems like he means well, but he's still out of touch; I'm throwing all of my support behind the kid.  Eric Anderson appears to be the real deal.  He's intelligent, well-spoken, and young enough to make a long-term investment in our district.

I'll be out voting on Tuesday, and convincing as many people as I can muster to exercise their rights too.  Look for me at the polling site near my home, but don't bother approaching me unless you're voting for change this time. 

Unless change occurs on this board, I can't vote for the referrendum to pass with a clear conscience.  No accountability and fiscal responsibility by board members = no more money for poor decision-making and consultants.  Sorry, kiddies, you're just going to have to learn to make due with your teacher-less, textbook-less, educational-ish testing facilities.   Music, art, gym and Latin are for kids from communities that actually care about their public education.

VOTE FOR CHANGE - TUESDAY MAY 11th
VOTE FOR ERIC ANDERSON!

05 May 2010

Prediction to reality...

M.I. called it back  on April 15th:

Moyer stays open, new director brought in from Virginia --- DE Sec of Ed's previous state of residence and employment (before coming to DE)


Today:
DOE is negotiating with K12, for profit education management company based in Virginia, to outsource operations at Moyer according to today's newspaper. 

Flex that Muscle, Lil!  And if that doesn't work, bring in Hammer Dan!

04 May 2010

The Christina School District to their teachers: 
Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!
You're Riffed!