by | March 22, 2011 · 10:01 am

Dane County Parent Organizing Meeting set for this Sunday

Parents in Dane County have scheduled an event to update the public on Governor Scott Walkers’ devastating cuts to their children’s educational opportunities and to plan what they can do, together, to form advocacy groups and work for a better way. The event follows closely on the heels of a similar meeting in Greenfield, March 5, that saw over 400 people come together to plan the next step.

March 27, members of the Dane County School Board Consortium and WAES will host a community meeting — “The Future of Public Education and A Call to Action” — at the Monona Grove High School Commons, 4400 Monona Drive, Monona. The hoped-for outcomes of the event, which runs from 3 to 4:40 p.m., include an increased understanding of school funding in Wisconsin, alternatives to cuts in funding, and formation of community advocacy groups. For more information, call 608-217-5938 or go to here.

Robert Godfrey

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Filed under "education finance", Accountability, Budget, Scott Walker, Take Action, We Are Not Alone

by | March 17, 2011 · 11:41 pm

WAES: “Governor’s budget plan for education gets a bad grade on basic mathematics”

Click the graphic for more information on WAES.

From the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES)

Governor’s budget plan for education
gets a bad grade on basic mathematics

As long as the cost of education does not increase, the tools Governor Scott Walker “gave” districts to offset his devastating cuts to school aids might work, theoretically, for some communities. In the real world, however─where costs increase and children need opportunities to succeed, the coming years look pretty bleak.

That was the assessment following Tuesday’s credentialed media only press event behind locked doors where the Governor rolled out his version of the 2011-13 budget for public education. Not everyone was as optimistic as Walker.

Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers called the budget “a crushing challenge,” while the School Finance Network said the budget is “shortsighted and counterproductive” and “the simple fact is that (it) will result in cuts to programs and services and increases in class sizes.”

In general, the Governor’s budget that cuts aid and reduces districts’ revenue authority doesn’t take into account 18 years of cuts to programs and services and basic inflationary cost increases. WAES maintains that sooner or later, the result of the cuts─small, large, and cumulative─will be or already has jeopardized the future of Wisconsin’s children and communities.

Wisconsin’s School Administrator’s Alliance (SAA) said its members are united in their opposition to Governor Walker’s agenda of privatizing public education.” “According to John Forester, the group’s director of government relations, “The school aid cuts in the Governor’s proposed budget plan are of a magnitude not seen since the Great Depression.”

Find out what you can do to stop these devastating aid cuts to our public schools at http://www.excellentschools.org/events/2011/budget/toolkit.htm..

Read more:

Thomas J. Mertz

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by | February 20, 2011 · 3:21 pm

The Other Shoe, or Will You Be Marching in March?


There is so much good stuff out there on what has been happening in Madison and around the state this week that I really don’t have too much to add.  I will point toward the CAST Statement I helped draft, Rep Mark Pocan’s “Scott Walker’s Top Ten Lies” for a good fact check and Alder Brian Solomon’s  “Madison, WI: A Prelude for Economic Justice” for some questions and context.  I’ve been energized and filled with hope by the the rallies and protests this week, but like Brian I have concerns about the limits of the agenda being put forward.

That is why I want to try to focus attention on what comes next, the other shoe waiting to drop, Governor Walker’s Biennial Budget.  It is going to be a giant shoe and we need to be ready to catch it and throw that one back too.

Throughout this, Walker has made it clear that the so-called Budget Repair bill is only a prelude to the Biennial Budget.  The GOP talking points have been that destroying public worker unions is a way to give local governmental units (counties, municipalities and school districts)  the tools to deal with the budget cuts that radical slashes to state aid, shared revenue and unprecedented limits on local control of revenues — all anticipated in the Biennial Budget —  will bring.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the way to actually help local governmental units and the people of Wisconsin is to provide sufficient revenues.  For more, see the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future/Wisconsin Council on Children and Families Catalog of Tax Reform Options for Wisconsin and of course Penny for Kids.

