DeKalb school chief: Balanced calendar to shorten summer, weekly early release for teacher training and planning
Cheryl Atkinson
In his introduction of DeKalb’s new school chief at a chamber event this morning, school board chair Gene Walker described Chery Atkinson as someone “who doesn’t go along to get along. She is small in stature, but huge in determination and commitment. Dr. Atkinson believes in what she is doing. It pours out of her. I am proud to work with this lady.”
Atkinson began her State of the System address with her usual theme: Victory.
“Victory is what we will have in every classroom,” she said.
After a very warm description of each board member, Atkinson praised them for their support. She then introduced her “A team,” the staff members who lead departments and serve as her cabinet.
She reiterated her goals for the school system, saying how community input in her first 90 day listening tour led to the addition of “safe and orderly schools” to the priority list.
Here are highlights from her State of the System address: (She mentioned plans to move to a balanced calendar, which we have in Decatur. I expect there will be some push back as many parents don’t like the abbreviated summer and the Aug. 1 back-to-school date. In fact, Cobb’s balanced calendar only lasted one year because of parental protests.)
“Education is not one of those absolute sciences . You have to monitor it to make changes.”
She said the system is working on a revised curriculum, the first draft of which will be shared in May for feedback.
“We will end social promotion and set higher standards for all students. You don’t end social promotion overnight because you can kill off some children. It is a process.”
She called for early intervention, saying, “The greatest part of the achievement gap is before we see children in kindergarten.”
“We will implement a balanced calendar so our children don’t spend so much time away from the learning environment in the summer. Many of them don’t have anything to occupy their time. That is critical time we are losing.”
“We will invest in our teachers and leaders. A weekly early release will allow teachers to have that time to make good instructional decisions based on that data. We have the talent. We just need to hone it, support it and develop it.”
She called for consequences and reward for student behaviors. “Our children learn based on what we give them and what we show them.”
She called for more school options for “children who don’t fit in a traditional setting. One size does not fit all. It never has.”
“There are some areas that we need zero tolerance. There are some things that will not be tolerated in school. Period.”
“We need a central office. We cannot operate without a central office. We need people that understand that we are going to be about servant leadership. We need people that understand and are willing to go that extra mile. I will tell you I will accept nothing less.”
“We will invest in e-technology for our schools.”
Saying that even toddlers can operate iPhones now and that they are native to the world of technology, Atkinson said, “We cripple them if we do not understand that. Teachers must have instruction in technology and technology at their fingertips. Students must have iPads and e-books. These are the tools of today.”
“Our core business is not building buildings. It is about educating children.”
Her summation of DeKalb: “It is not as bad as it has been, but is certainly not as good as it can be.”
–from Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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98 comments Add your comment
Parent
February 23rd, 2012
4:20 pm
Well I am a bit confused – if they will be doing scripted teaching what is the point of weekly staff development? Is the script that hard to memorize?
There are a few schools in DCSS that have principals that actively encourage their staff to leave at 2:45ish. Not everyone goes home but quite a few do. Makes for a very empty school building around 3pm.
I am a bit over teachers complaining that the job is so hard and the hours so long. There are few easy jobs left in this economy. Even fewer that provide paid training. I am also over teachers complaining that they are asked to volunteer extra time and effort to the PTA. Everyone’s employer has a preferred charity and expects donations of time and/or money. Why should the public school system be so different?
As a parent I don’t mind a balanced calendar, I just would like it to balance the seasons. Why send kids on hot buses to hotter schools in August? Just shift the whole thing to match the heat. I don’t even mind early release days but I am a lady of leisure (aka stay at home mom) so I can put down my bon bons long enough to care for my kids. I would guess most working parents will have a problem with it. I guess we could look at it as a jobs program for the day care centers.
CTPAT
February 23rd, 2012
4:22 pm
Comments focused on caring about the burden on parents if you let their children out early one day just support all of those who argue that parents view school as a free day care. I work full time. I have no doubt that various providers will step up and fill the gap and provide sufficient care opportunities for children on early release days. While I get that many parents don’t adequately provide for, support and care for their children, this is NOT the responsibility of the school house. School is to teach your child things he or she needs to know to be a productive member of society. The fact that many schools have taken over many parental responsibilities is great for those children, but the 2 hours a week you’re now going to have to care for your child should really be your problem — focus on the money you’ll save by not having to provide care for the full summer.
