Co students protest proposed history curriculum

[pt716]

GOLDEN — Dozens of Evergreen High School students walked out of their morning classes on Monday and car pooled to the Jefferson County School Administration Building to protest what they see as the school board's attempt to censor advanced history curriculum.

"I want honesty in my classroom," the students said in a letter presented to Superintendent Dan McMinimee, who spoke with four student representatives, and the board. "Teachers want honesty in the classroom."

The protest followed a teacher sick out that closed two schools last week. Schools were back open on Monday despite rumors that educators might not show again. Students said similar protests are planned for the rest of the week.

"We came in as a preventative measure," said Mali Holmes, a senior at Evergreen.

The group of 100 to 200 students protested for about 45 minutes before returning back to school, specifically asking that civil disobedience topics not be removed from the AP U.S. History course. Student leaders told The Denver Post that the gathering was planned on Facebook late Sunday night.

Monday's protest meant the second day in a week students missed school because of mounting controversy in the district. McMinimee said he asks students and educators to let him come to them instead of having kids miss school driving to the administration building.

"I think you just keep trying to communicate and maybe over communicate," McMinimee said of efforts to stabilize the tumult.

The curriculum controversy stems from a board member's proposal to form a review panel to promote patriotic material, respect for authority and the free-market system. In turn, the panel would avoid material about "civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law."

Several parents also attended the protest to support their children, including David Temple, who, along with his son, met with McMinimee.

"I thought it was helpful," Temple said. "I think the superintendent was open and honest about his thoughts."

Students said they are upset with how the board has proposed to sweep "under the rug" certain parts of the AP U.S. History curriculum. McMinimee said he would take the letter to the board and voice the students' concerns.

"I can say in the future there will be a heightened degree of transparency on how this is carried out," said Dr. Syna Morgan, chief academic officer told student leaders.

www.denverpost.com/news/ci_26582843/jeffco-students-skip-classes-protest-censorship-history-curriculum

[pixy0stix]

The shit they're trying to pull is frightening.

Fight the power, kids!

[sparrowsong]

Wow, I hadn't even heard about this! (live in Colorado)

[NewOrleans]

I, for one, would enjoy a curriculum without rebellion. No pilgrims, no colonials, no FF's, no Confederates.   <)

[erbear]

Well that would kill my curriculum...I teach a course on revolutions. We're all about subversive civil disobedience

[litebright]

I was at the board meeting the other night. Three hours, and they hadn't even gotten halfway through the agenda -- I had to leave before they even got to the so-called "curriculum committee" and the complete bullshit of capping teachers' pay at $81K.

I truly, truly fear for our district. I know I sure as hell wouldn't stay at a company where my pay was capped like that, no matter how well educated or experienced I was, and anything you got on top of that was basically a bonus for your students' performance each year (in a district that is hugely uneven in terms of resources, ELL, etc.). The board want to push charter schools and vouchers as far as they can, they want "godly people" on the curriculum committee (per an email from one of the board members' supporters, urging like-minded religious zealots to help that board member stack the committee), and they are hellbent on pushing these things through as fast as they can and making as many of them permanent or hard to undo as possible. It's terrifying. With any re-election three years out, the teachers' union is really the only organization with the numbers and the position to do anything to slow them down unless a recall effort is organized. They don't care how many negative letters or public comments they get. They care nothing about the opinion of anyone who disagrees with them, no matter whether they are parent, teacher, or concerned citizen.

This is an enormous district. Like 85,000 kids. In a state that won't pass funding for schools -- hell, there was a big tax issue on the ballot like a year ago that failed, and now we're reduced to a measure to fucking taxing GAMBLING at race tracks because that is all they think they can get passed to fund education in this state. It's a goddamn disgrace in one of the most highly educated states in the country.

I think another JeffCo protest is being organized on Friday and I plan on going. I desperately hope that if we can draw enough attention, particularly at the national level, that we may be able to draw enough support and/or crowdfunding to make a recall a viable option.

