Info Archive

  • A Letter to President Obama Two grandparents on opposite ends of the continent each had a concern about the direction of education reform and its effect on their grandchildren.  Through a chain of improbable circumstances they found each other on Facebook and conjured up a letter to President Obama expressing their concerns. Mark Naison, from Brooklyn, NY and a Fordham professor prepared a draft of the letter.  Bob Valiant, retired school administrator from Kennewick, WA, edited the letter and Bob Valiant Jr. developed a survey form and website, http://dumpduncan.org.  The letter calls for the removal of Education Secretary Arne Duncan and the inclusion of parents, teachers, and school administrators in all administration policy discussions.  It insists on the immediate end to penalties and incentives to compel using student test scores to evaluate teachers, require school closures, or install charter schools. ...

    Press Release

    Posted on February 13, 2012 | 5 Comments
    A Letter to President Obama Two grandparents on opposite ends of the continent each had a concern about the direction of education reform and its effect on their grandchildren.  Through a chain of improbable circumstances they found each other on Facebook and conjured up a letter to President Obama expressing their concerns. Mark Naison, from Brooklyn, NY and a Fordham professor prepared a draft of the letter.  Bob Valiant, retired school administrator from Kennewick, WA, edited the letter and Bob Valiant Jr. developed a survey form and website, http://dumpduncan.org.  The letter calls for the removal of Education Secretary Arne Duncan and the inclusion of parents, teachers, and school administrators in all administration policy discussions.  It insists on the immediate end to penalties and incentives to compel using student test scores to evaluate teachers, require school closures, or install charter schools. ...

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  • Kennewick School Board Meeting                                                 January 25, 2012                                                 Section 1: What transpired                                                 Section 2: What was not included  Section 1 Present were school board members Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks and Ben Messinger.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Ron Williamson, Gregg Francher, Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Jack Anderson, Linda Tucker, several Sodexo employees Absent: Dawn Adams, Ron Mabry   The meeting was called to order at 5:35 PM by Vice-President Heather Kintzley who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  None   Consent Items:  Minutes of1/7/12 retreat,1/11/12 meeting, Personnel Actions, Payroll and Vouchers, Budget status for11/30/11 and12/31/11, Letter of Intent to apply for Energy Operational Savings Project Grant, Superintendent’s 2012-15 Contract, one Travel Request.  Motion to accept by Brian Brooks and seconded by Ben Messinger. Passed unanimously.

    Kennewick School Board Report for January 25

    Posted on February 2, 2012 | 1 Comment
    Kennewick School Board Meeting                                                 January 25, 2012                                                 Section 1: What transpired                                                 Section 2: What was not included  Section 1 Present were school board members Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks and Ben Messinger.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Ron Williamson, Gregg Francher, Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Jack Anderson, Linda Tucker, several Sodexo employees Absent: Dawn Adams, Ron Mabry   The meeting was called to order at 5:35 PM by Vice-President Heather Kintzley who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  None   Consent Items:  Minutes of1/7/12 retreat,1/11/12 meeting, Personnel Actions, Payroll and Vouchers, Budget status for11/30/11 and12/31/11, Letter of Intent to apply for Energy Operational Savings Project Grant, Superintendent’s 2012-15 Contract, one Travel Request.  Motion to accept by Brian Brooks and seconded by Ben Messinger. Passed unanimously.

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  • Karl F. Kuhn, author of the Conceptual Mathematics program and the series of articles about standardized testing which has been featured here examines the concept of multiple intelligences developed by Howard Gardner.  Excerpts from this article: Recent research has led to a recognition that should have been obvious all along, that intelligence is not a single concept, but that there are many types of intelligence within the human mind. This recognition has been termed “Multiple Intelligences.” …America places inconsistent emphasis on the intelligences. In school, language and math are the two most emphasized intelligences, but interpersonal and kinesthetic tend to be unsupported, even opposed. …It is best not to reduce any multidimensional, complex system, such as intelligence, to a single number. Go to this link to read the complete article: http://conceptualmath.org/philo/assessment.html   Go to this link for the series of...

    IQ vs. Multiple Intelligences and Assessment

    Posted on January 29, 2012 | No Comments
    Karl F. Kuhn, author of the Conceptual Mathematics program and the series of articles about standardized testing which has been featured here examines the concept of multiple intelligences developed by Howard Gardner.  Excerpts from this article: Recent research has led to a recognition that should have been obvious all along, that intelligence is not a single concept, but that there are many types of intelligence within the human mind. This recognition has been termed “Multiple Intelligences.” …America places inconsistent emphasis on the intelligences. In school, language and math are the two most emphasized intelligences, but interpersonal and kinesthetic tend to be unsupported, even opposed. …It is best not to reduce any multidimensional, complex system, such as intelligence, to a single number. Go to this link to read the complete article: http://conceptualmath.org/philo/assessment.html   Go to this link for the series of...

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  •                                                   Tri-City Herald Editorial Comments at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/25/1800190/voters-should-approve-their-local.html    

    Kennewick School District Levy Election

    Posted on January 26, 2012 | No Comments
                                                      Tri-City Herald Editorial Comments at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/25/1800190/voters-should-approve-their-local.html    

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  • Kennewick School Board Meeting                                                  January 11, 2012                                                  Section 1: What transpired                                                  Section 2: What was not included Section 1 Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ron Mabry and Ben Messinger.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Ron Williamson, Greg Francher, Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Jack Anderson, Linda Tucker   The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM by President Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Recognition: January has been proclaimed “School Board Recognition Month.”  Dave read Governor Gregoire’s proclamation and presented each school board member with a certificate and thanked them for their service.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:   Kathy White (me) requested that the board reconsider their decision not to use the Washington State School Directors’ policy audit service.  I met with Kathleen MacDonald, the person...

