Program Error!

IPS will have to cut millions from its budget, what programs should be included in those cuts?

Today's Mail

A friend from grad school sent IPS B.S. the Charles Murray book "Real Education" today. IPS B.S. will try to read it over the week. Has anyone given it a read? What do you think?

How Are You Spending Your Christmas Vacation?

So what are you doing over the holidays? Are you recharging your batteries or dreading going back to work?

You Are Not Alone

The Indiana State Board of Education’s recommendations to school districts for coping with the $300 million in cuts appears to be focused on medical insurance costs for good reason. Its recommendations include: Schools districts join the state health insurance plan; and, having all employees contribute equally and equitably to insurance plans.

For your consideration below is a comparison of MSD Washington Township’s annual cost for family PPO medical insurance compared to a government employee benchmark courtesy of the 2009 “Employer Health Benefits Annual Survey” conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust: http://ehbs.kff.org/

Annual Family Insurance Costs	Total Premium Cost	Employee Cost	Taxpayer Cost
State/Local Gov Benchmark	$13,891	$3,195	$10,696
MSDWT teachers	$20,320	$6,711	$13,609
MSDWT administration	$15,716	$1	$15,715

Based on these data, if MSD Washington Township insurance taxpayer costs were to reflect public and private sector benchmarks, perhaps it could afford the State of Indiana’s budget reductions without cutting classroom expenditures or laying off teachers or teaching assistants.

The above information are calculations made by MSDWT school board member Wright based on cost information provided by the MSDWT Administration and the Kaiser source cited above. The implied conclusion does not necessarily reflect the views of other board members.

Greg Wright

Merry Christmas

Here's hoping that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

B.S. for a Day

IPS B.S. is requesting submissions for print on the blog. There's no word limit and the subject should concern some area of IPS that needs improvement. IPS B.S. won't print your name unless you want it to. You can send your submissions to ipsbs@hotmail.com.

Naughty or Nice?

Who in IPS has been naughty or nice and what should we get Eugene White for Christmas?

Run, Don't Walk

Next year is the election for school boards. Know anybody who should run for IPS?

Cost Cutting

If you haven't heard, here are the recommendations by the State Board of Education on how schools can save money to meet the $300 million cuts.

1. Schools districts join the state health insurance plan.
2. All employees contribute equally and equitably to insurance plans.
3. Limit school board member benefits.
4. Share services between school corporations.
5. Close or sell underutilized buildings.
6. Reduce or eliminate travel expenses, association dues and fees.
7. Administrative hiring freeze.
8. Salary freeze for all school personnel.

IPS B.S. isn't crazy about a salary freeze, but it's better than my fellow teachers getting laid off. What do you think?

Where's the Fat?

We started some pretty good posts in the last comment section regarding what IPS spends on "consultants and programs" . Let's list all the fat in IPS that can be cut!

Brace Yourself for Budget Cuts

The Governor announced today that he's cutting $300 million from K-12 education because of the expected revenue shortfall. Those cuts will filter down to IPS, but how many of you think they will bypass the central office and show up in your school?

Closed Circuit Teaching?

This topic came up at dinner with some fellow educators last night. One them said the problem with class instruction is one or two disruptive students can really mess things up for the rest. So he suggested we send perpetual problem students home and they attend class over the Internet. They can watch over the computer and with a web-cam. That way if they're disruptive the only person being harmed is them and not the rest of the class.

IPS BS knows this is harsh and there are questions of whether those students will actually learn something at home, but don't we have a responsibility to the greater good and help the greater number of students?

Look for the Union Label

An Indiana college student who wants to be a teacher asked IPS BS this weekend if the joining the teacher's Union was worth it? Is it?

Can We Do Better?

Someone e-mailed IPS BS the other day and said all teachers do is complain and if they don't like their working conditions they should go start their own school. IPS BS didn't think that suggestion was too far fetched. So what do you think, if money wasn't an option, would you go create your own public charter or private school? What would your focus be? How would you manage it?

Shuffle the Deck

We've spent a lot of time in previous posts talking who's moving, leaving or being transferred in IPS, so IPS BS created this post so everyone can post what they know about hirings, firings and transfers. Go for it.

Drug's R Us

Over at Rocalli High School, some students were caught with heroin and expelled. Doesn't that make you feel better about IPS?

East side Pride?

Anybody know what's been going on over at Arlington? Amos Brown was ranting up a storm on the radio but IPS BS couldn't hear the broadcast. Details, details!

Moving On Up

The last post was about IPS principals who should go, this one is about which ones should be promoted to help run the district instead of the current clowns we have in charge?

Get Out!

Which IPS principal needs to be shown the door as quickly as possible?

En Grade!!!

From Today's Star. How would your school fair? Or better yet, should there be one grade for the school and another grade for the administration?

State may assign grades to schools

Associated Press

Indiana's State Board of Education is considering a proposal that could change the way the state ranks schools by giving them letter grades instead of putting them into categories.

Since 2006, Indiana has classified schools into one of five categories using a formula based on statewide test scores and student improvement: exemplary progress, commendable progress, academic progress, academic watch or academic probation.

Some say changing those rankings to letter grades -- such as A, B, C, D or F -- would allow people to more clearly understand the rankings and where their local schools fall within them.

The state board voted Wednesday to begin a formal rule-making process that could result in the change to letter grades.

En Guard!!!!

From Today's Indy Star...

Sweep of Tech students’ cars nets swords

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Three students at Arsenal Technical High School are in trouble for inappropriate conduct.

Indianapolis police on today inspected all students’ cars parked on campus for weapons. The sweep was prompted by recent discoveries of guns in city schools.

Two Arsenal Tech students were arrested Tuesday for bringing a gun on campus.
Police say they found no guns but did find two swords in the trunk of one car. They also found a military-style utility knife and steak knives.

Officers arrested three Arsenal Tech students, an 18-year-old and two 17-year-olds. All are facing preliminary misdemeanor charges of possession of a knife on school property.

Police Chief Steve Garner tells WISH (Channel 8) that the search was legal.

More Problems at Tech

Anyone catch this story?

Tech students charged with gun possession

Star report

Two Tech High School students were arrested today after a handgun was found in a car parked in the student parking lot across from campus, Indianapolis Public Schools officials said.

The male students, 17 and 18, face preliminary charges of carrying a handgun without a license on school property, possession of a firearm on school property and dangerous possession of a firearm. The students' names were not released.

