Comments on: In the news: PPS sells “surplus” copy paper, toilet paper

By: Miss Merry Sunshine

Miss Merry Sunshine — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:20:08 +0000

Marcia, I think a video camera is something from the last century to take moving pictures—because I still have a VCR in my classroom, so we still use the tape things that I have to buy myself. Of course the video player is over 12 years old, and the district doesn’t provide “head cleaner”, so every time it makes a noise, and jams up a tape, we try to use the cleaner cassette and I’ve bought about 5 of those things over the years. If that thing busts, there go my lesson plans (kidding! seriously kidding!)

Bought my own DVD player for school a long time ago, which other teachers have tried to borrow, I won’t let them touch it, because once it disappears, that’s that.

I think you can take moving pictures with a video camera, but nowadays there’s something called digital that a lot of schools have, not us. The cameras are itty bitty and have some chips in them, I think!

Wow, the PPS is so “retro”!!!!! Kewl!!!!! Groovy!

By: marcia

marcia — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:42:47 +0000

HA! What is a video camera?

By: Carrie Adams

Carrie Adams — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:14:16 +0000

Marcia, maybe you could use the technology equipment that the district provides teachers (water glasses and a string) to get the word out to other teachers. Take video cameras.

By: marcia

marcia — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:57:14 +0000

YES! A field trip on the next late opening! Great idea.

By: Carrie Adams

Carrie Adams — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:45:35 +0000

Steve B, if district staff want to put themselves out there, that’s great but they should expect follow-up.

I saw a lot of questionable practices when I worked at the BESC and many came out of facilities. They did things like hire movers (temporary help) at the last minute. Some of the movers were relatives of facilities staff and they often began work prior to clearing background checks. How do you not know until the last minute that you’re going to move out of a school?

PPS provides information about their surplus property on their Facilities page. Maybe teachers could take a group field trip.

This is from the PPS webpage:

“Can I visit the surplus site?

Yes. Please make arrangements with the Surplus Coordinator. Usually someone is at the site Wednesday mornings 8-10AM but not always. Please check before you drop by.”

Aren’t Wednesday mornings late openings?

By: Steve Buel

Steve Buel — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:17:32 +0000

Carrie, as you know, it is a long held tradition by PPS administrators and board members to either disappear when questioned, refuse to debate any longer when cornered, or just not answer queries (i.e. not commenting on public concerns raised at school board meetings or making it difficult to get information). I am still waiting for my answer to the last question I asked PPS. Evidentally they forgot about it.

By: Carrie Adams

Carrie Adams — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:36:32 +0000

Lakeitha, Here’s the link to the Portland Association of Teacher’s current (expired) contract:

http://www.patpdx.org/sites/de.....ntract.pdf

Like many others who just received their property tax bills, I’m trying to figure out why my bill continues to increase while services decrease. How much are these school closures and redesigns actually costing taxpayers when you take into consideration PPS’ ill planned efforts and outcomes in implementing them?

District administrators love to talk about transparency but where is it? It would be a much better use of taxpayer dollars to provide quarterly income and expense reports for every PPS school and department than it is to continue to drag out these redesigns just for the sake of dragging them out. PPS…give the public some genuine input on improving the system.

And somebody please take Matt Shelby’s Blackberry because it appears to be malfunctioning. He throws out one liners defending district practices then disappears when questioned.

By: Lakeitha

Lakeitha — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:55:54 +0000

Marcia, What contract?

By: S. Wilcox

S. Wilcox — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:49:59 +0000

Marcia, I was just going to “ditto” your remark. I have had so many students ask “Where’s the kleenex?” this past week. Not my job to go out and buy it, nor should it have to be.

By: Miss Merry Sunshine

Miss Merry Sunshine — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:13:36 +0000

Marcia–what a great idea! Now who would have thought of using T.P. as Kleenex? Teachers maybe? Amazing! *insert snickering snort here*

Nobody can find a use for everyday and mundane items like teachers….inventors and innovators at heart. Too bad some of the folks arranging sales don’t remember that……..one begins to wonder how many staff at BESC have ever been in a school since they graduated….???