Neighborhood Schools & AYP
The numbers are out and, with 2 exceptions, all of the neighborhood schools made Adequate Yearly Progress “toward the goal of 100 percent proficiency of all students in reading and mathematics by 2014.” (whether AYP, SOL scores or the myriad other metrics used in modern public schools is meaningful is another subject entirely, one I think we all either 100% welcome or cringe at the thought of). At any rate, George Wythe High School and Swansboro Elementary failed to meet AYP, but the remainder of immediate area schools did. Here’s hoping Wythe gets the stable leadership it needs this year.
It is worth noting that in spite of the myriad of press releases, RPS made [u][b]no progress[/b][/u] on AYP. 8 schools did not make AYP in 2006-2007. Likewise 8 schools did not make AYP in 2007-2008.
Yet, we the people are continually barraged with talking points that more money will ultimately make the difference.
I wrote in detail – with sources – on specific issues related to control of accounts and public expenditures. You can see that post here:
http://jonathanmallard.com/dont-be-distracted-its-accountibility-that-matters/
I would comment further that the issues discussed on that specific issue are indicative of the larger problems facing our system. [list]
[*]Unclear reporting structures
[*]Lack of institutional control
[*]Questionable prioritization of expenditures[/list]
Until we have a board that asks hard questions and demands solid answers, we should continue to expect the system to continue to muddle around with little – if any – progress.
Mallard, teachers do need to be paid more (atleast what they are paid in the counties). And if teachers decide to stay in Richmond Public Schools for the long haul, then we definitely should raise their pay.
I hope Mallard you aren’t considering cutting funding to the schools because if so, I’d like for you to take a tour of schools and speak to the teachers and see what they have to pay for out of their own pockets for their students. And take a look into the bathrooms -no toilet paper, no paper towels, no soap, and no doors on the stalls. Also look to see how many working computers a poor school has. I don’t know about downtown administration but I can tell you many of the schools in Richmond need more than they are getting. And if you cut funding, how do you expect to pay for ADA compliance and building necessary schools?
Now I know the Bush/McCain/Palin camp wants to cut funding for all domestic programs except those for veterans…I truely hope no one running for School Board is in this camp. The Bush/McCain camp wants nothing more than to find reasons to stop funding public schools altogether -it’s called “starving the beast.”
Instead of killing public education, we need to change it -it’s curriculum, philosophy, some of the staff, etc.
There are schools in RPS where great progress has been made over the past few years. I propose that seeking to recognize what is working in the system might be a positive option to look into for anyone that is interested in the school board position.
A couple of points and clarifications:
1.) I’ve been very consistent in my calls for shifting funding into the classrooms. I’ve also stated that unless and until we consider teachers as professionals able to take one of the other 600,000 jobs in the area – we will continue to see talented teachers take advantage of many other well paying jobs in the area.
I’m much more interested in taking hard looks at the 6 figure no-bid procurement contracts to entities with relatives in the procurement department.
2.) For ADA funding, there is $6MM or $7MM set aside for compliance. The RPS has 120+ projects and cost estimates in 2008 dollars of about $4.5MM. They are deferring projects totaling $700k. As I asked before, what are their intentions with that extra $2.3MM??
That can buy a lot of Toilet Paper, Towels, and soap.
3.) That is truly good news for Church Hill. However, we must demand and expect that every school in the district make AYP. This year, 6 schools (Chandler, Henderson, Oak Grove/Bellemeade, Richmond Alternative, Swansboro, and Boushall regressed. After making AYP in 2007, they failed to make AYP in 2008.
What is even more unfortunate is that 3 of the aforementioned schools (Henderson, Oak Grove/Bellemeade, and Swansboro) slipped into Did Not Make AYP after making AYP for the previous 2 years!
John, I do not doubt that great progress has been made in isolated cases. But, I’m hesitant to believe the results presented in the press releases when so many facts raise questions that are unanswered or ignored outright by the administration.
Gray,
I agree with you that teachers must be paid more, however, to Jonathan’s point; I don’t think we just need to throw more and more money towards RPS without some accountability.
As John said there are several schools in RPS that have made great progress this past year and more needs to be done in terms or looking at those schools and sharing best practices with the schools who are struggling.
If and when more funds are directed to RPS, then there needs to be oversight and we do need a board that will ask those hard questions and demand results. The board needs to ensure that the funding goes where it is necessary. T
he downtown administration gets paid way too much for the sad state of affairs that RPS is currently in. They should see a pay cut until they can prove that they money that they are given is spent wisely and used for the greater good of the school system and the students.
