UPDATED: Teachers Talk Testing Forum at PS 321 a Rousing Success

Now, with student performance on state tests also factoring into teacher evaluations, the system may not only weed out ineffective teachers but also discourage highly effective teachers as well, said Julie Cavanagh, a special education teacher at P.S. 15 Patrick F. Daly in Red Hook. "I find myself subjecting these kids that I love to this thing that's not good for them, doesn't benefit them, doesn't give me the information that I need -- which is supposed to be the purpose of assessments," she said. "It is the definition of insanity." ... WNYC, Schoolbook

... very moving as teachers from the school were joined by MOREistas Sam Coleman and Julie Cavanagh on the panel. Principal Liz Phillips was also on the panel as was well-known college education prof Celia Oyler.

UPDATED WITH WNYC ARTICLE and PIC.

Professional film makers filmed the event so I could just sit back and enjoy.

Many Change the Stakes people were there too -- the synergy between MORE and CTS, the two branches of what used to be the Grassroots Education Movement (GEM) just keep growing. (A joint Feb. 1 conf is planned.)

During the QandA questions about the opt-out movement were asked. Liz Phillips, who has issues with the opt-out movement gave a pretty clear explanation as to why. And she makes sense from a certain point of view, pointing to how much extra work put on teachers by a large opt-out - they do not have to do portfolios but have to give each child a one-on-one test.

But there is another side to the question. And while I don't think Liz changed her view I did think there was a lot of food for thought after, from the stage, Julie pointed to CTS/MORE Jia Lee who was sitting in the audience as an expert on opting out, both as a teacher, chapter leader and a parent, who explained equally clearly how a school could support opting out.

Jia responded to the question of the challenge and extra work teachers would face if parents opted their children out of the tests and to the issue of making a difference within a school if the opt out numbers were small or large. She responded with the Earth School's opt out experience from last year and stressed how important coming together as a community was in this effort, and that we shouldn't let the extra work be the stumbling block to opting out.

This year should be interesting in terms of the growth of the opt-out movement, mostly at this time, a white middle class movement. There will not be enough traction until it grows in non-white areas of the city. CTS has some intentions of reaching out to these areas.

Here is a report from CTS stalwart parent activist Janine Sopp.

Many of our 9CTS) members attended the event, Teachers Talk Testing, at PS321 in Park Slope. Please check the website (http://www.teacherstalktesting.com/) and spread the word about the petition they've created:

Help us lower the stakes around testing for teachers and families in NYC! Addressed to Mayor DiBlasio.

The panel tonight was incredible. Every teacher gave strong, informative and passionate testimonies, many of which brought us to tears. Julie Cavanaugh and Sam Coleman were part of the panel and Change the Stakes was mentioned a number of times throughout the evening. The video of the event will be posted to the website for all to see. 

I believe it was one of the most meaningful forums I've attended and those in attendance were moved by hearing these first hand accounts from teachers and principal. This is clearly an important aspect of educating parents and the website will have a place for teachers to post their testimonials. Hearing from both ends of the district was really meaningful. Seeing how teachers in all learning environments are being compromised and how the tests are effecting all children, and most dramatically, children with special needs. Julie's testimony on this was quite vivid.

Both Fred and Jia spoke during the Q and A, responding to questions about opting out, which seemed to be what most parents wanted to know about. Jia responded to the question of the challenge and extra work teachers would face if parents opted their children out of the tests and to the issue of making a difference within a school if the opt out numbers were small or large. She boldly responded with the Earth School's opt out experience from last year and stressed how important coming together as a community was in this effort, and that we shouldn't let the extra work be the stumbling block to opting out. 

Fred addressed the way opt out could be meaningful w/o consequences via the field tests, this in response to how we can hurt Pearson, since the bottom line is where the buck stops. Celia Oyler, professor who trains teachers at TC, spoke to us about the corporate side of ed reform, giving a perspective that many parents still know little about. A former PS321 teacher who now teaches in Chinatown spoke about how this community sees the tests as their ticket out and how can we support this community and others who believe the tests are their answer.

There were many parents in the audience, and even a MS447 teacher and other teachers, expressing how important opting out will be as a strategy. We heard over and over again that it's the PARENTS who have the power. 

What I did not have the chance to express is that we need to WIELD our power, and not just by adding our name to a petition (though this is one step), but by taking the bull by the horns and leveraging our weight by throwing a wrench into the system by using opt out as a way to halt or stall this run away train. Many parents feel compelled but so many are so afraid. I will say that I saw Liz Phillips actually move her position slightly on opt out as the conversation unfolded. What I did not see, however, was a formal means by which to gather parents and teachers in the moment to really hash out a strategy. I think this is one of the most important aspects CtS needs to discuss, how best to support these pockets of resistance. As well, Rosalie handed out about 100 CtS fliers.

-----

Brooklyn Teachers Blast Emphasis on Testing

Wednesday, December 04, 2013 - 04:00 AM

By Yasmeen Khan

Alex Messer, a teacher at P.S. 321, describes the stress of testing on students and teachers. (Yasmeen Khan). MOREistas Sam Coleman and Julie Cavanagh on panel.

 

A group of veteran teachers described in detail Tuesday night how an emphasis on standardized tests was sucking the joy out of the classroom, adding undue stress to students and educators themselves.

"The tests are kind of ruining what we love," said Sara Greenfield, a third-grade teacher at P.S. 321 William Penn in Park Slope.... Greenfield and others spoke to parents and fellow teachers in the P.S. 321 auditorium at a forum under the umbrella of Teachers Talk Testing, a newly-formed group seeking to reduce the emphasis on testing in three ways: ending grade promotion tied to test scores; ending middle school and high school admissions tied exclusively to test scores; and revising the way test scores factor into school progress reports..... P.S. 321's principal, Liz Phillips, bluntly brought the problem with the Common Core back to testing. "The value of the Common Core has become totally tainted because of the tests," she said.

