| o Strict discipline o No excuses for missing ooschool o No technology o Lots of oral recitation o Direct instruction o Homework o 90 minutes each for English and math o Class time management o Strict teachers o No multicultural oocelebrations o A well-educated faculty ooteaching core curriculum o No social promotion o No class interruptions |
| Cocker, 37, was charged with kidnapping, coercion and burglary Tuesday after Superintendent Ken Mitchell wrestled him to the floor and took away his revolver, officials said . . . . The letter said absenteeism was rising but the district was following Rockland County Health Department advice not to close schools . . . . Cocker has a child at the middle school who is out sick but has not been tested for swine flu and won't be, under county guidelines. [A district spokes-woman] said she did not know Cocker's specific complaint about the letter. Chief Kevin Nulty of the Orangetown police force, whose jurisdiction includes Blauvelt, said Crocker stormed past a security guard Tuesday morning at the single unlocked door to the school. The security guard saw his gun and called police. When officers arrived, they found the office locked and heard sounds of struggle, Nulty said. They tried to negotiate but when the noise seemed to become more violent, they shot the door handle and seized Cocker, who had been pinned to the floor by Mitchell, the chief said. Meanwhile, the school was locked down. "At first, I just thought it was a drill," sixth grader Caroline Klepper said Wednesday. The 11-year-old said pupils huddled in a corner of the classroom, away from the door and windows, scared but calm. School officials tried to reassure them by loudspeaker, she said. Mitchell "did an outstanding job," Nulty said. Town Supervisor Thom Kleiner called Mitchell's actions "an incredible bit of bravery and heroism." At his arraignment Tuesday night, Cocker said his gun had not been loaded. Police did not immediately return a call for comment on that claim Wednesday, but prosecutor Dominic Crispino said Cocker threatened to shoot Mitchell in the heart. Cocker was ordered jailed. He did not have a lawyer and no plea was entered. (SOURCE--Deepti Hajela) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
| The nation's 1st & only daily conservative public education commentary - Dispelling Fear - Offering Solutions |
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
| FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of education issues vital to a republic. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C., Chapter 1, Section 107 which states: the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright," the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use" you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. |
| Copyright 1999-2008 Peyton Wolcott |
"Walk softly and carry a big stick." -- Teddy Roosevelt "Trust but verify." -- Ronald Reagan |
| Just because you can doesn't mean you should. |
| H o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n: o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e. |
| Duncan's decision to put SBISD's check register online came at a pivotal time at the beginnings of the online check register movement, in November 2006. Spring Branch ISD was the first large suburban district to publicly announce that it was coming online. (Posted 05.21.08) +++++++++++++++++++++++ |
| They paved the way for others to follow: Robert Scott |
| Robert Scott Commissioner of Education - Texas |
| When Robert Scott put the Texas Education Agency's check register online in February 2007, TEA became the first state DOE to do so in the U.S.; to the best of my knowledge it is still the only state DOE in the country to list all checks. Pointing out that increased transparency was Governor Rick Perry's initiative, Robert adds, "We at TEA wholeheartedly agree." |
| Terry Bradley Superintendent, Clovis USD (CA) |
| Duncan Klussmann Superintendent, Spring Branch ISD (TX) |
| Clovis USD, just north of Fresno in California's fertile San Joaquin Valley farming region, may have been the first school district in the nation to put its entire check register online -- a natural next step, according to a district spokesman, as part of its move to a paperless board packet. |
| retired pa superinten- dent Joseph Brady salary: $0.00 real giving back |
| At a time when increasing numbers of public school administrators retire, then begin collecting generous taxpayer-funded pensions, then immediately double-dip, earning top-dollar second salaries while still collecting the pension -- at such a time as this M. Joseph Brady in Minersville, Pennsylvania's lowest-paid superinten- dent (salary $0.00), offers by example a ray of hope: |
| Minersville Area superinten- dent M. Joseph Brady doesn’t get a paycheck anymore. The lowest-paid superintendent in Pennsylvania is among a shrinking number of administrators who don’t jump to other districts seeking higher compensation. “We had plans for a business manager,” Brady said while passing an empty office near his desk. “Down the road.” He also serves as the business manager for the Schuylkill County district. Brady, 79, works for no salary. He officially retired in 2002 and started taking his state pension. He mostly works for the cost of his health insurance. Without a business manager, Brady is on his own when recommending that his school board raise taxes. “Since I have to raise the taxes, I figured that I would help lessen the burden that’s passed on,” Brady said. “I wanted to give something back before I go.” (SOURCE-- Jay M. Young/Altoona Mirror) |
| M. Joseph Brady (PHOTO--Jason Sipes/Altoona Mirror) |
| For selfless service to his community, hats off to Joseph Brady. God bless you, sir. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
