| Update 8-16-99 Citizen Requesting to Speak The meeting began with a presentation by Deborah Wells about Core Knowledge and what it meant for the District to adopt E.D. Hirsch’s Core Knowledge Sequence. Wells compared Hirsch’s K-5 Science curriculum with the District’s newly approved science curriculum to see how easy integration would be. It turns out that most of the content is there, but the sequence would have to be radically altered. Wells also informed the Board about the amount of money, planning time and professional development that would be needed if the Board decides to adopt the Core Knowledge Sequence. She expressed concern the Board was not respecting the teachers’ professional judgment and expertise. The Board had no comment regarding the presentation. We’re Not Masters of the Plantation So said Jim Roberts as the debate surrounding Core Knowledge heated up. On June 28, the Board voted to integrate the Core Knowledge Sequence into the existing curriculum. I guess I opened up a can of worms, though, when I asked a simple question - since the Board voted for integration, would my child follow the Core Knowledge sequence the day school begins? The Board hemmed and hawed - no one would say yes or no, so I asked if they even knew what they voted to do. As it turns out, they didn’t. Duryea thought it meant that Core Knowledge content would be integrated here and there, but the sequence wouldn’t be followed (that’s not what he wrote in the Eagle...). Christmann and Adams are ready to go all the way - right now. “We are in charge,” said Adams, who believes that the newly approved science, social studies, art and phonics curricula were put together by “amateurs” (our teachers). He thanked Christmann for finding a curriculum with an “an organized, cohesive structure”. I guess the ones written by the teachers weren’t organized or cohesive... Roberts, Smith and Watson seem to think that any new curriculum should be supported by the teachers. When Adams complained that they were being led from the bottom, Smith argued that teachers knew more about curriculum than the Board did. Adams’ reply? “I don’t think so.” Watson summed it up well - “That’s the problem right there.” The Board voted to put any integration on hold until a Core Knowledge “trainer” could come and make a presentation to the teachers. A separate vote was taken to permit teachers to integrate Core Knowledge if they choose. The motion was defeated, with Duryea casting the deciding vote. TEACHERS BEWARE! This should be a concern to all the teachers in our district. Not to mention the parents. Our district spent thousands of dollars and countless hours developing an excellent curriculum based on PA standards. Standards that our children will be tested on. Our Board seems willing to throw it all out in favor of Core Knowledge, a conservative school reform movement- a near and dear to the hearts of Adams and Christmann. Not only is the Board more then willing to waste the money already spent on developing our curriculum, but, they are way to eager to demean our teachers and insinuate that they know better then a bunch of “amateurs”. HOW INSULTING! Does it hurt anyone to face others in a gang shower? After reviewing the MS gym renovations which includes replacing communal showers with stalls Adams asked this question. Oh My! We developed goals, but never looked at them. There is, however, a bright spot. After seeing the arrogance on the part of some Board members, namely Adams and Christmann, Bob Watsons made a motion to have the board take a “Board self-assessment”. This assessment will be administrated by the PA School Board Association. This motion passed with Adams, Christmann and Courtney voting no. Courtney said something similar had been tried in the past, with a list of goals having been developed. She told them that these goals were never looked at again! At least one board member, Watson, recognizes how dysfunctional our board has become! BOARD UPDATE 8-30-99 A SECRET POLICY? IN YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO SUBVERT CHAPTER 4 MANDATES, THE BOARD REFUSED TO ANSWER WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD A POLICY (REQUIRED BY CHAPTER 4) THAT ASSURES PARENTS THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS. WHEN ASKED BY DEBORAH WELLS IF SUCH A POLICY EXISTED, THERE WAS DEAD SILENCE UNTIL BOARD PRESIDENT DAVID DURYEA JUMPED IN TO TELL WELLS THAT HER TIME TO SPEAK WAS OVER. AT THIS POINT, THE AUDIENCE BROKE INTO SPONTANEOUS LAUGHTER AT THE ARROGANCE DISPLAYED BY DURYEA. EVERYONE FOUND IT MORE THAN AMUSING THAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION, DURYEA ATTEMPED TO JUST TELL WELLS THAT HER TIME HAD RUN OUT. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT IF DURYEA WOULD WANT TO LOOK SO FOOLISH. WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION AGAIN, DURYEA SAID CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TIME, BUT THE BOARD IS NOT REQUIRED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS PUT TO THEM. REFUSING TO ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT A POLICY??? A POLICY THAT IS MANDATED UNDER STATE LAW! AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, REFUSING TO TELL TAXPAYERS IF THEY HAVE A POLICY OR NOT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF ARROGANCE BY ELECTED OFFICIALS. NOT TO MENTION IT PROVES THAT THE BOARD MAY BE COMPLETELY GUILTY OF WHAT I BELIEVE IS NEGLIGENT BEHAVIOR-- VIOLATING STATE MANDATED PARENTAL RIGHTS! THE BOARD IS GETTING CREATIVE IN VIOLATING PARENTS' RIGHTS AND SUBVERTING CHAPTER 4. THEY VOTED TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SENIOR PROJECT-- KNOWING FULL WELL THAT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMITTEE. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH WAS ON THE AGENDA DURING THE LAST MEETING SOMEHOW VANISHED (THIS ON THE HEELS OF ADAMS AND BONFIELD SAYING THAT IT WAS UNNECESSARY). AND THE DISTRICT GOALS DEVELOPED BY THE ADMINISTRATORS WERE THOROUGHLY TRASHED - BUT APPROVED. WHY WOULD THE DISTRICT ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING WITHOUT THE MANDATED PARENTAL INPUT? WHY WOULD THE BOARD REFUSE TO ANSWER A POLICY QUESTION? MORE LOCAL CONTROL BY 9... OUR BOARD IS NOT ONLY COMPLETELY UNACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR REFUSAL TO SAY IF THEY HAVE THE STATE MANDATED POLICY TO INVOLVE PARENTS IN CHAPTER 4 PLANNING. REMEMBER, OUR SOLICITOR, MR. KING, HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH OTHER DISTRICTS IN FIGHTING THE MANDATES IN CHAPTER 4 IN THE FORM OF RESOLUTIONS OBJECTING TO THESE MANDATES. THE STATE IS ON THE RECORD THAT IF DISTRICTS DON'T COMPLY WITH CHAPTER FOUR REQUIREMENTS, THEN THE DISTRICTS MAY FACE PUNITIVE DAMAGES! IN MY OPINION, OUR DISTRICT DOESN'T WANT TO DRAFT A FORMAL RESOLUTION OBJECTING TO CHAPTER 4 BECAUSE THEY MAY FACE A LAWSUIT WITH THE STATE. SOOOO......OUR BOARD HAS CHOSEN TO SUBVERT CHAPTER 4 BY NOT ALLOWING PARENTAL OR COMMUNITY IMPUT IN ITS DEVELOPMENT! NOW, LET'S SEE. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THE BOARD SAID THE TEACHERS WERE AMATEURS AND HAVE MOVED TO OVERRIDE THE CURRICULUM THEY DEVELOPED. LAST NIGHT THEY TRASHED THE ADMINISTRATORS' GOALS, EVEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THEM. NOW, THEY ARE SUBVERTING PARENTS' STATE MANDATED RIGHTS TO BE A PART OF THE PLANNING OF ALL THESE THINGS. ALSO LAST NIGHT, THE BOARD APPROVED THE HIRING OF A PART-TIME ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHER. IN THE PAST THE DISTRICT HAS USED SRU STAFF TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO THESE STUDENTS IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. THE DISTRICT IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE 1 HR. OF ENGLISH INSTRUCTION TO THESE STUDENTS. DR. BONFIELD, SUPERINTENDENT, SEEMED TO BE IGNORANT OF THESE REGULATIONS UNTIL THIS WEEK AND EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE UNIVERSITY DIDN'T GIVE THE DISTRICT ADVANCE NOTICE THAT THERE WOULD BE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING STUDENTS COMING TO OUR DISTRICT. I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT LYNN FRANCISCO, COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL SERVICES, WAS INFORMED THIS SPRING THAT WE MAY HAVE THESE STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT THIS FALL! THE INSENSITIVITY TO THOSE FROM OTHER CULTURES BY OUR BOARD AND ADMINISTRATORS IS WELL DOCUMENTED. IN OTHER BOARD NEWS, I INFORMED THE BOARD THAT FOR OVER 2 YEARS, CITIZENS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THE AUDIENCE COULD NOT HEAR THE PROCEEDINGS. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON AND ASKED WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE US A PA SYSTEM. DURYEA WOULD NOT RESPOND. FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THE BOARD DOES NOT WANT THE PUBLIC TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING THAY ARE INVOLVED WITH. THE BOARD DID BRING IN A PA A YEAR OR SO AGO, BUT NEVER BROUGHT IT BACK. I GUESS THEY FIGURED WE HEARD TOO WELL THE LIES AND DECEIT. I WILL CONTINUE TO INTERRUPT THE MEETINGS WHENEVER I CAN'T HEAR. WE WILL SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET A PA THEN! OUR CLUELESS DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM, DR. SPINELLA, DISCUSSED ALL OF ADAMS' AND CHRISTMANN'S FAVORITE ISSUES: CORE KNOWLEDGE, GRADE INFLATION, AND MANDATORY HOMEWORK. A CORE KNOWLEDGE TRAINER (AT A COST OF $1200) WILL SPEAK TO TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND THE BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 20. NO SESSIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR PARENTS . SPINELLA WILL COMPARE IOWA TEST SCORES WITH STUDENTS' GRADES ON A BUILDING BY BUILDING BASIS. ADAMS WANTS TO USE STUDENTS' SCORES AS A WAY TO EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. I GUESS IT'S TIME TO TEACH TO THE TEST... SPINELLA, ON THE PHONE AGAIN, SURVEYED OTHER DISTRICTS TO SEE WHAT THEIR HOMEWORK MANDATES WERE (I GUESS CONSULTING THE RESEARCH OR PARENTS WASN'T CONSIDERED). HE PROPOSED THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY HOMEWORK TIMES EVERY NIGHT FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL: 1-2 (30 MINUTES), 3 (45 MINUTES), 4-8 (1 HR.), 9-12 (NO MORE THAN 2 HRS.). ROBERTS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE SHORTER PERIODS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WOULD REQUIRE MORE HOMEWORK. I GUESS PARENTS WILL HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR THE LACK OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. IT SEEMS THAT THE BOARD DOESN'T WANT THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE ANY SAY ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT THEIR HOMELIFE -MANDATORY HOMEWORK OR THE NEW ATTENDANCE POLICIES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. BOARD UPDATE 9-20-99 AGENDA ITEM #23 BURIED IN A LONG LIST OF ITEMS TO BE PRESENTED FOR ACTION WAS ITEM # 23 WHICH READS: "APPROVE ADOPTING CHANGES TO SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES TO ALIGN WITH CHAPTER 4 REGULATIONS." WELL, WELL, WELL. SEEMS THAT AFTER BEING INFORMED BY DEBORAH WELLS AND MYSELF LAST BOARD MEETING THAT THE BOARD WAS OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH CH. 4 AND THE REQUIREMENTS TO INVOLVE PARENTS IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN (WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON) THEY HAVE RECONSIDERED THEIR EVIL WAYS! CLICK HERE FOR BACKGROUND INFO. AFTER A HASTY CONSULTATION WITH SOLICITOR KING, SUPERINTENDENT BONFIELD IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD ADOPT POLICIES TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CHAPTER 4. I DON'T KNOW. SEEMS LIKE COMPLYING WITH THE LAW IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA. CORE KNOWLEDGE EXPERT SPEAKS LAST NIGHT THE BOARD HEARD FROM A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EVER MYSTERIOUS CORE KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION. CORE KNOWLEDGE IS NEEDED, HE SAID, BECAUSE "STUDENTS DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR CULTURE WELL ENOUGH TO VALUE IT." SINCE STUDENTS ARE SO CULTURALLY DEPRIVED (AN INTERESTING CONCEPT LEADING STRAIGHT TO ARTHUR JENSEN'S NOTORIOUS IQ RESEARCH...), THEY NEED A "NATIONAL CURRICULUM" - ONE, I GUESS, THAT TEACHERS DON'T CONTROL. TEACHERS SHOULDN'T CONTROL THE CURRICULUM BECAUSE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS, ACCORDING TO THE SPEAKER, "DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ROME, THE VIKINGS, OR CANADA" - ALL PART OF THE 3RD GRADE CURRICULUM. THANK GOODNESS HIRSCH CAN SHOW THOSE POOR TEACHERS THE LIGHT. HOW HAVE OUR TEACHERS RESPONDED TO THE CORE KNOWLEDGE SEQUENCE? THE SPEAKER DESCRIBED THEM AS "ANXIOUS AND NERVOUS." HE WARNED THAT IF TEACHERS AREN'T BEHIND CORE KNOWLEDGE, THEN THERE COULD BE "OPPOSITION" OR EVEN "RESENTMENT" - BUT NOT TO WORRY - LOTS OF TRAINING WILL "OVERCOME THEIR FEAR OF CHANGE." IN TIME, CORE KNOWLEDGE "WILL SELL ITSELF." AND THE TEACHERS THOUGHT 2300 SUB DAYS TO REVISE THE CURRICULUM LAST YEAR WAS A LOT OF WORK... ANY INCREASE IN TEST SCORES, ADAMS ASKED? WELL, NO, BECAUSE STANDARDIZED TESTS "ASSESS SKILLS, NOT CONTENT." I GUESS NO ONE IS AWARE OF THE STATE'S PLANS FOR THE PSSA... WHERE SHOULD THE DISTRICT GO? SPINELLA RECOMMENDED ADOPTING CORE KNOWLEDGE FOR READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS AND THEN HAVE THE DISTRICT "WEAN" THEMSELVES INTO OTHER AREAS (AN INTERESTING IMAGE). SINCE THE BOARD HAS ALREADY ADOPTED THE CORE KNOWLEDGE SEQUENCE, I GUESS THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS NEXT MONDAY NIGHT. ONE WORLD MULTICULTURAL CROCK? WHEN ASKED BY A PARENT WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CRITICISM OF CORE KNOWLEDGE, THE SPEAKER SAID THAT SOME CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EMPHASIS ON WORLD RELIGIONS, COMPLAINING "HOW DARE YOU TEACH A GODLESS, PAGAN RELIGION IN SCHOOL WHEN WE CAN'T MENTION JESUS CHRIST!"(SOUND FAMILIAR?) HOW THEN DOES CORE KNOWLEDGE FIT INTO A DISTRICT WHERE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY CRITICAL OF TIBETAN MONKS VISITING SLIPPERY ROCK, A PARENT WANTED TO KNOW. "I DON'T THINK IT'S CONNECTED AT ALL," WAS THE REPLY. HOOTIE HOOT!!! AND TO THINK THE PUSH FOR CORE KNOWLEDGE IS COMING FROM ADAMS AND CHRISTMANN. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT? CORE KNOWLEDGE WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, THE SPEAKER ASSURED THE AUDIENCE. THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOU ARE INVOLVED NOW IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOU'LL BE INVOLVED IF CORE KNOWLEGE IS ADOPTED. BUMMER. BOARD SELF-ASSESSMENT UNDERWAY WATSON PASSED OUT THE PSBA BOARD SELF-ASSESSMENT AND ASKED BOARD MEMBERS TO RETURN COMPLETED SURVEYS NEXT WEEK. WONDER HOW THOSE RESULTS WILL BE USED. Board Update 9-27-99 IN THE SOCIAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT..... DR. EDWIN P. CHRISTMANN WANTS TO KNOW WHY THE HIGH SCHOOL PSSA SCORES DROPPED LAST YEAR AND HAS REQUESTED ALL AVAILABLE ACADEMIC INFORMATION ON THE 35 STUDENTS WHO HAD "INCOMPLETES" ON THE PSSA. ADAMS IS CONCERNED THAT STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT SCORE WELL ARE BEING DISCOURAGED FROM TAKING THE TEST (AND THAT WOULD BRING THE SCORES DOWN??). ADAMS WOULD ALSO LIKE TO USE THAT INFORMATION TO EVALUATE ADMINISTRATORS. CHRISTMANN ASKED FOR THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE, STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES, GRADES