- Hiring Ramon Batts, who ran for the school board and lost, while teachers get laid off.
- Taking homes via eminent domain so IPS can take away homes so School 58 can have a new parking lot, while teachers get laid off.
- Hiring a new basketball coach for Broad Ripple while teachers get laid off.
- Spending $150,000 on snow plows while teachers get laid off.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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IPS B.S. wants you to post your thoughts on tonight's school board meeting. Some agenda items include...
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Dr.White push these expenses and purchases down the approval process, the "bobble-headed board" will give him his stamp of approval. .
ReplyDeleteI'm dying to see if Annie Roof and Samantha White have the guts to speak up and say "hell no." Ladies, here is your chance to show you will not conform to the norm.
ReplyDeleteOh I see a temper tantrum on the horizon, can we catch it live on public access tv?
ReplyDeleteOn #2, the blogger omitted the phrase, "while teachers get laid off." Please correct ASAP.
ReplyDeleteIs this available on any DISH Network channel?
Correction done.
ReplyDeleteIf you have Comcast you can watch the board meeting on Channel 20, Brighthouse, Channel 99.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how many coaches Dr. White has hired from outside of the district, when will have many qualified - even over-qualified - candidates within the district.
ReplyDeleteIt must be someone he knows again. He did a stand-up job with the last BR coach.
Thank you. I'd truly hate to have that important set of words left out. Someone might think, hmmmmm...only 75% of issues eliminate teaching positions.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts:
ReplyDelete1) Ramon Batts -- Dr. White feels sorry for the man because he did not win a School Board seat and because he's broke and needs a job -- neither is a good enough reason to hire an old buddy who's evidently been promised a job by Mr. Gene
2) Taking homes for a parking lot -- not a good PR move during these 'down' economic times -- makes IPS look like the big bad wolf huffing and puffing and blowing down the houses of some good honest folks who've lived in the neighborhood for years -- forget the parking lot for now
3)Basketball Coach -- Heck, he's being hired as the Dean of Students, too -- not cool to hire a classified employee as the Dean of Students -- thought the Dean had to be a certified and licensed administrator -- did we miss something?
4)Snow plows -- subcontract the snow plowing to some local companies -- that would stimulate the local economy -- give some business to a local company that already has a fleet of snow plows --IPS doesn't need snow plows and doesn't need to pay school workers to plow snow -- cheaper to sub the job out
Clark Bridgwaters: He is being recommended for an IPS position as a Transportation Compliance Monitor. What is a Transportation Compliance Monitor?
ReplyDeleteNoticed that the Transportation Dept. cut way back on the days that many of their people worked; now it appears the Transportation cut back was to release enough money to 'make a job' for Prudence Bridgwater's son. Can't he find a job anywhere else?
What about the construction at school #60? The way things are looking right now, it doesn't appear that the remodel will be completed by August 9. The principal & secretary can't even get in until Aug. 2
ReplyDeleteI asked before and no one answered. What about Jonathan Grismore? Is he related to Rocky?
ReplyDeleteIs it on uvers public access. Want to see the results myself. You know the STAR will probably spin it tomarrow if they mention it at all.
ReplyDeleteSamantha White is a moron. That said, if you are looking for an anti-Gene bobblehead you have your woman.
ReplyDelete#1 - bad idea
#2 - good idea - bad PR
#3 - good idea
#4 - good idea
Look at the Board Docs. We are paying $677.99 for Dr. White's car. Jimmy Hill is getting $5,500, Prudence Bridgwaters is getting over $400.00 this month for travel. Look at how many cell phones IPS is paying to have.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the question regarding Classified folks in Certified positions...
ReplyDeleteThere are many coaches in IPS that are not teachers/administrators in their buildings. We have one that is a strength and conditioning coach. We just had one that was an Activities Supervisor.
You haven't missed anything. It just seems odd to us because we aren't used to crossing hiring boundaries/restrictions to get college friends into our district.
Elisabeth Gore looks horrible, or is that my TV?
ReplyDeleteIPS B.S. is here at the Board meeting. It's good to see citizens show up and express their opinions, even if it is just holding a sign.
ReplyDeletePlease, provide a play-by-play for those of us without Comcast or Brighthouse!
ReplyDeleteWhat's Gene wearing? Can you see his shoes?
It's a little hard to do my phone, but I will try.
ReplyDeleteIPS just spent $150,000 on snow plows.
ReplyDeleteGeez. How many did they buy?
