There might be an unexpected benefit for parents from the weekly Wednesday early dismissals, according to school board member Horace Tart.
Here's the backdrop for this discussion. During Tuesday's committee of the whole meeting, board members gave reports on recent committee meetings.
Lori Millberg gave an update on a recent student achievement committee discussion on afterschool programs. She noted that a number of elementary schools and the YMCA have set up Wednesday-only programs because of the early dismissals.
Tart piped in that these places usually allow students to stay until 6 p.m. He said this can give parents one day a week where they have the afternoon to themselves.
Tart said parents can also save on fuel costs from not having to sit in carpool lanes on Wednesdays.
"It may be worth it not being there at one particular day and time," Tart said.
Comments
Why bother wednesdays
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 15:59 — cybercris2The HS kids call Wednesdays "Why Bother Wednesdays" we are sending a message to our kids that instructional time is not all that important and can be trimmed wily nily. Oh and BTW Horace I was WORKING on Wednesday and totally forgot it was early dismissal day. Not getting a manicure, taking a nap or lunching with girlfriends.
Check this out D2 folks!
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 14:51 — g88ky07http://news.mync.com/site/news/video/8209/Horace_Tart___Wake_School_Board/
*NBC has been alerted and this video has been pulled. Let me sum it up quoting The "Indy" with its "confused" endorsement of Mr. Tart,
"HORACE TART, the incumbent, is a plainspoken fellow to the point of occasionally being tongue-tied or worse."
You'll get a taste of this when his 2 minutes runs in the near future on NBC!
Anyone update those school
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 22:32 — dougdeepAnyone update those school zone signs yet? Try reading that new sign!
I saw one
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 07:56 — gunfamat Baucom the other day. It was ridiculous! I could't make out all the times, so I just slowed down in case.
Fewer Meetings, More Teaching!!!
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 22:27 — dubiousYet one more example that the current admin has no clue. First they let teachers go that could have been paid for with stimulus money and then they cut teaching time Wednesday so the overburdened teachers who are left can be force fed a weekly dose of bureaucratic BS. Idiots.
Stress
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 09:07 — SDR256Isn't that some kind of psychological technique? You know, stress them, wear them down, stress them in a different direction, all the while repeating a message over and over and over?
Just when you think you have
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 20:43 — dryeraseuserJust when you think you have heard it all....Tart...you are tanked buddy!
I just pray and pray and pray and hold out on all faith I have that this whole PLT and early Wednesdays will fail and we will get back to normal next year. As a teacher, give me my time back with my children Wednesday afternoon. Take away this endless meeting, EXTRA planning, the burden of writing/typing out an agenda for every meeting, writing/typing out the minutes for the meeting and then posting it on the web..just to show "We are doing such great things out there parents". It is all a lie. I know VERY few teachers that are for this, and certainly the MAJORITY of the school where I teach, pretty much hate to see Wednesday roll around. I wish I had the NCAE to take up our pain and demand something, some relief from WCPSS, BUT I can't, since they sold us out back in the spring. I was very disappointed how we were played out in this. Something that "we wanted" , however WE the teachers were never asked about it. We didn't know about it, until someone directed me to N&O's blog page for Wake Ed. Then with a "fly by night' decision we were thrown into the HELL that we are in. Thank you WCPSS, Thank you for adding more paperwork and administrative work to my day instead of teaching my children.
Dry, I hope you are
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 09:37 — CaryCurmudgeonDry,
I hope you are networking with other Wake County teachers to get the vote out on October 6th. I am sure the NCAE will be carpet-bombing those teachers with mailers, even though the majority are not members. Our teachers are so over-worked right now that many probably do not have the time to investigate individual candidate platforms.
In an interesting twist, it does seem like many teachers feel they have been sold out by the NCAE, so many might be inclined to vote against candidates who carry the NCAE endorsement. But the word needs to get out.
HA!
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 18:55 — Bob_SconceWhat a load of ....
In other news, Al Quaeda just released the following press release: "US soldiers in Afghanistan are so lucky that they get to wear that stylish body armor. You know, if we didn't try to kill them all the time, they wouldn't even have the chance. So, they should be thanking us!"
Its called rationalization.
