The Echo

The News Journal has taken on financial transparency in Delaware, sifting through the state's fiscal records. Below are some CSD-related highlights. Check out the latest Journal story online at:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090531/NEWS02/905310368&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL



Delaware Technical & Community College President, Orlando George Jr., will make $455,000 this year. That's more than the President of the United States of America makes ($400,000.) And no one in the federal government is allowed to earn more in salary than the President.

How does George's salary, which comes from State Government funding, stack up in Delaware? Surely, our Governor is the highest paid ...

Governor Jack Markell ranks 25th in Delaware at $171,000.

Intermim Superintendent of the Christina School District, Freeman Williams, is #74 at $163,737. And yes, there are about 50 folks between the Gov. and the Interim Super, making $163 GRAND plus. (To put it in a clearer perspective: Colonial School District Superintendent, George Meney, comes in at #4 with $193,000.)


Marcia Lyles, incoming super of the CSD brings home $200,000+ in her current NY position. How do you negotiate a salary with someone when you are on the verge of an 8% cut for all state positions? This is not a dig at CSD, just a curious question that's been on my mind. Well, we'll know soon enough ... when the legislative session ends July 1st (yes, it's July first. At midnight on July 1st, the clocks in Legislative Hall are set back by a couple hours to give lawmakers more time to finish the session.)

http://php.delawareonline.com/state/salary/topsalaries.php

http://www.edutopia.org/assessment

The George Lucas Educational Foundation.

Fascinating site!

Currently, the DCAS system, with its many yet-unknowns is a bill in Delaware legislature. Proposed by Gov. Markell, DCAS will replace the DSTP, if the bill is passed in Dover.

The following are highlights from Sec. of Ed. Dr. Lillian Lowery's Monday Presentation at Glasgow High School:

• DCAS is the proposed assessment model to replace the current DSTP
• Under the DCAS system, academic benchmarks and graduation requirements will remain the same as is current
• RFPs, or Requests for Proposals were accepted through April 20th from vendors.
• Delaware is looking to join a multi-state collaborative to drive down the price of the test
• Additionally, the new technology will not require actual people to hand score portions of the test, which will decrease the cost.
• School Districts are being asked to return some of the anticipated stimulus funding to cover the technology costs of the test.
• In K-8th grade, DCAS will be an adaptive test or growth model -- adjusting to various levels of difficulty based on how successfully the student is completing the application.
• K-8 students will have the opportunity to take the DCAS three times in a year.
• K-8 students can bank successful scores, allowing teachers and students to focus their study in areas of weakness.
• Student scores will be available to teachers immediately following the completion of the test.
• In schools currently failing to make Annual Yearly Progress, AYP, students in failing cells will only need to show 1 1/2 years progress during a school year, not proficiency, in order for the school to attain AYP.
• In High School, DCAS will take the form of an End-of-Course test. These tests are likely to apply to core courses and will be standardized across the state. They may possibly replace final exams in core courses.
• The end-of-course test will not be a growth model; however, the timing of the test has not been determined. It's possible the test could be offered in early May so that students who do not pass, will have time to retake it. Another possibility for retakes could occur during summer school.
• Delaware has no plans at this time to standardize graduation credits. Dr. Lowery explained that the state sets the minimum requirements and it is hoped that the districts go above and beyond.
• On DAPA II, the Delaware Alternative Portfolio Assessment, Dr. Lowery stated that her office is making plans to evaluate that model in two years.

My initial thoughts:

If DCAS comes to pass, and most think it will, Delaware's 19 school districts will need to evaluate how they provide Gifted and Talented education. Currently, Delaware has no law requiring districts to identify and serve students who are G&T.

According to Dr. Lowery, G&T is something that Delaware's school districts handle on a local level. I've asked Dr. Lowery to consider establishing a statewide curriculum for G&T programming.

I continue to hear from parents who feel their children are not being adequately challenged by the current model in the Christina School District. CSD has no standardized curriculum for its programming. We need to establish what G&T needs to look like in our district, giving teachers control over modality of implementation, but establishing benchmarks and guidelines, through the evaluation of best practices, to ensure these students are engaged and challenged in school.

