tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post2162577985078984800..comments2023-08-24T05:24:51.011-04:00Comments on PURE Reform: PPS district financial conditionQuestionerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-42822435483445936472011-04-09T23:27:08.286-04:002011-04-09T23:27:08.286-04:00Yes, they do.Yes, they do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-45701411706046609112011-04-09T21:40:44.290-04:002011-04-09T21:40:44.290-04:00Wow, sounds familiar. MR must have liked George W...Wow, sounds familiar. MR must have liked George W. who also didn't want to hear or know about reality which is why this country is where it is today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-19200358043488234462011-04-09T12:52:05.523-04:002011-04-09T12:52:05.523-04:00At the time, word was that there was some sort of ...At the time, word was that there was some sort of financial issue. Something about MR never wanting to hear bad news or be reminded of financial issues that needed to be resolved. Maybe Chris Berdnik was pressured to go along and then was blamed, but this type of information is very difficult to obtain. Non disclosure agreements silence everyone.Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-62263119720042515752011-04-09T11:22:22.157-04:002011-04-09T11:22:22.157-04:00I am wondering if all this financial "mess&qu...I am wondering if all this financial "mess" is why the Chief Financial Officer, Chris Berdnik, resigned abruptly?? And, he filed suit and it quickly was settled. What did he know?<br /><br />He left and Roosevelt left. Interesting... makes you wonder.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-47897309401268627202011-04-08T21:25:44.592-04:002011-04-08T21:25:44.592-04:00Clayton is not the answer to solve all behavioral ...Clayton is not the answer to solve all behavioral problems. As someone stated previously, a parent must consent to placement there. Many parents continuously deny their child is the problem and like to say the school is the problem. Of the students referred there, more students don't go to Clayton than do go to Clayton. Parent refusal is very common.<br /><br />They don't take special education students and students already on Juvenile Probation.<br /><br />Also, the students who return from Clayton are often still the students who end up dropping out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-67145389790677264022011-04-08T12:40:22.476-04:002011-04-08T12:40:22.476-04:00I just heard an analogy that I think is fitting fo...I just heard an analogy that I think is fitting for the district. It is called the Mushroom Method. Mushrooms grow in the dark, and as soon as they pop their head above ground, someone chops their head off. Likewise, so many intelligent district employees, and city residents have been working hard to make the district's policies work and once they realize that it is not working and try to solve the problems and/or speak up, especially for those within the district, they get their head chopped off. It is better for the administration to 'just keep the course,' and they want to do so at all costs. Especially for all the Broad folks who can walk away from Pittsburgh as easily as they walked into it, once they have taken everything they can from the district and have completely destroyed it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-20929633415478211152011-04-08T10:59:21.415-04:002011-04-08T10:59:21.415-04:00Clayton hasn't closed yet. Kids are still bei...Clayton hasn't closed yet. Kids are still being sent there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-41228865896445717452011-04-08T10:27:59.980-04:002011-04-08T10:27:59.980-04:00And yet, someone noted yesterday that the social w...And yet, someone noted yesterday that the social worker at one of the high schools was being cut out of the budget. Where are our priorities?Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-3906231122652435042011-04-08T10:21:41.442-04:002011-04-08T10:21:41.442-04:00To Anon 9:39 AM
Your post regarding troublemaking...To Anon 9:39 AM<br /><br />Your post regarding troublemaking students says it all. Well done.<br /><br />Most people are unaware of the level of disruption, vulgarity, and often outright violence that occurs in our schools on a daily basis.<br /><br />If the PPS will address this in a meaningful way, then we can yet offer a quality education to those that want it.<br /><br />If the PPS will not address this, then nothing else at all matters. New computers, fancy new programs, all would be just a waste of time and money.Just Passing Throughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-21095660261917107012011-04-08T10:12:50.567-04:002011-04-08T10:12:50.567-04:00Clayton (CEP) will close soon if it has not alread...Clayton (CEP) will close soon if it has not already- the most recent info about the school was that it would be used for credit recovery, which many students are apparently doing by computer from other locations anyway. <br /><br />At the time CEP was approved the board accepted the idea that it would resolve the problem of disruptive students in grades 6 through 12, without really questioning whether this expectation was realistic.Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-52840749615166383912011-04-08T10:06:59.088-04:002011-04-08T10:06:59.088-04:00If Charter and Private schools were not allowed to...<b> If Charter and Private schools were not allowed to toss out their trouble makers, you would see the same decline in performance as PPS experiences. </b><br /><br />This is true. In fact, most studies show that if you control for SES public schools are the equal or better of most charters (only 17% of charters do better than their comparable public schools while 34% do worse!) and often of private schools too. <br /><br />I'd say that public schools need to figure out how to remove those kids who are interfering with other kids' learning AND how to reach them. Current choices of Clayton and the Options Center are only used for the more extreme cases and even then don't seem to have a whole lot of effect overall. <br /><br />I don't know what the answer is, but the current no limits, no boundaries policies that seem to be the norm are not helping anyone. They're probably hurting the kids they are aimed at the most too -- real life has real consequences and these kids who've played their PELA principals over and over again are going to be totally unprepared for that (and uneducated, too).Disgruntlednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-6124485462896854642011-04-08T09:45:57.129-04:002011-04-08T09:45:57.129-04:00The district solution a few years back for trouble...The district solution a few years back for troubled students was CEP. The plan wasn't really logical, though, A) because CEP would not take special ed students and B) because parents had to consent to the placement.<br /><br />Another approach- adequate social services at all schools- was proposed many times but rejected without explanation.Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-83355221821332403712011-04-08T09:39:33.756-04:002011-04-08T09:39:33.756-04:00Why are people flocking to charter and private sch...Why are people flocking to charter and private schools???? Because those schools can TOSS UNPRODUCTIVE and DIFFICULT students OUT!!! If your child is constantly harassed by students who do not want to be there and there is nothing the school district can do about it, wouldn't you prefer to go to a school where they are actually able to do something about it? Alternative schools are working because they can set guidelines that parents and students HAVE to adhere to. Period. Almost every charter school loses about 20% of their new students every year because the students refuse to follow the rules. Wouldn't it be nice it PPS had that ability? As dysfunctional as the administration of PPS is, and it is, the problem with the schools is that other than the magnet schools, they have no ability to get rid of students who have absolutely no desire to be there and attend simply to cause trouble. If Charter and Private schools were not allowed to toss out their trouble makers, you would see the same decline in performance as PPS experiences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-11762312311855185722011-04-08T09:24:53.806-04:002011-04-08T09:24:53.806-04:00Dr. Lane is so concerned about the deficit, but ye...Dr. Lane is so concerned about the deficit, but yet she gave lots of her friends raises and bonuses and the top tier iPads. Most of them don't even know how to send email or turn on their computer and now they are sporting ipads! Don't you think if you made more than 140K a year you could buy your own? Apparently not. The money that is spent on non-educational purposes is insane. Someone should go in and audit. Bet they would find lots of places to cut -- starting with most of the people at the top.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-30586579654056207432011-04-08T06:33:10.044-04:002011-04-08T06:33:10.044-04:00Anon 11:11, I think maybe Dr. Lane and Ms. Fischet...Anon 11:11, I think maybe Dr. Lane and Ms. Fischetti should take Pittsburgh's plight to Harrisburg. They need to show Corbett they dreamed big and worked hard for the big raises pushed through the night before the Governir released his budget.<br /><br />Isn't there any shame left on Bellefield? With unemployment still at above average levels, they have they hutzpah to cry poor when the district has the single largest fund balance among schools in the Commonwealth?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-64910733552980255062011-04-07T23:11:33.872-04:002011-04-07T23:11:33.872-04:00Enrollment has dropped precipitously over the last...Enrollment has dropped precipitously over the last decade.<br /><br />I few most entitled to expect a competitive cost per pupil from the 2nd largest school district in PA.<br /><br />This budget can be balanced and still leave PPS with the highest cost per pupil in Allegheny County and one of the top 20 in the state.