Monday, December 22, 2014

Oh, the Hypocrisy!

On Thursday, December 18th, Superintendent Sharon Contreras spoke at the Thursday Morning Roundtable, a program sponsored by University College of Syracuse University. She spoke about the challenges the district is facing, as well as programs that are in place and recent successes. Following her talk, time was allowed for a Q&A session. One gentleman in the audience questioned Superintendent Contreras about the stabbing that occurred at H.W. Smith K-8 the prior day. The superintendent essentially chalked that incident up to a violence in the community spilling over into the schools and is even quoted in the syracuse.com article highlighting her talk, as having said she "will not own all the violence in the community."

By attributing this specific incident to community violence, she continues to absolve herself and the district from the violence in our schools.

A teacher pointed out recently...


When there is tragic behavior in school,

the Superintendent can absolve herself by saying
"That's what the community sends me."

But...

When dedicated teachers who work long hours
are less than successful working with
underprepared/poorly behaved/emotionally compromised/asocial children,
it is all because the teachers are bad.



Does anyone else see the hypocrisy in this?

Thursday, December 18, 2014

It Ain't Pretty...

Here is a transcription of the 911 calls to schools in the month of December.

Remember - this is in a district that reportedly
ACTIVELY discourages building personnel from calling 911
and we still had THIS many calls in just 12-1/2 school days...

As you review them, notice how many schools are NOT represented. Do you think it's because those schools have no issues? Or is it because administrators in those buildings are afraid to rock the boat? 

12/1
9:06 - Disturbance @ Danforth
9:28 - Fire @ Fowler (police and fire department dispatched)
13:14 - Call @ Fowler (reason unknown)

12/2
10:39 - Lost/found property @ Roberts
12:45 - Larceny @ Nottingham
13:33 - Call @ Danforth (reason unknown)
14:52 - Call @ McKinley Brighton (reason unknown)
17:58 - Juvenile complaint @ Henninger

12/3
Lost/found @ LeMoyne

12/4
12:50 - Fight @ ITC

12/5
8:03 - Stabbing @ Fowler
11:06 - Disturbance @ Grant
14:04 - Call @ Corcoran
14:09 - Disturbance @ Delaware
14:36 - Disturbance @ Blodgett
14:57 - Alarm (fire) @ HW Smith
16:56 - Intoxicted person @ Frazer

12/8
8:19 - Suspicious @ Salem Hyde
8:24 - Harassment @ Nottingham
9:21 - Harassment @ Nottingham
12:05 - Disturbance @ Danforth
12:28 - Call @ Huntington (reason unknown)
13:48 - Alarm fire @ Delaware
15:07 - Assault @ Frazer

12/9
9:35 - Criminal mischief @ Salem Hyde
10:59 - Assault @ Nottingham
14:14 - Domestic @ Blodgett
14:49 - Call @ McKinley Brighton (reason unknown)
16:10 - Alarm (fire) @ King

12/10
13:00 - Call @ Weeks

12/11

No calls - Oh, wait... This was a snow day!

12/12 - (half day)
10:48 - Alarm (fire) @ Henninger
11:06 - Fight @ Delaware
11:16 - Domestic @ King

12/16
9:16 - Civil dispute @ Bellevue
12:54 - Alarm (fire) @ Ed Smith
13:16 - Domestic @ Corcoran

12/17
7:40 - Suspicious @ Meachem
7:40 - Stabbing @ H.W.Smith
13:56 - Trespassing @ Henninger
18:40 - Criminal mischief @ Blodgett

12/18
8:29 - Disturbance @ McKinley Brighton
15:20 - Criminal mischief @ Frazer

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Enough Already!


A stabbing in the H.W. Smith middle school wing today... As various people on syracuse.com debate how serious the wound was, how the altercation started, whose fault it was, whether or not the district is minimizing the incident, and on and on and on,

we lose sight of the reality that
a 12 year-old child stabbed another 12 year-old child -
IN SCHOOL!

And we are all becoming used to it because, sadly, it is an all-to-frequent occurrence. This cannot continue happening!!!

No one...

Not students...
Not staff...
Not parents...
Not administrators...

No one should be AFRAID to go to school!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

What Can a Small Group of Determined People Accomplish???

Anything!

A small group of parents and family members managed to get the attention of SCSD district administrators in a big way this morning. They staged a protest at Lincoln, making bullying the center of their pulpit. Frustrated by a lack of response from building administrators, specifically when confronted with bullying issues, they took to the streets showing up today with signs shouting "Stop the Bullying" and "Stop the Violence.

Great job!

These parents have vowed to show up every morning and afternoon to show their support for the kids who have been forgotten in the Code of Conduct debate - the victims. So, every morning at 7:00 they will be there with their signs supporting the students as they arrive at school. And again, every afternoon at 2:10 they will be there.

And now they need our help!

Come to Lincoln to show YOUR support for safe schools. We can never forget - there is power in numbers! The more who show up, the more attention will be shone on the issue of violence in the Syracuse City School District - and the community as a whole.

And stay tuned for future protests at a
school (or board meeting) near you!


Monday, November 17, 2014

The Creation of a Fairy Tale

Anyone who attended last week's Board of Education meeting was witness to a wonderful fairy tale.

As evidence that discipline is still being meted out at virtually the same rate as prior years, the Superintendent informed the Board and the public that the numbers of both referrals and suspensions are virtually unchanged for September/October of 2014 when compared year-over-year to the same timeframe in 2013.


This would imply that behavioral challenges remain about the same, 
in spite of teachers' outcry to the contrary.


If this is the case, then why do so many teachers, parents and students continue to feel that they are not safe at school? That behavior continues to spiral downward, at an increasingly fast pace? That students are no longer concerned that misbehavior will warrant a disciplinary referral?

Why?

If you believe in fairy tales, you might also believe that statistics don't lie? Or that the district is being 100% transparent in their reporting of disciplinary numbers. They certainly wouldn't intentionally try to mislead us, right?

Wrong!

When the Superintendent compares referrals year-over-year, she does not mention that Level One behaviors no longer get referrals. Level One behaviors include, but are not limited to...
  • refusing to respond to staff directions or requests;
  • non-compliance with classroom rules and procedures;
  • goofing off in class;
  • teasing, taunting and name-calling;
  • throwing objects without injuring others;
  • making excessive, distracting, or disruptive movements or noises;
  • engaging in confrontational arguing or backtalk;
  • cutting class; and
  • minor hall or public space misconduct.
When faced with these behaviors - and other Level Ones that are not listed - staff now redirect students and write up "observation notes" to document the behavior. Additionally, unless the violation is egregious, children in grades K through 2nd no longer receive referrals - again only "observation notes."

So... In order to compare statistical apples-to-apples, one would have to take all of this year's referrals and add in all of the "observation notes" documenting Level One behaviors and the behavior of our younger kids. Only then would you have a truly accurate year-over-year comparison. 

