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?
Only one? Dr. White will have the "bobble-headed" board vote approval of hiring ten administrators to review the problem, then they will contract with an outside firm to crunch the numbers. Then Dr. White will tell the board he needs to cut twenty-five teachers to cover the expenses of reviewing the budget.
I read a couple of years back that Mitch wanted to pass a law that 60% of school funding had to go to the classroom. Wonder whatever happened to that? If that kind of law were in place, these budget cuts wouldn't bother me. I understand that we're in a recession. But administration doesn't skim the fat to save money. They make political statements by making sure it hurts teachers and students.
Actually I do believe that Mitch Daniels does have an idea about what's going on with our economy. It's not pretty for anyone; IPS included as well as others who depend upon state funds for operation. Indiana frankly is better off fianancially than many other states.
IPS still has plenty of fat to cut, such as mass travel to AVID Conferences, travel to far away places/lands to recruit teachers/principals (the California Dream Team who quit before they arrived), and ad nauseum. Let's think of ways IPS could save 'big' bucks...
Maybe we could get rid of the people who walk around with a clip board inspecting bulletin boards, dust in corners, and stray marks on the floor. Oh, excuse me for such a thought. We need these compliance monitors to help ensure that we are using data based driven, best practices to enable our students to achieve their best. Woo Hoo! Give me "5"! Be Respectfull, . . . . .
I'm not sure why the state is having a problem with this money thing. The answer to it's problem is simple. Stop Charter schools we can't afford them and get rid of ISTEP. ISTEP cost the taxpayer a mint of money.
Cut the SpringBoard Program. We are duplicating instructional materials because we already have an adopted English/Language Arts textbook series from PH.
Drop the AVID Program. It's too costly for what it's producing. It's turned into a guaranteed 'vacation' for too many IPS folks...too many expensive trips for 200+ people.
Drop the outside consulting groups such as Jimmy Hill Consultants. Hill is being paid over $500K this school year. We cannot afford that any more.
See, you can cut costs without cutting people's jobs.
Cut the money we are paying to Rubicon Atlas for Curriculum Mapping. That must be a small fortune. Let the Curriculum Specialists write the pacing guides. We need to circle the wagons and learn to 'do it ourselves'.
Obviously we can't stop charter schools, they are more efficient than IPS, and there is more public demand for them. As much as everyone hates closing and consolidating of schools, fiscally it makes the most sense. That or let the townships absorb some or all of the IPS district. Plus, as noted above, if we had the proper percentage going to the classroom (really going to the classroom, not to the administrative positions that are masked as classroom instructor categories), we would sail through these budget cuts with no problem.
All those people who yelped about property taxes are now going to see the results, my property tax was cut in half, and I am still a half year behind on collecting that tax, so my community is borrowing money while mine is sitting in escrow.
I wondered how they were going to pay for schools. Now we can all wonder. No one wants to pay taxes, but no one also wants to cut services.
How in the world do you conclude that charter schools are more efficient than IPS.......IPS wastes so much money but so do most of the charter schools. They are staffed with many unlicensed people. fail to comply with many state and federal requirements and operate on a philosophy of one size fits all or you return to your public school. They remind me of some of the segregationist academies that sprang up during the 1960's.
I'm not the person who posted about the charter schools, but it was easy enough to verify that the poster is correct that charters are more efficient. I am unable to cut and paste the information, but according to the Indiana Department of Education website, IPS spends far more per pupil than any of the charter schools.
I am not a teacher and I don't get my so-called "news" from The Indianapolis Star about IPS because their reporters and editors are IPS teacher haters and charter school romancers.
(The Star gets a BIG box of chocolates every Valentine's Day from the charters in town - many of which are doing a lousy job of teaching kids and trying to avoid "special needs" kids as much as possible).
That is why I am glad I ran into this blog a month ago or so. Now, I can really find out what is going on in IPS.
Based upon what I have read here in the past month, what I think will likely happen for IPS to deal with the budget cuts is as follows:
1. An IPS administrative delegation will schedule a mid-winter trip to the Deep South to study how those states are dealing with budget cuts. There will be a two-week stop in Key West, Florida, to study this problem in depth. Most of the stops will be to beach-front school districts.
2. Indiana Wesleyan U. will pay for the martinis and caviar and a special assistant will be brought along to keep an eye on the shoes. Motel rooms and flights will all be first-class.
3. Governor Mitch may go along for the ride, right after he and the IPS superintendent get back from a hectic week at the Super Bowl.
Oh, and there may be some time on that Southern swing for a little stop in Cancun to see how they deal with insolent teachers.
Listen....can't you just hear those school board members' heads bobbing in the distance?
If they can teach all the non-secial-needs students AND make parents happier for a fraction of IPS, then that's still good, right? IPS can focus on special ed if it does that better and let the other schools do what they do better. Isn't that the foundation of economics, people specializing in what they are good at so they can be more productive and efficient. How can the same people who spend so much energy pointing out what a mess IPS is really be against all charter schools when those are the only alternatives to IPS for many families and even many teachers. It makes you sound self-serving (I hate IPS because I'm not good at teaching in this environment, and I hate charter schools because many of them are doing better and putting my job in danger -- I can't be bothered with what is actually good for students or taxpayers.)
Your reading comprehension skills are weak. You must have gone to a charter school. What is being said is that the charter schools do less with general education students and dump the ones that have special needs back into the public school system. They also dump non motivated or behavior problem general education students back into the public school system. They are running a shell game and some people have not caught onto it yet.....
It has long been established that attending a segregated school is not good for anyone. Over 50 years ago this became the law of the land when the supreme court decided Brown vs BOE. Now the segregation can be economic, social class, racial, or intellectual. Quarantining the special ed population and the children whose parents are not sophisticated enough to get them into magnet or charter schools benefits no one.
Okay, okay, let's be civil. I do think we have to decide who is responsibility for a child's education. If a parent is responsible, then we must support the right of parents to choose schools and teachers for their children. If the school and/or teacher is responsible, then choice is less necessary, but then we need to support strict accountability measures, merit pay, etc. What is unconscionable is to hold children hostage in poor education systems and then blame the parents. (And I'm an IPS teacher, but obviously we all know that IPS has many problems. It's kind of obnoxious when we act like that only hurts teachers, not students.)
My God, IPS is a sinking ship! Hang on tight crew members, while Dr. White puts on his new green Prada slippers, leading the ship uncharted waters where will will all learn how to swim.
I really hope some big changes are coming, with the biggest change being Dr. White heading out the door. It saddens me to see what our district has become. We have so, so many great teachers who are being beat down by district mandates and bullying administration. I wish someone from the media would come and stay for a week - WITHOUT Dr. White following them every step of the way - and see the hurdles we teachers are up against. Like it has been stated before, I am not sure that being taken over by the State would be all that bad. Dr. White has turned this district upside down. He has done nothing like he promised in his big back-to-school speech in 2005, except turn around and do the opposite. He is a glorified politician. I cannot wait to see him go.
If Dr. White doesn't leave soon then the only hope will be for a state takeover. This is something I have always opposed but we have NEVER had such a negative element like Eugene White trashing the system by the day. Ultimately the do nothing scared school board will be to blame for the demise of IPS. Mary Busch will share more blame than anyone. I hope people rememeber that on election day.
Let's stop being petty and look at the hard facts of what IPS is spending. Take a look at this unanimous School Board vote from 10/27/09. We have no idea what previous contracts are being paid for from this tremendous expenditure, do we? This type expenditure is bigger than a teacher or two, an administrator or two; it's huge. And, we are clueless, aren't we? What goods and what services cost over $9M. ________________________________________________
8.21 Orders for Goods and Services Exceeding $10,000 from Contracts Previously Approved By the Board Meeting: 10/27/2009 Board Action Session Category: 8. General Superintendent's Recommendations - Business & Finance - Bids Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $9,541,967.09 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Various
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Debra A. Hineline
TOPIC: Orders for Goods and Services exceeding $10,000 from contracts previously approved by the Board. These items have been processed during the period September 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009 by administrative staff under approved budgets, and are provided as information to the Board regarding activity under existing approved contracts.
***SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT I hereby submit this information detailing orders processed against contracts previously approved by the Board. I recommend ratification for the expenditures as indicated in a total amount of $9,541,967.09.
