tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post507263499136992630..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: This just in..."DeKalb schools propose cuts in programs, teacher pay"Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-58082759293572290422010-01-24T12:14:30.342-05:002010-01-24T12:14:30.342-05:00I am telling you that's what Dr. Lewis told us...I am telling you that's what Dr. Lewis told us to our faces and was one of the reasons he used for firing Chelf. Ironic that he blamed Chelf for Lakeside's building - but has never blamed anyone else for the condition of their building. (ie: Cross Keys, Chamblee or MLK's stinky smell they can't seem to get rid of.) <br /><br />In fact, I would go so far as to say that principals lay low as far as asking for attention - they don't want it. They want to fly under Lewis' radar and show support by attending all of his community meetings as he insists they do. (Ever notice how many principals and office staff attend a Chamblee-Dunwoody Parent Council meeting? Ever notice how many security officers tag along? Those CDPC & ELPC meetings are so dangerous!)<br /><br />Lewis has a Napoleon complex. He once asked at an ELPC meeting, (when we were discussing the difficulty of firing bad teachers) - "do any of you principals in this room feel that you can't dismiss a bad teacher easily?" They ALL robotically replied - "NO"... we find it very easy to get rid of bad teachers. <br /><br />Funny - I haven't EVER seen a principal fire a bad teacher. They won't even admit that they have a bad teacher in the system.<br /><br />Believe me, good teachers have no problem seeing bad teachers let go.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-22065860972510862912010-01-24T10:27:43.310-05:002010-01-24T10:27:43.310-05:00Are you telling me that Cross Keys never submitted...Are you telling me that Cross Keys never submitted work orders for any of the work that needed to be done? That's pretty hard to believe. That's what they always say about computer repairs. A lot of teachers submit multiple help desk calls for technology and their problems never get fixed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-39882518747756509342010-01-24T10:18:13.890-05:002010-01-24T10:18:13.890-05:00Ron Ramsey is one reason why Pat Pope got away wit...Ron Ramsey is one reason why Pat Pope got away with what she has done and has lost the district millions in state funding. When are our children going to be put first, this they are the reason we have a school system and Lewis, Ramsey, teachers, all staff, have jobs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-78511468169374224802010-01-24T09:40:03.905-05:002010-01-24T09:40:03.905-05:00There is no preventative maintenance plan, there i...There is no preventative maintenance plan, there isn't enough staff for it - or parts. For instance, there aren't enough air filters in stock to do a quarterly system wide filter change as prescribed in our own policies. <br /><br />And without that "ticket" or work order, there is no accountability for materials or verification of the technicians providing any service. Employees need the work orders to validate the work needing to be done. It is the schools responsibility to submit those work orders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-6195250175328817642010-01-23T22:58:31.033-05:002010-01-23T22:58:31.033-05:00I work in facilites, and don't understand: Are...I work in facilites, and don't understand: Aren't Sam Moss staff inspecting schools on a regular basis, instead of just relying on work orders? Where is the preventative maintenance?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-31361234623004090682010-01-23T21:18:37.007-05:002010-01-23T21:18:37.007-05:00So one school didn't do a work order, then wha...So one school didn't do a work order, then what was the problem at all the other schools. Remember Murphy Candler my child is still having health problems. So all the leaking roofs, roaches, sewage smells, stopped up commodes, kitchen equipment not working and not having heat. So what you are saying is that the principal is not doing his job? I hope a piece of paper would not keep what needs to be done when it is about wheather my child get's what he/she would need in school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-32211526983224712902010-01-23T20:30:11.845-05:002010-01-23T20:30:11.845-05:00I don't know Ron Ramsey. I do know the school...I don't know Ron Ramsey. I do know the school board historically spent over $100K annually for two outside lobbyists to promote the DCSS agenda when the legislature was in session.