Saturday, November 2, 2013

11-2-13 Wait What?


Wait What?:

            


Controversial Bridgeport billboard donated to Mayor Finch
Raising Hale is a media project of the Yankee Institute for Public Policy. Although Wait, What? and Raising Hale are miles apart on some philosophical issues, Raising Hale’s dedication to “uncovering government waste, fraud, and abuse in Connecticut” is impressive. Fellow investigative journalist and blogger, Zachary Janowski, is doing an amazing job shinning the light […]The post Controversial Br
It is another morning at Capital Prep…but Principal Steve Perry in nowhere to be seen
This morning, when the school bell rings to mark the beginning of another school day at Hartford’s Capital Preparatory Magnet School, the students are there, the teachers are there… but Principal Steve Perry won’t be there… Again! Steve Perry is off collecting a speaking fee at yet another out-of-state event. This time Steve Perry is […]The post It is another morning at Capital Prep…but Principal

OCT 31

Steve Perry: Tweeting while working …. or as one reader put it – Tworking…
Steve Perry’s twitter account has been a bit quieter since we shed some light on his obsessive “tworking” (or tweeting while being paid by Connecticut’s taxpayers to run Hartford’s Capital Prep Magnet School). Hartford’s Superintendent of Schools, Christina Kishimoto has been even quieter on whether she and the Hartford Board of Education will be taking […]The post Steve Perry: Tweeting while work
Wait, we spent $35,000 on what?
Consider it a tribute to Dannel Malloy’s version of American Capitalism… You’ll find this cute little “feel good” story in this week’s Hartford Business Journal. “Brewing Opportunity – Startup’s K-cup vending machine offers employers money-saving option” is an article about how an employee at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology in East Hartford got an […]The post Wait, we spent $35,000
Vallas backs down on Bridgeport Military Academy
From the Connecticut Post:     Bridgeport Military Academy has their commander back BRIDGEPORT – City school officials confirmed late Wednesday that Byron Williams, commander of the Bridgeport Military Academy was back at the new school on Wednesday. Williams was let go by Schools Superintendent Paul Vallas last week but the outcry from parents and students […]The post Vallas backs down on Bridgep
Hartford’s Clark School parents, teachers and community fight back!
The battle to fight off the “Hostile Take-Over” of Hartford’s Clark School is growing. Last week Hartford Superintendent of Schools, Christina Kishimoto, announced plans that she wants to close Hartford’s Clark School and hand the building over to Achievement First, Inc., the larger charter school management company that already has one school in Hartford but […]The post Hartford’s Clark School pa
Malloy/Democrats make mockery of Connecticut’s once prominent role in campaign finance reform
Thanks to the changes in Connecticut’s campaign finance system that were initiated and signed into law by Governor Malloy, corporate education reformers Jonathan Sackler and Mary Corson each wrote $10,000 checks to Connecticut’s Democratic Party this year. It is hardly the first time that Sackler and his wife, Corson, have ponied up for Governor Malloy. Over […]The post Malloy/Democrats make mocke

OCT 30

Stefan Pryor expands his team of charter school advocates
As if Connecticut’s Alliance School Districts (the 30 poorest school districts in the state) weren’t having enough problems, Stefan Pryor has managed to pour even more salt into the wounds that are dragging down public education in Connecticut. Over at the State Department of Education, Stefan Pryor got rid of Connecticut’s experienced Leaders in Residence […]The post Stefan Pryor expands his team
Would the Captain please return to the bridge immediately!
You certainly can’t say that Governor Malloy is preoccupied with the minutia of running the state of Connecticut. In fact, it is probably more accurate to say that it appears that he finds the day-to-day administrative duties of serving as Connecticut’s Chief Executive Officer boring, annoying or, at the very least, a waste of his […]The post Would the Captain please return to the bridge immediate
Update on the effort to destroy the Clark Elementary School in Hartford
In a story entitled, “Hartford Officials Explain Charter School Choice,” the Hartford Courant’s Vanessa de la Torre explained that “Superintendent Christina Kishimoto has recommended Clark as the future site of the charter network’s second K-8 elementary school in Hartford, a proposal that has left some Clark parents stunned.” A Hartford Board of Education sub-committee meet […]The post Update on

OCT 29

Superintendent Kishimoto’s “end justified the means” form of a School Redesign Analysis
In preparation for a rush vote to close Hartford’s Clark School and hand it over to Achievement First, Inc., Hartford Superintendent of Schools Christina Kishimoto has provided the Hartford Board of Education with a “School Redesign Analysis” that attempts to justify her proposal by literally selecting only those measurement criteria that will bolster her fraudulent […]The post Superintendent Kish
Sarah Darer Littman among renowned authors to call out Obama on failure of corporate education reform laws
Sarah Darer Littman, a fellow public education advocate, blogger and regular commentator here at Wait,What? is also an award-winning author of books for young people. Last week she and a number of other leading authors and illustrators wrote a powerful letter to President Obama about the inappropriate use of standardized testing and the failings of […]The post Sarah Darer Littman among renowned au
Steve Perry’s “Big Lie” about Capital Prep Magnet School
Steve Perry, the Principal of Hartford’s Capital Prep Magnet School may call himself “America’s most trusted educator” and he Perry may claim that his “no-excuses” college prep program is “100% successful” in getting kids into college, but the most basic review of the data indicates that Steve Perry and Capital Preps’ numbers simply don’t add […]The post Steve Perry’s “Big Lie” about Capital Prep