Do you think that the picture would look as rosy? 

We don't... It is time to demand the truth from our district leaders! And to also demand that our city and county leaders stop continuing to blindly accept that which they are being told by those in charge at 725 Harrison.

Only when the truth is fully told can we

- as a district, city and county -
begin to work together to address the problem and
help our children succeed.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Last Night's Board Meeting

We left last night's Board meeting disappointed, perplexed and a little bit angry.

Why?

One speaker quoted from our blog, although the quote was misattributed to our friends at Be the Change. While we appreciate the fact that our blog is being read, the way in which it was quoted was misleading. The speaker quoted from our "We're Back... Unfortunately..." post on 11/3/14, where we stated that the Code of Conduct, Character and Support  was "abysmally implemented" thus far. The speaker neglected to also highlight (from the same blog post):
  • that we believed that the Code was borne out of wonderful, powerful ideas and philosophies;
  • our concern with the lack of personnel and funding to properly implement the Code of Conduct, Character and Support, as it was intended;
  • we are also concerned that most schools do not have staff trained in using Restorative Justice techniques;
  • our request that each of us closely watch how the Code of Conduct, Character and Support is actually being implemented and ask ourselves if we really believe that it will nurture and teach students in the SCSD how to behave in society at the level they need to be successful.
The same speaker said we should move past the document - it isn't what is important now. It is old news. Now, action is what really matters. And, our blog was critical of how the Code has been implemented and how staff have been trained. Apparently that is a no-no. Why? If the actions are what matter now, why can't we question the actions that the district has taken to "get this show on the road."

Actions...

The district's roll-out of the Code has been lacking in both timely and substantive actions, in spite of the fairy tale that was woven in the Superintendent's remarks last night. And this is where more people in the audience were perplexed. After visitors were allowed to speak, the Superintendent made her remarks. And last night it became crystal clear why the agenda is set up that way.


Because this way, no one can call attention to her 
misrepresentations or omissions

including:

  • While foster grandparents are in place at most schools, that is a recent development. And already at least one has been punched.
  • 180+ community partners in the buildings. This is not all new personnel! Some of these organizations have had staff in the buildings for years. Sort of like re-gifting...
  • More than 200 people attended the Keeping Kids in School Community Summit. That's news to many, as we've not heard an estimate higher than 125 actual attendees. And many of those were politicians and community agency representatives... BUT, let's suppose that all 200 attended AND they were all parents interested in keeping their kids in school. That still represented less than 1% of the entire student body. When examined statistically, it doesn't seem to be the rousing success that was hailed last night...
  • Students have been trained in the Code of Conduct. Indeed, they have. What was omitted was the fact that the training didn't take place until TWO MONTHS into the school year. Or that at some grade levels, the scripted lessons included exercises in learning their classmates' names, as if they hadn't done that in the first two weeks... Or that most teachers didn't receive the lessons until a day or two before they had to present them, giving them inadequate time to become familiar with the material.
  • While referrals and suspensions statistics are virtually the same year-over-year, no one mentioned the fact that Level 1 offenses are no longer referrals. Instead they are now "Observation Notes" that no one is reporting on. If one added all of the "Observation Notes" to the statistics to present a true year-over-year behavioral snapshot, we'd see a picture of a district spiraling out of control.
Another head-scratcher... How could a metaphor about building a city - a metaphor that highlighted the need to put out fires as they occur, rather than letting the a scheduled timeline dictate continuation without regard to problems - somehow turn into a comparison with how "Eminent Domain" has been used in the past to take over and destroy housing in some of the poorest neighborhoods, even here in Syracuse? What?!! Have we become THAT literal? Or are we expected to be so committed to this path that we follow blindly and abdicate our right to critically and honestly examine the path and make adjustments as necessary, which was point that the original story illustrated.

Now some questions for the Board President...
  • Why are one or two audience members consistently allowed to comment disrespectfully to speakers they disagree with?
  • Why is one Board Member allowed to smile and nod assent to the speakers they agree with, while smirking and laughing at those with whom they do not?
  • Why are those speakers whose positions favor the Superintendent allowed to consistently exceed their allotted time, while those who do not always agree are generally kept closer to the three minute limit.

One can only hope that maybe
next month will be better...

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Concerned about the Future of the SCSD

Reflecting on those SCSD administrators who have spoken out publicly about the Code of Conduct, Character and Support, it is hard not to notice how very few tenured administrators are in that group. It is also hard to not to notice how many of those very same administrators are struggling mightily under the weight the very same document that they held in such high esteem...

PSLA, McKinley-Brighton, Dr. Weeks, H.W. Smith, just to name a few...

And now the sudden departure of Geovanti Steward at H.W. Smith. He is the first administrator to leave since the Code of Conduct was approved on September 10th. He announced his resignation on November 6th, just shy of two months into it. While many reports indicate that he is moving on to something "too good to refuse," one is left wondering whether it would have been too good to refuse IF things were going well this year and the lofty expectations he had going into this year were coming to fruition.

Instead, under the strictures of the Code, at H.W. Smith - as in many city schools - the principal's job has been reduced to being a combination of firefighter and student-wrestler. It is hard to imagine many jobs that would NOT be "too good to refuse" when your hands have been tied behind your back and you are no longer able to run a school and help improve the lives of your students.

Geovanti Steward may be the first administrator to leave, but he will not be the last... He was a good man and a good administrator, who wanted to make a positive impact on his school's community.

How many more good people is this district going to lose?

We've lost so many already...

We can't afford to lose any more!

Monday, November 3, 2014

We're Back... Unfortunately...

The Code of Conduct, Character and Support... Great name, right? And when you read it, you'll find it is filled with wonderful ideas and philosophies...

Borne from the assumption that suspensions
have NOT created better behavior or safer schools in Syracuse.

Borne from the assumption that children who are out of school, do not learn.

Borne from the assumption that Restorative Justice will give us
the opportunity to help students be accountable for the impact of their
actions and that they WANT to make changes.

Borne from the assumption that if we teach students
HOW to make appropriate choices, we will be providing them
with the tools they need to make better choices in the future.
And that they WILL.

Powerful ideas... Thus far, poorly implemented. Abysmally implemented, actually. Why? Pressure from the Attorney General's office created an immediate need to do things differently. So, we created a wonderful, philosophically admirable document. But we did it without having the financial or human resources to implement it...

Just saying we are implementing Restorative Justice and a
new Code of Conduct, does not magically make it so.

Without the necessary funds or personnel, we do not have an intervention team within the district that has been fully, professionally trained in Restorative Justice. In many schools, we do not have school-based personnel with even rudimentary knowledge of how to conduct basic techniques of Restorative Justice.

