Eugene got his evaluation today. The white school board members gave him failing marks, but most of the Black board members gave him high marks. He accused the white board member of being racist. What say you?
Maybe he can should keep some of the money paid for museum staff salaries that barely has visitors. Why is IPS wasting money for some one who does not impact the students learning. He puts them asleep when they visit
Where was this posted to read and see. (That also has his response.) If in the minutes of the school board please post the link as I cannot find them.
I will with hold general comment till I see the evaluation.
Though going in I do not believe race has anything to do with it. Will see after seeing his evaluation and comments if my opinion holds.
This based on the fact that he is not doing well in keeping employees or parents happy. (Just an observation). Though I understand his evaluation is probably based on other criteria that I will form my own opinion on once I have read the eval.
I think it is the Black board members who are racist. They gave him high marks just because he happens to be be Black. He is clearly not doing a good job. The test scores have not risen dramatically just enough to keep him in bonuses for teachers hard work.
How could anyone give Eugene a good evaluation. He has alienated staff, parents, community leaders and students. He has bankrupted the system. He has an out of control top heavy administration. He embarrasses IPS.
When I post here, I always 'cite my sources' similar to writing a research paper. Can you provide a link for the School Board evaluations? I'm not being testy -- I'm a visual person, and to me, seeing is believing.
Cohen, Bentley, and Arnold had concerns. The rest stated he was doing an excellent job. If Roof and White start supporting Dr. White, the district is toast.
Yeah, I can't find the minutes or evaluations either. Like the poster above, I hate to comment before I read what was written and said, but off the cuff, I don't think the white board members or the black board members are likely racist, and if Eugene played the race card, then I think he's a moron. That said, I can see where some would think he was doing a good job. He has implemented a dress code, improved test scores, he's expanded magnet options, many of which are better than local suburban and charter schools, and he's acknowledged that teacher quality is indeed a problem in IPS, which inner city parents have been screaming for years. Now I know he's made a lot of enemies along the way, and I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I'm also not ready to discredit any school board member who ever supports him.
Careful, we wouldn't want anyone thinking critically or speaking rationally. IPS BS is about witch hunts and name calling. Your post borders on reasonable and intelligent. You clearly don't belong here! ;)
If he did indeed call the other members racist he is wrong, apparently the board members who supported him are members of that infamous "black mafia". This mafia needs to end for IPS to focus on the real issue, educating children. Schools are social service agencies for children, not employment sources for your friends, family, sorority/fraternity members, people of the same race, or sexual orientation.
I was at a restaurant one day, and saw a black teacher who I knew taught at Arlington. I had the occasion to visit the school several weeks before and had seen the chaos. They had a new principal in place, and I inquired if things had improved, and I was shocked when she responded that things were "just fine" before the change. I was completely befuddled by her response, nothing at Arlington has been "just fine" for years, a horrible graduation rate, hundreds of kids roaming the building during classes, declining test scores. All I could figure out is that this person had been there so long she had forgotten what a real school looked like or functioned like.
It is time for IPS to stop these mafias and start getting down to the business of educating children.
Why is it that it's fine when you point out that most of the educators you think are ineffective happen to black but it's not okay if we point out that most of the educators we think are ineffective happen to be over 45?
Dr White has been informed that in August some information will be released about some of his top administration. Such information has been available to the public for years.
Just curious as to what the reaction to board was if he indeed called some of them racist? If a teacher said something to this effect (either to the white or african american side) they would be hung out to dry. Did they allow such an accusation to occur. Obviously someone must have been there to post this. Especially since the minutes are not available.
In addition if he did make such as statement and this kind of evaluation was written why is it not mentioned in the newspaper today. I would think the STAR, 13, 8, 6, 59 would all be running that as top stories (just the evaluation, let alone the comment).
And some of the best most caring and effective teachers I know are over 45. Age has nothing to do with teaching ability. If there are lousy older teachers, they were probably lousy when they were in their twenties.
I agree that some of the best teachers in IPS are veterans. But some of the best teachers in IPS are also black. And some of the best teachers in IPS don't hate Dr. White. My point was that generalizations aren't fair whether they apply to age, race, or ideology.
While I have not received info on this latest incident, I have no doubt that it is true. Eugene White is a bully and tries to intimidate others. He does this with parents, students and employees. He even does this with school board members who are supposed to be his bosses but no nothing spineless head bobbers like Mary Busch are too afraid of him to say anything. One day, he will throw one of his tantrums and the board will finally do what needs to be done. The baseless attack on Commissioner White just shows how low that particular person posting will sink. I am willling to be the poster has an office in the Education Center.