The loaded handgun, a .22 caliber semi-automatic, was found after school officials received a tip, according to an IPS news release. Both students were suspended pending expulsion, the release said.

Uncomfortable Question

Can white women successfully educate/teach young black men?

Missing in Action

What stories (good or bad) aren't being told about IPS?

Are You Thankful?

IPS B.S. wishes all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. We may not have much to be thankful for with the IPS administration, but hopefully there's a student that you've reached and made all the difference in their life. That is what teaching is all about.

Eugene Is One Vote Away From Leaving

Decision to drop football at 3 Indianapolis high schools standsIPS chief said he'd quit if board intervened
by
Andy Gammill
Indianapolis Star


The Indianapolis Public School Board narrowly avoided having to see whether the superintendent would follow through on a threat Tuesday to quit over the district's football programs.

Board members split 4-3 against taking a board vote on Eugene White's plan to cancel football at three schools, instead choosing to leave that authority with the superintendent. A vote by the full board would have been the last appeal for supporters of the programs at Manual, Marshall and Washington high schools.

During Tuesday's debate, White said he would quit if the board insisted on getting involved in management decisions at that level.

In a rare show of division on the board, Kelly E. Bentley and two other members questioned the superintendent's decision and said the board should be the one to make the call.

White disagreed and in a heated exchange told Bentley that the final decision would rest with him.

"If you're not going to let me run this district," he said, "please let me know, and I'll just go elsewhere."

After the meeting, White said he would have resigned had the board vote gone the other way.
Bentley responded to White's ultimatum by suggesting that he respond to her more politely and reminding him that he was not an elected official. She suggested other board members were scared to vote publicly and said the board's decision was "an insult to the democratic process."

Board member W. Diane Arnold said the board should vote on the issue and said the superintendent's process had alienated community groups.

"When we continue to not listen to community partners," she said, "we're not putting children first."

But four board members backed the superintendent, saying that they had hired White to make tough management decisions and that the issue of football teams did not rise to the level of a matter the board should consider.

Board member Mary E. Busch, the longest-serving member and an education professor, said the board must not interfere with the superintendent's program changes.

"I think what we're doing now as a board is micromanaging," she said, "micromanaging of the worst kind."

Marianna Zaphiriou said a School Board policy already had given the superintendent authority to make changes in high school athletics and it wouldn't be fair or right for the board to step in.

"This is a change in a program and falls under the purview of the superintendent as an administrator," she said. "We hired the superintendent to do a job."

White outlined several reasons for his decision to cancel football, including that participation had dropped too low. Five years ago, White warned the district's sports teams that if they didn't have certain levels of participation, they would be disbanded.

He said he was following through on that proposal, which was approved by the board.
For a school to continue to have a football team, those guidelines said, they must have 45 players in the program. Arlington, Manual, Marshall, Northwest and Washington high schools did not, but White said two of those programs would be spared.

He said IPS losses last season were humiliating to students and that dropping the programs at three schools would allow resources to go to other schools.

A loud crowd of alumni and parents, mostly from Washington, occasionally jeered at the superintendent and the majority of the board.

After the meeting, two police officers blocked access to the hallway where those board members had retired.

As the board prepared to vote, one member of the audience called out, "Wait for Election Day."
Washington alumnus Bob Zink said he was disappointed in government processes if the board could avoid a vote on such a hot-button topic.

"All that did was say to the superintendent he's got an open board," he said. "If he wants to leave, let him leave. What they're saying is he's a czar."Additional Facts

How they voted

Voting for the superintendent to decide on football cuts: Michael D. Brown, Mary E. Busch, Elizabeth M. Gore and Marianna R. Zaphiriou.

Voting for the board to decide on football cuts: Kelly E. Bentley, Michael R. Cohen and W. Diane Arnold.

Have You Seen the News

All IPS salaries have all been posted on the Internet. What some administrators make to do absolutely nothing is almost criminal. Read them and weep.

You Should Be Thankful

With all the people out of work in this economy, should IPS teachers be thankful they have a job and stop complaining about working conditions?

Have You Heard the News?

Rumor has it the news media is trying to get a copy of all the salaries in IPS so it can publish them. That doesn't bother IPS B.S. because we're all public employees so our salaries are public record, but you have to wonder what the reaction will be when people find out that Willie Giles makes $150,000 a year, Jane Kendrick makes $120,000 and Jane Ajabu makes $116,000?

Manual on Automatic

From Friday's Indianapolis Star

Three Manual High School students were arrested Friday for allegedly conducting a marijuana deal on campus, school officials said.

One of the students, a 17-year-old, also faces a gun charge after officials found a loaded .25-caliber handgun in his pocket, Indianapolis Public Schools spokeswoman Mary Louise Bewley said in a statement.

School officials were alerted after a student told a teacher he had witnessed a drug deal. School police rounded up the three students and found each was carrying marijuana, the release said.

All three were charged with possession of marijuana. One faces additional charges of carrying a handgun without a license on school property, escape and resisting arrest, Bewley said.

The school did not release the ages of the other students. All three were suspended pending expulsion, Bewley said.

IPS Productions Proudly Presents

IPS B.S. was talking the other day to some fellow teachers about movies that involve schools, "Lean on Me", "Stand and Deliver", "Teachers." If you could make a movie about IPS, what would you call it and who would be cast as whom? Let's have a little fun today.

You're Fired!!!

Get ready for some massive firings at the end of this school year. One of the things privately discussed at the IPS Board weekend retreat was how many teachers will be let go. Start looking for a new job now and get out before they get you. Notices are expected to go out right before Christmas. All hands abandon ship!

Friday Night Lights Out

IPS is cutting football at three high schools; Manual, Washington and Marshall. The kids will lose sports but some folks will still keep their jobs.

Manual coach Cedric Lloyd will become co-head coach at Broad Ripple, with
current coach Bob Ashworth. Three assistant coaching positions will
also move from Manual to Broad Ripple.

Washington coach Henry Jordan will be a co-head coach at Northwest, with current coach Aaron Sauter. Three assistant coaching positions will move from Washington to Northwest. Marshall, which would have become a varsity program next year, will have four coaches join Arlington's staff. The seventh and eighth grade programs at Marshall and Washington will continue.

"I knew going into this year that we had to see some return on our investment and that didn't happen," White said. "We're not going to entertain excuses anymore."
The remaining six assistant coaching positions will go to Tech (four) and Howe (two).

