Friday, July 22, 2011
Get Out While You Can
Did you see the paper this morning? Six of the seven IPS schools that were on probation didn't make it off and now the state can step in and take over. The schools were Donnan Middle School and Arlington Community, Howe Community, Washington Community, Broad Ripple and Manual. Northwest made it. The sad part is that Eugene White lied to parents saying this would never happen. And to make matters worse and he and Lt. Uhura Mary Busch are going on the radio this afternoon to justify their idiocracy. All hands abandon ship!
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Changes won't happen until the 2012-2013 school year. Teachers not hired by the take-over companies will be reabsorbed into IPS, according to yesterday's paper.
ReplyDeleteWe have a year to find new careers or make that decision to retire.
Question. If six schools are no longer under the control of the Board of School Commissioners (read Dr. White), will all of their salaries be adjusted accordingly? Will White still receive his $15,000 bonus for those schools who DID make AYP?
Only the Shadow knows.
Bennett has created a new turnaround/state take over team. They will continue to be run by their local districts for the upcoming year while outside organizations hired by the state study the schools and make plans for running the school. The state has called this a "transition year."
ReplyDeleteIn fall 2012, those schools will be removed from their school districts -- along with their state per-student aid -- and turned over to be run by the companies or nonprofits assigned to them.
I agree, if you don't like the plan White or the state has you have one year to jump ship. I also believe teachers will be let go as the school year goes on--fired midstream because someone is to blame and it won't be administration.
Oh he'll get the money...the master of smoke and mirrors will somehow prove he did what he said he would do...even if it is simply a statistical manipulations like the "over-under program"
ReplyDeleteYour right about teachers being fired...it is all about bad teachers not bad leadership...and has been for years. Think back to years ago when IPS was on the edge of financial ruin, and a long term board member said he wasn't to blame and knew nothing about it...think it was Don Payton...
Although the overall news is sad and ultimately will hurt children. It is upsetting to know that Northwest removed half of the faculty and so the teachers that were there for the improvements are gone now anyway.
ReplyDeleteNotice the wording " are eligible" to be taken over ny the state. If the state can come up with an intervention for some of the problems we have, well then I am all for it.
ReplyDeleteAn intervention works when the participant is willing to relinquish all control and submit to treatment....with the expectation of "new life."
ReplyDeleteIn this case, whether it is the state intervening, the district, or the galaxy...no intervention will be successful as long as there is "re absorption" or "shuffling" or "finding loopholes" on IPS' part-- the ONLY chance for this to WORK...is if the intervention is allowed to purely FAIL or SUCCEED. Either way....just let it HAPPEN...and let's SEE what the result can or will be.
We have failing schools in IPS??!! Who the hell would be surprised by that? It won't matter who is running them. Failure will follow these students and parents even if every expert in the land is available to run them.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that many teachers had to leave Northwest, but hopefully they were able to keep some of the best. I do know that there are some wonderful new (to the school) teachers going to Northwest this coming August. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the new faculty continues to help the students improve.
ReplyDeleteTeachers will not be absorbed into IPS if/when a takeover happens. There will be a massive RIF and since it is not seniority based anymore, guess what will happen?
ReplyDelete"Some of the best" and "wonderful".........I seriously doubt words such as these will be used to describe teachers in IPS for much longer. I have heard more stories about Broad Ripple...how teachers with hope and promise are squelched and silenced..sad.
ReplyDeleteI just watched Eugene's speech on WTHR.com What an embarrassing buffoon we have for a leader.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about squelched and silenced at BRHS. And sad just begins to tell the tale. When that happens to teachers, the students are the ones who suffer the most. It's horrible, and our children are the ones paying the price.
ReplyDeleteWell, all the teachers and administrators will be fired from BRHS in June. The Edison Schools, might interview a few of you, but 90% will be collecting unemployment checks. I really love how Linda Davis has staff teaching subjects that they have no licensure for that subject area. Linda have a drink on me. Linda are you getting counseling for your anger problem?
ReplyDeleteLinda Davis cares about herself and her control and cares nothing about the students in her school. Forget the teachers. I'm not even worried about them. It's the students that she is damaging.
ReplyDeleteDowntown or DOE: Will someone please get rid of what is currently there and get good administrators at Broad Ripple! The students and staff need support to thrive. Right now everything is punitive. Please help this school.
"We have failing schools in IPS??!! Who the hell would be surprised by that? It won't matter who is running them. Failure will follow these students and parents even if every expert in the land is available to run them."
