A group of concerned citizens has formed. We developed goals and a purpose for the group. The purpose of our meetings is to address the concerns of Iredell's citizens regarding the education of their children and grandchildren. Students, parents, teachers, teacher assistants, and others all have beneficial views and opinions that can be combined to successfully improve our educational program. Our goal is to bring positive change to the Iredell-Statesville Schools through the most constructive measures possible. Anyone with an interest in the education of our children is welcome to participate.
We represent the teachers who are stressed to the max. Who go to work everyday feeling oppressed and beat down. Who feel that no one out there understands how they feel or even cares. Teachers who work in an atmosphere of repression and intimidation. Teachers who have had their creativity and motivation for teaching replaced by testing and data collecting.
We represent the students who enter these schools everyday to feel the tension that fills the buildings. The students who are told that field trips and fun days are gone or very limited because their test scores are not good enough so they need to replace fun with more testing and data discussions.
We represent the parents who feel frustrated at how things are going at their child's school but don't know what to do. One voice is not heard, many voices speaking together are. Join us in lifting our voices up for the children of Iredell County.
The above letter was written by Janey Munday and was printed in Sunday's edition of the Record and Landmark.
I don't buy the Record and Landmark so I missed Janey's letter. Thank you. Amen and many blessings come your way because you care so very much for our ISS system, and our students who will be our future. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteAnyone interested in ISS needs to read the minutes from the last board meeting on the district website. Just "minutes" after recommending 65 teacher assistants be cut, they vote on the following:
ReplyDeleteDr. Miller presented to the board a proposal to purchase the former Thomasville Furniture Factory, located at Murdock Rd. and Old Murdock Road in Troutman. The property includes 36 acres, three buildings, and more than 205,000 square feet. Dr. Miller stated that the facility would house a career and technical education center, including the district’s growing auto tech program, currently housed at Statesville High School. He said the purchase of the property would be funded through lottery proceeds, and explained that the lottery funds available could not be used for other means (can only be used for capital projects, property, etc.). The current purchase price of the property is $4.4 million (it was sold approximately two years ago for $7.7 million). Dr. Miller shared with the board that the proposal had a large amount of community support, including the chamber of commerce, the Town of Troutman, and Mitchell Community College. The board approved the proposal 5:0.
Now if that is true that the lottery money can only be spent to purchase new space, when ISS already has empty classrooms, then taxpayers need to revolt. We shouldn't be adding unnecessary space when we are laying people off and asking people to take pay cuts and furloughs. Also another point, every vote is 5:0 I guess no board member dares question what is going on.
The site is for a career tech facility. The empty classrooms at other schools are there for future growth. What do you suggest, putting the career tech center in some of those empty classrooms? A center like this needs its own site to do the types of vocational training desired. If you were at the meeting I'm sure that you also heard that ISS is in danger of losing this money back to the state if not used and that this will not cost the system 1 dollar. All of the money is coming from capital outlay and the part of lottery money that is earmarked for school construction. This money could not be used for hiring of teachers or TA's...period. What is there to complain about?
ReplyDeleteI understand setting aside funds for specific needs: however, this is a crisis situation and there are people who can move money around. They do it all the time. This is just another one of Holliday's ways to make himself look good by adding more programs to the system. Yes, these are good programs, but not when people are losing their jobs. Let's have some common sense and get our priorities straight.
ReplyDeleteYou are talking about something that you no nothing about. The money that will be used is in Raleigh and will not be released to ISS until they apply for the funds. In the application they have to spell out how they will use the funds for school construction. Please do your homework before using this as another platform to bash Holliday.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to point out that the "minutes" from the last board meeting have not been posted on the website. It plainly says "highlights" at the top of the article. These distinctions matter- I would think the contributors to this blog would agree considering that they split hairs about every, single other detail within the school district. Also, Google North Carolina Education Lottery. You'll see that lottery proceeds have very specific purposes. While it is true that SOME funds and some budget codes can be shifted, this is not the case with lottery proceeds. Blame the state, don't blame I-SS. Instead, applaud Dr. Miller and the board for finding a way to use funds available to the district instead of returning them to the state's coffers to be wasted.
ReplyDeleteAttention All Youth
ReplyDeleteIn the Statesville Record and Landfield today there is an article about providing daycare for your baby once you deliver, so that you can remain in school. Call me old fashioned, but I believe someone needs to teach you the right way to bring a child into the world. Pay attention:
1st you finish high school or college
2nd you marry
3rd you plan a family
Taxpayers should not have to pay for your child care.
