Friday, April 22, 2011

Seattle’s Fired Superintendent, Maria Goodloe-Johnson, on the short list for Newark School District’s top spot: Seattle says Huh??? — and Heads-up! | Seattle Education 2010

Seattle’s Fired Superintendent, Maria Goodloe-Johnson, on the short list for Newark School District’s top spot: Seattle says Huh??? — and Heads-up!

Posted on April 22, 2011 by seattleducation2011| Leave a comment

Seattle’s controversial and recently fired school superintendent, Maria Goodloe-Johnson, is a potential contender for school superintendent of Newark, reports the Newark Star Ledger (“Newark schools superintendent search narrowed to 2 candidates, sources say” — April 21, 2011).

Those of us in Seattle’s Public School District who just experienced three and half years of turmoil, scandal and fake data under our Broad Academy-trainee and her belligerent corporate agenda, have a few thoughts to share with Newarkabout this bit of surprising news.

This discussion, from Seattle’s highly informed and informative Save Seattle

CA Budget/School Funding: Where Do We Go From Here? (The Legislature)

by cynthia

We tried to support Governor Jerry Brown in his call for the State Senate and Assembly to refer to voters the choice to extend existing taxes. The beautiful students at Millikan Magnet Middle School in Los Angeles articulated everything that’s at stake beautifully:

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These are simply a few of the artistically talented kids who would be hurt by school budget cuts. Students of all backgrounds, with every kind of gift and ability and interest would be affected across the state. In negotiations

Eye on Education: Diane Ravitch | THIRTEEN Specials | PBS Video

Watch the full episode. See more THIRTEEN Specials.

Indiana teachers lose bargaining rights. Public Radio becomes a mouthpiece for Governor Daniels and the tea baggers. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Indiana teachers lose bargaining rights. Public Radio becomes a mouthpiece for Governor Daniels and the tea baggers.

APRIL 22, 2011

by Fred Klonsky

WBEZ reporter Michael Puente.

The national assault on teachers and their bargaining rights continued this past week. Indiana tea bagger governor Mitch Daniels signed Senate Bill 575 into law. It prohibits contracts between school districts and teachers unions from bargaining anything other than wages and wage-related benefits.

Class size. No. Curriculum. No. Teacher evaluation procedures. No. School calendar. No

But what has really pissed me off this passed week is the reports coming from our local public radio station, WBEZ.

Driving to or from work I heard at least three times the local reporter, including Michael

Who to call to save our pensions. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Who to call to save our pensions.

by Fred Klonsky

Besides contacting your own legislators, call and send letters to these members. They are on the pension committees. Please write or call these members and inundate their offices with your concerns.
LETTERS TO SENATE & HOUSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Senate Pensions & Investments

Chairperson: Kwame Raoul (D) Raoul@senatedem.ilga.gov 773-363-1996
Vice-Chairperson: Iris Y. Martinez (D)ilsenate20@sbcglobal.net 773-463-0720
Member: James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D) jclayborne@senatedem.ilga.gov 618-875-1212
Member: Jacqueline Y. Collins (D) jcollins@senatedem.ilga.gov 773-224-2830
Member: Michael W. Frerichs (D) – new to committee senator.frerichs@gmail.com 217-355-5252
Member: Donne E. Trotter (D) donnetrotter@juno.com 773-933-7715
Minority Spokesperson: Dan Duffy (R) dan@senatorduffy.com 847-277-7100
Member: Larry K. Bomke (R) senator_bomke@yahoo.com 217-782-0228
Member: Bill Brady (R) billbrady@senatorbillbrady.com 309-664-4440
Member: Chris Lauzen (R) chrislauzen@lauzen.com 630-264-2334

House Personnel & Pensions

Chairperson: Kevin A. McCarthy (D) kevmac37@sbcglobal.net 708-226-1999
Vice-Chairperson: Elaine Nekritz (D) – new to committee enekritz@repnekritz.org 847-257-0450
Republican Spokesperson: Raymond Poe (R) poer@housegopmail.state.il.us 217-782-0044
Member: Daniel Biss (D) – new to committee RepBiss@gmail.com 217-782-4194
Member: Daniel J. Burke (D) burkedj2@ilga.gov 773-471-2299
Member: Karen May (D) Karen@repkarenmay.org 847-433-9111
Member: Thomas Morrison (R) – new to committee Repmorrison54@gmail.com 217-782-8026
Member: Darlene J. Senger (R) – new to committee sengerstaterep@gmail.com 630-219-3090
Member: Dave Winters (R) – new to committee repwinters@aol.com 815-282-0083

