Economic Background

Here's a 30 minute GritTV discussion about Goldman Sachs with Mike Lux, Matt Taibbi and Senate Banking Committee former chief economist, Robert Johnson (starts around the 1:00 minute mark). I realize that this is about national politics - but understanding why our economy is in the condition it's in - will help understand why, in "trickle-down" economics, schools are suffering enormous budget crunches.

Be very wary of who you reelect in 2010 to Congress. I personally believe that both parties are infused with greedy, self-serving private investors who are in the position now to not only influence - but make our laws. For instance, the plan that Obama and Arne Duncan have to close 5,000 low-performing schools and reopen them as charters will serve to line the pockets of private corporations that create and manage charter programs. Their plan to begin national testing and curricula will line the pockets of test-makers and textbook publishers. The amount of money at stake for private corporations to reap off of the backs of our public schools -- Billions.

The school of discord

Disclaimer: This is a very bad translation of an article published yesterday in Mundo Hispanico. But you will get the general idea -- things aren't going too well at Woodward ES apparently.

Parents are offended by the treatment of teachers in the Woodward Elementary School in Dekalb

By Mario Guevara
09/10/2009

Showered with complaints against the new director of the Woodward Elementary.

AMILY of several public school students in DeKalb County reported that the director Latinos look bad and therefore is taking action against him.

"When we started the year gathered us (parents) to tell us that we would let in (to school) because it was very messy, but the truth is that disorder is made worse out here," said the Mexican Mireya Hernandez, whose grandchildren are studying at Woodward Elementary School, the school in question.

According to Hernandez, former parents of students entering the institution, located on the side of Cross Keys High School in Atlanta, when they went to drop off and pick up the kids, something that now does not allow the new director Reginald Stephens.

Most of Woodward's students are entitled to use the buses DeKalb School System. Under the rules of the institution, who must be transported by parents are those children who live near the school.

MundoHispánico verified that no parent is allowed entry to the school in the morning when they leave their small, or in the evening, when to go pick them up when they finish their classes. Several women and unemployed men wait outside the school and low sun out of their children.

According to Omar Ruiz, the only thing he has served Stephens Director's decision to suspend the entry of parents to campus is to create more chaos and expose children to danger.

"One of these days my child was seven years alone with another classmate's apartment and when I came here to pick it were not," said Ruiz. "After a while we learned that they had left alone."

The Mexican said that when the school asked for explanations for what happened was promised that was not going to repeat itself and that would pay closer attention.

"One is afraid that children walk all alone on the street because there are gangs in this area," he said Ruiz.

"I want to Hispanics"

A school employee who requested anonymity Woodward to "stay out of trouble" told this means that since Stephens took over the institution began referring evil against Latinos.

"The first thing he said at a meeting of teachers was that he was puzzled by both Hispanic child in school and had a nice little gesture," said the source. "After that came with it was that they did not want parents to enter.

The informant also reported that there is an African American teacher who is mean to students.

"He yells too much to the kids and some even hit them, the worst is that the manager conceals" he said. "Unfortunately, parents are silent and as there is no interpreter in school, have no way to communicate."

According to the source, some people come sporadically to translate to parents but are not certified, does not guarantee effective communication.

"The county already knows all these things and even the doctor (Crawford) Lewis, (overseer of the DeKalb School System), came two weeks ago to check all these complaints," he said.

MundoHispánico could not verify this with the official version, or get the county's official position on these allegations because until press time had not been possible to contact his spokesperson.

This media Stephens approached and said he intended to make statements, but would do so have the authorization of the county. He also denied permission to do interviews on school property.

"Abnormalities?

A former employee of the DeKalb School System, who for many years worked as an interpreter, stated that there were anomalies in some schools in the county and even the International Center, which is to provide services to immigrant communities.

"In schools there is no certified translators, I myself was one of them" admitted Xochitl Araica. "Whoever does that work. I think the 25 only two are certified interpreters, although the regulation requires that everyone be".

According to Araica, the International Center receives federal funds to help foreign students who speak English. The Nicaraguan noted that in that state are not very fond of Latinos.

"The director told me once that as the majority of Latinos are undocumented, not interested because he did not bring money, only those who are seeking asylum and refugees," said Araica.

"I started to educate parents about their rights and get involved with some community organizations and none of it liked, so I had to leave," he said.

Until press time, MundoHispánico also unable to obtain the International Center of DeKalb, because its director Sandra Nuñez, had not returned calls.

I once said that as the majority of Latinos are undocumented, not interested because he did not bring money, only those who are seeking asylum and refugees.

