Board of Ed for February: Opening comments

We're in a fairly crowded Board meeting which we've been told will be starting at 9 rather than 8:30. The crowding is largely a busload of KIPP Lynn supporters, here, one assumes, to testify in opposition to the recommendation their charter not being put forward (recall that this had to do BOTH with Lynn's improved MCAS performance AND with concerns about KIPP elsewhere in Massachusetts). 
The agenda is here. Updating as we go.
Sagan comments that the late start was "unavoidable on my part," so it appears he's why we're starting late.
Sagan "some request to Jeff to walk us through safety preparedness in our schools"
initial restraint data and the graduation rate, "worth noting"

Wulfson: three significant data releases in the last week or so
Graduation data
College Board released AP test results; "Massachusetts was number one in the nation" of percent of graduating class that scored 3 or higher
"we applaud our schools for those efforts"
restraint data was issued earlier this week "we obviously believe this data is important" but caution from jumping to too many conclusions on a first report
"wide variations in schools and the populations that they serve"
seeking panel members for revision of arts standards
"send a strong signal to the field that arts are an important part of the curriculum"
$15M for schools in this fiscal year; sending instructions to districts on how to report exact number of students and their attendance; two payments (one in April for those by March 1; supplemental later in the year); also federal government approve additional funding
working with Puerto Rico to exchange data to get seniors diplomas from Puerto Rico
allow high school guidance counselors to monitor if students have completed their FAFSA
"using data to improve student outcomes"
some conversations with Tom Scott of superintendent
Department providing links on school safety issues
state requirement for multi-hazard plan, requiring plans for all sorts of situation
"confident that local administrators and teachers are working with their public safety on their plans"
great deal of variation among towns: "not clear to me that additional state mandates at this time would be useful"
in prevention: work we are already doing: social emotional learning, early warning, pathways
"keep students engaged and try to catch those who might be falling through the cracks"
speaking only for himself: "the notion of arming our teachers...strikes me as an incredibly bad idea"
only result that innocent people will get caught in the crossfire
"pleased to see Massachusetts educators speaking out strongly against the idea"
walkouts: "confident that administrators will handle matters sensitively"
We have spoken about civic involvement: "this is it: this is as real as it gets. If this is not a teachable moment, I don't know what is."
Peyser: very much on point
underline remarks on school cultures
"a lot of great work going on in the Commonwealth right now...how we can do more and do better"
McKenna: asks about liability for students walking out: Q&A
"here are some of the things you might want to think about"
Wulfson: will have that conversation with superintendents

Public comment
Phoenix Academy in Lawrence: new head of school speaking in support of approval of charter
Phoenix was running an alternative school within the district of Lawrence; now it will spin out
"believe that college is the path for every student...want to provide them that choice"
another: "I believe that education is an equalizer"
"I believe in the relentless support we provide to our students"
student: "to be able to give this wonderful opportunity to other students"
Doherty: current staff is employees of the Lawrence Public Schools and members of the teachers' union
assume they'll need to resign from Lawrence schools; what about those who aren't selected to remain or want to stay with Lawrence? Will they be absorbed back into Lawrence?
head says application is with district; teachers and students will be absorbed back if that is their choice

Veritas Prep in Springfield (requesting an expansion)
"open Veritas to be a proof point for our city"
adding an additional classroom per grade level
add more staffing and more supports, particularly for those who struggle and those with special needs
mother "teaches our students to excel and to develop great study habits"
head of Mass Charter Board
no new seats in Lynn "shared at the last minute"
lost creditably
asks for review of charter cap process so that movement is predictable

Davis Leadership Academy with probation
"some fundamental differences of opinion on what the data says and what the data speaks to"
particularly around governance and finance
asks Board to review data and renew charter unconditionally
former Marlborough finance: school "got a clean opinion"
see what the bottom line was: they budgeted a loss of $100K, it came in at $99,011
"accountants develop their own language, too"
"any cost can be determined to have a negative impact on the budget...but that doesn't mean the decision to have [that cost] is a negative thing"
Moriarty: had packet this morning and it's coming to a vote today
"I don't know that there's a feasible option to the delay the vote"
"how much of a financial burden is being imposed on you?" for an escrow account
response: one of the smaller schools in the Commonwealth
"I can't speak right now directly what that impact would be on the budget...but it's not an ideal situation"
McKenna: there is no amount determine
Sagan: "if you want to make a counter argument...this is not a surprise item...we are talking apples and oranges..the report I got spoke to duty of care...with all of that on the record, you chose to speak to ancilliary items"
"I still think one seems to be missing"

