Last night the board of directors at ERA lost two fine members, Dr. Austen Rockcastle and Mr. John Niemann, in the battle to establish a plebiscite at ERA. Who knew that a licensed teacher isn't really a licensed teacher when it comes to board composition? Oh well ... that's government bureaucracy for you. Mrs. Robbie Oeltjenbruns and Mrs. Sonja Menard have big shoes to fill, but I'm sure that they will do fine. It's just too bad that we lost such fine stewards of the school.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Testimony 2
In response to the comment to the first "Testimony" post, I agree with you that Senator Hann is a wonderful man. He is a strong advocate for school choice and has served his constituents well. My complaints are not with him or even the proposed amendment. I don't necessarily disagree that the state shouldn't mandate board composition, however my concern is that Cindy Ripple and Tamara Clement (and possibly others) presented themselves to Senators Hann and Michel and the Education Committee as representative of the ERA community.
Because the amendment didn't pass, we could say, "No harm, no foul", but harm has been caused from those few like Ripple and Clement who wish to continue to paint ERA as struggling, as mired in "governance issues". Maybe you don't agree with a teacher majority board, maybe you just don't see board composition as all that big of a deal, but maybe you do agree that ERA is a gem, a shining city on a hill, and that maybe it's time to let others know that you're not represented by the nattering nabobs.
Because the amendment didn't pass, we could say, "No harm, no foul", but harm has been caused from those few like Ripple and Clement who wish to continue to paint ERA as struggling, as mired in "governance issues". Maybe you don't agree with a teacher majority board, maybe you just don't see board composition as all that big of a deal, but maybe you do agree that ERA is a gem, a shining city on a hill, and that maybe it's time to let others know that you're not represented by the nattering nabobs.
Testimony
I was planning a different post today, but I must draw your attention to recent happenings during a Minnesota State Senate Education Committee Meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. The link and relevant text follow below:
http://www.senate.mn/committees/2007-2008/education/update.htm
A package of policy provisions was approved by members of the Education Committee during a marathon hearing, Wed., Mar. 12. S.F. 3001, carried by Chair Charles Wiger (DFL-Maplewood), was advanced to the State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee ...
Hann offered an amendment removing a requirement that the majority of a charter school's board members be licensed teachers at the school. Under the amendment, the law would simply permit a majority to be teachers. We statutorily prohibit employees from serving on the board of a traditional public school, presumably because of conflict of interest concerns, he said. But in the charter school context, we have conflicting law, Hann said. The most important thing boards do is supervise senior school leadership, he said, but current law creates an untenable situation for charter schools. The amendment was not adopted.
Audio of the consideration of this amendment can be heard by following this link and scrolling down to the Education Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 12. The presentation of Senator David Hann's amendment begins at approximately 5:29:13 and ends at approximately 5:46:30.
According to Senator Hann's (Eden Prairie) testimony, he and Senator Geoff Michel (Edina) have been meeting with constituents who have children attending ERA regarding governance issues at the school. WHAT?!?!
Additionally, along with the testimony of Senator Hann, testimony was heard from the following:
- Tamara Clement, parent of two students at ERA
- Cindy Ripple, founding board member and former board chair at ERA (It is interesting to note that if you Google "Cindy Ripple Minnesota", it appears that she is now working for Nova Classical Academy.)
- Lisa Knudson, Nova Classical Academy
Remember the first post of this blog? It's time to get out of your chairs and do something about this! Call, email, write letters! Let other parents know about this blog.
We can not be the Silent Majority any longer! This blog is just the start, but my contributers and I need your help.
And once you have that letter or email to Senators Hann and Michel finished ... send it on to others. I'll make a list below of folks who need to know that you will be silent no more. If you post your letter in the comments section, I'll add it as a post.
ERA is a wonderful school! The board runs fine with teachers as the majority. (I trust them in the classroom, and I trust them that they know what is best for the school.) The only conflict is the manufactured drama of Ripple, Clement and Middleton. But this manufactured drama is poisoning the atmosphere. Look at the post by Kitty Luth. ERA is in danger of losing its best and beloved teachers and staff.
If they succeed in their mission to retake the board for the parents the climate of fear and intimidation that they are fomenting will continue. ERA may still exist ... it's unlikely that it will collapse overnight ... but is it where you want to send your kids to school if it is a skeleton of its former self?