My school is still waiting for class sets of a SpringBoard novel which was to be taught two months ago. Look at the costs for SpringBoard supplementary materials (i.e., DVD's, a few paperbacks, etc.). Almost $100,000 from the General Fund when we have an adopted English textbook from Prentice-Hall. _____________________________________________
8.08 Approval of Formal Quotation to Purchase Spring Board Ancillary Materials for 2009-2010 Meeting: 08/27/2009 Board Action Session Category: 8. General Superintendent's Recommendations - Business & Finance - Bids Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $97,500.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: GF, Title
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Debra A. Hineline
TOPIC: Approval of formal quotation to purchase SpringBoard Ancillary Materials for 2009-2010 (GF, Title)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Purchase Method: Formal quotation received August 10, 2009
Purpose: To provide SpringBoard Ancillary Materials for student use
Location: All locations
Effective Dates: Unit Price Award
Delivery: As required
PRIOR YEAR (2006) PURCHASE INFORMATION: Vendor Expenditures Baker & Taylor Company $97,500.00
Looks like we're locked into Curriculum Mapping with Rubicon Atlas until 2012. It's a done deal, a 'fait accompli' as the French would say. Is it worth the $350,000 (plus undetermined expenses) quoted from the Board minutes? _________________________________________________
8.17a Special Purchase for a Four-Year Subscription to ATLAS Curriculum Management Software and Services Meeting: 04/22/2008 Board Action Session 7:00 P.M. Category: 8. General Superintendent's Recommendations - Business & Finance - Bids Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $340,500.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I
TOPIC: Special Purchase for a Four-Year Subscription to ATLAS Curriculum Management Software and Services (Title I)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Purchase Method: Special Purchase Authorized by IC 5-22-10-7
Effective Dates: Four Year Agreement April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2012
Delivery: As required
SPECIAL PURCHASE INFORMATION PRESCRIBED BY STATUTE:
Selected Contractor: Rubicon International (Portland, OR)
Basis for Special Purchase: I.C. 5-22-10-7(1) Purchase of license agreements for software programs
Basis for Selection of the Particular Contractor: Rubicon International is the publisher and sole source of the software. The District Improvement Committee evaluated three curriculum mapping software applications and determined that this software best fulfills the district's requirements.
Recommendation Source: District Improvement Committee
***SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION:
I recommend that a special purchase be approved per the provisions of IC 5-22-10-7 to Rubicon International for a four-year software license and services for the period April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2012 in an amount not to exceed $340,500.00 plus expenses per contract. The Special Purchase record will be maintained pursuant to the requirements of IC 5-22-10. All purchases are fully subject to budget and administrative approval.
Evidently we're were not bright enough to handle Curriculum Mapping without a Consultant (an expert from afar) to explain it to us. See Susan U's pay for holding a couple of Professional Development sessions. More fat in the budget. ________________________________________________
5.30 Permission to Enter into a Contract with SU-Consulting Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $100,000.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Dr. LiYen Johnson Minetta Richardson Strategic Plan: Eliminate Achievement Gap
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with SU-Consulting (Susan Udelhofen) in the amount not to exceed $100,000 to provide consultant services and professional development to administrators, coaches, and lead teachers for K-12 district curriculum mapping as required by IDOE, Title 1 Division, as part of the District School Improvement Plan.
Background Information:
SU-Consulting has been recommended by IDOE, Title 1 Division, as a consulting firm to consider for guiding the district through the curriculum mapping process. SU-Consulting will assist the District School Improvement Leadership Team to develop a curriculum mapping process and provide curriculum mapping professional development to teachers and principals.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to execute a contract with SU-Consulting to guide the district through the curriculum mapping process and to provide professional development for the implementation of curriculum mapping K-12, as required by IDOE, at a cost not to exceed $100,000. The total amount to be funded from the Title I budget. Action Agenda Details Motion:
Motion By: Elizabeth M Gore Second: Mary E Busch Action: Unanimous
From the 9/09 Board minutes. Who are these people? Do these groups work in your school? I have never heard of them. Are they cronies of the School Board? Over $4M in special contracts! ________________________________________________ APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROVIDERS Providers Type of Service Maximum Capacity Maximum Amount A-Z In-Home Tutoring LLC Individual tutoring and small group instruction 164 $263,712.00 ATS Project Success On-line/Web based and individual tutoring 164 $263,712.00 Catapult Learning Large group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Club Z! Tutoring Individual tutoring and small group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Cool Kids Learning, Inc. Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Dyslexia Institute of Indiana, Inc. Individual tutoring 164 $263,712.00 Educational Recovery Clinic, LLC Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Gateway to Excellence Early Years Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Indianapolis Algebra Project Large group instruction 164 $263,712.00 John H. Boner Community Center Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Learn It Systems Large group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Mind Program Tutoring Services Individual tutoring and small group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Next Level Educational Programs Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Princeton Review Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Progressive Learning On-line/Web based and individual tutoring 164 $263,712.00 Sylvan Learning Systems (Fishers) Small group instruction 164 $263,712.00 September 22, 2009 M-13 Sylvan Learning Systems (Greenwood, North, Shelbyville, West) On-line/Web based and small group instruction 164 $263,712.00 Action of the Board Commissioner Busch made a motion to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation to authorize the Business Manager to amend and execute contracts with the above mentioned providers (Summer Advantage USA has been removed) in a total amount of $4,483,104.00 for 2,788 students, depending on parental choice, to provide Supplemental Educational Services for the period of September 23, 2009 to July 31, 2010 with funding provided through a mandatory amount set aside in the Title I grant. Commissioner Gore seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
I taught in IPS this year and am currently teaching in a charter school. I would like to say that we are teaching the exact same population that you see in IPS. The kids are not different, and we do not try to get rid of students with special needs or behavior problems. I think the biggest factor in the success (albeit minimal so far) of charters is that the administration can fire the teachers at will. I have become a far better teacher this year because I can't be complacent- if I get lazy, I get fired. We spend less per pupil because the money is more real to us- its not lost in some enormous budget. We see the bills at our school and make smart choices about how to spend our money. I feel like I cannot say the same thing for IPS. Let the teachers have an input about spending, and cut out the fat of useless extra curriculum and "supervisors."
This expense is rich! Here's the amount IPS pays Jimmy Hill and his Best Practices Consulting business out of Kentucky -- $650,000 per year! Jimmy and Dr. Johnson are tight. _______________________________________________
5.31 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Best Practice, Inc. Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $650,000.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Dr. Li-Yen Johnson Mrs. Minetta Richardson Strategic Plan: Eliminate Achievement Gaps
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Best Practice Inc (Jimmy Hill), in the amount of $650,000 to provide professional development services to the following schools: 14,15,27,31,34,42,43,44,49,51,54,60,61,83,99,103,367,418,421,424,501,572, and 716
Background Information: Best Practices Inc (Jimmy Hill) is an educational consultant group that provides professional development services to schools. Professional development services will be provided in the following areas:
• Assist schools in collecting & analyzing real- time student achievement data. • Design individual instructional plan for each of the targeted students based on results of the real-time scrimmages. • Coordinate the work of the school improvement team coaches in supporting teachers in planning and designing critical interventions and the delivery of the two week instructional plans. • Conduct professional development support sessions at each of the school improvement schools. • Coordinate with parent liaisons at each school in designing critical parent workshops and parent support packets. • Support and enhance structured teacher planning time at each school to make it more targeted and effective.
Administrative Consideration:
Best Practices Inc will provide consulting services for schools designed to improve students’ academic achievement.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to enter into a contract with Best Practices Inc (Jimmy Hill) to provide school improvement consulting services during the period of September 2009 through September 2010. Total amount of the contract will not exceed $650,000. Funding will be provided by Title I. Action Agenda Details Motion:
Motion By: Mary E Busch Second: Elizabeth M Gore Action: Unanimous
IPS is still providing financial support to the past HR Director, Carole Craig. In the July, 2009 Board minutes, it is recorded that she is a small time IPS consultant. Got to take care of the old girls. ______________________________________________
5.29 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Craig Leadership Services, LLC Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $12,600.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Dr. Jane Kendrick Mrs. Minetta Richardson Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps Everyone Can Learn
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Craig Leadership Services, LLC in the amount not to exceed $12,600 for consultation services to the following schools: 421,508 and 572
Background Information:
Craig Leadership Services, LLC will provide consultation to the above listed schools in the development of positive school cultures that promotes learning at higher levels for the improvement of classroom instruction and student achievement.
Administrative Consideration:
Craig Leadership Services, LLC will provide consulting services in the following targeted areas:
1. Development of school culture and climate that is supportive of student engagement and achievement. 2. Development of school improvement strategies and supports to elevate the achievement of African-American male students. 3. Mentoring secondary principals in instructional supervision.
The above posting above is nauesating. This man is a fraud. He was put out of Kentucky. He is a troublemaker and a liar. He has milked millions out of IPS and Johnson thinks he walks on water. Rather telling comment on both of them, in terms of her intelligence and his character.
The summer AVID conference in July, 2009, in Orlando cost $60K for housing (hotel rooms). Is that not a mess? We spent $60K for hotel rooms alone. This does not include airfare or registration. Of course, the group just had to stay at the Movieland Hotel. AVID is nothing more than all expenses paid summer vacation for many IPS folks. _________________________________________________
5.38 Lodging Cost for AVID Summer Institute Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $3,381.50 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I, Title IIA and AVID Grant
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Dr. LiYen Johnson Dr. Gerald McLeish Strategic Plan: Students Will Benefit When Students Are Held to High Expecatations Staff Are Prepared to Building Students' Capacity for Higher Achievement
TOPIC: Request permission to increase the lodging cost for the AVID conference by $3,381.50 for teachers and administrators who attended AVID Summer Institute June 28 – July 2, 2009 at Orlando, Florida. This request is for retroactive approval.
Background Information:
On January 27, 2009, the Board approved a total of $57,475 to be paid for lodging to Monumental Movieland Hotel. Due to more grant funding becoming available for the AVID Summer Institute, the number of staff attending was increased, therefore causing the hotel costs to be over the approved total by $3,381.50.