Reinventing IPS

The Star has a story this week about how Lawrence Township Schools are "reinventing" themselves.

Lawrence school board looking to 'reinvent' district

Lawrence Township School Board is considering a measure to increase student
achievement and could cut more than $3 million from its ailing budget.
Administrators presented several ideas to the board during a work session
Monday, said Superintendent Concetta Raimondi. Nothing has been decided, and
further discussion will take place at the board's 7 p.m. meeting Nov. 23.
The district has worked two years on what it calls an "elementary redesign" plan,
Raimondi said.

"We're trying to reinvent the district to be high performing, high functioning," Raimondi said. Even though national trends for the last two decades have placed sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students in one middle school, more recent studies show that sixth-graders have better test scores and thrive better in an elementary setting.

"Our sixth graders are not flourishing as we'd hope," Raimondi said. The studies show sixth-grade physical and emotional maturity is closer to their fourth- and fifth-grade peers rather than eighth-graders, Raimondi said. A decline in enrollment should leave enough space in elementary schools to keep sixth-grade students there one more year, Raimondi said.

It would also allow the district to consider closing one of its three middle schools, a move administrators estimate will save $3.5 million and could close the district's more than $3 million budget gap. Savings would come from cutting utilities, teaching, staff and administrative positions. The elementary and middle school shift could happen as early as the 2010-11 school year, Raimondi said. Administrators also presented several other options for the board to consider, but putting sixth-grade students back in the elementary schools was the most seriously considered.

Other options included closing one or two elementary schools, which would save
$800,000 to $900,000 a year but only address budget concerns, creating a
ninth-grade campus and using the current high schools as an upper campus for
older students and a lower campus for younger students, Raimondi said.

"We are looking at options as I'm sure every school in the state is with the economic forecast," Raimondi said. "The ultimate goal is for student achievement and to achieve the best scenarios for the students."

Should IPS try to reinvent itself or reincarnate itself?

Two Questions To Start Out the Week

(1) Which superintendent is best? Pat Pritchett or Eugene White? Explain your response.

(2) What IPS high school is the safest???

Hostile Takeover

The state of Indiana could be moving to takeover several I.P.S. schools next year. Anyone want to speculate which ones will be, or should be, taken over?

IPS ALERT!!!

Two IPS students were arrested this week for bringing weapons on school property.

In the first incident, a 15-year-old freshman at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School was arrested Nov. 4 for allegedly showing an unloaded handgun to students. The weapon was discovered after school when a coach was told by students that the ninth-grader was showing off the unloaded .38-caliber revolver in the weight room. The student gave the weapon to the coach after confessing it was in his possession. The student also showed the gun to classmates while in the cafeteria, but no students came forward to staff at that time. At no time did the student threaten anyone with the gun.The student was arrested for carrying a handgun without a license and possessing a firearm on school property. He is currently suspended pending expulsion. "Attucks is a safe campus, and working together our students, parents and staff will keep it that way," said Principal Robert Faulkens.

On Nov. 5, an Arsenal Technical High School police officer stopped a 16-year-old student to question him about a fight that had occurred on campus two days earlier. The officer searched the student and found a .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun loaded with one bullet. The student, a sophomore, was arrested for carrying a handgun without a license, possessing a firearm on school property, and dangerous possession of a firearm for carrying a loaded handgun on IPS property.

The student also was identified as having participated in the fight earlier in the week. He also was charged with disorderly conduct and rioting. "This arrest should send a message to students that carrying a handgun on campus is a one-way ticket to jail," said Principal Sarah Bogard. "We won't tolerate any activity that will put students, staff or visitors at risk."

Decision 2009

IPS B.S. wants to know what you think about tonight's referendums. Beech Grove won, Perry is pretty much tied and Franklin lost. What does this tell you?

Rumor Mill Keeps on Grinding

There is a rumor floating around that there are about to be some major changes coming at the top of IPS. Anyone hear anything?

Protect Yourself

Should self-defense classes be mandatory for all IPS teachers and staff members or would the school district just be asking for trouble?

Two Questions

1. Should school start after Labor Day, stay as is, or should we go to year-round school?

2. Public comment has begun on proposed changes by Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Bennett on how teachers should be trained. Will you comment and what will you say?

Question of the Day

Should schools spend time chasing after truant children and non-caring parents or just use our limited resources and focus on the ones who want to be there?

Breakin'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 20, 2009

Contact Mary Louise Bewley
or Kim L. hooper 226-4649

Two IPS students arrested for break-in at School 60

Two Arlington Community High School students face multiple charges after they allegedly broke into William A. Bell School 60 and stole more than a dozen laptop computers.

The students, a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy both enrolled in Arlington's Over-Under Program, were arrested early Tuesday following the three separate break-ins on charges including burglary, tresspassing and fleeing law enforcement. They were taken by IPS School Police to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center.

At about 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, IPS School Police went to School 60 on an intrusion alarm and observed that a window in an interior library door had been broken out. Further investigation revealed that several laptop computers had been taken from a portable cabinet in the media center.

School Police returned to School 60, 3330 N. Pennsylvania St., at 2:22 a.m. Tuesday on another intrusion alarm and discovered more laptops had been stolen out of the media center.

When they returned a third time at 3:18 a.m., they observed two bicycles lying on the ground outside a school entrance. The two students came out the door and School Police ordered them to stop. Police apprehended the 13-year-old, but the 14-year-old ran back inside the school, leading officers in pursuit. He fled the building without getting caught.

Police learned the boy's identity and went to his home where officers recovered several suspected stolen laptop computer after a search of the residence. In all, 21 laptops were recovered from the two student's homes.

IPS offers Over-Under Programs for students who are overage but not achieving at grade-level.

###

Tough Question

Here is a tough question that we hope will stir some real thoughtful debate. "Are there some children who, for whatever reason, are just incapable of learning or can every child be saved?"

Sick Kids

IPS B.S. is wondering how many kids has your school sent home because of the flu or flu-like symptoms. Twenty kids were sent home from our school today and the bus was half empty. Do you worry about so many kids being absent that you'll have to play catch up or you'll get ill yourself?

Slogans of the Week

Broad Ripple: New and Improved or the same old stuff?

Tech: Style over substance? How does your garden grow?

Northwest: What's new, what is working, what is not?

You can add your own.

Weed Them Out?

The news this morning is talking about how two area school district employees, one in Carmel and one in Lawrence, have been arrested on child molestation charges. Do we need tougher standards on hiring and more background checks to keep these predators out of our classrooms? How does union contracts and discipline? What do you suggest?

