tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post4646345257409630795..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Suggestion BoxCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-75703361771393511222009-06-20T22:48:46.616-04:002009-06-20T22:48:46.616-04:00One big suggestion -- protect the crossing guards!...One big suggestion -- protect the crossing guards!<br /><br />This is from Heneghan's Dunwoody blog - seems there's a rumor that DCSS may be eliminating the guards...<br /><br />http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/2009/06/radar-speed-limit-signs-may-coming-to.htmlCerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-79969389821582000872009-06-20T21:47:45.425-04:002009-06-20T21:47:45.425-04:00Wadsworth's capacity is 493 (which, with 187 s...Wadsworth's capacity is 493 (which, with 187 students puts them at 38% capacity) = hopefully the program will grow ---<br /><br />note to son of -- I'm working on your request - have had to go out of town so my tether to the blog gets loose... but I think your idea is good!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-86989344728969277252009-06-20T19:10:02.044-04:002009-06-20T19:10:02.044-04:00Andi,
Wadsworth just became a stand alone magnet ...Andi,<br /><br />Wadsworth just became a stand alone magnet school in 08-09. Before that the program was housed at Browns Mill. Wadsworth was closed as an elementary school because of shrinking enrollment.<br /><br />They were unable to fully enroll Wadsworth Magnet in 2008-2009 because of lack of funding. <br /><br />I am unsure what the plan is for 09-10.themommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01829171693817032539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-9279850032058965242009-06-20T15:57:22.522-04:002009-06-20T15:57:22.522-04:00I was looking at some of the numbers for choice el...I was looking at some of the numbers for choice elementary schools. The Theme schools have the highest enrollment average and the High Achievers (Kittredge and Wadsworth) have the lowest. Wadsworth's enrollment was only 187 on 08-09. It's highest enrollment as in 00-01 at 431. I could not find the capacity for each school.andihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425606310640843705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-21290266037039271422009-06-16T14:16:43.054-04:002009-06-16T14:16:43.054-04:00son of awcomeonnow, ready and accounted for!
...son of awcomeonnow, ready and accounted for!<br /> Cere- with your posting skills is there any way you can get on the Dekalb County Housing Authority website?<br /> There's an ad for the Dekalb Housing Authority Landlord appreciation banquet, complete with talks on tax credits, and other HUD scams.<br /> THis was discussed at length last year on GDK between myself,<br />under radar ( wherever he may be), and others.<br /> It would be useful for persons to see just what county homeowners and parents are up against.<br /> What we're up against is this:<br />pervasive greed masquerading as social conciousness. Nobody connected with, financing through,<br />employed by, renting from, or doing legal or financial work for the housing authority gives a rats ass about all the carnage they create. Likewise, all of our elected representatives at the state and local level. Add to the list anybody on the school board, <br />otherwise they'd opened their mouths publicaly LONNNNNGGGGGG ago.<br /> Back to my request. Cere- see if you can post the invite for the slumlord appreciation cotillion from the housing authority website.<br /> You did a good job with a heads up for the to do at the white house. Maybe somebody'd like to show up and post some signs on the way to the slumlord's ball and let those nice people know how the residents really think about them.<br /> In the long run, it's up to residents to do something about the worst and most crime plagued rentals in the county. The county politicians have been playing footsie under the table with slumlords for decades.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-39599760921662282042009-06-16T11:22:56.906-04:002009-06-16T11:22:56.906-04:00The key reasons DeKalb is more attractive are cont...The key reasons DeKalb is more attractive are continued access to MARTA and Grady. Those who flocked to Clayton for the rent specials are realizing they may have made a mistake.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-48149803312942980642009-06-16T09:23:07.366-04:002009-06-16T09:23:07.366-04:00Son of awcomeonnow is right. I know City of Atlan...Son of awcomeonnow is right. I know City of Atlanta staff. The AHA absolutely knows that thousands of their housing authority families who have been given vouchers as the AHA tears down all its old developments are moving to Clayton and DeKalb.<br /><br />It seems like both the BOE and DeKalb county gov't elected officials and upper staff are all in denial about it. Clayton is attractive because of lower rents, but DeKalb does have better schools than Clayton, so many of the former AHA'ers are now here in DeKalb. DeKalb has always been very welcoming to slumlords, cough, apartment complex and extended stay owners.<br /><br />It's bad enough that DCSS does not enforce residency requirement, and thousands of non-county residents are in our county schools. Everything Son of awcomeonnow says on this topic is 100% right on the mark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-89515397410689098242009-06-15T09:12:57.640-04:002009-06-15T09:12:57.640-04:00Son of awcomeonnow back at ya.
