LPS is a BIG system so I don't know this number might be close to average for the first LSC meeting of the year. Still though seeing 28 RESIGNATIONS at once from teachers does shake your faith in the system though. No doubt there are a variety of good reasons and MAYBE most had nothing to do with frustration over the way things are run.
I do hear things, grumblings from people who stay. People who are afraid to respond to me. Fears about metadata.
For whatever reason we need to improve our retention rates. Studies have shown the importance of stability in a child's education.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Friday, September 25, 2015
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SCIENCE OR SVU?
What I am about to show you is very disturbing. I know here at the WATCH WE(okay ME) like to joke around a lot but this is NO laughing matter. This image was used at four schools last year - LYNN WOODS, LINCOLN THOMPSON, WASHINGTON STEM, and one other for first graders to learn about TEXTURE.
The symbolism is disgusting. Using the picture of a NAKED MAN and talking about RUBBING up against him is disgusting. This slide is asking if the child has ever had A MAN rub his rough beard up against their face. Guess what: A MAN = STRANGER!
You would think if it was solely about scientific discovery and not some other sort of exploration that at least the guy would have a shirt on. CREEPY!
But the CREEP FACTOR doesn't stop there, oh no! Put forth as an example of SMOOTH is a red apple. You know, one found in the GARDEN OF EDEN, the birthplace of SIN. Countless other things come to my mind as being more representative of the quality of smooth before an apple. The symbolism here, intentional or not, just makes me feel like I need a shower.
THIS IS WHAT THE LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE VOTED FOR LAST NIGHT!
THIS IS WHAT THE LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE VOTED FOR LAST NIGHT!
HOW MUCH DOES ALL OF THIS COST?
After seeing the size of this "TEAM" that put together this new SCIENCE CURRICULUM. I now more than ever would like to see a cost comparison between KNOWATOM and this new science curriculum. There is no more RACE TO THE TOP grant to finance some of this so-called development. Unlike this year the position of ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM will be paid out of pocket instead of out of a grant. There were a few team members who weren't even present.
I know that many of the other team members did not devote their full-time to the development of this project but I am also pretty sure they didn't volunteer their time either. The ACTUAL cost of this program probably would surprise most tax payers. Compared to KnowAtom which has it's own high price tag, I have doubts that it is even a cost savings, just friends or friends of friends getting fat.
Coming shortly I will post a page from the POWERPOINT of this new curriculum that was tested out Grade 1 in four schools last year. Be prepared your first graders were exposed to an image that you might expect in LAW & ORDER SVU rather than in a first grade Science class.
THE WATCH WILL BE WATCHING
Everything was all cotton candy and rainbows with the introduction of the new ELA curriculum last night. Each classroom is going to get 100 new books, digital access everywhere, and bright pretty pictures in abundance.
I did get a little nervous to be honest when I heard it was from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, the trusted, beloved publication bought out by RUPERT MURDOCH? Will FOX NEWS starrt conducting our civics classes?
Another thing I found interesting was the plan to OUTSOURCE our teaching at regularly scheduled intervals to CONSULTANTS. Hmm, who's been crying about getting carried away with consultants. There is such a great possibility of fiscal abuse.
COPPOLA CALLS OUT THE CREEPING LOSS OF CONTROL OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
This latest "BUILDING USE" ballyhoo raises fears of concern about expanding authority seemingly granted to executive branches of our local government which seems to act without any concern for the wishes of the school committee and its main group of constituents, the students. Originally when the janitors were moved to the city side it was supposed to be a seamless transition. Only now those seems are frazzling.
The LSC can pass all the policies it wants, form a nice little committee, but at the end of the day ISD is going to do what it wants and that would be the MAYOR.
DONNA is wise to worry about the widening loss of committee control and don't fall for the theory that it's principals running teachers out of the building and not ISD. Maybe that's true but you got to take into consideration who's got whispering in their ear. What flows down again? Privatization is coming. It just has another name. It's called OUTSOURCING.
WITH THE RECENT PAY RAISE THE WOLF JUST DRESSES BETTER.
WATCH THIS WATCH WATCHER
Family and friends, please take a moment to visit our campaign website. Many of your have asked how you can volunteer or make a donation. Our secure website designed by my good friend Scott Martin and photos provided by Shawn Hogan's Irish Se7en Photography is up and ready. We will be busy over the next 40 days and your help is needed! Please sign up on the website so we have your information. Thank you for all of your support! It is greatly appreciated! #FieldforWard7
THIS WAS A CLASSICAL ACT
Thanks to the LYNN CLASSICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION and funeral home owner DAVID SOLIMINIE several (I think 27 but no one gave me a paper) friezes were rescued and restored and will be placed somewhere in the new CLASSICAL.
This breathtaking artwork is a reflection of the importance of history in our sense of space. Excuse me for waxing philosophically here but the passion displayed in this project is a testimony to its importance. Just the history of the restoration project is a tale worth telling involving mystery, water damage, and the basement of a funeral home.