AND IQ SCORES FOR THOSE 35 STUDENTS. ATTORNEY BRETH EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT RELEASING SUCH CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT. CHAPTER 4, WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT IN JAN. 99, CLEARLY SAYS THAT "CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE STATE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM." THE ONLY REASON A CHILD CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM THE PSSA IS IF PARENTS "FIND THE ASSESSMENTS IN CONFLICT WITH THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS". WHY WOULD DR. CHRISTMANN WANT ACADEMIC INFORMATION ON CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS HAVE RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS TO THE PSSA? IS HE LOOKING FOR A CORRELATION BETWEEN IQ AND RELIGION? WHEN ASKED BY BOARD MEMBER SMITH IF IT IS "CUSTOMARY AND ORDINARY" INFORMATION TO REQUEST, CHRISTMANN OFFERED TO SHOW HIM HIS VITA. I'M SURE EDWIN P. CHRISTMANN HAS A VERY NICE VITA, BUT WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH REQUESTING IQ SCORES FROM THOSE WHO HAVE OPTED OUT OF THE STATE ASSESMENT FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS? IN THE "THIS IS CURIOUS DEPARTMENT"... PERSONNEL ITEMS PASSED WITHOUT MUCH COMMENT (ASIDE FROM ADAMS' ESL BASHING) UNTIL THE BOARD REACHED (G) "APPROVE THE HIRING OF MENTOR TEACHERS" (12 MENTORS, 12 TEACHERS), AND (H)(1) "APPROVE ADDITIONS TO THE FOLLOWING SUBSTITUTE LISTS (ELIZABETH STUTZ, ELIZABETH PETERSEN, JOHN WEAVER, JR., GAIL ROBINSON, LISA HULIHAN, AND CHRISTINE FLYNN). WHEN THE LAST ITEM WAS INTRODUCED, ADAMS SCRAMBLED ACROSS THE ROOM, AGENDA IN HAND AND CONFERRED WITH ROBERTS AND SMITH (SO MUCH FOR THE SUNSHINE ACT). VOILA! ROBERTS CALLED FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PERSONNEL AND STOPPED THE PUBLIC MEETING. AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, THE BOARD EMERGED AND VOTED TO TABLE BOTH ITEMS. WHAT'S UP WITH THIS? IT IS CLEAR THAT THE BOARD HAS SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT SOMEONE ON THE ABOVE LIST FOR NEW SUBS. SERIOUS ENOUGH CONCERNS THAT THEY SPENT SOME 80 MINUTES DISCUSSING IT. IN THE NO RESPECT FOR TEACHERS DEPARTMENT... THE LONDON FIELD TRIP FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL ART CLASS, PROPOSED BY TEACHER BRANDI ELFORD, DIED ON THE FLOOR. AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, ADAMS CRITICIZED MS. ELFORD'S PROPOSAL CLAIMING THAT NOW THAT ELFORD WAS A UNION MEMBER, SHE WAS TRYING TO "STICK US WITH A FREE TRIP". DURING LAST NIGHT'S MEETING WHEN TIME CAME TO VOTE ON APPROVING THE TRIP, ADAMS SAID, "NO ONE MAKE A MOTION. THAT'D BE REAL NICE." SURE ENOUGH, NO MOTION WAS MADE. THAT'LL SHOW THE UNION... "THEY ARE FORCING YOU TO HAVE PARENTS INVOLVED" SAID BONFIELD TO THE BOARD IN RESPONSE TO CHAPTER FOUR REQUIREMENTS TO INVOLVE PARENTS IN STRATEGIC PLANNING. I REMIND YOU THAT IT WAS MYSELF AND ANOTHER DISTRICT PARENT WHO REMINDED THE BOARD ( CLICK HERE FOR BACKGROUND ) THAT THEY WERE IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. THE BOARD APPROVED THE FIRST READING OF THE NEW POLICIES TO ALIGN WITH CHAPTER 4 REGULATIONS. COURTNEY DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT PARENTS WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO REVIEW THE CURRICULUM ONCE A SEMESTER AND NO PHOTOCOPYING WOULD BE PERMITTED. IN OTHER CHAPTER 4 NEWS, PDE GRANTED A TWO YEAR EXCEPTION FOR THE CULMINATING PROJECT ( THE PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED IN VIOLATION OF REGULATIONS, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT INVOLVE PARENTS) IT MUST BE IN PLACE BY THE 2002-2003 SCHOOL YEAR. DURYEA CONTINUES TO DISPLAY RUDENESS TO THE PUBLIC! A PARENT ASKED THE BOARD FOR PERMISSION TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION THROUGH THE SCHOOLS REGARDING A DANCE SPONSORED BY THE SR YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. WHEN THIS REQUEST WAS DENIED, BOARD CANDIDATE GREG ANGERETT SPOKE UP, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND-" BUT WAS INTERRUPTED BY PRESIDENT DURYEA, "THIS ISN'T OPEN TO YOU - SORRY. YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP.." OF COURSE THIS WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT SINCE THE SIGN UP SHEET WAS IN DR. DURYEA'S HANDS. CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN - TOWN FORUM NEEDED! CITIZENS FOR SAFE SCHOOLS ( CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SAFE SCHOOLS ) REPRESENTATIVE, KATHERINE GARDNER, EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE CRISIS MANAGEMENT MANUAL. SHE WANTED TO KNOW WHEN TEACHERS WERE SUPPOSED TO PHYSICALLY INTERVENE WITH A STUDENT, AND WONDERED WHY PARENTS AND STUDENTS WERE NOT INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE MANUAL. SMITH SUGGESTED HAVING A TOWN FORUM TO REVIEW THE PLAN. GOOD IDEA - I HOPE THE REST OF THE BOARD AGREES. AND OF INTEREST - THE BOARD TABLED THE ITEM, " APPROVE SALARIES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999, FOR ADMINISTRATORS, MANAGERS, AND CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARIES FOR THE 1999-2000 SCHOOL YEAR." WONDER WHY?? COULD IT BE THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW THE IQ SCORES OF RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS TO THE STATE ASSESEMENT FIRST? WHERE'S CORE KNOWLEDGE? 