They disconnected the sub line on purpose................as reported on the news IPS is up and running. Buses are out at the moment picking up students. Who will be at school to greet them? I have talked to several teachers who are not chancing the treacherous drive to school today! White doesn't care about his teachers, he only cares about how this makes him look like a hero!
Even the news reporters on Channel 13 couldn't believe that IPS was not closed. They said it will get progressively worst as the day goes on.........but no use of expecting school to close. We are up against a "HUGE" winter storm called " The Inflated Ego of White".
When does the Department of Ed. step in and say that he is putting children in danger? They stopped the 2 hour delay on Monday, can't they do something about stuff like this? If EVERY other school is closed, then that should be an indicator that being on the roads isn't safe.
even though this is a old post you have no business saying things like that because not all ips students and parents are not poor or stupid that's just a stereotype
There are at least delays. If school is open, I'm there, however, I'm going to complain about it because I simply don't think it's safe. I am well aware we would have to make the day up at the end of the year, but at least then everyone would get there safely.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's safe. I'm staying home, and I'm keeping my kids home. I'm just saying it's not just White/IPS. It's all of the townships. Warren, Franklin, Perry, Decatur, Pike, Washington -- all of them are going today, none of them have delays.
I am sick today and have not been able to get the Sub Finder at 226-4711 to answer. There is not even a Voice Mail to leave a message about being sick. Called my school office at 7:05 (a high school) and no one answered, but did get voice mail so I left message. Now I am wondering if anyone will check the voice mail.
No, only Lawrence is closed. Are you looking at the town of Franklin and Warren and Decatur Counties maybe? Because all the township schools are open except for Lawrence.
Why was the sub line shut down? Was this an attempt to prevent teachers from calling in sick?? It didn't work for me. I finally got someone to answer in the office of my school and left a message. I understand there are dozens of teachers out who have no subs. It seems like Eugene White's trick didn't work. He probably is not back from Miami anyway.
I don't understand the rationale for delaying school on Monday because of a potential issue with bus drivers, and then not delaying school on a day when the road conditions for many students, parents, and employees are extremely dangerous. Maybe big huge buses can maneuver down the middle of the side streets, but I sure can't especially when the street has not been plowed at all. Being told to 'leave home early enough to get to work on time' just does not always work; it's a worn out cliche. If you arrive late at my school location, you are counted tardy regardless if the roads are hazardous or not.
Closed: Indianapolis Lighthouse Charter School; Lawrence Township schools; Greenwood schools, Hamilton Heights schools; Hamilton SE schools; Herron High School; Options Charter School, Hoosier Academy; Hope Academy, etc., etc., etc.
What's funny is the same teachers who complain about having to go to school in the snow would be the ones complaining if we had make-up school days into the middle of June. The same parents who complain when the schools stay open are the ones complaining when schools close and they have to take off work due to unexpectedly having kids at home. It's impossible to please everyone.
The concern should not be "pleasing everyone," but to keep kids safe and healthy going to and from school. Standing on a corner waiting for a bus or walking to school in this type of terrible weather conditions does not accomplish either.
I live in the IPS school district and drove my son to school at 7:15 am this morning. I encountered no trecherous road contiditons. It would have been a shame to cancel school.
Maybe if we get additional inches tonight through tomorrow we will have a Snow Day. A teacher at our school slipped and spun the entire way. I only slid into an intersection on a red light.
I really don't understand why IPS does not do delays. It is much less stressful driving in daylight, and less dangerous for kids waiting at bus stops or walking to school. Also, most kids are walking in the streets because sidewalks aren't shoveled. That's not dangerous?!
I wonder at what hour Eugene White will have the sub lines disconnected so that teachers cannot call in sick. That deceitful teacher hating superintendent needs to go NOW!
I can't stand Eugene...his policies, his procedures, his insensitivity, his double standards, his morals, his ideology, his nepotism, his favoritism, his retoric, his unfair labor practices,etc.,etc.,etc.! But, I do think it was okay for all to go to school today...even if they showed up late!
We have an intervention schedule because the principal wanted one. I only created the schedule because she asked me to. If you have a problem with it, speak to her about it. It's not like it's fun for me either.
What school is having an "intervention"? That sounds like a bunch of people getting together to tell a friend he has a substance abuse problem. Where is this school? Is it an elementary, middle or high school?
I spun around (fully) twice on the way to work. I saw a semi try to stop but could not this morning (Locked wheels going through a intersection. If I had went on green where I would be.)
Dr. White received bad advice this morning. It was dangerous. The way home was fine but this morning was awful.
In addition for a district that one of its goals is student attendance. Going yesterday and today did not help. Three of my classes had less than six kids (normally 28 or higher). Two other classes were between 10 and 12 students. The halls at my school were not even a 1/4 full.
