Adios, Alternative Language Program?

I received an email this afternoon with concerns from a parent that the Alternative Language Program at Paul Ecke Central School is on Lean King's chopping block. Dr. King has expressed his concerns with ALP parents that, if test scores at PEC don't improve, the ALP program will have to go. Observing his track record this year, I am doubtful there will be any real discussion with parents at PEC, but rather a swift late night dismissal of the program. Hopefully,this is just rumor. Or, perhaps he is figuring he is going to get more than an earful when he and the board close TIP, what's a little more fuel on the fire! Keep an eye on the district's board meeting schedule for yet another 'public forum'!

TIP Public Hearing Tuesday, July 22

Public forum to voice opinion on the Theory Into Practice Charter School's future at Park Dale Lane Elementary School, Tuesday 6PM according to today's UT Article. The district site posted a nice Quick Facts .pdf on the history of the TIP debacle. 

Pacific View zoning amendment meeting

If you read the article in today's Union Tribune on the proposed amendments to the rezoning of the Pacific View property, it sounds like everything is hunky dory and this is just a technicality to continue forward with development. However, there are more than a few residents of the downtown area with concerns. Among them is property owner Donald McPherson, who in a letter to the city opposing the amendments states that the "amendments being considered the planning commission materially violates city and state regulations on several counts." I'm trying to share his letter as a .pdf, which may or may not work. Here is the link to the .pdf as well. There is a meeting in the Poinsettia Room of City Hall this Thursday, July 24 at 6:30 PM.

Another concerned citizen, Joyce Ross, in an email sent to neighbors says "I know we're all exhausted from the many meetings on Pacific View But now is the time when participation is counted in the eyes of the City and the Coastal Commission. In addition, if no one shows up at this meeting, the eventual developer will assume that the community no longer cares and will see himself as having a free rein. So please, DO ATTEND THE MEETING. If some of the issues identified below are important to you, and you cannot attend the meeting, then write a letter to the Planning Dept."

School districts like Encinitas and Del Mar are needing to think outside the box and getting into real estate to fund programs as Basic Aid districts. 

Board votes to renew Lean King's contract

With all the TIP Academy excitement at the last board meeting, it was easy to overlook the unanimous decision by the board to continue Lean King's contract through 2012, as reported in the North County Times today. From the few board meetings I've been to, it is clear the board and Dr. King have a mutual admiration society, which isn't a bad thing. In recommending the vote on July 8, board members gushed at King's brief but busy record in the district. Congratulations, Dr. King! 

Walking to school in 2009!

I was happy to read this from the NC Times on the Leucadia Blog this morning! Of the three applications for the state funded Safe Routes to School Program, this location was the only one selected.  I spoke to the city about the grant back in May before any decision was made and was told that once the city selected the engineer for the proposed improvement site, the next step would be a public forum on design. Imagine our kids and families safely walking, skating, biking and even riding Segways to school!

Who needs baseball?

The EUSD Boardroom was where the real action was last night. If you were anywhere near the intersection of Manchester and Rancho Sante Fe, you saw the sea of families in maroon TIP shirts and "Save Tip" signs signaling that TIP was on the agenda tonight. The priority item was whether the district would take the next step in revoking the Theory Into Practice Academy's Charter. 

As with any TIP item on the docket, the room was packed, the air conditioning intermittent and minimal to no sound. (What are those microphones on the board members' desks for, anyway?) That made for all the more heated debate. First, Lean King gave a brief history about how the TIP Academy administration ended up in this mess. Next up was someone hired by the district to provide evidence to go forth with the intent to revoke. She gave a pretty alarming testimony with the most creepy being, in referring to attempting to interview TIP staff and families, that she had never seen "so much fear of appraisal" in cooperating with investigators, such as fear of appraisal from TIP administration and fear of ostracization by TIP parents, that ultimately ended up with non-cooperative interviewees. It sounded very Jim Jones. Her summation was that it is clear TIP has disregarded laws of the charter and that it would be within the boards right to revoke the charter.

The public forum opened with the TIP attorney, Paul Minney, giving evidence item by item that the TIP Academy has met all of EUSD's requests to demonstrate transparency and that there is "no factual evidence for notice of revocation" and that "If you revoke the charter tonight, you are not following charter law" This met with thunderous applause from TIP families in the audience. 

TIP board members, TIP families and non-TIP families then spoke in support of TIP. A rowdy bunch, those TIP families, with hoots and hollers.

Now came time for the board to vote to continue with intent to revoke charter. Liken this to parents scolding a kid for being naughty (albeit, thousands of taxpayer dollars worth of naughty), then passing the kid to the neighbors so they can scold the kid, then to the next neighbor so they can scold the kid, ad finitum. The board is clearly not happy with the TIP administration's consistent lack of cooperation. Things don't look good for TIP. Lean King expressed his dismay at how much time and money the TIP fiasco has taken from EUSD business. Shannon Kuder seemed to want TIP shutdown on the spot and got nearly hysterical when TIP rowdies heckled her when she said "I have no confidence the Hazelton's are gone". The only glimmer of forgiveness seemed to come from Cathy Regan who applauded the teachers at Theory Into Practice, but made it clear she, too, wants the Hazelton's far, far away from TIP business. Bottom line, with two of the board members terms ending this year, (of note, none of the current board members have served less than 10 years? Some are going on 20! Do any of them even have kids in elementary school?) they don't want to be the ones looking soft with taxpayer dollars. 

Now for the vote - unanimous decision to move forward with intent to revoke. Next step is a public forum tentatively scheduled for July 22 at 6PM. Tailgate party starts at 4. Bring a chair, one of those little mist fans, and a cooler. 

2008 Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival

Carris Rhodes from the film festival tells me you can now check out the 2008 Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival DVD (and Mrs. Hinze's 2nd grade classes entry) at the Encinitas Public Library. 

A message to a school board

This isn't me talking about the EUSD school board, but it could be. When it comes to technology, I don't believe our district is meeting the needs of our 21st century learners, either. I have heard Lean King speak numerous times and describe EUSD technology in schools as being cutting edge. Though I agree that EUSD has the infrastructure, now, with thin client hard ware, I do not think teachers have the support they need in the classroom and in the lab to push the limits of what our students are capable of and what they will need to be capable of in the very near future. I do many of the things Wesley is speaking about in this video with my students and teachers and would like Lean King and the EUSD to put their money where their mouth is. This is Wesley Fryer, one of my favorite Tech-Ed bloggers.

Have you been into the PEC computer lab? What was your experience?

Board recommends TIP Academy shut down

This from today's San Diego Union Tribune.

ENCINITAS – TIP Academy charter school should be shut down.

That's the recommendation from administrators at the Encinitas Union School District, who have concluded an investigation into alleged conflicts of interest and financial improprieties at the charter school, which it sponsors.

The recommendation, which is scheduled to go before the school district's board of trustees on Tuesday, was not entirely unexpected.

The district threatened to revoke TIP Academy's charter on May 6, as part of a “Notice to Remedy” numerous allegations of misconduct. A reorganized board of directors at TIP Academy has taken some steps, but Encinitas Union administrators say they've downplayed serious violations of education and government law.

The Encinitas school board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Encinitas Union School District offices, 101 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road

Apparently, the changes made by the TIP board were not enough to satisfy the EUSD School Board. If it's an open meeting on Tuesday, it will definitely be a heated one.