I wouldn’t disagree with taking money from the top, downtown administration, and transferring it into the classrooms, hiring more teachers, and increasing teachers salaries. SEW and Mallard is that what you two are talking about doing or just merely cutting education funding in general?
I get the feeling Mallard would like to punish those downtown, and I’ll admit, there are a couple that deserve it but I’m hoping it will stop there because cutting funding to education in general will only hurt the children.
I would like the candidates to talk about Bush’s NCLB act and it’s negative and/or positive impact on urban public schools. Now our Governor, Tim Kaine is seeing we need to move away from it….Berlin, Mallard, Lloyd, Scott, What do you think about the NCLB?
Another question: I would like to know which presidential candidate do the SB candidates endorse and why? *note – I’m always told that political parties don’t matter when it comes to local elections but given the presidential candidates stances on education (one wants to eventually do away with funding public education altogether), I believe it does matter.
gray, can you please cite whatever you’re referring to with that “Mallard wants to cut funding” business? You sure are pushing it hard, and we all know you’re a Berlin supporter. There’s a huge difference between not wanting to throw more money at the problems without doing anything to solve them and actually suggesting a cut in funding.
Also, I hope everyone ignores your demands to reveal their political leanings. I was always taught that it was nobody else’s damn business who I voted for. Obviously you don’t feel the same way, what with your insistence on dragging it into every discussion.
Jennifer, my extended family lives in the 4th district and they want to know who to support by placing signs in their yards. Asking what presidential candidate a SB candidate endorses, whether or not they would cut funding, and what they think of the NCLB act are all fair questions. If they choose not to answer, then that’s their business…but the word of today is “Transparency.”
Mallard has been answering questions all along and has been honest. I’m just still unclear about the money cut from the top and what he would do with it -would it go into the classroom or back in taxpayers’ pockets? By the way, Jennifer C. a good friend of mine supports Mallard and I respect both Mallard and my friend. You don’t enter political races if you can’t answer questions unless your Palin (press has been banned from interviewing her).
Mallard just answered the question on money. Thank you.
I can just imagine my extended family’s reaction were I to tell them what signs to put in their yards. I certainly agree that the candidates should be open about the issues you list (with the exception of their voting plans), but come on:
All in the space of three comments. Oh, and I know quite a few very good teachers who’ve had Bush signs in their yards, despite your insistence that supporting a Republican administration is akin to voting for the Antichrist.
I’ve spoken to two of the four candidates in person, like both of them, and really feel (as BB said on his blog) that all four of them have the best interests of the kids at heart. Still, I’m becoming convinced that there needs to be at least one dispassionate, competent number-cruncher on the Board.
We can’t keep saying, “What about the children?” and flinging fistfuls of unaccounted-for money at anything that might work. If the schools are going to do anything for the kids, they have to be better-managed, without the overseeing body constantly yielding to political pressure.
Jennifer C., my question of endorsement upsets you. I haven’t asked you who you are voting for. For the record, many of the mayoral candidates, the mayor, the governor, our senators, and representatives have publicly announced their choice in presidential candidates so why not the School Board candidates? Afterall, the presidential candidates both have presented their plans on education on their official websites and I would like to know how SB candidates view their plans -what do they agree/disagree with.
I’m not upset. I simply don’t view their party affiliation as vital information. That’s very different from asking specific questions about the candidates’ education plans.
I’m upset, upset with those teachers you mentioned choosing to fling more money at Bush’s trillion dollar war with Iraq, killing thousands of children. I wish they had asked, “what about the children?”
Jennifer, my family living in the 4th district want to know the party affiliation of the SB candidates. And if it isn’t vital information then I would imagine the candidates would have no problem telling us. Afterall, I’ve seen candidates tell us of their favorite restaurants and their pets’ names. Maybe some candidates haven’t made a decision yet….
Someone should suggest that this whole “sign game” is so totally “UNgreen” and silly.
As to knowing party affiliation of SB candidates — no harm in asking.
I think the City Democrats and City Republicans are both pretty pathetic when it comes to helping candidates — either way.
You can certainly have moronic individuals in each mainstream party as well as all the smaller political parties.
Really doesn’t matter. It is where people stand independent of party affiliation that matters to me.
Perhaps, we should require all school board members to take the SOLSs as a condition of being duly sworn in.
And, I am willing to bet that Jonathan Mallard would be the only — repeat the only — one to slam-dunk the mathematics and computer literacy tests.
Wolf would be the only to ace the English and writing tests.
‘Tis a pity, I fear the rest would need remediation. LOTS of remediation.