I agree with pay attention. I guess this is another attempt for Doc. Holliday to get national recognition. Is it Friday yet?
ReplyDeleteTo the above blogger: The comment about the board meeting did not bash Holliday, in fact his name was never mentioned in the comment. Also, talk about "splitting hairs" the ISS website says: Includes board of education discussions and decisions from the July 13 meeting. Notice the word "decision" that means votes were taken and it is a done deal. As far as the lottery money goes, the blogger points out that taxpayers need to get involved. That usually means when something isn't working then work to change it. At least that is how I read it, so perhaps you need to "do your homework" before blasting off a comment.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of Dr. Holliday. But, I don't believe in criticising everything under the leadership of Holliday. There are many talented people that work in this system and also in central office. I do believe they make some very good and sound decisions for the best interest of our system. I don't think Holliday would be able to be a finalist for any high level position if he did not have the proper credentials, skill sets, work ethic, and also the leadership and help of a talented crew beneath his pedastal. He would no longer be in this system if that were the case. However, I do believe that the most serious controversies regarding Doc Holliday are "Baldrige", his allowed method of building the program in Iredell-Statesville, his overall ulterior motivation, and his lack of respect for the people of this system. There are many doubts about the Baldrige program and the manner in which it has been implemented. And there is a lack of confidence in all the data that is reported and the data and information that is not shared with the public. The sad thing about this topic is the sour attitude that has evolved in our school system and county as a result of the program and the number of people who have been treated poorly and insulted. I do not intend for this statement to be considered to allow Holliday "off the hook" of concern by the citizens of Iredell. Quite the opposite is intended. We have lost a tremendous amount of talent since his arrival. I believe (I hope)Holliday will get his dream job. And I hope he will do well. However, I believe it will be more than ever critical for the citizens of the Iredell-Statesville district to make certain that the next leader will continue the positive trend of facilities and growth. And I also believe that it will be most important that the next leadership use a different method of management (other than Baldrige since it is the main issue) and treat the employees and citizens with respect. Let us please be very careful and logical regarding how we move forward if this wish does come true.
ReplyDeleteWow, in the article the R & L printed regarding the daycare, Brenda Clark is quoted as saying "This is not an incentive or reward for ladies who end up getting pregnant," he said. "Our No.1 priority is pregnancy prevention." The article states that the babies can remain at the center until Kindergarden. The last time I checked on daycare for one baby it anywhere from $600 to $1200/monthly. Multiply that times five years for one child. I don't know above the above quote of no reward. What are we doing here? We are moving in the wrong direction. Let's punish the kids that do what they are supposed to do by cutting teachers and TA's and reward the ones that stray with free daycare.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to the poster above saying the "The comment about the board meeting did not bash Holliday, in fact his name was never mentioned in the comment." Is this not mentioning his name...
ReplyDelete"This is just another one of Holliday's ways to make himself look good by adding more programs to the system."
Did my homework... :)
Hollidays name was not mentioned in the comment regarding the "minutes" of the board meeting.
ReplyDeleteand I didn't make that comment until the poster did mention his name....as refrenced above.
ReplyDeleteMission
ReplyDeleteIredell-Statesville Schools will rigorously challenge all students to achieve their academic potential and to lead productive and rewarding lives. We will achieve this mission with the support of parents, staff, and the community,
by providing daycare for all of our middle and high school mommies. We have done a PDSA and have data to show that this will look impressive on the resume od Dr. H.
The article in the Record and Land about the daycare quotes Skip McCall as saying the program is not an incentive not B. Clark. That aside, it appears it would be her "baby" her in Iredell. The article states the center would be run from a $1.3 million grant. What happens when the grant runs out? Yes parents, your tax dollars working hard for you.
ReplyDeleteHow can someone not hold Holliday responsible for this outrageous idea of daycare for the babies of babies? He is the leader, the superintendent, the buck stops there. Are we simply trying to stay in the news? At any cost? This type of "cutting edge" standard is not acceptable.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't that $1.3 million dollar grant be used to keep the 70 TA's that are on pins and needles.
ReplyDeleteIf B. Clark wants a baby, she show go to the fertility clinic. Holliday doesn't care. He is so out of here.
I need some Lithium or maybe just some prenatal vitamins
ReplyDeleteThank you for the humorous comment Lithium.