Here is a list of people to contact:
To contact Senator Hann:
http://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1016&ls=85
To contact Senator Michel:
http://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1038&ls=85
To contact the Minnesota Senate Education Committee:
http://www.senate.mn/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1005&ls=85
http://www.mncharterschools.org/page/1/Friends-of-Ascension.jsp
To contact Julie Henderson, Acting Director, School Choice Programs and Services:
julie.m.henderson@state.mn.us
To contact Alice Seagren, Commissioner of Education:
mde.commissioner@state.mn.us
To contact Cindy Ripple:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADBS&q=cindy+ripple+minnesota
To contact Lisa Knudson:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADBS&q=lisa+knudson+minnesota
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Question 1: Ya wanna work here?
So, who wants to work at Eagle Ridge Academy? So far the school rocks, the kids are worth every extra minute of work, the curriculum is unbelievable and the staff are fabulous. Walk through the school some day and you'll see exactly what's going on... education! Serious education. So why wouldn't you want to teach at ERA? Well, maybe it's because there are a handful of parents who are so focused on politics and their own agendas that they feel justified in spreading partial truths about teachers, trying to get teaching licenses denied by the state, dividing the staff by rumors and innuendo, and supporting the teachers who made a blatant attempt at bringing the school down without even questioning their motives. Gee, sounds like a dream job. How in the world will this school keep its best and most beloved teachers if this attitude continues? And why is it that the so called problem teachers are the ones who've stuck around the longest? A culture of fear and intimidation? That's what's there now but it isn't the director who's created it. It's those parents and we all know who they are. The potential of this school is enormous. Amazing things have been done there already so here's what I say. STOP THEM!! Stop those parents from ruining a great school. Batman? Wonder Woman? The Incredible Hulk? Where are these superheros when you need them?
It's a Good Thing
Before we dive into the muck of refuting all the inaccurate information (some might say lies) being circulated in the rumor mill , let's list the GOOD things at ERA that have been accomplished in under four years! FOUR YEARS! Any start-up, entrepreneurial adventure takes a while to mature, but we've come a long way baby!
1. An excellent, yet always evolving, classical curriculum. Were you around the first year? Wow, were there some major curricular hiccups! But now we have a committed director ~ Judi Ingison and core staff ~ Bob Guelich, Erin Johnson, John Niemann, Austen Rockcastle, Lisa Johnson, Laura Langhoff, Carolyn Sommers Tillotson who have been around for 3+ years and understand ERA. (Don't get me wrong ... I like the new/newer teachers too, but it takes awhile to get it.)
This isn't an easy curriculum to pull off. The Core Knowledge aspect of the middle school requires intense planning to synchronize the integration and to accomplish what is expected in one year. And the high school program? If you don't have kids in high school, ask to take a look at the list of required books. You can't just hire some Ordinary Joe from Ed School to teach these things. Well, I guess you could, but it would be a disaster! Those programs don't train you to teach Cicero and Plato and Aquinas and Augustine. Thank the Lord that Dr. Rockcastle and Mr. Niemann have had such training!
2. An excellent arts and music program. Many, many schools similar in size and age (public/charter or private) do not have arts and music programs because the time and money is spent on the core subjects. We have had music and art from the beginning. The first year was 6, 7 and 9 (explain to me again why they opened with such wacky grades!) and the orchestra/choir was an extracurricular because of scheduling nightmares.
But by the second year ... orchestra/choir was added as an elective! Seriously, take a moment to think about this ... some of you naysayers may say ... well of course a classical school should have a music program ... doh! But did you think about how much time and effort and commitment it takes to make it work?
And now, in the fourth year, there are high school and middle school programs. 2 choirs and 2 bands! Music theory/history classes integrated with the core subjects in middle school and a 9th grade theory/history class. Kudos to Ms. Grover ~ she must teach the most kids in the school! Let's hope she doesn't burn out ... she's a wonderful addition to the staff!
Are you beginning to see the amount of commitment it takes to even attempt this? Let alone be successful? And, let's start to define success now. Is success the same as perfection? No, it isn't. Is the music program perfect? Of course not! Is success achieving goals and exceeding those goals. YES!
So, ERA has been successful in adding music programs in four short years. We now have an annual Veterans Day Concert, Christmas Concert, Spring Concert and Spring Musical. The musical is headed for it's 3rd year! A musical in such a small school! Have they been low budget, sometimes hilariously bad? Yes! Have they been fun? Undeniable. And have they been successful? Yes, because staff members took the risk and set the goal and have improved every year! Thanks to Mr. Wilder, both Mrs. Johnsons, Ms. Langhoff for taking time out of their already busy schedules and being committed to ERA!
3. The innovative Focused Studies program. In an academically rigorous school, isn't it nice to have a mid-week break? A chance for our kids to get to know teachers and others outside the regular classroom, to participate in physical activities and service learning projects. The flexibility of a charter school allow us to do these things.
