tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.comments2023-10-12T06:14:17.907-04:00BPS Education OdysseyKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618838814261741637noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-15663183766180602572017-02-23T15:25:09.981-05:002017-02-23T15:25:09.981-05:00Thanks so much for compiling these wise words, Kar...Thanks so much for compiling these wise words, Karen! And just to add that he is not acting in ways that will destroy just the U.S. but of course the health & balance of the whole planet for future generations.Ms. Doremus' US History Spothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05219148802533202641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-38870727635951225722014-06-12T12:44:56.136-04:002014-06-12T12:44:56.136-04:00Thank you for your comment and belief, like mine, ...Thank you for your comment and belief, like mine, that if we unite we CAN win. I look forward to working with you to protect our public schools and educate all citizens on the issues surrounding privatization of public schools!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10618838814261741637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-11696460882131381842014-06-10T14:07:55.577-04:002014-06-10T14:07:55.577-04:00Superb! Every important point is covered, with ci...Superb! Every important point is covered, with citations and evidence. I am moved by the video of demonstrations all over the country in defense of public schools! This article should go viral, and be brought to the attention of all parents, all voters, all taxpayers, all citizens, and all public officials. The monetary prize for privatizing and corporatizing the public education budget has created a formidable force against us. But I have no doubt that if we unite, we can win. The future of our children, our nation, our democracy, is at stake.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-31099391350656510302013-12-21T09:50:16.129-05:002013-12-21T09:50:16.129-05:00So, inquiring minds want to know, why did John Ver...So, inquiring minds want to know, why did John Verre abruptly leave in the dark, for the uber wealthy hamlet of Darren, CT? To date, this remarkable departure has not once been publicly noted within BPS nor publicly noted within the so-called BPS SPEDPAC.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02102458746724091716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-13237345678941176442013-06-08T10:13:30.413-04:002013-06-08T10:13:30.413-04:00Great bar graphs....show the disparity big time!Great bar graphs....show the disparity big time!Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099938295287900924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-8799744389389569482013-01-15T16:08:34.513-05:002013-01-15T16:08:34.513-05:00I agree Chris. And like you have expressed my issu...I agree Chris. And like you have expressed my issues with multiple BPS folks over the years (Supt. Payzant & now Dr. Johnson)including Mr. Burrell (I didn't post all the emails, only ones directly relevant to the point). I am not sure what the answer is for BPS, but something has to be done about how AWC is run without a doubt. And yes, even with our K-8 pathway here in Rozzie, we are at a serious disadvantage for those kids who qualify for AWC & want to stay in the pathway even if a change of schools is necessary! Thank you for the great comment! Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10618838814261741637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-37216372025020889582013-01-11T09:07:12.218-05:002013-01-11T09:07:12.218-05:00Even under the current assignment process, I have ...Even under the current assignment process, I have always found advanced work to be problematic. Kids who qualify for both advanced work and an exam school may end up changing schools at 4th, 6th, and 7th grades, meaning they could be at four different schools in the five years spanning 3rd through 7th grades. Meanwhile, there are kids at K-8 schools that have AWC who won't have any reason to change schools until 7th grade at the earliest. This is one of the less-discussed inequalities in the system, and it especially impacts Roslindale, which has no K-8 schools and only one K-5 school with advanced work seats.<br /><br />As I see it, the new assignment process has the potential to make this problem even greater. Assuming we end up with smaller assignment zones, students will be more likely to be moved out of their zone to attend AWC. If the new sibling preference rules make it difficult for younger siblings to attend out of zone schools, we will only be making it more difficult for families to stay together. While the mayor's stated goals include more predictability and a stronger sense of community, the combination of a new assignment system and the old AWC rules has the potential to make things worse for AWC students rather than better.<br /><br />All this puts aside other concerns I have about the way that the AWC program is run. Suffice it to say that I think that the entire program deserves a closer look (and I've expressed this opinion to Superintendent Johnson directly). But at the very least, I hope that AWC assignment is at least a consideration in the EAC's recommendations.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04929194171736131924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-70444176985729015072012-10-01T17:29:18.188-04:002012-10-01T17:29:18.188-04:00Kathy,