KIPP Lynn
parent: student is a currently a freshman at the University of San Francisco
three children still at KIPP
"this school is different than any other school I have been a part of"
support expansion so more children can be given the opportunity my children would be given
"I also learned that because of fourteen words written into the law, children will not have this opportunity"
hundreds of families waiting for a change
"families being served by the charter public schools must suffer now"
her nieces chances of getting a seat next year is very slim
"you are sending a message to the kids of Lynn that their education doesn't matter"
someone else (employee?)
has impacted this family and so many more
only 33% of middle school students will have chance to attend high school
"the restriction of school choice" impacts historic disadvantaged children of color
as a daughter of West African immigrants "my family did not move across the Atlantic Ocean" to a country that historically oppresses people who look like me to settle for anything less than an excellent education
"please consider the impact on our current families"


Tom Gosnell, AFT MA
here on the issue of arming faculty
"I don't think that I need to go over the fifty or so reasons against something as insane as arming teachers"
could create more murders in the school
access to weapons that they don't know
"changes culture of the school..that is massively important"
"it appears that the President of the United States is not backing down from this"
"the American Federation of Teachers will vigorously oppose this insane proposal"
"would strongly urge you...to take a formal position" opposing such a proposal

Worcester School Committee meets Thursday

Yes, I'm sorry, I missed the first one of the year...too much to keep track of this January! 

I'm flagging this one in particular because it's FIRST LOOK AT THE FY19 BUDGET!
That's the report of the superintendent this week. The quick glance I gave Worcester's numbers earlier this week had the foundation budget up by $3.7M; to that, add some from the $15M intended as a grant for the students evacuated from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands...I'm guessing another $2.4M or so?
That won't, of course, be enough, as it doesn't even cover real inflationary costs.

There are some appointments and congratulations.

The administration is reporting on the $5000 received under McKinney-Vento for homeless students, rather, reporting that it did receive it. I wonder what it will be used for?

There's also a report on the process of making referrals to DCF.

There are two donations:
$250 from Walmart to Woodland Academy
$286.80 from Box Tops for Education to Tatnuck Magnet School
...as well as a $20,000 grant from UNUM for the "Strong Schools" grant to purchase books and curriculum...that report is very vague....

Miss McCullough is asking for a report on indoor recess policy.

And BOTH Miss McCullough and Mr. Foley are asking what the difference between an excused and an unexcused absence is (I have no idea). Miss McCullough also calls out the scary letter they send if your child gets a certain number of absences (I've gotten it; it's frightening).

The annual audit is coming (it's not here; it'll be referred to F&O).
And the annual handbook review is coming (it'll be referred to Governance).

The administration is looking to amend the innovation plan of Worcester East Middle to drop the sixth grade to have a new "Citywide Health and Science Gifted Academy" starting next year.

At the request of Miss Biancheria, the administration is reporting out on the use of the returned health insurance funds; the recommendation looks like this:

There is approval of the allocation farther down the agenda.

Miss Biancheria is asking if students could do community service at the senior center.

Mayor Petty, following up on his inaugural address, is asking for a review and update on the health curriculum. It's worth noting that the state is about to start a comprehensive review of the state standards for health.

The administration is referring two sets of curriculum to the school committee for approval: grade 8 and AP science texts and elementary reading curriculum.

There is an executive session to discuss contracts for the IAs and Plumbers and Pipefitters, and also to discuss litigation.


My hope is to be there for the budget presentation. 

The Governor's FY19 budget

Welcome to the FY19 budget process!
Today, Governor Baker released his FY19 budget recommendation. The elementary and secondary budget lines can be found here. This means that the preliminary FY19 foundation budget and chapter 70 aid calculations were also released; see DESE's page here and note the downloads at the bottom of the page (allow me here to put in a plug for both the spreadsheet of all districts and the PowerPoint that explains how it works).

Without repeating what we already knew last week, here's what there is.

