Another Charter School Outrage - This Time in LA

The minute I read about Diane Ravitch's shared video link of a charter co-loco in LA I decided to blog it. I put up the entire thread at Norms Notes as it was in response to a piece written by Pedro Noguera.(Pedro Noguera Advice for Walcott).

The video has all the pro-charter school people, who packed the place and took all 7 speaker slots, all speaking the same talking point nonsense about diversity. But they just happened to leave out the zip code of the local projects for kids eligible for the charter. You hear the words "cherry picking" more than once. One parent points out he only found out about the meeting 2 hours before as he points to the well-organized charter people who clearly were organized to come out in force. Try watching their faces as people speak.

The Reflective Educator also blogged about it, so head over there to watch the video and comment: Charter Schools, LAUSD, and Equity?

NOTE: Next week will be Harlem Success Academy week at Ed Notes, with telling videos I shot at the District 14 CEC meeting on April 14 and a new piece on the same topic by my co-blogger M.A.B. who was at the meeting with me.

IS 303 Hearing - Domenic Recchio Takes Sides

Going to charter co-loco hearings is worse than being stuck in Groundhog Day - at least he gets the girl in the end. You will always here how the co-loco is temporary and that they have their own buidling just waiting for them.

Here is the latest fiasco - the IS 303 Hearing - City Councilman Domenic Recchio has trouble remembering the location of the building for Coney Island Prep charter.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcJ7wXmE5NI



I made this video of Julia Daniely, PTA President

Here's more videos made by people at 303:
http://www.youtube.com/user/justonecivoice

At the CEC March 9th meeting we were told that 'trying to keep them out of the bldg is a sad reminder of Little Rock 9"

YouTube - Coney Island Prep talking at the co-location into IS 303 Rachel Carson

More about Recchia.. its from a few years ago at a Community Board 13 meeting. Listen to it.

 

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/03/audio_dominic_r.php

 

 

The ICK Factor: People Who Run Charter Schools and Tweedies Look Alike

So I spent the evening at yet another phony baloney charter school hearing.  Every single charter school leader and the henchmen and women behind them look alike, walk the same way - or scurry like little rats clutching their Blackberries. And the hordes of Tweedies there to run the meeting and supposedly be neutral look just like them.

I'm really getting sick of them because they all have the same script:
Charter schools bus in loads of people wearing tee-shirts and make sure to get them there an hour early to stand in line so they can get first dibs on signing up to speak with their little scripts that will be sure to talk about how they grew up in the neighborhood, attended public schools, believe in choice, brag about how their kids love school and reading.

And the public schools trying to fight back. The IS 303 crew met in front of the schools and marched over to Lincoln HS for the meeting. Quite a spirited march.

This case is a doozy. IS 303, as I reported yesterday (Rally at IS 303 Today and March to Lincoln HS to Oppose Co-Location of Coney Island Prep Charter School), is being invaded by Coney Island Prep (CIP - as in CIP from the fountain of public funding.) IS 303 already has 3 schools - IS 303, Rachel Carson HS and a Dist. 75 program. So why not add a 4th school which wants to expand from 5-12 over time? We heard all the same old lying crap from the CIPers and Tweedies and your basic sleazy local politician.

A building is not a school.
This is only temporary - we have our own building just waiting for them but it is delayed.
All your schools are great but we need more.
choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice, choice
Our kids are from the neighborhood.

I won't bore you with the rest of the list. I have lots of tape with great stuff from a former student and Julia Daniely and will post a follow-up.

Deputy Chancellor Marc Sternberg was in charge of the event. The first time I saw him up close and he reminds me of John White - sort of beginning to look like him, with the same air of superiority and arrogance. Sneaking looks at his Blackberry - until I filmed him and he hid it. Grimacing when people from both sides fought it out verbally, trying to drown each other out, making like he really cared about the chaos he and his Tweedy pals have brought to the public schools.

I really came away not liking this guy, sort of akin to how I felt when I saw Santiago Taveras interact with the CEC 14 meeting I taped on Feb. 28. The announcement that he was leaving came during the meeting and I'll have more to say and show you on this guy who actually staked his integrity on the fact that he believed the PEP and DOE actually listen to the voices of parents. (I have a half hour video up on this meeting - Voices of Parents, Teachers and Principals at Feb....
FYI- Taveras is taking a job with a DOE vender - how corporate of him. See: follow up to question re conflict of interest rules re Santiago Taveras and other DOE employees

I feel the same about Sternberg just watching his body language. Another possibly former good guy who turned to the dark side. They are all Darth Vaders.

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Check out Norms Notes for a variety of articles of interest: http://normsnotes2.blogspot.com/. And make sure to check out the side panel on right for news bits.

Rally at IS 303 Today and March to Lincoln HS to Oppose Co-Location of Coney Island Prep Charter School

Coney Island is reacting badly to the co-loco at IS 303 of Coney Island Prep charter. We should have been following this situation more carefully. The reaction from IS 303 seems to be getting stronger and stronger, so I am changing my plans to head over at 5pm to tape the march to Lincoln HS for the hearing at 6. Here are some reports from a parent and a teacher:

The CEC 21 meeting was a shambles. Although it was supposed to be a regular cec meeting it was primarily a proposal co location meeting. many people did not get the time to speak, because one speaker representing CIP (Coney Island Prep) made some references of the 303 children not sharing with others and also she said that making this co-location is like the little rock 9. These comments were unnecessary and not true which almost started a riot. The school is multicultural and her "pulling the race card" was way, way out of line.The superintendent was scared after that and closed the meeting. The turnout was so big they had to turn people away. Public Hearing is today at Lincoln HS.

The CEO/Director of CIP has gone on record as saying the following:
"I came to Coney Island because it was the only place in the city that did not have a charter." He taught for a few years in Jersey before becoming this CEO/DIrector. Told administrators at PS 303 that he would be willing to pay rent so that principals in the school would have extra money to deal with budget cuts (what a guy). Many parents do not like the school but their children do. They brainwash the kids and use money as incentives. Parents were furious when the CEO/Director told them he may move the school outside of the Coney Island area. He wants his school to go from 5th grade through the 12th grade.

Some You Tube Videos of the CEC 21 March meeting regarding Co-Location Charter Proposal at 303.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zoY_3f6vH8&feature=player_embedded

While the UFT has often been absent in co-loco battles, having their own co-loco charters, UFT District 21 Rep Judy Gerowitz has been involved in every charter school fray in District 21 and 22, fighting the good fight.

Here is the CEC 21 resolution opposing the charter:

                                                                                                                 

·       521 West Avenue, Room 446, Brooklyn, NY 11224 Tel: (718) 714-2503 Fax: (718) 714-2615                                          Email: CEC21@schools.nyc.gov

·       Members:  Yoketing Eng, President  · Mohammad Akram, 1^st Vice President  · Julius Bowens, 2^nd Vice President · Marla Edmonson, Recording Secretary · Stuart Handman, Treasurer, Brooklyn Borough President Appointee  · Dionne Hastings · Dr. Tim Law, Brooklyn Borough President Appointee ·

                  Evangelean Pugh, Sandra Rodolico, Marianne Russo

·       Administrative Assistant:  Mary Montemarano              

·       Community Superintendent:  Isabel DiMola    District Family Advocate:  Lottie Dobson-Shannon  Administrative Assistant:  Diane Novarro 

         Room 351  Fax: (718)714-2616                         Tel: (718) 714-2505                                                      Tel: (718) 714-2502

                 

                                                VOTED AND APPROVED MARCH 9, 2011

RESOLUTION AGAINST THE CO-LOCATION OF CONEY ISLAND PREP INTO BUILDING K303 WHICH INCLUDES I.S.303, RACHEL CARSON HIGH SCHOOL AND P771K

WHEREAS, the K303 building is already occupied by three separate school communities, including I.S. 303K, RCHS and 771K; and

WHEREAS, the addition of 270 students from Coney Island Prep presents a hazardous situation for the current students of I.S. 303K, Rachel Carson High School (RCHS) and 771K; and

WHEREAS the current construction of the I.S. 303K facility is not designed to safely support the existence of four separate school populations; and

WHEREAS, the current design and placement of school facilities, specifically the student cafeteria and gymnasiums, does not support the safe passing of several hundred students from different schools at one time; and

WHEREAS, the school facilities that are expected to be shared with Coney Island Prep are already fully utilized throughout the school day; and

WHEREAS, I.S. 303K implements a unique instructional model that includes self – contained classes on the 6^th and 7^th grades to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of their students; and

WHEREAS, I.S. 303K students continue to benefit from their school’s current instructional design, and all members of the school community, including parents, teachers, School Leadership Team members and students, continue to fully support the current self contained model; and

WHEREAS, the above – referenced instructional model was included in the I.S. 303K’s Restructuring Plan that was submitted to the NYSED for the 2005 – 2006 school year; and

WHEREAS, the Educational Impact Statement (EIS) drafted by the Office of Portfolio Planning (OPP) proposed the termination of the I.S. 303K’s current self – contained model and has suggested that I.S. 303K reconfigure it’s educational plan to revert back to the traditional middle school footprint, despite the success of it’s current program; and

WHEREAS, the change of instructional programming proposed by the Office of Portfolio Planning contradicts the NYC Mayor’s and Chancellor’s vision of empowerment for school principals; and

WHEREAS, the OPP has indicated that Coney Island Prep can be allocated as many as eighteen classrooms (15 classrooms from I.S. 303K and 3 classrooms from RCHS); and

BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Community Education Council District 21 (CEC 21) is concerned about one thing, the children of this community and giving them the education that they deserve. I.S. 303 has undergone dramatic educational restructuring to better meet the needs of the students from our community.  These students continue to thrive as a result of the strong educational initiatives and vision of this school.  I.S. 303 has built a strong bond with the community that embraces what they do everyday on their children’s behalf.  The progress and performance of students in I.S. 303K, RCHS and P177K will be impeded by the co-location of Coney Island Prep; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the DOE must work to ensure that students and families in every community have high- quality educational options; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, CEC21 is against the co-location of Coney Island Prep into Building K303, which includes I.S. 303K, Rachel Carson High School and P771K.
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Check out Norms Notes for a variety of articles of interest: http://normsnotes2.blogspot.com/. And make sure to check out the side panel on right for news bits.