tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80434038923791518052024-03-20T09:26:26.157-04:00Mass InciterMaster Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-15200781754269633612010-07-26T21:08:00.002-04:002010-07-26T21:55:26.767-04:00Insanity Beckons; Delaware Teachers' Union Votes on Contract Changes Via SURVEY MONKEY<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Seriously...THIS is what the Union has been reduced to? A bunch of Keystone Cops protecting our teachers by online proxy? </span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">DUhhhh...I know wat we cans do -let's vote on contract carve-outs on dat dere Survey Monkey on the interweb. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Completely confidential, you say... Arne, here's your chance to really make a difference in our public schools! Jack Markell - Get off your ass and get out the vote! C'mon Esquire, you know you wanna still feel relevant. Visit the Union's My Space page...I mean Survey Monkey poll.</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">You too, my little sheep. We've all paid our dues (and then some!). Get your two cents in, before the polls close. When you're done monkeying around, make sure you bid on my Ebay auction before it closes - "One ounce of dignity" - absolutely priceless in Delaware! (shipping and handling not included) </span></strong><br />
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http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00e54f8c25c988340133f292a625970b<br />
<blockquote><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_897064104">July 26, 2010 </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_897064104">Posted At: 04:59 PM </a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_897064104">Author: Alexander Russo </a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_897064104">Category: NCLB News , On Maryland Avenue , Teachers & Teaching </a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_897064104"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_897064104">SIG: Computerized Voting To Change A Contract</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_897064104"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thisweekineducation.com/">"To vote for this school improvement plan, press 2." Well, almost. A Delaware district is asking teachers at three low-performing schools to vote on the district's $2 million SIG plan -- using Surveymonkey. But there's no differentiation among the three schools -- they're all lumped together for voting purposes -- the information provided is limited to time and pay issues not curriculum or other key issues, and it's not clear that the survey is open only to teachers at the schools (try it out, maybe you can enter your vote). One additional wrinkle: if the teachers vote the SIG plan down then the schools will may become part of a Mass Insight turnaround zone, in which case the options include also closing, firing staff, etc.</a> <br />
<br />
</blockquote><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RijB8wnJCN0&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RijB8wnJCN0&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-87124867643361838052010-07-25T00:08:00.000-04:002010-07-25T00:08:36.865-04:00Common Carrier/Out-of-State: $363.55<br />
Other Travel/Out-of-State: $488.00<br />
Hotels and Lodging: $1681.44<br />
<br />
Voting him out of office: PRICELESS<br />
<br />
Okay, folks, George Evans, of the Christina School District is an easy target. And relatively irrelevant. While he wasn't the only Christina Board member who spent money last year, he was by far the biggest spender. And I can't help but wonder why, as Delaware School Board Association President, he charged back his expenses to the National Conference to the Christina District and not the school board association...<br />
<br />
Take this for what it is, in a time when a school district is going broke (which it was, until a narrowly won referendum), we must hold our school board members accountible to ensure that they are not spending money that we (the tax payers of the district) don't have... <br />
<br />
<strong>The Evans Epilogue</strong><br />
<strong>GEORGE E EVANS 17 payments $2,759.42 Who knew that board members could charge back magazine subscriptions to the district?</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>BOBBY BENJAMIN 11 payments $499.01 </strong><br />
<strong>COLONIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICE SUPPLIES 4/23/2010 $103.47 Not sure why this guy's getting reimbursed for office supplies...</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>I'm sure there are more curious charges... http://checkbook.delaware.gov/</strong>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-10214481041487053032010-07-15T20:58:00.003-04:002010-07-16T12:03:39.023-04:00Update: Moyer Files OCR Complaint, last ditch effortMoyer May Rise Again...<br />
<br />
<strike>Well, folks, in a few short hours the deal will be done. The building formerly known as Moyer will be sold to the state and Virginia-based K12 will move in for the kill. Do I smell a sweetheart deal? Who do we know who is also from VA?</strike><br />
<br />
<strike>So long, Moyer. It was nice knowing you...</strike><br />
<br />
Looks like Moyer's going to pull on last ditch effort to free themselves from the grip of DOE - <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS RELEASE:</span></strong><br />
Don McQueen, National President<br />
<br />
African American Association of Charter School Administrators<br />
3211 Bramer Drive<br />
Raleigh, NC 27604<br />
(919)538-8060<br />
<br />
The African American Association of Charter School Administrators (Association) has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights against the Delaware State Board of Education and the Delaware Department of Education alleging that Maurice J. Moyer Academy (a Wilmington, Delaware based charter school) was discriminated against on the basis of the racial makeup of the school when the State Board of Education failed to renew its charter on allegations that the school did not meet state performance standards in violation of Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Association has asked the Office of Civil Rights to take action to restore Moyer’s charter and allow it to continue to operate.<br />
<br />
The Association asserts that Moyer outperformed the state composite score and the composite scores for Brandywine, Red Clay, Colonial, and Christiana School Districts (the surrounding regular public school districts) when the scores are controlled for race and income status. Moyer’s student population was 96.9 percent black, 2.2 percent Hispanic, and 22.5 percent Special Education. Moyer’s student population was 89.2 percent low-income. When you take the state composite scores which includes all sub-groups (white, black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, and so forth) and compare that composite to Moyer it appears that Moyer did not perform. However, then you isolate the scores and compare homogeneous subgroup to homogeneous subgroup Moyer significant outperformed the state and local school districts.<br />
