tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post4994973857762426499..comments2023-09-29T06:32:16.005-04:00Comments on My School Committee Blog: Next Week's MeetingsCatherine A. Sandersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-34794497671135776332011-02-18T09:05:55.457-05:002011-02-18T09:05:55.457-05:00Tom Porter also said:
"Deerfield Academy has...Tom Porter also said:<br /><br />"Deerfield Academy has greater diversity of student body than Amherst Regional High School. Greater number of cultures, language groups, and countries of origin represented; wider range of socio-economic means."<br /><br />Well, obviously, Deerfield is going to have students from greater countries of origins and number of cultures. It is a private boarding school that draws people from all over the world. What do you expect? Public schools by definition draw people from their own geographic area. Are you suggesting that the Amherst Public Schools start recruiting wealthy students from California, Asia or Africa, like Deerfield does?<br /><br />With regard to diversity, the fact that 65% (2/3) of the Deerfield student body is able to pay the $43,800 a year tuition, room and board ($31,400 for day student) does not speak highly to a diverse economic background for its students. <br /><br />Could 65% of the students in the Amherst Public Schools afford to pay $43,800 per student? <br /><br />What percentage of students at Deerfield would qualify for free school lunch using the criteria used the Amherst schools? Is it as high as 50% -- a figure cited about the Amherst public schools and used as both a point of concern and also a bragging point to show our diversity?Brainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-51602114172205457392011-02-17T16:12:29.349-05:002011-02-17T16:12:29.349-05:00Blogger Tom Porter said...
"This may not be ...Blogger Tom Porter said...<br /><br />"This may not be what you wish to hear, but Deerfield Academy has greater diversity of student body than Amherst Regional High School. Greater number of cultures, language groups, and countries of origin represented; wider range of socio-economic means. And 24% of the student body is on full-need financial aid - that is, receiving at least 99% coverage of annual tuition & fees."<br /><br />Mr. Porter may want to re-read the Deerfield Academy website. It does <i>not</i> say that 24% of the student body is on full-need financial aid. It says that "over 24% of our financial aid recipients received full need grants."<br /><br />There is a BIG difference. <br /><br />Deerfield also says that 35% of the student body receives financial aid. So, 24% of 35% of the student body is getting full need grants. <br /><br />Who wants to do the math? OK, I'll do it. <br /><br /><b>That's 8% not 24%. </b><br /><br />See: http://www.deerfield.edu/apply/6/Financial_AidBrainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-35422098186032904362011-02-14T11:37:51.854-05:002011-02-14T11:37:51.854-05:00Butternut link on Town website
HAP Butternut link...<a href="http://www.amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=480" rel="nofollow">Butternut link on Town website</a><br /><br /><a href="http://haphousing.org/butternut" rel="nofollow">HAP Butternut link (more details)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://amherstma.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=2680&month=3&year=2011&day=3" rel="nofollow">Butternut Lottery Information Session at Jones Library Thursday March 3, 2011 7pm </a>Alisa V. Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07806428075243362536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-25471188201919276362011-02-14T10:07:36.948-05:002011-02-14T10:07:36.948-05:00The letter from the town manager says Butternut Fa...The letter from the town manager says Butternut Farm will be taking applications for a lottery on April 15 for initial occupancy on 6/1. The HAP website says 3 one bedroom, 14 two bedroom and 9 three bedroom. More info at<br />haphousing.org/butternutAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-77205174247607542132011-02-14T09:48:47.755-05:002011-02-14T09:48:47.755-05:00"...(Geryk) hasn't had an evaluation in h..."...(Geryk) hasn't had an evaluation in her 11 months."<br /><br />Well, yeah, but Geryk has never been our superintendent; she's just been a "filler" until we spent the sufficient time, money, and other resources to find the right person.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-5160082802590331922011-02-14T06:45:42.672-05:002011-02-14T06:45:42.672-05:00Catherine,