ReplyDeleteThe board is now talking about eminent domain, the audience is not happy at all.
ReplyDeleteThe board jsut voted 5-2 to start the process to take away homes near School 58 and build a parking lot.
ReplyDeleteSorry, that should be "just". Darn phone!
ReplyDeleteHow was the vote for the snow plows??
ReplyDeleteThe board voted 5-2 to hire more of Eugene's friends as teachers get laid off. He's also going to a conference tomorrow and will be out the rest of the week. With any luck he will stay gone.
ReplyDeleteThere were three 5-2 votes tonight. Annie Roof and Samantha Adair-White have proven they will not conform to the norm. My vote back in May 2010 was not wasted.
ReplyDelete"The board jsut voted 5-2 to start the process to take away homes near School 58 and build a parking lot."
ReplyDeleteSo you were sitting in the meeting and this is what you understood. This blog is in trouble. We already knew that. The Board did not vote to take away homes, they voted, instead, to begin the study and investigation process so that the Board could make the best informed decision. The Board also invited parents to be part of the process so that a resolution/solution could be reached that would be best for students and agreeable to the community. Please report the facts.
Three 5-2 votes in one night. At least two elected officials have the guts to question Eugene White's fat ass.
ReplyDeleteI think starting the process insinuates that they are beginning to look at what they need to do to begin the different aspects of it. I would think that it's common knowledge that a school can't take away someones home.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to see the that two newest IPS School Board members are being manipulated and used like puppets by a small number of anonymous trolls who post on a bash and trash blog. Pitiful. I've never watched a sillier display than what was televised tonight. Reap what you sow, taxpayers. Reap what you sow.
ReplyDeleteTwo snow plows for 150K. Hell, I would have sold IPS my father's for $1,500. What a rip off!!!
ReplyDelete@"The board jsut voted 5-2 to start the process to take away homes near School 58 and build a parking lot."
ReplyDelete[So you were sitting in the meeting and this is what you understood. This blog is in trouble. We already knew that. The Board did not vote to take away homes, they voted, instead, to begin the study and investigation process so that the Board could make the best informed decision. The Board also invited parents to be part of the process so that a resolution/solution could be reached that would be best for students and agreeable to the community. Please report the facts.]
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The poster did NOT report that the Board voted to take away homes. Please read the post again.
The poster stated the Board voted to BEGIN THE PROCESS. . .
I believe that you're so angry right now that you can't read. You stated that the Board invited parents to be part of the process; that's good. Did the Board also invite the homeowners/long-time community stakeholders whose houses ultimately could be taken by IPS? I hope so. Will the Board also seek input during this process from the City County Councilperson for that area? I hope so because he or she will represent the homeowner, not IPS.
At least two people had compassion in their hearts at tonight's board meeting. All we can do is pray that God provides Dr. Eugene White a pen and paper to write his letter of resignation. He has truly been a disappointment.
ReplyDeleteBridgwaters is getting over $400.00 this month for travel.
ReplyDeleteAnd, that's for travel 'inside' the city! She must get into her car each morning, drive onto I-465, set the cruise control, and circle until quitting time.
Kudos to Adair White and Roof.....someone needs to stand up to Head pimp Eugene while there is still an IPS left standing.........Mary Busch looks like an old lady in an oversized wig
ReplyDelete"I'm dying to see if Annie Roof and Samantha White have the guts to speak up and say "hell no." Ladies, here is your chance to show you will not conform to the norm."
ReplyDeleteAny goofus can say "no" without giving any alternatives. We have Republicans doing that everyday nationally. Love how the Indy Star Charter School and Am Republican Radio have already made THIS the top story and will for the rest of the summer. Where is the STATE and local leadership when you need it? What are their solutions? They'd jump in real quick if this were something like a snow day off during the Super Bowl. Get ready for two STUPID Star News editorials against the district before the week is over. Again they will have no solution to the situation, only ignorant responses against the district.
Alternative solutions? How about the EMPTY grade school sitting a block away?
ReplyDelete"Get ready for two STUPID Star News editorials against the district before the week is over. Again they will have no solution to the situation, only ignorant responses against the district."
ReplyDelete_________________________________________________
The Indianapolis Star is not responsible for finding a solution to any problem within IPS. That job is the sole responsibility of the elected School Board.
The Star will report on the SB meeting and state exactly what occurred during that window of time. Perhaps you're too upset, angry, and emotional to realize the duties of the School Board vs the duties of the media. School Boards make decisions. The media reports the 'who, what, when, where, and why' surrounding the decisions made. School Boards are public entities, and as a result, the public, as the primary stakeholder, naturally is interested in their decisions.