If White made such comments, they would not appear in print, because Dr. White's evaluation, as with all other IPS employees, is not conducted in public. His annual evaluation is done in a closed-door executive session. Consequently, any report of comments he or the board members made is very suspicious, because ethically and legally, comments made in an executive session are confidential. If someone reports comments made confidentially in an executive session, they acting unethically and illegally. Of course, board members and administrators do regularly choose to ignore this, in favor of passing on good gossip. The format that his evaluation uses is somewhat anonymous in that the superintendent does not necessarily know the source of any negative (or positive) comments. The superintendent and the board discuss the evaluation in a face-to-face meeting, where board members can reveal comments that they made, if they choose. Regardless, it is not very difficult for anyone to figure out where specific comments come from based on their tone and content. I think it is extremely unlikely that he actually called board members racist - however, it is very likely that he intimated that their negative opinion of his performance was motivated by the fact that they are not black, and therefore lack an understanding of the needs of the school system. To call board members racist would be stupid and impolitic, and Eugene White is not stupid. Rather, Dr. White is in over his head, and the situation is spiraling out of control. Or probably more accurately, IPS is engaged in a death spiral that is beyond the ability for any superintendent to manage. Calling for White or other administrators to be fired makes for great blood sport, but changing the superintendent or rearranging the other deck chairs on this Titanic, is not going to fix the gash in the hull.
I don't know them but I hope Annie Roof and Samantha Adair White are strong women. Eugene White will do everything he can to bully them, intimidate them, smear them and will have his minions doing the same thing. Not all women are weak women like Mary Bush.
As the state begins taking over schools, it will be hard to justify the salary that White makes. When Mary Busch realizes that she is a school board member with less and less power, she will start crying.....again.
The full effect of the property tax cuts have not kicked in yet. Next year's budget will be based on the 1% cap and not the 1 1/2% cap. That is when Eugene's reckless spending will really come home to roost........it won't be pretty.
Since we never seem to get rid of any administration will this mean every teacher left after staffing cuts will get their very own personal administrator? Ratio of teachers to students 1:75, ratio of teachers to administrators 1:1.
If I get assigned my own personal administrator, can I have a two hour lunch everyday? Can I come to work at 9 or 9:30 like the principal of Tech High School?
No sadly that will not be the way it works, the administrator will have nothing to do all day but find things you MUST do, and each administrator will become very secretive, since they won't want others to figure out they really have nothing to do. Because of this at least three different administrators will be sending you things to do, and they will often duplicate each other. Since they are very important, far more so then students, you will have to do their assigned tasks first before you have anything to do with real children, or education.
Speak to anyone who has ever been a speech therapist and has to do more paper work then therapy. Or certain guidance people who must turn in daily reports accounting for their time in 15 minute increments.
Isn't this just another topic where someone randomly says, "This is what was said and details of it will come out later." ? The thing is the detials that are "forthcoming" never come. "Oh, well the details will come out when the time is right." BS! The time is never right because it is fabricated. Why does this topic seem like that?
The registration stuff doesn't look too bad. The elementary schools are going to be zoo's since when the secretaries went for training the system was down.
It sounds to me like Eugene is trying to depress enrollment. Some people have a conspiracy theory that Eugene was hired to destroy IPS so that the state and Charter Schools could take over. I am beginning to believe it. One person could not deliberately make all of the ignorant decisions that Eugene does. He seems to delight in alienating our customrers....the students and parents..
Fall registration, Bennett's comments about putting more dollars in the classroom, the new leadership program for training principals, the new development of a K-16 plan. All very current topics impacting IPS teachers. I know the blogmaster prefers to fabricate accusations and spread rumors. But the rest of us can still use this forum to discuss real topics.
I'll take a wait-and-see approach to all of the issues mentioned above. I absolutely agree with more dollars needing to go to the classroom, but IPS (and probably other districts too) would just play more accounting games with job titles and distribution categories. We're already below average with our fictional reports. I can't imagine how bad we would be if they actually knew how few dollars were really going to the classrooms here.
I read that students who do not register will NOT be allowed in school/class, etc. Well, that sounds just dandy on surface; however, that decision, made at the Ed Center level, will have to be enforced at the building level by those in guidance, the front office, etc.
I'm imagining an angry "mad as a wet hen" mother flailing her arms around, screeching, and threatening lord knows what, when I have to be the one who tells her (face to face) that her child cannot enter school because she did not register him.
In the private sector, if an organization is failing or not producing at a high level, then who gets the axe? Of course, those at the top management level are the first to go because ultimately the top level is responsible/accountable for the performance of the entire work force.
A company does not fire the assembly line workers if the factory is dysfunctional; they fire the bosses and get new ones who can bring it back to a functional level.
So why do public school boards everywhere, not just IPS, traditionally blame teachers for everything wrong and seldom blame the bosses hired by the school boards?
It's certainly easier to locate and hire one new superintendent than to locate and hire 2000 new teachers.
Teachers are not assembly line workers. We are professionals, like doctors and lawyers. If you are in a legal firm or doctor's office and and the whole firm/office is doing badly, you fire management. Otherwise you replace the doctors or lawyers who are liabilities and replace them with assets. IPS teachers have way more impact on student achievement than Dr. White or the school board ever will. Whether you call that "placing blame" or "giving credit" depends on your own impression of teachers. But everyone at central office could disappear, and we would still have the potential to change these kids' lives. Now in the private sector, we could hold management accountable for getting rid of ineffective teachers, getting help for mediocre teachers, and recognizing, rewarding, and retaining quality teachers. But we can't do that in IPS without restructuring the whole system (unions, school boards, etc.) As much as we complain about not being able to control who is in our class, I actually think we have more control of our results than central office has over all of the teachers. They are held responsible for people that were hired when they were still in grade school.