<br />
According to Don McQueen, National President of the Association "it makes absolutely no sense to close Moyer or remove its leadership when it was clearly doing a better job of serving its student population than the state and local districts. The data shows the students are better off under Moyer’s current leadership."<br />
<br />
In May, 2010 the Association completed a report entitled: "Study of the Maurice J. Moyer Academy: Student Performance." The study notes that "The Delaware Department of Education did not make equitable comparisons and has reached an erroneous conclusion about the performance of Moyer Academy." The study also notes that "Across the nation States are attempting to carry out the President’s mandate to close low performing charter schools without developing fair and mathematically sound methods to determine whether African American, Low-income, and Special Education populations are better served by the Charter school than the traditional public schools. The result is states are closing Charter schools that serve special targeted populations that are outperforming traditional public schools due to erroneous information. This does a disservice to our educational infrastructure and to high risk African American students."<br />
<br />
( Visit the Association on the Internet at : http:/!aaacharteradministrators.or~/default.aspx )Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-78160100483888781092010-07-11T23:43:00.001-04:002010-07-11T23:47:15.208-04:00Not everything you wish wasn't true is a MYTH!Sorry, folks, I haven't had time to post in a while...<br />
<br />
But, I'd like to thank Paul Herdman for the shout out tonight on Norm Oliver's Community Crossfire! I hear ya, Dawg, but not everything you wish wasn't true is a myth.<br />
<br />
For example:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeypxxwL5fg3S4dWv7qMLj-1t9BDlCZQcGSXjxVBXc0GPk9FJVFy5TMKkoFfhVumkAUTRTUTluzgFshIZHbOirMTsgHRbbv-Iay4KflY0en6hRsE0ChrHX0LKEtC7jF9lfO90y_veZNo/s1600/BP+Oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeypxxwL5fg3S4dWv7qMLj-1t9BDlCZQcGSXjxVBXc0GPk9FJVFy5TMKkoFfhVumkAUTRTUTluzgFshIZHbOirMTsgHRbbv-Iay4KflY0en6hRsE0ChrHX0LKEtC7jF9lfO90y_veZNo/s200/BP+Oil.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6aVKzrg_D8E5ktXiElPCpb0QpxPG01v9twK8u0GS0sUyhtLu1GNowhEDh8fWnRwBGyfOGDA4xRoDAtBbLBWKAhCosSysX3DkLC_4HjvAb1sO6JB0_IEGSQhBrID-oJRodZS2uwLD4MI/s1600/bush_stressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6aVKzrg_D8E5ktXiElPCpb0QpxPG01v9twK8u0GS0sUyhtLu1GNowhEDh8fWnRwBGyfOGDA4xRoDAtBbLBWKAhCosSysX3DkLC_4HjvAb1sO6JB0_IEGSQhBrID-oJRodZS2uwLD4MI/s200/bush_stressed.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong></strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnYjTNf9teOh-GWjvC37DQ4WdqqRjKL3PE6HP7YxncR3m1XOVyUhIBXZUtoiX6RD6iZ5JPFOqkwjk3Z1GyQHWyqgL5tKuRDIduU94a0RJFyvAnYlntuiEmbbsODMHdbWpmP_hC-ESQZg/s1600/Arne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnYjTNf9teOh-GWjvC37DQ4WdqqRjKL3PE6HP7YxncR3m1XOVyUhIBXZUtoiX6RD6iZ5JPFOqkwjk3Z1GyQHWyqgL5tKuRDIduU94a0RJFyvAnYlntuiEmbbsODMHdbWpmP_hC-ESQZg/s200/Arne.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Mr. RACE TO THE TOP</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Public education was never meant to be a revenue-generating venture! The only entity that should profit from the millions being spent in Delaware is our students. Get that through your thick skull, peddle your wares elsewhere!</span></div>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-62743960784238273172010-05-25T22:03:00.002-04:002010-05-25T22:03:18.763-04:00We 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.<br />
<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
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?Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-28715791922725661462010-05-24T23:30:00.001-04:002010-05-24T23:34:16.443-04:00No 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<br />
<br />
<br />
Jim Osman PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― <br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
That includes Cherry Hill where they've cut 45 teachers, sports and music programs.<br />
Superintendent Dr. David Campbell's salary is $277, 392 a year. The state average is 160-thousand a year.<br />
Dr. Campbell says his experience and work ethic justify the pay.<br />
"Most superintendents I know have an average work week of 60 hours and 70 to 80 hours is not uncommon," said Campbell.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
We even found a meal receipt at the Capital Grille in Orlando.<br />
We found another $1900 tab for Dr. Campbell for a conference trip to New Orleans.<br />
The Superintendent says the conferences are continuing education.<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
In Washington Township education cuts have hit hard as well.<br />
"We lost about 93 positions. Some of them ranged from administrators to gifted and talented teachers to elementary teachers," said Simone.<br />
Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Simone makes $182,000 per year.<br />
She gets a $300 monthly allowance for traveling the district.<br />
She has spent about 10-thousand dollars since 2005 on conference trips.<br />
Simone has agreed to a pay freeze. She will forgo a 5-thousand raise she was due to share in the sacrifice.<br />
<br />
Ken Hartman, a former Cherry Hill school board member, says parents need to become involved at a time like this.<br />
"It is not only their right but also their responsibility to ask the difficult questions." said Hartman.<br />
<br />
For example, let's take the Medford Township School District.<br />
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.<br />
<br />
In the Lenape High School District, Emily Capella received a 15 percent raise since 2008. She now makes $213,000 a year.<br />
Plus, she receives an additional $12,000 a year in a stipend to pay for expenses.<br />
The district also gives her a car and a computer for use at home.<br />
And she doesn't have her Doctorate degree unlike the other Superintendents in this story.<br />
<br />
The Medford and Lenape Superintendents refused to do "on-camera interviews" even when we showed up in person.<br />
Some school superintendents say its market forces which dictate salaries and perks.<br />
<br />
Recent changes in New Jersey Department of Education "accountability regulations" have reined in some of the perks in future Superintendent contracts.<br />
For example, in Dr. Campbell's case from Cherry Hill, he'll be reimbursed mileage for any district travel.<br />
There will be no more car allowance.<br />
<br />
A number of local superintendents are taking pay freezes but we did find two who are taking massive pay cuts to save jobs.Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-65221397946998041752010-05-11T22:37:00.004-04:002010-05-11T22:39:06.499-04:00Who Knew So Many People Liked Latin?Na na na na, na na na na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye!<br />
