May Board of Ed from the Malden Public Library: teacher diversification

back up is here, but there is a PowerPoint
I actually can't see who is speaking, so IDs are going to be missing, mostly
"have a lot to be proud about, but as we celebrate what we've done well, we have to recognize that we're only number one for some"

Literally

Some personal-ish professional news: my certification as a school business administrator came through from DESE this morning. As I think I've mentioned here before, MASC put me through MASBO's program through Worcester State, because having more knowledge on staff is a good thing! Yes, that means that I'm not planning on changing what I'm doing for work, 'though it does mean that my respect for those juggling school business offices has increased.
Let me say that in addition to our executive director, who told me to go for it, and my colleagues, who took more than their share of Saturday trainings for two years so I could take the classes, I owe thanks to anyone who has ever asked me a school finance question that I couldn't answer, so I had to go figure it out. I also had the advantage of having served six years on the Worcester School Committee, and if you haven't picked up a whole lot about school finance from that, you aren't paying attention.
Also, my continued thanks to anyone who answers an email at 9pm on a weekday. It is that important.

Teacher hires

Note, by the way, that hiring (with a small handful of exceptions) is done by the superintendent (as of Ed Reform in 1993). The School Committee is informed as a matter of courtesy, rather than one of approval.

Two Tech teachers hired
Novick asks if their certification is in order
HR will have to check; may have been hired under waivers; will come back, per request, as a communication on the agenda

A series of suggestions from Mr. O'Connell

Some research and suggestions from Mr. O'Connell this evening:

• Ed Reform act forbids tracking but allows "abililty grouping" concerns from Fordham Institute about "detracked" students
• Diplomas Now: does it duplicate what we already have? might it help out?
• National certification of principals (by National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for 2011, 'though I can find no mention of certifying principals on the site)
• minimize intrusions and interruptions inflicted on classroom teachers and on instructional time