Competing slates for PFT positions

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/slates-vie-for-positions-with-city-teacher-union-633719/

PFT sticks with senority

From the Tribune:

http://triblive.com/home/1183068-74/teachers-seniority-pittsburgh-district-performance-union-bill-board-certification-clearly

More infrastructure problems

Large water main break in Homewood:

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/crews-scene-large-water-main-break-homewood/nMjSk/

- This level of problems with water mains and other infrastructure is not normal- city revenue problems must be resolved so that infrastructure can be maintained.

Training our government officials of the future

Obama Academy finds success at Y & G; good training in addition to the many lessons to be learned right here in Pittsburgh about government.

http://www.obamaeagle.org/news/2012/04/23/obama-yag-students-spend-unforgettable-weekend-in-harrisburg-have-harrowing-trip-home/">http://www.obamaeagle.org/news/2012/04/23/obama-yag-students-spend-unforgettable-weekend-in-harrisburg-have-harrowing-trip-home/

Board director constituent meeting tonight

New Board member Regina Holley had the idea of regular meetings with constituents, not just before elections.  You don't need to live in District 2 to attend. 

Bring your questions, concerns and comments tonight:

Thursday, April 26, 2012




Where: Barack Obama Academy of International Studies
129 Denniston Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Time: 6:00—8:00 pm

School District of Philadelphia to dissolve

http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/nakedcity/Philadelphia-School-District-announces-its-dissolution-.html?ref=facebook.com

- Didn't the Broad foundation award the Philadelphia Public Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman an award for excellence just a couple of years back?  This article refers to "decades of mismanagement."

Board seeks alternative to seniority for teacher furloughs

From the Tribune:

http://triblive.com/home/1162728-74/teachers-district-million-furlough-seniority-board-lane-teacher-pittsburgh-union

Proposal to accept bids for Schenley rejected

From the PG:

"Board members wanted to further explore whether the district could retain use of the addition -- built in the 1980s -- housing the gym and pool to meet heavy demand at other schools."



http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/breaking/city-school-board-delays-sale-of-schenley-high-school-building-633044/

- After all, it is unneeded facilities that the district is supposed to be selling, and athletic facilities are very much needed for East End schools.  These schools are already  losing the extensive, convenient outdoor sports fields surrounding the Reizenstein building.  Equity must trump sales proceeds.

Principal appointments

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/principals-selected-for-city-public-schools-633152/

Two principals moving to administration. 

One in two new college graduates are jobless or underemployed

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/us/analysis-1-in-2-new-graduates-are-jobless-or-underemployed-632672/

Meanwhile, some foundations urge more and more college completion with little or no mention of alternative training that may better prepare graduates to find jobs:  http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/pittsburgh-needs-more-skilled-workers-without-them-the-region-will-fall-far-behind-international-competitors-632566/

Opportunity to meet with newest Board member, Dr. Regina Holley

Meet your New School Board of Director


for District 2

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Where: Barack Obama Academy of International Studies

129 Denniston Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Time: 6:00—8:00 pm

District 2 Schools: Spring Hill, Schiller, Arsenal Pre-K-5, Arsenal 6-8, Sunnyside, Fulton, Dilworth, Woolslair, Obama

Putting a number on teachers' value

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/changing-the-classroom-putting-a-number-on-teachers-value-not-an-easy-task-632701/

Robo Graders

Interesting article about computerized essay grading, from the NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/education/robo-readers-used-to-grade-test-essays.html?_r=1

Teacher evaluation

An admiistrator is reported as saying that "When [she] was growing up in Moon, her mother talked to school officials and chose her elementary school teacher every year. When she was a principal at Mifflin Elementary, she had parents telling her which teachers they wanted." http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/brian-oneill/her-educated-answer-isnt-about-money-631987/ Not just in Moon and Mifflin, parents and school officials know who the good teachers are. Will the new complicated and expensive evaluation systems really tell us anything we don't already know?

PPS considers buying 6000 ipads

From the PG: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/city-schools-consider-buying-6000-ipads-632396/

Gun found outside Perry

From WPXI: http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/gun-found-outside-perry-high-school/nMdkH/ A PPS representative is quoted as saying there had been "gun activity" reported in the area the previous evening. A question is whether, after gun activity is reported near a school, school police should check whether any guns have been left behind.

Still too many schools?

On another post Anonymous wrote: "NEW POST from Today's PG: Her ( J. French) educated answer isn't about money April 19, 2012 12:00 am By Brian O'Neill / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/brian-oneill/her-educated-answer-isnt-about-money-631987/"

Trying to sell Schenley again

From the PG: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/former-pittsburgh-schenley-may-face-new-sale-632081/

I Pad purchases

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"New post?

In looking through the Agenda review meeting materials it looks like the District is going to be purchasing 6,000 iPads at a cost of 1 million dollars per year for the next 5 years. How is it that many teachers are losing their job this year yet we have money to buy so many iPads?

See Page 11/12

http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/14311059122535553/lib/14311059122535553/Board%20Agenda%20Preview%20Packets/April2012/Bus-Fin.pdf "

Reaction to earlier start times

From the PG, letters to the editor:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/letters/earlier-start-time-is-a-disservice-to-students-631458/

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/letters/early-school-start-times-hinder-teens-631480/

Teachers displaced

On another post Anonymous wrote:

400 PPS teachers displaced; may lead to furloughs Tribune Review Pittsburgh Public Schools officials announced today that they will be displacing 450 teachers from their current buildings based on their seniority within ... http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_791023.html"

Pittsburgh still not cleared

On another post Anonymous wrote:

For a new post-PPS atill not cleared from a previous year of PSSA testing.


2 districts cleared of cheating on test


Tarentum Valley News Dispatch
Test results are still being reviewed for Pittsburgh Public Schools, Monessen City Schools and the Big Beaver Falls School District, according to spokesman for the state Department of Education.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_789921.html

Take a Father to School Day receives national recognition

From the Courier:

http://www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6939:take-a-father-to-school-day-gets-national-recognition&catid=38:metro&Itemid=27

Cuts to special ed

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"new post: article today in P-G on special ed. cuts

Do the math - 58 teachers plus 14 paraprofessionals = savings of 3.4 million dollars

6 (yes just 6 central office personnel) = savings of $580,857. 6 central office = over a half million dollars. What a pay difference between teachers, paras. and Bellefield!"

Public Source article on the Pittsburgh Promise

http://publicsource.org/investigations/keeping-promise

Changes in school starting times

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/some-city-schools-to-start-day-as-much-as-one-hour-earlier-630654/?p=2

Allocation of state funds among school districts

As long predicted by PURE Reform, the allocation of state funds among school districts is becoming an issue; particularly at issue is a provision that did not adjust the allocation despite the fact that some districts such as PPS have lost considerable enrollment while others have seen large increases in enrollment. From yesterday's PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/legislators-plan-lawsuit-to-trim-aid-to-shrinking-pa-schools-630417/

As noted when prior Superintendent Roosevelt decided to dip into reserve funds, PPS may well need these funds to smooth a transition to a smaller share of state funds.