11:00 AND CHRISTMANN ASKS, "WHERE'S CORE KNOWLEDGE?" AND DURYEA ASKED IF HE WANTED IT ON THE AGENDA. THE BOARD PASSED A MOTION TO INTEGRATE THE CORE KNOWLEDGE SEQUENCE INTO THE CURRICULUM AND THEN DECIDED TO WAIT TO ON INTEGRATION UNTIL THE SPEAKER CAME. WELL, THE SPEAKER HAS COME AND GONE. GOOD QUESTION, CHRISTMANN - WHERE IS CORE KNOWLEDGE??? OK, NOW, THE SPEAKER SAID THAT OUR STUDENTS DIDN'T "UNDERSTAND THEIR CULTURE ENOUGH TO VALUE IT" AND THAT THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT CORE KNOWLEDGE. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHERS, BUT, MY CHILD VALUES HER CULTURE AND UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN. PERHAPS NEXT BOARD MEETING WE WILL FIND OUT IF THE BOARD THINKS OUR OTHER STUDENTS VALUE THEIR CULTURE OR NOT. COULD THEY THINK THAT OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE REALLY CULTURALLY ILLITERATE? IF THE DISTRICT ADOPTS CORE KNOWLEDGE WE WILL HAVE OUR ANSWER. |
| BOARD UPDATE DATELINE 10-19-99 TEST SCORES AND TEACHER PERFORMANCE CURRICULUM DIRECTOR, DENNIS SPINELLA, REPORTED THE 1998-1999 TEST RESULTS FOR THE ITBS AND THE PSSA. ITBS WERE BROKEN DOWN BY BUILDING BUT ADAMS WANTED TO SEE THE SCORES BROKEN DOWN BY CLASSROOM IN ORDER TO TELL THE GOOD TEACHERS FROM THE BAD. THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO ADAMS, IN HOLDING INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR TEST SCORES. TEACHERS WHO DO BETTER, HE REASONED, MIGHT DESERVE TO BE PAID MORE. IN RELATED NEWS, THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE SENDING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO A PA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION PRESENTATION ON "PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS". DR. BONFIELD EXPLAINED THAT SOME BOARD MEMBERS WERE EMPHATIC ABOUT TYING PERFORMANCE TO PAY, AND SINCE NEGOTIATIONS ARE COMING UP SOON, HE THOUGHT HE SHOULD GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS. CHAPTER 4 AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT THE SECOND READING OF THE NEW POLICIES TO ALIGN WITH CHAPTER 4 WILL OCCUR NEXT MEETING. THE POLICIES REGARDING REVIEW OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EXEMPTION FROM INSTRUCTION SURE AREN'T PARENT OR STUDENT FRIENDLY. PARENTS CAN ONLY REVIEW THE CURRICULUM ONCE EVERY 9 WEEKS. IF PARENTS FIND ANYTHING OBJECTIONABLE, STUDENTS CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM INSTRUCTION, BUT TEACHERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM TELLING THE CHILD IT IS TIME TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM. THE CHILD MUST MAKE THAT REQUEST (THAT'S BOUND TO WORK WELL IN KINDERGARTEN...). PARENTS, NOT TEACHERS, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIGURING OUT WHAT THE CHILD WILL DO WHILE OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. COULD THE DISTRICT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PARENTS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS? ADAMS DOESN'T LIKE ANY OF THE POLICIES AND WANTED TO HAVE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE SOLICITOR KING TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION OPPOSING CHAPTER 4. AFTER ALL, 30 OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS. TWO NEW COMMITTEES ARE IN THE WORKS. THE FIRST IS AN INTERMEDIATE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE. A FACILITATOR WILL BE HIRED TO HELP A COMMITTEE OF BOARD MEMBERS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TIE IN THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WITH THE OLD. ADAMS IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHO WOULD BE ON THE COMMITTEE. REMEMBER, THOUGH, CHAPTER 4 GIVES -EVERY PARENT THE RIGHT TO BE INVOLVED IN STRATEGIC PLANNING. THE SECOND COMMITTEE IS A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ROBERTS FELT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA, EVEN IF THERE WAS NO CHAPTER 4. WE'RE BEHIND THE TIMES, HE SAID. WATSON ALSO SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN EDUCATION. SMITH WANTED TO SEE GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMMITTEE. GEE, PARENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE??? CORE KNOWLEDGE IS STILL ALIVE- BARELY NEXT MEETING, THE BOARD WILL VOTE TO APPROVE SENDING SPINELLA, WATSON, CHRISTMANN AND 2 TEACHERS TO THE CORE KNOWLEDGE CONFERENCE IN MARCH. SMITH WANTS TO TAKE A BUSLOAD OF TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND BOARD MEMBERS TO VISIT A CORE KNOWLEGE SCHOOL. SPINELLA SHARED THE RESULTS OF A TEACHER SURVEY REGARDING CORE KNOWLEDGE. 90 DISTRICT TEACHERS RESPONSED TO 5 QUESTIONS AND PROVIDED COMMENTS. 36 TEACHERS DON'T WANT TO ABANDON CORE KNOWLEDGE. 