This is the blog section of the PURE Reform website. Please leave your thoughts and comments here.
PURE Reform has created this blog as a forum for parents, teachers and community members to share information and voice concerns regrading the reform process in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Although we would like to foster constructive dialogue, PURE Reform does not edit content. The views expressed by bloggers in this forum are not necessarily views held by PURE Reform.
To comment on an existing topic, go to the line at the bottom of the post for that topic that begins "Posted by..." That line will list "1 comment," "2 comments," etc. Click on "comments," then leave your comment in the box provided. To post as Anonymous, no registration is required, OR you can choose an identity.
To suggest a new topic, go to this month's post labeled "Start a New Post" and add your comment (as described above) about the new suggested topic. PURE Reform will use these comments to start new posts.
It's a little surprising to see that the salary for a person with 15 years experience as chief of safety is about the same as that of the young Broad placements.
You must be trained by Broad to get high salaries in PPS. It is surprising that Broad does not also train the Chief of Safety since the position has far reaching ramifications. You'd think Broad would want control of that influence also.
From the article, a quote from district chief of staff Lisa Fischetti, when asked about the details of Fadzen's leave:
"You're not going to get the answers to those questions because we don't give that kind of information out when it has to do with human resources. I don't think you'd get that in the private sector"
Huh? Why is Fischetti equating the Pittsburgh Public Schools with the private sector? Chief Fadzen's salary is paid by public tax money.
So yes, the public has every right to know. The arrogance of that lady is unbelievable.
I heard, from an extremely reliable source, that his suspension has to do with bad PR on some school safety issues (gun found by children playing on school grounds, City police called) stemming back to July, 2011. Fischetti and gang want to sweep the serious critical incidences under the rug. They refuse to admit that the student population is declining because of parental concerns about their children's safety.
I also heard from another reliable source that one of the principals at Westinghouse gave a student permission to carry mace because she felt unsafe in her new surroundings. The inexperienced principal thought nothing of it when Jeanine French called her about it. She felt that she had everything under control because she and the other administrators had 'bonded' with the youths from the varying neighborhoods.
It was expected that the offense had something to do with the chief not staying on message. And since there were few if any other recent quotes from him, that it had something to do with the South Side story.
But is speaking a little too freely with a reporter really a firing offense? What about the principal that got carried away at the student assembly? What's more, firing him will just attract more attention to the comments. We might think he is being made an example, but an example for who- few of the long time staff, who think independently, are left.
You mentioned that there was an incident where city police were called.
Interesting. I wonder who called them. City teachers are told to never call the city police. Never. And if you do so anyway, you are in serious trouble.
Why? You would think that when there is serious incident, like with a weapon, the city police should be notified immediately. Remember, the school police are not armed.
It's because when the city police are involved, it is much more difficult for Bellefield to control and spin the story.
Student safety is not a top priority. Public relations trump everything.
The sad thing is hs silence will be bought. He is most likely an "at will" employee and cannot defend himself. In this economy it is easy (and common) for PPS to strong arm employees, and make certain they will get hung out to dry and pay the consequenses if they don't sign on the dotted line while being humiliated & fired/dispaced/demoted for doing the right thng. It is impossible to be a "whistle blower" at PPS. If they see an independent thinker, (god forbid) you will be dealt with swiftly, unfairly and harshly. The press doesn't care, the school board doesn't care (as a group) nor do they EVER question why a really good employee retires early, gets fired or shuffled around.
Protecting our kids was his job, whoever they replace him with will be someone who is willing to lay low even when a gun is found on school property. I find this very unsettling and dangerous.
Several years ago the chief of safety did info sharing sessions with parents as part of the Breakfast Briefings series. He drew a packed crowd once to Reizenstein (when it had no kids in the building) and even had both the K-9 units and handlers do demos for the attendees. This was one of the most worthwhile parent trainings ever offered and you came away thinking someone in the admin was on the side of your kid no matter what.
