Delaware Legislators Honor King George III

In honor of King George III, Delaware legislators are poised to raise every form of taxation and state fees.

Rumor has it King George III ghost roams Delaware Legislative Hall and whispers in the ear of Delaware’s Governor as he sleeps, “sleep tight governor for tomorrow we shall dance and reap the spoils”.

Stimulus for Delaware! Like where?

I spent the day down in Alexandria Virginia and holly cow you should see Obama stimulus money at work re: road construction! There is even a big sign proudly noting the federal stimulus money hard at work.

What’s up with Delaware? Don’t tell me our highways; roads and interstate are up to snuff! Has anyone seen the big crack in the concrete columns holding Rt. 141 up! Check them out in Newport across from the Wilmington Trust. I try to get pictures this week and post them.  

Christina School District Loss Another

Update 06/30/2009 looks like Kilroy is not the only flip-flopper! What heck is going on over at Lil’s old district???? What was CSD’s cost to save face? Teachers take a pay cut and admins get’s a wait let’s talk about this maybe we can sweeten the pie if you stay.

Christiana High School Principal bails! Hey big John might be a good idea to get an exit interview to figure out how to close the revolving door at down there.

Bull’s Eye Summit to be announced

Yes folks it getting that time again for those brave enough to drink and eat with the blue collar crowd at the Bull’s Eye on Kirkwood High. The Bull’s Eye is a local landmark and it a great place to meet because the walls don’t talk. Godfather Mickey Valenti a former Conrad football star and the dude that turned me on to Jimi Hendrix, The Vanilla Fudge and Iron Butterfly is one of the Bull’s Eye co-owner. One of the other owners is John Carney’s brother. The drinks and food are good and cheap. Relax Pandora, I haven’t seen any roaches since the mice moved in! LOL! Sorry due to the pending increase on the alcohol tax cloth napkins have been replaced with paper napkins. The summit will be either a Friday Night or Saturday Night. Yea yea I know those Liberals like Thursday nights. However, some of us work for a living! Hey blogger groupie dude that works in the kitchen, tell Mickey make sure only documented workers are on the schedule.

Apology to Ms. Christine O’Donnell

Dear Ms. O’Donnell:

I want to apologize for taking my antics too far without considering your feelings. You have some wonderful caring friends who have enlightened me to my insensitivity. So I want to say I am sorry.  I look forward to apologizing to you in person.

Kilroy

$$$ Meltdown in Dover

We’ll folks legislative session in Dover is coming to a close and keep your eye on the political ball. See who tries to sneak pet legislation in at the last minute. Legislators tend to agree to anything at the end of session so they can get to the beach.

When it’s all said and done the Delaware taxpayers will be digging deeper in their pockets to bailout our state elected officials.

The promises of change  does have a price tag and the middle-class will once again carry the burden. Obama wants to lower taxes to simulate the economy and Markell will sign legislation laced with unreasonable tax increases that will only stagnate Delaware’s economy.

I don’t blame Jack Markell for what he inherited from former Governor Ruth Minner. I think it’s only fair to wait until Jack Markell has been in office for a year. So, his grades will come January 2010. Now that ( I hope) state government jobs won’t be the means to measure job growth the governor will deliver on creating more jobs in the private sector. I’ll hang in there with Jack but I don’t feel too sorry for him because he asked for the job and wrote a book on how to fix our problems.  No it’s time for Markell to walk the talk.

Education

I think our local school districts are smart enough to know escaping major state education cuts this year doesn’t mean we’re safe. The federal stimulus money is only good for two years and I don’t foresee Delaware’s economy recovering to pre-recession. Local school districts including Red Clay will keep a rein on spending. Markell’s executive order ordering state agencies including schools to put their checkbooks online effective July 30, 2009 will allow the public to keeps tabs on spending. However, the important aspect of checkbooks online is to remind the school district that more people are watching. However, the bottom-line is the failure of Delaware public schools falls on the governor.

Healthcare

More adults no eligible for public assistance will lose their employer / employee sponsored healthcare to due rising cost. The will be not major healthcare reform in Delaware that ensure “all” citizens have affordable healthcare.

Illegal Immigrants in Delaware

The illegal Immigrant issue on the back-burner because the governor’s plate is full. Our legislators failed to enact legislation rising fine and possible jail time for those hiring illegal immigrants. How about a $50,000.00 fine for hiring undocumented workers?

Good luck Dover and God help the people!

Kilroy’s New Digs!

Update! For the folks in Red Clay, I am sorry that access is a little tighter but the drama needs to stop. Merv and the board need the opportunity to move things forward.

Welcome to Kilroy’s new digs! Sorry I didn’t give you all notice of my relocation. Just as Red Clay is getting ready to hit the switch on their new site I figured it was time to move to a new blog host. It will take me a few days to attached all the add-ons and check out the new feature on WordPress.

Rememeber the new comment rules!

Bronx charter school falls to Union

Bronx charter school reaches contract agreement with union
NYSUT Newswire – June 24, 2009

“United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and Green Dot Charter School officials announced a tentative three-year contract agreement for the Green Dot New York Charter School in the Bronx. The agreement was ratified by an overwhelming majority. “This agreement is based on a very basic premise: teacher professionalism is the surest path to sustained student achievement,” said Weingarten.”
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Kilroy’s Spin

This is weird! There weren’t any charter school unions until after Arne Duncan became U.S. Secretary of Education.

