Illusions or Solutions?

Recently, I reached out to our Governor's Office regarding the Opportunity Education Institution (or OEI) and the idea of year-round schools in Petersburg.

It is vital that Petersburg parents and citizens, alike, to reach out and hear both sides of the story before passing judgement on the OEI and year-round schools.  I was impressed at how easy it was to reach the Governor's office.  It was eye-opening to find out how Petersburg was viewed, from the outside looking in.  It was evident to me, right away, that the Governor's office was well aware of woes of the Petersburg City Public Schools and that we even seemed to sit high on their priority list for turn-around.


The OEI (Opportunity Education Institution)
In the coming days, I should receive some literature on this law that I plan on sharing.  I found myself in need of further education on how it works and, because of that, was unable to ask great questions.  It does seem to be a much more positive program than advertised by our local officials.  He said that they do NOT teach via television nor would they desire a change to year-round schooling.  They mentioned that the problem likely here is with instruction, the reading program, and the instructors.  Of course, state-takeover is less than ideal and would likely cost Petersburg even more money, but, something created to undo problems created by people not doing their jobs are often not so pleasant.  We also agreed that politics and pride dominate the decisions of our school officials here in Petersburg.  For the past 20 years, Petersburg has done whatever it takes to fight off State-takeover...if they just worked that hard to fix the real issues and make the tough decisions, our schools would have improved by now.

(Watch for a dedicated post on the OEI...coming soon)


Year-Round Schooling in Petersburg
I was surprised to find that both I and the Governor's office shared opinions on year-round schooling in Petersburg...and were both strongly against the idea for Petersburg.  Here are a few points I want to mention.

• Year-round schools pose very little, if any, advantage towards instruction.
• Year-round schools are almost always more expensive to operate.
• Very few schools systems in the United States of America have ever isolated just two schools out of a district for a completely different style of schedule.

So, if year-round schools offer little to no advantage (scholastically), may drive up educations costs, and are not commonly found in our area (or areas with similar demographics), then what is the real motivation behind this idea?  Why now?  For the Petersburg City Public Schools to fight off the State Department of Education from take-over, it has to have a strong, "outside-of-the-box" plan....this year, the "plan" is year-round schools.  After my talks with Governor's office, Petersburg City Public School officials, other state educators, parents and retired teachers, it is apparent to me that the motivation behind year-round schools is wrong and the effort and money being placed into this idea is being wasted.  

One simple rule in Education is this...

More instruction time and better instruction techniques get more results.

Why not just add instructional time at the pre-high school levels?  It has proven results and may not cost as much as year-round schooling.  Plus, I think the State Department of Education would be behind that idea and may even help find resources or means of getting the money to do just that.


I will say it again, if the people and parents of Petersburg care, they need to educate themselves about the many decisions facing our Petersburg Public Schools and tell our representatives what we expect them to do.

Year-Round Schooling in Petersburg

Since starting this page, especially, I have heard of many different ideas on ways to improve Petersburg City Public Schools.  Many ideas, though challenging to enforce, sounded like positive ideas.  Our Petersburg City Public School Board and Superintendent, however, have an idea that just may be the worst idea yet....year-round schooling.

Petersburg City Public Schools have been awarded a $50,000 planning grant from the State of Virginia Department of Education to be used to do a feasibility on instituting year-round schooling programs at Peabody Middle School and A. P. Hill Elementary School, both slated for State takeover in 2014-2015 by the Opportunity Education Institution.  The School Board is expected to vote on year-round schooling in November.

Need to know more about what a feasibility study is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feasibility_study

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Melvin is a strong supporter of year-round schooling and is the catalyst behind the idea in Petersburg.  As much as I want to trust his intentions and experience, I also quickly realized, during a recent conversation, that he would do just about anything to prevent a State takeover.

Here is what I think about year-round schooling:

First, I think it is preposterous to have just 2 schools out of 8 going year-round.

Second, there is no proof that changing schedules will help test scores.  If our children are really forgetting their studies over the summer, perhaps our teachers did not teach them well or at all.

Third, there is a heritage and history to having a summer break.  Year-round schools would destroy the traditional summer vacation, disrupt family vacations, trips, summer jobs, summer child custody exchanges, and more.

Forth, there are life-style logistics to be considered, such as child-care.  How will our local daycare's and summer-break related business transition?  How will parents adjust?  Seems like a lot of stress on what are likely already over-stressed households.