The Newark Post shared an interesting blog entry on Marcia Lyles with their readers today.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/deputy-schools-chancellor-is-picked-for-delaware-job/

Having never met Dr. Lyles, nor having been a part of the hiring process (although I did attend community forums in the capacity of a parent), I am reserving judgement on the existing BOE's choice of Lyles as Superintendent. I am sure the board encountered tremendous challenges in coming to their decision and the magnitude of the choice weighed heavily with them.


I will use my time between now and July when I officially become a Board Member to become as educated as possible on the challenges and successes Dr. Lyles encountered in her journey through public education so that I may better understand her strengths and how her expertise will benefit ALL the children of our district.


I have utmost respect for Dr. Williams, whom I have met personally. Our district has struggled for decades, and Dr. Williams has stalwartly stood with us, even when superintendents used our district as a leap pad for greater positions of power and money. His loyalty and experience are to be commended and I sincerely hope that he stays with us for many more years to come.

Senate Bill # 98
Primary Sponsor: Bonini
CoSponsors: Sens. Simpson, Sokola, Sorenson; Reps. Cathcart, Hocker, Hudson, Lavelle, Lee, Manolakos, Ramone, D. Short, Wilson
Introduced on : 05/13/2009
Long Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.
Synopsis: This Act gives local districts flexibility to reduce administrative costs, as opposed to just teacher costs, when facing budget shortfalls.
Current Status: Senate Finance Committee On 05/13/2009
Fiscal Note:Not Required
Full text of Legislation: (in HTML format):Legis.html

Senate Bill # 95
Primary Sponsor: Peterson Additional Sponsor(s): Rep. Scott
CoSponsors: Sens. Sokola Bushweller Sorenson Bonini,Reps. Ramone Longhurst Hudson Manolakos D.P. Williams Barbieri
Introduced on : 05/13/2009
Long Title: AN ACT TO CREATE FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TO CONSOLIDATE THE EXISTING NINETEEN DISTRICTS THEREIN.
Synopsis: This Bill provides for consolidation of the current public school districts into four districts. They include a Northern, Central, Southern and Consolidated Vocational School District. Because of the complexity involved, the Bill directs the Department of Education to provide the General Assembly with proposed legislation to accomplish this. The consolidation will take effect July 1, 2011.
Current Status: Senate Finance Committee On 05/13/2009
Fiscal Note: F/N
Full text of Legislation: (in HTML format) Legis.html

This one intrigues me. We all knew this proposal was coming; however, the language of the synopsis implies that our DOE is not in favor of the bill. Why does the bill need to instruct DOE to provide a plan? Wouldn't they have one, ready in the wings, if this was something DOE supported? Wouldn't they have already presented the plan to Sen. Peterson and wouldn't it be attached to the bill as a proposal? Maybe they do. And we, as citizens, are not privy to the personal agendas of our folks in Dover.

Let's just hope that whatever is proposed is either feasible and logical or completely out in left field.

I'd really rather see a bill that would require existing school districts to enter into collaborative bargaining to increase their buying power and drive down vendor pricing thus saving tax payers money. And a bill amending the complicated funding formula that centralizes much of Delaware's education funding to the DOE, one that will bring fiscal control into local district hands.

Question: What is your political affiliation? I'm sure some marketing person told you that you'd get more votes if you didn't put it in writing! What is John Young?

Answer: I am a registered Democrat. I voted for Jack Markell. I do not always agree with him. And when I don't, you'll know it!

I had no political machine advising me on how to create our advertising. I have a degree in English/Journalism, and took a class back in college on Technical Writing. I designed the Young/Scheinberg campaign material myself, using Vistaprint.com. I did not include political affiliations because School Board Elections are supposed to be non-partisan.

John Young is a registered Republican.

Which just goes to show you that there is common ground in politics.

Sec. of Education Dr. Lillian Lowery hosted a public forum at Glasgow High School on Monday to discuss the Markell/Denn Education Reform Legislation.

Dr. Lowerly also paused to answer questions on Stimulus Funding:

1) States receiving Stim Funds must have shown a "Maintenance of Effort" to finance education. Basically they must have maintained the level of funding provided in the fiscal year 2006. Delaware has shown the effort and we have the green light.

2) Funds will come down to the districts earmarked for specific uses, such as Title I funds or IDEA funds. Districts can then appropriate those monies into areas of need specific to that "bucket."

3) Gov. Stabilization Funds are another type of stim funding. Access to these funds is based upon the Gov. Recommended Budget. The Jury is still out on these funds.

