TheWall

CTA Presidential Election

2012-02-02T20:37:00.004-05:00

Go Joe!

I look forward to the fray. This election season is gonna get good. Please make sure to vote!

Think about it: Anyone first elected to the CTA Presidential spot has had no experience in that position. The executive director and board provide the transitional support.

I rejoined to vote for Joe. I'll resign in June - and play wait and see.

HOORAY FOR JOE

2011-11-16T16:34:00.005-05:00

We support where you stand!

Whatcha doing?

Hey Joe

A middle school teacher can not teach at a high school unless certified and yet that same non-certified teacher can go into a high school class and EVALUATE the high school teacher? And vice-versa.

There's a reason professional football TV analyst/commentators don't work NASCAR races.

We are sewing the parachute during free fall.

see comment 3

The BUS To CHARTER

2011-11-09T17:01:00.006-05:00

Did you know that according to a recent report from the US Dept. of Agriculture it cost a total of almost $227,000 (not including college) to raise a child born in 2010 through the age of 17?
That's an average of $13,352.94 a year!
A beginning teacher making $33,000.00 a year brings home at least $26,400.00
Hillsborough teachers, under the Gates grant dictates have a moving salary. Steps, raises, employment is questionable from year to year.

Teaching: becoming another form of birth control - something that could have prevented the birth of crack, meth, and oxycontin addicted babies entering our schools.

CAN'T FORGET CAN'T FORGIVE

2011-09-11T12:48:00.001-04:00

You may have to tolerate an ad.

Link to video on Neil Young's site

Neil Young - Let's Roll by LeBalayeur

GAMING THE SYSTEM

2011-08-12T20:35:00.005-04:00

It turns out that the only way to figure out what skills teachers are learning from video games is to trick them -- at least, that's what this author theorizes.

I need $6,000,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to work on "stealth" assessments embedded in video games that will measure teacher's persistence, problem solving, conceptual physics, patience, texting-spelling-math abilities and credit score while they play. The grant will help me find ways to extract that data from the teacher-player files to study it.

Game designers from Champagne, IL are currently considering a game loosely based on Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Grand Theft Auto. It may display icons of politicians, administrators and stereotypical faculty, staff and students. Reek Scott, Charlatan Daniels, Gunner Dockerty?

Teachers wishing to participate should check back for an application. This application will require you to name a student who really needs to be left behind - far, far behind. Those applicants who name the same student will receive bonus points.

Click here.

WANT FLIES WITH THAT?

2011-06-05T11:23:00.003-04:00

Governor Scott,

You really screwed a large portion of your state economy.

Our disposable income has been cut by 3%.
Our health-care contributions and deductibles have increased.
Our future retirement has been reduced.
Our property taxes have gone up to pay for the reduced state contributions.
Our property insurance has increased - substantially - and we are playing provider roulette.
Our fuel costs to "get to work" have steadily risen.
Our licensing fees have increased by more than I like to think.
Our property values have fallen - but the taxes haven't.
Some of us have our job security resting on the performance of crack-babies, social-mals, resistant illegals, dysfunctional borderlines, and the new ab-normals - all measured by a questionable test.

We must find additional sources of income and hope the extra money doesn't push us into another bracket. Its gonna be a hot summer when the teen jobs are taken by your public employees.

We will cut corners and get back to basics - shop during tax-free days or go out of state where clothing isn't taxed and the kids can look good for less. Pay/take cash under the table when we can.

Some of us will shop and buy stuff on-line. Troll for sales, no taxes, free shipping, no gas.

New car? Are you kidding?

Buy a house? Maybe in another state.

New career? Maybe in another state that doesn't mock our teacher experience as "edu-clerks".

I know its hard trying to understand us regular folks - kinda like Mick Jagger trying to remember what it was really like "practicing in the garage" and playin' in the pubs - but there is only one way we balance our checkbook. My family requires my efforts first.

See ya at the drive-thru - then the voting booth (if I last that long).

Sincerely,

Suzie

GET THIS SHIRT - YOU WEAR IT WELL

2011-04-03T11:00:00.009-04:00

Buy this shirt.

For all I bring to the classroom day after day this taps into my gut feelings. It says it all. Maybe we could use this design and post signs in the median of ALL highways leading INTO Florida and ALL roads leading OUT of airports. It's a sentiment that crosses political boundaries and philosophies.

Google "Kilroy was here", wear this shirt and get the message out!

Extra Credit to "Midnite Moose"!

IF 6 WAS 9 vol. 2

2011-03-04T18:06:00.004-05:00

Look at the last check you got in 2010. How much was taken out for FRS?

On mine the total was about 10% of my gross salary.

Somebody please tell me:

Does the governor want me to pay 5% of what was taken out? About $220.00

OR

Does the governor want me to pay 5% of my gross salary? About $ 2200.00

Which is 50 freakin' percent of the contribution!

WE ALREADY CONTRIBUTE 5% GOVERNOR

2011-02-07T23:13:00.002-05:00

Our Florida Retirement System contribution is already taken out of our salary. Look at your pay stub and your will see it listed on the bottom. It was explained to me that the FRS contribution is included in the state's salary cost and therefore included the money package that Florida feeds the district. The district then sends the state the FRS contribution in our name.

If we are required to pay the 5% from our gross pay WITHOUT being given the 5% upfront that is included in the salary calculation - then we are really losing 10%!!! Plus are we taxed on the money? If so then how can we be taxed when we "redeem" it?

If they slide the money from the state to us ( as a raise?) and we are forced to give it back to the state then all that has happened is a slick-rick shell game!

Since we are then sending money in our name, don't we have the expectation that all money contributed by us will revert to our heirs if we die before collecting? Now the state just keeps it! Which perversly make some sense.

This is nuts!

Time to make ourselves REALLY HEARD.

We must join the cops and firefighters in this and be ready to take a stand.

We must remember that gambling proceeds will never find their way to their target. Need I remind you of the lottery-education connection? Some promise, huh?

NO TEACHER LEFT STANDING

2011-01-11T17:43:00.003-05:00

Teacher Training Video - required watching for all U.S.F. ed majors?

Differentiated Instruction extra credit.

TAKEN FOR GRANT-ED

2010-12-26T14:30:00.003-05:00

Larry Cuban uncovers and posts some truly remarkable things.

How many futures are riding on the Gates grant?

"Then Bill Gates said in his 2009 Annual Letter that while these small urban high schools had accomplished much for students they had largely failed to improve academic achievement."

WHO LET THE DOGma OUT?!

2010-12-13T19:26:00.000-05:00

Little Willie, Will He?, Won't...GO HOME!

2010-11-24T15:55:00.002-05:00

Again: HAT's OFF TO LARRY!

With increased access to new technologies, there is little reliable and valid evidence showing that these technology investments have yielded gains in student achievement.

Forget Early Release - Testing Schedule

2010-11-14T13:56:00.004-05:00

DATE	TEST	GRADE/COURSE
Sept. 1- 30, 2010	FLKRS / FAIR	K-2
Sept. 7-30, 2010 Tentative**	Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading (FAIR)	3rd – 12th
Sep. 11, 2010	ACT (select sites)	10th-12th
Oct. 9, 2010	SAT I & II (select sites)	10th-12th
Oct. 13, 2010	PSAT (all sites)	9th -11th (ALL 9-10)
Oct. 18-22, 2010	HS FCAT Retake Test	Retained 10th, 11-Adult
Oct. 23, 2010	ACT (select sites)	10th-12th
Nov. 6, 2010	SAT I & II (select sites)	10th-12th
Nov. 16-18, 2010	District Benchmark Exam Writing	11th & 12th (Retakes)
Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2010	District Benchmark Exam Writing	2nd & 5th
Nov. 30- Dec.3, 2010	Personal Fitness Exam	Select Students
Dec. 3- Jan. 14, 2011 Tentative**	Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading (FAIR)	K-12th
Dec. 4, 2010	SAT I & II (select sites)	10th-12th
Dec. 7-8, 2010	FCAT Writing Prompt Field Test	Selected Schools (4,8,10)
Dec. 11, 2010	ACT (select sites)	10th-12th
Jan. - Feb. 2011	National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)	Selected Schools (4,8,12)
	Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA)
Jan.11-14, 2011	Semester Exams	9th-12th
Jan. 10- Feb. 25, 2011	Florida Alternate Assessment (ESE)	3rd-11th
Jan. 22, 2011	SAT I & II (select sites)	10th-12th
Feb. 12, 2011	ACT (select sites)	10th-12th
Feb. 22-25, 2011	District Benchmark Exam Writing	2nd
March- TBA	CELLA	K-12 (ELL)
Mar. 1-3, 2011	FCAT Writing Assessment	(4,8,10)
Mar. 7-11, 2011	District Benchmark Exam Writing	11th & 12th (Retakes)
Mar. 8-11, 2011	District Benchmark Exam Writing	5th (Retakes)
Mar. 12, 2011	SAT I & II (select sites)	10th-12th
Mar. 28- Apr. 7, 2011	National NRT Test	1st & 2nd
Mar. 30-Apr. 6, 2011	FCAT Retakes	11th-Adult
Apr. 1-May 27, 2011 Tentative**	Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading (FAIR)	K-12th
Apr. 9, 2011	ACT (select sites)	10th-12th
Apr. 11-21, 2011	FCAT Reading, Math, Science Assessment	3rd-11th
May 2-13, 2011	AP Exams	10th-12th
May 7, 2011	SAT I & II (select sites)	10th-12th
May 9-13, 2011	Personal Fitness Exam	Select Students
May 9-13, 2011	District Benchmark Exam Writing	12th only -- if needed
May 10-13, 2011	District Benchmark Exam Writing	2nd & 5th (Retakes)
May 16-20, 2011	EOC Algebra	All enrolled students & All 9th G
Week of May 23, 2011	National NRT Test	3rd (Portfolio)
May 24-27, 2011	District Benchmark Exam Writing	2nd & 5th (Retakes) Only—if needed

June 1, 2011	Semester Exams	9th-11th
June 4, 2011	SAT I & II (select sites)	10th-12th
June 11, 2011	ACT (select sites)	10th-12th
July 27-28, 2011	National NRT Test	1st-3rd

Field Tests:	Geometry EOC Select Sites	May 23-27
	Biology EOC Select Sites	May 23-27
**Pending final District Instructional Calendar

Anyone care to guesstimate the amount of time taken away from curriculum or out of class for testing?

THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

2010-11-04T05:26:00.003-04:00

In case you missed this gem From Larry Cuban- "Hats Off To Larry" - check out the post.

“The Flight of a Butterfly” or “The Flight of a Bullet”: The Impossible Dream of Transforming Teaching into a Science"

The point of all this is to be clear that, yes, some parts of teaching can be improved through scientific studies. Empirical findings time and again have improved teaching from decoding skills in reading to classroom management. But what has been learned from science is not the lion’s share of what constitutes daily teaching. As Philip Jackson said in 1968:

“teaching is an opportunistic process [where] … neither the teacher or [her] students can predict with any certainty exactly what will happen next. Plans are forever going awry and unexpected opportunities …are constantly emerging. The seasoned teacher seizes upon these opportunities and uses them to … his student’s advantage.”

Surprise and uncertainty greet teachers daily even for their best-planned lesson. Experienced teachers know this in their bones and in finessing the unpredictability of classroom life (or flopping) know that few researchers, especially among VAM-obsessed ones–care for such artistry because it cannot be connected to students’ test scores.

Those who still dream of engineering classrooms into rational places where empirically-derived prescriptions help teachers become effective have failed to grasp that daily teaching is a mix of artistry, science and uncertainty.

*Philip Jackson, Life in Classrooms, 1968, pp. 166-167."

SEND OUT THE CLONES

2010-10-27T05:31:00.002-04:00

We need a total effort to stop agreeing to allow interns in our classroom.

There will be no consideration for them in the "final analysis" of your students' progress. In other words if you get an ineffective intern IT WILL COST YOU!

Do you really want to sacrifice your "salary enhancements" or school grade to benefit a university system that has NOT come to your defense?

Please think carefully before agreeing. Does Charlottin Daniels allow for interns?

Stop being a tool! Just politely say no.

IN SYNC

2010-09-18T17:38:00.004-04:00

Teachers, if you care about your job and your future may I suggest you get to the polls and VOTE:

FOR Alex Sink.

It's unlikely that enough of those legislators that tried SB6 will be thrown out. I believe if, actually I hear they will try those shenanigans again. I am confident Ms. Sink will use her VETO power. Thank God Charlie stood up for us.

AGAINST Amendment 8.

The citizens of Florida approved the Class Size Amendment because of a basic distrust in those same legislators, mentioned above, to do what the public wanted. The schools have struggled to abide by the Class Size Amendment in the 8 years they were given. Remember the lost conference? Our politicians procrastinated and underfunded. NOW they are asking to change it - kind of like asking "Can we turn it in later?" NO on Amendment 8! Talk to your friends and neighbors who have kids in school.

REELECT NOBODY

Without a doubt, teachers who have worked for Bartels actually WANT him on the board. Not because he was a push-over or anything but "respect" keeps coming up. I have to go with that.

Even though I can't get much on Terry Kemple I'm rooting for him. I'd love to find out how he feels about SB6 , the CSA, the Gates Grant, and our lost conference period.
Wonder how he would apply his business skills to specific district issues?

He NEEDS TO BE ELECTED

2010-09-10T05:43:00.002-04:00

Got this email recently and decided to make it a posting. S.C.

Suzie,

Your endorsement of Richard Bartels is much appreciated. I worked for him, saw him in action and can vouch for his integrity, insight, and performance under pressure.

He is NO insider but knows the inner workings of the district. He was tapped to straighten out the bus mess at its peak and handled it in true Bartels fashion - effective and efficient. He will hit the ground running without the need for the "Board Member Manual" training.

As principal Bartel's ALWAYS respected our First Amendment rights. His door was always open and he wasn't afraid to listen no matter how thin his patience was with some of the issues (he is human).

