Fenty Gets the Royal Treatment: Loose Lips Daily - City Desk - Washington City Paper

Fenty Gets the Royal Treatment: Loose Lips Daily - City Desk - Washington City Paper:

"AFTER THE JUMP—WaPo editorial calls for investigation of parks contracts; TV reporters dig in; closed-door council meeting gets testy; key senator refuses to allow D.C. vote on defense approps bill; principal neglects to proofread court filing; judge stalking trial begins

The WaPo opinion page is starting to realize that, with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, good intentions do not necessarily make good government. Editorialists say that his parks contract maneuverings demand further investigation: ‘Fenty boasts that his administration represents a break from the old ways of doing business in the District, when whom you knew mattered more than what you could do for the city. What, then, to make of reports that the administration bypassed the D.C. Council to award tens of millions of dollars in contracts and that some of the firms may have ties to Mr. Fenty?

…It’s important that the D.C. Council, which plans a roundtable on the issue on Friday, get all the information about the projects in question, determine whether proper procurement steps were indeed followed and then decide how to proceed in protecting the best interests of the city.’ The piece also describes as ‘apt’ Mary Cheh’s comment that the process seems ’sneaky.’"

Power to the principals -- baltimoresun.com

Power to the principals -- baltimoresun.com:

"Most school districts find something that works for one particular teacher for one particular group of kids and then try to force everyone to apply it, as if teachers were robots and kids were interchangeable. It doesn't often result in high-quality education, but it sure makes life easier for central office bureaucrats.

Education is supposed to involve professionals building relationships with kids. Good teachers in good schools get to know their students and then figure out what works for those kids. Good principals are the same. The best ones are empowered leaders who allocate resources based on what their students need - not what the central office wants.

That is the theme of this year's must-read education book, 'The Secret of TSL' by William G. Ouchi, a professor at UCLA and arguably the nation's best management writer. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Ouchi explained Japanese management to U.S. business. Now, after observing 665 schools across the U.S. and Canada, Mr. Ouchi concludes that, as in business, management matters in schools."

Immigrant Children Lost in Education Reform - NAM

Immigrant Children Lost in Education Reform - NAM:

"Ruby Takanishi, president and chief executive officer of Foundation for Child Development, recently co-edited a new book titled, Immigration, Diversity and Education, with Elena L. Grigorenko. She spoke with New America Media Education Editor Carolyn Ji Jong Goossen about the current challenges facing immigrant children in the United States and the reforms needed to support their future health, wellbeing, and academic success.

Do you feel like the new administration has adequately addressed immigrant children’s issues thus far?

No. The fact of the matter is that immigrant children are not on anybody’s agenda, except in a negative way. First of all, there has already been a decision to exclude many immigrant children and their families from public health insurance access. There is also very little discussion in the education initiatives being presented, including the “Race To The Top” funds, the stimulus funds, and even the No Child Left Behind policy. The opportunities for doing positive social policy is not evident.

I would say that in terms of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics, it does seem to be that the shift from going after employees to going after employers would be less traumatic to children.That’s not to say that undocumented workers won’t still lose their jobs, but at least their parents won’t disappear. I understand that they are trying to change some of their practices of detaining families in detention facilities, so that’s certainly encouraging. But overall, I personally have been very disappointed that the administration had opportunities to do positive things for children of immigrants, but hasn’t done anything so far."

A Look at Community Schools

A Look at Community Schools:

"Children living in poverty face many obstacles outside the classroom that can hinder their success in the classroom. Unaddressed health care needs interfere with learning and cause low attendance. Inadequate and inconsistent housing may deprive students of a safe and quiet place to study. A lack of affordable and accessible child care forces many young adults to sacrifice learning opportunities to care for younger family members. And poverty’s economic stress may cause students to be less engaged and parents to be less involved in their children’s education.

The advent of accountability-based school reform has pushed many high-poverty schools to focus on providing effective instruction and meeting high academic standards. Numerous schools have made progress in these areas but few have been adequately equipped with the tools needed to confront external learning obstacles related to poverty."

Education Week: Chicago School Closings Show Little Academic Gain

Education Week: Chicago School Closings Show Little Academic Gain:

"A majority of Chicago students affected by school closings were sent to schools that were low-performing, just like those they left behind—moves that had no significant impact on performance for most students, a study released today finds.

The study, by the University of Chicago’s Consortium on Chicago School Research , examines the academic effects of the closings on students at 18 elementary schools shut down between 2001 and 2006. To measure the impact, the researchers compared students age 8 and older with their counterparts in schools that had similar characteristics but continued to operate. The schools had a combined enrollment of 5,445 students at the time of their closing."

L.A. Unified to allow parents to initiate school reforms -- latimes.com

L.A. Unified to allow parents to initiate school reforms -- latimes.com:

"For the first time in Los Angeles, parents will be able to initiate major reforms at low-performing individual schools, rather than waiting for the school district to make changes, under a plan unveiled Tuesday.

