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Some Pinellas schools still wanting to go fundamental
Here's one for the better-late-than-never file: The Gradebook recently learned that one Pinellas elementary school applied last fall to be a fundamental school, and that a second received an application in the past few weeks.
The former is Plumb Elementary, which was essentially told its timing wasn't good. The latter is Walsingham Elementary.
Plumb's application is attached below. And here's the text of an email that associate superintendent Bill Lawrence sent to Plumb principal Seymour Brown in October, explaining why the school board wouldn't be considering his school's bid: ... Read more
Pinellas superintendent to meet with Thurgood parents
Following a continued outcry over start times, Pinellas Superintendent John Stewart will meet with parents at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School on Thursday. Associate superintendent Michael Bessette will also attend. The meeting will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
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Pinellas promises meeting with Thurgood parents over start times
Message from Pinellas school district last night to parents at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School: Good evening, Thurgood Marshall families. This is Michael Bessette, Associate Superintendent for the Pinellas County School District. I’m calling on behalf of Dr. Stewart to let you know that district staff is aware of your concerns regarding the proposed bell schedule for your school, which is scheduled for School Board approval on Tuesday along with all other school bell schedules. ... Read more
SRO's side of bad karma bully story
So did a Pinellas high school student really get suspended, and charged with stalking, because she parked in another girl's spot and, after her car was allegedly keyed, wrote on Facebook that bad karma was coming? Today's follow-up story about the 16-year-old at Osceola Fundamental High School noted it was still unclear what actions led to those sanctions.
The reason: We still didn't have the school resource officer's report. Well, we just got it a little bit ago. And at the risk of beating this story to a pulp, it's attached below.
The report references the karma comment (which is printed in full in both stories) and a second comment: "bitch doesn't see what's coming for her." Do those comments together rise to the level of a suspension and a criminal charge? Maybe along with parking in the other girl's spot? ... Read more
Thurgood parents rallying again over start time
In a recommendation that's set to go before the Pinellas school board for a vote Tuesday, Superintendent John Stewart is recommending that all school opening and closing times stay the same for the 2012-13 school year. That's not going over well with many parents at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School, where budget cuts and transportation costs led the school board to okay a much later start time this year.
At least 20 parents have emailed the board since Nov. 7. And we know there's an ongoing flurry of emails because we're being cc'd on many of them.
"Stick to the fundamental guidelines," wrote one, who mentioned a petition drive and requested a town hall meeting on the issue. ... Read more
Who crossed the line in bad karma bully case?
What timing. The U.S. Department of Education put out a new report on school bullying laws and policies this month, just in time to give more context to today's story about the alleged bad karma bully at Osceola Fundamental High School.
Clearly, the school resource officer and school administration at Osceola thought the student crossed the line, which is why she was suspended for three days and charged with stalking. But the USDOE report - encyclopedic in its survey of anti-bullying laws - makes you wonder if the district crossed a line, too, by disciplining the student for something that happened off campus. ... Read more
Thurgood Marshall principal headed to Hillsborough
Dallas Jackson, the principal at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School since 2006, is leaving next month to take a principal’s job at a public middle school in Hillsborough.
Jackson informed the district yesterday of his plans, said Superintendent John Stewart. “I just feel terrible that this is happening,” Stewart said. “I did my very best to talk him out of it, but he said he wanted to make a change in his career.”
Jackson’s last day in Pinellas is Jan. 20, Stewart said.
The Hillsborough School Board voted today to make Jackson the new principal at Martinez Middle. His start date is Jan. 23. ... Read more
Think tank: Pinellas gets C+ for school choice, Hillsborough gets C
In a ranking of the 25 biggest school districts in the country, Pinellas gets a C+ for its school choice policies and practices and Hillsborough gets a C, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution.
Top grades went to New York City and Chicago, which earned B's. The lowest went to Orange County in Florida, which earned a D. Duval County and Broward County in Florida earned the third- and fifth-highest ratings, respectively, both of which translated into B- grades. ... Read more
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Pinellas offers school choice applications workshops for parents, students
From a district press release: In an effort to create awareness about learning opportunities for students in magnet, fundamental and career technical programs, the district has scheduled several information workshops for parents and students to learn more about the annual application process.
The district offers many program options and these sessions will give parents and students the opportunity to get information about the application process and entrance requirements for select programs well in advance of the January application period. The workshop sessions will be held from 7-8 p.m. at the following locations: ... Read more
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What happens when kids lose the school choice lottery
Pinellas parents are often frustrated when they don’t win the fundamental school lottery. This new study will make them feel worse: It finds that students in another urban district who were zoned for low-quality high schools but won a magnet school lottery went on to perform better than the lottery losers.
They had higher GPAs, better attendance and were more likely to take tougher math classes. They graduated at higher rates, went to college at higher rates and earned bachelor’s degrees at higher rates. They were also twice as likely to earn degrees from top-notch colleges like Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill. Why? ... Read more
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