Dekalbite
February 23rd, 2012
5:23 pm
In Germany 85% of children have teachers that teach from 8:00 am until around 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm. The kids go home at lunch and the teachers stay and plan and grade papers. When I was telling a German scientist about our teachers working from 8 until 4, he said – “But when do your teachers have time to set up science labs for students and grade their papers?”
Germany’s economy is booming with an all time low unemployment rate. There are other factors of course – for example, their educational system tracks students into academic and vocational tracks at a young age – but they are an economic powerhouse. If Germany were not carrying Europe on its economic back, the U.S. economy would be in for another earth shattering plunge.
TuckerMom
February 23rd, 2012
6:29 pm
It sounds like many of the parents on this blog are talking about elementary school hours. What do teachers do after the kids go home? Well in middle school, some teachers sponsor clubs or coach at the middle school or tutor. In high school who sponsors the clubs, coaches and tutor?
Ask some special education teachers about their schedules modifying work for each student, do IEP’s, have IEP meetings and going above and beyond.
Are there bad teachers out there, yes! We need to change the mind set of keeping teachers who are tired of teaching and not trying to protect them because they are a “seasoned teacher.” There are some great seasoned teachers who are an inspiration. We need new evaluation tools.
The balanced calendar would keep some kids out of trouble. Why not throw in some service learning. I am a parent and a teacher but it’s time to start thinking outside the box and not keep what has always been. This is a global society and we need to “catch up.”
Sick of DeKalb
February 23rd, 2012
7:20 pm
She needs to focus her attention on this….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avbkYoNqxCI
big picture
February 23rd, 2012
7:35 pm
Can someone please explain why today’s students cannot retain material that they have “learned” over the summer? Is it that they are not actually learning, but simply memorizing for the test?
Summers for many students mean camps and exploration of new and unique things, the ability to explore subjects that will not occur under a full year calendar. While I hear parents here saying that local daycare agencies will adapt and pick up the slack during balanced calendar breaks,what about national level camps and the ability for kids to participate in boy scouts or science camps in other states? Have they adapted to the balanced calendar approach as well? Given the total lack of interest of DeKalb schools in promoting gifted education, particularly at the elementary level, these camps are frequently the only access parents have to really challenging their kids during the year. I want to like this Super and her plan, but I see some 9, red flags.
This calendar, the omission of references to the need to address high achievers’ needs, a canned lesson plan for teachers to recite (spending money on developing a new curriculum rather than reaching out to school districts who have already found success), and pushing resources to principals without ensuring that those administrators will have the kids, ALL of the kids, in mind when hiring are among a few. I know that she has a lot to address, but really, Tyson in charge of accountability???? Yes to reducing the Central office. No to iPads. Students need to learn to read and write and do math on paper. Students today have no concentration span, and these approaches, from what I see, are not addressing the need for students to learn to focus, drill down, and master critical thinking and basic knowledge skills.
Another Comment
February 23rd, 2012
7:39 pm
My childen attended a top blue ribbon Catholic School that had a shortened day on every Wednesday. So they could hold teacher meetings and training. They work the schedule 8-3 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Then Wednesday is 8-2. Everyone is expected to use the Wednesday early release days to get their children doctor and dentist appointments in. The schools afterschool program is not an inexpensive program like public school ASP that is only $7 per day. Working parents either had their kids in the expensive school aftercare, had a Nanny pick them up or arranged for them to be taken home by another parent. The only problem that there ever was, when the Archdiosese came out with a crazy edict that teachers could not give rides to other children or have other children ride with other parents. This effected the children of a teacher, I was driving home on Wednesday, they had to sit around and wait for an hour +.
The kids and families as well as the teachers loved this short day in the middle of the week.
Anonmom
February 23rd, 2012
7:42 pm
I think that Ms. Tyson really can be an “asset” to Dr. A. in that I think she really cares about the kids and she came to really understand ‘who’ everyone was and ‘what’ needed to be done and may have figured out ‘how’ to do but had her hands tied and stapled behind her back. If Dr. A were to get rid of Ms. Tyson, then Dr. A would have to experience the “learning curve” on this front. It may be in all of DCSS’ best interests to have Ms. Tyson “on the A list.”
….
I’m not sure “I get” what’s goin to happen with the “scripted learning” — I also think that there may be some merit to the early release afternoons… it would “hush” some complainers up and everything, taken together, would start to show where the real weaknesses are… Just trying to think it through. I think she’s trying to maneouver a laser-like focus to where it needs to be as fast as she can do it.
yes i am worried
February 23rd, 2012
8:25 pm
Does anyone know much more about this scripted curriculum?