IPS authorized to
ReplyDeletecondemn houses
Board advances School 58 project
By Andy Gammill
Posted: July 28, 2010
The Indianapolis Public School Board
voted 5-2 Tuesday to authorize the
school district to condemn seven houses
near School 58 despite loud objections
from several owners and their neighbors.
Superintendent Eugene White said the
district has few options and needs to buy
those homes and raze them to make room
for improvements to the school and for a
parking lot. The district's only other
option, he said, might be to close the
school and move it to another location.
The district said the school needs
renovations desperately and that the
current bus-loading situation is too
dangerous to continue.
White told board members that their
vote would not be the final decision on
using eminent domain despite wording
in the board resolution that explicitly
authorizes its use. The district would
first try to buy homes and even if that
fails would not then automatically seek
to condemn them, he said.
White said neighbors need to trust him
that the district will listen to the
community and that he won't proceed
without bringing the matter back to the
board.
But neighbors said they don't trust the
board to do that.
"It sounds like they already made up
their minds to use eminent domain, and
we were never brought into the
conversation," said Bryan Luellen, who
lives a block from the homes the district
wants to buy.
Dozens of neighbors and homeowners
attended Tuesday's board meeting
carrying signs with slogans such as "Do
not take committed property owners'
homes" and "IPS your teaching kids to
just take what they want."
Aaron Bostian, who lives just up the
street from the houses in question, said
that taking out those houses would
devastate the neighborhood, which
considers itself a tight-knit bastion of
quiet among nearby deteriorating
neighborhoods.
Question -- I was unable to watch the School Board meeting last night. Were the homeowners and concerned neighbors allowed to speak at the meeting?
ReplyDelete"White said neighbors need to trust him
ReplyDeletethat the district will listen to the
community and that he won't proceed
without bringing the matter back to the
board."
Yeah, right. Would you buy a used car from this man?
No one reported any fashion observations from last night. What did we miss?
Trust White, only a fool would trust this man after so many empty promises, and all the statistical smoke and mirror games he has played so he could demonstrate progress.
ReplyDeleteHe is not interested in hearing from the community, witness the guy from Broad Ripple SBDM, he came twice, once after the superintendent called him a liar from the podium, and when he returned to prove what he said was true, he was ignored.
Apparently people don't want to know the truth and prefer the naked emperor. This could explain the lack of the fashion report.
Naked? Eeewwww. I'd rather see the white suit with ruby slippers.
ReplyDelete""White said neighbors need to trust him
ReplyDeletethat the district will listen to the
community and that he won't proceed
without bringing the matter back to the
board."
_______________________________________________
Frankly, Eugene White takes no one's counsel except his own and his toadies and 'yes' men. The general taxpayers within IPS boundaries are now beginning to realize this. I'm surprised that his PR people did not advise him of a 'trust issue' growing from this unpopular move to displace long-term residents to pave yet another asphault parking lot in a city where 'green' areas are at a premium. From everything I read, these homes are not 'flop houses' for crack heads, stoners, or winos. These are real homes housing real families who've lived there for years.
My students need to trust me that I'll be providing exciting educational experiences that are relevant to their lives, both now and in the future.
ReplyDeleteToo bad I can't fulfill this promise due to time wasted aligning lessons to standards, sitting in meetings, traveling to Tech for the annual circus, proctoring benchmark tests, drilling ISTEP prep, and mapping curriculum.
Sorry, kids.
Shouldn't the many Instructional Coaches/Literacy Coaches/Spec Ed Coaches/SpringBoard Coaches/Data Coaches be aligning lessons to Standards, proctoring Benchmark tests, designing ISTEP Prep programs, etc.?
ReplyDeleteThose coaches don't interact with the kids. Aside from the rare demo lesson, they go to mostly useless meetings, hide in their offices, read the paper, Xerox "suggestions" for teachers, brew/drink coffee, put cute little notes with stickers or taped mini-candy bars in teachers' mailboxes, walk around the building with a clipboard and pen, take 90 minute lunches, submit fictional weekly logs, play Spider Solitaire, then take 40% of every scheduled staff meeting telling the teachers what is being done incorrectly in their classrooms. Coaches were told NOT to say, "That's not in my job description," then were also told NOT to do anything that wasn't on that same job description.