Below is a collection of emails from teachers (all from personal email accounts) that may attest to what you already know: He is the best candidate - PERIOD.

We just need to put him in the District 4 seat.

*********************************
Hi, there, C. Long time, no hear. What follows is part of an exchange of e-mails between K. M. and me. Richard brought yard signs to my house (I live close), I contributed to the campaign, and I saw him speak at the candidate forum at Bell Shoals Baptist. I am including their e-mail addresses in case you need them.

s h

+++++++++++++++++++++

K:

Absolutely count me in.

When I heard White speak at the prayer meeting at Bell Shoals Baptist, several things occurred to me. (By the way, Richard wasted his two minutes with actual facts and plans and completely forgot to pander to the audience!)

White feels his qualification for running for school board is the fact that he has children of school age. I plan to ask him, when the opportunity presents itself, if I, as a consumer of blood pressure medicine, cholesterol medicine and vertigo medicine, would be similarly qualified to run for the pharmaceutical board.

Further, he wants to brand Richard as an "insider." That would be remarkably amusing if not for the fact that White can sell this tripe. I would venture to say that Richard is probably the MOST qualified person ever to run for school board and that he knows more about curriculum, budgets, and school management than most of the actual insiders. White's approach, apparently, is that a citizen's board of non-education people would be preferable to people who understand how the system works -- and doesn't work.

I admit I am floored that there are principals and teachers who would not support Richard. Just goes to show you how naive I am.

So count me in.

I am ready.

S. H.

*********************************

Hello Friends and Supporters,

I send out this email because we are getting down to the time when we need to take some serious action if Richard is going to be elected in November @ the General elections.

As you all know, Rich came in second to his now run-off opponent, Stacy White, a pharmacist in district 4, our same district. He has been gathering up speed among his kids' school, PTA members at (we think) Buckhorn Elementary, and his church. His supporters are many of his clients as well as many teachers we know, and don't know. He has two former principals backing him. His knowledge of the issues at hand for our schools seems to be limited to the fact that his wife is a PTA member and his children are in school.

Anyone who knows Richard knows and sees that he is by far the better candidate with solid solutions to some of our districts major concerns. He does his homework and with his 38 years of educational livelihood and leadership roles, he knows what of he speaks. He has in fact hired some of you (and me as well), to whom I write today. We also know and have known him as "The Teachers' Principal" as he, a former HS Principal himself, has always supported good teachers and effective principals everywhere. A no nonsense administrator who garners respect from the district's teachers, parents, students, and administrators alike.

We need all of your help, and all of your friends and neighbors help in order to give back to the community of which he has served.

If you or anyone you know would be interested in having a small gathering, a sort of Meet-n-Greet fundraiser, for a couple hours on a weekday after work, let us know. Also, we need a group willing to gather forces to set up on busy intersections with signs, from about 4-6:30 pm. as the General Election moves closer. Kids are welcome, the more the better.

Please let me know, and remember, a vote for Richard is a vote for you, your community, the teachers the students, and the parents who want to make things better.

We need your help,

Thanks so much,
K.

***********************************

Hello fellow teachers! I hope all is well with the beginning of the new school year :-) I'm emailing you to ask for your support for Richard Bartels for SDHC school board. As you are well aware, Faliero has been booted out of District 4. There will be a November run off for the District 4 seat between Stacy White (a pharmacist) and Richard Bartels (retired teacher, assistant principle, and principle!) Clearly, there is no comparison in regards to the experience between the two!

Please support Richard in his quest to once again serve the teachers and students of SDHC as he has done in the past. I can with out a doubt vouch for his dedication and support for the teachers of SDHC. Richard was my principle at Freedom High School until his retirement. During the turbulent 6/7 plan protests, Richard always supported his teachers who were speaking out against the 6/7 plan at the school board meetings. Unlike other principles in the district, Richard not only supported but encouraged his teachers to be active in expressing their concerns. When the school board called Bartels and requested that he "discourage" his teachers from going against the board in a public forum he once against demonstrated his support by essentially telling the school board to kiss off! This is the type of man we need on the school board! Richard is willing to tell it like it is, has and will support teachers and students, and puts learning and academics as a priority.
If you live in District 4, VOTE! If you don't live in District 4 you can still help out. Please visit his web page at www.richardbartels.com or you can follow his campaign facebook page "The Richard Bartels School Board District 4 Campaign". Spread the word to colleagues and friends. You can also volunteer to work with his campaign or send a small donation. WE NEED RICHARD BARTELS ON THE BOARD!

S. P. :-)

AN OPEN LETTER TO "A.M. TAMPA BAY"

2010-09-05T09:56:00.022-04:00

Dear Jack, Tedd, Allison et al.,

I weary of the ADHD, ADD, AH, etc. characteristics so prevalent in local talk shows. The latest calendar dust-up tipped the scales for me.

1) We have purposefully and willingly given up control over our schools.
* We send our tax money to DC or Tallahassee and never get it back dollar for dollar.
* We allow "Big Gov", "Big Ed", "Big Pub", "Big Test" and now "Big Bill" to dictate our every move and enforce the dictates by threatening to withhold monies. Most often our own money!
* Remember "the lottery will SUPPLEMENT education" lie?

2) Our parents got so fed up with the districts loading up the classroom with kids that a Constitutional Amendment was passed (by majority) limiting class size.
* Have our representatives responded in a mature fashion? Nope. They have whined like high school freshman who just heard about the tardy policy enforcement and are asking the public "Please take it away, take it away."
* All districts had the same amount of time to comply: build, hire, and anticipate. This too costs money. Did YOUR representatives respond or participate in a "whine and jeez fest"? Did you bother to ask any of them?

3) This blog was born when Superintendent Elia's approach to the CSA was to strip the teachers of their second conference period.
* Review the past posts on this blog and those under "Link Floyd-Linka Wray". Check your past email for my email asking for your support to block this action and review the numerous shortcuts the classroom teachers would have to take in order to survive.
* The "early release" days are an attempt to provide teachers with the time they lost. Sorry if this conflicts with the parents work schedule but this is a consequence of the CSA, the lost conference period, parental complaints about parent-teacher communications, slow test grading turnaround and EdLine updates. I heard NO parental solutions to this issues. It's really all about day care and vacations. If it weren't we would hear workable solutions.
* If the public votes to change the CSA then they have rewarded the passive-aggressive political behavior with NO viable positive replacement for their children. (see lottery lie)

* For the umpteenth time: We are NOT represented by a UNION - it is an ASSOCIATION! There is a fundamental difference that you refuse to recognize and as such do a disservice to the public who are equally in the dark. Once again - review previous posts on this and other blogs. A real union would have "walked". We got "throated".

4) Do you realize how much time is spend "evaluating adequate student progress" as dictated by "Big Gov"?
* This means "testing". The students are pulled out of class THREE times this year for FAIR testing - a computer based reading assessment (test) requiring at least a full period to complete. Last year some students where out FIVE times.
* FCAT or the looming End of Year Testing. That's 3 to 5 days out of class - more if you are a "special needs" student (by the way the definition is getting ridiculously broad) since their time can be unlimited.
* "Big Gov" tells us when we must administer the FCAT and FAIR test and what percentage of students must be tested - or else. Ostensibly so we can have the results in time (cue: sarcastic laughing after this year's debacle)
* We are also required to test those speakers of languages other than English out of class settings.
* No matter what you call it - No Child Left Behind, Race To The Top, The Gates Grant - until you can "flunk" a student and require that student to repeat a grade or subject until mastery is displayed, until you can remove the thugs and felons preying on campus - it don't mean diddly!

5) Is it any reason our Calendar Committee and school board botched this year's calendar?
* Those citizens had to try and shoot a moving target. "Big Gov" made a mistake and had to move the FCAT dates.
* There was the "tolerance and diversity" dance.
* Parents had issues with proposed everything.
* Board members were trying to win political races, deal with personal problems and are really out of touch with the classroom - preferring elementary school photo-ops to down and dirty middle/high school visits.
* Just because you attended a school does not qualify you to run one. Got a thoughtful idea? Experience the fire and join the committee.
* These are "early release" days. TWO HOURS shorter. Some creative principals are using these days as "club days" - something required for accreditation. It encourages students to form and join clubs and then attend meetings on days where ALL classes are equally shortened. Its really win/win. Oh, and clubs are sponsored by teachers who assume the responsibility without additional pay. Its also a good time for tutoring and make-up work for other students. It does happen: I do it and so do others. Are there teachers who may be "slackers"? Sure, but no administrator I ever worked for put up with it. They fixed it - often with multiple classroom clubday observations.

6) Scatter thoughts:
* Teachers must prepare and perform in greater time spans than the 15 minute radio rating segments. If we don't hit our demo we are immediately toast.
* Even though we can recycle our lesson plans from period to period we must sometimes prepare for 3 different audiences in a day. Somebody needs to preread her segues, intros, and spots. We do share peers who speak in monotone and the results are the same. "click"
* We do not have the ability to pretape and replay anything.
* We are only as good as our last encounter with our "audience".
* We have an association (NOT a UNION!) that must negotiate with the School Board and it is not always the association who drives the issues but they must respond to them.
* Teachers do not teach to get rich but we also do not like having the collective target on our back. BTW: Anyone try to take out the Clear Channel DJ's like that LETO kid? You guys got security and swipe cards right? We got - lucky.
* Barring a major political uprising we will never get back our local control over schools. (I'd hope to see a school board member get taken out in cuffs for standing up on this issue.)

Sincerely and without malice,

Suzie Creamcheese

Apologies to my regulars - there is so much more but I'm afraid I'd lose a lot of first timers if I got to long-winded.

THROUGH THE PAST DARKLY

2010-08-26T19:17:00.004-04:00

For as angry as Candy made us I find it hard to believe she got 68% of the vote. Maybe it was SoHo pity that got her through the election. Guess you South Tampa teachers forgot about her comments during the 6 out of 7 throating we took.

Candy Olson - $25,007 vs. Frank Hernandez - $4,625

Life and the public finally caught up with Jennifer. Now the race is between:

Stacey White - $12,498.06 vs. Richard Bartels - $3,259.06

White spent 4 times the money for only 37 percent of the vote. 7% more than Bartels. I really like Bartels since Faliero threw her support on White all the while ole Stacey was accusing Bartels of being an insider? Huh? Her support of White leads me to endorse BARTELS. Bartels did nothing to prevent his teachers from speaking out against the 6 out of 7 throating. I respect that.

April Griffin - $44,447.65 vs. Sally Harris - $13,773.35 vs. Terry Kemple - $34,624.97 is a tough one. April met with teachers and listened to them during the 6 of 7 throating. She seems to have lost her fire and fallen under Elia's spell. Sally spent more than she took in and that exposes a flaw in my opinion. This leads me to root for Terry Kemble.

For the intrepid among you click down through the links and read who contributed to who - especially if you want to see who the insiders may be. Keep in mind what a starting teacher makes when you see these totals.

So come on folks - get out there in November! Encourage your neighbors.

If you need motivation just read the past posts.

BreakTime

2010-06-23T16:15:00.003-04:00

Suzie's on break - from everything but...

-meantime please check out the blogs on the right.

A STATE THAT DOESN'T CARE

2010-04-04T10:56:00.003-04:00

DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

2010-04-02T13:31:00.008-04:00

1) People are moving out of Florida looking for work or just fed up.

2) The tax base has eroded (see #1) - homes are vacant, selling for less, values are down, no one is buying like they used to - sales tax revenue is down. All tax revenue is down.

3) Cities, like Tampa, acknowledge the trend and are cutting services and positions - to raise the tax rate is self-defeating.

4) Teachers, cops, firemen, judges and others who participate in the Florida Retirement System - which has remained strong during these times - are being targeted for benefit cutbacks, broken promises mean nothing. Looks like the Social Security template - break open the lock box.

5) Teachers are being subjected to heavy handed political bills designed to fundamentally change their pay structure. I won't bore you by repeating how severe and unfair they are. If you are here - you know.

What's coming:

The most experienced talented teachers will go where the money is: out of state, at worst or at best another career.

More homes go up for sale.

** If they sell, they sell for less and all values go down. With the reduction in value, the tax base (and revenues) decline.
** They are replaced with inexperienced and recently graduated teachers who see the futility of not enrolling in graduate degrees (because there is no financial incentive to do so then the post grad university closes or is downsized). They take the job with the intention of gaining experience before moving to a state that pays more.
** The newly hired have no money or intention to buy any of the houses up for sale because they are not committed to staying. They rent or lease. Student loans are due.
** The other pool of potential talent will be drawn from states that pay even less than Florida - states that have fallen below Florida in education.
** Businesses (already aware of the shallow labor pool) will be reluctant (even with tax breaks) to locate to Florida. Employee push-back will occur due to concern over the education system. Think Bill Gates has ever considered moving MS to Florida?
** Retirees hear the horror stories and begin to look elsewhere.
** Not even Disney can shore up the state.

The CREAMCHEESE SOLUTION

2010-03-27T09:54:00.005-04:00

Dear Reader/Followers,

The bullshit tachometer has hit the red zone and my gaskets are blown - which may be good. Perhaps this idea may be described as "out-of-the-block".

IF the state REALLY wants this thing fixed:

1) They will pay EVERY teacher $50,000 to start. The individual districts will add whatever they need to in order to attract who they need to. Contract length will be negotiated teacher by teacher - upfront. This will allow for advanced degrees and achievements. The additional funding will be based, of course, on their tax base. There are NO school district boundaries except for busing. No school bus service? HART-line or parent carpool.

2) Tests are established by the state and based on state standards/outcomes. Every student who passes the end-of-year test the first time will add an additional $100 (state paid) bonus to the teacher. Second attempt $25 bonus. After that nothing.

