Thursday, September 28, 2006

Wrong way to pick public art

We learn this morning that the Metro Arts Commission still doesn't have the slightest concern for public opinion as they decide behind closed doors what we'll have to view as we come and go from our newly refurbished courthouse and what our visitors will see and judge us by as they come and go in our city.

The executive director of the Metro Arts Commission said Wednesday the board will not accept comments from citizens before commissioners select today the two pieces of public art to be placed in the new $35 million public square and for which Metro will pay $350,000. City Paper
I'm with Councilman at Large David Briley:
But Briley said he does not understand why the commission would not make the semifinalists’ proposals public before selecting the winners.
Yes, I'm still peeved that our betters decided that naked oddly-skinned dancers would be shoved down our throats instead of being considerate of the entire community and insist on a little bit of leotard on Musica. This came across as being more concerned about proving we weren't a hick hillbilly town than being willing to make a small accommodation so that it could be art that was embraced by the entire city.

That's our land these pieces are on. It's our entire city's good name on the line. Nashville citizens ought to have the opportunity to vet the pieces. Goodness knows that visitors may come and ooh and aaah and take pictures but we've got to live with the darn things. Personally, I'd pull their permission to have public space if they won't provide real public input.

UPDATE: It looks like someone was listening to reason. This after they announced their decision about what will be at the courthouse square.
On another note, commission members said Thursday that going forward, they will make the public arts selection process a more public one. The commission this week had refused public preview of the eight semifinalist proposals before its official selection.

This will no longer be the case, commissioners Will Cheek and Jeff Ockerman said, maintaining the public will be invited to future final meetings of the commission’s Public Art Committee, which makes recommendations to the full commission before it selects public art. City Paper

Monday, September 25, 2006

Big Dig vs. PSC Metals

Recycling Today gives us a much better view of the 'scrap yard' that is PSC Metals (formerly Steiner-Liff) in the backyard of LP Field. Back in August when the grand unveiling of the Big Dig was made I suggested that we didn't really appreciate this facility. Maybe this article will help.

The scrap yard succeeds because it serves as a key recycling post for the 100-mile radius centered on Nashville. Much of the yard's raw materials are brought in by individuals: pickup trucks laden with farm equipment, cars loaded with appliances, peddlers carrying cans.

From this, the scrap yard turns out about 25,000 tons of steel and about 1,000 tons of other metals a month. Three-quarters of the steel leaves the yard by barge. Everything else is shipped out by truck or train.

(snip)

A similar disruption occurred five years ago when PSC relocated its barge loading facility, its truck scales and railroad scales to make way for the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, the span that now links Gateway Boulevard with Shelby Avenue in east Nashville. That project hints at how complex moving the entire facility would be.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation invoked the power of eminent domain, but it still had to pay $5.3 million for four acres of land, a small corner of PSC's operations. Extrapolating from that, city officials estimate it would take about $100 million to acquire the more than 90 acres of land under PSC and its neighbors. The estimate does not include the cost of cleaning up the land.


Oddly, this article is credited to The Tennessean. But I don't recall seeing it printed locally and I can't find it in their archives.


Hat tip: Timothy via the East Nashville e-list.

Why they're leaving

This article has a few clues about why black families are leaving the public school system. Those who have ears to hear...

"We felt like it wasn't the right environment, especially for an African American boy," said Tanya Marshall, 36. "The teachers were young and nervous. Black males were not being challenged and ending up in special ed."
(snip)

A desire for more rigorous academics and greater emphasis on black history also has led black families into homeschooling, educators say.
(snip)

Many say they left public schools because their children weren't expected to learn at an equal pace or being coached on getting into college, the schools were unsafe, or the curriculum lacked black history.

"Over the last couple of years, especially in places like D.C. and Cincinnati, there have been a growing number of black homeschooled students," said Michael Apple, a professor at the University of Wisconsin who studies the issue. "You will find more in areas where the black middle class can afford to do it."
(snip)

"Some educators and families think that because blacks fought so hard to get equal access, we shouldn't abandon it," said Jennifer James, a North Carolina mother who in 2003 started the National African-American Homeschoolers Alliance, a 3,000-member, nonreligious group that provides information for homeschoolers. "But times have changed. It was a great step, but we have to think about our kids."