| Texas school districts to have voluntarily posted its check register online (you'll see them listed at far left on the U.S. roster) but also they have no credit cards for administrators, plus BISD takes exceptional care of the two merchant cards the district owns. But that's not the whole story. In a recent interview BISD superinten- dent John Hardwick quoted educator John Dewey, "'What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all of its children.' That's what we do here in Beeville," he says. "In celebrating our students and their day-to- day learning in the classroom with the same passion as the best and wisest of parents, we work on a daily basis to build trust with our parents and families. A component of building that trust is our financial transparency." |
| Beeville ISD (TX) Internal Controls |
| John Hardwick |
| Beeville ISD appears to have a firm grip on trans- parency. Not only is BISD among the first 20% of |
| Further addressing both trust and trans- parency, long-time community leader Gwen DeWitt, who helped the district pass its recent $12 million bond election, said, "Our hard-earned tax dollars fund the public school system and the only way for the public to accurately hold the schools accountable is to be aware of how funds are used. It is our desire to provide a quality education for our youth. It is appreciated when a school system makes every effort to provide financial transpar- ency and subsequent accountability to the taxpay- rs and parents. Beeville ISD provides this transpar- ency and accountability on a continuous basis." Hats off, Beeville ISD! (Posted June 24, 2008) |
| Regarding the two merchant cards, access is carefully monitored and the cards are kept in BISD's business office. "Anybody wanting to use one has to submit a purchase order first and it must be approved for that specific purchase and amount, then the card is returned immediately with the receipt," says CFO Linda O'Connell . "The few times anyone forgets, we go ask them for it by the end of the day." She adds, "It's the taxpayers' money." |
| Linda O'Connell |
| Beeville ISD administration building |
| Fr.Greg Boyle, SJ Homeboy Industries/CA A lifetime of service |
| Los Angeles USD has failed to educate its poorest students about as spectacularly in its degree of failure as any district in the country. And for the past 20 years Father Greg Boyle, SJ has worked selflessly and tirelessly to do something about that failure through a nonprofit he founded, Homeboy Industries. |
| Homeboy Industries "has had an important impact on the Los Angeles gang problem, with young people from over half of the region’s 1,100 known gangs seeking a way out through Homeboy. Thou- sands of young people have walked through the doors of Homeboy Industries looking for a second chance, and finding community. Gang affiliations are left outside as these young people work together, side by side, learning the mutual respect that comes from shared tasks and challenges." Happy 20th birthday, Father Greg & Homeboys! |
| The American Superintendent (Leonard Merrell) as Allan Ramsay's King George III (Mixed-media collage by Peyton Wolcott, Copyright 2008) |
Wolcott
Peyton
Here's GISD supe Lynne
Cleveland pitching in to
help sweep water from the
first floor of Ball High
School, the water the
aftermath of Hurricane Ike.
Here's hoping other super-
intendents faced with
similar challenges also
understand the value of
symbolic meaningful action
in a time of crisis; the
leadership this conveys is
worth more to residents
and students than any
number of fluffy PR pieces.
"One picture is worth a
thousand words." (PHOTO--
Jennifer Reynolds/Galveston News)
POSTED SEPTEMBER 2008
Cleveland pitching in to
help sweep water from the
first floor of Ball High
School, the water the
aftermath of Hurricane Ike.
Here's hoping other super-
intendents faced with
similar challenges also
understand the value of
symbolic meaningful action
in a time of crisis; the
leadership this conveys is
worth more to residents
and students than any
number of fluffy PR pieces.
"One picture is worth a
thousand words." (PHOTO--
Jennifer Reynolds/Galveston News)
POSTED SEPTEMBER 2008
| HURRICANE IKE CLEANUP |
| Hats off to Lynne Cleveland Galveston ISD (TX) Leadership in Action |
| leadership by example |
| transparency & internal controls |
| C o m m e n t a r y - B e s t P r a c t i c e s |
| selfless service |
| ending school- to-prison pipeline |
| transparency pioneers |
| Hats off to jim van overschelde Wimberley ISD (TX) Trustees doing the right thing |
| Jim Van Overschelde |
One clue as to the seduc-
tive nature of power is that
once you get some, it's
hard to voluntarily give it up.
President George
Washington gave our fledg-
ling nation a great gift by
walking away from the
presidency after only two
terms -- at a time when
many in America would
have happily allowed him to
be regent-for-life. He had
the greater good in mind
and heart, and for his gift
we can all be grateful -- and
look to his example.
Wimberley ISD trustee Jim
Van Overschelde has done
something commendable
along those same lines by
resigning from the WISD
school board earlier this
week after receiving a
promotion at the Texas
Education Agency.
In an articulate and
thoughtful letter of
resignation, Jim makes
some suggestions to his
fellow trustees of which it
would be wise for all school
board members
everywhere take heed.
From Jim's letter:
tive nature of power is that
once you get some, it's
hard to voluntarily give it up.
President George
Washington gave our fledg-
ling nation a great gift by
walking away from the
presidency after only two
terms -- at a time when
many in America would
have happily allowed him to
be regent-for-life. He had
the greater good in mind
and heart, and for his gift
we can all be grateful -- and
look to his example.
Wimberley ISD trustee Jim
Van Overschelde has done
something commendable
along those same lines by
resigning from the WISD
school board earlier this
week after receiving a
promotion at the Texas
Education Agency.
In an articulate and
thoughtful letter of
resignation, Jim makes
some suggestions to his
fellow trustees of which it
would be wise for all school
board members
everywhere take heed.