Xochitl Araica, a former employee of the DeKalb School System.

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Good news - one of our bloggers had contributed a better translation - read it in the comments section.

Meanwhile, back at the Board of Education meeting...

Well, after the suspense leading up to Obama's speech today at noon, this meeting was a pretty dull ending to the day. The speakers all did a really nice job, but there weren't many of them. Kim Gokce spoke about an unusual topic - Cross Keys High School! (Good job, Kim!) He reminded us all to join him at the Waffle House for the dedication of Abu Bangura's jersey on SAT, SEPT 26 @ 2:00pm. Several very articulate moms advocated for recess. (One of them was a doctor.) They brought research to back their claims and suggested text for an amendment. Click here to sign their online petition. What Girl Scouts - very prepared!

As for the rest, I think I'll copy Kim's style and just bullet-point the whole thing.

• Three new positions were requested by Dr. Lewis and unanimously approved by the board: A new position has been created for Dr. Yvonne Butler as Executive Director, Corporate Wellness Program. Dr. Butler is a former Principal at Browns Mill Elementary School. Mr. Steve Donahue was promoted to Executive Director, Plant Services. Mr. Donahue is the former principal of Peachtree MS. And Mr. Tony Hunter was appointed Executive Director, Management Information Systems (MIS). Mr. Hunter is currently employed as Director, Management Information Systems (MIS).

Two things: If good principals are so hard to come by - why promote good principals into corporate jobs? And - why not actually hire someone with expertise in things like Corporate Wellness and Plant Services to fill those jobs instead of filling them with people trained in education?!! Sigh.

• Marcus Turk says our funds are low because property tax bills went out late. He says we will be on track when all is collected. Mr. Womack asked if we have money in a "rainy day fund", to which Mr. Turk replied, "Mr. Womack, it's been raining pretty hard for a while now."

• The topic of FTE's came up. Jay Cunningham questioned how we could allow some schools like Murphy Candler to have no art or music when others seem to have plenty. He said that some elementary schools are lacking a science teacher. Dr. Lewis pointed out that principals are free to spend their FTE's as they wish and that smaller schools cannot afford to employ art, music and PE teachers as each FTE equates to a $65,000 expense (including benefits). He went so far as to say that if we did that, we would be bankrupt in about 24 hours! However, Dr. Lewis suggested that 4 small schools can share a teacher if they use .25 FTE each. I think Jay has an excellent point and I think it could be time for the school board to step in and "redistribute the FTE's" so that every child has art, music and PE. This is just not right.

• Womack, McChesney and a couple of others requested that Pat Pope make all bids and offers available for them to review in her office before they vote on them at these meetings. She said she would but can't make them available to the public by law.

• Pam Speaks asked how we came up with the list of schools on the request for the state capital outlay. Pope said that the state makes that list themselves. Schools on the list are: Martin Luther King, Jr. High Facility Addition, Miller Grove High Facility Addition, Hambrick Elementary Facility Modification, Woodridge Elementary Facility Modification, Hawthorne Elementary Facility Modification, Glen Haven Elementary Facility Modification, Southwest DeKalb High Facility Addition and Modification

• The board deferred the vote on the requested waivers from the state because it was written for K-8 and the state has changed the form to K-12. They intend to request the following 5 of the 7 waivers sometimes allowed by the state when a system can show fiscal need:

Personnel Required
A waiver from this rule would allow DCSS some flexibility in employing personnel for positions according to the unweighted full-time equivalent (FTE) count that is shown on the midterm adjustment allotment sheet. Examples of positions listed in this rule are: school psychologists; social workers; school counselors; technology specialists; art, music, & PE specialists; and media specialists.

Minimum Direct Instruction
A waiver from this rule would allow DCSS flexibility in spending a minimum of 65 percent of the total operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures or increasing the direct classroom expenditures as a percent of total operating expenditures by two or more percentage points over the previous fiscal year.

Guidance Counselors
A waiver from this rule would allow DCSS to waive the requirement that guidance counselors are engaged in counseling or guidance activities, including advising students, parents, or guardians, for a minimum of five of six full-time segments during the school day.

Class Size Waiver for K-8
A waiver from this rule would allow DCSS flexibility in complying with maximum class sizes and to capture FTE funds that would have been lost if a class was over the limit on the FTE Count Days.

Instructional Extension/20-Day Money
A waiver from this rule would allow DCSS some flexibility in providing an instructional program beyond the regular school day to address the academic needs of low-performing students.