Fifth, do our over-stressed under-supported children really need to be experimented on, especially at the two schools struggling the most?

I could go on and on with reasons, but the simple fact is there are not enough potential positives to offset the potential negatives, despite the "feasibility" of year-round schooling.

Don't just take my word for it, though...

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/choosing-schools-programs/pros-and-cons-year-round-schools

http://www.schooltutoring.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-year-round-schooling/

No where did I find solid statistics supporting scholastic improvements as a direct result of year-round schooling...shouldn't THAT be the goal to any purposed changes?

We must NOT let our school leaders and school board experiment with wild ideas on our children.  We can NOT allow them to keep dodging the real issue here....PERSONNEL!  You want to improve schools...find and PAY better teachers...improve the classrooms and school grounds...improve classroom technology...the kind of changes that are PROVEN to help.

No more wild guesses or hair-brain schemes...there are no "easy outs".

Every single parent needs to contact their representative on the School Board and call Superintendent Dr. Melvin and voice your concerns, whether you support or oppose year-round schooling.  If you do not speak out, they will just do what they want.

Is State-Takeover Bad or Good?

I can not tell you whether State-Takeover would be a good or bad thing for Petersburg...I am sure it can go both ways...but, unless the law is overturned by a pending lawsuit, it looks like Petersburg might find out, as Peabody Middle School and AP Hill Elementary are both slated for State takeover next year.

http://www.nbc12.com/story/23487376/state-set-to-takeover-2-petersburg-schools-vote-on-henrico-richmond-schools?utm_content=bufferfc1dd&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=Buffer

Makes perfect sense that the School Board and School officials are against this law...at the same time, it means immediate action here in Petersburg.

We have to ask ourselves...who do we trust the way things were?  Do we trust some board of School officials from around the state?  Do we trust that we are improving under our own power?

Thing is, with this law, is a severe shortcoming on added resources...money, training, etc...none of which come as part of this law.

We will be hearing all about this for a the coming months....I will keep you posted.

Give With Target! Vote For YOUR Petesburg School!

Target is awarding $1 for every vote a school gets!  Simple as that!

Go to the following link and vote for one of our Petersburg Public Schools!

http://givewith.target.com/

Vote as much as you can...as often as you can!

OEI Update

Parents need to learn about the "Opportunity Education Institution" (OEI) without bias.  I have written to the Governors office for clarification and information on the program, which I hope to share here on the blog.  

I do not support that ANY state take-over is unconstitutional...the State must back all forms or local government, including our local education system.  Frankly, sometimes people can not control where the live and may be far to poor to move to a better school system if the one where they live is failing to provide the proper education...should they be abandoned by the state? 

Just so you know, many school systems have passed resolutions supporting the lawsuit against the OEI.  I will copy and paste some information emailed to me by my School Board representative:

To date we have heard from 42 school divisions on passing a resolution in support of the OEI lawsuit.

1.       Albemarle County Public Schools

2.       Augusta County School Board

3.       Alexandria City School Board

4.       Bedford County School Board

5.       Botetourt County School Board

6.       Bristol City School Board

7.       Buckingham County School Board

8.       Campbell County School Board

9.       Carroll County School Board

10.   Charlottesville School Board

11.   Clarke County School Board

12.   Cumberland County School Board

13.   Falls Church City School Board

14.   Fauquier County School Board

15.   Floyd County School Board

16.   Fluvanna County School Board

17.   Gloucester County School Board

18.   Harrisonburg City Schools

19.   Halifax County School Board

20.   Highland County School Board

21.   Isle of Wight County School Board

22.   Lancaster County School Board

23.   Loudoun County School Board

24.   Lynchburg City School Board

25.   Madison County School Board

26.   Martinsville City School Board

27.   Nelson County School Board

28.   New Kent County School Board

29.   Norton City School Board

30.   Orange County School Board

31.   Petersburg City School Board

32.   Pittsylvania County School Board

33.   Rappahannock County School Board

34.   Roanoke City School Board

35.   Roanoke County School Board

36.   Rockingham County School Board

37.   Russell County School Board

38.   Shenandoah County School Board

39.   Smyth County Public Schools

40.   Surry County School Board

41.   Waynesboro City School Board

42.   Wise County School Board

The real defect in school law

A state takeover of failing schools is unconstitutional, but a ruling shouldn’t end the debate over education.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

A new law that ostensibly gives the state the power to take over failing schools faces an awkward future, and if justice is merciful, a short one.
Last week, the Virginia School Boards Association and the Norfolk School Board filed suit maintaining the law is unconstitutional. Gov. Bob McDonnell is defending the law, which he views as a key part of his legacy, although he initially sought an amendment to the state constitution to smooth the way for the school take-overs. He failed, and that fumble gives opponents plenty of ammunition to shoot the law down in court.