From Jim's letter:
| I care a lot about our district and am proud of several of our accomplishments during the 2 years I was on the Board.....I happily spent hundreds of hours working on the bond committee and...I am pleased that we improved somewhat the transparency of district operations. I hope you will continue to work toward providing a high quality education, creating a positive environment for our students and employees, and doing these using as few tax dollars as possible. In departing, I offer some comments and advice. Accept or reject as you see fit.... To the Board. Beware. I believe you are moving in a dangerous direction. When a majority of Board members believe their role is simply to approve what the admini- stration presents, there is a problem. When the Board unknowingly approves an incommplete budget and the administration resists fixing it, there are problems. When I, as a member of the public, will have faster and easier access to district information than I do as a Board member, there is a problem. When Board members want to spend the $250k saved after the two refunding bonds passed instead of reducing the $1.7 million deficit, there is a problem. When Board members think it is better for TEA to take over the District than it is to make the difficult financial choices to keep the District solvent, there is a problem. See the pattern? Diligence is needed, not complacency. This said, I do wish you all health, peace, and the courage to do what you know is right. |
Way to go, Jim!
| strategy & strategery |
| Frank Walter Grape Creek ISD (TX) Student art mural |
At a time when
some
administrators
are hiring
vendors to paint
patriotic or school
spirit-inspired
murals on their
schools' walls,
Grape Creek ISD
superintendent
Frank Walter has
continued the
time-honored
tradition of
allowing student-
painted murals.
some
administrators
are hiring
vendors to paint
patriotic or school
spirit-inspired
murals on their
schools' walls,
Grape Creek ISD
superintendent
Frank Walter has
continued the
time-honored
tradition of
allowing student-
painted murals.
The mural above,
by art teacher
Jack Cavness'
Grape Creek
High School
students, is part
of a larger effort
in nearby San
Angelo to place
more art in public
places. More
from GCISD's
home page:
by art teacher
Jack Cavness'
Grape Creek
High School
students, is part
of a larger effort
in nearby San
Angelo to place
more art in public
places. More
from GCISD's
home page:
| The seventh period art class of Mr. Jack Cavness created a mural for the GCHS Library and presented it to Mrs. Franklin Dec. 12th. It was produced in sections with all class members creating different parts of the artwork. This is quite an undertak- ing, because each piece has to match perfectly when it comes together. The eagle now soars on the west wall in the library. Come by and look at their great work. |
Everybody wins
with disciplined
and focused
student-painted
murals such as
this. Kids have
learned a skill
with which they
can make money
for themselves in
the future, and tax
dollars are
saved. Plus the
world's a prettier
place.
Here's an
aquatic-themed
mural painted
last year at an
expressway by
Jack's students
at San Angelo
ISD's Central
High:
with disciplined
and focused
student-painted
murals such as
this. Kids have
learned a skill
with which they
can make money
for themselves in
the future, and tax
dollars are
saved. Plus the
world's a prettier
place.
Here's an
aquatic-themed
mural painted
last year at an
expressway by
Jack's students
at San Angelo
ISD's Central
High:
More good news
from GCISD:
Frank has volun-
tarily posted the
district's check
register online .
Way to go, Grape
Creek!
from GCISD:
Frank has volun-
tarily posted the
district's check
register online .
Way to go, Grape
Creek!
| Hats off to David L. Cockerham Espanola #55 (NM) Online Calendar |
| David L. Cockerham |
It's frustrating for moms
and dads and taxpayers to
call their superintendent's
office only to be told by the
secretary that he/she is not
available. Period. With no
explanations offered or
given, even when pressed.
Not so in Espanola Public
School District #55 in New
Mexico, located just north of
Santa Fe and Nambe
Pueblo. Superin-
tendent David L. Cocker-
ham's calendar is included
as part of his report to the
board; better yet for the
public, a link to the PDF'd
calendar is included in the
district's BoardBook
paperless Agenda Packet--
along with their checks.
Way to go, David & board!
(Posted 01.03.09)
and dads and taxpayers to
call their superintendent's
office only to be told by the
secretary that he/she is not
available. Period. With no
explanations offered or
given, even when pressed.
Not so in Espanola Public
School District #55 in New
Mexico, located just north of
Santa Fe and Nambe
Pueblo. Superin-
tendent David L. Cocker-
ham's calendar is included
as part of his report to the
board; better yet for the
public, a link to the PDF'd
calendar is included in the
district's BoardBook
paperless Agenda Packet--
along with their checks.
Way to go, David & board!
(Posted 01.03.09)
| Above, Espanola students greet bikers on their "Run for the Wall" 2008 trek from California to the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, D.C. |
| the new journalism |
| A teacher among teachers: Rafe Esquith of The Hobart Shakespeareans (LAUSD / CA) |
Recently when I attended a Charles Butt-hosted
"Raise Your Hand" event in Austin several
principals voiced concerns about the issues and
problems many students bring to school with
them; they asked about additional funding
available for dealing with such students.
Why do educators automatically seek more
dollars for dealing with challenged students when
the richness they seek lies within their own
hearts?
