The Worcester School Committee meets Thursday at 7. You can find the agenda here.
We have two recognitions, including the Burncoat High Quadrivium, who are singing the National Anthem(!).
The report of the Superintendent this week is the graduation and dropout report.
We have a petition from a North High parent. I suspect that this will be taken up at the same time as the Superintendent's proposed action plan (no backup; looks like it's coming at the meeting) and Mr. O'Connell's proposed "listening session."
We have some retirements and resignations and appointments.
Ms. Ramirez would like us to consider a teacher residency program like Boston has.
Mr. O'Connell would like to recognize those that support Let's GO, WEMS.
Mr. Monfredo is announcing "February Love a Book Month."
Mr. O'Connell wants to support Chandler Elementary in pursuing a playground (?).
Mr. Monfredo wants to recognize Grace Presbyterian Church for their contributions to Chandler Magnet.
Administration wants to schedule a hearing on the IB school. They'd like to do it at our next meeting, effectively instead of our next meeting, at City Hall. Note, by the way, that we haven't gotten any additional information since our first meeting on this.
We're being asked to accept a grant for $11,512 for Creativity Innovation (Yeah, I don't know either. The backup is there and I still don't know).
We're being asked to approve a prior fiscal year payment of $360.82 (it's correcting an incorrect figure).
And, in something that we just got last night, we have the Elm Park Community School turnaround plan.
We do have an executive session scheduled for 6: to discuss the superintendent's contract and for an update on litigation relative to elevator fines (that's all I know).
Showing posts with label 2010 election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010 election. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Jim Braude on the election results
quotes Alice Roosevelt: "If you don't have anything good to say about anybody, come sit by me"
but thrilled to be here with people who serve kids
satisfy his quota of talking to Republicans by talking to MASC exec director
"I was an elected official, and it was the most tortured..two years of my life..the only thing worse than angry, small-minded, uninformed constituents is angry, small-minded, uninformed colleagues"
but thrilled to be here with people who serve kids
satisfy his quota of talking to Republicans by talking to MASC exec director
"I was an elected official, and it was the most tortured..two years of my life..the only thing worse than angry, small-minded, uninformed constituents is angry, small-minded, uninformed colleagues"
Monday, November 1, 2010
Why your vote matters for education
I've just been reading this essay by Jane Addams (she of the settlement houses movement) from 1915 on why women should vote (five years before they got the right to vote). It has everything to do with why EVERYONE who cares about education should vote tomorrow:
The state and federal government have EVERYTHING to do with what kids are taught, how much of it they're taught, how they're tested on it, and yes, how we pay for it.
Both levels of government also have to do with how those kids get back and forth to school, how their teachers are certified, how safe the buildings they learn in are (and how often they're repaired and replaced), what kind of food they're served at lunch, and what's in the textbooks they learn from.
If you care about education, you can't sit this one out.
Chicago one spring had a spreading contagion of scarlet fever just at the time that the school nurses had been discontinued because business men had pronounced them too expensive. If the women who sent their children to the schools had been sufficiently public-spirited and had been provided with an implement through which to express that public spirit they would have insisted that the schools be supplied with nurses in order that their own children might be protected from contagion. In other words, if women would effectively continue their old avocations they must take part in the slow upbuilding of that code of legislation which is alone sufficient to protect the home from the dangers incident to modern life.Two-thirds of the Worcester Public Schools budget comes from the state.
The state and federal government have EVERYTHING to do with what kids are taught, how much of it they're taught, how they're tested on it, and yes, how we pay for it.
Both levels of government also have to do with how those kids get back and forth to school, how their teachers are certified, how safe the buildings they learn in are (and how often they're repaired and replaced), what kind of food they're served at lunch, and what's in the textbooks they learn from.
If you care about education, you can't sit this one out.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Another brick in the wall
ThinkProgress is reporting that 111 Republicans running for Congress want to abolish the federal Department of Education. Before we all get too excited (one way or the other), it's worth noting that this has been even a plank of the Republican Party platform before, but it's never gotten enough support from actually serving, actually elected representatives and senators to get it passed. No telling if it will this time.