ReplyDelete(BTW, I was an Instructional Coach for several years. Yes, I did every one of the above activities, and many, many more. I danced a happy jig when I went back with my kids. Would I take a Coaching position again? Hell, no.)
How much time do these people take away from your teaching time? Because I've been teaching in IPS for many years, and while I haven't seen witnessed the downtime with coaches that you have, I do agree there seems to be a lot of overlap and unnecessary "filler." But they don't take nearly enough of my teaching time to make a significant difference in what I'm able to accomplish in a semester or year. Does this vary by school or teacher?
ReplyDeleteYes, the amount of instructional coach interaction will vary by teacher and school. Obviously the teachers who are struggling the most will receive the most coaching. What they do seems like overlap and unnecessary filler if you're already doing what you should, but not all teachers in IPS are doing what they should. It's cheaper to hire coaches to try to fix the teachers than to take on the legal battle of getting rid of poor teachers. Charter schools and private schools don't have instructional coaches, because they don't keep teachers that need coached. If people want to get rid of instructional coaches, they need to get rid of the teachers' union.
ReplyDelete"Those coaches don't interact with the kids." (from above)
ReplyDeleteI am laughing because you are on target, absolutely. Like you, I was one of those Coaches. I now work in a different district, but your description of a "Day in the Life of a Coach" just about sums it up, as I remember. We had too many bosses from the Ed Center, and I never knew exactly who was my supervisor from day to day. I especially did not enjoy telling teachers (who should never have been retained) what to do and what not to do or being asked to snoop on certain weak teachers. Fictional weekly logs were our idea of creative writing with an instructional spin to confuse administrators who might actually read one of the logs. There was way too much in-fighting among the Coaches for better positions and hefty summer stipends that push many of their salaries well over $70,000 per year.
Yes, the IEA is the reason for Coaches' existence in IPS. There would be no need for Coaches if seniority did not rule in retaining teachers.
I also was a coach during the first three years of the program, and agree with the former coach above. We were specifically told that we were not in our assignment to evaluate or judge the capability of an individual educator, or to ram our way into a classroom. Many, if not most modeling/mentoring sessions took place with younger educators who were sponges, open to anything new, willing to take risks and attempt novel strategies to enhance their students' success. The majority of "seasoned" educators rolled their eyes, turned their backs, and ignored much of our offerings, then were oblivious as to why their students' test scores remained static.
ReplyDeleteBrenda McGown wanted the coaches to become agents of change, and regularly reminded us "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got." That's a valuable message that too often fell on deaf ears.
Think about this quote when reflecting on Eugene White's tenure.
I also returned to the classroom.
One of three things happened to most of those original coaches.
ReplyDelete1) They became principals (in or couside of IPS) or moved to the Puzzle Palace
2) They returned to the classroom
or
3) They are still getting paid for what amounts to ghost employment.
That's outside. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteRe: coaches as agents of change
ReplyDeletePhyllis Coe-Martin was, by far, the finest supervisor I ever had in IPS. She did a fantastic job working with Coaches as agents of change; however, when her job was eliminated by Dr. White, the entire Coaching process fell apart.
That's too bad that you have all had those experiences (first hand or otherwise) with coaches. The only coach I've really had experience with was fantastic. Not only did she do her job and work with struggling Kindergartners, she coordinated all testing in our building. Maybe she was an exception, but she was definitely an asset to our building.
ReplyDeleteDona Chapman is the best IC in IPS.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd agree with Dona's praise!
ReplyDeleteAt what school did this coach work? I had one that I really liked too.
ReplyDeleteDona Chapman was a fabulous teacher so it's not surprising she is a fabulous coach. She genuinely cared about her students.
ReplyDeleteWow! How refreshing to hear about a truly exemplary IPS staff member! What a wonderful change!
ReplyDeleteWho else in IPS does a great job? There must be more than one!
Did anyone else attend the Math workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday..........man what a waste of time!!!! IPS is always trying to implement new programs but will this help increase our students Math scores? IPS waste too much money getting on all of these band wagons and then what happens?.............the programs are usually dumped by the wayside!
ReplyDeleteKudos not only to Dona Chapman, but to all the other ladies in the Literacy Department: Karen, Kathy, Linda, Susan, Debbe, Donna, and Juanita.
ReplyDeleteThe autism workshop on Tuesday was great, many things that I knew, but reinforcement is great. I like seeing all of my fellow special education teachers.
ReplyDeleteThese budget cuts are ridiculous! I am supposed to teach 27 classes in 2 1/2 days. There aren't even that many periods in a day!