4. Sports teams. Like the music and arts program, how awesome is it that we are in our second year of middle school and varsity sports! ERA has it all! Academics, arts and athletics! Have you been to a sporting event? I loved going to varsity games in my day, and it's great fun to cheer on the kids at ERA. The first couple of years the high school kids felt like middle schoolers; varsity sports really makes it feel like a "real" high school. Did you see the awesome picture in the daily update of the high school varsity basketball captain in her letter jacket?
And, we may be the only private/public charter sporting co-op in the state. It takes some innovative thinking to bring that about.
5. Community Meetings/Curriculum Nights. Ok, accuse me now of using innovative too many times, but really isn't this an innovative idea? Every five weeks or so, teachers prepare curriculum guides and invite us into their classrooms to learn about what our children will studying in the coming weeks. We pick-up the guides and can see how the curriculum is being integrated across subject areas. Not only is the integration innovative; we get to see the genius behind it.
The community meetings allow us to come together and have time with the director to work on issues facing the school and to give our input on things like the school calendar. Has your local school district asked for your opinion on their calendar? Yea, I didn't think so. (On a side note, it was really disappointing to see so many parents complaining at board meetings that had never been to a community meeting or curriculum night ... so many of their questions could have been answered if they had just taken advantage of the opportunity.)
6. Communication. I've heard a lot of complaints at board meetings about "communication". As my kids say, "Como se what?" Not only does the school host the aforementioned community meetings and curriculum nights, but the weekly newsletter was always colorful and informative. The school has now switched to a daily update which is chock full of info. And, although it sometimes clogs my inbox, at least I have daily reminders for some things. (I'm of a certain age ... the memory is not always the best!)
Yea, yea, I can hear the nabobs ... well what about the late permission slips or the late this or the late that ... Again, I ask, are things perfect? No, but are they better? Yes! Remember, ERA's just in it's 4th year, folks! It's learning, it's adapting and it can be chaotic at times. Learn to love the chaos! Embrace the chaos! It really is a beautiful thing because it allows for INNOVATION! Isn't that why we signed up for this school? For the innovative approach to education, a 2,000 year old plus innovation! And, forgive. Forgive the past and embrace where we are right now ... which is really a remarkable place in a really remarkably short amount of time.
1. An excellent, yet always evolving, classical curriculum. Were you around the first year? Wow, were there some major curricular hiccups! But now we have a committed director ~ Judi Ingison and core staff ~ Bob Guelich, Erin Johnson, John Niemann, Austen Rockcastle, Lisa Johnson, Laura Langhoff, Carolyn Sommers Tillotson who have been around for 3+ years and understand ERA. (Don't get me wrong ... I like the new/newer teachers too, but it takes awhile to get it.)
This isn't an easy curriculum to pull off. The Core Knowledge aspect of the middle school requires intense planning to synchronize the integration and to accomplish what is expected in one year. And the high school program? If you don't have kids in high school, ask to take a look at the list of required books. You can't just hire some Ordinary Joe from Ed School to teach these things. Well, I guess you could, but it would be a disaster! Those programs don't train you to teach Cicero and Plato and Aquinas and Augustine. Thank the Lord that Dr. Rockcastle and Mr. Niemann have had such training!
2. An excellent arts and music program. Many, many schools similar in size and age (public/charter or private) do not have arts and music programs because the time and money is spent on the core subjects. We have had music and art from the beginning. The first year was 6, 7 and 9 (explain to me again why they opened with such wacky grades!) and the orchestra/choir was an extracurricular because of scheduling nightmares.
But by the second year ... orchestra/choir was added as an elective! Seriously, take a moment to think about this ... some of you naysayers may say ... well of course a classical school should have a music program ... doh! But did you think about how much time and effort and commitment it takes to make it work?
And now, in the fourth year, there are high school and middle school programs. 2 choirs and 2 bands! Music theory/history classes integrated with the core subjects in middle school and a 9th grade theory/history class. Kudos to Ms. Grover ~ she must teach the most kids in the school! Let's hope she doesn't burn out ... she's a wonderful addition to the staff!
Are you beginning to see the amount of commitment it takes to even attempt this? Let alone be successful? And, let's start to define success now. Is success the same as perfection? No, it isn't. Is the music program perfect? Of course not! Is success achieving goals and exceeding those goals. YES!
