On the Chopping Block: Librarians?!?

One would think that in a strong school district, the elementary school librarian would be sacred. After all, the librarian is the gatekeeper to the world of literature that is going to engage and excite and inspire children. The librarian guides her students, enthusiastic and reluctant alike, to just the right book that will meet their interests or needs. The librarian knows important things, like that Elena and Georgia like mysteries, and Anders only likes to read nonfiction books about fish. The librarian is there to help develop in students a love of reading and to manage the resources that students need to learn.

But that’s only HALF of the picture in 2009. That’s because the librarian is also a media specialist, the person who is helping our children prepare for the ever-expanding demands of a digital world.  In the media lab, children learn how to use the computer to record and track data, to organize information to make presentations, to write and manage text.   How can we expect to help students develop their full potential to be leaders in the 21^st century without a Media Specialist guiding the way?

The librarian helps our children develop information literacy. From the ALA:

What is Information Literacy? Information Literacy is the ability to identify what information is needed, understand how the information is organized, identify the best sources of information for a given need, locate those sources, evaluate the sources critically, and share that information. It is the knowledge of commonly used research techniques.

Do we honestly think we can manage without a librarian in elementary school libraries???

Help Pass the Levy - Let Me Count the Ways

If you are not sure how you can help the School levy pass, there are many ways you can help.

Adopt a Voter Nights (2 nights)
Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 4-8 p.m.at Worthington Kilbourne H.S. Cafeteria
OR
Thursday, Oct.1, from 4-8 p.m. at Thomas Worthington H.S. Cafeteria
Drop in, adopt nine (9) voters from the lists provided to contact during the next few days, send them a Dear Friend postcard after initial contact, phone on November 2 to remind them to vote, help them get to the polls, if needed.

Literature Distribution and Neighborhood Canvassing
Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Target areas that have supported past levies by distributing literature and talking with residents. Much more fun with a friend along!

Levy Signs
Put a Support the Levy (Issue 49) sign in your yard.

And as always, visit Celebrate Worthington to find out about more opportunities.

EPP - What's that you say?

Imagine if each day you went to school, you had to sit through lessons focused on skills or information that you had already obtained. What would you do? Zone out? Daydream? Become frustrated and possibly cynical? Basically, you would disengage from your classroom. That's more or less what happens when we ask gifted students to sit through classes that are far below their academic or intellectual level.

EPP -- also know as the Extended Projects Program - is offered to students from the third grade on in Worthington. If the levy does not pass, these classes will be eliminated from elementary grades.

All students deserve to be challenged at a level that is appropriate. Elementary school children, in particular, need to know that school is a place where they will be appropriately challenged so that they see the value in applying themselves each and every day. So that they, in fact, love school and can develop their gifts appropriately.

From the report, The Support Worthington’s Extended Projects Program (SWEPP) Position Paper on A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America’s Brightest Students

Educating students involves offering differentiated and often individualized educational opportunities, resources, and encouragement. EPP and AP courses are well-established means of educating gifted students. Gifted students with the capability and motivation to success in placements beyond traditional age/grade parameters should be offered such opportunities.

Elementary Strings and Band - Save the Music

Elementary Strings and Band are on the chopping block if the levy does not pass.

What our children will no longer be learning:
Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass, Saxophone, Trumpet, Tuba, Trombone

What our children may miss without music education:

• 20% higher math and English scores
• increased motivation
• better attitudes about school
• team-building skills
• creativity
  

Music education is often the first to be cut; yet, research shows that it contributes positively to a bevy of academic indicators such as achievement in math and English, attitudes towards school, graduation rates motivation, and the list goes on and on. There are real, concrete, academic outcomes from music education. And, of course, we benefit from it culturally and personally.

My fifth grader just picked up her first string instrument this year and the sense of excitement and determination on her face when she plucked that first note and drew the bow across the strings was palpable. The instrument probably won't be easy for her, but  if she sticks to it, she'll be motivated by the music she's eeking out of it and learn that persistence pays off.

I can't imagine not having these programs in a district like Worthington. The schools were a primary reason we chose to move here one year ago. We looked in Bexley and Upper Arlington and determined that Worthington schools offered as much. We chose to move here because of  the excellent schools. This is not about us, but about reasons that Worthington remains a desirable community in which to live. You can expect it to become less desirable when the community no longer supports the schools.

Some facts to chew on:

A 1996 Gallup Poll revealed that 96% of Americans believe that music is a key component to a child's well-rounded education.

Teachers rate arts-rich schools higher on affiliation, student support, professional interest, teacher innovativeness, and resource adequacy than systems with poor arts programs.

From: "Learning In and Through the Arts: The Question of Transfer," Judith M. Burton, Robert Horowitz, and Hal Abeles, Studies in Art Education, 2000, 41(3): 228-257

The YouthARTS Development Project conducted a study in 2000 of at-risk youth in Atlanta, Portland, and San Antonio. It found that arts participants had an increase in positive attitudes regarding school, self-esteem, and self-efficacy.

