Looking for campaign updates?

You won't find them here. While I don't keep the blog politics-free, I do try to keep it mostly campaign-free.
If you're looking for updates on the campaign for School Committee, click on the sign to the right ---->>>>> which will take you to tracynovick.org. We're still in the process of updating it again, but it will keep you updated on all things campaign-related.
And in related news, municipal signature sheets are available today!

Update on sequestration

5.3% and it may be here for good.

John Kuhn is back

...with another rousing speech about teaching:

You stand on the front lines of poverty and plenty, on the front lines of our social stratification. You are the people who shove their fingers into gushing wounds of inequality that our leaders won't even talk about, and you aren't afraid. You're the last of the Good Samaritans, and you aren't afraid, even as they condemn you for trying but failing to save every last kid in your classroom. You aren't afraid, and you keep trying, and you haven't faltered. You deserve to be saluted, not despised. You deserve to be acclaimed. You deserve so much more than the ugly scapegoating that privatizers peddle in the media and our halls of government.

Wondering about civics?

We've had civics come up at two School Committee meetings in a row. If you're wondering why I've said (and voted) some of how I have, you should read this:

 If we measure civic engagement in terms of voting, participation in political conversations and performance on standardized tests, it’s likely that we’re failing to measure a great deal of activity many of us would define as civic participation. The same young person who doesn’t vote may be engaged in passionate conversations, online and offline, about libertarianism or about the Occupy movement. He may be boycotting conflict minerals, or organizing a campaign to support the local food co-op. She may be part of a social media campaign to call attention to conflicts in central Africa, or making viral videos to support the DREAM Act. It’s also quite possible that he or she is apolitical, disinterested and disengaged. But we’re making a mistake if we assume that voting behavior or attendance at political rallies is a good proxy for civic engagement.

So this is somewhat freaking me out...

That database that was part of Race to the Top? Read more about it here:

Federal officials say the database project complies with privacy laws. Schools do not need parental consent to share student records with any "school official" who has a "legitimate educational interest," according to the Department of Education. The department defines "school official" to include private companies hired by the school, so long as they use the data only for the purposes spelled out in their contracts.

Note that the Massachusetts PTO, FairTest, and the Mass chapter of the ACLU have protested Massachusetts' participation in this project.

Believe it or not...

Regarding this request coming out of the City Council's Committee on Traffic and Parking:

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools plan to incorporate sufficient off-street parking into any future plans for public school construction; whether that be new construction, renovation, extensive rehabilitation or expansion.

Councilors, you in fact have significantly more control over this than you think.

You need not make a request of the Superintendent.
You can make such a request of the Department of Public Works.

The DPW builds schools in Worcester, not the WPS.

Buses may be late

Just a quick thought for WPS parents: we may have some late buses this afternoon, due to the accident that has shut down West Boylston Street.