The chances th...Son of awcomeonnow back at ya.<br /> The chances that we will get plenty of public housing tenants is sky high, particularly now that they've tore down Bowen homes.<br /> Who'll get the gift that keeps on giving (crime, litter, gunfire, compromised schools)? <br /> Why Dekalb and Clayton, of course. I've already seen signs of this over near the the corner of Memorial and Northern ( near the tax comissioner's offices).<br /> A steady stream of foot traffic heading into the Avondale Crossing complex. Newly renovated with a fresh coat of paint, and a swimming pool that's been freshly filled- with dirt, topped by grass.<br /> If we could only tear down some units before Atlanta Housing Authority claim them for some of their prize thug tenants. (Sigh)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36789161264276186772009-06-14T22:19:25.564-04:002009-06-14T22:19:25.564-04:00No Duh,
No, I don't think that KMS (or any ot...No Duh,<br />No, I don't think that KMS (or any other high achiever school)scholarship " winners" deserve a smaller class size, actually quite the opposite. I actually think if you take a group of advanced students they should be able to fall within the class guidelines that the rest of us normal folks have. If I understood correctly, the class size for 4th grade at KMS is 17 - IMHO this is unacceptable.... And I don't believe that they should have transportation compliments of all of the taxpayers. And, how many millions could have been saved byt eliminating this program last year? I believe that if parents make a choice to go to a school outside of their district they should take on the responsibility of getting there. And I can't believe that KMS students have foreign language <br />(that ever useful German) every day and we cannot even get Spanish once a week. Let's not even go into music........... Lastly, since when is an 80% cumulative on standardized testing considered a high achiever? Yes, if, and I do mean if, DCSS continues to provide magnet schools they need to raise the bar and truly serve the high achieving, not just a lucky number. Why doesn't the community push for this to happen? <br />I cannot believe that parents really know the numbers for magnet expenditures, that all of us in Dekalb County support but most of us could not obtain, even if your child qualified. The issue is outdated and DCSS should look at the allocation of limited resources. <br />This is only one worthy example of DCSS staff holding on for dear life to a system and, perhaps job, that is no longer needed. I have to second the earlier thoughts that a fact based outline would be much appreciated and I am certain rather informative for all. Anon 4:59Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-26181140768831785642009-06-14T21:45:53.215-04:002009-06-14T21:45:53.215-04:00Kittredge's original intent and purpose was fo...Kittredge's original intent and purpose was for integration only. The rules were quite different - 50/50 white and black - 2 students from each school. It was a result of the federal mandate to DCSS to integrate. Somehow, it has morphed into an entitlement and an elitist program. <br /><br />If you're ever interested in doing a little research, no duh, and posting an article here about what you dig up on the history/costs/effectiveness of the various magnet programs, we would welcome that. If you are interested (and that goes for anyone) - send me an email at ReparteeForFun@gmail.com<br /><br />What happens then - I send you an email invitation from the blog to be a front page writer. (This is what Kim, psc, Ella and O&T do - among others.) You can post anonymously if you create an email with no obvious identity attached, or you can send it as a Word doc attachment and I will post it for you. <br /><br />This would be a lot of work - but I think it would be a really important post - if done strictly factually....Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55540791370226463342009-06-14T21:03:14.523-04:002009-06-14T21:03:14.523-04:00Anon 4:59, so you think that lottery winners shoul...Anon 4:59, so you think that lottery winners should have smaller classrooms than non-lottery winners?<br /><br />If DCSS wanted to go back to hand-picking Kittredge students based on recommendations, scores, entrance essays, IQs, etc. I'd be great with that. Then you really would have a special group of students who are the truly brilliant who need to be protected -- if you will -- from the waste of time "regular" school can be for the SUPER-gifted.<br /><br />That is NOT what Kittredge is. You know it. I know it. DCSS knows it. So let's all stop acting like it is more than it is -- a very expensive way for lottery winners to spend our tax dollars on students who are no more special than THOUSANDS of other students in DCSS.No Duhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14462063673391668451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-88636375484527856072009-06-14T19:08:04.803-04:002009-06-14T19:08:04.803-04:00Cuts need to be made - and they need to be made at...Cuts need to be made - and they need to be made at the bloat. The system is much too top heavy - too many AP's - too many administrators - too many jobs in administration period.<br /><br />Beyond that - cutting the class offerings (by eliminating the block) will cut millions.<br /><br />Transportation needs slashed big time. The cross-county transportation entitlement must end.