Starting Monday in high gear

Jessalynn Bailey from Jackson, Tennessee vents first thing this morning and gives the educrats an earful. This part tends to be true in my experience:

Dr. Nancy Zambito, the outsider who was hired to do an inside job as our [Jackson, Tennessee] superintendent of public schools, is set to start a countywide "listening tour" to determine what folks around here want in public education. (snip)

When politicians or power players launch a listening tour, watch out. They are usually not interested in fixing what ails us, but more concerned with ascertaining what stumps they'll have to plow around to execute what they've already determined is best for us. (Think annexation). I've said it before and will continue to repeat this truth - as long as the anti-American, diabolical National Education Association has any influence on local public schools, the schools will continue to hopelessly disintegrate.


And she's really just getting started. It would be easy, and foolish, to dismiss her voice as being part of the radical fringe. What BOE members must understand is that while she's out front with her views, there are many, many citizens who are tired, frustrated and leaning her way and leaving the system and withholding their support. BOE members, school administrators and politicians must quit considering only the voices of those who are IN the public school system and be willing to learn from the parents who've left what must be fixed in order to have a truly successful PUBLIC school system. Otherwise, what has been created is a private system supported by public funds.

Hat tip: Ben

Sunday, September 24, 2006

MNPS BOE Agenda Packet for September 26, 2006

As long as the Metropolitan Public Schools School Board doesn't keep its agenda page updated and as long as I continue receiving the agenda packets I'll put them in .pdf format and post them here.

The whole purpose of my taking the time to create this .pdf is so that parents, taxpayers and voters will have an opportunity to review this information BEFORE the BOE meeting on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. I strongly believe we must be able to let board members know what questions and concerns their constituents have regarding the items on the agenda. It defeats the purpose of our republican form of government to keep all of this a virtual secret.

I would encourage you to read through the minutes and the monitoring sheet comments by BOE members. They contain some enlightening information.

Here's the link to the MNPS Agenda Packet for September 26,2006. This current packet is 38 pages (rather small in my experience). If you have trouble reading any of the charts please feel free to e-mail me and I'll try and help. You can also call the BOE secretary (254-8444) or your school board representative--after all they're getting paid to provide this information.

Contact information for board members is on the right hand margin of this page.

Friday, September 22, 2006

"Pawns" is right

Bob Krumm's comments on the ridiculous reach for children by Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Superintendent Pedro Garcia are must read. He points out this is far from over.

Luckily for the 17 children threatened with upheaval, the State Board of Education reported that the reclassification of the zoned schools has “no retroactive effect” on the children already enrolled at KIPP.

That report breaks the impasse . . . for now. Left unreported is whether or not those 17 children will be allowed to return to KIPP next year. Given MNPS’ already expressed desire to remove children from their current school mid-year, I’m not hopeful that they will not also try to fight reenrollment next summer.

Read the rest at his blog and then check around and see if you can help in his campaign for the 21st District seat (West Nashville) for the Tennessee Senate. If we're ever to do a better job at educating these children we need men like Bob in the state legislature who not only understand the issues but are willing to correct the problem.
The first obstacle is structural. Tennessee law creates a system too risky for many charter schools to even consider establishment here. Because children are often permitted to attend a charter school only if their zoned school is deemed failing, the year-to-year continuance of a charter school is always in doubt. Current law, therefore, discourages charter schools from investing in our children’s future because there is no assurance that there will be any children in their future


I support Bob Krumm

Quote of the day

Maybe the new Tennessee Education Association president Earl Winman would like a chance to reword this.

He tells educators across the state that schools are reaching out, but too often, "there is a lack of respect for teachers."