ReplyDeleteas Jimmy Buffet says, "if we didn't laugh, we would all go insane." wasting away here another day in Hooterville.
You're right, I think these teen mothers need to drop out of school and go on welfare. That'll show 'em. That'll make the taxpayers happy. And then, when their children grow up uneducated, we'll put 'em in prison and save hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money. That way of thinking has been saving taxayer money for so long, why change it now?
ReplyDeleteWait a minute, why couldn't we see it when it was right before our eyes! We must take care of those babies so that the students will graduate and the "system" can proclaim a 100% gratuation rate. Perhaps we were taking too much Lithium and just couldn't see the forest through the trees.
ReplyDeleteShame on them for wanting 100% of students to graduate high school. What are they thinking!!
ReplyDeleteTo the above comment .... Are you serious?
ReplyDeleteIs that not what the post above it basically says... "We must take care of those babies so that the student will graduate and the "system" can proclaim a 100% graduation rate" ....since when is aiming to proclaim a 100% graduation rate a bad thing? Look at the statistics for students who do not graduate high school. I am honestly SHOCKED that people are taking issue with the fact that ISS went out of their way to apply for a million dollar plus grant to help these mothers have a chance to graduate high school. I am ashamed that people are posting that these moms should be punished. Is it in reality the moms fault that she is pregnant, of course it is. By pointing the finger and saying shame on you, who does that hurt? I am proud that ISS has created this program. Would you rather the child drop out and you support the family for years to come as they claim welfare?
ReplyDeleteI think these last few comments were aimed at sarcasm. Nobody really believes imprisonment and welfare is cheaper than education. Well some of those earlier postings probably do.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, ISS did not apply for the grant, Head Start did. ISS will work in partnership with them. That means that Head Start can choose to take part of the money and move the children to their program when they are old enough. The part about Head Start was discussed at the Meeting of the Whole, not at the board meeting. No one ever mentioned the fact that Head Start could use some of the money but if they are applying for the grant, why would they not want to use some of it. Secondly, no one doesn't want to see anyone drop out of school, but just because a student finishes high school doesn't mean that they got an education. At the first citzen's meeting that we held, someone mentioned the fact that students are entering Mitchell College and having to take remedial math and reading classes because they can not do college entry level math after graduating from high school. Maybe we should worry less about the numbers and more about education. Numbers are all that Holliday cares about because they make him look good. Why do you think he has not released the EOG and EOC scores yet? He doesn't want Kentucky to see them until the job is filled.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant no one wants to see anyone drop out of high school. Too early in the morning.
ReplyDeleteThe EOG and EOC scores are still unofficial but they are great....nice theory though.
ReplyDeletePolitical intervention at its finest. Does Germany ring a bell?
ReplyDeleteSorry for this, but to the blogger that asks "Would you rather the child drop out and you support the family for years to come as they claim welfare?" How to do really feel about 65 teacher assistants standing in the unemployment line?
ReplyDeleteHow is that relevant? You can't write a grant to save TA positions....
ReplyDeleteIt goes back to changing the system. Why are grants i.e. monies available for school daycare when we don't have money to fund teachers and teachers assistants? Perhaps you don't see a problem with that.
ReplyDeleteGovernment is supposed to be by the people and for the people. The blogger is right. We need to change the system so that grant money can fund appropriate needs. Those needs change constantly and there should be flexibility in the process to handle situations such as this.
ReplyDelete7/16/09 - 8:31am You state the following, "The EOG and EOC scores are still unofficial but they are great"
ReplyDeleteWould it be fair that the proper way to compare the scores to the previous year would be to campare the first score and not the retake revised score so that the numbers are not misleading or skewed. Someone out there please tell me. Would that not be the fair comparison? If I really wanted to know how well I did it would be in reference to the first score, not the first. Taking the first test, remediation should help to enhance the score. Does everyone agree? Remember folks how numbers can be used for whatever purpose or motive. Will the blogger who supports the scores please answer this thought regarding test scores?
