Category: Important to Know

Sure, unions have the money to support school board candidates; signs, members to vote and get out the vote – it all helps immeasurably. Then, when the candidates they elect these new members work well with the union on salary contracts, benefits, quad three (it was quad six and still may be in some districts) e.g. 3% increase beyond raises for each of the last four years of work – adds up significantly toward retirement amounts); classroom sizes, sick days for which the district must pay too, for substitutes  – actually whatever the unions want the board members they elect will help to ensure they get. Great gig if you can get it – for the teachers. The more teacher dues, the more money unions have to spend on political elections, again, to increase union influence. Corruption.

This is what I didn’t know – “Out of state billionaires contribute to Baton Rouge LA School Board Elections” – districts 2 and 3. The amounts contributed by the widow of Steve Jobs, the Son of Sam Walton, oh, former NY Mayor Bloomberg and others are immense. In some instances, well in excess of $300,000 per candidate. Why? Clearly when their candidates are elected, they are in the perfect position to vote for programs in which their ‘investors’ have an interest. Interesting.

Maybe Microsoft contributes throughout the county – because they want schools to buy computers and programs, and they do. But what is the interest of these others? Has to be money, too, because they’ve little or no knowledge of education, or at least of genuine  education. Textbooks are being rewritten sans legitimate history, oh, so schools need to buy these, too. We must replace truthful and important civics. NO. Our children are not being properly educated and more and more it seems due to the lack of responsibility of school board decisions.

Were these decisions made by many at a conference table such as above? Or, did one single powerful, wealthy soul decide. Surely men and women of true intellect would know better; would have more altruistic motives. Apparently not.

Continue reading “Union Money and More”

Let’s go to the bigger and best – or not really. Perhaps most influential but to the detriment of our children; state and national Teachers’ Unions.

Not averse to unions. How could one be? There was a time in the history of our Country when unions of varying occupations were so very necessary for the protection, safety and fairness of our workers. Yep. Unions were ‘important.’ In many instances still may be though it seems less and less so. Why?

Most who choose to teach do so because they care for and enjoy children and want to help them to learn. Likely under the best of circumstances it isn’t an easy job, but according to some it still can be fulfilling, even joyful. To others, experienced, gifted and dedicated, besides Common Core (not going there now but you know I’ll get back to it) and negative episodes with ‘their’ unions they give up. Sad for them and especially for their students; our future citizens and leaders. Right, so, sad for all of us.

One teacher who honestly thinks her union is to support the needs of teachers. After a number of years as her school building representative, becomes a union official. As treasurer she writes checks to the state union of $30,000 each month (50% of teacher dues); the NEA (National Education Association) receives 30% of dues and her local association received 20%. The state and national unions are ‘paid’ $500,000 a year from the teachers and the unions do nothing for them. Imagine. Actually, they do some things like telling members for whom to vote and when to strike.

Continue reading “Bullying – Part Two”

A colleague of mine used to regale us at the office with stories of her three young nieces. One of our favorites was when driving home from a restaurant with their parents who were repeatedly reminding them that in a restaurant it is important that you do not stand up in the booth, or get down into the aisle. While these girls are very well parented, so very well behaved, still, for some reason their Mom and Dad keep reminding them that practically perfect behavior in a restaurant is “important.” And, for safety, it is. Amy, the middle child pipes up from the back seat with, “I’ll tell you what’s important. If there is a fire you need to get on the floor and roll.” Ever since it has been a sort of saying of ours, “I’ll tell you what’s important.”

This is what’s important. Albeit we are far past the boys will be boys era and LGBT, perhaps in order to prevent they or their children from being bullied put this at the top of their agenda and it has become increasingly at the top of the education agenda. There is more.

Teacher’s unions are considered bullies by many and for good reason/s. Let’s begin here. Realize this has been previously pointed to but it bears repeating. Prior to monthly school board meetings, an agenda is put onto the website. On these, if there are any FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests they are listed. The information requested and the person or company by whom it is requested. It seems that more frequently at meetings one board member or another inquires as to the the responses.  So, it is determined that the information will would be added. Simple. Time saving. Helpful.

Continue reading “Bullying – Part One”

Generally, the Board governs the District; the Superintendent (hired by the Board) advises the Board and manages the District. The Board Adopts Policy – Superintendent suggests and implements, hopefully. Re meetings, board members are in charge. The Superintendent attends to serve as a resource (answer questions members may have). At my district citizens ask frequently why our Superintendent sits at the Board table since he isn’t technically a member. When I ask other board members they say it is so that he can answer questions, provide requested information. He can do these from the front row or a side table. Oh, never mind.

The Board adopts and monitors budget/financial/audits whereas the Superintendent prepares and administers these. If you are a board member hiring a superintendent try your best to determine whether he or she is willing to and/or likely to encourage restricting spending wherever and whenever possible. Important.

The Board establishes criteria for Instruction and Curriculum. Though in some instances the Assistant Superintendent of Learning & Teaching will claim that it is only the responsibility of the Board to approve costs/funding for programs presented. As an example, our Board is asked to approve funding for an expansive foreign language program, which is termed ‘World Language.’ It is preferred that Board members state why or why not they are voting yes or no. So, I explain that I cannot vote for it in the form presented. “If a child in an American school is learning German, Spanish, or French they are learning a foreign language. Period.” Surprisingly, four ‘no’ votes prevent the measure.

