On the February "Start a new post" Annette Werner wrote:
"For several months, I periodically asked the Parent Hotline if the Title IX audit of girls sports had been received.
I learned today that the district finally received the report on February 2, 2010, fourteen months after the report was ordered and twice as many months as the report originally was to take to prepare.
And- it is not available to read. To do that, it is necessary to submit a Right to Know Request. Typically it takes at least 30 days for documents requested under RTKL to be produced. Is there any reason why the district should not promptly post audit reports for public review?"
50 comments:
Here is the link to the post from when the report was first ordered, which in turn has links to news articles on the topic:
http://purereform.blogspot.com/2008/12/girls-sports-title-ix-audit.html
Is Pure Reform going to file a right to know request to obtain a copy of this audit? If so, will it be posted on this site to read?
A request has been submitted and any report received will be made available, but by the time it is received the district will probably have posted the report.
The PG will most likely get the report and print something. I wouldn't be surprised if it appeared tomorrow or next Sunday.
In any event our board representatives have it and could be willing to discuss it. Maybe it will be on a committee meeting agenda for March.
As of yesterday none of the reporters had the report. They often have to go through the same RTKL process as everyone else.
What justification does the district use for requiring this? I don't understand how the district, a public entity funded by taxpayers makes people go through these motions?
Before the internet, sure, I could see how it could be onerous to print and mail or provide an office to view documents. But nowadays, what's the deal? Any report should be available in a format that could be uploaded to a website instantly -- it should be part of the contract.
On Friday I emailed to the Parent Hotline:
"Is there any reason not to just make the report public immediately rather than going through the formality and delay of a right to know request? Many people have been waiting for it for a long time, and it would help inform planning discussions that are going on right now."
Today our boys' and girls' basketball championship games were played at Peabody. Nothing has been posted on the Post-Gazette web site about the games today except probable starting line-ups. No write-ups about the outcomes are online. Everything is about the WPIAL championship games at Palumbo yesterday and today. Who dropped the ball? Where is our PR?
Nothing about the swimming championships either.
The lack of excitement and quick reporting is part of the problem. There is no doubt that a kid who wants to participate in a sport has to make a commitment but they have to see that there is support for their efforts. We could make better use of ALERT NOW for these events for one thing. Even if a parent has no student part of the activity, notification at least gets conversations started!! I heard a Mom express it this way once, "we have an Eyeore mentality in PPS." Like, "Oh well, nobody will come anyway..."
What is ALERT NOW?
ALERT NOW is the automated phone calling system delivering messages to homes of PPS students. It was used extensively during the snow event this year. Many buildings use it to remind parents of upcoming events.
The Sunday PG did contain an article on the basketball championship games and the outcomes of the swim championship.
The report of the audit being under wraps until a RTKL request is filed is not the best PR move and brings many questions.
the outcomes of the swim championship <<--
Was there anything besides the listing of the results?
It seemed like more kids qualified for states than have in at least the last few years -- the district should know the actual numbers.
Two city records were broken, also a fairly rare occurence.
Schenley boys beat Allderdice boys, the first time Allderdice has not won in more than a decade. (and they've only been beaten four other times since 1974 according to the program). The Allderdice girls have been unbeaten since 1977.
Seems like the district could have passed along some info to the PG for at least a blurb.
Anon 7:32 seemed to be referring to no immediate results posted online on Saturday.
Your PR is still trying to put a positive spin on outrageously poor desk work that took place during the girls title game. Somehow, Roosevelt's bunch will make this look like a win for the Promise.
Your PR department is trying to stay mum on Du not wanting to put up with fights and muggings when city title games are held at Palumbo. But look at the bright side. Those kids are on the path to the promise, too.Bottom line is---you are not owed anything where press coverage is concerned.
Um, last anonymous there, this is not an administration blog.
Anonymous 7:47 maybe you should be more specific to enlighten the rest of us. I think I get what you say about the pathway machine. yadayadayada. I too get frustrated that all dwell on fixing from the wrong starting point. Fix the curriculum, fix what gets posted on our walls in classrooms, fix the teachers... Here is a suggestion: Fix these kids.
This brings us back to something we have urged over and over again- provide each child with the social services he or she needs in order to arrive in the classroom ready, willing and able to learn. And to reduce the need for these services in the future- work with families from the start, when their children are very young, so that families can do everything possible to ensure that children will be in a position to learn. Too often the attitude seems to be that families' attitudes and approaches are a given
Maybe the parents could get fixed first then. You know how can we expect a kid to arrive ready to learn when nobody at home knows how to use an inside voice for instance?
tilly, these kinds of overreaching generalizations are destructive to the process of constructive dialogue in our efforts to make meaningful reform. I, for one, have never possessed much of an "inside voice", yet am the proud parent of two very successful students. The reasons that kids come to school unprepared to learn are many, with poverty being the main culprit. Please, please please, everyone contributing to this blog, keep in mind three things when writing here; is it true, is it kind and is it necessary.
Sorry all, I was not very kind indeed. My frustration comes from so many believing just entering a school building suddenly tranforms kids into cooperative energized beings. We talk about having high expectations while we continue to lower the acceptable level of behavior. Which kind of brings us back to athletics. For all the coaches who benched a player this year for bad attitude, Congratulations. For all the coaches who asked a kid how a class was going, Congratulations. For all the coaches who acted to get help for a kid before he/she became academically ineligible, Congratulations. I will be more careful.
