I think that's good news but I don't think they'll get past the residency requirement thing. And really - I don't blame him, because I don't think we would be able to get the advanced curriculum in place over the summer. I hope we do get it at some point b/c the news stories I have read, there is only just the one school in Sylvania that offer it.
Wow wouldn't that be an incentive for drawing students back into the district!!
But I guess since with residency requirements, the teachers will be living in Toledo - you know the whole 'me too' thing. I suppose it can't all be one sided. I would kind of buck at the idea of being told where I had to live but apparently it's the trend.
I don't know if they'll like that idea - I don't think I would, but I do see an upside to it. Teachers would be highly motivated as Toledo dwellers/home owners to make sure the district was 'all it can be' :-)
More students, more home owners etc. so yeah - I can see why they'd be standing their ground. Just, as I say, not sure how much I'd like it if it applied to me.
posted by katie82640 at 04:54 P.M. EST on Wed May 02, 2007 #
Just another example of what is wrong with TPS. Right when there was hope in the community that steps were being taken to make it better, this storm blows up.
Facts are facts. TPS does not offer the rigorous coursework offered by private schools or suburban districts. Larry sent his boys to St.Francis I believe.
I don't blame him for opting out. He got an early lesson of the reality of politics in Toledo.
posted by fish4 at 06:05 P.M. EST on Wed May 02, 2007 #
He sounds like a great guy with lots of good new ideas for improvement.
That being the case, Sykes and co will be doing everything they can to sabotage this. This IS Toledo after all - we'll find some way to Fug this up.
posted by billy at 06:56 A.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
Can someone give a "for Dummies" explanation of the "Me Too" clause.
Also, I think that the state ruled a few years ago that you can't require someone to live in the district (at least that is what our district tells us about the reason that Superintendent doesn't live in the district . . . hmmm.)
posted by corky at 07:46 A.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
Corky - from my understanding...
There is a memorandum of understanding that the administration and unions signed (I cannot find where the MOU went to the board for approval or vote) that basically says that the superintendent's staff and the treasurer cannot get an increase in pay unless the teachers and administrator unions do too. This is the 'me-too' agreement.
Now, the actual language does not mention the superintendent specifically, but it is referenced in one of the emails that the 'assumption' was that it included the superintendent and that it was believed the unions would not have agreed to the MOU if the superintendent had been excluded.
So - the position of the unions is that the Superintendent is limited in the amount of pay he can receive to be no more than Sanders' last salary. And they have said they will begin a grievance against the district if the district pays a new superintendent more without giving the unions a pay increase as well.
Clear as mud - huh?
posted by MaggieThurber at 08:05 A.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
The real sticking point now in the negotiations is the the attorney for the school board and several board members have been 'inflexible' in demanding that Dr. Harner live in the district. He would but the only place that offers the advanced placement classes his daughter needs is Northview in Sylvania. Which could create a great opportunity if he would be hired - we could have those classes as well and be in a better position to compete. But should his daughter suffer because we're having problems?
No - he's coming to make things better. Can't fault him for this.
But the $64,000 question is - what in the heck's going to happen about this residency requirement?
You wouldn't have a rule that the teachers all have to live in the district but the administrators don't - people would be furious. So you can't have a rule for the administrators that doesn't affect the teachers.
I think this is going to bring drastic change during the next contract negotiations.
Nobody seems to be thinking about this - I see two sides, but I also see teachers who DO live outside the district - maybe they just want to raise their kids in the country?
posted by katie82640 at 08:28 A.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
Does he have to live in Toledo or the TPS district? There are some great neighborhoods in Talmadge, Sylvania Avenue area all the way up to Corey Road that encompasses the Northview district - Toledo mailing address - 43623. Also, I think jack Ford has a great column in The Truth this week. If you haven't read it, it's a must!
posted by Teacher at 09:11 A.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
They've been really clear about it - it's the 'district'.
It may be too late to get this guy - but going forward teacher - will the residency requirement have an impact on our teachers?
posted by katie82640 at 09:29 A.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
TPS is surrounded by school districts with an 'excellent' rating. If we coerce teachers/principals/superintendants to come over from these excellent rated schools to fix TPS, are you saying they should uproot and move even if theyre already living within commuting distance?
We have a trashed up system. If you were a parent, and there was a park nearby that was full of drug/gang/pedophile, whatever activity, would you have your kid go there, or would you take your kid to a safe park AND STILL work to fix the park that was near you?
Second question - one that interests me even more. Do all the TPS board members' children attend TPS, or do they go to private schools?
Apparantly Harner believes in public schooling - he wants his daughter to go to one - just one that has the programs she needs to get to where she wants to be. What's the problem in that?
posted by billy at 11:50 A.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
If they made him live within the TPS district, would he be prohibited from sending his daughter to one of the private schools?
Seems kinda silly to force him to live in district, if he ends up sending his daughter to Notre Dame or St Ursula anyhow. (At least by having his daughter attend Northview, he's still showing support of public schools.)
