Category: Admin

Accountability, Admin, Behavior/Discipline, Budget, Teacher Shortage, Vision: 2020

Sub Shortage Is Everyone’s Problem

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Dear JCPS,

I have been hearing from teachers and staff all over the district that while the public and administration seem to be aware of the bus driver shortage, they do not seem to be aware the problems our schools are having getting substitute teachers, or the hardships that it creates for teachers, staff and students. So, yesterday I posted the following question to our private group (made up of over 1,500 teachers and parents/guardians):

“Our district’s sub shortage is widespread and having detrimental effects on teachers and students. Tell me your story.”

While I realize you are probably aware of the shortage, you may not be fully aware of every type of situation or impact that occurs as a result, and resulting potential solutions. While this is in no way a comprehensive list, I do hope that you find the information helpful and useful. I know that our teachers and staff appreciate feeling heard on this topic, and our students will benefit from a quick resolution.

The comments are anonymous here, but they are not anonymous to me, and I can arrange for follow up with any of the comment contributors, should you require additional information.

I will continue to update this post as more feedback comes in.

POST UPDATED ON OCT 30.
Continue reading “Sub Shortage Is Everyone’s Problem” →

Accountability, Admin, Behavior/Discipline, Teacher Shortage, Vision: 2020

@JCPSKY High Schools Need Increased Security

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Dear JCPS,

Jefferson County Public Schools needs to increase security personnel and surveillance capabilities in their schools.

My children attend [High School Name Redacted] High School. On September 26 my daughter’s purse was stolen at school, along with her car. No thanks to the school or the police, we located the car, and were able to retrieve it with a spare set of keys. Her purse turned up at school minus the wallet and keys. A week later her license and student ID turned up at school – still no wallet or keys. Continue reading “@JCPSKY High Schools Need Increased Security” →

Accountability, Admin, Other, Privatization of Public Education, Vision: 2020

UPDATED: Day of Prayer Over Students

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UPDATE:
I received a call from my school board member, Steph Horne, explaining that the board does not set policy regarding these types of activities, and that principals are informed and the gatekeeper for what happens on their campuses. Although this event has been taking place for years, she said that I brought up a good point that principals or other staff may interpret the governor’s recent “overstep” as superseding the existing policy and state law, and agreed that it would be a good idea if building staff were reminded of the existing policy so that they are empowered to enforce that policy, should the need arise. Policy states that the event is to take place during non-school hours and that it was to be student led. Nowhere in the communications I saw did it state that this was policy, and if it had, it would not have evoked the response it did from many of our members in our private group of 1,500 parents, teachers and community members.

Ms. Horne sent an email to Dr. Hargens asking that a reminder be sent to building staff. I consider that to be an appropriate and timely response, as requested in my original letter. Thank you Ms. Horne!

(This message has been revised based on feedback from community.)

In response to this message from our Governor, and concerns raised by Dear JCPS members in our private group (made up of over 1500 parents, teachers and community members), I sent the following message to our board members:

http://www.kentuckyfamily.org/?page_id=980

Dear JCPS,

I am confident that our board is aware that any adult-led prayer activity should be prohibited from taking place on any JCPS campus during school hours. In case the activity centered around a single religion isn’t non-inclusive enough, attached is a snapshot from the organization’s brochure, which further exacerbates misconceptions about other faiths, behaviors and lifestyles:

prayer

Prior to the Sept. 27 board meeting, Dear JCPS would like to know what steps the district intends to take to publicly and proactively disavow such an egregious overstep of the Governor’s authority. We are looking forward to your reply.

Thank you,
Gay

Gay Adelmann
Co-Founder, Dear JCPS
Founder, Save Our Schools KY
Charter Member, Network for Public Education
260-633-0463

Admin, Vision: 2020

Superintendent’s “Year In Review” Feedback

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According to the 6/14 #JCPS BOE Meeting Agenda, the Superintendent’s Year in Review (reprinted below) will be used to inform the evaluation of the Superintendent by the Board and is in addition to evidence that responds to the seven leadership standards established in the Superintendent Professional Growth and Effectiveness System (SPGES).

Also according to the meeting agenda, the Board adopted SPGES for use in the evaluation of the Superintendent for the 2014–15 school year and thereafter at their October 27, 2014, meeting. The Board will act upon the Superintendent’s annual performance evaluation at the June 28, 2016, meeting.