3) Students have NO attendance requirements after 6th grade. If they don't WANT to attend or get sick - no harm, no foul. All classes are performance based: once the student passes the end-of-year test they move to the next curriculum level or class. The state will establish curriculum - like they do now. Schools may add to it and promote any specialties which must also comply with the same state requirements. The state establishes curriculum "tracks" (college-bound, basic citizen, vocational). Students may move among them at will. Art and Music? (see sports below)

4) If the student feels confident they can schedule a time to take the test at any time - on a Saturday. The state will notify the student within one week if the test has been passed and the student can then choose the next course offered. Until the class actually starts? Vacation has been earned. If the student does not pass the end of the year test early - the student returns to class and must wait until the actual end of the year for another opportunity. After a third attempt - over the summer - if the student does not pass: that's it - really it - maybe the talent or skill just wasn't there. Choose another class and give it a shot. The curriculum includes an array of vocational offerings.

5) Once state graduation requirements are met the student is invited to the schools graduation ceremony - unless they have already matriculated to college or advanced trade/art school.

6) Administrators and counselors, freed of the associated behavior crap, get paid $50,000 a year. State bonus of $10 per student paid for FIRST time passing only. They proctor - with a teacher(s) the Saturday testing session.

7) Sports? Hell, they are farm teams anyway. Coaches are hired by the schools and paid by a fee the student pays. Limited "sport-ships" are provided for students too challenged to afford the fee. Students must display a state established level of "academic performance" as reflected by their end of year testing success. Coaches will have a vested interest in supporting their athletes academic development and the athlete will graduate with the abilities to succeed in college or life.

8) Every student will look to getting the necessary education in 1st through 6th (which will also have state established end-of-year-tests without the high school option) since they will be "empowered" with the control over their future education. Have a graduation ceremony here too - make it an accomplished step and invite them into their own future enthusiastically.

9) Special needs students and teacher will have a similar template which (if the state allows some degree of reasonable teacher input) will provide a more mainstream approach to student needs and less focused on the "entertain and house" mentality that it so ofter deteriorates to. This should allow for more sincere parent-teacher support and evaluation of the special needs community and less "letter-of-the-law" - "check-this-box" compliance.
(Admittedly my special-needs experience has been limited but personal.)

I'm sure to get this thing ripped apart and fully expect the "flaming" to begin but my gaskets are blown anyway and like I said I've had it with the bullshit - let the rubber hit the road.

WHO'LL BE THE NEXT IN LINE ?!!

2010-03-13T10:12:00.003-05:00

New candidates file for School Board.

Go to the bottom of the page! We need to encourage, support, and fund these challengers.

The last figures I saw indicate HCTA alone represents 14,815 teachers and about 4,000 educational support personnel, such as clerical workers and aides.

We have the muscle to swing an election - do we have the fortitude to do it?

WELCOME TO THE CLUB

2010-03-12T17:41:00.005-05:00

The state wants to cut school board pay.

Board member Jennifer Faliero predicted an "exodus" of school board members throughout the state if Wise's proposal survives the legislative budget process this spring.

But Candy Olson suggested legislators could also look at cutting their own staffs to help balance the budget.
*******************************************************************************************
Dear Board members,

You now feel our pain. It took about 2 and a half years but you now know how we felt when you took away our 2nd conference period but not our duties or responsibilities. You held us responsible for keeping up the momentum. You ignored our concerns. More money? Ha!

Ironic how you predict an exodus of school board members but think that your actions don't shrink the teacher labor pool. You whine that the legislature should cut their staff while cutting our support staff, you combine supervisor responsibilities instead of filling the open positions, and continue to expect more of your employees than you yourself are willing to expend.

Suck it up folks - Its time for you to be the role model - or step aside. Look at the past posts that document your behavior and response to your employee concerns.

With a 13% unemployment rate, a mayor who wants to increase the sales tax for a train of dubious need, a governor who wants another job, and a small business environment that is paralyzed with doubt about ObamaCare - the economy won't get much better any time soon.

We need leaders - not whiny politicos.

CALL FOR COMMENTS

2010-02-20T17:23:00.002-05:00

There are so just many reasons to stop this Gates Grant in its tracks.

I have heard more negative that positive at this point. The negative are so logical that I wonder what else is behind the scenes we don't know about.

The "town hall" I attended was contentious and bitter. The district response did nothing to quell my reservations. Was that an anomaly?

NOTHING COUNTS - NOBODY CARES #6

2010-01-31T10:11:00.011-05:00

Return Common Sense To Class Size Reduction

NOT!

NEVER!

A BAIT & SWITCH SCAM!

The public voted for this because our politicians refused to listen to their wants. Now the politicians want to weasel out of what the voters CONSTITUTIONALLY required.

They MUST follow the voters wishes UNLESS they succeed in changing the amendment.

Don't get fooled!

No matter how you felt about the amendment most voters believed it was the only route left after decades of broken promises, lackluster funding and superficial support of education.

Teachers who admitted they voted for it also admitted that they had no faith in their politicians or school board - minor distinction - to fund education properly.

Our Board and Superintendent retaliated by ramming teaching 6 out of 7 down our throats. Read previous posts if you just came aboard.

Do you really think they will rescind the extra period we are required to teach?

Do you think CTA has a strategy prepared?

Do you really think the board will "average class loads" without including guidance counselors, media specialists, tech specialists, curriculum specialists, psychologists and anyone else they can stretch the definition of "student contact" to cover? All to make it look good on paper.

"Averaging" will make it possible for you to have classes with 35 students in each class and still only have one conference period - while your next door neighbor can have 18.

That was the standard operating procedure and the public finally caught on.

Some totally incompetent administrators take the easy way out when scheduling - a deadly and gruesome combination for unhappy teachers and lower morale.

This attempt, if successful, will only make the coming storm over the Gates-inspired teacher evaluation instrument WORSE.

Don't fall for it. Don't let anyone else fall for it. Stay alert on this one. Get vocal.

WE WON'T BE FOOLED AGAIN

GASP!-PARILLA

2010-01-30T13:10:00.010-05:00

More questions about the Gates grant funding continue to nag teachers and district officials.

Here's what the Web Site did NOT provide but the paper did. My text emphasis and inserts.

"The Hillsborough school district's $100 million dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation requires a local contribution of about $102 million over seven years. (Not exactly matching.) Here's where some of the local money may come from.

* $8 million dollars a year now spent on staff development
* $16 million a year now used for computer labs
* $10 million a year from the state-mandated Merit Award Program which pays teachers based on student performance
* $30 million a year in new grants through the districts grant development
* $5 million to $6 million a year from the non-profit Hillsborough Education Foundation
* $24 million dollars through the Race To The Top program, from federal stimulus funds

Source: Hillsborough County school district officials"
********************************************************************************************

This program is based on "vapor-bucks". Money that can not be counted because it does not yet exist.

* If Staff Development can withstand an $8 million dollar hit, how bloated are they and has the district flushed all the FPMS investment down the toilet? At least the Florida Performance Measurement System was data and research supported. Hell, everyone was adapting to it.
* If Mary Ellen's "I Can Learn" computer lab initiative and technology plan can withstand a $16 million dollar hit, how big is it? Will it be decimated? Will computer-based testing programs (FAIR, FCAT, etc.) and software curriculum programs (Grade Recovery: Plato, Compass), I Can Learn, FCATexplorer, iStation, RenaissanceLearning, Read180, Reading Counts!, etc) be abandoned because the software demands outpace the hardware?
We are in dire need of more bandwidth as we try integrating more technology into our curriculum and all THAT takes is money.
* "which pays teachers based on student performance" - Are we really surprised that we are paying for our own pay cuts! Where the heck is HCTA on this !@#$!
oh and of note: "state-mandated" must now mean "optional" to our officials - raincoats and handcuffs may be in the future forecast if the state has anything to say about it - if not: let the floodGATES be opened!
* $30 million - 30% from new grants that haven't been written or awarded yet. This rivals "The Psychic Hotline" !
* I am no longer doing anything that contributes to the Hillsborough Education Foundation since they are supporting this convoluted scheme to limit your salaries. I find this unconscionable.
* $24 million from RTT - once again: one time "Obama bucks", I don't even know where to begin on this one.

Maybe you do -

I'VE GOT A FEELING (A Feeling Deep Inside, oh yeah)

2010-01-22T19:44:00.009-05:00

It's been a tedious year to date.

Listening, reading, ruminating - trying to get a bead on things.

Here's all I have - so far. Just my opinion, mind you.

Our district's ability to finance their part of the Gates grant really is on shaky ground:
We finance our district on real estate based taxes.
The current assumption being that those home owners continue to be employed, make the mortgage payments including taxes - thus staving off foreclosure.

Believe it or not we are living among neighbors who are behind on their payments and in foreclosure or near it. Financial institutions are dragging their feet on the process hoping the job market improves. At some point in time they will have no choice but to pull the proverbial trigger since no one in the financial industry sees employment picking up within 3 years and some feel longer.

In reality while the generally accepted point of view is that our existing home sales are increasing no one is saying anything about this (for want of a better word) "shadow inventory" - those houses that should be on the market in foreclosure. Doing this jeopardizes the sales price of those homes currently for sale - we are still artificially propping up home values!

Without employed buyers having the 20% down payment, confident enough to make the 15-30 year mortgage commitment, these homes will have to be sold at fire sale prices - driving down prices.

Lower sale price = lower taxes (tax base) = less money in the district coffer.

Less money from the state since residents are already cutting back on purchases thus affecting sales tax revenue distributed to school districts.

**************************************************************************************

The easiest and quickest way to reduce overhead is to reduce labor costs.

Our district has frozen hiring as much as possible, dictated and enforced the teach-300-minutes-a-day clause in our contract, combined job responsibilities at supervisor and clerical levels. It seems we have reached critical mass. Look around, listen carefully at the degree of complaining about ROSSAC mix-ups your administration tries to correct.

They forced the "6 of 7" on the high school teachers and have the middle school teachers in the cross hairs. Elementary has lost aides. We all struggle to perform at the level we remember from 3 years ago. It takes it's toll. I feel it every single day (and night).

The district's attempt to create a second tier pay scale will take some real salesmanship and creative exploitation. No thinking experienced teacher with 5 years under their belt will agree to get off the current scale to enter the "chutes and ladders" formula that new hires will be fooled into accepting. There are far too many variables and negatives (at this point) to include here.

This will alienate any remaining CTA member but the district will continue the charade currently called "salary negotiation".

It will be 25 years before attrition clears those on the current pay scale. 25 years is an eternity to maintain something as flawed as the developing pay formula currently under construction.

Old timers (I think from the Raymond O. Sheldon era) told me about R.A.I.S.E. (Raise Achievement In Secondary Education) Bill, Compensatory Education, and H.C.A.T. Ever have a Sunshine State Standards discussion?

The difference is WE HAVE COMMITTED FUTURE DOLLARS to this grant much like the Feds have been doing for ages with deficit funding. Another difference is TEACHERS and SUPPORT STAFF will be bearing the burden for this one.

********************************************************

Can anyone point me to some supporting research/data that the evaluation instrument the district will purchase from some company, actually improves student performance consistently across all ages, cultures, and backgrounds?

Your salary could very well depend on it.

********************************************************

Can the School Board please immediately add a clause to the standard superintendent contract that prohibits any superintendent and assistant superintendent under HCPS employment from being employed in any capacity by any corporation, subsidiary, company, or vendor doing business with the district for 5 years?

It is time.

GATES OF HEAVEN or GATES OF HELL?

2009-11-25T11:59:00.003-05:00

Everyone seems to have questions about whether or not the $100,000,000 grant from Billy and Mel is a good thing.

I'd like to know where the district is getting their $100,000,000 match from.

That's $200,000,000 total!

That's $14,285,714.29 per year for the 7 year period.

Hey Jean Clements: Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that the "ballpark" amount it costs to give us all a 1% raise?

Parents with kids in 4th grade will see the money run out as they enter their senior year.

Was any teacher interviewed and not published? If you were interviewed, how were you chosen, how were you notified?

FAIR 'n' MIDDLIN'

2009-11-09T18:53:00.002-05:00

Grapevine says we start FAIR testing the first week of December.

Not sure about everyone else but I lost 8 days in September to FAIR testing. I figure that this will measure my influence of 12 weeks - at best. About the only accurate measurement for that time span would be hair growth and schedule changes!

Its not even enough time to add the necessary computer internet bandwidth.

Am I the only one that thinks this bus is careening down the mountain barely under control?

-Bill Gates should promote
"learning" the way Microsoft
is promoting Windows 7.
Let's see what he can do to
counter what the kids are
being bombarded with.

WORTHY OF YOUR SIGNATURE

2009-10-12T20:46:00.000-04:00

Goader said...

Suzie--

Please promote the petition to repeal the 6 of 7 instructional schedule.

It is located here.

Let's Do It!!!

Pass this around folks...

GERBIL-GATE

2009-09-19T17:06:00.006-04:00

This whole incident screams for understanding.

The district sounds like they are in full damage control.

It will be interesting if more such instances come to light.

So many factors contributed to this but the increased workload and decreased prep time brought about by the superintendent's 6 of 7 dictate were a major factor.

So many tired and stressed employees at all levels are making mistakes. Mostly minor oversights but, like this, major ones occur.

Some of us will respond "that's no excuse" and you are right. All decisions have unforeseen and cumulative consequences, this is one.

Superintendent Elia is too far removed from this to care. So is the HCTA.

The principal is not. The student body is not. The community is not.

The teachers are not - thank God one or more of them spoke out.

Are there others? Are there more?

FAIRly RIDICULOUS

2009-09-18T17:52:00.003-04:00

I am NOT the only one shaking their heads over FAIR testing.

The moment school started we were focused on getting our computers "ready", classes scheduled.
Curriculum be damned! Full speed ahead.

What we got was another broken state program.
Not enough bandwidth. Spinning and crashing. Rebooting, restarting.

What we got was another slapped together district response.
Not enough space and too little cooling.