But if the suit lingers into 2014, new complications will arise. Neither of the two major party candidates for governor have embraced the take over law. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee, even opined, to McDonnell’s chagrin, that he agrees the law is a constitutional dud. In short order, this lawsuit is going to turn into a child custody case over an ugly baby no one wants to claim as his own.
Given that unappealing prospect, a swift dispatch of the metaphorical baby would be welcome. But that doesn’t solve the more pressing issue of how to ensure thousands of very real children are getting a quality education. VSBA executive director Barbara Coyle said she welcomes the opportunity to resume discussions with state officials over how to help struggling schools. School board members across the commonwealth feel the same, even though McDonnell is trying to portray them as the bad guys.

Communities with schools on the initial target list for state intervention have demonstrated their desire to do better with cold, hard cash. Norfolk, for example, spent $114.2 million on the city’s public schools last year, more than twice what state funding formulas require.

That additional funding is currently a voluntary decision made by city leaders and Norfolk property owners, who foot the bill. McDonnell’s law would mandate that the city provide extra dollars. The state, meanwhile, would offer more bureaucracy, but no additional resources.

The law will almost certainly be upended by constitutional questions, but its most egregious flaw is state leaders’ refusal to be full partners in providing Virginia’s children with a meaningful education.

Two Up, Two Down

Please read the story at the link below!  Stay informed on the state of our schools!

http://progress-index.com/news/two-city-schools-leave-priority-list-but-two-others-added-1.1554242

Parents need to learn about the "Opportunity Education Institution" without bias.  I have written to the Governors office for clarification and information on the program, which I hope to share here on the blog.

One drastic change purposed by our own school management is Year-Around Schooling, something I am strongly against.  I believe having a Summer Break is part of the heritage and history of schooling.  I also think it will complicate life-schedules and child-care beyond the means of our mostly low-income community.  Do our families really need more obstacles and challenges with no substantial proof that these changes will help?

Appearance is Everything - Part 1

First impressions are everything....so how would one of our schools look, if all you saw was the outside of the school?  Today, I visited Walnut Hill Elementary here in Petersburg, VA, and took a few pictures.

If you click on the pictures, it will start an enlarged slide show.

Most of the following pictures speak for themselves, but I can tell you, though I was familiar with the appearance at a distance, even I was a bit sickened at just how poor the back area of the school looked, including the playgrounds used by hundreds of our children every school day.

One of the two playgrounds was installed when the school was built, over 40 years ago.  The merry-go-round is dangerously broken, along with several poles on the jungle gyms.  The ground was laden with broken glass, trash, rocks, pieces of the crumbling parking lot.  The grass out back of the school was very high and the construction grounds, leftover from the construction of the gym, left dangerous debris scattered about the school grounds.  Everything about the rear of the school was pretty bad.  It is hard for me to believe that even a pee-wee football team practices there.  There were tires, beer cans, water bottles, and debris everywhere.  The parking lot was in very, very poor shape.  Though much was paved, there actually was very little parking, and no real visitors parking, beside the street out front.

Almost all of the equipment was missing parts, had loose parts, or could be looked at as unsafe.  The tires that seem to make their way around the school yard have been here for at least a year.

How do you think kids feel, being sent out to play in and on trash?  Is this the best we can provide for our children?  Are not the upkeep of the grounds and safety of the grounds as important as just about any other part of running a school?

All the time the rest of this issues laid in the wide open, for all to see, funding was found for a gym, new sidewalk, and lighting for one almost unused sidewalk.  Why not improve these grounds or maybe part of them before installing an addition on very old school?

Appearance is important.  I can only imagine how many people, looking to purchase homes in our city that took one look at these school grounds and instantly decided to shop more expensive homes in Prince George or Colonial Heights.  This issue is not just a school problem, but a community and city wide major issue.  This is the issue of anyone who owns a house in Petersburg...not just if you have a child in school here.

Something must be done.

