Calder-Green / Orange County Schools suit settlement

Though we already ran a story on the subject, Orange County Schools spokesman Michael Gilbert today released a written statement on the matter:

The Orange County Board of Education has agreed to settle the case of Laurie Calder-Green and Emily Roberts v. the Orange County Board of Education, et al.  The Board and the individual defendants emphatically deny any wrongdoing.  However, considering the turmoil this matter has already caused in the school system and the further disruption that a trial would potentially create plus the time away from full attention to their school responsibilities a trial would require of staff, the Board determined that a settlement served the best interest of the school system, especially the students and staff of Cedar Ridge High School.  This settlement, funded in significant part by the Board’s liability carrier, will allow the Board and district personnel to dedicate their time and energy to their primary goal of educating students.

Terms of the settlement include the following:

--Ms. Calder-Green, Ms. Roberts and their attorney will receive $93,000 divided as follows:

$10,000 to Emily Roberts, a portion of which will be subject to tax withholding.

$50,770 to Laurie Calder-Green, a portion of which will be subject to tax withholding. 

$32,230 to the plaintiffs’ attorney. 

--Ms. Calder-Green and Ms. Roberts waive all claims against the school board and its employees.

--Ms. Calder-Green agreed to resign her employment with the school system no later than June 30, 2011.   In compliance with this settlement requirement, Ms. Calder-Green has already resigned as of January 21, 2011 and is no longer employed by Orange County Schools.

--Ms. Calder-Green and Ms. Roberts will not seek employment in the Orange County Schools in the future.

The Board and the individual defendants elected to settle this matter for the sole purpose of avoiding the expense and disruption of litigation to the school system at a time when the system is facing unprecedented budgetary challenges that require focused leadership.

 

hands for habitat build day

The Hands for Habitat house on Harper Avenue in the Fairview community is coming along nicely. Hands for Habitat is a partnership between Orange County Schools and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County that started last year. The gist is this: Students from the Orange High School construction program build a Habitat house; students learn about homelessness and affordable housing throughout the district; and students and teachers may fund raise, though this year, the project is being funded by Sports Endeavors. A few weeks ago, Sports Endeavors' employees had a chance to lend a hand. Here's a few snapshots from that day; there will be more information in Wednesday's paper.

emergency training at C.W. Stanford Middle School

A head's up from the school district:

On Saturday, August 21, 2010, from 7:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., Orange County school personnel, law enforcement and emergency responders from Orange County will be conducting an emergency training exercise on the campus of C.W. Stanford Middle School.

During the exercise, you may hear simulated gunfire.  This is part of the exercise and does not represent a threat to the participants or members of the adjacent community.  Live ammunition will NOT be used during the exercise.  This is a necessary part of the training experience for the participants and is not a cause for alarm.

As a part of the training exercise, there will be police cars, sheriff’s deputies, N.C. Highway Patrol cars, ambulances, fire trucks and possibly television news trucks in the general area of the school.

You may also experience traffic congestion on Orange High School Road, near C.W. Stanford, during this time.  Every effort is being taken to reduce or eliminate delays and to ensure that everyone traveling in the area remains safe.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:

Orange County Schools    919.732.8126
Orange County Sheriff    919.644.3050

For more information please consult the Orange County Schools website @ www.orange.k12.nc.us

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

I'll be there, so look for pictures in Wednesday's paper.

poem read at Hands for Habitat dedication

Orange High School construction teacher Mat Hamlett read a really great poem at the Hands for Habitat dedication by Edgar Albert Guest called "It Couldn't Be Done." I really enjoyed hearing him read it, so I hope you will enjoy reading it:

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
    But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn’t," but he would be one
    Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
    On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
    That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that;
    At least no one has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
    And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
    Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
    That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
    There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
    The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin,
    Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
    That "couldn’t be done," and you’ll do it.
(via Old Poetry.)

OCS closed Monday

Orange County Schools — all schools and district offices — will be closed Monday because of the weekend's snow.

Stay safe.

cancellations

The following press release just came across our e-mail. I imagine it means all evening and weekend events are canceled in the district. I know for sure the Hillsborough Elementary School movie night is postponed until next Friday. Let the cancellations begin!

“URGENT!!” 
   …FYI…
   Due to the INCLEMENT WEATHER coming into our area tomorrow, the OCS Board of Education has CANCELLED ALL PRACTICES and ATHLETIC EVENTS for Friday, January 29th & Sat., January 30th (entire weekend!) 