This day did not help make that goal. But hey, its probably the teachers fault the kids did not traverse the dangerous roads to get into school on a hazardous day.
Typing on my phone, hope my Spel & gram came through OK before the police come out in force.
IPS bus fleet is unofficially part of the city snow removal. They go through the neighborhoods that no plows hit making ruts so that cars can get out.
This is why they will not close.
It is about pride and excitement for downtown administrators to beat their chest and say. We made it in when all others did not.
It will take a tragedy to either a teacher or kids for them to change there ways. Until then we will be in. Right now they ignore the safety issue to the kids and staff.
Posted this yesterday. Goes with the post above. So here it is again with a day change.
We will not close on Wednesday. The IPS bus fleet is an unofficial part of the snow removal break up fleet for the city.
Our heavy busses make ruts and break up hard snow as they go pick up the kids sliding around. The city needs that.
IPS upper administrators take pride in the fact when many others call for a delay we still go ontime. Look at the weather friday when we should have been sent home early as it was getting bad. My next door neighbors daughter did not get home till around 7 (when her bus dropped her off).
Plan on being in school. I am!
The dangerous conditions for the kids let alone employees who don't ride buses or park in garages never crosses downtowns minds at all.
What is that nasty Prudence Bridgewaters doing at Shortridge and why is she not following the procedures mandated for her before visiting a teacher's class. Does she make her own rules now?
Ya gotta have school no matter what or Bennett's corporate fools will take over the district and we'll be micro-managed to death. Many of those fantastic Chatter Skools couldn't get up their one and only bus to pick up kids so they cancelled today. We can't win. Whatever we do the media will spin it their way. I met an angry parent who said Fox 59 took him out of context during an interview last week to make him sound like he was pissed at the district when he wasn't. He asked for a copy of the news broadcast to prove his point. Even they are after us.
Today was a total waste. The teachers who showed up had to take extra students from the classes of the ones who couldn't get there. Lots of babysitting, little learning. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. Maybe the blowing & drifting snow, combined with the wind chill will at least keep Prudence away. :)
The media is not after IPS. IPS is its own worst enemy. Eugene White's timing and his decision to delay school on Monday because of 'bus driver issues' is not congruent with his decision to not delay school the following day when the roads were hazardous. The media sniffs out stuff like this like a vulture sniffs rotting meat.
Had White delayed school this morning for 1 hour for road conditions, he'd be looking good (aka congruent) in the media's eyes and in the public's eyes.
Mary Louise Bewley is a Public Relations specialist, and she probably has good PR skills learned from her education and her years of experience; however, I don't believe Dr. White uses her skills properly and as he should. The man should be asking her what the public perceives about situations rather than telling her what to say to cover his butt and make him look good in nobody's eyes but his own. Seriously, I wonder if the man has ever asked her how to improve public relations for IPS?
I tried and tried to report an absence using the subfinder system, then when it was busy continuously, and no one could answer at school, an idea occurred to me. Leave a note to someone downtown. I got online and went to the staff page and what did I see? A link to the subfinder system-- you put your last name and pin number in and bam! At first it would not let me report the absence and I thought crap, but I played around with the start time and I was 'in like flynn'! I could have done that much earlier in I(we) had been told there was such a thing as subfinder online. Can you imagine the inefficiency that has cost staff and district -- WHY??
Complaints about not having a snow day for 3 inches of snow? Come on. I had to make several trips through the city today and encounterd NO problems. If you spun out, you weren't driving very carefully. There was no drastic safety issues involved with today's weather. I appreciate this blog, and a lot of things that are said, but this really does come across as whining.
To the above person. You are wrong or drive a large vehicle or went out late in the day.
My little Suzuki Forenza going 20 on a street that is normally 35 went around on the way to work.
At 5:30 in the morning (when I was traveling so I could get in by 6:15 it was bad. Most the staff at my school arrived late. My first period class had no students until two ventured in around 8:10 (I teach at a HS that starts at 7:30).
I saw a total of 27 students all day (Good in that I got caught up in grading and next month lesson plans, it was like a work day) but not really a learning day. I normally see 117 students.
It is not whinning. It is fact that (at least for HS teachers) has been two lost days of education. We must be open on days like today though so that those parents without sitters have somewhere to send them I guess.
Bridgwater made visits to several classes at Shortridge without prior notice and did not follow any of the protocols that were developed by the Ed. Center BEFORE she visited a classroom. She is evil and we should all be aware that when she visits she is there to target a teacher for a hatchet job. Teachers should never be in a room with her alone.
I am sure all corners and side walks the kids stand on are shoveled and safe. There will be non-of our kids in the streets waiting on the bus to arive this Wed morning.