The Trib article is a bit damning, isn't it? Issuing traffic citations outside his own home? Retaliating against an employee and costing PPS over $200K? It might be helpful to consider the flip side--maybe Fazden just isn't quite up to the high profile job, and somebody finally had enough guts to call him on the carpet.
Suspending or firing him over an offhand comment about the effect of neighborhood violence isn't exactly the same as calling him on the carpet for the old incidents.
"The Trib article is a bit damning, isn't it? Issuing traffic citations outside his own home? Retaliating against an employee and costing PPS over $200K? It might be helpful to consider the flip side--maybe Fazden just isn't quite up to the high profile job, and somebody finally had enough guts to call him on the carpet.
September 20, 2011 1:29 PM"
No Fischetti simply lied about the no comment issue. The old complaints were handed to the media by PR. When was the last time we read a real journalistic artice about PPS.
Lisa Fishetti quote: " "You're not going to get the answers to those questions because we don't give that kind of information out when it has to do with human resources. I don't think you'd get that in the private sector"
Yes we know Lisa, you just leak stuff to the media.
"The Trib article is a bit damning, isn't it? Issuing traffic citations outside his own home? Retaliating against an employee and costing PPS over $200K? It might be helpful to consider the flip side--maybe Fazden just isn't quite up to the high profile job, and somebody finally had enough guts to call him on the carpet.
September 20, 2011 1:29 PM"
200K? That is pocket change for the high rollers employed at central office. How much, including 4-5 separate moving costs, and the lfe insurance issues, bonuses and raises did Mark Roosevelt cost us taxpayers and our children's future? This issue was about control.
His Great Grandfather Teddy summed it up for him.
"A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad." ~Teddy Roosevelt
Calling the news v.s. putting out press releases--imagine if our newspapers actually investigated what is going on-- rather than just piblishing PR and calling it school news--then the lawn chairs would hit the news, or many wonderful copiers with a fancy contract but no money for paper
21 comments:
It's a little surprising to see that the salary for a person with 15 years experience as chief of safety is about the same as that of the young Broad placements.
You must be trained by Broad to get high salaries in PPS. It is surprising that Broad does not also train the Chief of Safety since the position has far reaching ramifications. You'd think Broad would want control of that influence also.
From the article, a quote from district chief of staff Lisa Fischetti, when asked about the details of Fadzen's leave:
"You're not going to get the answers to those questions because we don't give that kind of information out when it has to do with human resources. I don't think you'd get that in the private sector"
Huh? Why is Fischetti equating the Pittsburgh Public Schools with the private sector? Chief Fadzen's salary is paid by public tax money.
So yes, the public has every right to know. The arrogance of that lady is unbelievable.
The Chief is a pretty straight shooter.
Not a good fit for this crowd.
I heard, from an extremely reliable source, that his suspension has to do with bad PR on some school safety issues (gun found by children playing on school grounds, City police called) stemming back to July, 2011. Fischetti and gang want to sweep the serious critical incidences under the rug. They refuse to admit that the student population is declining because of parental concerns about their children's safety.
I also heard from another reliable source that one of the principals at Westinghouse gave a student permission to carry mace because she felt unsafe in her new surroundings. The inexperienced principal thought nothing of it when Jeanine French called her about it. She felt that she had everything under control because she and the other administrators had 'bonded' with the youths from the varying neighborhoods.
It was expected that the offense had something to do with the chief not staying on message. And since there were few if any other recent quotes from him, that it had something to do with the South Side story.
But is speaking a little too freely with a reporter really a firing offense? What about the principal that got carried away at the student assembly? What's more, firing him will just attract more attention to the comments. We might think he is being made an example, but an example for who- few of the long time staff, who think independently, are left.
To anon 11:39
You mentioned that there was an incident where city police were called.
Interesting. I wonder who called them. City teachers are told to never call the city police. Never. And if you do so anyway, you are in serious trouble.
