I took a break from blogging. Not intentional. I have been busy. We have had family staying with us for almost a month, and I have just been enjoying time with them before they leave.
However, I received news yesterday that I wanted to share. My 4th grade teacher passed away. Some people don't even remember their 4th grade teachers name. I could not forget. Not because she had an interesting name, but because that was the first of three years that completely changed my life. I went from a tiny school three houses down from me where I attended with my older sister, to a school that was a 40 minute bus ride away and 40 some students in the class. School #99, Arlington Woods, hosted the AT program. I was lucky enough to have my two best friends in the program as well. That is where I met my teacher, Ms. Roach. She was unlike anyone I had never met. The memory that I hold was that she was a bit intimidating, strong, solid woman. As an adult I can look back and see how she was kind, patient, and really truly unforgettable.
Just to clarify, this really has nothing to do with the school board. But because she taught in IPS for 37 years, I pay tribute to her here.
Ms. Roach taught us to play the dulcimer, to make butter, and introduced great writers of literature. She brought in a golden retriever we called PC, short for Prince Charming. He became our mascot. I had never been in a classroom with a dog before. But somehow that dog calmed the class and made this new school easier to accept. Other students remember trips to Conner Prairie, buffalo burgers, skinning a deer, and lessons of history. This was the first class I had been in where the desks weren't lined up in rows with the teacher at the front.
Ms. Roach would assign several reports that year, and we would need to prepare outlines and visuals. We would have to stand in front of our peers time and time again delivering our speeches. Because of this, I could project my voice and land roles in the school plays. And later in life I would win speech competitions. To this day, public speaking comes fairly easy to me, all because of my 4th grade teacher.
I thank you, Ms. Roach for your years of service to IPS, but mostly I thank you for being my teacher.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Policy, what policy?
Well, I can not ignore the fact that I am behind on blogging. So much has happened, it's hard to know where to begin. I suppose we should start with the good, then the bad, and then the ugly.
Good- The School Board Open House was held on October 25th before the Action Session. I was more than impressed with the students that were in attendance. The Tech Culinary students provided cookies and punch, and served. The Agricultural & Environmental Science Star Academy at Manual set up a table, selling veggies and jams that they have grown and prepared. And lastly the Manual choir serenaded us with some great tunes. I was also extremely happy with the turn out. There were a lot of parents there because their children were involved. But there were also several individuals who came for the sole purpose of the Open House. They mingled with board members and with one another. I hear some asked some tough questions, others were making great suggestions. I look forward to the Board holding this event again. Maybe next year we should wait until after Jan 1st, so everyone can meet the new board members.
Other good news in IPS -
Christine Collier, Head of Schools for the IPS Centers for Inquiry, who is among 61 outstanding elementary and middle school principals from across the globe to be named a 2011 National Distinguished Principal (NDP) by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
Tyler Kniess, a senior at Arsenal Technical High School, who is a 2012 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. Tyler is among approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide who are competing for 8,300 National Merit Scholarships to be awarded next spring.
And today we have learned that the Colts owner is helping the Tech band with their trip to Hawaii for the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Bad- Well, the lingering effects of the comments. (You know the ones) Most of my anger about this situation was the way that it was handled. Actually the way it wasn't.
At the Oct. 18th meeting I read this statement to the President.
Madam President, I am deeply disappointed with the way you handled my concerns and the concerns of other board members regarding the Superintendents controversial comments. Not only have you not provided leadership or guidance you haven't even responded. I believe, as a Board, we need to sit down and discuss the situation in an Executive session called by you, the board president. At the very least you should have responded to the concerns. I believe you should set your personal feelings aside to properly represent the needs and concerns of all board member, not just the ones you agree with. I ask that in the future any board president be fair, honest, and respectful to all board members. I also believe this to be grossly unfair to the position of the superintendent. Being a personnel issue the school board should have had a discussion first. My hope is that we can move forward, work as a board, and remember there are 7 elected officials.
The Board President refused to call an Executive Session regarding this matter, stating she would not go against policy. Policy however states that an Executive session can be called one of three ways. By the Superintendent, by the Board President, or with a majority of four. It's disheartening to know that 1) The president and board member for the last 3 decades is so unaware of the policy or 2) they decided to ignore policy to protect their self interest. As it turns out 4 members were interested in meeting, but they weren't polled by the president, they were polled by me.
I can not discuss the Executive Session.
Ugly- The Board Retreat is right around the corner. An important part of that discussion will be budget cuts. No matter where you point the blame finger, cutting the budget is a necessity, And it will be ugly.
That's all for now.
Other good news in IPS -
Christine Collier, Head of Schools for the IPS Centers for Inquiry, who is among 61 outstanding elementary and middle school principals from across the globe to be named a 2011 National Distinguished Principal (NDP) by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
Tyler Kniess, a senior at Arsenal Technical High School, who is a 2012 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. Tyler is among approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide who are competing for 8,300 National Merit Scholarships to be awarded next spring.
And today we have learned that the Colts owner is helping the Tech band with their trip to Hawaii for the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Bad- Well, the lingering effects of the comments. (You know the ones) Most of my anger about this situation was the way that it was handled. Actually the way it wasn't.
At the Oct. 18th meeting I read this statement to the President.
Madam President, I am deeply disappointed with the way you handled my concerns and the concerns of other board members regarding the Superintendents controversial comments. Not only have you not provided leadership or guidance you haven't even responded. I believe, as a Board, we need to sit down and discuss the situation in an Executive session called by you, the board president. At the very least you should have responded to the concerns. I believe you should set your personal feelings aside to properly represent the needs and concerns of all board member, not just the ones you agree with. I ask that in the future any board president be fair, honest, and respectful to all board members. I also believe this to be grossly unfair to the position of the superintendent. Being a personnel issue the school board should have had a discussion first. My hope is that we can move forward, work as a board, and remember there are 7 elected officials.
The Board President refused to call an Executive Session regarding this matter, stating she would not go against policy. Policy however states that an Executive session can be called one of three ways. By the Superintendent, by the Board President, or with a majority of four. It's disheartening to know that 1) The president and board member for the last 3 decades is so unaware of the policy or 2) they decided to ignore policy to protect their self interest. As it turns out 4 members were interested in meeting, but they weren't polled by the president, they were polled by me.
I can not discuss the Executive Session.
Ugly- The Board Retreat is right around the corner. An important part of that discussion will be budget cuts. No matter where you point the blame finger, cutting the budget is a necessity, And it will be ugly.
That's all for now.
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