I think you are wrong, at leat in regards to the four candidates in the Fourth District. Bert Berlin, attorney, mentor and school volunteer. (Too) prolific writr, with good grammar and syntax; Adria Graham Scott, advanced degree in economics, an attorney and program manager, wide range of professional publications; John LLoyd, adjunct faculty at the college level, advanced degrees. Jonathan Mallard, discussed above. Agree with them or not, they are a literate, inteliogent and well-educated group. I’d bet they could also pass SATs as well as SOLs.
I would like to know Adria Graham Scott and John LLoyd’s views and plans. Do they have websites? I know Scott was endorsed by REA and Richmond Crusade for Voters but it seems only those organizations know her -I haven’t even read about her in articles on the candidates. And I’ve only seen one small comment from Lloyd on an online newspaper. Actually Ron just gave the most telling information on these two candidates.
When I say “competent number-cruncher,” I’m talking about this. Having a law degree is great, but having practical knowledge of how much it costs to actually DO things is invaluable, particularly in a school system that’s facing umpty-million dollars’ worth of ADA-compliance construction. We won’t have all those million-dollar elevators if we have a watchdog on the board…
Website: grahamscott4board.com
next forum October 23, 7 pm, Southampton recreation ctr, Chellowe and Prairie.
Scott, I am told, is also supported by at least three members of council, who believe she has the management skills and accoutability that SB needs.
That’s a very pretty website, but a lot of it looks like it came from a corporate phrase generator. That site could belong to a candidate for a school board anywhere, and it seems awfully…safe. Jon and Bert’s sites both directly address Richmond-specific issues and their own ideas about changes that can be made. Step up and make your opinions known in writing, Ms. Scott.
I think that Jennifer C., who I have previously thought based her opinions on emotion (see postings on Patrick Henry), actually has it right this time. Higher learning and degrees are one thing; actually knowing how to price something and ask questions about finances puts Mallard in the catbird seat as far as I’m concerned.
Um…thanks?
Seriously, I’m a robot on the issues – I just get tweaky sometimes with the people.
Apparently Mr. Mallard supports the Charter school effort. Good for him. At least somebody connected with government might be held accountable. Imagine! http://jonathanmallard.com/an-open-letter-to-carol-wolf/#more-132
I think it’s great that we have Jonathan Mallard to look at the details for us. But I’m not sure he needs to be on the school board to do that. I started my academic career planning to be an engineer, but I found that I have a “big picture” mind and cannot be satisfied only dealing with details. So, although it was very traumatic for me at the time, it was really a great thing that I flunked out of engineering school.
I will bring to the school board something none of the other candidates has—twenty five years working in the area of government accountability with the federal GAO. I have spent a great deal of time trying to keep the Pentagon honest and they are real masters of hiding things. On one audit I participated in saving the taxpayers $650 million that DOD was hiding in their books to avoid congressional oversight. On the school board I will insist that everybody in RPS, from the superintendent down, understands that it is the taxpayer’s dollar that they are spending and that we will hold them accountable for its proper use.
As to party affiliation, elections for mayor and city council, as well as for school board, were intended to be nonpartisan. The idea was that local government would work better divorced from state-wide or national issues. So, we are all running as independents. For those of you who must know, since I first started voting, I have cried the next morning after voting for Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, Jimmy Carter for reelection, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, Al Gore and John Kerry.
I disagree that we should have someone dispassionate on the school board. We need more passion like that exhibited by Carol Wolf. As you know, I am a Micah volunteer, which means that my passion is faith-based. My religious upbringing taught me that when there is injustice in the world I have an obligation to try to fix it. So, when I interact with children whose academic success is threatened by multigenerational poverty, I get passionate about fixing things. When another neighbor of mine puts their house on the market (which happened again this week) because they believe they can get a better education for their children in the counties, I get passionate about changing things. The major difference between Carol’s passion and mine is that I know how to compromise to get things done.
I too have noticed that Adria and John are all slogans with no plans. I know what I will do when I am elected. I will work to empower parents to make neighborhood schools work. Having seen what a dedicated group of parents can do to make PHI a reality, I know that dedicated parents can make their neighborhood school work. Look at Munford and Fox and Fisher and Holton. I intend to make Westover Hills the next Richmond elementary school success story and I will also do the same for Southampton.
I will work to bring an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program to one of the elementary schools in the fourth district. For more information about the program, see http://jamesrivermaven.blogspot.com/2008/09/international-baccalaureate-revisited.html
I will also involve the entire Richmond community in fixing our schools. I know how to work with people and get things done. Take a look at the wide backgrounds of the people who have endorsed my candidacy. The only major players that I have not reached out to yet are the three universities in town. But, I will do that after the election.