Its 5:45 time to make the trip in. (no word for the news). ;(
I drive a light weight SUV with 4 wheel drive. I have two small children and was sliding yesterday morning. Today I wondered as I was dragging my children out in the snowy cold, WHY? Why does my district care more about football than my children's and student's safety? Why can't the state step in on this one? Why doesn't the news post a map of the delays (yellow), closings (red) and open (green) so that we have a visual to help people understand WHY this is so insane?
I'm a teacher, and I agree with the poster above. If we closed everytime we had a couple of inches of snow, we would be making up days through half of the summer. I'm glad we didn't close. My classes have been a little light, but not even close to as bad as last fall when everyone had the flu. I drive a sedan with balding tires, and I haven't had any trouble either yesterday or today.
I agree that closing school for a couple of inches of snow does not seem logical; however, delaying school for 2 hours does seem both logical and safe for all concerned. No time must be made up; no one's (children or adults) safety is compromised.
To all teachers that did not report to work due to snow: If you called in "sick", you are a thief. Sick days are not there for your convenience. They are for illness and medical appointments. None of you are so valuable that you are worth getting paid for not showing up while the system has to pay for a sub at the same time. If you are not willing to use a personal day, you need to get to work like everyone else. The world doesn't shut down because of several inches of snow.
To the above poster....what about all of the students who had their day's instruction stolen from them by a bad decision not to have a 2 hour delay. If you want to talk about theft, then talk to Eugene White.
To the poster two above. Okay, YOU be the one to explain to the kids of an IPS teacher who lives in an outlying area why mommy isn't coming home after getting killed in a traffic accident due to slick roads and blowing and drifting snow.
Nice try you two. I didn't say you had to risk anything. I just said you needed to use a personal day instead of lying about being sick and stealing from the system. Thousands of people make it to work in bad weather just fine. If you can't deal with it maybe you need to move to a different climate. In any case, calling in "sick" when you are not sick IS theft and it IS lying. If you are out of personal days and you really believe you are risking your life, then it should be worth a days pay for you to stay home.
I remember the teacher who was killed in an icy accident when IPS tried to stay open while all other districts were closed. IPS closed shortly after that young teacher was killed.
Personal days are supposed to be put in and signed for in advance. I was there all this week and didn't take personal days so there is not a need to think I am covering my own sins.
I sent my daughter everyday this week. I was mad as h***.
Yesterday, morning (Wed) I drove hre to the bus stop. Not plowed in a long time. Other kids standing on the road (university and emerson). Two cars came by because of the lanes that were passable. I had to move my car over for both of them. The kids had to get off the street going over the mounds of snow from the previous day. No side walk was shoveled.
The second time I moved over my car got stuck. It took a man walking his dog (in the street) and two big kids (think they were heading for Howe) to push the car out. I am glad those kids were walking to school late otherwise I would probably still be there. The little kids could not (nor would I have asked them) to push my car.
So, lets recap. Kids in the street (who had to scury over a mound) for safety when a car came. No place for a car while waiting on a bus on at a relatively big intersection.
People can honestly tell me there was no safety issue. A few hours later I went through there and it was plowed properly people had shoveled their walk.
There should have been a delay. If you people (IPS) can do a delay for a game then you can do it for weather.
I would like to also know where Dr. White has been through all this? He has not made any comments or addressed parents concerns. He has been MIA. I would like to have heard or read just why he felt is was necessary for my child and her teachers (whom two of know travel in from Brownsburg and south of Franklin) to risk their lives. My daughter can learn during extra add on days in May rather than risking her lives or delaying till the city got ontop of things.
Just my opinion though. I know IPS does not value those but there it is anyway.
Probably some errors (spell and gramm) above. Sorry to the police force. I am mad (have been all week through this) and its late (when I cam across this blog).
This is a blog (for comments) not a place to turn term papers. I have read other post on here and I see it can be brutal when humans error on a place to vent. When venting one does not always stop to think about the rules of English. They type from the top of their head.
Teachers. I am enjoying reading your perspectives on my daughters district (even the ones trashing my daughters school). Gives me areas to focus on and be mindful of.
INCORRECT INFORMATION Teachers no longer have a form to complete for a personal day. While it is nice to inform the school and call the sub line in advance, it is not required. You can get oot of bed in the morning and call in for a personal day at that time. Some principals either because they are unaware or because they are on a power trip try to impose this rule on the teachers. This was settled between the administration and the IEA a few years ago. Call Human Resources and ask them about the personal day form for teachers and they will tell you that one no longer exists. In addition, it is not required to state a reason. That is why it is called a personal day. It is personal. Simply call the sub line and input the code for a personal day. The info is then made available to the school and a sub is requested. DEED DONE!!!
