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Pencader slips in Special Meeting with a 1 pm start time? Trying to Disenfranchise Parents, Tax Payers?

This is getting pretty tiring.  Having supposedly completed FOIA training, you'd think these questions wouldn't arise...

Language of their latest meeting posting is below.
Here are the issues -

1. Did Pencader provide seven days notice? http://pencadercharter.net/busfin/ The meeting would have to be posted by 1 pm on October 26, 2012.  Unlike every other item on the website, one cannot see the posting date/time of this event. Thus, one could argue that it wasn't and the deletion of the posting info is intentional...

2. Why is Pencader posting a meeting with a 1 pm start time?  How is this convenient or even accessible to the general public or the parents of students? Delineating the location as "board room" simply confirms that it isn't, as the board room is a pretty small room in the school. 

3. Does Pencader intend to discuss board members in private or public?  Since board members are appointed and and not employed, most would not define the tenure of a charter school board member as protected under Executive priviledge.  Now, I can see that this is an additional action item under the general agenda, but already, I have heard from fellow tax payers that they understood the agenda to mean that the new board members would be discussed in executive.  In the very least - the Agenda is confusing.



 PENCADER CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING

 
November 2, 2012
1:00 P. M.

 Board Room

 

1.    Call to Order

2.    Pledge of Allegiance

3.    Moment of Silence

4.    Motion to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss a Personnel Matter

5.    Motion to appoint Board Member/members

6.    Adjournment
 
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DELAWARE Get OFF the Roads!

Dear Readers, I apologize as you are about to be on the receiving end of a vent: Yesterday, I sat in one of Delaware's "non-urgent" Urgent Care Centers waiting to be diagnosed with bronchitis. Yah me! At 10:30 am, it was standing room only. The computer systems were failing. And the patients were all a-chatter about the "likely-to-be-nothing" Hurricane Sandy.

I bit my tongue as I was unable to tune out the stories of stir-crazy caused by Illene a year ago. Oh yeah, I just had to get out of the house and take a drive, said the darling in the tight pants as he texted to gal next to him.  Oh, I know, but the roads were fine.  There was no reason to order cars off the roads.  And then to his friend You spelled "tomorrow" wrong.  And then there was mom with her kindergartener - Theys knocking on my door this morning putting papers in our faces.  They tried to make us leave last time, too.  All we got was a little water in the basement.  I'm not leavin.'

So here is my message - MY husband is what is known as essential personnel.  By job and reaffirmed by law,  he is required to report to work and assist other employees in getting to work when a state of emergency is declared and vehicles are ordered off the road.  Every Delawarean who defies this order without a legitimate cause puts the lives of my husband and  the thousands of others' loved ones in tremendous danger when you add an unneeded vehicle to the mix.  You are not just risking your life, you're risking the lives of innocents who have accepted the serious responsibility of working in capacities that are essential to the lives of others. 

Just who are essential personnel? They are not simply state employees such as DelDot, Police, Fire, and Ambulance.  Healthcare employees at hospitals and nursing homes are necessary to care for and feed our sick and elderly.  Doctors are essential.  Those making fuel deliveries are essential to keep fleets going.  First responders are essential.  Utility workers are essential. 

Stir-crazy jerks are not essential. Stay off the roads.

Yesterday, I came home to hurricane prep.  Despite having a confirmed diagnosis of bronchitis, I spent hours outside securing our home and property.  Husband gave me a tutorial in the finer art of using a generator (remember, with my partner serving Delaware's neediest during the storm of century, I am sheltering in place with two kids, one identified with special needs.) We'd leave, but with four cats and a basement prone to flooding, someone has to make sure there's something to return to...

This is the plight of spouses, children, significant others, parents, etc of the essential worker.  We accept it because taking care of you is the right thing to do.  So, please do our essential workers and their families a favor - stay off the roads so that good people like my husband can come home to their families once this disaster has passed.

Please, just get off the roads!
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Sandy Songified

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Christina Closes School Monday and Tuesday!

From: LAPHAM WENDY
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2012 4:31:03 PM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US &
Canada)
To: CSD All Users
Subject: NOTICE: Schools and Offices Closed on Monday, 10/29 and Tuesday 10/30


ALL schools and offices in the Christina School District are CLOSED on Monday,
October 29 and Tuesday, October 30.
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Parenting a child with special needs - "Welcome to Holland"


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Expelled? Delaware takes your driver's license, too!

