tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post5493508152689098031..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Monday June 7 Board MeetingCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-65425023896848234132010-07-06T17:13:44.730-04:002010-07-06T17:13:44.730-04:00With Mr. Admin Transfer Crawford Lewis outta here,...With Mr. Admin Transfer Crawford Lewis outta here, it's finally time the board demands much more transparency when it comes to admin transfers, which just crush Lakeside.<br />Admin transfers should be few and far between.<br /><br />Then again, some of the BOE members are the biggest abusers of admin transfers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-26936869796375325442010-07-06T16:57:08.622-04:002010-07-06T16:57:08.622-04:00Druid Hills was over capacity by about 150 last ye...Druid Hills was over capacity by about 150 last year, and I can see no reason why they would suddenly be under-capacity. The addition did not really add more capacity - there were some classrooms that were too small by state standards, so they had to move walls, turning three rooms into two rooms. The addition also houses offices, and part of it is a two-story "atrium" (no windows, just air), so that is not classroom space. <br /><br />The Health Sciences magnet program is not going to be there this coming year, so perhaps they are counting on there being seats from kids who won't be going to DHHS because of that. Hard to believe that would actually create capacity, though. <br /><br />I agree with Anon 4:12 that the designation of Arabia Mtn as a non-receiving school needs to be checked into. I also can't see how they can designate Lakeside as a receiving school when there is construction going on. Talk about a three-ring circus!Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-51643142594187617592010-07-06T16:56:57.479-04:002010-07-06T16:56:57.479-04:00Please correct me if I am wrong but Chamblee, Lake...Please correct me if I am wrong but Chamblee, Lakeside and Druid Hills all have trailers and are all landlocked with no room to expand. Arabia Mountain has no trailers and lots of empty land.<br /><br />And I have always wondered why DeKalb School of the Arts (which always makes AYP) does not take school choice students? The transfer students don't have to take arts courses. They could take all academic courses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-38587525613809053902010-07-06T16:18:18.445-04:002010-07-06T16:18:18.445-04:00"I have no issue with Mr. Swanson, and I have..."I have no issue with Mr. Swanson, and I have no stand on his abilities. What does bother me is that his children go to Shamrock and Druid Hills, while he lives in Stone Mountain."<br /><br />This is a good question to ask all the board member candidates. Where do they live and where do their children go to school?<br /><br />How do they feel about capacity and transfers, etc?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-31305873341198501692010-07-06T16:12:40.444-04:002010-07-06T16:12:40.444-04:00And of course, DCSS is closed this week and didn&#...And of course, DCSS is closed this week and didn't bother to get the plan up on the website last week (on Friday after the first meeting).<br /><br />DeKalb has very litigious parents and if it does turn out that Arabia Mountain isn't on the list, I challenge parents to file a complaint with the United States Department of Ed division that oversees NCLB. <br /><br />Once the plan is officially released, I will make sure the contact information for that division is available.<br /><br />I wonder what they said about middle schools. I have a friend who is worried because Chamblee Middle should have 100s of spaces next year, as their enrollment juts reached about 800 this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-59047686424566562112010-07-06T16:07:26.107-04:002010-07-06T16:07:26.107-04:00How can Lakeside possibly fit any more transfer ki...How can Lakeside possibly fit any more transfer kids in????? I tell you, if they do any redistricting, and we get redistricted out of Lakeside, I will be SO PO'd. Not fair to overcrowd the school with transfers. How many trailers does Arabia Mtn. have???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-44643605492559478552010-07-06T14:37:59.348-04:002010-07-06T14:37:59.348-04:00Perhaps we need a new string on AYP and testing. ...Perhaps we need a new string on AYP and testing. The first School Choice meeting was held July 1 and very, very few DCSS schools made AYP and can be receiving schools.<br /><br />Cere, Arabia Mtn (which was magically exempted by our administration last year) should be a receiving school yet I heard that Mosely/Berry announced that it is "full" and therefore it will not take NCLB/ESEA transfer students. Instead our management has designated Chamblee, Lakeside and Druid Hills as the receiving schools. Last I heard, Chamblee and Lakeside were already overcrowded. Not sure about Druid Hills now that they have their addition complete. They are also offering an annex and the on-line academy as options.