From: (2000). "Youth Demonstrating Effective Communication Skills: Pre- vs. Post-YouthARTS Program." Americans for the Arts. 

Worthington Teachers Accept Pay Freeze - Not the Reason to Vote for the Levy

For the record, teachers in Worthington deserved every hard-earned penny of their raises. Let's hope the economy improves and we can all return to a state of reason. The big question is: Will  the naysayers be mollified?

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Worthington teachers accept pay freeze

Monday,  September 14, 2009 11:59 PM

By Dean Narciso

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Worthington school board members voted 4-1 tonight to approve a one-year wage freeze for district teachers, calling the concession "very much appreciated" and "a good first step." The freeze affects the base salaries of more than 700 teachers in the district and will save $2.4 million next year. That's half of the $4.8 million shortfall expected even if a Nov. 3 operating levy passes.But the union deal does not change the "step" increases intended to encourage younger teachers to remain in the district, said Pete Scully, president of the Worthington Education Association.
Roughly 60 percent of Worthington teachers receive step increases, which average almost 2 percent a year, said Jeff McCuen, the district's treasurer.
McCuen, along with Superintendent Melissa Conrath and several dozen other administrators, agreed to salary freezes earlier this year, saving the district about $95,000 a year.
If the Nov. 3 levy fails, the district plans to make $15 million in cuts, including eliminating busing for high-school students, cutting 125 teachers, administrators and support staff members, and ending field trips and some other programs.

If the proposed 6.9-mill incremental operating levy is approved, it will raise taxes in three phases: 3.9 mills would be collected in 2010, an additional 1.5 mills in 2011, and another 1.5 mills in 2012. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay $119 more in taxes in 2010, then an additional $46 in each of the next two years.
Asked if the wage freeze - the first for teachers since 1995 - was more symbolic than sustainable because of the November levy and uncertain economy, Scully replied, "For us to be in session Aug. 24 and have a ratified package on Sept. 1 is a pretty clear indication that our membership felt like something should happen."
Board members agreed.
Member Julie Keegan called the concession "an acknowledgement that we're all in this together."
The decision is one "that we as a board will never regret," said Charlie Wilson.
"It's a good first step in looking at long-term expenses," said board member Jennifer Best.
But board member Marc Schare roundly rejected the agreement, stating that contract decisions shouldn't be rushed.
"To say that this action has not been thoroughly vetted would be an understatement," he said.
Board President David Bressman answered some critics who said teachers are overpaid by noting that spouses of teachers have lost jobs and are suffering.
"It will never be enough for some folks," Bressman said. To them, "it will always be something else."
Superintendent Conrath applauded the union's move.
"It takes a collective effort to make the budget cuts that we have had to make," she said. "I'm very proud of that cooperation."

dnarciso@dispatch.com

(I am not a teacher nor am I married to one. I just know that most teachers work incredibly hard at their jobs.)

Excellent with Distinction

Although this isn't exactly news, the Worthington School District is rated "Excellent;" and it's not just Excellent but Excellent with Distinction!  This rating speaks to the fact that the staff, teachers, and students have demonstrated the top performance rating, despite spending less per student than Columbus, Upper Arlington, Bexley, and Grandview.

In case you haven't read it.

Here is the press release from the WSD:

On Tuesday, August 25, the Ohio Department of Education will release the 2009 Report Card data for all Ohio school districts. The report card is one way to review how well students are doing compared to state academic standards.

 

We have much to celebrate in Worthington. A summary of the report card is as follows:

 

The district met 29 out of 30 standards

The overall district rating is Excellent with Distinction

The measure of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) was met in every subgoup area

The overall value-added was above the expected growth

Performance Index Score was 102.6

 

For more information about the district's results or to view an individual building's report, please visit :

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?page=1 

 

50 Days and Counting

This blog is here to to detail many (not all) of the reasons why citizens in Worthington, Ohio should support the school levy that will be on the ballot on November 3, 2009. It would be difficult to verbalize all of the reasons that Worthington Schools deserve our support, but I'll do my best.

The district came out with its "hit" list last week of what will be cut pending failure of the levy. You can find it here. The district gave us a concrete plan for how they will manage with less money and all I can say is, it ain't pretty. There are 38 items on the list and I would like to discuss most if not all. These are the concrete cuts, the tangible losses faced by students.

But let's imagine that there are more than concrete cuts at stake. Let's imagine that the perception of the school district by prospective residents and businesses is at stake. Let's imagine that community support for the teachers and schools that educate our children is at stake. Most importantly, let's imagine that a child's perception of the value of education is at stake.

Let's just imagine that the levy will have both tangible and intangible after effects. And let's think about what is at stake this November. Our kids deserve our support; they are our first and most important reason to vote FOR  the levy.