"How billionaires rule our schools"

http://dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=3781 (Winter 2011)

Smilarities to another Broad district

On another post Anonymous wrote:

I cannot find the find "start a new topic" thread! I hope this will be considered. As many people know PPS and Charlotte-Mecklenburg NC, (CMS)school districts have almost everything in common, although CMS is quite larger. They have a Broad superitendent, (Peter Gorman) who was replaced by another Broad graduate even though Gorman was driving the district into the ground. They also won the "Broad Prize" and the Gates Grant. I stumbled upon a blog very similar to Pure Reform about CMS and the conversations and concerns that community is having basically mirrors our community concerns. I found the following iPad thread...it seems too coincidental.


http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4020455191286536580&postID=6214786489489764225

That is one thread of many.

Debate over layorr criteria

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/debate-over-teacher-layoff-criteria-continues-637471/

The school connection seems thin

From WPXI:

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/police-search-gun-near-east-liberty-elementary-sch/nPC95/

An attempted robbery took place at night, the weapon was recovered in an apartment, the suspects are in custody; why even report that the police initially searched near a school?

Some of the media seem to go out of their way to mention PPS in connection with anything negative but this story is pulling in the school unnecessarily.

$500k+ to hire Success Schools as consultants

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-cutting-about-75-special-ed-positions-637272/

- It would be interesting to know how many hours are expected to be worked for the 500k and to calculate what the cost per hour per consultant will be. 

More on start times

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/debate-continues-over-starting-time-for-city-public-high-schoolers-637209/

Pittsburgh anticipates $3M from nonprofits

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-anticipating-3-million-from-nonprofits-636987/

- UPMC is not contributing, noting that it already contributes to the Pittsburgh Promise.  But, the school district is a separate taxing authority, and elected city officials did not have the opportunity to vote on whether the Pittsburgh Promise was the best and fairest use of money received in lieu of taxes.