Sunday, September 29, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Lorey Schultz newest Buffalo public schools chief of public relations
Lorey Schultz newly appointed Chief of Public Relations for the Buffalo Schools two years ago lived in Eggertsville, when Mayor Brown appointed her to his communications staff. A disgruntled citizen complained to the Fiscal Control Board contended the appointment was politically motivated, the salary too high and wonder if she was going to give up her suburban residence for a phantom apartment in Buffalo though it appeared she sold the house in May the following year.
A Buffalo news story said Superintendent Pamela C. Brown appointed Schultz because she " became convinced that the district needed more resources in community relations because of the volume of requests she gets to speak and respond to the community, Guinn said. “She gets multiple requests on the same day, at the same time, for many, many media and community outreach activities,” Guinn said.
Dr. Mary Guinn is the consultant hired last spring as an interim deputy superintendent brought here by Say Yes another consultant company the Buffalo Board of Education hired to conduct the superintendent search one year ago.
And Carl Paladino Park District School Board member has criticized the hiring of Dr. Guinn and her reorganization work in the district. Her salary at $179, 000, has been questioned as well though initially paid for by Say Yes and foundation money, it is now coming from a state grant.
Although, Guinn was supposed to have left last June, she is still here, while Paladino complained at last school board meetintg that he had been informed she is supervising central office administrators though Superintendent Brown defended her consultant work for the district described her as a "coach" not a supervisor. On Tuesday Dr. Guinn accompanied Superintendent Brown to the lecture Dr. Pedro Noguera presented at Westminster Charter School both leaving later in the district chauffeur car.
Several school board members have criticized the appointment of Schultz to the newly appointed Chief of public relations asking why the position is needed in the first place since there already is a staff in central office Elena Cala Buscarino assigned this role.
Others question why Lorey Schultz hired when the public relations office in the central office in City Hall if it needed another staff member perhaps it would have been more appropriate to appoint somebody who better reflects the demographic make up of the students and community not a former anchor who until one year ago was a resident of Amherst.
Schultz was the assistant director of communications and marketing in the communications office in the Buffalo City Hall who previouy she worked for 17 years as a reporter at WIVB-TV Channel 4.
Mike Blake's Unbalanced Opinions: Letter to the Control Board re: Lorey Schultz hiring
A Buffalo news story said Superintendent Pamela C. Brown appointed Schultz because she " became convinced that the district needed more resources in community relations because of the volume of requests she gets to speak and respond to the community, Guinn said. “She gets multiple requests on the same day, at the same time, for many, many media and community outreach activities,” Guinn said.
Dr. Mary Guinn is the consultant hired last spring as an interim deputy superintendent brought here by Say Yes another consultant company the Buffalo Board of Education hired to conduct the superintendent search one year ago.
And Carl Paladino Park District School Board member has criticized the hiring of Dr. Guinn and her reorganization work in the district. Her salary at $179, 000, has been questioned as well though initially paid for by Say Yes and foundation money, it is now coming from a state grant.
Although, Guinn was supposed to have left last June, she is still here, while Paladino complained at last school board meetintg that he had been informed she is supervising central office administrators though Superintendent Brown defended her consultant work for the district described her as a "coach" not a supervisor. On Tuesday Dr. Guinn accompanied Superintendent Brown to the lecture Dr. Pedro Noguera presented at Westminster Charter School both leaving later in the district chauffeur car.
Several school board members have criticized the appointment of Schultz to the newly appointed Chief of public relations asking why the position is needed in the first place since there already is a staff in central office Elena Cala Buscarino assigned this role.
Others question why Lorey Schultz hired when the public relations office in the central office in City Hall if it needed another staff member perhaps it would have been more appropriate to appoint somebody who better reflects the demographic make up of the students and community not a former anchor who until one year ago was a resident of Amherst.
Schultz was the assistant director of communications and marketing in the communications office in the Buffalo City Hall who previouy she worked for 17 years as a reporter at WIVB-TV Channel 4.
Mike Blake's Unbalanced Opinions: Letter to the Control Board re: Lorey Schultz hiring
Friday, September 6, 2013
New bill in congress to limit power of Arne Duncan
It was only a matter of time but it finally happened.