You think there should be delays everytime it snows? Are you TRYING to destroy IPS? First of all, if we had more than one or two delays a year, parents would move their kids to other schools. You can badmouth the "free babysitting" mentality all you want, but parents are not going to miss work and/or pay for daycare when other schools will stay open. Also, do you really think that missing two hours every time it snows and NOT making it up is best for IPS students? 30% LESS time in school? The city cannot shut down every time it snows. Yes, it's a bitch when people don't shovel their sidewalks (many of them still aren't shoveled) but if the snow and ice really bother you that much, you're living in the wrong state. Because we get snow and ice several times each winter EVERY winter. It's like moving to Florida and wanting them to cancel school everytime it's above 85 because it's a sunburn hazzard. Indiana has winters. School is in session during the winter.
Excuse me but where exactly would these parents go and take their kids? We get out less than any other school district in the county and central Indiana. So what district or school woudl they go to that is in session more than we (even if we take a couple of days for weather).
To to the person 3 above. That is not logical. We are in session more than anyone else. No where else to take them if we delay or shut down that would be in session more.
Several of the charter schools didn't close. I would go as far as to estimate half didn't close, but I can't verify that because the lists aren't available anymore, but MANY of them were open. I know because I am a sub, so I know what schools were looking for subs. Also, "We get out less than any other school district in the county and central Indiana." is completely fabricated. IPS has 180 days just like every other district does. In fact, wasn't it just a couple of years ago, that IPS went 176 or something silly and lost a lot of money because they went LESS than every other school in the state?
You don't mean docked pay, right? You mean you have to claim the time, right? And it wouldn't be fair to the teachers and other employees who come in on time not to have the latecomers claim the time. It's not the end of the world if you have kids or live far away or other personal factors that keep you from being able to allow extra time for nasty weather. But it's also not the end of the world to have to claim the late time if your personal factors cause you to be late for work.
I am talking scheduled days when I say IPS gets out less than anyone else. IPS rarely (hardly ever) does a delay or snow emergency.
I was not talking scheduled days. So, we are not talking fabrication. It is true. Look at the other districts in our county or central Indiana on delays or snow (only) how many days. Then look at IPS.
On the other end of the scale (with a lot of delays or snow) be thankful that you don't live in Neneva Henly Jackson school corp (not sure of spelling). There is another but the name of corporation escapes me right now. They are out or delayed almost every day of the year it seems.
So, just looking at snow and delays (for others). Where exactly would someone take their children that is open less?
Teachers are not "docked" pay by the hour. We can miss 1/2 day or a day but we are not hourly employees. Yes, it is true that if you live in a county that declares a snow emergency that you can miss school and still be paid and have no need to use a personal day. In a snow emergency, it is a law violation to be on the roads and we cannot require our teachers to violate the law to drive to school.
I have the list at school because I saved it. It is for last Wednesday. It is 31 pages long. I will see if I can figure out how many charter schools were delayed.
sub line has been disconnected...have tried to call for the last hour.
ReplyDeleteThey disconnected the sub line on purpose................as reported on the news IPS is up and running. Buses are out at the moment picking up students. Who will be at school to greet them? I have talked to several teachers who are not chancing the treacherous drive to school today! White doesn't care about his teachers, he only cares about how this makes him look like a hero!
ReplyDeleteEven the news reporters on Channel 13 couldn't believe that IPS was not closed. They said it will get progressively worst as the day goes on.........but no use of expecting school to close. We are up against a "HUGE" winter storm called " The Inflated Ego of White".
ReplyDeleteDon't we have enough data to close today?
ReplyDeleteWhen does the Department of Ed. step in and say that he is putting children in danger? They stopped the 2 hour delay on Monday, can't they do something about stuff like this? If EVERY other school is closed, then that should be an indicator that being on the roads isn't safe.
ReplyDeleteyea, it's criminal. i guess football is more important than LIFE.
ReplyDelete^^
ReplyDeletetoo bad ips kids and parents are too poor to afford lawyers.
even though this is a old post you have no business saying things like that because not all ips students and parents are not poor or stupid that's just a stereotype
DeleteCome on, we have Courage!!!! Dr. White said so, therefore it must be true.
ReplyDeleteThe only Indianapolis township closed is Lawrence. So it's not just a White/IPS thing. It's the majority of school districts in the city.
ReplyDeleteThere are at least delays. If school is open, I'm there, however, I'm going to complain about it because I simply don't think it's safe. I am well aware we would have to make the day up at the end of the year, but at least then everyone would get there safely.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I don't think it's safe. I'm staying home, and I'm keeping my kids home. I'm just saying it's not just White/IPS. It's all of the townships. Warren, Franklin, Perry, Decatur, Pike, Washington -- all of them are going today, none of them have delays.
ReplyDeleteI am sick today and have not been able to get the Sub Finder at 226-4711 to answer. There is not even a Voice Mail to leave a message about being sick. Called my school office at 7:05 (a high school) and no one answered, but did get voice mail so I left message. Now I am wondering if anyone will check the voice mail.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't take the open school districts that long to do an early dismisal. IPS can't do that.
