SDP Collapsing Faster than Expected

**BarryG** · 06-22-2012, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by annie

Our superintendent choices in visual form, from The Notebook:

This is messed up even for Philly.

We got the second guy:

William Hite, the leader of the Prince George's County, Md., system... Hite currently leads a district of about 120,000 students that's struggled with some budget cuts - though nothing as severe as the fiscal nightmare Philadelphia is grappling with. Like Philadelphia, it is a diverse district with a majority of poor students.

District has 2 finalists for top job

What do both candidates have in common... The Broad Center.

**Lakey** · 06-23-2012, 12:00 PM

d

Originally Posted by BarryG

We got the second guy:

What do both candidates have in common... The Broad Center.

It's a de facto requirement for getting hired as a Super in large, especially urban, districts these days. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a current large district Super who doesn't have some connection to Broad, though, of course it's possible that there are a few. Ackerman was superintendent in residence at Broad the year before SDP hired her. She was also on the Broad Superintendent Academy Board of Directors for her first couple of years as SDP Super.

**BarryG** · 06-23-2012, 12:45 PM

Is the SDP super selection on Intrade? I want to put all my chips on black.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 06-23-2012, 12:47 PM

BarryG...what's the Broad Center?

**billy ross** · 06-23-2012, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

BarryG...what's the Broad Center?

Eli Broad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Hospitalitygirl** · 06-23-2012, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Lakey

d

It's a de facto requirement for getting hired as a Super in large, especially urban, districts these days. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a current large district Super who doesn't have some connection to Broad, though, of course it's possible that there are a few. Ackerman was superintendent in residence at Broad the year before SDP hired her. She was also on the Broad Superintendent Academy Board of Directors for her first couple of years as SDP Super.

Well since that was such a stunning success, perhaps it's long past time to look elsewhere?

**Hospitalitygirl** · 06-23-2012, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by billy ross

Eli Broad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks

**billy ross** · 06-23-2012, 01:09 PM

District has 2 finalists for top job

This is dangerous language here:

"Hite, in his Prince George's County biography, said that as leader there, he has focused on "student access and educational equity to ensure that all students graduate college- and work-ready." He has also focused on supporting the district's lowest-performing schools, and reorganizing the system's central office to emphasize school-level supports, he said."

"Educational equity" and "focus[ing] on supporting the district's lowest-performing schools" usually means "Screw Masterman and all of the good schools; I want to 'level the playing field' by focusing on the failures." Equity more often means holding back the high flyers, since the low flyers are flying low because of intractable problems. I want a system that allows everyone to soar as high as they can, and doesn't put a ceiling on some schools or students because 'it would be unfair to those who can't soar as high.'

**BarryG** · 06-23-2012, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Lakey

d

It's a de facto requirement for getting hired as a Super in large, especially urban, districts these days. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a current large district Super who doesn't have some connection to Broad, though, of course it's possible that there are a few. Ackerman was superintendent in residence at Broad the year before SDP hired her. She was also on the Broad Superintendent Academy Board of Directors for her first couple of years as SDP Super.

Another example of over-specialization decreasing efficiency and raising costs. Hospitals used to be run by nuns making nothing... now they are run by people with "hospital administration" degrees and make millions... businesses in the golden age of American capitalism were run by salespeople and engineers making hundreds of thousands of dollars... now MBAs making tens or even hundreds of millions...

**annie** · 06-23-2012, 01:55 PM

Am I think only one that finds it strange that same people who are big on boot strapping also seem to think "**** poor people and their children in high-need low-performing schools. **** them hard."?

I have been talking to parents at some of the high performing schools recently because of concerns that the budget problems may finally impact even their schools to the point where parents and the school community may notice. (The hope being that these more connected parents would lobby for funding on a systemic level) The consensus seems to be that nothing short of messing with catchments or the admission process can hold these schools back. I saw this in action at the SRC meeting on Thursday where the Meredith HSA donated $25K to bring back support staff and the nurse full-time.

Anyway, this is a school system proposing to close 40 district schools next year for a total of 64 district schools in the next five with new criteria that includes school performance. I added up all the School Performance Index (SPI) 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 schools and there were 88 but that included several charters including some, cough, recently renewed.

**Lakey** · 06-23-2012, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by billy ross

District has 2 finalists for top job

This is dangerous language here:

"Hite, in his Prince George's County biography, said that as leader there, he has focused on "student access and educational equity to ensure that all students graduate college- and work-ready." He has also focused on supporting the district's lowest-performing schools, and reorganizing the system's central office to emphasize school-level supports, he said."

"Educational equity" and "focus[ing] on supporting the district's lowest-performing schools" usually means "Screw Masterman and all of the good schools; I want to 'level the playing field' by focusing on the failures." Equity more often means holding back the high flyers, since the low flyers are flying low because of intractable problems. I want a system that allows everyone to soar as high as they can, and doesn't put a ceiling on some schools or students because 'it would be unfair to those who can't soar as high.'