Rafe Esquith, a 5th-grade teacher in Los Angeles
USD, is daily confronted with all of these same
issues then some.
Hobart Elementary's Room 56, home to Rafe's
"Hobart Shakespeareans," is situated in one of
the poorest parts of LA.; all of his students qualify
for free breakfast and lunches, and few speak
English as a first language. Many are from poor or
troubled families. The school is on frequent
lockdown because of drug traffickers.
"Raise Your Hand" event in Austin several
principals voiced concerns about the issues and
problems many students bring to school with
them; they asked about additional funding
available for dealing with such students.
Why do educators automatically seek more
dollars for dealing with challenged students when
the richness they seek lies within their own
hearts?
Rafe Esquith, a 5th-grade teacher in Los Angeles
USD, is daily confronted with all of these same
issues then some.
Hobart Elementary's Room 56, home to Rafe's
"Hobart Shakespeareans," is situated in one of
the poorest parts of LA.; all of his students qualify
for free breakfast and lunches, and few speak
English as a first language. Many are from poor or
troubled families. The school is on frequent
lockdown because of drug traffickers.
| Rafe Esquith (L) with students |
| Hobart Shakespeareans in Houston |
Because Rafe succeeds where others fail --
rather than producing high school dropouts as do
many of his peers at urban schools, his students
attend an impressive array of colleges -- let's
listen to Rafe:
rather than producing high school dropouts as do
many of his peers at urban schools, his students
attend an impressive array of colleges -- let's
listen to Rafe:
| The Hobart Shakes- peareans believe "There Are No Shortcuts." These 5th grade children begin to arrive in class at 6:30 a.m. and by 7:00 a.m. are solving complex math problems a full hour before traditional school begins. They stay until 5:00 p.m. or even later, and voluntarily come to school during their vacation periods. They read high school level literature and devour United States History, learning how to be good Americans. Most important of all, these children are recog- nized around the world for their outstanding character. In addition to scoring extra-ordinarily high on standardized tests, these students feed the homeless, raise money for the Red Cross, and give performances to support AIDS research. These students receive over $1 million each year in scholarships to attend first-rate schools. Oustanding prep schools know these students are a sure thing. |
I'm hoping that this August rather than hiring
outside convocation speakers at $5,000 a pop
our administrators will save $4,970 and instead
show their staff Mel Stuart's video about Rafe and
his kids. It will inspire and encourage even the
most tired and jaded of our wonderful educators.
outside convocation speakers at $5,000 a pop
our administrators will save $4,970 and instead
show their staff Mel Stuart's video about Rafe and
his kids. It will inspire and encourage even the
most tired and jaded of our wonderful educators.
| real courage |
| 'superintendent of the year' Ken Mitchell So. Orangetown (NY) |
| Ken Mitchell |
June 10, 2009: It's been so
easy to call folks "heroes"
who simply have done their
job. South Orangetown
CSD superintendent Ken
Mitchell is the real thing.
South Orangetown parent
and former NYPD officer
Peter Cocker took a gun to
South Orangetown Middle
School yesterday apparently
in reaction to a letter Ken
had sent home Monday
detailing the district's swine
flu policy; Cocker reportedly
has a sick child.
easy to call folks "heroes"
who simply have done their
job. South Orangetown
CSD superintendent Ken
Mitchell is the real thing.
South Orangetown parent
and former NYPD officer
Peter Cocker took a gun to
South Orangetown Middle
School yesterday apparently
in reaction to a letter Ken
had sent home Monday
detailing the district's swine
flu policy; Cocker reportedly
has a sick child.
| Paul D'Ambrosio Online Gov't Records Asbury Park Press (NJ) |
While "New
Jersey" doesn't
spring to mind for
most of us when
we're discussing
state and local
transparency,
perhaps it should.
Award-winning
investiga-
tive editor/reporter
Paul D'Ambrosio of
Asbury Park Press
has developed and
posted a virtual
treasure trove of
governmental records
at DataUniverse.com
that I'm hoping other
newspapers will
emulate. One, greater
online transparency
for governmental
records is a good
thing, and two, user
clicks help generate
ad revenue for
newspapers at a time
when all new
revenue streams are
important to their
survival.
A genuine public
service,
DataUniverse.com is
used by government
employees, which is
how I found out about
it; I'd contacted a New
Jersey county office
for information
regarding property
records in connection
with something I'm
investigating and the
clerk referred me to
DataUniverse; "We
use it ourselves to
look stuff up," she
said.
Here's a peek at some
of the public records
online at
DataUniverse:
Jersey" doesn't
spring to mind for
most of us when
we're discussing
state and local
transparency,
perhaps it should.
Award-winning
investiga-
tive editor/reporter
Paul D'Ambrosio of
Asbury Park Press
has developed and
posted a virtual
treasure trove of
governmental records
at DataUniverse.com
that I'm hoping other
newspapers will
emulate. One, greater
online transparency
for governmental
records is a good
thing, and two, user
clicks help generate
ad revenue for
newspapers at a time
when all new
revenue streams are
important to their
survival.