57 TEACHERS THINK IT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CURRICULUM, BUT NOT FORMALLY ADOPTED. ADAMS SAYS THEY'RE AFRAID OF ACCOUNTABILITY. YOUNGMANN SAYS THEY'RE AFRAID OF THE WORK. CHRISTMANN SAYS IT'S NOT REALLY UP TO THEM (ONLY A FEW TEACHERS DEVELOPED THE CURRICULUM ANYWAY) - IT'S THE BOARD'S DECISION. MISCELLANEOUS TIDBITS AT THE NEXT BUSINESS MEETING, THE BOARD WILL VOTE TO APPROVE THE LIST OF MENTOR TEACHERS FOR THE 99-00 SCHOOL YEAR. BONFIELD ASSURED COURTNEY THAT THE LIST HAD BEEN ALTERED SINCE LAST TIME. THE BOARD WILL VOTE ON APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF A BOMB-SNIFFING DOG. THE DOG WILL BE JOINTLY OWNED BY 6 OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. APPARENTLY IT WAS HARD LAST YEAR TO FIND HUMAN VOLUNTEERS WILLING TO SEARCH THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOMBS. IN SECURITY RELATED NEWS, CHRISTMANN SAID HE'D BEEN IN THE HIGH SCHOOL RECENTLY AND WAS ABLE TO WALK THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING WITHOUT ANYONE CHALLENGING HIS PRESENCE. HE WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS ON THE DOOR TELLING VISITORS TO REGISTER AT THE OFFICE. BONFIELD ASSURED HIM THAT TEACHERS WERE ASSIGNED TO MONITOR THE HALLS. A PARENT ASKED WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR WHEN THERE WERE TWO FIRST GRADES AT HAR-MER AND NO AVAILABLE SPACE. WELL, THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE RENOVATIONS ARE STILL GOING ON (AND ON AND ON AND ON...). ADAMS HAD MORE DRAWINGS FOR STEEL BUILDINGS. COURTNEY, YOUNGMANN, ADAMS, CESSAR AND BONFIELD VISITED A STEEL BUILDING. OTHERS PLAN TO VISIT BC3 TO SEE THEIR BUILDINGS. SOMEHOW IN THE MIDST OF THAT DISCUSSION ROBERTS TOLD ADAMS TO GO EAT ... PRUNES. IF THEY WAIT MUCH LONGER, WINTER'S GOING TO SET IN AND NO CONSTRUCTION WILL BE POSSIBLE BOARD UPDATE 10-25-99 Rumor Mongering An overflow crowd attended the Board meeting to express their concern for the lack of progress on the Har-Mer renovations. Tom Bodie, president of the Home and School Association, expressed the concerns of the community and called for an end to the "parochialism" and get this project back on track. Dr. Duryea, in an attempt to put out the fire (cover up for lack of progress) asked Dr. Watson to speak to the gathered taxpayers (voters). Dr. Watson, who apparently had many phone calls over the weekend, attempted to explain that everything the Har-Mer people had heard was just rumors and they had nothing to worry about. Har-Mer would not be short changed and everything would be ok. Yeah, right. Remember Har-Mer has had toxic water for years. But....naw, Har-Mer isn't getting short changed. On man, disgusted, disrupted the meeting yelling that all of this was "garbage" and stormed from the room. The deal is that after 21 months and 17 board meetings this board has desided to look into modular construction Bottom line? Bill Adams has a buddy who in in the Modular business. That is why we are looking at this at this late date.. After $300,000 to our architect we are now looking into Adams "new" idea to save taxpayer $. Why didn't the Board look into modular construction before now? Good question. Maybe he didn't know who he knows now! Some Board members expressed concern that the citizens at the meeting were there because Jim Roberts had told them that they would never get renovations at Har-Mer if they didn't attend. Hmmm. I don't know about that, but I do know that Roberts will be leaving the board at the end of this year. Could it be that he wants a "legacy" before he leaves? BOARD UPDATE Nov. 8, 1999 Another lively meeting regarding renovations at Har-Mer, with a few new ideas introduced. Mr. Adams came armed with plans, drawings and panels, hoping to convince the Board of the wisdom of pre-engineered buildings. Al Cuteri, architect, and Tom Gorski, engineer, stated that in August, the Board asked them to look at modular, not pre-engineered buildings. Turns out modulars aren't feasible. Now that the Board has figured out they mean steel buildings, Cuteri and Gorski were unsure about the actual savings since it will be expensive to attach the addition to the existing building. They also had concerns about acoustics, ventilation, parking, etc. They were also dismayed that earlier input from parents and faculty regarding renovations was being ignored. But Adams continued with his agenda. He made a motion to discharge Cuteri. No action was taken. Duryea, who seems quite eager to appease Mr. Adams, recommended having Roger Weaver compare Adams' propososal with that of the architect. Duryea says Weaver's report will be the last word. Weaver knows how this Board works and agreed to do so only if his ethics and integrity would not be questioned. While Adams "trusts" Weaver, he still wants the report to be verified. The report would perhaps be ready in December, maybe later. Watson wondered what happened to the motion made at the last meeting which called for a final decision to be made by the end of November. He wants to keep to the timeline for the bond issue. Gee. What a novel idea. Will Weaver's report be the final word? Guess it depends on the President. It must be hard to have to choose between satisfying a single board member's agenda and providing a quality learning environment for the little boys and girls..... Of course Mrs. Courtney did recommend the Board look into tearing down Har-Mer and putting up a new steel building. But the delays are almost over, right??? |