The Butternut housing project is being ...Catherine,<br />The Butternut housing project is being advertised for initial occupancy this June 1st. According to information on the web site of the developer (HAP), the 26 units break down as follows: <br />• Three 1-bedroom apartments<br />• Fourteen 2-bedroom apartments<br />• Nine 3-bedroom townhouses<br /><br />70% of the units are being reserved for families that already live or work in Amherst.CF parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-28315573854554142642011-02-14T00:37:07.975-05:002011-02-14T00:37:07.975-05:00CF Parent - my recollection from when we voted on ...CF Parent - my recollection from when we voted on the redistricting is a number of these apartments are actually one-bedrooms, and hence the thought was these are not going to go to families. But this increase was considered at the time of the redistricting (as well as other potential affordable housing developments in other parts of town), and this development is districted in CF. Our goal in the redistricting was to stay within 5 to 10% at all schools, and we are actually within 1% right now (all three schools are 37 or 38%), so even some increase would allow us to stay within our target. I believe we will see enrollment projections at a meeting this week (this will go with budget projections, presumably), and it is possible some additional kids will be projected to be in CF as a result (though I'm not sure how much of this housing would be ready by this fall?).Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-47819366553986620442011-02-14T00:33:10.376-05:002011-02-14T00:33:10.376-05:00Two more thoughts (following up on Janet's lon...Two more thoughts (following up on Janet's long commentary on communication/lackthereof in the district):<br /><br />1. I am on the SC, a pretty involved parent, and attended all three math meetings this spring/summer. And I had NO IDEA when the test for 8th grade algebra was given. I remember the MS sent out several robo-calls the first week of school: one was to announce picture day, one was to announce a .25 cent change in the price of lunch, and one was to announce fall sport options. Yet there was no call or email or letter about the placement test, and I learned about this test only from a friend, who asked me if my son had taken it (my son hadn't shared any information with me about the test). <br /><br />2. I have written 3 textbooks, and in my experience, publishers are very eager to get copies of their books into the hands of people who will potentially adopt them (such requests are often sent via overnight mail, in my experience). I am very surprised that the Chen report was delivered in October and it is February and our curriculum director still hasn't received copies of the material she needs. That is really unfortunate, and I hope Ms. Graham is able to follow up on her requests and make sure these materials are delivered promptly so that this important work of reviewing books can occur.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-54547863103274294942011-02-14T00:22:12.505-05:002011-02-14T00:22:12.505-05:00My responses:
Janet - thanks for the detailed lis...My responses:<br /><br />Janet - thanks for the detailed list of things that have been attempted and things that have failed. I agree it gets frustrating. I met with Jere Hochman in January of 2006 (and SC members Andy and Elaine) to share concerns re. math (along with many other parents). We are now in February of 2011 and nothing has changed. It is indeed frustrating. <br /><br />Tom - I think people saw each of the superintendent interviews in very different ways - as Kathy W. actually noted during the superintendent selection meeting. But I actually believe interviews are less relevant than actual performance - and so when I voted, it was more on the totality of the person's experience and accomplishments than on what he/she said during a 2 hour interview. <br /><br />Anonymous 10:13 - as you probably know, I can't comment on events and discussions that occurred in executive session, and what anyone did or did not say at any point. Dr. Rodriguez decided to leave following a meeting with the three chairs: Andy, Farshid, and Tracy. I wasn't at that meeting, so I can't possibly even know what factors led him to decide to resign. <br /><br />What I think is important to acknowledge is that Dr. Rodriguez brought an outsider's eye on our district (not only his own but also through hiring outside experts such as Dr. Hamer and Dr. Beers), and was very willing to acknowledge problems (he did not seem to share the pattern we've seen historically of ignoring/denying problems and hoping they will go away). Moreover, and as I said at the meeting last Sunday, I am struck by the real differences in which Dr. Rodriguez was treated by our community (the SC and the administration) versus Ms. Geryk. Dr. Rodriguez was given 8 months (4 months after we had set goals) to have a midterm evaluation, whereas Ms. Geryk hasn't had any evaluation in her 11 months. Dr. Rodriguez was held to strict deadlines (and met them) - and produced the first budget in December. It is February 14th as I write this, and we have yet to see a budget for Amherst or Regional (two budget meetings have been canceled since budgets weren't ready). It is hard for me to understand why Dr. Rodriguez was held to such different standards than Ms. Geryk.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-3960058194734000502011-02-13T22:13:06.614-05:002011-02-13T22:13:06.614-05:00Catherine: will you please explain to us why you ...Catherine: will you please explain to us why you (and Steve) didn't fight for us, and for Dr. Rodriguez, and for the kids, when Dr. Rodriguez was presented with the information that is in the evaluation he received the day before he resigned?<br /><br />Things would be better if he stayed, right?<br /><br />Why did you let it just "happen"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-70110830897048687502011-02-13T21:48:48.560-05:002011-02-13T21:48:48.560-05:00Janet McGowan has just summarized our problems. An...Janet McGowan has just summarized our problems. And they go on and on and on; it's a lack of responsiveness.<br /><br />"Ignore them and they will go away."<br /><br />So our administrators wait us out. Hey, that has worked in the past. Parents get tired; their kids move through the schools so their concerns become moot. Wait them out, and they will go away. Works every time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-7155518464727392062011-02-13T20:54:37.926-05:002011-02-13T20:54:37.926-05:00Anon. Feb 12 11:57 PM:
by the way... that was a k...Anon. Feb 12 11:57 PM:<br /><br /><i>by the way... that was a killer interview [Geryk] gave. don't you agree?</i><br /><br />I agree. As long as you don't listen too closely. Go back and play it again,<br />http://bit.ly/Gerykspeak<br />only this time, take this challenge:<br /><br />Move the slider to anywhere in the 2+ hour interview, then transcribe the next 2 or 3 sentences you hear.<br /><br />Does the language present facts, answer the question asked? Or does it focus on interaction dynamics, concentrate on intentions, feelings and self esteem? When the question is "What results have you generated?" and the response is something along the lines of, "The teachers are SO excited to HAVE these conversations, become engaged in believing in the whole child and creating a dialog with the possibility of real results in a community of shared responsibility where everyone feels valued," you have to sift away the ed-speak and you may not find much else.<br /><br />I have not met Ms. Geryk, and I confess I found myself really drawn to her as I watched the entire interview. So engaged, yet the words so elusive. <b>I easily see why many of the teachers may like her</b>. For me though, the lingo was so impenetrable, the mumbo so jumbo, that I came away baffled.<br /><br />I'm sure others heard differently. Maybe it <i>was</i> a 'killer' interview. It certainly did the trick.Tom Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08763818256131443456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-55724524473000801462011-02-13T20:13:20.543-05:002011-02-13T20:13:20.543-05:00to anon 8:51 a.m. please read my post again...i d...to anon 8:51 a.m. please read my post again...i did not say there wasn't any diversity i said most of the international kids did not receive financial aid ....2 very different things.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-57394904704799297712011-02-13T19:52:45.121-05:002011-02-13T19:52:45.121-05:00Janet, I share your sense of urgency. I believe t...Janet, I share your sense of urgency. I believe there needs to be immediate formation of a textbook committee, with elementary teachers as essential members. They could use a rubric, as well as their classroom expertise, to compare, say, four sets of textbooks, including Investigations and Primary Mathematics, and pick the most effective and relevant curriculum to use in the fall of 2011. I know that parent volunteers would happily call publishers and ask for rush delivery of sample books, so our teachers can get to work on the comparison right away.Debbie Gabornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-75775559692009504292011-02-13T17:47:57.771-05:002011-02-13T17:47:57.771-05:00In early January, our math group met with the new ...In early January, our math group met with the new curriculum director who had told me that she wanted to hear from parents. At the meeting, we discussed elementary math in light of Dr. Chen’s report. Many parents agreed with Chen’s assessment and pressed for a textbook committee to be established immediately so that a new program could be in place by the fall. We had been talking about these problems for years and felt that finding a solution was urgent. The result has been that two parents were added to the K-16 math council and there are plans for a textbook committee but it has not met yet since the curriculum director has been waiting two months for the arrival of the textbooks to be reviewed. Maybe these changes are a consequence of our meetings, maybe not. People have been pushing for changes in elementary math for years. <br />Are these a lot of results? It sure doesn’t feel like it. But the parents math group will meet again with the curriculum director to talk about math in the other schools.