Administrative Consideration:
One hundred forty teachers and administrators from 13 high school and middle school campuses were able to attend the AVID Summer Institute.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to pay the Monumental Movieland Hotel an additional $3,381.50. The additional cost will be taken from the Title I, Title IIA, and AVID Schoolwide Program Grant from T.C. Howe Community High School.
The air fare to the summer AVID conference in Orlando cost $35K. Wow, a total of 110 teachers and administrators had a wonderful vacation in Orlando. _______________________________________________
5.07 Group Airline Travel for AVID Summer Institute 2009 Meeting: 01/27/2009 Board Action Session 7:00 P.M. Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $35,200.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I and Title IIA
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Dr. LiYen Johnson Dr. Gerald McLeish Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into an agreement with Southwest Airlines to pay airline fares for teachers and administrators to attend AVID Summer Institute, June 28 – July 2, 2009, at Orlando, Florida.
Background Information:
In August, 2006, as part of the Superintendent’s secondary school reform initiative, IPS high schools implemented the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program for students on each campus. Nearly 600 students participated in the first year. AVID is a fifth through twelfth grade program designed to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility. The program has a proven track record for bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap. AVID builds student capacity to complete and be successful in rigorous college prep courses. Typically, AVID students will be the first in their families to attend college. Many are from low-income or minority families.
Administrative Consideration:
One hundred ten teachers and administrators from 13 high school and middle school campuses are scheduled to participate in the Orlando AVID Summer Institute, June 28 – July 2, 2009. The IPS staff will be using a group rate through Southwest Airlines.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to pay Southwest Airlines an amount not to exceed $35,200 for round-trip airfare each for the 110 teachers and administrators to attend the AVID Summer Program. The total costs will be paid from Title I and Title IIA funds and other professional development grants.
"This expense is rich! Here's the amount IPS pays Jimmy Hill and his Best Practices Consulting business out of Kentucky -- $650,000 per year! Jimmy and Dr. Johnson are tight." Quote above.
As a taxpayer, not a teacher(this is the truth, I do not lie), that fact above is absolutely pathetic. Along with the other expenses approved by the pathetic IPS school board.
IPS is a CASH COW for a few select people to line their pockets.
As a taxpayer, I hope the state does take it over! And soon!
At the close of the 1/20/09 Board Briefing session, the School Board members made pertinent comments. Remember, they'd just approved the spending of over $4M plus approved almost $100K to send 110 folks to Orlando via air and to stay in the Movieland Hotel. This is all they could say. See below. _________________________________________
COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS
Commissioner Brown asked that parents continue to read with their children.
President Busch noted the historical event which took place earlier in the day – the inauguration of the first African-American President of the United States. She suggested that arrangements be made to have some of the IPS students who attended the ceremony make a presentation at the next Board meeting.
I thought Gov Mitch Daniels was against small schools and wanted consolidation. How about getting rid of all these small charters. Consolidate all schools within each county of our state. That would stop overlaping programs and duplicated programs amoung differing districts in a county.
I don't believe the financial mess we're in has anything to do with Mitch Daniels. As the kids say, "It is what it is." It's a big cluster &*^%. We can't continue to spend money that we don't have, so let's make plans to spend what we do have wisely.
IPS will need to tighten its belt for real. The district is fat with its spending. There are too many outsiders on our payroll that contribute little to nothing to the educational process. Too many consultants (both local and from outside the area), too many fancy-dancy expensive programs that promise the moon but deliver little.
Anybody seen Greg Abati lately? He's on the IPS payroll for over $119K as the Transitions Consultant from Louisville, Kentucky. He was seen twice in August. __________________________________________ 5.34 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Gregory Abati Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $119,200.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Dr. LiYen Johnson Mrs. Minetta Richardson Strategic Plan: Eliminating the Achievement Gap
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Gregory Abati, “transitions” G. Abati, Inc. to provide professional consulting services in the areas of behavior and discipline to the following schools: 14,15,27,31,34,39,42,43,44,49,51,54,60,61,83,93,99,103,367,418,420,421,422, 424, 495,501, and 572.
Background Information:
Gregory G. Abati, dba, “Transitions” G. Abati, Inc. is a retired Specialist for Behavior and Discipline for the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been a classroom teacher for emotionally and behaviorally disabled students, the Coordinator of Project Endure, which is a federally funded truancy prevention program, and the Coordinator of the Positive Outreach Program. He is a certified instructor in Safe Crisis Management, and a former instructor at the University of Louisville in Effective Behavior Management.
Administrative Consideration:
In an attempt to increase ISTEP scores to reach AYP the goals of the activities provided by Mr. Abati include:
Lessen disciplinary actions that result in students being removed from the classroom setting Improve the classroom and school environment so that instruction can take place. Introduce and help implement a “Systems Approach to Effective Behavior Management”, a process designed to improve student behavior in a variety of school and classroom settings.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners approve entering into a contract with “Transitions” G. Abati, Inc. to provide consultation to the above mentioned schools 2009-2010 school year. Funding will be provided through Title I. Total contract not to exceed $119,200.
If you work in a school which houses an Over/Under Program, then you might be familiar with the FastForWord Program. It's another one of those 'unproven' iffy computer-based programs that promises to help the students (aged 12-16) to alter the neural pathways of their brains and get them ready to discern the differences between sounds. It is costing us $415,000 per year. The research does not support its efficacy. The School Board apparently thinks, according to the minutes, that cognitive skills can be altered by sitting before a computer and listening to nonsensical sounds. _____________________________________________ 5.09 Approval to Enter into a Contract with Scientific Learning (FastForWord) Meeting: 05/13/2008 Board Briefing/Action Session 7:00 P.M. Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $415,000.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I District Improvement Grant
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Dr. LiYen Johnson Dr. Jane Kendrick Minetta Richardson Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
TOPIC: Request approval to contract with Scientific Learning (Fast ForWord) to provide training, materials and support in cognitive development for teachers and students for the 2008-09 school year.
Background Information:
Scientific Learning (Fast ForWord) is an established and respected company in the area of brain based cognitive research, development and application. The company combines the latest advances in scientific research related to the cognitive processes of the brain to create products and services that help students develop cognitive skills that form a strong foundation for reading and learning.
Administrative Consideration:
Many of our students lack the cognitive skills necessary to take full advantage of the curriculum offered. The Fast ForWord approach and products supply students with these necessary cognitive skills so that their brains are ready to learn. The products don’t replace schools’ curriculum, such as basal readers, but work in conjunction with them, building learning capacity.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to execute a contract with Scientific Learning (Fast ForWord) to provide training, materials and support in cognitive development to our teachers and students at a cost not to exceed $415,000
I agree with consolidating county schools. But leave the charter schools alone. And don't be too quick to badmouth them. They're doing the majority of teacher hiring these days!
Clear out the Ed. Center would save millions. Good bye Prudence. Good Bye Jackie who just got her son a $31,000 raise effective 01/04/10/... (to the poster)...ditto...and while they're at it they can fire her son's wife...Tina Foster (school 106)...who thinks she can do whatever the hell she wants because her mother-in-law is Jacquelyn Clency.
I have been a teacher for several years now and worked in several states due to my husband being in the military...I have never seen such disrespect and unprofessionalism coming from administrators as in IPS. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree folks. If you want to know why the district is poor and failing...look at the clowns running this circus show.
The Charter schools are hiring now and every day. That is because their teachers are resigning every day. You can teach for them if you are willing to do it for $18,000 a year and no benefits.
1. Why has the school board approved all of these ridiculous expense claims? Isn't there just one member of that board who has personal integrity, conscience and a sense of morality?
2. What will IEA do about the news in the above post concerning teachers with tenure being fired?
3. If there are people from the local news media reading these posts - and I assume there probably are - why don't they do their jobs and report on issues like the wasted millions in the IPS budget?
There is far more waste under the radar. How close you are to the Ed Center determines:
a. If you get interviewed or hired at all.
b. How much you make and how you will be treated.
c. How much abuse you can get away with.
There are people there with 300 bereavement days used, that's a BIG family, but with tight ties to the Ed Center there is no oversight.
There are many, MANY former administrators in buildings and at the Ed Center who got to keep their full pay while moving to a lesser job.
Example: There is a former principal in O/U making almost $90k a year to babysit. She never lifts a finger and she thinks she has it hard. She should be making more like $24k. I saw her resume writing which is the only reason I know.
In my experience, IPS employees seem to work about 50/50, where the 50% who are working hard are also carrying all the dead weight of the other 50%. Many of the good 50% end up leaving. I may soon be among them, how about you?
Tossing money to friends. From our most recent Board meeting. Jackie Greenwood's friend, Tony Wallace, started the Security Dad's Program at Arlington several years ago. Now, he's being rewarded with $35,000 to train parent liaisons. Earlier in the year, he was awarded $15,000 for something similarly important. ____________________________________________
5.02 Middwall Consulting Services, Inc Meeting: 12/15/2009 Board Action Session Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $35,000.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I Funds
TOPIC: Request permission to increase the contract with MiddWall Consulting Services, Inc in the amount of $35,000.