Geez....the EOC and EOG scores are on the district's website. Nobody is hiding anything. As for making comparisons, it is true that comparing this year's EOGs with last year's EOGs likely isn't very accurate. However, EOCs in the high school still went up (re-takes weren't included in the high school scores for some reason), and the number of schools meeting AYP still improved. I whole-heartedly agree that the 'system' needs to be changed to allow grant funds to be used to save TAs, but guess what...that's not reality. And that's not something the folks at I-SS have any control over. What they do, however, have a LIMITED amount of control over is helping kids graduate. Helping ensure that kids who make adult decisions to have sex and then have to suffer the consequences are given a second chance to become "productive citizens" as opposed to a sponge of society. I applaud I-SS. Yes, these kids should be the responsibility of their parents, but clearly, that isn't happening. I say anything the community, grant-funded or not, can do to help these kids graduate, get jobs, and stay off welfare and out of jail is a great idea. Forget Holliday- not everything is about him, contrary to what he believes. Let's quit pointing fingers at one another and help kids!
ReplyDeleteSince the daycare program is designed after the Catherine Ferguson Academy in Detroit, let us see their results. What is their success rate? How do they define a success? How much money does it really take to run the facility i.e. cost per child? How did the establishing of this facility affect teen pregnancy? Show us the data? The true data, then let the "stakeholders" decide. It goes back to priorities and what we value.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above statement. Why doesn't our school board think like this person? As for stakeholders, I have been considered a stakeholder for the past 7 years, both as a parent and educator. I have taken one survey concerning my child and the Teacher Working Conditions Survey twice. This wasn't very much input for a stakeholder. There has got to be a better way to get input from the stakeholders, and then make decisions from that point. All I know is that once Holliday is gone , there needs to be a group such as this group that remains proactive for our children and teachers. It would be a shame if history repeated itself.
ReplyDeleteWe cannot let our guard down. We have suffered enough.
Hey GEEZ... I thought kids were goats! - I know the scores are on the website. However, I would like to see the 1st score in Math and Reading compared to the 07'-08' score for grades 3 and 8. Science went up 17 points compared to the previous year. But, I know of one middles school where science was finally taught an equal amount of time as math and language arts for the first time in years. Now, I do not know that this was true in all the systems' middle schools. Therefore, I would expect to see a huge gain in this area. Yes, that would look impressive. But those science scores were about midrange compared to 12 surrounding districts the last two years. That was never reported to the public. I wonder why. However, it does show on the website and looks very impressive. THIS IS THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE REPORTING OF SELECTIVE DATA! What have we been doing all those other years? The composite increase in the high school was 1.248. Six of nine reported high school EOC's increased. GEEZ, I wish life were a series of tests that we could teach to. Than, everything would be great. But that is not the way it works is it. Teaching to the test may show increases in scores which is good rhetoric and may be good newsprint, but how well has the system prepared our students (not kids)for the real world and life?
ReplyDeleteYou want to provide data to prove that the science scores this year would be about midrange compared to the 12 surrounding districts the last two years?
ReplyDeletePost above stated "Yes, that would look impressive. But those science scores were about midrange compared to 12 surrounding districts the last two years."
ReplyDeleteISS Science - 68.9
Surrounding districts last year:
Rowan – 41.9
Davie – 61.0
Mooresville City – 53.7
Mecklenberg – 43.2
Catawba – 55.2
Alexander – 50.5
Wilkes – 45.1
Lincoln – 55.7
Gaston – 37.0
Cabarrus - 54.4
Priorities? Let's see teacher assistants touch approximately 80 students' lives everyday via the classroom and the bus. Multiply that by the 65 cut and I believe you have around 5200 student interactions daily. Remind me, how many students dropped out of ISS last year due to pregnancy?
ReplyDeleteLet everyone enjoy the higher EOG scores for this final year. Take away the teacher assistants who mentor the students, provide remediation to fill gaps etc. and those scores will plummet.
ReplyDeleteCall your state legislators, if they put 3rd grade TA's back in the budget then we don't have this issue.
ReplyDeleteHey GEEZ - You see. That is the problem with data collection. The 7/16 8:25 pm post sites 10 districts plus ISS. However, the post does not represent the information that the Charlotte Observer printed the last two years (not including this year). I am sorry, but that is the problem with data comparison and interpretation. Some of the counties you listed were not in the Observers' comparison. Again, this is an example of distorted data and you don't even have enough common sense to understand the point. However, many of us do. What I did not like as a parent was my children being taught twice as much language arts and math as compared to science and social studies during their middle school years. I would much rather my children get a complete education. Iredell Statesville's test scores will not be reflected on their college transcripts.
ReplyDeleteThat data is straight from the NC Report Card site, so check it for yourself. Another example of distored data?