The National School Boards Association Support for HR1386, "The Local School Boards Governance and Flexibility Act," is a bill in Congress that limits the power of Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. It's about time!
The National School Boards Association Support for HR1386, "The Local School Boards Governance and Flexibility Act," is a bill in Congress that limits the power of Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. It's about time!
This bill is "To support the local decision-making functions of local educational agencies by limiting the authority of the Secretary of Education to issue regulations, rules, grant
conditions, and guidance materials, and for other purposes."
02:32 Mar 30, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 000
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY.
Unless specifically authorized by Federal law, the Secretary may not issue a Federal regulation, rule, grant condition, guidance material, or other requirement pertaining to a State educational agency or a local educational agency that— and so on and so forth......
Introduced on March 2013, if this bill passes, the NYS Board of Regents will have to be rein in too awaken from its deep slumber at the switch limited as well from imposing unrealistic requirements and mandates to the education of NYS children such as abolishing the local high school diploma that has been a major contributing factor for the lower graduation rates in the State that particularly had an impact on black and Latino students, commencing with the freshman cohort of 2008.
Unless specifically authorized by Federal law, the Secretary may not issue a Federal regulation, rule, grant condition, guidance material, or other requirement pertaining to a State educational agency or a local educational agency that— and so on and so forth......
Introduced on March 2013, if this bill passes, the NYS Board of Regents will have to be rein in too awaken from its deep slumber at the switch limited as well from imposing unrealistic requirements and mandates to the education of NYS children such as abolishing the local high school diploma that has been a major contributing factor for the lower graduation rates in the State that particularly had an impact on black and Latino students, commencing with the freshman cohort of 2008.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Buffalo school board voted against recommendations of Superintendent Brown
The Buffalo School Board in an unusual move voted
3 in favor to 4 against the recommendations of
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Pamela Brown to extend
the probationary period of four school principals and
deny tenure to one assistant high school principal.
Read more about this story by clicking on the
Link above...
3 in favor to 4 against the recommendations of
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Pamela Brown to extend
the probationary period of four school principals and
deny tenure to one assistant high school principal.
Read more about this story by clicking on the
Link above...
John Hopkins University superintendent of four Buffalo schools
According to a Buffalo news story on Friday, district officials that had been called to Albany to work on four school turnaround proposals successfully completed the plans after an all day session lasting seven hours.
Regent Robert Bennett in talking with the News said, "The proposals that were worked on Friday involved a team from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) acting as the operator – or superintendent – of the four schools, while the Buffalo Board of Education will be the monitor, Bennett said.
The four schools cited included Highgate Heights, Buffalo Elementary School of Technology (BEST) Lafayette and East High Schools.
JHU initially was supposed to be the educational partnership organization or EPO of all the above schools except Buffalo Elementary School of Technology under Global Partnership Schools, Dr. Rudy Crew headed until 2011 but remained associated with it until the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York appointed him president of Medgar Evers College, CUNY in June 2013.
Regent Robert Bennett in talking with the News said, "The proposals that were worked on Friday involved a team from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) acting as the operator – or superintendent – of the four schools, while the Buffalo Board of Education will be the monitor, Bennett said.
The four schools cited included Highgate Heights, Buffalo Elementary School of Technology (BEST) Lafayette and East High Schools.
JHU initially was supposed to be the educational partnership organization or EPO of all the above schools except Buffalo Elementary School of Technology under Global Partnership Schools, Dr. Rudy Crew headed until 2011 but remained associated with it until the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York appointed him president of Medgar Evers College, CUNY in June 2013.
The Buffalo News school zone blog wrote January 2012 how "the group includes an assortment of high-profile names in education, including Manny Rivera, former Rochester superintendent; Rudy Crew, former Miami-Dade County superintendent; and McGraw-Hill Education. It submitted proposals for four Buffalo schools, but an advisory committee did not recommend that the group be considered to run the other three schools."
The other partner involved with Crew in the plans to turnaround BEST was Dr. Manny Rivera. He left in July one month after Crew to another post in Connecticut.