The problem isn't that teachers are to blame or that administration is to blame. The whole system needs to be dismantled. There's no way for it NOT to fail.
Downtown has no clue as to what really is occuring at the building levels and elsewhere. I am doing all I can to not apply to charters or move out of the district. Hoping IPS will get its act together.
I am a parent of kids at Key Learning (that opens Monday). They first off are not using my kids sitter address. They are using my home address and said it would be no problem for them to walk across two busy intersection to the bus stop (I love your transportation department). Then they (transportation) told me that my one daughter is assigned to another school not Key. When I called the Magnet office they told that was not correct she is assigned to Key and gave me her student ID number to give to transportation. Transportation then told me that was NOT her ID number and that I was lying. Called Magnet office and they said their first information was correct.
Tansportation is also refusing to move my kids drop of from my home address to the day care (sitters). So, my K and 1st grade daughter will have to walk up a block and over three past two busy intersection and one house listed on sex offender site.
IPS wonders why parents and others dont like them and pulls kids out. They (themselves) are doing the pushing of kids out of the district.
..but Eugene White and Mary Busch are happy! The whole plan is probably illegal as we are a public school system and must accept all. The law states nothing about a date or mandatory parent meetings. The high schools will not enforce this. It is just more fodder and nonsense from Eugene. Li Yen Johnson is probably still spending outrageous amounts of money on creature comforts while not paying her bills. She has no problem stiffing the merchants and service providers that keep her in her elegant lifestyle.
I'm an IPS parent at a magnet school too, and the transportation and office of student assignment are the departments that have most often made me want to change schools (either charters or another district). It has not been the teachers. Now I have heard some negative things about some teachers in the boundary schools, so I'm sure it's an issue. But IPS administration still has plenty of things to improve even if they can't do anything about some of the teachers.
Wait until some high school student reports to school and IPS tells him/her that they can't enroll because they did not come on the correct day or because Mommy didn't come with them. Our goal should be to get every student in school and started not to throw barriers in the process. Yes, in a perfect world, every parent would go to early registration and complete the process but none of us live in a perfect world.
I hope the person who links the slowness of the blog this week with Black Expo is not an IPS teacher.......that kind of thinking is what is wrong with our country now.
regarding the new "register on our time table or you're screwed policy"
I was reading a copy of "American School, the American School Board Journal" May 2010, page 38, an article titled "Never Say No: Turning around low performing, high poverty schools starts with a "helping hand and a sympathetic ear."" here is a bit of that article
A few years ago, the board of Kentucky’s Mason County Schools resolved that every teacher and administrator in the 2,800-student district should “solidify connections between school and home.” The board’s plan to bridge barriers between home and school began with fourth- and fifth-grade teachers who agreed to make home visits. Following the visits, the teachers noted more parent involvement and improved student behavior, attendance, and achievement.
Today, all Mason County teachers,from prekindergarten through 12th grade, conduct home visits. At first, some teachers were unwilling to participate, says Associate Superintendent Kelly Middleton. Their “reluctance dissolved” once they sat at a kitchen table and listened to parents express affection and hope for their child, he explained.
Teachers, principals, and counselors who’ve had positive home visits now train others, including all new teachers. Teachers learn how to invite parents to get involved in their child’s schooling, learn about a child’s talents and interests, and ask about problems such as asthma or poor vision, which can impede attendance and learning.
A new tradition has sprung up in Mason County, Middleton says. Teachers gather to “share poignant home visit stories.” The stories, he says,are evidence that home visits have increased teachers’ empathy and understanding for the struggles many families face.
Student achievement is rising steadily,an indication that the school board’s decision to emphasize home–school connections over test scores is paying off.
We are told to use invitational practices, and increase parental involvement-how exactly does this new policy encourage either. This strikes me as yet another example of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, a major problem in IPS.
As an aside here, the way I came into possession of this magazine, I rescued it from a recycling bin at the ed center, perhaps before we throw things away reading them would be a great idea.
This blog is dead and has been dead for weeks because teachers are trying to aqueeze the peace out of the last few weeks left--only three--and don't want to talk shop.
Very sad news about the shootings last night. Hopefully our mayor will take a leadership role for ant violence. So far, he has been relatively silent on a number of issues.
How about parents taking a leadership role with their own children?
If my kid is out running around downtown after dark, it's nobody's fault but my own! If he happens to get in the line of gun fire, that's tragic, but it's still my fault for allowing him too much freedom.
It's not the mayor's fault, not the IMPD's fault, the church's fault; it's my own damned fault.
No the violence is probably the result of us teachers not doing anti-violence lessons in our classrooms. We all know parents have no responsibility in raising or educating their kids. It our responsibility. Cannot waite to hear this spoken. (probably spoken from your governor and Mr. Bennett). This will probably be another reason to open Charter schools.