<br />I now think there is an administrative control over information that just I cannot understand. Are we in the Bourne Conspiracy or an episode of Hoarders? Simple questions take many emails or meetings to get answered. Some information is never provided. A few months ago a parent contacted me to ask me how to file a Public Records Request because no one in the administration would say who was on the K-16 Math Council. I recently learned that a parent had to file a Public Records Request to get a copy of the CORE evaluation of the elementary schools. Is any of this information a secret? Similarly, The Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, formed a year ago to gathering information on the town and school budget, disbanded because they couldn’t get answers to their questions. <br /><br />Despite my involvement and interest, I actually don't know what the acting superintendent, the new curriculum director or the K-16 Council think about the Chen report. Do they agree with his analysis of problems and solutions I was told that there would be a town-wide meeting for parents to discuss the Chen report (released last November). Now, into mid- February and I just found out no meeting will be held. A draft Action Plan has been issued by the curriculum director and the K-16 Math Council. None of the parents in our math group bothered to ask for a copy. One parent simply filed a Public Records request for it.<br />A parent of color recently told me that many minority parents no longer get involved in the schools since their concerns are routinely ignored. The absence of parents of color at the superintendent search meetings I attended confirmed this lack of involvement. I know many SPED parents feel the same way. I truly understand.<br />It seems to me that the push for change in recent years has come from parents – and school committee members with children in the schools. We feel a sense of urgency. We know time goes fast and how deeply kids are affected by their schooling. Years lost ignoring and examining and re-examining problems cannot be recovered. Many children, particularly low-income students, struggle academically in our schools for years. I know many teachers share our sense of urgency but wonder whom else?<br /><br />Janet McGowanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-13833575122394617122011-02-13T17:47:19.474-05:002011-02-13T17:47:19.474-05:00Around the time of the two Taskforce meetings, a f...Around the time of the two Taskforce meetings, a friend copied me on her email exchange with the ARMS principal over when 6th grade parents would be told about the test to place students out of 7th grade math and into Honors Algebra. For years, this test was unknown to many parents. Feeling the spirit of the Communications Taskforce, I suggested to my friend that she should organize a meeting between the principal and parents. After raising this issue for years, she didn’t want to, so I organized a meeting. I invited Rick Hood to join in because I knew he cared about the issue of poor communication – and so he could hear how the system really worked for many parents.<br />Fifteen parents met three times with ARMS administrators for about 90 minutes each time. More parents wanted to attend, but I thought our group was already too large and discouraged them from joining. Most parents complained of getting little information about the test to place out of 7th grade math and into Honors Algebra. The test itself was challenged. Some students failing the test had been put into the Honors Algebra class after parental pressure – then went on to earn A’s. We thought the test should be shorter, be given at the end of 6th grade and that weight be given to 6th grade teacher recommendations and 6th grade test scores. Low numbers of ARMS students complete algebra by the end of 8th grade -- especially low-income students – compared to other schools. (Unlike other middle schools, ARMS has no regular 7 or 8th grade algebra classes.) Parents also had many problems with the 7th grade Extensions program. They thought 12 and 13 year-olds shouldn’t make decisions about whether to take on the extra Extensions problems when this decision affected their math program through the end of high school. Extensions also often required a large amount of parental coaching. Nothing we said was unique. Parents had talked about these problems for years. <br />Results? The 7th grade math class was changed and improved to incorporate and teach the Extension problems as part of regular 7th grade math curriculum, not leaving it to 7th graders to decide. Information on 7th grade math routes went out last spring to 6ht grade parents, information was posted on the ARMS website, as were summer math problems. A few more 7th graders made it into Honors Algebra. I think that our at times noisy math group can claim these changes. <br />But this fall parents were not told when the 2-hour afterschool test for Honors Algebra was being held. The accuracy and fairness of the selection process (and this long test) are still unclear to me. There are still no regular algebra classes offered to 7th and 8th graders, unlike other schools.<br /><br />....more...Janet McGowan alsonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-6623152710474367942011-02-13T17:45:54.316-05:002011-02-13T17:45:54.316-05:00Catherine, you asked: How I feel about the parent...Catherine, you asked: How I feel about the parent math meetings? The parents started the meetings frustrated; I think most of us remain so. Maybe we have accomplished more than I think, but it doesn’t feel that way. Here’s some history.