ReplyDeleteSo does anyone think we will get to go home early today?
ReplyDeleteLawrence Closed. Warren Closed. Franklin Closed. Decatur Closed. :-(
ReplyDeleteNo, only Lawrence is closed. Are you looking at the town of Franklin and Warren and Decatur Counties maybe? Because all the township schools are open except for Lawrence.
ReplyDeleteWhy was the sub line shut down? Was this an attempt to prevent teachers from calling in sick?? It didn't work for me. I finally got someone to answer in the office of my school and left a message. I understand there are dozens of teachers out who have no subs. It seems like Eugene White's trick didn't work. He probably is not back from Miami anyway.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the rationale for delaying school on Monday because of a potential issue with bus drivers, and then not delaying school on a day when the road conditions for many students, parents, and employees are extremely dangerous. Maybe big huge buses can maneuver down the middle of the side streets, but I sure can't especially when the street has not been plowed at all. Being told to 'leave home early enough to get to work on time' just does not always work; it's a worn out cliche. If you arrive late at my school location, you are counted tardy regardless if the roads are hazardous or not.
ReplyDeleteIn four words: IPS is absolutely nuts.
ReplyDeleteClosed: Indianapolis Lighthouse Charter School; Lawrence Township schools; Greenwood schools, Hamilton Heights schools; Hamilton SE schools; Herron High School; Options Charter School, Hoosier Academy; Hope Academy, etc., etc., etc.
Even the Museum of Miniature Horses in Carmel.
What's funny is the same teachers who complain about having to go to school in the snow would be the ones complaining if we had make-up school days into the middle of June. The same parents who complain when the schools stay open are the ones complaining when schools close and they have to take off work due to unexpectedly having kids at home. It's impossible to please everyone.
ReplyDeleteThe concern should not be "pleasing everyone," but to keep kids safe and healthy going to and from school. Standing on a corner waiting for a bus or walking to school in this type of terrible weather conditions does not accomplish either.
ReplyDelete(I am not a teacher).
The snow make up day is the Friday before Memorial Day.
ReplyDeleteBut if IPS canceled every time we got 3 inches of snow, we would have a dozen snow make-up days.
ReplyDeleteI live in the IPS school district and drove my son to school at 7:15 am this morning. I encountered no trecherous road contiditons. It would have been a shame to cancel school.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if we get additional inches tonight through tomorrow we will have a Snow Day. A teacher at our school slipped and spun the entire way. I only slid into an intersection on a red light.
ReplyDeleteI really don't understand why IPS does not do delays. It is much less stressful driving in daylight, and less dangerous for kids waiting at bus stops or walking to school. Also, most kids are walking in the streets because sidewalks aren't shoveled. That's not dangerous?!
ReplyDeleteI wonder at what hour Eugene White will have the sub lines disconnected so that teachers cannot call in sick. That deceitful teacher hating superintendent needs to go NOW!
ReplyDeleteThe union sends a letter stating I owe them $150. Another teacher's letter said she owed them $180. Unbelievable!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope we get a snow day soon because Barbie's intervention schedule is making everyone miserable. I mean, come on. Who died and left her in charge?
ReplyDeleteI can't stand Eugene...his policies, his procedures, his insensitivity, his double standards, his morals, his ideology, his nepotism, his favoritism, his retoric, his unfair labor practices,etc.,etc.,etc.! But, I do think it was okay for all to go to school today...even if they showed up late!
ReplyDeleteWe have an intervention schedule because the principal wanted one. I only created the schedule because she asked me to. If you have a problem with it, speak to her about it. It's not like it's fun for me either.
ReplyDeleteWhat school is having an "intervention"? That sounds like a bunch of people getting together to tell a friend he has a substance abuse problem. Where is this school? Is it an elementary, middle or high school?
ReplyDeleteI spun around (fully) twice on the way to work. I saw a semi try to stop but could not this morning (Locked wheels going through a intersection. If I had went on green where I would be.)
ReplyDeleteDr. White received bad advice this morning. It was dangerous. The way home was fine but this morning was awful.
In addition for a district that one of its goals is student attendance. Going yesterday and today did not help. Three of my classes had less than six kids (normally 28 or higher). Two other classes were between 10 and 12 students. The halls at my school were not even a 1/4 full.
This day did not help make that goal. But hey, its probably the teachers fault the kids did not traverse the dangerous roads to get into school on a hazardous day.
Typing on my phone, hope my Spel & gram came through OK before the police come out in force.
IPS bus fleet is unofficially part of the city snow removal. They go through the neighborhoods that no plows hit making ruts so that cars can get out.
ReplyDeleteThis is why they will not close.
It is about pride and excitement for downtown administrators to beat their chest and say. We made it in when all others did not.
