Comments on: Big turnout Hayward Unified’s ELL meeting

By: Kathi Booth

Kathi Booth — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:39:51 +0000

To Lucy’s Mom and Duane,
This is the tactic that HUSD has used for years to divide the community…leak rumors…scary rumors…and then let the fur fly. I agree with Duane that it probably was “aided” by disgruntled board members who saw their “agenda” going down the tubes.

I believe that Ms. Brunner, Mr. McGee and Mr. Reynoso have the aboslute dedication to doing what is best for ALL students. I am hopeful that they will be able to rectify all that has happened during the last year+ that has been done to harm students and the district. I just wish it would happen “yesterday”.

By: qodrn

qodrn — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:38:09 +0000

1. The best way to send a message to HUSD is for parents to opt out in mass. If the program isn’t working, why subject your child to it when he could be doing something that might actually help him?

2. I was wondering about truancy. I don’t think the school CAN prosecute for this crime. It is up to the police to find evidence and then arrest for the crime. Then the DA office has to go to court. If the law says x, then the district should make clear that there is the law, and we will support it by reporting trauncy as required. It is up to the court to deal with extenuating circumstances. It seems the school wants to do everything BUT report as required.
But since the law is not followed up on by anyone it seems, what is the point?

3. If a high school is losing 1800 a day and there are 180 days a year 324,000 *3 = 750,000. So, truancy could indeed save the district several million but not the all of the cuts needed. I think.

By: K Rocchio

K Rocchio — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:43:38 +0000

I hope the community is able to move forward after this terrible miscommunication. Some of the comments made were very personal and angry … all based on rumors. I hope that we can identify where this type of problem stems from and put a stop to it. Parents need transparency and communication and when we get it, we need to be able to believe that it is accurate and not serving some sort of personal agenda.

After the meeting last week, I notified the District that I am opting out of this program for many reasons. There is no formal process, but I have to do what is best for the safety and interest of my child. I am still working through this process.

I do want to share that I have been assured that the District is reevaluating the ALD program. They are aware that this program is not where it needs to be and they are sending out surveys. Modifications will be made to make this program equitable and relevant for all students. I am optimistic that this will happen and the safety concerns will be addressed.

By: Duane

Duane — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 08:59:53 +0000

you hit the nail on the head Lucy’s Mom!! Parents were completely mislead as to the new President’s position. I sense that you are also correct about “some board member(s) continue to be unhappy about the ‘president of the board’ situation”. I believe it was one of those unhappy ones up there who mislead parents. We finally have a board president who absolutely believes in ALL students. I have yet to see her make a decision in which the needs of the students were not considered paramount. Even when she was campaigning her comments usually began with speaking about the students. I feel good about her being at the helm. I actually feel confidence in the configuration of the new board. I feel that at last – SOMEONE is watching to make sure that we do not become a remedial district!!

By: Lucy's Mom

Lucy's Mom — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:17:15 +0000

I attended the meeting. I saw a couple of teachers coaching parents as to what they had to say in favor of bilingual education; poor parents, once again they were used to politicize the situation. Bilingual ed. was not in danger to be cut. Many parents were told that the new board president is interested in cutting the program. Perhaps some member(s)continue to be unhappy about the ” president of the board” position? Please, let’s provide accurate information to our parents, let’s read/translate the agenda to them instead of “fabrications”.
We do need to tweak many things on that master plan; we need to provide curriculum grade leveled ALD. My daughter is not being challenged; 45 wasted minutes every day. Thank goodness we don’t wait on HUSD to provide what she needs. Not all children are as fortunate as Lucy.
I was hoping to see more data of ELLs by schools; if some programs are not working at a particular school. Maybe it’s time to try others. How about restructuring/redesigning programs that are failing? Hmm…

By: MBB

MBB — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 21:52:11 +0000

Mmb I agree to what you are saying. at my children’s school there are kids in ELD who do not even speak the language their parents wrote down is spoken at home. I was at a party with one of these kids yesterday. her mom started speaking in her language and the youngest said “English please” she barely understands the other language BUT she is in ELD to learn English. and then we have kids in the ALD who need desperate help putting together a sentence. they are struggling. I think this is crazy.