To streamline the review process, we have reprinted the contents from the Year in Review below, and broken it up according to the standards with which each section aligns:

YEAR IN REVIEW
2015-16

The 2015-16 school year began on August 12, 2015 and concluded on May 26, 2016. The school year gave us the opportunity to continue making a positive difference for all students as we started the process of implementing our Strategic Plan Vision 2020 Excellence with Equity. As stated in our vision, we are working so that “all JCPS students graduate prepared, empowered, and inspired to reach their full potential and contribute as thoughtful, responsible citizens of our diverse, shared world.”

Standards 1 & 2 – Strategic and Instructional Leadership

Standard 3 – Cultural Leadership

Standard 4 – Human Resource Leadership

Standard 5 – Managerial Leadership

Concluding Thoughts

The complete, original Superintendent’s Year In Review can be found here.


Because our board members can’t possibly be aware of or participate in every example of these events, we want to hear from you. Help us provide feedback that will help inform a thorough and balanced evaluation for the Superintendent for the 2015-2016 school year. Comments can be added via Disqus below, emailed to moderator@dearjcps.com or posted on the related thread on Facebook.

Alternatively, you can complete our Superintendent’s Evaluation Survey that collects a set of evidence-based responses for each of the standards.

Admin, Vision: 2020

Community Guidance Solicited for Superintendent’s Evaluation

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Historically, the month of June is when the Superintendent receives her annual evaluation from the board. In order to ensure that this year’s evaluation is authentic and comprehensive, guided by “real-world examples” of JCPS “evidence,” Dear JCPS would like to request the community provide feedback from their perspective, and we will share that feedback, in aggregate, with our elected board officials during future board meetings.

To bring you up to speed:

Here is a link to the superintendent’s evaluation from last year:
http://ftpcontent4.worldnow.com/wave/pdf/completereport.pdf

Here is a link to the “evidence” she has collected and is providing to the board to assist them with this year’s evaluation (click on the Evidence button under each standard). Ignore the button that links to the standards and comments, as they are left over in this form from last year:
https://webapps.jefferson.kyschools.us/SuperintendentLeade…/

And…

Here is a link to a questionnaire for YOU to provide genuine STAKEHOLDER input that you would like for the board to consider when preparing this year’s evaluation:
https://dearjcps.com/advocate/superintendents-evaluation/

You may complete the survey as many times as you need in order to provide more than one rating and/or set of evidence per standard.

Admin, Behavior/Discipline, Teacher Shortage, Vision: 2020

Racism: The Elephant in the Room

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This letter was submitted via our open letter form. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Dear JCPS.

Dear JCPS,

JCPS is reflective of the racism instituted by our society. Employees and students alike are continually discriminated against on every scale. Black students make up over 50% of all discipline issues but make up way less than 50% of the population. Teachers routinely punish black students for offenses that white students get away with far more often. I have taught for over 15 years and I’m sick of it. I see it daily and at every school I’ve been it’s the same. Cultural competency is not a priority at JCPS where most often teachers are white. This is the same problem Judge Olu faces because our kids are being judged and punished by those who are not their peers and don’t understand.

Employees are also routinely disrespected. Every Black male hired is seen as muscle instead of a competing intellectual. Black men with good reputations and solid teaching and/or academic coaching experience are often overlooked for promotions. The district has less than 2% African American administrators. Blacks usually have to wait twice as long as white applicants to be moved into a promoted position.

I’m tired of not being considered for promotion but someone who has half of my experience is continually being promoted. I was told directly by my supervisor that I did not get promoted to an assistant principal position because the other administrators felt there were too many black administrators at my school. I’ve heard this before. No one ever complains about too many white administrators but they get uncomfortable with black admin.

I have stellar records for raising test scores for students and teachers who serve them. I’ve been in education for over 15 years and like so many other Blacks in the district I get by passed by less qualified individuals who are in tune with the”good Ole boy” network.

STOP THE RACISM JCPS. YOU’RE FAILING THE ENTIRE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

Signed,
Angry Black Man

NOTE: While the author’s identity is protected here, they are not anonymous to Dear JCPS. Any board member wishing to address the concerns shared here can contact our administrators to make a connection.

Admin, Budget, Teacher Shortage, Vision: 2020

Purposeful Exclusion Makes Me Feel Undervalued

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This letter was submitted to JCPS Board Members this morning, and shared with Dear JCPS for others to use as template, if desired.

Dear JCPS,

I am greatly disappointed and confused by recent decisions to hold salary and code of conduct meetings during school hours. Teachers across the district are extremely concerned about both issues and would like to be part of the meetings that are scheduled.

