The Echo

(As always, this is my view of the events of the evening and do not reflect that of the Christina School District. Official minutes of the meeting will be posted on the district website at
http://www.christina.k12.de.us/SchoolBoard/AgendasMinutes.htm )

This was an evening rich in public comment.

The Meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm.

A moment of silence was observed in honor of Sen. Ted Kennedy who recently passed away.

Following the pledge, Board Honor Roll awards were given several district students. Schools earning the Superior and Commendable ratings on the DSTP were also acknowledged.

Public Comment was marked by a sea of green AFSCME shirts worn by district transportation workers looking to unionize. Two representatives from this group addressed the board during public comment. Citing fears of retaliation, they urged the board to adopt a policy of neutrality with regard to this issue.

Arthur Turner from Arthur Turner Scholarship Foundation addressed the board regarding the creation of a county-wide spelling bee. He was directed to set up a meeting with our superintendent.

Claudia Bock representing the CEA, Christina Education Association, discussed the district's furlough plan and implementation of the 2.5 % mandated pay cut. Ms. Bock asserted that Colonial, Red Clay, and Brandywine school districts were able to work out a plan that allowed their teachers to earn the local share of their pay. She noted that Christina did not which returns by her estimate $1.2 million to the district coffers. Ms. Bock also highlighted the efforts of district teachers in recent history and their role in the revelation of district financial problems and recovery after the departure of former superintendent Joe Wise.

Dodi Herbert spoke to the Board regarding her son and his placement in an alternative educational setting. She informed the board that a story regarding her son would run in the News Journal later this week. Read the article here.

Samuel Guy also addressed the Board regarding technology in the classroom and the districts policy over ownership of such technology.

Thomas Wesley, a district teacher, expressed gratitude to the district for the recent listening sessions with employees hosted by Superintendent Dr. Marcia Lyles.

The Superintendent's report focused on the latest DSTP results and the district's Consolidated Grant Application, the method by which districts in Delaware receive their funding from various state and federal sources.

The Board approved the Financial Position Report and the FY 10 Preliminary Budget. Personnel Recommendations were also approved, filling several administrative vacancies (mostly principals and assistant principals.)

The Consent Agenda was approved by the Board, although it was not a unanimous vote. Two Board Members dissented -- I was one of them.

My concern stems from item IX.D.7e -- Sole Source Bid for the Measures of Academic Progress Assessment. I repeatedly voiced concern regarding this assessment and the district's fidelity with its' implementation. We have failed to effectively use the five years of data we have already collected to improve student testing at many of our schools. I am concerned that we are lacking a vital professional development piece that is inherent to the successful implementation of this assessment. This year, the district expects to increase use of this assessment from three times/yr to four. I could not in good faith vote for this contract to commit tax payer dollars to the use of an assessment when no plan for professional development was submitted, despite my requests. Without a plan for refocusing our teaching strategies increased testing will not result in achievement.

I believe the issue is further convoluted by the decrease in professional development days for teachers as a result of the state's 2.5% paycut and our district's furlough plan.

The Board accepted Student Readmission Recommendations, discussed recent Board committee items, and Delaware School Board Association (DSBA) business. One Board member shared that he had met with the representatives of the transporation employees regarding their efforts to unionize.

The Board also voted to uphold the expulsions of two students whose parents had requested review via the constituent concern process.

The meeting was then moved to adjournment.