<br /><br />IMO employing lobbyists on behalf of DCSS is another collossal waste of money since we're talking about State-wide legislative changes and DeKalb is just a nit in the big picture. Although on second thought this is another "friends-and-family" opportunity for someone to get $60K+ for a few weeks work. <br /><br />Nonetheless, if this guy Ramsey is promoting the District's needs from the inside to his peers, and trading his votes for those which DCSS needs, this is likely a good thing and worthwhile for the cost of absenteeism. <br /><br />Admittedly I have not seen Ramsey's agenda to verify if this is so. Since DCSS is paying him, I can only hope it's true... or based on his salary I'll have to assume he's somehow related to Crawford or a BOE rep. ;-) <br /><br />Oh... and Weber's wife retired from DCSS I believe. I hear she's still involved with schools in other counties. CLew and BOE you should be be held accountable for losing such great talent!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-79518335931158894362010-01-23T19:11:28.317-05:002010-01-23T19:11:28.317-05:00"Ramsey's reported DCSS salary for 2008 w..."Ramsey's reported DCSS salary for 2008 was $112,743 + $4,158 for unspecified miscellaneous activities. His reported 2008 salary represents a 21.8% raise over 2007. (Ramsey’s 2007 salary was $92,5291.) "<br /><br /><br />HOW DOES ANYONE IN DCSS GET A 21% RAISE??? A $20,000 increase in salary in one year?? WTF??!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-26521789734308152722010-01-23T18:32:38.864-05:002010-01-23T18:32:38.864-05:00BTW -- Maureen Downey (a real reporter with a payc...BTW -- Maureen Downey (a real reporter with a paycheck to show for it) has some VERY interesting conversations going on at her AJC Get Schooled blog.<br /><br />This one talks about what Gov Perdue is doing with the lottery funds <br /><br />http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/01/23/is-perdue-proposing-a-raid-on-hope-and-pre-k-lottery-funds/<br /><br />And this one talks about the 200 page application for the "Race to the Top" money -<br /><br />http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/01/22/weekend-reading-the-200-page-race-to-the-top-application/Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-15941591399103883442010-01-23T18:24:48.628-05:002010-01-23T18:24:48.628-05:00It takes a team to run a blog -- If a teacher woul...It takes a team to run a blog -- If a teacher would like to write an article -- I'll be SO HAPPY to post it here for you.<br /><br />Send it to me - either as an email or attach a Word Doc - if you'd like to remain anonymous that' perfectly fine - Here's the address: <br /><br />reparteeforfun@gmail.com<br /><br />(I'm not a reporter - I don't go out and cover the news...I actually have a real job and do this for "fun"... ha ha)<br /><br />-CereCerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-26422050795609354482010-01-23T18:18:10.678-05:002010-01-23T18:18:10.678-05:00BLACK THURSDAY!!!! PARENTS AND STUDENTS GET ON BOA...BLACK THURSDAY!!!! PARENTS AND STUDENTS GET ON BOARD!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-69621666961496822682010-01-23T18:16:39.151-05:002010-01-23T18:16:39.151-05:00Sorry guys but this page is getting luke warm. I u...Sorry guys but this page is getting luke warm. I used to visit it often trhough the day. There are some grave issues going on in DCSS.<br /><br />What about the 250 teachers that picketted the board meeting last week.<br /><br />What about the protest at the Stte Capital today.<br /><br />What about the teachers wearing black n protest.<br /><br />These things are important too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-74852109866373520162010-01-23T17:46:45.543-05:002010-01-23T17:46:45.543-05:00Ouch! Sen. Ramsey is the very gentleman who lectu...Ouch! Sen. Ramsey is the very gentleman who lectures all DCSS employees on ethics in a mandatory staff development! The irony is just too cool.Enduring Itnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-88977320889504708122010-01-23T17:34:50.534-05:002010-01-23T17:34:50.534-05:00Also - on the issue of a "ticket" - I th...Also - on the issue of a "ticket" - I think they mean to say "work order". I was told that Sam Moss won't send out maintenance unless the principal files a work order. In fact, when several parents complained that Lakesides' needs had been overlooked in the SPLOST Needs Assessments and that the building was decrepit and in need of major renovations, we were told by Dr. Lewis - in person - that the only problem we had at Lakeside was a "principal problem". You see, the condition of Lakeside was all Mr. Chelf's fault.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-34194406741471441172010-01-23T17:32:31.060-05:002010-01-23T17:32:31.060-05:00Important info on Ramsey Anon.