So instead, right now many schools deal (or more accurately, don't deal) with minor infractions by doing nothing. More severe infractions are dealt with by a "time out," reset, or trip to the behavior intervention center (BIC), with (in most schools) very little discussion of the impact of the undesirable behavior or how to make a more appropriate choice later. There IS no student accountability.

And because we are not teaching students the appropriate behavior nor are we applying a consequence - and we are certainly NOT holding them accountable - we have now fallen even deeper into the hole...

  • Just ask the parents of the Corcoran student who was so severely beaten WHILE IN CLASS last week that his spleen ruptured...
  • Or the principal who has been assaulted at least three times since the start of the school year...
  • Or the elementary teacher who spends hours each week dealing with one destructive child, while the rest of the class huddles in the hallway. How much instructional time has been lost for every child in that classroom...
  • Or the parents of the 900+ students at H.W. Smith who had six - count 'em, six - fire alarm pulls in three days last week... Or the firefighters who responded and had to take time to break up "girl fights" while they were there...
  • Or the six staff members who have reportedly already quit at Dr. Weeks, just two months into the school year...
  • Or the teachers at city schools who have requested transfers... 
  • Or the teachers at more than a dozen schools in the district whose administrators are changing Code of Conduct Level 2 offenses into Level 1s or non-reportable "observation notes"...
  • Or the 911 dispatchers who have fielded close to TWO HUNDRED calls to Syracuse City Schools this year. And those are just the calls we know about. Many more may have been reported that never went through 911...

This district is not doing what they promised. We - parents, district staff and community members - need to look closely and critically at how the Code of Conduct, Character and Support is ACTUALLY being implemented and ask ourselves if we really believe that it will nurture and teach students in the SCSD how to behave in society at the level they need to be successful.

And if our answer is no, then we need to hold this district accountable for living up to the promise that was made to the Attorney General when they held the Code of Conduct, Character and Support up as the document that would guide us moving forward.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Racist Sentry?

Awful story in the Post Standard today...

White Syracuse School Guard's 'Joke' Gets Black Student to Assume the Position, Mom Says

In response to repeated requests by community groups, students, parents, teachers and district staff, the SCSD Board of Education approved additional sentries for the elementary and K-8 schools. The goal was to provide additional security and – perhaps – to alleviate the concerns that many had about the safety of kids and staff in our schools.

This was the right thing to do and we applaud the district for doing so. Thank you!

If the allegations in this story are true, what this individual did to this young man is NOT ACCEPTABLE. And to use the excuse that he thought it was “a funny joke” is ignorant best. Had he REALLY thought it was a funny joke, he would have played it on other kids, not just the black male with special needs.

It demonstrates what we already know...
Racism DOES still exist within some individuals.

And this sentry’s alleged actions spoke volumes. But only for him – not for the district, not for the staff, not for anyone else. Only for him…

Please, please, please DO NOT let the actions of one individual negate the hard work that has been – and continues to be – done. And please don’t allow this incident to define our district, our teachers and staff, our community members.


We need to continue working together to create
safe and welcoming learning environments for ALL kids.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Code of Conduct

Many have been wondering about the new Syracuse City School District Code of Conduct. Tah-dah! We have a draft copy right here. Further revisions are expected. Once the draft is completed, at least one public hearing with comments and feedback must take place before the Board of Education is allowed to vote on whether or not to adopt it.

SCSD Draft Code of Conduct

What do YOU think?

Does it go far enough in ensuring the maintenance of a safe, chaos-free learning
environment for ALL students in the district?

Does it adequately safeguard the rights of students and staff?

Will it create an environment where students learn appropriate ways to
handle anger and frustration? 

Does the district have the right resources in place to effectively implement this code?

Will it impact instructional time for students in the classroom?

Monday, July 28, 2014

Follow-Up on Incident at Dr. King

One of the parents of the young man who wrote the letter to Superintendent Contreras followed up with a letter to all seven Board of Education Commissioners, with copies sent to:
  • Mayer Stephanie Miner
  • all Syracuse Common Council members
  • Governor Andrew Cuomo (in part because they could find no email address for the AG)
  • Superintendent Sharon Contreras
She included her son's letter with this note. The letter to the Board is attached here in its entirety (with personal information removed as needed for confidentiality).

 Parent's Letter to Board of Education
This situation appears to have been resolved in a way that supported ALL of the children involved. We hope that this is a sign of things to come from the Syracuse City School District. Maybe we are seeing some results from the fruits of our labors. 


KEEP THE PRESSURE ON!


Thursday, July 17, 2014

The Reason We Exist - And Why We Wish We Didn't...

Today a child at Dr. King Inclusion Summer School had a major - and dangerous - meltdown, resulting in a room full of third-graders curled up in balls to protect themselves, six adults trying to protect the kids in the classroom AND the child who was melting down, and one child being injured.

A nine-year-old child who was in the room as the incident unfolded, wrote and emailed the following letter to Superintendent Contreras after he arrived home today...

"Dear Superintendent,
I would be grateful if you would listen to me as I tell you about my horrible experience at Dr. King Summer School. A kid that I cannot remember his name was having a bad day and was thumping his desk in my classroom. Another kid named D*** was politely Asking him to stop the other kid was mad at D*** for telling him what to do and began to throw pencils and crayons at him. They then began throwing insults at each other the kid that was throwing pencils at D*** picked up a nearby chair and threw it across the room luckily it missed D*** and slammed against the floor kids and teachers were frantically dodging the chairs it was very intense.

My hopes of leaving alive were very slim. I couldn’t hear myself think with all The teachers yelling for the kids to stay in one place and talking about how To handle the situation and people screaming with fear .

I must be honest with you it was the scariest event of my life

Now things are calmed down I am home typing this on my computer.
Also I remember the image of children in my class curled up in the corner
Fearing a hit to the face. Five minutes or so later when we believed the chaos had ended our friend came back and had a basketball in his hand and threatened to kill D***. I am completely terrified to enter that school again I fear that that same kid will come back and nobody will be safe.

Just to inform you, M***"
 
This is why we must continue to be loud!


What can and will the district do to help the child who melted down - and who so clearly appears to be in crisis - so that they can learn how to handle their anger and frustration appropriately? What can be done if they do not have the support of the parents, family and community members?


As a school community, we must help these kids.

 

And what about the twenty-five other children who are afraid to go back? Who is protecting them and their right to a safe classroom?


They are the forgotten ones...


Although not to the parents who had to soothe them to sleep tonight and reassure them that they WILL be safe in school tomorrow. And who pray that - indeed - they will be safe.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Better Than We Could Ever Have Said It...

Last week, Sean Kirst of the Post-Standard did a two-part story on a young man - a graduate this past weekend - who worked incredibly hard for his diploma.



By profiling one child, Sean was able to shine a spotlight on the many students who struggle daily - in similar circumstances - with or without the family supports that Jerry Kelley was blessed with. Jerry is among the lucky ones.