I have a friend who teaches at one of the inner city schools, and she lives in Oregon. (Its where she grew up - her whole family lives nearby, and she enjoys the community.) She could have had the opportunity to teach in Oregon, but she passed it up to stay w/TPS b/c she's committed to her students. I think a residency requirement might push her to leave TPS though - why should she uproot herself from the community where she's lived her whole life?
posted by mom2 at 12:25 P.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
I don't think he should be limited where his daughter can attend. I believe in choice. Where my struggle with vouchers... is that many parents utilize the vouchers and send their children elsewhere. Then they find out that Toledo Christian will not tolerate absenteeism or lack of parent involvement also. Quite a few have come back - I am in a school where children can take advantage of vouchers. Some of these same parents send their children unprepared, without homework and they miss a lot because they walk from a project. It is much deeper than people realize. (sorry to get off track)
I hope they can work it out for Dr. Harner - Darlene lives in my neighborhood and her 2 children always attended TPS, Steve Steel's daughter does too. I do not feel that Robert Torres, Larry Sykes should only be on the board if their children attended TPS. I appreciate their time recognizing they have their faults. It seems to be a thankless job with many hours and no pay. Just my opinion. I personally don't care where Dr. Harner would live. To me it should be where he and his family feel most comfortable.
posted by Teacher at 12:54 P.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
Then they find out that Toledo Christian will not tolerate absenteeism or lack of parent involvement also.
Now that's just funny - they wanna use a voucher to get into a better school, but then dont want to go the extra yard to be sure the kid is in school or be involved.
Some of these same parents send their children unprepared, without homework and they miss a lot because they walk from a project.
And the school they choose is going to change that?
My sister in law is a teacher and called a parent one time about their kid's behavioral problem. The response? "Yeah, he acts like that at home too - we were hoping you could do something about that."
What losers. What a gimme gimme gimme for nothing mentality.
posted by billy at 01:55 P.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
My son attends Monclova Christian. And billy I can firmly tell you yes. The school changes showing up unprepared or without homework in our case.
IF he shows up without homework, bombs tests - they schedule a conference mid term. If he doesn't do his work, I'd get a call at work to come to the school.
They have a very loving and system of positive reinforcement but they do not tolerate absenteeism, lack of parental involvement or an unwilling student.
And if there are problems the school can't resolve and the student and the parents won't - the student doesn't go to school there anymore.
Both the student and the parent sign a very strict code of conduct and they are held to it.
posted by katie82640 at 02:05 P.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
Both the student and the parent sign a very strict code of conduct and they are held to it.
Sounds like a damn fine way to conduct school to me. How's your son liking it?
posted by billy at 02:36 P.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
You won't believe this but he loves it. He was really missing his sister last year after she went to college, well we both were - but this year has been unbelievable.
He yammers about science stuff all the way home every day. He's playing sports for the first time. Baseball.
They pay all the sports expenses...well I had to buy cleats. But they cover the uniform, fees - whatever for as many sports as the kids want to play as long as it doesn't interfere w/grades.
He had a real poor attitude after he went to Byrnedale. Quit reading books, grades were down - he didn't have much to say in class. His self esteem was in the john.
So I'm loving this also.
posted by katie82640 at 02:47 P.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
Oh, forgot to say - the tuition for a year is less than 4,000.00.
I think it's 10% off if you can prepay the year - but I can't do it.
posted by katie82640 at 02:49 P.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
My sister in law is a teacher and called a parent one time about their kid's behavioral problem. The response? "Yeah, he acts like that at home too - we were hoping you could do something about that."
Ah - remember the good old days when parents taught their kids good behavior, and teachers were expected to teach the 3 Rs + science...
What was your sister-in-law's response? Hopefully more courteous than mine would have been. (Hence the reason I'm not a teacher...I couldn't put up with the idiot parents. The good parents, yes. The idiot parents, no.)
posted by mom2 at 03:24 P.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
Ok, just for giggles I asked the 16 year old son tonight, (he was sitting on the floor playing the guitar) what did he think would happen if he got kicked out of school.
He said 'what did I do?!' first and I felt bad b/c I freaked him out a little so I said no - no, this is just a hypothetical. Suppose you got in a fight or stole something?
He says 'oh no - they'd throw me out of school for that'.
Mission accomplished.
It can be done.
posted by katie82640 at 09:45 P.M. EST on Thu May 03, 2007 #
Or... should I just pack up and get out now?
If you can, YES!!
If not Bedford why not further out? Ida Public? Mason?
But if you hang for 6 years to see what might happen, arent you gambling with your child's future? You could always move back if there's improvement but study the trend in this city for the past 20-30 years.
What indicators do you see that there might be an upturn?
posted by billy at 07:15 A.M. EST on Sat May 05, 2007 #
Does anyone know where Foley sent his children to school?
I don't think they went to TPS...
posted by doc at 02:04 P.M. EST on Sat May 05, 2007 #
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