Administrative Consideration
MiddWall Consulting Services, Inc will provide professional development at the building level to all parent liaisons at the (64) Title I schools. Professional development activities will include: orientation for new liaisons through out the school year, conducting home visits, conducting workshops on how to use I.S.T.E.P. results, parent engagement, recruiting parents, networking with community partners and presentation skills.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to increase the contract with MiddWall Consulting Services, Inc to provide additional on-site professional development to the sixty-four (64) parent liaisons, including the newly hired liaisons in Title I Schools. Total amount to be increased is $35,000, to be paid from Title I Funds. Action Agenda Details Motion: To approve the Business Manager to increase the contract with MiddWall Consulting Services, Inc to provide additional on-site professional development to the sixty-four (64) parent liaisons. Motion By: Elizabeth M Gore Second: Michael R Cohen
They do all this because they know they can get away with it. The media leaves them alone, and parents (taxpayers too) are unaware. You don't see anybody complaining about these expenditures at the school board meetings. So the purse belongs to the few at the top, to do with as they choose. No crimes being committed here. Permission is asked for and granted by the board without question on an ongoing basis. Federal funds (Title 1) are coming from a very deep well.
Who is ANN GROOMS? Evidently she helped Eugene White write his dissertation. Now he's rewarding her with a special contract of $90K for working with a few assistant principals this year. Have heard that she bores them to tears with telling old stories about off the topic stuff.
Now why on Earth is IPS paying an additional $90K for someone to train principals? The justification is from the Strategic Plan "that Everyone Can Learn", even our principals? Aren't they trained and certified when they're hired? Sounds like 'gravy train' time for Ann Grooms. Why doesn't all Title 1 money go DIRECTLY to our students, not indirectly and filtered through the hungry hands of outside consultants?
From the 7/21/09 Board Briefing Agenda ________________________________________
5.37 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Educational Services Institute, Inc. Meeting: 07/21/2009 Board Breifing Session; 7:00 P.M. Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date: Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date: Dollar Amount: $90,000.00 Budgeted: Yes Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Dr. Jane Kendrick Dr. Jacquelyn Clency Mrs. Minetta Richardson Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps Everyone Can Learn
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Educational Services Institute, Inc., Dr. Ann Grooms, in the amount not to exceed $90,000 for consultation services to the elementary and secondary division.
Background Information:
Educational Services Institute, Inc. is a provider of quality leadership staff development. The institute’s services include working with administrators to develop, organize and engage effective leadership skills and long / short-term planning for the improvement of classroom instruction and student achievement.
Administrative Consideration:
Educational Services Institute, Inc. is providing consulting services for the elementary and secondary in the targeted areas:
1. Leadership development for identified K-12 Assistant principals. ESI professional mentoring services will focus on the following instructional leadership strands:
Planning and leading effective meetings that focus on student achievement Providing clear and unambiguous written and oral communication to accelerate academic progress Facilitating and leading effective teams to achieve desired educational goals Facilitating and planning for successful community engagement to support student achievement Developing effective time-management skills that enables consistent focus on student achievement
2.
Development of a Professional Growth Portfolio for 7-12 principals. ESI professional services focus on the following:
(13) IPS secondary principals are intentionally attending to their individual professional growth in areas of training, continuing education, professional networking, community engagement, professional writing, and professional reading. ESI will provide mentoring to the (13) principals as they work on the portfolio strands.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to enter into a contract with Educational Services Institute, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $90,000 to provide professional development and guidance to elementary and secondary division administrators for the 2009-2010 school year. Funding will be provided by Title I.
Again, regarding the charter certification and salary, if anyone is actually interested in facts, teacher roster, licensing information, and the average teacher salaries for each school is available on the Indiana Department of Education website. Charter school teachers do not make significantly less than IPS teachers unless they have several years experience. Some even make more than IPS scale. With so much valuable information on this blog, it is such a shame that someone on this blog likes to taint this board with petty insults and fabrications. It makes it tough for the average reader to separate truth from fiction.
Regarding not paying as much for experience, I've heard teachers complain about that before, but I think that's common in any industry. Employers will pay for experience in a lateral move from another company up to a certain point, and then they won't. You'll only make more if you take a higher position (in education, that would be administration), or take a lower starting salary and work your way back up. I think its hard to wrap our minds around the differences, but I think the problems with turnover in charter schools have nothing to do with pay or unfair treatment. They have to do with hiring first year teachers who leave teaching at an incredibly high rate regardless of where they start teaching.
Someone needs to do a lot of searching and dig into some other areas also. Human Resources would be another area where some info would make heads swim. Much of this is done with the knowledge of the bobblehead board. I keep hoping that some of them will wake up and tell Eugene to stop the madness.
re: "Cut the money we are paying to Rubicon Atlas for Curriculum Mapping. That must be a small fortune. Let the Curriculum Specialists write the pacing guides. We need to circle the wagons and learn to 'do it ourselves'."
Unfortunately curriculum mapping is madated by the DOE so the idea to cut it should really be directed there.
Curriculum mapping is good. /speaking about Title money being used the way it is in IPS...this has been going on for years! What needs to happen is to use the title monies for the children...period.
Why has the corporation approved spending 37 MILLION dollars at Tech? What are they doing there that is going to cost 37 Million? That property doesn't even belong to the school corporation, but is only leased from the state. Wouldn't cutting that one project solve the money problems?
"Ask not for whom the bell tolls...it tolls for thee, Tech H.S."
This facility has so much potential and so many problems. If we could only really make REAL use of the facilities there for training students in the trades and graduate students instead of having them drop out or fail because they must take irrelevant courses that they cannot pass, e.g. Algebra.
Bogard wastes tons of money on her buildings and grounds projects.....trees, shrubs, plants, planters...new furniture for rest rooms...diffeent shaped tables for the cafe...she doesn't care one iota about instruction, achievement, campus safety.....her concern is that Tech looks nice......plastic floral arrangements everywhere you turn around....
Back to the initial question, we should shorten the school week by one day and lengthen the school day by one hour. We would save with lunches, buses, utilities, etc. Hawaii and several southwestern states went this direction. Less is more, more or less.
That sounds like a great idea...so much time is wasted with lunches, arrivals, dismissals...that extra hour a day would be efficient (or could be efficient)
We spend SO much money on textbooks...we could get each kid a laptop or Kindle and upgrade books instead of buying new ones every couple of years...we are so far behind in using technology.
Some teachers are stuck on using the blackboard and may venture out to use an overhead...
if we really understood how the brain learns, we would throw out a lot of what we do and teach kids how to learn and find relevant information they need to succeed.
I suggest that the School Board members begin researching school districts that have cut costs by using creative weekly schedules (i.e., longer days, shorter weeks). Do our Board members ever actually step outside their comfort zone here in inner city Indy? Can they? Would they be taken seriously by others from Metropolitan districts across the US? I'd like to see them get off their duffs and do some research!
Simply attending a few holiday celebrations at a couple of IPS elementary schools or showing up at an IPS basketball game is not enough.
What about the $14 million IPS received from the government for PD and developing a "Cadre" (i.e. glorified subs)? That money could surely be utilized in a better way.
Looks like a lot of fat that can be cut, let's put the pressure on so that it happens and not teachers and other front line workers who actually impact the education of our students.
I could care less for curriculum mapping, but I would like to be able to use the Accelerated Reader program and Scholastic Reading Counts (SRC). For some reason we haven't been able to bring that back on line this year. The kids really liked it. It got them reading and put them first.
Dr. White will probably have to hire another $100,000 a year administrator to study and make recomendations.
ReplyDeleteIt will still probably come down to getting rid of more teachers and keeping and bolstering the central office administration staff.
Only one? Dr. White will have the "bobble-headed" board vote approval of hiring ten administrators to review the problem, then they will contract with an outside firm to crunch the numbers. Then Dr. White will tell the board he needs to cut twenty-five teachers to cover the expenses of reviewing the budget.
ReplyDeleteI fear we will see more budget cuts and the closing of schools around Indianapolis, Mitch has no idea of what is going on with the economy.
ReplyDeleteSo much for children coming first.
ReplyDelete..and Dr. White probably has a relative who needs this high paying job. The bobble headed board will simply sit their and say yes.
ReplyDeleteI read a couple of years back that Mitch wanted to pass a law that 60% of school funding had to go to the classroom. Wonder whatever happened to that? If that kind of law were in place, these budget cuts wouldn't bother me. I understand that we're in a recession. But administration doesn't skim the fat to save money. They make political statements by making sure it hurts teachers and students.
ReplyDeleteActually I do believe that Mitch Daniels does have an idea about what's going on with our economy. It's not pretty for anyone; IPS included as well as others who depend upon state funds for operation. Indiana frankly is better off fianancially than many other states.
ReplyDeleteIPS still has plenty of fat to cut, such as mass travel to AVID Conferences, travel to far away places/lands to recruit teachers/principals (the California Dream Team who quit before they arrived), and ad nauseum. Let's think of ways IPS could save 'big' bucks...
Clear out the Ed. Center would save millions. Good bye Prudence. Good Bye Jackie who just got her son a $31,000 raise effective 01/04/10/
ReplyDeleteMaybe we could get rid of the people who walk around with a clip board inspecting bulletin boards, dust in corners, and stray marks on the floor. Oh, excuse me for such a thought. We need these compliance monitors to help ensure that we are using data based driven, best practices to enable our students to achieve their best. Woo Hoo! Give me "5"! Be Respectfull, . . . . .