Be Positive

Eugene is complaining about the local news media. He says it doesn't write or report any positive stories about IPS. Is he right or just whiney?

Are we teachers or educators?

Andy Gammill has a story in the Star today about individuals who get their teacher certification through alternate means like Teach for America and the Woodrow Wilson fellowship.

Do you think these programs are good ideas or should teachers have to the more the traditional route?

When IPS B.S. got its degree, most of what it learned in college was useless. IPS B.S. got a lot more of an education working in an actual classroom and learning from experienced teachers.

How about you?

"Arlington chaos, true or false?"

Hard Days Night

Did anyone see Eugene White on Channel 6 news tonight talking about a longer school day and school year? Do you think we need one, or the other or both? Or should we just rearrange the calender to eliminate summer vacation? If we spend more time in school where will the money come from?

Question of the Day?

IPS B.S. has been out sick for a few days. While recovering, we had time to reflect on the District and its policies. So here is the question of the day?

Which IPS policies are good for kids and which ones are harming them?

IPS Pay Problems Make News

Andy Gammill has written about IPS' pay problems.

If you hang around IPS teachers much, you most certainly have been hearing about payroll glitches that have been disrupting their lives for the last few pay periods. The district recently installed a new accounting system and has been working through glitches, including some that would definitely get your payday off to the wrong start if you're an employee.

The biggest problem is that some people's pay doesn't get direct deposited into their accounts as expected or comes in at the wrong amount, said Mary Louise Bewley, a district spokeswoman. Those that get too much money will be required to give it back, and those that get too little get a check to make up the difference, she said.

Those who have not gotten paid or who have been shorted have either gotten a check that day at their job site or have requested that one be mailed to them instead, Bewley said.

"We have implemented a new payroll system, and we are just working through some kinks," she said. "When any new system is put in place in a new organization like this we expect there will be some issues."

The problems have affected less than 3 percent of IPS employees, Bewley said. They are sporadic, however, and people who had encountered no problems for several pay periods may then suddenly have issues. The largest concentration came last Friday, when about 80 teachers at Broad Ripple High School had issues with their checks.

Anyone think things will change soon?

Thought for the Day

Here's a thought for some of you. Is the reason IPS only lost 300 students this year is because of the economy and fewer people could afford to move out of the District? If you look at the white flight of the 1980s and the black flight of the 1990s, both happened during good economic times.

IPS has been losing about 1,000 students a year for the past few years, but that also occurred when the economy was humming along. Now the economy is so bad, a lot of people can barely afford to keep their homes, much less move into a new one, so they stay put.

So is the bad economy good for IPS? What do you think?

Figures Lie and Liars Figure

IPS administrators say the District only lost 300 students this year, but IPS B.S. is hearing a different story.

Dozens of teachers have been talking about how IPS changed the math and if teacher failed to mark a student absent, they were counted as present for the whole day. Second, the day before ADM, Thursday, children had to be marked with a "1" so they could be counted as present. And then you add on the fact teachers were pulled out of class for professional development the cadres were responsible for taking attendance. Anyone else see a possible conspiracy here?

Countdown

We all know what today is in IPS. How many of your students showed up?

The Check Is In The Mail, Not!

Employees,

Unfortunately, we have continued to experience issues with MUNIS, the new computer system. The MUNIS vendor has, however, identified a programming error, and the IT Department has input the "fix." The programming problem has not in any way affected the amount of your paychecks but has caused some delays in payments to third parties for which you authorize deductions. You can use your quarterly statements to confirm that all appropriate payments have been made on your behalf.

Please detail issues or concerns with your payroll in an email. Forward it to deductions@ips.k12.in.us. The appropriate representative will respond to your concerns upon receipt.

We certainly do appreciate you patience.

Jane Hart-Ajabu

Look Here!

Wanna see some ISTEP test scores? Click here!

Kudos To School #2

IPS' Center For Inquiry was named a blue ribbon school by the Department of Education. Kudos to all the teachers who work there. It would be nice if the rest of IPS could be like that.

IPS Fails ISTEP!!!

This just in! IPS' ISTEP tests results are horrible! Heads are going to roll! Who should be held accountable?

Call Me

IPS B.S. hasn't gotten an e-mail from you in a while. Let us know what's going on in your school that the administration doesn't want anyone to know about. You can reach us at "ipsbs@hotmail.com" Spread the word.

More Pay Problems

Word is trickling out that there were more pay problems Friday. Let IPS B.S. know if you were affected.

9-11 Lessons

Did you talk to your students about 9-11 today? We used it to have a good discussion in class. How about you?

Shake Em Up

Anyone hear about the big shake up that's reportedly coming down the pike at the Central Office later this year? The ISTEP scores are supposedly really dismal and some folks are getting fired.

Good Housekeeping

There's a question about whether IP addresses can be determined from this blog, the short answer, "no."

IPS B.S. doesn't keep track of that information.

It's just the administration trying to divide us again.

They should be talking about the next big pay screw up that is coming.

New Model or Same Old S****?

By MIKE SMITH
AP Political Writer

September 2 2009, 4:50 PM CDT

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Department of Education wants to change the way school
accountability is evaluated, with more emphasis on how students improve over the
years instead of focusing mostly on how schools perform on a yearly basis.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-schoolaccountabil,0,7194296.story

Should we change the way we evaluate students? Should we look at schools instead of students?

From the Comment Section

"President Obama will be speaking on Tuesday, September 8 to schoolchildren. His remarks will be carried live from noon to 12:30 on IPS Television Channel 11. It is up to teachers to decide if they would like to participate in this event." (Copy and paste from today's 1:22 PM email message from Mary Louise Bewley)

Who is planning to watch this broadcast with their classes? Who is not planning to watch this broadcast? What are your thoughts about this upcoming broadcast?

Has anyone seen the lesson plans that supposedly accompany this video broadcast from President Obama?

Why Teach?

This Labor Day weekend is a time to think about your job? Why did you get into teaching? Is it what you thought it would be? If you could get another job would you?

Anyone Seen Doris?

Has anyone seen Doris Minton-McNeil?

Makes You Sick

Do IPS School Board members get paid health insurance through the District? Someone should find out and report back!

Save Some Cash

IPS B.S. got an e-mail yesterday asking how we can save money in the District? What suggestions do you have? Don't go for the easy mark of firing Dr. White, anybody can say that.

