Embattled Newark School Chief Has Important Friend in High Places - NJ Spotlight

Embattled Newark School Chief Has Important Friend in High Places - NJ Spotlight:

EMBATTLED NEWARK SCHOOL CHIEF HAS IMPORTANT FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES

JOHN MOONEY | MAY 22, 2014

Christie expresses support for Cami Anderson and her reforms but won’t comment on her contract renewal

Amid calls for embattled Newark schools Superintendent Cami Anderson to step down, the man who appointed her in 2011 went out of his way yesterday to express support for her reform plans and praise her for the work she’s done in the state-run district.

“I have always backed Cami Anderson, and she was complimented by me in the State of the State speech just a few months ago,” he said during a Statehouse press conference, alluding to her front-row status at the January address.

RELATED LINKS

Cami Anderson’s Employment Contract

Anderson Receives Bonuses Amid Contentious Backdrop

But the governor hedged on whether he would renew Anderson’s three-year contract when it expires at the end of the June.

When asked specifically whether he will renew her $247,500 contract that expires June 31, he called it a “personnel decision” and a matter of negotiation between himself, Anderson and acting Education Commissioner David Hespe.

“I am not going to get into those issues, because we are in a tenuous contract period,” he said. “I am not going to get into telling you, before I make a decision on it and before I have more extensive conversations on that with Commissioner Hespe and Superintendent Anderson.”

Still, his strongest words were for Newark Mayor-elect Ras Baraka, who has been openly hostile to Anderson and has called for her resignation.

Christie said the mayor’s office, by state and local law, “has nothing to do” with the schools.

“The fact is I spoke with the mayor-elect yesterday, and I made it very clear that I Embattled Newark School Chief Has Important Friend in High Places - NJ Spotlight:

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: 'When you close a school you open a prison'

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: 'When you close a school you open a prison':

'When you close a school you open a prison'

THE PIPELINE... Hundreds marched Monday night from Lawndale to the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center to call for an end to what they call the “school to prison pipeline.” Activists began their march with a rally at Paderewski Elementary, a school that was among the more than 50 closed in 2013, down Ogden Avenue to the detention center.

Padlocks

Members of nearly 30 different community activist groups said they wanted to see more investment in education alternative programs for youth, rather than in prisons.

“Somebody once told me when you close a school you open a prison,” said Malcolm London, a member of the group Black Youth Project 100, as demonstrators placed and tied small padlocks to the fence in front of the school. “We’re placing these padlocks to symbolize being locked out of our systems,” said another demonstrator. -- Chicagoist

SPEAKING OF PADLOCKS... Byrd-Bennett changed the locks Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: 'When you close a school you open a prison':

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 5-21-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

CORPORATE ED REFORM

www.tomtorlakson.com/

Ronald McDonald: Explain this to the children whose classrooms you visit.

Outside McDonalds Headquarters in Oak Brook, IL – an affluent suburb of Chicago – fast-food workers and their supporters are arrested and treated like enemy combatants in a foreign country by warrior uniformed police. Insane over-reaction to a request for a living wage. Police arrest fast-food workers and their supporters outside McDonald’s headquarters after a massive march closed down the office

by Ken Previti / 1h 

The Lie Behind the Lack of Education Funding: One $9.8 Million Example

Most people realize that children, parents and all taxpayers are being ripped-off by politicians who preach educational excellence while cutting funds for public schools and handing wheelbarrows full of cash to “connected” buddies. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) closed over 50 public schools, fired hundreds of teachers, runs schools with few or no libraries, nurses, counselors, etc. Why? Chicago f

by Ken Previti / 3h 

Activists protest Marshall Tuck's racist push-out policies still in place at Markham MS

Activists protest Marshall Tuck's racist push-out policies still in place at Markham MS #LAUSD http://t.co/33FaGashak pic.twitter.com/gmg5IK7PKP— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) May 21, 2014

by Robert D. Skeels ... / 4h hide  //  save

Schools Matter: Marshall Tuck's Legacy of Bigotry and Failure

Schools Matter: Marshall Tuck's Legacy of Bigotry and Failure http://t.co/Q1T7nezPMz #LAUSD pic.twitter.com/C6X57iJCwh— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) May 21, 2014

by Robert D. Skeels ... / 4h 

Upper Manhattan Parents Protest Space Giveaway to Success While Public School Kids Are Over Capacity