I am just glad my family had an enjoyable day left downtown before idiots came out.
The Rev. Ajabu can't leave well enough alone. He's now bringing up a conspiracy theory whereby the IMPD were the ones who did all the shooting last night. Ajabu is a man who can't exist without a controversial cause, and he bears watching closely.
"How about parents taking a leadership role with their own children?
If my kid is out running around downtown after dark, it's nobody's fault but my own! If he happens to get in the line of gun fire, that's tragic, but it's still my fault for allowing him too much freedom.
It's not the mayor's fault, not the IMPD's fault, the church's fault; it's my own damned fault." AMEN!!!!!
"It sounds to me like Eugene is trying to depress enrollment. Some people have a conspiracy theory that Eugene was hired to destroy IPS so that the state and Charter Schools could take over. I am beginning to believe it. One person could not deliberately make all of the ignorant decisions that Eugene does. He seems to delight in alienating our customrers....the students and parents.." AMEN to that one, too!
Let's not bring up the race card. Dr. White is great at bringing African-American males in from outside of the district - even during a hiring freeze - because they are great "role models". Let's see if Victor Bush gets on here and drops the "n" word again.
Dr. White, you are pathetic. Oh, how the mighty has fallen.
Eugene is desperate. He is drawing for straws to defend the fact that he has accomplished nothing, other than uniforms. For the post that claims "he has raised test scores" - last time I checked, he hasn't stepped foot in a school building in over two years (unless a TV camera is conveniently nearby). We teachers have worked our butts off to improve ISTEP scores, because we actually work with and care for our district's children. He has done this before in another township, if I recall correctly.
I agree!! Eugene LEAVE before you totally destroy IPS....give someone with a clue and who is a true leader to take over and see if the system can be saved. P.S. Take big hair Mary Busch with you!!
I've worked in IPS for Gilbert, Zendejas, Pritchett and White. I like my job a lot more 5 years ago. Hmmm White started 5 years ago...coincidence? I THINK NOT!
Let's not bring up the race card. Dr. White is great at bringing African-American males in from outside of the district - even during a hiring freeze - because they are great "role models". Let's see if Victor Bush gets on here and drops the "n" word again.
Is the position of "behavior adjustment facilitator" or what ever these men are called, restricted to single race and gender? I've never seen one (who actually do a good job) who isn't a black male, and strangely when I looked at several school web sites to see their official title, I couldn't find one of them listed and I personally know at least four in three different buildings.
"Is superintendent an elected post or is he/she appointed by the board?"
The Superintendent is hired by the school board. Though the way our school board acts in recent years you would think it was the other way around. Acting as if they are afraid of Dr. White instead of standing up to him and his idiotic ideas.
Why is anyone on the School Board afraid of Eugene? It should be the other way around. He works for them. They hired him; they can fire him, if they wanted to (evidently they like him for some reason).
Have you ever talked with Mary Bush....?? That woman has not had an original thought in 25 years. She just says yes to whatever Eugene wants and Eugene plays her like a fiddle.
IPS best kept secret Crispus Attucks Museum wasting money on a Curator who never at the museum. He always running personal errands
ReplyDeleteMaybe he can should keep some of the money paid for museum staff salaries that barely has visitors. Why is IPS wasting money for some one who does not impact the students learning. He puts them asleep when they visit
ReplyDeleteworked at museum for 9 weeks and watch a lot of ghost attendance daily by curator
ReplyDeleteWhere was this posted to read and see. (That also has his response.) If in the minutes of the school board please post the link as I cannot find them.
ReplyDeleteI will with hold general comment till I see the evaluation.
Though going in I do not believe race has anything to do with it. Will see after seeing his evaluation and comments if my opinion holds.
This based on the fact that he is not doing well in keeping employees or parents happy. (Just an observation). Though I understand his evaluation is probably based on other criteria that I will form my own opinion on once I have read the eval.
I think it is the Black board members who are racist. They gave him high marks just because he happens to be be Black. He is clearly not doing a good job. The test scores have not risen dramatically just enough to keep him in bonuses for teachers hard work.
ReplyDeleteHow could anyone give Eugene a good evaluation. He has alienated staff, parents, community leaders and students. He has bankrupted the system. He has an out of control top heavy administration. He embarrasses IPS.
ReplyDeleteWhen I post here, I always 'cite my sources' similar to writing a research paper. Can you provide a link for the School Board evaluations? I'm not being testy -- I'm a visual person, and to me, seeing is believing.
ReplyDeleteCohen, Bentley, and Arnold had concerns. The rest stated he was doing an excellent job. If Roof and White start supporting Dr. White, the district is toast.
ReplyDeleteThe district may be toast anyway as long as mindless bobbleheads like Mary Busch are on the board.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I can't find the minutes or evaluations either. Like the poster above, I hate to comment before I read what was written and said, but off the cuff, I don't think the white board members or the black board members are likely racist, and if Eugene played the race card, then I think he's a moron. That said, I can see where some would think he was doing a good job. He has implemented a dress code, improved test scores, he's expanded magnet options, many of which are better than local suburban and charter schools, and he's acknowledged that teacher quality is indeed a problem in IPS, which inner city parents have been screaming for years. Now I know he's made a lot of enemies along the way, and I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I'm also not ready to discredit any school board member who ever supports him.