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<br />
Powerful message, Christina voters! Lesson #1 - learned (voting is a privilege not to be taken lightly). On to lesson #2.<br />
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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. <em>It’s most definitely NOT a benevolent dictatorship. </em><br />
<br />
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.Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-4855443056276924752010-05-09T23:06:00.003-04:002010-05-09T23:24:21.077-04:00And 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.<br />
<br />
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. <br />
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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.<br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>VOTE FOR CHANGE - TUESDAY MAY 11th</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>VOTE FOR ERIC ANDERSON!</strong></div>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-72652629019048348352010-05-05T08:33:00.000-04:002010-05-05T08:33:16.740-04:00Prediction to reality...M.I. called it back on April 15th:<br />
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<em>Moyer stays open, new director brought in from Virginia --- DE Sec of Ed's previous state of residence and employment (before coming to DE)</em><br />
<br />
<br />
Today:<br />
DOE is negotiating with K12, for profit education management company based in Virginia, to outsource operations at Moyer according to today's newspaper. <br />
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Flex that Muscle, Lil! And if that doesn't work, bring in Hammer Dan!Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-10775656407131098482010-05-04T11:09:00.000-04:002010-05-04T11:09:28.398-04:00<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Christina School District to their teachers: </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You're Riffed!</span></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9BqkKH5N2DD7qPuSr1LVeri2Q5ivXTYgyEWW6QwTgoHYrmzRFFCXQpldoRxiCN5CdVaQbI_i5Hx1bI6uhg0Jnt7WafXQvUMukv4kGv7jEjQmPWDEzX24D3-Z9mYJGT1X_xyGpVyVoIY/s1600/Riffed+Teacher+Tshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9BqkKH5N2DD7qPuSr1LVeri2Q5ivXTYgyEWW6QwTgoHYrmzRFFCXQpldoRxiCN5CdVaQbI_i5Hx1bI6uhg0Jnt7WafXQvUMukv4kGv7jEjQmPWDEzX24D3-Z9mYJGT1X_xyGpVyVoIY/s320/Riffed+Teacher+Tshirt.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-54991261207612685252010-04-25T23:49:00.007-04:002010-04-25T23:52:27.336-04:00Where's George?Saw the debate tonight on Comcast.<br />
<br />
Eric Anderson, the teacher, looks like a fine candidate...fresh meat for the Christina School District.<br />
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Our fearless school board president, the attorney, was a no show. After 28 years of bad decision-making, guess he couldn't bear to look the City of Wilmington or a teacher in the eye. <br />
<br />
According to Norm, he was busy working on a case- a very strong case for retirement, in my opinion. Too busy to give Christina's kids and their parents 15 minutes of his time, as usual.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetdUtJVPAS7kox1eyHcnXUcWrAhGVVUamBVuYU6Dqx8TX4u74FV8OBbmSqXbJxtCCsFqaX7IHxEuTunH7nuhqz0hhG8XwTZyk7C9h-FPfQrEWPvjuWBtTIFV05IWcRVkVES9LeeBfUUs/s1600/Dollar+Dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetdUtJVPAS7kox1eyHcnXUcWrAhGVVUamBVuYU6Dqx8TX4u74FV8OBbmSqXbJxtCCsFqaX7IHxEuTunH7nuhqz0hhG8XwTZyk7C9h-FPfQrEWPvjuWBtTIFV05IWcRVkVES9LeeBfUUs/s400/Dollar+Dance.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-75937282589074717942010-04-15T22:28:00.002-04:002010-04-15T22:30:41.241-04:00ReferendumbOkay. The CSD is out of money…AGAIN! In all fairness, so are Laurel, Capitol, and Seaford. <br />
<br />
Call me naïve. It’s easy to make assumptions as an “outsider” and taxpayer/chump for the CSD that $250 million should be enough, when properly allocated, to run a school district of this size. <br />
<br />
I’ve recently been clued into a prime example of wasteful spending and half-assed spin-doctoring within the district (note to the current CSD Board & Schneider: when you piss off the hired help, they tend to turn on you).<br />
<br />
It’s common knowledge that Board members take an annual all expenses paid (by taxpayers) vacation to the National School Board Convention. They just got back. Its okay guys, just drink and have a good time; don’t worry, taxpayers will pick up the tab. Now, I can understand the compelling need to experience the wide world of school boards outside of Delaware – once. Beyond the first time, you’re just milking the taxpayer teat. Problem is, it ran dry and it’s getting really chaffed right about now.<br />
<br />
So the story goes, Mr. Esquire loves stretching his legs at these conventions. Year after year, he takes a break from making bad decisions at home and goes walk-about. After 25 or 30 years or so of ruining the district, you’d think he’d know everything there is to know about school boarding. It’s pretty simple - school boarding is kinda like water boarding but, instead of interrogating terrorists, it’s used to shake down taxpayers and water down education. <br />
<br />
I hear that Mr. Esquire loves the taxpayer teat. Not only does he like these free excursions, but he double dips as well. He is the President of the DSBA. They are throwing some sort of dinner that all of the CSD sheep attended…at our expense. You guessed it, the DSBA is making money by “inviting” all of the DE school board members statewide to a BYDC dinner (bring your district’s checkbook). What a great fundraiser. I guess it was either that or selling Joe Corbi pizzas on The Green in Dover. But that’s not where the story ends.<br />
<br />
May is election time for the Squire’s seat on the Board so, at the behest of his supporter (he’s down to just one), he has been trying to improve his image over the past few weeks and distance himself from the massive expense of sending 7 board members to Club Med for three or four days. It’s hard to panhandle for referendum money and gain pity votes right after you submit a big wad of receipts for reimbursement. It just looks bad. <br />
<br />
The trip was over spring break. I’ve been told that he backed out at the last minute and sent Schneider in his place. Schneider? Yes, Schneider! Correct me if I’m wrong, but she’s not even a school board member. What the hell need does she have to go to a national convention of school boards? Looking for a new job, perhaps? One can only hope.<br />
<br />
But I digress.<br />
<br />
He backed out of the trip and his non-refundable reservations under the guise of saving the taxpayers money, because it’s hard to get re-elected as the solution when you’re so obviously a major part of the problem. THIS, my friends is why the district is on the brink of bankruptcy - AGAIN. The man and woman at the helm lack common sense. HOW does transferring plane tickets, hotel reservations, the expensive DSBA dinner purchase, etc. from a board member to a district employee SAVE money? It doesn’t.<br />