Not all of our kids are so lucky... Kirst's article was an eye-opener regarding the daily challenges countless kids face outside of school that create and/or contribute to their struggle. Jerry spoke of the "noise" all around him and it really resonated. How many of our students are living in the midst of this "noise?" All too often those are the kids who are lost in the cracks.

How do we better support them?

In school, we can strive for chaos-free classrooms that become a part of that solution by creating a "noise-free" safe place for kids to land. We need to seek out creative ways to minimize distractions outside the classroom for students, even where our influence is minimal. We must continue advocating for supports for those kids who are struggling. We should be asking for professional development for all student-facing positions to ensure that all staff receive cultural diversity awareness training. We must continue to do all that we can to foster school-parent partnerships that are open, honest and always with the best interest of the child at heart.

Acknowledging the need that exists on all of our parts is not a weakness, but a strength. By working as a team and committing to becoming a part of the solution, we can ALL make a difference in the lives of the students in the Syracuse City School District.


Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Some Kids Need MORE

Are you a parent? Can you say that you always provide equally for all of your children? Is that even your goal? Or is your goal to provide them each with what they need and hope that in the end you've been fair and given them the tools to succeed?

Why does school have to be different?

Over and over again, we fight the assumption that providing academic and social-emotional supports for students who are struggling the most means that they somehow will receive an unequal - hence, unfair and somehow lesser - education...

When we talk about struggling students, we are speaking of students who spend more time in ISS, out-of-school suspension, wandering the halls or who are not participating in their education in an academically meaningful way.

We do not mean...
Students with IEPs whose behavior results from their disability
Students who are below grade level
Students who occasionally misbehave

The students we are speaking of are those who - for all intents and purposes - are not receiving an education now.

This needs to change!

We want ALL STUDENTS to have an education!
We want to level the playing field for ALL STUDENTS!
We want ALL STUDENTS to have an equal shot in life, not just in school!

So, some kids may need extra support to get to that point. In a perfect world, those supports would be delivered in traditional school settings, with as little disruption as possible to the student receiving the supports. There may be times when it is not possible to stay in the traditional setting - either because supports cannot be delivered there or because that may not be the best setting for the individual student. So... even in those situations, the goal is always to bring the students back into the traditional classroom as quickly as possible.

Is it equal? Maybe not. But unequal doesn't have to mean less... Some kids need MORE. And if we refuse to consider that point, we will continue to give them less. All in the name of being equal...

Thursday, June 12, 2014

The Great Divide

We are still processing through the SCSD's June School Board meeting.

Never has it been so clear how divided our fair city is. And yet we all - parents, teachers, administrators, community activists - have the same goal...

EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN IN A SAFE, CHAOS-FREE ENVIRONMENT.

How do we come together, cut through the rhetoric, lay aside our baggage and preconceived notions, and sit down at the table to REALLY discuss how to best serve ALL children?

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Who Is at the Root of THIS Racial Divide?

Who is the creator of this?



SCSD Take Back Our Schools Blog and Be the Change have always advocated for a safe, chaos-free learning environment for ALL students and staff in the Syracuse City School District and the addition of the academic and social-emotional supports necessary to ensure that ALL students have the tools to be successful both in school and in their lives after school.

Nothing more, nothing less.


If You Don't Vote, Don't Complain

From another blog reader...
"Again -- NO one who refuses to vote is in a position to complain. The irrational fears of voting could well hamper extremely critical efforts to improve status quo. When we vote on election day in November, we must sign our names, but HOW we vote in the booth is confidential. The same holds for voting for STA issues. There is NO EXCUSE not to vote. None. Not a single reason. There is NO record of how any individual voted. And -- we cannot assume the votes of the (responsible and accountable) "others" will ensure the outcome. There is simply too much at stake to remain silent."
Regardless of your position on the issues at hand, your vote counts! Make your voice heard! 

Monday, June 9, 2014

Perspective

On fear and voting, one reader pointed out the following...

"Good Lord! People are out voting in places where they face the threat of armed militias."

Just a little perspective for everyone...

On Fear...

For months we have heard about how fearful employees of the SCSD are - afraid of students, afraid of administration, afraid of parents...

AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT

The funny thing about fear is that it can become a habit. One that immobilizes us, leaving us frozen and unable to act. And eventually the fear wins.

But today, right now...

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FACE THOSE FEARS -
STARE THEM DOWN

to break the habit and take a stand.

Are you going to seize that opportunity and vote with your conscience? Do what you know is right? Or will you continue to allow fear to rule your life? And for what?

THERE IS NO REASON TO BE AFRAID

Voting is anonymous - and it stays that way. Your signature indicates that you voted, not HOW you voted. Be true to yourself and your conscience. Let your voice - all of our voices - be heard loud and clear.


Sunday, June 8, 2014

Staying the Course

The strongest people stand by their convictions, even in the face of what they fear most. We must all stay strong and remember that the future of all of the children of the SCSD are depending on us. Trust our instincts, our education and our experience.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Things Are Getting Interesting...

Ever watch Saturday Night Live? Back in the 80's the was a recurring character who had a cable access show called (I think) "Coffee Talk." The character's tagline?

"Talk amongst yourselves."

We All Make a Difference!



"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world. 
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 
- Margaret Mead, anthropologist

Even when it seems that things are quiet, activity is always bubbling just below the surface. Our job is to continue churning away even when it feels that we are the only ones. So, even when it is most quiet...



  • continue speaking the truth,
  • being patient, and
  • having faith. 

Our collective voices WILL make a positive difference for the kids and staff in the Syracuse City School District. 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Courage

A few thoughts on courage...

"Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage."
- Confucius, philosopher


"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear."
- Mark Twain, author


"Courage is fire, bullying is smoke."
- Benjamin Disraeli, politician


"Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened."
- Billy Graham, minister


"The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity."
- Rollo May, psychologist


And a final one...

"Let us go forth with fear and courage and rage to save the world."
 - Grace Paley, author




When faced with fear, do you have the courage to stand upfor what you believe  - what you know - to be right?

Friday, May 16, 2014

Thank You, Max Ruckdeschel!

We admire and applaud your courage in refusing to support the status quo anymore. The Syracuse City School District Board of Education has an obligation to the students in this district to govern with honesty, integrity and independent thought. You demonstrated that independence this week, not only refusing to fall into lockstep with the plans of the only direct report of the School Board - the Superintendent is indeed the Board's direct report, not their boss - but openly and honestly expressing concerns that reflect those of the Board's stakeholders.

Board members please take note: Your job IS to manage the superintendent. When 3,000 teachers and SCSD staff members are speaking in unison - with parent and community support - begging for help, it is time for you to stand up and take notice. Something is going horribly wrong in this district and there is a profound crisis. Do you have the courage to stand up and ask questions or have you been infected the Broad Virus - perhaps contracted on Broad Academy-sponsored "retreats?"