ReplyDeleteCareful, we wouldn't want anyone thinking critically or speaking rationally. IPS BS is about witch hunts and name calling. Your post borders on reasonable and intelligent. You clearly don't belong here! ;)
ReplyDeleteIf he did indeed call the other members racist he is wrong, apparently the board members who supported him are members of that infamous "black mafia". This mafia needs to end for IPS to focus on the real issue, educating children. Schools are social service agencies for children, not employment sources for your friends, family, sorority/fraternity members, people of the same race, or sexual orientation.
ReplyDeleteI was at a restaurant one day, and saw a black teacher who I knew taught at Arlington. I had the occasion to visit the school several weeks before and had seen the chaos. They had a new principal in place, and I inquired if things had improved, and I was shocked when she responded that things were "just fine" before the change.
I was completely befuddled by her response, nothing at Arlington has been "just fine" for years, a horrible graduation rate, hundreds of kids roaming the building during classes, declining test scores. All I could figure out is that this person had been there so long she had forgotten what a real school looked like or functioned like.
It is time for IPS to stop these mafias and start getting down to the business of educating children.
Why is it that it's fine when you point out that most of the educators you think are ineffective happen to black but it's not okay if we point out that most of the educators we think are ineffective happen to be over 45?
ReplyDeleteHe is trying to bully Diane Arnold into voting his way. Lets see how Mary L. Bewley openly defends him.
ReplyDeleteDr White has been informed that in August some information will be released about some of his top administration. Such information has been available to the public for years.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Like what info?
ReplyDeleteJust curious as to what the reaction to board was if he indeed called some of them racist? If a teacher said something to this effect (either to the white or african american side) they would be hung out to dry. Did they allow such an accusation to occur. Obviously someone must have been there to post this. Especially since the minutes are not available.
ReplyDeleteIn addition if he did make such as statement and this kind of evaluation was written why is it not mentioned in the newspaper today. I would think the STAR, 13, 8, 6, 59 would all be running that as top stories (just the evaluation, let alone the comment).
Lets see the proof.
And some of the best most caring and effective teachers I know are over 45. Age has nothing to do with teaching ability. If there are lousy older teachers, they were probably lousy when they were in their twenties.
ReplyDeleteI agree that some of the best teachers in IPS are veterans. But some of the best teachers in IPS are also black. And some of the best teachers in IPS don't hate Dr. White. My point was that generalizations aren't fair whether they apply to age, race, or ideology.
ReplyDeleteAmen!!!
ReplyDeleteWho accused white board members of racism? What is the source of the quote? Overheard? There is zero credibility on this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteBTW -- if you think the current board members are bad -- you have yet to see the worst -- meet Counselor White -- what an idiot.
While I have not received info on this latest incident, I have no doubt that it is true. Eugene White is a bully and tries to intimidate others. He does this with parents, students and employees. He even does this with school board members who are supposed to be his bosses but no nothing spineless head bobbers like Mary Busch are too afraid of him to say anything. One day, he will throw one of his tantrums and the board will finally do what needs to be done. The baseless attack on Commissioner White just shows how low that particular person posting will sink. I am willling to be the poster has an office in the Education Center.
ReplyDeleteCan I just get a class roster and what I am teaching before August please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf White made such comments, they would not appear in print, because Dr. White's evaluation, as with all other IPS employees, is not conducted in public. His annual evaluation is done in a closed-door executive session. Consequently, any report of comments he or the board members made is very suspicious, because ethically and legally, comments made in an executive session are confidential. If someone reports comments made confidentially in an executive session, they acting unethically and illegally. Of course, board members and administrators do regularly choose to ignore this, in favor of passing on good gossip.
ReplyDeleteThe format that his evaluation uses is somewhat anonymous in that the superintendent does not necessarily know the source of any negative (or positive) comments. The superintendent and the board discuss the evaluation in a face-to-face meeting, where board members can reveal comments that they made, if they choose. Regardless, it is not very difficult for anyone to figure out where specific comments come from based on their tone and content.
I think it is extremely unlikely that he actually called board members racist - however, it is very likely that he intimated that their negative opinion of his performance was motivated by the fact that they are not black, and therefore lack an understanding of the needs of the school system. To call board members racist would be stupid and impolitic, and Eugene White is not stupid.
Rather, Dr. White is in over his head, and the situation is spiraling out of control. Or probably more accurately, IPS is engaged in a death spiral that is beyond the ability for any superintendent to manage. Calling for White or other administrators to be fired makes for great blood sport, but changing the superintendent or rearranging the other deck chairs on this Titanic, is not going to fix the gash in the hull.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ten-Signs-of-a-FearBased-bizwk-1029763761.html?x=0&.v=1
ReplyDeleteCut and paste this to your browser. This is the business world, folks, but most of it is applicable to our profession, too.