"But it takes shared responsibility. We don't blame the police for crime or firefighters for arson," Wiman said. "So why blame teachers for low achievement?" Commercial-Appeal


Every state should do this

The Kansas State Board of Education is taking a serious look at its participation in NCLB (No Child Left Behind). They're not alone. Some 15 other states have done or are doing the same.

The education board has been sharply divided between moderates and conservatives on numerous issues, but it has agreed within the next couple of months to take a look at what the impact would be if the state disengaged from NCLB and refused the federal funding associated with it. The board also will explore trying to get Congress to change the law. Lawrence Journal World
From Reason Online:
Often, state governments do not care because they have an incentive to maximize their budgets, not their effectiveness. For example, a federal law may provide 10 percent more funding in return for following regulations that will require the entire 10 percent to be spent on staff dedicated to filling out compliance form

It's foolish not to regularly evaluate whether the money and control are worth participating no matter what the program. I'm a big fan of accountability when you're working with other people's children and money but that accountability doesn't have to come from the feds. As a transplanted northerner to Tennessee I love Utah's stand in their NCLB debate that education is a states rights issue

NCLB has certainly been frustrating for the education professionals, the families and the public. Those of us outside the system are tired of NCLB being THE excuse for every failing. If it's so bad, then, why are we still participating?

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Suffer not the little children

KIPP Academy has been one of two red-headed step children in the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools system. Despite the fact that these children are part of the public school system and are testing very well the administration seems to regularly snub them and give them the remainders. The lastest snub these children are suffering is that two months after they've begun their school year Superintendent Pedro Garcia is insisting that the children be pulled from the educational system that's working for them and be returned to their zoned schools now that those schools are no longer failing.

Liz Garrigan of the Nashville Scene reports that Pedro Garcia is failing to communicate with the school and is failing to follow the directions of the State Department of Education.

At its core, this conflict, which also applies to a group of students at Smithson-Craighead charter school that the system wants removed, illustrates a frustrating reality: that the Metro school administration, and at least a few members of the school board, resent charter schools and only grudgingly approved them in Nashville. There’s a kind of antagonism, rooted in a sort of territorial instinct, that pervades the relationship between public school educators and reform educators.
She's exactly right. Don't even begin to repeat the "Whatever it takes" motto of MNPS. Don't even repeat the new mantra of "Relevance, Rigor and Relationship'. Both are wasted breath in light of this development. This clearly demonstrates that the goal is not educating the children but protecting the system, the union jobs, and the power base.

Shame on Pedro Garcia and every school board member that doesn't hold his feet to the fire and his job on the line and require him to immediately let those children stay in their charter schools which are doing the job of educating them.

UPDATE: Liz Garrigan reports Pedro Garcia has backed off.

And, this afternoon, Garcia tells the Scene that the state board is echoing such a posture to Metro lawyers. As a result, the schools director says, he will call off the demand. He called Dowell earlier this afternoon to communicate that.

“Based on that interpretation, we’ll follow that,” Garcia says. “We were following our attorney’s interpretation.”

MNPS ACT standings

There's a chart at ACT.org that helps put these ACT scores in some context. I've taken that chart and included the names of the Metropolitan Nashville Public School high schools for a clearer look at where we stand nationally.

Table 2 (with MNPS high schools added)

College Admission Policy

Typical ACT Composite Scores

2005 MNPS Schools
by 3 year average
in descending order

Highly selective (majority of accepted freshmen in top 10% of high school graduating class)

27–31

Selective (majority of accepted freshmen in top 25% of high school graduating class)

22–27

Hume Fog Magnet
MLK Magnet

Traditional (majority of accepted freshmen in top 50% of high school graduating class)

20–23

Hillwood
Hillsboro

Liberal (some freshmen from lower half of high school graduating class)

18-21

East Literature Magnet
John Overton
Nashville Arts Magnet
McGavock

Open (all high school graduates accepted, to limit of capacity)

17-20

Antioch
Hunters Lane
Glencliff
Whites Creek
Pearl Cohn Magnet
Stratford
Maplewood


Hat tip to Bernie for posting the chart to NashvillePTO Talk.

