Comments on: Clayton Valley HS teacher addresses MDUSD board regarding discipline

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 22:22:58 +0000

The board expects to review new anti-bullying administrative regulations Monday, which require all incidents of bullying to be investigated within 15 days: http://esb.mdusd.k12.ca.us/attachments/0eed31d1-edaa-402c-acfe-461eb73df63c.pdf

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:50:37 +0000

In looking through some old files, I found a 2009 report to the board that said Oak Grove MS was placed in the “School Assistance and Intervention Team” process beginning in 2004.
After a six-month review, the Alameda County Office of Education made several recommendations for corrective actions, including: “Administrators will spend adequate time and employ specific strategies to monitor daily instruction in ELA classrooms.”
This included the principal spending a minimum of 30 percent of the instructional week observing classrooms, with subsequent benchmarks expected to increase the principal’s time spent in classroom observations.
Co-administrators were supposed to spend a minimum of 20 percent of the instructional week observing classrooms, with additional time anticipated in subsequent benchmarks.
Administrators were supposed to develop an observation protocol and the principal and co-administrators were supposed to meet to collaborate on the results of classroom strategies and adjust their supervision strategies.
“Regular monitoring by administrators for continual improvement of classroom organization, instruction, and practice shall become consistent, ongoing practice at the school,” the report said.
Based on what Bethany Monk and Rebecca Richter have said, that was not happening three years later. In fact, when I told Richter that Rose Lock told me the district’s support team walked around the school at lunchtime to identify “hot spots,” Richter said incredulously: “Did they visit the classrooms? That’s where the problems are!”
It’s interesting that the district keeps writing new school improvement plans. Perhaps if the previous improvement plans had been implemented effectively, it wouldn’t be necessary to continue to write new plans.

By: g

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:19:59 +0000

Theresa, that was my point, exactly! They have put her in a redundant position, or else there really IS something wrong with our infatuation with RDA–considering RDA was supposed to have been watching out for SIG–when we ended up having to grovel with the state to “forgive us our trespasses”.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:09:18 +0000

g: The board approved a contract on June 25 for RDA to evaluate MDUSD CARES: http://esbpublic.mdusd.k12.ca.us/public_itemview.aspx?ItemId=5530&mtgId=345

By: g

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 20:03:42 +0000

It is hard to determine Jacob’s qualifications. From sand blown Yermo, CA, population 2000, at best, and a K-8 school with only 350 students, (half or more testing at Basic or below in all subjects) to Whisman in Mt View as a substitute principal, and complaints abounding since she got to Sun Terrace, HOW is she qualified for a Management Job at the District level?

By: MDUSD Board Watcher

MDUSD Board Watcher — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:11:45 +0000

This is apparently evidence that Jacobs also “knows where some bodies are buried”. Hmmmm….just what is Lawrence and Eberhart hiding.

I would say Whitmarsh is in on it, but she couldn’t poor piss out of a boot if the directions were written on the heel.

By: g

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:10:17 +0000

So, can we “assume” that since RDA is (still) contracted to oversee SIG and Title 1, they will not be given new contracts this year for their to oversee After School 4 All, which includes oversight of ASPIRE?

How about all the money we pay to Pittsburg’s Ambrose Parks District to oversee CARES? Will Jacobs new salary justify cutting back some money on that contract?

I think we can count on the fact that her salary is pure “increase” in the budget, and duplication of duties.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:17:58 +0000

It looks like three job duties have been added related: to monitoring grants and submitting related reports, implementing the ASPIRE program for academic intervention, and facilitating the alignment of academic programs with school day programs and district initiatives.

By: g

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:11:59 +0000

Creating a $90K job for Jacobs to “help” oversee what? 15 or 16 part time department employees that, all added together, barely make half that much salary?

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:45:59 +0000

According to the certificated salary schedule, both jobs are in the same salary range (level 22): http://www.mdusd.org/personnel/Documents/Salary%20Schedules/salsched_mgmt.pdf
The board approved an increase in the after-school range from 21 to 22: http://esb.mdusd.k12.ca.us/attachments/cec16149-3bc5-4fd7-a620-82e8cb92271f.pdf