I agree that the situation has spun way out of control. Dr. White if you read this blog, do kids a favor and retire.
ReplyDeleteI don't know them but I hope Annie Roof and Samantha Adair White are strong women. Eugene White will do everything he can to bully them, intimidate them, smear them and will have his minions doing the same thing. Not all women are weak women like Mary Bush.
ReplyDeleteI think with the proposed budget cuts for 2011-12 school year he will retire. He may be crazy but he isn't stupid.
ReplyDeleteAs the state begins taking over schools, it will be hard to justify the salary that White makes. When Mary Busch realizes that she is a school board member with less and less power, she will start crying.....again.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the proposed budget cuts for 2011-2012?
ReplyDeleteMitch Daniels stated public schools should expect more budget cuts.
ReplyDeleteThe full effect of the property tax cuts have not kicked in yet. Next year's budget will be based on the 1% cap and not the 1 1/2% cap. That is when Eugene's reckless spending will really come home to roost........it won't be pretty.
ReplyDeleteSince we never seem to get rid of any administration will this mean every teacher left after staffing cuts will get their very own personal administrator? Ratio of teachers to students 1:75, ratio of teachers to administrators 1:1.
ReplyDeleteIf I get assigned my own personal administrator, can I have a two hour lunch everyday? Can I come to work at 9 or 9:30 like the principal of Tech High School?
ReplyDeleteNo sadly that will not be the way it works, the administrator will have nothing to do all day but find things you MUST do, and each administrator will become very secretive, since they won't want others to figure out they really have nothing to do. Because of this at least three different administrators will be sending you things to do, and they will often duplicate each other. Since they are very important, far more so then students, you will have to do their assigned tasks first before you have anything to do with real children, or education.
ReplyDeleteSpeak to anyone who has ever been a speech therapist and has to do more paper work then therapy. Or certain guidance people who must turn in daily reports accounting for their time in 15 minute increments.
TOO MANY CHIEFS, NOT ENOUGH INDIANS
Isn't this just another topic where someone randomly says, "This is what was said and details of it will come out later." ? The thing is the detials that are "forthcoming" never come. "Oh, well the details will come out when the time is right." BS! The time is never right because it is fabricated. Why does this topic seem like that?
ReplyDeleteI hope Annie Roof and Samantha Adair White are strong women.
ReplyDeleteNot a chance. Hope and change, yeah, that is so 2008.
Oh please, for the sake of the children, parents, teachers, and administrators that love IPS pray this isn't the case.
ReplyDeleteCould we start a new topic regarding the registration policy announced today?
ReplyDeleteThe registration stuff doesn't look too bad. The elementary schools are going to be zoo's since when the secretaries went for training the system was down.
ReplyDeleteI love it. Two four-day weeks, followed by a MANDATORY Saturday registration with angry parents. Sounds like fun..... :(
ReplyDeleteIt sounds to me like Eugene is trying to depress enrollment. Some people have a conspiracy theory that Eugene was hired to destroy IPS so that the state and Charter Schools could take over. I am beginning to believe it. One person could not deliberately make all of the ignorant decisions that Eugene does. He seems to delight in alienating our customrers....the students and parents..
ReplyDeleteFall registration, Bennett's comments about putting more dollars in the classroom, the new leadership program for training principals, the new development of a K-16 plan. All very current topics impacting IPS teachers. I know the blogmaster prefers to fabricate accusations and spread rumors. But the rest of us can still use this forum to discuss real topics.
ReplyDeleteI'll take a wait-and-see approach to all of the issues mentioned above. I absolutely agree with more dollars needing to go to the classroom, but IPS (and probably other districts too) would just play more accounting games with job titles and distribution categories. We're already below average with our fictional reports. I can't imagine how bad we would be if they actually knew how few dollars were really going to the classrooms here.
ReplyDeleteRe: Registration
ReplyDeleteI read that students who do not register will NOT be allowed in school/class, etc. Well, that sounds just dandy on surface; however, that decision, made at the Ed Center level, will have to be enforced at the building level by those in guidance, the front office, etc.
I'm imagining an angry "mad as a wet hen" mother flailing her arms around, screeching, and threatening lord knows what, when I have to be the one who tells her (face to face) that her child cannot enter school because she did not register him.
In the private sector, if an organization is failing or not producing at a high level, then who gets the axe? Of course, those at the top management level are the first to go because ultimately the top level is responsible/accountable for the performance of the entire work force.
ReplyDeleteA company does not fire the assembly line workers if the factory is dysfunctional; they fire the bosses and get new ones who can bring it back to a functional level.
So why do public school boards everywhere, not just IPS, traditionally blame teachers for everything wrong and seldom blame the bosses hired by the school boards?
It's certainly easier to locate and hire one new superintendent than to locate and hire 2000 new teachers.
Just some food for thought. . .