ReplyDeleteYou can do it Sybil.
ReplyDelete"So you were sitting in the meeting and this is what you understood. This blog is in trouble. We already knew that. The Board did not vote to take away homes, they voted, instead, to begin the study and investigation process so that the Board could make the best informed decision. The Board also invited parents to be part of the process so that a resolution/solution could be reached that would be best for students and agreeable to the community. Please report the facts."
ReplyDeleteActually, you're wrong, and the blog isn't in trouble, these home owners are. Legally, Dr. White has permission to take any of these homes, no more votes needed. Here's what the board actually approved:
"... Section 3: The Purchasing Agent shall appoint two (2) appraisers who will appraise the Real Estate in compliance with IC 36-1-10.5-5. The Purchasing Agent is authorized to purchase the Real Estate at a price not greater than that allowed by IC 36-1-10.5-6.
Section 4: If the Purchasing Agent cannot purchase the Real Estate as set forth in Section 3, the Board hereby authorizes the acquisition of the Real Estate by the Board, acting as the Condemning Authority, by eminent domain in compliance with IC 32-24-1-1, et seq,
Section 5: The Purchase Agent shall be expressly required to provide the owners and/or tenants of the Real Estate with relocation assistance, moving expenses and other relocation expenses as required under Indiana law."
I have 35 students this coming year and half of them have referals and the principal didn't do anything except have parent conferences over and over.
ReplyDeletewhy must you be so cryptic? What do you mean 27 classes in 2 1/2 days? Can you explain? And what are sections 1 and 2 of what the board approved? Why did you leave them off?
ReplyDelete"Charter schools and private schools don't have instructional coaches, because they don't keep teachers that need coached. If people want to get rid of instructional coaches, they need to get rid of the teachers' union. "
ReplyDeleteThe parents whose kids I know who are in Charter schools tell me the staff turns over completely
every year whether you like the teachers or not.
They asked me why and I said I thought the school did it so they wouldn't have to pay the teachers any more money. The NEA has always favored charter schools. They figure they will eventually organize them too. Why not? It's their right!
That's not true about charter school turnover, and it's easy to see it's not true by checking the IDOE, or the school websites themselves. They have higher turnover than traditional schools because a) they hire more new teachers (who are more openminded to nontraditional schools and school reform in general) and new teachers have higher turnover (both because they change their mind about their careers and also they're more likely to get married, stay home with children, that kind of thing). The other thing is they can get rid of bad teachers quicker and easier. But I work in a charter school and I know many teachers who work in Indianapolis charter schools and have for years, and I don't know any who fire good teachers to save money (how is it going to save them money if they lose enrollment due to sucky teachers and high turnover). And I also don't know any who would join a union. There are a lot of us who think the union hurts education and hurts the teaching profession. The union might be able to get their claws into SOME charter schools, I suppose, but they'll never get them all. I do way, way better at my charter school than I would at a unionized school. My pay is better, the administration is better, my working conditions are better.
ReplyDeleteReread the info from the board report.
ReplyDeleteThis was in Wednesday's newspaper. White's asking to "trust" him.
White told board members that their vote would not be the final decision on using eminent domain despite wording in the board resolution that explicitly authorizes its use. The district would first try to buy homes and even if that fails would not then automatically seek to condemn them, he said.
White said neighbors need to trust him that the district will listen to the community and that he won't proceed without bringing the matter back to the board.
I think the idea that the district is willing to force people out of their homes so that there is somewhere to park is ridiculous. Maybe it's more about power for Dr. White than the welfare of the children. Someone in IPS should take a step back and evaluate the best "bang" for our buck. It makes much more sense to use the, as I understand it, renovated building a block away than to kick people out of their homes they've lived in for a long time. Sad.
ReplyDeleteTo Clarify:
ReplyDeleteAs a Special Area teacher I must teach each class in the building. That would be 27 classrooms. The district has scheduled me in the building 2 1/2 days per week. Unless I choose to diet by not eating and have no prep I can't fit all the rooms in.
To the blogger above...When you need a rest, you could go stay at the Palmer House in Chicago where the AVID participants are being housed for their conference. Isn't that one of the most expensive hotels in Chicago???
ReplyDeleteTo the special area teacher above:
ReplyDeleteDoesn't that equate to about 5 1/2 hours of teaching on the two full days and about 2 1/2 hours of teaching on the half day? As a classroom teacher, I am with my kids the same amount of time. What's the problem?
That is assuming his/her special area is 30 minutes and not 60 minutes.
