state Archive

  • Here is a link to Washington State legislators associated with ALEC. ALEC is working to privatize public education, eliminate local school boards, increase student testing and use it to evaluate teachers, and bring charter schools to Washington. Isn’t it time to “out” these turkeys?  There are a couple close at hand.  http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians#Washington_Legislators_with_ALEC_Ties

    WA Legislators Who Are ALEC Members

    Posted on April 7, 2012 | 1 Comment
    Here is a link to Washington State legislators associated with ALEC. ALEC is working to privatize public education, eliminate local school boards, increase student testing and use it to evaluate teachers, and bring charter schools to Washington. Isn’t it time to “out” these turkeys?  There are a couple close at hand.  http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians#Washington_Legislators_with_ALEC_Ties

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  • There was an evaluation system that had passed through the [Washington] state legislature last year which was a four tiered process. OSPI and WEA were working together with a pilot program to develop the system but that wasn’t good enough for the same folks that last year had pushed that very bill. Nope, now the stakes have to be higher. It was determined that a certain percentage of a teacher’s evaluation will be based on their students’ test scores. It doesn’t’ matter what percentage it is, it does matter that it is based on test scores. This is called “high stakes testing”. Follow this link to read the entire article: http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/opting-out-of-high-stakes-testing/

    High Stakes Testing for Kennewick Students and Teachers

    Posted on April 6, 2012 | 1 Comment
    There was an evaluation system that had passed through the [Washington] state legislature last year which was a four tiered process. OSPI and WEA were working together with a pilot program to develop the system but that wasn’t good enough for the same folks that last year had pushed that very bill. Nope, now the stakes have to be higher. It was determined that a certain percentage of a teacher’s evaluation will be based on their students’ test scores. It doesn’t’ matter what percentage it is, it does matter that it is based on test scores. This is called “high stakes testing”. Follow this link to read the entire article: http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/opting-out-of-high-stakes-testing/

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  • Hello parents and visitors, I have a few questions.  I have a  daughter who attends school in this district.  Does anyone know the proper procedure when dealing with bullying incidents?  I thought I did.  I was wrong.  I thought our school knew.  I was wrong again.  My daughter dealt with the same bully on a daily basis FOR THE ENTIRE 2011-2012  SCHOOL YEAR.  As parents are we going to stand for this?  I won’t.  Why are there procedures in place, governed by state law if our district does not have to abide by them?  These are a few questions I have for other parents. 

    Have You Ever Felt Victimized by the KSD?

    Posted on April 5, 2012 | No Comments
    Hello parents and visitors, I have a few questions.  I have a  daughter who attends school in this district.  Does anyone know the proper procedure when dealing with bullying incidents?  I thought I did.  I was wrong.  I thought our school knew.  I was wrong again.  My daughter dealt with the same bully on a daily basis FOR THE ENTIRE 2011-2012  SCHOOL YEAR.  As parents are we going to stand for this?  I won’t.  Why are there procedures in place, governed by state law if our district does not have to abide by them?  These are a few questions I have for other parents. 

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  • Kennewick School Board Meeting March 28, 2012   Section 1: What transpired Personal comments (based on my Leadership WSSDA training) in Italics Section 2: What was not included Section 1 Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Maricarmen Garza (student).  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Jack Anderson, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, and Lorraine Cooper.  Van Cummins, all three high school athletic directors, athletic coaches and an expanded room full of winter athletes, Kennewick Education Association representative and several members of the public were also present.  Two school board members were absent.  More about this in Section 2.   The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM by president Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

    Kennewick School Board Report for March 28

    Posted on April 4, 2012 | 1 Comment
    Kennewick School Board Meeting March 28, 2012   Section 1: What transpired Personal comments (based on my Leadership WSSDA training) in Italics Section 2: What was not included Section 1 Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Brian Brooks, Ben Messinger, and Maricarmen Garza (student).  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Bev Johnson-Torelli, Jack Anderson, Greg Fancher, Linda Tucker, and Lorraine Cooper.  Van Cummins, all three high school athletic directors, athletic coaches and an expanded room full of winter athletes, Kennewick Education Association representative and several members of the public were also present.  Two school board members were absent.  More about this in Section 2.   The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM by president Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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  • Here come the common standards for kindergarten.    If this is what is coming in kindergarten, can you imagine what the upper grades will face?  In this article, Susan Ohanion explains exactly what will be expected of 5 year old children and what will be expected of their teachers.  And remember, Washington State just passed a law to evaluate teachers based on how well their students do on the mandated high-stakes tests that will accompany the new curriculum.  Are you really going to stand for this or are you finally going to take a stand for your kids?  And for yourself?   http://dailycensored.com/2012/03/16/new-yorks-common-core-pre-k-standards-theyre-not-kidding-around/    

