Wednesday, November 27, 2013

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

21 comments:

Questioner said...

Tribune Review coverage:

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/5143127-74/teach-board-america#axzz2lqg9yrp6

Anonymous said...

This vote was certainly no surprise because we knew the reason Lane was pushing for it before the new board members got on board in a few short weeks. The vote clearly would have gone the other way and that's why she rushed it!

I was surprised that Fink and Sumpter voted against it. Fink especially always went along with the "group." I wonder about her voting against the majority now.

Brentley voted "for" so he can bring it up for discussion later. I hope Weiss didn't mislead him. Obviously Brentley intends to bring it back up when the new members are sworn in. Will they really be able to reverse the decision then? Will Lane have already signed the contract so it won't matter? She'll say that we'll get sued for breach of contract.

Now look for Cate Reed to be appointed TFA's Pittsburgh coordinator/director (or whatever it's called) shortly.

The saga continues... We can only hope that the new board will try to get PPS back to taking care of what should be #1 - our students.

Save our Schools said...

We need to do all we can to have Regina Holley as our next School Board President. We need the circus of the last few years to completelyu come to an end. No Islers, Hazudas, or Sumpters(who at various times were true ring leaders of this tragic circus) need not apply.

Anonymous said...

What is the "all we can" that you expect of who?
the Board members only will elect their president. it is likely that the new Board members can do that if they choose.

What are the advantages of having Dr. Holley? Will that position silence her outright advocacy for students and her insightful questioning of Administration? We certainly do NOT want Dr. Holley silenced!

Anonymous said...

School board president had been a powerful position, especially in Pgh where the board is elected. I dont think a leadership position would muzzle Dr. Holley. She has managed as an administrator to navigate the various factions of PPS through some interesting times.
I know it's not my call here-- but my fantasy is a new coalition of SMART on the board

Anonymous said...

I am barely 30 minutes into watching the board meeting from last night and so far Mr. Brentley is spot on. The TFA presentation was done at an executive session. Huh? Over the years I sat through several education committee meetings and they are deadly boring at times, but as a parent it was my right and duty to be there if I chose to be. Jean Fink's position was clear, she was opposed.

Questioner said...

Aren't executive sessions closed to the public and to most board members as well?

Anonymous said...

Yes. Executive sessions are closed to the public.

Questioner said...

And closed to most board members?

Anonymous said...

Was anyone else absolutely shocked at the allegations directed at Ira Weiss by Mark Brentley? I could not believe my ears that Mark could be so rude and vile with unfounded accusations of wrong doing. Mr Weiss did not deserve that attack and Mark was out of line with such boorish behavior the whole night.
Shame!

Anonymous said...

Where there is smoke there is fire--maybe?

Anonymous said...

The Charter for Propel for Hazelwood was granted although the Board voted No. How did they get Charter??

Anonymous said...

1:13 - This was a new vote - to sell the Hazelwood School to the Hazelwood Initiative which plans to turn it over to Propel. So this time they were voting on the Hazelwood Initiative not Propel. BUT WAIT---It's not over yet! Mark Brentley voted 'Yes" (in the affirmative which prevailed) to sell it; but, ONLY so that he could bring it back for another vote when the new Board is in place next month. Mr. Brentley was told, at the meeting, by Ira Weiss, that it could be brought back for another vote by anyone from the prevailing vote. Now, that was a great strategy ONLY if a contract does not get signed in the next few weeks, in which case it will already be a done deal before another vote can be taken in opposition.

HMMMMMMMM . . .

Anonymous said...

No. Executive sessions are open to board members.

Questioner said...

If more than three board members attend don't sunshine laws apply?

Anonymous said...

Yes. It is possible to meet with one or two Board members at a time, a strategy Mark Roosevelt adopted and that is still used.

Questioner said...

Did TFA actually meet with 2 or 3 board members at a time to avoid having to include the public under the sunshine law?

Anonymous said...

I thought sunshine only applied is they are voting.

Questioner said...

No it is discussion as well.

Anonymous said...

Here are two very easily accessible documents on the Sunshine Law. Read them. Look for answers to specific questions. If clarity on certain questions/answers is needed call the numbers listed.

Most questions here will be easily answered as well as understood by the public.

http://www.elcpa.org/pubs/downloads%202009/GettingInformationAboutYourSchool6-09.pdf

http://www.dced.state.pa.us/public/oor/SunshineLaw.pdf



Questioner said...

The issue here isn't so much what the sunshine laws require, it is more what happened in this particular case- ie, what meetings were held and with who.