THE POWER OF PATTI

Singlehandedly she convinced the whole LSC to return a unaminously approved motion on the make-up of the screening committee back to the Policy subcommittee for a little more tweaking. Her concerns were simple enough and on the surface quite valid, She wanted to rewrite the adopted policy to say up to three parents instead of three/.

The reason given was she didn't want to leave that language because just in case one of the three parents got sick and theoretically then even if everybody else couldn't go forward with the interview due to the unplanned absence of one of the three parents. All or none, yes or no. A legitimate concern.

However following that line of logic, the same could be said for having a specific number of any categories whether school commottee members or administrators. The KEY is to make sure there are EQUAL number of parents to administrators.

UNTIL the policy is successfully tweaked the water has been successfully been muddled and the SUPER got her groove back. CHUCK and JOHN ought to be kissing her feet. She saved them from their looking like they are suddenly ANTI-PARENT because she successfully confused everyone so they didn't know what they voted for. Darn that woman talks like I write

She is even funnier than me. One of the things she brought up was maybe there was a need that a vote that was taken in a subcommittee shouldn't be approved by the whole committee on the same day. By waiting a couple of weeks to digest the motion approved by the sub it would give eeryone time to digest what they would be voting on. Again a valid point but I just can't help but wonder why these legitamate concerns had never been brought up before.

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

• • 

    Saturday, February 15, 2014
• 

  Get Tickets

  (www.hayleyshopefoundation.org)

• Sponsor a Valentine Heart ♥ for $10.00! Dedicate it to your favorite Valentine, in memory of someone, or in thanksgiving for something. 100% of the proceeds will go to Hayley's Hope Foundation to help support their mission of education, support, and awareness of the issue of teenage suicide. Program available thru February 13th. Purchase one or more and we will post on our exclusive dedication page on our Website and Facebook pages! Payment may be made via PayPal (see attached link). Thank you for your support! ♥ HHF BONUS: For every heart you sponsor your name will be entered into a drawing for one of three $25.00 Amazon gift cards!!! *Winners will be announced on February 15th on our Website & Facebook pages. Share this link on your Facebook page, email list or twitter ~ our goal is 1000 hearts WORLDWIDE! ♥ *~*~* Please go to our website to fill out the Heart Dedication Form as well for access to the PayPal for payment. *~*~*

KICK UP YOUR SUPPORT OF SOCCER

As many of you know, as a result of their succcess on the field, the Lynn Breakers U-18 Girls Youth Soccer Team has been invited to play in the prestigous 25th Emerald Cup Soccer Tournament in Ireland this summer. This great group of Lynn kids has been playing together in Lynn for years and has formed a unique bond of  friendship and love for the game of soccer. They believe in teamwork, dedication and never giving up, either on the field or in life. In addition they have participated in many charitable events over the years, understanding the importance of giving back to the community. A true reflection of our City.

Now they need the help of the community. The team is hosting a Fundraising event thisSaturday, February 1st, at 7:00pm at the Gannon Golf Course Clubhouse in Lynn. It should be a lot of fun with a DJ, dancing, food and raffles. Parents and kids of all ages are welcome.

Please help The Breakers represent not only Lynn, MA but the United States as well.

Thank you.

Please Accept our Heartfelt Gratitude for your Generosity and Support.

If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, please make checks payable to Lynn Breakers Soccer, 2 Meghans Way, Lynn, MA 01904.(Tax ID # 46-4443496),

THE POINT ABOUT PRINCIPALS

I will NOT be attending tonight's LSC meeting. It will be an importantonewith a VOTE that willbe CRUCIAL to the future of education in  Lynn. Iam stalking about the make-up of the screening committee for the selection of a new principals.Luckily I will be watching from the comfort of my couch. I was thinking....remember how CAROL BURNETT used to end her TV shows? I was wondering if somebody from the committee would tug on their ear as a little shout out to me?

Why are they even thinking about rescinding the motion on screening committee make-up made by JOHN FORD and seconded by CHARLIE GALLO.

One theory is that they want to limit parent and community involvement so they have a little more control insuring the hiring of the right princiPALS.

How people actually vote will be interesting. Why don't you give these people a call and give them a little direction.

