But we're special

There isn't enough information in this Tennessean article to provide a clear understanding of the complaints of 'a group of Metro principals' but you do get the feeling that MNPS still thinks they're special and exempt from real world consequences. If only their charges were also exempt from real world consequences when their educational needs aren't met.

Let's start with this unnamed "The Metro Nashville Principals Advisory Board", composed of principals across the school system". It would certainly be helpful to know who they are, what schools they're in charge of in order to evaluate their claims. Frankly, I'll take the word of some principals over others. The track record of some gives their observations and suggestions much more weight than a mysterious group of complainers.

You have to actually look at the draft document the Tennessean links to online in order to get the details. These unknown principals allege:

• The testing date was changed three times and final clarification only came three days before the tests began. They've got a point here if that clarification was actually a clarification and not just part of an attempt to delay.
  
• Middle schoolers don't have their own calculators. Come on folks, they're a buck a piece at the Dollar Store and Wal-Mart. We can't afford to outfit each class with $30 worth of calculators? Parent's can't afford $1.09 for their child's benefit? Oh, and why do middle school math students need calculators?
• Basketball finals kept some children up late. Tough toenails. At some point we've got to instill in the system that athletics don't trump academics. Yeah, Maplewood's football team is great. Taxpayers aren't paying for football diplomas...or are we?
  
• 'We know other districts in Tennessee had testing schedules significantly different from the one mandated in MNPS." Name 'em. How different? Why?
• "The state demonstrated lack of trust reserved only for MNPS." Have you noticed you're a hair's breath away from being taken over by the state? The distrust seems earned.
• And the last point which seems to come straight out of the MNEA office: The state added an accountability clause to the principals' contract and then won't let them decide the scheduling of the tests. I guess we need to go over that employer/employee part again. The number of bosses that set reasonable goals and schedules is few. Most people are working under that kind of pressure.
  

"Metro officials said they considered the test requirements to be recommendations, not mandates." Oops.

"Next year, [TN DOE spokesman Rachel] Woods expects that Metro will be required to administer testing in a single week, as other districts do." You thought it was tough this year?

In a perfect world we wouldn't need NCLB testing. MNPS is far from perfect. Until they get much closer...they're going to live under some onerous conditions.

They should probably wait longer

A little filler in Wednesday's Tennessean tells us that BOE member Mark North's (Madison) rezoning committee will delay its recommendations.

"The task force was scheduled to have zone line recommendations this month. But board member Mark North, the task force chairman, said the group needs more time to redraw school zones."

I'm not sure it's a good idea to make major changes in zoning before we've got a new superintendent of schools in place. My suggestion is they wait another year, if financially possible, and get the new superintendent's input. They're going to have to live with it and starting a job with lots of folks angry about their child changing schools doesn't seem a fair start. The new superintendent will have plenty on their plate as it is dealing with Metro's current standing with the State Department of Education. I don't think they need to start anymore behind the 8 ball than they absolutely must. They might also have some valuable insight that should be included in the process.

Color over competence

I've said for years that Memphis is a 'whole 'nother planet' and I'm regularly amazed that it continues to top itself in the unbelievable. This from the Tri-State Defender via Mike Antonnuci's Education Intelligence Blog:

Reginald Fentress wants to succeed Yvonne B. Acey as president of the Memphis Education Association, and he is not willing to wait. However, the Memphis Education Association board of directors has said he must.

The board voted April 1 not to include Fentress’ name, or that of any other African-American candidate, on the ballot for the 2008-10 presidential term. Since Acey is African American, Fentress was ruled ineligible to run for the office because the next MEA president must be white. (snip)

According to bylaws formed when all-white and all-black teacher associations joined in the mid-1970s: “The position of president shall alternate from white to ethnic minority.”

Of course, I don't know if either candidate is competent but surely this 'taking turns' plan is suitable only for elementary school children and not adults who should be leading by example. Is the lesson for Memphis' children that being competent and working hard matters less than what color you are?

So there was fat to trim

"I do not think people will be able to visually see the reduction [of 7-9% of the personnel at Public Works) because of the way we're going to organize our trucks and equipment. Our main focus is customer service."

Thank you, Mayor Dean. Keep it up. We need more examination and adjustment of systems to ensure they're running as lean as possible.


(Hat tip: Ben Cunningham)

So which is it?

I get emails with news updates from the Nashville Post. This morning I clicked on the link for AC's new space at the Post and I got the following mixed message.

"[Article available without subscription]" and "The full article is only available to subscribers"

Haven't found enough cash in the couch cushions and car console to pay for a subscription yet and was really counting on that free access to AC's stuff.
::sigh::
;-)

UPDATE: AC says the link works now. Yippee!