Testing. 1, 2, 3

Let's have a serious discussion this weekend on testing. Most of us agree testing should be part of any curriculum, but how much? Should it be everything or the only thing? How much should teacher performance be tied to testing? Is a test a true measure of student achievement? Have you ever simply "taught to the test"? Is "multiple choice" really just "multiple guess"? Do standardized tests inherently favor majority populations or is is more income based?

Excuses, Excuses

Indiana Barrister has an interview with Jane Ajabu about how the new computer screwed up our paychecks. The scary part about the whole thing is she said we can expect these problems for years to come.

Are You Surprised?

This came from Andy Gammil's blog. Now we know we know why IPS is such a mess.

IPS BUDGET VOTE RAISES GOVERNANCE QUESTIONS

There was an interesting exchange last night at the Indianapolis Public Schools Board meeting, in which it came up that the board didn't really know all the details of what they were voting on. They had the big picture of major shifts in priority and how much was spent in each fund and where things were changing.

But the documents provided to them wouldn't necessarily have answered questions about how much money was being budgeted for a specific line item. Member Kelly E. Bentley voted against the budget, saying the administration had not answered her questions about how money was allocated in the budget.

Another board member and the superintendent told her that the summaries provided by the administration should have been more than enough. Bentley countered that the board's job was fiscal oversight.

"I think as a school board we have that obligation," Bentley said in the meeting, "and I'm not sure how resources get allocated to schools."

The district's practice has been to give board members ...

... the fund-by-fund budget numbers along with a breakdown of any changes or decreases by area. But the actual line item amounts are in a separate budget that Bentley said board members did not receive.

Board member Marianna R. Zaphiriou told Bentley that she felt her request -- and the suggestion that other board members weren't asking enough questions -- was wrongheaded.

"Part of that implication is that some of us should feel uncomfortable, and we don't," she said. "I have no reason to want that level of information. I don't feel the need to request that information."

Superintendent Eugene White told Bentley she was welcome to make an appointment and go line by line through the budget with district finance officials. But he said he wouldn't waste the board's time by giving them the entire budget to review.

"We have not and we don't intend to give you the specificity of each of those items," White said. "It would be too prohibitive for you to go through that.... We're not going to bring that to you. We're asking you to approve the budget, and to go any deeper than that would take a lot of your time and be ridiculous."

The board adopted the budget 6-1.

Payday

Any more pay problems today?

Size Matters

IPS B.S. has gotten some e-mails about large class sizes lately. How many kids to do you have and is it larger or smaller than years past?

IPS APARTHEID PART II

This is the second article sent to IPS B.S. on the new segregation taking place in Indianapolis Public Schools.

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We would like to thank all the writers who have posted responses to “IPS Apartheid?” Unfortunately the conversation got sidetracked (i.e., parents, or “holding back excellence”) from the main argument of our post:

Let’s get back to the issues. IPS is attempting to draw the white and black middle class back to the city. The “social cleansing” of the system was accomplished by school uniforms. Now, IPS students will not appear so frightening. Any other problem students will be sent to the alternatives.

With the opening of IPS high school magnets, has Marion County become two school systems, separate and unequal based on class and ability (not race), with an upper tier of IPS magnets and special programs (i.e., CFI/Key); all other township schools, and their magnets, special programs; all the private and parochial schools; all charters; and, any other special programs—and a lower tier of all other K-12 IPS schools (especially the community high schools [“hood schools” as someone wrote]), programs, and alternatives. Do these tiers represent equal opportunity for all Marion County students?

And the essence of the argument: Why did IPS put the gifted & talented program at #59 instead of Longfellow School? Or, it can be expressed this way: Which schools have ROTC? Shortridge? Park Tutor? Scecina? Washington Community School?

P.S.
Since we placed alternatives as lower tier schools, where are all the 20+ IPS alternatives schools and programs? Who goes there? Do students stay there? Are “bad” teachers sent there or threatened to be sent to an alternative? What’s IPS hiding there? No one we know knows what’s happening in these places--they are not on IPS website? Are students at alternatives counted in attendance and graduation rates, and test scores of their “homeschool” from which they are sent? Are there text books the same qualiyt as the magnets? Do the staff and/or teachers have degrees/endorsements in alternative education? Are physics or chemistry offered in the science labs at the alternatives? Do students take gym? Can anyone help uncover and explain these mysterious IPS projects?

SWM Seeks SBDM

How is your SBDM functioning?

The list of mediocre teachers has come out from the Puzzle Palace, who is on it? What criteria was used to establish this list? Have they contacted their AR's? IEA? Their own attorney? Have you been put on a personnel improvement plan? Was it based on your previous evaluation? What are the specifics of this latest blame the teacher plan?

This is not a negotiated strategy, but another unfair labor practice in the offing.

Be prepared!

The $83,491.00 Question

If IPS is supposed to be broke and have money problems, could someone please explain the following hire?

Basil Mawbey
$83,491
Activities director BRHS
Board Documents 8-11-09

Doesn't BRHS already have an activities director? And does she make $83,000 a year? Do any other high schools have two activity directors? Is this really a good way to spend money?

IPS Apartheid?

The following article was sent to IPS B.S. Anyone else think they might have a point or two?

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Recent discussions in the IPS B.S. blog (Tues., Aug 18, “White Wash”) over who attends the magnets and who does not (who [“troublemakers”] gets kicked out of the magnets and “punished” by being sent to Arlington, Marshall, the alternative programs), and the associations of this with "”Separate but equal is inherently unequal’ and therefore separate and unequal is nothing but a disgrace. Brown v BOE” is worrisome. This is especially the case in light of the 55th (May 17) Anniversary of Brown which compels us to use equality in education (not behavior or “ability”) as the basis of all discussions

This blog thread dialogue begs a basic question: Do children in Marion County have education equality? A review shows the possibility of two educational systems. What could happen, not only due to the nature and politics of charters, but magnets, township, and non-pubic schools, is the creation of parallel school systems--separate and unequal—based not on race, but socio-economic status and ability. See the 2008 report, "School Choice and Segregation by Race, Class and Achievement” on Durham, NC schools.

The growth of charters, the opening of more magnets and special programs, the growth/success of township schools, and the proven quality of private schools—parochial and academic—leave IPS families and students with what’s left. With a 20 year graduation rate average of less than 50 percent (or even less), what remains may be inadequate.