§ 4130. Expulsion of students; re-enrollment; loss of driver's license.

(a) In any case where a public school student is expelled from a school district or a charter school, the expelled student shall not be permitted to reenroll in any other school district or charter school in this State until after the full period of expulsion from the school district or charter school where the student was expelled shall have expired.

(b) Prior to enrolling any student who attempts to transfer to a school district or charter school in this State, the superintendent of that school district, or the superintendent's designee, the head of a charter school or such head's designee shall first contact the last school district or charter school where the student was last enrolled, if in this State, to determine if that student is under a current expulsion order in that district or charter school. If it is determined that the student is under a current expulsion order, that student shall not be permitted to enroll until the expulsion order has expired as set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Any student who has been expelled from a public school in this State or in any other state shall, prior to enrollment in any public school in this State, completely fulfill the terms of that expulsion.

(d) The provisions of subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to any case in which a student is seeking to enroll in the James H. Grove High School or in any alternative educational or other related program developed to provide educational services to children who have discipline problems.

(e)(1) In any case where a person is expelled from a public school, the superintendent of schools for the school district in which such school is located shall send written notice of such expulsion to the Division of Motor Vehicles. Such notice shall be sufficient authority for the Division to suspend, or refuse to renew, any driver's license already issued to such person; or to refuse to issue a license to anyone reported by a superintendent to have been expelled from school. Such expelled person shall remain ineligible for the issuance of a new license, or for the renewal or reinstatement of a present or former license until the Division receives such proof as it may require that such person is again eligible for a driver's license.

(2) An expelled person whose license has been suspended may have such license reinstated, or a new license issued, if any of the following requirements are met: a. The length of the expulsion is complete; b. Such person is 19 years of age or older; or c. Two years have elapsed since the date of expulsion.

(3) To have a driver's license reinstated, or to obtain a new license, an expelled student must meet one of the requirements set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection; must apply in person to the Division of Motor Vehicles; and must provide the Division with verification from the school, or such proof as the Division may require.

(4) Where a person does not have a driver's license because the Division has suspended or refused to renew a license to such person in accordance with this section, such person may apply to the Division for a conditional license. The Division shall not issue any conditional license under this section unless such person's application: a. Is made upon a form prescribed by the Division, and sworn to by the applicant; b. Contains a statement setting forth those hardships which would occur if a conditional license were not granted; and c. Contains a sworn statement that the applicant shall comply with all conditions placed upon such conditional license. 69 Del. Laws, c. 214, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 236, §§ 1-5; 71 Del. Laws, c. 272, §§ 1, 2; 73 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§ 3, 5.;

http://delcode.delaware.gov/title14/c041/index.shtml#4130
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Pencader Constituents - Don't miss you opportunity to learn the status of the school!

"Parent Information Meeting"

You are invited to a Parent Information Meeting, Monday, October 22nd at 6:00pm in the school Cafeteria. Information regarding this school year so far, the Formal Review process and our upcoming plans for the remainder of 2012-2013 school year. Refreshments will be served.
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DCPA - What's up with "Temporary Employment"

DCPA has been floating about the blogosphere for a couple months now.  With the 2013 Q1 checkbook posted, I thought it would be a good time look at expenditures...

Business Managers - please jump in and solve this quandery for me:

DCPA has 48 expenditures coded as TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT SERVICE for Q1.  I understand that much.

However, DCPA is coding payments to several of the school employees as Temporary Employment Service, such as the Dean of Specialized Services (hired Sept. 2011), the Business Manager (who previously served as Interim Executive Director), and the current Executive Coordinator.  Clearly, these are not temporary positions, so what gives?

File this under: Things that make you go hhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm...


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Is Pencader preparing to be engaged in litigation with the Attorney General?

Read the rumor earlier today on Kilroys - http://kilroysdelaware.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/is-beau-biden-poised-to-take-criminal-action-re-pencader/ - which I pretty much discounted as just a rumor, again, (Sorry Special K.)  This rumor is practically a legend in its own time - wafting in the wind for months with no substantiation...yet.

