Thursday, May 29, 2014

New Deputy Superintendent appointed

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"New post please:
New Deputy Superintendent (Dr. French's old position) approved by the board tonight--a Broad graduate, no surprise there. We are doomed!

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/05/28/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-appoints-deputy-superintendent/stories/201405280214

Here are a few other interesting articles:
http://t.co/VpT2rDXaAD
http://t.co/6FhydRM7dO
"

20 comments:

Questioner said...

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"NEW POST:

At the May 28th PPS Legislative Meeting, another Broad Superintendent Academy fellow was appointed as Deputy Superintendent in Pittsburgh Public Schools. "

Anonymous said...

Looks like every new central adm. hire will start over $150,000 plus 2,000/yr annual increase plus $15,000 performance bonus. Why not just say if you have a Broad certificate, you make darn good money. The board just passed "Employee Standards" this included not hiring friends, relatives, etc... Should this not include relationships with outside corporations too. You can go through the personnel report and see names of family members. (Fink was a good example. Husband, children, in-laws) Now, you will recognize individuals from the Broad family.

Anonymous said...


Dallas ISD spent millions on extras, analysis of check register shows
The Dallas Morning News
June 18, 2011
Restaurant food and catered meals: $2.2 million.

Hotel stays and room rentals: $2.3 million.

Registration fees and travel costs: $3.8 million.

Consultants and other outside help: $44 million.

And there’s more.

OMG!
The Dallas Independent School District spent at least $57 million over four years — or one year’s average base pay for 1,086 teachers — on purchases such as pricey meals, costly trips, lucrative consulting contracts and overnight stays at hotels in the Dallas area and beyond.

- See more at: http://texasclassroomsfirst.com/news/dallas-isd-spent-millions-extras-analysis-check-register-shows#sthash.0rJQBijp.dpuf

Questioner said...

If the same expenditures took place in pittsburgh would the papers even report it?

Anonymous said...

She is connected with Judy Johnston through the Pitt Institute of Learning.

Anonymous said...

She was also on the Propel Charter School Board.

Anonymous said...

Is anyone really surprised by this? Obviously a new Broad person must be ready to replace Lane. What will it take to get a Superintendent who taught and worked as as effective administrator in our schools. Regina is a fine example!

Anonymous said...

What is Regina's relationship with Donna?

They worked in PPS together for quite a few years years before Donna went to LRDC.

Didn't they also attend Pitt during the same years?

Donna's connections to Broad, LRDC, J.Johnston, the Resnicks, etc. raise a lot of issues given what's happening in PPS.

Anonymous said...

Speaking as a taxpayer with no kids left in school I will be paying more attention to spending, especially after two tax increases already.

Anonymous said...

I for one am disappointed and, yes, surprised by this news. I expected more from the new Board.

Anonymous said...

Google her name. All of topics include "fired" in the headline.
This is just great!

Anonymous said...

At which Board meeting was the hiring of this individual discussed? She was approved 5/28 without comments.

Anonymous said...

Personnel matters are discussed ONLY behind closed doors. This cannot have been under discussion for very long since she has only been in Wilkinsburg for a few months.

Seems like this was done to keep Broad/Gates commitments in place.

No real search or process was considered.

Anonymous said...

Wonder how long Linda Lane will be here.

The poor achievement in Pittsburgh cannot be kept under wraps very much longer. But on second thought its been going backwards for the last eight years, yet the PR has falsely boasted that PPS "Made AYP" for several years and no one challenged it!

Fischetti may be gone but Chute is still cranking out only the good stuff at every opportunity.

Anonymous said...

I remember when Micheaux was offered a Dean of Students position in the mid 1990's and her response was something to the tune of "I don't work with directly with students." No wonder she was appointed as the Deputy Superintendent, none of the persons who've been hired at the top leaders in PPS from 2004 till present have any long term experience working in a classroom setting or even as a school based administrator. These think tank reformers have surely run PPS into the ground and it looks like the saga will continue with this appointment.

Anonymous said...

Two issues I find cloaked in the meeting. What about the food contract that was bid and then thrown out. One board member said that this needs discussion but nothing was said.
Also, why is Mr Brentley so intent on the city to get the trash contract? The city said they don't want it. I live in a large apartment building and we have commercial pick up. The city doesn't do commercial. Why is he so intent on this delay that could cost is in so many ways?
This board is becoming so fractured and secretive that I see a trend of obfuscation growing.
Mr Sumpter has been brilliant as board leader but has been faced with Mr Brentley interpretations of recent history. He referred to the grades from A Plus on the board at the meeting and seems to be growing weary of Mr Brentleys passive aggressive style. This is leading to more tight lips on issues to the point that I can't understand what is going unspoken. It seems that the whole meeting is an effort to say as little as possible on camera.

Anonymous said...

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/05/30/Wilkinsburg-school-board-disappointed-after-superintendent-s-departure/stories/201405300084

The article states that the job was not posted, but Lane developed a short list of candidates and chose Ms. Micheaux.

I wonder who else was on the "short" list? Obviously our new Board allowed her to do this and just rubber-stamped it. Interesting...

Anonymous said...

7:48 - You are on to something. It does seem that the new Board is attempting to ask all questions at sometime other than at meetings (which are on camera). If there is an attempt to conceal questions, problems, incompetence then there is a more serious problem than we know. The cameras are not serving a real purpose if cover-up is another district goal.

Questioner said...

An issue in starting with a short list developed by the superintendent is that when one person develops a list, very often she will tend to just choose people very much like herself. To obtain a diverse staff comprised of the best candidates, more input is needed.

Anonymous said...

Clearly this was an orchestrated move. The fact that the woman selected by Lane is another in a long line of PPS' hiring Broad people, really stinks. And the beat goes on and on... backroom deals.