No Delaware Educational Budget Cuts! Yea!

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090228/NEWS03/902280332
“Delaware will receive about $211 million in additional education funding from the federal stimulus, which will prevent teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and eliminated programs, said Sen. Ted Kaufman, D-Del., the former Biden aide appointed by former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner to fill Biden’s seat. Kaufman also addressed the group.”

“Biden thanked the DSEA — the state’s school employee union — for their campaign contributions and volunteer work in last fall’s election.

DSEA President Diane Donohue said Biden, President Barack Obama and Gov. Jack Markell are the kind of leaders needed to bring about change in Delaware.

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Well folks you see it in black and white! Per the News Journal $211 million from the feds to “prevent” teacher layoffs and program cuts for students

Politicizing the even by bringing up campaign contributions by DSEA sounds like some political payback with federal money

reinforcement by Vice-President Biden Jack will come up smelling like a rose when the Delaware legislators announce no cuts in education!

I am not sure if Obama’s stimulus package re: $211 additional funding was a one shot deal or extends out a few year.

But all and all this is wonderful news for Delaware! No teacher layoffs next school year and no cuts in student programing! Markell is looking like a shoe-in for a second term

The full finanical transparency shit I rant about! Forget it, it doesn’t matter, Biden will provide money to plug those leaks and leave money for local school sperintendents to piss away!

I am so proud that I switched parties to vote openly for Markell and Biden. What do the republican know? If they were in office the state would be laying off teachers and cutting programs for students next year!

No Education Cuts Next Year !

Wait wait wait wait holy shit wait! Senator Ted Kaufman made the comment no teacher layoffs and program cuts for students. Can he do that ? Shit ! Minner appointed this guy ! Shit, it could all be a lie! He is not running for another term so he can make false promises

Is somebody willing to put odds on state budget cuts and how much ?

Emergency Bull’s Eye Blog Summit Feb 27th

Tonight is the night all anonymous welcome!

APPEARING JACK MARKELL’S EDUCATION ADVISOR

Due to the Delaware financial crisis I think it’s time for an emergency blog summit on Friday night February 27, 2009 7pm-midnight. Bull’s Eye Kirkwood Highway! Bring your own money as none will be provided.

According to Governor Jack Markell and Lt. Governor Matt Denn we need to pitch in and make a few sacrifices. So we need to get out and help the local establishments especially ones where John Carney’s brother is part owner. Also, there is Mickey the other owner, a U of D and Conrad alumni.

I hearby summon Governor Jack Markell to report before the Delaware Blog Discipline Board and bring that pool boy Matt Denn. Please park the state tuna boat in the large lot. Tell your ninja bodyguards to be discrete.

Hey Pandora Bull’s Eye isn’t that bad and the cockroaches speak English. O yea I forgot, its miniskirt night for the girls, bras optional. I had to clarify for the girls because last miniskirt night Mike Matthews wore his. Wasn’t too bad when he was sitting down but dam when he got up on the bar to dance the place cleared out. Was one hell of a sight, him up there dancing singing Ring My Bell!

NCLB Sentenced To Death

Reform No Child Left Behind: Obama and Biden will reform NCLB, which starts by funding the law. Obama and Biden believe teachers should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests. They will improve the assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for college and the workplace and improve student learning in a timely, individualized manner. Obama and Biden will also improve NCLB’s accountability system so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them.

Support High-Quality Schools and Close Low-Performing Charter Schools: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will double funding for the Federal Charter School Program to support the creation of more successful charter schools. The Obama-Biden administration will provide this expanded charter school funding only to states that improve accountability for charter schools, allow for interventions in struggling charter schools and have a clear process for closing down chronically underperforming charter schools. Obama and Biden will also prioritize supporting states that help the most successful charter schools to expand to serve more students.

Make Math and Science Education a National Priority: Obama and Biden will recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession and will support efforts to help these teachers learn from professionals in the field. They will also work to ensure that all children have access to a strong science curriculum at all grade levels.

Address the Dropout Crisis: Obama and Biden will address the dropout crisis by passing legislation to provide funding to school districts to invest in intervention strategies in middle school — strategies such as personal academic plans, teaching teams, parent involvement, mentoring, intensive reading and math instruction, and extended learning time.

Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities: Obama and Biden will double funding for the main federal support for afterschool programs, the 21st Century Learning Centers program, to serve one million more children.

Support College Outreach Programs: Obama and Biden support outreach programs like GEAR UP, TRIO and Upward Bound to encourage more young people from low-income families to consider and prepare for college.

Support College Credit Initiatives: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will create a national “Make College A Reality” initiative that has a bold goal to increase students taking AP or college-level classes nationwide 50 percent by 2016, and will build on Obama’s bipartisan proposal in the U.S. Senate to provide grants for students seeking college level credit at community colleges if their school does not provide those resources.

Support English Language Learners: Obama and Biden support transitional bilingual education and will help Limited English Proficient students get ahead by holding schools accountable for making sure these students complete school.

Recruit Teachers: Obama and Biden will create new Teacher Service Scholarships that will cover four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate teacher education, including high-quality alternative programs for mid-career recruits in exchange for teaching for at least four years in a high-need field or location.

