Ed. Sec. Zahorchak leaving to run Allentown schools | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Ed. Sec. Zahorchak leaving to run Allentown schools | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

Ed. Sec. Zahorchak leaving to run Allentown schools

by Erika Owens on Apr 24 2010

Zahorchak has served as education secretary since 2005. He also served as deputy secretary for elementary and secondary education and superintendent of the Greater Johnstown School District.Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak has resigned, effective May 7. On July 1 he will takeover as superintendent of the Allentown School District.

According to the AP, "Zahorchak cited initiatives to expand early childhood education and the development of Pennsylvania's first high-school graduation standards as among his top accomplishments."

Zahorchak leaves as Rendell's second term nears its end. Still in the works this spring and summer: the state is reapplying in round two for Race to the Top Fundsand Rendell faces another fight in the state senate over the state budget, which again includes an increase in funding for education.

Education | Surprise tucked into state budget bill: a panel to plan school-district mergers | Seattle Times Newspaper

Education | Surprise tucked into state budget bill: a panel to plan school-district mergers | Seattle Times Newspaper

Surprise tucked into state budget bill: a panel to plan school-district mergers

The state budget isn't all dollars and cents this year. Buried deep in the budget bill passed this month is a $250,000 line item to create a school consolidation commission.

By Rachel Schleif

The Wenatchee World

WENATCHEE — The state budget isn't all dollars and cents this year.

Buried deep in the budget bill lawmakers passed this month is a $250,000 line item to create a school consolidation commission. Their job: Come up with a plan to combine school districts, then recommend a list of possible mergers to lawmakers in December 2012.

The governor is poised to sign the bill into law this week.

Since learning of the proposed commission, area lawmakers, education groups and the state superintendent are demanding the governor veto that section of the bill.

The proposal started as a bill introduced by Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, in January. Under Hunt's bill, the commission's goal was to cut the state's 295 school districts to 150. There are about 30 school districts in North Central Washington.

"I thought, especially with the budget crisis, we spent something like $20 million on superintendent salaries alone in this state," Hunt said. His staff later confirmed the total topped $36 million.

Hunt questioned the necessity of close neighboring districts such as Tumwater and Olympia or Eastmont and

Capistrano teachers strike; Oakland's storm out...& we've only just begun - California's Children

California's Children

Working together, putting children first.

Capistrano teachers strike; Oakland's storm out...& we've only just begun - California's Children

Capistrano teachers strike; Oakland's storm out...& we've only just begun

Negotiations between the Capistrano Unified Education Association and the Capistrano Unified School District continued today, Saturday, and the CUEA website states "At this point, there are no plans to call off the teachers strike."

Only 10% of high school students in Capistrano showed up for class on Friday as more teachers joined a strike to protest the Capistrano Unified School District's decision to permanently cut pay by 10% to close a $34 million gap (a number ironically close to the $35 million spent in the recent past on a CUSD school administration building). As reported today by My-Thuan Tran in the Los Angeles Times:

"The particularly egregious condition is that they made the cuts permanent," said Bill Guy, a communications consultant with the California Teachers Assn. who is working with the Capistrano union. "Every other district in Orange County has settled without permanent conditions. Everybody knows that some sacrifices have to be made, but we are asking the board for temporary cuts."

School board president Anna Bryson (above, on right) said that the district is strapped for money and that the state's fiscal uncertainties make the situation untenable. "There is a tsunami of financial events that every district has to deal with," she said. "Everyone has to help us with the issue...."

(Home school bloggers, meanwhile, have jumped in with suggestions for parents to keep children busy and up to speed, as even elementary school attendance is off 55%, despite the nearly 600 strike-breaking teachers hired to substitute.)

On Wednesday, "hundreds of teachers stormed out of a meeting in which the school board unanimously approved" a no-raise contract, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, and on Thursday, they went on a one-day strike.

Superintendent of Oakland schools, Tony Smith (at right), said, "It is an unfortunate and sad time. Oakland teachers are among the lowest paid in the East Bay." [Oakland teachers start at about $39K and average about $55 K; San Francisco starts teadchers at $50K; there, salaries average $62K.] The Chronicle reported the district has to cut $85 million...but "will not cut salaries or benefits. Instead, dozens of teachers will be laid off, elementary class sizes will grow, and schools and programs will close."

Teachers also claim (and Superintendent Smith, says the Chronicle, does not dispute) that Oakland is out of compliance with state law that requires 55% of a school budget to be spent on classroom costs (e.g., salaries and curriculum).