OCT 28

Hartford Officials: We don’t have to follow any stinking FOI laws
Capital Prep’s principal, Steve Perry, isn’t the only one acting like he is above the law as Hartford officials refuse to release Federal Subpoena WNPR News is reporting – http://wnpr.org/post/hartford-officials-refuse-release-federal-subpoena “Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra told reporters last week that federal prosecutors had served a subpoena on city hall. His attorneys won’t release them. Federa
No Mission Accomplished for Vallas’ when it comes to Bridgeport Military Academy
When facing the Connecticut superior court judge who eventually concluded that he lacked the credentials to serve as a superintendent of schools in Connecticut, Paul Vallas spent his time on the stand tooting his own horn and bragging about all the great things he was doing for the children of Bridgeport. Some were programs that […]The post No Mission Accomplished for Vallas’ when it comes to Brid
Steve Perry…People get fired or worse for the illegal things you are doing…
Yesterday’s Wait, What? post asked, When will Steve Perry be shown the door? The reason? Because he has been misusing public funds. Since opening his twitter account, Steve Perry has pumped out more than 30,694.  Many of those were sent out while he was supposed to be performing his job as principal of Capital Prep […]The post Steve Perry…People get fired or worse for the illegal things you are do
Real Hartford Blog examines “bait and switch” with Clark School and Achievement First Inc.
Despite significant public opposition to another Achievement First, Inc. school in Hartford, Mayor Pedro Segarra, Board of Education Chairman Matt Poland and a majority of the Hartford Board of Education voted to give Achievement First, Inc. a second Hartford school — but they did so without identifying where the new Achievement First, Inc. school would […]The post Real Hartford Blog examines “bai

OCT 27

When will Steve Perry be shown the door?
Last week, a White House employee was fired for using his twitter account to make insulting comments while on the public payroll.  Tweeting while on the job got him fired on the spot and escorted to the door. His twitter account has now been deleted but according to press reports, the White House aide was […]The post When will Steve Perry be shown the door? appeared first on Wait What?.

11-2-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Seattle Schools Community Forum




You Be the Director: What Would Your Amendment Be?
I had a request for a thread on Board Director amendments. I say the SCPTSA and the SPED PTA should join together and get all the local PTAs to say no to this morass of a mess.  But I don't think even the "go-slow" idea will get much traction. Here's the thing.  Past experience shows that there is a fair amount of horsing trading among Directors when these big changes come along.  Most D


Growth Boundaries Announced (Round Three) - Bound for Glory or Bound for Unhappiness?
(Note: readers started commenting on this at the Friday Open Thread.  I had thought to try to transfer their comments to this new thread but was unable to do so.  I created a new thread as to make this huge issue, front and center here. )From SPS:The recommendations below go to the Board on November 6 for action on November 20. (The information from previous proposals is now obsolete.)Two Types of

YESTERDAY

A Family Project for the Weekend the Kids Will Love
Just kidding but show this Touch Wood in a Japanese Forest with Bach to your children.  Beautiful and amazing.   A music and science lesson all in one.
Fall Back Saturday Night
Technically, we are falling back at 2 a.m. on Sunday but I assume that you all, like all good parents, will be safely tucked into your beds at that time.  So roll those clocks on any machine back one hour and  sleep in.
Seattle Schools Advanced Learning Testing Starting Tomorrow
This fell off my radar until a reader commented that she just got notice that her child's Advanced Learning testing is tomorrow.  Here is the schedule.Eligibility testing began on October 26 and will continue through January 2014 for students whose applications were received by the October 3rd deadline. Most testing will take place at your child's school during normal school hours. There will also
Friday Open Thread
Looked like the word "boobies" will be used in a Supreme Court case over two girls, who in 2010 were then 12 and 13, who were trying to raise awareness for breast cancer.  They violated their school's ban on bracelets and wore pink bracelets that said, "I heart Boobies!"  A lower court said the district didn't prove the bracelets had disrupted learning.   The district won't bac

OCT 31

New Seattle Schools Growth Boundaries Plan to Come Out Tomorrow
By the way, there is a new message on the SPS Growth Boundaries page (thanks to an APP reader for this tip):"An updated recommended plan will be presented to the board on November 6. The proposal will be released with the Board agenda at 5 p.m. on November 1 and posted here by 7 p.m. (The information from the September 17 draft and the October 16 proposal shown below is now obsolete.")&q