<br />
Mr. Esquire, I humbly submit that you should have gone on your little happy trip. You just missed your LAST opportunity to live it up on the community dime, buddy. No matter what you do, you have lost my vote and the vote of as many people as I can convince to turn out in May. Thank you for your service. When it comes to another term, however, your service is no longer needed. Our children deserve better.Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-40657335278277354402010-04-15T11:38:00.001-04:002010-04-15T11:38:38.338-04:00Intel on ChartersM.I.'s prediction for DeBOE meeting:<br />
<br />
Moyer stays open, new director brought in from Virginia --- DE Sec of Ed's previous state of residence and employment (before coming to DE)<br />
All seven charter applications will be denied.Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-56508239018702623772010-04-03T16:43:00.001-04:002010-04-03T16:48:19.162-04:00Strategic Plan for the Delaware DOE: Lesson #2<strong>Lesson #2: Turning an even bigger liability into an asset</strong><br />
<br />
Now that the Delaware DOE has successfully sold its collective soul for $100 million, we’re going to need to make some obvious changes to our educational system so we can salvage some small semblance of dignity and respect. Once the seed money is squandered on additional administration and consultants, this may possibly be the only lasting legacy from this whole debacle (besides the massive debt, increased taxes, and teacher-less public schools). <br />
<br />
Educators state-wide have been making headlines lately, but not for excellence in English, math, science, or even sports. No, in Delaware, our news-worthy teachers seem to excel at teaching sex education…to minors…with one-on-one classroom, car, or apartment ratios. For years, students have been wasting their time selling donuts and carnations in the halls and classrooms when it turns out they could have made a lot more money “fun-raising”, selling condoms in the school’s colors to their faculty “boosters”.<br />
<br />
I know what we really need is more consultants and standardized testing strategies, but we must take advantage of the Race To The Top money and use at least a little of it to better our schools and improve the safety of our students. <br />
Therefore:<br />
<ul><li>since we’re going to waste the bulk of the $100 million on overpriced consultants anyway;</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>since hundreds, if not thousands, of experienced teachers will be laid off (in the sense that they will be “reformed” out of a job; no gratification with minors implied);</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>since all new teaching positions will be filled with relocated recent college graduates from Teach America making just $18-$20k a year (not nearly enough to go out after work, date, rent an R or X rated movie, or even to live indoors really);</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>since none of the $100 million will improve classrooms, student ratios, the quality of teachers, etc.</li>
</ul><div></div>and<br />
<br />
<ul><li>since S&M in our schools should once again refer to science and math (thanks a lot, perverts!);</li>
</ul><br />
I propose that a portion of the RTTT funds be used to create a dating service for all DE DOE employees and independent contractors. I’m quite confident that hiring an over-paid match-making firm to “consult” with individual districts and to implement social networking opportunities for educators, administrators, formerly unemployable and now newly educated 21 yr old “instructors”, and over-priced consultants will be well received. Taxpayers with school-aged children would definitely support this. In fact, this advice should have made it into the Cambridge report. If it didn’t, then I think we should freeze all payments because they didn’t do a very thorough job in evaluating the needs of our schools!<br />
<br />
While this might be accomplished for free using an existing social networking site or even Craig’s list, think of the positive media opportunities and recruiting power that a professional dating service run by the DE DOE could provide. No more messy investigative reports and paid administrative leave for district employees facing probable indictment. We just need to point the “more experienced educators” in the direction of the 21 year old Teach America kids instead of allowing them to mingle and exchange phone numbers or text with the easily corrupted minors in our classrooms, that’s all. <br />
<br />
We get it. You’re underpaid and frustrated in every possible way. You want a ream of something and, since paper is apparently out of the question... We get it! All we ask is that you keep your hands off the children, okay! Relief is on the way.<br />
<br />
What better way to harness this untapped, unbridled carnal energy into actually improving our schools for 8 hours a day and then unleash it in a flood of release after the end of the day announcements and the last bell. Happy hour starts at 4, but only after carding everyone to ensure that they are actually consenting adults. A win-win, my friends! <br />
<br />
Let’s be honest - Delaware is a long distance from the “comforts” of home in MA and wherever the TA kids will hail from, and what happens in DE tends to stay in DE - except for baby-daddies. We need to be pro-active, professional, protective, prohibitive, and pro-prophalactic. If we do not stop these promiscuous proclivities we can expect procreation, probes by proctors, profanation, probation, protests, and proliferation of pro-life proponents via progeny at or around the night of the prom. Lest you think this is propaganda meant to proselytize, progress will only begin when a protagonist (like your friend, MI) prognosticates then professes and proclaims proficiency in problem solving and promptly proposes provocatively profound, yet promotable, processes without promise of proceeds or profit. <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Lesson #2: Educators - Keep it in your pants, out of our schools, and out of the media. Comprende?</span></strong>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-22358868944447015282010-03-29T22:04:00.003-04:002010-03-29T22:06:16.897-04:00Stock tip of the day:<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Since the Delaware Department of Education has not yet had their IPO, MassInciter recommends:</span></strong> <br />
<strong>Downgrade/SELL:</strong> Technology for the classroom, classroom & office supplies, Sallie-Mae, all Colleges and Universities offering teaching degrees, and all textbook suppliers. School-age student futures.<br />
<br />
<strong>Upgrade/BUY:</strong> Mass Insight, Cambridge Education, the Broad Institute, Vision 2015, Northwest, Renaissance Schools, Innovative Schools, JP Morgan Chase, RODEL, AIRS, DSTP, and DCAS. <br />
<br />
Word on the street is that there has been a $600 M infusion of guaranteed business for educational consultants, with $3.5 B+ in future business to follow. Sell your soul for whatever you can get and buy now…you can bet your 403(B) on it!<br />