Another Report from the Frontlines at CUSD’s Teacher Strike

Another Report from the Frontlines at CUSD’s Teacher Strike

April 23, 2010

By Dan Chmielewski

Teacher Kay Serafini is comforted by sixth-grader Nikki Sadriafter after the teacher was seen crying on the picket line at Carl Hankey K-8 School in Mission Viejo. (Photo courtesy of Tribune Media)

Editor’s note: This is a front line report on today’s CUSD strike from a CUSD teacher; we’re protecting the writer’s identity so the district doesn’t go after this person onc ethe dispute is resolved. We encourage any striking teacher or CUSD parent to comment to this post and tell us what you’re hearing and how you feel about how your CUSD school board is handling this crisis.
-Dan Chmielewski
……………………
Attendance on the line was down in some ways, and up in others. Some teachers had their layoff hearings today and couldn’t be there, but on the bright side, several teachers who worked yesterday came out and struck with us today – awesome! Think about that – teachers who are under risk of being laid off are striking. This should indicate just how serious this whole strike is to the future of our profession.
It’s hard walking the line, but we’re still feeling good and spirits overall are high. Several of our teachers were interviewed by TV reporters, plus many teachers from other schools have been on the air.
Several of the scabs were aggressive with their vehicles, one trying to bump striking teachers. You can legally walk across an entryway or driveway without immediately yielding to a vehicle. After all, in driver’s education I was taught that the pedestrian always had the right of way. Some of these

VIDEO: Union turns up the heat - The ReporterNews: Serving North Penn, Indian Valley and neighboring communities

VIDEO: Union turns up the heat - The ReporterNews: Serving North Penn, Indian Valley and neighboring communities

VIDEO: Union turns up the heat

MORE PHOTOS

Click thumbnails to enlarge

By: Dan Sokil

Click to enlarge

LANSDALE — The North Penn Education Association is calling in the big guns, and ratcheted up its rhetoric against the district’s school board Friday afternoon.

In an afternoon rally outside Penndale Middle School, and within shouting distance of the district’s Education Services Center, NPEA President Alan Malachowski rallied hundreds of his union’s members in favor of last week’s contract offer by a nonbinding arbitration panel.

“Always, I’m accused that I don’t speak for you, that I don’t tell you the truth and that I’m lying to you, the membership. I think there’s only one group of liars in this whole equation, and they meet right over in that building,” Malachowksi said, pointing to the ESC as teachers cheered.

Joining Malachowski and the blue-clad teachers was Jim Testerman, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), who said he stopped by to show his support for the district’s teachers.

“I’m here representing 191,000 of your colleagues across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I’m here to remind you that this contract is not just about this

Update: Capo talks resume, recall effort bolstered | teachers, district, capistrano - The Orange County Register

Update: Capo talks resume, recall effort bolstered | teachers, district, capistrano - The Orange County Register

Capo talks underway, recall effort bolstered

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The Capistrano Unified School District and its teachers union resumed contract talks Saturday afternoon on Day 3 of a strike standoff, with teachers and their supporters kicking off the bargaining with a rally outside the district office.

Roughly 250 teachers, parents and students gathered outside the district office in San Juan Capistrano at 12:30 p.m. Students carried signs with slogans such as “I want my teacher back,” and others carried signs emblazoned with “Board forces strike.”

Teachers, parents and students rallied Saturday afternoon at the CUSD district office in support of the striking teachers' union. The bargaining committee kicked off a second round of negotiation Saturday.

ADAM TOWNSEND, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

MORE PHOTOS »

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Capistrano’s teachers have been walking picket lines Thursday and Friday in a strike that has crippled programs and activities across the 52,000-student district and pushed classroom attendance rates down to about 30 percent.

Jessie Klinger, 16, a sophomore at Mission Viejo’s Capistrano Valley High School, said at the rally that she wanted to get back to school because she needed to prepare for important standardized tests.

“If the teachers stay on strike, we won’t be able to take the STAR test and the AP tests,” she said.

Sherree O’Brien, a stay-at-home mom from Aliso Viejo, said that she kept her second-grade son Conor home from school Thursday and Friday. She said she wouldn’t send Conor across picket lines.

“Honestly, I don’t think they’re learning anything there,” she said of the substitute-staffed schools. “Some of the classes have 45 kids in there. We have the luxury of keeping him home – some people have to work.”

THIRD DAY OF TALKS

District and union bargaining teams have already met for the past two days – nearly nine hours in all.

At the conclusion of negotiations Friday, school board President Anna Bryson said there hadn’t been “any great progress,” though she expressed optimism that talks were continuing. Saturday’s closed-door bargaining session began at 1 p.m.

If an agreement can’t be hashed out this weekend, th

CUSD TEACHER STRIKE - The Real Story 4-23-2010

Talks set to resume in OC teachers strike | San Francisco Examiner

Talks set to resume in OC teachers strike | San Francisco Examiner

Talks set to resume in OC teachers strike

Orange County's second-largest school district are off for the weekend, but there's much work ahead on Saturday for district and union officials looking to end a teacher's strike.