And then I wandered up  Mt. Othrys and into P-town and found this gem below (note the highlighted text.)  Maybe Kilroy's river rat is on to something afterall... Then again...
http://pencadercharter.net/busfin/sites/default/files/page/204/documents/Board%20Meeting%20Agenda_10_25_2012.pdf

PENCADER CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MONTHLY MEETING Thursday, October 25, 2012 5:30 P.M.
General Session Cafeteria
1. Call to Order
2. Review, correct, approve minutes from September 27, 2012
3. Financial Report
4. School Administration Report
5. Update on Formal Review Process
6. By-Laws
7. Floor Open for Public Comments
a. Time Limit of 3 minutes per person
b. Allotted time may not be reassigned to a prior or subsequent speaker
8. Executive Session
a. Review personnel
b. Legal strategy session for pending and potential litigation related to Special Ed & Attorney General’s request
9. Meeting Adjournment
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Delaware! A Spectator State...

TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT A NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT
Delaware is ignored in presidential races by both parties because candidates have no reason to pay attention to the concerns of voters in states where they are comfortably ahead or hopelessly behind. The 2012 campaign is currently being conducted in a 9 "swing" states — making Delaware and most other states into mere "spectators" to the presidential election.
Tell your State Legislators to support the National Popular Vote Bill. The bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. This would make every vote equal throughout the United States. That, in turn, would ensure that every Delaware voter would matter in every presidential election.

http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/de/  Learn what needs to be done to make Delaware's presidential votes count!
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Sometimes we eat our own words - Pencader spends $55,000 on Legal Fees in just 2 Months

SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/1/2012 $236.00
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/1/2012 $22.50
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/1/2012 $490.00
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/14/2012 $5,348.50
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/14/2012 $855.50
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/14/2012 $3,093.00
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/14/2012 $519.50
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/14/2012 $11,849.00
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/14/2012 $1,003.75
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/14/2012 $593.50
SAUL EWING LLP LEGAL SERVICES 8/14/2012 $4,495.40

YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR LLPLEGAL SERVICES8/28/2012$11,725.20
YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR LLPLEGAL SERVICES8/28/2012$281.60
YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR LLPLEGAL SERVICES9/28/2012$14,221.70
YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR LLPLEGAL SERVICES9/28/2012$805.00
YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR LLPLEGAL SERVICES9/28/2012$35.00

Grand Total - a hair over $55,000 in two months. I don't know what Pencader budgeted for in the way of legal fees; however, I am concerned that $55,000 is excessive for a small school and as such what impact will this have on the classrooms?

Just food for thought...
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A More Entertaining Debate? Town Hall Songified!

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Hey DE Gov JACK MARKELL, CATO Gave You a "D" for Fiscal Policy

By my estimate, the Gov. could benefit from spending time learning financial literacy in a bank-at-school program sponsored by my fellow board member, DSPAC president.
 
Governor Markell Gets "D"
for Fiscal Policies
From the Delaware House Newsletter
(or rather the rag mag that I did not sign up for but randomly shows up in my inbox)
Issue 87 October 2012
 
Full Report from the Cato Institute: http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/109347697
A new report on the fiscal performance of the nation's 50 governors has given Governor Jack Markell a "D."
Using statistical data, the "Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors 2012" calculates a fiscal policy grade for each governor based on his or her success at restraining taxes and spending since 2010.
The 11th biennial report card from the CATO Institute awarded higher scores and grades to those that have cut taxes and spending.
Gov. Markell's overall score of 48 tied him with Republican Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona. Only 13 governors, including Maryland Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, fared worse.
Among other things, the report took Markell to task for a $210 million package of tax hikes enacted in 2009: "When he first came into office, Governor Markell walloped Delaware residents with a whole range of tax increases. In 2009 he signed into law increases in the top personal income tax rate, the corporate franchise tax, the gross receipts tax, and cigarette taxes. In 2011 Markell seemed to partly realize the error of his ways and signed legislation to cut taxes so that the state could "stay competitive" and "create jobs." The bills slightly reduced his previous income tax increase, trimmed the state's gross receipts tax, and provided a few other modest tax breaks. However, Markell's score on this report card was dragged down by his substantial spending increases in recent years."
Delaware's current $3.586 billion operating budget (FY 2013) is $496 million higher than the $3.09 billion state budget of just three years ago (FY 2010) -- an increase of more than 16-percent.
The chief executives in neighboring New Jersey and Pennsylvania received higher marks. The Garden State's Chris Christie received a "B," while PA Governor Tom Corbett got an "A. Both are Republicans.
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Board member fails to understand role of entitlement programming for disabled and impoverished children


At this past Tuesday's board meeting, two fascinating things happened - George Evans was installed by writ on the CSD Board as the first non-elected nor appointed board which seriously over-shadowed the fiery debate on the role of entitlement programs in schools as they pertain to poor and disabled children.

