Consider joining District 279 Parent Legislative Network

As a past co-chair, and current Board Liaison to the District 279 Parent Legislative Network, I would invite you to participate in the network as we prepare for the next legislative session. The Parent Legislative Network works with districts across the state and participates with Parents United to seek equity in education for all students in the state of Minnesota, as well as a voice for our students in District 279.

Our district has seen a great deal of change over the years, of which we celebrate. We have a beautiful, diverse population with over 87 dialects spoken, nearly 46 % students of color, and we are the 5th largest district in the state, with over 21,000 students in and out our doors daily.

With celebrations, we have challenges. Funding shifts throughout the years, and the way we now have to fund our basic operational dollars, has required many districts, including ours, to seek levies just to operate. This is a different way to fund education compared to the "old days" when levies were used for excess funding needs. We now have to go to taxpayers at the local level, seeking a vote to keep our doors open, to pay utilities...to pay our precious teachers!

Many of our taxpayers don't understand the changes that have taken place over the years. Many believe that when there is a levy question, it is just the district asking for more money for their "fluff and stuff", when in fact, there has been a shift in the formula, from the state level, requiring us to ask for dollars at the polls.

To add to the confusion, we have a temporary umbrella, called stimulus dollars, of nearly $13.5 million to offset unallotment shifts and other funding discrepancies. That umbrella is gone in 2 years, and in that time, more schools will go out for levies, which already over 91% of our districts in the state have!

What will happen when the umbrella is torn, and we are left to the elements again?

We need you, and parents alike, to be a voice to our state and nation, to help put education back in the forefront.

When you have great education, and great early education (as research from the Chamber and others continue to reveal), you have healthy communities, a stonger workforce, and a stronger economy. Investing in our youth is a return you will see.

For more info or to join our parent run Parent Legislative Network, email District279PLN@gmail.com .

Here is a clip form Parents United that stresses the importance of coming together.

Why Parents United from Parents United - Minnesota on Vimeo.

For more information on the parent run District 279 Parent Legislative Network, contact District279PLN@gmail.com

Open Meeting Law

I had the opportunity to participate in the Minnesota School Board Association's "Lunch and Learn" session today. The topic today was "Minnesota's Open Meeting Law". I am sharing the handout, with permission, that was shared with Board Members across the state who participated. If you have questions, please email me with a contact number, and I will be happy to call you and answer any questions you may have.
Minnesota Open Meeting Law

Hate Crime Rally Tonight!

Many of you in the community are already aware of a horrific hate crime that occured in Brooklyn Park. Our District is comprised of 8 municipalities, of which Brooklyn Park is one of the largest. This hate crime was allegedly committed based on race as you will see in the included links below. Our challenge is great. When these attitudes prevail in our community, they are filtered into our schools through beliefs and attitudes.
Please join me tonight in supporting this rally. Let your voice be clear that we will not allow this sort of hate to continue anywhwere in our community, state or nation.



The information below is taken from Carol Woehrer's organized rally page on Facebook. I am copying her information here for those who do not have access to Facebook:

Rally Against Racist Attitudes
"Celebrating Diversity in Brooklyn Park and the Twin Cities"
Date: Tonight, October 1, 2009
Time: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Location: Zanewood Community Center, Harkopf Park, 73rd Ave N and Zane Ave
City: Brooklyn Park, MN
Map
Bring a sign and a candle (but not required)
Multicultural Music by "Heart in the City"
Opening and Closing Prayers by Brooklyn Park Pastors

Addressing the Rally will be:
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman
Brooklyn Park Chief or Police Michael Davis
State Senator Linda Scheid
State Representative Mike Nelson
Brooklyn Center Mayor Tim Wilson

(If the rain persists, the meeting will take place in the Zane Community Center/71st and Zane)

Click on the following for:
Star Tribune Article
Kare 11 News
WCCO Channel 4 News

I Run...You Run...We all Run together!

I feel it critical to stay connected daily to everything education. I follow education through organizations, associations, government and others through Twitter, Google Alerts, Facebook, local and national media outlets. So today, I almost skipped a "whitehouse twitter" I saw on my phone. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, was to speak on his support of the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. A copy of his speech was posted on http://www.ed.gov/ .

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) came into reality during Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty in 1965. It was intended to face the educational needs of our nation's children who were in the most need. Along with it has come some funding with many mandates. Unfortunately, the funding hasn't supported the mandates. In the last decade, you have become familiar with the ESEA being referred to as No Child Left Behind or NCLB.

There has been so much controversy about NCLB, that when I saw the "tweet", I wasn't sure I wanted to read it, but did. It make me ponder, whether I agreed with everything or not, but it also brings to the front, some of the reasons I ran for school board.

