With 133 of the 197 precincts reporting, it's a close race. So far it is Linda Mayo in the lead, with Cheryl Hansen literally on her heels. Lynne Dennler is starting to pull away ever so slightly from Brian Lawrence.
So if these numbers hold, it will be Mayo, Hansen and Dennler. What do you think?
11:30pm update. Still the same 3 leaders, however, Cheryl Hansen has emerged as the current leader. 165 of the 197 precincts reporting. Its still very close though the three are pulling away.
See www.cocovote.us for up to the minute results.
It looks like Linda Mayo, Cheryl Hansen and Lynne Dennler are the top 3 vote getters. I congratulate them and pledge to do every thing I can to support them.
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone who supported me in my campaign.
I look forward to working with all of you to continue to improve MDUSD.
I'm off to get some sleep so I can be rested for the Giants parade tomorrow!
Very nice message Brian. I echo what Gary Eberhart said on his blog. Thank you for getting involved and putting yourself out there. So many just wont run. I admire you for stepping up and thank you for your contributions.
ReplyDeleteFunny how Lynne Dennler got the votes. Did she even run a campaign? People I know voted for her because she was a retired teacher.
ReplyDeleteShe didn't show up for the PH Candidates Forum, so I don't know what her position on things are.
Lynne Dennler got my vote because she had the courage to speak out about the very unpopular curriculum associates testing that every 1st-5th grade student is required to take. She said she did not support it and also questiioned its true agenda and cost.
ReplyDeleteThe Curriculum Associates testing that some of the elementary schools are doing is of great benefit! Please, go to your closest school and ASK the principal how their students improved over the last few years. I'm sure you'll hear that STAR scores are up.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry but you are incorrect about curriculum associates. The pilot schools STAR scores went down. If a principal says that they like it they are just following lock step with what the district office is telling them to say. They real truth is that it is not going well at most schools. Teachers and students especially at higher preforming schools are not on board but being forced to participate. It is an ineffective teaching tool and will prove to be a big waiste of time and money. I know I am a teacher and a parent.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:47
ReplyDeleteCan you explain what this program is for those of us who may not know. Also can you tell us what you see as the problems and why you do not like the program. As a parent I would like to hear this from a teacher/parent. Does this relate to the new district department?
From a parent of a child that has experience and a board member here is some information on the assessment:
ReplyDeleteThe Curriculum Associates test has been used in several schools for one or more years. It is a research based best practice, standards based assessment that is given to the students three times a year: beginning of school, middle of school, and spring. It is used by teachers to allow them to see how the students are progressing towards understanding the end of year standards. Based upon the assessment, lessons plans can be changed so that they are geared to the areas where the students are having issues. It also is used to see that students have mastered certain areas so that time does not need to be spent on it.
It has been used at Oak Grove Middle School and the school increased 64 points last year and 19 points this year. As a parent I was on site council and the teachers voiced how well it is enabling them to increase the academics in their classroom and do focused instruction.
If you would like to learn more about it, please join the Parent Advisory Council on Wednesday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m. at Willow Creek Center on Mohr Lane to learn more about it.
Sherry,
ReplyDeleteAs a Site Council member my biggest concern about the SPSA is the lack of assessments through the year. We can not judge whether the goals being implemented are effective. We have to wait until it is time to set new goals and an entire year goes by. Why would a teacher object to periodic assessments if it means helping them know where to help students?
Yes!!!! This new testing plan is part of the new curriculum department. Sue Peterson is the new Curriculum Assiciates guru who was moved from Delta View Elementary Principal to a Director Level position.
ReplyDeleteYes!!! What Sherri said is true about the format and process of the C. A. testing. What they fail to realize is that all schools do not need this type of drill and kill assessment to improve our test scores. Many schools have targeted assessments and teaching tools already in place. We are over testing and frustrating our younger students. I have had many students crying and very upset about this. It is not good teaching practice to tell the kids to guess on any question that your teacher has not covered. We are being forced to front load skills that young students are not developmentally ready to learn until later in the year. I predict that the higher preforming schools will show score that have flat lined during this second round of testing. Meaning that the actual standards that the students are still getting incorrect on testing are the very standards that the teacher has not taught. This was discussed in the C.A teacher meetings.
This has been kept under wraps how disapointed the teachers are with this new testing mess. I hope that it will come out to the public what we are doing to our students.
Finally....as a tax payer and parent I am very upset that the district has not published how much the program has costed the district.
We have lost secretaries, principals, janitors, yard supervision, many teacher, and the list goes on. But we can somehow come up with the money to raise scores in our under preforming schools.
Question about opposing assessments...
ReplyDeleteI dp not oppose assessments. I love them and they are very valuable. I have personally spent the past three years writing assessments on Edusoft that test and assess every single standard that is to be taught at my grade level.
My point is that we do not need to fix what is not broken at many of the school sites.
Linda,
ReplyDeleteIn January the board will get an update from the SIG schools as to progress. This will allow us to review the plans and determine if other corrective actions should be taken.