You can listen to the debate here - the audio isn't great but if you turn your volume all the way up and put your ear near the speaker, you can get the gist of it - http://www.christinak12.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=180377&type=d&pREC_ID=video&showMore=1&titleREC_ID=30378 The debate starts at about 1:15.00

I believe that public education is the greatest entitlement program ever financed by the federal government.   I believe that IDEA also serves as an entitlement program.  Both are necessary to the success of future generations of citizens.  And I believe that entitlement programs serve to satisfy a moral obligation that a society has to protect and care for those who cannot do so themselves.

As the school years wears on, banks are opening in many of our schools.  It's part of greater effort to teach financial responsibility to children and their families.  But, it's not without its pitfalls.  For one, banks are businesses and someone is being enriched by the funds deposited by children.  Because our democracy is built around capitalism its unseemly to question these endeavours.  But, there is another impact that has not been vetted and could have devastating effects on families - funds amassed by children in bank accounts in their names can derail a families access to social entitlement programs.  A fellow board member, the DSPAC president, calls this "welfare" and insists that its meant to be temporary support.

In the purest interpretation social entitlements are meant to be temporary.  Children are entitled to an education until age 18.  IDEA only guarantees FAPE until age 21.  Food stamps are predicated on income.  Social Security Disability when applied to a child can be denied when parent exceeds the asset limit.  Disabled Child's Medicaid is predicated not on a parent's income or assets, but directly on the assets of a child and the child's disability.  Even the federal nutrition program is an entitlement - based income and family size.

Each of these entitlement programs, or "welfare," are nuanced and require great scrutinization.  Everyday, families of disabled children, parents of hungry children and others embark through the application processes to determine their eligibility.  Reliance on these programs to keep children healthy, sheltered, and fed continues to grow even as signs indicate that the Great Recession has receded.  For many, these programs will be temporary.  But, not for all.  And the reasons are legitimate.

My daughter represents a group of children who rely on what is commonly called Disabled Child's Medicaid.  She has always been covered on our private insurance.  About three years ago, her medical expenses began to outspend our income.  We applied for medicaid to help us continue her medical care.  She was granted the entitlement based on her proven disabilities and her assets.  Two years ago, she was diagnosed with a new, legitimate condition which carried with it lifelong ramifications if left untreated.  The only available option was treatment was hormone therapy.  We opted for a surgical implant - it would be least disruptive when you considered the challenges of her autism.  The first implant alone cost $18,000. Her primary insurance through its specialty pharmacy covered just $6,000.  The second implant cost $20,000 (inflation).  Neither of these sums include the surgical and hospitalization costs nor the follow-up care.  If our daughter had not qualified for the medicaid entitlement program, we would have been faced with begging for help, losing our home, or failing to get our child the medical care she needed.  Medicaid covered a portion of the implant, bringing our co-pay into the hundreds of dollars, a sum we managed to cover with our home equity line of credit.

My daughter's autism will never be cured.  Like so many other families,  we have sunken deeper into debt due to an impossible economy.  My child will rely on Medicaid to help bridge the cost of her care for years to come.  My husband, parents, in-laws, siblings and I have all paid into the social entitlement system without ever collecting from an entitlement program.  We know that we have collectively funded her entitlement and we are grateful that the program exists.  Her reliance on Medicaid will not be temporary.  It is permanent and as such, we must plan to ensure she doesn't lose this benefit through her or our own actions - which brings me back to in-school banking.

I have long accepted that my beautiful daughter will always be mine.  She will likely live with me until I leave this earth.  Her care will be entrusted someday to her brother.  Her financial well-being will fall to a special needs trust.  No one in our family can directly leave her anything of value.  She will need to learn to learn an entirely different reality than her typical brother when it comes to financial responsibility.

We, as board members, have a responsibility to all children.  While most board members can avoid learning the nuances of each and every entitlement program, we are obligated to ensure that the staff who oversee the implementation of banks in schools and the businessmen who will profit from them are responsive to the varying conditions of all children.  We must ensure that they educate both children and their parents as to the effect of these accounts on entitlements, especially when businessmen are promising to match funds.  My daughter has a custodial account at a local bank.  It has about $200 in it - gifts from family members.  Under most circumstances I wouldn't share this information with anyone but Medicaid.  My daughter has been sold the bill goods on banking in schools.  She's come home excited and ready to participate.  And I have been forced to be the mean mom and tell her "no."