Also, per the comments following the ThinkProgress post, let's keep even this in some perspective. The federal education department was created as part of President Johnson's War on Poverty; that makes it a fairly new federal department. Even if the Republicans did muster the votes to elminate the federal DoE, this would not somehow magically make education in the United States vanish. We did have education in this country prior to the 1960's! Education is largely--though less so now than fifteen years ago--managed, controlled, and even funded by state and local governments. Losing funding would hurt communities with heavy Title I enrollments (like Worcester), but in the scope of education funding nationally, the federal government is a relatively minor player, even after the $4 billion of Race to the Top.
This is not, I hasten to add, to say that I think we cut the DoE off. The original argument for the creation of the department--that national equity in education is lacking, and it's in the interest of the American people as a whole to change that--is still a valid one. I'd say we need to work on how we're doing it, as some of the policies currently being pursued increase, rather than decrease, inequity.
Also, per the comments following the ThinkProgress post, let's keep even this in some perspective. The federal education department was created as part of President Johnson's War on Poverty; that makes it a fairly new federal department. Even if the Republicans did muster the votes to elminate the federal DoE, this would not somehow magically make education in the United States vanish. We did have education in this country prior to the 1960's! Education is largely--though less so now than fifteen years ago--managed, controlled, and even funded by state and local governments. Losing funding would hurt communities with heavy Title I enrollments (like Worcester), but in the scope of education funding nationally, the federal government is a relatively minor player, even after the $4 billion of Race to the Top.
This is not, I hasten to add, to say that I think we cut the DoE off. The original argument for the creation of the department--that national equity in education is lacking, and it's in the interest of the American people as a whole to change that--is still a valid one. I'd say we need to work on how we're doing it, as some of the policies currently being pursued increase, rather than decrease, inequity.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them*
A good summary ('though it flubs the niceties of education policy) of implications of the midterms on Obama's education plans:
Whatever the outcome of the midterms (there's plenty going on other than ed policy), I'd hope that the president is hearing the amount of leftwing support he's lost on ed policy. When libertarians and progressives are agreeing that maybe it's time to get rid of the federal department of education, I'd say he's got a problem.
*reference intentional. The Charge of the Light Brigade was also poorly advised, had disastrous results, and was celebrated with high-flown oratory.
With partisanship at record levels in the run-up to the midterm elections, Obama’s education-reform agenda—once the calling card for his commitment to bipartisan good governance—is under threat from both the left and right.(SB191 was the poorly researched and highly inflammatory bill that put a heavy emphasis on evaluating teachers by test scores, among other policy changes. Denver's superintendent has lost a great deal of parental support due to his support for national ed policy.And yes, the same Stand for Children.)
...Stand for Children Colorado, an education-reform advocacy group, will spend between $150,000 and $300,000 on the campaigns of 18 Democratic and Republican supporters of SB 191 who have been targeted by the Colorado Education Association
Whatever the outcome of the midterms (there's plenty going on other than ed policy), I'd hope that the president is hearing the amount of leftwing support he's lost on ed policy. When libertarians and progressives are agreeing that maybe it's time to get rid of the federal department of education, I'd say he's got a problem.
*reference intentional. The Charge of the Light Brigade was also poorly advised, had disastrous results, and was celebrated with high-flown oratory.
Monday, October 11, 2010
More on ESEA reauthorization
Here's another take on ESEA reauthorization:
On K-12 education, there's at least agreement between many Republicans and some Democrats, including the Obama administration, that performance pay for teachers and good charter schools are smart policy. And nearly everyone in both parties thinks that NCLB has some very problematic provisions, they want to give their schools some relief from parts of the law.Note, by the way, that ESEA was due for reauthorization in 2007.
Of course, under a GOP Congress, it might be tougher for the Obama administration to get a formal authorization for Race to the Top and to keep those four School Improvement Models in place. And choice and tutoring will likely be flashpoints, as will spending.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Wherefore ESEA reauthorization?
Interesting Teachers College Record article regarding the possible fate of ESEA reauthorization and other federal education issues, depending on the outcome of the November election. The short version: if the Democrats lose seats, they're going to lose them to conservative Republicans (rather than moderates), many of whom have run on an anti-big government platform. The remaining Democrats are largely anti-Obama education platform.
