Kentucky policymakers scramble to advance education in science and mathematics, hoping to compete in the world economy. Educators scramble to reduce achievement gaps found along economic and racial lines.
When Fayette County merged its two worst-performing elementary schools into Booker T. Washington Academy in 2005, district leaders knew they needed a special person to create success where there had been mostly failure.
They brought in Peggy Petrelli and she cracked the code. Under Petrelli, fourth grade science scores accelerated at a blistering pace. Learning surged with a military precision. Students entered class to immediately face a short quiz over information from prior lessons. Breaking into thirds, the class cycled orderly through laboratory stations for a systematic, hands-on approach found to be remarkably compelling to the kids. An end of class quiz tested mastery of the day's curriculum. And children who needed extra help got it immediately.
Peggy Petrelli should be doing seminars about her techniques. Instead she is unemployed.
Inexplicably, Petrelli was forced out of Booker T. Washington Academy this fall by Superintendent Stu Silberman, whose actions then and subsequently seem more than a little suspicious. Silberman's unprofessionalism reached a crescendo Tuesday when he announced to the cameras at a public, televised event that Booker T. Washington is "under investigation for its test scores."
The Kentucky Department of Education as of Wednesday had no official record of any complaint.
A spokeswoman for the school district couldn't specify today when the "investigation" started, what it involves, or who initiated it.
Digging deeper into this controversy seems to generate a lot of questions Silberman can't, or won't, answer.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Stu Silberman Blogburst
Don't know when the mainstream media will start to catch up on the Stu Silberman scandal, but some local bloggers are on the case.
The Principal proclaims:
And Page One Kentucky sums it up nicely:
The Principal proclaims:
Bluegrass Institute says Silberman is conducting a "secret investigation" of Perelli
And Page One Kentucky sums it up nicely:
Corruption in Lexington schools. Superintendent Stu Silberman ran a high-performance principal off, lied about it, tried to cover up his tracks and then made up a secret “investigation” that no one knows about. What the heck is going on in Lex Vegas these days? First the jail and now the schools? Seriously, people. Em-bar-ass-ing.
...Waiting To See Steve Beshear's Health Plan
Today Massachusetts starts fining people who haven't signed up for their government health insurance.
Happy Coercion Day!
Happy Coercion Day!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Gov. Beshear Should End Corporate Welfare
The argument that we must keep subsidizing a select few companies because other states do doesn't hold water.
A North Carolina public policy group has done some good work on this that could just as easily apply to Kentucky.
A North Carolina public policy group has done some good work on this that could just as easily apply to Kentucky.
Stu Silberman's Big, Big Mistake
Cross-posted on Bluegrass Policy Blog:
When Lexington school district superintendent Stu Silberman first came to town, he had a slogan to focus central office employee efforts: it's about kids. But after a comment he made yesterday at an all-day seminar, some are left to wonder if "it" may actually be about limiting legal liability for his bad personnel moves.
If what happened at Booker T. Washington Academy in the city's downtown is any indication, Mr. Silberman's tactics may bear some scrutiny.
Peggy Petrelli took over as principal at Booker T. in the fall of 2005. In two short years, test scores shot up 67% at the school. Then, three months ago, Petrelli was forced to resign.
Yesterday, in answer to a question at a Long-Term Policy Research Center public meeting, Silberman may have inadvertently shed light on what surely wasn't one of his finest moments.
Asked to explain what happened to the Academy to cause such dramatic improvement while Petrelli was principal, Silberman stated that it was a bad example. He said the school is "currently under investigation."
That was news to the Kentucky Department of Education. Spokeswoman Lisa Gross said this morning that no complaints had been presented to the Department.
Silberman's "secret investigation" smells a lot like trying to cover his tracks after running off a high-performing principal. Petrelli declined to comment about persistent rumors that she intends to sue Silberman. And Silberman's office did not return a phone call this afternoon.
When Lexington school district superintendent Stu Silberman first came to town, he had a slogan to focus central office employee efforts: it's about kids. But after a comment he made yesterday at an all-day seminar, some are left to wonder if "it" may actually be about limiting legal liability for his bad personnel moves.
If what happened at Booker T. Washington Academy in the city's downtown is any indication, Mr. Silberman's tactics may bear some scrutiny.
Peggy Petrelli took over as principal at Booker T. in the fall of 2005. In two short years, test scores shot up 67% at the school. Then, three months ago, Petrelli was forced to resign.
Yesterday, in answer to a question at a Long-Term Policy Research Center public meeting, Silberman may have inadvertently shed light on what surely wasn't one of his finest moments.