What we will get is invalid data. Why?
Nobody tests well when they are hot, uncomfortable and frustrated. Teachers can't fight the students' realization that the program sucks, is a waste of their time and yet affects their future in very real terms. We spend countless hours hearing and promoting test prep and then permit such a torturous environment to evolve.

This is where we need Bill Gates NOT in the teacher evaluation arena!

Are We Really Data Driven?

2009-08-21T18:40:00.002-04:00

DeKalb County School Watch blog has raised the same "show me the data" question about Springboard that Hillsborough raised years ago.

College Board "promotes" Springboard as Rigor and readiness for AP® and college success and provides select research summaries to support the program.

In all honesty, has our District generated any Springboard related data?

Am I the only one who suspects the District of selectively using data?

Do our leaders have the integrity to pull the plug on an ineffective program in time to avoid really damaging our kids?

Will those parents of "average and above average students" continue to acquiesce to the needs of the "below average" demographic?

Remember a level playing field provides no challenging hills or mountains.

MY HAND IS POLITELY RAISED

2009-06-26T13:59:00.003-04:00

The exams have been taken, scored, curved, and students received their grades.

The FCAT has been taken, scored, scaled, and schools have received their grades.

Springboard has been implemented county-wide for the entire year - some schools have used it longer.

Teachers have had training, observations, retraining and review.

As skeptical as I am about Springboard, I was determined to give it my best shot.
*The kids exam grades were mediocre.
*The kids FCAT scores were mediocre.
*My school's grade dropped.

I failed.

No M.A.P.S. No Performance Pay. I failed.

We are owed an examination of all the data.
*How closely (if at all) does Springboard correlate with FCAT and the Sunshine State Standards?
*Are we teaching the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful on the FCAT?
*Since Springboard is the child of the SAT, how did our kids do and how do our kids compare with those who have not been exposed to Springboard?
*Can we make a determination about Springboards efficacy?

I did my part to the best of my ability with one LESS planning period Ms. Elia. I am not alone.

We are owed an explanation of the data.

NOTHING COUNTS - NOBODY CARES #5

2009-06-25T20:07:00.003-04:00

Walking up the steps to the state level we find this and this.

I feel for the staff trying to make progress in the face of student apathy and outright resistance to learning.

NOTHING COUNTS - NOBODY CARES #4

2009-06-03T20:14:00.005-04:00

Traveling around the county provides an uncommon glimpse into the cultural of the "schoolyard".

Too many managers - not enough leaders.
Too many rules - not enough staff to follow through.

Crisis management - spin dizzy response.

This is an uncommon and courageous letter and post about what we all know is true.

While most traveling employees have witnessed what the author has, this letter could not have been written by just anyone.

He is on the line. We must thank him.

Now let's watch and hope somebody cares.

NOTHING COUNTS - NOBODY CARES #3

2009-05-28T20:37:00.002-04:00

About two weeks ago an administrator in Hillsborough County got picked up on a DUI charge. Sad.

His age was listed at 31 years old.

It got me to thinking: graduate high school at 18, graduate college at 22, 9 years to go from teaching to Student Affairs A.P. to Assistant Principal (Administration or Curriculum).

My point: Do you think this person spent 5 years in the classroom? Consider your first 5 years in the classroom. What kind of experience and skills did you acquire? Yet this person will have 30+ years of school/classroom influence.

Why does the district do this?
Is 5 years enough to understand the true classroom consequences of your decisions?

I've worked with some talented young administrators who displayed extraordinary common sense, energy, and insight. They were few and far between. Most were just looking for a way out of the classroom and without the mentoring of a strong leader it was a frustrating and often demoralizing experience.

Too many managers - not enough leaders.

NOTHING COUNTS - NOBODY CARES #2

2009-05-25T10:13:00.006-04:00

"Too many managers - not enough leaders."

Heard that last week from a passerby teacher and it really hit home on so many levels.

The classroom teachers have lost their leadership and become managers to a program known as "Springboard".

There is so much emphasis on following that curriculum that I considered renaming this blog "The WORDwall".

Remember the phrase de jour "thinking outside the box" and "a new paradigm"? I'm sure our more experienced teachers can remember others. Springboard has effectively smothered them along with teacher creativity.

If we really needed this type of "managed" curriculum to address teacher deficiencies wouldn't it have been a better solution to have hired better teachers*, maybe pay them more, NOT take away the extra planning period and do away with wholesale grade curves and social promotion?

* If eHarmony can can come up with a personality inventory to identify unique personality traits and characteristics, why couldn't HR? It might be a way to avoid some of those nasty problems that have plagued us recently.

NOTHING COUNTS - NOBODY CARES #1

2009-05-21T17:26:00.005-04:00

I'm pissed, disillusioned, demoralized and angry. I have tried to contain it but NO MORE. Hence, the title of this posting.

The last straw was this past board meeting. I witnessed a wholesale marginalizing - by committee - of a religion (belief) in the name of diversity and multiculturalism all wrapped in PC cowardice.

Yeah, the Good Friday flap.

I defy the bored members to watch "Passion Of The Christ" and then tell the Christians and Catholics that what they want to observe is irrelevant, meaningless, unworthy of recognition.

If someone wants to observe a religious occurrence WHY NOT?! That's what "personal days" are for. By the way, where are the religious leaders and spokesman?

If a bus driver, food service worker, teacher, administrator want to, WHY NOT?!

If 60% of your employees want to, WHY NOT?!

If you want to try and keep the schools open with a skeleton crew, WHY NOT?!

Oh, and don't send a letter home telling me that my kids' absences after April 28th don't count towards anything, then pull this on employees and expect anything other than the one finger salute!
(Its laughable how sacred the Fair and Strawberry Festival days are.)

I'm taking ALL religious holidays off next year - in the name of diversity and multiculturalism.

Why?

NOTHING COUNTS and NOBODY CARES.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

2009-04-26T15:31:00.003-04:00

The first transfer period opens tomorrow (Monday, April 27th) and runs for two weeks.

It is always a smart thing to check out the landscape. This posting is to encourage questions about principals and their administration.

Please keep the posting, questions, answers, and comments civil, informative and specific. However you should feel free to name names, positions and schools.

If you feel too much info will identify you and cause you retribution, then be discreet but let us know so we can afford you flexibility when weighing your information.

Believe me: No one needs to get "goadered".

Do You Remember - Your Classroom Christmas?

2008-12-24T10:29:00.013-05:00

We had a tree, a play, wise-men, baby Jesus, carols, cookies, cards, and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Our insensitivity knew no bounds: we included everyone in our Christmas wishes.

We were a 1-12 school - talk about seeing the future!

Every year our principal made a feeble attempt at "being" Santa during our Christmas assembly - much to the delight of the upper class men.

Every year the seniors would "intimidate" those 6th graders who would "threaten" to tell the little kids about Santa.

Every year we visited classrooms to sing carols.

Every year we looked forward to the next.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ! - no matter how you translate the spirit.

-Suzie's going "home for the holidays" -

JENNY? TAKE A RIDE!

2008-12-09T20:01:00.007-05:00

Board member Jennifer Faliero tries to control blogs by suggesting that blogs "govern" unregistered posters. In other words: "Your papers please."

Check it out here and at the University of Miami Education Students Blog!

So much for P.R.

I wonder why she doesn't start a blog (ala April) and join us. Could it be, as Lee contends, that her writing/tech skills aren't up to the task and would reveal she had used the schools PR department to answer newspaper criticism?

The good thing is that her comments, efforts and behavior will reside on the web for a very long time. (File Under: Swingin' Time)

Stay tuned - ESPECIALLY during the election season.

Don't worry either, you may comment without reservation or registration on TheWALL.

D.R.O.P. - IN THE BUCKET ?

2008-12-08T19:55:00.002-05:00

If you were to read the Sunday Trib article you may have concluded that the district was eliminating the Deferred Retirement Option Program.

It's not. It is however halting the practice of extending the program from 5 years to 7 years.

You'll have to "go out" in 5 years.

Considering the current state of the economy this strategy will allow the district to recruit new blood sooner. Is this a good move for our students?

Will administrators and deputy superintendents be included?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING:

2008-11-27T09:38:00.001-05:00

To all who "visit" TheWALL.

A DISTURBING TREND

2008-11-23T17:57:00.002-05:00

The longer you're in HCPS the more obvious it is that any kind of questioning can cost you.

Suddenly you can end up floating, teaching an extra prep class (maybe even out of field), having some obnoxious duty, losing your preferred conference, having your lesson plans evaluated weekly, being evaluated early, observed often, sent to mind-numbing inservices, or termination.

The frequency of these incidents disturb me.

Maybe it's the way the district promotes from within. Golden boys and girls given a fast track into administration before they learn the people skills necessary to manage a faculty. Then when godfather or godmother call in favors their tenuous hold on their position makes them weak and compliant. Not the best qualities in a leader.

Doug Erwin was my clarion call. Bart Birdsall was a reminder. Now "goader" and "Tom".

This is why I will always remain Suzie.

Please follow both cases. It could, after all, be you.

CHRISTIAN THROW AWAYS

2008-11-18T17:53:00.005-05:00

But Jean Clements, president of the local teachers union, noted that shopping malls, not churches, were filled on Good Friday last spring. "That was a skip day for the entire county," she said.

I'll bet Jean ( C.T.A. Prez) did no research at all - what churches did she even drive by? Not mine. Talk about a snide remark from someone who purportedly encourages diversity. I wonder if she counted how many kids were at the Fair or Strawberry Festival?

Jean? Do I count?

Is it any wonder that the district must call in a crisis team to help our kids deal with tragic deaths? I guess I'm getting to be one of those religious zealots who remembers her religion getting her through the bad times in school. Guidance counselors and psychologists were good for interest surveys and college screenings but everyone at my school knew to go to a higher authority for the really big things.

"Others felt Christian values were getting short shrift.

"If we're going to talk about all the religions, then where are the Christians and the Catholics?" asked Luis Perez, president of the union representing Hillsborough's bus drivers and other blue-collar workers. "Have they been invited into these meetings?"

Bingo! Luis Perez should teach a thing or two to Jean.

I'm ready to start reclaiming my culture's position - while recognizing my neighbor's. What the hell is so hard about that? Even Carol Kurdell should be able to draw a conclusion from the number of Good Friday '08 absences.

Figure out a 180 calendar, that's all the state will fund anyway. Parents should prepare for Good Friday.

EMAIL FROM THE EDGE OF TOWN

2008-11-09T15:32:00.005-05:00

I haven't done this for a while but there are points to be made. Even though goader contended that the salary scale for 08-09 is the same as 07-08 (and he's a sharp guy) I need something more concrete. This hit my mailbox about the time I talked with another teacher at level 27 who was equally disappointed (though thankful to be working). Can't help but think the district and association count on this.

Did anyone notice that the district is giving CTA room at the new ISC building? (Check the board's agenda.) You can draw your own conclusions.

From the mailbox:

Dear Suzie,

Thank you for championing the cause for the veteran teachers.

The district and the CTA are screwing us over and over. The association is blind (or complicit) to the fact that the "bone-us" the district offers is crap! Here's why: up until one gets to level 27 any days you do not take off become more valuable as your step increases. Those days you saved early by being a "perfect attendance" employee at step 1 through 26 grew with every step you advanced. Money in the bank - so to speak. Now once you are at Level 27 no more increase. For 5 years those days are level! (years of experience 26 -30) and so is your retirement. Check this.

My advice to those who think saving the sick days is doing you good - they are not. Need a day? Take it! Between inflation and the compressed steps it does you no good.

I'm pissed enough to go looking for a lawyer.

Thanks again Suzie - and Happy Veteran's day to those who served.

Level 27

Thank you for your insight Level 27. I await comments.

WON'T BACK DOWN

2008-10-23T18:36:00.007-04:00

April Griffin was threatened with physical removal from the October 21st meeting. It starts about 1 hr. 25 min. into the meeting.

She was requesting a negotiated exception to the recently adopted travel guidelines. Apparently Jennifer Faliero wasn't in the mood to listen, gaveled her down for not making her point, threatened to have the Sergeant at Arms (Chief Freebird) remove her, then let her continue. It really was a well considered point she was making.

I kept thinking this is exactly how we felt when the superintendent took our conference away and in general how dissent is addressed.
We give more grace to the State Fair chair when he wants a school holiday so the kids have the time to throw money at the vendors. Jennifer really likes that gavel, especially when she's intellectually against the wall.

Later on April made a point about her treatment and Jennifer calico got snitty and said something about April not liking to be told no. Later she opened the door to capitulating on the new field-trip policy. Talk about irony.

Well Jenn if you treated a student or parent so shoddily your sweet ass would be in the unemployment line or at AbuCobb. April hit the bulls eye and I quietly smiled when she inferred she now knows how we feel when we speak out. Remember Doug Erwin April! We do.

You owe it to yourself to watch it.
The Trib checks in.

Ms. Faliero: please step down.

(Note who was missing.)

SEEDZ of DOUBT

2008-10-21T19:48:00.009-04:00

The deadline was October 20 @ 1:00PM

29.5% of teachers even bothered to vote.
27.6% of teachers voted "yes".
3 out of 4 teachers let "the other guy" decide.

Next time you are pissed about the superintendent, your salary, benefits, or working conditions: YOU BE "THE OTHER GUY"!

From The Gradebook

Hillsborough CTA ratifies contract

UPDATE: We've received word from the CTA that the vote tallies reported earlier (now in the jump) are not right. Here's the e-mail we just got:

The Election Committee both regrets and is pleased to inform you there was a reporting error in the teacher ratification results. The correct numbers are:
Total number of teacher ballots returned: 4,546
Total number voting YES: 4,256
Total number voting NO: 290
Approval percentage: 94%

The Committee members apologize for any concern this may have caused members of the bargaining unit and can only attribute the error to the lateness of the hour.

The School Board still meets at 3 p.m. to take up the employee raises.

Here's the original post:

Well, Hillsborough teachers and support personnel. Looks like your raise is on its way to approval.

