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PBealo
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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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 Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:50 am Post subject: |
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I couldn't watch the SB meeting last night, but will watch our tape over the weekend. I am glad the some Board members are asking questions, that's a good thing.
Am I surprised with your observation that the Admin is hell-bent on getting to BS??? No.
Should we try and block BS now? Not necessarily - it seems to me that our job is to bring up concerns and issues today. If there is some magic method of overcoming these objections/issues that makes sense, then let 'em implement BS.
If however, as I strongly suspect, all we end up with is arm waving, "trust me, I'm in the SAU and I'm here to help" statements and vague unsubstanciated claims and costs THEN it will be time to go for the jugular and kill this delusion with a silver bullet or oak stake (that is how one kills vampires I believe).
How to kill it, if necessary?? Many ways, used together:
1) really publicize the hell out of the issue. Roaches scurry from the light of day. This SAU has never seen a group of parents make a concerted effort to kill a program and "save" their kids from a mess.
2) Make sure the SB members know, on a daily basis, our displeasure and how tenuous their positions are (who is up for re-election in 2009 BTW??).
3) Finally - go after implementation costs - kill their budget in 2009, force the default budget, I know it is "drastic", but at the end of the day the budget is the only ace in the hole parents and taxpayers hold, and sometimes this card must be played...
Just my opinion, and I certainly hope that it does not come to all that!
Peter Bealo |
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TRHSparent
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:19 am Post subject: |
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| This week is finals week for seniors. In order to accommodate for testing schedule, 2 classes a day experience extended class time. My students felt the full force of what a 90 minute class would be like. I did explain that the teachers need to undergo professional development so that you would never feel fidgety and/or bored. They didn't buy it. Maybe the HS should do an impromptu survey regarding 90 minute classes. It might help teachers eat up the extra time and not only spend playing various games. |
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Le Canard
Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Posts: 12
Location: Danville
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject: Budget impact of BS |
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How would one go about asking the SB for the line item impact of block scheduling on the budget that is clear enough to understand compared to the current budgeting system?
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Le Canard |
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therents
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Budget impact of BS |
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| Le Canard wrote: |
| How would one go about asking the SB for the line item impact of block scheduling on the budget that is clear enough to understand compared to the current budgeting system? |
Asking is the easy part, now getting them to do it not use Fuzzy math, well that is another story..... |
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PBealo
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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La Canard (by the way, I love the nom de plume!),
It'll take a little 'ciphering".
If they need to add teachers we can get the avg salary plus bene $ from the budget committee or last year's budget
if they need to add space, we should see that outright.
We should ask what % of teacher workshop time is dedicated to training teachers in how to deal with 90 min classes, and then figure that $$ from salaries.
It won't necessarily be exact, but would be close.
At the end of the day, the real goal would be to make the admin and SB understand that they can't ignore the parents without consequences. I doubt it would need to be done more than once. |
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PBealo
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Posts: 112
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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While cruising around YouTube (don't tell my boss!) I came across this gem from Georgia. Not bad for a student production! 
Peter Bealo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOrOxEsMMc |
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TRHSparent
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Very amusing video. Very well done. |
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PBealo
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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:07 pm Post subject: Latest from TRHS on Block Scheduling |
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I had the following e-mail exchange with Mr. Woodworth regarding BS. Looks like we won't be seeing a final plan for a 9 months or so...
Peter
-----Original Message-----
From: pbealo@comcast.net [mailto:pbealo@comcast.net]
Sent: Fri 7/25/2008 10:30 AM
To: Woodworth, Donald [TRHS Administration]
Cc:
Subject: Final BS presentation??
Mr. Woodworth,
When do you plan on being ready to share your "final" plan for
BS implementation with the district parents and SB?
Will release of the plan be staged such that the district
parents have time (several weeks is sufficient) to review and
understand it before the SB is asked to vote on allowing its
implementation?
Hope you're having a good summer and that the HS hasn't shown
too many leaks over the past few days!
Peter Bealo
From: "Woodworth, Donald [TRHS Administration]"
<dwoodworth@timberlanehs.com>
Peter,
No leaks. Summer is going well.
There will be opportunities for parents to discuss block scheduling
over the next 12-15 months. High school teachers and administrators have determined to do more visitations ahead of bringing it to the school board with a specific design. Additionally, some school board members have expressed an interest in visiting more block schools. We did decide not to push for implementation until at least 2010-2011 school year. Our primary district and high school professional development focus for 08-09 is instruction. We are also waiting
for the final recommendations of NEASC, our accrediting
organization. That report will become available to the school and the
public in the upcoming weeks. We are responsible for addressing the NEASC recommendations over the next 2-5 years. The school board/SAU has also hired NESDEC to conduct a facility audit and to make recomendations about our options for the middle and high school
buildings. This report may also impact implementation of a new
schedule. My guess is that the earliest the board will be weighing in on
block scheduling is next spring. We would have to know if we were
going to block by fall in 2009 in order to be prepared for the budget and
course selection processes.