This new parental power has emerged as part of a school-control resolution that allows for groups inside and outside the Los Angeles Unified School District to take over campuses. Supt. Ramon C. Cortines has included 12 underachieving schools and 18 new campuses in the process, but the parent option could add others to the list, especially in future years."

American Thinker: What Bill Ayers Saw in Barack Obama

American Thinker: What Bill Ayers Saw in Barack Obama:

"In 1994, while Barack Obama's memoir Dreams From My Father was being polished off, Bill Ayers co-authored an essay whose title befits a former merchant seaman: 'Navigating a restless sea: The continuing struggle to achieve a decent education for African American youngsters in Chicago.'

In 'Navigating,' Ayers and his nominal co-author, former New Communist Movement leader Michael Klonsky, offer a detailed analysis of the Chicago school system and a discussion of potential reforms. Curiously, so too does Obama in Dreams."

Taking educators to school | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Taking educators to school IndyStar.com The Indianapolis Star:

"I can't remember the last time a politician told Indiana's medical school or law schools they had too much say in how doctors and lawyers were educated.Or that we needed to make it easier for laypersons to become doctors, lawyers, even chiefs of surgery and judges."

Yet there's manifest and manifold political support for state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett's siege upon the Indiana education "establishment," which would be the university education schools and the teacher associations.

The idea is that unsatisfactory student achievement is the fault of a closed teaching society that is loath to change with the times and dedicated to the welfare of salaried adults rather than the needs of children.

Refutation of these presumptions is ample. Innovation and self-criticism are staples of teacher education and are reflected in state accountability law that predates Bennett. Dedicated teachers, even those protected by unions from arbitrary firing, are not the exception.

The Turnaround Fallacy : Education Next

The Turnaround Fallacy : Education Next:

"For as long as there have been struggling schools in America’s cities, there have been efforts to turn them around. The lure of dramatic improvement runs through Morgan Freeman’s big-screen portrayal of bat-wielding principal Joe Clark, philanthropic initiatives like the Gates Foundation’s “small schools” project, and No Child Left Behind (NCLB)’s restructuring mandate. The Obama administration hopes to extend this thread even further, making school turnarounds a top priority.

But overall, school turnaround efforts have consistently fallen far short of hopes and expectations. Quite simply, turnarounds are not a scalable strategy for fixing America’s troubled urban school systems."

Rhee has asked how to regain teachers' trust, principals say - washingtonpost.com

Rhee has asked how to regain teachers' trust, principals say - washingtonpost.com:

"Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, facing a showdown Thursday with the D.C. Council over layoffs and budget cuts, has asked principals what she can do to 'regain the trust' of the school system's teachers, some principals say.

Rhee posed the question last week during the monthly meeting of her school leadership at Gallaudet University's Kellogg Conference Center, according to two participants and a third source who was briefed later by others who attended. The two principals, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing internal deliberations, said Rhee expressed concern that even her best teachers have been shaken by the turmoil surrounding the Oct. 2 layoffs of 266 educators and the introduction of a rigorous evaluation system."

Inside City Hall: East Sacramento candidate would get a haircut for job - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee

Inside City Hall: East Sacramento candidate would get a haircut for job - Sacramento Politics - California Politics Sacramento Bee:

"After months of speculation that he would jump into the race, former mayoral candidate Shawn Eldredge is taking a run at the District 3 seat held by Councilman Steve Cohn.

Eldredge, a small-business owner who lives and works in midtown, was known on last year's mayoral campaign trail as the guy with the long hair who wore Led Zeppelin T-shirts to debates. The hair is as lush as ever – for now – although Eldredge says he's shopping for business suits.

'I'm not going to sell out or change who I am to be in office,' he said. 'However, I want the job more than I need to keep my hair. If somebody tells me you can have the job if you cut your hair, I will.'"

Sacramento Press / Mayor clashes with city staff over Nestlé decision-making

Sacramento Press / Mayor clashes with city staff over Nestlé decision-making:

"Mayor Kevin Johnson said the city’s order to halt construction work at the plant Nestlé plans to use for a water-bottling operation is bad for business in Sacramento.

Johnson has praised the jobs that Nestlé will bring to Sacramento, while Councilman Kevin McCarty opposes the plant's plan to bottle and sell water from the American River. Councilwoman Lauren Hammond has also raised concerns about Nestlé's plans."

Santa Monica Mirror

Santa Monica Mirror:

"The District has several committees working on ways to deal with the deficit which could include reducing expenditures and/or revenue enhancements. They are the Financial Oversight Committee, the Emergency/ Temporary Parcel Tax Feasibility Committee, and the Superintendent’s Budget Committee. Initial recommendations will be discussed at the School Board meeting on December 10.