Tennessee for example

Today's educational must read is provided by William J. Bennett and Rod Paige. These are two men who know a thing or two about the subject of educating Americans.

They write:

We need to find better and more efficient ways to produce an educated population and close the achievement gaps in our education system. Americans do ultimately get themselves educated -- at work, after school, online, in adulthood -- but a lot of time and money are wasted in the process.
(snip)
The education "establishment" has wrongly insisted that more money (or more teachers, more computers, more everything) would yield better schools and smarter kids; that financial inputs would lead to cognitive outputs. This is not so.
(snip)

A new Fordham Foundation report shows that most states have deployed mediocre standards, and there's increasing evidence that some are playing games with their tests and accountability systems.

Take Tennessee, for example. It reports to its residents that a whopping 87 percent of its fourth-graders are "proficient" in reading. Yet the National Assessment of Educational Progress reports that the number is more like 27 percent.
(snip)

The remedy? As both of us have long argued, Washington should set sound national academic standards and administer a high-quality national test. Publicize everybody's results, right down to the school level. Then Washington should butt out.
I know that no measuring stick is perfect and that you've got to find the right one for the job. I also believe you shouldn't be allowed to recalibrate it at will when you realize that you're unable to measure up. It's at times like this when it seems reasonable to have a higher authority be the keepers of the ruler. Frankly, I would prefer a Tennessee legislature and local school boards that have backbone enough to tell the professional educators that what they're doing isn't good enough and we're going to try some real freedom and competition instead. If they do a good job they can keep their jobs. Otherwise, they better make way for merit pay, bonuses, firings, charters and online schools of all sorts and some real sunshine into what's been going on.

Officially English III

CM Eric Crafton amended his bill on Tuesday evening. Here's the newest version with the original following. Changes are highlighted in red.

SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE NO. BL2006-1185

An Ordinance amending Chapter 1.04 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws declaring English to be the official language of the Metropolitan Government, and to require that all government communications, publications and telephone answering systems be in English with certain exceptions.

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated § 4-1-404 establishes English as the official language of the State of Tennessee, and requires all communications and publications produced by governmental entities to be in English; and

WHEREAS, the Council now desires to designate English as the official language of the Metropolitan Government for purposes of government publications and communications.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. Chapter 1.04 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section 1.04.070:

"1.04.070. English the official language of the metropolitan government.

A. English is hereby established as the official language of the metropolitan government.
B. Except when required by federal law or when necessary to protect or promote public health, safety or welfare, all communications, publications, and telephone answering systems of metropolitan government boards, commissions, departments and agencies shall be in English."

Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Eric Crafton

and the original:

ORDINANCE NO. BL2006-1185

An Ordinance amending Chapter 1.04 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws declaring English to be the official language of the Metropolitan Government, and to require that all government communications, publications and telephone answering systems be in English only.

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated § 4-1-104 [should be 4-1-404] establishes English as the official language of the State of Tennessee, and requires all communications and publications produced by governmental entities to be in English; and

WHEREAS, the Council now desires to designate English as the official language of the Metropolitan Government for purposes of government publications and communications.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. Chapter 1.04 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section 1.04.070:

"1.04.070. English the official language of the metropolitan government.

A. English is hereby established as the official language of the metropolitan government.
B. [Substitute bill adds wording here] All communications, publications, and telephone answering systems of metropolitan government boards, commissions, departments and agencies shall be in English only."

Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Eric Crafton, Michael Craddock

I watched this portion of the Metro Council meeting via streaming video online. CM Jameson's questions carry little weight with me. His first point seemed to be that unless you're part of a certain group you have no right to participate in the process. He used this same premise during my school board appointment and race and it's one that still shouldn't be entertained. CM Crafton was elected by citizens in his district not just immigrant citizens. He has no obligation to have or produce an immigrant before this bill has legitimate foundation.