**ALL of OHS & CRHS Basketball Games are CANCELLED for Friday, Jan. 29th  -  and are NOT Rescheduled at this time.  [Please watch the OCS Athletic Calendars (on the OCS Website), and all updates & rescheduled athletic events will be posted on each schools’ Jan. & Feb. Calendars, …as soon as the Final Rescheduled information is received.

**Sat., Jan. 30th – ‘CAROLINA 9 – 1A/2A Conf. Wrestling Tournament is also CANCELLED & IS Rescheduled for Sat., February 6th, @ CRHS – Weigh-Ins start @ 9:00 a.m. & the Wrestling will start @ 10:00 a.m.

   Thank for your Patience!!
    …We are terribly sorry for any inconvenience that this might have caused for you and your family!  Have a Nice & Very Safe Weekend ahead!

UPDATE at 10:10 a.m.: The Eno River Farmer's Market will not hold a market Saturday. They'll be back next Saturday at the Public Market House from 10 a.m. to noon.

UPDATE at 10:14 a.m.: The Hillsborough Town Board's retreat will be postponed until next weekend.

UPDATE at 12:40 p.m.: Via OCMLibrary's Twitter feed: "Friends of the Library has rescheduled the Bargain Book sale to February 6th 10am - 4pm due to weather. More info: http://bit.ly/bFU2KD"

UPDATE at 12:42 p.m.: The following just came across our e-mail, from the IRS:

GREENSBORO- Due to the forecast calling for possible severe winter weather conditions, the IRS has cancelled special Saturday hours at 5 of 7 locations in the Carolinas this weekend.

These special hours were originally scheduled to provide help to taxpayers who earned less than $49,000 in 2009 by determining if these taxpayers are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit and offering them free tax preparation assistance and electronic filing.

“In the interest of both the safety of taxpayers and our employees, the IRS has cancelled Saturday hours at locations in the Carolinas where there is a potential for hazardous winter weather,” said Mark Hanson, IRS spokesperson for the Carolinas.

The following offices, previously scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, will be closed:
Charlotte,  NC
Greensboro,  NC
Hickory,  NC
Raleigh,  NC
Greenville,  SC

The following IRS offices will be open as originally scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday:
            Wilmington,  NC
            Charleston,  SC

The address for IRS offices may be found here: http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html.

All seven IRS locations listed above are scheduled to be open for special Saturday hours again Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide the same free services to qualifying taxpayers who made less than $49,000 in 2009.

Eligible taxpayers who are unable to get free services from IRS offices during normal business hours or during special Saturday hours held at some locations may want to consider using the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.  Community organizations throughout the Carolinas participate in VITA where IRS-trained volunteers help prepare and e-file tax returns for qualifying taxpayers.

To find the nearest VITA site, call the United Way at 2-1-1, the AARP at 1-888-227-7669, or the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Taxpayers eligible for EITC may also want to consider using IRS Free File to prepare and e-file their federal income tax return online at no cost.  Visit www.irs.gov/freefile for more info.

UPDATE at 2:13 p.m.: The Hillsborough Visitors Center will be closed Saturday and Sunday.

UPDATE at 4:41 p.m.: Here's Hillsborough's emergency preparedness site, for more information: http://www.ci.hillsborough.nc.us/content/emergency-information.

Also, our advertising manager just came back from Home Depot, and she said the whole Hampton Pointe shopping centre is a hot mess, with a line to get out the goes passed the traffic circle. Good luck if you have to get in or out of there.

e-mail outage for OCS

Apparently, e-mail is down for Orange County Schools users. It should be back sometime today.

Central Elementary receives Lighthouse Award

From Michael Gilbert, Orange County Schools public information officer:

Central Elementary School received the prestigious NCASCD’s 2010 Lighthouse Award.  In the span of three years, Ms. Daniels and her staff have taken Central Elementary School from Title I sanctions to among the best in the state.

For more information, read tomorrow's The News of Orange County.

BOE Jan. 4 regular meeting

At Monday's Board of Education meeting, the district recognized those at Cedar Ridge High School, pictured at left, who helped save Natalie Hough's life when the teen had a cardiac arrest last September.
Libbie Hough, Natalie's mother, was also present to thank those who helped keep Natalie alive. Sister Kaytee and father H.B. also came along, but did not speak.

