About Author: Tom Staly

Posts by Tom Staly

  • This article is from Kenneth J. Bernstein who is a schoolteacher and a blogger whose work appears on Daily Kos and other sites. We were sitting in a Starbucks in Arlington, Va. It was our first meeting. Previously, Iowa governor Tom Vilsack and I had talked by phone and exchanged blog posts on education. His campaign staff had reached out to a number of educational bloggers, as he was seriously considering running for president and thought education was a good issue for him. Since he was going to be in my neighborhood, we agreed to get together. At one point I mentioned that the governors had just had a meeting on education, and he nodded. I remarked that each had brought a business leader to the meeting. The governor nodded again. And then I asked, “Why didn’t you bring a...

    Why Not Ask Teachers How They Would Improve Our Schools?

    Posted on January 16, 2013 | No Comments
    This article is from Kenneth J. Bernstein who is a schoolteacher and a blogger whose work appears on Daily Kos and other sites. We were sitting in a Starbucks in Arlington, Va. It was our first meeting. Previously, Iowa governor Tom Vilsack and I had talked by phone and exchanged blog posts on education. His campaign staff had reached out to a number of educational bloggers, as he was seriously considering running for president and thought education was a good issue for him. Since he was going to be in my neighborhood, we agreed to get together. At one point I mentioned that the governors had just had a meeting on education, and he nodded. I remarked that each had brought a business leader to the meeting. The governor nodded again. And then I asked, “Why didn’t you bring a...

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  • Kennewick School Board Meeting December 12, 2012 Section 1: What transpired                                       Section 2: What was not included Section 1   Present were Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Alexandra Miskho (student) all school board members.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, and Lorraine Cooper.  Fall sports coaches, athletic directors, athletes from the three comprehensive high schools, a representative of KEA, and several members of the public.   Absent: Ron Mabry   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:31 PM by Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Recognition:  Lead by Ron Williamson, the board extended congratulations to all the district athletes who participated in state competitions.  For Kennewick High School, the swim team participated in two relays, Bill Templeton, football coach is Coach...

    Kennewick School Board Report for December 12

    Posted on January 1, 2013 | No Comments
    Kennewick School Board Meeting December 12, 2012 Section 1: What transpired                                       Section 2: What was not included Section 1   Present were Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Alexandra Miskho (student) all school board members.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, and Lorraine Cooper.  Fall sports coaches, athletic directors, athletes from the three comprehensive high schools, a representative of KEA, and several members of the public.   Absent: Ron Mabry   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:31 PM by Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Recognition:  Lead by Ron Williamson, the board extended congratulations to all the district athletes who participated in state competitions.  For Kennewick High School, the swim team participated in two relays, Bill Templeton, football coach is Coach...

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  • John Kuhn is superintendent of a small school district in Texas. But his voice is mighty and powerful. Those who have heard him wish he were Commissioner of Education for the state of Texas or in another position where everyone would learn from his wisdom. Kuhn was the first person to be named to the honor roll for his eloquence and courage in support of public education. The Dallas Morning News Published: November 2, 2012  John Kuhn, superintendent of the Perrin-Whitt school district in Jack County, northwest of Fort Worth, is active speaking out and writing critically about public-education reformers. He’s gained some fame for his oft-quoted “Alamo letter” from 2011, in which he vowed never to surrender the fight for his students. Now that more than 850 Texas school boards have signed on to a resolution against over-reliance on high-stakes testing,...

    A Superintendent Speaks Out About Standardized Testing

    Posted on November 29, 2012 | No Comments
    John Kuhn is superintendent of a small school district in Texas. But his voice is mighty and powerful. Those who have heard him wish he were Commissioner of Education for the state of Texas or in another position where everyone would learn from his wisdom. Kuhn was the first person to be named to the honor roll for his eloquence and courage in support of public education. The Dallas Morning News Published: November 2, 2012  John Kuhn, superintendent of the Perrin-Whitt school district in Jack County, northwest of Fort Worth, is active speaking out and writing critically about public-education reformers. He’s gained some fame for his oft-quoted “Alamo letter” from 2011, in which he vowed never to surrender the fight for his students. Now that more than 850 Texas school boards have signed on to a resolution against over-reliance on high-stakes testing,...

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  • Kennewick School Board Meeting November 7, 2012 Section 1: What transpired                                      Section 2: What was not included Section 1   Present were school board members Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Alexandria Miskho (student).  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Doug Carl, Ron Cone, Ron Williamson, and Lorraine Cooper.  Also present were a representative of KEA and several members of the public.   Absent: Dawn Adams and Ron Mabry   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:33 PM by Heather Kintzley who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  Darin Twiggs rose to speak of the difficulty dealing with KSD about his daughter’s severe allergies and her safety at school.  She has not been allowed to attend school because a plan for...

    Kennewick School Board Report for November 7

    Posted on November 20, 2012 | No Comments
    Kennewick School Board Meeting November 7, 2012 Section 1: What transpired                                      Section 2: What was not included Section 1   Present were school board members Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Alexandria Miskho (student).  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Doug Carl, Ron Cone, Ron Williamson, and Lorraine Cooper.  Also present were a representative of KEA and several members of the public.   Absent: Dawn Adams and Ron Mabry   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:33 PM by Heather Kintzley who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  Darin Twiggs rose to speak of the difficulty dealing with KSD about his daughter’s severe allergies and her safety at school.  She has not been allowed to attend school because a plan for...