Read entire piece: http://www.wnyc.org/story/brooklyn-teachers-decry-high-stakes-attached-tests/

Principal Responds to Recruiting Request from College

Subject: RE: Your Assistance is Needed: Identifying Future School Leaders
I will suggest folks apply for waivers like the last few Chancellors (and the former State Ed  Commissioner, Steiner) who have been invited to  address folks at your school Klein Levy, Black and Walcott...
Why waste their time actually studying to become a leader when you can do it via nepotism and waivers as NYC has done for a decade- and NYS did  for Steiner...Did you or anyone else your program ever speak out against it?

NYC Principal responding to letter below.

 Dear NYCDOE Principals,

Metro North Wreck: What Would it have cost to put up a "slow speed" warning sign?

Ms. Anders said on Monday that the tracks north of the station did not include any kind of marker telling engineers when to slow down. “Engineers are required to know maximum authorized speeds and speed restrictions as part of their territory qualification,” she said.... NY Times

Yes, the engineer should have known. But a simple flashing light would prevent the possibility of distraction. Thus the full blame will fall on the driver.

Common Core for Infant Future Opt-Outers: Read Ravitch

Mommy engages Max in close reading. No context please.Who is that Ravitch lady who is scaring the beejeezus out of ed deformers?

Ed Notes Learns Identity of next chancellor and police commissioner

And the winner is: Jeff Kaufman, who as a former cop, lawyer and current teacher has the qualifications and the skills to do both jobs - at the same time. Congrats Jeff.

Another No-Nothing NY Times Ed Editorial

Do they read their own paper?... Loretta Prisco on NYT editorial board

.@nytopinion calls NYC teachers who work as substitutes "inactive".....Lisa Fleisher, WSJ, tweet

Great catch by Lisa. I tweeted back:

@lisafleisher .@nytopinion Good pt- ATRe work full day- some as subs, others replacing teachers who are on leave, etc. NYT ed bd ignorant

Loretta Prisco's full comment:

There is so much misinformation, lack of understanding, and a premise built on untruths (the value of high stakes testing), that is hard to know where to begin to respond.  Do they read their own paper? Yes the NYT has been on the side of the billionaires - but it has also written some articles on the cheating on tests and the anxiety brought on by HST.  They have completely ignored those stories...

The comments are just beginning to flow exposing the ignorant fault lines in the NYT editorial. RBE already nailed them this morning.

Perdido Street School
NY Times: Teacher MUST Make Concessions on Seniority, ATR'S, Pay And Scheduling - Usual neo-liberal claptrap in the NY Times on the teachers contract. The Timesmen want teachers to agree to get rid of salary steps and tie teacher pay to ... 

Look for a barrage as the day goes on. There were some interesting tweets from Wall Street Journal reporter Lisa Fleisher (who I highlighted earlier this morning for her article on Citizens of the World).

1. Lisa Fleisher ‏@lisafleisher 10h

   .@nytopinion writes on seniority & pool of "inactive" NYC teachers, but doesn't note link - it can cost principals more to hire "inactives"

    
2. Lisa Fleisher ‏@lisafleisher 10h

   .@nytopinion calls NYC teachers who work as substitutes "inactive" http://nyti.ms/1ir2EKS

   
   

   1. en Max - DecideNYC ‏@TweetBenMax 10h

      @lisafleisher @nytopinion Wouldn't it be a plus if state/city could remove personnel costs from principals' budgeting?

      
      

      •  
   2. Mark Treyger ‏@MarkTreyger718 9h

      @lisafleisher NYT thinks that veteran teachers are roadblocks 2 progress? DOE ignored needs of ELL & special needs population 4 past decade

   
   

And a comment from parent activist Jeff Nichols, who made a wonderful presentation at the City Council hearings last week.

Their own paper has pretty consistently lined up with the deformers. It's obvious the powers that be at the NYT pay more attention to the billionaire boys club than to anyone who actually knows the field of education. One can hope that since de Blasio's entire campaign was based on standing up for regular people, he'll not fall prey to the seductions of the folks with yachts and private jets, as Obama seems to have done... Jeff Nichols

I'm hoping too but my faith in politicians is strained by reality. deB has to show me serious rent money from Eva and other wealthy charters before I become a believer. And reverse - What about reversals of the October co-locos?

WSJ Reports on Citizens of the World Charter Underenrollment

The school's experience demonstrates that charter schools, which often say parents need more choices, can be stung when parents' decisions don't fall their way. It also bolsters opponents who say that, despite claims of long wait lists and tales of parents craving alternatives, there isn't as much demand for charter schools as supporters say... Lisa Fleisher, WSJ.

Lisa Fleisher often writes pieces that are fairly reported. This is another one. I can't think of another ed reporter who has brought up the point we often make about phony demand. Now if the ed press would do a FOIL on those supposed signatures charters use to claim demand.

[I was also pleased to see Lisa tweet some points of contention over the awful NY Times education editorial  - I'll try to recover them and add them to a follow-up piece later.]

One interesting point that Lisa doesn't mention is how few of the kids enrolled come from the neighborhood the school is located in -- I believe less than 5%. She does point out that kids come from as far away as Rockaway -- truly astounding when you think of the commute for little kids. I love that she gives recognition to Brooke Parker and WAGPOPS for the work they do in defending the local public schools in Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

Given that by hook or crook, Citizens of the World has managed to get close to their target, don't be surprised to see kids being dragged off the street -- and I bet there are some hidden incentives involved somewhere since so much is at stake.

NY Schools

A Charter School's Struggle for New Students

Influx of Students Needed to Keep Doors Open

By

Lisa Fleisher

Nov. 28, 2013 9:33 p.m. ET

A Williamsburg charter school that tried to attract white and middle-class families needs to find more students in the next week, or it could be shut down. Citizens of the World 1, part of a California-based charter-school chain, opened across from Brooklyn's McCarren Park in September expecting 107 kindergartners and first-graders to totter through the doors.