No, what "student access and increased equity" means is, "I support charter expansion and market competition." Under Hite, PGCS developed the most charters of any MD district other than Baltimore. He has to say something like this in his bio or he would never be a serious candidate for the position otherwise. The SRC will not hire someone who doesn't support the continued expansion of charters.

**raider.adam** · 06-23-2012, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

Is the SDP super selection on Intrade? I want to put all my chips on black.

That's racist!

Originally Posted by BarryG

Another example of over-specialization decreasing efficiency and raising costs. Hospitals used to be run by nuns making nothing... now they are run by people with "hospital administration" degrees and make millions... businesses in the golden age of American capitalism were run by salespeople and engineers making hundreds of thousands of dollars... now MBAs making tens or even hundreds of millions...

Being a nun doesn't describe the person's education and other qualifications. That's like saying Richelieu couldn't run a country because he was a priest.

It also ignores the difference in the medical industry between today and 100 years ago.

Originally Posted by annie

Am I think only one that finds it strange that same people who are big on boot strapping also seem to think "**** poor people and their children in high-need low-performing schools. **** them hard."?

What do you mean by bootstrapping?

I have been talking to parents at some of the high performing schools recently because of concerns that the budget problems may finally impact even their schools to the point where parents and the school community may notice. (The hope being that these more connected parents would lobby for funding on a systemic level) The consensus seems to be that nothing short of messing with catchments or the admission process can hold these schools back. I saw this in action at the SRC meeting on Thursday where the Meredith HSA donated $25K to bring back support staff and the nurse full-time.

Anyway, this is a school system proposing to close 40 district schools next year for a total of 64 district schools in the next five with new criteria that includes school performance. I added up all the School Performance Index (SPI) 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 schools and there were 88 but that included several charters including some, cough, recently renewed.

I don't think these people have their positions because they want to screw poor people. The average person it is tough to get them to look beyond their sphere of influence. With all the problems of Philadelphia, a lot of times it is draining enough to deal with issues in just one's neighborhood, let alone city and statewide. If people are fighting just to keep their small part of the world functioning, it is tough to get people to devote energy to someone else's slice of world.

Plus, "closing district schools" doesn't mean there are going to be a bunch of kids that aren't going to be able to go to school. That on top of decades of stories and knowledge about the school district functioning poorly and budget holes year after year (even when they do get more money). It is quite possible that those that can afford to pay more into that system may also feel it is chasing good money after bad.

Basically, I think there is a lot more to it than just thinking it is a "**** the poor" issue.

**annie** · 06-23-2012, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

Basically, I think there is a lot more to it than just thinking it is a "**** the poor" issue.

Oh sorry, to clarify, the first part was a specific dig at Billy. The second paragraph wasn't saying the parents at those schools share Billy's views but rather that the schools are pretty resilient and unlikely to suffer if there's a real emphasis on equity across the system.

**randomuser** · 06-23-2012, 11:55 PM

When will the district learn that you can't bring in outsiders to handle districts in PA's more rough-around-the-edges cities? The SRC, created by the state, makes decisions. The state controls Chester-Upland, Pittsburgh, and many other school districts and do any of them even perform or get any better? They don't care. They just want to have the least burden possible or even to privatize as much education as possible. The district itself brings in Ackerman, from St. Louis, and expects her to understand the neighborhoods and the people and the little things about the city that actually matter when it comes to running a district?

Now they're bringing in somebody from PG County? They're not even a city. They're a bunch of places outside of DC, and some of them went to crap because DC gentrified itself. Yet this person is going to be in charge of schools in a city like Philadelphia?

Bring in people who actually grew up in Philly and went through the schools. There's too many outsiders already.

**raider.adam** · 06-24-2012, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by randomuser

When will the district learn that you can't bring in outsiders to handle districts in PA's more rough-around-the-edges cities? The SRC, created by the state, makes decisions. The state controls Chester-Upland, Pittsburgh, and many other school districts and do any of them even perform or get any better? They don't care. They just want to have the least burden possible or even to privatize as much education as possible. The district itself brings in Ackerman, from St. Louis, and expects her to understand the neighborhoods and the people and the little things about the city that actually matter when it comes to running a district?

Now they're bringing in somebody from PG County? They're not even a city. They're a bunch of places outside of DC, and some of them went to crap because DC gentrified itself. Yet this person is going to be in charge of schools in a city like Philadelphia?

Bring in people who actually grew up in Philly and went through the schools. There's too many outsiders already.

Yeah cause the locals have been doing a spectacular job running the City.

For the record, how many non-Philadelphians have been on the SRC?

**billy ross** · 06-24-2012, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by annie

Am I think only one that finds it strange that same people who are big on boot strapping also seem to think "**** poor people and their children in high-need low-performing schools. **** them hard."?

I have been talking to parents at some of the high performing schools recently because of concerns that the budget problems may finally impact even their schools to the point where parents and the school community may notice. (The hope being that these more connected parents would lobby for funding on a systemic level) The consensus seems to be that nothing short of messing with catchments or the admission process can hold these schools back. I saw this in action at the SRC meeting on Thursday where the Meredith HSA donated $25K to bring back support staff and the nurse full-time.