Rosemary Ax of the HCTA Election Committee e-mailed the Gradebook the final vote tally just before midnight, and asked that we put out the word "since everyone wants to know."

Here's her report:

The CTA Election Committee reports that ballots were mailed to 15,376 teachers and 3,869 ESP. There were a total of 60 invalid ballots returned, most of which were sent in with no preference marked. Teachers returned 1,346 valid ballots with 1,056 voting YES and 290 voting NO, for an approval of 78%. ESP returned 1548 valid ballots with 1502 voting YES and 46 voting NO, for an approval of 97%.

The School Board meets at 3 p.m. today, and is expected to sign off on the deal, too. The raises including back pay then would come to employees as soon as practical.

**********************************************************************************

Now, can we release the official salary schedule? Last year it was up on the web September 27th.

Show us the money, please.

TELL HER NO!

2008-10-13T19:31:00.006-04:00

I voted NO.

First, the more experienced teachers that provided me guidance and support are getting shafted. Somebody is going to get pissed enough to file a class action suit. Age discrimination comes to mind.

Second, I won't vote until I have a complete picture. The salary scale is still unavailable. You would think that someone in power would publish our salary scale. That way we can see how we are being given a 2% salary increase yet our "new" health care program will cost us more than that.

Third, it is expected that we are too tepid, timid, and weak to do anything BUT vote for it - "silent zombies" was the expression. Have we ever been given the actual vote COUNT?

Fourth, we are taken for granted by our district administration and association, THAT my friends is the deal breaker!

Mary Ellen? NO!
Yvonne? NO!

ANOTHER PIG IN A POKE?

2008-10-06T20:27:00.003-04:00

Why should we approve a contract with no salary scale to refer to? How come neither CTA or the district has released what they expect to pay us?

I'm not sure we should approve ANYTHING at this point. Maybe you can convince me.

Let's talk. Comments welcome.

DON'T CALL US WE'LL CALL YOU

2008-09-21T10:45:00.008-04:00

Communication Deja vu.

Come on, hasn't anyone picked up on the district's strategy?

They have succeeded in redefining "communication".

There is no communication.

Communication requires dialogue. Oh, they claim to.

HiCuPS does not engage in dialogue with teachers or parents or staff. Not even Board members, from April's comment.

They inform. Period.

Think about: Lawson, 6 out of 7, Buses, Calendars,
Spring Board. Need I go on?

We are informed of decisions. Even our ASSociation has adopted this model. "The teachers union says the additional early-release days are a done deal."

This passes as communication. The results are evident. The excuses predictable: "We will get better at telling you what to do."

VOTE "NO" ON BIAS & DISCRIMINATION

2008-09-17T14:53:00.018-04:00

It is passed the time for the "elders" to speak up. The younger teachers need to wake 'em and shake 'em.

Unless you have switched your retirement plan from the defined option, your retirement benefits are based on your last 5 years salary. WAKE UP elders! The $1000.00 bonus in the proposed settlement is AGAIN $232 LESS than what 2% represents. Do the math.

It is $232 LESS toward your retirement benefit! Do the math.

IF the district does this it will reduce the total amount of your benefits by $1392 over the 3 years you are stalled at the "longevity step".

That's right: before you retire it will cost you $1392 in your benefit formula.

This has now become a standard. Over the 5 years before you retire it will cost you $1392 in your benefit formula. I haven't examined D.R.O.P. implications.

If we allow this it will cost you ($232 x 3 years = $696) this time. PLUS $464 ($232 x 2) + $232 ($232 x 1) Total = $1392

$1000 is 1.6% NOT 2%. It does include future salary increases but also affects the future salary increases since the percentage increase is based on a lower figure every year!

Come on elders - wake up and call the lawyers. You are being discriminated against based on your age!!!!

You will be "short" EVERY RETIREMENT CHECK FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

This is how you are rewarded for your loyalty and experience.

Are there that many of you old-timers?

There must be. The scale is being compressed in stages through 2011.

Look HERE

Perhaps somebody smarter than me can interpret the "what" and "why".

Perhaps someone can explain why CTA has let this happen. Yvonne? Jean??

VOTE IT DOWN!
IT'S YOUR FUTURE!

Lamb, John R.
Agency Name: Hillsborough Co School Board

* Salary in 06-07: $40,252.32
* Monthly retirement payment: $6,921.15
* "Retired" in: 2/1/1996

Edgecomb, Doretha W.
Agency Name: Hillsborough Co School Board

* Salary in 06-07: $40,252.32
* Monthly retirement payment: $4,279.63
* "Retired" in: 10/1/1996
Ref.

A CENTIPEDE WITH ATHLETE'S FOOT

2008-09-09T21:57:00.009-04:00

Photo: www.matthewktabor.com
Stallin For Time?

Board Meeting

Haven't made it through a complete "showing" yet so please check back.

WHY "Jenny" CAN'T READ.
For God's sake Ms. Faliero, gather your wits before you speak. Shouldn't the person running the meeting actually know how? Could it be you are more sympathetic to Lee DeCesare because your deliveries are so alike? If I ran my classroom like you run the meetings my principal would have me removed before the kids ate me alive.

MOST PATHETIC PLAY FOR VOTES
This award goes to Carol Kurdell, for her transparent plea to the superintendent hoping that “something could be done for our people”. Yeah Carol, who woke you up? Steve Gorman?

TRANSPORTATION
Between the budget reading and the busing CYA preamble, I get groggy. From the trenches, it seems like the class size amendment has really taken its toll. Coupled with our politicians insistence on underfunding education and mandating all kinds of unfunded programs this was bound to happen.
Superintendent takes a bonus, district tries to cover labor costs with million dollar software, teachers forced to replace conference period with extra class, bus drivers are paid 9 bucks an hour, etc, etc. Your kids don't know what the yellow hound will do and neither do you.

The problem is systemic. Responsibilities get heaped on those who used to be effective. Everyone has now reached saturation. There is no time to ponder and examine your decisions. You must manage the crisis du jour and let the rest go until they reach crisis. Does anyone really think that Joe Franklin got up every morning thinking "Let's REALLY screw up today."

Did you hear between the lines? Who do they have answering the phones on the phone bank? Supervisors and management! Who's doing their work while they try and quell the public anger? Clericals? They get what? $8 an hour?

Steve Otto's Springboard column and the district's behind the scenes attempt to gin up support for the program has come to light in Matt Tabor's acclaimed education blog.

This is not a defense. You can't be expected to coordinate the roll out of such an all encompassing program across the 8th largest school district in the nation on a shoestring staff. Who do you think we are? WalMart? The "transportation model" failed. Why duplicate it with curriculum?

Meanwhile teachers wait for resources. Of course, Bill Gates can fund the thing but not get his hands dirty in the delivery or management process. College Board? Aren't they the ones who sold us this?

Its only a matter of time. Wait for the rest of the shoes to drop.

PARANOID?

2008-08-30T13:07:00.003-04:00

Why is the latest board meeting NOT available to stream? It's last Thursday's meeting. The one immediately after Jack Davis resigned. Reality TV at its best is suspiciously missing?

IT WAS CANCELED WHEN WE GOT FAY-KED OUT. IT IS THIS THURSDAY.

While we wait for its availability perhaps you'd like to amuse yourself with the latest budget amendments.
Click here for budget amendments that are on the table for the September 4th meeting.

The rest of the agenda is here.

Remember, the board is going to "change" our health care contributions. In other words, we will pay more. In other words: our salary will be cut!

NO COLA FOR YOU!

KNOW WHEN TO FOLD 'EM

2008-08-28T19:59:00.008-04:00

I do believe that it was Jack's call to walk away.

School board member April Griffin said Elia called her Tuesday afternoon to tell her about Davis. "I was told it was because of his back and his health problems," Griffin said. "I think that's their story and they're sticking to it."

This is why I like April.

Back problems?

As chief information and technology officer, Davis also supervises the district's communications, assessment and accountability, information services, staff development, supplier diversity, and customer service and support.

This kind of "responsibility creep" is daunting. Please read it carefully. His plate was HUGE!

The district continues to pile it on everybody to the point of absurdity. Why hire another employee when we can force a current one at the same rate of pay? Jack saw an escape and took it. I'll bet he also saw the futility of having to work with people he would have preferred to fire but couldn't. Hear the creaking? Its HCPS on the verge of collapse.

...Valdes said. "Blaming it on transportation department head John Franklin would be so unfair. He was given the tools he was given and the staff he had."

April PLEEEEASE tell Susan to think this stuff out.
EVERYONE is EXPECTED to educate the raw material that comes into our class with the tools the district provides! So many of us BUY additional tools and see how bogus her response sounds.!

It was John Franklin's JOB to get the kids to and from school!! If he and his staff were incapable of working with the multimillion dollar bus scheduling software then why is everyone tripping over themselves to overlook it? How many of these folks are remnants of the purchasing department "transfer" when that department hit the skids?

OK I'll say it: "buddy system?", "political correctness?","quota hires?", "gonad challenged?", "estrogen deficit?"

I have had occasion to deal with Jack Davis. He was always a gentleman and professional no matter how pissed we were. I can't help but think "there's something rotten in Denmark".

"Neither Davis nor Elia could be reached for comment Wednesday."

I wonder if they were negotiating with Mike Greco?

SO, HOW WAS YOUR FIRST WEEK?

2008-08-22T21:10:00.004-04:00

From a recent post:

Sheesh!!! What a week!! My classes are all huge with more coming--and not enough desks!!! The first day was awful--5-8 kids in my last period class couldn't find an intersection close to their house for the bus. Many parents brought their kids TO school 'cause the bus never came!!!

So, how was YOUR first week? (4 days really)

REMEMBER TO VOTE
(pass it on)

'FAY'KED OUT

2008-08-19T14:14:00.002-04:00

Our experience with Hurricane/Tropical Storm Fay is such a metaphor on so many levels.

Its making me reconsider allowing the government to interpret anything for me: from weather to medicine to education to economics. I'm not saying ignore the info. I'm saying don't be so arrogant as to say things like it's a sure thing.

Enjoy the day off and don't hold the Board or the superintendent responsible for what they have no control over.

RE-ELECT NOBODY!

2008-08-16T09:56:00.002-04:00

What more can I say?
Teachers need to flex their political muscle. When you walk into the polling place remember everything promised.
Get angry.
Get revenge.
Re-elect NOBODY.

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE

2008-06-23T10:12:00.007-04:00

One of the most common PR tricks is to provide a non answer to questions you can't answer.

Superintendent Elia's response to the Tribune's editorial on grade inflation should have been left where it was written - on the beach.

Elia
"...it's odd that you would see a need to rail against a practice that encourages students to challenge themselves in the classroom."
Trib
"Some honors courses once considered a mark of academic success now enroll students who don't read or write at grade level."

***********************************************************************************

Elia
"There's a simple reason the GPAs are higher: Students take more classes and more challenging classes."
Trib
"Even the scoring of the district's semester exams has been reconfigured to a new scale that boosts grades. On some particularly tough tests, like physics exams, a student need only score 62 percent of the questions correct to earn an "A."

School officials defend their system saying they want to encourage students to challenge themselves to higher-level work. And in the case of semester exams, they wanted to ensure uniform grading - albeit with a more generous scale for at least some exams."
***********************************************************************************

A couple of random quotes pulled from student comments can not provide the cover nor the rationale necessary for such patently false assertions that the policy works. Simply saying that its best for the kids doesn't make it so!

By the way, how would you grade this response to the questions raised in the editorial?

BTW: rgoudreau@tampatribune.com is a good place to start.

JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

2008-06-22T12:16:00.003-04:00

Health insurance changes will cost us more money starting December 5, 2008. The Board is also thinning the herd of "choices" that the district contractor provides the employees.

First Impressions: (after reading the document)

Page 1) School Board is cutting their funding.
There are almost 25,000 employees! How many are actual members of any labor association? We are an UNREPRESENTED voting block in this county. In other words, we could conceivably rule elections if so inclined.

Page 2) The usual suspects. Has anyone heard from Yvonne or Jean about this? Are they keeping their membership informed?

Page 3) Eliminate EPO and PPO plans. (the way I understand them is that you can go directly to a specialist without a referral from your Primary Care doctor)
Staff HMO, HMO and POS plans requires an employee paid premium.

Page 4) Nice chart. District Plan cost breakdown.

Page 5) DEDUCTIONS begin on December 5th, 2008. If you choose "Coverage 1st" you "pay" nothing. Otherwise the only other (THREE) plans will cost you $6.00 to $82.29 per paycheck.

Please look over this document and comment.

Maybe someone with Yvonne's or Jean's ear will post an explanation about why this is good for employees.

Of course if we only have to work a 4 day week, that opens up time to look for a PT job. Count me in on that one. Gas savings alone will pay for my health plan choice.

NO "SMOKE ON THE WATER"

2008-06-14T11:34:00.003-04:00

I can't help but think that the Trib's meeting with that group of teachers opened their eyes to more than just the extra period forced on us. Thanks to all who went!

Keep your eyes on "TheWALL" for info about the political group that is forming to take a stand on/with the candidates running for a School Board position. This cadre sounds very independent and will step in where CTA fears to tread.

Join them - Support them. And for your own sake: VOTE!

Click on:
Trib Scores!

"The district is pushing more and more students into honors courses and Advanced Placement courses whether they are academically suited for the work or not, all in the name of - " *MONEY.

* my word. I have not forgotten the AP bonus our superintendent qualifies for based on the number of students enrolled in AP classes.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Some teachers say they've had to adjust their curriculum to adapt to these lower-performing students - rather than let them flounder - so an honors course in some instances isn't as rigorous as it used to be."

Don't forget that students enrolled in these classes also have an "entitlement" attitude when it comes to grades. This attitude is fueled by their parents who just don't accept the fact that they may not be AP-capable. Considering the bill of goods they have been sold by guidance counselors and administrators trying to fill up these classes, what do we expect?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"...regular courses these days - well, those used to be called "remedial."