    Kennewick School Board Report for January 11

    Posted on January 24, 2012 | No Comments
    Kennewick School Board Meeting                                                  January 11, 2012                                                  Section 1: What transpired                                                  Section 2: What was not included Section 1 Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Brian Brooks, Ron Mabry and Ben Messinger.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Ron Williamson, Greg Francher, Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Jack Anderson, Linda Tucker   The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM by President Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Recognition: January has been proclaimed “School Board Recognition Month.”  Dave read Governor Gregoire’s proclamation and presented each school board member with a certificate and thanked them for their service.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:   Kathy White (me) requested that the board reconsider their decision not to use the Washington State School Directors’ policy audit service.  I met with Kathleen MacDonald, the person...

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  • The Tri-City Herald recently endorsed charter school legislation in Washington then invited readers to offer their opinions.  The editorial and selected responses are linked below. The Herald editorial: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/17/1790103/its-time-to-take-a-look-at-charter.html  Bob Valiant: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795533/fast-focus-meet-the-lemmings.html  Kathy White:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795526/fast-focus-we-dont-need-charter.html Greg Fancher:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795534/fast-focus-look-beyond-propaganda.html  William Pennell:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795525/fast-focus-not-the-answer.html  Daniel Bell:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795538/fast-focus-giving-charters-low.html Sandra Smith: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795537/fast-focus-different-learning.html Judy Golberg: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795536/fast-focus-no-to-charter-schools.html  

    Charter School Debate in Tri-Cities

    Posted on January 24, 2012 | 4 Comments
    The Tri-City Herald recently endorsed charter school legislation in Washington then invited readers to offer their opinions.  The editorial and selected responses are linked below. The Herald editorial: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/17/1790103/its-time-to-take-a-look-at-charter.html  Bob Valiant: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795533/fast-focus-meet-the-lemmings.html  Kathy White:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795526/fast-focus-we-dont-need-charter.html Greg Fancher:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795534/fast-focus-look-beyond-propaganda.html  William Pennell:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795525/fast-focus-not-the-answer.html  Daniel Bell:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795538/fast-focus-giving-charters-low.html Sandra Smith: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795537/fast-focus-different-learning.html Judy Golberg: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795536/fast-focus-no-to-charter-schools.html  

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  • Created by Kathy White Kennewick School Board Retreat January 7, 2012 Section 1: What transpired Section 2: What was not included Section 1 The meeting was scheduled to begin at 8 AM.  Present were Dawn Adams, Heather Kinzley, Ron Mabry, Brian Books, Dave Bond (Superintendent), and Ron Williamson (Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Education). Ben Messinger was not present at 8:15.  Dave Bond attempted to contact Ben to no avail.  Ron Williamson found a contact number in the Messinger’s PowerSchool account.  Ben was held up by a medical emergency in the family and urged the group to begin without him.   At 8:25, President Dawn Adams opened the meeting and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.  There are ten items on the Agenda.  Two of the items, “Sports Recognition” and “Graduation Attire” were chosen to taken first as they were least complex...

    Kennewick School Board Retreat

    Posted on January 15, 2012 | No Comments
    Created by Kathy White Kennewick School Board Retreat January 7, 2012 Section 1: What transpired Section 2: What was not included Section 1 The meeting was scheduled to begin at 8 AM.  Present were Dawn Adams, Heather Kinzley, Ron Mabry, Brian Books, Dave Bond (Superintendent), and Ron Williamson (Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Education). Ben Messinger was not present at 8:15.  Dave Bond attempted to contact Ben to no avail.  Ron Williamson found a contact number in the Messinger’s PowerSchool account.  Ben was held up by a medical emergency in the family and urged the group to begin without him.   At 8:25, President Dawn Adams opened the meeting and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.  There are ten items on the Agenda.  Two of the items, “Sports Recognition” and “Graduation Attire” were chosen to taken first as they were least complex...

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  • I am currently managing the 5 Facebook accounts listed below.  Each has a different focus and much of the content is similar but for a different audience.  You might particularly note Dump Duncan, which has rapidly become a national conduit for in-depth discussion of education policy issues.  Please check them out and join up if you find one (or more) of interest. And, of course, you can participate here by going to the “Write for Kennewick Citizens” button on the right side of this page. Parents Across America-Tri-Cities http://www.facebook.com/groups/listemail/?notif_t=group_activity   School District Citizens http://www.facebook.com/pages/School-District-Citizens/129808317079224   Kennewick School District Citizens http://www.facebook.com/KSDCitizens   Dump Duncan http://www.facebook.com/groups/194348523992014/   Robert Valiant http://www.facebook.com/  

    How the reader can participate in the education debate

    Posted on January 15, 2012 | No Comments
    I am currently managing the 5 Facebook accounts listed below.  Each has a different focus and much of the content is similar but for a different audience.  You might particularly note Dump Duncan, which has rapidly become a national conduit for in-depth discussion of education policy issues.  Please check them out and join up if you find one (or more) of interest. And, of course, you can participate here by going to the “Write for Kennewick Citizens” button on the right side of this page. Parents Across America-Tri-Cities http://www.facebook.com/groups/listemail/?notif_t=group_activity   School District Citizens http://www.facebook.com/pages/School-District-Citizens/129808317079224   Kennewick School District Citizens http://www.facebook.com/KSDCitizens   Dump Duncan http://www.facebook.com/groups/194348523992014/   Robert Valiant http://www.facebook.com/  

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