Don Woodworth |
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TRHSparent
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:08 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Our primary district and high school professional development focus for 08-09 is instruction. |
Did Mr Woodworth define "instruction"? Is the focus of professional development to prepare instructors for block teaching or a general improvement in overall instruction? If block teaching will be the focus of professional development for 08-09, I believe it would be a waste of time unless the SB has already approved implementation for the 09-10 school year. If the school board votes against BS, we will waste time, effort, and money preparing staff. Seems the most logical and fiscally responsible action is to get approval first before moving forward. |
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PBealo
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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:27 am Post subject: |
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I have no idea what Mr. woodworth meant. I posted a verbatim transcript of our e-mail exchange. Woodworth was aware I would post it.
Perfectly good question though - please ask him or your SB member(s).
On a related note - I found the part about SB members wanting to visit BS schools disturbing. If they do that they certainly ought to visit academically excellent traditionally scheduled HS's as well - like Londonderry and Pinkerton. At least then they could learn 1st hand what a boondoggle BS is and how it is not required, or even desirable, to fix our school's academic problems!
Peter Bealo |
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PBealo
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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: Recent Correspondance with Stephen Brown of School Board |
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I hope the Board listens to my suggestion: If they're planning on visiting a "successful" BS school like Andover, they ought to visit at least one successful non-BS school like Londonderry. After all - why go through major scheduling changes when places like Londonderry show that its not necessary?!?!
Peter Bealo
Mr.Brown,
No apology necessary - I still have PLENTY of notice. I was originally concerned that I had to be available to hear the SAU presentation to you folks on Block scheduling, but then learned from Mr. Woodworth that they were pushing their BS schedule out by 9 months or so, so it is not as critical.
Mr. Woodworth also wrote that some School Board members are interested in visiting schools such as Andover High that have implemented BS. I am not suggesting that its a bad idea, but I would urge your members to visit other schools such as Londonderry High, the highest rated high school the state this year, that have retained and thrived using our "traditional" scheduling. They have actually implemented programs specifically to improve academics such as a "real" summer school of enrichment subjects instead of doing "change for change sake". Kind of like what Mr. D. does with the summer music schools. Perhaps we could learn from theise successes? If you need a referral to Londonderry, I can introduce you to the Asst. Administrator who runs the summer program.
Thanks again, have a great summer,
Peter Bealo
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Steve Brown <s_brown07@hotmail.com>
> Mr. Bealo,
>
> On behalf of the Timberlane School Board, I apologize for the delay in
> responding to your email.
> The School Board regularly meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of of
> each month, excluding July and August.
> Our scheduled meeting dates for September are the 4th and 18th.
> October will be the 2nd and 16th. The meetings begin at 7:30 PM in the SAU office.
> Please let me know if you would like further information.
> Regards,
>
> Stephen Brown, Vice Chairman
> Timberlane School Board
>
>
>
> > From: pbealo@comcast.net> To: trsb@timberlane.net> Subject: SB date
> > questions>
> Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:18:15 +0000> > Good morning,> > What are the
> dates of all SB meetings in Sept and Oct 2008?> > Best Regards,> Peter
> Bealo> TRHS and TRMS parent |
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TRHSparent
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 67
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therents
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| As my kids work on their summer math packets, I wonder what will happen with BS. When the kids only have math for 1/2 the school year, do they get packets twice a year, so they can keep their math skills. |
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PBealo
Site Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:30 am Post subject: |
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From Mr. Woodworth's Sept 2008 principal's letter: "Block Scheduling Committee
Mr. Scott Strainge will be reconstituting this committee as teachers, parents, students and administrators research and explore scheduling options that might help impact student learning in a positive way. Mr. Strainge can be reached by e-mail at sstrainge@timberlanehs.com"
I'm volunteering. Anyone else putting their names in the hat??
Peter Bealo |
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TRHSparent
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:31 am Post subject: |
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| PBealo wrote: |
From Mr. Woodworth's Sept 2008 principal's letter: "Block Scheduling Committee
Mr. Scott Strainge will be reconstituting this committee as teachers, parents, students and administrators research and explore scheduling options that might help impact student learning in a positive way. Mr. Strainge can be reached by e-mail at sstrainge@timberlanehs.com"
I'm volunteering. Anyone else putting their names in the hat??
Peter Bealo |
Peter,
Are you part of the BS Committee? I've read and heard that BS will be implement the fall of 2010. Any truth? Any updates would be appreciated especially since coffee with the principal is Wednesday, Oct 15th. |
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