Let's also no...Important info on Ramsey Anon. <br /><br />Let's also not forget that he made a passionate speech at the Capitol when the city of Dunwoody incorporated and called for a total boycott of all Dunwoody businesses. (This is all available on video - I don't have the link, but I remember watching it all online right after it occurred.)<br /><br />How are we to trust that he is going to do the right thing when it comes to Dunwoody's schools if he has such a disdain for that community?<br /><br />I'd also really like to know that if it's true that Ramsey has a school system-issued car, does he drive it to the Capitol every day?Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28219982004888137002010-01-23T16:29:50.556-05:002010-01-23T16:29:50.556-05:00Anonymous 10:54
P.S. Cere or someone, please tell ...Anonymous 10:54<br /><i>P.S. Cere or someone, please tell me Ron Ramsey is a 10 month employee, as he misses more than two months per year as a state senator.</i><br /><br />I believe State Senator Ron Ramsey is a full-time DCSS employee because he "heads up" (I use that term loosely)the DCSS Internal Affairs office. <br /><br />It is unlikely that Ramsey has enough vacation time to be away from DCSS for the entire 40-day legislative session each year. It is not known if Ramsey takes any unpaid leave or if permission to miss 40 days of work annually was written into his contract with DCSS. <br /><br />Ramsey's reported DCSS salary for 2008 was $112,743 + $4,158 for unspecified miscellaneous activities. His reported 2008 salary represents a 21.8% raise over 2007. (Ramsey’s 2007 salary was $92,5291.) <br /><br />If Ramsey does take unpaid leave, who does his job? If $112,743 is what remains after Ramsey takes unpaid leave for those days away from the DCSS office during the 40-day legislative session, then his actual salary must be in excess of $133,241. <br /><br />As a state senator, Ramsey also earned $17,341 in 2008; $8,356 in 2007. <br /><br />If Ramsey does not take unpaid leave, but continues to accept payment from DCSS for those 40 days he is in legislative session, as well as payment for being a state senator, this raises a serious ethical – possibly criminal – issue. <br /><br />To further draw a curtain over his employment by DCSS, Ramsey mentions nothing about it in his State Senator online bio. In fact, he serves on the Education Committee, which seems to be a definite conflict of interest. <br /><br />Senator Dan Weber serves on that same committee. Weber’s wife is employed by DCSS, so Weber must surely know who Ron Ramsey is. We do not understand why Senator Weber has not taken any corrective action in this situation. <br /><br />Of the 28 pieces of legislation sponsored by Ron Ramsey in 2009, 14 (50%) were merely to recognize, commend, honor or offer condolences. Three bills were to create study committees and one bill was to request an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. None of his sponsored legislation was passed. <br /><br />In short, Ron Ramsey’s legislative “contributions” do not justify paying him a full time salary for part-time work at DCSS. Plus there are serious ethics considerations -- possibly criminal acts -- if any of Ramsey's double-dip salary comes from federal funds.Demand.Integrity.Now.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-47036672828677964222010-01-23T15:43:38.820-05:002010-01-23T15:43:38.820-05:00The great Pat Pope put in a new system when she di...The great Pat Pope put in a new system when she did her lay-offs.<br />So is my understanding that automation would be better than having a PERSON so maybe that is the problem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-222130896012996372010-01-23T15:41:02.707-05:002010-01-23T15:41:02.707-05:00Wow. I am thrilled to have my post used in this c...Wow. I am thrilled to have my post used in this context. May all of our schools always put the students' needs and rights above all else.Mark Pullenhttp://mrpullen.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36263389386485486532010-01-23T15:35:44.124-05:002010-01-23T15:35:44.124-05:00The comment about the sam moss center. Are you sa...The comment about the sam moss center. Are you saying that the workers cannot make a repair unless they have a ticket? Then what can of system do you have that can't print a ticket? As a parent I would like to know. Is that the reason it took so long to repair the problem at MLK?.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-52402558480946932182010-01-23T15:16:08.177-05:002010-01-23T15:16:08.177-05:00Mark Pullen, third grade teacher in MichiganMark P...Mark Pullen, third grade teacher in MichiganMark Pullen, a third grade teacher in Michigan, you are our new hero!<br /><br />Great suggestions people. Keep it flowing... we'll figure out how to make it all into "something" later. Right now, just keep brainstorming!<br /><br />Good points about ensuring a way to assess the adherence to the SBOR.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-8065066826428726042010-01-23T14:07:20.080-05:002010-01-23T14:07:20.080-05:00Anonymous January 23, 2010 1:01 PM
Excellent idea...Anonymous January 23, 2010 1:01 PM<br /><br />Excellent ideas! It is critically necessary to establish standards by which parents can measure the performance of Lewis and the BOE.<br /><br />It would be good to establish quantifiable, measurable objectives that answer the question:<br />How do parents/taxpayers know each item in the STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS is being met?<br /><br />Are there any measurable standards that are publicly available for parents/taxpayers to assess the performance of DeKalb County's administrative office or the BOE? <br /><br />Currently, the administration will tell you that they derive their measurement of success from the students' performance. However, teachers are the only employees who have student performance on their evaluations. <br /><br />The 5,700 employees who are support personnel should really have to account for and align their performance to classroom needs.<br /><br />You would be missing the boat however if teachers did not have input into evaluating these departments. You can't just ask the administration or support departments to evaluate themselves. That's currently what they do, and it's not working for children. Teachers should be part of the evaluation process (very radical idea for Dekalb!)