• The foundation budget statewide goes up by $304M, of which $130M is the local required contribution and $104M is Chapter 70 aid from the state. That's at a 2.2% increase. The inflation rate on which the foundation budget is calculated this year is 2.56%, which is the highest it's been since FY13 (when it was 3.56%), but still is not anything like actual increases, which run more like 3 to 4%. This includes a $20 minimum per pupil increase.
  Note that there is a change to the amounts per decile in the economically disadvantaged categories; per DESE: "These levels reflect a rate reduction of $300 in response to the significant expansion of student matches towards the low income head count that existed in foundation enrollments prior to the shift to "eco dis". Consistent with the changes in rates that were made during that shift, the rate adjustment was designed to maintain the level of resources available to districts to support the education of this population." I suspect that is not going to fly well with districts that already have a good idea of how far removed that is from the amount actually need.
  The other change within the funding formula this year is the health insurance incremental increase of which the Governor spoke last week. The inflation rate would have increased the health insurance line (benefits) by about $22 per pupil; instead, it's up $74 per pupil (FY19 =$938; FY18 =$864). Remember, due to how the foundation budget is funded, the $24.3M increase in the Chapter 70 line is only part of the story on this health insurance increase. The  full increase within the foundation budget is $72M; local funding will be covering the rest, or $47M. As always, I won't tell you that $72M isn't a lot of money; I will note, though, that it wouldn't cover the health insurance gap in the three largest majority-Chapter 70-funded cities.


• The $15M for students coming in from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is included in a "Foundation Reserve One Time Assistance" line, which includes this language:  

  provided, that financial support shall be provided to said districts, on a full time equivalent basis, and in a manner consistent with the aid calculations made under the chapter 70 school aid program; provided further, that funds distributed from this item, shall not be considered prior year chapter 70 aid and shall not be used in the calculation of the minimum required local contribution for fiscal year 2020

  I would assume, thus, that we're talking the $9723 per pupil for full time ELL students, with some (most?) also having an economically disadvantaged increment (the amount of that varies by district). You get it once; it isn't (yet) added into your Chapter 70 aid. It is left to DESE to determine grant parameters for this fund.


• Stunningly, regional transportation reimbursement is level funded at $61M. I don't know how you argue that the state is fulfilling its commitments when you do that.


• Special education circuit breaker (the circuit breaker "flips" when an out-of-district student costs more than 4x the statewide average per pupil) is increased by $10M to $291M. This is not keeping pace with actual cost increases.


• As in prior years, the Governor is doing his move to merger of several literacy lines (including the Bay State Reading Institute, again).


• METCO, school lunch, AP math and science, Extended Learning Time, Safe and Supportive Schools, mentoring, and Mass Academy of Math and Science are all level funded.


• The charter school reimbursement is again level funded at $80.5M. I'm not going to venture a percentage on that; we haven't had a lot of expansions this past year.


• There's a cut of $38,000 in the House of Corrections education line, which the FY19 document say is based on projected spending. As that would mean that the state is spending less than in FY17, FY16, and FY15, that seems unlikely. And shame on us if it's true. 


• Both the innovation schools line and the MCIEA (the innovative assessment line) are zeroed out (again). No link because there's no account there!


• Adult education not only came in less than last year; it came in less than after the Governor's veto of last year ($28.1M recommended for FY19; $29.6M passed FY18; $28.7M after veto FY18)


• Homeless transportation is level funded from the conference committee at $8.1M; that's down from actual FY17 spending, which was $8.3M. We aren't transporting fewer students, and it doesn't cost less.


• DESE got the $32M requested for assessment (now to see if they hang onto it).


• Here's what made me angry: Last year's Targeted Assistance & Innovation line, which was passed at $6.8M (after $7.2M spending in FY17) is proposed at $6.9M (with projected $7.1M spending FY18) as just Targeted Intervention, which would be enough BUT ALSO this language is added to the line:

  provided further, that funds shall be available for the expansion of empowerment zones or the establishment of innovative partnership zones in additional districts

  Oh, heck, no! There is ZERO evidence that one needs to take the local democratic authority out in order for schools to do well or improve. ZERO!
A number with which the Governor otherwise appears well acquainted.

Please note that the above are JUST the DESE lines; I will add to this as I have a chance to go find the education lines that are elsewhere in the budget. As always, if you have questions/corrections/additions, please let me know! 