Scott Walker and the GOP don’t want you to know what is in the budget bill, they especially don’t want this information out there while the people are in control of the Capitol and paying attention.  So, instead of releasing the Budget on Tuesday February 22 as scheduled, they have moved it to March 1.  Whether in the Capitol or elsewhere, we all need to be paying attention and we all need to mobilize on this too.

There have been some hints and leaks about what will be in the Budget and it ain’t good.

What do we know from all this?

  • Anticipated $900 Million in cuts to State School Aids.
  • Unstated, but large cuts to shared revenue
  • Talk of a hard cap in property tax increases equal only to growth in property wealth (se the video above),  taking away the ability of local governing units to mitigate the cuts in state aid.
  • Rumors of new refusals of federal aid, including Title I, a longstanding program targeted at the education of children in poverty.
  • Hard times ahead for Counties, Municipalities and School Districts and all those who depend on them for services.

Geez — Title I.  This is beyond insane.  For me this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.  Everything else  — tax cuts, aid cuts, revenue limits, union busting…– is maddening and insane, but refusing Title I is so stupid and so offensive that as Marvin Gaye said “It makes me wanna Holler, ” and scream and organize.

AND ORGANIZE!

I know I’ll be marching in March and probably April, May and beyond (even though I should be campaigning for the District 13 seat on the Madison Common Council instead).

Who else will be organizing and marching isn’t clear at this point,  but I’d guess if you contact/join the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools, The Institute for Wisconsin’s Future, Progressive Dane, The Wisconsin Wave,  Madison Area Urban Ministry, and the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, you’ll be in the loop and know when to lace up your marching boots.

Save the date.

Thomas J.  (TJ) Mertz

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by | February 14, 2011 · 11:07 pm

Primary Election — Vote (For Me)

For more information, click the image.

Voting information can be found at the City Clerk’s site

Learn more about all the races and candidates via the League of Women Voters.

For those in District 13,  Madison, some things on the election where I am a candidate for Common Council.

Video from the Bay Creek Forum District 13 Forum is up on YouTube .  I want to thank the organizers and participants for a great exercise in democracy.  Here is one excerpt:

Capital Times, Laptop City Hall overview(very well done).

The candidates answers from Forward Lookout are here .

The Wisconsin Sate Journal overview and answers are here .

Capital Times guest columns are here .

Because of the current attacks on public workers and unions, I’d also like to use this opportunity to encourage all to work to defeat Governor Walker’s proposal.  More information here (linked).

Last, some quotes about voting I put on my campaign literature,  and a couple of songs.

Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the  right to vote except the American people themselves — and the only way they could do this is by not voting. — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Suffrage is the pivotal right. — Susan B. Anthony
Voting is a civic sacrament. — Theodore M. Hesburgh

Chis Stamey and Yo la Tengo, “Vote” (click to listen or download).

Chick Webb Orchestra with Ella Fitzgerald, “Vote for Mister Rhythm” (click to listen or download).

Thomas J. (TJ) Mertz

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by | January 17, 2011 · 11:01 am

Quotes of the — Martin Luther King Jr. — Day

“It is precisely because education is the road to equality and citizenship, that it has been made more elusive for Negroes than many other rights. The walling off of Negroes from equal education is part of the historical design to submerge him in second class status. Therefore, as Negroes have struggled to be free they have had to fight for the opportunity for a decent education.”

“The Negro has no room to make any substantial compromises because his store of advantages is too small. He must press unrelentingly for quality, integrated education or his whole drive for freedom will be undermined by the absence of a most vital and indispensable element — learning.”

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically… Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

“Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’ But conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right?’ And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but because conscience tells one it is right.”

Thomas J. Mertz

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by | January 9, 2011 · 9:01 pm

Changes at the High Schools a Done Deal?, An Open Letter

Photo WKOW

I’m running for Common Council and shouldn’t be spending time on this, but the issues are very important to me, so I’m doing it, but as short and sweet as I can.