Arabia Mountain Dad, Former Ivy Prep Dad
February 23rd, 2012
8:34 pm
I would welcome some time off in the fall and winter… My slice of heaven on the Gulf awaits.
scripted curriculum
February 23rd, 2012
9:06 pm
Saxon Math and Success for All are types of scripted curriculums. Dr. Atkinson did her doctoral thesis on Success for All.
bu2
February 23rd, 2012
9:48 pm
@CTPAT
The schools can’t operate in a bubble. They need to understand the real world.
That’s why we have free lunch programs. That’s the idea behind the pre-K. Schools shouldn’t make things worse.
The schools also need to understand who is paying for the schools. Its the parents and other adults in the county.
B Anderson
February 23rd, 2012
10:01 pm
Back to the blog at hand – Leonardo McClarity,Head of the Chamber tweeted during the event. I am hoping a number of DeKalb’s leaders were there.
I believe the only way she will be successful is to make good decisions ( I question early dismissal)
and to keep outside community leaders involved.
Is EduKalb still functioning ? For Dr. Atkinson to face down the resistance she will encounter she will need leaders in the community supporting her, working for the change.
b
Miss Management
February 23rd, 2012
10:33 pm
Very interesting! The web page with the link to the superintendent’s speech provided by Dunwoody Mom “Cannot be found”. Wonder if there was something in it that they decided they didn’t want us to read?
speech
February 23rd, 2012
10:53 pm
The entire superintendent’s speech is tweeted on Edukalb’s Facebook’s page.
The Deal
February 23rd, 2012
11:41 pm
Opposed to the balanced calendar. It just does not work with the number of working parents out there. Not all of us have the money or time to take kids on a trip so they can recharge, nor do we have extra cash sitting around for a week of childcare. Kids whose “breaks” are filled with full-day daycare (which is weird for kids who are on the upper threshold of needing supervision) are not breaks at all. They are tiring and stressful (because they are unfamiliar) for the kids. If there are kids who are identified as needing help so that they don’t forget over the summer, then notify them and have summer learning opportunities. No, not the dreaded summer school but creative camps that are subject-specific.
alm
February 24th, 2012
5:37 am
The scripted curriculum is called America’s Choice and DeKalb paid way too much for it.
edugator
February 24th, 2012
8:21 am
Here we go again. Just as Dr. Brown lost much parental support with his ill-conceived “Dress for Success” plan, Dr. Atkinson is opening an unnecessary can of worms with her proposals for early release days and a balanced calendar. These are polarizing plans that offer little in the way of true academic results. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig. What really matters is what goes on in the classrooms for 180 days, not when they occur. She would be wise to focus on instruction, and not on controversial calendars that just generate noise and distract from real goals.
flipper
February 24th, 2012
9:03 am
I know some folks in Decatur who have one of those balanced calendars. From what I understand from them, rich parents with stay-at-home moms and money for ski vacations love the balanced calendar. Parents who are not flush with cash and who have both parents working full time hate it.
Anonmom
February 24th, 2012
9:26 am
“Balanced Calendars” have the same number of school days as “non-balanced” calnendars…. “early” release” days would require that the schools determine that they have a place for the kids to go… the “irresponsible parents who “need” to cover their kids aren’t (alot of them) now getting kids at “regular” dismissal so they’d just be doing the same thing so the schools would “figure” it out .. perhaps teachers would rotate the “duty” or a non-certified staff would take over the “babysitting” function now served anyway at dismissal…. can we let her try something new and flush out the proposals? This isn’t uniforms or mandatory algebra in 8th grade and she isn’t talking about expanding the school year… these are ideas she’s floating that would need BOE approval and actual implementation that may have come from more functonal systems and may really have merit… truth is that many classrooms (not the level 3 ones) do spend the first quarter re-hashing things lost over the summer. Let’s give her some breathing space.
Ned
February 24th, 2012
9:32 am
Why do we expect education and only education to accomodate our personal schedules? It would be more convenient if the post office had Sunday hours, more fun if I could use a county athletic facility or pool in the evening, more useful if the DMV was open 24-7 . . .
It is the role of any school system to set a schedule that maximizes educational effectiveness. Period. If that schedule involves allowing educators time to prepare lessons within their work hours it may alter the hours students are in the classroom.
