San Diego Unified Parent- Life At School

I’ve been a busy guy lately, and neglecting my blogger duties.  I was nudged by my friend Rich Brady to take a position about tomorrow’s election, in particular, the school board issues.  He sent me this email, and I figure he says it pretty well:

The teacher’s union is trying to get a majority on the SD Board of Education. They have a unique opportunity to do this because one of the people running (Barrera) is unopposed, which of course means he’s automatically in. He plus Sheila Jackson, who most often supports union positions, will give them two votes out of five The critical vote in this election is the Mitz Lee/ John Evans contest, with Evans being the union-supported candidate. If he wins, the Board will have a union-supporting majority which will be disasterous for the challenges facing us including possible teachers strikes and budget cuts.
We simply can’t stack the deck against our new superintendent and any possible semblance of what’s good for our kids education as opposed to what’s good for ther teacher’s union,by handing over the Board majority to the union. We must return Mitz Lee to another term.

Yes, I’m prolific today.

It’s a topsy-turvy world in which we live, and I’m always surprised when women are treated unfairly because of gender roles.  My turn for a surprise was yesterday.

In our family, I’m the home parent.  Yes, I have a business I keep alive, but mostly between 8 am and 1:30 pm daily. It’s not easy.  But for our son, it’s the best possible- he has a parent pick him up from school, a parent to help with homework, a parent to which he must answer should he misbehave in class.

As the home parent, I’m also tasked with the school volunteer duties.  Tasked sounds like burdened, but it’s our family’s way of pulling our civic weight.  We’re not a family that can easily donate piles of money, but I have flexible hours, and am willing to use that time to benefit our school.  That means, my son and I are on campus a LOT.  The teachers and staff know me very well and, as best I can tell, are not “unfond” of me.

Months ago, our son ran and fell at school resulting in a broken arm.  My mobile phone is the first number in the emergency contact lineup, followed by my office number, and our home number.  But the office scrolls down and finds: The Mom.  That’s who they call.  

Now, my wife is an incredibly capable person, but she’s rarely on campus, and few of the staff and teachers could pick her our of a line-up of similarly beautiful women as my spouse.  Actually, they might consider me undeserving of her- “Her?  With Bowers? Nah-impossible!”.  Nevertheless, they called her first when the arm was broken.  I gently asked that, in future emergencies, please call the number my wife and I specified- that will likely result in the quickest response, with the least confusion.  No problem, I was assured.

Fast forward to yesterday, when our son was involved in a minor skirmish in class with another child.  Both children were dispatched to the school counselor, a bright and hugely talented individual who does great work for our school. The counselor counseled both kids, and as a matter of procedure, contacted a parent of both kids.  And who do you think was called?  Yup.  The Mom.

So, I’m chopped liver?  I had to ask why- were all my phone numbers skipped over?  You know, the numbers specified to call in an emergency, or situations just like this?

“I’ve always just called the Mom.”

In the grand scheme of things, like global warming, financial bailouts, and odd behavior from Superintendents, this is truly a minor issue.  But for me, it’s like that single mosquito on a hot summer night.  It bugs me.

p

I like Terry Grier.  I do not know him well, but I’m aware we share similar views on two critical issues:  Unions and barbeque.  Don’t laugh- if you don’t shares these issues, you may not understand.  And while I “don’t want to get all biblical on ya” there is something quoted, usually WAY out of context, about judging.

But he does make his mistakes, and this one’s a doozy.

Prop S (a bond measure to fund repair and upgrades of the set of shacks we call schools) has been hammered by the Union Tribune.  If you missed the editorial, nearly half it’s content was an excellent summarization of why the measure is flawed. [edit:I still support the prop- it has it's flaws, but the flaws in our schools are far greater-thanks, reader VSL] The greater half was about the U/T’s growing dislike for Grier, specifically about the so-called gag order issued by the Board, essentially saying not to speak ill of the Superintendent in public.  Newspapers hate things like this- it makes casual journalism a lot more difficult.  Casual journalism is a style fully embraced by the UT, mainly because their lack of commitment (meaning number of reporters) makes anything but casual journalism impossible. If you want real news about education, go to voiceofsd.org.

