Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2008
Library Yard Sale
The big sale set for the Abingdon Library tomorrow has been postponed until 8 a.m. Sept. 13. Hanna's already canceled all Harford County School activities tomorrow. Batten down the hatches -- or at least secure your lawn furniture.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Sky blue, grass green
Friday's Aegis contained the most unsurprising article I've ever read, that realtors, county officials, just about everyone is advising the New Jersey BRAC transplants to avoid Edgewood.
I especially liked the county's hedge that they advised people to go to the state of Maryland's Web site to view test scores. It's all right there -- the schools are "not meeting expectations" in bold letters.
This had the potential to be a good article, but in our opinion at TAA, it was marred by the reporter's reluctance to clean-up the quotes of the realtor from Edgewood who was quoted. While the realtors in Bel Air, Fallston, Forest Hill, etc., benefit from the poor schools across 1-95 by inflating home prices in those school districts, this poor realtor (a phrase I don't think I've ever used before) is fighting against TPTB who are in collusion with the realtors. The reporter shared the realtor's use of "ain't" which was entirely unnecessary. It distracted from his valid points about the trouble he's experiencing. While some are reaping the benefits of poor schools, many (not even counting the children) are not.
As former reporters here at TAA, we know it is common to clean up quotes. If David Craig uses the word "ain't" or Jacqueline Haas misplaces a pronoun, it will not appear in print. We knew reporters who relished making their subjects appear stupid. Most of these subjects were politicians who could take it. The realtor, who was passionately defending the schools in his area and using the word "ain't" in the process received an unnecessary jab from the reporter -- "see, the schools are failing, the realtors can't even speak correct English!"
In our naive days when we first moved here four years ago, we really thought that BRAC would bring about a change in the school district. Certainly the high-tech new residents wouldn't stand for subpar schools. And then here at TAA we realized that they wouldn't stand for subpar schools in Fallston, Bel Air and Forest Hill. Keeping the "desirables" on one side of I-95 and the "undesirables" on the other seems to be working for someone. That article had a chance to highlight that, but instead it decided to highlight poor grammar.
I especially liked the county's hedge that they advised people to go to the state of Maryland's Web site to view test scores. It's all right there -- the schools are "not meeting expectations" in bold letters.
This had the potential to be a good article, but in our opinion at TAA, it was marred by the reporter's reluctance to clean-up the quotes of the realtor from Edgewood who was quoted. While the realtors in Bel Air, Fallston, Forest Hill, etc., benefit from the poor schools across 1-95 by inflating home prices in those school districts, this poor realtor (a phrase I don't think I've ever used before) is fighting against TPTB who are in collusion with the realtors. The reporter shared the realtor's use of "ain't" which was entirely unnecessary. It distracted from his valid points about the trouble he's experiencing. While some are reaping the benefits of poor schools, many (not even counting the children) are not.
As former reporters here at TAA, we know it is common to clean up quotes. If David Craig uses the word "ain't" or Jacqueline Haas misplaces a pronoun, it will not appear in print. We knew reporters who relished making their subjects appear stupid. Most of these subjects were politicians who could take it. The realtor, who was passionately defending the schools in his area and using the word "ain't" in the process received an unnecessary jab from the reporter -- "see, the schools are failing, the realtors can't even speak correct English!"
In our naive days when we first moved here four years ago, we really thought that BRAC would bring about a change in the school district. Certainly the high-tech new residents wouldn't stand for subpar schools. And then here at TAA we realized that they wouldn't stand for subpar schools in Fallston, Bel Air and Forest Hill. Keeping the "desirables" on one side of I-95 and the "undesirables" on the other seems to be working for someone. That article had a chance to highlight that, but instead it decided to highlight poor grammar.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Edgewood High Gets the Short Shrift Again
Edgewood High School parents were surprised to learn last week that they were to be given only two tickets to their child's graduation ceremony. It seemed it was surprising to officials that the football field which has been a construction site for the last several months would be unavailable for commencement exercises and that the ceremony would have to be moved indoors to the school's small auditorium.