But on the first day of school, teachers welcomed only 56 students. After the last bus arrived, administrators made call after call to families who had signed up. They ruled out logistical hiccups and realized that more students just weren't coming.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304747004579224023173076250

My Wife Joins the Fray on Obamacare

My cousin, now living in Israel where I believe there is a national health care system, is a conservative, anti-Obama, and especially opposed to Obamacare. Which I can understand if he was, like my wife and me, in favor of a single payer system -- Medicare for all. I mean, we are pissed too at Obama for allowing the insurance companies to run health care and take their pound of flesh. But he's a critic from the right. Much closer to a tea party libertarian point of view -- he does come from the business world.

My wife has some serious expertise in this area, having spent much of her career working in a major hospital handing insurance health issues and dealing with every insurance company and the medicare people -- who she found the most effective.

So when my cousin sent this video link about the Affordable Coffee Act to his list today with this comment ----

Clever no matter where you come down on the real ACA. (And less than 4 minutes long.)

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/11/28/coffeecare_the_affordable_coffee_act.html



---my wife responded:

Health insurance isn't a luxury, like coffee, that you really don't need to buy.  It's a necessity that at some point almost everyone will need. You can either pay for it now, often with the help of government subsidies, or pay for it later when you become ill and have no insurance and have to bankrupt yourself to obtain care. Just the fact that people with preexisting conditions can now obtain coverage is a huge step forward.

The ACA has faults and yes, you shouldn't have to pay for maternity care if you're menopausal or a man, but in lieu of universal coverage, it's better than the nothing that existed before the law was passed.  Also, although it's a government mandate, it's not the government that will reap windfall profits from the paltry penalty tax that individuals who fail to buy insurance must pay.  The big insurance companies will become even more obscenely rich than they are now by selling all of these policies.

Despite the fact that she was complaining that she had to spend a half hour of thinking time crafting this response, thus taking time away from playing with the cats, I think I'll offer that gal a regular health coverage beat on ed notes -- which she'll turn down of course. Playing with the cats and taking care of a feeble-minded husband takes priority.

UPDATE:
My cousin responded with:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. First, I know many people who would argue as to which is more important - their cup of coffee or almost anything else when they feel coffee-deprived.

The biggest problem for me is the "we know what is best for you attitude" that I feel has permeated the pro-ACA position. And the fact that the powers who pushed it through 3 years ago knew the truth and lied. Like the "little people" do not know what is good for them and, to quote the famous movie line, "can't handle the truth."

I believe the good elements of the law as you point them out could have been achieved other ways. But this was and is, pure and simply, a power grab by those that know better than the rest of us what is good for us.

Also, I find it is very easy for people who have the means to pay for something to think others, who have less means, should also.

I guess you and I will have to agree to disagree about which path is the most "righteous" (as in has the most "justice" in it) one to take. 

 So I get into this with this response:

We appreciate the debate on this. I am having the same one with my dentist who agrees with you and makes the points about a power grab. But a power grab by whom is what I ask?
He says by Obama -- the big govt- big brother argument.
We critics on the left say it is a typical crony capitalistic profit-making power grab by many elements in the health industry - some will gain a lot and others will lose out -- but generally the corporations will make out fine.
When I point to medicare and basically other than the all too high fraud that could be managed with better oversight, works out pretty well. Imagine medicare for all? Do you have such a health care system in Israel? If so do you consider that a power grab?

I find some hypocrisy in the "nanny state" argument given there are no complaints about so many areas --  required car insurance. Or the costs of so-called "security" and the costs of the military industrial complex which are never opened up to scrutiny.
How about those farm subsidies to millionaire mega-farmers?
There is so much cronyism in a government under the control of special interests that to abstract the idea of an uncoupled government from those interests makes this an ideological not an economic or political argument.
The complexities and failures of Obamacare are due to the needs to satisfy the profit motive of special interests.
People on your side of the fence are not offering those strong alternatives you claim are out there to cover people with pre-existing conditions. If we say let the government just offer them a plan that would work we would hear massive squawks. So basically, you guys have restricted the options and forced people to come up with some kind of plan that satisfies the special interests -- basically the very same plan Republicans were pushing before Obama became president - as in Massachusetts.
So it is interesting how the people against single payer -- who often love medicare - argue out of so many different sides of their mouths.

 I'm waiting for my wife to respond - if she stops playing with those damn cats. And tomorrow morning I have an appointment with my dentist to fix a broken tooth where I will attempt to make my points before he shoves instruments in my mouth.

Teachers Talk Testing @PS 321K, Tues. Dec. 3 - With MOREistas Cavanagh, Coleman and More

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We'll be holding a Teachers Talk Testing Forum at PS 321 this Tuesday, 12/3 at 6:30pm. I'll be speaking - among other great guests - and I urge you to attend if you are able to make it. We'll be looking at the impact the high stakes tests are having on teachers professionally... as well as on our classrooms and students. We'll also look at ways we can help lower the stakes surrounding these tests.

Even if you aren't able to make it, you should definitely check out our website, consider signing the petition, and spread the word... a great and easy step we can all take to help lower the stakes around testing in NYC:  http://www.teacherstalktesting.com/petition

Best,

Alex Messer

4th Grade Teacher

UFT Chapter Leader

PS 321

Report from the Banana Republic: Where Does Blame for Derailment Lie?

MTA Board should resign Immediately. But they will just blame the train operator.

Well, is it time to officially declare us a 3rd World Country with today's Metro North Derailment? Exactly how do the people in charge of running things get chosen? Political hacksville:

MTA Leadership

The MTA is governed by a 17-member Board. Members are nominated by the Governor, with four recommended by New York City's mayor and one each by the county executives of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Putnam counties (the members representing the latter four cast one collective vote).

• MTA Board Members
• MTA Management Team
• MTA Agency Presidents
• Past MTA Board Chairs

Do you believe this crew of almost all white men?

Click on each MTA Board member's picture for a short bio. Scroll down or click here for details of appointment.