Also -- you know how you can just tell someone is an utter dimwit when they speak? That they aren't dodging questions, they outright don't understand them and can barely form a coherent sentence? That's Julie Williams, one of the board majority. I can respect when an intelligent person disagrees with me. I can even sort of respect, in the same way I would a shark, a politician who is smart but sneaky or underhanded, because I expect that of politicians to some degree. But it irks the hell out of me to watch outright stupid people in office. Particularly on a school board. But there she is.

ETA: Oh, also, the hypocrisy and illogic abounds. Like, they go on and on about how their goal is to have every kid have a "highly effective" teacher and that's what they're working toward. But admins/principals get in trouble if they rate too many teachers "highly effective" in their buildings. So under the board's system there will *never* be 100% "highly effective" teachers, even if every single teacher in the building is great, because they simply do not allow all teachers to be rated highly effective. 

[josieposy]

Sept 22, 2014 21:04:48 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

I, for one, would enjoy a curriculum without rebellion. No pilgrims, no colonials, no FF's, no Confederates.   <)

Right? This nation was apparently created by eagle farts.

[epphd]

This is a public school? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? I know I have the luxury (well, barely) but I'd yank my kid and enroll in private school sooner than you could say "ACLU". This is truly appalling. What also happens when their AP kids routinely get 1s on their tests as a result of learning some bullshit version of history?

[stealthmom]

Sept 22, 2014 21:13:50 GMT -5 litebright said:

I was at the board meeting the other night. Three hours, and they hadn't even gotten halfway through the agenda -- I had to leave before they even got to the so-called "curriculum committee" and the complete bullshit of capping teachers' pay at $81K.

I truly, truly fear for our district. I know I sure as hell wouldn't stay at a company where my pay was capped like that, no matter how well educated or experienced I was, and anything you got on top of that was basically a bonus for your students' performance each year (in a district that is hugely uneven in terms of resources, ELL, etc.). The board want to push charter schools and vouchers as far as they can, they want "godly people" on the curriculum committee (per an email from one of the board members' supporters, urging like-minded religious zealots to help that board member stack the committee), and they are hellbent on pushing these things through as fast as they can and making as many of them permanent or hard to undo as possible. It's terrifying. With any re-election three years out, the teachers' union is really the only organization with the numbers and the position to do anything to slow them down unless a recall effort is organized. They don't care how many negative letters or public comments they get. They care nothing about the opinion of anyone who disagrees with them, no matter whether they are parent, teacher, or concerned citizen.

This is an enormous district. Like 85,000 kids. In a state that won't pass funding for schools -- hell, there was a big tax issue on the ballot like a year ago that failed, and now we're reduced to a measure to fucking taxing GAMBLING at race tracks because that is all they think they can get passed to fund education in this state. It's a goddamn disgrace in one of the most highly educated states in the country.

I think another JeffCo protest is being organized on Friday and I plan on going. I desperately hope that if we can draw enough attention, particularly at the national level, that we may be able to draw enough support and/or crowdfunding to make a recall a viable option.

Also -- you know how you can just tell someone is an utter dimwit when they speak? That they aren't dodging questions, they outright don't understand them and can barely form a coherent sentence? That's Julie Williams, one of the board majority. I can respect when an intelligent person disagrees with me. I can even sort of respect, in the same way I would a shark, a politician who is smart but sneaky or underhanded, because I expect that of politicians to some degree. But it irks the hell out of me to watch outright stupid people in office. Particularly on a school board. But there she is.

ETA: Oh, also, the hypocrisy and illogic abounds. Like, they go on and on about how their goal is to have every kid have a "highly effective" teacher and that's what they're working toward. But admins/principals get in trouble if they rate too many teachers "highly effective" in their buildings. So under the board's system there will *never* be 100% "highly effective" teachers, even if every single teacher in the building is great, because they simply do not allow all teachers to be rated highly effective. 