<br /><br />Here's a quote highlighting the serious budget issues many states are experiencing. Consider this a harbinger - don't just shrug it off or this will be our future too --<br /><br /><i>“We are in the process … of decimating our schools. We’re talking about massive, unprecedented slashing of base funding for our students,” said Brian Lewis, the executive officer of the California Association of School Business Officials. “Schools have been quite successful at doing more and more with less and less over the years. Then we get hit with this tremendous cut that’s going to push districts over the edge of financial insolvency.”</i><br /><br />It's ironic that since the implementation of NCLB - the financial well-being of school districts has been destroyed. Some have been saying for a long time that this was the ultimate intent of NCLB.<br /><br />Read more here -<br /><a rel="nofollow">http://www.stateline.org/live/printable/story?contentId=406164</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-19765183320711733592009-06-14T18:06:03.932-04:002009-06-14T18:06:03.932-04:00Great idea son of... hmmm. I do think that since ...Great idea son of... hmmm. I do think that since Atlanta has been so vigilant in closing their housing projects - we in DeKalb have ended up taking on many of the displaced families - in lower income housing (apartments.) Notice that Atlanta's test scores have gone up - did the low testers suddenly start to do better or have they simply moved away?Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-9860182578049544512009-06-14T17:18:27.385-04:002009-06-14T17:18:27.385-04:00Son of Awcomeonnow, checking in.
The school board ...Son of Awcomeonnow, checking in.<br />The school board and the housing authority have already sat down around the same table. This occurred last year when Sembler wanted to grab all the land around Adams stadium.<br /> Since they've already had discussions about other matters, why can't the school board start discussing this:<br /> Finding possible school sites throughout the county where soon to be foreclosed complexes currently sit? Left to their own devices, the housing authority invariably will refinance and renovate these complexes, putting area schools back behind the eight ball.<br /> One of these renovations is occurring over on Norman Avenue <br />(outside Clarkston) as we speak-<br />a condemned, close complex is being renovated. It stands ready to flood Indian Creek Elementary with new students come this fall.<br /> Instead, the school board should bid on some of these foreclosed complexes, reducing the transient enrollment. In many cases, the locations are central to other surrounding housing, so the need to acquire and feed buses is diminished.<br /> Anybody else interested in starting the push? <br /> Dump the dumps, and up the test scores.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-27613957698835184002009-06-14T16:59:07.339-04:002009-06-14T16:59:07.339-04:00I find the discussion on inclusion teaching very i...I find the discussion on inclusion teaching very interesting. Sorry No Duh, can't really buy the precious minds and limo thing..... It is a disservice to all children in the classroom and should be looked at it that way, For example, do you really think even a very good teaching professional can differentiate instruction for 25-30 children?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-45062250495010161592009-06-14T14:00:43.320-04:002009-06-14T14:00:43.320-04:00I'd like to endorse the suggestion to return t...I'd like to endorse the suggestion to return to the 6 period day - and to follow only the State guidelines for graduation - 23 credits vs 24. (The state only requires 3 credits of social studies, not 4 as DCSS does.) If students would like to add the credit, they may. However, we could save millions of dollars by cutting back what we are offering students. DCSS has become a massive jobs program as it offers 32 credits in 4 years in high schools utilizing the block schedule. That's 8 more per student than if we returned to 24 - or 9 more if we cut to 23. <br /><br />8 credits PER STUDENT per school at a school with 1,000 students is a whopping 8,000 ADDITIONAL (unnecessary) classes offered, paid for and staffed over 4 years at EACH high school on the block! (18 schools could be offering about 180,000 or more unnecessary classes!!) Offering FREE high school summer or Sat or online credit recovery would be much cheaper. Also - schools would not require so many actual classrooms to host all of these classes - (less $$ needed for buildings) as well as we would not need nearly as many teachers to staff these classes. <br /><br />The block schedule is a budget buster. We need to find a more economical solution.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-74419893391727696962009-06-13T19:30:34.761-04:002009-06-13T19:30:34.761-04:00I agree totally with Shayna on In-house counsel. ...I agree totally with Shayna on In-house counsel. It would save a great deal of money. The salary would not similar to one of the assistant supertendents probable which is a whole lot less than we are paying for primary attorney fees each year.