ReplyDeleteNo surprises here. Let's go ahead and speak the politically incorrect thing here. We have a below poverty group of students and parents that see no value in education, and lack the foresight to realize the best way out of poverty is to gain an education. I have watched this for over fifteen years, and there is a culture of dumb running through this population that glorifies ignorance and is contrarian just as an excuse to say why they don't succeed. They are pushed on a Core 40 track regardless of their intentions for a future life and they push back in resentment of being asked to do something different in their life; i.e.; do some work.
They're pushed to take higher math beyond Algebra 1, when the general certificate diploma has a lot easier and dare I say it, accessible track.
So it's freaking great that our careers and livelihood hinges around 10% of the student population that are toxic to the educational environment. The six step discipline plan has been a gigantic boondoggle and total failure in getting the worst students out of the general population.
Before someone goes off on me for disenfranchising these darling young thugs, I'm not saying they shouldn't be educated, far from it. They need extra attention in life skills and fundamentals, and a firm and caring hand that will administer consequences quickly as needed. Yeah, I know, smacks of intellectual segregation doesn't it? Stop thinking of these sweethearts and think of the other ones that are wanting to move ahead and learn something. Those are the ones that are getting the disservice as we try to deal with the yahoos.
@ Don PAYTON - he has been off the Board for sevral years now. so - what is your true point - even as a drunk - he was far more qualified 2 make a determination about the best for IPS than those who pretend 2 b in the midst ofit all
ReplyDeleteOne of the "take over" entities has a reputation locally for kicking out kids who don't cut it...academically even. Maybe that's where we are headed. Entrance exams? Do your homework sonny or find another school?
ReplyDeleteThe biggest change is the state doing away with incremental pay raises. Many people who worked hard and paid out of their own pockets for their masters won't be compensated if they don't have more than 15 years in the district. Think Mitch and Bennet will give them a voucher for the money and hours spent on their masters? The de-professionalization of education in Indiana/Mississippi.
ReplyDelete"I just want to go home, I want to go home", yelled Dr. White as he was clicking his ruby red slippers. But nothinng happened and he was still at the wheel of the sinking ship. I am go glad to see that DOE hired a two year charter school teacher to head up the turn around team, teaching social studies in a elementary school gave him the experience to deal with these major problems? My God where do they find these folks?
ReplyDelete"No surprises here. Let's go ahead and speak the politically incorrect thing here. We have a below poverty group of students and parents that see no value in education, and lack the foresight to realize the best way out of poverty is to gain an education. I have watched this for over fifteen years, and there is a culture of dumb running through this population that glorifies ignorance and is contrarian just as an excuse to say why they don't succeed. They are pushed on a Core 40 track regardless of their intentions for a future life and they push back in resentment of being asked to do something different in their life; i.e.; do some work.
ReplyDeleteThey're pushed to take higher math beyond Algebra 1, when the general certificate diploma has a lot easier and dare I say it, accessible track.
So it's freaking great that our careers and livelihood hinges around 10% of the student population that are toxic to the educational environment. The six step discipline plan has been a gigantic boondoggle and total failure in getting the worst students out of the general population.
Before someone goes off on me for disenfranchising these darling young thugs, I'm not saying they shouldn't be educated, far from it. They need extra attention in life skills and fundamentals, and a firm and caring hand that will administer consequences quickly as needed. Yeah, I know, smacks of intellectual segregation doesn't it? Stop thinking of these sweethearts and think of the other ones that are wanting to move ahead and learn something. Those are the ones that are getting the disservice as we try to deal with the yahoos."
AMEN!!!! Let's educate these children in what fits best for them. Children who come to school to learn and want to do the right thing are the ones suffering. Thank you for your wisdom and voice to say what is needed.
Remember a few years back when Dr. White with the help of Prudence Bridgwaters touted the community schools as the best thing since sliced bread? I wonder what Ed Center conversations are now occurring about community schools? They were a bad idea then; they're now even a worse idea.
ReplyDeleteVery humorous to hear Dr. White moaning about data being manipulated. What goes around comes around, eh? Too bad it's the students and teachers who will ultimately lose in the epic battle of Daniels/Bennett vs. White and 4/7 of the Board of Education.
ReplyDeleteAt present, I believe if I were in Dr. White's shoes and similarly aged and similarly financially equipped for retirement, I'd toss the entire hot mess into the School Board's lap and walk away. Ultimately, the School Board is responsible, regardless of our feelings about White. I am, however, sorry for the children and teachers who've been manipulated for power/ego purposes.
ReplyDeleteEugene White is hoping to play the Terry Thompson (million dollar superintendent of Wayne)
ReplyDeletegame. He'll keep going as long as the money is there. His contract is a masterpiece.