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Happy Teacher (and ALL staff) Appreciation Day

We've been a little quiet on the blog - but active in the movement - but we wanted to take a moment to let our dedicated SCSD teachers know that we appreciate all that you do every single day. Thank you for sticking with it in spite of the major challenges we are experiencing.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Things Are Heating Up

Sadly, we have heard about a couple of frightening incidents already this week that give us pause, one involving a child slashing bus seats (in Zorro-like fashion) with a knife hidden in a backpack and one that left a child hospitalized after being beaten by a peer.

Both situations could have easily turned tragic. And while we have been blessed to not have an incident of epic proportions, we do not want to tempt fate...

Going to school should not mean taking your life in your own hands...

Monday, April 14, 2014

Looking for Information

We are seeking information on the following incidents:


  • A potential gun at Danforth on Friday. We need to know whether there was a gun at school, was it report to the PD, what if any actions were taken.
  • A domestic call to Franklin on Friday...
  • An assault at ITC this morning
  • A harassment call to Dr. King today
  • A report of police sent to Henninger...


All reports will be confidential, as always.

Respect and Responsibility

We had the honor of attending the new Syracuse Coalition for Respect and Responsibility's meeting on Friday night. Thomas Lickona, who literally wrote the book on teaching character education in schools, was the guest speaker.

Some of our take-aways from the the meeting...

  • We need to be an intentional community, with a unified intent.
  • What are the rules that we need to reflect our values of respect and responsibility?
  • How can SCSD, or even individual classroom teachers, weave these values into the classroom?
  • Change is embraced when people feel like they are in the driver's seat.
  • Start each day on a positive note.
So, if we operate on the assumption that with respect and responsibility, what small changes can we make now that might bring forth more positive changes within the district? Can we bring some to pass quickly, either in our homes, classrooms or schools?

We are at a pivotal time in Syracuse - a time when we actually have the potential to make a positive change for the entire community, if we all remain true to ourselves and our values. One of the first steps you can take is make a commitment to attend the next Syracuse Coalition for Respect and Responsibility meeting, which is scheduled in May - date and location to be announced.

To quote the district's recruiting website...

We're all in. Are you? 

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Tonight's Board Meeting

Well, that was interesting...

A dramatic turnout for tonight's SCSD Board of Education meeting, including concerned parents and community members, representatives of local activist organizations and (happily) many, many representatives of "Be the Change." So many people attended that not everyone was able to get into the board room until after a group of students receiving awards left.

As expected, it appeared that a few people who spoke may have been "planted" to sing the praises of the District. We also heard from a Fowler parent and a McKinley-Brighton parent each of whom decried the district's communication - or lack thereof - about issues critical to those schools, namely the probable phase-out of Fowler and the gun incident at McKinley-Brighton, respectively.

But the majority of speakers were there to address the recent escalation of violence in our schools and the District's response and future plans. And while there was much emotion on both sides - and an unfortunate perpetuation of an untrue rumor regarding warehousing 1,000 students in what some compared to a "mini-prison" - when pared back to its essence, most speakers were in agreement with the following points:
  • Students learn best in a chaos-free environment
  • We have a community problem that requires everyone to pull together
  • Violence in our schools is not acceptable
  • Increased suspensions and warehousing of students is not effective

The biggest surprise of the evening was the unveiling by the Superintendent of several "new" recommendations to provide immediate help to students and teachers.
  • The addition of 14 sentry positions at elementary schools for the remainder of the school year. Eight additional sentry positions would be created in the K-8 schools next year.
  • Continuation of Twilight Academy programs to help high school students who are over-age and under-credited.
  • Expansion of the foster grandparent program through PEACE Inc. in every first and second-grade classroom in the district.
  • Expansion of a middle-school alternative program with the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection to 180 students. The program would have a coordinator, teachers, teacher assistants, guidance counselors, social workers, sentries, a nurse and a substance abuse counselor.
  • Middle and high school transition teams comprising a social worker, a counselor and a Hillside youth worker to help students entering and exiting alternative programs.
  • The conversion of 20 positions to behavior specialists to provide support to students.
  • New and upgraded security cameras at the middle and K-8 schools.
  • A liaison to coordinate between classroom teachers and instructors of "homebound" students.
  • Restoration of clerical staff in schools to a 250-1 student-to-staff ratio. This is in response to concerns that teachers' calls to the office requesting assistance aren't answered promptly due to the limited number of clerical workers who may be involved other matters.

We were saddened by all of the negativity in the meeting tonight, especially when it was directed at our teachers and staff by some of the speakers or when it manifested itself with rude comments as teachers left the room for the night (or so we heard). Thank you for doing so much for our kids with so little thanks and for holding yourselves to the highest standard tonight. You guys rock!

So... We still have a long way to go, but we are being heard. In the next few weeks, representatives from "Be the Change" will be meeting with the District and community organizers to find common ground and learn how we can all work together to improve our district.

Thanks to all who have supported
and been a part of this movement!!!
 
You have been heard!

Devastating News from Pittsburgh

Yet another horrifying incident of school violence took place today. As of the writing of this entry, at least twenty injuries are reported at a high school outside of Pittsburgh, PA. At least eight people have been transported to local hospitals, some in critical condition.

Please keep the victims of this tragic incident in your thoughts today.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Quieter Today? Or Are We Just Not Reporting?

Perception is everything, or so we would be led to believe...

According to our official sources, Meachem School had a police call today, although we have no details. And it appears that a fight big enough to warrant a 911 call took place at Elmwood School, site of official district hearings. Hmmm...

In other news, we've heard about an object of some sort that required police attention at Grant, although not officially dispatched. And this evening a robo-call was made to Grant families with a reminder that students are not to bring electronic devices to school. Coincidence?

Any reports from your schools today?

Thank You, STA!

A well-written letter from the Kevin Ahern, president of the Syracuse Teacher's Association, appeared today on www.syracuse.com. It is a must read! 

STA to Syracuse Board of Education: "Restorative justice is fine, but what about safety?"

For anyone who is familiar with the "Be the Change" movement, reading this letter will make it clear why STA was willing to endorse and present our Plan of Action to the SCSD Board of Education. Our positions are in harmony - safety for ALL students and staff, creation of a supportive learning environment, a system of consistent boundaries and consequences, provision of social-emotional supports for those students who need them, and a refusal to allow "a few students exhibiting serious anti-social behavior to interfere with ability of the majority of their peers to learn."

If you haven't seen it yet, please read it and add your support to Kevin's letter by adding your comment.





Monday, April 7, 2014

Busy Day!

Here are the calls that 911 responded to in our schools today...