A genuine public
service,
DataUniverse.com is
used by government
employees, which is
how I found out about
it; I'd contacted a New
Jersey county office
for information
regarding property
records in connection
with something I'm
investigating and the
clerk referred me to
DataUniverse; "We
use it ourselves to
look stuff up," she
said.
Here's a peek at some
of the public records
online at
DataUniverse:
| EDUCATION New Jersey & Pennsylvania New Jersey Public School Teachers . . . New Jersey Public School Administrators' Benefits and Pay for 2007/08 . . . School Report Cards . . . SAT Results. . . District Per Pupil Spending . . . Pennsylvania Public School Teachers . . . School Bus Inspection Reports & Statistics . . . Public School Teachers . . . New Jersey Government Retirees . . . Public Sector Contracts |
Other Gannett
newspapers papers
developing similar
local resources:
Rochester, Cincinnati,
Des Moines and
Phoenix.
newspapers papers
developing similar
local resources:
Rochester, Cincinnati,
Des Moines and
Phoenix.
_______
* Selden Ring Award
for Investigative
Reporting, the Farfel
Prize for Excellence
in Investigative
Reporting, the
National Headliner
Award for Public
Service, the
Associated Press
Managing Editors'
Award for Public
Service, the Clark
Mollenhoff Memorial
Award for
Investigative
Reporting, three
National Press Club
awards for
consumer journalism,
and nearly two
dozen other national
writing awards.
* Selden Ring Award
for Investigative
Reporting, the Farfel
Prize for Excellence
in Investigative
Reporting, the
National Headliner
Award for Public
Service, the
Associated Press
Managing Editors'
Award for Public
Service, the Clark
Mollenhoff Memorial
Award for
Investigative
Reporting, three
National Press Club
awards for
consumer journalism,
and nearly two
dozen other national
writing awards.
| Dave Stead Minnesota State High School League ++++ Curtailing student travel |
Dave Stead,
MSHSL executive
director, has taken
a prudent step
given the state of
the economy by
outlawing student
athlete travel:
MSHSL executive
director, has taken
a prudent step
given the state of
the economy by
outlawing student
athlete travel:
| Completing a laundry list of actions intended to save money for schools and families, the Minnesota State High School League board of directors took some sweeping measures Monday. They ranged from banning lengthy out-of-state travel to cutting back on double-elimination postseason tournaments to limits on scrimmages and jamborees. The biggest and most potentially contentious move was a travel limit that takes effect next fall. Teams will be allowed to travel to the states and provinces bordering Minnesota, but no other round trips of more than 600 miles will be allowed. |
To read the entire
Star Tribune article,
please copy and
paste this URL:
/www.startribune.com/sports/pre
ps/47230212.html?elr=KArksLc
kD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ck
UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLa
nchO7DiUsT
Star Tribune article,
please copy and
paste this URL:
/www.startribune.com/sports/pre
ps/47230212.html?elr=KArksLc
kD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ck
UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLa
nchO7DiUsT
| Ben Chavis +++++++ American Indian Charters Oakland (CA) May 31, 2009 |
How is Ben Chavis'
school succeeding
where others, including
charters, with the same 98%
free-and-reduced lunch
markers, fail? Michael Lands-
berg takes a closer look in
today's LA Times. As veteran
educational leader Donna
Garner points out, the secrets
to AIPC's success are the
same ones traditional
classroom teachers have
known to succeed for
decades:
school succeeding
where others, including
charters, with the same 98%
free-and-reduced lunch
markers, fail? Michael Lands-
berg takes a closer look in
today's LA Times. As veteran
educational leader Donna
Garner points out, the secrets
to AIPC's success are the
same ones traditional
classroom teachers have
known to succeed for
decades:
AIPC is proving that kids
welcome challenges and
hard work, and respect those
who expect a lot of them.
What's needed is less money
and laptops and fun and more
solid ideas and adults willing to
act like adults. Liberal social
engineering experiments have
failed. Time to go back to what
we know works.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
welcome challenges and
hard work, and respect those
who expect a lot of them.
What's needed is less money
and laptops and fun and more
solid ideas and adults willing to
act like adults. Liberal social
engineering experiments have
failed. Time to go back to what
we know works.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
| Dallas Morning News & Dallas.org Live blogging Dallas ISD school board meetings (May 30, 2009) |
Dallas residents
are blessed to have
not one but two
reliable news sources
offering live blogging
at school board
meetings. The Dallas
Morning News is the
city's newspaper of
record, and Dallas.org
is the brainchild of
tech executive Allen
Gwinn (above right).
Here's Allen's blog
from last night's DISD
board meeting.
And here's the
blogging from DMN's
Tawnell Hobbs (above
left) and Holly Hacker.
+++++++++++++++++++
are blessed to have
not one but two
reliable news sources
offering live blogging
at school board
meetings. The Dallas
Morning News is the
city's newspaper of
record, and Dallas.org
is the brainchild of
tech executive Allen
Gwinn (above right).
Here's Allen's blog
from last night's DISD
board meeting.
And here's the
blogging from DMN's
Tawnell Hobbs (above
left) and Holly Hacker.