Grier, obviously unhappy that he may not get his bond for Christmas, has rallied the troops.  With a single stroke of his keyboard, he summons all the principals for a MANDATORY off-hours meeting down at the Girl Scout HQ, possibly the legendary undisclosed location from which Dick Cheney creates policy.  Ok, not that last part.

At this meeting, Greir (no doubt rubbing his hands together like a global tyrant) launches his plan for the Grier Phone-o-Rama!  The Phone-o-Rama moniker is mine- just play along. The GPOR is a boiler room in some location downtown from which Greir wants each principal to take their turn at a phone tree, making calls to someone, presumably parents, to rally support for Prop S.

If you, dear Reader, are a Human Resources professional, if you have ever hired an employee, ever attended a business 101 class in Community College, or simply just fell of the turnip truck, you will, at this point have a goofy look on your face and an imaginary question mark is appearing over your head, as you utter: Wha?

How can an employer call for a mandatory meeting off-hours?

Why not the comfortable theater of the Eugene Brucker Education Center, the HQ of the school system?

How can an employer require an employee to take a position on a political issue?

How can an employer require employee’s action and support of that political issue?

How can an organization fairly assess an employee’s performance should that employee have a differing view on that political issue?

For a man thwarted daily by the teacher’s union, why would he add fuel to the rising fire of the Administrator’s Association?

I’m just a parent blogger, and am often dwarfed by the complexity of the gargantuan SDUSD.  And frequently, I’m stymied for blogging subjects.  I suppose I should be happy that Grier has lobbed a slow pitch so I can happily blog my snarky prose.  But it ain’t true.

I’m surprised how poorly Grier has treated his employees.  Principals are possibly his most important set of employees.  Clearly the low opinion he has for these boots-on-the-ground workers will cost him their support. 

From a San Diego Unified Parent point of view, it’s just another Here We Go Again.  Here We Go Again with the over-compensated swaggering Chief who looks like he’ll blunder his way to another SDUSD early retirement.  Here We Go Again with the upheaval of choosing another Superintendent.  Hey, Board of Education:  What kind of employee did you hire? Oh, wait- you can’t say anything negative publicly…sorry I asked.  Hey- do you work for me, or the Superintendent?

I like Terry Grier, and I hope he’ll continue to do good work. He’s done some very good things so far. I hope he’ll stick around and help SDUSD- we really need it.  But, for all the sauce, (vinegar or mustard style, depending on which side of the 95 you’re on) in North Carolina, will you please make nice with the principals?

I have before me on my embarrassingly cluttered desk (one of three desks of the same ilk- clutter is a hobby-no, an avocation!) the results of our child’s Standardized Testing and Reporting Program test.  My teacher friends will continue to be irritated by me- I like this.  I like having these results.

I know- it’s awful that I like them.  After all, am I not the snarky commenter about education reform?  Aren’t these tests a gigantic step backwards in education, perpetrated by the Bush Administration, and possibly (only rumors) by a partnership between Karl Rove AND dead-eye Dick Cheney?  Shouldn’t I be ashamed of myself?

Maybe. But I’m really not. And I don’t believe these tests, by themselves, are evil.  

Certainly these tests, like any evaluation, can be misused.  To believe that this test is perfectly and scientifically accurate is foolish.  To base education policy solely on this test is even worse.  And to base teacher’s compensation on these results is stupid and unfair.

But I like having them.  I like to know how our child compares to his peers.  This one of the ways parents can see if there child needs help, and if so, where are the areas help could be effective.

As a businessman, I do believe in accountability.  I like to see the API scores of schools in (and out) of our area.  I like to know there is some minimum education standard students must meet before they successfully graduate from our public school system.  

STAR testing is a good thing.  Misuse of the data is not.