Happy Tax Freedom Day

It seems very appropriate that the day after the Brooks' file our federal income tax forms it's Tax Freedom Day in Tennessee.

From the TNGOP:

According to the study from the Tax Foundation (www.taxfoundation.org), Americans, as a whole, work a significant number of days each year to pay for things other than government, but nothing else is so expensive. According to the Tax Foundation, Americans will work longer to pay for government (113 days) than they will for food, clothing and housing combined (108 days). In fact, Americans will work longer to afford federal taxes alone (74 days) than they will to afford housing (60 days). As a group, Americans will also work longer to pay state and local taxes than they will to pay for food. The average American spends 30.8 percent of their income paying taxes at all levels of government.

That's all a bit sobering and it tempers the "YES!! That's done for this year" celebration.

Learn to type

Ben Cunningham's post on subsidizing philosophy majors was clearly demonstrated to me while I sat in the hospital emergency waiting room. One of the few available phones was being monopolized by a woman who made phone call after phone call. Eavesdropping wasn't necessary as she was speaking very loudly and on occasion was quite put out with folks who couldn't/wouldn't help her. Clearly, her bad manners were wearing on the other folks who had enough stress on their own plates. Her basic patter went:

"Hello, I'm a homeless, 59 year old unmarried, unemployed major in Public Psychology looking for transitional housing. Can you help me?"

After about the fourth phone call and hearing the details of her life over and over someone couldn't contain themselves any longer and stated dryly: "She shoulda learned to type."

Back in 1980 I left a good paying industrial purchasing agent job to move to Nashville. I didn't know how enlightened my Northern employer had been until I was informed by several headhunters that no one was going to hire a woman to do that job here in Nashville. I avoided an available part time secretarial job for months...until I ended up borrowing money to pay the rent and realized it was time to take any job that would pay the rent. So I humbled myself and took the job that had mysteriously remained opened for so long. It turned out to be a wonderful job with really nice people that suited me quite well. I was very glad I had learned to type.

George Thompson drops out

More good news for Metro Schools. Too long MNPS School Board member George Thompson has decided not to seek reelection this time. Details, such as they are at this moment, at the City Paper.

Now if 23 year seat warmer Ed Kindall would do the same MNPS might actually shed the last century's shackles and move into the new one utilizing current technology, choices and mindset.

(Hat Tip: Rick)

Light blogging will continue

Legislation impacting homeschoolers has kept me away from the blog and haunting the Legislative Plaza. Add to that a husband newly diagnosed with a separated shoulder and torn ligaments who will be home and needing additional care. So for a while my online presence will be minimal.

Thanks for your patience.

Marsha Warden drops out

The Nashville City Paper is reporting that MNPS BOE Chair Marsha Warden has changed her mind and isn't going to run for reelection. That's good news. She had plenty of opposition, it was going to be a tough competition and I don't think she'd have come out on the other end in good condition. The YouTube's weren't going to be pretty. The question now is, who will she support and will they really want it?

Gracie Porter 2004 Election Finances

Gleaning from the 2004 Campaign Financial Disclosure Statements of Gracie Porter , District 5 Representative for the Metro Nashville Public Schools reveals the tremendous investment that Democratic PAC's and the unions involved in the public school system made in ensuring Porter's election.

For those unaware, I was appointed by the Metro Council to fill the unexpired term of the former BOE rep in May of 2006. Just 11 weeks later was the general election and Porter and I, and two other candidates, all ran for the seat. It was obvious during the campaign that big guns were pulled out to keep me from retaining my appointment on the MNPS Board of Education. I think many people will be surprised at how much money and manpower these Democratic PACS and these unions expended to ensure that I wasn't around to ask questions, hold people accountable and provide answers to parents, taxpayers and voters.

Here is ample evidence that the foxes are guarding the hen house. No real progress will be made in Nashville schools until we break the conflict of interest that results when a BOE member owes their seat to the folks they are supposed to hold accountable.



This chart shows $18,300 from PACS and unions. That's 88% of her contributions coming from "Democracy" for America/TN, SEIU, MNEA, AFL-CIO, the Tn Democratic Women's PAC, and the Chamber of Commerce's Success PAC which fought hard to keep Pedro Garcia in charge of MNPS.

So, who do you think is going to ensure her reelection?




















All of this is important to keep in mind as this is the final week to qualify to run for any MNPS BOE seat. Petitions must be picked up from the Metro Election Commission and returned before noon on Thursday, April 3. If you are unhappy with how MNPS schools are being run do something about it. Be or back a candidate that will hold the system accountable with your time and your treasure. It's not too late to get 25 fellow district voters to qualify a candidate.