ReplyDeleteAs a classroom teacher do you spend 90 minutes a day on duty? We do.
ReplyDeleteDuties always depend on the principal.
ReplyDeleteMy hourly pay is approximately $59. Doesn't it seem strange that IPS would pay someone $59 per hour for standing outside the girl's restroom or watching high school students get off the bus in the morning?
ReplyDeleteYou need to start a new thread on Arsenal Tech High School. People need to take a closer look at what is going on there. Start digging and see what you can find.
ReplyDeleteRegarding New Tech, The Star had an article about the Athletic Director this week. What a swell guy, that Keith Burke. It made my teeth ached.
ReplyDeleteC'mon folks...dig dig dig.
ReplyDeleteTo Clarify:
ReplyDeleteAs a Special Area teacher I must teach each class in the building. That would be 27 classrooms. The district has scheduled me in the building 2 1/2 days per week. Unless I choose to diet by not eating and have no prep I can't fit all the rooms in.
Under what is termed "Past Practice" your teaching load could be 9 30 minute classes per day, and a thirty minute duty, your prep is the 20 min before school and the 15 minutes after school, and a thirty minute uninterrupted lunch. That would be 22 classes max, watch for them to double up your classes.
Also under "past practice" are faculty meetings, so be aware since they don't seem to know anything about the contract till it suits them I'd just work the contract and be done with it...forget those faculty meetings...
If you are teaching 30 minute classes, you would teach 12 classes each day, leaving 20 minutes for your lunch, which in all honesty is all classroom teachers get, if that. In addition, you would have the time before and after school 2 days a week, and time before school one day a week as prep. You don't need a lunch the half day, as you would only be teaching 3 classes that day with the remainder of time used as prep. Seems simple enough to me.
ReplyDeleteSomeone has to watch the restrooms and the buses. If you don't like getting paid $59 a hour to do them, please retire. I have friends who would LOVE to have a job.
ReplyDeleteI think the point is that it should not require a licensed teacher to patrol restrooms, lunchrooms and buses. Hiring the correct level of employee for the task is efficient business practice. Most of us agree that IPS is top heavy at the administrative end. Teachers would have more time to teach if there were more classified employees at the building level who are responsible for this kind of supervision. (This doesn't mean that they become yet another personal assistant for the building administration.)
ReplyDeleteIt would only be efficient business practice to hire lower-paid employees to patrol restrooms, lunchrooms, and buses if teachers took on extra classes or extra administrative duties during those times. The unions prevent that. But yes, I think if teachers would rather take on extra classes or extra administrative responsibility than do restroom, lunch, or bus duty, it would obviously be more efficient to allow them to do so and hire lower-paid employees to take over these positions. But to be honest, I only know a handful of teachers who would choose that. Most who complain about babysitting duty want to receive the same pay and same responsibilities, but just give up the babysitting duty. So in that case, hiring extra workers wouldn't be efficient business practice at all.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what school the above poster teaches in, but every classroom gets Art, Music, and PE (an hour each every week) in my building. They also have 30 minutes in the media center (every other week), many have Spanish an hour a week, they go on field trips, and they attend programs in the gym. And this happens DURING the school day.
ReplyDeleteYes. We know specials happen during the school day. we also know that classrooms get art, music, PE and library. Thank you for pointing out the obvious, but many schools only do 30 minutes of each special class, which is different than your 60 minutes. Some once a week, some twice a week. With her complaining of not having time for lunch, many are curious as to what she teaches/how long/how often. If she were to elaborate a bit, then many of the assumptions and people pointing out the obvious could be eliminated.
ReplyDelete*"We" should be capitalized in the second sentence.
ReplyDeleteAs a former Instructional Coach, I don't know who was filling out fictional weekly logs. I accounted for my time hr. by hr. - seldom took lunch breaks and tried to volunteer to fill in every time I saw a need - cafeteria, covering classes, researching material, getting supplies and tutoring students. I tried to do everything I could to help teachers who I know are overworked and under pressure. Those young teachers who were "sponges" were a delight and I felt that we needed to do everything we could to keep them. I think it is really unfair for someone categorize all instructional coaches in the same way it is unfair to categorize all teachers...or administrators. It was the feeling of having to justify my existence that made me want to leave that position - people can be lazy in any position, though, but don't judge all by some.
ReplyDelete"It was the feeling of having to justify my existence that made me want to leave that position."