<br /><br />Teachers should be able to log into Community Net (I believe that's the name of their online system) and answer survey questions that help gauge if the STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS is being met. This should very easy to automate. <br /><br />For example, cleanliness of the classrooms and buildings, timely repairs, teacher-pupil ratio, adequate technology for students, timely and effective repairs, security and safety of the school, etc. are areas teachers should be evaluating the administration and all support personnel in. <br /><br />Some questions would apply to some departments and some questions to others, but ultimately Lewis and the BOE can measure their success on all areas. <br /><br />If the support personnel were held to a high level of measurable and published standards, then you would see a lot more responsiveness from those areas. Teachers would also have a voice. That is something that is sadly lacking in our schools. <br /><br />Measures of success can be established with pupil teacher ratio (what really is the optimal at each grade level for students), access to technology (e.g. set number of students per computer,etc.), safety of students (number of incidents reported during the school year) and so on.<br /><br />This would establish an equalization among schools that so many parents are lamenting in this blog. The controversy over who gets in what school or program (Kittredge, Montessori, etc.) is most often a complaint about unequal resources from school to school. <br /><br />These inequities currently pit parents against each other and obscures the real issues that are bogging down our schools. What my child has should not be what your child loses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7421217194728009512010-01-23T13:01:44.909-05:002010-01-23T13:01:44.909-05:00Interesting Bill of Rights and does seem to hit on...Interesting Bill of Rights and does seem to hit on all of the big areas ( Instruction, Safety, Being treated with Dignity and Respect, Assessment, Qualified Instructors, etc. )<br /><br />Is it possible to take the major areas and apply the specifics of DCSS? <br /><br />For example: <br />Safety - How many schools, How many staff members per school, How many incidents per year , Cost comparison and quality comparison of on staff " vs " rent a cop.<br /><br />Instruction - How many students, How many schools with enrollment over and under thresholds, How many special interest settings serving how many students<br /><br />Why this is indicated... -Real life application of these basic rights is largely based on perception ( perceptions of those in the decision making area and those impacted by the decisions ) . Specifically, DCSS Admin and the BOE would undoubtedly counter that they already respect and implement this Bill of Rights concepts ( such as described ). Whereas, those impacted ( parents, teachers, etc ) would likely disagree with that "perception" across the system.<br /><br />So, some levels of specificity as to areas for review ( magnets, montessoris, security force utilization , positions in the county office, etc. ) is not just allowing ourselves to be divided as a group or being petty. It actually will have to happen at some level because you have to offer collaborative and specific solutions in any demand to be herad and acknowledged than other than a bunch of whining parents ( what is the term Moseley used " background noise? ) . If you don't then, the decision makers can just make decisons and state that they are well aware of and have implemented such " gray " standards as a bill of rights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-91439759322305275962010-01-23T12:34:48.398-05:002010-01-23T12:34:48.398-05:00Below is a Elementary STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS draft...Below is a Elementary STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS drafted by Mark Pullen, a third grade teacher in Michigan. I got these off his website (see website address at the end of this post). <br /><br />Interestingly enough many of the rights he lists coincide with the ones the commentators of this blog have put forth. (Maybe what the parents on this blog have to say is commonsense!) <br /><br />I really loved #5:<br /><br />1. All students have the right to learn from a teacher who deeply understands her subject matter and who deeply cares about each individual student in her classroom.<br /><br />2. All students have the right to be safe throughout each school day.<br /><br />3. All students have the right to meet their own physical needs during school hours (e.g. bringing a snack, getting a drink, being allowed to use the restroom, etc.).<br /><br />4. All students have the right to enjoy an unstructured recess time at least once a day.<br /><br />5. All students have the right to be taught by someone who is not reading from a script.<br /><br />6. All students have the right to be assessed based on improvement, not just raw performance.<br /><br />7. All students have the right to be appropriately challenged across all subjects.<br /><br />8. All students have the right to have some measure of choice with regard to at least some of the topics they will study and the assignments they will complete.<br /><br />9. All students have the right to receive cutting-edge instruction and to spend significant in-class time focusing on current technologies.<br /><br />10. All students have the right to maintain a vibrant life outside school without being burdened with large quantities of homework. <br /><br /><br />His website address is:<br />http://mrpullen.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/the-student-bill-of-rights/<br /><br />Pretty interesting perspective from a third grade teacher.<br /><br />I agree with you Cerebration. <br /><br />Why not start with funding that ensures a STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS is in force in the classroom? <br /><br />The classroom needs must funded first, and all other funding should be addressed only after the classroom needs are accounted for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-24859143260939368342010-01-23T11:17:53.031-05:002010-01-23T11:17:53.031-05:00Good ideas, Anon --
Keep adding, people!Good ideas, Anon -- <br /><br />Keep adding, people!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-20526030544101166532010-01-23T11:16:33.635-05:002010-01-23T11:16:33.635-05:00For the Bill of Student Rights
How about:
Every ...For the Bill of Student Rights<br /><br />How about:<br /><br />Every child deserves equal access to any DCSS programming that he or she is qualified for, to maximize every student's learning potential.<br />( What a concept, a level playing field across the county and system )<br /><br />Or How about:<br /><br />Every child deserves equal access to educationally enhancing services such as foreign language and the arts. <br />( Once again, a principal should not have to make point decisions in a " regular " school that don't have to be made at special interest schools )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com