Board of Ed: Puerto Rico

and the backup is here
As of January 12, 2573 all together; 2298 still enrolled; 275 have enrolled back in Puerto Rico
bulk of students in 12 districts
$60,000 to highest challenged districts from McKinney-Vento
650 winter coats donated; Student Advisory collected hats and mittens
$15M to be requested in FY19
Wulfson: Baker to ask for supplemental funding BOTH for this current (FY18) year as well as the funding for next year

Moriarty: is it going to be a per pupil? in proportion to Ch. 70? will it be adjusted by month?
Wulfson: we'll know when the Governor releases his budget
current thinking is what it would be if students were here and counted, adjusted by how long students were here
Peyser: if it turns out that our estimates are accurate, we'll be funding at, if you'd call it that, the typical level

Reading the Governor's tea leaves

Governor Baker's remarks today to the Mass Municipal Association's annual meeting gave some bits of information about what his FY19 budget, to be released next Wednesday, will include. You can find excellent coverage of this from Kate Lannan of State House News Service.
The short version is this:

According to Baker's office, the newly proposed $118.6 million increase in education money -- which will bump the total to $4.865 billion -- includes $103.6 million in Chapter 70 schools aid and $15 million in additional aid for school districts that have seen an influx of students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after last year's hurricanes.

The first test is the one that Baker created himself: he said when he was campaigning that local aid categories would rise in proportion to increases in state revenues each year. As was noted by State House News Service yesterday:

According to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, unrestricted local aid increased between fiscal 2016 and 2018 by 3.6 percent, 4.3 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively, while Chapter 70 aid increased by 2.54 percent, 2.58 percent and 2.57 percent.  So-called consensus revenue accords that served as a basis for state budget building exercises from fiscal 2016 through fiscal 2018 were based on projected increases in state tax collections of 4.74 percent, 4.31 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively, according to the taxpayers foundation.

Thus that hasn't happened in Chapter 70 at all.
He doesn't fulfill it this year, either, as a 3.5% increase, in line with revenues, would be $166M.

As it happens, I think this is not the best way of deciding how we increase aid, particularly something like Chapter 70 aid, which has a formula which is based on something other than the vagaries of revenue increase. On the other hand, it is a commitment Baker made that he has not fulfilled.

The $15M for students from Puerto Rico is good; the Governor had this to say about it:

"The number's significant enough that we felt it was important the commonwealth step up," Baker said after his speech. "This wasn't something that anybody built into their budgets at the beginning of the year, and we felt it should be incumbent on us to basically step up and fund them, the same way we would under a traditional Chapter 70 education distribution."

"The same way we would under a traditional Chapter 70 education distribution" would seem to mean that the students are counted as ELL students plus the economically disadvantaged count and get the foundation amount per pupil. We'll see on Wednesday.
Is that enough? I'm suspicious that it's where the $3M cited in this article from Worcester comes from ('though that wouldn't include an economically disadvantaged portion). The answer is that it probably isn't, because we're still running on non-reformed ELL and economically disadvantaged numbers.


The Chapter 70 amount also "includes $24.3 million toward addressing rising costs of health care for retirees," about which the Governor said the following:

Baker called it a "significant investment" and noted that it responds to a recommendation made by a commission that studied the state's school funding system.

The actual recommendation of the Foundation Budget Review Commission, however, was this:

Add a new category for “Retired Employee Health Insurance” to the foundation budget

We won't know for certain until we look at the proposed language for Chapter 70 in the Governor's budget (remember, we have to pass the actual MGL each year to designate foundation budget amounts), but I'll venture to guess that this doesn't implement the actual recommendation; my guess is that this is similar to what happened last year, when the dollar amount increased, but the language didn't change.
That doesn't actually implement the recommendation.

I also am not going to tell you that $25M isn't a lot of money, but the Springfield Public Schools all by themselves had a foundation budget gap larger than $25M for health insurance in FY16, so I don't think that's going to go very far.

I also want to flag something here: this piecemeal approach, which we're now seeing in a second budget and that I know lives in at least one bill in the Legislature, is not a good idea. Health insurance, while expensive, is an easy win. Everyone has it. Everyone knows that it goes up by a lot each year. It's pretty straightforward to explain how those high percentages aren't reflected in the budgetary increases.
Not everyone has that many students who are learning English, or who are poor, or who have special education needs. So not every district benefits if we raise those rates.
But if we keep on just doing health insurance, we aren't fulfilling our Constitutional charge as a Commonwealth under McDuffy:

provide an education for all [our] children, rich and poor, in every city and town

More when the budget is released on Wednesday 

Funding for Puerto Rico students

I was a little confused by this article from yesterday--and I was at the meeting referenced!--so I asked for clarification. The intent is for the administration to file a supplemental budget (as they often do) alongside the Governor's budget in January including pothole funding (so, not looped into the foundation budget, but filling the "pothole" that has come up) for the students from Puerto Rico. That funding would be for FY18, aka THIS SCHOOL YEAR. The new budget for FY19 would likewise have such funding.
(And then if students have stayed, they will be counted next October, so they'll be in the foundation budget count for FY20.)
No word yet on how much, but every time I hear this discussion, the state emphasizes again being sure that students who come in have Puerto Rico designated in their record as where they're coming from, so make sure your district is doing that!