The issues are the  failure of the MMSD Administration to follow basic practices of open inclusive governance and the implementation of segregative policies.

Below (and here) is an open letter drafted and signed by 18 West High parents on Friday 1/7/2010.  Understanding the letter requires some background and context.  The background  — along with the latest news and some final thoughts –follows.

Background:

On October 15 2010 hundreds of West Students protested proposed changes in our High Schools and their exclusion from the decision-making on these changes.  Subsequently, the proposal was renamed “(Dual Pathways” is in the dustbin of history) and vague statements about a more open and inclusive process were made (AMPS posts on this here, here, here and here).

After a contentious parent meeting at West on these proposals, a group of parents who wanted to have some say in the reforms  began meeting and emailing.  It is important to note that the views of this group on the various aspect of the reforms are diverse, but all wanted to be part of an open process (I strongly favor some aspects and oppose others, see the links to AMPS posts above).  Only some members of this group signed the letter.

Last Thursday these matters appeared on the Board of Education agenda for the first time.  It was a workshop meeting — no public testimony —  and nothing was slated for action.   Not all supporting  materials were linked to that agenda.  I’m not going to do a blow-by-blow of the meeting.

The important development was that it was revealed that the changes in high school structures for English and Social Studies at West and Memorial — the changes the prompted the protest (uploaded here, I don’t believe this document has ever been posted by MMSD) would appear in the handbooks for 2011-12 that had to go to the printer on Tuesday January 11.  Remember, this information was not public prior to the meeting and there was no way for the Board to act on it.  This is what prompted the letter.

At the meeting some Board Members suggested delaying the implementation.  Since the meeting there has been communication between Board Members and between Board Members  and the Administration (note: I said “between” not “among,” which would be a clear violation of open meetings statutes).

Latest News:

I have been informed that the result of this “process” is that  the planned changes, the segrative changes,  will appear in the course catalog that is sent to the printer on Tuesday.

Final Thoughts:

This is no way to run a school district and it is certainly no way to institute a reform that to be successful requires the confidence and support of parents, students and teachers.   If you don’t like this, let the Board and Supt Dan Nerad know (board@madison.k12.wi.us; dnerad@madison.k12.wi.us).

In conclusion, I want to reiterate that I support much of the reform package and believe in the sincerity of the motives of those behind it.

Thomas J. Mertz

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by | January 3, 2011 · 3:00 pm

Off and Running, for District 13 Common Council

For more information, click the image.

It is official, the last of the paperwork is filed and on February 15 the voters of the 13th Common Council District in Madison Wisconsin will see my name on on the ballot (as TJ Mertz).  Exciting and scary.

I’ve spent the last few years working primarily on education issues. Municipal issues will be a change, but not that big of a change.  My activism in education has been about addressing inequalities, providing opportunities, enhancing democratic participation and promoting good governance and smart budgeting.  These are exactly the things I want to do on the Common Council.

I also want AMPS readers to know that I’m not  leaving education behind.

The city is directly involved in education through libraries, early childhood programs and neighborhood centers.  I want to be part of supporting and improving these efforts.    I also recognize that schools alone are not sufficient (see the Broader, Bolder statement).  Children’s abilities to take advantage of  educational opportunities are impacted by issues of housing, employment, policing, health care and much more.  As an Alder, I’ll make these connections and work for policies and economic development to help all our children.

I will continue to serve on the Board of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools and advocate for adequate educational investments throughout Wisconsin.

Regular readers of AMPS will have noticed that there has been little or no activity the past months.  The race for Alder is the big reason why.   It is my intention to continue with AMPS, but I could use some help.  If you’d like to write for AMPS, drop me  a line or leave a comment.

I could also use some help with the Alder race.  You can volunteer or donate by clicking these links.