I do think the additional wording of "or when necessary to protect or promote public health, safety or welfare," doesn't really jibe with "with certain exceptions". Not much 'certain' in that added line. I think this wording is going to be very broadly interpreted. I would have stopped at "except when required by state or federal law" or perhaps added that if a Metro agency makes information available in another language it's as convenience and should not be considered 'official'. Would that satisfy CM Cole's concerns about the 1st (freedom of speech) and 14th (due process) Amendments? Because we tend to mentally glaze over mentions of those amendments I'll include snips as refreshers.
Amendment I.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I'm assuming that Section I of that 14th Amendment is CM Cole's concern:
Amendment 14, Section 1.

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

I also think that something A.C. Kleinheider wrote is a very good point and one that should be considered as we hear the protestations from those who object to this bill.

Indeed. Always remember these voices you hear, these activists, these advocates, these community leaders are often grifters and exploiters. Their very position in society is inextricably linked with the oppression and alienation of their people. It is in their interest to keep their people unassimilated and streaming into our society in record numbers in order to increase their power base.

Always remember this when you hear the arguments made against this bill.

I wouldn't go so far as to call these people grifters but we do need to remember that many (not all) of these people make their living 'advocating' for these people. I've seen, lived with and had to work around several advocacy groups that exist to 'help'. Usually they're much more of a hindrance to freedom and real progress. Their efforts usually enable a dependency that ensures the group's continued existence and power. They may have started out with the best of intentions but it's an unusual organization that doesn't eventually make mission one protecting its own existence. And always remember that loudness doesn't necessarily equal legitimate authority. That comes from voters. Councilmen would be well advised to listen to voters.

We've definitely got some time to discuss the matter as it doesn't come up for public hearing until the 2nd meeting in October. Let's hope the conversation rises above 'mean and divisive' cause if that's all they've got--name calling is not nearly enough.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Officially English II

The Tennessean tells us the council is split on how to vote for Eric Crafton's bill on making English the official Metro Nashville language for business.

According to the Tennessean poll it's readership isn't split at all. Here's what it looked liked this morning at 6:59 a.m. , Tuesday 9/19/06 the morning of the first scheduled vote.


Should Metro make English its official language?

89.2%
Yes
10.8%
No

Total Votes: 4947

And, as I mentioned yesterday, Crafton understands that in order to properly serve the greater good of Nashville some of our employees will still be translating and he clarifies:
Crafton said he would exempt from the English-only requirement "anything that would be considered a safety issue or a health issue" within the government, while "routine business" such as applying for a building permit or applying for water service should be done in English only.
I'll clarify. It is not xenophobia that causes me to encourage this legislation. It's knowing that the greatest freedom and safety for this immigrant population will only come when they are conversant in English. To continue to enable their dependence upon translation is an unnecessary burden on their host communities and will result in their being unable to advocate for themselves--and that's the real danger they (we) need to examine closely.

Yes, it's a hard thing to come to a new place and have to learn a new language, granted. But, as I understand it, life where many of these folks came from is no picnic either. But they've made it this far. They can learn English and throw the door open for real opportunity and success here.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Officially English

There's a lot of rhetoric about Metro Nashville Councilman Eric Crafton's bill making English the official language of Metro Government. A lot of rhetoric and not once have I seen anyone print a copy of the legislation so we know exactly what we're talking about. One of my first rules is to go to the source not some warmed over biased treatment. Well here is the bill. Tuesday evening it will have its first of three required readings. Note that the TCA quoted should be 4-1-404 not 104:


ORDINANCE NO. BL2006-1185

An Ordinance amending Chapter 1.04 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws declaring English to be the official language of the Metropolitan Government, and to require that all government communications, publications and telephone answering systems be in English only.

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated § 4-1-104 [should be 4-1-404] establishes English as the official language of the State of Tennessee, and requires all communications and publications produced by governmental entities to be in English; and

WHEREAS, the Council now desires to designate English as the official language of the Metropolitan Government for purposes of government publications and communications.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. Chapter 1.04 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section 1.04.070:

"1.04.070. English the official language of the metropolitan government.