Public comment

Several community members also spoke to board members, including a former student of Cedar Ridge High School. Matt Hughes, now a teaching fellow at UNC, said board members could use a refresher in ethical conduct. Personal agendas, he said, along with micromanagement, have led to the board's mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.
Nicole McWhirter, mother of two children in Orange County Schools including one with special needs, said she had come to talk with the board because of services due her autistic unrelated to a due process case she filed against the district.
She said her family had come to and agreement with the district over Extended Year Services (services eligible special needs children receive when school is not in session) in July. By that time, the summer was half over, and the McWhirters had been providing their son with the services they thought he needed to be successful. The district had agreed to reimburse them for what they had provided, she said.
McWhirter said she hoped this was just an oversight that happened when the district changed the lawyers dealing with her son's due process case and that by bringing this to their attention, the board would be able to fix it.
"I use you to take a look at this issue and to honor the agreement you made with our son," she said.

UPDATE (9:33 a.m. 7 Jan.): McWhirter wrote on her blog that the issue has been resolved.
"Spoke at the Board mtg on Monday, recieved a phone call from district admin on Tuesday, reimbursed on Wednesday," she wrote. "and that’s that."


Cultural arts collaboration
Board member Debbie Piscitelli said with all the talk about potential uses for the Whitted Building — which was recently vacated by the county library — as a cultural arts center and performance space, there may be a reasonable compromise.
C.W. Stanford Middle School has long been without a proper auditorium, instead performing plays and doing wrestling matches on a cafeteria stage. The district has been granted stimulus bonds (which must first be bought) to build the school a standalone auditorium.
If this comes to pass, Piscitelli said she saw no reason why community groups couldn't use the facility, since it would not be physically attached to the school.
"I think it would be good community to work together to use our buildings because they are paid for by taxpayers," she said.
Board Chair Anne Medenblik started a committee to study the feasibility of such a collaboration, with Piscitelli and Board member Susan Hallman as members.

Addition/elimination of courses
A district course review committee — that included as members administrators, teachers and parents from both high schools — identified five courses that could  be added and recommended one for elimination.
Global Issues (OHS), Professional Barbering (post-secondary option for OHS and CRHS juniors and seniors), Literacy Strategies (OHS and CRHS), Foods II and Introduction to Biotechnology (OHS and CRHS) would be added to courses high school students could select; Networking was proposed to be eliminated from Orange High School.
Global Issues "seeks to engage students in a vigorous examination of issues that will greatly impact our democracy and our world," according to background materials. The course would use current events to gain the skills needed to "tackle some of the most pressing and complex issues of the day" and to formulate ideas for how they should be addressed.
There would be no additional cost for this course as there is a teacher already willing to teach the class, and there is no textbook required.
Professional Barbering would be an off-campus, after school, post-secondary option for high school juniors and seniors. Taught over four semesters, this course would not only teach students to become barbers and pass the state licensing test, but also prepare them for owning a business, among other things.
There is a $785 cost per student, which the district would not pay. Scholarships will be made available, however, by those running the program.
Literacy Strategies is designed for Exceptional Children who are reading several years below grade level. There would be no additional cost for this course, as the EC department would provide funding for materials and resources.
Foods II would allow Foods I students to continue. "Student enrollment and student interest are the main justification for adding a new section," according to background materials.
The estimated cost for this course offering is $1,500, which would be provided by the Office of Career and Technical Education.
Introduction to Biotechnology would begin to prepare students for a career in biotechnology. "During the past year, parents, community leaders and business partners have partnered with Orange County Schools to promote the possibility of a Biotechnology pathway at each high school."
The estimated cost to start up this program is $1,500 per high school. Additional start-up funds will be supplied by business and community sponsors. The schools will use existing classroom space, and no additional teachers will be hired during the 2010 academic year.
Networking was proposed to be eliminated because the state Department of Public Instruction is transition to a curriculum that has two courses instead of one. DPI recommends eliminating the course.
The board voted to add those five courses and eliminated Networking.