When a parent questioned the school board about why this was happening, public information director Don Morrison responded that the auditorium had always been the contingent plan for inclement weather, but that other schools had used other venues.(Question: Is construction considered inclement weather?)
A response from the EHS principal stated that school officials had tried -- and so far failed -- to find another venue to hold commencement as these other sites had been booked at least a year in advance. The principal said the school is trying to work out an arrangement with Patterson Mill High School to possibly hold the graduation there. A meeting with parents is supposed to happen sometime, although no date was given.
My question is, how did the school board not know that the field was going to be unusuable for a May graduation? Anyone who has only half paid attention to the construction would have known it would be impossible. In fact, I remember during one board meeting that I happened to catch on the public access station earlier this school year, they spoke in depth about graduation ceremonies not for this year -- but for 2009 -- and making sure they could secure locations for C. Milton Wright & Bel Air High School.
I guess I really have two questions: if the Greater Edgewood Education Foundation really wanted to make a difference, wouldn't they have been concerned about trying to secure a location for graduation instead of holding a pep rally where students got to see the Ravens' mascot?
By the way, Bel Air, Fallston and C. Milton all have space secured in Towson for their commencements.
When a parent questioned the school board about why this was happening, public information director Don Morrison responded that the auditorium had always been the contingent plan for inclement weather, but that other schools had used other venues.(Question: Is construction considered inclement weather?)
A response from the EHS principal stated that school officials had tried -- and so far failed -- to find another venue to hold commencement as these other sites had been booked at least a year in advance. The principal said the school is trying to work out an arrangement with Patterson Mill High School to possibly hold the graduation there. A meeting with parents is supposed to happen sometime, although no date was given.
My question is, how did the school board not know that the field was going to be unusuable for a May graduation? Anyone who has only half paid attention to the construction would have known it would be impossible. In fact, I remember during one board meeting that I happened to catch on the public access station earlier this school year, they spoke in depth about graduation ceremonies not for this year -- but for 2009 -- and making sure they could secure locations for C. Milton Wright & Bel Air High School.
I guess I really have two questions: if the Greater Edgewood Education Foundation really wanted to make a difference, wouldn't they have been concerned about trying to secure a location for graduation instead of holding a pep rally where students got to see the Ravens' mascot?
By the way, Bel Air, Fallston and C. Milton all have space secured in Towson for their commencements.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Edgewood Alternate Governance Plan
The Edgewood Middle School Alternative Governance Board presented its recommendations to the school board last week. To read the entire proposal click here.
It's pages and pages of ideas. You can decide for yourself. I'd love to hear some comments.
One question I have is in the budgeted items. Under "contracted services" there is $50,000 requested for "related leadership services." The proposal doesn't say specifically what that is. Just curious if anyone can figure that out -- seems vague for that kind of money.
Also, when you look at how many hours a month the school administrators are supposed to allocate to the success of the school -- am I reading that correctly? Is the school improvement coordinator for the district really only required to spend 10 hours a month on EMS? With that much dedicated time, success is assured!
It's pages and pages of ideas. You can decide for yourself. I'd love to hear some comments.
One question I have is in the budgeted items. Under "contracted services" there is $50,000 requested for "related leadership services." The proposal doesn't say specifically what that is. Just curious if anyone can figure that out -- seems vague for that kind of money.
Also, when you look at how many hours a month the school administrators are supposed to allocate to the success of the school -- am I reading that correctly? Is the school improvement coordinator for the district really only required to spend 10 hours a month on EMS? With that much dedicated time, success is assured!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Bad Week for School Buildings (& Students)
In case you missed it, Harford County Schools showcased its infrastructure problems this week in three separate incidents.
Homestead/Wakefield students were exposed to asbestos because technicians tore off an asbestos ceiling sending fibers into the air. The air was contaminated and school was closed. Students got Wednesday off, but after they'd been exposed to the asbestos on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Joppatowne High students were forced to leave their building because of a suspected gas leak. BGE arrived and examined the site while students waited outside in the cold.
Also this week, Edgewood High students were forced to endure a stench from a pipe underneath the kitchen that cracked, causing wastewater to spill into a crawl space and leaving behind an unpleasant odor in the cafeteria and locker room areas, school officials told The Sun.