It is common historical knowledge that over the last 125 years particular schools attract the better qualified/experienced teachers and the more academically inclined families and well behaved students—leaving, by default, the less qualified staff and less academic and more disruptive student to “the rest” of IPS.

Charters, magnets, special programs, countered by the closing of over half of IPS small schools and the sub-system of 20-plus alternatives to warehouse school refusers and enforce the new duality have the potential of creating and maintaining a parallel system of 2nd class schools taking IPS back to before 1954. The possibility of a public school created underclass reflects what could become a more refined type of segregation: tracking for the 21st century.

Marion County Educational Apartheid

Upper Tier

IPS Magnets and Special Programs, Parochial Schools, Private Schools, All Township Schools, All Charters, Other Special Programs

Lower Tier
All other IPS schools, programs, and alternatives.


To illustrate this concern, look where IPS placed its gifted and talented magnet. IPS closed schools in June of 2007. One was IPS 28 on English Ave. One was IPS 59 at Kessler Blvd and College. Although it is common knowledge that the gifted/talented come from all layers of society, it is also known these programs end up with a majority of students from professional families. Placing the magnet at 28 would send a strong message to families/students, the city, and the nation that IPS seeks to discredit and abandon this history. But, there was no way IPS would put this type of program in a working-class neighborhood on the near south side. This was done to please the county’s middle class at the political expense of those labeled "economically disadvantaged."

To conclude, it is highly unlikely the quality of education among charters, magnets, special programs (let alone township and non-public schools) and the remainder of IPS schools and its system of alternatives will be the same. We want equal educational opportunity for all children; we do not want two school systems. This possibility, especially in IPS, must be reviewed and monitored.

M.I.A.?

Are your subs or cadres missing? The talk has started that these guys aren't showing up leaving some classes with no teacher. What's going on at your school?

Extra! Extra! Read All About It

Did anyone read Matt Tully's story today on Manual High. IPS B.S. thought it was pretty interesting. What did you think?

Week 2

Another week has gone by in IPS Schools, anyone have anything noteworthy to report? Are any of you still missing paychecks? Any questions for the new uniserve director? What do you think about Andy Gammill's article on Lawrence Schools? Are your students showing up? Got any questions of your own you want to ask?

Where Are They Now?

There was a comment in one of yesterday's posts about where is Prudence Bridgewaters? IPS B.S. was told she got on Dr. White's bad side and got demoted. Can anyone confirm? Has there been a sighting downtown?

Give Yourself a Raise

IPS and IEA have come to agreement that teachers will be paid the same for a Master's Degree as for Master's Degree Equivalency. This means that teachers who have earned a Bachelor's Degree plus 36 hours will qualify for the Master's Equivalency. The 36 hours must have been earned after the Bachelor's Degree was posted and must be evidenced by official transcripts. In addition, courses taken must be graduate level courses. Once confirmed, the teacher will be placed on the Master's Degree pay table.

Understand that additional hours taken beyond the Bachelor's Degree, that do not result in a Master's Degree being awarded, will not be considered for placement on any table beyond the Master's Degree. In other words, in order to be placed at Master's +15 hours, or Master's+ 30 hours and above table, the teacher must submit official transcripts, which post a Master's Degree award, with the equivalent hours having been earned after the Master's Degree was posted.

You Get Paid Yet?

We all know about the pay slip up this past week. IPS B.S. wants to know if you've been paid yet and if you had any overdrafts because the Central Office screwed up. Let's get the word out and maybe the media will finally pick up on this.

Sexting in the City Schools

IPS is going to consider a formal policy tonight banning "sexting" in schools. If you don't know what that is, sexting is when students use their cell phones to send sexual images of themselves or their friends.

IPS B.S. takes a hard-line approach to this type of behavior and any student caught sexting should be arrested and charged with distributing obscene material. There is no reason for this kind of behavior to be in school and if a few people start going to jail, everyone else would get the message.

White Wash

Dr. White posted this on IPS' blog.

This year’s opening of schools was tremendous! Students across the district arrived to school excited and ready to take on new challenges. Our new Shortridge Magnet High School for Law and Public Policy and the Broad Ripple Magnet High School for the Arts and Humanities each enjoyed a smooth start. I appreciate the students, teachers, bus drivers, administrators and other staff who helped to make our opening memorable for its ease.

I’m especially pleased that our school year was able to get underway with a ratified teachers’ contract in place. According to the Indianapolis Education Association, which represents our teachers, 88 percent of the votes cast supported the contract. The Board of School Commissioners unanimously voted in favor of the contract during a special-called meeting on Aug. 11. Both sides are happy to be able to focus our complete attention on the classroom.

Parents, I encourage you to visit your child’s school as often as you can this year. Get to know your child’s teacher(s) and principal. Let’s work together from Day 1 to have a great 2009-10 school year!

Does anyone else think it's strange that he didn't mention that students who get kicked out of places like Shortridge and Broad Ripple are "punished" by being sent to Arlington and John Marshall?

So Sue Me

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller is discussing a new law today that gives us teachers new immunity from lawsuits when they try to restore discipline and order in the classroom.

The immunity is qualified, which means you have to be doing your job for it to kick in. IPS B.S. is all for whatever it takes to put order in the classroom because students shouldn't have their education impeded because of one or two unruly kids.

But if the state is giving us new immunity, shouldn't the union lower our dues since we don't need their legal defense fund to protect us in this area?

The Check is in the Mail

Some employees will find that your payroll deposit has not been processed into your bank account. Your pay will be in your bank account tomorrow. This is not expected to be a ongoing problem -- it was a one-time occurrence. Thank you for your patience. We apologize for any inconvenience.


Mary Louise Bewley | Director
Office of School and Community Relations
Indianapolis Public Schools
120 E. Walnut St., Room 114 | Indianapolis, IN 46204
t. 317-226-4649| f. 317-226-4498 | bewleym@ips.k12.in.us

IPS is revolutionizing education! Discover the new IPS at www.ips.k12.in.us

Did you get your money?

Sandal Scandal???

Indy Star's Andy Gammil blogged Friday about a letter to the editor from a parent who complained about a teacher wearing sandals to work before school started.

Here is the letter...

It seems evident from the photo that ran with The Star's Aug. 12 back-to-school articles that Indianapolis Public Schools' dress codes do not extend to teachers. A teacher wearing sandals? IPS' restricted attire for students states: "No thongs/slippers/sandals/bare feet/exposed toes."A person who does not dress with authority will never be treated as an authority figure.