Board of Ed in sum

Crossposted from MASC 
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met on Tuesday, November 28. The agenda is posted here. 
The meeting opened with updates from Acting Commissioner Wulfson, who spoke of the recently signed LOOK bill on bilingual education. He commented that it was "designed to provide additional flexibility for English language learners," and he told the Board that they would receive a complete update at their December meeting. He also spoke of the results of the first school climate survey, which students took after completing the MCAS this past year. He said it was a "first attempt to quantify some qualitative measures." He noted that the influx of students coming from Puerto Rico not only has continues, but appears to have picked up, with the state having passed 1400 new students last week; the state continues to monitor that and is discussing what is to be done with and for districts both this year and next. Finally, he warmly praised East Boston's McKay School, which he recently visited and was among the schools positively profiled in a recent Boston Globe article.
Secretary Peyser gave a brief update on the administration's interagency opioid work.
Public comments included opposition to wireless internet access and testimony from the head of the two virtual schools in support of the proposed tuition increase (see below).

November Board of Education: opening comments

The agenda for today is here. The meeting starts at 8:30; posting as they go once we start. The livestream is here. 
No comments from the Chair
Wulfson: Governor signed the "Language Opportunity for Our Kids" bill
designed to provide additional flexibility for English Language learners
very demanding timelines
staff developing implementation
will plan on a comprehensive look at that bill at December meeting
also training for vocational teachers
Complaints filed by private schools, under IDEA complain not receiving appropriate funding
schools have now taken appeal to federal DoE
summary of school climate survey: "first attempt to quantify some of the qualitative measures"
provided school level results to principals and superintendents
first time given; still a work in progress
still discovering how useful state and schools will find it
done in partial fulfillment under the anti-bullying act
Students still coming in from Puerto Rico; "if anything it seems to have accelerated"
passed the 1400 mark last week
about 800 in Springfield, Holyoke, New Bedford, Worcester, Boston
still working with districts both for this year and for coming years
had "a wonderful visit" at the McKay School in East Boston
Globe article spotlight on East Boston
"very much engaged staff working collegiality"
McKay "perfect example of a school...doing well and our accountability system recognizes it...it's a Level 1 school"

Peyser: opioid work
curriculum: personal skills and habits to deal with substance abuse and use
ESPERT screening
comprehensive schoolwide systems for information sharing for interventions
schools are organized to ensure that students get the kids of supports that they need not only to avoid addiction but also to deal with those should they happen
interagency effort is ongoing

PUBLIC COMMENT
Virtual schools: first round of comment is the anti-wifi people
as a reminder, here's the science and also here; I'm not using my space for their misinformational fearmongering
The proposal is for virtual schools tuition to increase from the school choice amount ($5000) to $8190
Tech Connections Virtual Schools: proposed allocation
currently 1700 families have enrolled; has implications in how schools are designed to meet the needs of each student
options to families
Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual Schools: "a school of hopes and dreams"
Mental health conditions, debilitating physical conditions, aspiring artists and athletes
change of learning platforms; fully aligned with Massachusetts curricular frameworks
teachers innovate to engage students


Social Studies:
Kerry Dunne: 20 year educator, curriculum coordinator in Weston
President of Mass Council for Social Studies
appreciate the effort to update the standards after 20 years
support for the draft proposed; improvement over current framework
critical to communicate what grade and what content new state assessment will take
"and we would welcome a non-traditional assessment"
clear and firm guidance
"the sad fact is that history and social studies have not been a priority for many years"
a strong statement from the Commissioner that every student needs to have history and social studies on their schedule from a certified teacher
quality, preferably digital resources and quality PD
Haverhill supervisor on history and social studies
also worked on revision
shift from "a laundry list of dates and dead guys..to our nation's story" and the world
build lifelong learners of history
"if we teach more history, we will save the English teachers"
"truly go deep into controversial topics...the struggle is real"
"if we are going to continue to strive for a more perfect union, it may as well start with us"
"there is no better place to continue to be the change than in our classrooms"
iCurrulum (? I think?)
we're getting a ream of survey stuff here 
working on how to discuss controversial issues
Mass state coordinator for the "We the People" program
served on the commissioner for civic learning and engagement
dates and facts "has always minimized" the study
"opportunity for students to critically examine what is being studied"
"to understand the conflicting messages they will hear and confront throughout their lives"
"history is often a varying number of shades of grey"
"dispositions that are most essential for a democratic citizenry"
"our democracy is fragile"
"to create a nation of skeptics, not cynics"