It will take a tragedy to either a teacher or kids for them to change there ways. Until then we will be in. Right now they ignore the safety issue to the kids and staff.
Posted this yesterday. Goes with the post above. So here it is again with a day change.
ReplyDeleteWe will not close on Wednesday. The IPS bus fleet is an unofficial part of the snow removal break up fleet for the city.
Our heavy busses make ruts and break up hard snow as they go pick up the kids sliding around. The city needs that.
IPS upper administrators take pride in the fact when many others call for a delay we still go ontime. Look at the weather friday when we should have been sent home early as it was getting bad. My next door neighbors daughter did not get home till around 7 (when her bus dropped her off).
Plan on being in school. I am!
The dangerous conditions for the kids let alone employees who don't ride buses or park in garages never crosses downtowns minds at all.
What is that nasty Prudence Bridgewaters doing at Shortridge and why is she not following the procedures mandated for her before visiting a teacher's class. Does she make her own rules now?
ReplyDeleteYa gotta have school no matter what or Bennett's corporate fools will take over the district and we'll be micro-managed to death. Many of those fantastic Chatter Skools couldn't get up their one and only bus to pick up kids so they cancelled today. We can't win. Whatever we do the media will spin it their way. I met an angry parent who said Fox 59 took him out of context during an interview last week to make him sound like he was pissed at the district when he wasn't. He asked for a copy of the news broadcast to prove his point. Even they are after us.
ReplyDeleteToday was a total waste. The teachers who showed up had to take extra students from the classes of the ones who couldn't get there. Lots of babysitting, little learning. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. Maybe the blowing & drifting snow, combined with the wind chill will at least keep Prudence away. :)
ReplyDeleteThe media is not after IPS. IPS is its own worst enemy. Eugene White's timing and his decision to delay school on Monday because of 'bus driver issues' is not congruent with his decision to not delay school the following day when the roads were hazardous. The media sniffs out stuff like this like a vulture sniffs rotting meat.
ReplyDeleteHad White delayed school this morning for 1 hour for road conditions, he'd be looking good (aka congruent) in the media's eyes and in the public's eyes.
She was there to visit Ms. Elliott. You know the person who set to her office all last year and did nothing.
ReplyDeleteMary Louise Bewley is a Public Relations specialist, and she probably has good PR skills learned from her education and her years of experience; however, I don't believe Dr. White uses her skills properly and as he should. The man should be asking her what the public perceives about situations rather than telling her what to say to cover his butt and make him look good in nobody's eyes but his own. Seriously, I wonder if the man has ever asked her how to improve public relations for IPS?
ReplyDeleteI tried and tried to report an absence using the subfinder system, then when it was busy continuously, and no one could answer at school, an idea occurred to me. Leave a note to someone downtown. I got online and went to the staff page and what did I see? A link to the subfinder system-- you put your last name and pin number in and bam! At first it would not let me report the absence and I thought crap, but I played around with the start time and I was 'in like flynn'! I could have done that much earlier in I(we) had been told there was such a thing as subfinder online. Can you imagine the inefficiency that has cost staff and district -- WHY??
ReplyDeleteI am an old, grizzled, half-dead son of a buck. I have white hair and a white beard. A neurologist said I should have been dead 10 years ago.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I have learned in nearly six decades of living:
Every damn thing in this country has to do with money. Even what goes on with kids.
It's about protecting asses financially. Pure and simple, that's the honest truth.
I ain't no teacher.
Shut the schools down until the kids don't have to freeze their butts off getting there.
I love kids.
I want a snow day!
ReplyDelete-trying to sound like one of my students
Complaints about not having a snow day for 3 inches of snow? Come on. I had to make several trips through the city today and encounterd NO problems. If you spun out, you weren't driving very carefully. There was no drastic safety issues involved with today's weather. I appreciate this blog, and a lot of things that are said, but this really does come across as whining.
ReplyDeleteTo the above person. You are wrong or drive a large vehicle or went out late in the day.
ReplyDeleteMy little Suzuki Forenza going 20 on a street that is normally 35 went around on the way to work.
At 5:30 in the morning (when I was traveling so I could get in by 6:15 it was bad. Most the staff at my school arrived late. My first period class had no students until two ventured in around 8:10 (I teach at a HS that starts at 7:30).
I saw a total of 27 students all day (Good in that I got caught up in grading and next month lesson plans, it was like a work day) but not really a learning day. I normally see 117 students.
It is not whinning. It is fact that (at least for HS teachers) has been two lost days of education. We must be open on days like today though so that those parents without sitters have somewhere to send them I guess.
Bridgwater made visits to several classes at Shortridge without prior notice and did not follow any of the protocols that were developed by the Ed. Center BEFORE she visited a classroom. She is evil and we should all be aware that when she visits she is there to target a teacher for a hatchet job. Teachers should never be in a room with her alone.