<br /><br />The next meeting is July 13 at Chamblee.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-48244566045363359852010-07-06T13:00:34.597-04:002010-07-06T13:00:34.597-04:00I have no issue with Mr. Swanson, and I have no st...I have no issue with Mr. Swanson, and I have no stand on his abilities. What does bother me is that his children go to Shamrock and Druid Hills, while he lives in Stone Mountain...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-37590977056165434202010-07-06T09:24:03.022-04:002010-07-06T09:24:03.022-04:00Testing news in New Jersey reveals that thousands ...Testing news in New Jersey reveals that thousands of students are failing the graduation test there. Many were allowed to graduate since they scored in acceptable ranges on the SAT. Sadly, these tests are showing that by and large, immigrant students - speakers of other languages as their first language - are suffering the most. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_5a4ec08c-856c-11df-8ee6-001cc4c002e0.html" rel="nofollow">Almost 3,000 New Jersey seniors have yet to graduate after failing tests</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-49061340850797544162010-07-05T20:08:18.733-04:002010-07-05T20:08:18.733-04:00And in other related news ---
This is from a wri...And in other related news --- <br /><br />This is from a writer in Oregon - so you see, these issues are playing out nearly everywhere in this country today -<br /><br /><i>Instead of laying off teachers, eliminating physical education and jamming more students into already crowded classrooms, the state and school districts should be targeting non-classroom personnel, delaying purchases of all textbooks and commercial materials, reducing sports and other extracurricular activities, eliminating teacher professional development programs, denying approval of additional charter schools and, above all, putting a moratorium on state tests. </i><br /><br />To read the entire article, copy and paste this link -<br /><br />http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/07/saving_oregon_schools_targetin.htmlCerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-16824127999269609342010-07-05T20:07:01.778-04:002010-07-05T20:07:01.778-04:00To read more about Mr Swanson, visit this link at ...To read more about Mr Swanson, visit this link at Heneghan's Dunwoody blog -<br /><br /><a href="http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/2010/07/rodney-swanson-named-principal-of.html" rel="nofollow">Rodney Swanson Named Principal of Dunwoody High School</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55877929585216179982010-06-17T22:18:46.748-04:002010-06-17T22:18:46.748-04:00Here's his bio:
Rodney F. Swanson, son of Cha...Here's his bio:<br /><br />Rodney F. Swanson, son of Charles and Mary Swanson is a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School (1985) in Atlanta. He is also a graduate of The University of Georgia (1989) with a degree in marketing, and Jacksonville State University (2001) with a degree in Educational Leadership. He has taught over 1,500 students in his 17 year career. He was named teacher of the year in 2002. Mr. Swanson is also a graduate of the DeKalb County Leadership program (2003). Mr. Swanson is married to the lovely Michelle Swanson and has two wonderful children, Jordan and Joshua. Mr. Swanson enjoys reading, sports, family activities, and music.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-61113364247698456182010-06-17T20:15:59.135-04:002010-06-17T20:15:59.135-04:00Is Mr Swanson, API from Redan HS, the new principa...Is Mr Swanson, API from Redan HS, the new principal at Dunwoody HS to replace Dr. Harris, who just got here a couple of years ago from City of Atlanta Schools?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-18362949390397528882010-06-14T17:14:56.670-04:002010-06-14T17:14:56.670-04:00The test scores show that we have two very differe...The test scores show that we have two very different "systems" within our system. Some schools have very low "failure" rates - from 0%-2 or 3% and others are abysmal with failure rates between 30%-50% and as shockingly high as 80-90%. How absurd. The mean scores do not tell the story - the discrepancy does. Some of our schools test very well and can hold up statewide or nationally. Some of our schools should close their doors - as obviously they are not even doing a basic job.