Here are the current BOE members up for re-election in August.










From left to right:
Ed Kindall on the BOE since 7/9/1985, nearly 23 years,
George Thompson on the BOE in 1991 and then back on 8/1/1996, more than 12 years,
MNPS BOE Chair Marsha Warden on the BOE since 8/24/2004,
Gracie Porter elected in August of 2006 and
Mark North since spring of 2007.

Good Friday

Seems odd to be coloring eggs on this fine spring day in mugs with snowmen on them.

Have a GLORYous weekend.

Running from responsibility

This picture is of MNPS BOE Chair Marsha Warden turning her back on Nashville Channel 5's Phil Williams as he tries to get answers from our School Board Chair about what MNPS is going to do to ensure the safety of children, specifically special needs children, on school buses.

Our chief investigator Phil Williams went to the school board looking for answers.

"I'd like to talk to you about the sexual assaults," Williams told board chairwoman Marsha Warden.

Warden suddenly turned and walked away. "I'm sorry. I can't talk about that, OK?"

"Why not?" Williams asked.

Her answer: "They're minors."

Instead of facing him (and us via the camera), being a leader and addressing the issue or at minimum providing a political answer like "This is a serious issue and we're working on a solution", she runs away under the pretext that she's got to get a meeting started.

Williams didn't ask her about any child in particular. That's just the first excuse that came to mind. She'd be happy to talk about minors that have done well, won awards or are participating in some MNPS backed activity. What she didn't want to talk about is a very messy and serious issue that demands her full attention. Her first responsibility to these children is their safety. If there is a gag order from Metro Legal covering the entire issue of school bus safety, she should have been honest and said so. But if there is, it's one that needs to be broken. One lawsuit, which could take years to litigate should not shut down legitimate discussion of the whole issue.

Is there any wonder why she has 5 opponents in the upcoming election?

If you missed the report you can view it at NewsChannel 5.

Kill all the School Boards

Some serious truth in the following paragraphs from Matt Miller at The Atlantic.com. This is what any candidate for school board is facing.

Incompetent school boards and union dominance. “In the first place, God made idiots,” Mark Twain once wrote. “This was for practice. Then He made School Boards.” Things don’t appear to have improved much since Twain’s time. “The job has become more difficult, more complicated, and more political, and as a result, it’s driven out many of the good candidates,” Vander Ark says. “So while teachers’ unions have become more sophisticated and have smarter people who are better-equipped and -prepared at the table, the quality of school-board members, particularly in urban areas, has decreased.” Board members routinely spend their time on minor matters, from mid-level personnel decisions to bus routes. “The tradition goes back to the rural era, where the school board hired the schoolmarm and oversaw the repair of the roof, looked into the stove in the room, and deliberated on every detail of operating the schools,” says Michael Kirst, an emeritus professor of education at Stanford University. “A lot of big-city school boards still do these kinds of things.” Because of Progressive-era reforms meant to get school boards out of “politics,” most urban school districts are independent, beyond the reach of mayors and city councils. Usually elected in off-year races that few people vote in or even notice, school boards are, in effect, accountable to no one.

Local control essentially surrenders power over the schools to the teachers’ unions. Union money and mobilization are often decisive in board elections. And local unions have hefty intellectual and political backing from their state and national affiliates. Even when they’re not in the unions’ pockets, in other words, school boards are outmatched. (Page two)

It's true. As BOE financial disclosure forms clearly indicate the unions, the employees of the system, exert the most financial power in these district races. Next up is the business interests. Many of whom don't live in the districts or system and so don't suffer the tax or societal consequences of their actions. Waaaay down the political food chain are busy moms and dads with barely enough time to earn a living and ensure the children have clean clothes. If they had the time and/or money to advocate for their children they rarely have the political skills and connections to really make a difference. And, frankly, it's often their children that desperately need some differences to occur.

Those that run the public schools in our nation aren't looking for bright, articulate people who bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to school board meetings. They use every tool and trick possible to keep their power unto themselves and keep this adult jobs program going. They're looking for folks who are of their ilk or compliant and willing to quietly rubber stamp and cash their paychecks. It's assumed that any retired teacher is better qualified than any successful business person. Never mind that the system resembles more of a corporation than a classroom when you consider that transportation, in school clinics, human resources, purchasing and food service take up a huge portion of the system's resources.

Further, the Metro Council that approves the budget for the school system has absolutely no control over how the money is spent. They, essentially, get a request from the school system saying we need $X 'for the children'. There is no actual requirement to account for money spent. Any attempt at pointing out the failures in the system is met with a visceral "kill the messenger".