+++++++++++++++++++
| Austin American-Statesman Investigative Journalism May 10, 2009 |
As the newspaper
business declines,
editors are having to
make increasingly
tough decisions about
what they can and
cannot cover. Hats
off to Austin American-
Statesman editor Fred
Zipp, whose reporter
Laua Heinauer is
following up on the
kind of story best
covered by big-city
dailies, including an
AAS' follow-up
editorial this morning.
business declines,
editors are having to
make increasingly
tough decisions about
what they can and
cannot cover. Hats
off to Austin American-
Statesman editor Fred
Zipp, whose reporter
Laua Heinauer is
following up on the
kind of story best
covered by big-city
dailies, including an
AAS' follow-up
editorial this morning.
At issue is $16,000 in
consulting payments to
Austin ISD's new
superintendent Meria
Carstarphen (above),
who is still a full-time
employee of St. Paul
Public Schools until
June 30.
Further, as today's
editorial pointed out,
part of Austin ISD's
"moonlight madness" is
that the behind-closed-
doors AISD board
discussion about the
consulting fees --
which AAS estimates
may reach $50,000 by
June 1 -- involves
money which the
district is very short of
these days. As
today's AAS editorial
points out, "To
balance the 2008-09
budget, the district has
had to use its
reserves, and raise
taxes on local property
taxpayers." Further
AISD still has not
produced their side
contract about the
consulting.
Good job.
+++++++++++++++++++
consulting payments to
Austin ISD's new
superintendent Meria
Carstarphen (above),
who is still a full-time
employee of St. Paul
Public Schools until
June 30.
Further, as today's
editorial pointed out,
part of Austin ISD's
"moonlight madness" is
that the behind-closed-
doors AISD board
discussion about the
consulting fees --
which AAS estimates
may reach $50,000 by
June 1 -- involves
money which the
district is very short of
these days. As
today's AAS editorial
points out, "To
balance the 2008-09
budget, the district has
had to use its
reserves, and raise
taxes on local property
taxpayers." Further
AISD still has not
produced their side
contract about the
consulting.
Good job.
+++++++++++++++++++
| practical thrift |
| St. Cloud ISD (MN) Wire transfers included in online check registers |
Wire transfers have been
included in St. Cloud ISD 742's
check register under two
superintendents; first, Bruce
Watkins, and now Steve
Jordahl. Kevin Januszewski
has served as the district's
executive director of business
services through both
administrations.
The wire transfers are easy to
find; not only are they are
clearly labeled "WIRE" but also
from the months I've reviewed
are either at the beginning or
the ending of the register.
Another hats off: the district's
April checks are already online.
Here's the link:
included in St. Cloud ISD 742's
check register under two
superintendents; first, Bruce
Watkins, and now Steve
Jordahl. Kevin Januszewski
has served as the district's
executive director of business
services through both
administrations.
The wire transfers are easy to
find; not only are they are
clearly labeled "WIRE" but also
from the months I've reviewed
are either at the beginning or
the ending of the register.
Another hats off: the district's
April checks are already online.
Here's the link:
| (L) Bruce Watkins, Steve Jordahl |
| Posted May 7, 2009 |
| CONTRA COSTA TIMES (CA) Craig Lazzeretti Mon., Apr. 27, 2009 |
-- for pressing
Antioch USD
supe Deborah
Sims & att'y
Marleen Sacks
for public
records re
AUSD
elementary
teacher arrest
(child porn)
Antioch USD
supe Deborah
Sims & att'y
Marleen Sacks
for public
records re
AUSD
elementary
teacher arrest
(child porn)
| Antioch supe & 2005 Broad Inst. grad Deborah Sims (L) and attorney Marleen Sacks |
The timeline below
reflects the Contra
Costa Times'
coverage of events
since the February
10 arrest of Carmen
Dragon Elementary
music teacher,
James Carlile.
reflects the Contra
Costa Times'
coverage of events
since the February
10 arrest of Carmen
Dragon Elementary
music teacher,
James Carlile.
