We should discuss the fact that teachers are spending all their instructional time testing, progress monitoring and we have 1/2 the amount of teaching time we had last year. Something is wrong with the idea that testing is the solution to the achievement gap. Testing has its place, but not the amount that the Board of Education wants us to do on a weekly basis. What happened to thinking,and creative problem solving? Why has testing become the answer to everything? What are we doing to our students other than making them into little testing machines?
My friends who are still in the classroom tell me that they don't have time for small group reading instruction anymore. It simply isn't happening. Between mCLASS, district assessments, Journeys benchmarks, and SBAC practice they cannot fit it in. All these assessments must be graded, entered, and hopefully analyzed. What about planning lessons and interventions? What about engaging students and the love of reading?
Once you begin to unravel the layer and supposed accomplishments, all you have are promises made, no connections to learning, no district strategic plans. we are confronted with no leadership at central office, no vision, and highly paide supt., and deputy that has never developed a plan ever!
I need some information here. The Board is claiming millions of dollars of computer enhancements in the schools under their direction. I have heard lots of complaints from teachers. Someone please explain the discrepancy here.. Which is true? Why are there two completely different stories? MarjM
A few problems remain with tech development. One major problem is that Ralph Valenzizi insisted on Chromebooks for students and teachers. They were a cheap alternative, but have serious limitations (like requiring internet access for storage and having to run the Google versions of Microsoft programs). The other problem is that at the high schools, wifi is overrun with student smartphones, so it is slow. Which brings you back to problem number one) . . . As always, on going complaints that the brand of smart boards have been changed over the past few years- some classrooms have models that aren't supported by tech. Plus little professional development for better use of the smart boards- now it's focused on testing. So teachers are frustrated that they have a great tool in the classroom and limited help to improve it.
The chromebooks are so cheap that the carts that Ralph bought (instead replacing the desk top computers) are starting to die. Each cart has 24 computers... and now they are one at a time just not turning on. So now we are stuck going back to the old desk tops which aren't being serviced by IT and are running super slow. You have to book 2 periods of time to do 1 period of work on them.
Between the chromebooks, internet going on and off (over midterms we did not have access), and PowerSchool failures, IT should be ashamed.
It seems like keeping student iPhones off of the district wifi should be an easy fix. There is NOT reason for them to used in school anyway. Isn't possession of electronic devices against BOE policy?
They instituted a BYOD (bring your own device) wifi network for students to be able to use them for school approved things. The details haven't been finalized but the wifi network was up and running for awhile and got swamped. So it go shut down along with a few other networks.
The problem is while they're a few networks they all feed into the same system which is limited. They need to expand the system to be able to handle all the networks.
Mike Lyons, were you aware what the Memorandum of Understanding said for the consultant hired from GE Capital Funds was for the 2x monthly consulting services provided?
$100,00 for the year for visiting two times a month. That was Rivera's doing. What I didn't hear was if the service provided was from Rivera's company.
There is NO reference to anticipated parent payments in the revenue section of the budget. Also, if the athletic insurance is being paid by the school department, it should have been included in the budget (which is supposed to list all the costs of running the schools). I appreciate that Supt. Rivera included the proposal in one of his presentations to the BOE- but, those of us not on the BOE should be able to look at the budget book and see what is and isn't included- we shouldn't need to wade through pages of PR materials to find out what isn't (but should be) in the budget book.
Thank you, Steve. I wonder if there are any other hidden items that will come back to bite taxpayers. Rivera was not the superintendent Mike built him up to be. This and the hidden consultants who allegedly charged a fortune for "paperwork" ( that made the superintendent sound good) were two instances of smoke and mirrors! The man's legacy is unravelling.
First, the information I received was that the consultant hired was paid $100,000 to write Manny Rivera's visions and standards. It was stated that Manny called these his own, but they were written by the consultant. Only Mike Lyons knows the truth. I also hear the same consultant has been hired in New London since Manny got there. Will they have the same standards and visions that Norwalk has? Is the consultant from Manny's company? Mike, would you care to weigh in on this?
We should discuss the fact that teachers are spending all their instructional time testing, progress monitoring and we have 1/2 the amount of teaching time we had last year. Something is wrong with the idea that testing is the solution to the achievement gap. Testing has its place, but not the amount that the Board of Education wants us to do on a weekly basis. What happened to thinking,and creative problem solving? Why has testing become the answer to everything? What are we doing to our students other than making them into little testing machines?