Asked to explain what happened to the Academy to cause such dramatic improvement while Petrelli was principal, Silberman stated that it was a bad example. He said the school is "currently under investigation."
That was news to the Kentucky Department of Education. Spokeswoman Lisa Gross said this morning that no complaints had been presented to the Department.
Silberman's "secret investigation" smells a lot like trying to cover his tracks after running off a high-performing principal. Petrelli declined to comment about persistent rumors that she intends to sue Silberman. And Silberman's office did not return a phone call this afternoon.
Don't Go Out Like This, Governor Fletcher
Governor Fletcher presented another golden opportunity to the Lexington Herald-Leader today. And they took it.
It is outrageous that Governor Fletcher's appointees to the state school board have put on a slapstick act that would shame Larry, Moe, and Curly when all they really needed to do was hire an education commissioner.
Governor Fletcher must step up and demand the Board pay the bill to the crappy search firm whose advice they took despite repeated citizen warnings. Then he must ask himself why we are trusting them on this search when they have given us so little reason to expect them to get it right.
Call off the search, Governor Fletcher.
The Kentucky Board of Education is in dire danger of failing some basic management and economics courses.
The legal spitting contest it has gotten into with the firm that conducted the ill-fated search for a new education commissioner will waste money and shine light on the board's own failure in the search process.
It is outrageous that Governor Fletcher's appointees to the state school board have put on a slapstick act that would shame Larry, Moe, and Curly when all they really needed to do was hire an education commissioner.
Governor Fletcher must step up and demand the Board pay the bill to the crappy search firm whose advice they took despite repeated citizen warnings. Then he must ask himself why we are trusting them on this search when they have given us so little reason to expect them to get it right.
Call off the search, Governor Fletcher.
Should We Pray For Education Accountability?
Last night, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue prayed for rain.
And by tomorrow, rain is what they shall receive.
We really don't need divine intervention in Kentucky to open the skies and pour a little common sense on our education bureaucrats, do we?
And by tomorrow, rain is what they shall receive.
We really don't need divine intervention in Kentucky to open the skies and pour a little common sense on our education bureaucrats, do we?
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Mother Of All Conflicts Of Interest
The Kentucky Department of Education is the worst example of a government agency that regulates -- and grades -- itself.
If we do nothing else, we should eliminate this situation right now.
If we do nothing else, we should eliminate this situation right now.
The Lawyers Are In Charge Now
Rep. Rob Wilkey filed a bill today to shift up to $1.2 million in general fund dollars every month into a fund to pay law school student loan debt for attorneys working in the Attorney General's office and other government-related agencies.
Each lawyer will get up to $6000 a year in state taxpayer money if the bill passes.
Each lawyer will get up to $6000 a year in state taxpayer money if the bill passes.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Grading The Kentucky Education Reform Act
Education bureaucrats take to the stage and the airwaves tomorrow to answer charges of exaggerating Kentucky's educational improvement under KERA.
Click here and here for the dueling reports at the heart of the controversy.
Click here and here for the dueling reports at the heart of the controversy.
Ringling Brothers And Barnum & Bailey Was Never This Much Fun To Watch
The lawyers marching into the Fayette County Detention Center today were there to rake jail employees over the coals for various misdeeds. Must have been a treat for the inmates to see the guards running around crying like babies.
Mayor Jim Newberry's office, of course, had no comment.
Mayor Jim Newberry's office, of course, had no comment.
Dems Loaded For Bear, Right About Ed Commish
Exactly how many headlines do future Republican candidates want about GOP intransigence in favor of a mediocre education commissioner?
Governor Fletcher can call off the hiring process now. He should.
Governor Fletcher can call off the hiring process now. He should.
The Soft Underbelly Of Mediocrity In Kentucky
If Governor-elect Steve Beshear really wants to improve efficiency in Kentucky's government, he will rip school accountability out of the hands of the Kentucky Department of Education.
The Bluegrass Institute today proves that our school assessment program, CATS, has been systematically manipulated to show phony educational improvement since 1999.
There is no more important issue for the future of our state than getting a handle on how we manage the education of our children. This battle is not one for the faint of heart.
The Bluegrass Institute today proves that our school assessment program, CATS, has been systematically manipulated to show phony educational improvement since 1999.
As an unreliable gauge of progress, the CATS assessment needs to be replaced by more credible tests. In hindsight, it was a mistake to charge the Kentucky Department of Education to both assist school systems in making improvements and be the sole administrator of the assessment system to determine if that effort was successful. A separate agency should be created to manage the assessment of educational progress in Kentucky’s schools.
There is no more important issue for the future of our state than getting a handle on how we manage the education of our children. This battle is not one for the faint of heart.