It is NOT the role of a school system to set a schedule that put other priorities ahead of educational effectiveness.
Divorced parent
February 24th, 2012
9:36 am
I live in Rockdale. They have had a balanced calender for more than a few years. I do enjoy the balanced calender. Why?
I actually get involved with my children’s learning and these breaks give all of us a break. I still go to work but after work we have fun.
I look at things differently, my kids are not the responsibility of any school system. My kids are my responsibility so if the schools are going to be closed then I MUST make other arrangements. It’s really that simple.
Dekalb taxpayer
February 24th, 2012
9:42 am
Perhaps the weekly early release idea came from Dr. Atkinson’s discussions with teachers. If she is trying to improve the working conditions of teachers, that is a good sign. We must do something to retain the good teachers who haven’t yet given up on DCSS.
big picture
February 24th, 2012
10:03 am
It would be nice if she would actually address how it is for the good of the kids, at all levels, in the system, not simply good for the teachers. Again, is she going to ensure that those kids who previously could attend TIP programming, or NASA camp, who will not be able to enroll in these courses and programs during the summer because of a balanced calendar, have like programs available to them during the new fall and spring breaks? Or are these kids, again, the ones who the system assumes can just take care of themselves and the system doesn’t need to address because of middle and upper ability needs students are expected to fend for themselves, particularly if they are not wealthy. Why not offer summer programming for those kids who do fall behind, but let students who are mastering the material continue to get enrichment during these months in other ways?
I’m not completely opposed to the balanced calendar, I just want to hear exactly how it has been proven to benefit ALL students and how she anticipates and considers summer programming available for gifted students, particularly during these months, when developing her calendar. Certainly, I’ve seen nothing in any of her plans, that indicates that these students are on her radar.
bu2
February 24th, 2012
10:29 am
B Anderson and edugator have it right.
Atkinson has a lot of issues to deal with. The early release and balanced calendar are polarizing issues when she needs all the support she can get to make many more important changes. This will undermine some of her support that would be behind her on the other issues. She may be trying to do all the major things in her honeymoon period. But she must be underestimating the challenges she faces and how long her honeymoon period was. Some of her original supporters are already attacking her.
Big Picture very well said
February 24th, 2012
11:43 am
Big Picture you made a wise statement: “Why not offer summer programming for those kids who do fall behind, but let students who are mastering the material continue to get enrichment during these months in other ways?”
After a year in private school i was considering moving my children out of APS and into Dekalb county schools…but with this debacle…forget it.
I don’t want my children languishing in school all year round because some children “cannot retain what they learned.”
If children cannot retain what they learned ove 10 weeks of Summer…THEN THEY HAVEN’T REALLY LEARNED ANYTHING.
Summer time is exactly what you described, Big Picture. My children are enriched through weekly and sometimes daily swim lessons, bike rides, zoo camp, shark camp, gymnastics camp and…..free time. Kids needs to learn to manage their time and that must include some free time to manage. As they get older lots of things are planned including space camp. I won’t allow Cheryl Atkinson to take these away from my children because some teachers are not able to teach children. “can’t retain over the Summer” is a euphamism for “wasn’t taught a darn thing.”
If Cheryl proceeds with this debacle and if my children are in a Dekalb county school, I’ll take them out anyway for space camp, swim practice and so on. If I have to, I’ll write my own justification and map it to a Georgia performance standard…and if punished…I’ll call up for legal advice.
Enough of this foolishness.
Good Mother
Dino Mom
February 24th, 2012
4:53 pm
Folks, you’re all jumping the gun here. Don’t get overwrought about the idea of a balanced school year or early release until it’s actually defined and proposed. Right now, we don’t really know how either idea would be implemented. If you look at some of the examples of school systems who already have a balanced calendar, you often won’t see that much of a difference – just a week or two less in the summer. Nine or ten weeks is still a good long vacation and plenty of time to get in all those summer camps.