Get a warm cup of something on this dark rainy day and read all three pages of Mr. Miller's article. You won't agree with it all, I absolutely disagree that nationalization is the answer, but you will come away more enlightened.

If you agree that nationalization isn't the answer, get involved in a local school board race and ensure that the next board actually works for the children, your children, our children. Send your council representative some specific questions about expenditures for them to ask when the BOE comes before them asking for money. If we can't actually hold them accountable for the money let's at least get the waste out into the light of day.

It's now 5 against Marsha

MNPS BOE Chair Marsha Warden will have five opponents in her effort to keep her BOE seat. Seems to me that says volumes about what her district thinks of her performance so far. Alan Coverstone, MBA Academic Dean who has been active in the magnet schools with his two children and the Parent Advisory Council and Paul Brenner have added their names to the mix that already includes James Lech, Lee E. Limbard, and Councilman Eric Crafton

Check Tick, Tick, Tick for information on qualifying to run against incumbents Ed Kindall, George Thompson and Gracie Porter. So far they don't have any opposition.

George Thompson 2004 Election Finances

The following is gleaned from the records I picked up from the Davidson County Election Commission the other day. Remember, these records are destroyed after five years so if you want details, you may want to get 'em while they're still available. They'll be gone next year.

This from George Thompson's file. He was last elected in 2004 and has been a BOE member since 1996.

When he picked up his qualifying petition he indicated his party affiliation was Democrat. Did you know both he and fellow BOE member Ed Kindall (also up for re-election) share the same business address?

A curiosity: Thompson's file had two diplomas in it. One from the Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State University for George H. Thompson, III dated June 8 1969 and the other diploma from City Public Schools Nashville says George Henry Thompson, Jr. I've heard of going from JR. to nothing at all when SR. passes but never going from, essentially II to III.

Thompson acted as his own treasurer. Maybe that explains why he has obligations noted that are never moved to the expenses columns and the numbers don't quite balance. Does anyone check the math? It also explains how he got away with not really accounting for some $1,500 in miscellaneous expenses. It's just sloppy bookkeeping to not have receipts for so much money. Especially when part of it is for 'contractual fees'. Looks like his current campaign balance as of the last filing is $295.83. He started with $268.78. Further it looks like about half the money he took in came from the very people he's supposed to be supervising in some capacity. Fredericka G. Zee made a tidy sum. There can't be two in this town. She's got to be the one somehow connected to Project New Beginnings.

If you can tell me how to convert an Excel sheet to html or some other format Blogger will render decently, let me know. If there are any errors in the Excel sheet below, please, speak up.

So take a look and see who helped get the man in office 4 years ago.

Knoxville Super Search

Did you know Knoxville is also looking for a new Superintendent of Schools? Brian Hornback is all over it and you might want to cruise through his posts as MNPS also walks through the process.

Some tidbits:

Is the School Board Fix in For the Next Superintendent? Brian's Blog was the first to point out that the school board in its meeting of taking the 12 applicant files from 12 to 5 semi-finalist potentially violated the Tennessee Open Meeting Records Law in casting their votes by secret ballot.

Two of Knox County's 12 Short Listed Superintendent Candidates Make The Semi-Finalist Round In Tacoma: Ray and Associates, Knox County's School Superintendent Consultant is the Consultant for the Tacoma, WA city school system. The Tacoma city school board selected 8 semi-finalist from 23 candidates. It took them 3 1/2 hours to do so.

Our School Superintendent Salary is Out of Line: Horry County, South Carolina and Knox County, TN are competing for one guy, Brian Bingelli. Horry County, South Carolina's revenue is $498 million dollars and their Superintendent salary range is $200,000. Knox County School's revenue is around $352 million and their Superintendent salary range is $240,000

Keep scrolling at Brian's place. Doesn't look like he's missed anything.

Friend$ of Metro $chools

The only thing this coalition will do well is pick the pockets of taxpayers.

Friends of Metro Schools — a coalition founded by Stand for Children Nashville, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Interdenominational Ministers’ Fellowship (IMF) — launches today, with a pledge to strive to organize Nashvillians into advocating for public schools to Metro leaders.

The new organization plans to reach out to interested individuals with information about the funding process, as it unfolds, for Metro Nashville Public Schools. Those who are contacted will also receive information about how to get in touch with officials making funding decisions. (No hyperlink thanks to the City Paper's new and improved e-paper. "Coalition has lesson plan to boost funds for Metro schools", City Paper, 3/13/08 page 3.)