We call upon Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Farina to pull out of the deal to site the Success Academy charter school at the Mother Cabrini educational complex located in District 6.  We urge them to consult with the District 6 parent community and collaboratively determine how to use the Mother Cabrini space for current District 6 students.....Cuomo and NY State legislature order de Blasio to fin

by ed notes online / 1h hide  //  save

The Nation on the Save Our Schools May 17 Rally Plus Videos

New York's branch of the movement has been led by the Movement of Rank-and-File Educators (MORE), a rank-and-file reform caucus in the United Federation of Teachers, together with other education advocates and community and labor organizations.... The NationSee Videos of all speakers at the rally. Video of Rosie Frascella from MORE/NYCORE - featured in the article.http://youtu.be/FUxQ83X2XsoAnd Br

by ed notes online / 2h 

Jeffco board to hear limited public comment before vote on superintendent finalist

The Jefferson County community will have 45 minutes to share their feelings on Dan McMinimee, the sole finalist for the open superintendent position, before the district’s Board of Education takes a final vote on the matter next Tuesday, Chalkbeat Colorado has learned. The decision to include public comment comes after a gush of emails from parents and teachers asking for a chance to chime in on t

by Nicholas Garcia / 2h

Fairfax County’s Stuart High struggles on teacher survey

More than 75 percent of teachers in Fairfax County high schools find their school’s leadership to be effective and more than 85 percent find their school to be a good place to work and learn, according to a recent 2014 working conditions survey. Read full article >>

by T. Rees Shapiro / 37min 

Why Didn't Anyone Ask Christie About the Pensions in 2013?

If you are at all shocked by this, you just haven't been paying attention:In a stunning reversal, Gov. Chris Christie today announced plans to grab, over two years, $2.43 billion meant for public workers' pensions to balance New Jersey's ailing state budget. The plan threatens to derail one of Christie's signature accomplishments in Trenton — a series of reforms to replenish New Jersey's strained

11 by Duke / 2h hide  //  save

Officials plead again with City Council for funds to avert a new round of layoffs

City Council summoned School District leadership Wednesday to answer more questions on the needs of the schools and to argue over what the city can and should provide. But after three hours of sharp verbal sparring, they seemed no closer to a breakthrough that could get the District enough money in time to avoid triggering hundreds of layoffs and planning for class sizes next September of 40 stude

by Dale Mezzacappa / 16min 

Relationships & Other Missing Links

Even I can be amazed at how far off track we've gotten.I just came home from our high school choir concert. It was particularly bittersweet because our young choir director has had quite a year. She delivered a child with some complications, including the complication that led to surgery a few weeks ago (for her-- the baby is doing well now). Somewhere in the midst of all that, administration call

34 by Peter Greene / 2h 

Overwhelming Support For The Common Core!!!

There is now no doubt: Americans overwhelmingly support the common core. In a poll organized by the Pearson Publishing Company, 96% strongly agreed with the statement, "Schools should teach important things." By a wide margin, those surveyed also agreed that "teachers should help students learn stuff." Education Secretary Arne Duncan announed that "This poll is a real-ga

by skrashen / 31min 

Get Schooled: Trigger warning: This topic is going to annoy you more than usual

Do college students need to be forewarned before being exposed to potentially troubling or traumatic themes in their classes? A New York Times story this week reports on the emerging movement on college campuses to alert students to potentially emotionally wrenching material or content. According to the Times: ...

2h 

Is Cami leaving? | Bob Braun's Ledger

Is Cami leaving? | Bob Braun's Ledger: Is Cami leaving?NTU President Joe Del GrossoThe president of the Newark Teachers Union  has sent an e-mail to its membership predicting state-appointed schools superintendent Cami Anderson will soon leave ker position.Joseph Del Grosso said he and other union officials met earlier this week both  with Acting Education Commissioner David Hespe and legislative

by mike simpson / 4h hide  //  save

One Valuable History Lesson: an open letter | Reclaim Reform

One Valuable History Lesson: an open letter | Reclaim Reform: One Valuable History Lesson: an open letterPosted on May 21, 2014by Ken PrevitiTo All of the Teachers of History in Illinois:Please make time in your harried schedules of mandated arbitrary test preparation to teach one truly valuable lesson of Illinois and American history. This is also linked to current events at the culmination of th

by mike simpson / 5h 

Nite Cap 5-21-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPBREAKING NEWS!!!! FARINA WANTED ATR's DONE AWAY WITH!! southbronxschool.comhttp://www.southbronxschool.com: BREAKING NEWS!!!! FARINA WANTED ATR's DONE AWAY WITH!!Sources in Tweed shared starling news today with The Crack Team about how the negoti

by mike simpson / 6h 

Is Cami leaving? | Bob Braun's Ledger

Is Cami leaving? | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Is Cami leaving?