Chairman	Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy	(781) 595-7697	23 Buchanan Circle Lynn | 01902
Vice Chair	Patricia M. CapaLuckily I will be watchingno	(781) 581-7235	105 Range Heights Road Lynn | 01904
Members	Donna M. Coppola	(781) 593-4433	300 Lynn Shore Drive #700 | Lynn | 01902
	Maria O. Carrasco	(781) 599-7375	301 Maple Street Lynn | 01904
	John E. Ford, Jr.	(781) 598-6156	89 Woodman Street Lynn | 01905
	Charlie N. Gallo	(781) 781-592-9498	650 Boston Street Lynn | 01905
	Richard B. Starbard	(781) 599-7999	221 Verona Street Lynn | 01904

SITUATIONAL STANDARDS

Each with different protocol
but Rick wants one for all.

When safety is the main concern
everyone us eager to learn

from the practices of one another
when normally we would scream "Big Brother".

Starbard: Have safety be uniform

I'LL GO YOU ONE BETTER LIL'LORI

Lil'Lori makes a good point.....

According to the 2012-2013 data for Lynn, students whose first language is not English make up about 54.2% of our student population and those with
limited English proficiency make up about 17.5%. However, I learned at a meeting last night that there is only ONE bilingual social worker and ONE bilingual speech and language therapist in our district. We all know LPS lacks diversity in the staff they hire and that this is a concern for many, but I was still taken back last night when I heard this.

http://uneducacion.blogspot.com/2013/02/lynn-public-school-demographic-data.html

An Education: Lynn Public School Demographic Data 2012-13

uneducacion.blogspot.com

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING EVEN WORSE.......

The person in charge of ELL is thereon ACTING status and I don't see no posting. Think of how IMPORTANT this position is. Now it became open due to a retirement in mid-year so one could maybe understand  the delay......

EXCEPT......

everyone knew this was coming and I've always heard....FOREWARNED IS FORARMED. So we should have been ready....right? I mean we got MCAS coming....like every year. Scores ar unfortunatelly important and tied to money. Hmmm.... maybe that is it, yeah if scores go down we will get more money and we can eliminate some pesky principals. Is it too much to ask of our leaders to lead?

THE COLOR OF FORD'S FIGHT

Ford School second-graders earn yellow belts

itemlive.com

Students, like 7-year-old Lovell Harrison, have been participating in free Taekwondo lessons in lieu of typical gym classes through a grant.

LIBRARIES ARE THE PLACE TO LEARN

Lynn Public Library

Medical terminology not your bag? How about Intro to the Office Suite? Choose from hundreds of online courses, courtesy of the Lynn Public Library. http://ow.ly/t0kSP

Lynn Public Library

ed2go.com

Master the latest teaching strategies to help you reach high school students, including differentiated instruction and classroom management. Learn...

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - MAKING SENSE OUT OF BEING SHORT-CHANGED

It has been a long time since we have visited the imaginary queendom of NESOPOTAMIA but a lull of real news has forced a return visit.

The EVIL QUEEN was angered by the people's rumblings about a revolt in some of her princiPALities. It seems there was an impending feud about the selection of the feudal leaders.

EQ pressured long-time loyalist PENNY CAVALIER to call for a cancellation of a proclamation put out tp limit her ability to run roughshod over the selection of who sees the overseen. Complicating this contraversy was the fact that two of her most trusted confidantes, CHUCKLES THE CLOWN and JOHN THE JOKESTER were fooled by the feud.

Because of personal desires to be taken seriously on a larger stage, this OPERA may be short a couple pennies.

YEAR OF THE PAC

Come Monday Feb. 4 the SPED PAC will have their first meeting of 2024. Everyone is encouraged to attend the 6 pm meeting in the TIGER'S DEN at LVTI on 90 Commercial Street.

Upcoming events will bediscussed and accessing available resources. Come learn what is SPECIAL about SPECIAL EDUCATION. Join the conversation so you can have a say in what's talked about.

SHARPLY DRESSED FOR SHARPIES

Thurgood Marshall Middle School - Lynn, MA added 2 new photos to the album Project YES Dinner.

Project YES, our very successful youth engagement program that is sponsored by North Shore Community College had one of its formal dinners tonight and the students who participated were dressed for success. These 8th grade leaders stopped by for a visit before heading down to the dinner. You all look great!

PRINCIPALS MATTER

The following makes you wonder why the grad. rates are going in a different direction, doesn't it?

An Education Blog

Some highlights:

-At Lynn Classical, four subgroups had graduation rates over 90%.