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-81714385419777543032010-06-14T15:43:43.793-04:002010-06-14T15:43:43.793-04:00conducted on two days will now be crammed into two...conducted on two days will now be crammed into two days. <br /><br />should instead say<br /><br />conducted on three days will now be crammed into two days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-71151504064701132162010-06-14T15:42:45.389-04:002010-06-14T15:42:45.389-04:00And here is the email I sent my board members toda...And here is the email I sent my board members today<br /><br />Here are my concerns about the proposed calender and its changes:<br /><br />First and foremost, have you looked at the Math CRCT scores? In fairness, these scores could be an improvement from last year, but there are about 24 elementary and middle schools that had more than 40 percent of their students score Level 1 on the Math portion of the CRCT. In addition, there are 25 more elementary and middle schools that had more than 30 percent of their students score Level 1 on the Math portion of the CRCT. A quick glance at this chart indicates that many schools did see an increase in the number of students failing the test. (The data the AJC used hasn't been validated by schools or systems, so some of what I wrote may change, but I expect not by very much. In addition, this data of course doesn't include the summer retake.)<br /><br />http://www.ajc.com/news/crct-scores-show-troubling-545144.html?appSession=372461252311048<br /><br />Further reinforcing my concerns about math performance are the December EOCT scores. While 59 percent of all GA students who took the Math I EOCT passed, only 39 percent of DeKalb's students did. For the Math II EOCT, only 42 percent of DeKalb students passed, while 64 percent of GA students did. (This data is only from the students who took these courses on the Block first semester and includes no students from Arabia Mt, Lakeside and Chamblee. Spring scores will be higher, but still that is pretty dismal data.)<br /><br />I believe that you need to restore the professional development days and have two fewer student contact days.<br /><br />Second, it was my understanding that the schools would be locked on furlough days, therefore making it impossible for teachers to work those days anyway. From the amended calendar, it appears that 12 month employees will not share some of those furlough days and thus the schools will be open. What is being put in place to make sure that teachers don't work those days and more importantly, that principals don't force teachers to come in those days?<br /><br />You are eliminating the pre-planning day at the beginning of second semester. For most teachers on the block, as well as those that teach one semester courses, you are removing their one day to get ready for second semester. I am not sure how you expect high schools to be ready to go as even counselors and assistant principals won't be in on that day to make schedule changes and register new students. This needs to be fixed as well<br /><br />Finally, why is the only student contact furlough day in September? Teachers and students will have just started back. Why not use that day in March when we could all use a break or if it needs to be first semester, then how about the October weekend, making it a 4 day weekend?<br /><br />As an aside, please ask Ms. Tyson and Mr. Hunter what the plan is for Esis on Thursday, August 5th and Friday, August 6th since the work that normallly would have been conducted on two days will now be crammed into two days. Will Esis function or will it crash? <br /><br />Lynn DeutschAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-14410155030134815202010-06-14T15:40:44.221-04:002010-06-14T15:40:44.221-04:00Two previously designated staff development days (...<i>Two previously designated staff development days (Oct. 8, 2010 and Feb. 18, 2011) will be used for furlough days.</i><br /><br />Instead of using staff development days for furlough days, why not use the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week? There is already a huge number of student not in school due to Thanksgiving holiday and ultimate travel, so I don't think much instruction would be missed.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57545890923802612962010-06-14T15:40:19.007-04:002010-06-14T15:40:19.007-04:00However, the administration left out the fact that...However, the administration left out the fact that the ending date of school has been moved to Friday, May 20th from the originally approved Wednesday, May 25th by eliminating three teacher/student holidays. We now go back to school on the first Tuesday in January rather than the first Wednesday, we no longer have a 4 day weekend in October and we are back to having no days off in March.<br /><br />Regardless of what I think about these changes, one had to figure this out for oneself. <br /><br />So much for transparency.<br /><br />Lynn DeutschAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-12167084393633036532010-06-14T15:37:14.796-04:002010-06-14T15:37:14.796-04:00UGH.