Teachers are not assembly line workers. We are professionals, like doctors and lawyers. If you are in a legal firm or doctor's office and and the whole firm/office is doing badly, you fire management. Otherwise you replace the doctors or lawyers who are liabilities and replace them with assets. IPS teachers have way more impact on student achievement than Dr. White or the school board ever will. Whether you call that "placing blame" or "giving credit" depends on your own impression of teachers. But everyone at central office could disappear, and we would still have the potential to change these kids' lives. Now in the private sector, we could hold management accountable for getting rid of ineffective teachers, getting help for mediocre teachers, and recognizing, rewarding, and retaining quality teachers. But we can't do that in IPS without restructuring the whole system (unions, school boards, etc.) As much as we complain about not being able to control who is in our class, I actually think we have more control of our results than central office has over all of the teachers. They are held responsible for people that were hired when they were still in grade school.
ReplyDeleteThe problem isn't that teachers are to blame or that administration is to blame. The whole system needs to be dismantled. There's no way for it NOT to fail.
Downtown has no clue as to what really is occuring at the building levels and elsewhere. I am doing all I can to not apply to charters or move out of the district. Hoping IPS will get its act together.
ReplyDeleteI am a parent of kids at Key Learning (that opens Monday). They first off are not using my kids sitter address. They are using my home address and said it would be no problem for them to walk across two busy intersection to the bus stop (I love your transportation department). Then they (transportation) told me that my one daughter is assigned to another school not Key. When I called the Magnet office they told that was not correct she is assigned to Key and gave me her student ID number to give to transportation. Transportation then told me that was NOT her ID number and that I was lying. Called Magnet office and they said their first information was correct.
Tansportation is also refusing to move my kids drop of from my home address to the day care (sitters). So, my K and 1st grade daughter will have to walk up a block and over three past two busy intersection and one house listed on sex offender site.
IPS wonders why parents and others dont like them and pulls kids out. They (themselves) are doing the pushing of kids out of the district.
..but Eugene White and Mary Busch are happy! The whole plan is probably illegal as we are a public school system and must accept all. The law states nothing about a date or mandatory parent meetings. The high schools will not enforce this. It is just more fodder and nonsense from Eugene. Li Yen Johnson is probably still spending outrageous amounts of money on creature comforts while not paying her bills. She has no problem stiffing the merchants and service providers that keep her in her elegant lifestyle.
ReplyDelete@IPS wonders why parents and others dont like them and pulls kids out. They (themselves) are doing the pushing of kids out of the district.
ReplyDeleteGood points. I wonder sometime why IPS hires a person with an education degree to run its transportation system.
I'm an IPS parent at a magnet school too, and the transportation and office of student assignment are the departments that have most often made me want to change schools (either charters or another district). It has not been the teachers. Now I have heard some negative things about some teachers in the boundary schools, so I'm sure it's an issue. But IPS administration still has plenty of things to improve even if they can't do anything about some of the teachers.
ReplyDeleteWait until some high school student reports to school and IPS tells him/her that they can't enroll because they did not come on the correct day or because Mommy didn't come with them. Our goal should be to get every student in school and started not to throw barriers in the process. Yes, in a perfect world, every parent would go to early registration and complete the process but none of us live in a perfect world.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know what schools I'm going to and on which days sometime before August 8th.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick observation: Funny how dead this blog is during black expo week.
ReplyDelete@ Just a quick observation . . .
ReplyDeleteYou, sir/madam, need help. The blog is dead this week because black people are at Expo? Really? Is it that simple for you.
This is what is wrong with our schools. Simpleton thinking.
I hope the person who links the slowness of the blog this week with Black Expo is not an IPS teacher.......that kind of thinking is what is wrong with our country now.
ReplyDeleteWhy will the mayor not meet with leaders of the African American community in Indianapolis?
ReplyDeleteregarding the new "register on our time table or you're screwed policy"
ReplyDeleteI was reading a copy of "American School, the American School Board Journal" May 2010, page 38, an article titled "Never Say No: Turning around low performing, high poverty schools starts with a "helping hand and a sympathetic ear."" here is a bit of that article
A few years ago, the board of Kentucky’s Mason County Schools resolved that every teacher and administrator in the 2,800-student district
should “solidify connections between school and home.” The board’s plan to bridge barriers between home and school began with fourth- and fifth-grade teachers who agreed to make home visits. Following the visits, the teachers noted more parent involvement and improved student behavior, attendance, and achievement.
Today, all Mason County teachers,from prekindergarten through 12th grade, conduct home visits. At first, some teachers were unwilling to participate, says Associate Superintendent
Kelly Middleton. Their “reluctance dissolved”
once they sat at a kitchen table and listened to parents express affection and hope for their child, he explained.
Teachers, principals, and counselors who’ve had positive home visits now train others, including all new teachers. Teachers learn how to invite parents to get involved in their child’s schooling, learn about a child’s talents and interests, and ask about problems such as
asthma or poor vision, which can impede attendance and learning.
A new tradition has sprung up in Mason County, Middleton says. Teachers gather to “share poignant home visit stories.” The stories, he says,are evidence that home visits have
increased teachers’ empathy and understanding
for the struggles many families face.
Student achievement is rising steadily,an indication that the school board’s decision to emphasize home–school connections over test scores is paying off.