OCT 30

Have a Great (and safe) Halloween
Sadly, no Halloween for me this year - going to be at a 3-hour class in the evening.  Hard to think about missing all those little faces (although I never get more than 25 kids in an evening).Remember parents - do check that candy.  It's important to make sure there's nothing bad in there (like candy YOU really like).   Do your kids keep it forever or eat it all in one weekend? (My guys could nurs
Suzanne Dale Estey - Embellishment is her Specialty but What about Credibility?
I have consistently stated that Suzanne Dale Estey appears to have a great resume.  She seems to have broad policy experience at different levels of government.  But, based on attendance at and viewing of some videotapes of various campaign events, I realized that she has this tendency to embellish what her resume says she did.  So I decided to check some of what is on her resume AND what she has
Garfield Parents or Students: Want to Talk about the Hazing Incident?
Contact me at sss.westbrook@gmail.com.  Anything you might wish to say could be said anonymously but contact me first. Thanks.
APP Advisory Committee Feedback to Board/Banda on Growth Boundaries
From the APP Advisory Committee (bold mine), Tuesday, October 29, 1013:Dear Superintendent Banda and Board Directors, Each version of the Growth Boundaries plan presented to the public has contained proposals that will dramatically affect the Accelerated Progress Program. Since the release of the first version of the plan on September 18, the APP Advisory Committee (APP AC) has collected feedback
Pinehurst Hearing
I am very disappointed to have miss the Pinehurst public hearing last night.  Did anyone attend and could you let us know what was said?

OCT 29

Seattle Educators Honored
From SPS Communications: Photo by Adam ReitanoKCTS 9 announced that Kristen Bailey Fogarty is a winner of the 2013 Annual Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Education. Bailey-Fogarty, a reading intervention teacher at Eckstein Middle School, was one of nine educators across the state honored for making a positive difference in Washington state education from early childhood through high school.
The Real Issue at Horace Mann
Let me begin by setting a foundation. EVERYONE agrees that African-American students have been mis-educated by Seattle Public Schools and by public school districts across the nation. Black students have been presented with inadequate and inappropriate academic opportunities, they have been denied equitable access to programs and services, they have been disproportionately disciplined and dispropo
How the Voting Going at Your House?
Last I read, King County Elections has only about 10% of the ballots back and, in an off year, may only get 30% back, so naturally, every vote counts. It counts even more for School Board elections as the number of people who actually vote for School Board candidates is even smaller than say, for Mayor. Proud to say, our household has cast four solid votes for Sue Peters in District IV.
Tuesday Open Thread
When the Silas Potter incident was exposed, naturally I was following it very closely.  But when Potter took a plea, I was less interested and so forgot that one of his co-conspirators was going to trial.  According to the Times Potter and David Johnson are turning on each other.    Mr. Johnson is on trial for 42 counts of theft.What is slightly amusing is that Potter testified that he forged John

OCT 28

Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble
Real Kindergarten worksheet shows we're preparing youngest to be great test takers, not learners. (from BadAssTeachers).  When I was a student, I remember learning this...in high school.
Operations Committee Meeting
Will have a more full report later but there is one new item to the agenda (but sadly, no handout):Columbia Annex and Mann Portable Lease Agreements ResolutionThis should be interesting.  Also quite the discussion about students who bring/show weapons at school and how they should be treated.  There is an RCW around this (one year required suspension for a firearm) and they are trying to proceed f
More Falling Ed Reform Dominoes (This Time in LA) - What Could it Mean for Seattle?
Los Angeles Superintendent John Deasy told his district's top leadership that he would be leaving in a few months.  He came from the Gates Foundation and is yet another Broad superintendent to get exited or who left a job.  He has been on the job since 2011. Into this issue wades Robin Lake of the Center on Reinventing Public Education (basically a local think-tank for ed reform).  She lauds Deasy

OCT 27

Seattle School Board and So-Called "Dysfunction"
Following up on my analysis/thoughts on the Peters/Dale Estey race in District IV, I had promised a thread on this issue of so-called School Board "dysfunction."As I have pointed out, in the Board evaluation, not a SINGLE member of the Board called the Board dysfunctional.  One Board member said if they didn't trust each other more, they would become "the poster child for a dysfunct
Seattle Schools This Week
 Updated with Pinehurst newsMonday, October 28thOperations Committee meeting from 4-6 p.m.  Agenda.   It includes the policies on weapons prohibition for both students and adults/visitors, data sharing (clarification on opting out procedures) and discussion of the green resolution impact on policies and procedures.  Pegi McEvoy will also report on transportation service standards.SPED PTA meeting

OCT 26

School Board Race Analysis and Thoughts
In some ways, it's been a disappointing School Board election season.  With no challenger for Betty Patu and no real challenger for Stephan Blanford, neither have really been heard from.  For whatever reason, more forums have only featured Suzanne Dale Estey and Sue Peters.  This is something of a disservice to voters because, while I like Betty Patu, I think anyone running to retain their seat sh
Seattle School District Archives
Did you know the district has an extensive archive (complete with a trained archivist)?  They do and it's a valuable resource.  They have all manner of memorabilia - bound volumes of School Board minutes, uniforms, yearbooks, letters to the School Board, newspaper clippings - you name it. Archivist Aaren Purcell would be more than glad to look at what any school, group or individual has to offer t