Negotiations were set to resume Saturday afternoon as the Capistrano Unified School District strike over pay cuts saw its third day. Mediators led negotiations for most of the day Friday, but no consensus was reached.

Almost three-quarters of the 52,000 students in the South Orange County district stayed home from the district's 56 campuses on Friday.

Nearly 90 percent of the district's 2,200 instructors went on strike Thursday and Friday. About 11 percent of teachers crossed picket lines to report for work Friday, down from 12 percent on Thursday, the district said. Schools are being staffed by substitute teachers.

The Capistrano Unified Education Association, which represents the district's teachers, walked out of classrooms when the school board slashed pay by 10.1

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/ap/talks-set-to-resume-in-oc-teachers-strike-92001354.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz0m40J1m6i

Peeking behind the scenes at a “turnaround” school… | Reflections on Teaching

Peeking behind the scenes at a “turnaround” school… | Reflections on Teaching

Peeking behind the scenes at a “turnaround” school…

April 24th, 2010 · No Comments · politics/policy

I realized that with all that has been going on these last few weeks, I had said explicitly what will be happening to me, and to my school. In the last week or so, some things have definitely taken a turn for the better, or have at least been decided on. So what does it look like?

• I have had my pink slip “taken back” and received a letter of rescission almost four weeks ago. Most of the pink slips at our site have been taken back, due to the high number of BCLADs (bilingual certifications).
• I spoke at the school board meeting about the lack of communication with our site about what would be happening, and mentioned there were many great teachers, contrary to what the popular belief may be. The district

Women, Human Rights & Education What is the Human Right to … | Educational New York

Women, Human Rights & Education What is the Human Right to … | Educational New York

Women, Human Rights & Education What is the Human Right to …

by Educational America on Saturday, April 24th 2010 No Comment

in Secondary Education Tags: And Include, Are Set, Free And, Human Right, Issue, Issue Human, Readily Available, Rights At Issue

The Human Rights at Issue Human rights relating to education are set out in basic human rights treaties and include: The human right to free and compulsory elementary education and to readily available forms of secondary and higher …

Originally posted here:
Women, Human Rights & Education What is the Human Right to …

Schools Matter: New Jersey Students Plan Statewide Walkout

Schools Matter: New Jersey Students Plan Statewide Walkout

New Jersey Students Plan Statewide Walkout

by Jim Horn

Hey, guess what. Students like their school libraries, teachers, sports teams, school nurses and guidance counselors. So students in New Jersey are planning a statewide walkout to protest the cuts to the state education budget, which have created havoc across the Garden State.

The students are mobilizing via Facebook, and thousands have already signed up to support the walkout. Offer these students your support by going to their site. This is the kind of organized action that will get results, so let this kind of action spread across the nation.

When students stop going to these dumbed-down test factories run by corporations, maybe the pols in Trenton and Washington will begin to get the message. ht to Stan Karp.

NJ students plan statewide walkout Tuesday

By LESLIE BRODY The Record

04/23/2010

A Facebook page encouraging New Jersey students to cut class Tuesday to rally against state aid reductions has more than 13,000 signed up to participate.

The page, called "Protest NJ Education Cuts – State Wide School Walk Out," exhorts students – with

Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day | The White House

Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day | The White House

Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day

On this solemn day of remembrance, we pause to recall that ninety-five years ago one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century began. In that dark moment of history, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.

Today is a day to reflect upon and draw lessons from these terrible events. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. It is in all of our interest to see the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts. The Meds Yeghern is a devastating chapter in the history of the Armenian people, and we must keep its memory alive in honor of those who were murdered and so that we do not repeat the grave mistakes of the past. I salute the Turks who saved Armenians in 1915 and am encouraged by the dialogue among Turks and Armenians, and within Turkey itself, regarding this painful history. Together, the Turkish and Armenian people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity.

Even as we confront the inhumanity of 1915, we also are inspired by the remarkable spirit of the Armenian people. While nothing can bring back those who were killed in the Meds Yeghern, the contributions that Armenians have made around the world over the last ninety-five years stand as a testament to the strength, tenacity and courage of the Armenian people. The indomitable spirit of the Armenian people is a lasting triumph over those who set out to destroy them. Many Armenians came to the United States as survivors of the horrors of 1915. Over the generations Americans of Armenian descent have richened our communities, spurred our economy, and strengthened our democracy. The strong traditions and culture of Armenians also became the foundation of a new republic which has become a part of the community of nations, partnering with the world community to build a better future.

Today, we pause with them and with Armenians everywhere to remember the awful events of 1915 with deep admiration for their contributions which transcend this dark past and give us hope for the future.