Dekalbite
February 24th, 2012
5:18 pm
The balanced calendar still has the same number of instructional days for students so the number of child care days is exactly the same – no more, no less. The day care centers will just rearrange their schedules. They don’t have a lot of choice.
early release days
February 24th, 2012
7:22 pm
The early release days are probably going to be used mainly for professional learning for the staff. The new scripted curriculum will require extensive staff training and time has to be allotted without paying the teachers for staff development.
new curriculum
February 24th, 2012
7:29 pm
Many scripted curriculum and school reform programs ask the teachers for buy-in and the staff votes. There was suppose to be input for America’s Choice and that never happened. I wonder if there will be an input or choices given on a new scripted program. If teachers can’t take ownership, there could be problems.
paul mooney
February 24th, 2012
8:23 pm
If it makes the people fretting about the scripted curriculum feel better, I have personally spoken with DeKalb teachers who attended the recent curriculum sessions at the central office. The county is not going to roll out a scripted curriculum. What they’re putting together are more like pacing guides with suggested lesson ideas. The teachers who attended these sessions had a ton of input. Nothing was forced upon them from above.
As for the balanced schedule and early release idea, I agree with the person who said it reminded them of Dr. Brown’s ill-fated attempt to impose a dress code. With all of the serious problems this district faces, why in the world would the new super start a fight over peripheral issues? If you’re going to ruffle feathers, make it count. She is making a mistake that is going to generate negative headlines in the press and make it more difficult for her to institute more important reforms, such as parting ways with the poorly educated, poorly spoken and abusive administrators who dominate the Title 1 schools and who have driven away many talented teachers, further diminishing learning opportunities for at-risk students.
yes i am worried
February 24th, 2012
9:12 pm
Thank you Paul.
It is my understanding that pacing charts are very important. I do know that in classrooms where lots of students struggle with the basics, pacing charts can be really difficult for a teacher to manage. Any thoughts on how this will be overcome?
Dekalb Taxpayer
February 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
Good to know that Dr. Atkinson is getting buy-in from the teachers. It is impossible to turn things around in low income schools with a substantial number of at risk students without teacher buy-in. The early release is a very good idea, but there will be push back from some areas. The balanced calendar is another good idea. This will be good for students and teachers as well.
Coming in after the school year has started must have been very tough. Dr. Atkinson seems very focused. I wish Ms. Tyson had “cleaned out” the excess personnel for her.
Dr. Brown was “done in” by the people he tried to move back into the schools as he slimmed down the Central Office – at least the ones with UNDER 30 years experience. He got approval from the Board to do a “buy out” for personnel outside the schoolhouse who had 30 years and could retire (I believe it was 40% of their yearly salary). So DCSS spent all this money on buying out Central Office personnel (getting them to retire on good pensions and they even spread the 40% out for 5 years – e.g. if you were making $100,000 a year, you retired on $60,000 – plus you got $40,000 buy out to retire and then they spread the $40,000 over 5 years so you made $68,000 for 5 years). Then the BOE fired Brown and hired Lewis. Lewis promptly hired back every position and many more. It’s easy to see why Lewis had such a power base. So many people had left during the buy out that Lewis had loads of jobs to give to whoever he wanted.
ellie
February 24th, 2012
10:20 pm
Well, my blood pressure went up reading this…and I’m sure you WOULD want me teaching your kids. You want to compare us to the private sector? I work 6 hours and 45 min. without a break. I eat with my students and have to constantly get up and monitor them. I run to the restroom while they are in the cafeteria line. I have a 55 min. planning time 2 days a week, other days are used for meetings. Taking all that into consideration, grading, planning, parent phone calls, etc. has to be done on my time. We haven’t had a planning day all year. When I was in corporate, I got trained on their hours, therefore paid for that time. Not in Dekalb County. No one in corporate would put up with these working conditions… yes, we complain, but obviously we are here for the students–why else would we put up with this? As far as the early release days, we had them 6 years ago, and parents complained so that ended that. “Balanced School Year”, let’s just say year around school, that also was stopped by parents.
say what?
February 25th, 2012
12:46 pm
Paul Mooney must have been at a middle school on Columbia Dr.
dr. Atkinson’s idea to give more power to the school principal will be a detriment to the communities. Principal’s are rarely concerned with the children or the community once the child or community go beyond the school’s property line. We need to go back to teachers and principals residing somewhere in the area of the school. Staff having a vested interest in the community; unlike making money in S.DeKalb, but residing in a home in N.Fulton. Administrators talking about “these children” “these parents” ” these teachers” in not so proper terms, and you want to give them more power. Heck one principal chastises her staff now, for giving out chain of command information. She wants parents to come to her, and SHE decide if they get the information. But, Dr. Atkinson wants to give power and authority to ego maniacs to further ruin the school system. So when the schools fail, will she take responsibility for this failure or will she ask the BOE to allow her to fire/reassign these principals who could care less about the children or the community in which they collect a paycheck?