So, ERA has been successful in adding music programs in four short years. We now have an annual Veterans Day Concert, Christmas Concert, Spring Concert and Spring Musical. The musical is headed for it's 3rd year! A musical in such a small school! Have they been low budget, sometimes hilariously bad? Yes! Have they been fun? Undeniable. And have they been successful? Yes, because staff members took the risk and set the goal and have improved every year! Thanks to Mr. Wilder, both Mrs. Johnsons, Ms. Langhoff for taking time out of their already busy schedules and being committed to ERA!
3. The innovative Focused Studies program. In an academically rigorous school, isn't it nice to have a mid-week break? A chance for our kids to get to know teachers and others outside the regular classroom, to participate in physical activities and service learning projects. The flexibility of a charter school allow us to do these things.
4. Sports teams. Like the music and arts program, how awesome is it that we are in our second year of middle school and varsity sports! ERA has it all! Academics, arts and athletics! Have you been to a sporting event? I loved going to varsity games in my day, and it's great fun to cheer on the kids at ERA. The first couple of years the high school kids felt like middle schoolers; varsity sports really makes it feel like a "real" high school. Did you see the awesome picture in the daily update of the high school varsity basketball captain in her letter jacket?
And, we may be the only private/public charter sporting co-op in the state. It takes some innovative thinking to bring that about.
5. Community Meetings/Curriculum Nights. Ok, accuse me now of using innovative too many times, but really isn't this an innovative idea? Every five weeks or so, teachers prepare curriculum guides and invite us into their classrooms to learn about what our children will studying in the coming weeks. We pick-up the guides and can see how the curriculum is being integrated across subject areas. Not only is the integration innovative; we get to see the genius behind it.
The community meetings allow us to come together and have time with the director to work on issues facing the school and to give our input on things like the school calendar. Has your local school district asked for your opinion on their calendar? Yea, I didn't think so. (On a side note, it was really disappointing to see so many parents complaining at board meetings that had never been to a community meeting or curriculum night ... so many of their questions could have been answered if they had just taken advantage of the opportunity.)
6. Communication. I've heard a lot of complaints at board meetings about "communication". As my kids say, "Como se what?" Not only does the school host the aforementioned community meetings and curriculum nights, but the weekly newsletter was always colorful and informative. The school has now switched to a daily update which is chock full of info. And, although it sometimes clogs my inbox, at least I have daily reminders for some things. (I'm of a certain age ... the memory is not always the best!)
Yea, yea, I can hear the nabobs ... well what about the late permission slips or the late this or the late that ... Again, I ask, are things perfect? No, but are they better? Yes! Remember, ERA's just in it's 4th year, folks! It's learning, it's adapting and it can be chaotic at times. Learn to love the chaos! Embrace the chaos! It really is a beautiful thing because it allows for INNOVATION! Isn't that why we signed up for this school? For the innovative approach to education, a 2,000 year old plus innovation! And, forgive. Forgive the past and embrace where we are right now ... which is really a remarkable place in a really remarkably short amount of time.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Why Now?
After the neighbors came over yesterday evening to inquire why I was yelling out my window, I had time to ponder why it is that I'm starting this now and why I wasn't mad enough before.
Wasn't Susan Reid's open letter to the board maddening enough?
Wasn't it maddening enough that Josh Garvin and Deirdre Erb were both, as determined by the ERA board of directors on advice of legal counsel, to have "participated in a plot ... to create the open letter that Susan Reid sent to the Board and to use that letter and Ms. Reid’s resignation in a manner that would be disruptive to the school ... [and] to take action to undermine the school’s Director ..."?
Isn't maddening enough that parents actually believe (based on their comments during open board meetings) that somehow Reid and Garvin and Erb were doing a service to the school? Just because someone pens a letter or files a lawsuit makes them right?
Nope, I guess I wasn't mad enough. I was plenty mad, but actually had hope that things would start to simmer down. Folks would start to see through the BS and realize what a gem we have in ERA.
But, I received this email this weekend. Sigh ...
From: "Paul Middleton" paul.l.middleton@gmail.com
To: "Middleton, Paul" paul.middleton@ieee.org
Subject: Eagle Ridge Academy Board Meeting Tuesday 11 March 2008 7PM
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 00:04:52 -0600
Eagle Ridge Academy Board Meeting Tuesday 11 March 2008 7PM
Parents, please attend!
I believe that the next few months are critical to the health of our wonderful school, and we need the attention and support of parents regarding the issues facing the board. Current issues include:
As of the time of this writing, the board has not made available an agenda for the coming meeting, so I can not be certain as to what will be discussed by the board. However, I want to be sure that parents are aware of the serious issues facing our school, and I want to encourage parents to take advantage of the expected time for public comment to exert a positive influence on the board.