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004885232852482737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-13920781824772884472009-06-13T17:37:50.864-04:002009-06-13T17:37:50.864-04:00The following suggestion comes to us from Shayna S...The following suggestion comes to us from Shayna Steinfeld,<br /><br /><i>I keep pushing for in-house counsel -- I don't know of a corporation with a $1-2 billion dollar budge that does not have in-house counsel. In house-counsel represents the client (here, DCSS) -- it handles matters "in house" that it can handle in house -- this includes loss mitigation and heading off legal matters that could turn into litigation before they head into litigation (which may include mediation or arbitration before litigation); it includes "farming out" legal work to outside counsel to handle when it can't be handled in-house so that it is handled well and it includes a review of the billings being submitted by outside counsel to the client (DCSS) to ensure that the billings are fair, reasonable and appropriate. When the billings appear to be high or excessive, counsel can be charged with the responsibility (and ability ) to question and complain, and to change to new counsel for further matters. I understand that Gwinnett has very effective in-house counsel and they handle things much more efficiently and economically than DeKalb. I think DCSS could really save money pulling legal in-house with a good hire. </i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-74115267098097944232009-06-13T00:59:52.986-04:002009-06-13T00:59:52.986-04:00Saving money by mainstreaming Special ed students....Saving money by mainstreaming Special ed students. Why and who has asked for it?<br /><br />As noted here, there are levels of need from the Special Ed population in DCSS. Many of the students with IEPs and what-have-you do very well in the regular classrooms and integrate fully -- though perhaps being pulled into smaller classrooms for specialized needs during the day. These are the children with specific learning disabilities that can be socially integrated into a regular classroom.<br /><br />But, that leaves the children whose disability is far more complex and involves socialability issues, anger management issues, severe autism, etc. Do these children's parents really want to force their child into such a spotlight?<br /><br />Our system is trying to mainsteam these fragile children and are doing them and the students whose classrooms they are forced into a great disservice. It can not be fun for a child with these kinds of issues to be forced into mainstream classrooms where everything is over their heads, where the teachers end up disciplining them constantly, where the other students are constantly waiting for the child to catch up, get on the right page, come back from the restroom, stop talking, etc.<br /><br />Are we mainstreaming these kids because their parents are demanding it? Doubt it. It has to be money. <br /><br />So short-sighted. So disruptive. So unfair to the special ed student. So unfair to the regular students who are short-changed during class time due to the behaviors of students who should be in a very specialized environment with teachers who are specially trained to teach the way these students need to be taught.<br /><br />With Audria Berry's salary alone we could hire two or three young and enthusiastic special ed teachers -- fresh out of college, packed with new and innovative techniques -- to help these kinds of children.<br /><br />But hey, why do that when we can do another study of the effectiveness of mainstreaming special ed students? Or, how about a survey (the results of which are never shared) designed by an outside consultant? Or, how about sending three or four administators to a conference in Las Vegas about educating special ed students. Or, how about we decide to send individual limos to Kittredge students' houses to pick them up in the morning and bring them home in the afternoon -- so their precious valuable minds will never have to come in contact with a special ed student!No Duhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14462063673391668451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-64327488130843224842009-06-12T23:32:19.129-04:002009-06-12T23:32:19.129-04:00Oh I know, and I've worried about them. Don&#...Oh I know, and I've worried about them. Don't get me wrong - She had some really wonderful interrelated teachers too -- in fact, a couple are still at Lakeside and 3 of the best were at Shamrock Middle. I don't think any of them are there anymore, sadly. It's a difficult job, with little support. Every principal I've had contact with almost doesn't even consider special education to be their responsibility - they will tell you to talk to the LTSE every time.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-71173339751532037962009-06-12T19:31:09.958-04:002009-06-12T19:31:09.958-04:00Thanks for the insight DekalbParent and Cere. Wha...Thanks for the insight DekalbParent and Cere. What I meant by 'school board providing' was more about funding allocation than anything else. The little I know about special education comes from listening to a few special education teachers I know. I've heard about situations similar to what you both posted. I consider both of you strong and knowledgeable advocates. Can you imagine what happens to the special education children whose parents may not be as knowledgeable?pscexbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03634017508215285786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-23154215545862820762009-06-12T18:51:08.139-04:002009-06-12T18:51:08.139-04:00Been there too. To the tune of $12,000 a year. But...Been there too. To the tune of $12,000 a year. But it was worth it - the private school handled my childs education completely differently than the public school. We could only afford it for a few years and had to return to public school, and I deeply regret that. We should have mortgaged our home to keep her in a private program.