A. English is hereby established as the official language of the metropolitan government.
B. All communications, publications, and telephone answering systems of metropolitan government boards, commissions, departments and agencies shall be in English only."

Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Eric Crafton, Michael Craddock

and here's the actual Tennessee Code, enacted in 1984, which is the precedent for this Metro bill:

4-1-404 English - Offical and legal language.

English is hereby established as the official and legal language of Tennessee. All communications and publications, including ballots, produced by governmental entities in Tennessee shall be in English, and instruction in the public schools and colleges of Tennessee shall be conducted in English unless the nature of the course would require otherwise.

Further the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services "Guide to Naturalization" states on page 26 (page 30 of this pdf):

According to the law, applicants must demonstrate "an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write and speak...simple words and phrases...in ordinary usage in the English language"

I understand that there is tension between our society's heart to extend hospitality and essential services in emergency situations and the practicals of how much and at what cost? The more we try and accommodate various languages the more expensive our government gets and the less new immigrants will assimilate. And certainly any lawyer can tell you that a poor translation can have legal consequences over and above any mishandling of the task. We can go back to the Treaty of Tripoli for an example of a bad translation that is still being thrown at us 209 years later.

I believe that what may actually be at the heart of CM Crafton's attempt to bring Metro Nashville in line with the state code is encouraging foreign born residents to learn English for their own greater well being. CM Crafton cites his own wife's experience. My experience comes from helping two Ukrainian immigrants. Surely many of us remember the foreign born mother in an outlying county who was charged with being unable to properly care for her children because she lacked good English skills. If what we lack is English language classess--we're a caring enough community to provide those. That would enable these new residents so much more freedom than the soft but still crippling shackles of letting them remain ignorant of how to really interact in this society. If they remain dependent upon translators they will be taken advantage of and that's an injustice that we should not encourage.

One of the very foundational things that unites any country is language. The ability of language to unify a people goes all the way back to the Tower of Babel. No one is suggesting that anyone give up their heritage. No one is suggesting that emergency workers can only speak to their charges in English. I believe what is being said is we've got to set boundaries for the greater good. The State of Tennessee already has this boundary. Metro should follow suit.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Afterschooling as an amenity

Some very savvy apartment managers have realized that the amenities they provide apartment dwellers can include more than a laundry room and pool. They've added 'afterschooling' to the mix and are reaping the financial rewards of providing what their tenants appreciate.

Mr. Killinger, who grew up in rural Nebraska, was particularly dismayed by the plight of Baldwin Village children, who spent their afternoons behind locked doors [for safety].

Now, in two of their buildings, the partners operate resource centers where the children do their homework and play educational games. The centers are operated by teachers who arrive at 3:30 p.m. and stay until 6 p.m. each weekday.

(snip)

In a neighborhood where vacancy rates average about 5 percent, the partners said, the vacancy rate in their five buildings, which have a total of 104 units, is about 1 percent. They have a particularly easy time renting two- and three-bedroom apartments, because “parents see this as an opportunity for their children to get ahead,” said Mr. Pino,...

(snip)

If Mr. Pino and Mr. Killinger have their way, resource centers will become commonplace in low- and middle-income neighborhoods. To help make that happen, they are willing to license their manuals and methods to other building owners. “We’ve learned a lot since we began,” Mr. Pino said. New York Times

And I would think the other apartment dwellers appreciate that the children are occupied and not tempted to do mischief.

Mr. Pino and Mr. Killinger have created Education Advantage Foundation if anyone wants more information to replicate something similar in Nashville.

The headline of this article uses the words "home schooling" but it's more accurately called afterschooling.

Monday, September 11, 2006

MNPS End Results for Students

Here I'm linking to .pdfs of the TCAP, Gateway, Adanced Placement and International Baacalaureate scores for Metro Nashville Public schools as provided in the Agenda for the 9/12/06 BOE meeting.