Thomas F. Prendergast Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
Fernando Ferrer Vice Chairman
Andrew Albert	Jonathan A. Ballan	John H. Banks	Robert C. Bickford
James F. Blair	Norman E. Brown	Allen P. Cappelli	Ira Greenberg
Jeffrey A. Kay	Mark D. Lebow	Susan G. Metzger	Charles G. Moerdler
John J. Molloy	Mark Page	Mitchell H. Pally	David Paterson
Andrew M. Saul	James L. Sedore Jr.	Vincent Tessitore, Jr.	Ed Watt
Carl V. Wortendyke

A Bittersweet Weekend

How to even begin to describe the levels of inspiration that Gene and Loretta provided? Committed educators, representative of the best of NYC and it's radical traditions, wonderful friends offering help and comfort to those around them, people full of humor and the life force... Farewell, brother: you lit the path before us and made it a little easier to go forward... Michael Fiorillo

Over 40 years ago I met a group of people when I became an education activist -- read "real reformer" -- in the community I taught in and in the UFT. A bunch of us have remained friends over these years. Losing one of the core members is a big blow. So today's (and tomorrow's) wake for Gene Prisco is a very sad affair. Our little group is heading over this afternoon and it is still hard to believe.

It was over 10 years ago when I had a party at my house, inviting the 70s group and a newer group of people I met though Ed Notes -- people like Michael and John Lawhead -- and later on, Jeff Kaufman and James Eterno and Lisa North and Gloria Brandman --- the old guard and the newer guard bonded very easily -- with many of the same views -- and that is what made the formation of ICE feasible.  And since Gene had already retired, it gave him a forum and an opportunity to introduce his strong voice to a larger audience.

It was hard to not talk about Gene and Loretta though I  pretty much kept saying, "oy vey." I am truly devoid of eloquence. Unfortunately I can't make the funeral on Tuesday morning as I have an important appointment with my dentist to fix a broken tooth.

Gene's wake will be today and tomorrow at Harmon's funeral home on Forest Ave in Staten Island from 4-7.

Purely due to coincidence, since we ordered the tickets a long time ago, last night 5 of us went out to see Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" at Town Hall, the first of 4 New York live radio performances. (It will be rebroadcast today at 11 AM on NPR 820am radio. I recommend going to this if you can get tickets.)

We enjoyed 2 hours of laughter and a fine meal at a Thai place on 8th Ave off 42nd St. Now back to reality.

If you want some eloquence, here are some great comments at the ICE blog.

Jeff Kaufman said...

Thanks, James and to all of you who have known Gene and have been touched by his compassion, strength and lust for life. Gene's gift of making everyone feel special and important extended to those that totally disagreed with his strong views. While it is a huge loss he has left a legacy which will live on through all of us.

 

 John Lawhead said...

We loved you, Gene Prisco. You were a wise and charming fellow. You always had an open heart and timely words to make us feel we're part of something larger.

 

Mike MORE said...

May God Bless Loretta and the family, my deepest sympathies

 

Gloria said...

Although I didn't know Gene that well, I learned quickly at ICE meetings that when Gene was about to speak, it was in all of our best interests to listen very carefully! His words, his analysis, his advise always gave the energy and wisdom needed to move our goals towards building an activist, strong and member centric union forward! Gene, Presente !

Updated: Ruling on Portelos Right to Attend SLT Meetings as Chapter Leader

Jeff Kaufman reports another nail in the rights of the union at EdLawFaqs blog. 

This ruling impacts on the rights of the teachers to have an effective chapter leader. The fact that Portelos has to hold meetings through Skype and by standing in front of the school should be challenged by the UFT. I think that may be a separate issue.

This ruling says: [T]he law is well settled that the courts may not overturn the decision of an administrative agency which has a rational basis and was not arbitrary and capricious.

But what if the decision to remove Portelos from the school WAS "arbitrary and capricious," something not yet decided? That is the essence of the Portelos defense.




Portelos did have a court win recently as chronicled on his blog: http://protectportelos.org/breaking-news-supreme-court-judge-confirms-portelos-uft-arbitration-win/ where the DOE  legal has refused to recognize him as the elected CL and when the arbitrator ruled in his favor they did not honor that, forcing him to go to court. How is that ruling affected by this one?
 
Here is Jeff's summary and a link to his blog.

Can a Chapter Leader, excluded from his school pending disciplinary charges, be prevented from attending School Leadership Team meetings?

Posted on November 30, 2013

Yes. Francesco Portelos, the duly elected Chapter Leader at IS 49 in Staten Island, was reassigned pending a SCI investigation and, by letter, notified that he was not to return to IS 49 without prior written permission and that any school activities he had participated in would remain suspended until the resolution of the matter.

As Chapter Leader Portelos is a mandated member of the School Leadership Team and commenced an Article 78 proceeding to challenge his exclusion from the Team. Justice Cynthia Kern initially ruled that the petition was time-barred since it was filed almost one year after he was excluded from the meetings.

Kern ruled that even if the petition was timely she would denied the relief requested because DOE’s policy of exclusion was rational and in accordance with its policies and procedures. Chancellor’s Regulation A-655 provides that mandatory members attend the meetings the regulation “does not confer a right upon such member if they are prohibited from entering the school or participating in school activities due to administrative reassignment and/or pending charges of misconduct.”

Portelos also argued that the school violated the Open Meetings Law, POL Section 103 by excluding him. Kern ruled that School Leadership Teams were advisory in nature and not subject to the Open Meetings Law.

Read the case here:  Portelos v. NYCDOE

This ruling has no effect on the current hearing to fire him  - there are 2 dates scheduled this week and I'll try to get to an in-depth update on the Portelos hearing.

Here's the point -- even if he wins on every single charge, the DOE STILL claims the right to ban him permanently from his school and turn him into an ATR. The UFT doesn't even fight these decisions, saying that if a 3020a is won by the teacher, all the DOE has to do is give than a job not their old job back (Christine Rubino after a two-year suspension without pay is sitting in an office). And if that job is washing the floors with a toothbrush, that is probably OK too.

The courts are basically stacked against us even if a teacher wins once in a while, which is why when people press for spending lots of dough on high-priced lawyers, I urge caution. The way to stop this is to take a weak-kneed union and turn it into a tiger. And that means organizing people into a potent force inside the union.