As to everybody’s favorite subject, unlike Jonathan, I am not a knee-jerk supporter of charter schools. I do not think they are the panacea for all that ails RPS as true-believers think. And, it is no secret that I started out opposing Patrick Henry when it was merely an attempt to restore a neighborhood school for the Forest Hill/Semmes area. But Patrick Henry changed and I reached out to Richard Day to help me overcome my objections. He did and I have become a great supporter of PHI. I put my actions where my words are, and after the first contract was voted down last month, I used my influence with George Braxton to make sure that PHI didn’t end up stillborn in a personality conflict on the board.
So, to me the choice in the school board election is clear. I intend to vote for me!
I too have noticed that Adria and John are all slogans with no plans. I know what I will do when I am elected. I will work to empower parents to make neighborhood schools work. Having seen what a dedicated group of parents can do to make PHI a reality, I know that dedicated parents can make their neighborhood school work. Look at Munford and Fox and Fisher and Holton. I intend to make Westover Hills the next Richmond elementary school success story and I will also do the same for Southampton.
I will work to bring an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program to one of the elementary schools in the fourth district. For more information about the program, see http://jamesrivermaven.blogspot.com/2008/09/international-baccalaureate-revisited.html
I will also involve the entire Richmond community in fixing our schools. I know how to work with people and get things done. Take a look at the wide backgrounds of the people who have endorsed my candidacy. The only major players that I have not reached out to yet are the three universities in town. But, I will do that after the election.
As to everybody’s favorite subject, unlike Jonathan, I am not a knee-jerk supporter of charter schools. I do not think they are the panacea for all that ails RPS as true-believers think. And, it is no secret that I started out opposing Patrick Henry when it was merely an attempt to restore a neighborhood school for the Forest Hill/Semmes area. But Patrick Henry changed and I reached out to Richard Day to help me overcome my objections. He did and I have become a great supporter of PHI. I put my actions where my words are, and after the first contract was voted down last month, I used my influence with George Braxton to make sure that PHI didn’t end up stillborn in a personality conflict on the board.
So, to me the choice in the school board election is clear. I intend to vote for me!
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/jonathan-mallard/
How many School Board candidates get mentioned in the New York Times?
Wouldn’t it really be something to have a seriously smart School Board member?
Someone who can be smart in their own right without having to do smackdowns of other people?
Isn’t it a bit puerile for you to insult Jonathan Mallard because he can do something you have very little talent at doing in some weird effort to build yourself up?
And, what is up with the gratuitous smack at Carol Wolf? Were it not for her intellect and her passion, this town would have made NO PROGRESS on making our schools compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her colleagues made her chair of a one-woman subcommittee to find money for ADA thinking that would shut her up and she managed to get more than $7 million dollars — much to their chagrin and shame.
The lady has more persuasion and compromise skills that you or George Braxton want the rest of us to see.
One other thing — Wolf is the only one who gives a damn about the founders children and getting a diverse mix of kids into PHSSA.
Honestly, you can be such a fool, Bert.
Give me Jonathan Mallard for School Board. He has brains and integrity.
If Carol had compromised, we would have the same inept folk overseeing the budget and RPS turning a blind eye to ADA compliance laws. Carol is the only one honest about our schools being separate and unequal while everyone else cheers that all of Richmond children are given the same opportunities in RPS.
When students are without books mid fall, when a principal bullies, when preschoolers snacks are cut, and when students from poor schools lacking teachers, language classes, resources are having to compete with students from wealthier schools for limited spots in the good high schools, I want a fighter on board.
I’ve met more corrupt, lying, and/or inept people in RPS than anywhere else. The parents and teachers are without a voice.
We need to be honest about our problems and fix them. No more stupid bandaids and slogans.
Question: If Bert really is as smart as he wants us to think he is, why does he find it necessary to put other people down? It is not necessary for him to go negative on Jonathan Mallard. I agree with “tlm.” We need a guy like Mallard who is patient enough to sift through the details, most especially as the economy tanks on bothe the federal and state levels.
WHAT is up with Bert smacking Carol Wolf? If Wolf had not dogged the last finance director of RPS, we would still have that guy on board wasting money. More than any other board member, she has led the charge for financial accountability for RPS. Thank goodness she didn’t compromise on that.
And just where does Bert think Wolf start compromising on the ADA issue?
We are talking about the law. As a parent of a child with a disability, I am really curious who legal rights should be compromised?