I ran...

...because I too believe, as Sec. Duncan said in his speech today "More than any other issue, education is the civil rights issue of our generation and it can’t wait -- because tomorrow won’t wait – the world won’t wait – and our children won’t wait." I believe we have much work to do in improving the "Opportunity Gap" for our students of color. This isn't just a district problem, it is a national problem. The challenge is all of ours...parents, students, teachers, administrators, community. Whether we have kids or not...all students are a part of our community now, and now is the time we need to address all learners and all needs. Our students can never wait.

I ran...

...because I believe in the direction our district leaders are guiding us. We have a Mission and Strategic Plan that takes our students beyond high school, and into their dreams and aspirations as global learners.

I believe our District wants the best, who will commit their best right here, right now. Our leadership in 279 believes that, as evident in our Strategic Plan. The work comes in our Professional Learning Communities, our parental involvment, our students, all of our staff (from bus drivers to custodians to teachers, etc...) , and our community.

The work is happening now, but I also know the District is forcasting and planning far ahead, knowing there will be things we will "reauthorize" in our district and that there will be things we reform and change.

Back to The Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, and his speech today and his urgency to Reauthorize the ESEA. I am not sure how I feel. I can't really put words to it. I am for standards and accountability, but the way we measure that is the challenge. I also get concerned when we rush through things just to have them done. I am concerned with a Reauthorization. I too, do not believe we can wait for reform, because we can' t afford to lose the students we have now while we figure it out....but we also can't just keep things in place if they aren't working.

The last ESEA/NCLB did not have mandates for Gifted Education, it continues to carry on issues through the Individuals with Disabilities Act, which was supposed to be funded at 40% by the government, and has only averaged 13-19%, leaving districts dipping into their General Education Funds. The Federal Stimulus dollars will be boosting that to nearly 24% for just the next two years, but will return again following that, still leaving us far short of the 40% they are supposed to fund.

To reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act immediatly for the sake of not losing our students is a tough one. On either side there are many crucial options to be weighed. Do I believe we need reform? Yes, but I also know we have students right now that can't wait. We need to reform as we go in small incriments, and plan ahead for larger reform.

Just as our district leadership is guiding us with our Strategic Plan, so the story goes, and should perhaps be one we follow when looking at the ESEA. The Strategic Plan had years of thought and input before implementing the last couple of years. It is reviewed annually and revised as we go ...including changes (or reform) that need to occur. Reforming and reframing with data to drive us in our decisions. I know our district can't lose (have them fall behind) students today, for sake of reform tomorrow.

I hope our educational leaders at the national level look at the needs of students everywhere in whatever direction is adopted. I hope we keep high standards, but I hope our teachers are then equiped with the proper tools and training to address all of their students needs.

I ran...

I ran for school board to be a part of a system I believe in, and one that I want to see succeed, because the success is in our students.

You can run away and not participate, or you can run along side District 279.

Let's run together. Let's run a marathon together that last's a lifetime...that we catch a second wind with to keep pushing our students to succeed...that finds supporters on the sidelines wanting to encourage our students...that finds all of us at the finish line together, knowing we did it and can now do it again.

On your marks, get set.....see you at a school near by!

President Obama's Speech on Sept. 8th

Our district has been busy fielding many contacts over the last 24 hours in regards to the speech our President will be making on September 8th. Here is a link that provides further information.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH SEPTEMBER 8TH

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me at cottingtonl@district279.org

Magnet Schools make Metro Mag!

Metro Magazine featured Weaver Lake STEM School.

Wondering about H1N1?

I have heard some concerned voices in the community regarding what our district is doing in preparation for H1N1 this fall. Preparation is just one part of our district plan. Dr. Kim Riesgraf shared tonight at our board meeting that we are following best practices and have plans for prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. Stay informed by visiting the H1N1 Novel Influenza Updates.

Input needed for future State High School Assessment

The Minnesota Legislature passed a law in May, and Governor Pawlenty signed this law, which authorizes the creation of a task force to develop recommendations for the future of Minnesota’s high school assessment and accountability system. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is leading this effort, along with The Assessment and Accountability Task Force. The task force is comprised of leaders from K-12 organizations, higher education institutions, businesses and other key stakeholders in Minnesota’s educational system. The group is co-chaired by the Director of Assessment at the MDE, Dirk Mattson, and the Exec. Director of the UofM College Readiness Consortium, Kent Pekel. DEADLINE FOR INPUT IT JULY 15! (Source Parents United)

Please click here to take the survey!

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