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 16:22 — SDR256Whatever they decide there just simply must be some good reason for it - in their minds. If it came from them then it must be best for the puny insignificant families of Wake County. The smell of arrogance in the air is overwhelming. Now the emperor not only has no clothes but he has BO. How bad is this going to get before the hordes will storm the castle? Vote and/or volunteer for John Tedesco, Chris Malone, Debra Prickett and Debra Goldman Oct 6 so we can all wake up from this nightmare.
That is "Deborah" Prickett.
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 17:23 — woodstockThat is "Deborah" Prickett.
Thanks for the correction!
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 19:26 — SDR256Yes! Deborah Prickett! My fingers got ahead of me.
Carborro comes to Fuquay
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 16:05 — InTheArena"The Independent has announced its endorsements for Wake County school board ... In today's Indy, the weekly is backing ... Horace Tart in District 2... the Indy didn't back Tart in 2005. But the liberal weekly notes how he's changed his views since then."
Yeah, they got that right!
One of my friends said that
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:17 — jenmanOne of my friends said that the Y after school program at her school is $50/kid for Wednesdays. And you have to do the full school year. That's $100/month for 2 kids--a lot of money for her and for many people.
Another Example of a Decision Without Thought
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 09:35 — JanisTangoThis is just another example of a decision without any thought regarding impacts. Our ES has school sponsored after school care. Our school does not offer any Wednesday only care because they don't have the staff to handle it. Our after school care is being done by teachers, TAs and two young adults. If you want Wednesday only care, you have to sign up through the YMCA and the kids are bussed 10 miles to the nearest YMCA. The parents have to go there to pick them up! Just another example of BOE decision making without any thought regarding impacts to students and families!
This Wake County School Board is unbelievable ...
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:17 — avg_joeThis backwards logic from Horace Tart shows just how bad we've allowed the Wake County School Board to become.
Since Horace has decided Wake County schools should only do a half-day's worth of teaching on Wednesday, parents have had to scramble to adjust. Their jobs don't let them out a half day early on Wednesdays. Working parents are pretty much forced to pay for YMCA's on Wednesday thanks to the school board, and Horace is trying to spin this as a benefit to parents?
It's time for parents to take back the Wake County School Board.
Research the candidates, and VOTE IN OCTOBER. If you don't, you'll have no one to blame for this lunacy other than yourself!
Oh, and great job raising the obvious questions behind this brain-dead logic, Keung Hui. I guess this is the kind of softball journalism we can look forward to during this fall's school board race?
more OT-alert
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:54 — AngelaWTwo injured in school bus accident
It happened at Northwest Cary Pkwy at Chapel Hill Road around 2 p.m.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7017684
Who does Mr. Hui work for?
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:28 — troublemakerncIs he an employee of the Wake County School System?
He is a fair and balanced
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:41 — woodstockHe is a fair and balanced journalist for the N&O ...a rarity, I know. Mr. Hui is first rate!
What's missing ...
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:31 — avg_joeWhat's missing from the N&O article is discussion of the obvious dissenting viewpoint many angry parents have about this entire policy.
Why should parents be forced to pay for day care every Wednesday? Is there really not enough planning and meeting time in the schedule already?
Simply explaining the school board's side of the story gives the whole story an obvious slant in the school board's favor. Simply articulate the opposing view, i.e. the one shared by many angry parents on this message board! This kind of stuff is journalism 101.
Guys, remember this is a
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:55 — KeungHui (author)Guys, remember this is a blog post and not a story. It's not meant to be a long and exhaustive discussion of the weekly early dismissals. I thought you guys might be interested in Tart's take on the situation, especially considering he's running for reelection.
Fair enough ...
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 16:15 — avg_joeFair enough, though given how high emotions run on the entire subject of the WCPSS, acknowledging the opposing point of view would help maintain the apparent objectivity of the piece. An extra sentence or two would be sufficient.
Horace is touting the benefits of the after-school care he's forcing Wake County working parents to pay for.
That takes some nerve IMO.
OT-alert
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:03 — AngelaWThe Aldine Independent School District in Texas won the 2009 Broad Prize for Urban Education today for its progress in educating an overwhelmingly poor student population.