-The graduation rate for English Language Learner (ELL) students at Lynn Tech increased by 26.6%.

-Lynn's grad rate for low income students was higher than the state's overall statistic for this same subgroup.

An Education: Lynn Graduation Rates by Subgroup

uneducacion.blogspot.com

HOMEWORK ADVANTAGE

Thurgood Marshall Middle School - Lynn, MA added 2 new photos to the album Scholar Athletes.

You got to love it when two members of the Mustang basketball team got a head start on their homework at Swampscott tonight. Brando and Matheus were caught doing homework while waiting for the girls to finish their game. As for the results of the games: the Mustangs beat the Big Blue, while the Lady Mustangs played well, but were edged out by the Lady Blue. Good job to all of the members of both teams...and a special shout out to those who snuck in some homework!

PUSHING OUT PARENTS

There is a vote next Thursday to TAKE AWAY the parent and community input in picking YOUR child's next principal. Call your school committee members and let them know how you feel.

Chairman	Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy	(781) 595-7697	23 Buchanan Circle Lynn | 01902
Vice Chair	Patricia M. Capano	(781) 581-7235	105 Range Heights Road Lynn | 01904
Members	Donna M. Coppola	(781) 593-4433	300 Lynn Shore Drive #700 | Lynn | 01902
	Maria O. Carrasco	(781) 599-7375	301 Maple Street Lynn | 01904
	John E. Ford, Jr.	(781) 598-6156	89 Woodman Street Lynn | 01905
	Charlie N. Gallo	(781) 781-592-9498	650 Boston Street Lynn | 01905
	Richard B. Starbard	(781) 599-7999	221 Verona Street Lynn | 01904

WHAT'S CHUCK BEEN UP TO?

Thamks to Northeast ARC six I-pads with appicable traing was donated to the COACHprogram at SHOEMAKER SCHOOL This exciting because there is tons of research out there extolling the virtues of the benefits of the devices.

I would like to give credit to whomever is responsible for us receiving this donation. I do wonder how LPS hustifies the salaries of the full time grants writerand part-time private partnership person. There are other people who we pay who write for grants too. All or most of the principals applt for various grants. Dr. Wu was responsible for securing truckloads of winter coats (Especially appreciated lately), I just want to be sure we are getting our money's worth.

At first I was glad to see the Grants subcommittee meeting this Thursday, finally maybe we are going to get some answers to the accountability questions I've been asking.

BUT.........

noooooooooh........

instead we are going to deal with 501 (c)(3) stuff. Are you kidding me? I know tax laws are brutul. The IRS,those boys don't play. CHUCK is a lawyer hiself and he proposed bringing back this committee a couple years ago. He has been taking credit for it ever since liking it and therefore him to the Second coming.

Looks like maybe those out of town businesses want some tax credit for donating to Lynn schools. They can spend our money just fine but......

Hey, it's just business and well it's the American way......Do unto others if you can take it off your taxes.

OPEN HOUSE ABORN

Aborn Elementary School

This Thursday is an Open House at school from 2:30- 4:30. This particular Open House is for teacher/parent conferences. Please be courteous to other parents and wait outside the classroom until it is your time.
Progress reports for the 2nd trimester go home on Friday. Make sure you check your child's backpack.

LIL'LORI WANTS LATHAM TO LISTEN

I don't know why she thinks posting on my blog will let the administration know of her complaints. Nobody says they even read it. Too busy with pencils and papers and such.

Lori D'Amico I am sure the SC and district wishes I would just drop this and ignore their non-compliance, but I absolutely will not! I sent the following email yesterday to the school committee: 
As I have mentioned before, I believe school council meeting minutes should be available and accessible to all parents and the community without having to submit a formal public records request and possibly being charged fees. Since Dr. Latham currently does not make these minutes available to parents and the community without a formal public records request, I am requesting the information from you, the school committee. 

According to the policy, "the Superintendent shall receive agendas and minutes of all school council meetings. The Superintendent shall provide copies of these materials to members of the School Committee for information." Therefore, each of you should have copies of all the minutes from every school council meeting that has taken place this school year. However, I am only requesting the minutes, not the agendas, from the first school council meeting that each and every school (all 25 schools) had this school year. 

If you are not willing to provide me with this information without submitting a formal public records request to Dr. Latham, please let me know by Tuesday, January 28.

WHITE GHOSTS IN THE MACHINE

Here is something to think about. I am not going to offer an opinion and that is like a huge sacrifice for me. It pains me so but in the interest of objectivity I will taste my bottom lip.