Except now "remedial" has become a stigma since mommy and daddy know the definition.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I feel sorry for yesterday's new hires who don't know that they signed up to teach "regular" and have absolutely no clue what "remedial" takes.

No wonder our labor pool is hurting.

OH LORD! STUCK IN LODI AGAIN

2008-06-09T10:17:00.003-04:00

Things got bad, and things got worse, I guess you will know the tune.

HEART OF GOLD

2008-05-30T15:08:00.003-04:00

Read this and tell me it's not from a first person experience. Bet those Ed-Profs don't mention these kind of incidents in class.

RUNNING ON EMPTY

2008-05-17T16:45:00.002-04:00

That about says it all - since February.

The comment about "hitting the wall" is revealing. So is the drop off in the number of posts. I suspect everyone who has struggled to do the job right is feeling the same: Amy Winehouse meets Jose Canseco at a Homeland Security checkpoint..

I know 4 teachers who have accepted or are considering offers from the corporate/private sector. Good teachers. Better money. I wish them the best.

Gathering, verifying, and documenting information can be seriously demoralizing. Compartmentalizing is an effective defense - when it works. If Suzie continues teaching, pacing myself will be paramount. Mediocrity will most likely be the result. Something we must learn to accept.

Speaking of accepting mediocrity, as we come up on graduation season I will ask you to report on the performance of the board members. I attended a Jack Lamb appearance where he had no idea what school was graduating.

In the meantime, don't forget about commenting about those hard-to-work-with principals.

BAD COMPANY

2008-04-02T05:32:00.005-04:00

Transfer period is almost upon us. You have asked for a place to post warnings about schools that are not teacher-friendly, supportive or just a downright miserable place to be. Please see the "Good Vibrations" posting to let us know about good places to work.

The goal here is to provide everyone with a place to start their "job search". To that end we need a few basic, simple ground rules.

* No personal attacks. Don't use this opportunity to "get even" if you were wrong and got called on it.
* Stay anonymous but please name schools and administrators.
* Support your comments with specifics. Please don't make us guess your reasons. If the principal is overly demanding or demeaning (for example) give us the facts. However do not let those facts compromise your anonymity.

** I reserve the right to remove a post considered libelous or slanderous. Our track record really is exemplary (thanks to YOU). We are a respected blog.

Oh, by the way:
We are teachers by profession and are expected to display the skills we evaluate in others. Use spell check and please watch your grammar - Lee checks in regularly.

On behalf of those who will use your input in their decision-making:
Thank you for your time, effort and contribution.

GOOD VIBRATIONS

2008-03-30T10:26:00.005-04:00

People Get Ready:

Transfer period is near. This is a warm up for the next post.

I could work for this principal.

Do you know/work for someone like this in Hillsborough?

Who are the good ones?

BANG THE DRUM

2008-03-24T18:07:00.003-04:00

Having had some time to reflect on the recent Good Friday "debacle" I'd like to make a few points. You may recognize some bits and pieces of postings and responses from our local blog community.

Good Friday is for ADULTS.

It is our day and time to "observe". If the kids join us: all the better but the true meaning of Good Friday only sinks in as we age. What we were taught we begin to understand. I'm pretty sure this is not unique to Christians.

As adults we saved our personal days, we had sub plans ready, and we let our principals know in advance, like we always do. It didn't matter if we drove buses, served food, cleaned up, or did clerical or custodial tasks. We may even have stated that our purpose was religious in nature, not political or vengeful. Most principals were adult and "understood", even though it may have put them in an awkward position. Our Board should follow their example:

"Candy Olson said maybe the district should negotiate with employees' unions to require a doctor's note on certain days or double the time taken off on those days."Tampa Trib

Sounds discriminatory to me but, all things considered, this is how the district reacts. Google "Doug Erwin". Candy's got a mean streak and if she's hoping to parlay her school board position into something more she'd be well to remember that these statements don't go away. You can bet any opponent hopes she doesn't realize this. (Keep the change, sister)

Don't praise "family", "diversity" and "multiculturalism" and then devalue the majority beliefs.

Considering how many students stayed home it appeared that the public at large recognized our religious conviction or at the least figured it was safer not to insist the kids go to school. One can't discount the influence of the district letter sent home. This letter alerted parents to the impending transportation problem.

I don't doubt that some used the day to begin a journey to be with family and may not return to school until Tuesday.

Religion is a very personal matter and to expect someone to practice it according to your expectations is unconstitutional.

Maybe the community at large decided that they were going to make a statement about how the district has marginalized the community's Christian beliefs.

Maybe the employees (also part of the community) individually decided that they too feel their beliefs have been marginalized and their convictions under valued. They were / are / will continue exercising their freedoms.

The district can not have it both ways: they count on their employee's beliefs to go the "extra mile" when its convenient for their purpose but bring out the hammer when it isn't.

We have a leadership crisis.

Anyone who has lived in Florida for more than a year realizes how dysfunctional Tallahassee is. From unfunded mandates, the latest PC trend, the insurance "fix", the property tax amendment, etc. to the cursive nod to education at election time followed by the piecemeal funding of schools.

Did you know that recent reports indicate that FCAT results won't be in this year until after school is out? This throws the schools into scheduling chaos. Thank you Tallahassee.

The school board is not much better. Ever since former board members got elected to the Tallahassee trough and a former CTA president made it to Governor, no board member wants to rock the boat. They should be up there screaming like banshees for funding. Of course, when you make basic math mistakes in projecting student enrollment your credibility is shot in the political arena.

Your credibility with the community also gets tarnished when your calendar committee drops Fair Day and the Board puts it back after a "plea" from the State Fair representative. You refused to acknowledge religious day off requests. Then in an obvious vindictive response, removed all religious holidays from the calendar and stuck a day off on May 2nd.

You say the kids won't be unduly penalized for missing school on a religious holiday but threaten your employees if they use a personal day. Then blame those same employees when a letter sent home by the administration outlining the transportation problem results in parents keeping their kids home.

Will somebody please step up to the plate and at least take a few practice swings?

Where are our religious leaders? They are uncharacteristically quiet. We need them to come forward.

Let's stick one of each major religion in a room in ROSSAC and let them negotiate the religious days off? Give their document to the calendar committee.

Is there anyone out there that believes we can't get the educating job done in 180 student days instead of 184? Is there hard data that supports this? If not then there are four student days to play with.

The district has a couple of years to find a Good Friday solution. Lets see if they care enough to fix it early.

Since 5 board members, the Superintendent, her assistant superintendents have never responded to an honest sit down discussion with their employees at the school sites, the bus depots, or support offices they have no idea what is going through their employees minds. The Good Friday scramble underscores this conclusion. "deepcover" has pointed out a very real hole in the dike.

"We now know that they CAN make a statement and that shutting down the system is a very real thing. If the teachers, bus drivers, food service workers, and custodians ever decide they have had enough they only need to take 3 continuous days off together. A sudden Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday "flu" would catch everyone so far off-guard."

A prescient analysis that deserves the "good thinking" award.

Rule by fear has never engendered a spirit of cooperation only seething resentment.

History has shown time and time again that allowed to seethe, resentment becomes revolution.

CLASS ACT

2008-03-23T11:51:00.006-04:00

Dear Ms. Olson,

We don't ask for much. Just something like:

"This was a decision I made as a member of the school board and I take responsibility for the outcome. I realize that it caused an absence rate of 60% and I will work with the Superintendent and other board members to analyze what happened."

Rather than:

"...maybe the district should negotiate with employees' unions to require a doctor's note on certain days or double the time taken off on those days."

The professional, corporate response was suggested by Fred Burns, candidate for the School Board.

Please read Burns' blog (it's linked on the right) then send this guy some money! Any amount. Let him know THIS is the type of leadership you want to start with.

"BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN BELIEFS"

2008-03-21T22:33:00.004-04:00

I put the title in quotes because it is not original. It came from someone else but it fits the current events surrounding HiCcuPS.

Those that stayed home from work, using a personal day, displayed their responsibility for their beliefs. The stock market was closed. Even some attorney's offices were closed!

Here is my problem: where the hell was the bishop, the monsignor, the pastor, the priest , the reverend? Their silence is deafening and disturbing. Has the church given up?

How come the media didn't see fit to show ONE religious spokesperson interview?

Is Jack Lamb such a stirring lecturer that Saint Lawrence chose to stay on the sidelines rather than be subject to his wrath? Will Christ the King, Bayshore Baptist, ANYBODY step up?

Maybe they should take a lesson from the flock: be responsible for your own beliefs.
THESE convictions we can be proud of.

Happy Easter.

GOOD FRIDAY - BAD KARMA

2008-03-17T16:35:00.004-04:00

I'm not taking a chance with my religious "inner voice".

Suzie is taking a personal / religious day on Friday. It just seems like the right thing to do.

I petition the district to poll S.E.M.S., and the employees. Do the right thing and OBSERVE A CULTURAL MOMENT.

Shut the schools down.

Amen.
****************************************************************
I have been reading the papers, blogs, and comments.

1) Some people get off bullying Christians. Those of you who take Good Friday off should be able to do so and not need to justify it. Do we quiz our Jewish, Protestant, or Muslim friends when they are "out" for a religiously important day? Atheists: get over it. We share the same rights.

2) Administrators who show up are being punished for doing so. Their day has increased to 12 hours. 6AM-6PM.

3) School Board members who make veiled threats ( Candy's modus operandi) trying to insure compliance are again showing their true colors. Don't forget this.

4) The secular vs religious calendar argument is BULLSHIT! Make the calendar 180 student days and 186 teacher days. Nobody is going to prove that 4 days will make a difference. Then give everyone some religious recognition. We probably need a ratio of sorts.

5) Our school board's arrogance is just more evidence that they do NOT VALUE ANY EMPLOYEE. Edgecomb, Olson, Faliero, Lamb, and Kurdell display this regularly. I'm not talking just teachers here. Our bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, administrators, and support staff know this.

6) Many of those who are taking Good Friday off SAVED the personal day and should not be punished just because they exercise this prerogative and the district cannot cope with the effects. Those that choose to go to school deserve our thanks not our anger. They also deserve the same respect we give those who choose to stay home.

7) It all comes down to leadership:

Could Yvonne have been any more "vanilla" and spineless? I'd have looked in the camera and said "The Board recognized the teachers religious conviction in every contract to date. I'm sure they would never consider something so un-American as to even consider denying them their right to participate in Good Friday".

Our Board couldn't figure out a solution and hid behind a committee. Remember this come election day.

8) Who cares what the kids do. This is an adult day.

9) The post title while not the cleverest has become prophetic.

Happy Easter all.
This goes beyond the bunny.

FREE FALLIN'

2008-03-16T18:35:00.003-04:00

Everything you wanted to know about the 2008 Extended School Year Program. "Thar's money in them thar hills"(borough)!

For those of you talented enough to wade through what we spent in February. Bless you for being able to stay awake.

Hey, you folks with Reading Masters check this.
No bid.
Out-sourcing.
Wasn't the Superintendent a former Reading Supervisor? She could probably do this herself, in her sleep.

We need a $10 million grant to tell us smaller schools are better?!
Where do I sign up.
Look, see.

************************************************************************
I may not be the hottest french fry in the happy meal but give me 5.5 mil and 2 years and I'll be glad to document the negative effects of the additional teaching period!

I'll promise to sub contract Goader, Sisyphus, Lee, Bart, Eloquentmind, Bruce and a few others, keeping them too busy to blog. It's a no-bid-win-win.
Ms. Falerio can supervise in order to assure the public there won't be any hanky panky.

RASPUTIN Pt. 2

2008-03-12T17:18:00.019-04:00

While this is just the tip of the iceberg, allow me to make some observations.

•Put more students in non-core classes not covered by the state class-size amendment.

Load up electives even more. Make those teachers and their programs shoulder a disproportionate workload. Will there be more money for supplies, etc?

•Review nursing services, although the district has about 80 fewer nursing and health assistant positions now than it did several years ago.

More students with allergies and medical conditions but less services. More kids coming to school sick in order to exempt exams.

•Review guidance services, including student intervention and career specialist positions, previously paid for with grants.

Once again, the kids are on their own to solve conflicts and plot their future.

•Replace in-school suspension teachers with assistant teachers or use teachers who need more classes to fill in.

Do assistant teachers have the "training" to deal with a room full of disruptive students. Coaching ranks will be decimated. Consistency of teacher, discipline, and expectations will render the program useless and result in a flood of suspensions. The schools will be subject to ROSSAC directives to cut the number of suspensions. Schools will be chaotic.

•Hire assistant teachers, people with two-year degrees or college students to fill technology specialist jobs now held by teachers.

Admittedly I am ignorant of all my Tech does at school but I can't imagine anyone doing the job for minimum wage. Add the fact that it introduces a 19 to 21 year old into a target rich environment (young girls and boys) and I think we are asking for trouble. Do we need to rehash old headlines? Sure its a broad brush UNTIL its your kid!

The district remains low on (bus) drivers, has no substitutes and about 100 drivers are absent every day, Franklin said.

We can't get the kids to school or back home. Isn't the economy supposed to be bad? Can it be the job is hideous and pays poorly. Can we get similar teacher stats?

In another matter, the board was told that it needs to develop a plan to fill top school jobs. Within 10 years, 65 percent of the district's administrators - including principals and assistant principals - will be eligible for retirement.

Within 10 years only 3 of the schools current administrators will be on the job.
This includes ONLY those destined for retirement. Like teachers and other staff, there are some that will just call it quits. Fast-tracking inexperienced administrators is NOT the answer.

So who's coming up with this?

Superintendent MaryEllen Elia $253,000 plus bonuses $37,000 + ?
Deputy Superintendent Ken Otero $140,141.76 ?
Deputy Superintendent / Chief Human Resources Officer Dan Valdez $140,829.92 ?
Assistant Superintendent for Administration Lewis Brinson $129,272.88 ?
Chief Government Relations Officer Connie Milito $127,370.32 ?

