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The choices being made right now for any athletic reform will affect students in the long term and it would be best if parents of kids below 9th grade got the most input into the plan. Unfortuantely the demands on the time of parents with kids in that age bracket are much greater than kids who can be left home alone. With that in mind, anyone in a position to have influence needs to be a big picture thinker, possibly considering the needs of the average student before all others.
I was so happy to see the 40 or so people at the meeting last night about PPS Athletics. They were able to witness something. I won't say anything else, but I DO hope that each of those who were there are able to make some reactions and are able to tell their story here and elsewhere.
The best way to share what was said would be to make the comments on the posters and the note cards available for public review, like the facilities consultants did. Would that be possible?
It would take a lot of time and effort to try to summarize the almost 2 hour meeting and numerous comments. Briefly, a very comprehensive look at athletics, with a major emphasis on integrating athletics and academics was presented (although, comprehensive as it was, it did not address the impact of the new after school mandatory classes for students at some schools who received a failing grade). While everyone was glad that issues are finally being addressed, it was clear that addressing sports after most other pieces of reform efforts have been put into place is problematic and seriously limits options. There were strong feelings against combining teams from different schools and against plans to prohibit booster clubs for specific sports at specific schools.
Isn't the booster club issue beyond the control of all local authority or parents? It was one of the issues cited in the Title IX audit.
From whatever comes of the reform plan when can the public expect to see implementation? How this all looks when done could impact decision making for deciding on a school.
Looks to me like city schools are cashing in their chips.To simply decide that merging with the WPIAL is the way to go...without a great deal of thought or consideration of the spirit of its given schools...is typical of ALL administration within PPS. Another example of individuals completely out of touch with the needs of the students.
The attendance at the third meeting was 40 at my counting. Ten or twelve were folks associated with the "task force."
That was the most attended of the three. All in all, that attendance is far less than I would have hoped.
But, to be honest, and as per a few of the comments, the people don't have much "CONCRETE" to react to. The suggestions are options and global concepts -- not real policies or hard plans.
Perhaps it is 'quiet' -- but -- go to the PPS web site, pghboe.net/athletics and look for some comments there.
Also input comment there too.
Finally, for me, this time is the calm before the storm. I see the way the wind is blowing -- and I don't like much of the outcomes as offered so far. But, time will tell. Strong counter points are needed and I'll make sure that some are forthcoming.
I read the reproduction of the notecards under the ATHLETICS heading on the pps website. Seems like lots of quesions but where are the answers? Biggest issue, who pays? Teams are lucky to get uniforms every 3 years and do their own fundraising for gym bags, warm-ups, etc. Our foundation and corporate community already support The Promise and so many other things like PNC and Highmark with Healthy High 5 and early childhood initiatives. I have sent my kid to summer camps like the one mentioned run by a WNBA player and the camps at colleges like Berenato runs at Pitt. Who pays? Parents do not always have the means to do so. Timing might be off and the WPIAL portion might be unwise until we develop better practices within the current framework. Get the coaching issues and funding issues resolved including the issue of one pot for booster money. That issue alone could sink any athletic ship and Promise or no Promise drive players/families out of town.
15 comments:
Hope to see you all there tonight.
The choices being made right now for any athletic reform will affect students in the long term and it would be best if parents of kids below 9th grade got the most input into the plan. Unfortuantely the demands on the time of parents with kids in that age bracket are much greater than kids who can be left home alone. With that in mind, anyone in a position to have influence needs to be a big picture thinker, possibly considering the needs of the average student before all others.
I was so happy to see the 40 or so people at the meeting last night about PPS Athletics. They were able to witness something. I won't say anything else, but I DO hope that each of those who were there are able to make some reactions and are able to tell their story here and elsewhere.
Pipe up, please.
The best way to share what was said would be to make the comments on the posters and the note cards available for public review, like the facilities consultants did. Would that be possible?
I think that the note cards are going to be put online.
Put on line by who and what web site?
This whole thread is a mystery. What was said/proposed? Is it a secret?
It would take a lot of time and effort to try to summarize the almost 2 hour meeting and numerous comments. Briefly, a very comprehensive look at athletics, with a major emphasis on integrating athletics and academics was presented (although, comprehensive as it was, it did not address the impact of the new after school mandatory classes for students at some schools who received a failing grade). While everyone was glad that issues are finally being addressed, it was clear that addressing sports after most other pieces of reform efforts have been put into place is problematic and seriously limits options. There were strong feelings against combining teams from different schools and against plans to prohibit booster clubs for specific sports at specific schools.
Isn't the booster club issue beyond the control of all local authority or parents? It was one of the issues cited in the Title IX audit.
From whatever comes of the reform plan when can the public expect to see implementation? How this all looks when done could impact decision making for deciding on a school.
Looks to me like city schools are cashing in their chips.To simply decide that merging with the WPIAL is the way to go...without a great deal of thought or consideration of the spirit of its given schools...is typical of ALL administration within PPS. Another example of individuals completely out of touch with the needs of the students.
Certain schools (Carrick, Allderdice) will remain untouched and everyone else will just have to deal with whatever they come up with.
Carrick? Who cares? The kids sure don't.
Anonymous 9:52, how can you be so positive? I bet parents would come out in droves after the fact at any school to complain.
Let's watch the attendance at these meetings. MR reported on an earlier post 40-50 on the dec meeting.
The attendance at the third meeting was 40 at my counting. Ten or twelve were folks associated with the "task force."
That was the most attended of the three. All in all, that attendance is far less than I would have hoped.
But, to be honest, and as per a few of the comments, the people don't have much "CONCRETE" to react to. The suggestions are options and global concepts -- not real policies or hard plans.
Perhaps it is 'quiet' -- but -- go to the PPS web site, pghboe.net/athletics and look for some comments there.
Also input comment there too.
Finally, for me, this time is the calm before the storm. I see the way the wind is blowing -- and I don't like much of the outcomes as offered so far. But, time will tell. Strong counter points are needed and I'll make sure that some are forthcoming.
I read the reproduction of the notecards under the ATHLETICS heading on the pps website. Seems like lots of quesions but where are the answers? Biggest issue, who pays? Teams are lucky to get uniforms every 3 years and do their own fundraising for gym bags, warm-ups, etc. Our foundation and corporate community already support The Promise and so many other things like PNC and Highmark with Healthy High 5 and early childhood initiatives. I have sent my kid to summer camps like the one mentioned run by a WNBA player and the camps at colleges like Berenato runs at Pitt. Who pays? Parents do not always have the means to do so.
Timing might be off and the WPIAL portion might be unwise until we develop better practices within the current framework. Get the coaching issues and funding issues resolved including the issue of one pot for booster money. That issue alone could sink any athletic ship and Promise or no Promise drive players/families out of town.
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