Have you gotten your books yet? There's a rumor running around that there are some schools that haven't gotten their books yet, although teachers have been forced to submit lesson plans.
To make matters worse, the books are here, they're just sitting in a warehouse right now.
What's IPS waiting on?
Monday, August 16, 2010
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Books? You do not need any stinkin' books! Books were not in the budget.
ReplyDeleteHere is what IPS Commissioner Diane Arnold had to say about getting a detailed copy of the budget.
I do not require a copy of the entire budget. I have neither the time or desire to wade through thousands of pages of information. I am interest[ed] in basic categories i.e. staffing, benefits, supplies, etc and classroom expenses versus administration and what changes are proposed for this budget. I believe that we have received most of that information so I am fin[e] with what I have already received. I will ask questions if I have any in the next week or so.
This was the response from Commissioner Marianna Zaphiriou…
I agree with Diane. I do not want or need nearly a thousand pages on a jump drive or whatever!!!!! We have and will receive enough information!
If Diane Arnold and Marianna Zaphiriou cannot set aside the time to read a budget once a year, then I doubt they should be serving as a board member for ANY organization.
ReplyDeleteYou guys make me sick. You sit on here and complain about the budget and the corruption of the board, but none of you will show up tonight at the public hearing and speak up and speak out.
ReplyDeleteGo ahead, prove me wrong.
What's that? Worried about retaliation? OK, fine. Give an "anonymous" letter to a friend to read.
Oh wait, haven't seen that happening either.
If you want things to change, you're going to have to do more than complain on a blog.
@You guys make me sick. You sit on here and complain about the budget and the corruption of the board, but none of you will show up tonight at the public hearing and speak up and speak out.
ReplyDelete_____________________________________________
The corruption of the School Board can only be addressed at the voting place.
On the other hand, a large group of questioning attendees at the public hearing might draw the media and some much needed attention to the Board's stagnation.
The ballot box is the place to make the change. The bobbleheads have bought Eugene kool aid ...and nothing will help them. The voters are ready for them to be gone especially Mary Busch..........
ReplyDeleteYou must be so sick that you do not understand Board rules on public commentary. There will be no time allotted for commentary at tonight's meeting. Get it? The only time that public commentary can be made is Tuesday. Got it? Then, follow the guidelines exactly and be prepared to sit for two hours while the Board members mumble into the microphones. Been there, done that. By the time a taxpayer/parent is allowed to speak, actually to read a submitted statement, the room is empty. News people are gone, everybody is gone. Most parents just cannot be Downtown until 9:30. Got it? The Board does not give a damn about the comments of the public or it would make it easier for the public to comment. Hope your sickness abates.
ReplyDeleteDelegations are requested to present at least one (1) copy of their prepared comments to the Executive Secretary.
Patrons will be allowed an opportunity to speak after the Board has completed its agenda at the end of the meeting. 8:30 or 9:00
This is a special public hearing so no registration is required.
ReplyDeleteThat policy only applies for regular meetings.
Read the policies if you're in doubt.
"From time to time the Board is required by Indiana law to conduct a public hearing on particular matters prior to the Board taking final action. These public hearings will usually be noted on the agenda or on the Board item of that particular matter. The Board President will invite comments by any citizen on these issues at the time the item comes before the Board. Persons desiring to speak on the subject of the public hearing need not register in advance, and the Board, at the discretion of the President and with a consent of a majority of Board members, may impose a reasonable time limitation on each speaker."
ReplyDeleteYou should probably check with someone who knows about textbooks. All books are out - nothing is held at the warehouse. Did your school ever order them?
ReplyDeleteOur books haven't arrived yet. The office says that there are at the warehouse....wherever that is.........maybe by second semester.
ReplyDelete@The office says that there are at the warehouse
ReplyDeleteThe office -- your school's office?
If that's what your school's office told you, then it's analogous to being told 'the check is in the mail'. The books were not ordered. The bldg. administrator in charge of books forgot to order them, didn't know what textbooks were adopted, or figured he/she'd just wait until school started.
