Comments on: Mt. Diablo district seeks ideas for raising money, cutting costs

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 13 May 2011 16:49:29 +0000

Yes, it correlates to a relatively new emphasis on student learning as opposed to teaching.
In the past, many teachers have believed that if they taught something once, students should understand it.
Now, education reformers are telling teachers they need to assess students throughout the year and reteach concepts that students didn’t learn, even if it means they won’t be able to keep up with their “pacing” guides.
SASS is encouraging schools to break up kids in different classes by grade level according to how well they’re doing on the Curriculum Associates tests. This allows concepts to be retaught to those who aren’t understanding them, while faster-moving students can continue on more quickly.
Furlough days shortening the school year, combined with this emphasis on re-teaching, may make it tougher for teachers to get through all their lessons by the end of the year.

By: g

Fri, 13 May 2011 16:36:36 +0000

Do it right the first time—wow, a very novel concept! We should pay $1500 bucks each to teach that idea to every employee—and then repeat the training as often as possible—because we didn’t do it right the first time-or the next-or the next!

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 12 May 2011 22:47:13 +0000

This is a concept that is very well-known in the education community, so I’m sure the six administrators are already familiar with it.
The idea is to catch kids while they’re failing and intervene, instead of waiting til the end of the school year, when it’s too late. This is part of the SASS strategy that stresses teaching things well the first time, instead of having to reteach stuff kids didn’t understand — or worse — let them slip through the cracks without learning it at all.

By: g

Thu, 12 May 2011 21:15:05 +0000

Do you suppose Gary, Sherry and Mayo even remember that they just paid for this very same Pyramid RtI training a couple of years ago? Did any of the planned/promised cross training ever come out of that paid seminar? No? Why not? Is it mandated that admins take advanced courses but not mandated that they incorporate the program or that some results be shown?

Since these six will no doubt come home all full of concept and eager to share everything they’ve learned, can we assume that the District has already scheduled the “cross training” classes so this concept and knowledge can be shared with principals/admins District-wide before school starts?

Like most seminar companies, this one is a book selling machine. Do you think the Board has any real idea what RtI is? Do you think they already bought books when this company came around a couple of years ago-(maybe that’s what’s in some of those boxes)-or will the District need to buy a couple thousand copies this year?

It would be a real shame to spend so much money (again) on just a few hours of training to benefit so few(again).

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 12 May 2011 19:12:18 +0000

A couple of years ago, the district presented professional development workshops on “Response to Intervention” at Concord HS to dozens of administrators during a “Leadership Conference” that was held before school began. The district paid to bring in a consultant to give the presentation (but saved money by not sending administrators out of town to other conferences).
When SASS was formed, the district said those administrators would “coach” principals in strategies such as RtI.
Since no SASS administrators are attending the Oregon conference, perhaps the six administrators who are going could share what they’ve learned with SASS and principals from schools who didn’t get to attend, when they get back.
Schools in the Mt. Diablo HS feeder pattern are lower-performing than many in the Ygnacio Valley feeder pattern and would likely benefit from such information-sharing.

By: mdusdmomx4

mdusdmomx4 — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:58:35 +0000

Than you Poseidon, there always seems to be missing key information when people complain. I agree that the Principals should attend during non school hours. Because all schools have had administration cuts, we need who is left on campus for the students.

Now why can’t the one in Santa Clara be before school begins? That is the question to ask!

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:26:00 +0000

Newly released 2010 census data that shows fewer households with children (with Clayton at the bottom), and an increasing population of English language learners, will likely mean more fiscal challenges for the board in the future: http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_18046040

By: Poseidon

Poseidon — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:50:53 +0000

Do any of those who are complaining about the professional development trip actually listen to the board meeting or read the agenda? The funds that are being used MUST be used for professional development. The schools that are involved are MANDATED to have their administrators log staff development hours. The same people that are complaining that the principals should have gone to the training in September also complain when principals are off site for meetings during school time. I think its ridiculous that the mandates exist. I think the money would be better spent directly in the classroom, but that would not meet the mandates. The board should spend time complaining about these dumb mandates to our members of congress and the state legislature.

By: Parent

Parent — Thu, 12 May 2011 14:33:37 +0000

Did you listen to Dr. Lawrence during the board meeting? He said that this was brought to the board to get board direction on travel. For Santa Clara the only expense that would not be paid would be the air flight. However, since it would during school, substitute principals would be paid instead at every school. Hence the trip to Oregon or Santa Clara is close to cost neutral.

It is obvious that you are bitter that schools in your feeder pattern were closed and now you want all schools to be punished.

By: g

Thu, 12 May 2011 07:05:20 +0000

Parent: Unfortunately it isn’t “a” trip, where one person can come back and share the gained knowledge.

Perhaps what you mean is that the six school site councils all agreed to ask the board to approve expenditures for the “six” principals to all take trips?

In addition to being an extravagance in the face of layoffs etc, one might be led to believe there is some favoritism at play in funding this junket for one particular feeder pattern, while another feeder pattern was recently disemboweled due to shortage of funds…