ReplyDeleteTo the blogger regarding calling the legislators:
ReplyDeleteIt is recommended that we email all of them and we have been provided a sample content letter and the email addresses. I know that I have spent most of my summer break repeating that process. It is being done but we need more people willing to fight. Perhaps Paul can post the information and if he doesn't have it, I will post it.
I agree that every student should get a well rounded education. Unfortunely, the present administration is only interested in data and how scores look in the paper. As a educator, I was told numerous times that I needed to focus my teaching on reading and math. Those were the items tested. Not to worry about science and history. Now that science is being tested, the system is making a big dash to cover those areas also. If the system would worry less about how students test on EOG and worry more about how they perform in the classroom on a daily and weekly basis our children would get a much better education. The state does not require that a student pass the EOG in order to pass for the year, but schools are so focused on how those 4 days worth of testing come out that students and staff are stressed to the max.
ReplyDeleteYou use this years Science score to compare to other scores I assume. I know what I saw in the Observer the two years previous to this year. And I can tell you that I have had it with fuzzy math coming from fuzzy people.
ReplyDeleteEinstein got it right...
ReplyDelete"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."
Words to live by in this age of 'DATA is/are god.'
Once we start living by numbers, all of us are in real trouble, because those in power have control over the numbers and how they are used/interpreted. The human factor will always trump numbers, how can it be otherwise when it comes to human interaction?
Well said! And Holliday was in power.
ReplyDeletelove the Einstein comment. We are not teaching our kids how to think! Simply pretesting, throwing material at them and then posttesting is not preparing them for the real world. Think about a teacher that made an impact on your life. I am sure everyone has at least one and I doubt it had to do with what grade they got in the class.
ReplyDeleteTo the poster to made this comment "You use this years Science score to compare to other scores I assume. I know what I saw in the Observer the two years previous to this year. And I can tell you that I have had it with fuzzy math coming from fuzzy people"
ReplyDeleteLet me try to simplify this the best I can since you have having such a hard time understanding. At the beginning of the comments section a poster stated that although the ISS Science scores "look good" this year they will still be midrange in comparison to the last 2 years in 12 surrounding counties. Sooo... I pulled 10 surrounding counties (not sure what the other two were) scores from the year before to prove that this years science scores would not be close to midrange (they would actually be at the top). I'm sorry that you don't think those numbers match the Charlotte Observer. Those numbers came from the North Carolina testing reporting website (NC Report Cards). No fuzzy math, just straight facts. If you don't believe just look it up yourself, or just continue to blame it on manipulated data.
I am sorry, but it is you who does not understand the point (7-18, 6:39). And I am tired of trying to explain it to you. My children were DENIED a fair and equitable education in core courses the last seven years in science and social studies (and that extra trade off time would have helped the scores in math and english to probably be better). I hope you understand this concept. Do you believe it was fair or right to deny them or any child their opportunity to learn in these core courses? Should that trade off be made in order to produce higher scores for reading and math?
ReplyDeleteHate to burst your bubble, but the school establishes the schedule not Holliday. I know of schools at the middle school level that have been giving equal time to Science and Social Studies for years and were actually praised for doing so.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I personally do believe in pulling students out of Science and Social Studies for remediation if they are struggling in Reading. How do you expect them to succeed in Science/Social Studies if they can't even read the book? Most content books are written above grade level so a struggling reader will find that task very difficult.
My dear adversary, It seems that if we were to meet on the street it might get interesting, however in reality I am not a violent person. If Baldrige and Holliday were so wonderful the reality is this would not have been allowed. My child had more time in their Discovery chorus class the entire year than science and social studies. And if you think Holliday believed in doing what was best for the students he would not have allowed that. Just something to think about as I await your next pro Holliday comment. And I too believe in attacking the reading problem as early as possible. I agree with you on this issue. If children don't have those skills than they are not going to be very successful as they advance say in grades 6 - 12. It seems that if Holliday were in charge he would not have allowed such absurdity. How do the rest of you think regarding this issue between me and our Holliday, Baldrige, and SR&L adversary? Sorry, but in reality there does seem to be a lot of people that were and are in disagreement with Baldrige and Holliday.
ReplyDeleteMy point is, that is an issue that you should take up with the school. Not every single thing that you dislike has to do with Holliday. People complain that they were micromanaged under Holliday. Well, here is one issue that was not micromanaged. The schools have the ultimate decision making authority over scheduling. Some schools use block scheduling, some A/B scheduling, and 6 or 7 blocks during the course of the day. If you feel as though Science and Social Studies are being shortchanged at your child's school sit down and talk to the principal and express that opinion.