Anon 4:51
ReplyDeleteThe lowest performing schools have received School Improvement Grants (SIG) based upon the plans written and approved by the state.
I am not sure I correctly interpreted your last statement. Are you suggesting that we not apply for the grants and continue to have low performing schools?
Anon 4:51
ReplyDeleteDo you think it is different for older students at the high school level? Do you think 9-12 students are assessed often enough in a relevant way? I know that assessments are tests but aren't there ways to assess these kids (especially the young ones) in a way they won't even recognize as an assessment? I know they did Board Math at Delta View is this what you mean by front loading skills early in the year and drill and kill? I admit I am not a teacher, my questions come from a level of ignorance but as a parent I would like to understand.
Sherry,
Thanks for the response
More reaction to the board election is at http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2010/11/04/surprised-by-mt-diablo-school-board-results/.
ReplyDeleteIn this post, Dennler talks about her opposition to the assessments.
Theresa, Sherry or a PAC member may correct me, but I think the meeting next week has a presentation regarding the assessment/ testing FYI.
ReplyDeleteSherry, a review of the SIG grant applications that were approved by the board show a potpouri of inconsistent educational approaches, apparently hastily drafted and uncoordinated, not all of which seem to be aligned with the new direction of the district assessment programs. Since the plans were approved by the board, and then approved by the state, doesn't the federal government require the plans to be implimented or the money returned ? If so, how do you reconcile the inconsistencies with the current direction of the district ?
ReplyDeleteDoctor J
Comments such as the one by Anon 4.55, as sincere as it is, demonstrate that the individual school sites see themselves operating independently instead as part of a "unified school district". One reason for this is because of the lack of a district wide "Strategic Plan". Let’s hope this new Board can unify all the schools who now operate so independently into a well oiled unified district machine of educational excellence. That will take a Strategic Plan with particiaption and buy in of all stakeholders, not top down dictator goals and objectives. This new Board has the opportunity if it siezes the moment.
ReplyDeleteDoctor J
Doctor J,
ReplyDeleteThe plans put together for the SIG were put together using researched based methods to increase academic success. They had to be otherwise the state would not approve them (even though the state's transformation plans were not researched based). The plans were given a score of 97 out of 100. Dr. Lawrence mentioned in Bay Point that the state is calling into question two of the schools plans to have 20 students in a classroom. They are stating that this is not a proven factor for academic success. We will need to sort this out for next school year.
Also the site councils at the schools did approve the site plans. The site council is composed of teachers, administrator, non-certificated, and parents (at the middle schools and high schools students are also included).
If the plans are not working or need some modification, then we will need to work with the state to take corrective action.
As for the strategic plan, Gary Eberhart, Linda Mayo, and I are prepared to move forward with strategic planning in January. This was discussed at the board study session. I am hopeful that the new board members will also be supportive of the planning. I have been working on an approach that includes getting input from all stakeholders.
MDUSD Parent,
ReplyDeleteThe next PAC meeting is on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Willow Creek on Mohr Lane in Concord.
The meeting will discuss the assessments including how teachers can use them to ensure academic success.
All our welcome to attend.
Any bets on how long the new board can go without a scandal breaking out. I say two months tops.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:58,
ReplyDeleteWrong my friend. Take a look at Claycord.com the new scandal (not two months but rather one day).
Apparently, MDUSD employees are forced to buy gifts for high level administrators that are their bosses. The funniest part is the "suggested" gift list. Go to Claycord.com and take a look, I still haven't stopped laughing.
That is disgusting, but why put that on the board?
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:36,
ReplyDeleteThis is a perfect example of how our district is run. We should expect more from MDUSD administrators.
Hey - the same sort of things (and worse) happen in the private sector. Maybe everyone should get over it?
ReplyDeleteDo you know that the board is different than the MDUSD administrators?
ReplyDeleteGood Grief.
Anon 3:59,
ReplyDeleteYes I am aware. but no matter how you slice it. The board is responsible for the actions of their employees.
The teachers at my school ASKED for the Curriculum Associates math assessments, and now have asked for the language arts assessments after seeing how our math STAR numbers have soared. Please do not presume to speak for all teachers.
ReplyDeleteIs anyone else sick of the whining and trying to rally the troops against the mdusd at every chance? This was sent to me and I just differ from claycord. I just don't see the value in posting this except to incite a controversy. Who cares? Who sent that to claycord , are employees coming forward saying they feel violated? Will they lose their jobs if they don't buy her something? Why is this news? Believe me , I didn't start this parent blog because I agree with everything in the district, but I'm also not going to just pick apart everything try do either.
ReplyDeletePS what does this have to do with the new board anyway? Nothing.
4:51pm - The board is responsible for the Superintendent who is responsible for his employees.
ReplyDeleteGiven the time frame of when this happened, it is unreasonable to put blame on the board.
There are people out there who will never be happy with whoever runs the district. You can't win for trying.