Monthly Archives: July 2013

Is the School Improvement Council (SIC) Inflating Classroom Size?

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“When an SIC sits down and if they predetermine what they want taught because of the adults in the room and that happens in some of our schools more than it should ever occur, then we are missing the opportunity to better serve kids and that effects dropout rates” McKell Withers “Your core [high school] teachers have 220 kids, obviously that effects how they relate to students….there is a connection between the fact that you … Continue reading →

Utah State Auditor’s Office Denies School District’s GRAMA Request

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070913boardAuditor Audio of a portion of the meeting In the July 9, 2013, School Board meeting at Snowbird (annual retreat), the Superintendent distributed a letter that the District received from the Sate Auditor’s Office denying the District’s GRAMA request. Board member Laurel Young then demanded that the superintendent calculate the cost that this and other complaints filed by me are costing the District. I responded that we should also calculate the cost that a 52% … Continue reading →

Is the Salt Lake City School District Misappropriating Title I Funds?

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As we went through the budget process earlier this year I asked several questions that to this day remain unanswered. One of the questions that I asked, was in reference to Title I funding; on May 1,2013 – I sent an email to Janet Robert, Business Administrator asking how many Academic Coaches was the District employing and how were they funded. On May 2, 2013- Janet Roberts sent me a document stating that the 14 … Continue reading →

Inside the ECHO CHAMBER

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An echo chamber is a situation in which information, ideas, or beliefs are amplified or reinforced by transmission inside an “enclosed” space, often drowning out ‘new’ or ‘outside’ views. In this blog the ‘enclosed’ space referred to is the room in which the School Board meetings are held. Inside the Echo Chamber is a new blog category that will highlight the Salt Lake City School District’s insular communication space where everyone agrees with the information … Continue reading →

School Board Responds Via Attorney: OCR Inquiry (Letter)

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Six months later the so called School Board Responds. I say “so called” because the attorney claims to be speaking for the School Board. Yet, I am a member of the School Board and don’t recall any meeting where we discussed this issue or voted on it and came to a consensus on a direction that we should pursue. Yet the attorney claims to be speaking for the School Board. Ironically, I wanted to discuss … Continue reading →