4) WHEN will the funds hit the districts? Possibly July. Dr. Lowery states that her folks know how much is coming into Delaware. Her office is holding off on dispersement of funds until the new fiscal budget is passed in Dover as districts may not receive all the funding they have requested. By waitings to disperse stim monies, districts can better plan for how those funds will be used.

5) In order to receive the funds, districts must present a stim funding budget to DOE for approval. Dr. Lowery states that her department is not nitpicking these budgets.

6) Important Note: Superintendents are being asked to give back some Stim Funding for the technology hardware cost of implementing the new statewide testing model.

7) All funds must be spent in two years!

It's a one-time gift, so get it right the first time!

There are three bills currently in the legislature waiting to become law and usher in the early phases of education reform.

HB 119 will provide "Citizen oversight and transparency in finances, while giving more local decision making power." (Statement from the Office of the Lt. Gov.) However, 119 is stalled in the House because certain portions of the bill call for waivers and reductions in special education. Rep. Schooley, primary sponsor, promises revisions are coming.

SB 67 provides greater compensation for teachers by paying "the state's highest performing teachers a comparatively higher salary, and those high-performing teachers in high-risk schools at the state's highest level." (Statement from Office of Lt. Gov.) However, this portion of the Markell/Denn Education Reform Plan would not go into effect until our current state budget situation improves and initially may be a pilot program.

We need constituent pressure in Dover. Our teachers deserve the passage of SB 67. Generally, Delaware pays its teachers less than the nearby states of Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. If the 8% pay cut for state employees passes in Dover, we risk loosing our highly qualified teachers to other states.

This week our teachers are holding Bell-to-Bell walk-outs. They are only working during their contract hours, not staying late to grade or plan lessons. The purpose is to emphasize how many unpaid hours our teachers already put into our children's education. And they deserve the recognition! I've said it before and I'll say it again: We cannot balance the state's budget woes on the backs of the education community.

Okay, back to the bills...

The last bill hanging out in Dover is SB 68, the elimination and replacement of DTSPs. Now, I attended Sec. of Education, Dr. Lowery's presentation last night at Glasgow High School and I have some info to share about the intentions of the new test.

Check back later today for my recap of the meeting. In the meantime, call/email your legislators and ask them to get moving on these education reform bills. We need the revisions done that are necessary and the bills to get movin' because July 1st, it's all over.

http://php.delawareonline.com/state/creditcard/index.php?searchBy=divname&keyword=Christina+School+District

I've been quiet since the election, rest assured: I haven't fallen silent. I'm just trying to wrap my head around all the numbers.

14 individual credit card purchases made to the same vendor by the same purchaser in one day. And that's nothing ...

While only being a board member-elect, I am not privy to the details of these transactions, having learned about them, as did most, from the Sunday News Journal. I will not say that there were any excessive purchases without knowing the details of said purchases.

However, come July, I will be asking some very hard questions.

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905120345

Tradition begs that gals who graduate wear dresses. But, there are times when tradition must be retired, especially those that feed the gender gap.

Women wear suits to work and have earned the right to equal pay (though we all know what is moral and ethical correct is not always practice); and, they should graduate besides their male peers in pants.

I want to commend the two young ladies in the above article for challenging the status quo and asserting their equal rights.

At the risk of raising some ire, I have to admit that I am boggled by the passive-aggressive policy that Christiana High will employ at graduation. The shirt and tie ranks will grow by two, among a sea of dresses. That's right, folks, our ladies in pants, will also be sporting shirts with ties.

Fortunately for those who've broken the glass ceiling, girls look cool in ties. But, should common sense prevail, I'd prefer to see young ladies in blouses, tie optional.

WE DID IT!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

State leaders may renege on their commitment to channel up to $75 million from last year's one-time windfall of unclaimed property to public school construction projects. - The News Journal

The State of Delaware made a commitment to all Delawareans when they pledged this funding. Our state officials have a responsibility to make good on those promises.

One of the Christina projects is a new building for the Delaware School for the Deaf, also called the Margaret S. Sterck School. The building will have enhanced technology and better acoustics.

"The students are being provided with an outstanding education but in a facility that is clearly not up to current-day standards," Interim Director Joseph Fischgrund said. He said funding the building is an "important symbol in the deaf community of the state's commitment to the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing children." -The News Journal

I find it reprehensible to take money away from children, especially those with special needs. Construction on new Sterk project has already begun. By failing to provide the promised funding, our state is failing these children!