We are told to use invitational practices, and increase parental involvement-how exactly does this new policy encourage either. This strikes me as yet another example of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, a major problem in IPS.
As an aside here, the way I came into possession of this magazine, I rescued it from a recycling bin at the ed center, perhaps before we throw things away reading them would be a great idea.
ReplyDeletePlease identify who you mean by African American leaders and how you selected them.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is dead and has been dead for weeks because teachers are trying to aqueeze the peace out of the last few weeks left--only three--and don't want to talk shop.
ReplyDeleteVery sad news about the shootings last night. Hopefully our mayor will take a leadership role for ant violence. So far, he has been relatively silent on a number of issues.
ReplyDeleteAnt violence? Where's my Raid?
ReplyDeleteHow about parents taking a leadership role with their own children?
ReplyDeleteIf my kid is out running around downtown after dark, it's nobody's fault but my own! If he happens to get in the line of gun fire, that's tragic, but it's still my fault for allowing him too much freedom.
It's not the mayor's fault, not the IMPD's fault, the church's fault; it's my own damned fault.
No the violence is probably the result of us teachers not doing anti-violence lessons in our classrooms. We all know parents have no responsibility in raising or educating their kids. It our responsibility. Cannot waite to hear this spoken. (probably spoken from your governor and Mr. Bennett). This will probably be another reason to open Charter schools.
ReplyDeleteI am just glad my family had an enjoyable day left downtown before idiots came out.
The Rev. Ajabu can't leave well enough alone. He's now bringing up a conspiracy theory whereby the IMPD were the ones who did all the shooting last night. Ajabu is a man who can't exist without a controversial cause, and he bears watching closely.
ReplyDelete"How about parents taking a leadership role with their own children?
ReplyDeleteIf my kid is out running around downtown after dark, it's nobody's fault but my own! If he happens to get in the line of gun fire, that's tragic, but it's still my fault for allowing him too much freedom.
It's not the mayor's fault, not the IMPD's fault, the church's fault; it's my own damned fault." AMEN!!!!!
"It sounds to me like Eugene is trying to depress enrollment. Some people have a conspiracy theory that Eugene was hired to destroy IPS so that the state and Charter Schools could take over. I am beginning to believe it. One person could not deliberately make all of the ignorant decisions that Eugene does. He seems to delight in alienating our customrers....the students and parents.." AMEN to that one, too!
Let's not bring up the race card.
ReplyDeleteDr. White is great at bringing African-American males in from outside of the district - even during a hiring freeze - because they are great "role models".
Let's see if Victor Bush gets on here and drops the "n" word again.
Dr. White, you are pathetic. Oh, how the mighty has fallen.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/17/indiana.shooting/index.html?video=true&hpt=T2
ReplyDeleteWell, we've made national news. I could not be more proud.
Eugene is desperate. He is drawing for straws to defend the fact that he has accomplished nothing, other than uniforms. For the post that claims "he has raised test scores" - last time I checked, he hasn't stepped foot in a school building in over two years (unless a TV camera is conveniently nearby). We teachers have worked our butts off to improve ISTEP scores, because we actually work with and care for our district's children.
ReplyDeleteHe has done this before in another township, if I recall correctly.
The best thing you could ever do for our children, Dr. White, is resign. RESIGN!
ReplyDeleteLeave all of us alone, and admit you were a lot of bark and no bite.
Is superintendent an elected post or is he/she appointed by the board?
ReplyDeleteI agree!! Eugene LEAVE before you totally destroy IPS....give someone with a clue and who is a true leader to take over and see if the system can be saved. P.S. Take big hair Mary Busch with you!!
ReplyDeleteI've worked in IPS for Gilbert, Zendejas, Pritchett and White. I like my job a lot more 5 years ago. Hmmm White started 5 years ago...coincidence? I THINK NOT!
ReplyDeleteLet's not bring up the race card.
ReplyDeleteDr. White is great at bringing African-American males in from outside of the district - even during a hiring freeze - because they are great "role models".
Let's see if Victor Bush gets on here and drops the "n" word again.
Is the position of "behavior adjustment facilitator" or what ever these men are called, restricted to single race and gender? I've never seen one (who actually do a good job) who isn't a black male, and strangely when I looked at several school web sites to see their official title, I couldn't find one of them listed and I personally know at least four in three different buildings.
"Is superintendent an elected post or is he/she appointed by the board?"
ReplyDeleteThe Superintendent is hired by the school board. Though the way our school board acts in recent years you would think it was the other way around. Acting as if they are afraid of Dr. White instead of standing up to him and his idiotic ideas.
The board is to afraid of Eugene...especially spineless Mary Busch.....
ReplyDeleteWhy is anyone on the School Board afraid of Eugene? It should be the other way around. He works for them. They hired him; they can fire him, if they wanted to (evidently they like him for some reason).
ReplyDeleteHave you ever talked with Mary Bush....?? That woman has not had an original thought in 25 years. She just says yes to whatever Eugene wants and Eugene plays her like a fiddle.
ReplyDelete