    Kindergarten Teachers: Be Alert

    Posted on March 17, 2012 | 1 Comment
    Here come the common standards for kindergarten.    If this is what is coming in kindergarten, can you imagine what the upper grades will face?  In this article, Susan Ohanion explains exactly what will be expected of 5 year old children and what will be expected of their teachers.  And remember, Washington State just passed a law to evaluate teachers based on how well their students do on the mandated high-stakes tests that will accompany the new curriculum.  Are you really going to stand for this or are you finally going to take a stand for your kids?  And for yourself?   http://dailycensored.com/2012/03/16/new-yorks-common-core-pre-k-standards-theyre-not-kidding-around/    

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  •                                       Kennewick School Board Meeting                                       February 8, 2011                                       Section 1: What transpired Personal comments (based on my Leadership WSSDA training) in Italics                                                                        Section 2: What was not included Section 1 Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Heather Kinzley, Brian Brooks, Ron Mabry and Ben Messinger.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Ron Williamson, Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Jack Anderson, Linda Tucker, Lorraine Cooper, Doug Carl, Keith Colee   The meeting was called to order at 5:33 PM by President Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  None   Consent Items:  Minutes of 1/25/12 regular meeting, Certified, Classified and Extracurricular Personnel Actions, and Travel Requests.  Motion to accept was made by Heather, seconded by Brian and passed unanimously.

    Kennewick School Board Report for February 8

    Posted on February 28, 2012 | No Comments
                                          Kennewick School Board Meeting                                       February 8, 2011                                       Section 1: What transpired Personal comments (based on my Leadership WSSDA training) in Italics                                                                        Section 2: What was not included Section 1 Present were school board members Dawn Adams, Heather Kinzley, Brian Brooks, Ron Mabry and Ben Messinger.  KSD staff: Dave Bond (Superintendent), Ron Williamson, Vic Roberts, Chuck Lybeck, Jack Anderson, Linda Tucker, Lorraine Cooper, Doug Carl, Keith Colee   The meeting was called to order at 5:33 PM by President Dawn Adams who led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Communication from Parents, Staff and District Residents:  None   Consent Items:  Minutes of 1/25/12 regular meeting, Certified, Classified and Extracurricular Personnel Actions, and Travel Requests.  Motion to accept was made by Heather, seconded by Brian and passed unanimously.

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  • Excerpts from this article: Over the last few years America has invested a great amount of talk into the low quality of education. Most of this talk focuses on teachers. Teacher accountability programs have been mandated by NCLB and created in almost every state. However, as we shall review below, most of the major decisions affecting the quality of education are not made by teachers. …Education is primarily top-down. Politicians and administrators make the decisions about the methods, the curriculum, and the goals. They give teachers mandates. Teachers are frequently not permitted to draw on their training and experience to contribute to the decisions about curriculum, methods, or student needs. …This top-down approach is plagued by fads and constant reform. …NCLB and other reforms place increasing pressure on educators to teach all students the same material – regardless of the...

    Can We Be Confident In Standardized Test Results? – Part 9

    Posted on January 4, 2012 | 1 Comment
    Excerpts from this article: Over the last few years America has invested a great amount of talk into the low quality of education. Most of this talk focuses on teachers. Teacher accountability programs have been mandated by NCLB and created in almost every state. However, as we shall review below, most of the major decisions affecting the quality of education are not made by teachers. …Education is primarily top-down. Politicians and administrators make the decisions about the methods, the curriculum, and the goals. They give teachers mandates. Teachers are frequently not permitted to draw on their training and experience to contribute to the decisions about curriculum, methods, or student needs. …This top-down approach is plagued by fads and constant reform. …NCLB and other reforms place increasing pressure on educators to teach all students the same material – regardless of the...

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  • CCS adopted July 20, 2011. Now what?

    The Common Core State Standards Adopted In Washington State

    Posted on December 14, 2011 | 2 Comments
    CCS adopted July 20, 2011. Now what?

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