A Teacher Says It
Gary Yaden, a teacher at North Laurel High School, said a mouthful in a Lexington Herald Leader column:
We are, instead, hung up on artificially lowering dropout rates by either trying to force the least interested students to stay in school or by actually faking the dropout statistics.
And nothing will change as long as people don't realize that it is possible to educate only part of the public. The rest are dead weight, placing a huge burden on the schools and preventing other students from achieving their full potential.
We are, instead, hung up on artificially lowering dropout rates by either trying to force the least interested students to stay in school or by actually faking the dropout statistics.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Cowardly Blogger, Go Home
Some anonymous pinhead keeps pushing Larry Forgy to run for the U.S. Senate against Mitch McConnell. That's fine as far as wasting time goes, but while he is busily speaking for himself (and, until we hear differently, Larry) he should leave the Club for Growth out of it.
The half-hearted effort to shoot the wounded Ernie Fletcher in this year's primary should serve as somewhat of a cautionary tale for those who now want to shoot McConnell. Mitch has his flaws, certainly, but a state that just elected Steve Beshear its governor isn't going to do better than McConnell next year.
The half-hearted effort to shoot the wounded Ernie Fletcher in this year's primary should serve as somewhat of a cautionary tale for those who now want to shoot McConnell. Mitch has his flaws, certainly, but a state that just elected Steve Beshear its governor isn't going to do better than McConnell next year.
Let The Senate President Decide
The Louisville Courier-Journal went to the trouble of surveying all the state Senators about a casino gambling bill when they really only needed to talk to one.
That really is the end of the story, except to point out how misleading the headline is. "Beshear has shot at casinos in Senate" does not an accurately assess the situation. Besides the "let the people decide" slogan could be more accurately stated "let the Las Vegas casino owners decide." Hardly a populist slogan worthy of a Kentucky governor.
A casino bill in the House would force Speaker Jody Richards to weigh in on the issue against Governor Beshear as well.
David Williams, R-Burkesville: "I'm not going to vote for a bill that will put the casino gaming issue on the ballot."
That really is the end of the story, except to point out how misleading the headline is. "Beshear has shot at casinos in Senate" does not an accurately assess the situation. Besides the "let the people decide" slogan could be more accurately stated "let the Las Vegas casino owners decide." Hardly a populist slogan worthy of a Kentucky governor.
A casino bill in the House would force Speaker Jody Richards to weigh in on the issue against Governor Beshear as well.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
School Board Burning, Fletcher Can Put Out Fire
Just when Kentucky's education commissioner hiring debacle looked like it couldn't get any worse, it did.
There is no reason for the outgoing Republican administration to die on this hill. The four finalists in the current search have a combined state leadership experience of exactly zero days. Backing a school board who is now being dragged into court for botching their previous candidate search is not something that is going to benefit the conservative movement in any way.
The Kentucky Department of Education has made a huge mess of our assessment program. That is the battle we should be fighting now and will still be the battle we should be fighting six months from now. The commissioner search can wait. Sticking our necks out now for an under-qualified education commissioner serves no valid purpose whatsoever.
Governor Fletcher, please ask the school board to suspend the hiring process right now.
There is no reason for the outgoing Republican administration to die on this hill. The four finalists in the current search have a combined state leadership experience of exactly zero days. Backing a school board who is now being dragged into court for botching their previous candidate search is not something that is going to benefit the conservative movement in any way.
The Kentucky Department of Education has made a huge mess of our assessment program. That is the battle we should be fighting now and will still be the battle we should be fighting six months from now. The commissioner search can wait. Sticking our necks out now for an under-qualified education commissioner serves no valid purpose whatsoever.
Governor Fletcher, please ask the school board to suspend the hiring process right now.
McConnell: What Fails In Paris, Stays In Paris
Speaking to the Republican State Central Committee meeting this morning, Sen. Mitch McConnell spoke about French President Nicolas Sarkozy. McConnell described him as a French-speaking Ronald Reagan.
McConnell quipped that Sarkozy is now trying to convince the French people that working is good.
And then he said the French are now rejecting the policies American Democrats are trying to implement.
Did I mention the U.S. House just passed a big tax increase yesterday?
McConnell quipped that Sarkozy is now trying to convince the French people that working is good.
And then he said the French are now rejecting the policies American Democrats are trying to implement.
Did I mention the U.S. House just passed a big tax increase yesterday?
Fletcher: Larry, Don't Run
Speaking to the Republican State Central Committee meeting this morning in Lexington, Governor Fletcher publicly stated that no one should run in a primary against Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Good.
Good.
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