Sermon of the day over.

The Obligatory Thanksgiving Extended Family Photo

This just appeared on Facebook so I might as well publish it here -- and of course it will then reappear on FB and Twitter since I somehow have automated Ed Notes posts to end up on both places. One cousin said yesterday she gets so much FB crap from me she had to block me -- she did not seem to believe me when I said I almost never go on FB -- though I did tonight and friended a former student from my favorite 4th grade class.

Anyway, we drove down to Yardley PA - an hour and a half trip took 2 and a half hours but we were listening to the Freakonomics NPR Thanksgiving marathon - to our niece who managed to put on some event even with a 5 and 2 year old.

There were great little latkes and I ate so many I had trouble getting the main meal down. And worse -- no room for ANY dessert.

I won't even attempt to explain who any of these people are -- but we did talk lots of politics -- many are on the edge of tea party but we had some allies from the Long Island cousins. Can't wait 'till Passover - at my house - I think - to continue the conversations. Maybe some of them may even have health care by then.

What about reversals of the October co-locos by di Blasio or Will Evil Moskowitz Continue to be Coddled?

Lets hope Bill DB's new administration moves in quickly to deliver us from Eva and her destructive ways ASAP.... Eva can afford to rent her own buildings w/ all the philanthropy and savings she has amassed.....  Lisa Donlan, CEC1

Is there a push for reversing the co-loco charter school giveaways or are those outrageous acts of a dying administration being submerged in all the other stuff going on? One would hope that Annenberg/the Alliance for Quality Education with their gal Zakiyah Ansari on the di B transition team would make this a top-level priority.

UPDATE FROM LEONIE:

There will be legal challenges as well as political challenges to all of the October co-locations; meanwhile I suggest everyone write letters, email and get their electeds to write the transition team in opposition to the co-locations in their particular districts and communities.  Unlike Bloomberg, the de Blasio team will likely be sensitive to community and political pressure to reverse these decisions.

Leonie Haimson

Lisa Donlan points to one of the outrageous decisions favoring Evil M, who Lisa dubs the second coming of The Queen of Mean:

I really hope there will be a revisiting soon, even if it means holding hearings all over again and re issuing EIS's that actually show impact.

The only one I am intimately familiar with is the colocation of a CTE school (some form of Advertising-possibly graphic media- the ink is still not dry on this paper proposal) in a HS in D1.

The CTE school was a good fit for Murry Bergtraum for a number of reasons- HS, CTE, and relative proximity to BMCC, the CUNY college partner to this hybrid HS/AA degree program.

But Eva [Moskowitz] rejected the targeted D1 site for her new proposed downtown elementary level charter school, forcing OPM to put her in Murry Bergtraum in place of the CTE school.

I do not often agree w/ the HSA approach but they got this one right: 

The supposedly underutilized building she was offered is an old (as in 110 years old!) former elementary school building.

It has no gym.

It has no auditorium.

It has only a warming kitchen and not much of a cafeteria- the downstairs, made up of pillars and tile floors,  serves as a lobby, gym, cafeteria and auditorium!

There are only a few bathrooms, the hallways are so narrow that two teens abreast fill the space, and there is not enough electrical wiring to support air conditioner units hanging ( useless) in windows.

The roof leaks and the basement floods, the ventilation is poor and the stairwells narrow.

There is only one science lab and very little technology due to poor wiring. 

 The school, University Neighborhood High School,  is about 1/3 SWD and 1/4 ELLs, and uses rooms for a college office, for  CBO support and after school enrichment and tutoring program and mainly for pull out academic intervention/ related services. 

The rooms are 500 square feet, a space arbitrarily deemed full size by the foot print, which just a few years ago deemed half sized, resulting in a biased "underutilized" on paper diagnosis by OPM.

The school went from a D to a high B to an A by DoE's Progress reports since the pre-engagement provoked by the D grade 3 years ago. This is not a school that deserves to lose support and resources but should instead be encouraged, supported and celebrated.

The new "CTE" school (playing loose and fast w/ the terms Career and Technical since the "theme"  is hardly going to result in any technical certification for students), based on the latest and greatest untried new thing (the famous P-TECH model, only in its 3rd year of a 6 year funded program) is going to suffer to accommodate the Queen of Connections.

There is no plan (hey September is like a whole 10 months away, right?) for sufficient bathrooms, or how kids as young as 14 will get back and forth from BMCC to the heart of the LES ( google 200 Monroe Street) where the new school's students  will have to use the college for its auditoriums,  a science lab  and maybe even bathrooms!

So to accommodate the political and financial ambitions of NYC's Education Queen of Mean, DoE has set up to fail both a successful  high needs school community that is already grossly underserved in terms of infrastructure and support AND one of its own Federal funding magnet darling pilots.

Lets hope Bill DB's new administration moves in quickly to deliver us from Eva and her destructive ways ASAP.

Help UNHS and help the black and Latino males this new CTE school is targeting for careers in Advertising by re-locating the CTE Advertising school back in Murry Bergtraum HS.

Eva can afford to rent her own buildings w/ all the philanthropy and savings she has amassed.

Lisa 

CEC 1

Is Citizens of the World Charter Using Public tax Money to Pay Expensive Public Relations Firm?

My message to CWC: If you have money to pay Heather Vega and Larson Communications, PAY THE DAMN
RENT.

Who is Heather Vega?

Heather has been writing emails to major press on behalf of CWC to try to get some positive press and offset their history of racist marketing, investigations into fraud, the incompetence of their Board of Directors, and the widespread opposition to the school in District 14... WAGPOPS

I saw the letter that Heather Vega sent out as an advertisement/propaganda/press release to get ANYone in the press to write a story about Citizens that doesn't mention the IRS investigation, or their racist marketing practices, or the NY lawsuit launched by hundreds of parents, or the LA lawsuits, or the three students hospitalized due to their negligence, or the high turnover at their Silverlake school...Brooke Dunn Parker

Did you know that less than 5% of CWC Williamsburg students are from the two zip codes surrounding the school?