<br />
Think I’m yanking your chain? I’m not alone in my investment advice. (Although, I’m not quite sure why they’re downgrading brewers –- we’re all going to need to get a few drinks under our belts in order to stomach the changes in store for us).<br />
<br />
<strong>Market Report: Stock Ticker </strong><br />
March 29, 2010 -- 4:15 PM ET<br />
<br />
Moving the Market<br />
<br />
Dollar dips against competing currencies<br />
<br />
Personal income and spending figures for February provide little surprise<br />
<br />
Overall news flow is light, leading to little participation<br />
<br />
Sector Watch<br />
<br />
<strong>Strong</strong><br />
real estate services; <strong><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">education services</span></strong>; oil and gas drillers, equipment, and explorers; coal and consumable fuel; diversified metals; agricultural products; distillers and vintners<br />
<br />
<strong>Weak</strong><br />
auto makers; brewers; computer storage and peripherals; homebuilding; industrial REITs<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">It’s a damn shame that they did away with cursive writing. It makes<strong> <em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We are so totally fucked!</span></em></strong> look so much classier.</span>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-33208558083107866742010-03-27T20:14:00.002-04:002010-03-27T20:14:55.885-04:00DOE Rumor<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Race to the Top winners are expected to be announced Monday morning at 10 am</span>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-44694105240447549252010-03-23T20:13:00.003-04:002010-03-24T00:02:54.713-04:00Mass Inciter’s Strategic Plan For The CSD:<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Lesson # 1: Turning A Liability Into An Asset</span></strong><br />
<br />
The Christina School District owns the old Astro Power Building in Pencader Business Park, right off of Rt 896. As it stands, this ginormous abandoned facility is a black-eye to the district, a slap in the face to the tax-payers who funded it, and a hell of a liability. From what I understand, the building would need major improvements to function as either a school or a sale-able property. <br />
<br />
Although it’s designed to generate energy (more than enough to off-set maintenance costs), the building’s vacancy actually costs the district for utility bills and loan payments for the money borrowed from the State for its purchase. Since the commercial real estate market in Delaware is in the dumper right now, what can be done with this property?<br />
<br />
My strategic solution provides a source of positive cash-flow, an actual use for the over-paid contractors that the district is so fond of, will generate some well-needed positive press for the district and, most importantly, raise at-risk student testing scores. I propose that the old Astro Power building be turned into temporary Section-8 housing for the district’s many homeless students and their families.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Think about it</strong></span>…the building is its own energy source. It’s huge and can be sectioned off quite economically. At their insistance, the district could even use some of those overpaid contractors that they are so fond of. Since the district is so hell-bent on improving test scores, then a plan to provide students with a real roof over their heads should be a no-brainer. A well-rested child – one who doesn’t have to wake up in the back seat of a car, worry about where dinner or breakfast will come from, or secretly “shower” in the sink at school - will probably stress less and test better.<br />
<br />
My taxes helped fund this Wise purchase; so did yours. What an egregious waste of money! The way I see it, the building belongs to us, since it’s <strong>NEVER</strong> going to be used as a school. If this district is going to have the gall to try to pass a referendum and raise my taxes after blatantly wasting my hard earned money, then I want to actually see a return on my investment. <br />
<br />
It's a sin to let a perfectly good district owned building go to waste when it can be used for the benefit of our students (and their families). Moreover, it would actually save the district a lot in transportation expenses. Believe it or not, district buses drive around looking for the homeless students each morning and picking them up at random locations. <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lesson # 1 Summary: Waste not, want not.</span></strong>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-66127607860357829752010-03-17T08:35:00.003-04:002010-03-18T18:29:28.581-04:00Thanks a Lot St. Patrick<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;">For driving the snakes out of Ireland and straight into Educational Consulting!</span>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-71292643886413216072010-03-16T00:17:00.000-04:002010-03-16T00:17:55.388-04:00Riddle Me This:If I never check my email and continue to show up at work, will I still be employed in the fall?<br />
<br />
Hey CEA, lay off the district Kool Aid! OH YEAH!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TppRjknOryk&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TppRjknOryk&feature=related</a><br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TppRjknOryk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TppRjknOryk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-51878535032330004232010-03-14T21:52:00.000-04:002010-03-14T21:52:44.242-04:00BIG BUSINESS vs. the little defenseless childrenIf you haven’t noticed by now, the showdown has started. It’s high time that parents, taxpayers, educators and all dedicated union employees united to protect the sanctity of our public school system. <br />
<br />
Our public schools should be a place of classrooms and childrens’ playgrounds, not class/race and corporate battle-grounds! It is unconscionable to allow the corporate interests of Mass Insight, Cambridge Education, the Broad Institute, Vision 2015, Northwest, Renaissance Schools, Innovative Schools, JP Morgan Chase, RODEL, AIRS, DSTP, DCAS (the list goes on and on) and ANY other self-serving corporate entity to rape our districts and fleece our coffers. No, our children deserve to be protected, our district employees also deserve to be protected and we, the adults/taxpayers/parents who stand to lose the most by this criminal activity, must take responsibility for our actions or lack thereof.<br />
<br />
For every dollar that some corporate weasel ferrets out of our district, cuts must be made elsewhere. Since teachers and hourly employees have the greatest numbers and are lowest on the food chain, they are the first to go. Budgets for textbooks, classroom supplies, and office supplies are also on the chopping block. <br />
<br />