Stop National Standards Humor

Humor

The U. S. Department of Education Announces Data-Driven Education News Channel, On Air 24/7

By Susan Ohanian

1:00 a.m. Consonant Crisis

Special panel

Prof. Timothy Shanahan reports dismal national scores, “U.S. Ranks 83rd in Consonant Blends”

Lou Dobbs says “I told you so—it’s the illegal immigrants pulling us down.”

George Miller promises to name special task force to investigate, names Texas certified public accountant Norma Garza chair

Larry King hosts call-ins

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3: 00 A.M. NCTE and IRA Executive Directors Display Their Seats at the Table
Professional leaders will be joined by NEA lobbyist Joel Packard. Al Shanker's ghost is expected to make a special appearance.

4: 00 A.M. Homeland Security Phonemic Awareness Test Act
Now mandatory for all airline travelers, should frequent flier hardship exclusion be allowed?
President of the Business Roundtable says "Yes!"

5:00 A. M. What Ignorant, Abusive, Lazy, Overpaid Teachers Don't Want you to Know

Arne Duncan explains the 6,849 classroom practices he wants public school teachers to eliminate.

7 a.m. What makes an Economy Grow? PHONICS.

Business Roundtable releases special report funded by McGraw-Hill. Approximately 80% of the human race lives in phonics poverty. Roughly one billion live on fewer than five short vowels a day. According to co-authors of this powerful new study, the good news is that the plan of action for scientific, data-driven relief is clear.

8 a.m. Congressional Breakfast

"The family that sounds out together, stays together," advises Filip A. Fillips, founder of Up With Phonics!, at the first annual Phonemic Awareness Congressional Breakfast.

Arne Duncan, Al Sharpton, and Newt Gingrich slated to sing the Alphabet Song

10.00 a.m. Senate Stalemate

Schwa Compromise fails in the senate. Will the Democrats pay a political price? Geraldo reacts.

11:00 a.m. Is your child's college at risk from professional terrorists?

Dr.Bill O'Reilly offers a shocking report on professorial terrorism: "Stifling Vowel Digraphs on Campus"

12.00 Noon Phonics First

Dr. Laura takes on secularists, feminists, gay marriage advocates, and illegal aliens whose aim is to bring down Up With Phonics! Order your Autographed Copy of 10 Stupid Things Couples Do to Mess Up Their Short Vowels here.

1:00 p.m. Pre-Natal Phonics Acquisition

Yale researchers offer program for preventing dyslexia.

PAID PROGRAMMING

Vowel Voice
Stay informed! Daily e-mail updates. Send us your questions. vowelvoice.gov

3.00 P. M. Is Your Child's School Safe from Embedded Modifiers?
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Umlauts provide safety tips.

4:00 p.m. UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

Chicago family without access to 16 rules for syllabification hit hard.

Hear their tragic story. Oprah offers special plan for relief.

5:00 p.m. Maury

Mon. Attack of the Phonics Wreckers!
Tues. Mom & 6 daughters swapped vowels with same 63-year-old lover!!
Wed. Phonics Tattoos: Fantastic Body Art!!!
Thurs. "I Faked 120 Phonics ActsTo Keep Hubby Happy"
Fri. Bi-phonics Revealed!!!!

6:00 NEWS that Matters

NEWS BRIEFS:

• Duncan denies that Race to the Top calls for National Guard to be called out to monitor lesson plans. Says he’s confident an expanded Teach for America corps can do the job.

• AFT offers Minority Sentence-Diagrammer-of-Year Award

• ·Professorial Terrorism: Stifling Vowel Digraphs on Campus

• ·Phonics International Threat: The Singapore Story

• ·The Effects of Phonemic Intervention on At-Risk Youth with an Aversion to Eggplant

• Tom Clancy Speaks Out: "Why I’ll Pick Up a Gun for Phonics!"
  

7:00 p.m. Live at 7

Should every high school graduate be required to demonstrate homograph proficiency? Meet one Fortune 500 executive who says Yes!.

8:00 p.m. Congressional Update
George Miller, Chair, House Committee on Education and Labor, explains why the President must sign a free phonics agreement with Uruguay.

9:00 p.m. PBS Spotlight: Lemuel Gets a Chance
View the heartwarming experience of six urban families and their Silent E experience.

10:00 p.m.NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: Taking on Terror

It’s 10 o’clock. Do you know where your family’s phonemes are?

Only YOU can keep our community safe

11:00 p.m. PREMIER! Daughters of American Dipthongs

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Midnight: Phonics Prayer of the Day

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Enroll now and receive free 17-blade blender plus the collected pronouncements of Ms. Norma Garza, Texas certified public accountant who served on the National Reading Panel. www.phonics.renewal.edu

12:30 a.m. PLANET PHONICS

Interactive.

Get 15 hours a week of live streaming video Must be 18 to participate.
planetphonics.gov