Information on some of the school issues is flowing only by parent-to-parent contact. If you are not receiving sufficient information on some school issue, please let me know what you are interested in and I may be able to provide or lead you to further information. If information such as this e-mail is not helpful to you, please accept my apologies. I have no desire to be the source of unwanted spam. If you would let me know via a reply to this message, I will be careful not to send you further updates.
Best Regards, Paul Middleton
I guess enough folks didn't attend the board meeting in February, so it was time to stir the pot again. But, I'm not going to take it any more. It's time to stand up for ERA, stand up for the staff, stand up for the director. I love ERA, and I'm not going to be quiet any longer. If we love what we have, it's time for us to stand up to those who want to take it away from us. Where can we start ~ Attend board meetings, write letters to the board, write letters to the Minnesota Department of Education, post comments here. We have a school of nearly 300 hundred students and could have 350 next year! Can it really be all that bad?
I don't think so, and my contributers and I will try in the coming weeks to make a case for ERA and to point out the flaws in the arguments from the other side. Join us for the ride.
Wasn't Susan Reid's open letter to the board maddening enough?
Wasn't it maddening enough that Josh Garvin and Deirdre Erb were both, as determined by the ERA board of directors on advice of legal counsel, to have "participated in a plot ... to create the open letter that Susan Reid sent to the Board and to use that letter and Ms. Reid’s resignation in a manner that would be disruptive to the school ... [and] to take action to undermine the school’s Director ..."?
Isn't maddening enough that parents actually believe (based on their comments during open board meetings) that somehow Reid and Garvin and Erb were doing a service to the school? Just because someone pens a letter or files a lawsuit makes them right?
Nope, I guess I wasn't mad enough. I was plenty mad, but actually had hope that things would start to simmer down. Folks would start to see through the BS and realize what a gem we have in ERA.
But, I received this email this weekend. Sigh ...
From: "Paul Middleton" paul.l.middleton@gmail.com
To: "Middleton, Paul" paul.middleton@ieee.org
Subject: Eagle Ridge Academy Board Meeting Tuesday 11 March 2008 7PM
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 00:04:52 -0600
Eagle Ridge Academy Board Meeting Tuesday 11 March 2008 7PM
Parents, please attend!
I believe that the next few months are critical to the health of our wonderful school, and we need the attention and support of parents regarding the issues facing the board. Current issues include:
- On February 19, 2008, the Minnesota Department of Education sent a letter to the Eagle Ridge Academy board requesting that the board composition be immediately corrected to comply with the law – two of the current teacher members of the board are not licensed teachers, and therefore do not meet the requirements of the law.
- A complaint has been filed before the U.S. District Court sueing the school for in excess of $500,000.
- Results from the investigation into actions of the director and 2 other teachers are expected to be available.
- By April 30, the contract for the director will either expire or be renewed.
As of the time of this writing, the board has not made available an agenda for the coming meeting, so I can not be certain as to what will be discussed by the board. However, I want to be sure that parents are aware of the serious issues facing our school, and I want to encourage parents to take advantage of the expected time for public comment to exert a positive influence on the board.
Information on some of the school issues is flowing only by parent-to-parent contact. If you are not receiving sufficient information on some school issue, please let me know what you are interested in and I may be able to provide or lead you to further information. If information such as this e-mail is not helpful to you, please accept my apologies. I have no desire to be the source of unwanted spam. If you would let me know via a reply to this message, I will be careful not to send you further updates.
Best Regards, Paul Middleton
I guess enough folks didn't attend the board meeting in February, so it was time to stir the pot again. But, I'm not going to take it any more. It's time to stand up for ERA, stand up for the staff, stand up for the director. I love ERA, and I'm not going to be quiet any longer. If we love what we have, it's time for us to stand up to those who want to take it away from us. Where can we start ~ Attend board meetings, write letters to the board, write letters to the Minnesota Department of Education, post comments here. We have a school of nearly 300 hundred students and could have 350 next year! Can it really be all that bad?
I don't think so, and my contributers and I will try in the coming weeks to make a case for ERA and to point out the flaws in the arguments from the other side. Join us for the ride.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I'm as Mad as Hell, and I'm Not Going to Take This Anymore!
Sometimes we have to channel our inner Howard Beale:
Things have got to change my friends. You've got to get mad. You've got to say, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" Then we'll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open your window, stick your head out and yell, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"
I'm ready to channel mine. I'm not sure how to stop the nattering nabobs of negativism, but I know I'm as mad as hell. I'm ready to defend Eagle Ridge Academy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)