ReplyDeleteAt least we IC's COULD justify our existence, unlike the last Reading First and Digital Coach we had. The DC (when we saw her) walked around poking the keys on her Blackberry, and required that each faculty member made an appointment before she would provide assistance.
Yes, we had a bunch of bosses, but it was a pleasure watching the student skills improve, especially in writing genres, and knowing we had a hand in that improvement.
Teaching is so much more than presenting information for students to digest and spit back at you. Think about Glasser and social responsibility, or to put it simply 'loving' your students, when you do those duties. This is your opportunity to get to know them, to discover something wonderful and special about them. And unless and until someone comes up with a 'pacing guide and accountability standards' for entering the building, eating lunch, and playing on the playground it is your best time to demonstrate and teach that social responsibility. Rethink your duty, realize it is an opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the post above, the Reading First Coach was awful and lazy at my first school. She took two hour lunches, never worked with teachers or students. The principal liked her and covered for her after I complained to the Education Center. I have money, and other pension plans, so that I have no worries about telling the truth to the brass with the Blackberries. The same robots who never stop to listen to the interaction between the teacher and students. We had so many failed projects and no accountability at the school level.
ReplyDeleteto the poster above who talked about Charters: watch out. I worked at a charter and many of my colleagues were pushed out when they got too expensive (about 4 years in). All schools have their rosy stories, but they have thorns too.
ReplyDeleteBut why would they push out successful teachers? Successful teachers are income-generating in charter schools. Besides, even if they didn't want to pay for experience, wouldn't they just not give them raises? I don't know anyone who teaches at a charter school, and I'm quite sure there are indeed thorns along with the rosiness, but I do know the way non-government industries work, and to be frank, your account sounds fabricated.
ReplyDelete"I have money, and other pension plans, so that I have no worries about telling the truth to the brass with the Blackberries."
ReplyDelete...said the anonymous poster.
Would that be the Unknown Whistle-Blower? Where's his/her brown paper bag?
ReplyDeleteI see Cosby still has his job. I suppose he has asked God to forgive him and now everything is ok.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Cosby....what a great hunk o'administrator! (His photo in the Sunday Star illustrates earlier B-S comments on his physique!)
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of Dr. White's mother! She must be ecstatic at the results of her encouragement, especially in the era of Jim Crow. You go, Mrs. White!
Are we about to enter another 2 year period without a contract?
ReplyDelete"to the poster above who talked about Charters: watch out. I worked at a charter and many of my colleagues were pushed out when they got too expensive (about 4 years in). All schools have their rosy stories, but they have thorns too."
ReplyDeleteOf course the teacher turnover is crazy in charters. I heard this from parents who complained to me how their favorite teachers were let go after they got "too expensive." I heard a story where one teacher was owed two weeks pay but the charter refused to give it him on the basis that they "ran out of money." Needless to say, he's working in a public school now and has to have a union to protect him from crap like this happening again. Worker's rights in Indiana are the worst anywhere.
I have always understood that money is the bottom line for education. I think it is wrong, wrong, wrong but that is the way it is. Every once in awhile a health issue will come up and they have to go with that...but that is rare. Always money! And I think IPS has once again lost all creditabilty with keeping on Cosby, and yes all the folks who have graduated from Shortridge can't believe it. I guess the bottom line on this issue is have sex!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI worked at a charter for four years and was let go for what they said was "under performance." I helped kids graduate, I worked hard, and I was thanked with a pink slip. You may think that other person "fabricated" the story, but they weren't. I learned my lesson and now work for a public school with union protection.
ReplyDeleteshould say "didn't" not "weren't."
ReplyDeleteLOL. Looks like the union rep is posting again!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a union rep, but nice try.
ReplyDeleteTwo separate posts with horror stories about unnamed charter schools that both include union propaganda? I would have guessed union rep too. -shrug-
ReplyDeleteLet's be realistic. Do you think Dr. White was going to remove Brandon Cosby's fat white girl loving, Farrakhan preaching, red suit wearing, and always texting ass? He is a splitting image of him.
ReplyDeleteTwo charter schools that are on the southside, and one on Fall Creek are the the ones that have fired experienced teachers, as they needed to cut their labor costs. Know what you are talking about before you put folks down, if you look at many of the charter schools they lack experienced teachers?
ReplyDeleteWas Cosby caught having relations at school?
ReplyDeleteEugene White and Mary Busch' lack of response to the Shortridge sex scandal has given administrators tacit approval to become involved in all kinds of sexual alliances with people they supervise. No business and probably no other school system would have allowed an administrator in this situation to remain on the job. I can only imagine the tales that the students will continue to tell about the situation.
