Is superintendent Vitti pumping a disproportionate amount of resources into the Grasp Academy? (rough draft)

The Grasp academy is a school just for kids with dyslexia and its related disabilities. Superintendent Vitti and one of his children have dyslexia so I think it is fair it say his involvement is personal.

Now let’s look at the numbers.

According to the Times Union there are 250 kids there.  If you go to the Grasp Academy web-site there are sixteen teachers which puts the student teacher ratio at 15.625 to one, which is good but hardly remarkable.

Though the Academy also has six ESE/VE teachers to assist the classroom teachers which drops the ration down to 11 and a third to one. Now we can roll our eyes a little bit.

The Grasp Academy has 2 guidance counselors for 250 kids and that is incredible. Most schools have a ratio of 550-600 to one, not 125 to one. Now some of you might be thinking one counselor for middle school and one for elementary school. Well at my school we have 160 or so kids and one guidance counselor and our grades go from 6-12 and beyond.

The grasp academy also has its own dedicated art, music and PE teachers for 250 kids. I asked a friend at an elementary school with six hundred kids how many of above they had and they told me one of each. 3 for 250 at the Grasp Academy, 3 for 600 at the elementary school.   

The school also has nine paraprofessionals and three reading interventionists which blows other larger schools out of the water and if we include resource teachers and reading interventionists into the student teacher ration now we are at little over 8 to one and the temperature of your blood should be starting to go up.
http://www.duvalschools.org/domain/6525

Now some of you might ask aren’t these disabled kids and don’t we spend more to educate them so they can have extra resources and smaller class sizes? The state doesn’t recognize dyslexia as a disability but it’s my bet most of the kids there are either designated having varying exceptionalities or come with 504 plans which would bring in a little bit more money, a little bit, not a ton, and certainly not 8-1 or two guidance counselors money.

At my school which is a center school for profoundly disabled children all of which have high matrix numbers, the state’s funding formula, there are fourteen classroom teachers, five resource teachers and two support teachers and as I mentioned just one guidance counselor. That gives us a classroom average of almost 11 and a half to one which drops to 7.6 to one when we factor in support and resource teachers.
http://www.duvalschools.org/domain/2690

The same type of kids at my school who go to Ed White are in classes that are 15-17 to one and they have a designated PE teacher.

Now might the Grasp Academy have other sources of money? Sure it’s possible but nothing was mentioned in a recent Times Union article and nobody there will return my e-mails.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-08-23/story/duvals-only-new-school-grasp-academy-help-students-learning-difficulties

This is the bottom line, shame on us as a society for ignoring the plight of so many children with dyslexia for so long and kudos to the district for finally taking steps to help them but you know who also needs extra resources? Children who don’t have the same address as the superintendent. Why are their needs going unmet?

Education Stories the local media is ignoring

Hundreds of teachers have already resigned and students in foreign language and gym classes are in classes so big not only is not much learning going on but they can be dangerous.

Charter schools are using the districts own computer system to recruit students.

KIPP says they have a waiting list and the district says they have never met capacity plus the special relationship the district has with KIPP due to the influence of Gary Chartrand.

On First Coast Connect Vitti said teachers have the flexibility to take their kids out to pay. Unfortunately the district is telling a different story to teachers.

Duval is phasing out social studies in elementary schools.

Teachers are frustrated with the ELA and Math curriculums and being micromanaged by the district.

All the problems with the new district computer program. 

Teachers continue to talk about the district's culture of fear.

Apparently there is a teacher shortage.

Up is down in Education, the sorry state of ESE and Foreign languages earn Vitti an award.

If you throw up in your mouth a little bit after reading below just know you won't be the only one.

Here is an excerpt from the press release announcing Vitti was receiving awards for his work in promoting foreign languages and ESE support.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., October 14, 2015 — Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) Superintendent Nikolai P. Vitti has been named the recipient of two education awards for his leadership and innovation. He will receive the 2015 Florida Foreign Language Association’s (FFLA) Friend of Foreign Languages Award, awarded to members of the Florida community who support and empower world language education in the state, and the National Center for Learning Disabilities’ (NCLD) Bill Ellis Award which recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in practice and a commitment to all students, including those with learning disabilities.

Under Vitti’s leadership, Duval County Public Schools has expanded world language programs throughout the district and doubled the number of dual language programs available to students. He has promoted world language instruction and multicultural studies in schools by leading the initiative to expand world language programs to an increased number of middle schools, and establishing world language study in elementary schools. Additionally, when the Florida Department of Education implemented three different graduation diplomas with only one requiring world language study, Vitti supported two consecutive years of language study as a graduation requirement for all DCPS students.

“The impressive requirement of world language study in order to receive a diploma in Duval County Public Schools prepares students for increased opportunities and success in the global world,” said FFLA President Frank Kruger-Robbins. “We admire Superintendent Vitti for his innovative and bold leadership that will provide our young people with distinct advantages in higher education and the workforce.”

Vitti will be presented with the foreign language award at the 2015 FFLA conference (Oct. 15 – 17) in St. Augustine at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort Hotel where he will also serve as the grand opening speaker.