I receently heard about hasids in nyc doing similar things in their public school boards. They gained a majority on the board and went ahead and did whatever they wanted.

If I were you I would fight and fight hard.

[NewOrleans]

Sept 23, 2014 0:09:04 GMT -5 epphd said:

This is a public school? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? I know I have the luxury (well, barely) but I'd yank my kid and enroll in private school sooner than you could say "ACLU". This is truly appalling. What also happens when their AP kids routinely get 1s on their tests as a result of learning some bullshit version of history?

Pulling kids out of public school is their goal.

they also don't care about 1's on the AP exam because they are trying to dismantle the APUSH exam anyway.  The fucking RNC's resolution is here: 
truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-state-standards/rnc-passes-resolutions-on-apush-stop-common-core-victories/

that's right! That is what the RNC is up to these days besides dreaming about gay sex.

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

I would be so proud of those kids (as their teacher OR as their parent!).

[racegrrl714]

It truly depresses me, the direction parts of this country are headed. SMDH.

[summer]

So in order to teach über-patriotism, we're going all communist dictator and editing history? Way to go!

[NewOrleans]

Sept 23, 2014 6:37:49 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Sept 23, 2014 6:19:06 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Pulling kids out of public school is their goal.

they also don't care about 1's on the AP exam because they are trying to dismantle the APUSH exam anyway.  The fucking RNC's resolution is here: 
truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-state-standards/rnc-passes-resolutions-on-apush-stop-common-core-victories/

that's right! That is what the RNC is up to these days besides dreaming about gay sex.

That resolution is the education equivalent of a tween trying to "whereas" her way to a punk show on a school night. And by that I mean, the language is poor, the arguments based on faulty premise, the tone whiney, and the purpose utterly fucking foot-stomping pouty lipped ridiculous.

It doesn't matter.  People will vote for their candidates anyway regardless of how extreme Or bizarre their positions become.

[scout8]

Sept 23, 2014 1:38:19 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

Sept 22, 2014 21:13:50 GMT -5 litebright said:

I receently heard about hasids in nyc doing similar things in their public school boards. They gained a majority on the board and went ahead and did whatever they wanted.

If I were you I would fight and fight hard.

I heard that same story about he NY schools on NPR. It was unbelievable. I was only able to listen to the first half. You just reminded me to try to find it online and listen to the rest.

[litebright]

Sept 23, 2014 6:19:06 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Sept 23, 2014 0:09:04 GMT -5 epphd said:

This is a public school? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? I know I have the luxury (well, barely) but I'd yank my kid and enroll in private school sooner than you could say "ACLU". This is truly appalling. What also happens when their AP kids routinely get 1s on their tests as a result of learning some bullshit version of history?

Pulling kids out of public school is their goal.

That's the rock and the hard place. If I pull my kids and move (because I have a child with autism who is highly unlikely to be accepted at a private or charter school -- mainstream public school is pretty much our only option), then the schools are weaker. Eventually schools perform worse as better educated parents and good teachers flee. Then they are justified in saying that since the public schools are poor performing that charters, vouchers and coming down even harder on teachers for their students' performance will solve the problem. And it's a vicious cycle.

I truly don't understand the benefit of dismantling public schools. Because I really do think that's ultimately what they're after. Never mind that they were elected to safeguard public education and all. 

I also think that a huge, huge part of the push for charters is a strategy on the part of the RNC to weaken teachers' unions. Which have their faults, sure, but they are also for damn sure the significant group able to oppose this board, and the primary outlet for parents and students to support and try to hold the line in any way here. And even they are pretty much being entirely ignored and demonized. 

[NewOrleans]

Sept 23, 2014 1:38:19 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

Sept 22, 2014 21:13:50 GMT -5 litebright said:

I was at the board meeting the other night. Three hours, and they hadn't even gotten halfway through the agenda -- I had to leave before they even got to the so-called "curriculum committee" and the complete bullshit of capping teachers' pay at $81K.