So much for "demand" for charter schools, especially when they are run by crooks.

Williamsburg and Greenpoint Parents for Our Public Schools (WAGPOPS) shared a link.

We're being watched.

Citizens of the World Charter School hired an EXPENSIVE PR firm to help with crisis management. 

Below is the link to the bio for their NY rep, Heather Vega. Heather has been writing emails to major press on behalf of CWC to try to get some positive press and offset their history of racist marketing, investigations into fraud, the incompetence of their Board of Directors, and the widespread opposition to the school in District 14.

Note that one of Vega's specialties is monitoring the chatter on social networks.

Imagine what OUR schools would do with the money Citizens of the World Charter Schools is spending on "positive re-branding."

We told CWC all along that parents in this community did not want them here. And the numbers proved us right.

Evidence speaks louder than marketing. Not even 5% of CWC Williamsburg students are from the two zip codes surrounding the school. Spin that, Larson PR.

Larson Communications: Who We Are: Heather Vega

www.larsonpr.com

Heather has eight years of award-winning experience as a reporter with the San Mateo Daily Journal. She has a background in covering education, business, technology and government ranging from the local to national level. Heather further challenged her writing skills professionally by creating marke...

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• Vanessa Scorsone, Ken Sitz, Stephanie Cote' Anderson and 5 others like this.
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  Stephanie Cote' Anderson If you go to Larson's page on Twitter, several Charter organizations pop up as recommendations to follow.

  7 hours ago
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  Brooke Dunn Parker This is the second PR firm they hired, right? I saw the letter that Heather Vega sent out as an advertisement/propaganda/press release to get ANYone in the press to write a story about Citizens that doesn't mention the IRS investigation, or their racist marketing practices, or the NY lawsuit launched by hundreds of parents, or the LA lawsuits, or the three students hospitalized due to their negligence, or the high turnover at their Silverlake school... the list goes on. I'd buy stock in Larson PR because they're making a LOT of money.

  6 hours ago

Ed Notes on CWC:

1. Ed Notes Online: Trashing Citizens of the World Scam Charter ...

   ednotesonline.blogspot.com/.../trashing-citizens-of-world-scam-charter.h...‎

   Feb 15, 2013 - http://www.greenpointnews.com/calendar/5010/public-hearing-about-co-locating-citizens-of-the-world-charter-school-in-jhs-126
2. 
   

   Big Education Ape: 10-10-13 Ed Notes Online: Citizens of the World ...

   bigeducationape.blogspot.com/.../10-10-13-ed-notes-online-citizens-of.h...‎

   Oct 10, 2013 - 1 by ed notes online / 40min. Citizens of the World Charter Run By Eva's Husband May Close Due to Low Enrollment. Goodbye Eric (Grannis) ...
3. 
   

   Big Education Ape: Ed Notes Online: Trashing Citizens of the World ...

   bigeducationape.blogspot.com/.../ed-notes-online-trashing-citizens-of.ht...‎

   Feb 15, 2013 - As registration is happening for citizens of the world (part of Eva Moskowitz empire), if you could circulate these negative articles and have ...
4. 
   

   Citizens of the World Charter Corporation Scandals - Bitly

   bitly.com/bundles/rdsathene/j‎

   Ed Notes Online: Report from the Hearing on Citizens of the World Charter Schools. ednotesonline.blogspot.com/2012/04/report-from-hearing-on-citizens-of.

James Eterno Tribute to Gene Prisco

Gene Prisco's activism proves that you can make a difference in the world by living up to your ideals. Our condolences go to Loretta and the entire family... James Eterno

James posted this at the ICE blog. He makes the important point that Gene and Loretta were an activist couple -- that activism was built into the fabric of their daily lives. Was there anyone on Staten Island who did not know them or of them? We rarely said "Gene" or "Loretta" - it was always "Gene 'n Loretta."

The loss of Paul Baizerman just about 2 years ago and now, Gene Prisco, is enormous for our small core of over 40-year education activists who always have had a rather unique point of view of work in and out of the union. One thing that tied us together was the fundamental belief in local - neighborhood - organizing as a way to build a movement. The uniting of parents and teachers and in the 70s we really tried to do that kind of work. Caucuses within the UFT don't really do that and I believe that is a root cause of their lack of traction. In fact ICE never did that because many of the leaders had already retired and no longer had a base in the schools. And ICE never attracted enough new recruits to make that happen.

Gene and Loretta were not very active in MORE but when ICE had to decide whether to basically end its existence as a caucus and enter into a new venture with groups and individuals whose political points of view we did not always agree with, they were both optimistic that over the long term consensus could be built.

This is an opportunity to point out that over the time we have been working together - in Another View in District 14, The Coalition of NYC School Workers (in the 70s) and the Independent Community of Educators (the past 10 years), we have ALWAYS been a consensus group -- meaning everyone had to agree before we moved forward -- no voting unless in the most extreme conditions -- and I can remember only 2 times we did vote and both turned into disasters.

I know, I know, that in essence opens us up to the filibuster. But we have always worked with reasonable people.

Now that is not the most optimal way to get things done and ICE was often stuck -- and we have tried to learn the lessons of what worked and didn't -- but we have pushed consistently that MORE be as consensus as feasible. We have always believed that democracy is not a matter of majority vote but of talking to each other to search for points of agreement with voting as a last resort. Gene Prisco had that fundamental view of what democracy is all about.