Boarding schools are the answer for PPS. Let's try one or two of these and see if scores and behavior improves. You can't take the environment out of the student, but you can take the student out of the environment.
Today I received a notice that I will receive "a written response" to my March 5 request for the report (not necessarily the report itself) by April 12.
The district needs 38 days to perform "a legal review" to determine if the report is "a public record subject to access" or if it "requires redaction". They also need to figure out if it is "stored in a remote location."
I am guessing you will share the written notice once you have it. I can't wait! As far as public record goes, how could it not be?
Annette,
Sounds like they are stalling - I wonder why? This borders on ridiculous now. "Stored in a remote location," a BOE waste basket maybe? The report must not be favorable.
It's just a boilerplate letter... there is no real reason not to post the results of the audit. I'll keep everyone posted.
Do you think if the Trib. and P-G knew it was available, they could/would push for it? The Trib. especially, seemed more on top of the issue when the news that there was to be an audit was first released.
Also, Susan Frietsche at the Women's Law project was instrumental in getting the audit. I wonder if she is aware of the delay in getting the audit completed, and subsequent delay in getting it released to the public?
Anther key to getting the audit was the former PPS Board Member, Heather Arnet. I've asked her a few times to hurry along the report when it was months and months late. And, she has said nothing.
When the report was ordered, I told her that we knew what the report was going to say and that it was only a delay tactic. They didn't need to do anything in the last year because a report was on the way. Now that it is here -- but not out -- we only have to fight for the report yet still do little for the sake of the athletes, kids, teams, and programs.
Uncertainty and doubt stinks.
Heather, thanks a lot.
I heard that there is going to be a mandatory meeting involving ALL City League coaches. Chairing the meeting is someone above Mike Gavlik. Does anyone know what this meeting is about?
D. Lopez called the meeting. Its topic might be "sportsmanship."
Maybe we should all send Mr. Lopez our take on the topic before he holds the meeting. I am a bit out of touch, do girls still spit on their hands before the customary end of game shake after a loss? Weren't some end of season or playoff games closed to spectators?
If that's the case- it sounds like there is good reason for a meeting on sportsmanship!
Sportsmanship?? Give me a break.
What do you mean Mark? Are you being funny or what?
No joke from me. I told you what I have come to understand. I'll find out more later, at the meeting, I expect. It is in one week.
In my observation, sportsmanship is poorest during the middle grades with a few schools being the exceptions. A few years ago I had reason to be in South Brook Middle and saw a large banner in the hall commemorating a formal award for sportsmanship. Might any other PPS schools have been recognized for such an honor and we don't know it? The middle grades are where the most guidance is needed. I know this is preaching to the choir of pure where so many support the expansion of services and supports for students. Sports, where better to learn coping skills?
That's true. The man tackling revitalization of Detroit as its new mayor has a background in professional basketball and made some excellent observations along these lines- will look for the article.
Mark,
Are you a PPS coach? If so, where do you teach and coach?
I coach swimming at Schenley. Water polo too. Helping with volleyball when I can. Headed to youth & gov in H-burg later. Then there is Think-a-thon last year, a WV camping trip and Elem swimming too.
I don't do classrooms. :)
Are you the paid coach at Schenley, or a volunteer coach? I thought you had to teach in PPS to be a coach?
I am surprised I remember this at my advanced age, lol. I once heard that if nobody on staff in a building wanted a coaching position it was opened to candidates from other buildings, then if nobody from that group was interested it was opened to others outside staff. That was as it was once explained to me long ago.
Hey it's Sunshine Week, promoting greater transparency in government. Posting the Title IX report would be a great way for PPS to celebrate!
You aren't holding your breath are you?
Turning blue but still hoping!
So I am thinking there should be some hoopla event when the audit gets released. Frankly, I am almost not interested in the audit so much anymore as I am in the release of the audit.
http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2010/03/wishing-to-work-on-sports-reform-for.html
or
http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2010/03/wishing-to-work-on-sports-reform-for.html
Mark,
What do you mean by "Title IX (brewing big)"?
Several years ago a committee was formed for athletics. Do you really think this one will accomplish anything or is it just more rhetoric?
Why over a 5 year period? Thanks for your report on the meeting.
Sports was on the back burner for the past years, as told to me by Mark Roosevelt. I've asked many times to make an overhaul of sports saying that it would be worthy in retention of our students within the city and in helping the kids do better in academics too.
Recently, sports is starting to get more attention within the upper reaches of the PPS Administration and finally, some of those rumblings are starting to be noticed by others. But, this is not even the tip of the iceberg. Much needs to occur. Engagement, etc.
So, I'm optimistic to a degree. Time will tell.
With all the changes coming in the new teachers' contract, this would certainly be the time to address coaching/athletics in the contract also.
Another item is the 2.0 to play sports. WPIAL teams/PIAA only need a 1.0. The city league changed to the 2.0 a long time ago. While the 2.0 looks good, we are at a disadvantage compared to the suburban schools. A 1.0 might get more students involved and subsequently give them a vested interest in school. This hopefully will then result in higher grades with a coach's mentoring. The student will feel part of something.
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