Our children deserve better! As a school board member I will be dedicated to ensuring that the State's budget crisis is not balanced on our children's backs!

Delawareliberal.net posed questions to candidates in several school districts about the issues surrounding education in Delaware. Click the link to learn more!

http://www.delawareliberal.net/2009/05/11/christina-school-board-candidate-elizabeth-scheinberg/comment-page-1/#comment-118112

Campaign Signs
Stolen from outside churches on Mother's Day!

Real Nice ...

I know Red Clay has been having a problem with signs. However, I thought we, in CSD, were running a slightly more civilized race. The thefts are an effort on behalf of supporters of the other candidates to prevent the public from being thoroughly educated come Tuesday.

However, it's less reflective on me, than it is on the other candidates. The Young & Scheinberg message has been getting out, through door-to-door visits, and campaigning by both candidates and volunteers. We've made our campaigns available to the online community, to civic groups, special populations, PTAs, and our community at-large.

In the last 18 months, I've attend 13 or more Public Board Meetings, in addition to Strategic Planning Meetings, Special Sessions, PTA meetings and public forums for both the Statewide Director at the DAP and the CSD Superintendent search. I've sat in on student IEPs at parents requests as both parent support and parent advocate. Both John and I have worked hard on behalf of special education students to record policies that the CSD utilizes but had never written down.

I've spoken at length with the Director of Elementary Curriculum on behalf of general education students and their parents regarding Gifted and Talented programming also known as Talent Development.

I've interfaced with legislators regarding HB 117 and 119, House Bills that will change the way education is delivered in Delaware.

The CSD is ripe for change. It's the will of the parents and our educators.

In the immortal words of so many young writers who have passed through the hallowed walls at the University of Delaware's student paper, the Review : The Revolution will not be televised, It will be Live."

Political campaigns are funny things.

Yesterday, I went home to the neighborhood in which I grew up, to the street where I trick-or-treated, and to the ball park where my little sister was the first girl to ever play for the Newark American Little League. I was the first female ever permitted to be an announcer in the booth. Yesterday, there were four teens in that booth, two of which were girls, and at least four young ladies playing ball in the field.

All those years ago, we called my sis "T" when she got up for bat; if we used her "real name" the boys on the opposing teams would make fun of her. I'm not sure if they were more intimidated by her gender or because she was far superior player to most.

When the NALL snack bar recieved its first cash register, I taught the league moms how to use it (I owe my expertise to my high school job at Friendly's on Elkton Rd, now demolished and the site of new contruction.)

I'm proud of these feats, because I was just a teenager myself, filling in for my own mother who worked more hours than she was able to devote to her family so that she could support that family in all of its endeavours! Like so many children, I didn't understand it then, but with decades of real life experiences, I more than appreciate my mom's sacrifices.

Election Campaigns can be great things! Back home, I knocked on Lennie Markell's door, our Governor's mother, and left literature when she wasn't home. I fondly remember babysitting Lennie's grandchildren the night she received the Social Worker of the Year Award. (I suspect she's in Dover this weekend with her son and grandchildren. It is Mother's Day weekend, afterall.)

I met Fred, a wise man who is considering joining the district Financial Review Committee; he was inspiring to say the least. His family is grown, but he's compelled to give back in a capacity that suits him well.

In Cherry Hill I met a widower who serves our students at West Park as a mentor, still tied to education long after his children have grown, because his wife was a dedicated CSD food service employee for more years than anyone can remember.

I met Kirby, a former administrative employee, with a step-daughter at Charter. Daughter is terribly afraid of attending high school because her neighborhood school is Newark High. But Christiana and Glasgow are not much better choices, they all have drugs, gangs, guns, knives, and more.

At Downes Elementary, I introduced myself to the school's principal, Mrs. Schwartz, attending her school's yard sale and car wash. She first asked me, "Are you Steve Scheinberg's daughter?" Yes, I am. His daughter-in-law, actually. Steve, my husband Rob and I, and Mrs. Schwartz's husband and his father before hime all served B'nai B'rith, a service organization in Wilmington, its history goes back more than 100 years!