Tonight the Board of Ed will be voting on a ...UGH.<br /><br />Tonight the Board of Ed will be voting on a new calender for next school year.<br /><br />There are some fairly significant changes. Here is the administration's summary of the changes...<br /><br />The proposed amended 2010-2011 school year calendar contains the following features:<br /><br /> * 179 student-contact days.<br /> * 183 teacher-contract days with the final day (Day 183) being comprised of four (2 hrs. each/2 per semester) conference nights during the year as scheduled by each local school.<br /> * Includes three teacher workdays – Teachers will have three pre-planning days (Wednesday-Friday, August 4, 5, 6, 2010) - Principals will receive a reconfigured strategy map for preplanning. Two of the previously designated pre-planning days (Aug. 2 and 3, 2010) will serve as 10 and 11 month employee furlough days.<br /> * Takes into account state-designated testing windows and dates.<br /> * One student contact day (Friday, September 3, 2010) will be used towards the 10 month employee furlough days; this creates a four-day Labor Day weekend.<br /> * Two previously designated staff development days (Oct. 8, 2010 and Feb. 18, 2011) will be used for furlough days.<br /> * One 10 month employee furlough day will occur on the day prior to the revised beginning of the Second Semester (Jan. 3, 2011). This date would typically serve as a teacher workday.<br /> * One 10 month employee furlough day (May 23, 2011) will occur on the day immediately following the amended last day of school. This date would typically serve as a post-planning day.<br /> * Parent-teacher conference days are retained in the school calendar.<br /> * Concludes the first semester before the Winter Break in December - which prevents students from returning from the break with final exams and End of Course Tests (EOCT).<br /> * Schedules spring break during the first week in April, in accordance with surrounding school systems.<br /><br />Lynn DeutschAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-39206989958699829792010-06-14T13:06:43.784-04:002010-06-14T13:06:43.784-04:00eSis ( $4,000,000) was purchsed because it integra...eSis ( $4,000,000) was purchsed because it integrated with SchoolNet ($7,000,000). SchoolNet was suppose to give teachers instantaneous feedback on benchmark tests. Three years later, eSis has been nothing but a heads he for teachers and parents. Students don't have enough computers to take their tests online so the kids use pencil and paper to "bubble in" their test answers. Teachers have to manually scan in the answer sheets and then only a few teachers even have access to the results. Ms. Tyson and Mr. Hunter presented these two integrated systems to he BOE as if the infrastructure (computers for kids) and programming expertise are in place for DCSS, but it is not. Now we've been paying for this $11,000,000 (eSis and SchoolNet combined) for 3 years and will be ponying up millions more this year. SchoolNet will never work the way it's supposed to because we don't have the access for students necessary to make it work. Most of our technology money goes for personnel salaries and benefits. Some posters have wondered why we have so little and antiquated and non-working technology. Well, there's the answer. DCSS spends almost $19,000,000 a year on this inefficient MIS department. This comes out of the general fund. We spent millions and millions for our network. We have a big network and loads of personnel, but very little and antiquated equipment hanging off the network. Very bizarre way to run a Technology Department.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-73182999301269338402010-06-14T07:48:28.741-04:002010-06-14T07:48:28.741-04:00The ESIS issues as related to computer hardware we...The ESIS issues as related to computer hardware were known way back at the beginning of implementation. Why isn't anyone being held accountable? It was clear from day 1, that most of the system's computers couldn't run this thing. My son came home from high school and said that it was a nightmare for his teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-18428172639116472332010-06-14T07:04:11.977-04:002010-06-14T07:04:11.977-04:00Chamblee is the jewel that keeps on shining, and a...<i>Chamblee is the jewel that keeps on shining, and always has been (current leadership aside). </i><br /><br />Really? Then why does the Chamblee administration and DCSS continue to "hide" the test scores for the resident community? Is it because they know how bad those scores are? Let's face it, Chamblee's "name" is predicated on the magnet program - nothing else.<br /><br /><i>Chamblee is still strides and strides ahead even with the old dilapidated building</i><br /><br />There are many buildings as old or older than Chamblee. How did it get in such disrepair?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-57112154779286394652010-06-13T23:34:38.429-04:002010-06-13T23:34:38.429-04:00Muckrucker (June 8, 12:28) is right on target. Ch...Muckrucker (June 8, 12:28) is right on target. Chamblee gets nothing but grief and unkept promises and "going through the motions" from DCSS, and Chamblee is the jewel that keeps on shining, and always has been (current leadership aside). <br /><br />Chamblee is still strides and strides ahead even with the old dilapidated building. Why? Because the people who WORK there take pride in its appearance (outward/inward), from the custodial staff to the teachers in the classrooms to the parents who volunteer their time to the exceptional support staff. <br /><br />Chamblee has an essence of excellence and a lot of character ... a lot of other schools are just buildings with students in them. <br /><br />You would have to experience Chamblee as compared to other schools to "get what I'm saying." <br /><br />The BOE, and certainly not Lewis, doesn't care about this kind of "excellence" or we wouldn't be in the shape we are in. <br /><br />Excellence and integrity and "doing the right thing" got lost in all the ignorance and rush toward corruption and protecting the "inner circle" (aka family and friends) at all costs. The biggest cost being the excellence I'm talking about. When people are willing to sell their souls for greed and gain, this is what we're left with. What surprises me is that SO MANY were willing to do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-55824933975808474492010-06-13T22:51:28.498-04:002010-06-13T22:51:28.498-04:00256k??? My phone has 2 GB!256k??? My phone has 2 GB!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-77391257674776709552010-06-13T22:18:16.486-04:002010-06-13T22:18:16.486-04:00The website is down.The website is down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com