ReplyDeleteThan why is it that finally after all these years, the middles schools will be on the same page with the same schedule for the '09-'10 school year?
ReplyDeleteAnd school board members were aware of this along with the principal because I did speak to the principal and three board members regarding the issue three years ago.
ReplyDeleteSo, this happened three years ago of this was an issue this year?
ReplyDeleteOne more question, if you were so concerned about your child's lack of Science or Social Studies, why didnt you sign them up for Science Olympiad, Robotics, Geography quiz bowl, etc during that elective period instead of Chorus?
Sorry for the typo on line 1, meant to say did this happen three years ago or this year?
ReplyDeleteAgain, you miss the point and I also clearly stated this occurred three years ago. The educational system should be providing students a basic education in the core courses. And that was not done. If you want to blame me for this than that is your right. But I really do not believe I am to blame for the policies of the individual school or the school system. However, I blame the system for not providing a basic education to the masses. Do you believe I am justified in my reasoning and questioning of this policy? I don't believe these extracurriculars that are mostly geared to provide time for remediation to students who are not expected to score well on EOG's to improve their specific test scores in reading and math are geared to the North Carolina SCOS. And I know that teachers in science and social studies did not have the necessary time to cover the NCSCOS. I hope I have stated my concern clearly and can you understand my concern? We allowed our child to make their own decision due to the fact that these extracurricular courses are not geared to the NCSOS. Could one consider them as fluff since that is what central office considers some of what the teachers do in the classroom as fluff? Central office wanted to do away with fluff. But in my personal opinion, they decided to do away with time alloted to some academic subjects and trade it to tested subjects in hopes of raising test scores. While it may be a strategy that will raise test scores, it diminishes the advancement of knowledge in other important core subjects. Okay, I await your reply to what I have written and await your next discussion of what the system did and why. I have heard the frivilous answers from central office before and as stated above you can see why I don't agree with their decisions in this area that have greatly had a negative impact on students.
ReplyDeleteThree years ago is not now, things have changed and a more balanced education is provided. Is that not what you wanted?
ReplyDeletePrograms like Science Olympiad, Robotics, Battle of the Books, OM, etc. are not fluff they are actually excellent opportunities for children to develop higher level thinking skills and problem solving strategies, which is what I thought you were after...
I am amused that you have again missed my point of emphasis. But that is what politicians are good at doing today. Yes, indeed these extra programs are excellent opportunities. I cannot and will not deny that. But once again, my concept is that these programs are not a part of the standard curriculum. And when we look at such details as (numbers), than these are programs that are not going to be available to all the students (only a small percentage). So once again you miss my point. It is obvious you are a Holliday proponent and I am not. But to be fair, I think Doc has done some good things. He would have to keep his job. I simply have not agreed with all his ideas, his character, and his lack of ethics. Hey, let us take a survey of the community and see what they think! But this would not be a carefully controlled and worded survey from ISS. Hey everyone, this seems to be a dialogue among two people. I would like to hear what other people think about this particular topic.
ReplyDeleteMr. Klaene or anyone else, what do you think about the dialogue of the last 12 or more comments? Please put in your two cents (or excuse me, $1.24 for inflation) worth.
ReplyDeleteTo July 19 7:24pm. I get your point and agree with it. You have just been targeted by a pro-baldridge, pro-Holliday opponent. We are not supposed to question, let alone criticize anything. Rest assured that you are not alone in your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIf I am not mistaken, the options that were mentioned for you child are all AFTER school activities. They are all wonderful opportunities, but they do not take place during the school day. You are not alone, for all the talk of serving stakeholder interest, the real agenda has been feathering the cap of a certain superintendent.
ReplyDelete*your
ReplyDeleteYou are mistaken, they were all offered during school.
ReplyDelete"You have just been targeted by a pro-baldridge, pro-Holliday opponent. We are not supposed to question, let alone criticize anything."
ReplyDeleteNot pro anything and no one has been targeted. You can question whatever you want, but you have to be able to back it up with more than saying that the state's website has "fuzzy math" and complaining about policies that are 3 years old and have since been changed.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe previous comment was removed because of an inappropriate accusation. I hate to delete a comment but I felt I had to do so. I am going to post the the comment below without the accusation.