Why? You would think that when there is serious incident, like with a weapon, the city police should be notified immediately. Remember, the school police are not armed.
It's because when the city police are involved, it is much more difficult for Bellefield to control and spin the story.
Student safety is not a top priority. Public relations trump everything.
The sad thing is hs silence will be bought. He is most likely an "at will" employee and cannot defend himself. In this economy it is easy (and common) for PPS to strong arm employees, and make certain they will get hung out to dry and pay the consequenses if they don't sign on the dotted line while being humiliated & fired/dispaced/demoted for doing the right thng. It is impossible to be a "whistle blower" at PPS. If they see an independent thinker, (god forbid) you will be dealt with swiftly, unfairly and harshly. The press doesn't care, the school board doesn't care (as a group) nor do they EVER question why a really good employee retires early, gets fired or shuffled around.
Protecting our kids was his job, whoever they replace him with will be someone who is willing to lay low even when a gun is found on school property. I find this very unsettling and dangerous.
I
Several years ago the chief of safety did info sharing sessions with parents as part of the Breakfast Briefings series. He drew a packed crowd once to Reizenstein (when it had no kids in the building) and even had both the K-9 units and handlers do demos for the attendees. This was one of the most worthwhile parent trainings ever offered and you came away thinking someone in the admin was on the side of your kid no matter what.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_757659.html
Trib.'s article - it will be interesting to see if they just suspend or try to fire him. The Board has to vote - now that's a joke.
The Trib article is a bit damning, isn't it? Issuing traffic citations outside his own home? Retaliating against an employee and costing PPS over $200K? It might be helpful to consider the flip side--maybe Fazden just isn't quite up to the high profile job, and somebody finally had enough guts to call him on the carpet.
Suspending or firing him over an offhand comment about the effect of neighborhood violence isn't exactly the same as calling him on the carpet for the old incidents.
"The Trib article is a bit damning, isn't it? Issuing traffic citations outside his own home? Retaliating against an employee and costing PPS over $200K? It might be helpful to consider the flip side--maybe Fazden just isn't quite up to the high profile job, and somebody finally had enough guts to call him on the carpet.
September 20, 2011 1:29 PM"
No Fischetti simply lied about the no comment issue. The old complaints were handed to the media by PR. When was the last time we read a real journalistic artice about PPS.
Lisa Fishetti quote: " "You're not going to get the answers to those questions because we don't give that kind of information out when it has to do with human resources. I don't think you'd get that in the private sector"
Yes we know Lisa, you just leak stuff to the media.
Fischetti, Lippert, French, Otuwa and Lane.
Are they really the same person?
"The Trib article is a bit damning, isn't it? Issuing traffic citations outside his own home? Retaliating against an employee and costing PPS over $200K? It might be helpful to consider the flip side--maybe Fazden just isn't quite up to the high profile job, and somebody finally had enough guts to call him on the carpet.
September 20, 2011 1:29 PM"
200K? That is pocket change for the high rollers employed at central office. How much, including 4-5 separate moving costs, and the lfe insurance issues, bonuses and raises did Mark Roosevelt cost us taxpayers and our children's future? This issue was about control.
His Great Grandfather Teddy summed it up for him.
"A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad."
~Teddy Roosevelt
He spoke to the media/police regarding the gun found at Phillips without a script.
Rumor is that he is going to have a hearing and is going to get fired. If this happens, he needs to sue.
The one or two comments he made in the paper doomed him. The "big wigs" don't like public comments. They want absolute control.
Um, maybe he's being fired to constantly calling the news about every situation, even when it's untrue...
Pick and choose. Pick and choose. Politics, Politics, Politics. Is there no one free enough to be straight forward? It seems not. Right?
Calling the news v.s. putting out press releases--imagine if our newspapers actually investigated what is going on-- rather than just piblishing PR and calling it school news--then the lawn chairs would hit the news, or many wonderful copiers with a fancy contract but no money for paper
This Loudermill hearing will be one for the ages.
Post a Comment