Dr. Atkinson has made some changes in DCSD which appear to strenghten the district. A balanced school year does have pros/cons, but for those who are serious about teaching,and/or parenting their kids, it does not matter what the calendar states, they will do what needs to be done in order for children to succeed.
People commenting on technology for every child, i concur. Unless these kids are being taught the hows and whys of technology, being forced to use core skills to design their own technology, this idea is nothing more than encouraging the point and click lifestyle, i.e, instant gratification.
Decaturite
February 25th, 2012
2:34 pm
Don’t fret about the “balanced” calendar. We went to it in Decatur last year, and while I didn’t like it at first, I LOVE it now. Students and teachers are much less burned out by the end of the year thanks to having breaks every 6 weeks (which is the end of each grading period). All the teachers I’ve talked to love it and most of the parents love it too (think cheap beach vacations in Sept. and cheap ski vacations in Feb.) Some parents who work were worried about finding camps for their kids during the weeks off, but all the after school programs and Decatur’s Rec center stepped up to help provide care. It’s still the same number of school days – the only trade off is starting back one week earlier than before. And quite frankly that doesn’t bother me because having my kids doing activities outside during late July/early Aug. is not doable anyway with the severe heat and smog alert days. I’d rather them have time off in Sept. when it’s more manageable and healthy to be outside.
chillywilly
February 25th, 2012
6:34 pm
According to the “Street Committee”, Dr. Atkinson has created & advertised the following positions to be filled by rogue personnel from APS Finance: CFO, Director of Accounting & Director of Treasury Services. Say it ain’t so Dekalb Schools.
Annabell
February 25th, 2012
7:59 pm
I am concerned that the DeKalb superintendent is proposing too many changes too soon. The Common Core Curriculum that will be rolled out throught the Georgia Department of Education and some 40 plus states is no joke. Training for this rollout has been in progress for several months. Many teachers in DeKalb will not be prepared for this new curriculum when school starts in August. They have not been taking advantage of the training schedule rolled out by the DOE. Check the record. Now we are talking about a balanced calendar by August which will require some planning changes.
There is expected to be many new administrators at the school level who may be local or out of town; they will need to become acquainted with their new school and community. There are proposed programs that will be coming to DeKalb under the new administrtation. When will all of the professional training take place? It is almost March. School will be out for the summer in late May.
When I looked at the small list of school systems listed as having a balanced calendar in the metro area, all of the large districts are missing. This is no accident. There is no sustained research to support that students retain better with the balanced calendar. DeKalb has experimented with the year round school in a couple of elementary schools. What did the data reveal?
Those of us who are life-long educators realize that we cannot throw everything in the dishwater and hope that something comes out clean. This is the approach that I am witnessing as I read about the daily releasing of this administration’s plans.
What specific plans are in place to better equip our administrators and teachers to be ready to teach our children with engaging and rigorous lessons mandated by the state adopted Common Gore Georgia Performance Standands?
What plans are in place to address the discipline problems that plague our schools and classrooms?
What plans are in place to address effective human relations skills to be used by leaders and all staff in the school and community settings?
I need specific answers.
Melanie
February 25th, 2012
8:46 pm
Say What, Chilly Willy?
Annabell
February 25th, 2012
8:56 pm
Why is the superintendent sending personnel to schools to check staff license and ID. Does she not trust the administrators and resource officers at the local level? How is she going to entrust them with more specialized professionals and more funding?
say what?
February 25th, 2012
9:06 pm
yep, those positions have been created. Unsure why if people are already there doing the work that the positions claim to cover.
Guess she has figured as long as she gets rid of the specifically named people who have been named on a variety of blogs, then no one will notice the employment of a new crew of people. Unsure why positions are being created, why they are being advertised before the reorganization is complete. How can you know that you need these new positions until after the March release of the complete review of necessary/unnecessary positions. Perhaps they are being advertised , interviewed, and filled before the people in them can apply for the newly named positions; thereby terminating without giving notification that your position is no longer needed-one of the requirements (notification) in GA when you plan to downsize.
Same stuff different day.
