Comments on: Breaking News: Shake-Up at BESC

By: Zarwen

Zarwen — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:54:19 +0000

What is particularly asinine is that PPS latched onto the smaller-is-better fad for high schools but not elementaries. The Oregon Education Model recommends 300-400 as the ideal size for an elementary---which is right where most of our elementaries were before VP and her crew came to town. They proceeded to carve up large high schools and close down small elementaries---just the opposite of best educational practices. We have already seen how these decisions have played havoc with FTE. If this were a movie, they could have called it "Dumb and Dumber, Part III."

By: Whitebuffalo

Whitebuffalo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:26:25 +0000

Steve,

I agree with you. This smaller is better paradigm is the latest fad in education. Is it any wonder that Vicki Phillips went to work for the biggest proponent of small schools, the Gates Foundation. This small schools paradigm will make it financially impossible for all kids to have experiences with the arts. This would be a scheduling nightmare.

By: Steve Rawley

Steve Rawley — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:41:15 +0000

My heart goes out to anybody who loses their job, especially in today’s economy.

But people who take grant-funded jobs know their future is uncertain at the end of the funding cycle.

Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the office of high schools was behind the “small schools” model that was foisted Jefferson, Madison, Marshall and Roosevelt, which has led to some of the grossest inequities in the district.

The end of the grant that did this to our schools should be welcomed with hope for a more equitable future for our high school students.

By: Whitebuffalo

Whitebuffalo — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:54:05 +0000

Because there are people working behind the scenes to try and make positive change within the district. When the “flow chart” changes every 6 months (it feels like it anyway) it’s hard to get any “traction”. Every new byzantine organizational design takes months cement. It takes a while for folks to feel confident enough to do something because they need to “study” the problem to death before they dare move on an issue. I know people have strong opinions on the personnel moves that will result from this reorganization. In short, it’s frustrating to have to start over.

By: Zarwen

Zarwen — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:25:44 +0000

Whitebuffalo,

Why do you say this sucks?

By: parent

parent — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:25:23 +0000

Adams and Rennie-Hill have been disastrous for Jefferson. I’ll be so glad to see them go.

By: Whitebuffalo

Whitebuffalo — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:52:34 +0000

This sucks.