Pension/Benefits/Rules Committee/Assignments:

House:

Tom Cross (R) tom@tomcross.com 815-254-0000
Sandra Pihos (R) sandrapihos42@gmail.com 630-858-8855
Chris Nybo (R) chris@chrisnybo.com 630-519-3652
David Harris (R) RepHarris@yahoo.com 224-635-2010
Michael Tryon (R) mike@miketryon.com 815-459-6453
David Leitch (R) davidleitch@ameritech.net 309-690-7373
Barbara Flynn Currie (D) repcurrie@sbcglobal.net 773-667-0550
Timothy Schmitz (R) ilrep49@sbcglobal.net 630-845-9590
Lou Lang (D) langli@ilga.gov 847-673-1131
Frank Mautino (D) mautionfj@ilga.gov 815-664-2717

Senate:

Matt Murphy (R) senatormattmurphy@sbcglobal.net 847-776-1490
Ronald Sandack (R) rsandack@downers.us 630-792-0040
Kyle McCarter (R) senatormccarter51@att.net 217-428-4068
James Clayborne (D) jclayborne@senatedem.ilga.gov 618-274-3010
Don Harmon (D) dharmon@senatedem.ilga.gov 708-848-2002
Kimberly Lightford (D) statesenatorlightford@comcast.net 708-343-7444
Kirk Dillard (R) senator@kdillard.com 630-969-0990
Dale Righter (R) drighter@consolidated.net 217-235-6033

Also:
Michael Madigan (D) mmadigan@hds.ilga.gov 773-581-8000
Jack Franks (D) jack@jackfranks.org 815-334-0063
H/T Glen Brown

Once again labor is under attack. Honor it. May 1st at the Haymarket Martyrs’ Monument. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Once again labor is under attack. Honor it. May 1st at the Haymarket Martyrs’ Monument.

APRIL 22, 2011

by Fred Klonsky

Celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Haymarket

On May Day, International Workers Day.

Join the celebration of the rededication and restoration of the Haymarket Martyrs Monument in Forest Home Cemetery, 863 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, at 1 p.m., May 1, 2011 presented by Illinois Labor History Society.

Liz Shuler, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO; Terrance O’Sullivan, General President, Laborer’s Union; Jorge Ramirez, President, Chicago Federation of Labor; along with other labor leaders and activists are participating.

Performances by Chicago Federation of Musicians members and musicians Cindy Fee and Rob

Vulture Capitalism in Chicago: Group starts $60 million venture fund for 50 new charters; Brizard remains a hot topic

Catalyst Notebook :: In the News: Group starts $60 million venture fund for 50 new charters; Brizard remains a hot topic

In the News: Group starts $60 million venture fund for 50 new charters; Brizard remains a hot topicPosted By Cassandra West On Friday, April 22, 2011
In In the News

Renaissance Schools Fund, which for the last six years has poured enough startup money into new charter schools to triple their number in the Chicago Public Schools system announces a new $60 million venture fund to add 50 more charter schools. The fund will focus on replicating successful charters in Chicago and bringing in high-performing charter schools from out of state. Additionally, the group plans to drop Mayor Richard Daley's "Renaissance" moniker and take on a new name: New Schools for Chicago. (Tribune)

Saying that "Team Emanuel" was not happy with his Wednesday column in theTribune listing numerous reports largely critical of the mayor-elect's choice to run Chicago Public Schools, Eric Zorn in the last two days talked with those who had more positive, laudatory comments about Jean-Claude Brizard.

Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters of respondents to this week’s Rochester Business Journal Daily Report Snap Poll said Jean-Claude Brizard’s departure will be a negative for the Rochester City School District.

Austin Polytechnical Academy, a public school established in 2007 to help

Ed Dept Ripped Over Waning Interest in Parent Elections - WNYC

Ed Dept Ripped Over Waning Interest in Parent Elections

Thursday, April 21, 2011

By Beth Fertig

Enlarge
(Stephen Nessen/WNYC)

The deadline for city parents to apply and run for positions on Community Education Councils that sign off on school zoning changes and play an advisory role is Friday — but the city is still struggling with waning interest in the posts.

Fewer than 450 parents applied for 325 seats citywide as of Thursday, according to the Department of Education.

