January, 2010
Volume 18, Issue 5
McAllen AFT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
1500 Dove Avenue, McAllen, TX, 78504, 682-1143
EYES ON THE BOARD
REVIEW THE DETAILS!
January 28, 2010
At lunch time Mike Blum’s Real Estate Company won the opportunity to market the five (5) pieces of property the district wants to sell. The Board then began talking about the five (5) year plan. The meeting ended at about 6:50 p.m. The summary of the meeting was no raises for 2010-2011 except the money pass thru for professionals. Job cuts were discussed.
Paul Reyes is the new Rowe High School Athletic Coordinator/Head Coach for Rowe High School.
The Board approved House Bill I—High School Reform Goals for 2009-2010; Interlocal Coop Contract between McAllen ISD and UT for the Drama for Schools Program; approved budget amendment; moved $1 million from designated to undesignated; approved math and science equipment, supplies and materials, approved Sing, Spell and Write; approved health supplies and equipment catalog bid; renewed library books, audio visual materials and instructional reading materials catalog bid; E-Rate Round 13; school and office furniture; Region One Child Nutrition program; gas products, custodial supplies and equipment; request for athletic physicals. Computers, peripherals, audiovisual equipment, and installation services were approved. Water line easement was approved for the City of McAllen at the new central kitchen and maintenance and operations buildings.
The McAllen Board of Education met Monday, January 11, 2010 at 5:45 p.m.
This meeting was referred to as a briefing—discussion—voting on January 25th. Dr. Caporusso again discussed the issue of copiers and more effective purchasing. It seems that printers for individual teacher’s rooms are going to be history. There will be a centralized printer, and you will have to go to a central location to retrieve your copy. This is not student friendly. This is not teacher friendly. Imagine the Que (waiting line for printing—like air traffic control—creating delays—paper jams? skipped pages?). Dr. Ponce questioned Ms. Lopez (Assn. Super. for Business) in regard to centralization of printers—and she said it will happen.
Another briefing had to do with Web Hosting Services and Student email services. It seems that the district has been taken to the cleaners in regard to this issue. Monies have been spent and the services not working. properly.
Ms. Lopez discussed a $5 million increase in fund balance. How did this amount of money magically appear? Why would administration not give raises to paras, bus drivers, plant operations, and others who were passed over? This does not smell good.
There was no agenda item on a follow up to the meeting with the city commissioners regarding selling the football stadium to the city.
The purchase of computers, peripherals, audiovisual equipment and installation services through DIR and other interlocal agreement contracts at a cost of $2.8 million was discussed.
The Board approved hiring of Linda Farias-Martinez (not related to Javier Farias) as Math Coordinator for PK-12. A possible real estate acquisition was discussed. Vela moved to purchase the Atrium Bldg. including the restaurant area for $2.5 million. Vela, Farias, and Dr. Caporusso voted yes. Garcia, Saldivar, and Kent voted no. Moore broke the tie by voting no and the motion failed 4-3.
Presentation to
MCALLEN ISD
BOARD OF EDUCATION
January 25, 2010
Value-Added Scores
During the last few months the administration of McAllen ISD has been talking about value-added scores. This bad idea is the use of so-called "value-added methodology," based largely on students' scores on standardized tests, to determine teachers' eligibility for bonuses. The even worse idea being proposed to the school board by administration would allow teachers to be fired based on "insufficient academic growth as reflected by value-added scores" attributed to them.
The truth of the matter is that this proposal could take value-added methodology from bad to worse in McAllen ISD. Put in simple terms: "You can't show us how this number predicts whether you’re a good teacher." In addition, "If you're going to fire teachers, it ought to be for something that they know how to calculate."
There's a strong scientific consensus to back up our opposition to the administration’s bad-to-worse proposal. The problems with relying on value-added methodology for high-stakes employment decisions have been thoroughly explained in the scientific literature, even though studiously ignored by boosters of this latest fad in education policy-making. School administrations in Dallas, Harlingen, Houston, Kingsville, and El Paso are pushing this fad—McAllen does not need this.
During the summer of 2009, we represented a deaf education teacher being required to wear a GPS. The contract is expiring in February for this GPS contract. Now is the time to not renew this waste of taxpayer’s money. Administration continues to act like teachers are not to trusted.
The waiver for McAllen ISD elementary schools has drastically affected the morale of the teaching staff.
As you know, a math adoption is coming up. The state only provides consumables for 22-1. Is McAllen ISD Board planning to spend thousands to cover this issue?
Teachers have called us on a regular basis—100-225 every week—that they are being required to work in elementary, middle school and high school class rooms on Saturday.
A principal will say in so many words if you don’t do this I am not going to need you next year. The Board should realize that a hostile work environment has been created.
This last week employees in the district received a memo from administration stating job and budget cuts were about to happen.
We suggest that expenditures like a redone boardroom could have waited.
The Board should not attend expensive conventions, and the money be reallocated to the budget.
Expensive meals provided for various administrative meetings should be cut.
There are many other areas that administrative expenses could be cut up to $100,000. This amount of money should be spent on the children.