<br /><br />No one should even hint of raising taxes until the cost structure put into play with Roosevelt's summer dreaming, Gates match, TIF match, the admin bonuses, etc.<br /><br />Do you really think it's acceptable to spend $5,000 plus more than our neighbors per pupil????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-36141388980107801502011-04-07T21:22:30.734-04:002011-04-07T21:22:30.734-04:00"Nice things cost money."-Oskar Schindle..."Nice things cost money."-Oskar Schindler.<br /><br />How is it that so many of us feel that we are entitled to a stagnant tax rate, year in and year out? At what point does one begin to read, think and comprehend?<br /><br />Obama did not cause the economic crisis that was handed to him. Linda Lane did not cause the crisis that was handed to her.<br /><br />In the case of the latter, not one program that is used by kids should be cut. Not one teacher should be cut.<br /><br />Dr.Lane, have the gumption to look at cuts, surely, but to raise taxes if need be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-92052427269154862612011-04-07T20:06:00.809-04:002011-04-07T20:06:00.809-04:00I urge everyone that has concerns about how the Su...I urge everyone that has concerns about how the Superintendent is going to cut the budget to take a very close look at the 2011 budget that was submitted and approved. Look at how extremely top heavy the District has become and what the salaries of these people are. One example is the CTE office, it one Director at over $100K, three support persons at approx. $80K a year and one classroom teacher. That's 1 director and 3 support personnel for ONE teacher. Another example is PELA, one Director at $100k+ and SEVEN support personnel making $100K apiece.<br /><br />At lower levels in the District we are all told to do more with less and when complaints are lodged the answer is a polite answer that is basically, "you could always find another job".<br /><br />Once again I strongly urge all to closely examine the APPROVED 2011 budget.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-54431346705234263982011-04-07T16:15:18.307-04:002011-04-07T16:15:18.307-04:00How are students supposed to achieve when they com...How are students supposed to achieve when they come to school with so many issues and there is no guidance and no one to make the appropriate referrals to help them? This is what will happen next year at Oliver High School. Oliver...a school with high poverty, low achievement, and high needs. The principal cut the school social worker from his budget. How could you NOT have a social worker at Oliver High School? Where is the logic behind this decision? This district is on a fast train to nowhere and is about to wreck!!!!Disgusted with the lack of leadershipnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-6463449070034222652011-04-07T09:07:47.507-04:002011-04-07T09:07:47.507-04:00Picking up on the "high expectations/conseque...Picking up on the "high expectations/consequences" theme and an earlier mention by a poster of discipline, has everyone considered that with the increase in class size anticipated due to budget issues we will see the ability to discipline further diminish?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-45545456305864788092011-04-07T08:33:59.521-04:002011-04-07T08:33:59.521-04:00Remember when Derrick Lopez would say we just need...Remember when Derrick Lopez would say we just needed high expectations?<br /><br />Without consequences high expectations don't amount to much. And, the existence of consequences tends to keep expectations realistic.Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-81801817964622769592011-04-07T02:50:18.425-04:002011-04-07T02:50:18.425-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07584188841756157067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-45882259274330321602011-04-06T22:23:35.356-04:002011-04-06T22:23:35.356-04:00"Remember, accountability is a major concept ..."Remember, accountability is a major concept for Broad!"<br /><br />Accountability counts only when it applies to someone else. Clearly Broad holds everyone else accountable for education, and itself only accountable for expansion of the Broad pre-eminence. And unfortunately, one does not depend on the other.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-7674384699977976042011-04-06T22:09:22.428-04:002011-04-06T22:09:22.428-04:00And yes, MR was extraordinarily persuasive. The f...And yes, MR was extraordinarily persuasive. The fact that he controlled such large amounts of money contributed to his persuasiveness.Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-6345121622322119432011-04-06T21:48:58.465-04:002011-04-06T21:48:58.465-04:00Since everyone seems to agree that the Broad Found...Since everyone seems to agree that the Broad Foundation bears some responsibility, maybe we can ask it for a bailout. Remember, accountability is a major concept for Broad!Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.com