Here's the blog post...

A letter to the editor today criticized a teacher at School 31 pictured alongside a story this week wearing sandals. The letter writer notes, "A person who does not dress with authority will never be treated as an authority figure." He also refers to the IPS dress code for students, which bans sandals.

I visited with Ms. Amos and the other teachers at School 31 on Tuesday, the day before classes were starting. We wanted to check out how teachers were getting along in getting set up for the first day of school and what all was left to do. That's when the picture was taken.

I don't know whether the teachers at School 31 wear sandals during school, but this picture was taken on what was a workday with no students or parents in the building. Teachers were hauling boxes of textbooks from the school library and moving desks around in their classroom. If you visit most schools during set-up time, you'll find similar casual attire.

It's one thing to dress down when school is officially in session. It's another thing to dress down when you are moving boxes and getting ready for class. What do you think?

Any Surpises?

With the first few days of school under our belts, did you have any surprises, good or bad? IPS B.S. did have a parent step up who hasn't in the past with their other kids who've made their way my classroom. A nice surprise, I just hope it lasts and more of them do likewise.

What's Up With White?

Fellow IPS teachers, what's up with Dr. White? Do you agree with his statement the other day that the reason test scores were so bad because you don't know how to teach? Do you think you're a horrendous person? Do you think if a corporation got the same kind of results that Dr. White gets that he would still have a job? He told the same thing to the principals the day before. And he's giving the same line of crap to the elementary school teachers today. Dr. White needs to study his geography because it's clear he thinks denial is just a river in Egypt.

How Was Your Day?

Today is the first day of school. When you get home, let IPS B.S. know how you're day went.

We Have a Deal

In case you hadn't heard, 88% of us voted for the new contract. The IPS Board unanimously approved it. If you voted "yes" share your reasons why? Some teachers told IPS B.S. some deal is better than no deal. Do you agree?

Dear Dr. White

Eugene,

Thanks for mentioning this blog in your speech the other day. IPS B.S. is happy to know that you read it, or at least your staff does.

IPS B.S. thinks you should know that talking about this blog is all you will be able to do about it. It's not written on IPS time nor using IPS resources.

This is a forum for teachers and staff to get out the truth about the district without the B.S. filter that comes from your administration.

You can talk about IPS B.S. all you want, but that's all you will be able to do, is talk.

Love,

IPS B.S.

P.S. You should have asked the board to put a clothing allowance in your contract because your wardrobe is as tired as your rhetoric.

Week One

School starts this week. Share your thoughts. How are the students? What are your classroom conditions like? What did you have to pay out of pocket to get started? The list goes on. Also, feel free to give advice about what you do to make it through the first few days of class.

Up or Down?

As the details of our new contract offer surface, how do you plan to vote?

1. Yes.
2. No.
3. I need more details.
   

Poster Board

Since everyone can't make the meeting this afternoon, IPS B.S. wants you to use this board to share details and your opinion on what we've been offered. This is a chance for all of us to help each other make sound decisions.

Eugene Says Hi

Here is the message from the Superintendent's blog at the IPS website. Did he leave out anything?

On Aug. 12, students enrolled in traditional calendar schools will head back to school. They join their alternative calendar peers, who began the 2009-10 school year on July 20.

As always, I encourage men to bring children to school on the first day. I can’t stress enough how important it is for youngsters to see that the entire family values education. Moms have carried the burden of ensuring students get to school every day since public schools were first formed. Since I first started asking men to bring children to school four years ago, IPS schools have seen a rise in adult male participation. The message that men need to be more involved in their children’s education is being heard!

Thanks to our friends at the United Way, billboards are scattered around the city announcing our opening day and asking whether your kindergarten child is registered for school. This is a critical message. Youngsters can’t afford to miss even a single day of education.

If you need to register your child for school – no matter what age – visit one of our six Parent Information Centers. You’ll find a PIC center at Arlington, Arsenal Technical, Broad Ripple, Emmerich Manual and Northwest high schools, and at the Center Township Trustee’s Office, 863 Massachusetts Ave. PICs are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. To enroll your child, bring his or her birth certificate, proof of immunizations, proof of your address (such as a lease or utility bill) and your license or other form of identification.

IPS has big plans for this school year. Please visit this space weekly to learn more about how we intend to improve education in our school system.

Countdown

IPS' traditional calender start next week. What are you doing to get ready for it? If you're at Arlington have you gotten fitted for your bulletproof vest?

UNCLE IPS B.S. WANTS YOU

Fellow IPS Teachers, IPS B.S. has to leave town Friday for family commitments and can't make the meeting Friday Arsenal Tech on our contract. So IPS B.S. needs you to be our eyes and ears. Use your phones or Blackberries to e-mail IPS B.S. the details and the disposition of our fellow teachers. You can either send your messages to ipsbs@hotmail.com or post on open forum IPS B.S. will create that day. We need to get the word out about what's going on.

IPS FUBAR

Matt Tully wrote a great article Friday about the idiots who run our school district. They can't even put up a playground, how in the hell can they run a school district?

The frustrated parents at Sidener Academy aren't asking for much.

Just a playground -- a place for their kids to burn off steam, have fun and get a bit of exercise.

That's all.

It seems like a reasonable request. Sidener is an elementary school, after all, and playgrounds are as fundamental to elementary school as chalkboards and water fountains. But at Sidener, an IPS magnet school near Glendale Town Center, a playground is not elementary.

Take a look at the grassy grounds behind the school and all you'll see is an old soccer net and, on one recent afternoon, a flock of geese.

"All the kids pretty much say recess is boring because there's nothing to play on," Rebecca Klein, president of the Sidener parents association, told me last week. "This isn't just that they're bored; there is also a real need to have activities for them that help with their physical health."


Klein leads a group of parents that has spent a year pushing IPS to provide their children's school with playground equipment. They've asked. They've pleaded. They've waited.

But as Sidener prepares to begin its second year as an elementary magnet serving high-performing students, parents recently learned that IPS will not outfit the school with the climbing walls, sky towers and other playground equipment they sought. So the parents are trying to raise the $7,500 needed to partner with KaBOOM!, a nonprofit group that builds playgrounds.

"It's kind of crazy for the parents at a really small school to have to raise this kind of money," said Klein, whose daughter will enter third grade this year.