Renewal of Four Rivers Charter
superintendent of the Mohawk Regional District Michael Buoniconti
urges not to renew
"this is a rural issue"
"here to speak about a specific case"
"I understand the need for charters where you have underperforming, failing schools"
"our families have good choices in traditional public schools"
"I'm looking for a partner in Malden"

Help is (possibly) coming

Breaking news today that Governor Baker plans to ask the Legislature for additional funding to go to schools who have seen an influx of students from Puerto Rico. It doesn't look like a foundation budget recount, though:

The guidance, which came from Baker's budget office, indicated that the governor will file for additional funding under the Chapter 70 program for fiscal 2018 "to ensure that school districts can draw down additional state aid for these new students, as needed." 

The money, according to the administration, will be dispersed based on school districts' current per-pupil funding levels and account for whether the incoming students need special services, such as English language learning classes. 

"We will continue to monitor these enrollment numbers through FY18 and beyond and seek additional aid for district experiencing significant enrollment increases as necessary," the memo states.

Interestingly, the memo counts 880 students statewide, whereas Politico as of Monday afternoon:

Per @Morning_Edu, of the 6405 students registered from Puerto Rico, 524 are in Massachusetts, making it the third largest destination state.

— MASC-SchoolCommittee (@MASCSchoolComm) November 7, 2017

 The phrase "which students need special services" does open the question of if any consideration of students on IEPs will be added in; the foundation budget doesn't count actual students on that.
More as I have it. 

Regular October meeting of the Board: opening comments

You can find the agenda here. The meeting begins with comments at 8:30; updating as we go. 
Interestingly, it's a quiet morning here: few staff, not many in crowd. 
All here save Margaret McKenna, Katherine Craven, and Michael Moriarty: Moriarty and Craven are on the way


No opening comments from Sagan

Wulfson: contingency planning for an influx of students from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands continues
government-wide task force established by Governor
looking at a number of ways we may be able to assist districts
probably number in hundreds
have been advised to consider the possibility that the numbers may become very much larger
Sagan: "I know you have a slush fund to possibly help the districts" (to surprised laughter)
Wulfson: have McKinney-Vento; talking about supplemental appropriations; some MEMA funds

continuing revisions of social studies standards; revisions this school year
working group in Legislature related to civics education
coordination on science with higher ed
posting some updated guidelines on social-emotional curriculum (originally from anti-bullying act)

lawsuit on translation: status report to court this month
broad areas of agreement in principle; may not need preliminary injunction
preliminary hearing thus postponed; status report November 13

Auditor opinion to Framingham: educator evaluation an unfunded mandate?
determined requirements do not fall under unfunded mandate provisions
program on books for reimbursment never been funded; DESE should develop guidelines for making reimbursement payments if there were an appropriation for that

increasing participation in school breakfast program
continue to believe that school principals and superintendents are in best situation to determine delivery models for their schools

Public comment:
Cateria Albert (sp?) from Newton
input on quality of future commissioner: interest in gifted education
tells of her son who was working ahead of his level
"many kids like him across Massachusetts"
concerned with tears were bullying, but not being educated at level a form of being bullied

Craven and Moriarty here

"there is no perfect commissioner...but it is up to you to accommodate that asynchronty"
"We need a Horace Mann...we need someone to say 'what is it going to be like 10, 15 years from now?'"
need a commissioner who will understand things like competency-based education

Laura Trendal (sp?) from Northborough
"please find someone who understands the gifted and twice-exceptional learners"
cites Massachusetts as 49th in the nation in gifted education
"these kids are fending for themselves"
"too insular and do not look to other states as we should"

Jay Gonzalez, candidate for governor
former Chair of early ed, former secretary of finance
raises serious questions if members of this Board have been forthright
"you and the public deserve better"
Peyser invited to weekly strategy sessions with FES
invites him to be forthright to public
participated in strategy for campaign, solicited donations, if used any state resources
"the people of Commonwealth deserve public leaders...that are following the rules"