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.

Dennis Bakke to Imagine Schools: Pick your board members carefully | The Grade | STLtoday

Dennis Bakke to Imagine Schools: Pick your board members carefully The Grade STLtoday:

"This is the unedited e-mail sent from Virginia-based Imagine Schools CEO Dennis Bakke to his top executives and schools principals."

Sacramento tells Nestle: Stop building bottled water plant - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Sacramento tells Nestle: Stop building bottled water plant - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"The city of Sacramento has ordered food giant Nestlé to stop work on construction of a new bottled water plant in south Sacramento while the City Council decides whether to impose new planning requirements on such facilities.

The council is scheduled to vote tonight on whether to require special permits for beverage bottling plants – which means they would have to go through public hearings before the Planning Commission and council.

Stricter environmental regulations could also be placed on the projects if the proposed ordinance is passed, said David Kwong, acting director of the Community Development Department."

Editorial: Nestlé ordinance a bad precedent - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Editorial: Nestlé ordinance a bad precedent - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"Over the years, numerous bottling firms and breweries have set up shop in Sacramento.

To date, none of these bottlers – from Alhambra to Coca-Cola – has triggered much opposition for the products they sell or the water rates they pay. Yet both of those issues have bubbled to the surface with the arrival of Nestlé Waters to Sacramento.

Nestlé was welcomed by Mayor Kevin Johnson when it signed a lease in July for a building at the Florin Fruitridge Industrial Park. Since then, the reception has been less welcoming. Activists have targeted Nestlé for its efforts to site a bottling plant in McCloud, in Northern California, and for its threat to sue Miami-Dade County, Fla., over ads promoting city tap water."

Des Moines to consider 'fast-track' diploma to cut dropout rate | desmoinesregister.com | The Des Moines Register

Des Moines to consider 'fast-track' diploma to cut dropout rate desmoinesregister.com The Des Moines Register:

"Some Des Moines students would be able to graduate with 18 credits - five fewer than the 23 now needed - under a committee recommendation school board members will consider in the coming weeks.

Students who receive a 'fast-track' diploma would meet all state and district requirements as well as the entrance criteria at Iowa's three state universities, Superintendent Nancy Sebring said.

The proposal comes when school officials nationwide are searching for ways to keep students on pace to graduate from high school rather than dropping out."

And it comes after a period when many of the country's school districts increased the number of credits required to graduate from high school. Study halls were eliminated and school officials added online and after-school courses and summer school as ways students can earn additional credits or make up credits from failed classes.

"I do believe it was sort of credits gone wild in order to prove our students could learn the most," Sebring said. "Ultimately, I think there is a limit on what is reasonable for high school students."

Sebring and others believe that the increased number of credits needed to graduate play a role in a district's dropout rate. And that belief has prompted some districts to re-examine their course requirements and diploma options for students.

Sacramento County's CEO announces retirement - Latest News - sacbee.com

Sacramento County's CEO announces retirement - Latest News - sacbee.com:

"Terry Schutten, the top administrator in Sacramento County, is retiring at the end of this calendar year.

Schutten has been the county executive officer since June 1999 and has led the county through the Freeport Regional Water project, the airport expansion, increased neighborhood participation and land conservation efforts.

He has also been the man at the helm of the worst county budget in modern history. His announcement comes weeks after the Board of Supervisors finalized this year's budget that has so far led to nearly 800 county workers losing their jobs and social service programs closing down. Schutten spent the past year weathering blistering criticism from the unions and other officials for his handling of the budget. Sheriff John McGinness called for Schutten's firing last spring."

The Perimeter Primate

The Perimeter Primate:

"Jerry Brown wants to have another turn on the Governor of California ride. The 'About' page on his campaign website features a little story about him.

Of the 1035 words written to summarize Jerry’s long political career, 196 words are dedicated to Brown’s accomplishments while he served as Oakland’s mayor from 1998 to 2006. Of those 196 words, 53 words quite accurately describe Brown’s involvement in education during that time. His interest in the education of Oakland’s school children is explained as such:"

Brown personally founded the Oakland School for the Arts and the Oakland Military Institute. Both schools serve students from the 6th grade through the 12th and are among the best performing schools in Oakland. Their graduates are now studying in such outstanding universities as Yale, Vassar, Stanford, West Point, UCLA and UC Berkeley.

Now, an astute observer will notice something’s missing – namely any mention of the 50,000 or so students who attended the schools which weren’t either of Jerry’s charters. With so little information about his views on public education or any other possible involvement he had had, an independent critical thinker will be curious how the claims on Jerry’s website mesh with reality.

SCUSD Observer: Let's really be bold

SCUSD Observer: Let's really be bold

Let's really be bold

On the editorial pages of the Sacramento Bee recently, writers have touted the successes of local school districts that have acted "boldly" in turning around our failing schools.The reconstitution of Jonas Salk Middle School is cited in one editorial as the brave action that San Juan Unified took to improve its test scores.Another laughable puff piece in the series displays the Bee's continued insistence that Sacramento Charter High School has been transformed by the St. Hope Corporation into a successful school with glowing reviews.

How does rape become a spectator sport at homecoming dance? | Get Schooled

How does rape become a spectator sport at homecoming dance? Get Schooled

Again, I have to ask: What is wrong with us?

How could teenagers at a high school homecoming dance stand by and watch the sexual assault of a young girl? We talked about this a few weeks ago after the school bus beating video, but I still am baffled.

Are the teens fearful of repercussions if they protest?

Are bystanders too drunk themselves to realize what is happening?

Or have we shown our children so much violence in movies and TV that they are unfazed when they see it in person?

I understand more and more the reluctance of schools to host evening events. As this story notes, there were seven adults monitoring this school dance, including four police officers. Yet, this crime occurred undetected outside the homecoming dance.

From the Associated Press:

Police believe as many as a dozen people watched a 15-year-old girl get beaten and gang-raped outside her high school homecoming dance without reporting it.

Two suspects were in custody Monday, but police said as many as five other men attacked the girl over a two-hour period Friday night outside Richmond High School.
“She was raped, beaten, robbed and dehumanized by several suspects who were obviously OK enough with it to behave that way in each other’s presence,” Lt. Mark Gagan said. “What makes it even more disturbing is the presence of others. People came by, saw what was happening and failed to report it.”
The victim remained hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Manuel Ortega, 19, was arrested at the scene and was being held on $800,000 bail for investigation of rape and robbery. He is not a student at the school.
Richmond police Sgt. David Harris said he did not know if Ortega had retained an attorney.

A 15-year-old student also was booked late Monday on one count of sexual assault, Gagan said.

Police said the girl left the dance and was walking to meet her father for a ride home when a classmate invited her to join a group drinking in the courtyard. The victim had drank a large amount of alcohol by the time the assault began, police said.

Officers received a tip about a possible assault on campus and found the girl semi-conscious near a picnic table.

Marin Trujillo, a spokesman for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, said there were four police officers and three school administrators monitoring the dance, but the assault happened away from the gym.