I don’t know about you, but when I went to school, we had textbooks; lots of them. My backpack would wear out every year or two. It wasn’t a piece of crap sold by Walmart that’s designed to fall apart each year. No, it was the weight of all of those textbooks that I was entrusted with. Textbooks meant assigned reading and homework. All I get home for my child is off-kilter photocopies, often without instructions. My teachers were career educators. They taught from both an approved curriculum as well as their hearts. Although Nixon, Ford & Reagan offered few frills, my public education resembled that of my parents. Will our children receive the same free and appropriate education that I received, or is this just some watered down, cut-rate, pathetic facsimile? <br />
<br />
It’s a FACT that the facts are not, in fact, facts! Review an accounting of the hundreds of millions that filter through a Delaware school district over the course of a year and the spreadsheet will suggest that the bulk is spent on administrative costs and teachers. Review a random sampling of teachers’ W2s and you’ll be able to quickly surmise that they are not the drain on our budget. Tens of millions of dollars are wasted each year on contracted educational “support”. What do we get for our investment? We get constantly changing strategies that are proven NOT to work. After all, if they really worked, we wouldn’t need to hire contractors to fix the problem the following year.<br />
<br />
Bottom line is that a handful of greedy bastards may hold the power over the district, but we still have the advantage and should rise to the challenge. We have the numbers, and each of us has a vote. Democracy can be such a beautiful thing. We can grant power…and we can, and should, govern those who govern us. If elected officials (Federal, Local, & School District) abuse their power GET RID OF THEM! Expose their shortcomings. Expose their fraudulent activities. Expose their weaknesses. Then, VOTE THEM OUT! If (over)paid EMPLOYEES, such as our School District Administrators, act out or sell us out, expose them for what they are and FIRE THEM! Let teachers teach and let business people seek their profits elsewhere. <br />
<br />
We are living in historically challenging times. Like the current working poor, the generations to come will probably not have government retirement benefits, corporate pensions, inheritances, and any real sense of security. What will we leave to them? What will be our legacy?<br />
<br />
RISE TO THE CHALLENGE!!! <br />
<br />
Send Ms Bock a powerful message: sell-outs aren’t welcome here! We trusted you and you betrayed us. RIF her a new one! TEACHERS – Recall her. Impeach her. Vote for anyone else for CEA President.<br />
<br />
Send Mr. Esquire, the Christina School Board President a powerful message: you’ve somehow been given almost 30 years to destroy the Christina School District…not another day on our watch! RIF him a new one! CHRISTINA CONSTITUENTS – Vote for anyone else for his school board seat. (by the way, you do not have to live within the city to vote in the MAY election!!!)<br />
<br />
Contact your local legislators about your concerns. If they aren’t responsive or don’t represent your views, vote them out, too!<br />
<br />
The easiest problem to fix in Christina is Schneider. She is an employee. Delaware is an “at-will” state. Ax her. Pay out her contract, if need be. Write HER off as a loss rather than the future of our current teachers and our childrens’ education. Send the bitch packing!!! <br />
<br />
<strong>Please feel free to share this with message with EVERYONE you know at work. Get out the vote.</strong>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-49492627557386569742010-03-12T22:03:00.004-05:002010-03-12T22:06:42.472-05:00Bombs Away... Stupidintendent #1 blows up city schools...<strong><em>Okay, perhaps, the headline's a little harsh. But, it is the beginning of the end, as Masstradamus predicted (2012, my friends, 2012. Okay, maybe I was off by a couple years. 2010, the end of public education as we know it.) </em></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><em>Was this the backroom deal Mr. Esquire hammered out at his private, little "workshop" on March 6th?</em></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><em>The following bomb was dropped on three city schools today as they were busy administering DSTPs. Can you guess which three? Anyone want to hire a used teacher? (Cause I bet a whole lot of 'em are feeling pretty used right about now.) You can imagine the panic that ensued.</em></strong><br />
<br />
From: LYLES MARCIA V.<br />
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 9:45 AM<br />
To: Bancroft Users<br />
Cc: Claudia Bock<br />
Subject: School Improvement<br />
<br />
Dear Educators:<br />
<br />
I know that there has been a great deal of talk about state lists, school closures, turnarounds, etc. And, in the absence of actual information, rumors have abounded. I am happy to report that Claudia Bock, Bob Brown and I recently met to share our information, talk about the implications, and develop a preliminary strategy on next steps.<br />
<br />
Yes, unfortunately this year Bancroft has been identified by the Delaware Department of Education as a Tier I, persistently low achieving school. That is the bad but, I am sure, not surprising news. Yet now, through an expanded Federal Title I 1003(g) School Improvement Grants program, we have an unprecedented opportunity to work together to secure the much needed resources to transform Bancroft into a school of choice and opportunity; where excellence and equity for every child is indeed achieved.<br />
<br />
We will be actively engaged in applying for these School Improvement Grants over the next couple of months. Each application will demand innovative and thorough planning focused on quickly improving student achievement for every child in Bancroft. Are we planning to turn everything topsy-turvy, displace students and staff, or throw out the baby with the bathwater? NO, but we do know that we must take bold actions to truly transform. The need is urgent, the timeline is short for improvement, and we must not just tinker.<br />
<br />
I know how hard many people are working already. You know the saying, “smarter not harder”? We are all going to have to work smarter and harder. There is much to be done. We will be working collaboratively with the CEA on drafting plans or models as we consider our options. Ms. Bock and I have also discussed that once we begin planning in earnest, I will be happy to attend meetings with teachers in your building to keep the lines of communication open.<br />
<br />
It is my sincere hope that we will work collaboratively on behalf of our children and their families. Please send questions and comments to Claudia Bock and she will communicate issues to me as they come up.<br />
<br />
For every child,<br />
<br />
Marcia V. Lyles, Ed.D.<br />
Superintendent<br />
Christina School District<br />
600 N. Lombard Street<br />
Wilmington, DE 19801<br />
302-552-2630<br />
<br />
Expect Excellence<br />
