On another post Anonymous wrote:
How we got where we are, Part 18, June 2008
"The June 25, 2008 meeting has so much rich material it might take two or three parts to post it all.
We open with another prophetic comment from Randall Taylor: “Mr. Roosevelt may be who knows where, and we'll be still dealing the ramifications of a lot of things that came here...”
June 25, 2008: It was a good month to be in the managed curriculum business.
The Board approves the renewal of the Institute for Learning contract in the amount of $425,000 “to support: a) development of pre-K-12 curriculum coaches; b) Content Focus Coaching additional training for groups of coaches who serve one of the following areas: pre-K K-8 math, elementary literacy, secondary literacy, secondary math; c) Disciplinary Literacy course on how to immerse low performing students with low academic skills in rigorous content and habits of thinking that will accelerate their learning and develop their academic skills on pace with the rest of the class.”
Not to be left behind, Anita Ravi is hired as an independent consultant for 120 days of work at the rate of $1,000 a day. Yes, that is right, $1,000 per day, more than the mayor, governor and even Superintendent Mark Roosevelt.
The minutes note that “Anita was formally with the Institute for Learning but is now independent. Consultant contracted work includes the following: (1) Continued curriculum work with Social Studies writers, grades 6-12: This includes ongoing training of the writers, overseeing the revision process, directing the review and feedback process of all curriculum documents and coordinating district wide professional development for teachers. (2) Collaborating with High School Reform Team on course development, implementation and professional development, including the cultivation of external community partnerships such as Heinz History Center. (3) Designing and delivering district and site based training to include: Executive Directors, Middle and High School Principals, Assistant Principals, Instructional Teacher Leaders. (4) Coordinate and oversee development of an African American History Course and training for the course.”
What would managed curriculum be without fidelity? The PELA program was the second them of the evening (who cares if we would actually have enough administrative vacancies to justify the program?).
The Coro Center for Civic Leadership is hired for $48,000 “to support training for emerging leaders in cohort 2 of Pittsburgh's Emerging Leadership Academy 2008-2009.”
The Board approves the renewal “of the contract with Duquesne University (DU) School of Education to design and deliver the principal certification courses as a component of Pittsburgh's Emerging Leadership Academy” for $212,000.
The dinner bell also rings for the International Center for Leadership in Education, at the rate of $4,000 to $6,000 per day “to provide training to the emerging leaders in Cohort 2
2008-2009 of Pittsburgh's Emerging Leadership Academy.”
Expansion of central office continues, with a non-school based Curriculum Coach hired for ALAs, along with the creation of a position called Gifted Coordinator. The principal is hired for SciTech one year before the school opens. He would leave the district one year later, before a single day of class is held.
The monthly financial statements again urge “an even greater premium on cutting expenses.” The statements also remind the Board that “No utility costs are programmed for the 2009 forecast to accommodate retention of closed, unutilized school buildings. Sale of these assets must be a 2008 priority.”
To be continued...stay tuned, this Board meeting only gets better..."
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5 comments:
Incredible... why would Board members agree to pay a consultant at a higher rate than the superintendent, etc.?
$1,000 per day is nothing compared to the payment last July of $10,000 (yes ten thousand) per day for Dylan Wiliam (from London) to come to Pittsburgh to give a one-day presentation on "formative assessment."
Dylan is the expert on "formative assessment" and this should have been a district-wide inservice. ALL TEACHERS needed to hear this, not just a few administrators! Especially at $10,000 per day! Makes no sense how exorbitant amounts of money are spent on external consultants again and again. (Worse yet, the info, does not seem to get to most teachers, where it is needed first hand, not 2nd or 3rd hand???)
Check the Board Minutes
(How we got where we are)should be book.
Anita Ravi was the biggest Joke I had to work with. Two years teaching in charter school was her teaching experience. She was not even currently certified to teach social studies in the state. This is the kick in the ass, before she worked for Pitt, she was interviewed for a teaching position at Schenly and did not get it. Rumor was has it Bulward thought she could not handle an urban classroom.
Sad thing is she is still on the Gravy Train as a consultant.
The Curriculum is horrible, these kids will no very little when they leave the PPS, Its a crime
I do not know how she sleeps at night
What a parasite
Deep Undercover
I have to believe that the money was secondary in importance for some of the consultants. I think they may have thought that they were well compensated and at the same time hitching a ride on a star.
We've been had! How can I get a consultant position? What a joke.
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