ReplyDeleteI am sure all corners and side walks the kids stand on are shoveled and safe. There will be non-of our kids in the streets waiting on the bus to arive this Wed morning.
ReplyDeleteIts 5:45 time to make the trip in. (no word for the news). ;(
I drive a light weight SUV with 4 wheel drive. I have two small children and was sliding yesterday morning. Today I wondered as I was dragging my children out in the snowy cold, WHY? Why does my district care more about football than my children's and student's safety? Why can't the state step in on this one? Why doesn't the news post a map of the delays (yellow), closings (red) and open (green) so that we have a visual to help people understand WHY this is so insane?
ReplyDeleteSorry--should have proof read...childrens' & students'
ReplyDeleteWe have had a staff tragedy. I remember a teacher dying in an ice storm probably 10 years ago on 70E (West side) on the way to work.
ReplyDeleteI'm a teacher, and I agree with the poster above. If we closed everytime we had a couple of inches of snow, we would be making up days through half of the summer. I'm glad we didn't close. My classes have been a little light, but not even close to as bad as last fall when everyone had the flu. I drive a sedan with balding tires, and I haven't had any trouble either yesterday or today.
ReplyDeleteI agree that closing school for a couple of inches of snow does not seem logical; however, delaying school for 2 hours does seem both logical and safe for all concerned. No time must be made up; no one's (children or adults) safety is compromised.
ReplyDeleteTo all teachers that did not report to work due to snow: If you called in "sick", you are a thief. Sick days are not there for your convenience. They are for illness and medical appointments. None of you are so valuable that you are worth getting paid for not showing up while the system has to pay for a sub at the same time. If you are not willing to use a personal day, you need to get to work like everyone else. The world doesn't shut down because of several inches of snow.
ReplyDeleteTo the above poster....what about all of the students who had their day's instruction stolen from them by a bad decision not to have a 2 hour delay. If you want to talk about theft, then talk to Eugene White.
ReplyDeleteTo the poster two above. Okay, YOU be the one to explain to the kids of an IPS teacher who lives in an outlying area why mommy isn't coming home after getting killed in a traffic accident due to slick roads and blowing and drifting snow.
ReplyDeleteThis HAS happened in the past, you know.
Your post sounds heartless.
And no, I am not a teacher.
Nice try you two. I didn't say you had to risk anything. I just said you needed to use a personal day instead of lying about being sick and stealing from the system. Thousands of people make it to work in bad weather just fine. If you can't deal with it maybe you need to move to a different climate. In any case, calling in "sick" when you are not sick IS theft and it IS lying. If you are out of personal days and you really believe you are risking your life, then it should be worth a days pay for you to stay home.
ReplyDeleteTo the above poster:
ReplyDeleteIf you want to be concerned about "thievery," then take a look at some of the undeserved exorbitant salaries in the administrative offices!
I remember the teacher who was killed in an icy accident when IPS tried to stay open while all other districts were closed. IPS closed shortly after that young teacher was killed.
ReplyDelete"If you want to be concerned about "thievery," then take a look at some of the undeserved exorbitant salaries in the administrative offices!"
ReplyDeleteTranslation: My sins don't count as long as I know someone else is doing it too!
Personal days are supposed to be put in and signed for in advance. I was there all this week and didn't take personal days so there is not a need to think I am covering my own sins.
ReplyDelete"Translation: My sins don't count as long as I know someone else is doing it too!"
ReplyDelete======================
BAD translation.
I wrote the post you are referring to and I am not a teacher nor an employee of IPS.
All the concern about the roads is touching.
ReplyDeleteI sent my daughter everyday this week. I was mad as h***.
Yesterday, morning (Wed) I drove hre to the bus stop. Not plowed in a long time. Other kids standing on the road (university and emerson). Two cars came by because of the lanes that were passable. I had to move my car over for both of them. The kids had to get off the street going over the mounds of snow from the previous day. No side walk was shoveled.
The second time I moved over my car got stuck. It took a man walking his dog (in the street) and two big kids (think they were heading for Howe) to push the car out. I am glad those kids were walking to school late otherwise I would probably still be there. The little kids could not (nor would I have asked them) to push my car.
So, lets recap. Kids in the street (who had to scury over a mound) for safety when a car came. No place for a car while waiting on a bus on at a relatively big intersection.
People can honestly tell me there was no safety issue. A few hours later I went through there and it was plowed properly people had shoveled their walk.
There should have been a delay. If you people (IPS) can do a delay for a game then you can do it for weather.
I would like to also know where Dr. White has been through all this? He has not made any comments or addressed parents concerns. He has been MIA. I would like to have heard or read just why he felt is was necessary for my child and her teachers (whom two of know travel in from Brownsburg and south of Franklin) to risk their lives. My daughter can learn during extra add on days in May rather than risking her lives or delaying till the city got ontop of things.