I truly, truly fear for our district. I know I sure as hell wouldn't stay at a company where my pay was capped like that, no matter how well educated or experienced I was, and anything you got on top of that was basically a bonus for your students' performance each year (in a district that is hugely uneven in terms of resources, ELL, etc.). The board want to push charter schools and vouchers as far as they can, they want "godly people" on the curriculum committee (per an email from one of the board members' supporters, urging like-minded religious zealots to help that board member stack the committee), and they are hellbent on pushing these things through as fast as they can and making as many of them permanent or hard to undo as possible. It's terrifying. With any re-election three years out, the teachers' union is really the only organization with the numbers and the position to do anything to slow them down unless a recall effort is organized. They don't care how many negative letters or public comments they get. They care nothing about the opinion of anyone who disagrees with them, no matter whether they are parent, teacher, or concerned citizen.

This is an enormous district. Like 85,000 kids. In a state that won't pass funding for schools -- hell, there was a big tax issue on the ballot like a year ago that failed, and now we're reduced to a measure to fucking taxing GAMBLING at race tracks because that is all they think they can get passed to fund education in this state. It's a goddamn disgrace in one of the most highly educated states in the country.

I think another JeffCo protest is being organized on Friday and I plan on going. I desperately hope that if we can draw enough attention, particularly at the national level, that we may be able to draw enough support and/or crowdfunding to make a recall a viable option.

Also -- you know how you can just tell someone is an utter dimwit when they speak? That they aren't dodging questions, they outright don't understand them and can barely form a coherent sentence? That's Julie Williams, one of the board majority. I can respect when an intelligent person disagrees with me. I can even sort of respect, in the same way I would a shark, a politician who is smart but sneaky or underhanded, because I expect that of politicians to some degree. But it irks the hell out of me to watch outright stupid people in office. Particularly on a school board. But there she is.

ETA: Oh, also, the hypocrisy and illogic abounds. Like, they go on and on about how their goal is to have every kid have a "highly effective" teacher and that's what they're working toward. But admins/principals get in trouble if they rate too many teachers "highly effective" in their buildings. So under the board's system there will *never* be 100% "highly effective" teachers, even if every single teacher in the building is great, because they simply do not allow all teachers to be rated highly effective. 

I receently heard about hasids in nyc doing similar things in their public school boards. They gained a majority on the board and went ahead and did whatever they wanted.

If I were you I would fight and fight hard.

If it's this situation, we discussed it here once.  They want to fuck it all up so that the non-Hasidim will all leave.  nymag.com/news/features/east-ramapo-hasidim-2013-4/#print

[chw57]

Sept 23, 2014 7:39:06 GMT -5 scout8 said:

Sept 23, 2014 1:38:19 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

I receently heard about hasids in nyc doing similar things in their public school boards. They gained a majority on the board and went ahead and did whatever they wanted.

If I were you I would fight and fight hard.

I heard that same story about he NY schools on NPR. It was unbelievable. I was only able to listen to the first half. You just reminded me to try to find it online and listen to the rest.

It was on this American life, so it may be on their website.
I was relieved to hear the state is finally sort of keeping an eye on them, but it is so depressing what has happened to the quality of education there in just a few short years.

[MrsAxilla]

Sept 23, 2014 7:28:10 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Sept 23, 2014 6:37:49 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

That resolution is the education equivalent of a tween trying to "whereas" her way to a punk show on a school night. And by that I mean, the language is poor, the arguments based on faulty premise, the tone whiney, and the purpose utterly fucking foot-stomping pouty lipped ridiculous.

It doesn't matter.  People will vote for their candidates anyway regardless of how extreme Or bizarre their positions become.