From the Indiana Barrister's web page ----
ReplyDeleteDon’t Annoy Them With Details
If you are a taxpayer in the Indianapolis Public School system, your jaw should be dropping to the floor about now. IPS is preparing for its hearing on the budget and at least two board members apparently do care about the details.
I obtained a copy of some e-mail correspondence between the several board members regarding whether the budget, which I am told is more than 880 pages long, will be available prior to the upcoming budget hearing.
Here is what IPS Commissioner Diane Arnold had to say about getting a detailed copy of the budget.
"I do not require a copy of the entire budget. I have neither the time or desire to wade through thousands of pages of information. I am interest[ed] in basic categories i.e. staffing, benefits, supplies, etc and classroom expenses versus administration and what changes are proposed for this budget. I believe that we have received most of that information so I am fin[e] with what I have already received. I will ask questions if I have any in the next week or so."
This was the response from Commissioner Marianna Zaphiriou…
"I agree with Diane. I do not want or need nearly a thousand pages on a jump drive or whatever!!!!! We have and will receive enough information!"
At the risk of sounding sarcastic, this is the type of inquisitive thinking that is partially responsible for the state of Indiana getting ready to take over some IPS schools.
One of the main jobs of any elected official is to review the finances of the body that it serves and make sure that everything is above board. I realize 800+ pages can be a bit much but this is what they get paid for. If doing a detailed budget review is too much trouble for Commissioners Zaphiriou and Arnold then maybe they should find new positions to hold somewhere else.
By the way, I do plan to drop off a open records request to the school district this morning and request an electronic copy of the budget, which I will post for you to read it. Because if members of the IPS school board aren’t willing to do their jobs, somebody else should. And who knows, maybe someone with skills in organizational management will.
Another aside on speaking in front of the board, even when you inform them the superintendent had lied, and members of his staff have violated the law and board policy, and provide documentation of this truth, their response will be a big yawn...Ask Roy.
ReplyDeleteI am just wondering what would happen if a teacher did not need or desire reading several pages of state standards, pacing guides, etc. How long would we have a job?
ReplyDeleteAll of our students got their textbooks today and it went off without a hitch, as far as I was told.
ReplyDeleteWas Phyllis Barnes in charge of textbooks again?
ReplyDeleteNo textbooks for me or my kids yet; I was told they would be coming soon...and yes, I did post lesson plans today. That was fun. If anyone questions me I have all of my emails ready.
ReplyDeleteWho is telling lies about the lack of textbook availability. Building principals? Ed Center staff?
ReplyDeleteUPDATE:
ReplyDeleteIPS Board Member Annie Dearth-Roof posted on her Facebook page that she needs to file a public record request in order to receive a copy of the IPS budget. What is happening to Eugene White? This is spiteful and vindictive. This lady is a School Board Member!
Is there a way for a misconduct charge or hearing on Eugene? He obviously either has lost his mind or is very mean and vindictive.
ReplyDeleteWhat's IPS hiding?
ReplyDeleteIPS teachers, parents, and community stakeholders are being Delphied.
The Delphi Technique. What Is It?
"The goal of the Delphi technique is to lead a targeted group of people to a predetermined outcome, while giving the illusion of taking public input and under the pretext of being accountable to the public."
The Delphi Technique is a calculated method some administrators (such as school superintendents), committees (such as a school budget committee or school building committee), group facilitators and special interest groups (some ballot question groups and less-than-honorable survey writing firms) use to achieve "consensus." Through the use of the Delphi Technique and the promotion of an "us" vs "them" mentality among the members of a group, dissenting voices are identifed, marginalized and discredited and the (often hidden) agendas of various groups and controlling individuals are promoted.
The Delphi Technique was coined by the Rand Corporation several years ago so that leaders could gain total control of their organizations. It's frequently used by School Superintendents and now by political figures to squash their opposition.
It is possible to disrupt the Delphi Technique when it's recognized in a group. Google Delphi Technique and how to disrupt the effect on IPS.
At our newly renovated IPS school building our students don't have all of their text books. Not because of the textbooks being stuck in warehouses, we have one of the most laziest librarians IPS has hired. She is at the top of the pay scale and she definitely needs to be fired! She refuses to do any duties or her job of passing out the textbooks. Her whole day consist of EATING (AROUND THE CLOCK). She is nothing but a big, fat blob who is taking up space and robbing IPS blind by getting paid to sit on her FAT ASS!!!!
