Saturday, January 25, 2014

Supplemental Materials for the January 27, 2014 School Board Meeting

Here are the supplemental materials for the January 27, 2014 meeting of the School Board, to be held at 7pm at Memorial Middle School.

I'm happy to report that the supplemental materials for School Board meetings are soon going to be posted on the District website.  Thank you Dr. Marschhausen for making this happen. Perhaps at some point, documents from prior meetings will be posted online as well, but until then the materials I've posted - going back to June 2012 - will remain available here.

As I noted previously, we're in the process of going through the three readings of new and changed policies, the documents which govern the operations of our school district. This meeting will be the second reading, and if all goes according to schedule, we'll be voting to put these policies into effect at the next meeting.

Please take the time to read the new proposed language of Policy CBA, the "Qualifications and Duties of the Superintendent."  This has been significantly overhauled with input of the School Board, Dr. Marschhausen, and Dr. Bill Reimer of the Education Services Center (ESC) of Central Ohio. This policy is much more "alive" than the prior policy, and I'm excited to observe Dr. Marschhausen already spreading its philosophy through the District.

Please also give some attention to the proposed IGBEA-R, which describes how our district will deal with the Third Grade Reading Guarantee. I understand the motivation behind the Guarantee, but I think it places unnecessary burdens on school districts which have demonstrated success without it. After all, we're not in the business of producing 3rd-grade graduates, it's 12th grade graduate which is our goal. If a kid catches up in the 5th grade, why isn't that a good and acceptable thing?

I wish our public education system could be redesigned to adapt to the developmental growth rate of each kid, and not try to shove them through 13 years of school like it is an assembly line in which each age cohort is homogeneous in their ability. We certainly do that at the college level - each individual is free to go at the pace in which they can succeed (and afford).

Meanwhile, we're going to have some drama because of this law and the policies it demands. There are going to be kids who have to repeat 3rd grade who might be better served with other solutions. The parent meetings will be challenging, and as Dr. Marschhausen says, everyone will be crying.

Item E1f is the approval of supplemental salaries for coaches and leaders of the Spring activities for Davidson/Weaver and Bradley/Memorial. The Darby/Heritage numbers will be brought for approval at the next meeting.

I hope you're a regular reader of Dr. Marschhausen's blog, "Get Connected."  His most recent story talks about how the decision is made to close the district on snow days. He also closes with a word of caution to the students to be careful what they post on social media sites. Increasingly often, these posts are examined by important folks, like college admissions officers and potential employers. And they don't necessarily disappear from the search engines just because a post, or even a whole account, is deleted...

7 comments:

  1. Late Breaking Item: Dr. Marschhausen has just sent around a draft resolution allowing the administration to develop a way to allow kids to complete school work at home on up to three excess calamity days.

    The lessons will be posted online, and updated as the year goes along so as to be relevant to where the kids are. The law which permits this has provisions for students who may not have access to online resources from home.

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  2. Paul,

    The revision of CBA is yet another supporting opinion of our leadership team. This policy revision is a true move towards accountability of management. We now have the leadership we deserved many years ago. I have been in the district over 20 years. I have been a yes voter followed by a period of no votes and moving back to a yes voter again. Each change has been earned by our super. The question is will any others be moving? Many no voters were more than turned off by lip service of accountability. Glad to see the board wake up, just a shame it did not happen earlier.

    Glad to see a work around for snow days. One question about the program. Several labor contracts ago the union stated WE WILL ONLY WORK THE CONTRACT. I remember that phrase and attitude they took. The question is if they do not work in the classroom for 3 days will they get paid. How about we pay the contract.

    Dave

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    1. The question is if they do not work in the classroom for 3 days will they get paid.

      The teachers' pay does not change because of calamity days.

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  3. Paul,
    Just to make sure I understand your reply. Does the contract not say 184 current/ 185 new duty days. If we have 3 excess calamity days the teachers will not have to meet there contract of duty days?

    So the question is if we have excess calamity days and teachers do not work their contract duty days they get paid for days they do not report to duty?

    Dave

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    1. Dave: Interesting question. Doing a little research.

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  4. Paul,

    It is important to understand why I even ask the question. First please understand my support of Dr M looking into ways to deal with excess calamity days.

    When the district asks for levy money, it is to pay for the costs associated with school on X number of days. The inservice days and teacher enrichment days are always on a school day or week. This activity should never take place during the school year. It should take place before or after the school year, but it always takes place during the 184 duty days.

    It is no secret that I do not like teachers being unionized or the contract that rewards seniority not effectiveness of the teachers.

    I always remember the chant of the HEA during a recent contrat renewal, WE WILL ONLY WORK THE CONTRACT!, So that is what I want, to only pay the contract for the 184 duty days. No duty no pay.

    So even if the gov or legislature allows less school days. I want the teachers to work the contract duty days.

    Dave

    Dave

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  5. I understand your question and the motivation. Just need to get some info before I answer.

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