At the ballpark, I met a CSD resident who sends her children to private school, who after her own experiences as a district student, has given up on the district's ability to educate her children. She struggles to afford the school, and did try one year in a CSD school, where she was met with resistance from teachers. In her eyes, they provided little guidance as to how to support her child's in-school education at home. She felt her teacher didn't want her to be part of the process. So Mom sent her child back to private, where the young man is thriving and she is an equal part of the educational team.

I've met more parents, tax-payers, law-makers, teachers, and school administrators during this short journey than I can count. I've lived and breathed legislative code, unit counts, gifted and talented programming, special populations, cars washes, fundraising walks, and the blog-o-sphere of the internet. And I have enjoyed every moment of it.

But, elections can bring about some unsavory moments as well. Like yesterday, when I took the curve on Delaware Avenue, just up the road from Newark High. As I paused at the light, I noticed a 17-21 year old girl, removing a Young and Scheinberg campaign sign, in the ground less than a day. I know she's not from the NCCo Department of Elections or the police. She left the sign stand in the grass. I am certain she is, in fact, someone's constituent.

While I didn't have the time and position in traffic to stop her before she merged back onto the road, I did catch her license plate number. Then I parked and removed the sign stand.

I am openly inviting that young lady to return the sign with an apology before I am forced to file a police report. Why? It's just a sign, right? No, theft is a pattern of behavior that can escalate into bolder (although broad daylight is pretty bold) more serious crimes. Call it fate, call it what you will, but I was meant to be on that road at that moment. It would be wrong to not expect the highest moral behavior from our young people. Perhaps, this was just a lapse in judgement and nothing more. But, I want to give this girl a chance to correct her error.

And if this action was a part of a competitor's campaign, they need to seriously rethink what message they are sending to our children and consider the integrity (and lack thereof) they will bring to our school board.

Tuesday is voting day. Will you be joining Young and Scheinberg at the polls? Will you be voting for thoughtful change, a return to common sense practices, the empowerment of educators and the transparency that this district needs if it is begin a journey to excellence? I hope you will!

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Scheinberg

Here's some food for thought:
From: http://action.rodelfoundationde.org/acenter/Blog/tabid/60/EntryId/29/Delaware-early-childhood-education-lags-neighbors.aspx

Delaware early childhood education lags neighbors

The National Institute for Early Education Research just put out their annual ranking of state early childhood programs. See the full report here, some Delaware highlights below, and the full Delaware summary here.

Delaware ranks 30th of all states in terms of the percentage (7.3%) of 4-year-olds served by state pre-school (ECAP). Our neighboring states—Pennsylvania (28), New Jersey (15), and Maryland (9)--all rank above us.

Delaware serves no 3-year-olds through state preschool. (26 states serve 3-year olds.)

Delaware’s programs operate at least 3.5 hours, 5 days per week. 10 states offer full day programs, and 30 states allow local programs to determine the schedule.

Delaware ranks 7th in terms of resources invested per child ($6795). However, in adjusted dollars, this was $348 less than the previous year.

The Great Divide: Reduction in Force

For one brief moment last night, I thought one of our CSD board members would be BOLD and vote Nay on the recommendation to RIF 9 Teachers and 4 School Counselors. Of course, one decenting vote wouldn't stop the RIF, but it would move the board one step away from its history of rubber-stamping district recommendations.

To my dismay, but not surprise, our board members, some of whom expressed receiving negative feedback from constituents regarding the contracted counseling agency in place in 13 of our elementary schools, voted to eliminate the last four counselors directly employed by the CSD. With that unanimous vote, CSD kissed good-bye to personal ownership of the counseling program.

Two things stuck out during last nights procedings 1) No one could or would supply the cost savings projections of out-sourcing these last four counselors 2) Our board voted for the RIF seemingly without requiring the district to produce it. Okay, could the board have examined the projections during Executive Session behind closed doors? Sure, but we'll never know because our district continues to lack full transparency in the decision-making process.

POSTING
The Christina Board of Education will meet in Executive Session
on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at 6:00 PM, at the Sarah Pyle Academy,
501 North Lombard Street, Wilmington, to discuss Personnel Matters.
The Board will meet in Special Session at 7:30 PM.

Super Stars in Education, CSD is noticeably absent from the list. Read the article at:
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905050337

From the News Journal

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905030328

Thank yous go out to the University of Delaware who will continue to offer free classes during summer sessions for our educators.

