October, 2010
Volume 19, Issue 2
EYES ON THE BOARD
STAFFING REVIEW AGAIN!
School Board Regular Meeting
October 25, 2010
Board members Kent and Garcia were absent. Moore came about 10 minutes before the meeting was over.
The Self-Funded Health and Dental Plan Funding, Rates & Benefits for 2010-2011 were approved. The representative from each campus was supposed to share the new rates.
The Gonzalez PTO donated $39,150 to Gonzalez Elementary and the Board accepted.
New contract with Coke Cola Refreshment USA was approved. Saldivar and Moore voted no. Dr. Caporusso, Farias, and Vela voted yes. A 25% commission on full service vending sales and a $1,000 annual scholarship fund for each of the three high schools for a term of three (3) years. Contracts with Coke Cola have been a problem for some years.
**The Board approved a $30,000 service agreement for a staffing review with the Texas Association of School Boards. Dr. Caporusso, Farias, and Vela voted yes. Saldivar voted no. This type of review could have been done in house. Your tax payer money has been wasted. Here we go again!
The review of stipends by TASB (as part of the staffing review) was unclear (for math, science, coaches, UIL, and more). We are waiting on some additional information. Paper work presented at the meeting concerning stipends was different than at the policy meeting.
School Board Regular Meeting
October 12, 2010
This is a briefing meeting—discussion of all items on the agenda in depth—voting on all but a few items will be on October 25, 2010.
Assistant Principal for Michael E. Fossum Middle School
Ruben Degollado—approved 5-0. Kent attended the closed session but left afterwards. Moore was absent.
*Status of HVAC for Rowe—repairs should be completed by Wednesday, October 13, 2010—Rowe staff please let us know if your room air quality is good.
*Curriculum Audit—Administration wants to hire the Texas Association of School Boards to conduct a district-wide review of staffing (includes central office) cost of $30,000. This service includes staffing comparisons against benchmarking data, evaluation of class loads and schedules, and an itemized report of findings and potential opportunities for cost savings, cost avoidance, and improved operating efficiency. Please tell me how you feel about this.
Open Forum, October 25, 2010
Today the McAllen public schools have been asked not only to educate children but also to solve many of the ills that the larger society either cannot or will not fix. I am speaking of issues directly related to poverty like hunger, violence, homelessness, and unchecked childhood diseases (asthma and diabetes) to name a few. In spite of these challenges there are thousands of dedicated and committed educators and support staff who are working hard to make access to a quality education for all children who attend public schools a reality.
Great teachers and support staff can be developed. A good framework for teacher evaluation and development is needed to help teachers reach their full potential. Teachers and support staff need tools and support. High standards are important, but they’re just a start. High standards are meaningless without training and without time for teachers to prepare for them and for students to achieve them. Teachers and support staff can’t do this alone—overcoming socioeconomic disadvantages that beset so many students requires a community response with “wrap-around services,” such as safe and enriching after-school programs, health services, and tutoring that helps.
Let me remind all of you on the McAllen ISD Board of Education that professional athletes spend huge amounts of “practice time” as opposed to “game time,” while the ratio is reversed for teachers. The goal should be continuous improvement for every teacher. Teachers need time to review the “game tape” to figure out what is working and what is not. And the gauge of what is working cannot just be scores on standardized tests, if we want to get a true, rounded picture of teaching effectiveness.
Albert Einstein said, “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that is counted counts.” Jonathan Raymond, Superintendent of Schools for Sacramento, California said, “We have to stop blaming teachers and support staff for problems that have multiple causes, ranging from poor administrative oversight and accountability to a lack of parent engagement. I know how hard teachers work to educate every child and challenge students at their ability level. We need to work equally hard to give our teachers the tools and supports they need to be successful. Let’s stop scapegoating and come together to find solutions.