In this case, at least, I think most voters feel hoodwinked, bamboozled, and lied to.  Just look at the response - there are no competing voices here.  There aren't groups of nutty parents battling groups of reasonable parents for control of the curriculum.  The parents, teachers and students seem pretty unified against this fuckery, but the school board majority just does not care and is ramming through their agenda with a big FUCK YOU.  The superintendent admitted that not one parent complained about the AP History curriculum.  The board is making this change all on their own initiative.  

I'd consider myself an above average voter and I did my school board research.  There was no hint of this agenda and their extremism.  IDK.  I'm pretty disappointed with myself for not seeing it.  I didn't vote for these guys; I didn't vote for any of the school board candidates because I couldn't get a read on who they were and what they'd do.  Take my CEP card, but I'd rather not vote than cast an uninformed vote.

[wawa]

Sept 23, 2014 7:46:01 GMT -5 litebright said:

Sept 23, 2014 6:19:06 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Pulling kids out of public school is their goal.

That's the rock and the hard place. If I pull my kids and move (because I have a child with autism who is highly unlikely to be accepted at a private or charter school -- mainstream public school is pretty much our only option), then the schools are weaker. Eventually schools perform worse as better educated parents and good teachers flee. Then they are justified in saying that since the public schools are poor performing that charters, vouchers and coming down even harder on teachers for their students' performance will solve the problem. And it's a vicious cycle.

I truly don't understand the benefit of dismantling public schools. Because I really do think that's ultimately what they're after. Never mind that they were elected to safeguard public education and all. 

I also think that a huge, huge part of the push for charters is a strategy on the part of the RNC to weaken teachers' unions. Which have their faults, sure, but they are also for damn sure the significant group able to oppose this board, and the primary outlet for parents and students to support and try to hold the line in any way here. And even they are pretty much being entirely ignored and demonized. 

Also charters are often businesses. Owned by groups that stand to make a profit from the expansion of said charters. And wouldn't you just know it, but those groups also donate to political campaigns. WHAT A COINCIDENCE. /cynic

[NewOrleans]

Sept 23, 2014 9:13:33 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Sept 23, 2014 7:28:10 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

It doesn't matter.  People will vote for their candidates anyway regardless of how extreme Or bizarre their positions become.

In this case, at least, I think most voters feel hoodwinked, bamboozled, and lied to.  Just look at the response - there are no competing voices here.  There aren't groups of nutty parents battling groups of reasonable parents for control of the curriculum.  The parents, teachers and students seem pretty unified against this fuckery, but the school board majority just does not care and is ramming through their agenda with a big FUCK YOU.  The superintendent admitted that not one parent complained about the AP History curriculum.  The board is making this change all on their own initiative.  

I'd consider myself an above average voter and I did my school board research.  There was no hint of this agenda and their extremism.  IDK.  I'm pretty disappointed with myself for not seeing it.  I didn't vote for these guys; I didn't vote for any of the school board candidates because I couldn't get a read on who they were and what they'd do.  Take my CEP card, but I'd rather not vote than cast an uninformed vote.

Sorry, I meant the RNC's candidates in my comment above, not this school board's candidates.

although the board may have been inspired by the RNC's resolution being passed, which was as recent as last month, I believe.

[pixy0stix]

More student protests are scheduled today.

[NewOrleans]

Sept 23, 2014 7:46:01 GMT -5 litebright said:

Sept 23, 2014 6:19:06 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Pulling kids out of public school is their goal.

That's the rock and the hard place. If I pull my kids and move (because I have a child with autism who is highly unlikely to be accepted at a private or charter school -- mainstream public school is pretty much our only option), then the schools are weaker. Eventually schools perform worse as better educated parents and good teachers flee. Then they are justified in saying that since the public schools are poor performing that charters, vouchers and coming down even harder on teachers for their students' performance will solve the problem. And it's a vicious cycle.

I truly don't understand the benefit of dismantling public schools. Because I really do think that's ultimately what they're after. Never mind that they were elected to safeguard public education and all. 