Last election cycle our Mayor who is also the CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE fired an aide, GARDY for mounting a campaign against a sitting STATE DELEGATE in his own party (which happened not to be the party the MAYOR was part of and city office is nonpartisan anyway).

Not only did he loose subsequent lawsuits and/or complaints to the relevant commissions,GARDY even failed to get enough signatures to get his name on the ballot for the primary. Oh, he ran a sticker campaign but the only thing that stuck was his LABEL as loser.

Fast forward it one election cycle, now we have two members of a committee our MAYOR heads up, two white members again from the opposite party, so I wonder what happens next. Of course she does not have the authority to dismiss them. They were duly elected in their own right.

Still it seems to me that the case for CONFLICT OF INTEREST is just as strong. Will our MAYOR who has not been afraid to go against the grain and call for their resignations? Probably not (Sorry I promised no opinion but hey, it's what I do).

WHO DO YOU LOVE?

The vote on the SCREENING COMMITTEE will frame
who's for the parents and who is just lame.

We'll find out where your loyalties lie.
So supporting the super if you try

you'll lose the next election
for for the price of her protection.

HIGH STAKES, HIGH DRAMA

Boy, I can't wait for Thursday night's LSC meeting. I guess that explains my writing EARLY on what is sure to be a CONTENTIOUS matter. I guess some people are a little slow about what they passed or they read the WATCH and realized what they had done.

DONNA DOES RIGHT

Here's POINTLESS PATTI'S motion (B-under NEW BUSINESS):
http://www.lynnschools.org/documents/school_committee/2014_notices/school_committee_Jan_30_2014_615pm.pdf

You see, the fact that JOHN FORD made the motion for the screening committee changes and CHARLIE GALLO seconded the motion which reflected HIS own tweaks makes them changing their votes now QUITE problematic.

In case you haven't heard, BOTH JOHN and CHUCK are running for STATE DELEGATE. A change now would put them on the side of CATHE, because the Screening Committee changes thereby limiting her power, and positioning them as being ANTI-PARENT. Unless the U.S. Constitution changed just recently, in the UPCOMING election CATHE would have ONE vote and all the parents, well they might have a few more.

Of course, if any of them are foolish enough to change their vote, I am sure they will try and put a nice SPIN on it. I promise you this, if a vote to rescind is passed. I will end up falling down at my keyboard because I'll put so much BACKSPIN on my reporting on it that because my writing made me DIZZY.

You see if in fact enough people, especially certain people, want to face political persecution by positioning themselves as anti-parent, anti-community then I am sure somebody will step up to force another PUBLIC HEARING. It's not hard to do, only 150 signatures on a petition. I bet someone will get some NASTY press.

WHO'S IT GOING TO BE?

WRAP-UP ABOUT WRAPS

Aborn Elementary School

Mrs. Amico said that we have already had 42 coats donated by the generous Aborn families. These coats will be brought to Anton's Cleaners to be cleaned and then brought to Jordan's Furniture for their annual coat drive. Thank you to the student council for organizing the coat drive here at school.

STEM² Summit: Celebrate STEM Innovation!

events.r20.constantcontact.com

The first Elementary STEM summit bringing together innovators and educators.Come be inspiredlearn how STEM is moving humanity forward. Hear about cutting edge innovations developed all right here in Massachusetts! Dont miss this opportunity to hear major innovators speak about their personal pat…

NEW DISCOVERY

Looks like FORD SCHOOL and my college have similar missions - REACHING FOR THE STARS!

Connect-Clarksburg

NASA Partnership Enhancing WVWC Physics/Engineering Offerings
http://tinyurl.com/lbj4mo7

 

TOP TEACHER TO BE TOUTED

Lynn Rotary Teacher Of The Year Award | 2013-2014

The Rotary Club of Lynn Announces Plans for the Lynn Teacher of the Year Award with the Focus on “Service above Self” In May, 2014, the Rotary Club of Lynn will present its first annual awards ceremony to recognize outstanding professional educators in Lynn and call attention to the importance of service to the community. The Rotary Club of Lynn is soliciting nominations from all Lynn schools, public and private. Winning recipients will each receive a cash award as will their school. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION FORM

EXTRAS Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser

May 17 at 7:00pm

Extras for Creative Learning in Lynn, Massachusetts

FORIEGN EXCHANGE

City may offer Chinese 101

Has the ITEM been reading the WATCH again? Cause I think I told you about this a few days ago:

12 YEARS UNTIL SLAVERY?

Well I am glad they finally got to it because not everybody reads the WATCH. I mean,not everybody speaks my language.