Which means it's going to be tough to push forward with the executive branch's priorities in education.
Which means it's going to be tough to push forward with the executive branch's priorities in education.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
ESEA authorization
or NCLB round 3
I haven't posted much lately on the possible reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as there hasn't been much movement. Just last night, however, the Washington Post gave us this:
I haven't posted much lately on the possible reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as there hasn't been much movement. Just last night, however, the Washington Post gave us this:
Senior House Republicans and Democrats plan to announce Thursday that they will team up to rewrite the No Child Left Behind education law, a rare show of bipartisanship in the polarized Congress.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
A few notes from the Running for Office forum
Right off the bat, Bob Kievra, T&G city editor cites blogging, Facebook, and Twitter as new sources and resources for those running for office. "We must be of the internet, not just on the internet" (citing there the "old" media, but encourages candidates to do the same) "Those who are successful see the power of the internet...saw that in the national election."
"We can't be everything to everyone anymore," he says in answer to a question about coverage of the Worcester election.
John Anderson, former mayor of Worcester, contrasts his first election (for Congress in the 1970's, which he lost), when he walked the congressional district. "It really is important to talk to people, to talk with people, to listen to people...to let them tell the candidate what's on their mind...representative democracy...can only represent by listening to their concerns."
"We the people are YOU."
"Yes, we can!" We can make a difference. "Anyone running should clarify in their own mind what they want to do."
He was concerned about overdevelopment, put a moratorium in effect, and then changed land use policy.
What are you (we) as candidates concerned about?
Need people with ideas who have answers to these questions.
Campaigning is fun! You should enjoy it. It isn't a chore. It's a point of engagement with the community.
Well advised to have a good campaign manager (his was Tim Murray).
Jabian Gutierrez, community activist and organizer
worked with Barbara Haller and Mike Moore
putting a team together: family (you're never the candidate by yourself), managers, treasurers, fundraisers, workers. Campaign manager keeps you on task and shields the candidate. Treasurer with name recognition (brochures have the treasurer's name on it; easy way to show who supports you). Little donations make a difference (again cites Obama).
creating a message: what do you bring to the table, why do you want to run for office. You have to be able to answer why you're running and why one should vote for you. Hard question to answer. It may develop over time.
strategy: counting backwards from deadlines.
Media person keeps the movement of the campaign going (website, press releases, always moving forward).
Door-to-door; people appreciate having the door knocked on. If no one else touches that door, people remember that you took the time to be on their street. They'll remember your name.
GOTV: getting out the vote. Coordinated campaign to get people out. Database of supporters. People holding signs on the day of. People calling supporters. Poll watchers to find out who has/has not voted. ;
Things change at a moments notice in politics.Need to land on your feet.
Jason Tait, MA Office of Campaign and Political Finance
keeping your name out of the newspaper (you don't want his name in the same story as yours)
"We're not out to get candidates"
disclosing things to the public
go through thousands of candidate information (including our at-large candidates); school committee and district files with the city
(at-large candidates get special checks; banks keep track)
public employees have "to stay away from the money"
cannot accept money (and you can't take cash over $50) directly or indirectly (gathering information, for example)
public employees can hold signs, make phone calls, stuff envelopes, drive voters
can't fundraise in public buildings (senior center, library)
rarely get to the level of criminal code ch. 55; usually want to educate the public
get gov't addresses out of email lists; that's soliciting in a public building if they open it at work
Campaign finance bill at the State House: subvendor reports (can't give money to a contractor and then not report where it goes from there); personal use is especially of concern; legal defense fund has to be disclosed; city councilors have to start filing with the state: THIS IS A PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW. Late fee goes up to $25 a day, and they could pull you from the ballot in future elections.
$500 limit per person; name, address for all donors; donors over $50 have to be itemized; over $200 you need position and employer
expenditures: "to enhance your political future, so long as it's not primarily personal" Interesting choice of example: going to the golf course is personal? campaign?
Questions: call
Gladys Rodriquez-Parker (working for Jim McGovern)
met her husband while doing community activism (she refers to him as "a nice Irish boy")
WPS are 35% Latino, 51+% minority
over languages spoken in the city
very diverse city: great place to run for office
"if you're not growing, you're dying"
in 1991, people were throwing away communities: why bother going to a particular street, as they don't bother to vote?