They could've come up with a gimmick to attract attendence (such as the Buy One - Get One program to be instituted at Del State this summer) but they took the high road, knowing full well that they alone may shoulder all the costs in contrast to the state's history of picking up a portion of the tab.

UD has shown their commitment to Delaware's educators, not just in turning out teachers prepared to enter our public school system, but in carrying the burden of ensuring those teachers receive the best education possible.

Hey, UD can you help us with our gifted and talented programming, too? I'm hearing from constituents that we need to make some major headway in this area.

Thanks Again
Elizabeth

Recently, a constituent asked me a series of questions. I wanted to share my answers with all voters:

How is Public Education in Delaware Funded:
Education is the largest expenditure in the Delaware state budget. Approximately 25% of public education revenue comes from local school district support, while the remainder comes from the state (65%) and the federal government (10%). The local school district portion is raised primarily through property taxes while the state portion comes from personal income tax, corporation taxes, gross receipts tax, and franchise taxes. According to GreatSchools.Net, "paying for schools with local property taxes has been one of the main causes of unequal funding….[and] the poorer communities, precisely the ones that need more resources to educate their children, must make do with smaller pots of money."

Do you know how the autistic program is funded from the state and CSD? Funding for DAP occurs in two ways: 1) Tuition is charged to a student's school district of residence to cover the local (non-state and non-federal) costs of education students 2) The statewide program is supported through tuition tax charged to New Castle County residents to the program operated by the CSD. New Castle County residents also financially support aspects of the program in the other two counties.

What does it cost the state and taxpayers to fund the autistic program, is it more than regular ed students? The cost to educate special education students is higher than that of general education students. Because their needs frequently require more support, they tend to generate more teaching units. At the DAP, each teaching unit also generates a para unit.

What is a unit count ? How are teachers earned in every school? Unit Count refers to the number of specialists, teachers, and paras generated by student enrollment. In the current system, unit count is formally assessed on Sept. 30th based upon the actual number of students in attendance in district schools that day. Those numbers generate teacher units, etc. There are a myriad of problems with the Sept. 30th date, not the least of which is that it can mean oversized classes in September and disrupting the classroom through division in October. It also impedes the recruitment and hiring of highly-qualified educators. There is some flexibility for building level administration after September 30th in that they can convert teacher units to para units. At Keene, the principal previously converted one teaching unit to a counselor (unfortunately that counselor like many of the district guidance providers is among those to be RIF'd at the end of her contract.)

Our district has 18,200 students, until the state changes the way it funds public education and special services there is little any district can do. The staff at Drew has been cut by 22% under Dr. Lowery. Allow me to clarify my answer from last night (the CSD Candidate's Forum) -- I am aware that Dr. Lowery reduced Administration in CSD. I believe we have too much admin in the DOE. I do anticipate that Dr. Lowery will begin cuts there in her new role.

ZERO tolerance, how about a kid with a knife, pepper spray, hand-cuffs,
throwing a chair at a teacher, hitting a teacher? There needs to be a balance to discipline with intervention. We can discipline a student, including suspension and expulsion, and require intervention before returning to the district. Where we fail these students is that we do not identify them as at-risk prior to committing unacceptable behaviors. The ability to ID these students lies heavily with our counseling and teaching staff. The education system has the ability to intervene in these students lives before they become a part of the criminal law system. We owe it to our students and our communities to reach out to students in need, to offer them alternatives to criminal behavior. Again, I am all for strong disciplinary practices; however, we must do need to do more than punish them.

What roles does the parent play in social behavior ? Parents are absolutely imperative to teaching appropriate social behavior! However, there will be times when parents are simply unable to support their student/child. We need to develop a policy and plan for those instances. I believe education is a community responsibility, in the absence of a parent the community needs to step up. By reaching these students through a variety of protocol, we are increasing safety for all in our schools.

When is came to Elementary Intervention on the first offense, I was dismissed and told teachers do not have the time to set up TEAMS for monitoring and mentoring. Now you know why it happens. That is an absolute travesty! I would be the first and maybe the most outspoken when it comes to needing a TEAM approach to education. When we properly address the "out-of-control" student, we are better able to educate all students!