8:29 am - Criminal mischief at Corcoran
8:30 am - Assault at Delaware
2:32 pm - Fire alarm at Clary
2:38 pm - Fight at Corcoran
3:36 pm - Juvenile incident at Frazer

Wonder what joy tomorrow holds...

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Political Posturing at Its Finest

Dear Syracuse Board of Education Commissioners,

Until we address the immediate concern for safety in our schools, you will NEVER receive the support of SCSD staff and the majority of responsible parents in this district.

Our children and staff are no longer safe in the city schools.
 
Period.

This problem was not created overnight and it will not be solved overnight. We understand that. This problem was created, in part, by a system of rewarding and excusing bad behavior. And our kids are smart, they learn fast. Just as they do at home, if they can get away with pushing the boundary at school today, they will try to push it some more tomorrow, and the next day and the next.

Couple that with a community-wide violence issue and you have what we have today. A broken community and a broken school district. All of it will take time to fix. We know that.
But we will not accept that, while the District works on the long-range solution, our children and the dedicated that staff we value so deeply for their commitment will remain in danger on a daily basis!!!

We understand that increased suspensions are NOT the answer. The "Be the Change" group has been quite clear on that point. We understand that alternative settings are a LAST RESORT, reserved for the most violent and intentionally disruptive of students.

All of that being said, we cannot continue to sacrifice the education of 95% of our students at the altar of those few students, who for whatever reasons, are not able to conduct themselves appropriately in the classroom.

It is not fair!!!

In the short term, we MUST take a stand and say no more violence will be tolerated in our schools. We must increase our community agency partnerships, as requested in the "Be the Change" Plan of Action, to provide on-going and intensive community supports for those kids who need it. We must provide in-school solutions for kids who are struggling.

But... We also must also provide supports and a safe, chaos-free environment for the 95% of students who come to school every day, eager to learn! They deserve as much nurturing and support as the we can possibly give them. For many students, school is their safe place and they are working hard to succeed IN SPITE of the chaos around them both in and out of school. We need them to know that they are valuable and cherished by the District and hat they deserve our support.

It does not escape our notice that nowhere in the Board's statement - nor in the fabulous glossy brochure the District sent out two weeks ago - is there any mention of victims' rights or the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA).

Why is the district and the Board
so unconcerned about the victims?

This board needs to closely re-examine the message that their statement today has sent to all of those students who are working so hard to succeed. And what they are saying to all of the voters and taxpayers in the city of Syracuse.

Respectfully,
The moderators of SCSD Take Back Our Schools

Saturday, April 5, 2014

If You Are Not Part of the Solution

Do YOU want to look back and wish you did more? Had more conviction? Believed that a group of people with a passion CAN make a difference?

Your voice matters! The children of the SCSD - all of them - deserve the best education we can give them. We all need to jump in 100% and do everything we can to be part of the solution. When you feel fear, let it be overwhelmed by the faces of the children who NEED us, who need school to be a safe place, who need the education that the amazing teachers in our district can provide.

BE THE CHANGE - BE THE SOLUTION!

Friday, April 4, 2014

And the Hits Just Keep Coming!!!

Many of you may have already seen this story on www.CNYCentral.com about the SCSD Vice Principal who was attacked by a fifth-grader, allegedly at Delaware School (if the grapevine can be believed). If not, the link is below...

SCSD Vice Principal Attacked by Student

Again, we implore the district to take a first step in trying stem the onslaught of violence in our schools. It could make a huge impact for the Superintendent and all, some or even one of the Board of Education members to spend next week visiting the schools and addressing each individual classroom - unannounced - to bring home the message that acting out violently (or threatening to) is NOT acceptable in our schools!

We have reviewed the Board of Education's Statement of Core Beliefs, which is posted on their website. It is posted in its entirety here, with a couple of items of particular interest highlighted...

Syracuse Board of Education
Statement of Core Beliefs and Commitments

Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to set forth the Board of Education’s beliefs about the potential of
our students, the purpose of public education, the impact of our teachers, leaders, schools and
district on student achievement and its d
uty to promote a culture of high expectations and
accountability.
It also sets forth its commitment to act on these beliefs to achieve its vision to
become the most improved urban school district in the nation.

We believe that teaching and learning is our core business.
We will make district decisions in an equitable manner, including those related to resource
allocation, based upon our core business.

We believe that education is a means to eradicate poverty.
We will fully support and implement initiatives aligned with the Say Yes model.

We believe all students can learn and achieve at high levels.
We will prepare every student to graduate college- and career-ready.

We believe positive, supportive, and safe environments are essential to teaching and
learning.

We will create school communities in exceptional facilities with positive cultures and high quality
supports for students and staff.

We believe that teachers have the greatest positive impact on student achievement.
We will recruit, develop, support, reward and retain world-class teachers.

We believe that effective leaders produce excellent results.
We will recruit, develop, retain, and reward leaders who champion a relentless focus on high
student achievement and effectively manage teacher talent.

We believe that a high-performing organization produces a legacy of enduring greatness.
We will build a high-performing organization that values and strives for excellence at all
levels and is organized to support our core business.

We believe in data-driven decision making to ensure continuous improvement at all levels.
We will have accountability for performance at all levels of the system.

We believe in the value of parents as their children’s first teachers and that the
involvement of parents and community partners is vital to improving educational
outcomes.

We will develop and implement effective and sustainable partnerships with parents, families
and the community at both the school and district level to enhance student learning.

We are not promoting high expectations or accountability. We are not creating school communities with positive cultures. We are not providing high quality supports for staff and our high quality supports for students are inadequate to meet our needs.

But we can...

And we, educators and parents alike,
need to demand it.

And we need to be relentless.

Our kids' lives and our staffs' lives literally depend on it.


Thursday, April 3, 2014

It Is With Great Sadness...

Today we were VERY disheartened to learn that one of the young men directly involved in the gun incident at Grant Middle School yesterday was the same young man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a twelve-year-old H.W. Smith student in a school bathroom earlier this school year while his two friends blocked the door.

Who do you think is in YOUR school?
What might their history be?
Did they receive supports to help them learn how to make better choices?

SCSD staff knows, but parents generally do not, that often when a student commits a serious infraction at one school they are "churned" to another school with little or no counseling and supports provided to help them be successful in school.