GENE PRISCO'S PASSING A BIG LOSS

I was aware that he was not well but I am still stunned by the passing of a founding member of ICE: Gene Prisco.  Tributes are starting to pour in.  Please read the Staten Island Advance obituary or the brief introduction to the Advance piece over at Ed Notes from Norm Scott. We are also reprinting in its entirety the message from the Democratic Party of Staten Island (see below).
Gene was truly a wonderful human being. My wife Camille and I both feel honored that we were able to know him and his wife Loretta.  What a truly inspiring couple who are kind of role models to us on how to be a politically active family.
When people like me would be rambling on at ICE meetings about some great injustice by Randi Weingarten or Bloomberg or anyone else, Gene would respond by acknowledging in no uncertain terms that the job of a union was primarily to protect its members and that the UFT should be criticized if they don't live up to their main mission. What was unique about Gene is he could make these points in a way that would make us roll over laughing. 
He had an amazing sense of humor and no matter how bad the conditions in the schools have worsened for teachers, his outlook at ICE meetings remained optimistic that we could make our issues (for example lower class sizes) part of the union's agenda. 
Gene and Loretta were in attendance regularly to support Jeff Kaufman, Barbara Kaplan Halper and me when we were on the UFT Executive Board. He knew that the UFT had the potential to be a positive force to make the education system a better place for teachers, parents and students.  He felt the same way about the promise of the Democratic Party. That is why he ran for Congress in 1998.
My wife is reminding me of Gene's commitment to assisting African refugees.  Some of these refugees were kids who were involved in war at very young ages. Gene took enormous pride in his commitment to the African Refuge organization.  Nothing made him happier than helping people get a better life.
Gene Prisco's activism proves that you can make a difference in the world by living up to your ideals. Our condolences go to Loretta and the entire family.

Staten Island Advance: Gene Prisco, liberal lion of Staten Island, educator, and activist for the disenfranchised, dies at 70

Excellent obit on Gene. Though I knew this was coming for the past month - and probably longer than that, I'm still having trouble breathing. Just last January we all celebrated Gene and Loretta's 70th birthday - I have some really bad video and so sorry I didn't bring the good camera -- dumb, dumb, dumb. Glad the old crew got to see him a few times since things went downhill starting in August. What could go wrong, did go wrong. We will tell the entire medical story as we know it soon. Many lessons for all of us with the main one being: if you can stay out of a hospital, do so. And I swear, when I saw Gene last Tuesday he didn't look much worse than he looks in this great photo. Astounding that Gene's mom died about a year ago with him taking extraordinary care of her. I keep smacking myself in the head over the entire story.

One of the ironies is that if Gene were well there was going to be a push for him to be the Staten Island rep on the PEP. How much fun would that have been?

If I haven't made it clear to people, Gene and Loretta were part of our hard-core activist crew from the early 70s. He was a founding member of the Coalition of NYC School Workers and of ICE -- I think it was Gene at ICE's first meeting on Oct. 30, 2003 who got up and said we had to run in the 2004 UFT elections and we all cheered in affirmation. Always funny and sharp and with brilliant insights into general politics and the UFT. 

By Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance

November 27, 2013 at 6:28 PM, updated November 27, 2013 at 6:37 PM

http://www.silive.com/obituaries/index.ssf/2013/11/gene_prisco_liberal_lion_of_st.html

 
Members of the political, education and activist communities are mourning the loss of Randall Manor resident Gene Prisco, shown here in 2012. 
 

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Eugene (Gene) Vincent Prisco, 70, of Randall Manor, a liberal lion of Staten Island politics and a longtime educator who also aided immigrants and refugees through his work with the African Refuge organization, died of complications from surgery on Monday in the Villanova, Pa., home of his daughter and son-in-law.

Mr. Prisco, a stalwart Democrat who made runs for U.S. Congress and state Senate and also helped generations of Island students as a school guidance and substance abuse counselor, was born in Queens and raised in the Bronx.
He moved to Grymes Hill in 1967, to Sunnyside in 1971, and to Randall Manor in 1974.

Vexed that the Democrats had long endorsed GOP state Sen. John Marchi, Prisco in 1994 launched a primary against Marchi for the Democratic nomination. Marchi prevailed, but Prisco successfully aired the issue of cross-endorsements.

In 1998, Prisco ran against GOP Rep. Vito Fossella. Though Fossella won the election, Prisco was praised for raising the issues of gun control and campaign finance reform during the race.

A proud liberal known also for his larger-than-life personality and sense of humor, Mr. Prisco was a longtime member of the Staten Island Democratic Association and belonged to the party's county committee.

"Gene was one of the most passionate and articulate voices on behalf of the Democratic Party that I have ever known," said borough Democratic chairman John Gulino. "He was a man of principle, a man of vision and a man with a deep and abiding love for his family, Staten Island and the Democratic Party. With Gene's passing, we have lost a champion for the values of the Democratic Party and it is a loss we all feel deeply."

Members of the North Shore Democratic Club observed a moment of silence in Mr. Prisco's honor before their meeting on Tuesday.

Sadness at Mr. Prisco's passing crossed party lines.
"Our politics never jibed, but we always got along," said GOP Borough President-elect James Oddo. "We always appreciated each other's candor. He was very passionate about education and teaching. I'm sorry to hear of his loss."

Mr. Prisco spent 33 years in the city public school system, most of it at Morris Intermediate School, Brighton Heights, where he was a social studies teacher and guidance and substance abuse counselor. Mr. Prisco also ran a bereavement group for students at Morris.

He also taught 6th grade at PS 18, where he started a free breakfast program, and was a substance abuse and guidance counselor at numerous Island elementary schools.

Mr. Prisco retired in 1999, but served as a teaching mentor at the College of Staten Island and Pace University.

Mr. Prisco belonged to the Community School Board for five years, and was a United Federation of Teachers delegate.

He also belonged to the Staten Island Alliance for Responsible Education , the Independent Community of Educators, the Coalition of New York City School Workers, the Staten Island Teacher's Action Committee, and Communities United for Respect and Trust.

Mr. Prisco was a member of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.

Mr. Prisco earned a bachelor's degree in history from Iona College. He received a master's degree in Asian Studies from St. John's University, Queens, and an All But Dissertation degree in Asian and Russian Studies from New York University.

Mr. Prisco was chairman of the board of directors of the African Refuge organization, which runs an after-school center in Clifton and numerous other programs.

Mr. Prisco's family said it was that work he was most proud of. He was honored by the group in May as part of the African Refuge's 10th anniversary celebration.