Are you police officers?  No, ma’am, we’re musicians.

The Blues Brothers

Are you an education expert?

No,I’m not an educator, I’m a photographer.  And a dad, cook, chauffeur, nurse, mechanic, IT wizard, handyman and blogger.  I wanted to know what teachers need to tell me and other parents, based on their observations in the classroom.  And it was fun, because I got to use an old standby, the complete-the-sentence quiz. I’m lucky enough to have several amazing teachers still speaking to me, and here is what they wrote:

Complete the following sentence:

As a teacher, I see parents help their child when they:

As a teacher, I see parents help their child when they spend time with them doing things like reading, playing outside, going to the park, talking with them and taking a vested interest in what the child is saying.

As a teacher, I see parents help their child when they are as invested in the child’s future enough to work with the child, not for or through them.

As a teacher, I see parents help their child when they read to and with them, and expose them to as many different experiences as possible.  Reading is obvious, so I won’t go into that, but the experiences I think are so important.  This means everything from folding laundry and working in the yard to going to Disneyland and anywhere else the parents can afford.  But while Disneyland is great, it’s more important to do REAL stuff, like building a sand castle at the beach, hiking at Mission Trails, climbing trees, helping to change a tire, going to the Symphony, whatever.  I think especially in an urban environment like San Diego kids need to get out into nature as much as possible.  We have so many different ecosystems near us– coast, desert, mountains, forests– that our kids can learn  to understand and appreciate if they get a chance.

Anyone catch the Union Tribune Q&A with Camille Zombro on Thursday, July 31st?  I thought I might provide a little translation for folks who (like me) are still catching up on union-speak.

But first, let me tell you the little I know about Zombro.  I like her.  I think she does a heck of a job for the teacher’s union.  She’s tasked with furthering the interest of the union in every way possible.  Clearly, she’s a person of great integrity- she never deviates from her goals, she is obviously passionate about her job. I believe we need more people like her in our world.

That does not mean, however, that I support her goals and tactics.  As faithful reader(s) of this blog know, I am a supporter of teachers, not a union.  The mantra: Teachers, YES! Unions, NO!

So- this interview.  Let me pull excerpts and try to provide helpful commentary.  

QUESTION: How would you describe the relationship between the administration of Superintendent Terry Grier and the teachers union?

ANSWER: On shaky ground. Our teachers are very skeptical and very angry at the actions Grier has taken, which appear to fit a familiar pattern. He failed us with the layoffs. He needs to be reeled in. 

Really?  And by whom?  Who, exactly is this powerful, arrogant and superior force that will clip the wings of the Grierman?  

The union wants people to believe that they are a governing body, equal (or superior!) to our elected officials on the Board of Education.  The union wants to position itself as a partner in education and education’s management.  But they aren’t. The union is an adversary to both the BOE and our children.  Let’s be clear: The union acts ONLY in the interest of the union.  And frequently against the interest of teachers- and I’ll get to that.

Is that why the SDEA has yet to offer any endorsement or support of the $2.1 billion November bond measure to repair and upgrade schools?

To ask us to work all collaboratively with people who are punching us in the stomach is a lot to ask. Our priorities are with our teachers and the layoffs. When we see a viable initiative, we’ll take a position on it.

And there it is, literally the bottom line.  They don’t consider the bond measure “viable”, because it does not fund teacher pay raises.  Teachers deserve better working conditions- better buildings, improved technology tools, more space, classrooms with ventilation, etc. As parents, we have an obligation to those that teach our children to provide these amenities.
But the union could care less about those teachers.  The union is seeking political power and the clout of a schoolyard bully.  They are withholding support of the bond measure because it puts them in a powerful position via extortion.  Translated: Load gun, shoot foot.
Teachers, let me be clear: as a parent (and the views of parents I know)-  We want to make your work environment better.  We know the state will not fund raises, but are willing to pay taxes to change our schools for your benefit and that of our children.  The union, however, wants something else entirely, and demonstrates this by withholding support for the bond measure.  They’ll fight for power and control instead of improving the lives of teachers in the classroom.

