Comments on: Two Oak Grove Middle School teachers dismayed by lack of discipline on campus

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:02:12 +0000

I believe you could report them to the CA Dept. of Education, although I’m not sure who oversees the SARCs.

On another note: the MDUSD board approved a new program specialist for categorical programs at Oak Grove MS to be funded with the SIG: http://esbpublic.mdusd.k12.ca.us/public_itemview.aspx?ItemId=5509&mtgId=345

By: Giorgio C.

Giorgio C. — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 14:43:59 +0000

Thanks, Theresa. I think it is time school districts be accredited. I say this after the WCCUSD has demonstrated questionable management practices. Two successive performance audits revealed lack of accurate job descriptions for district staff, so how do I know who is to be held responsible for what? How are the job positions being advertised?

The WCCUSD recently published their SARC reports, but they were missing critical data required by law, including the numbers of non-credentialed teachers. They simply left these parts of the report blank. This is unacceptable because I am entitled to this information BY LAW. But who do I report this to? This is a district, not school site issue. With district accreditation, district staff (superintendent) would be forced to comply or else. Currently, there is no “else”.

By: MoMx3

MoMx3 — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 05:36:33 +0000

Ok, first of all, why would a PFC prohibit any student from taking part in a promotion ceremony? Secondly, how would the PFC even have such power? That is bizarre, and you know what they say about believing everything (anything) you hear. Believe nothing you hear, and only half of what you see is my motto in this district.

Then, also, why did Lisa Allphin resign? Why does a teacher/admin/whoever resign after 8+ years in the district? Wasn’t she on the admin track? What’s up with that? Oak Grove seems to be in pretty serious crisis.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 00:34:08 +0000

Here is a blog post about CVHS teacher Kipp Penovich’s comments to the MDUSD board regarding the need to improve the district’s discipline policy: http://bit.ly/Nj9InY

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:49:28 +0000

The proposed policy prohibits harassment of students and school personnel.

By: School Teacher

School Teacher — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:40:58 +0000

Based on your article, listening to teachers, and watching the recent viral video with the bullied bus monitor, the district should include student-on-teacher bullying in this policy as well.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:10:55 +0000

Here’s the board’s proposed new anti-bullying policy: http://esb.mdusd.k12.ca.us/attachments/5684e54d-1cc3-472a-8ec6-fdb45282bdfd.pdf

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:39:16 +0000

I don’t think districts receive accreditation, but they are responsible for making sure their schools meet accreditation requirements.

Here’s a story about a teachers’ union in Conn. taking over a turnaround school: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/union-run_turnaround/id_48227

By: Giorgio C.

Giorgio C. — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:12:42 +0000

Theresa,
If the teachers are going to the media because the district is not being responsive, then I want to see the paper trail documenting such non-responsiveness. I want to know the who’s, what’s, where’s, etc. Attach job descriptions and org charts to such documentation. If you are in the WCCUSD, you possibly have been told by the office staff that the job descriptions of district employees are outdated, so are not accurate.

My frustration with the WCCUSD district staff leads me to ask, can districts (not just schools), be accredited? I want my district held accountable for following best management practices, etc. via a regular auditing process.

Currently, I do not see this. I see audits, but they are not performed by an entity with authority. It is an accountability shell game because the district punts the responsibility to the school who then says it is the unions or district who have tied their hands. With no clear documentation of delegation of authority and responsibility, I can see why people are forced to run to the media with respect to school issues.

We might as well formally include the media in the quality assessment and improvement process.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:36:28 +0000

HFO: Yes, as previously pointed out, the enrollment was so low that the Superintendent’s Council recommended moving Oak Grove MS onto the YVHS campus, which also has very low enrollment (and lots of transfers out).
As has also been previously pointed out, the principal of Oak Grove MS was on the school closure committee, which may have influenced the decision not to close the school.
When I attended School Closure Committee meetings, Rose Lock told me some committee members were uncomfortable discussing their opinions because the press was there. If they were so unwilling to be held accountable for their decisions, it’s conceivable they also wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking in favor of closing Oak Grove with the principal in the room.