The Sun reported that county health inspectors determined that there were no health concerns but that the odor presents a "human comfort situation," spokesman Don Morrison said. You can fill in your own comments on that one.
Homestead/Wakefield students were exposed to asbestos because technicians tore off an asbestos ceiling sending fibers into the air. The air was contaminated and school was closed. Students got Wednesday off, but after they'd been exposed to the asbestos on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Joppatowne High students were forced to leave their building because of a suspected gas leak. BGE arrived and examined the site while students waited outside in the cold.
Also this week, Edgewood High students were forced to endure a stench from a pipe underneath the kitchen that cracked, causing wastewater to spill into a crawl space and leaving behind an unpleasant odor in the cafeteria and locker room areas, school officials told The Sun.
The Sun reported that county health inspectors determined that there were no health concerns but that the odor presents a "human comfort situation," spokesman Don Morrison said. You can fill in your own comments on that one.
Friday, February 22, 2008
It's Not Just About A Principal
I’ve been waiting to write about the Edgewood Middle School Alternative Governance Board meeting on Feb. 7 in the blog because I’ve been considering writing a letter to the newspaper or contacting someone to try to get what’s happening into the mainstream media. I still may do that, because I can’t believe that nothing’s been written about the actions being taken at this school. I know they have a small staff, and failure’s not as exciting as contaminated well water in a more well-heeled neighborhood, but I can’t believe that the items written by The Aegis gloss over the fact of why the school is looking for a new principal.
The Aegis’ coverage of a search for a new principal at Edgewood Middle School misses an important aspect of the process. Because of the school’s failure to meet testing standards for several years in a row, it is required by the state to choose among four different actions; one choice is hiring a distinguished principal. The state is required to supply candidates, but had only three available to the entire state. None were available with middle school experience.
One impossible choice presented by the state was making EMS a charter school – a two-year process that no probationary school can make because of its short time frame. EMS must have a plan approved by the spring. Another choice was to hire an outside agency to run the school. However, no agencies available have any middle school experience. The last option available was dismissing inadequate staff and hiring new staff.
These somewhat false choices shine a light on the institutional failure of the state to provide options for really improving failing schools. The group working on improving the situation at EMS, while well-intentioned, was never presented with a chance to make the real changes needed. This is not an attack on the group working to rectify the situation or EMS students. If EMS qualified for Title 1 status, which it is close to doing, students would then be presented with school vouchers and Harford County Public Schools would have to let them attend another school in the county. Faced with students heading to Patterson Mill, with its state-of-the art equipment or a school with broken water fountains – what would happen? The school system, because of overcrowding issues, would have to act and really improve the schools.
The Aegis’ coverage of a search for a new principal at Edgewood Middle School misses an important aspect of the process. Because of the school’s failure to meet testing standards for several years in a row, it is required by the state to choose among four different actions; one choice is hiring a distinguished principal. The state is required to supply candidates, but had only three available to the entire state. None were available with middle school experience.
One impossible choice presented by the state was making EMS a charter school – a two-year process that no probationary school can make because of its short time frame. EMS must have a plan approved by the spring. Another choice was to hire an outside agency to run the school. However, no agencies available have any middle school experience. The last option available was dismissing inadequate staff and hiring new staff.
These somewhat false choices shine a light on the institutional failure of the state to provide options for really improving failing schools. The group working on improving the situation at EMS, while well-intentioned, was never presented with a chance to make the real changes needed. This is not an attack on the group working to rectify the situation or EMS students. If EMS qualified for Title 1 status, which it is close to doing, students would then be presented with school vouchers and Harford County Public Schools would have to let them attend another school in the county. Faced with students heading to Patterson Mill, with its state-of-the art equipment or a school with broken water fountains – what would happen? The school system, because of overcrowding issues, would have to act and really improve the schools.
Weather Update
Here in Abingdon at 11:15 it's 32 degrees with a clear road in front of my house. I'm saying this because the speeders on my road don't seem to be slowing down at all, not because I've actually been out.
Just wanted to check with readers to see if it's worse where you are. I saw there was an accident at the 77A exit of I-95 earlier, but really haven't seen too much since then.