"Be the Change" wants to change that. We do not advocate for increased suspensions or taking away due process. We know that suspensions DON'T work. We know that providing supports DOES work. We believe that our district is filled with amazing children who have unlimited potential. And for exactly that reason...
  • We want every child to have the tools they need to get a sound basic education - and perhaps even a little more.
  • We want to ensure that kids who come to school every day ready to learn have the opportunity to do so AND we want to ensure that those who are not ready to learn are given the tools ands supports they need so that they CAN be ready.
  • We want ALL children to be successful.
  • We want to see the end of the school-to-prison pipeline by creating an environment of learners who know to their very core that they deserve more and that they have the ability to achieve it.
  • We want to teach kids that their choices have consequences, intended and unintended.
  • We want schools to provide structure and boundaries so that kids are ready for the real world when they leave school.
We all need to remember that the people kids will encounter as adults will not be nearly as forgiving as our district has been lately and we are doing our kids are huge disservice. Employers, colleges, police officers - none of them will give them a "pass" when they commit a crime, bully or act disrespectfully - they will feel consequences. We have an obligation as parents and educators to prepare them for this reality.
Perhaps, if the young man involved in the Grant and H.W. Smith incidents had been provided with the academic and social-emotional supports that we are advocating for, he would have made a different decision when contemplating bringing a weapon capable of causing serious injury (this was not JUST an old-fashioned BB gun) to school. But, as SCSD runs right now, we will never know that answer...

Our detractors have accused us of racism. And we won't say that racism doesn't exist, because it does. We have been accused of trying to warehouse kids. But we aren't - any alternative placements we advocate are designed to be temporary. We suggest that critics read the plan before reacting to it.

Because what we are advocating for is the creation of a safe, chaos-free, nurturing learning environment for ALL KIDS.

This movement is not about bad kids or good kids,
white kids or kids of color, poor kids or rich kids.
It is just about KIDS!!!

We - our entire community - need to acknowledge the reality of our current situation and commit to doing everything we can to change it.
Not the perception of change, but real substantive change.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Grant Middle School

As many of you may have already heard, Grant Middle School was placed on lockdown this morning. It is alleged that a student brought a gun (reportedly a BB gun, but not confirmed) to school. It was discovered quickly, three police cars and the crime scene unit were seen at the school during drop-offs this morning. One parent has reported that the lockdown has been lifted, as they were able to get into the building and speak with the Principal, Dr. Taylor.

To the best of our knowledge,
all students and staff are safe and no injuries have been reported. 

Watch the news, as we have confirmed that reporters were en route to the school to cover the story. If any Grant parents or staff would like to contribute what you know to this discussion, please add your comments to this thread, that way they are easily accessible for everyone.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Yet Another Weapon Incident

It is with profound relief that we can report that the second weapon incident in the SCSD in less than a week (that we know of!) did not result in any injuries. As many of you may already know, today a second-grader at McKinley-Brighton brought a .22 caliber handgun to school and was showing it off at lunchtime to a friend when a staff member spotted it. We have avoided tragedy twice... Can we avoid it a third time?

Every single SCSD parent, staff member, and stakeholder should be demanding a statement from the Superintendent and the Board of Education, outlining how they will handle this escalating crisis!

There is an immediate need for our leaders to stand up and make it known to students and parents that WE WILL NOT TOLERATE weapons in our buildings! Where the heck are they? Why are they not on the news? Why are they not in our schools? Why are we getting robo-calls about the Latin school, but not a single district-wide robo-call advising parents and students that schools do not tolerate weapons on campus and providing guidance to students on what to do if they see a weapon in school?

While their silence is not surprising, it is disappointing - again.

SCSD LEADERS TAKE NOTE. NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE A STAND BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS!

Monday, March 31, 2014

Guest Commentary from Bill Scott (the Elder)

Bill recently sent this commentary to the Post Standard with the hopes that it would be published. The paper politely declined, on the grounds that it was not a subject that was of interest to most of their readers. They then proceeded to suggest that our humble blog might be more in line. Ha!

Anyway, courtesy of Bill, here it is...

Let Us Come Together
 
To the editor:

In my 71 years on this earth and my 45 years working in the field of education (mostly with SCSD), I have been a student of the change process. I have been a participant in and a leader of countless workshops, forums, and community meetings. I am relatively sure that I know the essential elements necessary to bring about productive change, but I am absolutely sure that I know what does not work. I have been around too long to stand by and see politics, ego, hardened positions, and canned arguments that don’t fit get in the way of a thoughtful solution to a problem that is harmful to our students staff, and families.

Recently the president of the Syracuse Teachers Association presented a plan on behalf of the Be the Change (BTC) group, which is a coalition of parents and school district staff. The plan they submitted is a thoughtful plan of action intended to resolve the immediate crisis of violence in the Syracuse City schools and to build a network of support for families and students whose experience in the schools has not worked for them. The reaction of some advocates who have frequently spoken
before the school board and who have shared their views through the media has been extremely disappointing to those of us who had hopes that the community could come together to meet the challenge of a deteriorating learning environment that will adversely affect the future of hundreds, if not thousands, of students.

I am and have been an advocate, so I will speak of our role from that perspective. The job of the advocate is a difficult one. We are most often in the position of fighting for the rights of those who do not have the resources or the voice to be heard. Our tools are often well-established arguments that can be brought out when the critical lens that we use alerts us to an injustice that must be addressed. We are usually outnumbered and out-resourced by those that we have to stand against. So, we develop an early warning system that gets us prepared for the fight before it begins. The down side of this is that we develop a kind of professional paranoia. We sometimes see things that are not there. When we let our bias or prejudice blind us, we use arguments that really do not fit the situation. Our weakness, ironically, is the same thing that we have fought so courageously against. When our arguments and proclamations do not make sense, we lose credibility among those who could be
our allies. Those who have always been opposed to our work delight in our loss of credibility and are only too happy to join the team for the prosecution.

Arguments that have been put forward by advocates to effectively stand against discriminatory practices just do not fit the plan put forward by BTC. The first reaction of some advocates appears to view the plan as the same old practice of excessive school suspensions and warehousing of students that does nothing to support students in developing the social/emotional skills that will help them to
be successful students and productive citizens as adults. Nothing could be further from the truth. I believe that the reaction to the BTC proposal is one of those times that some advocates need to take a second look at the plan before speaking in opposition.

The following beliefs underlie the BTC plan:
  1. All students are entitled to learn in a safe and healthy school environment.
  2. Some students need alternatives (for a limited period of time) to the traditional school setting in order to be successful.
  3. Some students need intensive support in developing the social/emotional skills that will enable them to participate fully in the traditional school environment.
  4. Families should have access to services to support the needs of their children.
  5. The fact that needed services for children and families are lacking is tantamount to educational neglect.
I doubt that anyone who advocates for equal opportunity and access in public schools would disagree with any of the above precepts. If that assumption is correct, we are all on the same side. We have many common obstacles to stand against. I urge advocates to meet with BTC to work with their draft proposal in order to come together on a plan that assures that our schools offer an opportunity for success for all of our students. The advocates who have connections among CBOs, private and public service agencies, and the faith-based community can also help us to bring together resources that are needed to meet many of the needs of our children and families that have been neglected for too long.

Thanks, Bill, for your support in so many ways!!!

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Can You Say Pressure?