ReplyDeleteTo 7-19 11:02 - I am sorry to inform you but none of these activities were after school activities at my childrens' school. These activities would begin at 2:45 and end at 3:30 during the instructional day. And I am sorry to inform 7-19 11:11 that math does and can become fuzzy when you start taking numbers from a site and comparing it to another persons topic of which you continue to distort. And finally, the policy was not three years old and the change did not take place until this year. I have children in school. Are you telling me that as a parent and citizen that I do not have the right to inform the public and challenge people to think?
ReplyDeleteYou can inform them all you want use just use facts.
ReplyDelete-Please clarify how the math becomes fuzzy when I take a comment someone made about how our scores this year would be mid-range and prove that the comment is false by taking the actual statistics from the state reporting site?
-In regards to your schedule issue, some middle schools in ISS have been offering a balanced schedule for 3 years, some for 1 or 2, I can't seem it get you to realize that scheduling is not a Holliday or district issue, it is a school issue, yet you continue to blame it on Holliday.
It's tough being at the top, it makes one responsible for all things under, including school schedules...that's why the uber-bucks are paid. Please don't shirk on the top banana's behalf.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that what people call "micromanagement" and that is what we want to move away from?
ReplyDeleteNo, it is called effective management.
ReplyDeleteSo anything people think should be mandated and isn't is "ineffective management" and anything mandated that people don't agree with is "micromanagement"?
ReplyDeleteA truly responsible leader does not slough accountability to those under her/him, rather accepts the good with the not-so-good w/o excuses.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how my letter to the editor about our concerned citzens group became an instrument to discuss science scores. I invite the top people who have been having the discussion to meet with us and help us find solutions to the problems. I have volunteered one day a week for the past school year and I have seen first hand the stress our teachers are under as they struggled to teach, and keep up with all the data collecting, posting, and discussion that is required. Students are at school for 6 1/2 hrs a day. You take out 25 minutes for lunch. 45-50 minutes a day for enhancement classes. 15-20 minutes for recess, bathroom breaks and traveling to and from places and the teachers are left with around 4 1/2 hrs give or take a few minutes to teach everything that is in the Standard Course of Study. Throw in required testing every 3 weeks, PDSA'(2) twice weekly, plus,deltas daily, issue bins, data posting, etc.
ReplyDeleteit is no wonder that our students are struggling in all areas. Sometimes science and social studies are pushed aside because there is only time in the day to teach reading, math, and do small group instruction, and remediation.
I'm glad you brought up the 2 PDSA requirement that many schools had. The district required 1 PDSA every 4 1/2 weeks (as stated in the PLC matrix). It was required after every CFA or PA. Anything more was a school requirement that was imposed either by school level administration or the SIT team.
ReplyDeleteSomeone needs to straighten out the Lead Teachers/IF's then. Perhaps it has become a competition with them to see who can make their school's teachers do the most PDSA's....see what happens? Egos take over and students pay the price via stressed teachers who do not have enough TIME to do it all. At the school I'm familiar with, teachers were pushed (very hard, meaning they were threatened with an unfavorable report) to complete two PDSA cycles every week.
ReplyDeleteThis thing has been a fiasco, and the unfortunate students of I-SS are the innocent victims.
Like I said above, I think it was a school administrative/leadership decision, not just a misinformed IF. I think most if not all elementary schools did two a week. I would be curious to hear from a middle/high teacher on PDSA requirements. My point was that the district did not mandate 2 PDSA's a week, the schools did.
ReplyDeleteCome on now. The effect is the same. It doesn't matter whose ego is running amok---whether it's the Lead Teacher/IF's or the principal's---the outcome remains the same. There should have been some sort of mechanism in place to control things. There was not. In the oppressive, fear-based atmosphere, no open dialogue was taking place.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone answer the question, "Where does the buck stop?" There seems to be a lot of pointing fingers. When someone does not want to take the blame than the finger gets pointed elsewhere. And this is the accountability model! Who has been accountable in this system? It seems to me that the man at the top is accountable when he sees it fits his goals. Afterall, he has reaped the dividends and received his dream job. But let someone put the blame elsewhere if it makes the top cat look bad. It has been unfortunate that you can mention a serious concern and the opponents keep distorting the issue. I hope Mr. Klaene and others keep digging. I was told about seven years ago by someone whose work covered the Transylvania County school district. They stated that what you are getting now (as superintendent) is no different than what just left. It did not take long to realize what they knew all along.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that Paul will remove some accusations on this blog, but not personal information/attacks! When he is pulled into a slander suit, he may regret that descision
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