Volume 16, Issue 6
February, 2008
McAllen AFT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
1500 DOVE, MCALLEN, TX ,78504, 682-1143
EYES ON THE BOARD
HIGH SCHOOL REDESIGN POSTPONED
The McAllen ISD Board agenda was reorganized and the Superintendent’s report was given first. She is not having knee replacement (as of now).
Mrs. Chapa then talked about High School Redesign. She said she has informed Region I that McAllen will continue study of Redesign this next year. Whether Region I will continue to fund McAllen’s Redesign is unknown. Mrs. Chapa gave a copy of the results of high school voting from last Thursday to MISD Board members. We understand that the voting was overwhelmingly against Redesign. Many teachers called us and ask us to complain—they did not get to vote. SIF’s will continue at the traditional high schools to help with student learning.
Lamar Academy will do Redesign. They voted 100% to do it (superintendent’s information).
Then Mrs. Chapa mentioned that that no decision has been made about scheduling—8 period day, A B Block, and Accelerated Block. Still no mention of losing $5,000-$7,000 from your pay.
Just so you know the JPCC, of which we are not allowed to be members, said that ALL members of TCTA and ATPE were for Redesign.
Administration continues to say that miscommunication and misconception continues in both school and community. We don’t think that is true at all. The miscommunication seems to have been, to a large extent, from out district leadership. Communication was definitely lacking early on, as neither teachers, parents, not students were included in sufficient numbers during the early “buy-in” process. This resulted in a lot of “backpedaling” later on.
Many people, including at least a couple of board members, thought that the district was simply studying the feasibility of HSRP with the decision to actually do it still ahead. There was a lot of misconception on the part of the district administration—regarding funding of the project (virtually none for MISD), regarding the success of HSRP at other districts (very little), regarding the nationwide acceptance of the program (very few participants nationwide), etc.
High school principals are saying that we cannot continue to do the same old, same old for student success. Actually, we can continue with the “old” if it is tried and true, and if teachers are given tools and support to fully implement a tough curriculum. “New” and “untested” does not necessarily mean “better.” This is a fallacy.
As students become more adept at technology and at accessing superficial information, we are losing a lot of the hallmarks of traditional scholarship.
What we truly need is a return to a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes reading, writing, mathematics, and science.
Hence, we need to return to traditional academics—not a wild flight into untested methods that are perceived as “better” simply because they are new.
We need battle-tested academic rigor, not a quick-fix band-aid or “magic bullet” (magic potion).
We just spent (four) 4 days in Austin working with other locals across Texas discussing Redesign. The report on Redesign from other areas of Texas—NOT WORKING—TEACHERS BURNING OUT—workload doubled.
Open forum presentation
FEBRUARY 11, 2008
Good evening. My name is Ruth Skow, and I represent the McAllen AFT.
During the past four (4) days we have been in Austin talking to people in education from all over the state who have been working with High School Redesign. According to these individuals, Redesign is not helping the scores in their high schools nor keeping students in school and graduating. All the schools that we reviewed High School Redesign information from had very low, low scores. McAllen does not have low scores. Staff members (teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses, paraprofessionals, clerical, janitorial and other job categories in McAllen) have worked their hearts out to improve student scores.
McAllen needs parental involvement, teacher buy in to any major changes, and student buy in to the changes. When High School Redesign was introduced, all involved were led to believe that small learning communities might be medical, engineering, law enforcement, attorney at law, and others. In reality, the small learning communities were teaming as in middle school. What those outside consultants also want to do is Redesign middle and elementary schools.
In a publication—EDUCATION WEEK—published online on February 1, 2008 and published in print on February 6, 2008 the evaluation of First Things First by the U.S. Department of Education Department set up to vet existing research evidence on the effectiveness of education showed the program to provide “no discernible effects” on keeping students in school. In Kansas City, where the program was carried out district wide, evaluations failed to find well-matched
comparison schools.
We have included copies of these reports for your information.
Many members of the McAllen AFT feel that the rolling out of High School Redesign was top down instead of bottom up.
This school year has been so full of new initiatives and enormous frustrations that many staff members are experiencing health problems.
The district needs to consider a clinic for all employees to address the fact that teachers and other school employees are afraid to take a day off from work and see a doctor. The Test and No Child Left Behind have turned teaching into a nightmare for all involved.
Thank you.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION FOR
JANUARY 11, 2008
The Alvarez Drum Line performed on February 11 and were awesome.
Rowe High School Band uniforms were approved—very smart looking.
Monies were approved for library books, audiovisual materials and instructional reading materials, musical instruments, electronic equipment, accessories, elementary music instructional resources catalog bid, newspaper advertising, tabloid and web press printing services, lawn and garden equipment and repair, custodial supplies, health supplies, floor covering, window treatment, softwear and training, and food services equipment and supplies.
There was a big discussion relating to the new central kitchen and plant operations buildings. It seems that costs are rising and trimming might need to happen. The CCAC will review the project on February 19, 2008 so that the board can evaluate on February 22, 2008.
The board approved a method for procuring a construction contract for Morris Middle School Tennis Courts Resurfacing and Restriping. The cost will be $120,000 (1/2 paid for by the City of McAllen). We were glad to see this improvement for Morris students and the surrounding community.
The board then approved a certificate of substantial completion for the Jackson Elementary School Renovations. We look forward to seeing the changes for ourselves.
A large number of bills were paid for renovations at Memorial High School HVAC.
Fossum Middle School construction is moving forward. The building should be ready late in May.
The fifth elementary is still one (1) month behind due to weather and other unforeseen complications. Looks like late July for completion.
Dr. Cynthia Bebon was named the Director for Title I Migrant Program.
Advanced placement program materials were approved.