The Aldine district won the honor for outperforming its peer Texas districts in overall mathematics and reading scores in 2008. Eighty-four percent of its students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, and 31 percent are identified as English-language learners.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/16/04broad.h29.html?tkn=XWTFheM%2BK1Sj%2B%2BBvPD5oOxrvPGdO4g8PoQ%2Fz
from the AP this time
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 09:37 — AngelaWhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090916/ap_on_re_us/us_education_prize
OT-alert (since anynore about Horace disgusts me)
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 13:57 — AngelaWMoving Beyond the Conventional Wisdom of Whole-District Reform
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/16/03childress.h29.html?tkn=LVUFJB6hUDV5mFIews8zKK41zTPQrl9UyfIp
The Montgomery County, Md., public school system is not one of them. It enrolls 140,000 students, about half of whom are African-American or Hispanic, and has a performance story different from those of many other districts of similar size. As its top quartile of performers did better from 2003 to 2008, the lower quartiles improved even faster. Montgomery County cut in half the literacy and math gaps between early-grade African-American and Hispanic students and their white counterparts, and doubled the number of African-American students passing Advanced Placement exams. Hispanic kindergartners’ reading levels were 25 points lower than white students’; today the gap is in the single digits.
something else to learn from
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:43 — loriac'They built systems and structures that required educators to behave as if every student could master rigorous content, whether they believed it or not... '
What if we had high expectations of EVERY student, and acted accordingly?
then we wouldn't be talking
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:47 — AngelaWthen we wouldn't be talking about WCPSS!!
AWESOME! From the
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:09 — woodstockAWESOME!
From the article:
... But
perhaps his greatest contribution was modeling what it means to lead
for equity. The formerly dysfunctional school board...
Stories abound of teachers, principals, and
central-office staff members who decided the status quo would no longer
do and began to shake things up...
This is what passes for logic at Wake County School Board?!?!
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 13:39 — avg_joeThis backwards logic from Horace Tart shows just how bad we've allowed the Wake County School Board to become.
Since Horace has decided to only do a half-day's worth of teaching every Wednesday, parents have had to scramble to adjust. (Their job doesn't let them out a half day early on Wednesdays.) Working parents are pretty much forced to pay for YMCA's on Wednesday thanks to the school board, and Horace is trying to spin this as a benefit to parents?
It's time for parents to take back the Wake County School Board.
Research the candidates, and VOTE IN OCTOBER. If you don't, you'll have no one to blame for this lunacy other than yourself!
Oh, and great job raising the obvious questions behind this brain-dead logic, Keung Hui. I guess this is the kind of softball journalism we can look forward to during this fall's school board race?
Just when you think that all
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 13:28 — rr77rr99Just when you think that all the stupidity has been spewed from this board's mouths... out comes more! I am with Janis here.. bang bang bang goes my head on the desk . Maybe the concussion I give myself will make Lori and Horace's comments make sense!
What the heck? Parents will have "time to themselves"... is he seriously on meds? What the heck?
And the "Y" offers more programs now?
No, they can't be for real. This can't be for real. This is a joke right?
These Board members honestly believe that their "solutions" across the board are the best for parents? How many parents are now on the verge of losing their jobs because their moronic schedules are really ticking off their bosses?
And the poster about the high school sports, .. .that includes, band, after school drama programs, clubs etc.. these kids have to clear campus, and then somehow figure out a way to get BACK to school on Wednesdays.
Hey, Horace, how is that SAVING gas? That's three extra trips for a parent..drop back off, pick back up.... after doing it in the morning anyway.
I am so sick and tired of being "played the fool" by these people. Just stop it. Stop treating parents like they are dirt, like the are morons and like we shouldn't be the ones in control of what works best for our children and our families.
Vote John Tedesco on October 4th
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 13:12 — InTheArenaVote John Tedesco on October 4th. Why? Don't take my word for it, just go to www.4WakeKids.com for a host of reasons. John will be a breath of fresh air. I voted for Horace Tart in the last election. What a MAJOR disappointment.
Tedesco may be a fine
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 17:12 — mdhillisonTedesco may be a fine candidate but that site turned me off. Why not clearly post some basic facts about yourself somewhere on the site. I can't tell if he's married or has kids - it appears not since he goes into detail to talk about his siblings. How old is he? When did he graduate from college?
No I'm not objecting to having to read something, I'd just like some basic facts available on someone.