NTU President Joe Del Grosso

The president of the Newark Teachers Union  has sent an e-mail to its membership predicting state-appointed schools superintendent Cami Anderson will soon leave ker position.

Joseph Del Grosso said he and other union officials met earlier this week both  with Acting Education Commissioner David Hespe and legislative leaders. He said he came away from those meetings with this conclusion:

“It is my strong belief that based on the discussions I have had to this point, Cami Anderson will not be continuing as Superintendent of the Newark Public Schools.”

In a subsequent conversation with me, Del Gross said he believed Anderson’s departure is “imminent.”

Sources within the union leadership said Anderson’s contract–up at the end of June–would not be renewed and she would leave in a way that suggested her departure was voluntary.  Those same sources indicated leadership could be passed over to a cooperative arrangement between a state official and a current high-ranking officer within the Newark Public Schools, with the most obvious candidate Roger Leon, currently an assistant schools superintendent.

None of this has been confirmed by either Anderson or Hespe.

It would not surprise me that Del Grosso’s email is part of an effort, both locally and at the state level, to pressure Anderson into leaving. It also is a difficult time for NTU members who are about to learn whether they will be laid off. Clearly, the message is designed to rally union members to stand behind a concerted effort to pressure Anderson into leaving.

This is the text of Del Grosso’s email to NTU members.

Dear Colleagues:

Over the past months, there have been numerous rumors of layoffs, school closings, and drastic cuts to the Newark Public Schools budget. In preparation for these events, the Newark Teachers Union requested a meeting with Acting Is Cami leaving? | Bob Braun's Ledger:

One Valuable History Lesson: an open letter | Reclaim Reform

One Valuable History Lesson: an open letter | Reclaim Reform:

One Valuable History Lesson: an open letter

Posted on May 21, 2014by Ken Previti

To All of the Teachers of History in Illinois:

Please make time in your harried schedules of mandated arbitrary test preparation to teach one truly valuable lesson of Illinois and American history. This is also linked to current events at the culmination of the lesson.

Begin, as you know best, with a short review of the definition of a democratic republic and voting rights. Make a distinction between America’s democracy versus royal monarchies, feudal systems of rule, oligarchies, plutocracies, banana republic rulers empowered by corporations, and hereditary forms of rule disguised as fair governance of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Follow that with a reading of the actual oath of office sworn by every elected state official to defend the federal and state constitutions. Read HERE.

Complete the lesson with the fact that Chicago was run by Mayor Richard J. Daley for 21 years and his son, Mayor Richard M. Daley, for 22 years. Illinois has been run by Speaker of the House Mike Madigan for 31 years and his daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, for 11 years.

The Daley rule was in non-overlapping years. The Madigan rule has been in overlapping years. Nothing was passed and accepted in Chicago without mayoral consent. Nothing is put before the state legislature without the approval of the Speaker of the House; this is a de facto rule, not a constitutional rule. Nothing of a legal nature is pursued by the state without acceptance by the attorney general.

The theft of constitutionally protected earned compensation for teachers (pensions) was passed by both the state Madigan (Mike) led House and the Senate and is now being approved by the Madigan (Lisa) attorney general’s office. Read details HERE and HERE.

The homework assignment is simple. Ask students to draw conclusions of their own regarding the facts as presented. The usual standards of logic, etc. need to be applied to their written conclusions.

Thank you for considering this assignment for your classes. I do, however, understand any refusal on your part to teach this as a class lesson. In Illinois the arbitrary and capricious manner of punishing or firing teachers has become a de facto behavior in spite of laws to the contrary. Please do not risk your livelihood and your professional careers. If possible, please safely adapt the lesson and get the idea across to as many people, young and old, as possible. We are all in this together.

Sincerely,

Ken Previti