<br /><br />Here's just one little example - my child was placed in a team taught biology class. The teacher kept giving her zeros on her homework, but she had always turned it in. We found out that the "interrelated teacher" kept losing them! Of course, the teachers called my daughter a liar and made her re-do several "missing" assignments. We finally had to start making copies of everything she turned in as a back-up. <br /><br />(As an aside, when I once shared with a different interrelated teacher that getting the study guide the night before a test was much too stressful on my daughter - the teacher actually once told me that was "bullsh*t" and my child was just trying to get attention.) All we asked was to be given the study guides at the beginning of the chapters so that she could fill them out as they were covered and then use them to study from before the test. Instead, she was forced to spend 2-3 hours filling out the study guide (which was graded) the night before the test.<br /><br />I have many more stories like these, but I won't torture you all.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-35731384876003528032009-06-12T18:39:15.602-04:002009-06-12T18:39:15.602-04:00@psc -
"School boards want to provide for ...@psc - <br /><br /> "School boards want to provide for special education based on their understanding of the law."<br /><br />I respectfully beg to differ. I really don't think the school board thinks much about what the schools provide for special education students. They are at too high an altitude - they can't (and shouldn't) be concerned with the minutia of what goes on in the school building. The provisions for special education are made at the school level, by the LTSE, who is over a relatively small number of schools. This is where you get the decisions made on the basis of what is most economical. This is why many children are 'team-taught' in regular ed classrooms even when they would be better off being taught in a smaller class by a dedicated special ed teacher. It's cheaper. I believe Ella has addressed this a few times. <br /><br />"Parents of special education children are tremendous advocates and are able to secure a great deal for their children. It could include being sent to 'specialty' schools, paid for by the school system if that system does not offer the necessary services."<br /><br />Yes, parents are tremendous advocates, but often they are no match for determined LTSEs and School Psychologists with edu-speak on their side. Few parents actually get their children into 'specialty' schools at school system expense here in DeKalb. To do so, the parent has to take the case to court (hence the legal cases the system is involved in) and spend a year or more trying to prove their case. Their kids CAN'T AFFORD to wait that long. <br /><br />When you see a kid disappear from the school, usually they didn't get sent to a 'specialty' school at system expense. Instead, the frustrated parent decided their only choice was to go into debt to PAY for their kid to go to that school.<br /><br />Sorry, but I've been there. Twice.Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-83161299187336678082009-06-12T18:33:37.972-04:002009-06-12T18:33:37.972-04:00I am disabled myself so you have to forgive me. I...I am disabled myself so you have to forgive me. I do not ask but I do act as a special education advocate on occassion.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004885232852482737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-88463012276586103552009-06-12T18:32:22.166-04:002009-06-12T18:32:22.166-04:00Special education is my area of expertise and I ha...Special education is my area of expertise and I have went to due process with the county regarding 504/special education issue twice and Stan Hawkins and his partner meet with me twice. <br /><br />I ask as an advocate in some situations and go in and represent the parents and child in due process situations on occassion. This is what I want to do full time when I retire. I am going to be a special education advocate.<br />I study special education law/504 law in my spare time.<br /><br />Dekalbmom is correct. IF the situation was handled correctly to start with there would not be as many problems. IF teachers and administrators were more willing to provide 504 accommodations in the regular education classroom there would not be such an issue. Many administrators and teachers just do not understand the law and do what they want to do.<br /><br />My due processes were very clear by law but I was told by special education administrators at the county that this is not the way we do it. Legal counsel told the special education administrators that my husband and I were correct and this is the way that the situation would be handled with my two children and it was. But my last son never received the accommodations in his IEP/504 Plan. The teachers just disregarded the plan.<br /><br />I do believe there are big law firms who do them all. Our previous law firm did them all. The current one does not. That has been the problem. But, I have been told that the current law firm was friends of school board members. <br /><br />Again, in my previous comments I want to make sure it is clear that I am supportive of Team Teaching but if it was investigated I am positive that it could be done with parapros in most situations and save the county a great deal of money. I would suspect from my observations in many counties as a team teachers that the special education teachers do not really team teach. They do provide needed support to the special needs students and other students but this does not have to be provided by a teacher making $40,000-$70,000 a year. We could have twice the support in regular education classes for the amount of money being spent if we used parapros instead.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004885232852482737noreply@blogger.com