Tedesco is not married, 34
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 17:50 — thedudescousinTedesco is not married, 34 yrs old, does not have children, and graduated from Thiel in 1998. This information is off of his Facebook page.
Have you checked out Carlene Lucas's website?
I've heard enough from Carlene
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 19:59 — g88ky07in her comments in just the first 1/2 of tonights forum to tell she isn't ready for prime-time! "She doesn't believe neighborhood schools can work"
Done!
And, in her closing
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 20:27 — woodstockAnd, in her closing statement, she said that we need diversity and it is important, but it hasn't worked because we haven't really tried enough.
She's toast.
And, just how old is Rakestaw? She sounds like she is 12...in tone and in content.
"diversity hasn't worked
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 20:37 — AngelaWLucas-"diversity hasn't worked because it hasn't been made a priority
seriously?? I mean I'm sure it's nerve-wracking and all, but seriously???
RAkestraw aka Tinkerbell aka "baby with the bath water"??
I had the same thought
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 22:26 — TrailerParkGirlNumerous reassignments due to 'diversity', to which schools nodes are assigned is driven by 'diversity;, who gets into magnets and who doesn't is driven by 'diversity', MYR vs. VYR and who gets into their calendar option or not is driven by 'diversity', bussing bussing and more bussing for 'diversity' for YEARS, building too much capacity on the Rim to bus for 'diversity', and she thinks it hasn't been made a priority? She does live in Wake County right?
It hasn't worked because IT DOESN'T WORK, not because it hasn't been a priority.
HEALTHY SCHOOLS DO NOT MAKE HEALTHY STUDENTS, IT IS THE OTHER WAY AROUND. For healthy students, you need parental involvement, community involvement and stability, not to mention high expectations for all. All these things have gone out the window here in the name of their defination of diversity, which really only is SE balancing. SE balancing does NOT address the underlying issues, therefore, it DOES NOT work and WILL NOT work no matter what 'priority' you make it.
It would be better to vote
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 13:24 — woodstockIt would be better to vote on October 6th.
if you want it count,
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 13:49 — AngelaWif you want it count, anyway. *sigh*
2nd City Standards
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 16:22 — InTheArenaWell, vote early and vote often. I guess that's all I'm trying to say.
Early Voting
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 16:25 — SDR256Actually, you bring up a good point. There is early voting and all eligible Districts (1, 2, 7, 9) can take advantage of it. There are two locations - the Herb Young Community Center in Cary and the Board of Elections offices in Raleigh. I'll check on the dates and post again. I know at least it is Oct 1 - 3.
I've actually got a post
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 16:29 — KeungHui (author)I've actually got a post running tomorrow morning. It starts at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Wake Board of Elections. The Herbert Young Center site in Cary doesn't open until Sept. 30.
Thanks Keung
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 16:31 — SDR256I'm sure your post will be more complete and accurate than what I would post, so we'll wait to use that for reference.
"Lori Millberg gave an
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 12:48 — woodstock"Lori Millberg gave an update on a recent student achievement committee discussion on afterschool programs. She noted that a number of elementary schools and the YMCA have set up Wednesday-only programs because of the early dismissals."
I hope Millberg is aware that extended-hours YMCA programs are not free. So, in addition the inconvenience, unintended negative consequences and worthlessness of eary-release Wednesdays, there are associated extra costs to parents. Wonderful.
She knows it costs more. She
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 12:52 — KeungHui (author)She knows it costs more. She called the $40 per month charge "reasonable."
Mr. Hui, Was there any
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:00 — SideburnsMr. Hui,
Was there any elaboration on who is watching the children at WCPSS-provided afterschool care? Last I heard it was going to be cafeteria workers and custodians.
Not yesterday. But I wasn't
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:29 — KeungHui (author)Not yesterday. But I wasn't at the committee meeting last week when there may have been more discussion of that issue.
I was told that those
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:45 — JSBinNCI was told that those decesions are at the school level. (as per the office at WCPSS that is in charge of before and after school care.)
yeah, like maybe Horace?
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:06 — AngelaWyeah, like maybe Horace?
Maybe she wants to
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 13:29 — rr77rr99Maybe she wants to "reasonably" pay my childcare costs then :) How dare she!