Prepare Teachers: Obama and Biden will require all schools of education to be accredited. Obama and Biden will also create a voluntary national performance assessment so we can be sure that every new educator is trained and ready to walk into the classroom and start.

Obama to save Delaware public schools?

You heard the man; he’ll provide aid to state so that no teacher looses their jobs!

Obama also will set up an oversight body to ensure the stimulus aid won’t be abused. Markell plans to setup a local oversight / accountability committee!

Dear Governor Jack Markell why bother with the accountability bullshit creating jobs for political bedfellows! You continue to refuse to make an executive order ordering full financial transparency of Delaware public schools and DOE! Kissing Washington ass at the same time sticking your ass in the face of the local taxpayers is just another Minner playbook card!

Buddy you have my support and are the right CEO for Delaware but dam Jack, you’re blowing a smoke screen out your ass and obviously aren’t for open government.

Jack just take a minute to check this out! /

Jack and Lil went up the big red hill !

http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/cornerstones/de.pdf

Delaware granted a four year extension on usage of Growth Model to measure AYP. USDOE has extended Delaware’s Growth Model until 2011-2012.

Also, USDOE adds greater Title 1 scrutiny. I can tell you this, somebody in Red Clay needs to get their head out of their ass re: section 1118 (C) (1) Parental Involvment because something big is brewing! I tired to tell them two years ago and now their is no paper trail covering asses! Someone tried to tell me the law changed but NCLB was not reauthorized so they were full of shit!

Jack Markell is clueless to the mechanics of Title 1. He and Lillian will be surprised when shit hits the fan! God help all of you when the young industrious Wilmington parents spills the beans.

Lillian don’t believe the shit they are saying about me down at DOE! Come on Ron and Malik it’s showtime! Hicks is still with us and he is not happy about what has been going on! I don’t know where the Twins are but Hicks put it on the line many times and it’s time for justice! Jea, it’s that time, Hicks is call for us to move the ball! Margaret C, round up Dorothy and Marge becasue little sister needs our help!

Help Shark Boy you better start swimming becasue this one can wait for June. Jeffery you better get under the desk! Big Lil is about to get a big red heahache!

Is there life in Red Clay School District?

CSW will survive the current drama (not crisis) so life goes on!

Red Clay is in the process of selecting a new district superintendent.

Red Clay is in the process of selecting two new board members.

Red Clay may be impacted by possible upcoming state budget cuts.

The early indications are Merv is the leading candidate for superintendent and many still want to paint Bob A all over Merv. Merv and Bob A are two different beasts. Merv knows the issues and concerns! I doubt very much he will just take over the reins of Bob A’s burning wagon. Sure there will be a transition time but I feel Merv know the dire need to focus on “Red Clay” schools and not continue the building off a charter school network within Red Clay. Nothing is stopping charter school coming into Red Clay through DOE charter but it best Red Clay start to focus on business at hand.

As far as full financial transparency of Red Clay there doesn’t really seem to be that much support from the community! Sure one the district call for another referendum we’ll hear all the same bullshit! Our Delaware Governor Jack Markell refuses to call for an executive order ordering full financial transparency of public schools and DOE fearing to upset special interest.

Upcoming school board election might not be an election unless we get more candidates. The two candidates one from each nominating districts where board seat are open or up for elections just might get a shoe-in with out opponents. Some say this denies the public a choice! No so, if the public wants a choice they need to step up and file to run or encourage good candidates to run.

Possible budget cuts are hanging by a thread as many think President Obama’s stimulus package might offer some relief. However, it’s very doubtful it would be enough to not see and state education cuts. No one knows how the possible budget cuts will impact Red Clay. Many folks are critical of Red Clay because they don’t have a plan! They don’t understand Red Clay can’t have a plan unless they know what programs the state is targeting. My guess we’ll be losing those so-called Minner teachers that comes via state grant.

Also, we have a new Delaware Secretary of Education who has been in transition. Hopefully soon we’ll see a more public secretary who will start engaging the community! Surely the looming state budget cuts limit her ability to provide solid insight. Many are waiting to hear the fait of DSTP and plans for a replacement test. Education in Delaware needs to move forward however, it appears Governor Markell is the wagon-master and his appointee won’t speak until given the greenlight!

Immunity for Charter Board of Directors (d)

TITLE 14
Education
Free Public Schools
CHAPTER 5. CHARTER SCHOOLS

§ 504. Corporate status.
(a) A charter school shall be organized and managed under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

(b) The board of directors of a charter school shall be deemed public agents authorized by a public school district or the Department with the approval of the State Board to control the charter school. No person shall serve as a member of a charter school board of directors who is an elected member of a local school board of education.

(c) A charter school shall be considered a public school for all purposes.

(d) A charter school may sue or be sued to the same extent and on the same conditions as a public school district, and its employees, directors and officers shall enjoy the same immunities as employees, directors and officers of public school districts and other public schools. The approving authority of a charter school shall have no liability for the actions or inaction of a charter school.

Welcome Back Peggy Vavalla

So who will be Peggy’s challenger?