By the way, I respect you and your eagerness to help. You need to be more informed on how the system works. Good Luck. Thank You for your kind words. My intention truly is to help! Becoming a board member will not make me a better mother, it isn't fodder for a resume and won't qualify me for anything beyond my role as parent. It will give me an opportunity to live my personal philosophy while inspiring children to want/love/desire a great education! In the end, it is always 100% about our students. As for needing to be more informed -- I agree with you. It's not what we know, it's what we don't know that inspires me to be as educated in district and state policies as possible. Thank You, too, for your service to our children. It takes a tremendous person to persevere on behalf of our students. They are fortunate to have you in their corner .I hope I have earned your vote. If I can answer anymore questions, please let me. Sincerely, Elizabeth Scheinberg

In response to constituent concerns, I have begun researching the status of Christina's Gifted and Talented programming. Some parents have expressed concerns to me for these offerings, especially for K-2nd grade.

My Stance: I strongly believe that we need to challenge all students in order to keep them engaged in the classroom. Delaware is one of a handful of states that does not require its school districts to identify gifted students, nor does it require specific services for exceptional students.

Today, I began a dialogue with CSD admin to learn more about how they are meeting the unique needs of this special population. Opening the channels of communication is the first step in the process to excellence. As I learn more about the specifics of the programs I will report back to residents and parents via this blog.

In the mean time, here's a great place to start learning about the status of G &T in Delaware:

http://dspace.udel.edu:8080/dspace/bitstream/19716/2363/1/gifted%20and%20talented.pdf

Okay, it's early ... the news just hit that a student was knifed during a fight at Newark High. Newark Police responded quickly, the students were arrested, prom will go on as planned.

What?

When I was a kid growing up in the district, Newark High was considered the pinnacle of education in Christina. It was the "good" school, the one that every college-bound student wanted to attend.

Between knives and guns, it's clear that Newark isn't what it used to be. It's fallen to the ranks of it's sister schools, Glasgow and Christiana. And it's become quite clear that we have permitted the right to a public education to be compromised by our inability to ensure student safety.

So, how do we ensure student safety in a time when the success of zero tolerence policies is at question? Empirical data suggests that zero tolerance doesn't work, equal is not always fair, and such policies preclude common sense from coming into play.

We must find a way to temper discipline with intervention and support while enforcing fair policies. Clearly, students cannot bring knives and guns to school, much less use them. Such behavior must be adequately disciplined.

But, what if we were to turn the puzzle on its side and try to identify those student who would be at risk for such behaviors before the behavior occurs? What if, once a student is identified, we provided supports to that student to engage back in the learning environment. First, we reach out to parents to ascertain the type of home environment a student has, to learn what emotional baggage our student is carrying to school each day. We provide our students with access to mental health professionals like school pyschologists and counselors (granted that would require our board to vote no on the proposed RIF of our school counselors); engage social services to address issues in the home; develop afterschool programming (likely to involve community-based partnerships that include tutoring and mentoring); and assist our student to develop an education plan. Who do you want to be? How do you get there?

The question that remains is would this type of approach work? I believe a well thought out policy has the potential to decrease the number of disciplinary infractions that occur in our schools. We must reach our students before they commit serious crimes. We must engage them, support them, giving them alternatives to the criminal path. Once a student has entered the legal system, it far harder to rehabilitate them.

Some will argue we cannot afford to finance such a plan. But, if we do not find the finances on the front end, we will be forever supporting students-turned-criminals in our prisons. We, the community, pays one way or the other.

And what if our student, even after we've invested such resources in them, commits a serious crime? That's when the swift arm of common sense discipline must prevail.

Should todays students be expelled. Absolutely. Should they be thrown away, shuffled off to become someone else's problem? Absolutely NOT. They do need an alternative educational plan and setting. They will need serious resources to be rehabilitated, much of which may occur through our criminal justice system, if it occurs at all.

The real question is: which plan can we afford? One that preempts disciplinary infractions or one that is reactive to crime?

From the News Journal:

Student knifed during fight at Newark High
The News Journal • May 1, 2009

A student was wounded with a knife during a fight between two students at Newark High School this morning, the school’s principal says.

Principal Curtis Bedford said in an e-mail to parents and students that Newark police responded immediately when called to the school.

The students were arrested, he said, and also will be disciplined under the Christina School District’s Code of Conduct.

There was no mention of the extent of the student's injury or if medical treatment was required.

The prom scheduled for this evening will be held as scheduled, he said.