This causes a front page, top of the fold article in the local newspaper. “McConnell disagrees with district Learning and Teaching request for a more fairly named language program.”  Media often attend meetings and write whatever they choose. As in this instance I have neither input nor advance knowledge re the article. The Superintendent says nothing, albeit his preference is that board members avoid such appearances of disagreement. Betting though he is thinking, ‘she’s gone rogue again.’

Notice the article ‘objectively,’ in effect, claims that I am opposed to fairness.

It is interesting that while usually you know, or sense, who will vote with you, or with whom you will vote there are times when after a discussion, and/or research, you will change your thinking and vote with the majority. Other times, and probably not matching your reasoning, another member will decide to vote with you. Ultimately, program name staying as is, and with French included the Board votes the funds for the ‘Foreign Language’ program. Ever occasionally you win one.

Continue reading “Roles & Responsibilities of School Boards”

Apparently, fewer of our high school students are taking ACT tests than previously. Interestingly, the SAT was primarily the test taken since 1926. Scores determine whether students are admitted to college. ACT is introduced in 1959 as an alternative measure of student achievement: Same purpose, college admission.

This is what is curious. The College Board does the SAT and PSAT (taken in 10^th grade as practice for the SAT in 11^th grade). The President of the College Board, David Coleman, is the originator of Common Core to which SAT tests now align. If we consider the costs, not those deleterious to the academic education of our children, but just the financial costs of the implementation of Common Core State Standards with their related rewritten textbooks and now the costs of SAT we’re back to following the money.

Recently, the Illinois superintendent of education claims the switch (from ACT to SAT?) is a shock but positive because the test lines up with the state curriculum. Remember, most involved assure us that the CC standards are only ‘standards’ and aren’t curriculum. Right. Illinois is also in the process of contracting with the College Board for testing sophomore and junior high school students at a cost of $10 million per year for a duration of six years. H’mmm. Don’t students have to pay to take these tests? As is well known, this state is seriously suffering financially. So, is such a contract at all necessary? It’s rhetorical.

Continue reading “ACT vs. SAT”

What, you might be wondering, do school boards have to do with teacher time off? Everything, that’s what. Honestly, I hadn’t given much thought to this until I posted on face book an article from Illinois Review about a 54 year old principal retiring who stands to collect more than $7 million during retirement.

She has paid $358,000 into the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) during her 33 years of employment. Oh, and Maine Township District 207 paid for two additional years of service to ensure that she receives a maximum pension. How kind. That’s our money.

At age 65 she will be paid an annual salary higher than she ever earned. Nice work if you can get it. Until then, this retiring principal at age 54 can, and probably will, move to a state next door and be hired as a superintendent; usually four year contract/s, higher salary, impressive benefits and additional pension payments when she finally actually retires. Neither can I add this high nor can I imagine.

A selected school board member or two along with district personnel, and legal, work with union representatives on contracts. Of course, four out of seven board members must approve – or not – the completed contract. I used to say about all large expenditures, “Are you reading the newspapers? The state is out of money so how, precisely, do you feel certain they are going to provide payments they’ve promised?” They won’t be able to. And, they won’t. I am the only board member who suggests that if teachers want to strike, they should. Really dislike being threatened. If teachers strike, administration and staff, even some parents can substitute. Children will still attend school.

Continue reading “Teaching Time Off”

From the onset, your child’s principal tells you this: ‘Common Core State Standards are simply standards – not curriculum.’ This is what our superintendent tells us as board members. Amazingly, some believe him. More do not. And some board members, school principals and the superintendent again repeat this to concerned parents.

Yet, how precisely are the ‘standards’ to be met via the use of varying curriculum? Soon after CC is introduced a new non profit organization is tasked with reviewing textbooks and other instructional materials to ensure they align with the Common Core standards. How do ‘align with’ and ‘use whatever curriculum you choose’ make sense? Correct. It does not.

How, now, do we undo the damage? For one thing, according to Dr. Sandra Stotsky an inside expert on the subject, local school districts should be suing their state Boards of Education for not having insisted upon reviewing – not that they are given the opportunity – the standards prior to signing on to them. The state Boards don’t have to; there is no legal basis or requirement. Follow the money.

Most maddening is the lack of consultation with local school boards and, so, parents. Whether a student, technically, rather than the Board (boards haven’t the backbone albeit one or two members might) must file, still every local level should be insisting that the state board of ed be put out of existence. Can anyone actually define any positive purpose of state school boards?

First, your taxpayer dollars go to the state and your district receives some percentage of them back with many strings – 99% of which make no academic sense – attached. You and the state send money to the feds and receive some percentage of it back – the districts with serious and deleterious strings attached. Districts, since they fail miserably in the area of budgeting, believe they need these minimal funding amounts. To provide a basic academic education they do not. To ensure teacher, administration and staff salaries and benefits they do not either but rather than take any chance on these they readily take chances with the education of our children.

Continue reading “Common Core and More”