| TIMELINE Apr 25, 2009: Antioch school district hides information on child porn case Mar 16: Law firm to look into district's handling of child porn case. Live coverage: Antioch school board approves independent inquiry into child porn case Mar 13: Live coverage Monday: Antioch school board meeting on child porn case Mar 12: Antioch school board considers inquiry into child porn case Mar 11: Dr. Deborah Sims: AUSD answers questions regarding porn case Feb 25: Antioch school trustees ask for timeline on pornography incident Antioch police unsure whether child pornography was viewed during school hours Feb 23: Antioch police, school officials hold second parent meeting about teacher's child porn arrest. Antioch district, police to talk with parents tonight about music teacher's arrest. Editorial: Antioch community deserves complete explanation of teacher's arrest Feb 20: Document: Carmen Dragon Elementary letter to parents. Contradictions arise in accounts of Antioch child pornography investigation Feb 19: Press release: Antioch teacher arrested on child porn charges. Music teacher arrested in Antioch child porn investigation |
| James Carlile (APD mug shot) |
More here regarding
James Carlile's arrest
from The Times:
James Carlile's arrest
from The Times:
| ANTIOCH — An elementary school music teacher has been arrested after an investigation found he downloaded "significant amounts" of child pornography onto his work computer, police said. James Carlile, 52, a teacher at Carmen Dragon Elementary School, was arrested Feb. 10, a week after the pictures depicting naked children were first brought to the attention of Antioch police, said Investigations Lt. Leonard Orman. Inappropriate materials were discovered Jan. 15 by school computer technicians servicing Carlile's work terminal, said Deidra Powell- Williams, spokeswoman for the Antioch Unified School District. Police and Powell-Williams said Carlile had told technicians he was having trouble accessing specific Web sites. Carlile has been on paid administrative leave from the school since the discovery, Powell- Williams said. A forensic computer specialist determined that Carlile was the only person who had access to the terminal when the illegal photos were downloaded, according to police. Orman said there is no indication so far that any of the photos depicted students at the school. Carlile was arrested at a boat in Antioch where he resides during the school week, Orman said. On Feb. 11, Antioch police and sheriff's deputies from Calaveras County searched his Valley Springs home — where he keeps a permanent residence — and seized at least one computer, which is currently being examined. Carlile posted $10,000 bail. ++++++++++++++++++ |
| Tom Harmon WWII "Running the Rapids" |
We are entering
serious and
dangerous times
in America in which
we can, must and
will prevail. As with
other similar periods
throughout history it
will help to be agile of
mind and fleet of foot.
This account of
University of
Michigan football
great Tom Harmon
first describes his
use of his old UM
"Shoot the Rapids"
strategy on the
gridiron which he
handily adapted first
while in the air as a
World War II fighter
pilot then as a
downed and
seriously injured
soldier escaping to
safety from behind
enemy lines.
serious and
dangerous times
in America in which
we can, must and
will prevail. As with
other similar periods
throughout history it
will help to be agile of
mind and fleet of foot.
This account of
University of
Michigan football
great Tom Harmon
first describes his
use of his old UM
"Shoot the Rapids"
strategy on the
gridiron which he
handily adapted first
while in the air as a
World War II fighter
pilot then as a
downed and
seriously injured
soldier escaping to
safety from behind
enemy lines.
| Tom Harmon (Photo courtesy U-M Bentley Historical Library) |
Tom's ingenuity and
heart are good to
keep in mind
whether you're
helping school board
candidates, or
persuading your
district to post its
check register
online, or anything
else in our schools
or your life.
(Posted 03.10.09)
+++++++++++++++++
heart are good to
keep in mind
whether you're
helping school board
candidates, or
persuading your
district to post its
check register
online, or anything
else in our schools
or your life.
(Posted 03.10.09)
+++++++++++++++++
| MORE NEW JOURNALISM |
| Sean Kinney Reporter, KeyNoter.com Key West, Florida |
Key West, Florida
is one lucky com-
munity . . . .
is one lucky com-
munity . . . .
Not just because it's
one of America's
most beautiful
locales, and certainly
not because their
school superinten-
dent and his wife
are being prosecu-
ted for their alleged
roles in the abuse of
the district's finances
including credit
cards.
one of America's
most beautiful
locales, and certainly
not because their
school superinten-
dent and his wife
are being prosecu-
ted for their alleged
roles in the abuse of
the district's finances
including credit
cards.
No. Key West is
lucky because they
have a reporter like
Sean Kinney of
KeysNet willing to
stick his neck out and
take the kinds of
action photos like the
one above with
immediacy to them
that most print
reporters have until
the recent downturn
in print revenues
been reluctant to go
after.
What Sean's doing in
the field of education
reporting is lighting a
fire that I'm hoping will
spread to his fellows
at other papers.
For a reporter it's one
thing to go to a school
board meeting and
take some talking
heads shots, or to sit
in a courtroom press
box and take a photo
of a meth cooker in
leg irons--but quite
another still to place
oneself wherever
necessary no matter
what in order to get a
shot such as this of
one above of one of
the most respected
people in any
community -- the
school superinten-
dent -- watching his
wife and employee
being handcuffed.
Capturing such
images as these
requires a big step
outside most folks'
comfort zones.
In an era when most
newspaper reporters
view cameras as
stepchildren to the
golden words they
write, Sean
understands the
power of a camera to
present "You are
there" images in a
visual age in a way
that words on a page
can't.
Photos like the one
above, and the one
below where the
supe is himself
lucky because they
have a reporter like
Sean Kinney of
KeysNet willing to
stick his neck out and
take the kinds of
action photos like the
one above with
immediacy to them
that most print
reporters have until
the recent downturn
in print revenues
been reluctant to go
after.
What Sean's doing in
the field of education
reporting is lighting a
fire that I'm hoping will
spread to his fellows
at other papers.
For a reporter it's one
thing to go to a school
board meeting and
take some talking
heads shots, or to sit
in a courtroom press
box and take a photo
of a meth cooker in
leg irons--but quite
another still to place
oneself wherever
necessary no matter
what in order to get a
shot such as this of
one above of one of
the most respected
people in any
community -- the
school superinten-
dent -- watching his
wife and employee
being handcuffed.