Anonymous slams Kilroy with some interesting $$$ facts ?

http://kilroysdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/02/red-clay-cheats-taxpayers-screws.html
Anonymous
“Each and every one of the teachers who were employed last year and remain employed this year got a raise for an additional year of experience. Where do you think that money comes from? It came from the referendum.”

“Ever teacher got a raise (and they will next year, as well). In these economic times, anyone getting a raise screws the taxpayers.”

“I am calling for “Full Kilroy Transparacy”. If you can’t tell us the honest truth, who will? Drop the grandstanding BS and tell us the truth.”
———————————————
At first I thought this anonymous was a district troll however reading through the comment I doubt it.

Though I do make some provoking post and push the issue I’ll admit I do learn something along the way from others.

Teacher’s pay is based in part on years of experience therefore if anonymous comments are true teachers do get a raise each year, I find this interesting! Most people working in the private sector don’t get wage increases and cost of living increase or even merit raises aren’t guaranteed. So rather then take down my post or change it I’ll leave it stand to thank this anonymous troll or not.

As for “Full Kilroy Transparency” dam I don’t know what to tell you! The education system is so closed and full of agendas form all parties and direction it’s hard to know the actual truth. Sure I can add distortion in my post which many times is just baiting people ( I’ve learned it from Jason over at DL). But keep in mind those in the system are much more experience and tactful than I in distortion including the board. So who is the lair and who is the deceiver?

The reality of transparency in education starts with full financial transparency because funding drives everything in education. So anonymous if I didn’t put my grandstanding bullshit in the original post how would you have communicated this important information? So, now you see my point in spicing things up and if I didn’t think you feedback was important to share I would have made this post highlighting you comments.

Sounds like you’re for dumping current pay structure and going with some type of performance base pay!

Red Clay cheats taxpayers screws teachers!

AUTHORITY TO LEVY ADDITIONAL TAXES FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES
Income from the levy will be used for current operating expenses to support educational programs in the district, including the following:
- Restoring school instructional budgets
- Updating technology
- Implementing district-wide full day kindergarten
- Reinstating after-school activities and middle school athletics
- Purchasing new textbooks and library books
- Operating cost increases (e.g., salaries, benefits, transportation)
- Increasing security for schools and buses
- Re-establishing required year-end balance

Last year’s referendum was to provide the district monies to be applied to the above list of needs as prescribed on the referendum ballot.

Our teachers once again are working without a contract and apparently are being dicked around by the district. The money provided via the referendum was designated for specific purposes as in pay increases for our teachers.

Rather then provide Red Clay employees their well deserved measly less than a realized cost of living increase the district manipulated the revenues to get out from under the watchful eye of the DOE FRT. Amazing the June 30 financial report which was prior to the infusion of October school tax increase as a result of the referendum last April reported a little over 4 million dollars in carryover funds. In 2008 the district was able to cut expenses and provided a raise to the teachers as required as part of the third year of the labor contract and yet had a 4 million dollar carryover. In December 2007 the project carryover was about $700,000.00.

The district is wasting $61,000.00 on what appears to be a no bid contract with a private accounting firm to conduct and audit for “school year” 2007-2008 the same year the district was under the watchful eye of the DOE FRT.

Now the district is establishing yet another district level administration Job call Security Czar or something to that effect. The manager of this position will make nearly $120,000.00 and get this; he has no qualifications as a manager of security. Don’t forget another district take home car in case of a midnight security issue. Personally I don’t have a problem with the guy or the fact Red Clay wants to take security more serious. However, let’s get real; there are many qualified security managers out there. Red Clay is not advertising this position and just plans on handing it over to a current employee in a position that oversees maintenance. That position has open and is being advertise for a salary of $109,780.00-$116,787.00 for someone with a High School Degree and an associates degree preferred! But get this; the associate degree preferred is “not required.” That’s right, “not required”

Meantime back in Dover Delaware, Governor Jack Markell sits with his thumb up his ass refusing to make an executive order ordering full financial accountability of public schools and DOE.

Oops, I forgot! Apparently Red Clay is going to pay a private security consultant firm to train the district Security Czar! Sound likes another $200,000.00 being pissed down the old Red Clay drain!

Don’t get me wrong I “love” the idea of better security but dread the thought of an incident that is left in the hands of an “unqualified” Security Czar.

The district apparently has money to piss away in creating jobs for the inner circle bid but can’t live up to meeting the needs of our hardworking teachers.

Give the dam teacher a 3% measly raise and move the F on or refund the taxpayers for money given for the purpose of salary increases for district employees.

Where in the F is our new governor who buys into the Red Clay bullshit stories?

The district is playing the new so-called Security Czar $120,000.00 a year manager quietly hoping no one would notice and the same goes for sliding in an understudy for the Manager of Facilities and Maintenance.

Yea , yea Kilroy is full of shit! Don’t listen to his ranting bullshit calling for full financial transparency because you know the community and the needs of the students are in good hands. The last thing the school board and district needs is the community wanting to see their checkbook! Your job is to feed your kids and make sure their homework is completed and stay the hell out of district affairs!