I agree with the decision today to cancel school, but come on Harford County, take one of the spring break days away. You're cutting too far into our summer!
Also, is anyone getting the feeling that eSchoolnewsletter is really spam in disguise? Did I really need to get an e-mail before the school closing notification about titled "Emergency School Closing Information" with a link to an eSchoolnewsletter site page with the school closing information. (My newly updated Internet Explorer wouldn't even let me open the link because of certification problems.) I thought the idea of having an e-newsletter was not having to check a Web site. You can always just check the HCPS site for school closings. It's posted on the site almost immediately.
Just wanted to check with readers to see if it's worse where you are. I saw there was an accident at the 77A exit of I-95 earlier, but really haven't seen too much since then.
I agree with the decision today to cancel school, but come on Harford County, take one of the spring break days away. You're cutting too far into our summer!
Also, is anyone getting the feeling that eSchoolnewsletter is really spam in disguise? Did I really need to get an e-mail before the school closing notification about titled "Emergency School Closing Information" with a link to an eSchoolnewsletter site page with the school closing information. (My newly updated Internet Explorer wouldn't even let me open the link because of certification problems.) I thought the idea of having an e-newsletter was not having to check a Web site. You can always just check the HCPS site for school closings. It's posted on the site almost immediately.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Edgewood Area Schools Meeting
Saw a post in the library for a community meeting at 6 p.m. February 7 in Edgewood Middle School cafeteria "to discuss the future of Edgewood area schools." Organizing parties are Harford County Schools, The Greater Edgewood Education Foundation and the Edgewood Middle School PTA.
If you're interested in attending, RSVP by Feb. 2 by calling 410.612.1518.
Not sure what's on the agenda at this point, but I'll update the blog when I get more information. I'd really like to hear some concrete points about a plan to get the schools out of their current failing status under No Child Left Behind.
If you're interested in attending, RSVP by Feb. 2 by calling 410.612.1518.
Not sure what's on the agenda at this point, but I'll update the blog when I get more information. I'd really like to hear some concrete points about a plan to get the schools out of their current failing status under No Child Left Behind.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
School Uniforms are Coming
Heard from a reliable source that Harford County School students will be wearing uniforms, although I'm not sure if the new rule will be in place for the 2008-09 school year or the next year. Uniform colors will match school colors.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Jacqueline Haas: Immortal
"Are you kidding me?" This is what I kept asking myself while paging through The Aegis special section in today's paper: Harford County Public Schools Annual Report "Building on Success." Please pick it up if you'd like to enter what appears to be the rapturous dream world of our school superintendent.
In her opening column, the Maryland Superintendent of the Year (among other things that are lovingly detailed later in the tab) Haas discusses how helping a child is the closest any of us get to being immortal. She says that educating not only is a chance to strive for greatness, but for immortality.
She also calls on "stakeholders" to join her in her journey through the future.
Among the pages and pages of glowing achievements racked up by the appointed, accountable to stakeholders, school system was one downer. A brief mention of the NCLB test scores, which if you didn't know how dismally some schools performed, you still wouldn't. Here's the lone paragraph:
"Noting that NCLB requires every student to be scoring at least at the proficient level by the 2013-14 school year, Dr. Haas said the school system has its work cut out for it in ensuring that all students have the opportunity to meet standards. She pointed to the vast improvement made during the fours year of MSA testing as an indication the school system is on the right track."
Yes, kudos to everyone! Schools facing their third year of failing. Awesome!
Don't get me wrong. I support the teachers and know what a tough job they have. They do extra work without much support. But like an alcoholic, until the school board admits it has a problem, nothing will change. And they won't, because while the teachers are in the trenches trying to do something, they're fancying themselves immortal. And without elections or any consequence for anything they do (block scheduling anyone?), it looks like we stakeholders will have an eternity to deal with their ongoing successes.
In her opening column, the Maryland Superintendent of the Year (among other things that are lovingly detailed later in the tab) Haas discusses how helping a child is the closest any of us get to being immortal. She says that educating not only is a chance to strive for greatness, but for immortality.