People want to hear that you're going to fight for them, that you're going to do for them that you'd do for anyone in the city of Worcester
Shoe leather...big digital divide in the city
"in Puerto Rico you do politics as if you're breathing"
knowing your voters, knowing the communities
singled out the Spanish surnames on the registered voters list in the Election office
a great number of children in these communities
"Can I count on your vote?"
Don't forget to ask for the vote!
Do what you say you're going to do;keep your word.
Have someone with you who speaks the language, if needed in a neighborhood.
Joshua Meduna, assistant director of elections in Worcester
the guy who takes your forms
met his wife running a parliamentary campaign in Uzbekistan
city website: one of our greatest resources (you can find elections under the city clerk office)
all forms are up on the city website (who gave what to whom)
all elections are up back to 1980's
if people are not registered at their address, their signature won't count
people can register as they are signing BUT TURN IN THE REGISTRATION FIRST
July 28 at 5 pm
various lists: who has voted, who hasn't voted, can use as a mail merge
glad to see people (as he's the last fulltime person working at the office)
"We can't be everything to everyone anymore," he says in answer to a question about coverage of the Worcester election.
John Anderson, former mayor of Worcester, contrasts his first election (for Congress in the 1970's, which he lost), when he walked the congressional district. "It really is important to talk to people, to talk with people, to listen to people...to let them tell the candidate what's on their mind...representative democracy...can only represent by listening to their concerns."
"We the people are YOU."
"Yes, we can!" We can make a difference. "Anyone running should clarify in their own mind what they want to do."
He was concerned about overdevelopment, put a moratorium in effect, and then changed land use policy.
What are you (we) as candidates concerned about?
Need people with ideas who have answers to these questions.
Campaigning is fun! You should enjoy it. It isn't a chore. It's a point of engagement with the community.
Well advised to have a good campaign manager (his was Tim Murray).
Jabian Gutierrez, community activist and organizer
worked with Barbara Haller and Mike Moore
putting a team together: family (you're never the candidate by yourself), managers, treasurers, fundraisers, workers. Campaign manager keeps you on task and shields the candidate. Treasurer with name recognition (brochures have the treasurer's name on it; easy way to show who supports you). Little donations make a difference (again cites Obama).
creating a message: what do you bring to the table, why do you want to run for office. You have to be able to answer why you're running and why one should vote for you. Hard question to answer. It may develop over time.
strategy: counting backwards from deadlines.
Media person keeps the movement of the campaign going (website, press releases, always moving forward).
Door-to-door; people appreciate having the door knocked on. If no one else touches that door, people remember that you took the time to be on their street. They'll remember your name.
GOTV: getting out the vote. Coordinated campaign to get people out. Database of supporters. People holding signs on the day of. People calling supporters. Poll watchers to find out who has/has not voted. ;
Things change at a moments notice in politics.Need to land on your feet.
Jason Tait, MA Office of Campaign and Political Finance
keeping your name out of the newspaper (you don't want his name in the same story as yours)
"We're not out to get candidates"
disclosing things to the public
go through thousands of candidate information (including our at-large candidates); school committee and district files with the city
(at-large candidates get special checks; banks keep track)
public employees have "to stay away from the money"
cannot accept money (and you can't take cash over $50) directly or indirectly (gathering information, for example)
public employees can hold signs, make phone calls, stuff envelopes, drive voters
can't fundraise in public buildings (senior center, library)
rarely get to the level of criminal code ch. 55; usually want to educate the public
get gov't addresses out of email lists; that's soliciting in a public building if they open it at work
Campaign finance bill at the State House: subvendor reports (can't give money to a contractor and then not report where it goes from there); personal use is especially of concern; legal defense fund has to be disclosed; city councilors have to start filing with the state: THIS IS A PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW. Late fee goes up to $25 a day, and they could pull you from the ballot in future elections.
$500 limit per person; name, address for all donors; donors over $50 have to be itemized; over $200 you need position and employer
expenditures: "to enhance your political future, so long as it's not primarily personal" Interesting choice of example: going to the golf course is personal? campaign?