Capturing such
images as these
requires a big step
outside most folks'
comfort zones.
In an era when most
newspaper reporters
view cameras as
stepchildren to the
golden words they
write, Sean
understands the
power of a camera to
present "You are
there" images in a
visual age in a way
that words on a page
can't.
Photos like the one
above, and the one
below where the
supe is himself
being handcuffed,
permanently change
things, important
things.
First, without such
photos
keeping the Acevedo
matter not only alive
but also front and
center in the public's
awareness, it's
simply been too easy
for local DA's to not
prosecute powerful
school officials.
Second, what
citizen will ever
again view the local
school superinten-
dent in quite the
same way once
they've seen him
being handcuffed?
permanently change
things, important
things.
First, without such
photos
keeping the Acevedo
matter not only alive
but also front and
center in the public's
awareness, it's
simply been too easy
for local DA's to not
prosecute powerful
school officials.
Second, what
citizen will ever
again view the local
school superinten-
dent in quite the
same way once
they've seen him
being handcuffed?
Publisher's
support
No reporter, no
matter how able, can
long function without
a supportive
publisher.
Says KeyNoter
publisher Wayne
Markham: "Sean, a
recent University of
Missippi grad, is a
good example of the
young reporters now
coming out of college
who are very
comfortable using
video cameras, still
cameras, audio
recorders and
traditional note-taking
to capture and
deliver information to
readers. "The
Keynoter is a
twice-a-week
community
newspaper with a
weekly circulation in
print of about 30,000.
Our online
readership is more
than double that.
Sean has taken video
of news as it
happens and posted
to the web, then
turned around to
write a quick web
story, and finally the
version that appears
in the printed paper
along with still
photos. The
financial scandal at
the very top of the
school district has
been a challenging
story to pursue,
including stake-out of
the jail to capture the
photo of the Superin-
tendent's wife being
handcuffed and led
into jail. "
support
No reporter, no
matter how able, can
long function without
a supportive
publisher.
Says KeyNoter
publisher Wayne
Markham: "Sean, a
recent University of
Missippi grad, is a
good example of the
young reporters now
coming out of college
who are very
comfortable using
video cameras, still
cameras, audio
recorders and
traditional note-taking
to capture and
deliver information to
readers. "The
Keynoter is a
twice-a-week
community
newspaper with a
weekly circulation in
print of about 30,000.
Our online
readership is more
than double that.
Sean has taken video
of news as it
happens and posted
to the web, then
turned around to
write a quick web
story, and finally the
version that appears
in the printed paper
along with still
photos. The
financial scandal at
the very top of the
school district has
been a challenging
story to pursue,
including stake-out of
the jail to capture the
photo of the Superin-
tendent's wife being
handcuffed and led
into jail. "
| Sean Kinney's Oct. 1, 2009 photo of Monique Acevedo's 3rd trip to jail; she's at far right, holding hands with her husband, former supe and former boss Randy Acevedo. |
Sean Kinney in
his own words: "It
became apparent in
my senior year of
journalism school,
2008, with an
emphais on print and
magazine writing,
that the industry
trend was towards
people that couuld
wear multiple hats. I
have no training in
photography.
However, I realized
that an individual
who could say "yes"
when asked if you
can report, shoot
pics,write scripts,
anchor a TV show,
produce sound bites
and even record and
edit video, is sitting
in the catbird seat.
It's a big learning
curve but, when you
realize the benefit, it
comes naturally.
For instance, instead
of a reporter and a
photographer,
two people that can
do both essentially
double potential
coverage
and,subsequently,
news product. It's
good business and
professionally
invaluable; plus, it's
a lot of fun. Media
convergence, as in
increasing efficiency
by concurrently
producing news in
different mediums, is
the thing.
his own words: "It
became apparent in
my senior year of
journalism school,
2008, with an
emphais on print and
magazine writing,
that the industry
trend was towards
people that couuld
wear multiple hats. I
have no training in
photography.
However, I realized
that an individual
who could say "yes"
when asked if you
can report, shoot
pics,write scripts,
anchor a TV show,
produce sound bites
and even record and
edit video, is sitting
in the catbird seat.
It's a big learning
curve but, when you
realize the benefit, it
comes naturally.
For instance, instead
of a reporter and a
photographer,
two people that can
do both essentially
double potential
coverage
and,subsequently,
news product. It's
good business and
professionally
invaluable; plus, it's
a lot of fun. Media
convergence, as in
increasing efficiency
by concurrently
producing news in
different mediums, is
the thing.
Hats off to Sean
and Wayne and
their fellows at
the Keynoter.
Here's hoping the
light from the fire
they've lit in Key
West will show the
way for others to
follow.
and Wayne and
their fellows at
the Keynoter.
Here's hoping the
light from the fire
they've lit in Key
West will show the
way for others to
follow.
| More Sean Kinney photos |
| Posted October 1, 2009 Updated October 7, 2009 +++++++++++++++++++ Photos: Copyright Keynoter Publishing Co. Inc, 2009. Reprinted by permission of the Keynoter Publishing Co. Inc. |