Cuneo also mentioned that the District is considering having all District staff pay a portion of their health premium with the amount being based upon their salary level in order to save $2.2 million. Currently, the District pays the full premium for its entire staff. This has caused an impasse in District negotiations with its bargaining units so a mediator is being brought in. Another idea is having employees take a reduction in pay so lay offs don’t have to be made and new hires don’t have to made when the budget improves."

Schwarzenegger Airs Medicaid Cost Concerns, but Still Backs Action - WSJ.com

Schwarzenegger Airs Medicaid Cost Concerns, but Still Backs Action - WSJ.com:

"California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday reiterated his call for Congress to pass a bill this year to overhaul the U.S. health-care system, while also expressing concerns about the legislation's potential impact on state budgets.

In a letter sent to congressional leaders, the governor -- one of few prominent Republicans supporting the health effort in Washington -- said he opposed proposals to expand Medicaid to provide health-care coverage to the uninsured. Such expansions, which other governors are also protesting, could cost California more than $1 billion a year, Mr. Schwarzenegger said.

'Our state cannot afford its current Medicaid program as structured and governed by federal rules,' Mr. Schwarzenegger said. 'Mandating the addition of 25% more people into an already fiscally unsustainable program will only worsen our situation.'"

Teacher salaries | Napa Valley Register

Teacher salaries Napa Valley Register:

"No one ever gets rich teaching. I doesn’t matter how good you are or where you work, the rewards of teaching are not financial. That said, I can’t complain that much about my salary. The party line is that teachers are poorly paid, but the truth is more nuanced. It all depends on your perspective.

First of all, teachers are seasonal employees. We work the school year, not the business year. The average American works 50 weeks with around 10 days paid holidays, around 240 days annually. The average teacher works 180 days. So I work about 75 percent of the time the average person does. We are effectively laid off every summer. Having summers off is a perk to some, but to others the loss of income needs to be made up with summer jobs."

Democrats go back to the (oil) well for taxes - ContraCostaTimes.com

Democrats go back to the (oil) well for taxes - ContraCostaTimes.com:

"SACRAMENTO — As oil companies continue to reap record profits amid strained state revenues, a pair of Democratic lawmakers are hoping to tap into their deep pockets by installing an oil severance tax that could relieve growing pressures to cut more state services.

Assemblyman Pedro Nava, D-Long Beach, introduced a bill Monday called the Fair Share Act, that would impose a 10 percent oil severance fee on extractions from California wells to bring in $1.5 billion to the state's coffers.

A similar bill that has already cleared one committee, by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, would impose a 9.9 percent fee, but would earmark the revenues to higher education funding."

Spat Between Schwarzeneggger, Pro-Marriage Equality Lawmaker Gets Creative :: EDGE Boston

Spat Between Schwarzeneggger, Pro-Marriage Equality Lawmaker Gets Creative :: EDGE Boston:

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger typically attaches a message to bills he signs or vetoes telling lawmakers why he took the action.

A Democratic assemblyman who heckled the governor during a recent event in San Francisco actually received two messages: the veto letter itself and a not-so-subtle rebuke creatively hidden within it.

Like a find-the-word puzzle, the second message was visible by stringing together the first letter of each line down the left-hand margin. It consisted of a common four-letter vulgarity followed by the letters 'y-o-u.'

'My goodness. What a coincidence,' said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. 'I suppose when you do so many vetoes, something like this is bound to happen.'"

Interim principal takes over at McClatchy High - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Interim principal takes over at McClatchy High - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"McClatchy High School Principal Cynthia Clark will move to the Sacramento City Unified School District administration offices Thursday as a 'principal on special assignment.'
'She will be working with central office administrators to help schools improve curriculum,' said Maria Lopez, district spokesman."

Sacramento Press / Parents split over possible Montessori school move

Sacramento Press / Parents split over possible Montessori school move:

"A five-hour board meeting on the fate of California Montessori Project's Capitol Campus ended around 10:45 p.m. Monday night with a resolution: If an assessment says the Marshall School building in which the school resides is not compliant with state building codes, the school must move 'expeditiously.'

If the assessment, which has still not been made public, says the building does meet minimum state codes, the board will reconvene to decide if the school will move or not."

Programs bring life back to many closed Sacramento-area K-12 campuses - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Programs bring life back to many closed Sacramento-area K-12 campuses - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee

Children no longer play on the jungle gym at 49-year-old Billy Mitchell Elementary School in North Sacramento, but inside its stark white halls teenagers are taking classes in math, computer science and French.

The San Juan Unified School District campus has found new life as Choices Charter School.

The district has shuttered 10 schools in the past five years and is considering closing two more, as are the Sacramento City Unified and Folsom Cordova Unified school districts. Tight budgets and decreasing enrollments are forcing districts to consider school closures, despite their unpopularity.