His contract is a masterpiece, while ours is nonexistent.
ReplyDeleteSo why aren't Marshall, Shortridge, and Attucks being taken over...their students aren't that much better...really surprised about Broad Ripple...have heard so many good and wonderful things about them.
ReplyDeleteBroad Ripple is a GREAT school--after all they went from 35% passing 10th grade Algebra ECAs to 81% passing this year-so they are improving! BTW, look at the Chas. Tindley Charter School scores-their CEO is one who has applied for IPS Schools--interesting it has taken them SIX years to be where they are now. If you don't believe me--just look for yourself!
ReplyDeleteTo above poster: Yes is it a great school, but your English teachers apparently suck. Either that or your math teachers cheat. Or wait! Maybe you kicked 400 students out and their scores with them. White and Bennett are not the only ones who can manipulate numbers.
ReplyDeleteI'm sad for us teachers and especially for the students involved in this ugly power play, but all I have to say is that Eugene White finally has met his match. Tony Bennett is onto Eugene White's tricks. Maybe it's a case of 'takes one to know one', but nevertheless, Eugene White has met his match! If I were a person inclined to wager, I'd put my money on Bennett.
ReplyDeleteIM GLAD THE STATE TAKING OVER, EVEN IF NOTHING HAPPENS WE ARE STILL SUBJECT TO LOSING OR JOB, LETS NOT FORGET THE MONEY FOR IPS IS STILL FUNNY.This is a fight between Bennett and White, DR WHITE NEVER CARE ABOUT THE KIDS Anyway .HES CARED ONLY ABOUT HIS IMAGE. And the board never stop him from making bad decision. SO I WISH ALL OF YOU THE BEST AND PRAY WE CONTINUE TO KEEP OR JOBS
ReplyDeleteAndy Gammill wrote a story back in 2008 saying community schools would fail. Boy was he right.
ReplyDeleteI was so furious that White made Donnan into the dumping school for magnet rejects and also an alternative ("boundary") school without telling them. Those slated for alternative school could choose to drive their kids to Donnan to keep them out of the alternative school. Nothing like setting the school that made AYP up to fail and then say it was the teacher's fault the school didn't succeed. Donnan's principal was told the entire first semester that they would NOT be considered for Turnaround and not even allowed to go to any of the meetings to know how to prepare the staff for what would potentially happen, then lo and behold late January, they tell the entire school that we had two weeks to prepare to interview for our own jobs. Oh, and who in their right mind sends out the rejection emails on the second day of ISTEP testing and thinks ANY teacher or kid will be able to concentrate or even care about anything else? DUH!!!
ReplyDeleteHow many teachers got screwed because they now will not get their masters pay before they got their 15th year in?? No more incremental pay and the district doesn't have the money for you. How's that for education reform....or education rip off?? I'm sure Bennett and Mitch will give you guys a voucher for the time and money spent on getting your masters. Get out while you can for sure!!
ReplyDeleteTo above poster: Yes is it a great school, but your English teachers apparently suck. Either that or your math teachers cheat....
ReplyDeleteSo tell me what you would do with students who refuse to read the assignments because they don't like to read and refuse to do so? Talk to them about the importance of literacy and their future? Talked to I am blue in the face! Individualize the lessons to include their choice in the novels they select for SSR? Done it! Read about/talk to people who never learn to read until they became adults? Did it! Offer incentives out of my paltry newby salary? Did it!
Offer after school tutoring? Did it! Counsel with parents about their child's future? " Oh, she gets it from me. I don't spend a lot of time reading either, neither did my mother. We just don't, we like movies and T.V." So tell me what do we do? I hope the state has an intervention for this because I am ready for it!!!
I understand exactly what you are saying. My comment was made after listening to Dr. White's remarks about Broad Ripple, so I was being sarcastic when I wrote that your English teachers suck. I actually know a few of them, and they are wonderful, caring, professionals who work themselves to the bone - like you. Please accept my apology. I should have been more transparent with my sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteApology very much accepted. I could not hold my disdain for his remarks as well and that is what led to my post here. In the meeting with Bennett, it was pointed out that Donnan is the "Little Engine that Could" and would continue helping our kids no matter what. That is the dedication that led to making AYP, but, unfortunately, that dedication and hard work was repaid with a knife in the back of our principal and staff.
ReplyDeleteBut remember, that knofe in the back starts at the building level. Watch what happens after Bennett annouces his plans. The admin in the buildings will be throwing knives at everyone.
ReplyDelete