I don't have the best scanner and I have yet to figure out how to lighten some of the charts. so they are more readable. Let me know if you need help. MNPS could help by using more contrasting colors in their charts.

TCAP "reasonable progress"
Gateway "reasonable progress"
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate "reasonable progress"

MNPS Emergency Director Succession

Still working on uploading the 9/12/06 Agenda information. Here's another item.

One of the requests the BOE made of Dr. Garcia this summer was to create a document that clearly outlined a line of succession should he be unable to fulfill his duties. I've uploaded a .pdf copy of the document of what is EE2

"Dr. Sandy Johnson, Chief Instructional Officer for the school district, would assume the Director responsiblities in the event of the unexpected loss of the Director's services as defined by this Executive Expectation. Dr. John served in this capacity on a few occasions during the past school year during Dr. Garcia's absence."

Sunday, September 10, 2006

MNPS Discipline Charts 2005-06

I'm linking to the discipline charts included in the 9/12/06 Agenda packet provided to the Metropolitan Nashville Public School Board of Education. There is no good reason that this information isn't already uploaded to the MNPS website for citizens to access. The complete BOE agenda should always be published as soon as it's made available to the BOE members so that citizens can start participating in the process and start communicating with their BOE representatives about these issues.

There are a good number of citizens that believe, rightly or wrongly, that many many MNPS schools are unsafe. So here we have, at least, some information with which to continue the conversation. I'm sure there are mitigating factors, explanations, provisos and other 'good reasons' these charts are going to be misunderstood. I welcome clarification. I'd love to see how these statistics are viewed by the Metropolitan Police Department and how they jibe with their statistics.

Obviously missing from these charts is specific school identification. Parents and the community want and need to know which schools are safe and which are not. It's not really helpful to the conversation to not provide that specific school by school breakdown.

Here's the actual Monitoring Report by Dr. Garcia and his staff regarding EE 15 - Student Learning Environment/Discipline. He asserts that the district is in compliance with the BOE's expectations regarding truancy, safety and conduct. You'll find the expectations the BOE has enumerated at the beginning of this document.

2005-06 Discipline Charts
by Cluster:
.pdf documents



Antioch
Glencliff
Hillwood
Hillsboro
Hunters Lane
Magnet Schools
Maplewood
McGavock
Overton
Pearl-Cohn
Stratford
Whites Creek

Chart "Comparison of Total Discipline Events" 2004-05 and 2005-06

Saturday, September 09, 2006

MNPS BOE agenda for 9/12/06

I keep hoping that the agenda's will be posted to the Metro Nashville Public Schools website on the Thursday/Friday they're sent out to the Board members but not yet. I have been placed on the mailing list to get a complete copy of the agenda. I got it today in the mail and that's where I've copied this from. As I get time in the next couple of days I'll share more details. There is a lot of information from Dr. Pedro Garcia (Director of Schools) regarding grades and attendance. Also the contract with KIPP Academy the E. Nashville charter school

Immediate highlights:

New board officers will be sworn in. My understanding is that Ms. Garrett's 3 terms as chair will not be followed up with a 4th.

Dr. Garcia is asking to remove another teacher, Richard Bowers formerly of Maplewood High School. This is the third teacher in 2006 that is being so charged. All three have been from District 5. The charges look like they are part of the guidance counseling debacle that created such havoc in student records and lives at Maplewood.

Also included is a mysterious Legal Settlement Claim #C-16452 for $15,755. No other information is provided in the 117 page agenda packet. Further, it's under the consent agenda where it's unlikely it will be discussed or explained. That's $15K that we ought to know about.

The Committee to Evaluate the Director (Dr. Garcia) meets just before the board does at 3:45 p.m. in the Board Conference Room and will present to the entire Board later.