Duval’s superintendent has also been recognized as the 2015 winner of the NCLD Bill Ellis Award, named for the late NCLD Director of Professional Services (1991-1995) Bill Ellis. Vitti has a personal connection to students with learning disabilities having overcome early challenges with dyslexia in his youth while also growing up multilingual. This has strengthened his commitment to providing students with learning disabilities the most progressive resources and tools to help them succeed in the classroom.  Since 2011-12, the graduation rate for ESE students has increased by 17 percentage points from 36 percent to 53 percent.  In addition, the ESE department has been reorganized to provide more support to students and additional resources such as a parent/teacher call center to improve stakeholder engagement and transparency.

http://www.duvalschools.org/site/default.aspx?

First let me say it is a Shakespherean tragedy that any organization would give Vitti an award for ESE support and foreign languages, it just goes to show how upside down the world of education truly is.

Though I guess if we think about it Vitti has promoted more kids taking foreign languages as many of the classes have fifty or more students in them.

As for the ESE grad rates going up there is no way he is even remotely responsible for that as a change in state law phased out special diplomas. Kids that never would have had the opportunity to get a standard diploma are now eligible. This is one of the few good things to come out of Tallahassee over the last few years even if it was bungled or has gone to far.

As for the call center yeah that's because the first few years under Vitti things were so abysmal that the state had to come in and conduct an investigation. The bigger problem is I have heard it is a joke that ignores most of the concerns of teachers and families alike.

Now you might have to give him some credit for the grasp academy but all to often these politicians only care about an issue if it effects them and dyslexia does but at the same time Vitti has been deaf to many other families problems and concerns.

These awards and the organizations that are giving them to Vitti are doing the city, its schools, teachers and students a disservice because they paint an inaccurate picture of how things really are or as one Facebook commenter wrote, geeze things must be really shitty elsewhere.

SMH

Jason Fischer throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way.

It doesn’t look like Jason Fischer is going to get his way to exclude communities potentially effected by Superintendent Viti’s proposed changes from having their say and boy is he pissed.

From the Times Union: Last week, at the monthly board meeting, board members Scott Shine and Jason Fischer voted to keep the vote in February, while four members voted to wait as late as June.

“My concern is that this is just a tactic to continue to delay things,” Fischer said.

Because it takes five votes to waive board policies and adjust the deadline, and because board Chairwoman Cheryl Grymes was absent, Shine and Fischer prevailed.

But Tuesday Grymes said she plans to ask for another vote to move the deadline back and allow for more months of public comment.

“I’m uncomfortable with moving too quickly,” she said. “It creates heartache if some people are not involved.”

Fischer, who was absent from Tuesday’s meeting, said he’ll challenge the legality of having another vote on the same issue.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-10-13/story/duval-board-clashes-over-timetable-proposed-school-change-discussions

If he doesn’t get his way he’s going to sue? What a baby. Thank goodness Cheryl Grymes sided with the majority of the bard and decency.

I also want to remind you that none of the proposed changes will effect schools in his district, a district he has mercifully said he will no longer represent in a year, if only it could be sooner.

Once again shame on you Mandarin, you could have had Jon Heymann or Laurie Hatsel, you know people who care about our schools, instead you voted for this guy who sees the school board as a stepping stone and sadly you gave him one. 

Vitti announces on First Coast connect, teachers are allowed to take their kids out to play whenever they think they need it.

I kid you not, listen at the 22:00 mark.

Vitti said, I have given schools the flexibility and teachers the flexibility, saying this on the air so everyone hears it, all you parents, if a teacher believes it is time to take kids outside to run around and to expend that energy they have the flexibility to do that.

He later repeats, they (teachers) have the discretion and flexibility to do that (take kids out).

http://news.wjct.org/post/100715-nikolai-vitti-see-girl-summit-read-it-forward-jax-oktoberfest-art-walk

The problem however is often what the district says and what they really do are two different things. When Superintendent Vitti first arrived he sent out an email saying they were going to relax the learning schedule allowing teachers to reteach and get in depth on subjects should they feel that is what their students need.  Now teachers feel the pressure to adhere to the learning schedule is greater than ever.

If Vitti is being sincere about allowing kids to play then this is a great thing, making school fun for kids is a lot more beneficial than constantly drilling kids.  My concern is how sincere was he and will principals allow play time because thus far many have not.

Vitti should repeat his remarks and make sure everybody hears them not just the audience of First Coast Connect.

When given the opportunity to lead, Vitti punts the ball.

When the school board members whose schools were going to be effected by some of Vitti’s radical suggestions asked for more time to get community engagement they were blocked by two school board members whose schools were not going to be effected using an obscure rule.

Instead of being a leader and saying to the board that they could take all the time they needed Vitti on First Coast Connect said, well that’s the rule and I guess we have to follow the rule.

You know it’s the rule. He can’t do anything.

Leaders lead, if his plan is the best then he should be out there selling it not leaning on an obscure rule and two ideologically driven school board members to force it through.

When Chartrand does something it’s okay but when Brown does something it’s offensive.