And a blog called Nancy on Norwalk posted the story that "The Norwalk Board of Education is expected to confirm the contract to bring Manuel J. Rivera, 61, aboard to lead the school system at its July 9 meeting. BOE Chairman Mike Lyons announced Monday that Rivera and the board had come to a contract agreement and that Rivera would begin work on July 18, 2013.
So it appears JHU is stepping in as the new EPO of BEST since the super star consultants Crew and Rivera found instead lucrative and steady incomes as the former a college president and latter a superintendent of schools. Rivera confessed he tired having to travel so much to make a living.
So a la John Hopkins University we shall all go as the EPO. JHU has had a presence at both Lafayette and East High schools and the roots planted have been supported and welcomed at Lafayette. And the JHU staff have been embedded at Lafayette since the spring even attending the senior prom this year. It appears their work starting with 7 th grade and 9th grade will at least begin to connect the junior high school students to Lafayette that originally they were moved from School #45 to make up an International school that never happened.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
School board decides on turnaround plans for East and Lafayette high schools
School board decides on turnaround plans for East and Lafayette high schools
Although funding the option continues to be a problem, the Buffalo School board voted yesterday afternoon at a special meeting to allow John Hopkins University (JHU) to serve as the Educational Partnership Organization (EPO) for both Lafayette and East High School.
The Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) will also partner with JHU to offer career technical training to students at both Lafayette and East High School.
The NYS education Department last month sent a letter to district officials that mandated it partner with BOCES as the EPO for both East and Lafayette.
This option wasn't feasible because the two high schools had previously formed a relationship with JHU that started last fall and they wanted to continue it with support from the local community, faculty and the Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF).
Still, there is the problem of how the JHU program as the EPO will be funded now that the State Ed did not approve the district grant application.
And district CFO Barbara Smith responded the total cost will be between $2.2 million and $5.2 million. News blogger Sandra Tan reported Smith explained the funds will come from "reductions elsewhere in the budget, use grant funding, spend from the contingency budget and use some assigned fund balance for things like unsettled union agreements, contracts, etc., " Also, the additional funds for five positions JHU requested will come from sources such as building based budgeting, Title 1, III, and Contract for Excellence funds.
When questioned about possibly funding the JHU project with funds the district set aside for contract negotiations Smith sheepishly responded doesn't think it will happen.
So, JHU prevailed as the EPO though the district has to find a source for funding the project.
And new board member Carl Paladino asked a JHU representative what prior experience they had with the student population over 60% international and ELL enrolled at Lafayette High School.
Since the EPO model hasn't been piloted in other school districts in the state, it will be interesting to see how well it does in an environment not funded by the NYSED.
Although funding the option continues to be a problem, the Buffalo School board voted yesterday afternoon at a special meeting to allow John Hopkins University (JHU) to serve as the Educational Partnership Organization (EPO) for both Lafayette and East High School.
The Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) will also partner with JHU to offer career technical training to students at both Lafayette and East High School.
The NYS education Department last month sent a letter to district officials that mandated it partner with BOCES as the EPO for both East and Lafayette.
This option wasn't feasible because the two high schools had previously formed a relationship with JHU that started last fall and they wanted to continue it with support from the local community, faculty and the Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF).
Still, there is the problem of how the JHU program as the EPO will be funded now that the State Ed did not approve the district grant application.
And district CFO Barbara Smith responded the total cost will be between $2.2 million and $5.2 million. News blogger Sandra Tan reported Smith explained the funds will come from "reductions elsewhere in the budget, use grant funding, spend from the contingency budget and use some assigned fund balance for things like unsettled union agreements, contracts, etc., " Also, the additional funds for five positions JHU requested will come from sources such as building based budgeting, Title 1, III, and Contract for Excellence funds.
When questioned about possibly funding the JHU project with funds the district set aside for contract negotiations Smith sheepishly responded doesn't think it will happen.
So, JHU prevailed as the EPO though the district has to find a source for funding the project.
