Comments on: Will fewer school days hurt students?

By: Sabine

Sabine — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:45:28 +0000

Of course shortening the school day will hurt students! And here is the interesting thing: It will hurt poor students and low income districts even more. While rich school districts will be able to pass a parcel tax or raise the sale tax to benefit their schools, less fortunate districts and families will be left behind. The gap between rich and poor is widening, and there is no equal education any more in this country.
That this is not even questioned any more is the real scandal here.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:30:55 +0000

Until the CC County District Attorney starts enforcing the Brown Act, MDUSD will continue to violate it. Corruption at its finest.

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:11:11 +0000

How many Brown Act violations can one district incur?

This is rediculous. Recall Eberhart and Whitmarsh and fire Stevie.

By: Wait a minute

Wait a minute — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:52:31 +0000

I think a Grand Jury Complaint regarding this and other likely Brown Act violations is in order here.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:11:23 +0000

Were the Board members secretly provided copies of the SIG applications that were purposefully concealed from the public ? If so, I am damned tired of these Brown Act violations.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:29:46 +0000

Let me speak more clearly: The loss of a $2 Million per year SIG grant for Meadow homes for three years [$6 million] exceeds any net loss, if there is any, by the approval of CVCHS. We have over a million dollars worth of administrators “approving” the MH Sig grant, but yet it is not attached to the agenda for public review ! What is wrong with this picture ? Clearly the District is preventing FULL DISCLOSURE !

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:22:03 +0000

Why the Meadow Homes SIG grant application is doomed to failure: MH is not only 5 plus years in PI, but also for 5 consecutive years in PI failed to meet AYP. That means next year [12/13] it must fire the principal and let go 50% or more of the staff [or transfer them to your schools]. Neither SASS, nor Rose Lock, nor Supt Lawrence has a clue on how NCLB works. As I pointed out yesterday, over a MILLION DOLLARS of signatures appeared on supporting the SIG applications, yet they have no idea of how it works. Here is a primer.
If Title I schools do not meet AYP for two consecutive years, they are placed in “Choice” School Improvement Status, which means they must develop an improvement plan, provide students the option to transfer to a different school and provide them transportation to get there, and they must use part of their Title I funds for professional development for their teachers and staff. If a school does not make AYP for three consecutive years, they will be in “Supplemental Services” School Improvement Status, which means that in addition to all the “Choice” requirements above, they must also use some of their Title I funds to support students by providing tutoring or after-school programs from a state-approvded provider. If a school fails AYP for four years in a row they enter “Corrective Action” Improvement Status, where they must provide both “Choice” and “Supplemental Services” as well as choose one of the following: Replace responsible staff, Implement a new curriculum, Decrease a school’s management authority; Appoint an external expert to advise school, or restructure the internal organization of the school. [15] Lastly, if a school fails AYP for 5 years or more, they must plan to and implement one of the following:

Chartering: Closing and reopening as a public charter school.
Reconstitution: Replacing school staff, including the principal, relevant to the failure in the school.
Contracting: contracting with an outside entity to operate the school.
State takeovers: turning the school operations over to the state education agency.
Any Other major governance restructuring: engaging in another form of major restructuring that makes fundamental reforms.
[16]

These “other major governance restructuring” strategies were most popular in restructuring schools in 2007-2008, and allows schools to do a variety of things to improve their schools such as narrow the grade range, re-open as a theme school, close the school, create smaller learning communities, or create their own option that is not provided by the Department of Education. [15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adequate_Yearly_Progress

By: Wait a Minute

Wait a Minute — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:12:54 +0000

This proposal is total crap.

Basically a POISON PILL.

First of all–THE ADA IS THE PEOPLE’S MONEY, NOT THE MDUSD’S MONEY.

It follows the students, not Stevie or Greg or Ebermarsh’s overpaid compensation for piss-poor performance.

The above referenced so-called “leaders” don’t care about the kids–they only care about the money.

Their entire strategy is to run the charter out of time and/or money.

If the charter accepts this it will dramatically increase the chances they will not succeed for fiscal reasons.

The other problem is you cannot trust the MDUSD’s accounting, THEY CONSTANTLY LIE. So don’t trust them and take it to County as they will be far better to work with as the oversight body.

I do find it interesting that Mt Diablo has the most money but are still incapable of even running a safe school, “Where Thugs Come First”.

By: g

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:28:18 +0000

Actually, maybe it’s time for a Clayton City K-8 School District!

By: Just J

Just J — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:16:49 +0000

@ 113. Sherry can spout all the bull she wants. They will not shut down pine hollow or diablo view. Just a bunch of bs