I read that teachers are invited to watch a live stream of the meeting. However, how am I able to participate, or even watch, when I will be at school teaching 20 precious 4th graders? I am shocked that more of an effort was not made to include teachers and stakeholders in your decision making. I know I speak for many others when I say that purposeful exclusion from these meetings makes me feel VERY undervalued as an employee.

Morale around the district continues to plummet. Employees have lost respect for administrators after being blindsided by salary issues and then being insulted by Tom Hudson. We have watched the mess surrounding restraint and seclusion and felt the obvious code of silence around the district. Now, we are excluded from meetings related to student behavior and our well being. Something MAJOR needs to change if morale is going to rebound.

I love this town. I love my job. I really love kids. I believe JCPS is an organization that can be great again. My little boy is almost 2 and I have always planned for him to attend a JCPS school. Now, along with many others that I know, I am not so sure if I will enroll him in JCPS. I question if decisions are made in the best interest of students at the administrative level.

What is it going to take for Dr. Hargens and the board to be honest with the public and advocate for their employees? I am very discouraged.

I sincerely hope you will be a genuine advocate for teachers and students as you make upcoming decisions. That’s what we elected you to do.

Sincerely,
Tax Payer
Teacher
Future JCPS Parent

The identity of the author is withheld from this post, but they are not anonymous to us. 

Accountability, Admin, Budget, Vision: 2020

“Community Advisory Team” ORR Response

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The following email was received from JCPS Communications in response to a series of questions (in bold) from a member of the community.

From: Brislin, Jennifer F. <jennifer.brislin@jefferson.kyschools.us>
Date: Mon, May 9, 2016 at 6:29 PM
Subject: OPEN RECORDS REQUEST: Information and public records request
To: “XXX” (Redacted for privacy)
Cc: “Horne, Steph” <steph.horne@jefferson.kyschools.us>

Good evening,

I wanted to follow up with you on your request for records and information regarding the recent classification and compensation analysis, which was forwarded to my office for a response.

When was the CAT formed? How were applications solicited or if not by application, who participated in the selection of the members.
The Community Advisory Team (CAT) was assembled in early February 2016 for the purpose of reviewing the consultant’s report and discussing the necessary steps to present the information. This was an informal group; members were invited to participate by Tom Hudson, chief business officer for Jefferson County Public Schools.

Pursuant to KRS 61.872, Please provide all dates of meetings of the CAT, information provided to them and notices of meetings since, as I understand it, these committee meetings were public meetings in compliance with Kentucky’s Open Meetings law.
The CAT met on April 1, 2016. This was not a meeting of a group as defined by the Kentucky Open Meetings Law.

Pursuant to KRS 61.872 Please provide minutes or, even better, transcripts or recordings of all meeting in which any CAT member participated in which the compensation information was reviewed or discussed.
There are no minutes or recordings of this meeting.

How were the comparative districts selected? I would like to assume that the comparators face the same challenges as JCPS does with respect to poverty and homelessness. Is that an accurate statement based on the information the Board was provided and upon what information did you rely in reaching that conclusion?
In terms of district selection, the consultants used their knowledge of comparison districts, Auditor Edelen’s study and advice from the hiring team. As you can see from the study, 6 of the 10 districts that were compared were our own benchmark districts. JCPS is reviewing internally to determine if the district wants to revisit some of the districts that were compared. In addition, Mr. Hudson has indicated that he’s requested a more detailed explanation from the consultants about the algorithms and methodologies used in the district-to-district comparison, and he will be happy to share that information when it’s received.

Why were there only administrators on the panel and no classroom teachers or certified staff?
Why were there no community members or parents of JCPS students who are of more modest means on the panel? How could there be no people of color on the panel who were not also administration employees? What was the alleged expertise of the various panel members? I like Mr. Smith but his expertise is in combating unions -not in education and I am pretty sure his children attended private schools and not JCPS. In any event, they would have attended many years ago and so his experience as a JCPS parent would likely be of marginal relevance. The other attorney represents the District Board in litigation – certainly he cannot provide an impartial view. If he participated merely to ensure the committee did not run afoul of the law I would like to see documentation that he did not participate in any votes or other decision making, pursuant to the Kentucky Open Records law.