Policies
The Board considered six policies at Monday's meeting, passing four unanimously, one by a 5-1 vote and tabling the other.
The Board unanimously approved for first reading changes to Policies No. 7811 (Action Plans for Certified Employees), 7930 (Professional Employees: Demotion and Dismissal), 7940 (Suspension and Dismissal Policy) and 8602 (Local Salary Supplements).
Board member Stephen Halkiotis opposed some changes made to Policy No. 2335 (Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials) but was the lone no vote.
Board members tabled voting on a revision of Policy No. 903 (Naming New Facilities) after a committee brought their revisions forward, saying the policy as proposed was confusing.

SIP: Partnership Academy

So, here's the next School Improvement Plan, for Partnership Academy, though for them the first option is not needs but the local ABC options:

1. (ABC option:) To improve students' grades.// (target:) Sixty-three percent of students enrolled will increase their percentage of passing grades at PA when compared with their percentage of passing grades while attending their most recent school, as evidenced in report card grades.// (strategies:) a) Using Mind Ladder Learning Guides, evaluate the intellective and non-intellective knowledge construction functions each child possesses, determining strengths and areas to be further developed. Mediate the learning gap using the adviser program and the dynamic assessment tool kit; b) All permanent full-time certified staff for core academic areas (English, math, science and social studies) will evaluate NovaNET and choose supplemental materials and lessons to enhance online instructions in the areas of the NCSCOS that are not covered; c) All permanent full-time certified staff for core academic areas (English, math, science and social studies) will provide direct instruction to students and will assist students in preparation for End of Court tests and the NC Writing Tests using printed and Internet resources, as well as materials provided on NovaNET.

2. (ABC option:) To increase parent involvement.// (target:) Eighty-five percent of PA families will take an active role in their children's education by participating in at least three planned school activities per semester in which their student is enrolled at PA during the 2009-10 school year, as evidenced in meeting minutes, sing in logs and STEP plans.// (strategies: a) Host two or more parent events that involved a parent networking opportunity and educational component; b) Assess family strengths and needs through the Mind Ladder Assessment and Family Interview and provide information and resource referrals as indicated; c) Publish a monthly student produced newsletter.

3. (ABC options:) To increase community involvement.// (target:) a) Collaborate with community members to facilitate two or more parent events that involve a parent networking opportunity and educational component; b) Invite community members to be guest speakers in the Personal Development Course; c) Update school Web site to include school activity information, school newsletter, and links to relevant resources for students and parents.

Budget info: Total of $7,298.11.

SIPs: high schools

Sorry for the delay in posting these, but I was off yesterday packing. I'll be getting the School Improvement Plans up as quickly as I can, starting with the high schools. Here's some background from information disseminated at the last Board of Education meeting:

North Carolina statutes require School Improvement Plans to be developed on a three-year cycle [VCS: soon to be two-year cycle due to recent legislative revisions] with annual updates. The School Improvement Plan Team must include administrators as well as elected representatives.

...

The comprehensive process includes regular monitoring of progress as the building level and district level. The plan is a result of careful examination of existing goals, data, strategies, programs, and resources with appropriate evaluations built into the cycle.

Cedar Ridge High School:

[The categories are as follows: Our school's three most significant needs are/ present status/ target status/ most promising strategy(ies) to address the needs)

1. (Needs:) Revisit our Professional Learning Community efforts in order to maintain high academic growth, implement "Closing the Gap" committee recommendations, and utilize common assessments to measure student mastery of the essential curriculum in a timely manner// (Present status:) Met 100 percent of AYP goals; 87.2 percent graduation cohort rate; Improved 5 EOC test areas; 78.7 percent Level III & IV; decreased achievement gap in five areas; 80 percent proficiency on state writing test.// (target:) 100 percent AYP; 80 percent ABC proficiency; 90 percent grad cohort rate; decreased achievement gap in all EOC areas.// (strategies:) a) Each PLC will utilize the strategies learned in Diversity Training to develop methods to decrease the achievement gap; b) Each PLC Team wil develop, analyze, and share outcomes of short-term Smart Goals; c) Each PLC will continue to revise common assessments and use assessment results as EVAAS Data Analysis to identify at-risk students.

2. (Needs:) Develop and implement SmartBoard lessons and utilize other 21st Century technology resources in the classroom.// (present:) SmartBoards installed in all classrooms.// (target:) Train all staff in additional technologies; Technology IGP Goals; each PLC will share SmartBoard activities.// (strategies:) a) All PLC members will participate in SmartBoard training, NC Wise Gradebook training, and share sessions to enhance the implementation of technology resources in the classroom; b) Staff share sessions will be conducted to demonstrate and exchange strategies and SmartBoard activities; c) Staff will utilize shared drive folders to post Smart Goals, Student Watch lists, Wolf Buck Incentives, and other data reports.

