Stan Mack is Back…..Almost!

Former “retired” Robbinsdale superintendent Stan Mack was a finalist for the same job in the Duluth district!

The three finalists looking to become the next Superintendent of Duluth Public Schools are being interviewed this week by members of the public and school board.

First on the list is Stan Mack, an executive director for the Minnesota Board of School Administrators in Roseville, Minnesota.  Many residents asked tonight how he would create a diverse staff and address the achievement gap.  Mack explained modeling behavior, staff development and community are important tools in closing the gap.  He also said he’s had years of experience and Duluth could be more progressive.

“Being surrounded by and benefited by competent cultural specialists to help meet with the community to deal with that adaptation of change is a critical aspect of my experience,” said Stan Mack.

Duluth could be more progressive?  Huh?  What is a competent cultural specialist? 

Duluth has apparently not made the mistake we did and hired someone else.

Ickler Writes a Letter to the Editor

Al Ickler, the Director of Community Education in District 281, recently wrote a letter as a guest columnist in the Sun Post, let’s critics of public education have it.

Ickler writes the following;

David Brooks, the conservative New York Times columnist, recently wrote that “national destinies are not shaped by what percentage of GDP federal spending consumes.” And yet, we have already begun to hear the partisan rancor from our legislators around taxes, spending cuts, reform or a combination of all three.

OK we have to jump in right here.  David Brooks is no conservative.  All he does is rip Republicans and he has no respect outside of New York and Washington.  We know that to Ickler anyone to the right of Barney Frank is conservative so perhaps that the reason.  And what is this partisan rancor?  Are people not allowed to disagree?

I listen to these discussions with a keen ear because I work for Robbinsdale Area Schools. Part of my work is to support the Legislative Action Coalition, a citizen-led group advocating for the learners and communities served by Robbinsdale Area Schools.

The LAC has advocated for resources for all students and, in particular, for children from families living in poverty, because the district’s objective is to raise student achievement for all students, and close the achievement gap.

As we have stated over and over and over, the LAC’s platform is boring and redundant.

Our schools have strong education programs. Both Cooper and Armstrong high schools are ranked among the top 1,500 high schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine. Our high schools have a 95 percent graduation rate. College-bound graduates have traditionally scored above the state and national averages on the ACT college entrance exam.

You know we always hear this Newsweek ranking…..what is this based on exactly?  When was the last time Cooper or Armstrong made AYP?  Oh, that’s right it must be poverty.

But the achievement gap between white students and students of color persists, and is not acceptable. Resources must be allocated, even at a time when resources are scarce.

Sounds like a demand for more money and lower class size….you know those new ideas from the public school apologists.

Our LAC citizen advocates are aware that the per pupil aid formula (the primary revenue source for schools) has not changed since the 2008-09 school year. They also know the state has borrowed money from districts and “shifted” payments from districts. However, the demands for educational success and the needs of students have increased.
Back to David Brooks. If the most important thing is not the percentage of GDP relative to federal spending, what should we be focused on? He says national destinies “are shaped by the character and behavior of citizens.”  And what pivotal institution is located in each of our communities, and partners with families to educate our children and support their development into productive citizens? Our schools.  Education must step to the forefront as we move through the legislative session. Our schools are the engines of success for our children and our community.

A quality education, beginning with excellent preschool experiences and culminating at high school graduation, is key to employment at a livable wage and to a meaningful life well lived. It provides the skills and knowledge to comprehend our increasingly complex world and to be an active participant in a great democracy. Education is the driver of innovation and job growth. Education, in short, is the key ingredient for successful communities.

Yes, and quality education is a great thing that’s why we favor school choice.  If your getting a great education then why does it matter where you are going?  And schools are educational institutions not a basin for “community building” or “social engineering.”

I believe that schools are part of the solution, not the problem, and that we need to first focus on our values as we solve our state’s budget deficit. If you also believe these things, please join me in supporting and advocating for our schools.
Al Ickler(al_ickler@rdale.org) is executive director of community education for Robbinsdale District 281 Schools.

No!  GOOD SCHOOLS are part of the solution.  Then again, to public school apologists there are no bad schools.  We WILL advocate for schools…public and private!

RSIS or STEM Part 1

With all the discussions about the possibility of re-opening Pilgram Lane Elementary or Olson Elementary for a magnet school (either expanding Spanish Immersion or creating a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), we’ve been pondering what to write about this.  The Sun Post did an interesting article summarizing the options for the district from a presentation on December 13.  Here is a part of the article;

– RSIS expansion beginning in 2011-12 with kindergarten at the current Sunny Hollow site, and 50 percent of the expansion seats (33 of the 198 total) reserved for students open-enrolling.

– RSIS expansion beginning in 2012-13 at Olson with kindergarten and first grade, and with 50 percent of seats at each grade level (33 of 198 seats per grade level, with both sites combined) reserved for students open-enrolling.

– RSIS expansion beginning in 2012-13 at Olson with kindergarten and first grade, and with one-third of seats at each grade level (22 of 198 seats per grade level, with both sites combined) reserved for students open-enrolling.

– Combination alternative of RSIS expansion at Olson as well as expansion of Spanish immersion and/or dual Spanish immersion program at selected sites (school within a school).

– STEM magnet school at Olson with 50 percent of seats reserved for students open-enrolling and with fourth and fifth grade sections full beginning in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

– STEM magnet school at Olson with one-third of the seats reserved for students open-enrolling and with fourth and fifth grade sections full beginning in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Though we think he is a supporter of a new magnet school, Superintendent Dr. Aldo Sicoli cautioned the school board about a possible expansion;

“Do we want to commit to something we would start in one building and move it to another without knowing about the budget?” Sicoli said. “We don’t want to create something that’s not in the financial best interest of the district. We need to look at it from all sides. Anytime we open a new building, it costs money. It’s easier to bring in students if you have a building with space.”  The board also needs to consider the political reality of saving 50 percent of the seats for non-residents, Sicoli said.

Now we are not universally opposed to magnet schools in general but we have some serious reservations about this expansion, not the least of which is who and how we will pay for improvements on these buildings (we’ll get into that in a future article).  The board makes a big deal about wanting to keep kids here and using a magnet program as an idea.  The Sun Post reported the following;

One of the issues the district is addressing is how to attract and bring back resident students who have left to attend classes in other districts.  Last year more than 100 families failed to be chosen in the lottery for RSIS, and 52 percent of them subsequently left the district.

So let us get this straight; about half of the families who didn’t get into RSIS left the district but the district wants to “reserve seats” for kids who don’t live here!  How will that work?  What does the district think will happen if open enrolled kids get priority over kids who live here?  Does anyone think these families will stay then?  It seems to not make sense.

If RSIS is expanded or if a STEM program is adopted, then at minimum we call for NO SPECIAL PROVISIONS.  No automatics for siblings, no automatics for the children of staff members, no affirmative action, and no special spots for kids who don’t live here.  At least then it will be a fair lottery.

Then again, maybe the better idea is to stop trying to be everything to everyone and PAR DOWN and offer the same educational opportunities to all of our students.  Should getting a better education depend on where you live ,or if your name gets picked in a lottery, or if you meet some other special provision?  Let’s give EVERYONE equal opportunity!

Michelle Rhee is our Hero

The Superintendent of the Washington DC schools Michelle Rhee just fired 241 teachers for poor performance (out of 4000) for not performing up to certain standards.  It is absolutely terrific to see a superintendent take on the Teacher’s Union and think of the kids rather than use the schools for a jobs program.  Imagine if school boards and superintendents in this area could (or would) set up standards that could reward good teachers and remove bad teachers.  Bring this to Minnesota!! Of course, predictably, the Teacher’s Union is up in arms and whining as they always are.  If the union is unhappy with Rhee, then that tells us she is doing great!  Keep it up Michelle!

Spending our money….

In the July 1 edition of the Sun Post, it was reported that District 281 has reached agreements with our administration employees.  Folks, this is where the money is — listen to what these people are pulling down:

The Executive Director of Community Education, the Executive Director of Human Resources, and the Executive Director of Technology, will get more than $120,000  APIECE  for the 09-10 year.  Then their salaries will jump to nearly $130,000 for the 10-11 school year.   The Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and learning will make over $130,000 for both years and the Executive Director Educational Services is also pulling in over $130,000.  Lonnie Smith, the new Director of Business Services, will pull down $156,019 for the 10-11 school year and get $50 for his cell phone.  Dr. Sicoli’s salary is roughly $177,000 for the upcoming year as well.

Now we know we just threw a lot of numbers at you but according to our Minnesota math the district will spend  nearly $1 million on the salaries of SEVEN employees next year.  Of course this doesn’t include health insurance, retirement benefits, vacation time, or sick time.  And, though we think Lonnie Smith is an outstanding hire, at 156K is it unreasonable for him to pay for his own cell phone?

School Board Elections: Odd Year Changed to Even Year

Saving taxpayer dollars and bringing more aware voters to the polls to elect school board members. It’s a win-win! The full report and take from Speed Gibson:

At Monday’s School Board meeting, by a vote of 5-1 with one abstention, District 281 will move to even year election cycles.  This will be done by extending the current terms by 1 year.  There will therefore be no Board elections in 2011 and it will be even years after that. It is legal per a MInnesota 1994 statue:

CHAPTER 646-S.F.No. 1512 An act relating to elections; providing uniform local election procedures; requiring regular city elections to be held in the fall; permitting certain town elections to be held in November; making uniform certain local government procedures; changing school district election requirements; …

Sec. 26. [TRANSITION SCHEDULE FOR EVEN-YEAR ELECTIONS.]

Subdivision 1. [APPLICATION.] The transition schedule in this section applies to political subdivisions that choose, before January 1, 1995, to conduct their primary and general elections in the even-numbered years. A political subdivision that later determines to change from an odd-numbered year election to an even-numbered year election may do so by adoption of a new resolution or ordinance that contains an orderly plan for the transition.

And it seems practical as the resolution details.  I like the idea of odd year elections isolating local elections but judging by turnout, not many agree with me.  So be it, there being no perfect way to do it.  At least they followed the law, unlike Mike Opat.

Despite having one more year with Sherry Tyrrell and Barb VanHeel, this gives new candidates more time to prepare to defeat them in 2012. Mark Bomchill was an early supporter of this change, and we thank him.

Things that make you go “huh?”

An opinion article at the StarTribune this week outlined one of the many problems that face school districts. St Cloud School District Administrators Union voted 25-1 to reject a school board proposal to end an interesting early-retirement benefit that has local impact also. The union voted to retain the benefit that will pay for medical insurance for district administrators, principals and assistant principals who retire before they are eligible for Medicare until they are 65. That’s a pretty expensive benefit for any taxpayer-funded entity — especially for school districts struggling with unfunded mandates, unstable revenues and restrictions on raising taxes without voter approval.

To bring this closer to home, District 281’s former Superintendent Stan Mack retired last year at age 58 and took advantage of this union benefit. His severance package includes medical insurance coverage for him and his family, for which the 2008-09 premiums equal $29,220 as a portion of his extremely generous package of $215,456.00.

We also learned that Mr. Mack is actively seeking new employment,  and made it to one of the top six applicants for Superintendent of St. Paul School District. This reinforces the question we asked last summer: Did Mr. Mack retire from public service in the school district or did he quit with a platinum parachute?

“Retired” Stan Mack a semi-finalist for St. Paul Schools Superintendent

Nov. 15 updated: the Pioneer Press reported Stan Mack did not make it to the final three picks. That sound you hear is a collective sigh of relief.

We noticed a high hit count this week from online searches about Mack and thanks to a reader we know why. They pointed us to this article in the Star Tribune:

When the board announced semifinalists Wednesday for the job of leading the state’s second-largest district, there was only one out-of-state candidate.

The semifinalists are Elk River Superintendent Mark Bezek, North Branch Superintendent Deborah Henton, recently retired Robbinsdale Superintendent Stan Mack, Deputy Superintendent of the Portland, Ore., schools Charles Hopson, and St. Paul employees Chief Academic Officer Valeria Silva and Chief of Schools Nancy Stachel.

Turning around failing schools – close and replace them!

Speed Gibson’s article on the failure of turning around failing schools is a good read – and so are the comments by his readers. Can you turn around a school with only incremental changes, or do you use the nuclear option (close it and replace it)?

Indeed, can you name a public school or school district that, once it fell back, later bounced back?  I can’t, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.  Here’s his solution:

Fortunately, findings from two generations of school improvement efforts, lessons from similar work in other industries, and a budding practice among reform-minded superintendents are pointing to a promising alternative. When conscientiously applied strategies fail to drastically improve America’s lowest-performing schools, we need to close them.

Done right, not only will this strategy help the students assigned to these failing schools, it will also have a cascading effect on other policies and practices, ultimately helping to bring about healthy systems of urban public schools.

He’s not saying don’t try incremental improvement at a “failing” school.  But if it doesn’t work, and work well, that school must be closed, i.e., replaced.  While he acknowledges the difficulty of getting this past the unions and the bureaucracy, I don’t think he acknowledges it enough.

Imagine an administration taking bold steps like closing and replacing failed schools without bureaucrat/union interference or allowing a charter school in the district. It’s easy if you try. District 279 United looks like a great group BTW. We suggested a similar idea (forming an online discussion group for parents, residents and 281 admin)  to new Boardmember Mark Bomchill. Maybe we join 281 CARE, Give2attain, Community Solutions, DJ Brynteson and Speed Gibson and start “281 United”? We’re probably too radioactive to be invited but we’re cool if you run with our idea.

Test scores decrease for 281 elementary students

While secondary student’s reading and math scores improved this past year, elementary scores decreased — and 281 schools performed lower than other schools in the state. According to the MN Sun Post:

Robbinsdale Area Schools’ secondary students’ reading and math scores on the recent Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA-II) math and reading tests MCA-II continued to improve.

But math and reading scores at the elementary schools decreased.

The Minnesota Department of Education on July 1 released the results of state tests taken by students this spring, including results of the 2009 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II (MCA-II) and the results of the writing, reading and math Graduation-Required Assessments for Diploma (GRAD).

…

Test scores for District 281 students in both reading and math were lower than the state average, though changing demographics in the Robbinsdale district have made comparisons to state average scores less relevant, according to a news release from the district.

Changing demographics are a weak excuse in our opinion. What are the district’s plans to improve performance?

The district has begun training teachers in a process called Response to Intervention (RTI), which provides a series of increasingly intensive, individualized interventions to students who show signs of learning difficulties.

Next year, federal stimulus dollars will be used to hire instructional coaches, who will support the implementation of the RTI model.

In addition, the district will begin piloting two scientifically based reading programs at the elementary level next year. The new curriculum will be introduced district wide during the 2010-11 school year.

The district also is introducing a new GRAD math course at the high school level next year. The course is designed to provide additional instruction for those students who are not on track to pass the GRAD test.

By the way, welcome to new Superintendent Dr. Aldo Sicoli who began his job July 1. In the Sun-Post article Sicoli said,

“Test results show students continue to learn, though we are always striving for higher achievement. As the new superintendent, I am committed to working with staff, students and parents to enhance existing programs and implement new programs that will increase achievement.”