Tuesday, January 31, 2017

US Secretary of Education nomination

Anonymous passed on this message:

"Pennsylvania friends: HIGH ALERT: Word is Senator Toomey (R-PA) might vote no on DeVos. Call first thing. People are getting through to his Allentown office 610-434-1444. Also try his Philadelphia office 215-241-1090. 
#resist"

Monday, January 16, 2017

PG editorial about PPS (minimal progress over the past 10 years)

Anonymous wrote:

"Here we go again with the P-G editorial board with a negative editorial about PPS.

http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017/01/15/A-bad-report-card-Reforms-galore-but-little-progress-in-city-schools/stories/201701310028

What exactly do they mean when they say, "If enrollment continues to fall - that is, if more families flee the district - the schools will only get worse."? By get worse, do they mean only students without parents or support systems to foster them will be left behind? 

The P-G praised Roosevelt and Lane, the Broad Foundation, and the Gates Foundation. In my opinion, these were all smoke and mirrors and contributed to getting PPS in a mess. Roosevelt got out while the getting was good. "

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Change of principals at Westinghouse (again)

Anonymous wrote:

"New post

I want to know why the former principal was on leave for a few months, then moved to an elementary school. I don't buy that it is because she was a spanish teacher. What is the real story?

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/01/10/Pittsburgh-Westinghouse-gets-new-principal/stories/201701100089 "

Friday, January 6, 2017

T. Sumpter not seeking reelection to School Board

Anonymous wrote:

"New post

This was already shared in the comments of an earlier post, but deserves its own thread

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2017/01/05/Sumpter-will-not-seek-re-election-for-Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-board/stories/201701050167

Tl;dr Sumpter will not run for reelection. Sala Udin may be considering it

Who would yinz like to see in the seat? "

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

A+ hiring of Republican political consulting firm

Anonymous wrote:

"Forgive me in advance if I sound rambling but I thought the topic important enough to risk being late for work to post this and ask for your opinions. The PG carried the article: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2016/12/16/Pittsburgh-based-Republican-political-consulting-firm-grows-outside-the-Beltway/stories/201612120044 on December 16, 2016.

To me the most pertinent line in the article was: “Cold Spark also has made inroads with non-political clients, including work for local school reform advocacy group A+ Schools and a Pittsburgh Diocese campaign to attract more candidates to the priesthood.”

Cold Spark is described as a GOP Political Consulting Firm. Was A+ unable to find a consulting firm not affiliated with any one political party in this town? I can’t be the only person bothered by this connection, can I? The director of A+ was a guest on the show Chris Moore does on PCNC and presented much of what we have heard in the past in terms of school performance. I suppose it is time to go back and read the organization’s mission statement and try to watch the episode again. I will also have my radar up to see if any candidate references A+ while giving a speech or answering a question. This just does not feel right to me. "