We're not courting a future denial from Medicaid.  If my child's combined assets exceed $600 she will lose her secondary health insurance, yet that $600 won't come close to covering the expenses of her medical conditions such as the $20,000+ expended this past July by multiple parties to cover her surgical implant. It's an unfair and untenable situation in which to place parents and it's far more common than you think.  My daughter benefits from having an informed parent, but not all parents are.

During our heated debate, my fellow board member, DSPAC president, said "I'm not talking about your daughter."  She was right and wrong.  She was talking my child and thousands of others who cannot be cured and whose income and assets can and will endanger their family's security.  Of course, we all want each individual to be financially responsible for themselves.  That is the great American dream.  But, we must recognize that we are obligated first to the children we serve and not to a misguided concept of a one-size fits all financial education.  The fact is this - for many children in our school system, we need to be teaching them a differentiated form of financial literacy - how to manage within a benefit system in the likelihood that some of our children will never be able to financially support themselves.  This is compassionate education and its not for the faint of heart. But it is a reality. 

We have no right to tell children get off welfare or to lead them blindly into endangering their eligibility when "welfare" may be all that's keeping that family afloat.  Fortunately, our presenter and implementer got the message. 

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What is a democracy when the voters are disenfranchised by a judge?

 
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
 
 
I. Introduction
One of the most critical ways that individuals can influence governmental decision-making is through voting. Voting is a formal expression of preference for a candidate for office or for a proposed resolution of an issue. Voting generally takes place in the context of a large-scale national or regional election, however, local and small-scale community elections can be just as critical to individual participation in government.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, recognizes the integral role that transparent and open elections play in ensuring the fundamental right to participatory government. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Article 21 states:
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his/her country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot or by equivalent free voting procedures.

The role that periodic, free elections play in ensuring respect for political rights also is enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, the Charter of the Organization of American States, the African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and many other international human rights documents.


While the right to vote is widely recognized as a fundamental human right, this right is not fully enforced for millions of individuals around the world. Consistently disenfranchised groups include non-citizens, young people, minorities, those who commit crimes, the homeless, disabled persons, and many others who lack access to the vote for a variety of reasons including poverty, illiteracy, intimidation, or unfair election processes. An important force in combating disenfranchisement is the growth of organizations engaged in election monitoring. Around the world, governments struggle to meet the challenge of the Universal Declaration related to free and fair elections. Election monitoring groups, ranging from local or party monitors to United Nations teams, assist governments and local groups to hold free and fair elections by observing the process from the beginning (voter education, candidate campaigns, planning for the ballot) to the end vote count. By declaring an election ‘free and fair’ monitors can legitimize the outcome of that election. Conversely, by not doing so, legitimacy is withheld. The question of whether or not to grant legitimacy to election results is complicated by political considerations, as the results of declaring elections ‘not free nor fair’ can be serious. Riots and even civil war can break out.

Delaware - Demand that our Gov. Honor William "Hicks" Anderson

Did Governor Markell ever consider proclaiming one day a year as William “Hicks” Anderson Day? Hick Anderson’s advocacy and civil rights fight benefited the entire state of Delaware and the nation. Perhaps Governor Markell prefers to not inspire someone to pickup the Hick’s torch that burns so low!     http://kilroysdelaware.wordpress.com/2012/10/06/is-markells-uncle-tom-selling-out-wilmington-minority-students/
 
I think Kilroy has a point.  So, I am urging all Delawarean's to contact their legislators to request a joint resolution to honor the legacy of William H. Anderson - Delaware's Title I Champion and a national Title I Leader.  It's time, Delaware, it's time.

 

Category: 2 comments

Dear Mitt, Lay-off Sesame Street - The Funding that Supports PBS is less than .001% of the National Budget!

Occupy Sesame Street © John Darkow,Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri,Sesame Street,Big Bird,Ernie,Bert,China,Outsourced,Job,Creator,Mitt Romney,Pig,Fire,People,PBS Problems
Category: 1 comments

Athletic Update

Thank you Anonymous,

Since I posted yesterday morning, Pencader's Sports website has upbated again:   http://www.titanssports.com/Page9377.aspx

Todd Heller has moved from Interim Athletic Director to Athletic Director

and

Brett Townsend has moved from Athletic Director to Assistant Athletic Director


Question remains though -  Why the shuffle?  Townsend did start the year as the AD. 

Category: 7 comments

Shake-up in Pencader Athletics or Just confusion?

