ConnCAN's Education News Roundup

October 29, 2007

Opinions and Editorials

Parent-focused Board of Education would be refreshing
By Bill Doak, East Hartford Gazette, October 26, 2007

East Hartford Public Schools have never needed good leadership more. Meetings are racked with bitterness and infighting, tensions at an all-time high, and town schools have never been ranked worse than recently.

This is because the size of the school leadership pie has gotten smaller and smaller. PTOs and PTAs are not producing the school and community leaders like they once did. Board of Education members don't have kids enrolled in the school system, so they are not as immediately aware of what is going on in the rapidly-changing hallways of town schools. Of those running, only Jim McElroy and Dorese Roberts have children in the school system. That's it.

What East Hartford needs - desperately - is quality programs. Quality programs, yes, for the academically talented kid, but quality programs that discover the talents in all.

We need better. The consequence in not electing good leaders? No one is held accountable, standards are ill-defined and the next crop of talented teachers ends up looking anywhere but East Hartford for a job. That, East Hartford, is something we can't allow. And that is how important your vote November 6 is.

News Articles

Education issues spark Torrington debate
By Megan Broderick, The Republican American, October 24, 2007

Torrington High School's 20 percent dropout rate, the need for increased parent involvement in the school system and problems at Torrington Middle School were some of the top issues discussed by Board of Education and mayoral candidates in an education debate Wednesday night.

Consultant begins assessment of East Hartford schools
By Ben Rubin, Journal Inquirer, October 24, 20007

EAST HARTFORD - The state Department of Education this week brought in a consulting group to assess the entire school system, prompted by years of sagging test scores.

The agency will be visiting classrooms and meeting with parents, students, teachers, and administrators in each school system to see what key changes can be made to raise student achievement.

"We really see this as an opportunity to partner with the districts so we can see improvement," Deborah Richards, acting chief of the newly created state education Bureau of Accountability, Compliance, and Monitoring.

More Manchester students attending magnet schools
By Christine McCluskey, Journal Inquirer, October 23, 2007

MANCHESTER - The enrollment of Manchester students in the town's public elementary, middle, and high schools over the past year fell more than projected while enrollment in out-of-town magnet schools jumped by almost 50 percent.

Author: Minority Education Needs Solutions
By Katie Warchut, The Day, October 23, 2007

New London — It's time to stop making excuses when children of color do not achieve, diversity expert Glenn Singleton told an audience of educators and students Monday.

Blaming their families, income, or inability to speak English, he said, is a copout.“Let's talk about race,” Singleton said. “Everything else is just a smokescreen.”

Magnet schools: Attractive enough?
By Andrew Shaw, The Greenwich Time, October 22, 2007

The lack of interest in applying to the magnet school is forcing administrators to consider changes in the program. A committee will examine all facets of the three magnet schools and better monitor student applications. Some advocate not adding more magnet schools until there is a better understanding of what works and what doesn't.

Moms, Dads Urged To Be Stronger Advocates
By Susan Campbell, The Hartford Courant, October 21, 2007

Participants in a Saturday parent advocacy meeting came dressed mostly in their Sunday best, which was fitting because the meeting of the advocacy group CT Parent Power felt like a revival.

CT Parent Power is a 5-year-old grass-roots nonprofit organization, said Tauna Idone, the organization's community coordinator. Members learn to advocate for their children, speak with legislators, rally voters, and encourage other parents to get involved.