3. (Needs:) Realign Pyramid of Intervention strategies to address priorities identified through student, parent, and staff surveys, shared sessions, roundtable discussions, and monthly parent sessions.// (present:) Pyramid of Interventions.// (target:) Revise Pyramid; implement PLUS Period Bell Schedule; Monthly PLC roundtable and departmental meetings; review PEP guidelines.// (strategies:) a) Create PLUS Period in order to provide remediation and re-teaching during the day; b) Develop appropriate PEP intervention strategies for all designated students; c) Conduct monthly PLC sessions, parent share sessions, and Roundtable Discussions to improve student success.

Budget: Total budget $88,593.01

Orange High School:

1. (Needs:) Improve student achievement among all student populations; reduce the Achievement Gaps between White and Black and White and Hispanic students in all EOC courses.// (present:)OHS met 15 out of 19 AYP target goals (78.9 percent); 43.9 percent of Exceptional Children scored proficient on EOC exams; OHS had a composite score of 75.2 percent on EOC exams; The graduation cohort rate for students entering high school in 2005 was 77.9 percent; OHS performance on the SAT averaged 1039 in 2008, but dropped to 995 in 2009; OHS proficiency scores by ethnicity: white = 81.7 percent, Hispanic = 68.9 percent, black = 57.5 percent.// (target:) 100 percent of No Child Left Behind AYP target goals; percentage of EC students proficient on EOCs will increase by at least 20 percent; OHS will have a composite score of 80 percent proficient on EOC exams; OHS will increase the graduation cohort rate to 80 percent for students who entered high school in 2006; OHS student will meet or exceed the state average on the SAT; OHS will reduce the achievement gap of those students deemed proficient on all EOC exams between white and black and white and Hispanic students by at least 20 percent.// (strategies:) a) Panther Period will provide time to review NCSCOS concepts in all course; b) Key vocabulary words for each content area will be taught using various literacy strategies; c) The Panther Assistance Report (PAR) will be compiled and peer tutors will provide targeted instruction in individual areas of needs.

2. (needs:) Increase use of best practices by teacher participation in a minimum of three professional development activities and implementation of at least one new instructional strategy.// (present:) School-wide survey data indicated teacher need for staff development in PLCs and 21st Century Learning Skills. // (target:) 100 percent staff participation in at least three professional development activities with a minimum of 1.5 CEU credits; (strategies:) a) Staff will attend a variety of self-selected staff development activities to include High Five, SIOP, Whole-to-Part, EVAAS, Pyramid of Intervention, SmartBoard training, etc.; b) Teachers will implement at least one new instructional strategy as evidenced by lesson plans, classroom walkthroughs and observations, and PLC meeting minutes; c) Teachers will utilize 21st Century Skills in instructional practice as evidenced by lesson plans, PLC meeting minutes and classroom observations.

3. (needs:) Reduction in the number of students who fail English I and Algebra I.// (present:) We will establish a baseline for this data at the end of the first semester. Our graduation cohort is 77.9 percent. Many of the 20.1 percent who did not graduate with their cohort did not get promoted from ninth grade. The core courses for ninth grade include English I and Algebra I.// (target:) 20 percent reduction in the number of students who fail English I and/or Algebra I. In the three year SIP progress, an improved passing rate in English I and Algebra I will strategically reduce the number of students who do not graduate with their cohort.// (strategies:) a) Guidance counselors will participate in PAR, PEP, use EVAAS, and after school EOC tutorial processes for early identification of students who are having difficulty in these core courses. Guidance will make parental contacts and collaborate with teachers on various strategies to improve student performance in these gateway courses; b) OHS faculty will conduct full revision and adoption of the Pyramid of Interventions. Faculty and staff will use EVAAS and work through the various levels of interventions to ensure that students have a successful transition to high school; c) English I and Algebra I teachers will coordinate peer tutoring and review during Panther Period and provide, as required, after school EOC tutorials that begin no later than the sixth week of the semester. The EOC tutorials will also be content specific to help students perform well on the EOC and in the classroom setting as well. Teachers will use ClassScape to create common assessments.