It's been a confusing year for athletics at Pencader. 

On August 13th, field hockey parents were informed that the school would not field a team until 2013.  In early September, football parents turned out in mass at a school board meeting b/c of particulary troubling rumor - if the school leader was let go, there would be no football this year.  That rumor was put to rest by the board. Last week the News Journal ran a story about the Football coach after having caught him inflating at least one player's stats to near state breaking records.

Yesterday, Pencader updated its Titan Sports website. This page, http://www.titanssports.com/Page9377.aspx, indicates that Mr. Townsend is the Athletic Director.  However, this page, http://www.titanssports.com/ contains a letter from the Athletic Director and welcome signed by school guidance counselor Todd Heller, who is apparently doing double duty as the Interim A.D.-        
        Todd Heller, interim A.D.
               
todd.heller@pcs.k12.de.us

Confused yet?  I am. 

Category: 4 comments

DOE Releases Result of Data Coach/Wireless Gen. Survey

http://www.doe.k12.de.us/tleu_files/PLCSurveyReport_2012.pdf

Selected Highlights followed by SKEWED STATS, a C&E Math Game for the Right-brained:

  • The Data Coach Project, first piloted and implemented in February 2011, provides professional learning community participants with the opportunity to receive coaching in data analysis concepts and skills related to their students’ performance. Wireless Generation (WG), the State of Delaware’s partner in the statewide Data Coach Project, deployed 29 Data Coaches across the state’s schools during the 2011-2012 school year. The Data Coach Project is implemented in one of two ways: Direct Facilitation, in which the WG coach facilitates each TADa PLC; or Coach-the-Coach (CtC), in which a district or school coach, trained by WG, facilitates the PLC. The implementation of professional learning communities is to be assessed through a variety of measures, including an annual PLC Participant Survey.
  • The survey was sent electronically to all teachers in the state of Delaware, totaling 8800 teachers, specialists and administrators.  A total of 4848 surveys were collected from the teachers, specialists, and administrators participating in PLCs. That's a GRAND TOTAL of 53%!
  • Survey responses were exported from Survey Monkey (online) into Stata data analysis software for analysis. The data were cleaned (for errors) and recoded (where necessary) in Stata and analyzed according to the survey’s key themes.
  • Overall, the assessments of data coaches were positive and at least 70% of the teachers surveyed agreed that their data coach has the appropriate skills to facilitate their PLC, is responsive to the needs of their PLC, and responsive to teachers’ individual needs.
  • Feedback indicated that the PLC work often seemed disconnected from the school’s mission or was a poor use of time since the teachers felt they already were skilled at using data to drive instructional practice. See "In Their Own Words" section.
  • When teachers were asked what the majority of their PLC time should be focused around, Common Core implementation was included as part of their feedback. The TLEU has responded by training all Data Coaches in Common Core implementation for the 2012-2013 school year.
Let's play SKEWED STATISTICS for the Right-brained, RTTT Edition:

Wireless Generation hired and trained 29 Data Coaches.  50% of teachers responded to the survey via Survey Monkey.  70% of those 50% gave their data coaches high scores.  70% of 50% is 35% of all eligible respondents.  Just sayin'... But, let's keep swimming in the skewed stats. 70% of 29 is 20.3.

Based on skewed stats, Wireless Generation has supplied 8.7 data coaches who are under-performing and under-serving our teachers and students.

DOE contracted with WG for data coaches at a cost of $8.2 million.  Thus each data coach is worth about $282,758.62.

8.7 failing data coaches multiplied by their cost per unit $282,758.62 = approximately a $2.4 million negative ROI. $2.4 million washed down the drain.

And that's SS4RB - Race to the Trough Edition!

Thanks for playing Skewed Stats, a perfectly unscientific way of explaining what's between the lines.

Good God! What did the Boy Scouts do to Pencader?

So, it's already been blogged, you can read the whole memo over at transparentchristina.wordpress.com.  Pencader's Interim School Leader has finally communicated with the school community.  Thank You.

Just one question:  Why doesn't Pencader like Boy Scouts or youth groups?  I can understand vitriole directed at the NJ and the "Minnehan Mayhem," but the Boy Scouts and designated youth groups?

Look for yourself at the Red Line in the footer of the memo that went out today. No, I really did not photoshop the communication, although I did add the inset for the sake of legibility.  The little red gem - obviously an editing omission - is all theirs - although it's simply an oversight from a bad copy and paste job, it is rather humorous: