The two faces of Gary Chartrand

If you don't know Chartrand is the Jacksonville Grocer who parlayed campaign support to Rick Scott into a spot on the state bard of education. He is actively trying to privatize our schools and has often showed open disdain towards teachers.

He has also called for the state legislature to Pass Rick Scott's education budget.

From the Times Union:

Education has always been a passion of mine. And as a Florida taxpayer and parent, I applaud Gov. Rick Scott for proposing historic per-pupil funding in his “Keep Florida Working” budget.

The Florida Legislature will soon start a special session to develop the state’s 2015-2016 budget, and I implore them to make our state’s students a priority.

Florida is one of the largest states in the nation with 2.7 million students in more than 4,200 K-12 public schools, and I know that some of the best and brightest minds are sitting in classrooms throughout the state.

Unfortunately, I also know that without adequate support, many of these students will not reach their full potential or even set academic and career goals.

Educators, as well as school and district staff, can make all the difference in the life of a struggling student, but they must have the necessary resources.

Technological advances have given educators the ability to teach students in a way never before possible and have also created entire industries that expand career options for our students.

It is critical that we take this chance, while we have a budget surplus, to invest in our state’s education so that when our students graduate they are valuable assets to our workforce.

I am optimistic that our students’ tremendous success in recent years — which includes ranking seventh in the nation for student achievement with an all-time high graduation rate — will be evidence enough for the Florida Legislature to allocate record per-pupil funding.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2015-05-22/story/lead-letter-make-floridas-students-high-priority

Sounds great right? What can I complain about?  Well the truth is a lot.

First Rick Scott's budget is far from historic, it is an increase true but it does not match 2007's budget and furthermore how can any budget be thought of as historic as long as the three percent pay cut teachers took during the great recession is still in effect. Later he talks abut a budget surplus, a surplus which was built on the backs of teachers.

He also he talks about educators. These are the same people he gleefully helped strip of work protections. Every teacher hired since 2011 is an at will employee and can be fired at the end of the school year for any reason, or none as none has to be given. Gary Chartrand has zero concern for teachers and how can you really care about kids while at the same time hating those people charged with educating them?

Then he talks about taking a chance on technology.  Chartrand's entire education philosophy is based on taking chances, very few of which have paid off, Take a chance on charter schools well over 280 in Florida have failed. take a chance on vouchers, well they have practically zero accountability, both academically and financially and nobody truly knows how they are doing. But hey, lets roll the dice, its not his kids that will pay the price if it comes up snake eyes.    

Finally he talks about student achievement and graduation rates. Florida's teachers, despite the many obstacles put in their path and the state treating poverty like it is an excuse rather than the number one factor in student achievement, by Chartrand and Tallahassee are doing an amazing job. He got that part right but since that is the case, why is he one of the leading figures in the push to privatize our schools. If he thinks Florida is doing a great job, then why is he trying to outsource our kids futures to mercenaries, charlatans, and barely regulated private schools? Is he a crazy person or is he talking out of both sides of his mouth?

Chartand has what I believe is a pathological need to be liked and where it is true he has donated a lot of money to several worthy causes, at the end of the day he is not the hero of the story he is the villain.

Elementary school reading teachers feel set up to fail, not optimistic about future.

It started at the beginning of the year when curriculums in reading classes with little notice were shifted down a grade. What kids would have learned in third they were now going to now learn in second, in first, second and so on. The district claimed it would bring more rigor. People doing the actual teaching pointed out, harder and developmentally inappropriate does no equal rigor.

Furthermore the curriculums given to the teachers could be charitably described as jumbled messes. There were links to different articles over different grades to be carried out at different times. There didn’t seem to be a lot of rhyme or reason but what was consistent was teachers were often required to make copies.  The state of copying in the district could be an entirely different post but let’s just suffice to say this was problematic for a whole host of reasons.

A lot of veteran teachers with years of experience knowing what does and doesn’t work were able to game the system so to speak and instead of following the poorly thought out mandates gave their students the instruction that they needed to the best of their ability. Newer teachers or teachers being micromanaged at the transformative schools however weren’t so lucky.

The district also promised additional training, help and resources but none of the teachers I have spoken to said any ever came and now the district has decided to scrap what they have going on now to go completely on-line next year. Maybe that will be better because it's hard to imagine things being worse.

I spoke with somebody close to the situation and the district contends that it is teachers who came to them pushing for the change and that it will save a lot of money though the teachers I have spoken to have their doubts.

“I haven't heard of anyone being in a focus group. And I don't know a single Primary teacher that was happy with the curriculum this year. They are saying it is a savings over a two year period? A textbook adoption is 5-6 years. So no savings if you think about the amount of copies and materials printed over 5-6 years versus purchasing textbooks once. Also, the district doesn't make the copies for us. They send links. We print out copies on our own and then sometimes put in for copies at the school. BUT...we buy our own ink for the printers because the district does not provide it. Also, they aren't fixing or replacing printers that die out. We are told to share, and that eventually they want to go to a centralized printer in the main offices.

Young children K-2 still need to have books in their hands that are written in their level. We can't do everything on a projector screen or on copy paper. Some of the links/resources they send are long with no pictures. K and 1 are learning how to read. They need larger print and pictures to provide support. We don't need lessons written by former teachers who are now district level coaches, who have no researched based curriculum writing experience!! The textbook writers are specialists and professors who know how to help students learn to read!! The online reading and materials may be good for intermediate grades, middle, and high school. Primary students need researched based materials and lesson that build on one another. They can't tell me that Scott Foresman, HM, or Harcourt don't have common core aligned lessons that build in skills.” 

I guess the bottom line is, if the district and the people doing the actual teaching are not on the same page then we can’t be successful. Though the real problem might be that the district doesn't seem very interested in getting on the same page.

Gary Chartrand thinks YOU and your children should take what you get.

Words have meanings and I think the latest from Gary Chartrand are quite telling. If you don’t remember Chartrand is a grocer who parlayed his campaign donations to a spot on the state board of education.

From the Tampa Times, when talking about a possible misstep from education commissioner Pam Step:

"I've admired her work ethic and her desire to do right by kids," chairman Gary Chartrand said.

Still, he quickly added, "Nobody is perfect."

Chartrand said he didn't want to get into details. "But there's always room to improve," he said. "I know you were not satisfied with the glitches we had in testing."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/testing-glitches-aside-stewart-is-praised-for-stabilizing-floridas/2230408

Oh, he knows YOU were not satisfied by the glitches we had. I personally am not satisfied with the word glitch because the state roll out was a disaster.

Why did he say, you, instead of we? Probably because he doesn’t really care what happens to public school kids, in fact I bet he thinks families that send their kids to public schools are morons and beneath contempt for doing so. He sent his kids to expensive and exclusive private schools that were exempt from the tests and he wants to funnel public school kids into barely regulated private schools that don’t have to take the tests either. 

You may not have been satisfied with the roll out but I bet he loves it because it gives public schools a black eye and will cause even more kids to leave. He is part of a regime that created a disaster and now seeks to benefit off of it.

The question now is will YOU let him?  

Just how out of touch is the State Board of Education? Very Apparently

Pam Stewart’s term as commissioner of education has arguably been a failure. Not only has the accountability system untraveled, the state rushed headlong into tests they weren’t ready for and during her tenure she has systematically ignored the states superintendents, teachers and parents. All of that gives her two thumbs up from the state board of education which I remind everyone once again does not have a true educator on it.

From the Tampa Times: Board members largely praised her work during the nearly two years she has served, lauding her efforts to improve student achievement while shepherding new standards through a politically charged atmosphere. She is the longest-serving of four education commissioners during Gov. Rick Scott's five-year tenure. (There were two others not counting her two stints as intern commissioner)

Others were not as kind, probably because they are ignorant like the board is to what is happening.

Their favorable treatment of the commissioner drew barbs from Florida BadAss Teachers, a vocal statewide educators group.

"Florida has become Alice in Wonderland," group spokesman Thomas James, a Miami teacher, said in a statement.

He added: "Today, the inept State Board of Education showed why we have become the laughing stock of the country when it comes to education policy. ... After a disastrous year filled with repeated failures and a badly bumbled transition to new state tests, Commissioner Stewart is given a glowing evaluation."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/testing-glitches-aside-stewart-is-praised-for-stabilizing-floridas/2230408

Just yesterday I asked what Pam Stewart has to do to be fired and the answer is apparently nothing. She can do anything she likes to the states teachers, schools and children and the clueless board will smile and give her a thumbs up.

Florida’s teachers get a lot of flak mostly for not being able to single handily overcome the debilitating effects of poverty, it’s just sad that their already tough jobs have been made harder because of inept leadership.

Let me explain to you how bad Duval's discipline is.

Action News did a story about a fight at Grand Park the alternative school for kids with discipline problems. Let me stop right there, discipline is so bad in some of our schools I imagine the kids there either murdered nuns or drowned puppies.

Action New's take was look at this fight filmed by a student, and how a teacher did not rush to break it up. First why would they, teachers that break up fights now days get suspended or seriously injured and the kids that fought get a righteous, finger point and a please guys (or girls) don't do that again.

Where action News saw the video and thought gosh why didn't that teacher break up the fight, I saw the video and thought what is a kid at the alternative center doing with a phone?!? These kids have behaved so poorly they can't be in a normal schools but it hasn't occurred to the powers-that-be to take away their phones. What the $%#@!!!!

http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=63219b58-e393-4615-9e44-26e7613b1651

It's unbelievable what we let these kids get away with. Discipline was not good before Superintendent Vitti arrived but since he has got here things have gone off the rails and it's a wonder we haven't had a repeat of what happened on the alternative school bus last week happen in one of our schools.

Kids need consequences for poor behavior and our most vulnerable kids need follow up by social workers and mental health counselors, they don't need pat on the backs and please don't do that agains. Discipline is hard and our super is making things worse. Now will somebody take that kids phone away?

What does education Commissioner Pam Stewart have to do to get fired?

First there was her saying that common core would cost nothing extra, spoiler alert it has cost tens of millions of dollars more.

Then she outsourced our test development to Utah at the cost of five million dollars, because you know they are so similar to Florida.

She then said districts would be ready for the new state tests despite all the districts saying, um no we won’t.

The latest guffaw is the end of course exam for algebra and various other math subjects won’t count because they weren’t validated in time. Did the end of the school year catch her by surprise?

If all of above was not enough the lost confidence and out right revolt over testing that has taken place on her watch should be more than enough.

Mrs. Stewart should be let go and the state board of education which does not have one true educator on it should follow quickly behind her.

Then before anybody gives her credit for the graduation rates rising, I would like to point out that across the nation they have gone up and I sincerely believe here in Florida the elimination of the mandatory Algebra II and Physics or Chemistry requirements is mostly responsible.

Education is serious business unfortunately here in Florida we have put people in charge who have not been up to the task.  

Florida issues no apology for ruining school for so many students.

Today Florida shrugged it’s shoulders and said, you know what, all those intensive reading classes that we forced kids into, you know the ones that were often over crowded, that didn’t have enough resources and kids universally hated, well it turns out we were wrong on that one and now we’re going to let districts, you know the ones closest to the students, come up with plans they think are best for each student.

There was no apology to the decade of kids they made hate school and robbed of job by replacing elective classes with remedial ones that turned out to be ineffective.

It reminds me of the time they made every kid take chemistry or physics and algebra II, you know incredibly hard classes that most kids will never ever, did I mention never use or they wouldn’t be allowed to graduate. I don’t think it is a coincidence that grad rates started going up a couple years ago when they said, maybe that’s not the best plan. Jeb Bush and his foundation fought against getting rid of those classes by the way.

Who is going to want to bet that in a couple years, after hundreds of millions of dollars are spent and hundreds of thousands of teachers and kids are made miserable the state will say, yeah about that common core thing.

If you want education to improve get Tallahassee out of it.

To read more click the link: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/pasco-schools-seek-to-implement-good-cause-exemptions-for-intensive/2230093 

Why is Superintendent Vitti punishing staff for doing their jobs?

Last summer when school grades came out it was a disaster. Duval’s school grades plummeted at an unprecedented rate. The school board then extended the super’s contract and did so some nine months before they had to.

If the super’s job is to raise school grades then he has arguably been a failure.

That’s why it is really amazing that he has disciplined two staff member for doing their jobs.

The first is Oscar Harris an assistant principal at Westside High School who was suspended for 30 days for breaking up a brutal fight.  The way I see it Mr. Harris, 52 years old, put himself on the line to protect other students and staff and instead of being thanked he was hung out to dry. Should Mr. Harris have let the kids beat each other into a pulp?

Then there is Cheryle Ferlita, the former district academic services director over reading language arts for grades three through five. Her job was to help reading coaches and teachers prepare their children for the state tests and she was demoted to reading coach and her grievous sin was doing her job. She passed on a reading prompt that was similar to one that was on the test. Did the district want something different?

Teacher morale is rock bottom and I am sure staff being punished for doing their job is not helping things. Time and time again the super has also said denigrating things about the district’s staff now he has taken to punishing them for doing their job.

The super has powerful friends in the city. The business community and the elites love him but should that be enough? I mean isn’t his job to improve things, and he might not get it but punishing people to success is not going to get the job done.  

Said no teacher ever!

Superintendent Vitti sure doesn't waste a crisis.

I am just going to get to it.

From the Times Union: 

School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said two adult monitors on the bus helped care for the victims.

“We placed (additional personnel) on alternative buses months ago to prevent issues, once there was an escalation of violence in the community,” he said.

http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2015-05-15/story/jacksonville-police-hunt-gunman-16-wanted-school-bus-shooting-injured-2

Does he think for a second anybody thinks the monitors were placed on the bus to protect kids from outside dangers? How gullible does he think the people of Jacksonville are? The extra monitors were on this bus and other buses like it to protect students from each other and him implying other wise is disingenuous.

It would likewise be disingenuous of me to lay this tragedy at the feet of the super, our discipline problems and I think this bus incident is a direct result of them, predate the super but at the same time I and many others believe he has exacerbated the problems we already had.

Discipline is hard but that doesn't mean we can ignore or play lip service to it. Kids have to get meaningful consequences for poor behavior and then we have to get to the root of the problems why so many kids act. Investing in counselors and social workers would have been a better use of our resources than hobbyist TFA teachers and merit pay scams. 

So superintendent Vitti it's time you stopped talking about discipline and started doing something about it, your sound bites do not ring true.