Longtime board member retiring

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"The Friday P-G has an article about Jean Fink. The article mentions the $40 million PPS got from Gates which covers part of the cost of the Empowering Effective Teaching program, aimed at improving teacher quality. Fink said, "Although they've given us a lot of money to do a lot of things through the Empowering Effective Teachers, I don't know if the money that we've had to put out is making it worth it. There's a lot of good things that come from trying to do things differently, trying to beef up teachers' skills, but in the end, I have to ask myself, 'What is the long-range value going to be?'"

The same article quotes Randall Taylor remembering an incident in 2002 with Fink. He said, "I also looked at it as a time when board members did debate and had disagreements and weren't rubber-stamping things."

As a side note, Lane received a $10,000 salary increase to $230,000. I thought the district was going broke?"

TFA and Woolslair votes

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2013/11/26/City-school-board-agrees-to-contract-with-Teach-for-America-close-Woolslair/stories/201311260163

Andrews report

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"New topic-maybe
The Andrews report--what is it and why oh why won't Dr. lane share this if it was funded by public money? Can we get a courtorder for it? Talk about the sunshine law! Mr. brentley was seriously wonderful at the board meeting-- now how can we help him?"

Wilkinsburg schools spend half million on consultant

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2013/11/24/Wilkinsburg-hedline-goes-right-into-here-Wilkinsburg-schools-spent-500-000-on-consultants-over-3-years/stories/201311240077

Board to vote on TFA

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2013/11/20/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-board-to-vote-on-new-teachers-agenda.html

This was buried online today. My morning paper P-G did not contain one word about this issue.

Since TFA survived agenda review, it is obvious that Lane will have the necessary votes on Tuesday to pass it. Unfortunately, the "new" board, parents/students, and taxpayers will be the ones who will suffer through another experiment. And remember that soon Lane will be leaving."

Clayton alternative school seeks extension

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2013/11/20/Alternative-school-seeks-contract-extension-with-city/stories/201311200112

3 new charter schools apply plus one request to expand

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2013/11/16/3-charter-schools-planned-for-city/stories/201311160118

GPS petition

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2013/11/16/Petition-asks-board-to-delay-votes-on-key-city-school-issues/stories/201311160121

Propel Hazelwood vote

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"Sorry to have to use the site to get answers, but it has proved successful in the past to do so.

I know that private and parochial schools do not have to follow state rules. For instance they do not have to take PSSA or Keystones. Does that also mean they do not follow Common Core?
Since charters are public schools do they follow Common Core?

Propel Hazelwood got approved because their application went to the Charter School Appeal Board in Harrisburg. Did the admin in pps drop the ball by not participating in the appeal process? Hard to follow by watching a legislative meeting but the vote was 4-4 with one abstention. I believe the vote resulted in the application getting kicked to Harrisburg. Did pps then fail to participate in the process?

We need to continue to push for strictly enforced oversight of charters, otherwise we will run out of money sooner than expected."

Budget deficit predicted

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2013/11/12/Preliminary-Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-budget-would-need-tax-increase-to-eliminate-deficit/stories/201311120183

Students shot outside Brashear

On another post Anonymous wrote:

*New Post*

3 Brashear students shot at school:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/us/three-students-are-shot-near-pittsburgh-school.html?hp

Petition to leave major decisions for the incoming board

On another post Pamela Harbin wrote:

New post please:
Please take a minute to sign this important petition. We are asking Dr. Linda Lane to wait until the newly elected school board members are sworn in to vote on critical issues facing our schools.
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=49258804305307213&postID=3348253519642027312

Comments are welcome and appreciated! Thank you.

Board is asked to close Woolslair

Catching up; from the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2013/11/05/City-schools-leader-asks-board-to-close-Woolslair-next-fall/stories/201311050135

Test overkill

Catching up, from the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2013/11/03/With-more-than-270-tests-at-Pittsburgh-schools-this-year-when-is-enough-enough/stories/201311030067

Teach for America

On another post Anonymous wrote:


New topic-- Teach for America
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2013/11/09/Pittsburgh-schools-may-hire-from-Teach-for-America.html

Can anything be done to stop this obvious last minute stab to sabotage our schools? I know our colleagues at YINZERCATION posed some great questions to ask the board about it-- but no one is saying this is a pathetic death blow to public education in yet another city. How can we stop these lame ducks? Hey Dr. Lane we dont want to be Philly! Hey Mr. Peduto-- while closing schools is bad, it is also a distraction -- so they can pull an end run and do their final dirt. The least we can do is call them on the dirty game plan.