We’re all able to take a shot at the Superintendent and the Board of Education.  It’s not difficult, and there’s plenty of fodder.  Everyone will, at one time or another, be able to come up with a reason to dislike their decisions and processes.

But after attending most of a workshop meeting today, I have to type to you that I was impressed.  I saw a LOT of material fly across their desk today, and each was discussed in detail, sometimes painstakingly, driven to try to make the best decision while mired in hopelessly complicated detail.  It ain’t easy.

The frustration I had at the last board meeting was significantly diminished, primarily due to a lack of public participation.  Instead of the circus that prevails at the Ed center meetings, this was a group of dedicated individuals with business to conduct.  Outside of a disappointing fit of pique and stomp-out-of-the-room from John de Beck, differing points of view were tolerated well.

Sadly, I had to leave (pick up the kid from camp) just as the budget was getting reported.  But it was an interesting and informative way to spend the morning.

Nope.  

A parcel tax is a special tax levied on property owners for funding special projects.  In San Diego county, there is much discussion of a parcel tax for our schools.  If you read this article, you’ll see the teacher’s union and the school board are not getting along on this subject. 

Some background:  Years ago, Proposition MM was passed by the voters to fund capital improvement in our schools.  These improvements were only for repair and expansion- not for funding staff.  MM was great for the district, and brought many positive changes.  It was not without it’s flaws- many libraries were built without librarians, but on the whole, schools saw many needed improvements.

Bond measures are temporary things- by voting for them, taxpayers agree to pay a little extra for a set period of time.  In the case of MM, the term was 10 years.  This year, we taxpayers will stop paying for prop MM.  But our schools still badly need capital improvements- some are tired, run-down and too small.  Our family’s school, Grant Math+Science Magnet, is practically a blight on the neighborhood.

The district is currently considering a new bond- let’s call it LL just for fun.  LL would do the same things MM did, and could be pitched to the taxpayers on the basis of “no new taxes”- that is, you’ll pay tax rates similar to last year’s.  

Here’s where the fun begins-

It’s my understanding, based on last week’s car wash and the prevailing winds that blow easterly across the Normal Street compound and across Washington, that the teacher’s union saw LL as a fantastic opportunity. Not that LL could provide more money for teachers, but that it provided a fulcrum with which the union could leverage the board.  

Simply put, if the board did not promote the parcel tax idea, the teacher’s union would come out against the bond proposal.

Yes, that means the teacher’s union is happy to put the welfare of our children second to their political power and influence agenda.  I don’t hold it against them- they have a job to do, and that job is to further their agenda at whatever cost.

Now the union is mad, and the recriminations are flying.  The teacher’s union is once again pressing for a new contract, but they know without a parcel tax they’re going to be chasing unlined pockets.

I don’t bemoan the loss of a parcel tax, our family pays plenty of taxes, thanks.  And I’m certainly unwilling to support a teacher’s union (teachers, yes! union, no) whose thuggish tactics denigrate the profession.

I’m both happy to vote for a bond measure, and happy to support merit-based teacher pay raises.

Part of blogging is trying to offer something of interest to readers, either by creating content myself, or by offering carefully researched resources when someone does a better job.

For any San Diego Unified Parent, www.voiceofsd.com is a must read.  Yes, I’ve mentioned it before, but the latest articles are excellent and the contents will be material for upcoming blog entries.  So homework is required.  Emily Alpert won a three awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for her coverage of education issues in San Diego.  [I only won a single second place- but it was for photography in San Diego Magazine- a guy's got to make a living.]

Links to her reporting are on the sidebar of this blog.  Pay particular attention to the *parcel tax* issue.  I had my truck washed the other day, and the wind brought interesting information (something Emily Alpert couldn’t or wouldn’t publish) in the breeze.