For this initial review of the salary study, Mr. Hudson sought expertise and advice from individuals with a broad range of experience in legal, financial and human resource matters. Members included:

•Tiffeny Armour, Director of Human Resources, JCPS
•Roger Cude, Senior VP of Human Resources, Humana
•Attorney Mark Fenzel, Middleton Reutlinger
•Dr. Rita Greer, former Director of Human Resources, JCPS
•Chuck Haddaway, Board Member, JCPS
•Cordelia Hardin, CFO, JCPS
•Donna Hargens, Superintendent, JCPS
•Dr. Blake Haselton, Superintendent in Residence, U of L
•Tom Hudson, CBO, JCPS
•Allison Martin, Chief Communications and Community Relations Officer JCPS
•Angie Moorin –Finance Work Group Member
•Tom Quick, VP of Human Resources, General Electric Appliances
•Attorney Jim Smith, Smith and Smith Attorneys

Intentionally, this group was kept small with the understanding that representatives of all constituencies would be at the table and able to weigh in once the study was presented to the Board and to the public. We intend to study this over the next year, giving JCPS time to meet with impacted parties, hear concerns from all sides and negotiate with the unions. We want and need your feedback.

I would like a copy of all drafts or versions of the report of the Management Advisory Group which was received by JCPS. This includes the earlier draft which was sent back in early 201 5. The PDF of the document appears to have been removed from the JCPS website.
The final report is now available at https://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/file/jcps-final-report-classification-and-compensation-study. The final report is 1,098 pages; you may also inspect a copy of the report at my office in the VanHoose Education Center, 3332 Newburg Road, during regular business hours. If you wish to take a copy of the report with you, it is available at a cost of 10 cents per page, or $109.80. If you are unable to come to the office, we can mail you the report; regular copy charges of $109.80 plus postage charges will apply.

No draft of the report is available. Pursuant to KRS 61.878(1)[(i)-(j)], “Preliminary drafts, notes, correspondence with private individuals, other than correspondence which is intended to give notice of final action of a public agency; (and) Preliminary recommendations, and preliminary memoranda in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended” are exempt from disclosure.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

JENNIFER BRISLIN
Deputy Communications Director
Jefferson County Public Schools
3332 Newburg Road
Louisville, KY 40218
Office: 502.485.3551
Cell: 502.744-7478

www.jefferson.k12.ky.us

Admin

Public Wants More Dialogue, Not Less

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This is the speech delivered by Dear JCPS Board Member William Komp at the 2/23/16 Board Meeting.

williamDear JCPS,

Two weeks ago, this board waived the rules, proposed, waived a second reading and then approved a measure which was meant to increase the efficiency of the board’s time. This proposal included:

1) All questions for JCPS administration be submitted ahead of time
2) No requests for new reports come directly out of meetings
3) Signing of a pledge to follow the rules
4) The chair can “talk” to a board member about not following the rules
5) Brady is to be banished to the wood shed and grounded from his xbox

With this policy, the chair can ground my board member because they aren’t playing nice on something that appears in a presentation in the name of making the board more efficient. This may make the board more efficient in terms simple metrics like topics per minute. However, school enterprise decisions are not best served by such simplistic thinking. Substance is the key to education. Quantity is not necessarily better than quality. There is no simple ROI to be computed here. There is no simple model to compute the interactions that occur in education. Wiser systems focus on open observation and discussions to advance forward.

This is a body that governs schools where one of the most fundamental methods of learning is to ask questions. Suppose a fortune 500 company were to stop permitting questions during their meetings? How much would that cost the company? What if only people in the area that is hosting the meeting were the only ones allowed to speak? How much would that cost them?

Of paramount importance is that when my elected representative board member is asking a question not in the script or suggesting a change to a report to give better insight then my board member is doing what I elected that person to do which may not fully reconcile with some arbitrary pledge. The most important pledge that my board member took was the pledge to serve on the board as the voice of the families and taxpayers of that district. If the board member has to break the rules in the eyes of the chair to fulfill the needs of the voters then so be it.

A similar report suggested limiting speeches from the public. Currently, the public is not allowed to rebut some presentations or reports in the same board meeting as they were given. Perhaps, when there are many public speakers wanting to speak at the meeting that the board should take notice and appreciate the desire of the public to contribute to the dialogue and perhaps work to complete the dialogue. It should be more open to public concerns and not less so. This organization is not a private corporation. This is a public institution. Perhaps more “successful” boards are more successful for reasons outside of board members not providing softball scripts for the administration to easily handle. Success sometimes requires tough questions that come out only in divine moments. If one such moment occurs during a board meeting and my board member is prepared and inspired by it then I consider that question a service well done by asking it!