<br />I organized these meetings between parents and some administrators last spring, a little while after I had joined the Communications Taskforce set up by interim superintendent Geryk, with Rick Hood as chair. I joined the Communications Task Force because I thought no one in the school administration was interested in what parents and students had to say. If I had a problem with my child and school, I talked only with the teacher or guidance counselor. If they couldn’t solve the problem I dropped it; my experience had been that principals ignored the difficult problems. I know that students and parents have a great deal of information about the schools and classes. I hoped that I could make a difference on the Task Force by explaining the problems I saw and experienced and suggesting concrete solutions. Boy, was I wrong.<br />In the first Communications Taskforce meeting, many problems were discussed and all sorts of solutions to the lack of communication between the schools, parents and teachers were raised. People had a lot of ideas. An internet helpdesk for parents asking questions, a system for principals to track complaints to teachers to see if and how they were resolved, an independent website for parents to ask questions, surveying students about their courses, etc. Then, just before the second Taskforce meeting, the acting superintendent sent a memo removing the part of the Taskforce's charge that dealt with improving parent and student communication with the schools. The second meeting appears to have been the Taskforce’s last. In the fall, I wrote to the acting superintendent asking if the Taskforce was dead. No answer. Rick Hood tells me he faults himself for the death of the Taskforce.<br />....more...janet McGowannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-56043917941039508922011-02-13T16:28:52.889-05:002011-02-13T16:28:52.889-05:00Catherine,
The Town of Amherst has started adverti...Catherine,<br />The Town of Amherst has started advertising for tenants for the Butternut affordable housing project on Longmeadow Dr. The development will contain 26 units, many of them for families. 1) Which Amherst elementary school district will the students living in the development be included in, 2) has the school district/school committee projected how many new students are expected to enter the Amherst schools as a result of this project? <br />I think that of this project was considered in the elementary school redistricting, but am not sure anymore, so an update would be most helpful. Many thanks! <br />Thanks!CF parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-87697109239857087452011-02-13T13:38:06.860-05:002011-02-13T13:38:06.860-05:00well then, clearly we should try to be a lot more ...well then, clearly we should try to be a lot more like deerfield academy.<br /><br />clearly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-2443232240114281852011-02-13T09:11:10.444-05:002011-02-13T09:11:10.444-05:00So, I'm trying to post all comments, but want ...So, I'm trying to post all comments, but want to remind blog readers the point of this blog is to discuss education issues and/or share your thoughts/questions with me. Attacks on me, or other posters, don't help contribute to that dialogue.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-79175073078686446162011-02-13T08:52:59.848-05:002011-02-13T08:52:59.848-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-19282149365952776942011-02-13T08:51:23.153-05:002011-02-13T08:51:23.153-05:00That's not true at all about Deerfield. You o...That's not true at all about Deerfield. You obviously did not go there, in 2008 or any other year. My child went there and said it was more diverse than the high school here. Not only that, EVERYONE mingled. There were no cliques. There were groups who definitely enjoyed each others company, but everyone was friends with everyone. Kids from different grades hung out together. Kids from differently ethnicities and countries hung out together. It is very diverse, and they most definitely have scholarships that are ethnicity specific. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-70443126442149098712011-02-12T23:57:16.510-05:002011-02-12T23:57:16.510-05:00catherine, do you believe the national search fail...catherine, do you believe the national search failed? geryk went through the whole giant, expensive process you wanted, , and you said you would embrace whoever was chosen. and you actually said you would embrace whoever was chosen AFTER geryk was selected as one of the 3 finalists. what changed? should we ask for our money back from the search firm?<br /><br />by the way... that was a killer interview she gave. don't you agree?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-55208454572817761852011-02-12T18:06:28.988-05:002011-02-12T18:06:28.988-05:00tom
get real about diversity at deerfield...i grad...tom<br />get real about diversity at deerfield...i graduated from DA in 2008...the kids who were on financial aid...were all the kids brought there to play sports for post-graduate....no foreign kid was on financial aid unless the prince of jordan is going brokeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-92110511771370615852011-02-11T18:45:19.068-05:002011-02-11T18:45:19.068-05:00Catherine-this is a K classroom at CF where there ...Catherine-this is a K classroom at CF where there are usually just 2 K classrooms. 22 kindergartners seems like a lot to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com