I will leave you with two last images.  They are both of the pathetic bird bath left as center focal point of the very front of Walnut Hill Elementary.  This bird bath has been broken and missing the basin for at least 2 years.  If no one cares about that, what else are they neglecting?  How many people did this one bird bath run away from Petersburg?

....Part 2 Coming Soon!

True Stories - My Very First Interaction At Petersburg High School

I had a contribution from a friend from High School.  Like some 9th Graders, he was coming from private school to the public to attend Petersburg High School.  Prior to High School, I was privileged to meet him and his brother, who both lived in my neighborhood.  We didn't hang out much, but did shoot some basketball a few times.  They were and are just nice guys.  As High School went on, the next 4 years, he, his brother and many others joined a pretty tight-nit group of good kids...most of us scared but tough.  For the ones coming from Peabody Middle School, the bright, newer high school was a nice change.

The story my friend shared is short...but a birds-eye view on his very first interaction in High School...this, honestly, could happen in most high schools, but was an interaction scenario that you eventually learned to avoid, if possible.

"Petersburg public schools-1st week of 9th grade. Came to PHS from private school. Walked up the back staircase, main building & dude asked me for a cigarette....Me: Sorry man, I don't smoke. Dude: Fuck you say? You wanna fight?

Late 90s PHS in a nutshell. Classic."

Ah, that back staircase on the West Wing...right outside the doors were where most went to smoke. I have had a few run-ins there myself.

We not only have to win the battle with SOL's in Petersburg, we have decades of stigma with people who attended our schools, many of which still live right here in Petersburg. Most have good reasons for their feelings and impression of our schools, derived from personal experiences. Though at the time of the event race may have played a factor, his memory of the event and feelings towards Petersburg Schools has nothing to do with race, creed, income bracket, or hate.

Improvements Start With Time and Effort

Like most parents, I am hard-pressed for time.  Finding time to be involved in your community is vital, but often, is found last on a long list of priorities among low-income and/or struggling families.  Despite the challenges a Petersburg parent my face, we all need to do our part.  It is not always about the amount of time you have, but more the effort that you make.  I took another step in making those efforts, arranging a meeting with Petersburg Superintendent Dr. Melvin.  Our meeting was short, but effective.  We both spoke openly, candidly, and from the heart, which made finding mutual respect simple right away.  I was not there to rail-road or be-little our schools.


Here are a few of the topics we spoke about:

Facilities:  We both agreed that the buildings, grounds, and facilities need improvement.  This is an area any citizen can help, supporting some much needed improvements through City Council, especially budget time.  Think of things this way...if you play golf, don't you take things more serious and play better when you have nice clubs, outfit, and such?  The same thing applies to our schools.

Communication:  We both agreed that communication is an challenge here.  Of course, it should start with parents establishing some form of personal contact with the school.  I stressed "outside-of-the-box" thinking and approach.  He mentioned pushing the "customer-service" aspects for school management to attract return parent involvement.  

Discipline:  My dealings with Walnut Hill Elementary last year exposed what I consider to be a very big issue - a lack of proper and alternative discipline.  I mentioned several Kindergarten suspensions last year.  My research on the subject led me to several former grade-school teachers, none of which ever .

Scheduling and Attendance:  We discussed the tight morning schedules at Walnut Hill Elementary and the other schools.  I identified that the morning schedule was crazy, leaving kids waiting outside of locked doors, sometimes for 15 minutes, just to get in and still have to rush to get to class on time.  I suggested opening the doors earlier for those willing to take advantage of it.  Dr. Melvin seemed open to the idea, even admitting using a similar format when he was a Elementary School teacher.

Walnut Hill Elementary:  Beside the morning schedule, we also spoke about the expectations for the students, teachers, and administrators at Walnut Hill Elementary.  I expressed concerns about the new principle, last years experiences, and some much needed improvements.

Guidance Councilors:  Dr. Melvin seems somewhat shocked that I had never met our school Guidance Councilor, especially regarding any regular behavioral issues.  I would imagine, before long, I may actually see this phantom Councilor. 

Virginia Opportunity Education Institution Amendment and Recent Proclamation:  Earlier this week, the Petersburg Public School board joined many schools in issuing a "Proclamation" supporting a law-suit against the state regarding Gov. Bob McDonald's OEI amendment, passed in February (supported by Delegate Dance), to take effect starting the 2014 school year.  The supporting parties of the lawsuit, which all happen to be struggling school systems, believe it to be unconstitutional.  Though the Attorney General may not be willing to defend the lawsuit, this amendment is far from appealed just yet.  The amendment puts in place, among other things, a method by which an under-performing schools would be taken over by a state OEI board.  We both agreed that a state takeover is likely not the best answer, but I do believe there has to be a "watch-dog" of sorts to inspire progress in these schools.  