The Rev. Judy Brown, executive director of African Refuge, said Mr. Prisco was "an inspiration in my life."
"He was a source of hope for many communities here on Staten Island," she said. "Gene had a unique personality full of warmth and humor, was genuinely concerned about disenfranchised people, and worked for justice and equality for all humankind. African Refuge and many other organizations on Staten Island will greatly miss him."

Mr. Prisco was vice president Neighborhood Housing Services and worked tirelessly on behalf of group clients right up until the time of his death.

Mr. Prisco had a rich and fulfilling family life.

Mr. Prisco and his wife of 47 years, the former Loretta Gallo, also a public school teacher, were an inseparable pair.

"Ours was an almost 50-year love affair," she said. "We did everything as a team, from working together to advocacy to haircut appointments."

Mr. Prisco was a pioneer when in 1975 he took child-care leave in order to stay home and care for his daughter, Gabrielle Horowitz-Prisco.

Daughter Francesca Molinari remembered Mr. Prisco as a hands-on father at a time when many dads were typically less demonstrative.

He doted on his granddaughter, Isabelle Molinari, and the two frequently visited the Staten Island Zoo, West Brighton, to see the porcupines. They also enjoyed visiting The Corner Book Store in Manhattan.

Mr. Prisco loved to read, and would often quip that his two favorite things were naps and novels.

An exceptional cook, Mr. Prisco was known for his Italian dishes.

He had a deep love and encyclopedia knowledge of jazz music, and was a film buff, enjoying foreign films in particular. He regularly attended the Montreal Film Festival.

World travelers, the Priscos took many trips aboard old-school ocean liners with the Cunard Cruise Line.
Toward the end of his life, with friends and family gathered at his bedside, Mr. Prisco said, "What I have come to see is that at the core, it is about love; it is the most important thing. It is the only thing. Without love, there is nothing."

Mr. Prisco was also close to his children's spouses, Steven Molinari and Re Horowitz-Prisco.

In addition to his wife, Loretta; his daughters, Gabrielle and Francesca, and his granddaughter, Mr. Prisco is survived by a brother, Peter Prisco.

Funeral arrangements, which are pending, are being handled by the Harmon Home for Funerals in West Brighton.

Frank Bruni Coddles Ed Deformers

I'm not sure where to draw that line. Its my kids. Its all personal... Patrick Sullivan in response to "Let's minimize getting personal just because someone has a an opposing viewpoint" on the NYCEd listserve.

So much reaction to another no-nothing NY Times columnist: Are kids too coddled: Op-Ed NY Times

Raging Horse took 2 shots at Frank Bruni:

Are New York Times Opinion Writers Too Coddled?

On “Left Wing Paranoia” and the Conspiracy to Privatize Public Education

In case those people still reading Ed Notes haven't noticed, I try not to leap in on major topics of the day until almost a week later. One reason is because my mostly younger blogging colleagues are so much quicker, analytical, and more eloquent than me. The other is that it gives me time to gather links to their great stuff and also include comments from the listserves. Assailed Teacher is up next:

Does this mean that because I cook and eat food that I can be a food critic as well? Does this mean that I can be a critic of food critics?  How would Bruni respond if I supported a program to make food criticism more rigorous because these damned food critics get coddled all of the time when they go to restaurants? After all, all of the cooks and wait staff go out of their way to accommodate the high and mighty food critics when they enter a restaurant. Back in my day, the wait staff barely paid attention to me and the cooks left hairs in my soup. How will food ever get better in America if these critics keep getting a skewed version of what food is all about? Our cuisine is falling behind other nations. We must catch up to France! ---  Assailed Teacher: Everyone is an Expert at Everything

 There are so many good takedowns of Frank Bruni’s New York Times piece supporting the Common Core that I did not bother to read it for myself until yesterday. I was glad I did. It gave me a bit of masochistic pleasure, like when you pick at a scab or push on an aching tooth. Bruni the food critic demonstrates the same thick assumptions and caricatured impressions of public schooling shared by many Common Core advocates. One only need to read the myriad comments under the article heaping praise upon him for confirming their own uninformed biases about youth, education and parents to get a glimpse of the armchair education expert parade in action.

Reality-Based Educator did his hit:

Frank Bruni LOVED "Won't Back Down"

NY Times restaurant critic/columnist Frank Bruni has some propaganda piece out about the Common Core State (sic) Standards that equates opponents of the standards as purveyors of the self-esteem movement in which every child is a winner and everyone gets a trophy no matter how they do in life's competition. Alas, before we take anything Bruni writes seriously, let us remember how much he enjoyed the propaganda film "Won't Back Down" last year (see here and here for my take on that.)

I love the accumulation of voices. Here are some from the various listserves.

I just tweeted that NYT columnists are coddled; opining on education issues w/out speaking to educators or parents. Leonie H

Diane Ravitch responded to a comment I made challenging a right wing teacher who always trashed students as the problem and loved Bruni's column by raising the point that we are abusing 8 year olds.

Norm,
No one at the NY Times sees any problem with high-stakes standardized tests. They all got high scores.
Diane

They did? Can't tell by the quality of their reporting or editorials. Let's have Danielson for reporters. I rate them ineffective. --- norm

Perhaps Duncan and the ed-deformers are the ones that are "too coddled"? They always get someone to defend them and slam the people raising concerns. Lisa N.

Thanks for sharing, Lisa. Frank Bruni (formerly the food critic) doesn't display much intellectual rigor in this piece. It could have been written to defend the old state standards or any crusade to raise the bar or get back to basics. Except he does quote David Coleman who "told me that he’s all for self-esteem, but that rigorous standards 'redefine self-esteem as something achieved through hard work.' "
Many people commenting seem to feel a need to say they aren't for coddling either but that the CCSS are grossly inappropriate, poorly written, etc, etc. This roll-out mess should also be an opportunity to refute the pernicious assumptions that self-esteem must be earned at school, and learning is just drudgery that will eventually lead children "somewhere big and real."

John