Everyday, for Every Child, in Every Class<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Warner, watch out, they're coming for you... You can't run and you can't hide.</em></strong>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-36701677679371395582010-03-11T00:16:00.001-05:002010-03-11T00:16:54.036-05:00Bad Boards, Bad Boards, Whatcha gonna do?Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?<br />
<br />
Big guns, held by reckless hands, already drawn to rob you blind. Christina is leading the charge. Pay up, or suffer our wrath -- fewer teachers, bigger class sizes, no textbooks or school supplies! Extortion is such an ugly word...referendum sounds so much more reasonable. After all, it's only money; lots and lots of money. <br />
<br />
All right, I can hear some of you whining right now - you think I'm picking on Christina. Like I'm oblivious to the antics going on in Colonial. No sir, I saw it all go down and with certainty, Meney is getting his due. His board has been searching high and low for a way to dump him for years. Talk about a mistake. That $100/hr consulting fee was blood money. If he wasn't caught red-handed with his hand in the pot, and ratted out to the News Journal, he'd have remained a leach for as long as he could hold on to the cold lifeless student body.<br />
<br />
Like the stiff teflon suits over at Colonial, it seems that Christina is also having its own internal battle with Open Meeting Law compliance. Like shooting fish in a barrel...easy pickins for commentaries. Blogger, please! They leave themselves open for criticism with nearly every decision they make.<br />
<br />
For starters, they treat their Schneider, their over-paid rookie Stupid-intendent, as an equal and allow her to direct the meetings. Good god, someone's rolled over and...well, you get the picture. Talk about Oscar worthy -- Schneider's over-the-top performance during the signing of the MOU "debate" was theatrical gold. There was posturing, yelling, and even the suggestion of emotional vestment, attempting to over-shadow the life-long financial investment of this monumental death-blow to the district. Did the board President rebuke her? Oh, no. Not only did he sanction her ridiculous and unprofessional behavior, he was at the brink of little-girl tears of joy. Evidently, she's the wind beneath his wings. <br />
<br />
If she were MY employee, baby would have been kept in the corner and reprimanded accordingly. She is NOT the voice of the school district. The schools belong to every tax-payer in Delaware. We are responsible for electing a board to represent us, not lord over us. They, in turn, are responsible for hiring a Stupid to mis-manage our hard-earned money, abuse the district's loyal employees, and deprive our school-aged children of a comprehensive education. Doesn't sound quite right when you think about it, does it? GOOD! That's called reading comprehension. For your edification, it has now been replaced by rote memorization in our schools. <br />
<br />
But I digress...<br />
<br />
The only redeeming thing about Christina board meetings now is that they are great place to take fussy "youngsters". Ten minutes into the pompous proceedings and they're out like a light. If your kid doesn't fall asleep, the board will expel him. There are alternative schools that are paid to put up with that crap. "We are adjudicators here...I mean educators." Speaking of the elderly Mr. Esquire - quit your day job (and your evening job, while you're at it!). I can't imagine that you're much of an attorney, based on your blow-hard, preachy exhortations -- "<em>Well, I concur, sir, and I'd like to hear more about our recyclin' project, if the board so deems it appropriate ..." ZZZZZZZZ (better, and MUCH less addictive, than ambien!)</em><br />
<br />
Last night, there was actually a spark of life on that stage. Too bad half the audience had walked out and asked for a refund by the time it happened. Schneider sang the praises of the fifty people (rounded up) who participated in the strategic plan. A district of 17,000 students and several thousand employees and fifty f-ing people, half of them flying monkeys for the Stupid, actually knew about it. Obviously strategic, but not much of a plan. More like stage-one of the great RTTT failing schools give-a-way, tying up loose ends by returning all inner-city high school students to their respective hoods before cutting the schools loose. A inter-board squabble over whether or not there were actually any focus groups (I guess the honeymoon is over) and then it was finally spoken aloud - the R-word...Referendum. Then the board covered their heads, anticipating the reaction from the die-hards left in the peanut gallery. <br />
<br />
The blow was tempered with promises of additional public meetings to grease the pig. Mr. Esquire, in what was either a senior moment or ADHD, starts mumbling about another unrelated meeting, a dispute over blah, blah blah, Title this and Title that, it was a board workshop, there were no posting compliance issues. WTF?!? It was pretty hard to follow, but he said they'd be sure they get it right. For a minute, I forgot he was a sleazy legal weasel who has methodically helped destroyed the district over the last 20 years and felt sorry for the old guy for having a stroke in front of everybody. I had 9 and 1 already dialed when it started to occur to me that he was just probably just covering his butt for something they screwed up. The dead give-away of the buried issue was the sudden incongruent continuance of the referendum crap. Awkward and weird at best. <br />
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What the hell was the old man talking about? If anyone knows anything about the screw up, I'm game for posting it. I watched little miss Children and Educators shuffling lots of papers, listened to the Professor start and stop a thought out loud, and C&E comes out swinging, correcting the preacher man, with documentation about an earlier March meeting that was not posted in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. Scandalous! (possibly) Regardless, more life than I've seen out of this board in a LONG time. <br />