The PRESIDENT OF THE LCHS ASSOCIATION joined MR. SOLIMINE in the presentation. I didn't have his name or see it on the agenda and I would like to give him a SHOUT OUT so if anyone wants to leave it in the comments we can see that he gets credit. Also I would like to thank DAVID and Principal CONSTANTINO for stopping i front of me and allowing me to get these shots!
WHO GETS HURT?
The people who appear to be most impacted by this juggling of janitors and mat well have to bear what could turn out to be a COST PROHIBITIVE killer of these programs is the CAMP FIRE GIRLS, AAU BASKETBALL, ANTONIO ANDERSON SKILLS ACADEMY, and any APPRENTICESHIP programs at TECH at night.
Some people are learning it's not so easy to shift the burden to someone else when that someone is you!
HIS CUSTODIAN WAS A LAWYER
The ITEM's coverage was nice if a little incomplete. Whether anyone wants to hear it or not here's my take. Although the building use policy was on the agenda, most of the conversation centered around the cost of that use and mostly came from DONNA COPPOLA with JOHN FORD alternating between peacemaker and sheep herder.
The actual usage fee will not change and will be based on a detailed schedule the LSC adopted years ago. I was at that series of meetings and even wrote about it. Nothing has changed on that, Mostly everybody can still use the buildings without fee.
Notice I didn't say without cost. Since the REDUCTION IN FORCE of the janitor's staff that was done without layoffs by letting go long-term TEMPORARY employees so it appeared there were no ACTUAL layoffs I do wonder how the MAYOR can make her claims of "No layoffs" and still sleep at night.
Now if any non-LPS group wants to use the building they are supposed to be paying for janitorial staff for a minimum of 4 hours even if they only need a room for an hour. That number was set by the LSC back when they originally made the policy. There was some discussion about the possibility of lowering that minimum but were reminded it was set contractually.
MR. DONOVAN wanted the building use policy changed immediately citing his research has led him to discover that the way things are currently being run is costing the city HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars. He was pretty adamant in his stance and despite JOHN FORD'S attempts to play peace maker did not seem willing to play along as if to say, "You go ahead and make your committee, I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do. You have NO POWER here!".
The cit solicitor, MR. LAMANNA came along for support telling the committee that there is a move afoot with the DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE to prohibit the use of public money to pay for anything used by private, non school entities. This would involve things like water and lights. Nothing official has come down yet but that spectre is out there.
To me MR.DONOVAN seemed rather hostile and confrontational in his position. Although when you take into consideration the pressures he's under I guess his temperament is sort of understandable. His budget has been cut while the school's has not. Or has it, at least it hasn't actually been raised as much as has been boasted. Since LPS outsourced it's janitors to ISD then cuts to their budget then are proportionally cuts to the school budget. Funny how that works!
FAN OF FOSTER
We here at the WATCH would like to extend our congratulations to MARY FOSTER who has been formally appointed to the job last night of PROGRAM SPECIALIST at the CALLAHAN SCHOOL even though she's been doing it since 8-26-15.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
THIS MEETING FELT LIKE A MARATHON
I promise to develop a couple of stories tomorrow but for now, well it's been a long day. LSC candidate MICHEAL OUK who sat beside me must have felt the sane way or he was juat tuckered out from campaigning. JARED NICHOLSON came up and shook my hand as well. Maybe someone else was there but if they were they weren't social.
NATASHA LOOKS TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND
Please RSVP: Canvass : Please join me door knocking, together we can do this!
MCAS DATA IS OUT AND HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW
First, here's the link for the scores:
Look at these #'s for DREWICZ - Thank You KnowAtom!
The whole District is up a whoping seven points for grade 5 SCIENCE and that normally troublesome group of Grade 8 Science at MARSHALL is up 5 points (the middle school years seem to normally be tough for everybody in everything)
The numbers don't look so good for our new ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION FOR SCIENCE old school ABORN:
http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/mcas/mcascharts2.aspx?linkid=33&orgcode=01630011&fycode=2015&orgtypecode=6&
Now we are expected to have confidence in RICK HELD'S new SCIENCE CURRICULUM because ABORN had the luxury of having his old lesson plans? Yeah, thanks but no thanks. The only thing they're increasing in is going down. This is the first year in a few we had any warnings. This year we have 3.
So much for old lesson plans!
I hope you all are people of faith because it look as if we have abandoned proven success for certain failure!
The whole District is up a whoping seven points for grade 5 SCIENCE and that normally troublesome group of Grade 8 Science at MARSHALL is up 5 points (the middle school years seem to normally be tough for everybody in everything)
The numbers don't look so good for our new ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION FOR SCIENCE old school ABORN:
http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/mcas/mcascharts2.aspx?linkid=33&orgcode=01630011&fycode=2015&orgtypecode=6&
Now we are expected to have confidence in RICK HELD'S new SCIENCE CURRICULUM because ABORN had the luxury of having his old lesson plans? Yeah, thanks but no thanks. The only thing they're increasing in is going down. This is the first year in a few we had any warnings. This year we have 3.
So much for old lesson plans!
I hope you all are people of faith because it look as if we have abandoned proven success for certain failure!
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