A Program Left Behind—The State's 19 Vo-Ag Centers Are Underfunded, Over-Enrolled
By Lynn Doan, Hartford Courant, May 21, 2007
Many of the state's 19 vo-ag centers are reporting the same struggles.
Programs may have the space to expand but not enough teachers.
Center directors say sparse funding has caused their teaching staffs to dwindle, even as interest in the programs and job demand from the state's $2.2 billion agricultural industry are exploding.
"As we look to increase support for the local school systems, vo-ag schools must be included on the list," Fleischmann said. "These vocational
agricultural high schools are a very important piece of Connecticut's
educational fabric."
Adult education gives younger students more options
By Maria Garriga, New Haven Register, May 20, 2007
The Adult Education Centers are attracting teens who would otherwise be lost to the educational system. Some of the students say the caring teachers are a big draw.
Tiffany Sanjurjo, 17, left a small New Haven magnet school as a junior. "The school was a big front. The teachers were suppose to care. They
didn’t," she said. But her parents would not allow her to attend one of the
city’s major high schools because they were concerned she would be drawn into altercations.
"I had an attitude, but I’ve grown a lot here. This school has helped me more than anything," she said. "The teachers are like a second set of parents. They will stay late. They will go out of their way for you. They don’t move on in class until everybody understands."
Her affection for the school is so great that she rushed to return after having a baby and gallbladder surgery four days apart. Her surgery was March 12. "I came back a week after my surgery because I wanted to catch up on my work and make sure I didn’t get too far behind."
Adult education graduates commended for earning degrees
By Roxanne Mansfield, Norwich Bulletin, May 21, 2007
Family and friends gathered to watch as students accepted general education diplomas and high school credit diplomas.
"Our teachers feel privileged to be a part of your lives," Mary Berry, director of the Norwich Regional Adult Education Cooperative, told the 2007 graduates. Berry said this year's class was the largest over which she has presided.
"High school wasn't for me," he said. "I felt like there was a focus on everything but education. I found the GED test more challenging."
Giving immigrants a chance
By Mary E. O'Leary, New Britain Herald, May 21, 2007
The confluence of immigrant gains at the national, state and local levels this week has advocates hopeful for major changes on the horizon.
Magdalia Astro, 19, a Peruvian immigrant who graduated from Cooperative High School in New Haven, said she would be able to access courses at Gateway Community College for one-third the price she now pays if the
bill were to pass.
"We can't continue to be indifferent to what is happening in America's classrooms," with successful immigrants stymied from advancing beyond high school, Reinoso said.
"These kids will serve as a catalyst to other kids. Hopefully this will become a domino effect in their own immediate community. We're talking about poor kids who are first generation going to college who are future taxpayers," Reinoso said.
Principals Act in Plan to Reduce Bureaucracy
By Julie Boseman, New York Times, May 18, 2007
More than a third of New York City’s public school principals embraced a challenge from Chancellor Joel I. Klein to free themselves as much as
possible from outside oversight under a new reorganization and become full stewards of their individual schools, the city said yesterday.
The new system is the cornerstone of an effort by Mr. Klein to promote
accountability and transparency in the school system by forcing principals to shoulder more responsibility for their own schools.
The results of the principals’ selections were announced just one day after their union voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract that would allow significant bonuses and raise their average salary by more than 23 percent. By the 2009-10 school year, principals could earn two bonuses — $25,000 for leading a troubled school, and a $25,000 performance bonus — potentially pushing some annual salaries beyond $200,000.
Opinions & Editorials
Our view: State must step up to fund schools; towns squeezed
Editorial, Norwich Bulletin, May 21, 2007
The struggle between funding education and keeping property taxes reasonable is in full swing in towns all across Eastern Connecticut.
It's a sad time. The choice pits the needs of children against the needs of
the rest of the community. Often the loudest voices are those of the senior
citizens on fixed incomes.
Thanks to state and federal mandates and contracts for associated unions, superintendents have very little wiggle room in their budgets. Add to that the burden many Eastern Connecticut towns, such as Colchester, Grisiwold and Sterling, are facing with overcrowding and the costs associated with new schools, and there is a recipe for disaster.
The only ones who can fix this are the members of the General Assembly.
No comments:
Post a Comment