Thomas J. Mertz

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by | November 8, 2010 · 11:45 am

Community Conversation on Education, November 9th, 2010

Sonny Boy Williamson “Don’t Start Me Talkin'” (click to listen or download)

[Note, no “On the Agenda” post this week, you can access the agendas here.]

I’ll be attending the November 9th Community Conversation on Education sponsored by the Madison Metropolitan School District, the United Way, UW-Madison School of Education, MTI and the Urban League.   I have a lot of misgivings.  To begin with, it is advertised as “sparked by “Waiting for Superman” and I have little desire to take part in anything that is “sparked” by such a dishonest endeavor (see also the Not Waiting for Superman site).  It also strikes me as yet another instance of Madison being reactive, when we should be proactive in public education.  Then there is the whole mysterioso aspect, where you sign up and then get the agenda.

Perhaps most importantly, I don’t see this leading anywhere, or at least I don’t see a plan for it to lead anywhere.  After 200-300 people talk about education, what next?  The recent local record isn’t good.  Task Forces, strategic plans, advisory groups, budget hearings all bring people in, and then they are sent away.  In many instances they are sent away with little evidence they have been listened to or had any influence (I’m thinking of the hundreds of people who testified on the budget in particular).  Community Conversations are not community involvement and the latter has been sorely neglected recently.

Genuine community involvement takes a sustained effort and requires that those giving time and energy also be given influence and power.  Maybe this is the start of that happening in Madison.  I hope so.  If it is, then I suggest that district officials check out some of the publications from the Annenberg Institute to learn about the next steps (more specifically, this series of publications).

Meanwhile, I’ll go and have my say (despite the song at the top, I won’t “tell everything I know”), listen, learn and hope.

Thomas J. Mertz

 

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by | October 29, 2010 · 5:44 pm

High School Reform — New Timeline and More

2012 Mayan Calendar

Gayle Worland Matthew DeFour in the Wisconsin Sate Journal has the story, there is a new timeline pushing implementation back to 2012-13,  an extended input process,  some backgorund, a more detailed rational and  much more for the proposed Madison Metropolitan School District High School Curricular Reforms (now apparently officially dubbed Career and College Readiness).

The new document only indirectly presents the Dual Pathways proposal (Executive Summary here), but does refer to the initial roll-out as “difficult.  It does assert (in boldface type):

Our Theory of Action, process and end goals have not changed, but how we articulate this work has become more explicit, transparent and responsive.

I don’t know how to read this.  Obviously the process has changed (if nothing else it is longer).  It is hard to know what to make of the idea that what went wrong was not the process, but that they didn’t “articulate” things in a manner that was sufficiently “explicit, transparent and responsive.”  I understand the explicit, but if transparency and responsiveness are confined to articulation, I think they’ve missed the point and are stuck in the top-down mentality that is a death sentence for any education reform.

Here is the “Theory of Action” (from the Executive Summary):

As indicated elsewhere in the new document, it appears that he ACT standards (and the EPAS), tthe AP requirements and the Common Core Standards will remain at the center of the reforms.  There are a lot of “if/thens” in this, some of which I buy and some of which are difficult to accept.  I’d like to see these all of these assertions of causality examined, but apparently that is not part of the plan.

As to the goals, you can’t argue with increased achievement for all students.

Despite my parsing here, I think there is much that is good here.  The rationale (with data) is necessary (I’d like to see data going back some years, but that may be just me).  The next steps include a variety of committees of district and school staff and despite the defensive assertion that the process hasn’t changed, these committees appear to have real potential for shaping the result.

I don’t see any direct role parents and community members except through the Parent Council and “A specially created business and community council that will meet on a quarterly basis to provide feedback.”  As I have noted before, the Parent Council is too large to be a functioning deliberative body and I’m guessing the “business and community council” will be similarly designed for one-way “articulation” not meaningful policy input (I’m not even going to get started on what is wrong with privileging “business” in this manner).