I also think that a huge, huge part of the push for charters is a strategy on the part of the RNC to weaken teachers' unions. Which have their faults, sure, but they are also for damn sure the significant group able to oppose this board, and the primary outlet for parents and students to support and try to hold the line in any way here. And even they are pretty much being entirely ignored and demonized. 

You are correct: half the goal is to weaken unions.  The other half, accomplished through the first, is to privatize schools because corporate world.

there is no empirical evidence proving the overall superiority of charters.  They are as mixed a bag as public schools.  

(Taking this opportunity to remind everyone about the Opt Out Movement, which is not about no tests for my preshus but rather is civil disobedience)

[litebright]

Sept 23, 2014 7:52:58 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Sept 23, 2014 1:38:19 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

I receently heard about hasids in nyc doing similar things in their public school boards. They gained a majority on the board and went ahead and did whatever they wanted.

If I were you I would fight and fight hard.

If it's this situation, we discussed it here once.  They want to fuck it all up so that the non-Hasidim will all leave.  nymag.com/news/features/east-ramapo-hasidim-2013-4/#print

God, this is SO messed up. 

I don't think we're this far gone. We can right the ship if given the chance, I think. The district is very diverse, but unfortunately like most places, the turnout can be low -- particularly in a local election, and these guys got elected as a slate of candidates for the majority. Now we not only have to retain the minority reasonable/moderate board members in the next election, we have to get the extremists out. 

We also have to worry about the state level. A former JeffCo crazy is running for the state BoE and if she gets elected, it weakens any ally we might have at the state level to keep the level of damage minimal. The board has already been asking the state for waivers on how it operates preschools and wanting to avoid kindergarten readiness assessment. They already took away one assessment tool (not a test, more like structured observation) on all typical preschoolers, but they can't do that for SpEd or high-risk kids without imperiling $5 million in federal funding and are trying to figure out a way around it. 

At the meeting, the board prez, Ken Witt, essentially said that he doesn't care about pre-k/it ain't his job, because the Colorado constitution doesn't require kids to be educated until first grade (age 6). And by God, he goes by the constitution. His solutions to district issues often put pre-k absolutely last as a priority -- they did their facilities review at the meeting and there are a lot of overcrowding issues at some schools, because so many new developments are going in. His go-to solution was to suggest booting the pre-k operations. He was the first to suggest kicking pre-k off of school campuses that were overcrowded, cutting pre-k class sizes so there was more room for elementary kids, etc. 

[downtoearth]

Sept 23, 2014 6:37:49 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Sept 23, 2014 6:19:06 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Pulling kids out of public school is their goal.

they also don't care about 1's on the AP exam because they are trying to dismantle the APUSH exam anyway.  The fucking RNC's resolution is here: 
truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-state-standards/rnc-passes-resolutions-on-apush-stop-common-core-victories/

that's right! That is what the RNC is up to these days besides dreaming about gay sex.

That resolution is the education equivalent of a tween trying to "whereas" her way to a punk show on a school night. And by that I mean, the language is poor, the arguments based on faulty premise, the tone whiney, and the purpose utterly fucking foot-stomping pouty lipped ridiculous.

I know it's terrible and compared to the eloquent letter that the teachers wrote to the admin/press it's even worse.  Note: Many teachers planned a protest day last Friday (with notice, sub requests, and lesson plans ready), but the school board tried to make it worse by refusing to hire the subs that were requested and closing a couple high schools.

I can't find the online version, so I copied from a FB feed:

The JeffCo Teachers have issued a Press Release

Friday, September 19, 2014 was an important day for educators in Jefferson County. Throughout the entire district, individuals chose to take collective action to raise community awareness of the Jefferson County Board of Education’s new unilateral decision making model. Since the seating of new board majority, educators, administrators, parents and students throughout the District have repeatedly expressed concerns about the negative implications of a non-inclusive approach to decision making. One need only consider the countless letters, emails, and public comments reaching out to the District’s administrators and educators as evidence of the public’s concern at being shut out of the decision making process. Regrettably, these concerns have proven to be well founded and have compelled numerous educators at CHS & Standley Lake H.S., to take an appropriate and measured response in an effort to raise public awareness of this issue.