The rush is as it always is in BPS (as lon...Kathy,<br /><br />The rush is as it always is in BPS (as long as I have been paying attention anyway), if they make the time-line quick and condensed, especially during the holiday and winter season, chances are better that BPS will get a policy/plan approved. <br /><br />And I agree, the cart before the horse is definitely an issue here. But the argument is that we need to do something NOW according to my sources... I just fear that this will not only create turmoil, but also prolong the process of improving our schools as BPS will be so busy implementing the new zones etc that increasing quality in the schools will be pushed back.<br /><br />Thanks for your comment, it is also nice to know I am not the only one flummoxed by BPS ;)<br />KarenBPSNightmarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10694343963085252264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-19381489218986571432012-10-01T17:20:23.201-04:002012-10-01T17:20:23.201-04:00Hi Megan,
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. My ...Hi Megan,<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughtful comment. My understanding of the definition is that it is actually a draft at this time according to the EAC's information on their page here http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/files/definition_of_quality_-_6-22-2012_0.pdf. They do not have any meeting minutes which show that this was passed as the accepted definition and in fact John Mudd of Mass Advocates for Children wrote a memo regarding his concerns after attending the meeting of the Defining Quality Sub-committee on September 13th - so maybe they voted to pass the definition then? If you have more info on this, please share with myself and others, I am happy to admit when I am mistaken about something.<br /><br />I will also look to getting an answer on whether this definition is now approved or not too. :)<br />KarenBPSNightmarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10694343963085252264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-9212231275041648882012-10-01T16:58:58.330-04:002012-10-01T16:58:58.330-04:00You are absolutely correct! I apologize if there i...You are absolutely correct! I apologize if there is any confusion. Thank you for pointing that out and posting!BPSNightmarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10694343963085252264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-52528191552434540612012-10-01T12:50:53.569-04:002012-10-01T12:50:53.569-04:00I so agree with you that BPS should not be paying ...I so agree with you that BPS should not be paying for charter and parochial school transportation -- or in other words, any transportation that is not to BPS schools! That would save some money in the transportation budget.<br /><br />I am also confused as to why there is such a rush to get feedback, recommend a plan and have the School Committee vote on it. Especially with all the BPS administration departures, don't they want to get this right? And judging from the "quality schools" issue, they have put the cart before the horse by suggesting new zones without equitable options. Sigh. Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03099938295287900924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-61691580313598866222012-09-29T23:48:39.635-04:002012-09-29T23:48:39.635-04:00Hi, I was really interested in this post too. Tha...Hi, I was really interested in this post too. Thanks. One thing is that the final definition of quality that BPS came up with is a little different, and to me isn't so bad, except for the last one:<br /><br />Definition of a Quality School<br />-- Academic excellence and student academic growth in all grades, across subgroups of race, ethnicity, English Language Learners and Students with disabilities<br />-- Principal effectiveness and teacher excellence with caring teachers and staff <br />-- Parent engagement and sense of community within and outside of the school <br />-- Focus on the development of the whole child and the needs of all learners through arts, music, athletics, and program course offerings<br />-- Safe and positive school climate including social and emotional support<br />-- Adequate and appropriate facilities<br />-- As close to home as possible (There was discussion about whether this belonged in the definition because though some people in the series of community meetings they were basing this on expressed this preference (those in Charlestown, Downtown, parts of North Dorchester, the North End, East Boston (in forums) and West Roxbury, those in Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Mattapan and Roxbury were more likely to select “safety” over “close to home” when asked about choice preferences. It also doesn't seem an objective measure, as a school close to home isn't an objective measure as it changes from student to student.)<br /><br />Megan<br />Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05635347206389714976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587208073934966945.post-32629058931416372872012-09-29T17:52:43.545-04:002012-09-29T17:52:43.545-04:00Thanks for this post. I just want to mention that ...Thanks for this post. I just want to mention that it is the BPS who proposed the 5 plans not the EAC, the EAC will make a recommendation on one of the 5 plans but they did not come up with the plans.m.otoolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16844801272738580620noreply@blogger.com