"Hoodie Day"

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"Please Post-

Is This Necessary or an Answer-How many black Youths kiled daily . ... Very Sad. .. But we never have silent demonstrations when blacls kill blacks ...

Student walkouts planned at some schools on 'Hoodie Day'
Tribune Review

Several Pittsburgh Public Schools will allow student walk-outs and demonstrations Friday to protest the shooting death of a Florida teenager. The schools, including Pittsburgh Stevens K-8 in Elliot and the Creative and Performing Arts high school, ...

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_788922.html "

Danielson/ Gates

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"For a New Posr-

Danielson and Gates together in collaboration-great read


Charlotte Danielson Enhances Framework for Teaching with New Evaluation Instrument

MarketWatch (press release)

In addition to statewide usage, the Framework has been adopted by hundreds of districts in other states including Los Angeles Unified School District, Pittsburgh Public Schools and Hillsborough County Public Schools. "The widespread adoption of the ...


http://www.marketwatch.com/story/charlotte-danielson-enhances-framework-for-teaching-with-new-evaluation-instrument-2012-03-29 "

Where is our Title I, II and III money going?

Some issues raised in LA:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-lyell/lausd-school-funding_b_1378384.html

Westinghouse seeking a new principal

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/pittsburgh-schools-seek-visionary-leader-for-troubled-westinghouse-628276/

A bog of metrics

NYT article about a school "judged a failure by the metrics" but "suceed[ing] where it counts":

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/27/nyregion/brooklyn-school-failing-by-the-data-succeeds-where-it-counts.html

PPG article on effects of budget cuts on schools

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"Make a seperate post-plese read and give comments...

City schools learning to do more with less

Pittsburgh Post Gazette
The first question is not cost but equity: What should all children have in the Pittsburgh Public Schools? The second is: How can that be accomplished and save money? The result is a plan -- now in its final stages of development -- that changes the ...


http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/city-schools-learning-to-do-more-with-less-628055/ "

New central office positions

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"lots of new central office positions posted during this financial crisis and laying off of teachers.
Maybe I mistakenly thought there was a hiring freeze until they figured these financial issues out?
Central Office Personnel
Director, Technology Initiatives
Business Analyst
Intern – Information Technology
Network Security Assistant
HR Benefits Assistant II
Project Manager, Professional Development
Workforce Management Specialist
Substitute Services Specialist
Project Assistant, Communications
Project Manager—Student Services (Promise Readiness)"

HS start time

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"START A NEW POST

New start time for high schools proposed for next year: 7:10 AM district-wide. Arrival of students around 6:55 AM. Will supposedly save district $3 million."

Pgh Comet discussion about Westinghouse

On another post, Bram Reichbaum wrote:

"Hello, PURE Reform community. I wanted to call to your attention a blog post I've just written about the School District, relative to Westinghosue High School and the last Board meeting.

http://pghcomet.blogspot.com/2012/03/school-district-hopes-botched.html

Please engage it in the comments section if you have any feedback. A nice and lively discussion you always have going here."

Looking back at the plan for high school excellence

Excel.9-12, dated April 10, 2007- just about 5 years ago:

http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/14311051715526407/lib/14311051715526407/FINAL_Board_Pres_April_10_v05_-_Website_Version.ppt#1

See especially the plans for Westinghouse beginning on page 63. What went wrong?

Fadzen hearing continues II

On the February Fadzen hearing post Anonymous wrote:

"Might the lack of news on the latest round of testimony signal that there is a settlement in the works?"

Perry/Oliver transition efforts

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12071/1215967-298.stm

PSSA testing tomorrow

PSSA testing begins tomorrow.

A notice from PPS indicated that students can take as long as they wish to complete tests. Was that always the case?

Education Comm meeting on "Measures of Effective Teaching"

On another post Aonymous wrote:

"Emerging Findings from the Measures of Effective
Measures of Effective Teaching Project (MET)
March 6, 2012
Presented by Paulette Poncelet

http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/14311059122535553/lib/14311059122535553/Education%20Committee/2012/March/MET-EdCom-March-2012v5.pdf

Teachers might be interested in this presentation presented by Paulette Poncelet with assistance from Linda Lane, Jeri Lippert, and Jeannine French.

Questions from Board members were limited and essentially the responses contained words but not answers (a problem typical at Board Meetings).

Regina Holley asked a very relevant question about the “support” process for teachers in the evaluation milieu. J. French indicated that the process is still incomplete in that area. (Yet they claimed to be a “model”?)

There were very few in attendance even though it was held in Conference Room A.
And, contrary to the requirements of the Sunshine Law the Education Meeting was not published on the PPS Calendar.

The meeting was a great disappointment. It appears that meetings are held for the purpose of “documentation” of a meeting held.

Contrary to claims of PPS, they are not leading the nation in this effort, not are they being held up as a “model.” Quite the opposite is the reality. Just ask the folks at PDE. The PR machine functions well but rarely reflects truth or reality.

What can be done about this, those of you who believe the press releases?"

Value added gone wrong

From the NYT, "Hard working teachers sabotaged":

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/nyregion/in-brooklyn-hard-working-teachers-sabotaged-when-student-test-scores-slip.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Senate Education Committee Bill

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12066/1214828-178.stm

Senate Education Committee bill regarding Superintendents' term lengths, buyouts, students' achievement, right-to-know info.

This article mentions that John Thompson's buyout was $150,165 and Lynn Spampinato's was $213,000 (to step down and do "consulting work."
Roosevelt's wasn't a buyout, but he sure did make out like a bandit."

Proposed next round of budget cuts

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12066/1214763-298.stm

Student surveys of teachers

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12065/1214524-298-0.stm?cmpid=MOSTEMAILEDBOX