I am not a fan of either Chartrand or Brown but it’s just an example of how the city works. 

When Chartrand who doesn’t even live in Jacksonville but has collected school board members like kids used to collect baseball cards wrote a letter to the board while he was the chairman of the state board of education requesting they drop out of a law suit questioning the states voucher system, he was greeted with a collective shrug by the school board and superintendent.

However when Representative Corrine Brown went to a school board meeting and questioned the district’s plan to radically transform seventeen schools with limited community involvement the superintendent characterized her visit as offensive to some board members.

I will let you be the judge about what is offensive.

District 7 has a candidate, Nick Harding

Jason Fischer has already announced that he is not running for reelection in district 7 which means we will probably have a wide array of candidates. Four years ago something like seven people vied for the spot.

Well friends we have our first candidate Nick Harding. I looked for a web-site page for him but couldn't find anything but he does have a facebook page. I didn't see a lot of education related content but I did find one post from late September that I think people might find interesting and I have to say for the most part I found it both ignorant and hateful. You be the judge and as you do so remember right now he is the only candidate looking to represent district 7.

By Nick Harding via Facebook,

Time for some poorly formatted unpopular opinions.

Abortion is not a right and doctors that perform them should be punished. But since it is legal, the fetus has the father's DNA as well so he should have the ability to override the mother if she wants an abortion. If she didn't want to carry the baby she shouldn't have had unprotected sex, and if the contraception failed then she should've gotten emergency contraception immediately after realizing.

America should never elect a Muslim president nor should there ever be a Muslim federal judge or Supreme Court justice.

The whole LGB movement is an abomination. Not because they're homosexuals, but because their entire identity is based around sex and their sole method of disagreement is to bitch, moan and name-call.

Gay marriage is not a right, no marriage is a right. The state shouldn't be involved with it at all actually. Marriage is a religious institution that has historically received high regard in America. It is a fact that it has not, historically, been between people of the same sex and the Court saying that marriage changes with society was hypocritical because they then forced the change instead of letting it happen socially.

Transsexuals are mentally ill and any doctor that performs castration (gender reassignment) for them instead of committing them to a mental institution deserves to lose their license.

Bernie Sanders is a stupid old man and him allowing protestors to take over his speech proves he's too weak to be in charge of his own event, let alone the entire US military.

Minimum wage is to start out and all those people that say they're trying to feed a family on minimum wage would starve to death in nature because they only have minimum skills. Minimum skills would barely feed them, let alone anyone else in nature.

All drugs should be unconditionally legalized. If people want to destroy their bodies, it's their right, the only restriction should be for minors.

Illegal immigrants should be shown no mercy and deported en masse regardless of how long they've been here, they broke the law as their first act in the country and they have to pay the price. After they're deported the laws should be changed to make it easy to get temporary and permanent citizenship if you have skills that are useful to America.

Black lives matter is not about police brutality or black people being killed, it's about hating white people. If they really thought black lives mattered they'd encourage people in poor black neighborhoods to speak to police when something happens so that the people actually killing black people can be brought to justice.

Obama only got the democratic nomination because he's a minority. Most of the people he's appointed only got their nomination because they're minorities and he's not only tainted the office of the President, but also several executive departments with these appointments.

America should not support Israel. We sink money into them and they provide us with nothing. "Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion."
Israel is a Jewish state. Supporting them is unconstitutional.

One year in and Scott Shine, District 2, has been a disaster

Scott Shine rode high name recognition and tens of thousands of dollars from people who would privatize our schools to the district 2 school board seat and I think it is fair to say that he has been a disaster.

He started off by giving Vitti an evaluation that Jesus would have been envious of. I wrote this back in February. Scott Shine our  freshmen school board member who probably doesn't even know what he doesn't even know yet gave the superintendent 48 out of fifty highly effectives (4) and two effectives for a stellar average of 3.96. How is that possible? If Scott Shine isn't going to take his responsibilities seriously then why did he run for the board? I hope it wasn't so he could add another line to his resume.

http://jaxkidsmatter.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-round-up-of-superintendent-vittis.html

Then earlier this year Ashley Smith Juarez made him look clueless when he objected to several organizations that the school board belonged too. Despite the fact that she pointed out how beneficial they have been he elected to vote against them.

http://jaxkidsmatter.blogspot.com/2015/07/ashley-smith-juarez-makes-scott-shine.html

Then earlier this week he voted to disenfranchise thousands of people he doesn't represent about a measure that only peripherally impacted district 2. He told the board members who represent the districts facing massive changes that they can lump it.

http://jaxkidsmatter.blogspot.com/2015/10/dear-black-people-kindly-shut-up.html

He also voted to extend Vitti's contract nearly a year before he had to without the district experiencing any signs of improvement and he is all over the place on charter schools, saying we needed more while he was running but then complaining about them as a member despite voting to allow several new ones to start and several existing ones to expand.

Scott Shine is finishing up his first year and the district is poorer for it.

Shame on you district 2 you had two more highly qualified candidates to choose from and yet you chose Shine. When will the city learn to elect people who are both knowledgeable and care about our schools. Unfortunately Shine doesn't poses either quality.