Wouldn’t be ironic if Delaware first charter school, Charter School of Wilmington went union? Doubtful because the teachers their are quite happy with a discipline free school and merit bonuses. CSW is a teacher’s paradise. Do CSW teachers get EPER??

Niagara NY Charter goes union per law?

CHARTER SCHOOL: Protest over union planned today

Staff says it doesn’t want union help
Staff ReportsNiagara Gazette

Teachers at the Niagara Charter School are getting union representation under a recent court ruling, but that doesn’t mean all of them are happy about it.

Members of the charter school’s instructional staff are planning to protest a recent court decision that allowed them to be represented at the bargaining table by the Niagara-Wheatfield Teachers Association, which represents teachers in other schools within the Niagara-Wheatfield School District.

Staff members from Niagara Charter School issued a press release Monday announcing plans to picket from 4:30-5 p.m. today outside the charter school on Lockport Road.

The instructional staff at Niagara Charter School is not unionized.

In a recent ruling, Administrative Law Judge M. Lynn Fitzgerald recognized the Niagara-Wheatfield Teacher’s Association as the bargaining unit for the charter school, citing a section of New York’s charter school law that provides union representation for teachers working at charter schools where enrollment exceeds 250 children in the first two years of operation.

Laurie Munzert, a second-grade teacher at Niagara Charter School, said staff members have not wanted union representation since the first day the school opened and they have voted against union representation. She also said the local representative from the New York State United Teachers has not cooperated with requests from teachers for the creation of a bargaining committee and has not been responsive to the concerns of instructional members at the charter school.

She said the union leader is leaving the impression the union intends to press on, even if it does not have support from charter school teachers.
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Kilroy’s spin:

Strange , teachers don’t want union but law requires it?

I think it’s only a matter of time Delaware will see a unionized charter school.

Pending Education Legislation hanging by days

This legislation session has been a roller coaster ride for education and surely in the closing days certainly legislation will be pushed through.
So far only the legislation listed below “signed” has made it to law.

HB 87 & 88 will be covered under Gov. Markell’s executive order ordering all state agencies to put the checkbook on line. This includes public schools. Markell order the information on line by July 30, 2009.

I do support HB 119 and was passed by the House and is now in Senate Commitee. Sokola, shake a leg and let’s get this to a senate vote. Same goes for SB 151! Come on Dave get a move on it!

HB 223
06/16/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.
House Education
House
D.P. Williams

SB 149
06/04/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION OF NONPUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, SPECIALISTS AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION EMPLOYEES.
House Passed
House
Sokola

SB 137
06/04/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Senate Education
Senate
McDowell

SB 136
06/04/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Senate Education
Senate
McDowell

SB 67
04/09/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS.
Senate Finance
Senate
Sokola

HB 224
06/16/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.
Out of Committee
House
Miro

HB 69
02/18/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ESTABLISHING A DIRECT CARE ADVANCED TRAINING PROGRAM.
Stricken
House
Booth

SB 151
06/04/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PROGRAM.
House Passed
House
Sokola

HB 157
05/12/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT.
Stricken
House
Longhurst

HS 1 FOR HB 119 w/HA 1
06/04/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE WITH RESPECT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Senate Education
Senate
Schooley

HB 254
06/18/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATION AND EXCEPTIONAL PERSONS
Out of Committee
House
Schooley

HB 119
04/08/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE WITH RESPECT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Lieu
House
Schooley

HB 87
03/24/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DISCLOSURE OF CHECKING ACCOUNT ACTIVITY AND PAY AND BENEFITS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.
House Education
House
Lavelle

HB 88
03/24/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO A SEARCHABLE ARCHIVE OF ALL CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.
House Education
House
Lavelle

SB 127
06/04/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS.
Senate Administrative Services/Elections
Senate
Bonini

HB 73
02/18/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE DELAWARE NATIONAL GUARD.
Out of Committee
Senate
Jaques

HB 30
01/14/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE POWERS, DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.
Out of Committee
House
Jaques

SB 98
05/13/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.
Senate Finance
Senate
Bonini

HB 60
02/18/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO LIMITING ARTIFICIAL TRANS FATS IN FOOD AVAILABLE OR SERVED TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS.
Senate Finance
Senate
Kowalko

SB 23
03/19/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.
Senate Finance
Senate
Bonini

SB 68 w/SA 1
04/09/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STUDENT ASSESSMENT AND ACADEMIC PROMOTION.
House Passed
House
Sokola

SB 150 w/SA 1
06/04/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14, TITLE 18, AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE.
House Passed
House
Sokola

HB 102
03/26/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATOR LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION.
Signed
Schooley

SB 41
03/25/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FOSTER CARE AND THE SEED PROGRAM.
Out of Committee
Senate
Blevins

HB 244
06/17/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO NOTICE OF SCHOOL ELECTIONS.
Out of Committee
House
Jaques

HB 117 w/HA 4
04/02/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 14 AND 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL BOARDS AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS.
Senate Finance
Senate
Longhurst

SB 140
06/04/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Signed
Bunting

HB 76
03/10/2009
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE OATH OF OFFICE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
Signed
Manolakos