Paperless Teaching

This is a great blog for teachers (and students!) who want to go paperless and believe that social networking is a powerful tool for sharing information and ideas. There's no going back!

http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/

The Time is Now: Fiscal and Tax Reform

http://www.floridataxreform.org/index.html

New York Times-Immigrant Students in Public Schools

The huge diversity in our classrooms, as we have here in Orange County, presents many challenges, but also many opportunities if we value all children and consider each capable of success and deserving of an equal, empowering education.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/us/15immig.html?scp=2&sq=ginger%20thompson&st=cse

Enough is Enough

Thankfully, Floridians are waking up to that fact that our state leaders need to fix our shallow, unstable revenue base and invest sufficiently in K-20 education and other vital public infrastructure. Depending so much on sales tax for revenues, especially with the dozens of exemptions on the books, is not a sustainable way to fund the level and quality of public services that Floridians need now or in the future.

Further, recent efforts to destabilize Florida's property tax structure, depletion of reserve and trust funds, disproportionate allegiance to the low-wage industries of construction, leisure and agriculture, and political rhetoric that promotes a perception that government in any form is inherently "bad," have only exacerbated problems in what is already a weak fiscal underpinning.

Now, with Revenue Estimating Conferences continuing to paint a gloomy picture, steady population declines, complex demographic changes, and many public services in what can be described as crisis, the time is ripe to fix what is clearly broken. And this does not mean hiding behind stop-gap Federal stimulus funding and leaving it up to future leaders when circumstances will surely be worse.

What it does mean, to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities, is for Governor Crist and our state legislators to muster the political courage needed to develop pragmatic, long-term solutions. We will never have a 21st century economy and a well-educated, healthy populace without such responsible leadership dedicated to establish a strong framework for sufficient, sustainable revenues.

Holding New School Board Accountable: Equity for Evans High School

Let’s be clear about the facts-

Fact #1: Potential. I know our students at Evans. I admire and respect them. They are just as capable of success as any students in Orange County. They don’t need sympathy or charity. They need empowerment. They need the same kind of educational experience and opportunities they would have at any other high school. That is how they will be prepared for our diverse, competitive and complex world. Maintain those high expectations. Help them realize their potential.

Truth #2: Prejudice. Mayor Crotty and Commissioners Brummer, Stewart and Fernandez bowed to the politics of prejudice when they denied Superintendent Blocker’s plan, approved by the former school board, and supported by Principal Christiansen, teachers, families and community leaders, to rebuild Evans quickly and equitably on and next to its freshman campus. It was to be completed by this next school year. How unfortunate that adult agendas won out over children’s best interests. These elected officials used false and distorted arguments, did not follow their own comprehensive plan, and took our community back at least fifty years. It was an injustice. It was discrimination.

Now that this reality has forced Evans to be rebuilt on its main campus, it is the responsibility of many, but especially the school board, to do everything possible to remove the stubborn stigma of that location. A large burden of proof now rests on new school board members who agreed with the mayor and those county commissioners. You now should ask yourself as plans proceed, would I send my child to Evans? All board members need to ask themselves that. I used to. I know others did. It’s always the ultimate test.

Truth #3: Community Problems. Many are grateful to Sen. Sipliin, Commissioners Segal and Moore Russell, Chairman Cadle, Sheriff Demings, and the superintendent, Reverend Bracy, Police Chief Demings and others, for starting a dialogue to address the serious problems that plague Pine Hills and contribute so heavily to the stigma that Evans endures. But, it’s only a beginning. It can’t be window dressing and it must show measurable results.

Truth #4- Equity and students. New plans must provide the same conditions for success that the rejected plan did. It means an equitable facility built as quickly as possible. But this requires much more than bricks and mortar. It requires continued commitment and support for: rigorous advanced studies, including the newly accredited IB and fledgling Global Technologies programs, high-quality administrators, teachers and staff, and the same opportunities in the arts, sports and extra-curricular activities available in any Orange County high school. Only this will build the foundation and framework for success that can bring back families, attract a diverse enrollment, retain strong administrators, teachers and staff, and establish a vibrant culture of achievement.

Truth #5 - Equity and unitary status. This commitment to all levels of education may help achieve unitary status, but it has clearly been jeopardized by these politics of prejudice and by the fact that elected officials will still bow to them and force policies that can reinforce the marginalization, i.e. segregation, of schoolchildren and threaten the school board’s and superintendent’s ability to fulfill their constitutional and statutory responsibilities to serve all students fully and equitably.

Truth #6- Burden of proof. I’m not alone in trying to see this end as a new beginning, and it’s clear that it will take the work of many within and outside Evans. I include myself in that work as a continuing supporter of Evans. Success can be reached, but, make no mistake, the stakes are bigger, the bar is higher, and the burden of proof is greater. Many are waiting to see the school board, specifically new members, reject the ugly politics that got us here and show that you understand your primary responsibility is to provide a full and equitable education for all students, regardless of skin color, native language, family income or zip code. Putting children’s best interests above adult agendas. In all times, but especially in these dire economic times, we can expect nothing less.



Address by Anne Geiger to OCPS School Board on issue of Evans High School
February 24, 2008