Keep the pressure on... Never doubt the impact we can make as a group speaking the truth with a single voice... We all want every child in the Syracuse City School district to have access to a sound, basic education. They deserve it!

Saturday, March 29, 2014

WOW!!!

We have not received the number of reports that have come in today since the first week of the blog. So many, in fact, that we are compiling them all to be reported to the media. It will be impossible for the district to hide anymore... Keep the tips coming!

What If...

What if we all started calling Central Office on Monday and demanded action.? Bombard the School Board with emails, too? Would YOU do it?

Reported

Mother and Daughter Charged in Knife Fight at Nottingham
What if this had been a gun? Imagine how differently this could have turned out...
SCSD take notice!
This is not a perceived escalation, this is REAL danger!

And it was not the only knife fight in a school last week. There was one at Frazer, allegedly by two students who did not belong there, either because they were on homebound instruction or suspended or otherwise not supposed to be in the building.

The legal doctrines of foreseeability will make the district culpable when something tragic happens, because the warning signs are all there.

The time has come to make this issue a priority and truly address it,
not with glossy brochures that trot out the same old programs,
but with real change.

Friday, March 28, 2014

We Need YOUR Help Getting Stories into the Press

If you know anything about incidents this week at Nottingham and Frazer, we need help bombarding the media to cover them. Both incidents allegedly involved weapons and mace being brought into the schools and arrests being made. If you know anything, please contact the Post Standard and/or the TV channels to demand coverage.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Can We Fill the Ballroom?

The ballroom at Temple Adath Yeshurun holds 300+ people. Do you think we can fill it? Email us if you are planning to attend Thursday's "Be the Change" rally. REMEMBER - the more visible you are, the less likely you are to be the victim of retaliation because THE MEDIA IS WATCHING, READY TO REPORT ON ANY INCIDENTS OF RETALIATION. The time has come to step out of the shadows and let your voice be heard! Can you do it?

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

PERCEIVED Escalation???

  • Parents complaining at board meetings
  • Newspaper reports on teachers being injured in classrooms
  • A weekly glass replacement bill reported to be in excess of $1,000
  • Teachers being threatened DAILY
  • Students being injured by their fellow students every single day
  • Drugs being sold IN SCHOOL with virtually no repercussions
At what point does this go from being
perceived escalation of (negative) behaviors to
actually being acknowledged and addressed head-on?

The latest marketing piece generated by the district outlines all of the programs that are in place to help support students who are struggling on a social-emotional level. What the piece neglects to mention is the limited capacity of these programs. Most teachers, social workers and staff estimate that about 5% our students are in DESPERATE need of intensive social-emotional supports. In a district with 20,000 students, this equates to a need for at least 1,000 slots

Even estimating generously,
the district has fewer than 350 slots.
Far, far, far fewer than are needed.
 
What happens to those kids who are falling through the cracks?

Those are the kids that "Be the Change" wants to see supported. Those are the kids who are most at risk for THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE THAT NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN!

Only a concerted effort from the entire community will turn this problem around - parents, grandparents, mentors, teachers, social workers, counselors, churches, concerned adults. All of us working together. Redirecting funds from padded overhead fluff to the nitty-gritty hands-on service providers. Reassessing our priorities. Creating strong boundaries and high expectations.

Right now we are painting the walls
while the building is falling down all around us.
 
That doesn't make sense!
 
We cannot afford to wait any longer!

Parents, teachers and non-supervisory SCSD staff - contact this blog to learn how you can attend our rally on March 27th.

Come be part of  the change you wish to see in the world.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Excitement Is Building

As the second "Be the Change" rally nears, we can feel the excitement building. Our theme for the night is "Bring a Parent, Bring a Friend" and we are asking everyone to bring a guest with them. Please remember though - SCSD personnel are limited to non-supervisory employees only. Meeting details will follow later today, but make sure you hold Thursday, March 27th free.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Are You KIDDING?!

The Plan of Action advocates for warehousing kids? Especially those of color and with disabilities? Talking about "bad" kids?

Where is this coming from?

The team that worked on the draft plan included general ed teachers, special ed teachers, social workers, support staff and parents of kids with special needs. All were very cognizant of student rights and due process. And, while the plan is not complete, it is a starting point for acknowledging that our district does not have enough available slots to fill the need we have for supportive alternative schooling for those kids who are struggling AND for creating a safe, chaos-free environment for those kids who are not. This plan does not intend to take away from the long-range programs that are in place, nor does it seek to deprive any child of their right to an education.

Indeed, we all know that the only way our children will be successful
is to ensure that they all have access to a sound basic education.

Right now, none of our kids do.

Why? Because a very small percentage of the kids, through violent and intentionally disruptive behaviors, have created a chaos-filled environment within the SCSD - at all grade levels.

The Plan of Action does not advocate for removal from all education, nor can it legally. Instead it recommends movement to a more supportive environment where students can get the social-emotional and academic supports that they NEED to be successful when they return to a traditional classroom setting, which is the ultimate goal.

Twilight classes - evenings from 3:00 to 5:00 or 5:00 to 7:00 - already exist in a more basic form in the high schools, so the Plan is not suggesting anything new to the district. Rather it expands upon the program, advocating for partnerships with community-based organizations to adds daytime supports and the addition of social-emotional supports during the twilight school hours, something the program does not currently include.

All of this is with the goal of helping kids to be MORE supported so that they can be successful.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

URGENT - SCSD Needs Our Support to Advocate for Fair Funding


The following is a message we received from Parents for Public Schools. Please consider signing this request for an increase in the financial support that SCSD receives from the state. If you haven't already signed their petition, the deadline is Thursday, March 20th, as it will be presented in Albany on Friday.

"The state has never made fair funding for schools a priority. Syracuse kids and families feel the effects every day. With this year’s budget season coming to a close, there is no action in sight. For this reason, Parents for Public Schools of Syracuse has posted online a petition to be sent to Governor Cuomo, Assemblymembers Magnarelli, and Roberts, and Senators DeFrancisco & Valesky.

We are asking our elected officials to act now to:
  • Restore $7.7 million in foundation aid to Syracuse for the 2014-2015 school year as a good faith gesture toward renewing the promise that NYS will find a fair way to fund schools so that all children, even those who live in Syracuse, can enjoy their constitutional right to a sound basic education.
  • Restore $1.8 million in flexible universal all-day pre-K funding.
  • Eliminate immediately the balance of the Gap Elimination Adjustment and reallocate these funds to high needs districts, including Syracuse.
Will you sign this petition? It only takes a minute. Click here:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/a-syracuse-zip-code-shouldnt?source=s.icn.em.mt&r_by=1577722

Thank you for speaking up for Syracuse children."

Without these funding increases, we will not have the resources to provide the supports that so many of our students so desperately need in order to be successful in school. will continue to see the deterioration in our schools.

We must act now!!!