Sometimes, even though I have a front row seat to the antics and stupidity, I still can’t believe what I’m seeing. The pic from the movie “Friday” pretty much sums up my thoughts on this one… I am personally disappointed in the outcome of the most recent debacle concerning the failure to report to DCS. While clearly mishandled by several folks, it’s sad that the fall guy in this instance is the one guy on FMLA leave. Come on, people. He wasn’t even at work.
In other news this week, Phalen Leadership Academy (PLA) is poised to take over operation of school 93 as a Conversion to Innovation Network School. PLA already operates school 103. The school will become chartered under Phalen, which is a non-profit subsidiary of Entrepreneurial Ventures in Education. I’m confused. School 93 just recently became a Project Restore School, a homegrown IPS model which has demonstrated success in schools 99 and 88 already. I’m not sure what the perceived benefits of this partnership are, when Project Restore has flourished as a program previously only managed by IPS. The proposal suggests merging the successful Project Restore model with elements of PLA’s blended learning model. In this case, I fear too many cooks spoil the broth of school improvement.
Similarly, Cold Spring School is a candidate for Conversion to Innovation status in partnership with Marian University. Conversion to Innovation occurs when the principal at the building coordinates the necessary charter school paperwork.
There are two other Innovation School proposals (not Conversion) on the table this week:
School 44 to be operated by Global Prep Academy, a foreign language immersion model – and school 69 to be operated by Kindezi Academy under Enlace Academy’s charter.
Both of these agreements allow for the charter operator to only “operate” grades K-2 in the first year, while overseeing the IPS student enrolled in grades three and up. While this makes sense in terms of a foreign language immersion curriculum, I still have many unanswered questions about the logistics of such an agreement. Do these entities receive the public funding to educate all of the students in these buildings? If so, then why are they only responsible for the lower grades? Are the teachers educating grades three and up still IPS employees, or are they employees of the charter school corporation? Why the distinction?
Also on the agenda this week is the sale of the SCIPS building on Massachusetts Avenue. I wonder where we’re gonna park our buses…
Meetings are Tuesday (today) at 6pm for the briefing session, and Thursday 6pm for the Action Session. The meetings are held at the Ed Center, 120 E. Walnut Street.
My thoughts expressed here are mine alone and do not reflect those of any entity or other person.
Thoughts? Email me at gayle_cosby@yahoo.com