Here's a good example of why I have problems with the P & C's reporting about CCSD:Saturday's edition contains two stories, each written by Diette Courrege, on CCSD. They appear on separate pages of the Local Edition. One is titled, "Student Numbers Continue to Drop"; the other, "Burke Gets New Leader: Academic Dean Gadsden Going to Brentwood."
The second article seems unconnected to the first. In it, when asked about staff changes in October, the district's new chief academic officer, Randy Bynum, "said the change was part of a broader reorganization taking place in the district." The next sentence, unclear whether it issues from Bynum or is added as background by the reporter, is "The superintendent plans to change the responsibilities of associate superintendents and already has restructured some administrative offices." Well, that suggests these two phenomena are related, doesn't it?
Except they aren't. What possible connection could exist between these changes and the Superintendent's plans? The two are NOT connected.
The reporter should have followed up on the first statement (about "broader reorganization") or even (Is it too much to ask?) thought to ask if the changes in administrative assignments are RELATED to drops in student enrollment?
Because they are. In fact, these changes are a direct result of lower numbers.
The important result of these changes is that Burke High-Middle is losing an administrator. The high school will have one less because the assistant principal is taking leadership of the seventh and eighth grades. The person moved to Brentwood Middle is filling a vacancy (although one could ask why Brentwood, of all places, was left this long with a vacancy!).
Burke's numbers are down; CCSD pulls an administrator on that basis. Does anyone besides Randy Bynum think this move is helpful to Burke? Doesn't Burke, a school nearly taken over by the state last year, need MORE help rather than less?
Bynum suggests that "[Cannon's] new role will give him the opportunity to broaden" his involvement "in the Burke community." That's one way of phrasing it.
How about, "spread himself more thinly over the Burke community"?
Posts
14 comments:
Perhaps Dr. McGinley should ask Vashti Washington why she has been altering attendance records for District 4 in hopes of helping her AYP. I may be silly, but, I thought that was illegal! This isn't a maybe, this is I know so
Do you mean she's claiming students are present when they're not?
I remember when the Principal at Rivers would call suspended students in to school if attendance was low, but what you're saying is on a whole different level.
Well, based on these comments, it looks like line workers, front desk people and classroom teachers (not upper management) know what’s really going on in Charleston. They are the ones who will eventually tell the truth about CCSD. Diette should try doing some investigative reporting through these people & not just dutifully publish simple PR sound bites.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Clelia Casey, A.K.A. Bable, the woman who thinks she knows it all but chooses to teach at Bishop England High School rather than do some good from within CCSD.
Translation: Loser.
It'll soon be time to post her phone number.
5:17, why do you think a principal was recently "transferred" on a moments notice?
6:02, get off the computer, get a life, who cares who she is. You had your turn with your Schoolmovement blog. It became a joke. Go home, stop whining!
6:10 PM: Which principal and why?
In a word, 5:17: credibility. The real question here should be: Will Clelia come out from her anonymity? How about it, Bable?
Some D20 parents were curious about this before your post went up. Just what were Mr. Stewart and the D20 Board told about moving Ms. Gadsden to Brentwood before it happened. Is Mr. Cannon's old position being left vacant? (You suggest that it is. Is that definately true.) Are they going to use the savings caused by not filling this position to enhance the teaching staff at Burke? (Doubtful, but we're asking anyway.) Is Mr. Cannon's serving as "permanent" or "interim" Dean of the Burke middle school program? If he's only serving as "interim", how much of a pay cut is that and when will he have a chance to have his appointment made more secure? Too many of Burke's best people have been left hanging on a wire before while the revolving door keeps turning on people who never should have been hired in the first place.
The only principals I know of that were recently transferred on short notice were the ones at Schroder, Fraser & School of the Arts. But CCSD is always doing this. I'm just trying to recall the most recent ones. Too many good school principals and their assistants are being chewed up by the bureaucracy and worn out by desk jockeys and bean counters that have a new plan every 6 months.
PS: The rude one's comments doesn't make his position look very good.
Yes, is that the same creep that threatened to post her Social Security number? Get a life. This must be the reporter, Butzon or Gregg Meyers...or maybe someone else we know posts comments when she gets drunk every night.
I said Vashti. The school is an easy one to figure out. It isn't the three you mentioned.
Oh, new clue..... they are no longer under the control of Vashti. They have a new superintendent as of last week.
McGinley is supposedly briefing the board on "interim appointments" tomorrow night. BTW, Tempel is listed only as an imterim not permanent placement. She has been through this before too.
Just ignore Gregg and Butzon. Their empire will crash. Let's work on improving our schools.
Thanks for the information Anon 8:25. As individuals we are often stuck in the dark. But when we put what each of us knows on the table, the public is really better informed than the administration. Don't get me started on the school board members. We really do need to replace these people next year.
Isn't Vashti Washington the one who got her job in the first place because she's related to Dr. Goodloe's husband?
Yep, she's one of those mediocre homeys who won't rock the boat for the bosses that continue to promote them to just beyond their maximum level of competence.
What makes many of these types of promotions so terribly disappointing and costly is that there are dozens of dedicated, honest and intelligent professionals who have been passed over because they aren't seen as "team players" or they are considered by CCSD toadies as potentially too uppity or independent.
No wonder so many highly qualified minorities working in Charleston have to leave this area to be fully appreciated and properly respected. The irony is the biggest obstacles they face for advancement locally are often other minorities who block or derail promotions to anyone who might be seen as more talented than they are. So many of these second rate functionaries now fill the ranks of CCSD it leaves no room for cultivating real talent and intelligent thinkers for the next administration.
Vashti Washington is supposed to be a close cousin of MGJ's husband. Her career from what I’m told has been remarkably unremarkable. Her promotion to district administration was said to have come only after Goodloe was linked to Johnson. Coincidence or nepotism? It's anyone's call.
Post a Comment