She also calls on "stakeholders" to join her in her journey through the future.
Among the pages and pages of glowing achievements racked up by the appointed, accountable to stakeholders, school system was one downer. A brief mention of the NCLB test scores, which if you didn't know how dismally some schools performed, you still wouldn't. Here's the lone paragraph:
"Noting that NCLB requires every student to be scoring at least at the proficient level by the 2013-14 school year, Dr. Haas said the school system has its work cut out for it in ensuring that all students have the opportunity to meet standards. She pointed to the vast improvement made during the fours year of MSA testing as an indication the school system is on the right track."
Yes, kudos to everyone! Schools facing their third year of failing. Awesome!
Don't get me wrong. I support the teachers and know what a tough job they have. They do extra work without much support. But like an alcoholic, until the school board admits it has a problem, nothing will change. And they won't, because while the teachers are in the trenches trying to do something, they're fancying themselves immortal. And without elections or any consequence for anything they do (block scheduling anyone?), it looks like we stakeholders will have an eternity to deal with their ongoing successes.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Disenfranchisement--Education Version
It's American Education Week and I could not be much less hopeful about education in my part of Harford County. Don't get me wrong -- Abingdon Elementary where my children attend is a wonderful school. The teachers are great and the test scores are among the highest in the county.
I guess this goes back to my earlier column about being disenfranchised. I've seen photos of the new high school where my children will not attend. Instead, I'm looking at a 29.4 assessment rate for 8th-grade math at Edgewood Middle School. I see Jacqueline Haas named superintendent of the year for Maryland while the middle AND high school my child is slated to attend have not met the Average Yearly Progess goals for consecutive years. So instead of a plan detailing what the school board is implementing to improve the situation, we're treated to a "rally day" at the high school featuring the Ravens Busboys.
A rally day does not take the place of a comprehensive plan to improve the schools. We're not idiots. Cal Ripken, Jr. memorabilia and some balloons aren't answers to these problems.
At the rally day, Haas is quoted as saying, "You are the model for the rest of the county because of the close connection that already exists among Edgewood-area schools, this feeder system was chosen to pilot the program for the rest of the county. I know you are proud of your schools and the work done by your teachers every day."
Speaking for myself, I feel as close to the Edgewood community as I do to the Fallston community. I don't. I'm in Abingdon/Emmorton. My community is on this side of 95. Districting our school into another community doesn't make us part of another community.
I've been asking for answers about a comprehensive plan and so far have gotten none. I know there are great kids at Edgewood/Edgewood Middle. I don't think it's unsafe or a drug haven. I think they deserve more than just being safe. They also deserve the education that we are paying all these taxes for. You know, the same education that the kids at C. Milton are getting.
I guess this goes back to my earlier column about being disenfranchised. I've seen photos of the new high school where my children will not attend. Instead, I'm looking at a 29.4 assessment rate for 8th-grade math at Edgewood Middle School. I see Jacqueline Haas named superintendent of the year for Maryland while the middle AND high school my child is slated to attend have not met the Average Yearly Progess goals for consecutive years. So instead of a plan detailing what the school board is implementing to improve the situation, we're treated to a "rally day" at the high school featuring the Ravens Busboys.
A rally day does not take the place of a comprehensive plan to improve the schools. We're not idiots. Cal Ripken, Jr. memorabilia and some balloons aren't answers to these problems.
At the rally day, Haas is quoted as saying, "You are the model for the rest of the county because of the close connection that already exists among Edgewood-area schools, this feeder system was chosen to pilot the program for the rest of the county. I know you are proud of your schools and the work done by your teachers every day."
Speaking for myself, I feel as close to the Edgewood community as I do to the Fallston community. I don't. I'm in Abingdon/Emmorton. My community is on this side of 95. Districting our school into another community doesn't make us part of another community.
I've been asking for answers about a comprehensive plan and so far have gotten none. I know there are great kids at Edgewood/Edgewood Middle. I don't think it's unsafe or a drug haven. I think they deserve more than just being safe. They also deserve the education that we are paying all these taxes for. You know, the same education that the kids at C. Milton are getting.
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