Sidener's size indeed makes it hard to raise bucks. It will have only 233 students when classes begin later this month. Nearly three-quarters of the students come from families who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

Still, parents are trying. An art auction will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Zest, a restaurant at 1134 E. 54th St. Other ideas also are being developed.

The playground problem started when the building housing Sidener transitioned a few years ago from a standard elementary school to a middle school. As older students arrived, playground equipment was transferred to other elementaries.

Last year, Sidener opened as part of the district's magnet program. A year in, parents are ecstatic about the school, which saw nearly 99 percent of its students pass ISTEP last year. That's 25 percentage points better than the state average.


Still, there is that one issue.

"A playground is part of what is expected at an elementary school," Principal James Whisler said. "It's part of the curriculum. Our (physical education) teacher can use playground equipment to build students' motor skills, cognitive skills and social skills."

Not yet.

IPS recently announced plans to spend $675,000 to sprinkle new electronic signs throughout the district. But you can't play on signs. And for now, Sidener students have nothing to play on.

We Have A Deal?

IPS B.S. got an e-mail today saying he have a deal with IPS. Anybody else hear anything similar?

Two Questions...

Here are two questions posed in a recent e-mail to IPS B.S.

1. The cultural imperatives, real or fake?
2. Six-step discipline. Does it work or is it a joke?

Discuss.

Don't forget to email your IPS inside scoop to ipsbs@hotmail.com. School will be starting soon and we need to let the public know what's going on behind closed doors.

Mo Money

Check the recent IPS Board Report.  Richard Myers is getting a new job title and a $17,000.00 raise. Where's your raise?

Hostile Takeover

Fellow teachers beware, you might be working for the State soon. If IPS doesn't get it's act together this upcoming school year, the State will move in and take over several schools. IPS B.S wonders if the state could really do any worse than the Central Office?

Change is Coming?

IPS B.S. pulled this story off the Internet about some of the changes Tony Bennett wants to do.

July 29, 2009 Teacher training faces overhaul State's plan to reshape course work draws complaints By Andy Gammill andy.gammill@indystar.com Proposed rules being unveiled today would give Indiana teachers a new mandate: what you teach matters more than how you teach. A broad series of changes proposed by Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett would require even elementary education majors to minor in core subjects such as math, English, science, art or social studies while limiting undergraduate coursework in education. The proposal also would relax the amount of training required of principals and superintendents. As details of the plan emerged Monday and Tuesday, school districts, teachers and universities blasted parts of it as putting unqualified people in charge of districts or in front of children. And they questioned why Bennett did not inform deans of education schools earlier. "I don't really understand the rationale for imposing those kinds of restrictions," said Pat Rogan, executive associate dean of the education school at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. "Why would we ever want to eliminate even minimum standards for licensure? We need to be increasing the standards." Bennett said the changes are needed to ensure school districts have flexibility in hiring and that teachers grasp the subjects they teach. For instance, a fourth-grade teacher has to teach fractions, percentages and related concepts, Bennett said. Having an outside concentration in math would help ensure that teachers have mastered that subject. "You have to start with the premise that improving education starts with high-quality instruction," he said. "We know that a teacher who doesn't understand complex math problem-solving cannot help a student master that." Bennett said he also wants to give school boards the option to look more broadly than the ranks of educators when filling leadership positions. His plan would allow any teacher to become a principal by passing a test rather than taking courses as is now required. It also would allow anyone with a master's degree in any field to become a school superintendent by taking a test. Principals and superintendents now must take courses in school leadership and Indiana school law. Relaxing those requirements, Bennett said, would allow a district facing serious financial problems to hire a retired corporate CEO for a year to get the books in order. Rogan and representatives of other education schools said the proposed teacher education rules appear to tip the balance too far away from courses on how to teach. Courses at IUPUI, for example, cover the research and laws on working with special education students, how to teach to students who learn differently, ways to engage students in lessons and many other topics. Rogan said the proposed limits of 30 credit hours in education courses for education majors and 15 for education minors would put educators without essential teaching skills into classrooms. Although Indiana State Teachers Association officials said they generally don't have many issues with the state's plan, they, too, are wary of the limits on the number of education courses college students can take. "Just because someone knows chemistry inside and out doesn't mean that person knows how to reach kids teaching chemistry," ISTA spokesman Mark Shoup said. Officials at the University of Indianapolis are still trying to figure out what the proposal means but fear it could turn their program on its head by requiring it to undo cooperative courses that, among other things, merge training in education and various subject areas. "Do you just drop everything you do now that you think is doing well?" asked Dean Kathy Moran. Superintendents also reacted strongly this week to the proposal, saying some changes would be helpful but others would be destructive. Eminence Superintendent Larry Moore said he would welcome the flexibility that would come from allowing teachers to add areas of specialty without taking more courses. That would allow him, for instance, to have a physics teacher take over a math course without having to go back to college to study math. But he questioned the wisdom of relaxing course-work requirements for principals and superintendents. "School business is not business, and you have to have some school sense to run a school and a school corporation," he said. "You get that from having sat in various chairs within a school system." The proposal will be presented to the Indiana Professional Standards Board at a meeting today. The board will then hold hearings. Indiana University Dean of Education Gerardo Gonzalez said he is concerned by the speed of the rulemaking process and the lack of consultation with education leaders. It would be a major break in the culture of academic freedom for the state to dictate curriculum to independent universities, he said. "Here is probably one of the most significant changes that have been advanced around teacher licensure in the state of Indiana," he said, "and the deans of education received notice the day before the meeting occurs." Additional Facts A look at the proposed changes » Teachers no longer would be required to take university courses as professional development to renew their licenses. Classes offered by school districts would count. » Nonteachers could become teachers without going through a school of education by taking a curriculum offered by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence. » Teachers could add areas of specialty by taking a test rather than taking more courses. » Any teacher could become a principal after passing a leadership test. » Anyone with a master's degree in any subject could become a superintendent by passing a leadership test.

IPS B.S. agrees with some of this and disagrees with part of it. Let's start a dialogue.

FYI

Bennett to announce proposals to improve teacher quality

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett will announce recommended changes in teacher licensing to improve teacher quality and increase flexibility for administrators. The changes will be presented to the Indiana Professional Standards Board at their meeting at 1:00 pm Wednesday.

WHO: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett

WHAT: Recommended changes to the Professional Standards Board to improve teacher quality

WHEN: Wednesday, July 29 at 11:30 am

WHERE: Superintendent’s Office, Room 228, Statehouse

What would you like to see changed?