Just my opinion though. I know IPS does not value those but there it is anyway.
Probably some errors (spell and gramm) above. Sorry to the police force. I am mad (have been all week through this) and its late (when I cam across this blog).
This is a blog (for comments) not a place to turn term papers. I have read other post on here and I see it can be brutal when humans error on a place to vent. When venting one does not always stop to think about the rules of English. They type from the top of their head.
Teachers. I am enjoying reading your perspectives on my daughters district (even the ones trashing my daughters school). Gives me areas to focus on and be mindful of.
INCORRECT INFORMATION Teachers no longer have a form to complete for a personal day. While it is nice to inform the school and call the sub line in advance, it is not required. You can get oot of bed in the morning and call in for a personal day at that time. Some principals either because they are unaware or because they are on a power trip try to impose this rule on the teachers. This was settled between the administration and the IEA a few years ago. Call Human Resources and ask them about the personal day form for teachers and they will tell you that one no longer exists. In addition, it is not required to state a reason. That is why it is called a personal day. It is personal. Simply call the sub line and input the code for a personal day. The info is then made available to the school and a sub is requested. DEED DONE!!!
ReplyDeleteYou think there should be delays everytime it snows? Are you TRYING to destroy IPS? First of all, if we had more than one or two delays a year, parents would move their kids to other schools. You can badmouth the "free babysitting" mentality all you want, but parents are not going to miss work and/or pay for daycare when other schools will stay open. Also, do you really think that missing two hours every time it snows and NOT making it up is best for IPS students? 30% LESS time in school? The city cannot shut down every time it snows. Yes, it's a bitch when people don't shovel their sidewalks (many of them still aren't shoveled) but if the snow and ice really bother you that much, you're living in the wrong state. Because we get snow and ice several times each winter EVERY winter. It's like moving to Florida and wanting them to cancel school everytime it's above 85 because it's a sunburn hazzard. Indiana has winters. School is in session during the winter.
ReplyDeleteI am not a teacher nor an employee of IPS.
ReplyDeleteI have a question:
Will the teachers be docked pay if they couldn't make it in earlier this week because of the weather conditions?
If they are, that would be a travesty.
If you live in a county where a snow emergency is declared, then you are not docked pay if IPS was in session.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me but where exactly would these parents go and take their kids? We get out less than any other school district in the county and central Indiana. So what district or school woudl they go to that is in session more than we (even if we take a couple of days for weather).
ReplyDeleteTo to the person 3 above. That is not logical. We are in session more than anyone else. No where else to take them if we delay or shut down that would be in session more.
The Charter schools close every time the wind blows.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of the charter schools didn't close. I would go as far as to estimate half didn't close, but I can't verify that because the lists aren't available anymore, but MANY of them were open. I know because I am a sub, so I know what schools were looking for subs. Also, "We get out less than any other school district in the county and central Indiana." is completely fabricated. IPS has 180 days just like every other district does. In fact, wasn't it just a couple of years ago, that IPS went 176 or something silly and lost a lot of money because they went LESS than every other school in the state?
ReplyDeleteYou don't mean docked pay, right? You mean you have to claim the time, right? And it wouldn't be fair to the teachers and other employees who come in on time not to have the latecomers claim the time. It's not the end of the world if you have kids or live far away or other personal factors that keep you from being able to allow extra time for nasty weather. But it's also not the end of the world to have to claim the late time if your personal factors cause you to be late for work.
ReplyDeleteI am talking scheduled days when I say IPS gets out less than anyone else. IPS rarely (hardly ever) does a delay or snow emergency.
ReplyDeleteI was not talking scheduled days. So, we are not talking fabrication. It is true. Look at the other districts in our county or central Indiana on delays or snow (only) how many days. Then look at IPS.
On the other end of the scale (with a lot of delays or snow) be thankful that you don't live in Neneva Henly Jackson school corp (not sure of spelling). There is another but the name of corporation escapes me right now. They are out or delayed almost every day of the year it seems.
So, just looking at snow and delays (for others). Where exactly would someone take their children that is open less?
Teachers are not "docked" pay by the hour. We can miss 1/2 day or a day but we are not hourly employees. Yes, it is true that if you live in a county that declares a snow emergency that you can miss school and still be paid and have no need to use a personal day. In a snow emergency, it is a law violation to be on the roads and we cannot require our teachers to violate the law to drive to school.
ReplyDeleteWhat about an IPS person who spent over a week on a church mission trip in South America and called it sick leave?
ReplyDeleteDr. Justin Hunter of School 15 has been on two missions this year and used sick days for his time off.............
ReplyDeleteI have the list at school because I saved it. It is for last Wednesday. It is 31 pages long. I will see if I can figure out how many charter schools were delayed.
ReplyDelete