I'm not looking for an organization that will advocate for the schools. How about actually advocating for the children? Looks like the only effort to hold MNPS accountable for the more than half a BILLION dollars they're already spending is the Save Our Students group who are actually pointing out that it's not the money. Other districts are doing better with less. Why can't we? Throwing money at the problem is easy...let me know when someone actually gets a copy of the MNPS check register and starts running those numbers. Then we'll have a better idea of just where it's really going. It's not making it to the classroom...that's for certain. What makes Friends of Metro Schools thinks what they'll raise will get there?

Truancy trouble

So Superintendent of Schools errr Nashville Mayor Karl Dean is taking on the truancy issue according Thursday's Tennessean. At today's Summit on Truancy it was suggested a truancy center be created.

But the mayor wouldn’t say whether he will dedicate funds create a center, only that his budget would reflect his priorities, public education and public safety.

Just a heads up about getting too aggressive in this effort. There are lots of student in Nashville that don't follow the public school schedule and are legitimately out and about during 'school hours'. Memphis learned that lesson the hard way after they got money from the Fed's to create their own truancy centers. They ended up having to pay cash to a family whose son was unnecessarily picked up, taken to the local high school and harassed. Let's make sure that doesn't happen in Nashville.

My suggestion is to two-fold. Get back to ensuring all students can read well, have a solid foundation in those old-fashioned 3R's so they don't end up so angry and frustrated that they act out. Then get rid of the 'time in seat equals an education' model. Give students a specific educational goal to meet and let them meet it on their schedule, using the education delivery system that works for them and then cut 'em loose to move on with their lives.

Testing Rep. Hardaway

Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis), he of the HB2795 to test all non-public schoolers with public school tests, and even more outrageously wants to test all newborns for paternity, promised to have this testing bill reheard on 3/19 and also communicate about the changes he said he would make to the bill. Well, it's scheduled for hearing next Wednesday as promised but he's not telling anyone what, if any, changes have been made. He's not returning phone calls or giving one inch in the few personal contacts that have been made.

The following was emailed late today to Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) and each member of the House Special Initiatives sub-committee. Here's a link that will address an email to them that you can send to voice your concerns.

From: Kay Brooks
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:04 PM
To: rep.ga.hardaway@legislature.state.tn.us; rep.leslie.winningham@legislature.state.tn.us; rep.john.windle@legislature.state.tn.us; rep.tommie.brown@legislature.state.tn.us; rep.jim.coley@legislature.state.tn.us; rep.ron.lollar@legislature.state.tn.us; rep.joe.towns@legislature.state.tn.us
Subject: Failure to communicate regarding HB2795 Testing for all
Importance: High

Rep. Hardaway and fellow legislators,

I’m writing to bring your attention to your failure, Rep. Hardaway, to communicate to citizens regarding HB2795. On February 27, 2008 this bill was heard before the House Special Initiatives sub-committee. At that time more than 100 citizens filled the conference room and halls to protest this burdensome and unnecessary testing legislation. At the end of the discussion about this testing bill Education Chair Les Winningham requested that you, Rep. Hardaway, ensure that you get the language you want in the bill, show that to the Chairman John Mark Windle and the rest of the committee members as well as giving it to various homeschool representatives so we could all have it in advance as well. You, Rep. Hardaway, assured Chairman Winningham that you would be communicating and that these citizens would be kept up to date on the language and communications you have with others regarding this bill. If your memory fails here’s the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxKELkvKiXM

You have failed to keep your word, Rep. Hardaway. I gave you my card that day telling you I would be happy to help you communicate with the Tennessee homeschooling community via the TnHomeEd.com network. I have called your office several times since then and none of my messages have been returned. When I talk with other homeschoolers it’s clear that my experience has been the norm. Your lack of cooperation in this matter is very disappointing and quite unprofessional. Many of us gave you the benefit of the doubt, took you at your word and now find that your word is not trustworthy.

As of 5:00 p.m. today the bill is scheduled to be heard next Wednesday, 3/19/08 and the state’s website shows NO amendments to this bill. Your fellow committee members made it very clear that they did not want a repeat of the deluge of phone calls, emails, faxes and mail that occurred a month ago. We agree that there is important legislative business that should not be derailed by something as unnecessary and fruitless as HB2795 and strongly urge you to withdraw the bill immediately and make that widely known.

Most sincerely,

Kay Brooks

Kay@TnHomeEd.com
http://tnhomeed.com/

TnHomeEd is a network and comprehensive independent clearinghouse of homeschooling information specifically for Tennessee parents and other interested parties.

The mission of TnHomeEd is to provide homeschooling and education information to all parents regardless of why or how they school, who they are, what they believe or their membership status.