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why the state is having a problem with this money thing. The answer to it's problem is simple. Stop Charter schools we can't afford them and get rid of ISTEP. ISTEP cost the taxpayer a mint of money.
ReplyDeleteWays to reduce our budget significantly --
ReplyDeleteCut the SpringBoard Program. We are duplicating instructional materials because we already have an adopted English/Language Arts textbook series from PH.
Drop the AVID Program. It's too costly for what it's producing. It's turned into a guaranteed 'vacation' for too many IPS folks...too many expensive trips for 200+ people.
Drop the outside consulting groups such as Jimmy Hill Consultants. Hill is being paid over $500K this school year. We cannot afford that any more.
See, you can cut costs without cutting people's jobs.
Cut the money we are paying to Rubicon Atlas for Curriculum Mapping. That must be a small fortune. Let the Curriculum Specialists write the pacing guides. We need to circle the wagons and learn to 'do it ourselves'.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! We already had a pacing guide - now we have the same thing online. It is absolutely useless.
ReplyDeleteObviously we can't stop charter schools, they are more efficient than IPS, and there is more public demand for them. As much as everyone hates closing and consolidating of schools, fiscally it makes the most sense. That or let the townships absorb some or all of the IPS district. Plus, as noted above, if we had the proper percentage going to the classroom (really going to the classroom, not to the administrative positions that are masked as classroom instructor categories), we would sail through these budget cuts with no problem.
ReplyDeleteAll those people who yelped about property taxes are now going to see the results, my property tax was cut in half, and I am still a half year behind on collecting that tax, so my community is borrowing money while mine is sitting in escrow.
ReplyDeleteI wondered how they were going to pay for schools.
Now we can all wonder. No one wants to pay taxes, but no one also wants to cut services.
How in the world do you conclude that charter schools are more efficient than IPS.......IPS wastes so much money but so do most of the charter schools. They are staffed with many unlicensed people. fail to comply with many state and federal requirements and operate on a philosophy of one size fits all or you return to your public school. They remind me of some of the segregationist academies that sprang up during the 1960's.
ReplyDeleteI'm not the person who posted about the charter schools, but it was easy enough to verify that the poster is correct that charters are more efficient. I am unable to cut and paste the information, but according to the Indiana Department of Education website, IPS spends far more per pupil than any of the charter schools.
ReplyDeleteCharter schools spend less because they offer less and send any student needing special services back to the public schools.
ReplyDeleteI am not a teacher and I don't get my so-called "news" from The Indianapolis Star about IPS because their reporters and editors are IPS teacher haters and charter school romancers.
ReplyDelete(The Star gets a BIG box of chocolates every Valentine's Day from the charters in town - many of which are doing a lousy job of teaching kids and trying to avoid "special needs" kids as much as possible).
That is why I am glad I ran into this blog a month ago or so. Now, I can really find out what is going on in IPS.
Based upon what I have read here in the past month, what I think will likely happen for IPS to deal with the budget cuts is as follows:
1. An IPS administrative delegation will schedule a mid-winter trip to the Deep South to study how those states are dealing with budget cuts. There will be a two-week stop in Key West, Florida, to study this problem in depth. Most of the stops will be to beach-front school districts.
2. Indiana Wesleyan U. will pay for the martinis and caviar and a special assistant will be brought along to keep an eye on the shoes. Motel rooms and flights will all be first-class.
3. Governor Mitch may go along for the ride, right after he and the IPS superintendent get back from a hectic week at the Super Bowl.
Oh, and there may be some time on that Southern swing for a little stop in Cancun to see how they deal with insolent teachers.
Listen....can't you just hear those school board members' heads bobbing in the distance?
To the poster above: U R stoopid.
ReplyDeleteIf they can teach all the non-secial-needs students AND make parents happier for a fraction of IPS, then that's still good, right? IPS can focus on special ed if it does that better and let the other schools do what they do better. Isn't that the foundation of economics, people specializing in what they are good at so they can be more productive and efficient. How can the same people who spend so much energy pointing out what a mess IPS is really be against all charter schools when those are the only alternatives to IPS for many families and even many teachers. It makes you sound self-serving (I hate IPS because I'm not good at teaching in this environment, and I hate charter schools because many of them are doing better and putting my job in danger -- I can't be bothered with what is actually good for students or taxpayers.)
ReplyDeleteYour reading comprehension skills are weak. You must have gone to a charter school. What is being said is that the charter schools do less with general education students and dump the ones that have special needs back into the public school system. They also dump non motivated or behavior problem general education students back into the public school system. They are running a shell game and some people have not caught onto it yet.....
ReplyDeleteIt has long been established that attending a segregated school is not good for anyone. Over 50 years ago this became the law of the land when the supreme court decided Brown vs BOE. Now the segregation can be economic, social class, racial, or intellectual. Quarantining the special ed population and the children whose parents are not sophisticated enough to get them into magnet or charter schools benefits no one.
ReplyDeleteOkay, okay, let's be civil. I do think we have to decide who is responsibility for a child's education. If a parent is responsible, then we must support the right of parents to choose schools and teachers for their children. If the school and/or teacher is responsible, then choice is less necessary, but then we need to support strict accountability measures, merit pay, etc. What is unconscionable is to hold children hostage in poor education systems and then blame the parents. (And I'm an IPS teacher, but obviously we all know that IPS has many problems. It's kind of obnoxious when we act like that only hurts teachers, not students.)
ReplyDelete@star news poster, you are correct, they're also terrified of the press (channel 6 and 13 are often at the ed center downtown).
ReplyDeletethis just in:
ReplyDeletebudget cuts will equal tenured teacher firings for the first time in ips history.
they will start after christmas with another round in april.
they are focusing on people who have been failing their 'improvement plans' for a long time.
dorothy crenshaw will no longer be the cio as of februrary it will be julia bakehorn principal of school 54
there are many long timers retiring together, perhaps they know something we don't.
My God, IPS is a sinking ship! Hang on tight crew members, while Dr. White puts on his new green Prada slippers, leading the ship uncharted waters where will will all learn how to swim.
ReplyDeleteI really hope some big changes are coming, with the biggest change being Dr. White heading out the door.
ReplyDeleteIt saddens me to see what our district has become. We have so, so many great teachers who are being beat down by district mandates and bullying administration.
I wish someone from the media would come and stay for a week - WITHOUT Dr. White following them every step of the way - and see the hurdles we teachers are up against.
Like it has been stated before, I am not sure that being taken over by the State would be all that bad.
Dr. White has turned this district upside down. He has done nothing like he promised in his big back-to-school speech in 2005, except turn around and do the opposite. He is a glorified politician. I cannot wait to see him go.
If Dr. White doesn't leave soon then the only hope will be for a state takeover. This is something I have always opposed but we have NEVER had such a negative element like Eugene White trashing the system by the day. Ultimately the do nothing scared school board will be to blame for the demise of IPS. Mary Busch will share more blame than anyone. I hope people rememeber that on election day.
ReplyDeleteLet's stop being petty and look at the hard facts of what IPS is spending. Take a look at this unanimous School Board vote from 10/27/09. We have no idea what previous contracts are being paid for from this tremendous expenditure, do we? This type expenditure is bigger than a teacher or two, an administrator or two; it's huge. And, we are clueless, aren't we? What goods and what services cost over $9M.
ReplyDelete________________________________________________
8.21 Orders for Goods and Services Exceeding $10,000 from Contracts Previously Approved By the Board
Meeting: 10/27/2009 Board Action Session
Category: 8. General Superintendent's Recommendations - Business & Finance - Bids
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $9,541,967.09 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Various
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Debra A. Hineline
TOPIC: Orders for Goods and Services exceeding $10,000 from contracts previously approved by the Board. These items have been processed during the period September 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009 by administrative staff under approved budgets, and are provided as information to the Board regarding activity under existing approved contracts.
***SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
I hereby submit this information detailing orders processed against contracts previously approved by the Board. I recommend ratification for the expenditures as indicated in a total amount of $9,541,967.09.
My school is still waiting for class sets of a SpringBoard novel which was to be taught two months ago. Look at the costs for SpringBoard supplementary materials (i.e., DVD's, a few paperbacks, etc.). Almost $100,000 from the General Fund when we have an adopted English textbook from Prentice-Hall.
ReplyDelete_____________________________________________
8.08 Approval of Formal Quotation to Purchase Spring Board Ancillary Materials for 2009-2010
Meeting: 08/27/2009 Board Action Session
Category: 8. General Superintendent's Recommendations - Business & Finance - Bids
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $97,500.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: GF, Title
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Debra A. Hineline
TOPIC: Approval of formal quotation to purchase SpringBoard Ancillary Materials for 2009-2010 (GF, Title)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Purchase Method:
Formal quotation received August 10, 2009
Purpose:
To provide SpringBoard Ancillary Materials for student use
Location:
All locations
Effective Dates:
Unit Price Award
Delivery:
As required
PRIOR YEAR (2006) PURCHASE INFORMATION: Vendor Expenditures
Baker & Taylor Company $97,500.00
Looks like we're locked into Curriculum Mapping with Rubicon Atlas until 2012. It's a done deal, a 'fait accompli' as the French would say. Is it worth the $350,000 (plus undetermined expenses) quoted from the Board minutes?