| Board Update Nov 15, 1999 "What this Board has just decided to do has the possibility to literally revolutionize school construction in Pa. This is the only board, that I know of, that has taken this to this stage. By doing so, what we have essentially done is open the doorway to removal or the great reduction of the Architect's goal in this....which has been a terrible burden through out the Commonwealth. I think all of us are to be.......I think we have done a good job." Bill Adams' comments after the Slippery Rock School Board decided to hire Roger Weaver, architect, to provide an analysis comparing the stick built "Cuteri" (our architect) design and the pre-enginerred "Warner" design for the Har-Mer Elementary School, including an analysis of the cost to completely replacing the Har-Mer building with a brand new metal building. The following board members voted for this motion: Brad Smith John Youngmann Jim Roberts Joan Courtney Bill Adams Eddie Christmann missed the vote The vote was unanimous. It was only 2 weeks ago, during a packed house of Har-Mer parents, that Watson, on the request of Duryea, assured the Har-Mer parents that this board was not considering doing anything at Har-Mer that was not on parity with the rest of the district buildings. Watson and Duryea were not present for this vote that "has the possibility to literally revolutionize school construction in Pa." Go figure............. BOARD UPDATE 11-22-99 Core Knowledge "Core Knowledge is alive and well", so said Dennis Spinella. Spinella informed the board about how he has xeroxed all of the core knowledge math sequence and has given it to the math curriculum committee to integrate into our math curriculum. My- he's been busy. Spinella has also been busy trying to arrange a field trip for the board to visit a "core knowledge school". When the board was asked by Duryea if they could participate is such a trip (remember the board had requested this trip) they hemmed and hawed and said that it depended on the dates. Core Knowledge may be alive, but it's not "well". Privacy Problems I addressed the board about how the district is under investigation, once again, for privacy violations. I also informed them about a recent event that I heard about where an employee possibly violated parents' right to privacy when he released private info without permission. Mr. King, our district attorney, will be looking into the matter. I also pleaded with the board to get our employees training in privacy in an effort to stop these violations. I asked three simple questions: 1. Do new employees get training? 2. Do substitute teachers get training? 3. Does the board have any plans to get training? Bonfield responded something to the effect that I have had all week to ask him these questions and he wasn't going to respond to them tonight. I think his response, or lack of response, pretty much tells the tale. I then asked the board if they had a response to these 3 questions. Mr. Roberts responded directly to question 3. He said he was not going to get training in privacy- stating that he has already had it. Roberts can be amusing. Of course he isn't going to get training, last night was his last as a board member. To say nothing of the fact that he was responsible for a state investigation and subsequent finding that the school board violated a parent's right to privacy in 1997. The investigation found that he was not acting on behalf of the board in an official fact finding capacity. I guess his training didn't take! Releasing IQ scores to board members Deborah Wells addressed the board with concerns that the information and educational records that were being requested by Adams and Christmann were too sensitive to be released. She went on to point out that the study, as proposed by Christmann, would not improve the education of our students and may well be in violation of Chapter 4 and privacy regulations. Dr. Christmann asked her how she knew so much about these records if they were private. She responded that everything she had heard had been discussed during a public board meeting. Christmann was referring to a statement Bonfield made several weeks ago that only one student didn't take the state assessment because of religious objections. I, too, heard this at that meeting. I guess Christmann didn't. What is interesting here is that Christmann seemed to be implying that Wells had somehow violated some educational regulation or law by "knowing" that only one parent had religious objection and didn't take the test. This shows that Christmann is not only ignorant of what had been said in public by the board, but also ignorant of educational privacy laws and he himself needs training in this area. What he doesn't understand is that only employees and board members are required to to follow these regulations, not parents and citizens! Adams and Christmann want to know why some students didn't take the state assessment last year. Christmann thinks that knowing IQ scores might shine some light on why they didn't take it. Deborah Wells is concerned that the