ReplyDeleteIs that school 74?
ReplyDeleteNo..............try #60
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your Media Specialist is so bad. However it is NOT her job to pass out, order or anything with textbooks. That is solely the Media Assistant's job. Media Specialists were not even given an account or password for the mpec warehouse where all the textbook stuff is kept. Maybe if you were nicer to her she would be more willing to help you.
ReplyDeleteOkay, now I know who is at 60. You're probably right. How many crossword puzzles do your kids do a year?
ReplyDeleteTo the blogger who said it is not the media specialists job to pass out textbooks......that it not true and whoever you are, you need to get your facts straight. The problem is she is treated "too" nice and has been allowed to get away with not doing her job or any other extra duties that other staff members have to do. She is not a team player and she is not willing to help with anything that involves work.....but when it comes to food she is an eager and willing participant.
ReplyDeleteShe sure as hell doesn't teach any kind of "library skills"..........our kids are pros at completing crossword puzzles. She must use at least 12 boxes of copying paper to make copies for the whole school year. Just a bunch of busy work and she wonders why the students become disruptive.........THEY ARE BORED!!!!
ReplyDelete@to the blogger...
ReplyDeleteYes it is true. I am a media specialist. We were not given usernames or passwords to the MPEC check out part. We were told that textbooks are the ASSISTANT's job. We are to focus on teaching computer/research skills and other media skills. Now I help out because I am a nice person. But then again I also DO MY JOB! This person I know does nothing. So don't jump down my throat when it's not me you're mad at.
Law and Order is not the status quo at Broad Ripple. "The Man" is on the prowl, again. Attractive teachers, watch your backs (and fronts). He's been spotted lurking on third floor. Gee, is no (work)place safe anymore? I sense a Shortridge-style Facebook scandal coming on. Where is Chris Hansen when you need him -- "IPS' To Catch an Administrator."
ReplyDeleteIf all the media person does is teach then they should give grades too.
ReplyDeleteIs the administrator the same aedministrator that got in trouble a couple of years ago? The same administrator that allows girls to hang on him?
ReplyDeleteOur district makes me so sad. The filth and corruption that goes on could rival anything on "Mad Men".
ReplyDeleteDoes our state (and city) not care about our children?? Where is Bennett when we need him? Eugene White is a mean-spirited and crooked man. He brings in his boys (or relatives of his boys) and makes jobs appear for them. He refuses to make PUBLIC documents public. He sits in his Air Conditioned office (unless he's "working from home") and ignores the pleas and the needs from teachers, parents, and students.
Our district is going to hell in a handbasket, and it's not due to teachers or students.
CENTRAL OFFICE IS DESTROYING OUR DISTRICT.
Do we have Regional Directors anymore? How about under/over programs?
ReplyDeleteNope, and Nope. That's why I have 14 year old 6th graders and 13 year old 4th graders.
ReplyDeleteCome on Dr White runs the district like he is the CEO of a company.He IS the man in charge
ReplyDeleteSo if we don't have Regional Directors anymore, who is Supervising some of these "horrible" Principals who are not doing their jobs? I would like to talk to the Regional Director in charge of my Principal and let this person know that our school building is out of control and discipline is not being enforced at all! So is Dr. White now in charge of the Principals? What a joke!
ReplyDeleteTech is collapsing sround the silly prinicpal there and all she cares about is planting more shrubs and placing more baskets of cheap looking low class plastic flowers in every nook and cranny. She must have a friend who owns a plastic flower company.
ReplyDeleteYes, we do have regional directors and they are Joan Harrell, Carole Ervin-Brown, and Jennifer Botts for elementary schools. I don't know who are the directors for secondary, sorry. Yes, they are in the buildings and meeting with principals. I've seen them.
ReplyDeleteThanks to the Blogger above, for providing me with the Regional directors names. Now I know who to go to in order to complain about a Principal not doing there job as far as following through on discipline and the six step process.
ReplyDelete