Trash talk
February 25th, 2012
9:55 pm
Are you people serious? Are our schools really glorified babysitting services? Is all you want is for our teachers and leaders to come to work and make every child and parent happy? Really? No where did I read in this blog anything about focusing on educating children. Let’s face it, Dekalb County’s schools are mostly minority schools whose children can barely read, write, think, or compute. You are concerned about school starting early August. Really, these children should be in school year round and taught by highly skilled teacher. We would see a well educated community who values education if this happens.
Stop the madness and do a reality check. Dekalb, Atlanta, and Clayton rank in the bottom among all Georgia’s public schools and among the highest in crime. Stop thinking about how you were educated, obviously it didn’t do you any good based on the comments I have read in this blog. Our children deserve the best education we can give them. We have to think outside the box and create the best ways we can deliver our promise to our children. Otherwise, we will continue to build prisons based on our dismal 4th and 5th grade reading proficiency levels and import knowledge from other countries that value education.
You can hold educators accountable. If you have concerns about weekly planning, show up at the schools during those times. If the educators are wasting or misusing time, step up and say or doing something. If technology is not enhancing teaching and learning, force the educators to do something differently or better. Stop complaining and become engaged and involved.
If you cannot find weekly babysitting or child care during the school year, implement your summer plan weekly. There are so many things required of all educators, good and bad ones, that require more time, more collaboration, more planning. There is not enough time in the day to get it done. I applaud the Superintendent for at least trying something different to give educators more time to collaborate, plan, train, etc. Thank you.
My only fear with this Superintendent and with any appointed superintendent is that the Board has significant influence over decisions. It is part of the beast–very little can be done about it. So, I hope the Superintendent is up to the task and doesn’t get to comfortable living in Georgia.
Brook-Dekalb Parent
February 26th, 2012
11:08 am
Thanks so much for this coverage of DCSS, I really value this service. When is the AJC going to do a story on Phase I of the audit of DCSS? Link to audit is below. I encourage concerned parents to go to the link.
http://dekalbschoolwatch.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/phase-i-of-the-new-dekalb-schools-audit-is-now-available-for-you-to-review/
Dekalbite@ Brook-Dekalb Parent
February 26th, 2012
12:58 pm
I agree the compensation audit is extraordinarily important to the taxpayers, parents and students in DeKalb because it goes to the heart of the problem of the redirection of funds out of the classrooms.
summer susanna
February 26th, 2012
11:47 pm
holy moly,,,why is it that these people in “education” think the only way to get kids to improve is to shorten the summer? WTF! Here we go again, time for “Save Our Summers” folks to get wound up again
summer susanna
February 26th, 2012
11:55 pm
for those who think this fight for a balanced calendar is a new one, not so. four or so years ago, this was what the board wanted but they got slammed with parents saying oh no. time to dial up cheryl and tell her, you can do just about anything, but don’t mess with our summer
summer susanna
February 27th, 2012
6:22 pm
Summer break or shorten balanced calendar? what’s to stop the teacher from giving large projects, testing upon return or papers that need to be worked on during this time. It would cancel the whole thing out. My kids teacher didn’t finish the unit before Christmas and then after an almost three week break, tested on it after a review day. We had no knowledge of this test, kid did but not us…yes, she should have studied but she is ten and she lives in the world of “outa sight, outa mind”. Do you really think they wouldn’t use this week off as a study work period in the upper grades or even lower grades. Summer is time off, period, some reading, some camp, some working at a store/pizza joint. If they don’t or parent’s don’t take advantage of it, why should the county coddle them?
GratefullParent
February 29th, 2012
2:37 am
“Ask not what your public school can do for you, ask what YOU can do for your public school” Thank you to all of the wonderful dedicated teachers. There are parents out there who truly TRULY can’t thank you enough and who will support you in each and every way. When teachers are revered, the education system puts out competent, caring, highly educated students into the world. Check out the success in Finland schools via Racetonowhere.org. Teachers are respected there like Doctors are here. It is more difficult to get into the required Masters Degree program for teaching in Finland than Med School. The teachers make the experience for the children. My children and my own personal experience have made that personally clear. Bill Gates recently said “When a child is given even FOUR years with a GOOD teacher, it closes the gap of socioeconomic discrepancies and catches them up”. Help your teachers, support them…if the teachers are happy, everybody is happy. We also need to pay them more for their higher education. When a business has a good year, folks get bonuses etc in the work place. I do believe in rewarding good teachers with bonuses. We have to change our respect and care for the occupation of teacher. Sincerely, a respectful and grateful parent in DCSS. Remember, we are all in this together and CAN think Win/Win.