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Well, I'm tired, I'm old, and I'm hanging up my reporter hat for the night. This entry was a bit of a departure for me but I thought I'd just share my view of the theater of the bizarre from the cheap seats, so I can get to sleep (on the off chance that I still have a job tomorrow).Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-81618826931388132592010-03-08T22:29:00.001-05:002010-03-08T22:30:24.631-05:00No More Pencils, No More Books...<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">No more pencils, no more books,</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The District’s run by dirty crooks!!!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Get your checkbooks out, folks. A referendum’s in the air (either that or it’s the smell from the mushroom farms in Hockessin). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ante up, bitches! What’s that…you say you’re unemployed, under-employed, struggling to pay your medical bills, and/or at risk of losing your home? Quit ‘cher whining! We’re raising your school taxes to be commensurate with those in PA and NJ.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That’s right, I’ll say it again. Our taxes will be commensurate with those in PA and NJ. But that’s about as far as it goes. Computers in classrooms? Why would we want to do that? A public education that rivals a private education? I don’t think so! No, we have better plans for your money…like paying an outside company to improve our image within our community.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The world is a cold, cruel place and the sooner your kids learn their role the better. Look on the bright side – PTAs are technically non-profits and have already trained your kids to beg (I mean fundraise). Spare me your Orwellian inspired tears, from now on, office supplies are for District Administration only. If your kids want crayons, pencils, paper and tape then they’ll just have to find a way to earn some. When I was their age, I had a paper route and schools had so many supplies we just threw them out at the end of the year to make room for the truckloads of fresh ones in the fall. Ahhh…those were the days! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But those days are long gone. So, pick a corner, take a lesson in entrepreneurial desperation from Downes Elementary, and let the begging begin! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.christina.k12.de.us/downes/pta/sunshine.html">http://www.christina.k12.de.us/downes/pta/sunshine.html</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-83181711949573851722010-03-03T15:05:00.001-05:002010-03-03T15:06:40.423-05:00You, too, Can Own a Piece of Delaware History!<strong><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You Too Can Own A Piece of Delaware History!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purchase a genuine Red Clay brick and sponsor a Child.</span></strong><br />
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For a limited time only, purchase a genuine red clay brick, direct from the walls of the Maurice J. Moyer Academy, and authenticated by a local unemployed Mason. Your modest donation of $500* will subsidize the education of a public school student in the Red Clay School District.<br />
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Child sponsorship allows you to personally connect with a child in need while making a lasting investment in his/her short-term educational future (lets face it, $500 just doesn’t go as far as it used to). Your donation also strengthens your child’s local community, ensuring an extended network of consultative educational support and a relatively safe environment in which your child can thrive while his/her single parent is at one of his/her many jobs.<br />
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You will receive a photo and personal profile of the child you are sponsoring, updates on his/her wellbeing, and notes, drawings or correspondence from your child, at least twice a year* (*during standardized testing breaks). <br />
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Your one-time sponsorship provides a local child with things like educational-ish photo-copies from a textbook, nourishing Federally subsidized cafeteria food, and essential classroom supplies (may include, but not limited to: chalk, hand sanitizer, reams of copy paper, and new goldfish to replace the floaters).<br />
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For only $500, YOU can change the life of a child. But, don’t take my word for it. If you’re not totally satisfied with your child’s educational progress and testing prowess, the commemorative brick can also be used as a communication device, sending a powerful message to local decision-makers that you’ve lost any remaining faith you may have had in our public school system.<br />
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*Your $500 donation will be used to offset Delaware's $50 Million education spending deficit.Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8043403892379151805.post-2803777828601885432010-03-02T15:23:00.000-05:002010-03-02T15:23:01.861-05:00Was Christina's Board Taken for a $300,000 Cambridge/Mass Insight Ride?<strong>Kilroy, man, this one's for you: </strong><br />
<strong>Did Christina know that they were letting the fox into the hen house? Is Cambridge evaluating Christina for Turnaround? Well, let's see, Christina's got three schools on DOE's turnaround list. hmmmm. Looks like some board had the wool pulled over their eyes. Tsk, tsk, tsk...</strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.massinsight.org/members/membercontent/I_Partnership_Zones_June_2009.pdf">http://www.massinsight.org/members/membercontent/I_Partnership_Zones_June_2009.pdf</a><br />
p 71 of 71<br />
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For More Information on School Turnaround Strategies<br />
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Turnaround is a dramatic and comprehensive intervention in a low-performing school that a) produces significant gains in achievement within two years; and b) readies the school for the longer process of transformation into a high-performing organization. Successful turnaround requires strong partnerships and flexible operating conditions, and is best conducted across small clusters of schools in ways that can lead to whole-district redesign.<br />
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Mass InsightEducation & Research Institute •18 Tremont Street, Suite 930 • Boston, MA 02108 • 617-778-1500<br />
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This report was created through analysis of higher-performing high-poverty schools and best practices from turnaround initiatives to date.<br />
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The report and related documents are the result of a Research & Development process led by Mass Insight and various partners including: Apollo Philanthropy Partners, <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Cambridge Education</span></strong>, Education Counsel, Holland + Knight, and The Parthenon Group.<br />
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The report should be used in conjunction with the Main Report, The Turnaround Challenge: Why America’s best opportunity to dramatically improve student achievement lies in our worst performing schools,and a variety of other resources distributed throughout the spring of 2009.<br />
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The report and related Research & Development were generously funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.<br />
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For more information on The Turnaround Challenge, please visit our website at <a href="http://www.massinsight.org/">http://www.massinsight.org/</a> or contact us at <a href="mailto:turnaround@massinsight.org">turnaround@massinsight.org</a>.Master Insighterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454440730047925956noreply@blogger.com17