And new board member Carl Paladino asked a JHU representative what prior experience they had with the student population over 60% international and ELL enrolled at Lafayette High School.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Regents Research Paper required for graduation
Oh my God! What else is the Board of Regents proposing. I was reading the State Ed site and was surprised to read that students entering grade 9th on September 2013 will be required to write a Regents Research Paper to graduate with a Regents or Local Diploma!
Remember the 2008 freshmen cohort that graduated in 2012-13, unless a special education student, they didn't have the option of a Local Diploma that contributed to lower graduation rates across the State especially among blacks and Latino students.
Now, they have to write a Regents Research Paper to graduate because of time constraints on the examination that can't measure writing standards for college and career readiness skills and Common Core Learning Standards. Once again the class of 2016-17, fewer students will graduate. Is there a hidden agenda here?
Regents Research Paper – The Committee discussed proposed regulatory amendments to Commissioner’s Regulations that would establish a Regents Research Paper requirement as an opportunity for students to demonstrate necessary college and career readiness skills and CCLS writing standards that cannot be measured in an examination setting due to time constraints. The regulation would require the completion of a Regents Research Paper for graduation with a Regents or local high school diploma, beginning with those students who first enter grade 9 in September 2013 or thereafter. Committee members requested that more detailed information be provided to guide the discussion when the proposed amendment is submitted to the Board of Regents for adoption in September. [P-12 (D) 1]
Remember the 2008 freshmen cohort that graduated in 2012-13, unless a special education student, they didn't have the option of a Local Diploma that contributed to lower graduation rates across the State especially among blacks and Latino students.
Now, they have to write a Regents Research Paper to graduate because of time constraints on the examination that can't measure writing standards for college and career readiness skills and Common Core Learning Standards. Once again the class of 2016-17, fewer students will graduate. Is there a hidden agenda here?
Regents Research Paper – The Committee discussed proposed regulatory amendments to Commissioner’s Regulations that would establish a Regents Research Paper requirement as an opportunity for students to demonstrate necessary college and career readiness skills and CCLS writing standards that cannot be measured in an examination setting due to time constraints. The regulation would require the completion of a Regents Research Paper for graduation with a Regents or local high school diploma, beginning with those students who first enter grade 9 in September 2013 or thereafter. Committee members requested that more detailed information be provided to guide the discussion when the proposed amendment is submitted to the Board of Regents for adoption in September. [P-12 (D) 1]
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Court removed Superintendent Paul Vallas
A state Supreme Court judge in Bridgeport Connecticut on Friday removed Paul Vallas, the superintendent of schools for not completing a leadership graduate course program.
He was required to take the leadership course to meet the requirements to be a superintendent.
And in May the teachers union complained to the state Vallas violated state law in failing to include the participation of the state required councils in local school governance.
Previously he served as the superintendent of Chicago schools in the early nineties. His Chief of Staff was US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
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Whitney Tilson (3rd background)
"Let’s be honest: we need a lot more well-off, well-educated white folks with a personal stake in both charter schools and education reform in general if we’re going to take reform to the next level, both politically and operationally.Whitney Tilson, hedge fund manager and major funding angel for the school privatizing Democrats for Education Reform, thinks there’s not enough rich, educated white folks.( Preaprez) click photo to his blog.
Arne Duncan
U.S. Secretary of Education, click photo
And Lorey Schultz didn't get the support she needed to start her controversial $115,000 top media job with Superintendent Brown.
It was a contentious board meeting held in the Buffalo Common Council Chambers tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 25, where Park District Rep. Carl Paladino motioned to dismiss Superintendent Brown.
On the school board chopping block was the consulting group Cross and Joftus who hired Dr. Mary Guinn. Board member Sampson motioned to end its contract with the district. It was sent to committee for legal department to review. Sampson thinks its contract with district not done right .
West District board member Sampson motion to hold school board meeting every second Wednesday, starting next month passed.
And Sam Radford from District Parent Coordinating Council told board they would appeal to the State Ed folks any board vote to approve district transfer plan tonight.
Dr. J. Elliott responded the State Ed expects the transfer plan to be fully implemented with 2000 seats available by fall 2014.
And a district official of student support services added State Ed expects plan by Sept. 30, and it will not allocate any additional building aid for the plan contending BPS has adequate space.