ReplyDeleteThe reason Cosby behaved so unprofessionally is the same reason students behave so poorly -- they know they can. IPS is far too tolerant.
ReplyDeleteIPS has met the enemy. It is IPS.
To the person who thinks IPS is better to work in than charters, you're insane. All this in-fighting and unprofessionalism and rumor-mongering and central office politics. None of it exists in most charter schools. And the charter teachers who are being fired are not being fired because they're too expensive. They're being fired because they're not very good. That's the way it works in the real world. And while it sucks for the low-performers, it makes things infinitely nicer for the rest of us teachers. It is so great when you can discuss a student with half a dozen other teachers and not one single teacher starts making excuses about why teachers can't be expected to teach that kid. Not one. It's the most amazing feeling. You start to really see the difference you're making. It's why I entered the profession. So before you knock charter schools YOU might want to learn what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteI truly envy educators in charter schools. Each charter receives tax money for every enrolled student, then, once ADM passes, students who are not progressing academically and/or cause disruptions are thrown back to his/her IPS home school.
ReplyDelete"It is so great when you can discuss a student with half a dozen other teachers and not one single teacher starts making excuses about why teachers can't be expected to teach that kid."
You aren't expected to teach that kid. We are. Enjoy your "most amazing feeling". All student scores increase when the disruptions are excluded from their environment. Guess what happens when your rejects join our student population?
Thank you so much for your generosity. We in IPS step up to educate your castoffs, without the accompanying funding. You are so kind.
Most charter schools have waiting lists that hardly ever move (so obviously the students are staying put or the waiting lists would move after ADM). And if a student did leave after ADM, he would be replaced by a student on the waiting list, most likely from IPS, so the funding would balance out, right?
ReplyDeleteIn all the years of charter school existence, I personally have never lost a student to a charter. Our class sizes just grow and grow. In fact, School 39's sixth grade and kindergarten class sizes were both capped last year by former charter students, and those overflow students were sent to school 19 and 34.
ReplyDeleteNo balance there!
School should be schools, Sorry.
ReplyDeleteThen it's other IPS schools that get the extra money (the charter gets the kid from that IPS school, you get a kid from a charter.) Any charter school with waiting lists can't make money off of kids going back to IPS because they still have to pay for the next kid on the waiting list with that same money.
ReplyDelete"All this in-fighting and unprofessionalism and rumor-mongering and central office politics."
ReplyDeleteNot a sentence. Too many "and"s. Two sentences begin with "And".
"They're being fired because they're not very good."
Look out!
This is a blog, much of it is written in a conversational style rather than formal English. Ironically, your post is written in the same conversational style that you're criticizing me for using.
ReplyDeleteHalf of that poster's writing is copied from your original post. It appears to document the difference between educators in IPS and charter schools.
ReplyDeleteI realize half of it was a quote. The other half was written in incomplete sentences. Because it was written conversationally, as was my post before it. If you are insinuating that posting conversationally is indicative of a poor-quality teacher, then this blog is illustrative of some major problems in IPS, isn't it? If you are simply saying that you've never heard someone even conversationally use several "ands" in a sentence to emphasize that there are numerous items in the series, then I would suggest you get out more.
ReplyDeleteOr listen to little kids talk.
ReplyDeleteGive me a break. Grow up. There is no need to attack one another. There are pros and cons for teaching in both settings. I teach in IPS, and I have friends who teach in charters. A few charters do in fact get rid of "problem" students, but only a few.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is that we all need to remember why we became teachers in the first place - to make a difference with children.
A lot of the comments we make on here - about each other, about Central Office, and about our students - are comments that we would not allow our students to vocalize in our classrooms. I am not saying that we shouldn't voice our opinions, but maybe some of us should read our posts aloud and think about what we are writing.
Before I get pegged as a "Central Office" minion, I will let you know that I am not. I am just trying to do my best to come into the school year fresh and optimistic.
Do not let the crookedness and negativity of Central Office rub off on us. We truly are all here for the children, or we would not continue doing it. I wouldn't, at least.
Are you going to Tech Monday?
ReplyDeleteI'm the charter teacher who posted above, and I completely agree with the above post "give me a break". I, too, have friends who teach at IPS, and most of them are very dedicated teachers. I also acknowledge that there are some really crummy charters that give a bad name to charter schools and public education as a whole.
ReplyDeleteWhat teachers are being laid off? None that I know of.
ReplyDelete