STICK AND RUN

Field filling up in wake of Walsh announcement

Jan 22, 2014 | 3:00 am

Does anyone else find it concerning that one-third of the LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE is/are prepared to prepared to ABANDON the children of LYNN in order to advance their own political career. Both JOHN THE RIPPER and CHUCK are ready to run.

Even if one of them would move on, I am too far down the list to move up and I would rather see them stick around to nake it easier to hold them accountable for the UPCOMING MARSHALL MESS.

DONATE TO EDUCATE

• • Saturday, April 5, 2014
  • 

    7:00pm

• Friends and Family are invited to donate Twenty Five Dollars ($25.00) or more to College Application Education Project, Inc. (C.A.E.P) between now and April 5, 2014. C.A.E.P. is a 501 (C) 3 Not for Profit Organization. Donations are fully tax deductible. Donations should be made payable to College Application Education Project, Inc. (C.A.E.P.) 4 Adams Street Ext., Lynn, MA 01902. Card Card Donation should be made via PayPal online at caeproject.org Support Page. The mission of the College Application Education Project, Inc. is to set up an institutional mechanism and a community structure whereby parents and middle school and high school students of all cultures can receive direct college preparation. This training assists them with career development, college preparation, admissions, and financial applications. Results will be posted on Monday, April 7, 2014. For more information contact C.A.E.P. at 781-595-1022 or via email at info@caeproject.org Twitter: CAEProject Consider having your next event or function at C.A.E.P. 270 Union Street, Lynn, MA 01901, 781-596-0760, info@caeproject.org

LIL'LORI IS LAUDING

Classical has a properly functioning school council AND they don't have a problem posting the minutes from their meetings. They want and are working on getting parents informed, involved and engaged.

http://www.lynnschools.org/classrooms/classical/classical_school_council.shtml

Classical - School Council

www.lynnschools.org

Superintendent Latham welcomes you to the official Lynn Public School Department website.

BULLDOGS MAY BE BEST

Undefeated And Maybe Unstoppable: Hogan’s Lady Bulldogs Just Keep On Winning

Photo by: Angela Owens / Item Photo

Bulldogs power past Classical

A WHALE OF AN ISSUE AT BREED

An Education Blog

"Each year [Nancy] Mades-Byrd requires her eighth grade students to choose a side on a given issue, research and write a paper to support it. In the past topics have been mundane issues, but when Mades-Byrd stumbled across an article “The Killer in the Pool,” from Outside magazine, she thought she’d found a topic her students would really like.

“They had some very strong opinions, some were very passionate,” she said. “We had some real debates.”

Students taken by a captive audience

itemlive.com

LYNN — Breed Middle School teacher Nancy Mades-Byrd struck a nerve when she asked her students to take a side on killer whales in captivity.

AGENDA ITEM VII-A - RESOLUTION FOR RECOGNITION

Once again the entire LSC used of valueable time parading a meaningless symbolic hesture before the cameras last Thirsday night, The resolution expressing the committee's opposition to CHARTER SCHOOLS was passed around for all to sign. Someone pointed out with a little snicker that they had already gotten some press in the BOSTON GLOBE for their action.

Far be from me to position myself as a champion of charters but how maany meetings have been missed since the adoption of that powerless proclamation? Instead of whining about what has now become settled law why not spend that time developing straties to address the deficiences that mandate their establishment. They will collapse upon themselves due to their drive for profit instead of their oerceived penchant for education.

KEEPING UP WITH KHAN

Don't miss the top things to learn on Khan Academy this week: Is it better to rent or buy a home? Sal explains the math of renting vs. buying a home, challenging the notion that it is always better to buy. Learn now What secret math sequence keeps popping up in nature? "Recreational Mathemusician" Vi Hart uncovers the mysteries of spirals, Fibonacci, and being a plant. Learn now Make your own robot from easy-to-find parts! Discover that anyone from 3rd grade and up can build their very own thinking robot. Learn now Recently added by Crash Course: Water = liquid awesome! Hank teaches us why water is one of the most fascinating and important substances in the universe. Learn now Learn something new at Khan Academy