Specifically, the Board’s insistence on censoring the college preparatory AP US History curriculum will, if successful, require teachers to completely ignore certain aspects of American history rather than teach the entirety of American history in a context that promotes and develops crucial, college level, critical thinking skills. Educators, parents and students alike were all deeply disappointed to learn that the impetus for this censorship is school board member Ms. Julie Williams, who proposed the creation of a review committee but proceeded to solicit selective input from an exclusive group of her supporters days before the discussion on the review criteria for censoring the long established AP curriculum. A decision of such far reaching importance should include everyone, not just a handful of supporters from one board member.

Similarly, the Board’s teacher compensation proposal is also highly problematic. It has been erroneously stated by numerous board members that Jeffco teachers are against merit based pay. Nothing could be further from the truth. And while we do not believe that such misinformation is being intentionally spread by the new Board of Education, such a complete and absolute misunderstanding of the facts is yet another indication of the ineffectiveness the Board’s current mode of operation. We hope the Board agrees with us that the best decisions are informed ones, and that shutting out opposing views from the decision making process is an ineffective practice that only serves as a detriment to arriving at informed decisions. Such a practice is unreasonable, unprofessional, and will only lead to future unnecessary conflicts between administrators and educators, with the students being caught in the middle.

Given the consistent academic success of Jefferson County Schools, a merit based compensation program is greatly to the advantage of the overwhelming majority of Jeffco teachers. Merit based pay is not the issue. This issue is the use of an arbitrary, nontransparent evaluation system that vests absolute authority in administrators to determine all levels of teacher effectiveness. And while we are the first to recognize and express our gratitude for the dedication of administrators throughout the district, many of these evaluators have not been in classroom for years, and most are evaluating scholastic departments in areas where they’ve never been certified to teach. Even first year administrators with no previous experience are empowered to evaluate all members of a department that they are not recognized by the district to teach. It is clearly an unreasonable and untenable position for the Board to insist that an administrator who is not recognized by the district as qualified to teach in a given scholastic area should nonetheless be empowered to evaluate every teacher within that department. This is clearly not a best administrative practice.

Furthermore, there is no mechanism to ensure transparency. Teachers within a given scholastic department have no means whatsoever to compare and contrast their evaluation with other similarly situated educators. There is no intradepartmental transparency, no interdepartmental transparency, no community-wide transparency and least of all, district-wide transparency. Every teacher has to take, as a matter of faith, that they are treated on par with their coworkers. Again, this is not a best administrative practice. On the contrary, it is among the worst conceived practices in in this or any other profession, and one that teachers will continue to insist be rectified.

To bring attentions to these matters, on Friday, September 19, numerous educators at CHS and Standley Lake H.S. made the choice to raise community awareness by working within the framework of the district’s employment
mandate. The decision to raise community awareness was also made in consultation with administration in an effort to minimize any negative impact on students. Our goal was not to be disruptive, but rather to act in such a way so as to avoid the larger, more costly future disruptions looming on the horizon. And while Friday’s effort involved both JCEA members and non-members, it was nonetheless independent from any corrective efforts currently being taken by the JCEA. In taking Friday’s action, all employees judiciously adhered to the proper procedure for arranging such absences and went so far as to inform the school’s administrative team well in advance of what was to transpire.

Moreover, we were all given the impression that the schools would remain open, and even worked together to provide ample time to develop detailed substitute lesson plans. It wasn’t until the following day that any participating teacher was apprised of the board’s decision to abandon all efforts to find substitute coverage. It is our hope and expectation that the district and their respective administrative teams will accept the responsibility for unilaterally shutting down the affected schools, as this decision was made without informing the acting teachers.