My other favorite educational resource, also in the sidebar, is www.edutopia.com.  I just had a look over their to try to present some recent interesting bits- but it’s ALL interesting.  Edutopia tackles big, system-wide issues, and asks questions about k-12 education in a global way.  These big questions can help guide us, as parents involved in our children’s education, towards improving our schools and future of our children.

that’s it for now.

As mentioned before, I attended the Board of Education Meeting (good) on the 8th.  

Now, many of my closest friends, in moments of candor, will tell you I can be a grumpy old bastard.  I am well over 40, and have a view of the world and expectations of conduct that began in another century.  I was taught by parents who had their values solidly based in the Depression (you know- the 1929 one).  This life experiences puts me in the fist-shaking at the wind category.  I am embarrassed we live in a society that has to have signs to tell people to get off their phone before approaching a service counter, or in the neighborhood of my studio 2 blocks from the ballpark (hear the angels sing), a sign that says “Don’t [urinate] in this doorway”.(bad)  It makes me grumpy.(bad)

The BOE meeting on the 8th was just such an event.  There were LOTS of parents (good) who wished to speak to the Board about their particular cause (good) and were fervent in their beliefs.  Primary among these were supporters of Eddie Caballero.  Mr Caballero is an awfully popular guy (good) among the Sherman Heights Community and parents.

The BOE made it clear from the beginning that there were so many speakers, time would have to be limited to one minute per person.  And off we go to the races.

Grumpy me has certain standards of behavior for certain activities. For example, riding my dirtbike has a lower standard than walking through a house of worship- anyone’s. (naive)

There seems, however no standard of behavior for parents attending BOE meetings.  Many of Mr Caballero’s supporters were Latina-istas, which is far easier to type than to say.  The Latina-ista mob was completely disruptive (rude)- talking on cell phones, chatting amongst their crew, and making their hats of protest while the BOE was in session.  When the Caballero announcement was made (good) the place went crazy- you would have thought Terry Grier was a soccer announcer and had yelled GOAL-OSOOOOOO!  

Look-I understand and support the enthusiasm these parents have for their community (good) and have no objection to their outburst (good) celebrating the goal.

But then it took an ugly turn.  The Latina-istas continued to conduct themselves as if they were at that imaginary soccer game, (rude) while other business was trying to be conducted.  At one point, a Latina-ista leader grabbed the microphone away from another person addressing the BOE on a seperate matter to let her crew know it was OK to leave the building. (rude!).

Lost in the Latina-ista pandemonium were speakers who had very important discussions for the BOE.

One was the parent of a special education child who was, above the din of the soccer-match crowd, trying to explain to the BOE that their budget cuts would saddle principals with too many special ed students. (bad)  Another was a pink-slipped science teacher, who was pointedly reminding individual members of the BOE about statements they had made in previous meetings- and holding them accountable (good).  

But overall, the attention in the room was stolen by Latina-istas.  One speaker all but shook her fist at the BOE and told them that they “were taking over” (rude) and they would be watching EVERY decision the BOE would be making in the future, in all future meetings (good!).

Until the break, when they all left. Including Ms Fistshaker of the Future.

As parent, I believe we should support open access to our BOE.  Their process(s) should be as transparent and visible as possible.  But with public behavior like I witnessed Tuesday, it’s no wonder the BOE enjoys it’s closed-door sessions. And it just makes more of those closed sessions more likely- I completely understand why.

Oh- and another (naive)discovery.  I’m not an educator or a politician, and when someone “schools” me about these situations, I feel pretty foolish- but I’m learning. I’ve subsequently learned that at least some of the Latina-istas were not Sherman parents at all:

They were just activists trying to guarantee that our school system continued to teach children in Spanish.

And let me clarify- not Spanish as a second language, but Spanish as a primary language in the classroom.

I’m so naive.(bad)

It’s entirely possible I’m wrong.  Will someone can comment and disabuse me of my opinion?  Just click on the comment link below.  Thanks.