Dr. Walker closed by saying that he was very proud of DeKalb County Schools for showing Obama's speech today and not bowing to public pressure as other school systems did. Jay Cunningham encouraged parents to join the school council and PTSA, to download the parent resource guide and enforce the dress code.

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All in all, I felt that although it was boring, it was still frustrating. It really bothers me to hear Dr. Lewis fret over the fact that a full time classroom teacher is a $65,000 expense (including benefits) and then turn around and promote people into high paying administrative jobs. It bothers me that this board plans to request a waiver of the law that requires 65% of the budget to be spent in the classroom and one that would put more students in each of those classrooms. It bothers me that in the area of curriculum, we have our Asst Superintendent of curriculum, Gloria Talley, with her salary of $162,648.00 - 5 directors of curriculum instruction at a cost of $438,500.00, 72 "Instructional Supervisors" at a cost of almost $6.4 million - plus 473 "Instructional Specialists" totaling $23.9 million, yet we have children who do not have art, music and PE teachers - they're entitled to one of each - they shouldn't have to choose. I am bothered by the fact that our superintendent and board seem to cry "poor" when it comes to funding the classroom, but can always find the money to bloat the administration. Our children deserve better.

Obama Live!

Tune in here on Tuesday, September 8th at NOON EST to watch a live streamed video of Obama's speech to the American children.

A lively discussion afterward will certainly ensue! Feel free to comment!

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If you would rather stream it live yourself, or stream it live into your computer for class presentation (if you have the technology) go here - (I have removed the live stream from this blog).

http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

or watch live on CSPAN via cable or satellite.

In the meantime, check out the conversation at the Momania blog at the AJC. The "conversation" there has pretty much hit rock bottom. Let's not do that here, please.

A wonderful response to tragedy

I have not shared this on the blog, but I had a 20 year old nephew who tragically died in a car accident two years ago. He was a college student on his way to a bright future after many struggles as a teen.

I just found out about a wonderful organization called Dahlia's Reach, whose purpose it is to help families deal with tragedies like this. They will help with travel arrangements, food, lodging and collecting items for families.

Dahlia's Reach is only available in Florida right now, but hope to expand nationally. If you think you can help in any way, I hope you will. I pray that none of you ever need to use their services, but it would be mighty gracious of us all to make a contribution if able, to support them in their efforts to help the people who need them.

Dr. Lewis at DCPC

I attended Dunwoody Chamblee Parents Council's meeting today at Dunwoody High School and here are my rough notes for those who did not attend. Others that may have attended should post items of note I missed in the comments.

Dr. Lewis changed the format of his presentation this time around and addressed specific questions that had been provide in advance. Here is a bullet point recap:

1. Workweek/Calendar: DCSS is keeping a 180 calendar but has prepared a list of non-school days that could be added to the schedule if some mandate comes externally. The example he gave was the Monday and Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. DCSS wants to be prepared to act if mandated but has no intention of modifying the calendar at this point.

2. eSIS - The launch has been tough all around but the pain will be worth it in Dr. Lewis' eyes. He indicated that any major legacy system replacement is going to be painful and this one is no different. He did say that the training could have been better managed and timed.

3. Parent Portal - The plan has always been to hold back Portal launch until the teachers and system have mastered eSIS and have the data right. The plan is still to release the new Parent Portal in October.

4. Transportation Effiiciency - DCSS is projecting $4 million in savings for 2010.

5. Textbooks - looking at CD/DVD option but there are challenges to work out.

6. Arts/Music instruction - points available to principals will be more tightly managed and when a school leader has to choose between a math or science teacher and an art or music teacher, they're most often going to choose math or science.

7. Budget Cuts Status - hiring freeze is still in place and attrition has lead to 50 positions eliminated saving $3.3 million.

8. Comprehensive Restructuring Plan - DCSS is looking for up to $26 million in total savings by June 2010.

9. AYP - general success in improving ES and MS level, not so much in HS. McNair MS made AYP for the first time ever.

10. Principal apppointments - Dr. Lewis has been and intends to request the BoE support his efforts to select principals for schools. He feels he is best suited to identify the talent for the jobs.

11. eCommunity web site - He was very excited to announce a new web resource coming up by the end of September. He was very effusive about the amount of parent resources that would be available via this site.

12. Block Schedule - DCSS will make recommendations in November to BoE and plans to offer flexibility to schools.

13. School closings/Re-Districting - DCSS will make recommendations to the BoE in January for implementation by Aug 2010 that according to Pat Pope will, "... hit every areaa of the County ..."

14. Pat Pope hired a Planning Director to oversee the planning process for the system (wow! this could be really good news!)

That's all I have for now - please add your own commentary!