Total budget: $110,499.67


Whew. Middle schools in a bit.

OC SEPTA

I saw this release this morning and thought it might interest some of you:

You are invited to attend the first chartered meeting of the
Orange County Special Education Parent Teacher Association

Date: Thursday, October 22
Time: 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Location: AL Stanback Middle School Media Center
3700 NC 86 South, Hillsborough

We’ll introduce our organization and discuss membership. If you cannot attend the meeting and wish to become a member, please contact one of the individuals listed on the bottom of this message. This meeting will be immediately followed by a Parent Information Session:

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Public Health Funding Programs: Accessing Federal, State & Local Funding for Special Needs Children
Teach parents of severe and persistent special needs children how to access funding from public resources.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact:

Pam Scism, SEPTA President pamscism@aol.com
Susan Wingate, SEPTA Vice President swingate2007@gmail.com
Barbara Moto, SEPTA Treasurer bmarotto@hotmail.com
Ingrid Branigan, SEPTA Secretary msingrid@nc.rr.com

Here's an article I wrote about the group back at the end of March.

joint meeting

At the joint Orange County Schools/Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools/Board of County Commissioners meeting, county Planning Director Craig Benedict played the following video of the famous chocolate factory sketch from "I Love Lucy" while explaining the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance:



The Home Builders' Association was the factory lady, trying to squeeze as much work (or as many developments) into one day (town, area) as possible. Lucy and Ethel were Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, trying to wrap children up into little packages and send them out into the world. See what happens when factory lady has her way? Catastrophe.

(The purpose of SAPFO is to coordinate the building of new developments with capacity in the schools.)

More on this meeting in next Wednesday's paper.

hands for habitat

It was a beautiful (albeit warm) day Saturday for the Hands for Habitat kickoff in the Fairview community. Lots of people stood up and spoke, including several students. Adam Foster, the student who designed the home, was also in attendance, which was really lovely, as were the cousins who will be the eventual owner of the home.

The lovely lady speaking on the foundation of the home is Habitat for Humanity of Orange County Executive Director Susan Levy.

For more info, see this week's paper. And by Wednesday afternoon, I should also have a photo gallery up of the pictures I took at the event. So there's that, too.

donorschoose.org

I was surfing around on all the schools' Web sites, when I came across a link to DonorsChoose.org on Hillsborough Elementary School's site. DonorsChoose is a site that allows teachers to post projects they need money for so people can donate money to whatever school or project they chose.

In Orange County Schools there are 12 projects across four schools — nine at New Hope and one at each of Gravelly Hill, Central and A.L. Stanback.

This is a great resource, if you're looking for your money to have a direct impact on the classroom.

central ptsa

The new Central PTSA leadership have done a great job so far this year (before the official start of the school year!) to get the word out about what's going on over there. To that end, they have a Facebook profile (search under e-mail: centralptsa1@gmail.com), e-mail address, Web site and blog. So, enjoy Central parents — and all of you who want to see what's going on at the elementary school. I know I'm glad to have these great resources.

OMM links

I have finally emerged from reading the 2,000 plus or so pages from the OMM due process hearing and appeal. Since I know not everyone has the same desire to dig through days of testimony that I do, so here's a quick rundown on everything I've covered so far on this case: Here is a link to the first article I wrote, after Nicole contacted me and spoke out at a Board of Education meeting about the case and her son. Then, the district announced it would be appealing the ALJ's (administrative law judge) decision. After consulting with attorneys and the state Department of Public Instruction, the district released comments on the case, something they had previously declined to do, citing state and federal privacy laws (including FERPA). Finally, Nicole McWhirter, the mother, released appeal arguments. Now, we're just waiting to find out what the state review officer decides and whether the losing party files a civil suit. If not, the SRO's decision is final.

To read past blogs on the topic, just click on the OMM label at the bottom of this post.

on appeal

According to Nicole McWhirter's blog, written arguments in the case OMM v. OCS (shortened) are due to the state review officer tomorrow, with a decision due by Aug. 19.

back online

Orange County Schools' e-mail issue seems to be resolved, and they are back online. Just FYI.

temporary outage

Orange County Schools is facing a temporary e-mail outage, so I'm betting phone is the way to go to reach them in a hurry. I'll let you know when I get work they're back online.