ReplyDelete_________________________________________________
8.17a Special Purchase for a Four-Year Subscription to ATLAS Curriculum Management Software and Services
Meeting: 04/22/2008 Board Action Session 7:00 P.M.
Category: 8. General Superintendent's Recommendations - Business & Finance - Bids
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $340,500.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
TOPIC: Special Purchase for a Four-Year Subscription to ATLAS Curriculum Management Software and Services (Title I)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Purchase Method:
Special Purchase Authorized by IC 5-22-10-7
Effective Dates:
Four Year Agreement
April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2012
Delivery:
As required
SPECIAL PURCHASE INFORMATION PRESCRIBED BY STATUTE:
Selected Contractor:
Rubicon International (Portland, OR)
Basis for Special Purchase:
I.C. 5-22-10-7(1) Purchase of license agreements for software programs
Basis for Selection of the Particular Contractor:
Rubicon International is the publisher and sole source of the software. The District Improvement Committee evaluated three curriculum mapping software applications and determined that this software best fulfills the district's requirements.
Recommendation Source:
District Improvement Committee
***SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION:
I recommend that a special purchase be approved per the provisions of IC 5-22-10-7 to Rubicon International for a four-year software license and services for the period April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2012 in an amount not to exceed $340,500.00 plus expenses per contract. The Special Purchase record will be maintained pursuant to the requirements of IC 5-22-10. All purchases are fully subject to budget and administrative approval.
Evidently we're were not bright enough to handle Curriculum Mapping without a Consultant (an expert from afar) to explain it to us. See Susan U's pay for holding a couple of Professional Development sessions. More fat in the budget.
ReplyDelete________________________________________________
5.30 Permission to Enter into a Contract with SU-Consulting
Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $100,000.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. LiYen Johnson
Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminate Achievement Gap
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with SU-Consulting (Susan Udelhofen) in the amount not to exceed $100,000 to provide consultant services and professional development to administrators, coaches, and lead teachers for K-12 district curriculum mapping as required by IDOE, Title 1 Division, as part of the District School Improvement Plan.
Background Information:
SU-Consulting has been recommended by IDOE, Title 1 Division, as a consulting firm to consider for guiding the district through the curriculum mapping process.
SU-Consulting will assist the District School Improvement Leadership Team to develop a curriculum mapping process and provide curriculum mapping professional development to teachers and principals.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to execute a contract with SU-Consulting to guide the district through the curriculum mapping process and to provide professional development for the implementation of curriculum mapping K-12, as required by IDOE, at a cost not to exceed $100,000. The total amount to be funded from the Title I budget.
Action Agenda Details
Motion:
Motion By:
Elizabeth M Gore Second:
Mary E Busch
Action: Unanimous
From the 9/09 Board minutes. Who are these people? Do these groups work in your school? I have never heard of them. Are they cronies of the School Board? Over $4M in special contracts!
ReplyDelete________________________________________________
APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROVIDERS
Providers
Type of Service
Maximum Capacity
Maximum Amount
A-Z In-Home Tutoring LLC
Individual tutoring and small group instruction
164
$263,712.00
ATS Project Success
On-line/Web based and individual tutoring
164
$263,712.00
Catapult Learning
Large group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Club Z! Tutoring
Individual tutoring and small group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Cool Kids Learning, Inc.
Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Dyslexia Institute of Indiana, Inc.
Individual tutoring
164
$263,712.00
Educational Recovery Clinic, LLC
Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Gateway to Excellence Early Years
Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Indianapolis Algebra Project
Large group instruction
164
$263,712.00
John H. Boner Community Center
Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Learn It Systems
Large group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Mind Program Tutoring Services
Individual tutoring and small group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Next Level Educational Programs
Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Princeton Review
Individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Progressive Learning
On-line/Web based and individual tutoring
164
$263,712.00
Sylvan Learning Systems (Fishers)
Small group instruction
164
$263,712.00
September 22, 2009
M-13
Sylvan Learning Systems (Greenwood, North, Shelbyville, West)
On-line/Web based and small group instruction
164
$263,712.00
Action of the Board
Commissioner Busch made a motion to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation to authorize the Business Manager to amend and execute contracts with the above mentioned providers (Summer Advantage USA has been removed) in a total amount of $4,483,104.00 for 2,788 students, depending on parental choice, to provide Supplemental Educational Services for the period of September 23, 2009 to July 31, 2010 with funding provided through a mandatory amount set aside in the Title I grant. Commissioner Gore seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
I taught in IPS this year and am currently teaching in a charter school. I would like to say that we are teaching the exact same population that you see in IPS. The kids are not different, and we do not try to get rid of students with special needs or behavior problems. I think the biggest factor in the success (albeit minimal so far) of charters is that the administration can fire the teachers at will. I have become a far better teacher this year because I can't be complacent- if I get lazy, I get fired. We spend less per pupil because the money is more real to us- its not lost in some enormous budget. We see the bills at our school and make smart choices about how to spend our money. I feel like I cannot say the same thing for IPS. Let the teachers have an input about spending, and cut out the fat of useless extra curriculum and "supervisors."
ReplyDeleteThis expense is rich! Here's the amount IPS pays Jimmy Hill and his Best Practices Consulting business out of Kentucky -- $650,000 per year! Jimmy and Dr. Johnson are tight.
ReplyDelete_______________________________________________
5.31 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Best Practice, Inc.
Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $650,000.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. Li-Yen Johnson
Mrs. Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminate Achievement Gaps
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Best Practice Inc (Jimmy Hill), in the amount of $650,000 to provide professional development services to the following schools: 14,15,27,31,34,42,43,44,49,51,54,60,61,83,99,103,367,418,421,424,501,572,
and 716
Background Information:
Best Practices Inc (Jimmy Hill) is an educational consultant group that provides professional development services to schools. Professional development services will be provided in the following areas:
• Assist schools in collecting & analyzing real- time student achievement data.
• Design individual instructional plan for each of the targeted students based on results of the real-time scrimmages.
• Coordinate the work of the school improvement team coaches in supporting teachers in planning and designing critical interventions and the delivery of the two week instructional plans.
• Conduct professional development support sessions at each of the school improvement schools.
• Coordinate with parent liaisons at each school in designing critical parent workshops and parent support packets.
• Support and enhance structured teacher planning time at each school to make it more targeted and effective.
Administrative Consideration:
Best Practices Inc will provide consulting services for schools designed to improve students’ academic achievement.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to enter into a contract with Best Practices Inc (Jimmy Hill) to provide school improvement consulting services during the period of September 2009 through September 2010. Total amount of the contract will not exceed $650,000. Funding will be provided by Title I.
Action Agenda Details
Motion:
Motion By:
Mary E Busch Second:
Elizabeth M Gore
Action: Unanimous
Aren't these sinful? People in IPS will lose their jobs, while jokers like those noted above become rich.
ReplyDeleteIPS is still providing financial support to the past HR Director, Carole Craig. In the July, 2009 Board minutes, it is recorded that she is a small time IPS consultant. Got to take care of the old girls.
ReplyDelete______________________________________________
5.29 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Craig Leadership Services, LLC
Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $12,600.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. Jane Kendrick
Mrs. Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
Everyone Can Learn
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Craig Leadership Services, LLC in the amount not to exceed $12,600 for consultation services to the following schools: 421,508 and 572
Background Information:
Craig Leadership Services, LLC will provide consultation to the above listed schools in the development of positive school cultures that promotes learning at higher levels for the improvement of classroom instruction and student achievement.
Administrative Consideration:
Craig Leadership Services, LLC will provide consulting services in the following targeted areas:
1. Development of school culture and climate that is supportive of student engagement and achievement.
2. Development of school improvement strategies and supports to elevate the achievement of African-American male students.
3. Mentoring secondary principals in instructional supervision.
The above posting above is nauesating.
ReplyDeleteThis man is a fraud. He was put out of Kentucky.
He is a troublemaker and a liar. He has milked millions out of IPS and Johnson thinks he walks on water. Rather telling comment on both of them, in terms of her intelligence and his character.
Are they doing each other?
ReplyDeleteThe summer AVID conference in July, 2009, in Orlando cost $60K for housing (hotel rooms). Is that not a mess? We spent $60K for hotel rooms alone. This does not include airfare or registration. Of course, the group just had to stay at the Movieland Hotel.
ReplyDeleteAVID is nothing more than all expenses paid summer vacation for many IPS folks.
_________________________________________________
5.38 Lodging Cost for AVID Summer Institute
Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $3,381.50 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I, Title IIA and AVID Grant
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. LiYen Johnson
Dr. Gerald McLeish
Strategic Plan: Students Will Benefit When Students Are Held to High Expecatations
Staff Are Prepared to Building Students' Capacity for Higher Achievement
TOPIC: Request permission to increase the lodging cost for the AVID conference by $3,381.50 for teachers and administrators who attended AVID Summer Institute June 28 – July 2, 2009 at Orlando, Florida. This request is for retroactive approval.