Anyway, this is a school system proposing to close 40 district schools next year for a total of 64 district schools in the next five with new criteria that includes school performance. I added up all the School Performance Index (SPI) 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 schools and there were 88 but that included several charters including some, cough, recently renewed.

You are the bigot who thinks that poor kids are uneducable, not me. I grew up poor and I received a fine education - there are far too many other mes out there who aren't getting a good education because they are trapped in failed schools. Those schools don't need more resources or attention. Those schools need to be shut down, and it should have happened 40 years ago. Being that it's too late for that, then the sooner, the better. We have far too many non-functioning adults in this city because of a cynical educational system whose greatest strength is its ability to suck funds out of society while delivering an awful product, and we need to stop adding more cohorts to the ranks of unemployable Philadelphians.

We've tried your and this guy's route of throwing resources at failed schools in the vain hope that more money will somehow solve the problems, which are mostly driven by cravenness and hypocrisy, and under Rendell's and Obama's and Ackerman's spendfest we got widespread cheating and open racial antipathy, bigotry which was pooh-poohed by the school district's incredibly morally failed leadership. Now we have evidence that schools like KIPP and Mastery are working wonders with kids you dismiss as uneducable, and yes there are public schools in neighborhoods rich and poor in this city whose communities have somehow managed to take charge and throw off the masters at 440 N. Broad and become quality schools which are safe places for kids to thrive. Those are the models which are getting expanded, and the failed schools are, thankfully, finally being shut down. It is insane to think that the way to fix failed institutions is to throw more money at them, especially when it means shortchanging successful institutions and intentionally placing kids whose parents want the best for them into schools which are the opposite. We are finally, belatedly, experiencing a flight to quality, and the institutions which are left bereft will no longer be able to ruin lives and to hold this city back. It can't happen quickly enough, as far as I'm concerned.

I can name peers of mine from childhood who went through hell, some of them never coming out of it, because of the cynical, failed public 'education' available to them in Philadelphia in the 1980's. I am disgusted that this kind of crap is still going on today, decades later. I am confident that had they had access to quality schooling their lives would have been much, much better. Some went through that educational system and their scars aren't so deep. For other the scars have been horribly disfiguring. It's long past time to close schools which aren't doing right by their students.

**seand** · 06-24-2012, 12:13 PM

Blind faith that because something calls itself a "charter" or is privitized is going to be an improvement is basically a guarantee that school district money is going to be poured down the drain. Or at least into the pocket of some politically educated hack.

Charters can open doors to specialized educational approaches that are real beacons of opportunity to district kids. What makes the charters that work successful is that they are an alternative. If you simply "Rennaisance"-ize the whole district, its going to be the same thing as we have now but with some politically connected contractors taking their generous cut off the top.

Privitization in running schools does not mean "selected competitively", at least in Philadelphia. Sadly more often than not, the opposite.

Failing schools come in all flavors in Philadelphia, public and charter, and the sooner we get passed that and stop blind declarations of faith to one camp or the other, the sooner we get to realistically addressing what makes the schools that actually work, work.

**billy ross** · 06-24-2012, 06:01 PM

You'll not see me advocate for dumping extra resources into failed charters. Nor will you see me advocating for hobbling successful or potentially successful publics. I think you misread me.

Long term, however, I'd like to move to a system of choice and equity whereby no matter your ZIP you have access to great schools. That is antithetical to the present public school model, and it'll have to bend. I'd like to see this happen via the addition of quality choices, not through the diminution of present quality choices.

Originally Posted by seand

Blind faith that because something calls itself a "charter" or is privitized is going to be an improvement is basically a guarantee that school district money is going to be poured down the drain. Or at least into the pocket of some politically educated hack.

Charters can open doors to specialized educational approaches that are real beacons of opportunity to district kids. What makes the charters that work successful is that they are an alternative. If you simply "Rennaisance"-ize the whole district, its going to be the same thing as we have now but with some politically connected contractors taking their generous cut off the top.

Privitization in running schools does not mean "selected competitively", at least in Philadelphia. Sadly more often than not, the opposite.

Failing schools come in all flavors in Philadelphia, public and charter, and the sooner we get passed that and stop blind declarations of faith to one camp or the other, the sooner we get to realistically addressing what makes the schools that actually work, work.

**annie** · 06-25-2012, 04:32 PM

Link to livestream of community meetings with SDP superintendent candidates:

SRC Live - The School District of Philadelphia

Martinez is on the hotseat today, Hite tomorrow. Not really clear what impact, if any, the forums will have on the SRC's final decision as it's rumored they want to make an offer early this week.

**OffenseTaken** · 06-25-2012, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by annie

Link to livestream of community meetings with SDP superintendent candidates:

SRC Live - The School District of Philadelphia

Martinez is on the hotseat today, Hite tomorrow. Not really clear what impact, if any, the forums will have on the SRC's final decision as it's rumored they want to make an offer early this week.

For an accountant, he sure seems to love talking about classroom instruction. That's reassuring.

(Also the Chicago/Spanish accent is great, but probably not everyone will be charmed by it.)