ReplyDeleteMy friends who are still in the classroom tell me that they don't have time for small group reading instruction anymore. It simply isn't happening. Between mCLASS, district assessments, Journeys benchmarks, and SBAC practice they cannot fit it in. All these assessments must be graded, entered, and hopefully analyzed. What about planning lessons and interventions? What about engaging students and the love of reading?
ReplyDeletePlease explain. I thought teachers were happy with the choices made during the Rivera superintendency. What happened?
ReplyDeleteOnce you begin to unravel the layer and supposed accomplishments, all you have are promises made, no connections to learning, no district strategic plans.
Deletewe are confronted with no leadership at central office, no vision, and highly paide supt., and deputy that has never developed a plan ever!
I need some information here. The Board is claiming millions of dollars of computer enhancements in the schools under their direction. I have heard lots of complaints from teachers. Someone please explain the discrepancy here.. Which is true? Why are there two completely different stories? MarjM
ReplyDeleteA few problems remain with tech development. One major problem is that Ralph Valenzizi insisted on Chromebooks for students and teachers. They were a cheap alternative, but have serious limitations (like requiring internet access for storage and having to run the Google versions of Microsoft programs).
ReplyDeleteThe other problem is that at the high schools, wifi is overrun with student smartphones, so it is slow. Which brings you back to problem number one) . . .
As always, on going complaints that the brand of smart boards have been changed over the past few years- some classrooms have models that aren't supported by tech. Plus little professional development for better use of the smart boards- now it's focused on testing. So teachers are frustrated that they have a great tool in the classroom and limited help to improve it.
Thank you so much for stepping forward and helping me understand the problems!
DeleteThe chromebooks are so cheap that the carts that Ralph bought (instead replacing the desk top computers) are starting to die. Each cart has 24 computers... and now they are one at a time just not turning on. So now we are stuck going back to the old desk tops which aren't being serviced by IT and are running super slow. You have to book 2 periods of time to do 1 period of work on them.
DeleteBetween the chromebooks, internet going on and off (over midterms we did not have access), and PowerSchool failures, IT should be ashamed.
It seems like keeping student iPhones off of the district wifi should be an easy fix. There is NOT reason for them to used in school anyway. Isn't possession of electronic devices against BOE policy?
ReplyDeleteThey instituted a BYOD (bring your own device) wifi network for students to be able to use them for school approved things. The details haven't been finalized but the wifi network was up and running for awhile and got swamped. So it go shut down along with a few other networks.
DeleteThe problem is while they're a few networks they all feed into the same system which is limited. They need to expand the system to be able to handle all the networks.
Mike Lyons, were you aware what the Memorandum of Understanding said for the consultant hired from GE Capital Funds was for the 2x monthly consulting services provided?
ReplyDelete$100,00 for the year for visiting two times a month. That was Rivera's doing. What I didn't hear was if the service provided was from Rivera's company.
ReplyDeleteDid the Board know about pay for play in the budget?
ReplyDeleteThere is NO reference to anticipated parent payments in the revenue section of the budget. Also, if the athletic insurance is being paid by the school department, it should have been included in the budget (which is supposed to list all the costs of running the schools).
DeleteI appreciate that Supt. Rivera included the proposal in one of his presentations to the BOE- but, those of us not on the BOE should be able to look at the budget book and see what is and isn't included- we shouldn't need to wade through pages of PR materials to find out what isn't (but should be) in the budget book.
Thank you, Steve. I wonder if there are any other hidden items that will come back to bite taxpayers. Rivera was not the superintendent Mike built him up to be. This and the hidden consultants who allegedly charged a fortune for "paperwork" ( that made the superintendent sound good) were two instances of smoke and mirrors! The man's legacy is unravelling.
DeleteFirst, the information I received was that the consultant hired was paid $100,000 to write Manny Rivera's visions and standards. It was stated that Manny called these his own, but they were written by the consultant. Only Mike Lyons knows the truth. I also hear the same consultant has been hired in New London since Manny got there. Will they have the same standards and visions that Norwalk has? Is the consultant from Manny's company? Mike, would you care to weigh in on this?
ReplyDelete