Background Information:
On January 27, 2009, the Board approved a total of $57,475 to be paid for lodging to Monumental Movieland Hotel. Due to more grant funding becoming available for the AVID Summer Institute, the number of staff attending was increased, therefore causing the hotel costs to be over the approved total by $3,381.50.
Administrative Consideration:
One hundred forty teachers and administrators from 13 high school and middle school campuses were able to attend the AVID Summer Institute.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to pay the Monumental Movieland Hotel an additional $3,381.50. The additional cost will be taken from the Title I, Title IIA, and AVID Schoolwide Program Grant from T.C. Howe Community High School.
The air fare to the summer AVID conference in Orlando cost $35K. Wow, a total of 110 teachers and administrators had a wonderful vacation in Orlando.
ReplyDelete_______________________________________________
5.07 Group Airline Travel for AVID Summer Institute 2009
Meeting: 01/27/2009 Board Action Session 7:00 P.M.
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $35,200.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I and Title IIA
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. LiYen Johnson
Dr. Gerald McLeish
Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into an agreement with Southwest Airlines to pay airline fares for teachers and administrators to attend AVID Summer Institute, June 28 – July 2, 2009, at Orlando, Florida.
Background Information:
In August, 2006, as part of the Superintendent’s secondary school reform initiative, IPS high schools implemented the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program for students on each campus. Nearly 600 students participated in the first year. AVID is a fifth through twelfth grade program designed to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility. The program has a proven track record for bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap. AVID builds student capacity to complete and be successful in rigorous college prep courses. Typically, AVID students will be the first in their families to attend college. Many are from low-income or minority families.
Administrative Consideration:
One hundred ten teachers and administrators from 13 high school and middle school campuses are scheduled to participate in the Orlando AVID Summer Institute, June 28 – July 2, 2009. The IPS staff will be using a group rate through Southwest Airlines.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to pay Southwest Airlines an amount not to exceed $35,200 for round-trip airfare each for the 110 teachers and administrators to attend the AVID Summer Program. The total costs will be paid from Title I and Title IIA funds and other professional development grants.
"This expense is rich! Here's the amount IPS pays Jimmy Hill and his Best Practices Consulting business out of Kentucky -- $650,000 per year! Jimmy and Dr. Johnson are tight." Quote above.
ReplyDeleteAs a taxpayer, not a teacher(this is the truth, I do not lie), that fact above is absolutely pathetic. Along with the other expenses approved by the pathetic IPS school board.
IPS is a CASH COW for a few select people to line their pockets.
As a taxpayer, I hope the state does take it over! And soon!
At the close of the 1/20/09 Board Briefing session, the School Board members made pertinent comments. Remember, they'd just approved the spending of over $4M plus approved almost $100K to send 110 folks to Orlando via air and to stay in the Movieland Hotel. This is all they could say. See below.
ReplyDelete_________________________________________
COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS
Commissioner Brown asked that parents continue to read with their children.
President Busch noted the historical event which took place earlier in the day – the inauguration of the first African-American President of the United States. She suggested that arrangements be made to have some of the IPS students who attended the ceremony make a presentation at the next Board meeting.
I thought Gov Mitch Daniels was against small schools and wanted consolidation. How about getting rid of all these small charters. Consolidate all schools within each county of our state. That would stop overlaping programs and duplicated programs amoung differing districts in a county.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the financial mess we're in has anything to do with Mitch Daniels. As the kids say, "It is what it is." It's a big cluster &*^%. We can't continue to spend money that we don't have, so let's make plans to spend what we do have wisely.
ReplyDeleteIPS will need to tighten its belt for real. The district is fat with its spending. There are too many outsiders on our payroll that contribute little to nothing to the educational process. Too many consultants (both local and from outside the area), too many fancy-dancy expensive programs that promise the moon but deliver little.
Anybody seen Greg Abati lately? He's on the IPS payroll for over $119K as the Transitions Consultant from Louisville, Kentucky. He was seen twice in August. __________________________________________
ReplyDelete5.34 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Gregory Abati
Meeting: 07/28/2009 Board Action Session; 7:00 PM
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $119,200.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. LiYen Johnson
Mrs. Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminating the Achievement Gap
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Gregory Abati, “transitions” G. Abati, Inc. to provide professional consulting services in the areas of behavior and discipline to the following schools: 14,15,27,31,34,39,42,43,44,49,51,54,60,61,83,93,99,103,367,418,420,421,422,
424, 495,501, and 572.
Background Information:
Gregory G. Abati, dba, “Transitions” G. Abati, Inc. is a retired Specialist for Behavior and Discipline for the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been a classroom teacher for emotionally and behaviorally disabled students, the Coordinator of Project Endure, which is a federally funded truancy prevention program, and the Coordinator of the Positive Outreach Program. He is a certified instructor in Safe Crisis Management, and a former instructor at the University of Louisville in Effective Behavior Management.
Administrative Consideration:
In an attempt to increase ISTEP scores to reach AYP the goals of the activities provided by Mr. Abati include:
Lessen disciplinary actions that result in students being removed from the classroom setting
Improve the classroom and school environment so that instruction can take place.
Introduce and help implement a “Systems Approach to Effective Behavior Management”, a process designed to improve student behavior in a variety of school and classroom settings.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners approve entering into a contract with “Transitions” G. Abati, Inc. to provide consultation to the above mentioned schools 2009-2010 school year. Funding will be provided through Title I. Total contract not to exceed $119,200.
If you work in a school which houses an Over/Under Program, then you might be familiar with the FastForWord Program. It's another one of those 'unproven' iffy computer-based programs that promises to help the students (aged 12-16) to alter the neural pathways of their brains and get them ready to discern the differences between sounds. It is costing us $415,000 per year. The research does not support its efficacy. The School Board apparently thinks, according to the minutes, that cognitive skills can be altered by sitting before a computer and listening to nonsensical sounds.
ReplyDelete_____________________________________________
5.09 Approval to Enter into a Contract with Scientific Learning (FastForWord)
Meeting: 05/13/2008 Board Briefing/Action Session 7:00 P.M.
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $415,000.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I District Improvement Grant
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. LiYen Johnson
Dr. Jane Kendrick
Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
TOPIC: Request approval to contract with Scientific Learning (Fast ForWord) to provide training, materials and support in cognitive development for teachers and students for the 2008-09 school year.
Background Information:
Scientific Learning (Fast ForWord) is an established and respected company in the area of brain based cognitive research, development and application. The company combines the latest advances in scientific research related to the cognitive processes of the brain to create products and services that help students develop cognitive skills that form a strong foundation for reading and learning.
Administrative Consideration:
Many of our students lack the cognitive skills necessary to take full advantage of the curriculum offered. The Fast ForWord approach and products supply students with these necessary cognitive skills so that their brains are ready to learn. The products don’t replace schools’ curriculum, such as basal readers, but work in conjunction with them, building learning capacity.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to execute a contract with Scientific Learning (Fast ForWord) to provide training, materials and support in cognitive development to our teachers and students at a cost not to exceed $415,000
I agree with consolidating county schools. But leave the charter schools alone. And don't be too quick to badmouth them. They're doing the majority of teacher hiring these days!
ReplyDeleteClear out the Ed. Center would save millions. Good bye Prudence. Good Bye Jackie who just got her son a $31,000 raise effective 01/04/10/...
ReplyDelete(to the poster)...ditto...and while they're at it they can fire her son's wife...Tina Foster (school 106)...who thinks she can do whatever the hell she wants because her mother-in-law is Jacquelyn Clency.
Cut the $4.4 million in special contracts for questionable groups that are supposed to tutor kids.
ReplyDeleteCut the $650,000 for Jimmy Hill's group.
Cut the $415,000 for the Fastforword program.
Funnel that money back into the classrooms with the students.
That's a total of over $1,000,000 in cuts without touching one IPS employee.
I have been a teacher for several years now and worked in several states due to my husband being in the military...I have never seen such disrespect and unprofessionalism coming from administrators as in IPS. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree folks. If you want to know why the district is poor and failing...look at the clowns running this circus show.
ReplyDeleteThat's a total of over $1,000,000 in cuts without touching one IPS employee.
ReplyDeleteYou added wrong. That would be a total of over $6 million saved.
The Charter schools are hiring now and every day. That is because their teachers are resigning every day. You can teach for them if you are willing to do it for $18,000 a year and no benefits.
ReplyDeleteI have three questions after reading these posts:
ReplyDelete1. Why has the school board approved all of these ridiculous expense claims? Isn't there just one member of that board who has personal integrity, conscience and a sense of morality?
2. What will IEA do about the news in the above post concerning teachers with tenure being fired?
3. If there are people from the local news media reading these posts - and I assume there probably are - why don't they do their jobs and report on issues like the wasted millions in the IPS budget?
@ first budget listing poster
ReplyDeletei have never heard of any of those companies or programs; they're not in my school.
There is far more waste under the radar. How close you are to the Ed Center determines:
ReplyDeletea. If you get interviewed or hired at all.
b. How much you make and how you will be treated.
c. How much abuse you can get away with.
There are people there with 300 bereavement days used, that's a BIG family, but with tight ties to the Ed Center there is no oversight.
There are many, MANY former administrators in buildings and at the Ed Center who got to keep their full pay while moving to a lesser job.