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  • Delta High School principal Deidre Holmberg has secured a $50,000 award from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation for the school’s educational approach and methods. It’s the first year the foundation is giving out the Creative Leadership Awards, which acknowledge future-focused thinking and adept work by individuals and community organizations, according to a news release. Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/11/02/2156798/paul-allen-group-gives-50000-to.html

    Paul Allen group gives $50,000 to Delta High

    Posted on November 2, 2012 | No Comments
    Delta High School principal Deidre Holmberg has secured a $50,000 award from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation for the school’s educational approach and methods. It’s the first year the foundation is giving out the Creative Leadership Awards, which acknowledge future-focused thinking and adept work by individuals and community organizations, according to a news release. Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/11/02/2156798/paul-allen-group-gives-50000-to.html

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  • Kennewick School Board Meeting October 24, 2012 Section 1: What transpired                                   Section 2: What was not included Section 1   Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, Ron Mabry and Alexandria Miskho (student).  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, Lorraine Cooper, Alyssa St.Hillaire and Kevin Pierce.  Also present, a representative of KEA and several members of the public.   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:30 PM by Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Recognition:  Ron Williamson presented Dennis Boatman, Principal of Legacy High School, who was named “Distinguished Assistant Principal of the Year” by the Washington State School Principal League.  Dennis had served as assistant principal at Kennewick High School before becoming the principal at Legacy this...

    Kennewick School Board Report for October 24

    Posted on October 28, 2012 | No Comments
    Kennewick School Board Meeting October 24, 2012 Section 1: What transpired                                   Section 2: What was not included Section 1   Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, Ron Mabry and Alexandria Miskho (student).  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, Ron Williamson, Lorraine Cooper, Alyssa St.Hillaire and Kevin Pierce.  Also present, a representative of KEA and several members of the public.   The meeting was Called to Order at 5:30 PM by Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Recognition:  Ron Williamson presented Dennis Boatman, Principal of Legacy High School, who was named “Distinguished Assistant Principal of the Year” by the Washington State School Principal League.  Dennis had served as assistant principal at Kennewick High School before becoming the principal at Legacy this...

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  • I was out of town in June and July so did not see this when it was published.  This board action is significant so I am reporting it now. The Kennewick School Board will increase funding for programs preparing students for kindergarten, though the district will have to dip into savings to do it. Board members Ron Mabry and Ben Messinger voted Wednesday night to provide more than $244,000 to the Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia for the READY! for Kindergarten program, a roughly $50,000 increase over how much was provided the previous year. “I’m normally a miser but these are really good programs,” Messinger said. Board member Brian Brooks opposed the decision. Board members Dawn Adams and Heather Kintzley were absent.

    Kennewick School Board increases funding for pre-kindergarten program

    Posted on October 16, 2012 | 1 Comment
    I was out of town in June and July so did not see this when it was published.  This board action is significant so I am reporting it now. The Kennewick School Board will increase funding for programs preparing students for kindergarten, though the district will have to dip into savings to do it. Board members Ron Mabry and Ben Messinger voted Wednesday night to provide more than $244,000 to the Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia for the READY! for Kindergarten program, a roughly $50,000 increase over how much was provided the previous year. “I’m normally a miser but these are really good programs,” Messinger said. Board member Brian Brooks opposed the decision. Board members Dawn Adams and Heather Kintzley were absent.

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  • Kennewick School Board Meeting      October 10, 2012    5:30 PM Board members present:  Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, Alexandria Miskho (student). Absent:  Ron Mabry Business: Superintendent Dave Bond reported the reading foundation gave children’s books to new teachers starting classroom libraries.  Books were donated by Goodwill Industries. Ben Messinger reported that he, Adams and Dave Bond participated in a Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) conference in Kennewick.  Among issues of concern was the Charter Schools initiative.  Brooks reported that he is learning more about the role of the school board. Bond reported the results of Kindergarten reading and math assessments for fall 2012.  See details below. Lorraine Cooper reported on the Parent and Community Workshop which was attended by over 100 participants.  See details below. Adams conducted a public hearing on the Proposed Alterations to Specific Expenditures...

    Kennewick School Board Report for October 10

    Posted on October 15, 2012 | No Comments
    Kennewick School Board Meeting      October 10, 2012    5:30 PM Board members present:  Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, Alexandria Miskho (student). Absent:  Ron Mabry Business: Superintendent Dave Bond reported the reading foundation gave children’s books to new teachers starting classroom libraries.  Books were donated by Goodwill Industries. Ben Messinger reported that he, Adams and Dave Bond participated in a Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) conference in Kennewick.  Among issues of concern was the Charter Schools initiative.  Brooks reported that he is learning more about the role of the school board. Bond reported the results of Kindergarten reading and math assessments for fall 2012.  See details below. Lorraine Cooper reported on the Parent and Community Workshop which was attended by over 100 participants.  See details below. Adams conducted a public hearing on the Proposed Alterations to Specific Expenditures...

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