School performance plan hearing draws a crowd; Many fear 2 Floyd buildings to close, by Harold J. Adams (Courier-Journal)
About 100 people turned out last night to get a look at the work of a committee that has been studying whether to close some schools in Floyd County, adjust attendance zones or find another way to improve education there.
The Resources for Results committee, appointed three years ago by Superintendent Dennis Brooks, held the first of three planned public hearings at Hazelwood Middle School.
New Albany is a state of mind … but whose? Since 2004, we’ve been observing the contemporary scene in this slowly awakening old river town. If it’s true that a pre-digital stopped clock is right twice a day, when will New Albany learn to tell time?
Friday, April 03, 2009
Open thread: Resources for (Pre-Determined) Results, Round One.
I was busy at work and could not attend. Thoughts from those who did?
Question is, how much is the head cheese paid at the school corporation, and would a reduction in his salary pay for at least one of the schools?
ReplyDeleteI had to work, too, so I just want make sure I have this straight:
ReplyDelete-The Resources committee, made up largely of school system employees, retirees, and/or their spouses, has been meeting for three years, receiving little input from sources outside the system.
-Parents, other members of the public, and the media were restricted from even observing any of their meetings, to the extent that they were escorted from the building.
-Only after information was leaked to the public, the school corporation agreed to post meeting synopses on its web site. Those synopses are woefully incomplete and provide little useful information.
-At no time has the school corporation provided access to the data, reports, or theories being considered by the committee to render a recommendation.
-The school system finally decided to allow the public in on the process, but then didn't use its own preexisting communication tools to inform parents of the meetings.
-Parents and other concerned are being given a quick, 15 minute overview of a three year process, have no opportunity to ask questions other than on paper to be answered later, and are then, still without access to data or answers, expected to provide their only input in three minutes.
If no one actually on the committee or school board challenges that process, it will be a shame.
Thanks to Roy Hardy for broaching the topic of deconsolidation at the meeting.
Deconcolidation HAS to happen! How do we start?
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteI just called and left a message for Tony Bennett. (Can you believe that the head of the entire state board of ed doesn't have voice mail!) The secretary will try to transfer you the the Title 1 department. Don't let her!
Tell her you want a call back from Mr. Tony Bennett himself with an explanation of why your kids might be forced to go from an exemplary school to a failing one. Or you fill it in with your own question BUT CALL!
Here is the number. Phone: 317.232.6610
PASS IT ON!
MOTHER OF 2 KIDS THAT ARE KICKIN' ACADEMIC @#S AT S.S.E.!