Example: There is a former principal in O/U making almost $90k a year to babysit. She never lifts a finger and she thinks she has it hard. She should be making more like $24k. I saw her resume writing which is the only reason I know.
In my experience, IPS employees seem to work about 50/50, where the 50% who are working hard are also carrying all the dead weight of the other 50%. Many of the good 50% end up leaving. I may soon be among them, how about you?
Tossing money to friends. From our most recent Board meeting. Jackie Greenwood's friend, Tony Wallace, started the Security Dad's Program at Arlington several years ago. Now, he's being rewarded with $35,000 to train parent liaisons. Earlier in the year, he was awarded $15,000 for something similarly important.
ReplyDelete____________________________________________
5.02 Middwall Consulting Services, Inc
Meeting: 12/15/2009 Board Action Session
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $35,000.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I Funds
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr.Willie Giles
Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
TOPIC: Request permission to increase the contract with MiddWall Consulting Services, Inc in the amount of $35,000.
Administrative Consideration
MiddWall Consulting Services, Inc will provide professional development at the building level to all parent liaisons at the (64) Title I schools. Professional development activities will include: orientation for new liaisons through out the school year, conducting home visits, conducting workshops on how to use I.S.T.E.P. results, parent engagement, recruiting parents, networking with community partners and presentation skills.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to increase the contract with MiddWall Consulting Services, Inc to provide additional on-site professional development to the sixty-four (64) parent liaisons, including the newly hired liaisons in Title I Schools. Total amount to be increased is $35,000, to be paid from Title I Funds.
Action Agenda Details
Motion:
To approve the Business Manager to increase the contract with MiddWall Consulting Services, Inc to provide additional on-site professional development to the sixty-four (64) parent liaisons.
Motion By:
Elizabeth M Gore Second:
Michael R Cohen
MiddWall Consulting is one person, TONY WALLACE, a close friend of Jackie Greenwood.
ReplyDelete(http://www.linkedin.com/pub/anthony-wallace-i/8/412/b65)
TONY WALLACE and Jackie began the Security Dad's Program at Arlington years ago.
Tony is being 'paid back' to the tune of $35K for being a crony of the right people who manage the Title 1 funds.
Title 1 funds are easily used to reward long-time friends as long as the dollar amounts are kept relatively small.
They do all this because they know they can get away with it. The media leaves them alone, and parents (taxpayers too) are unaware. You don't see anybody complaining about these expenditures at the school board meetings. So the purse belongs to the few at the top, to do with as they choose. No crimes being committed here. Permission is asked for and granted by the board without question on an ongoing basis. Federal funds (Title 1) are coming from a very deep well.
ReplyDeleteWho is ANN GROOMS? Evidently she helped Eugene White write his dissertation. Now he's rewarding her with a special contract of $90K for working with a few assistant principals this year. Have heard that she bores them to tears with telling old stories about off the topic stuff.
ReplyDeleteNow why on Earth is IPS paying an additional $90K for someone to train principals? The justification is from the Strategic Plan "that Everyone Can Learn", even our principals? Aren't they trained and certified when they're hired? Sounds like 'gravy train' time for Ann Grooms. Why doesn't all Title 1 money go DIRECTLY to our students, not indirectly and filtered through the hungry hands of outside consultants?
From the 7/21/09 Board Briefing Agenda
________________________________________
5.37 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Educational Services Institute, Inc.
Meeting: 07/21/2009 Board Breifing Session; 7:00 P.M.
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $90,000.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. Jane Kendrick
Dr. Jacquelyn Clency
Mrs. Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
Everyone Can Learn
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Educational Services Institute, Inc., Dr. Ann Grooms, in the amount not to exceed $90,000 for consultation services to the elementary and secondary division.
Background Information:
Educational Services Institute, Inc. is a provider of quality leadership staff development. The institute’s services include working with administrators to develop, organize and engage effective leadership skills and long / short-term planning for the improvement of classroom instruction and student achievement.
Administrative Consideration:
Educational Services Institute, Inc. is providing consulting services for the elementary and secondary in the targeted areas:
1. Leadership development for identified K-12 Assistant principals.
ESI professional mentoring services will focus on the following instructional leadership strands:
Planning and leading effective meetings that focus on student achievement
Providing clear and unambiguous written and oral communication to accelerate academic progress
Facilitating and leading effective teams to achieve desired educational goals
Facilitating and planning for successful community engagement to support student achievement
Developing effective time-management skills that enables consistent focus on student achievement
2.
Development of a Professional Growth Portfolio for 7-12 principals.
ESI professional services focus on the following:
(13) IPS secondary principals are intentionally attending to their individual professional growth in areas of training, continuing education, professional networking, community engagement, professional writing, and professional reading.
ESI will provide mentoring to the (13) principals as they work on the portfolio strands.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to enter into a contract with Educational Services Institute, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $90,000 to provide professional development and guidance to elementary and secondary division administrators for the 2009-2010 school year. Funding will be provided by Title I.
Again, regarding the charter certification and salary, if anyone is actually interested in facts, teacher roster, licensing information, and the average teacher salaries for each school is available on the Indiana Department of Education website. Charter school teachers do not make significantly less than IPS teachers unless they have several years experience. Some even make more than IPS scale. With so much valuable information on this blog, it is such a shame that someone on this blog likes to taint this board with petty insults and fabrications. It makes it tough for the average reader to separate truth from fiction.
ReplyDeleteRegarding not paying as much for experience, I've heard teachers complain about that before, but I think that's common in any industry. Employers will pay for experience in a lateral move from another company up to a certain point, and then they won't. You'll only make more if you take a higher position (in education, that would be administration), or take a lower starting salary and work your way back up. I think its hard to wrap our minds around the differences, but I think the problems with turnover in charter schools have nothing to do with pay or unfair treatment. They have to do with hiring first year teachers who leave teaching at an incredibly high rate regardless of where they start teaching.
ReplyDeleteAbdu. . .ah, anonymous has done a lot of Title I searchin!
ReplyDeleteSomeone needs to do a lot of searching and dig into some other areas also. Human Resources would be another area where some info would make heads swim. Much of this is done with the knowledge of the bobblehead board. I keep hoping that some of them will wake up and tell Eugene to stop the madness.
ReplyDeletere: "Cut the money we are paying to Rubicon Atlas for Curriculum Mapping. That must be a small fortune. Let the Curriculum Specialists write the pacing guides. We need to circle the wagons and learn to 'do it ourselves'."
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately curriculum mapping is madated by the DOE so the idea to cut it should really be directed there.
Curriculum mapping is good. /speaking about Title money being used the way it is in IPS...this has been going on for years! What needs to happen is to use the title monies for the children...period.
ReplyDeleteWhy has the corporation approved spending 37 MILLION dollars at Tech? What are they doing there that is going to cost 37 Million? That property doesn't even belong to the school corporation, but is only leased from the state. Wouldn't cutting that one project solve the money problems?
ReplyDeleteThe Board just authorized spending over $270K on sprucing up the bell tower at Tech.
ReplyDelete"Ask not for whom the bell tolls...it tolls for thee, Tech H.S."
ReplyDeleteThis facility has so much potential and so many problems. If we could only really make REAL use of the facilities there for training students in the trades and graduate students instead of having them drop out or fail because they must take irrelevant courses that they cannot pass, e.g. Algebra.
Bogard wastes tons of money on her buildings and grounds projects.....trees, shrubs, plants, planters...new furniture for rest rooms...diffeent shaped tables for the cafe...she doesn't care one iota about instruction, achievement, campus safety.....her concern is that Tech looks nice......plastic floral arrangements everywhere you turn around....
ReplyDeleteBack to the initial question, we should shorten the school week by one day and lengthen the school day by one hour. We would save with lunches, buses, utilities, etc. Hawaii and several southwestern states went this direction. Less is more, more or less.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great idea...so much time is wasted with lunches, arrivals, dismissals...that extra hour a day would be efficient (or could be efficient)
ReplyDeleteWe spend SO much money on textbooks...we could get each kid a laptop or Kindle and upgrade books instead of buying new ones every couple of years...we are so far behind in using technology.
Some teachers are stuck on using the blackboard and may venture out to use an overhead...
if we really understood how the brain learns, we would throw out a lot of what we do and teach kids how to learn and find relevant information they need to succeed.
I suggest that the School Board members begin researching school districts that have cut costs by using creative weekly schedules (i.e., longer days, shorter weeks). Do our Board members ever actually step outside their comfort zone here in inner city Indy? Can they? Would they be taken seriously by others from Metropolitan districts across the US? I'd like to see them get off their duffs and do some research!
ReplyDeleteSimply attending a few holiday celebrations at a couple of IPS elementary schools or showing up at an IPS basketball game is not enough.
What about the $14 million IPS received from the government for PD and developing a "Cadre" (i.e. glorified subs)? That money could surely be utilized in a better way.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lot of fat that can be cut, let's put the pressure on so that it happens and not teachers and other front line workers who actually impact the education of our students.
ReplyDeleteI could care less for curriculum mapping, but I would like to be able to use the Accelerated Reader program and Scholastic Reading Counts (SRC). For some reason we haven't been able to bring that back on line this year. The kids really liked it. It got them reading and put them first.
What happened to SRC?