Each of the 32 local community councils representing elementary and middle schools consists of nine elected members, plus two appointed by the borough presidents and a non-voting student member. There are also citywide councils for high school parents, parents of English Language Learners and parents of special education students.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said the lack of interest shows the department hasn't provided the councils with enough support. He called its Office for Family Information and Action a "disaster," and said outside groups should work with parents instead.

"We can show them how to engage parents working with existing parent associations in the schools," Stringer said. "And we can do it on the cheap. It'd probably the best savings the DOE has had. And they

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm, Arne, Brizard -- Please read this article

Rahm, Arne, Brizard -- Please read this article

by Mike Klonsky

Pedro Noguera and Michelle Fine, writing in The Nation, assure us (why is this even necessary?) thatTeachers Aren't the Enemy.

It’s hard to think of another field in which experience is considered a liability and those who know the least about the nuts and bolts of an enterprise are embraced as experts.

Arne at Princeton

If clichés were hoops, he would be in the NBA.

"If you look at (education) as a civil rights issue, as an economic imperative, as an issue of national security -- I look at it through all three of those lenses -- we have to get better faster than we ever have in education."

Arne, how about looking at education once in a while, as teaching, learning, growth and

PAA press release on new ESEA position paper « Parents Across America

It’s time for lawmakers to listen to parents!

National parent group reaches out to Congress on ESEA, demanding less testing and privatization and more proven, effective reforms

As Congress considers the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, aka No Child Left Behind), Parents Across America, a national network of public school parents, will be calling on our U. S. Senators and Congressmen this week to share our concerns about the direction of federal education policy, and offer our proposals in a new position paper (attached).

Members of Parents Across America (PAA) are concerned that education reform in this nation is going in the wrong direction, and dangerously eroding our children’s opportunity to realize their potential and experience a quality education.

“It’s time to stop doing things that don’t work, like expanding charter schools and testing, and to start doing more of those things that improve education and student outcomes, like

For-profit schools respond to criticism by adopting code of conduct | OregonLive.com

For-profit schools respond to criticism by adopting code of conduct

Published: Friday, April 22, 2011, 8:08 AM Updated: Friday, April 22, 2011, 8:10 AM

By The Associated Press
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Michael Wilhelm / The OregonianClasses taught at many for-profit schools now will fall under an voluntary code of conduct.

Faced with growing public scrutiny and increased federal oversight, a national group of for-profit colleges said Thursday that its members will now follow a voluntary code of conduct designed to crack down on abuses that have rocked the industry's image.

The Coalition for Educational Success, a Washington, D.C.-based group that represents career colleges serving 350,000 students at nearly 500 campuses, announced the Standards of Responsible Conduct, but won't release the complete code until this summer. The industry group said it will cover areas ranging from standard disclosures of tuition costs and job placement rates to more transparent financial aid policies.

Managing director Penny Lee said the standards will provide a "new level of accountability."

"We know concerns have been raised and we take them very seriously," she said. "This is a significant step for the sector."

The announcement comes as another industry group battles the U.S. Department of Education in federal court in a bid to block new regulations of for-profit higher education institutions. The

Weekly Truth: “Global Warming” is a Corporate Strawman, Man-Made Pollution is a Pandemic Threat to Life | Reverend Manny and the Twilight Empire - "the Secular, Humanist Revival"

Weekly Truth: “Global Warming” is a Corporate Strawman, Man-Made Pollution is a Pandemic Threat to Life

Reverend Manny on April 22, 2011 — Leave a Comment

This week’s truth is dedicated to the Presstorm commenter who, on my last entry of Weekly Truth. presented the planetary cooling of the 70′s as counter-proof against “Global Warming.”

I thank Lews for his comment. This week, in the hope of expanding the conversation, we’ll be examining the critical difference between pollution, or eco-community un-sustainability or “man-made environmental destruction” and the corporate sponsoredstrawman of Global Warming.

“Man-made Environmental Destruction” includes the wrecking and over-consumption of our natural resources, the poisoning of myriad environmental communities and the disruption of important bio-networks. As such, measures for negative man-made “climate change,” or eco-holocaust or pollution include: oxygen levels, CO2 levels, the state of bio-habitats, the state of the soil, the severity of weather patterns, the bio-stock, the food-stock, vegetation-stock, the air-stock, the water-stock, and general

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Friday, April 22, 2011