Questions: call
Gladys Rodriquez-Parker (working for Jim McGovern)
met her husband while doing community activism (she refers to him as "a nice Irish boy")
WPS are 35% Latino, 51+% minority
over languages spoken in the city
very diverse city: great place to run for office
"if you're not growing, you're dying"
in 1991, people were throwing away communities: why bother going to a particular street, as they don't bother to vote?
People want to hear that you're going to fight for them, that you're going to do for them that you'd do for anyone in the city of Worcester
Shoe leather...big digital divide in the city
"in Puerto Rico you do politics as if you're breathing"
knowing your voters, knowing the communities
singled out the Spanish surnames on the registered voters list in the Election office
a great number of children in these communities
"Can I count on your vote?"
Don't forget to ask for the vote!
Do what you say you're going to do;keep your word.
Have someone with you who speaks the language, if needed in a neighborhood.
Joshua Meduna, assistant director of elections in Worcester
the guy who takes your forms
met his wife running a parliamentary campaign in Uzbekistan
city website: one of our greatest resources (you can find elections under the city clerk office)
all forms are up on the city website (who gave what to whom)
all elections are up back to 1980's
if people are not registered at their address, their signature won't count
people can register as they are signing BUT TURN IN THE REGISTRATION FIRST
July 28 at 5 pm
various lists: who has voted, who hasn't voted, can use as a mail merge
glad to see people (as he's the last fulltime person working at the office)
How to Run for Public Office in Worcester
Tonight, Wednesday, May 27
6 to 8 pm
Saxe Room, Worcester Public Library
Speakers include:
6 to 8 pm
Saxe Room, Worcester Public Library
Speakers include:
- Joshua Meduna from the Elections Office
- Jordan Levy, who needs no introduction
- Michael Sullivan, Director, MA Office of Campaign and Political Finance
- Gladys Rodriguez-Parker, Office of Congressman McGovern
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A popular choice?
We would be remiss if we didn't point out Daily Worcesteria's post from yesterday revealing that Councilor Rich Rushton is considering a run for School Committee.
That would make two at-large Councilors potentially in the race for School Committee, as Councilor Gary Rosen is also considering a run for School Committee.
Neither Councilor has formally announced a run for School Committee, and only Rosen has pulled papers for it, 'though he has not yet turned in any signatures for either at-large or School Committee.
That would make two at-large Councilors potentially in the race for School Committee, as Councilor Gary Rosen is also considering a run for School Committee.
Neither Councilor has formally announced a run for School Committee, and only Rosen has pulled papers for it, 'though he has not yet turned in any signatures for either at-large or School Committee.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Campaigning?
We should comment, incidentally, on the presence of Councilor Gary Rosen at tonight's School Committee meeting. It is so extremely rare as to unheard of to see any councilor at a School Committee meeting. Interesting in light of today's Worcester Magazine comment that he might be running for School Committee rather than re-election.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
An official announcement
- How many children will be in my child's classroom next year?
- What teachers will still have jobs next fall?
- Why can't my children play on the playground at their school?
- What after school programs do we have available?
- How much time and money do the schools spend on the MCAS?
What difference will the state budget cuts/the change in the foundation formula/the federal stimulus package make on the Worcester Public Schools and on my child's education? What is being done about these issues?
I have yet to meet a citizen in Worcester who doesn't have some question about the Worcester Public Schools. The dismaying thing is how infrequently these get answered or how long it takes to get answers.
That's why I'm running for School Committee.
For too long, we've had a school administration that has given answers to the Worcester School Committee when and if so inclined. They have not been held accountable. In facing the budget cycles ahead, the citizens of Worcester, parents and taxpayers, need good and timely information to give meaningful input. It is the job of the School Committee to make sure the public have it.
We need a spirit of mutual cooperation and sharing between the city and school administrations. We need information about budgets and programs going out to all parents, not just those few who can make meetings. We need an up-to-date and updated website for the schools. We need a better idea of what money is going where and why.
Right now we don't have that.
We should.
That's why I'm running for School Committee.
Tracy O'Connell Novick
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