By: John W. Kyle

John W. Kyle — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 17:42:28 +0000

All

Finally, a story appearing in today’s issue of the Review, which might be considered proactive in it’s attempt to draw attention to the truancy problem at HUSD.

Typical of HUSD, the recited approach to the problem is timid ! The story recites just how timid is the approach by administration!
Ms. Jan Stephenson is a bleeding heart whose timidity is recited by her reputed belief that taking a parent to court for failure to asssure attendence is not an ideal solution. Of course not! It is however an assurance that a neglectful parent’s attention is centered on responsibility!

If I were a member of HEA, I would be compelled to see inattention to the problem is a ditrect cause of the failing negotiations as between HEAS and the Administration. The same applies to the other two unions, or as we say in some circlesd, ythe non-bargaining units.

To sustain the losses at one high school, reputed to be $4,492. per day, is seen by me to be an act of neglect in performance of duty by administration.

While serving in the Army’s forces in western Germany in the mid 1950’s, I trook a course in conversational German, ( frequently interrupted by demands of duty,). During that class, taught by a former member of the wehrmacht who was fortunate enough to be ’captured’ in Tunisia and provided a POW’s vacation in Canada. He explained a situation within the educational system of Western Germany. At age 13, ’the system’ decided how your future education would o9ccur. If your grades and teachers recommended the eauivalent of higfh school, that is what you received; other wise you were assigned to a ’trade school’. Wich trade school depended upon mental acuity. That concept has resulted in recognion of the fact that some of the finest machine tool work available to that economy is a direct result of recognition thayt college is not for everyone!

Undemocratic? You might think so, I do not! The reality is that it works to the satisfaction of many, including teachers who might appreciate the fact that not all their students are interested in going to college, despite encouragement of desire by advisors.

Skilled machinists capable of reaching out in machine tolerances of 1/1,000 of an inch, live quite well in comparison to the earnings of a mere grade school teacher.

I say … get tough with parents whose kids fail to attend class. For many, the experience will be educating as well as result in compliance with parental duty!

By: mmb

mmb — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:36:44 +0000

The fact is neither ELD or ALD are providing an efficient way to ensure language development at any level. The ELL vs non ELL ratios tend to be pretty uneven and accurate leveling or placement remains an issue. We are currently placing them unnecessarily in the wrong levels and with mixed grades and limited results. The School District is over thinking this and the children are suffering because of it. The fact is it does not matter what language is spoken at home, language deficiencies are present in all children because hello they are children. It does not make any sense to separate the children based on what language is spoken at home. There needs to be a way to asses ALL children and then separate based on language development levels and needs. This would ensure that no matter what background all children are offered language development assistance at the appropriate level it be low, grade level or advanced. I’m not saying that we should not be aware and help children who are learning English, I just believe we would have better results if we combined our efforts to ensure that the leveling is accurate. If after such assessment is made available to ALL children there continues to be deficiencies in placement the parents and teachers should have a say as to how the child can receive further assistance. This is coming from an ELL parent.

By: John W. Kyle

John W. Kyle — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:21:23 +0000

All;

Do you speak by use of acronyms?

ADA Average daily Attendance
ALD Academic Language Development
API Academic Performance Index
AVP Adequate yearly progress
CAHSEE California High School Exit Examination
CBEDS California Basic Educational Data System
CELDT California English language Development Test
CST California Standards Test
CWA Child Welfare and Attendance
EIA Economic Impact Aid
ELA English language Arts
ELD English Language Development
FAPE Free and Appropriate Education
FEP Fluent English Proficient
FTE Full Time Equivalent
IDSG Intentional Data Study Groups

There are 29 additional acronyms on the list which is now supplied with each HUSD Trustee meeting agenda…. Unfortunately the Spanish speaking parents are not supplied a translation…. Perhaps some kind soul will bring this ommission to the attention of the Trustees….

In the meantime blog contributors or those simply curious, can use this material presently provided only in English.

By: Kathi Booth

Kathi Booth — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 05:04:52 +0000

Watchdog,
I think that is a very important question. It would seem to me that they should be just as accessable as a board member. Perhaps you should go to the next Personnel Commission meeting and pose that question and maybe you should also pose the same question to the board during comments from the community.