As dedicated professionals with a passion for education, we always hold the very best interests of our students at heart. But many educators have come to realize that something must be done to make our silenced voices heard again. It is our sincere desire to build upon the successes we’ve achieved together over the past several years by encouraging the new board to embrace us as partners in the decision making process, as in years past, rather than treat us as obstacles that have to be overcome. We hope that our respective communities can find strength and understanding in knowing that we are all in this together, and remain passionate about working on behalf of the best interests of our students.

 It is our greatest desire that we reestablish the collaborative and cooperative atmosphere that has been the hallmark of relations between Jeffco teachers, administrators, parents and students for years past. The effectiveness of this approach is well justified by the prestigious position Jeffco schools enjoy on both the state and national levels. By working as a team again, we can all address the issues that are dear to us, while avoiding squandering scarce resources and attempting to solve non-existent problems. In the final analysis, we are all dedicated professionals striving to build a better future for our youth. It is in this spirit of service to our students that we ask the board to consider both our concerns and the best interests of Jeffco’s students.

[MrsAxilla]

And the superintendent's bullshit response:

As you may know, two Jeffco schools were closed today, Friday, September 19 because a large number of our teachers were absent. Both Standley Lake and Conifer high schools experienced a significant number of absences on the teaching staff. We felt there wouldn’t be enough adults in the building to ensure an adequate educational environment for students so we made the decision to cancel classes.

I’m not going to speculate on why teachers were absent. I do know that the majority of our educators were in our schools working with students providing the high-quality education that is the Jeffco standard of excellence. We believe passionately in supporting our great teachers and working to ensure we are able to recruit and retain the best for our students.

I can say with pride that last spring the Board of Education approved a compensation package for our employees of $18.2 million; it’s the first increase in compensation our employees have seen in four years. Additionally, last night, the board approved a plan that raised the starting pay for new teachers from $33,000 to $38,000 and set a maximum pay of $81,030. Effective teachers who are at the top of the pay scale (above $81,030) will receive a stipend to reward their efforts as great teachers.

Under this compensation model approved by the Board of Education, 98 percent of our teachers will receive a pay increase. Under the previous model, approximately 400 teachers would not have received any compensation increases. We want to attract and keep the very best teachers for your children and we feel this compensation plan will help support us in reaching this goal.

Additionally, we know that many students and staff members are concerned with the current Board of Education discussion related to the Advanced Placement U.S. History curriculum. At this time there has been no decision about any changes to the course offering. The board will be putting the topic on their agenda for future meetings.

It’s my hope that there won’t be any further disruptions to our schools because of teacher absences. Losing a day of learning isn’t good for our students or our staff. I think most of us can agree that whatever issues may divide adults, our students shouldn’t be the ones impacted. Our focus remains on student growth and achievement. We will continue to notify parents as soon as possible if we are forced to close schools.

We know that our teachers care deeply about their students and chose their profession because they love teaching. Our compensation plan will now reward the vast majority of our teachers for the fine work happening in our classrooms.

[taratru]

Why is his fucked up response about money? I wanted to punch his smug fucking face right through the tv last night on the news. That guy has NO BUSINESS in education. None.

[stealthmom]

Sept 23, 2014 7:52:58 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Sept 23, 2014 1:38:19 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

I receently heard about hasids in nyc doing similar things in their public school boards. They gained a majority on the board and went ahead and did whatever they wanted.

If I were you I would fight and fight hard.

If it's this situation, we discussed it here once.  They want to fuck it all up so that the non-Hasidim will all leave.  nymag.com/news/features/east-ramapo-hasidim-2013-4/#print

yep. That's them

[SallyJ]

#JeffCoSchoolBoardHistory has some really funny tweets.

[MrsAxilla]

Did you guys see that this story hit the national news?