There are no committees or Councils for students with the Student Senate only mentioned in the context of the previously held forum.   Lessons not learned.

Perhaps to take care of this, the district has set up a feedback page.  Use it, to offer your thoughts.

It also needs to be noted that none of this — not the Dual Pathways, not the new timeline and process — has ever appeared on a Board of Education agenda.  Either the Board is out-of the-loop or the basic principles of open governance have been forgotten.

Here is the new timeline:

2010-2011 Including Summer: Planning Year

District-wide K-12 curricular alignment process to occur with the following results:

  • Established k-12 scope and sequence in all four core content areas.
  • Essential Understandings, knowledge and skills established K-12.
  • High School curricular alignment completed in all four core content areas with established course offerings, sequences and essential understandings, knowledge and skills.
  • Establish initial offerings for consistent accelerated courses to be offered 2011-12.
  • Establish scaffolds and supports to be provided district-wide.
  • Plan for Professional Development implementation developed for implementation 2011-12.Implement the EPAS EXPLORE Assessment with all 8th and 9th grade students.

2011-12: Readiness for Implementation

  • Comprehensive budget aligned to the plan and recommended for approval, November 2011.
  • Comprehensive professional development plan implemented for staff across all four comprehensive high schools to fully implement recommendations set forth by district committees from 2010-11.
  • Implement initial accelerated offerings across all four comprehensive high schools.
  • Finalize course offerings and descriptions for including in 2012-13 course catalogs.

Implement the EPAS EXPLORE and PLAN Assessment with all 8th, 9th and 10th grade students.

2012-13: Implementation

  • Implement consistent course offerings in all four core content areas with options for both acceleration and scaffolding and supports.

I’m going to close by pasting something I put near the top of my first post on this:

Before I delve into the mess and the proposal, I think it is important to say that despite huge and inexcusable problems with the process, many unanswered questions and some real things of concern; there are some good things in the proposal.  One part near the heart of the plan in particular is something I’ve been pushing for years:  open access to advanced classes and programs with supports. In the language of the proposal:

Pathways open to all students. Students are originally identified by Advanced Placement requirements and other suggested guidelines such as EXPLORE /PLAN scores, GPA, past MS/HS performance and MS/HS Recommendation. however, all students would be able to enroll. Students not meeting suggested guidelines but wanting to enroll would receive additional supports (tutoring, skill development classes, AVID, etc.) to ensure success. (emphasis added and I would like to see it added in the implementation).

Right now there are great and at times irrational barriers in place.  These need to go.   I hope this does not get lost as the mess is cleaned up.

I still think those basic ideas of removing barriers of access and providing sufficient supports are essential.  I fully support the extended process, more openness and responsiveness throughout the process, but would like to see those barriers come down and supports go up as soon as possible.  There is no reason to wait another year on this portion.

Thomas J.  Mertz

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by | October 25, 2010 · 7:24 am

Keep Russ Feingold in the Senate!

There are thousands of reasons to keep Russ Feingold in the Senate.  Hundreds of these have to do with him being one of the few voices of sanity who has gone against the Washington consensus on top down Education Policy based on underfunded sham accountability and “market forces.”

Read what he had to say about NCLB reauthorization (excerpt):

“NCLB has hamstrung state and local decision-making by establishing a federal accountability system that measures and punishes our students and our schools based on, among other things, annual high-stakes standardized testing,” Feingold said. “This is the wrong approach, and the groundswell of opposition to the NCLB – from parents, educators, and administrators alike – shows just how flawed it is.”

Check the rest of his positions and actions on his Education page.

Then go to his campaign site and sign on to help help re-elect Russ. If you can’t fit volunteering into your schedule, hit the phone and email and Facebook and whatever else to contact everyone you know in Wisconsin and remind them how important it is to keep Russ Feingold in the Senate.

For inspiration, here is one more commercial from 1992 (amazing how little the issues have changed).

Thomas J. Mertz

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