"The TRUTH About Petersburg Public Schools" Blog:  Though only mentioned as I left, I did explain that I write a blog about our schools.  I explained that I want it to reflect the good and the bad...the TRUTH.  I mentioned how we should not shelter or hide our hardships, short-comings, and challenges from the public.  I offered to support them, both in person and with the blog, as far as approaching the city about additional funding.


I would highly suggest to any parent to follow my lead and reach out about your concerns.  Mine were not answered exactly, but you get a better sense of connection.  For me, I think I realize now, more than ever, that part of the problem here is getting parents to make the effort...establish a connection...be involved in whatever way possible.  Frankly, every citizen, not just parents, should do the same.

  

Petersburg School Board Supports Lawsuit Against State

Please READ!

School Board supports lawsuit against state taking over failing schools

BY F.M. WIGGINS (STAFF WRITER)

Published: September 9, 2013 - Progress Index (Petersburg, VA)PETERSBURG - The School Board is backing a lawsuit against the state that was filed by the Virginia School Boards Association and the Norfolk City School Board regarding the Governor's Opportunity Gov. Bob McDonnell pushed for the legislation that would allow the state to take over chronically failing schools. The legislation passed in the General Assembly earlier this year and was a point of contention locally in a Democratic primary for a House of Delegates seat.  Delegate Rosalyn Dance, D-Petersburg, supported the legislation, which could have an impact on Petersburg. Peabody Middle School is one of four schools across the state that could be taken over through the legislation.

"It's important that we identify with similar localities," Petersburg School Board member Atiba Muse said. Muse believes the state's Constitution clearly states that the legislation that passed was illegal and would serve as the "wind in our sails" of the lawsuit.

Board Chairman Kenneth Pritchett said that he applauds both the VSBA and Norfolk City School Board for suing the state.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the GOP's gubernatorial candidate, has declined to defend the legislation, saying he agrees it is unconstitutional.

"I write to certify to you that, given an analysis of the constitutional issues involved, my Office cannot defend this lawsuit," Cuccinelli wrote in a brief letter to McDonnell last week.

In addition to approving the resolution in support of the lawsuit against the OEI, the city's School Board approved a resolution calling on the General Assembly to re-examine public school assessments, including high stakes testing in the form of the Standards Of Learning tests.

Pritchett believes that the General Assembly and school systems should be held accountable, but says, as indicated in the resolution, the testing system is unfair and out of balance.

He said that the local school system "almost gets to the point of being accredited and then they change the standards."

The Petersburg City Public Schools have not yet had all of its schools fully accredited. The school system is currently under a memorandum of understanding with the Virginia Department of Education which requires the local school system to have lead turnaround partners to assist in four of the city's under-performing schools.

- F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 3254 or fwiggins@progress-index.com.

There is no doubt that the onset of SOL testing sent under-performing schools systems, like Petesburg and Norfolk, into a head-spin...but how can it be unconstitutional for the State to take over schools that are continuously failing?

Are we left to utilize the same resources and people who put us in this position in the first place?

Are our children to not have ANY safety net in regards to the quality of their education?

What good is the state overseeing our schools if they can not come in and take-over when they fail?

I am just trying to wrap my mind around where our school board is coming from.  Honestly, I know many of them and know they are sincere in wanting to lead our schools back on track...but, do they or our City even have the resources and skills to correct the problems allowed to grow in our public schools?  This lawsuit may be a way out of SOL's, or at least a change in the format or content of the tests, but at what cost?

As a kid in Petersburg Schools, I always hoped the State would step in....as an adult, I realize that does not always equate in a better school system, but at least it is some insurance that people will do their job.

One school in the center of this issue is Peabody Middle School, a school that has not performed well in almost 30 years.  The heinous state of Peabody has yet to attract an intervention by the State.  Many argue that the State coming in would make things worse, but in Peabody MS's case, there seems to be far more to gain than to lose.

New Post in the Works: Appearance is Everything.

I am looking for contributions for pictures of the current and past condition of our schools grounds.  I think most people would be shocked to see how little the City of Petersburg invests in facilities...makes me sick.

Pictures and story coming soon...please contact me if you have pictures you want to share.