TIME










PAGE
5:00 I. CONVENE








A Establish Quorum







B. Pledge of Allegiance







C. Recognition of Audience Guests






D. Student Showcase - Vanderbilt Summer Internship Program



E. Student Board Members' Report


GP-3.1













5:30 II. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS


GP-3


A. Hattie Cotton PTO







B. Cami Townsel - 206 Tennessee Association of School Librarians'




Innovative Library Program Award





C. Recognition of Newly Appointed Administrators















5:55 III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION


GP-3.1



We will now hear from those persons who have requested to appear at this Board



meeting. For expediency reasons, speakers are requested to limit remarks to three



minutes or less. Comments will be timed.





A. Molly Sudderth, Celebrate Nashville


1













6:00 IV. GOVERNANCE ISSUES







A. Actions










1 Approve Agenda


GP-2.2



2 Election of Board Officers


GP-3.9



3 Consent




GP-8.3




a. Approval of Minutes - 8/22/06 Regular Meeting

2




b. Change Order #2 - Brick Church Middle School Football Field 5





Improvements - Competition Athletic Construction - M-351





c. Change Order #2 - Eakin Elementary School

5




d. Legal Settlement Claim - C-16452


5




e. Request for Approval of Extended Contract Program Proposal for





2006-2007




5




f. Contract for KIPP Academy


10




g. Awarding of Bids and Contracts








1 Project for Neighborhood Aftercare

27





2 Learning Forum Educational Systems d/b/a Quantum







Learning/Supercamp


28





3 Scriba Education Services


29



3 Charges of Dismissal - Richard Bowers


30



4 Monitoring Reports - Administrative Presentation






a. EE-1 - Global Executive constraint


37




b. EE-2 - Emergency Succession


44




c. EE-15 - Learning Environment/Discipline

47




d. EE-2.1 - Academic Achievement - TCAP

79




e. E-23 - Academic Achievement - Gateway

99




f. E-2.5 - Academic Achievement - Advanced Placement/IB
106


B. Discussion









1 Graduation Rate


















7:00 V. REPORTS









A. Director's Report



EE-10




Magnet School Enrollment








Changes in Procedures for Graduation Ceremonies




B. Board Chairman's Report


GP-5




Director Evaluation Committee Report







Diversified Pay Committee

















7:45 VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS



GP-2.6













7:55 VII. WRITTEN INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD (not for discussion)



A. Board Calendar Items






B. Legislation Around the Natioin

















8:00 VIII. ADJOURNMENT/BOARD MEMBER EVALUATION
GP-2.6

Monday, September 04, 2006

They need you

Virtual Mom, Julie Hunt, reminds us that taking time to get involved in your child's education is vitally important. I was glad to provide a couple of quotes and encourage the effort.

Why bother? The payoff is two-fold: You will feel good about investing your time, talent or money, and the kids will feel good to have you involved in the school. "Staying connected to other parents to encourage one another, staying abreast of what's going on in the schools and what policies are being created that affects their children's education, and knowing how to impact the system for their child's benefit are just a few ways parents can be better advocates for their children," Brooks says.
I know most of us already have a lot to do but investing in your children pays enormous dividends for you and them. At the recent Litton Middle School open house I was at the PTA table encouraging parents to participate and heard several say they didn't have time. I nodded understanding and told them that the commitment portions were smaller than they used to be and 'many hands make light work'. l encouraged them to talk with the school and the other parents. Let them know what your skills and talents are and what time you do have available. Some help is better than none.

As a friend wiser than me often quotes: "This job is too important to be left to the professionals." They're your children and they need you.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Missing supporters

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Bobby Webb's bullet points on improving their school system were presented the other day. At the very end is

What We Must Do to Better Prepare Our Students for their Future!

We must have support from:
--Teachers
--Administrators
--Parents
--Shelby County Schools Board of Education
--Local Business and Industry
--Elected Officials
Commercial Appeal

What you MUST have is support from taxpayers and voters. Why do these two groups regularly get left out of these lists? Granted, some of the folks listed will actually live in the district and be regular voters, however, not all are. Without the votes of citizens and the money of taxpayers not much at all will get done. You won't get far preaching to the choir. You've got to persuade folks to sit in the pews and then persuade them that when that basket is passed they should contribute.