Lamb, John R. Salary in 06-07: $40,252.32 + Monthly retirement payment: $6,921.15 ?
Edgecomb, Doretha W. Salary in 06-07: $40,252.32 + Monthly retirement payment: $4,279.63 ?

Are we getting our money's worth?

TIME CHANGE - WELCOME ANY TIME

2008-03-03T17:23:00.004-05:00

Please note that the time of Thursday's meeting is 3:30PM.

MOST IMPORTANT:
The time you arrive
JUST DOESN'T MATTER!

You presence does.

INTEGRITY TEST!

2008-03-03T16:39:00.003-05:00

Will we play "truth or dare", "follow the leader" or "mad libs"?

In what ways are stakeholders, including system and school staff, given opportunities to provide leadership and to contribute to the decision-making process?*

* From the Sacrosanct S.A.C.S. Standard Assessment Report to be approved this Board Meeting.

Here is the Agenda Summary.

Let's keep an eye out for the results.

PLEASE POST THIS MEETING ON YOUR SCHOOL INTERNAL

2008-03-01T13:13:00.005-05:00

Lee DeCesare has used her influence to help us by arranging this meeting.

I have changed the wording of her announcement to make it "easier" to post to your internal email bulletin board. You might also just copy and paste this to send to select individuals at your site IF you feel the administration may be "less than understanding". Click on the link to her website found on the right ("Lambo's Lee") for the full posting. Goader also blogs about it.

This is the lady who garnered the School Board's ire when she went to bat for Bruce and Bart by name. She is the embodiment of Petty's "I Won't Back Down" and the least we can do is show up.

Yes, it is between 3:30 and 5:00 PM and chances are, posting this on your Internal email may result in a hastily called faculty meeting (please don't Mr. Hutec). If such an occurrence happens, please let us know so that we can include these little "tricks" in the documentation.

The 3:30 PM start time is just that: COME when YOU CAN - a good cross section of teachers will help open up the conversation.

**********************************************************************************************************

A meeting has been set up with the Tribune publisher, Ms. Palmer, for this Thursday at 3:30 pm at the conference room in the TV building of the Tribune, on Kennedy near the bridge.

The purpose is to allow teachers to let the Tribune publisher know the teachers’ view of their struggle with the board and administration. It will be the teachers’ voices telling the most powerful media presence in our area their views of what is wrong with the school system, the superintendent, and the board.

***********************************************************************************

LEE DeCESARE INITIATES FL. BAR ETHICS INVESTIGATION

2008-02-25T18:59:00.004-05:00

According to a press release posted on Lee's blog, the Florida Bar has agreed to investigate an ethics complaint she filed against School Board Attorney Tom (The Gonz) Gonzalez.

There is a link to the right, under "Link Awray" that will take you to the "Casting Room Couch."

Click here for details and more information.

"Your inquiry concerning the conduct of the above member of the Bar has been analyzed and has been determined to be a matter which warrants further investigation." - from the letter to Lee.

Frankly, some members of the Board and staff have really ignored social graces, protocol, and courtesy in dealing with Lee. I believe the phrase "hoisted on their own petard" is appropriate.

This is major folks.

Stay tuned.

WANTED: FCAT GRADERS @ $10.00/hr.

2008-02-23T10:49:00.006-05:00

Actually this opens the door for us to hire people to grade our students' work! Since the state approves of it's contractors using GraigsList to hire FCAT graders of questionable background, I must assume that now we can "subcontract" for our own student's evaluation.

Imagine "hiring" USF and HCC students to do this tedious work while we concentrate on our parent phone calls and lesson plans! Maybe we can convince the courts to allow this activity as an approved "community service" requirement for low level offenders. Of course I would expect the fine folks at ROSSAC to keep a list of "approved graders."

On a more serious note, is anyone surprised by this revelation? A state that refuses to fund their mandates, a state the just can't get it's funding done, a state whose politicians (all affiliations) refuse to address the core reasons for the state's problems can't be expected to seriously attend to the grading of a high-stakes test. Our kids rate a $10.00/hr. future! Those of us in the profession realize what a tenuous position this puts everyone in.

The Superintendent is merely following the Governor's lead (Springboard, ScamTron, Grade "Curve", etc.) in so many ways.

Should we follow?

Note: For our new readers, an underlined blue word is known as a link. Clicking on it will take you to another web page.
Thanks to The Gradebook blog for digging this out.

7 NAMES YOU CAN'T SAY AT THE SCHOOL BOARD PODIUM - BIG ED CONNECTION

2008-02-21T22:57:00.019-05:00

School Board Chairwoman Makes Name-Dropping Rule

TAMPA - Hillsborough County School Board chairwoman Jennifer Faliero announced at Tuesday's meeting that speakers coming before the board "will be called out of order if you use anyone's name."

One regular speaker, Lee DeCesare, suggested the board should check with its attorney, saying the decree violates the right to free speech.

When DeCesare later named a teacher she said had been wronged by a principal for speaking out, Faliero banged her gavel and told her, "You are out of order."

Faliero then directed district security Chief Dave Friedberg to escort DeCesare out of the room.

School district spokesman Steve Hegarty later said, "That is not a part of the official statement that she reads," adding, "I don't know if that is what she will read the next time."

The board approved the promotion of Pansy Houghton, supervisor of choice technology, to director of student planning and placement.

Marilyn Brown

1) Doug Erwin

2) Marc Hart

3) Davis Island

4) Marc Hart

5) Bart Birdsall

6) Marc Hart

7) Bruce (inaudible)

So Hagerty knew about it, Freidberg knew about it, Gonzalez (Gonzie) heard it and yet none of these officials had the balls to tell the Chairwoman there was a First Amendment "problem"?

Is there any testosterone left in the room?

*************************************************************************************

Pansy Houghton was formerly employed by E.T.S. (Electronic Testing Services) but has worked with HCPS since 2000-2001 at least! So let's not rejoice in the hiring of an OUTSIDER!!!!

Is Pansy Dubose Houghton related to Renalia (Renee) Dubose, former head of Staff Development?

Consider the implications of someone whose background is BigED multiple choice, bubble-in, computerized grading.

"Software Review" by Lee Schroeder and Pansy Houghton

Schroeder and Houghton discuss a product that allows for in-house design and printing of double-sided, scannable forms.

"Software Review" by Lee Schroeder and Pansy Houghton

Schroeder and Houghton discuss software that can be used to manage bands of examination questions. Their focus is on software that can be used to ensure that duplicate or very similar items are not unknowingly included in the item bank.

"Software Review" by Lee Schroeder and Pansy Houghton

Schroeder and Houghton discuss the strengths and weaknesses of introducing technology to reduce or even substitute for the need to have face-to-face meetings to review test questions. The column describes the use of a modem to conduct a conference over a single telephone line that shares voice and computer data simultaneously.

"Software Review" by Lee Schroeder and Pansy Dubose Houghton

Lee Schroeder's column applies his criteria for evaluating an item-banking system (published in a previous CERcolumn) to two item-banking systems that were sent to him for review. One of Lee's associates, Pansy Houghton, reviews LXR-Test 5.0 and The Question Bank.

The Scantron CONNECTION!

Is this the same Lee Schroeder of Schroeder Measurement Technologies Inc., 2536 Countryside Blvd., Clear water, FL 34623.

http://www.clearhq.org/cer.htm

Will Dr. Steele give up the Curve Czar position? He won't HAVE to.

BIG ED

2008-02-20T17:39:00.003-05:00

Bill and Melinda Gates join with the College Board to seduce HCPS with money to entice "traditionally underrepresented students into honors and AP classes" under the innocuous title of "The Accelerator Program". Are the kids capable of succeeding or is being "underrepresented" enough.

They saw an increase in attendance and Grade Point average (due, no doubt to "the curve").

Decrease in referrals (hmmmm - submitted? acted on?) due to being challenged! No kidding.

I await the response postings from veteran teachers on this one since the "administration" was anecdotally referenced.

The meetings? When the heck did these folks meet? During their ONE conference?

BIG EDucation has been shown into the classroom - goader's been warning us about it for a while.

Let's look at the College Board numbers, and then how many kids complete college. Will Microsoft provide patches and fixes?

We need bona fide front line thoughts from teachers that are currently in the high school Accelerator program. Does anyone actually know any teacher that worked on this program?

Don't expect me to show up for the summer training - I need to commit to my summer job.

Am I the only one who thinks "somebody" should be investigated for "solicitation"?

Keep this in mind when they come to us to take a pay cut for next year.

SPRINGBOARD M.O.U. !!!!

2008-02-17T17:50:00.003-05:00

SPRINGBOARD!

This Memo Of Understanding is 50 pages long.

Page 18 = 7 programs?!
Page 29 = technology requirements!
Page 32 = some participating schools
Page 36 = Coach salary of $129,000 PLUS!!!
Page 39 = ALL participating schools
Page 42 = Price list of Programs and Services
Page 46 = Summer Inservices, etc.
Page 49 = half a mil here, half a mil there...

Agenda Summary

FROM THE FOXHOLE TO THE ARMPIT

2008-02-17T11:45:00.007-05:00

The following was taken from Lee's most recent posting. Keep this in mind since transfer season is around the bend.

"It was nice to see your e-mail, and to know that you are still fighting for our students. Teacher morale is lower than I can remember in my 23 years of teaching, and many great educators have quit the system rather than put up with the exploitation. It seems the only hope we have is to change the board, for our superintendent gets little resistance from the present group. Some well placed reporting on the issues raised in your note would help shake things up a bit. I will be more than happy to discuss the issues with any interested reporters. Keep in touch.

By the way, I was punished severely for speaking out. I lost my dual enrollment classes and was given regular level world history to teach. I taught honors level for 16 years, but those classes were given to first and second year teachers who were more cooperative with our administration. Many others were punished as well. It has been a rough year, but we will get through it with our dignity intact. Since the arrival of our present APC dual enrollment has shrunk to one class of Freshman English, whereas we used to have classes in science, social studies, math and English. We do have ten sections of AP Human Geography, though, for ninth graders. Remember, Ms. Elia’s bonus money in part comes from the numbers enrolled in AP, not how many actually pass the test."

From a comment in "The O'REALLY FACTOR":

"Marc Hutek at Armwood has been subtly threatening and bullying teachers. He has specifically warned young teachers to avoid certain older faculty members, i.e. those who have been outspoken about the 6/7 plan. He says the lunch tables are "poison" because of the malicious and false materials he says is spread there. He even gave a negative oral evaluation to the APC at Riverview about a teacher who was interviewing there for a job, calling her "high maintenance" and "uncooperative." By the way, Riverview hired her anyway, so kudos to that APC. He has mentioned teachers who he considers unprofessional BY NAME during the spring evaluations of other teachers. I can't think of anything more UNPROFESSIONAL than that. He wrote a teacher appreciation letter to the staff thanking us for our "loyalty" to HIM and follows it up with a threat that we'd better be standing at our doors during passing because if something happens out there, we could be held legally liable!!! (BTW -- is that true?) He's a pure joke to a majority of the staff, but since he can make life miserable, we play the game enough to get by. We hope to outlast him since he's upwardly mobile, but it isn't easy. We've lost at least 4 excellent teachers to other schools so far."

True Colors: more than a Cindy Lauper song.

**************************************************************************************************
I will soon be publishing a post for everyone to publish a "heads up" about the schools they are currently working in. This future post will provide an opportunity for you to single out schools who have administrations that are "less than desirable" to work for, much like the Marc Hutek comment above.

It is your opportunity to do what no one anywhere else will allow you : WARN US WHO NOT TO WORK FOR and WHY.

Watch for it. Post to it. Pass it around.

TEACHER ABSENCES

2008-02-12T16:34:00.001-05:00

OK, so exactly WHAT was the purpose behind this teacher absences report?

Here's what I got:

1) You get what you pay for.
2) You get more than you pay for if you tap into and exploit "professional pride".
3) Teachers are allowed sick days.
4) Teachers maximize their allowed sick days by hanging on until Friday.
5) You had to be told that an absent teacher affects student performance.
6) Low scoring (C & D) schools have higher teacher absenteeism - but didn't take into account the stress and burnout factor associated with any student population.
7) No mention of Hillsborough County's sneaky teach-an-extra-period trick.
8) The ONLY interviews that made the tape were veteran teachers. No interviews of the rookie teacher who is probably using up their sick time because they are reeling from the experience and are not returning to teaching next year.
9) No mention of contributing environmental factors like a room full of sick kids who want to exempt exams, marginal air quality, unreasonable time and workload demands, and the general malaise that sets in once you realize nobody in positions to change what is happening really gives a sh!t enough to do it.
10) If this were a student report it would get a county-curved "D" from any of the high school English teachers I know.

Oh, by the way:

Hillsborough's union represents 14,815 teachers* and 853 substitutes were called.

That gives Hillsborough a 94.3% attendance rate or a 5.7% absence rate on the WORST day.

Pure FCAT math - no curve.
I'm sure my trusty readers will correct any math mess ups..

(*last numbers published in the local papers)

Conclusion: A shallow attempt at something. Reflective of a medium in distress. They don't read blogs.

UN-PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

2008-02-08T14:06:00.000-05:00

Looks like the Board dragged "The Gonz", kicking and screaming, to admitting he linguistically avoided making a promise to provide a "Know Your Rights" brochure to all employees who face a trip to "Professional Standards".

Boy, did he NOT want to write that letter to Bart Birdsall.

Conclusion: If you are exonerated of any wrong doing, heck, if there is not even enough evidence to support a charge, you will NOT receive any documentation that you are cleared!
Time for a specific policy change.
Come on Gonzie would it be so hard to consider the PR of such a letter? Have you become so insulated and calloused by your profession that you forgot what a little "mercy" will do for the spirit? Where you too busy taking notes to hear the public perception reflected in the PTSA president that spoke?