board does not have this right - to look at individual scores. I think she is right. Mr. King, our attorney is still looking into it. Adams is new representive to Vo-Tech Roberts used to be the Voc-Tech rep. Now that he is gone, they had to vote for a new rep. Well, Adams is it. Just last week, Adams made a statement to the effect that the vo-tech was the dumping ground for all our problems. Expect problems with the vo-tech program in the near future! Har-Mer renovations delayed once again Roger Weaver, consultant, said that he would have his findings concerning the use of a metal building at Har-Mer ready by the Dec. 6 board meeting. Well, not any more.We will now find out if Har-Mer will be torn down and replaced with a metal structure during the Dec. 13 meeting. Student Rep Silenced! Once again! In a stunning display of arrogance on the part of our board, more specifically, Duryea, the student rep will now have to clear everything he wants to present to the board with Bonfield. So much for free speech and equal participation on the board. It would appear that the student has some concerns that the board finds embarrassing and would just as soon not deal with in public. This is sad. Executive Session Less then an hour into this meeting, the board held an executive session for "personnel". Unless the personnel issue will be voted on that night, a school board will hold these private meetings at the end of the open meeting. I can only assume that this executive session was to deal with items on last night's agenda. These personnel items appeared on the agenda as well as several others: Accept the following resignations: 1. Reness Sisco, Moraine Kindergarten 2. Leslie Mahood, Middle School Cafeteria manager 3. Patrick Huth, High School physics teacher Item #3 was added to the agenda late- on 11-17-99 It is interesting to note that later in the meeting, after this private meeting, Adams made a statement to the effect that they also discussed computers during this meeting. Executive sessions, by law, are limited to certain issues. All other discussions must be held in public. Personnel Issues are one issue that may be dicussed in private. I can only assume that when they talked about computers in this private meeting that it was somehow connected with the "personnel" issue. Board Update 12-6-99 The Dec. 6th meeting was the board Reorganization. All members took the Oath of Office and a President and Vice President were elected. New members John Angrett and Denny Thompson took their seats. David Duryea was reelected as Board President. The nomination was made by Adams and Watson and the vote was unanimous. Bob Watson was elected Vice President. John Youngman was also nominated but lost on a 5 to 4 vote in favor of Watson. The vote was: Adams- Youngman Christman- Youngman Duryea- Youngman Watson- Youngman Angrett- Watson Smith- Watson Surgenor- Watson Thompson- Watson Youngman- Watson The Board also set the meeting dates for the upcomig year. I will let ya'll know when they are when I get them. In Other Business, Adams once again pleaded with the other members to ban all "heading" of soccer balls in district PE classes. This is a on going pet peeve for Adams. He thinks our children my receive brain damage. Smith thanked Adams for his concerns. Watson defended the practice of heading balls by children, claiming none of Adams "studies" were done on children, just professional players The meeting ajourned and an executive session was held of "legal matters".. The house was packed with members of the public. A sign of public interest in this process for the coming year. It's always a good thing when our elected officials see such involvement. BOARD UPDATE December 20, 1999 Conservative Board Members Defeated in Attempt to Short Change Harrisville Citizens! Last night our Board passed a motion to proceed with a bond issue to fund renovations at both Har-Mer and the Middle School. Bill Adams, Greg Angerett, John Youngman, and Edwin Christmann vote NO. This vote to fund the renovations comes just one week after a consultant recommended that the district use regular "stick" construction rather than "prefab" construction because there is not a dime's worth of difference in the cost. Bill Adams was the person behind the prefab concept and was still pushing for it last night despite the recommendations. This is a stunning defeat for Adams and the others. Only time will tell how these members will react to this defeat. Adams was visibily angry and did his best to discount the consultant's findings. Take note that all the members, except Christmann ( who represents SR Boro), who voted NO to the renovations are from the southern part of our district. |
| Unofficial Slippery Rock School District HomePage School Board Chronicles Copyright 1999 by Robert W. Pratt |
| This page is not associated with the Slippery Rock Area School District, its employees or Board of Directors. All statements, views and opinions, except those on the Message Board, are those of Robert Pratt and no one else. Nothing on this website is guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date. |
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