First time in a while I cheered for Ms. Valdez.

By the way: the blogs wouldn't be necessary or so successful (as evidenced by the District blocking it and blogs being referenced at board meetings and in the media) if employees thought they were getting a fair break and were without fear of retribution (Doug Erwin).

Nice touch, supporting your CTA adversary. Talk about questionable representation!

For my perspective: Any employee needs to have an out-of-county labor attorney in mind just in case they need one.

To that end: Any Out-of-County Law Firm is welcome to post their contact information here.

Ms. Faliero's "make your point" to Ms. Griffin showed just how deeply she feels the heat over recent events. Or the veneer is cracking. Not even Mr. Lamb's whispering could quell her urgency to adjourn. Note that the chair has never said that to ANYONE else. Could Ms Faliero have been "hurrying" to confer with her mentor and come up with a response for defining "personal attacks"? Maybe she just couldn't hold "it" much longer.

Ms. Griffin HAS a point: there are systemic problems that need to be addressed. Next time "Sheryl" crosses THAT line "Chrissie" needs to reach back, open up a guitar case and pull out a Tele. "Its Only Rock and Roll"

Maybe I'll send her a "prop" for just that occasion.

What's really bad is I just realized I wasn't sure if Ms. Kurdell was there or not.

All this took place in the last hour: public comments. Stream 'n' Scream!

FINE POINT?

2008-02-05T21:34:00.000-05:00

14 counties facing penalties after School Board vote

Some school districts are facing penalties for having schools that don't meet class size requirements after State Board of Education rulings Monday. Money will be transferred out of each school district's operational budget and into capital outlay for such things as building more classrooms. County school districts with at least one noncomplying school and the amounts they face losing from their operating budgets include:

Alachua, $5,090
Duval, $65,263
Escambia, $11,509
Franklin, $4,267
Hardee, $19,967
Lee, $27,716
Leon, $13,249
Manatee, $100,625
Marion, $257
Orange, $26,213
Osceola, $94,095
Polk, $6,462
Putnam, $6,287
Volusia, $28,666

Source: State Department of Education

*******************************************************************

Did we really have to teach the additional period?

Could we afford these "fines" to keep morale at an acceptable level?

How did our teaching the extra period benefit the district?

Could the fine have been paid by the superintendent's "bonus"?

**************************************************************************

Tampa Tribune, September 2nd 2007

"Clements, however said her union, which has about 7,000 members, is loosely affiliated with the labor group and often differs in its endorsements."

Tampa Tribune

"Hillsborough's union represents 14,815 teachers...."

Would you have given the district $100.00 to pay the fine and keep your conference period?

That's a $1,481,500.00 fund. And if Gretchen Saunders puts it an interest bearing account it could grow and continue to cover the fines.

It can't be this simple, or obvious.

WALKING THE PLANK

2008-02-04T20:41:00.000-05:00

A string of comments in the previous posting revealed a rather insidious direction taken by the district. Whether on purpose or by accident it reeks of creepy.

Springboard, a College Board product, has been put on fast-track. Please hit the link and check out the curriculum info. Shades of "Voyages".

Teachers drained from teaching extra period.
Some start to show strain. Absenteeism rises.
Substitute teacher pool unable to cover absent teachers.
Teachers must now cover class for absent coworkers, leading to burn out and additional absences.
District takes control of exam grades via district enforced curve.
Springboard, a program of prepackaged lesson plans, resources, and tests makes its appearance for the English, Math curriculum.

Will the teacher component be marginalized?

Now to the abbreviated comments:

***"...Any wonder moral is so low? And with Springboard coming, most of the math and English teachers aren't really pushing their own curriculum much. Might as well just teach the semester exam along with FCAT and make us all "look" good. Of course the students will suffer, but "they" stopped caring about what the students really need long ago."

***"The SpringBoard instructional system combines rigorous course work with assessment and professional development in five synergistic components. Each course centers on classroom-tested Model Instructional Units that prepare students for AP® and college-level work.
Sounds like SRA for high school."

***"With SpringBoard... we won't need college educated individuals anymore... just really great trained monkeys... Is this what we want to do to our teachers and students??????"

***"Hey just think (we won't have to think) no making up lesson plans, or adjusting presentations, or updating supporting info, etc.
No explaining methods to parents, just refer them to the APC or the college board.
There is an UP side to this: we can actually get our conference stuff done during our one measley conference!!!!
New hires won't have to be vetted because anyone can "sleepwalk" thru it.
The teacher crisis will be over because anyone can be hired and "covering" classes will be a thing of the past."...

There ya have it. So far.

By the way, Ms. Faliero, we patiently await your resignation.

WHEN 6 OUT OF 7 = 5 OUT OF 5

2008-02-03T10:16:00.000-05:00

From Bob Weinstein's Column "Why Employees Jump Ship ".

"Gregory P. Smith, author of "Here Today, Here Tomorrow: Transforming Your Workforce from High-Turnover to High-Retention," says most employees take new jobs because of management problems. He lists five common management mistakes:

1. Demanding that one person do the jobs of two or more people, resulting in longer days and weekend work.

2. Cutting back on administrative help, which forces workers to use their time copying, stapling, collating, filing and performing other clerical duties.

3. Putting a freeze on raises and promotions.

4. Not allowing the rank and file to make decisions or denying them pride of ownership.

5. Constantly reorganizing and changing direction."

"DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME"

2008-02-02T16:59:00.000-05:00

Something is not right about the Plant physics teacher's inappropriate email to a student.

The papers are asking its readers to make too much of a leap in logic on this one:

"The school district suspended Plant teacher (name deleted), 22, with pay pending an investigation, Cobbe said. He was hired in September. The district is reviewing his computer to see if the case needs to be reported to law enforcement.

Officials first became aware of accusations against him late Wednesday when an assistant principal saw the female student in a hallway and asked how she was doing, Cobbe said. The student then reported the e-mail."

"how ya doing?" "no, how YOU doing?"

Plant AP's must have a lot of face time for students.

Too bad the guy wasn't a Board member.

Anyone got the goods on this one? How's my intuition?

"...and THE SURVEY says:..."?

2008-02-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

It's February.

There are only 4 months left. Not a lot of time left to affect change in time to save your employees or membership.

Whatever happened to
"the survey"?

You know, the one that was supposed to be taken to measure the impact of "substituting" a conference period with a teaching period for no additional money.

Is a curve being generated?

Call me crazy but it took less time to make us teach the extra class!

Hart To Heart

2008-01-26T13:14:00.000-05:00

After reading Lee's riveting post, which included information she gathered from Mark Hart, it is obvious that Ms. Faliero must address the issue.

Do the right thing Ms. Faliero. NOW.

< rewind >

JENNIFER BLEWIT

Does everybody remember those tedious teacher in-services we were forced to endure?

How about the one titled "Ethics Training"? How many times were we admonished with: "You are held to a higher standard." ? How often were we told that even if we were in a restaurant drinking, we never knew who was at the next table watching, listening.

How often were we told that we could be called to Professional Standards at the slightest, vaguest phone call, letter or infraction for reprimand or termination? "You are held to a higher standard."

Our board member Jennifer Faliero got caught trying to pull a quick one.

"You, Ms. Faliero, are held to an even higher standard."

You must be able to make informed unemotional decisions. The decision to move away from the community that elected you and then try to keep it "under the radar" belies that fatal flaw spouses succumb to during divorce. As an elected official that option was not available to you - period.
You betrayed your district with personal intent.

You can't raise a family of 3 on $40,887 a year? You moved to South Tampa's Davis Island for more affordable housing?

You have teachers with Bachelor Degrees who must be on Level 9 (not 9 years experience but LEVEL 9) who make almost that and never thought about South Tampa's greatest housing bargain! Really, did you think anybody in Tampa bought that one?

Why South Tampa? Did you use your position to intimidate the Plant administration into looking the other way when they enrolled your daughter? Oh, wait a minute, wasn't Ms. Elia's launching pad Plant High School? Was her evaluation influenced by this move? Were your required to purchase a pass to Candyland? I wonder how you kept this enrollment away from the queen of CandyLand? Did the South Tampa "powers that be" tacitly "allow" this quid-pro-quo? At what price? See how easy it is for the neighbors to talk?

Too bad you didn't take that "Ethics Training", or did you? In any case your integrity has been forever damaged. Every decision, every comment, every public appearance will bring this baggage with it. Every little thing will be measured by this decision to move out of your district. If you can't live on $40,887 a year how can you look at yourself knowing a third of your teachers make less!

Like they told us: "Ignorance is no excuse because you, Ms. Faliero, are held to an even higher standard."

Do the right thing Ms. Faliero:

APOLOGIZE TO US and RESIGN
- the sooner, the better.

DUMBING DOWN THE HOUSE

2008-01-12T18:07:00.000-05:00

Read The Trib's Exam Grades Going Higher.

Here is what jumped out at me.

Just 62 percent correct on the physics semester exam equals an A, for example.

"I can guarantee you no student is going to get a worse grade," said David Steele, the Hillsborough County School District's general director for secondary education. "Our goal is to ensure the grade on the semester exam mirrors the class grades for the nine weeks."

Hillsborough was first in the state to have a merit pay plan approved because it could use its semester exams to gauge student performance for other subject area teachers. But teachers are evaluated on actual scores, not on letter grades.

The district is paying $3.1 million during five years for the software was used to scale the semester exams, said John Hilderbrand, Hillsborough's testing and accountability chief. But it is also used by teachers to create their own tests and improve exams.
Scam-tron anyone? Do you think the curved grades are automatically entered on the grade gathering documents OR into the report card program?

Hillsborough is changing the grading of its semester exams at the same time high school teachers have added one class period to their day. They now teach six out of seven periods, a move by the district to save money that drew fire from teachers. The district has agreed with the teachers union to evaluate the effect on students and teachers of the heavier workload.

Steele confirmed he has heard from principals that some teachers suspect the timing of the new grading scale was done to ensure student performance would improve.

"We will not compare semester grades," Steele said. "We will be comparing raw scores on tests that are new or have changed."

Get ready.

Is it any wonder this grade manipulation/inflation continues to undermine the value of our diplomas in high school and college?

Teach to the test: be it FCAT or HiCcuPS.

A CURVE ON STEROIDS!

2008-01-10T17:02:00.000-05:00

Here is some of what I have been able verify.

The high school regular World History exam percentage-to-letter curve:

A = 80 - 100
B = 69 - 79
C = 59 - 68
D = 49 - 58
F = 0 - 48

You can get less than 50% and you pass the test, grab a "quality point" (you need 3), and you're on your way to getting credit for the class! Talk about "No Child Left Behind".

(If your son/daughter got an "F" - maybe you have a moron in the house.)

Keep in mind that I could not get hold of the "raw score" - the actual number of items that were correct. What if 30 correct answers out of 150 questions fell at the median and set the "C" (average) range?

What if the computer assisted answer sheets were defective and tests were scored incorrectly due to a printing error?

We need to expose this statistically dishonest manipulation by the district. This is NOT being done at the schools. It is coming from the upside-down pyramid on Kennedy.

Do you have information (raw scores, curves, failure rates, etc) to shine a light on? Post a comment and let the public know what you know.

Will the superintendent apply a similar curve to MAP? Only if it will improve her public image.

Disclosure: I am NOT against curving per se. It does have a place and a purpose but I don't know any effective teacher who agrees with a wholesale giveaway.

'Tis The Season

2007-12-24T09:57:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Happy Chanukah!

Happy New Year!

Best Wishes to all my readers, posters and sources.

Now let's go have some fun!

January 7th will come soon enough.

CLASS SIZE AMENDMENT

2007-12-15T20:46:00.000-05:00

Check out Ken Otero on The Gradebook blog.

THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST

2007-12-15T16:44:00.001-05:00

"I have received today deposition proof that Jennifer Faliero did indeed have an affair with former schools' public-affairs head Marc Hart." -Lee DeCesare

Click here for more.

Anyone who did not see the board meeting needs to go to "Stream and Scream" and watch what happened 2 hours into the meeting. Even though we are the 8th largest school district in the nation Tampa is still a small town. People remember things.

Lee was gaveled down as she created a "concept map" that started with that mother reading a "random page" (anyone really believe that?) from a teen book that resides on our library's shelf to the district's reluctance to deal with things sexual (gotta keep a clean image) to the (until now) rumored affair of a school board member.

TheWALL (actually Suzie Creamcheese) was identified as the source. It was not.

The source was contained in a Tampa Tribune comment to the "Band-director-texting-a-student" story. A link to the story and original comment was provided via an anonymous posting. Both are still there.

Incidentally, there was more Board "shuckin' an' jivin' " about that book than at the Michael Vick dog-fight hearing.

I suspect there will be a lot more to come in the new year. Christmas and New Year parties are a wonderful source of information and the way Lee gracefully accepted her "dismissal" will, no doubt, win her a place in many hearts.

Somebody's going to need to "put on their dancin' shoes".

NOT TO WORRY - 20 % Teacher Tax?

2007-11-24T14:22:00.000-05:00

This almost slid by. Teacher's paying a tax on "annualized" income! Do you spread your checks over the full year? You may want to change it. NOW!

Or at least file the correct paperwork.

Click here.

Just in:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT IRS 'ANNUALIZED INCOME' CODE:

*UPDATE: I found out some preliminary information tonight and will post more as I get it. Hillsborough County Teachers do not need to worry about this new code. We hold out taxes unlike some school districts. This code applies to teachers in districts that do not withhold taxes. Again, there is no need to worry based on what I have been told. I will post specific information later, but I thought this was important and wanted to ease concerns as soon as I found something out.

April Griffin

EXAMS AFTER BREAK?

2007-11-24T11:02:00.000-05:00

What better time to ask this question than now?

April Griffin is asking, you can ...Be Heard . This is an opportunity to show your creativity and logic.

Personally I'm looking forward to a lively discussion.

Hope everyone had the Thanksgiving they wanted!