Wednesday night lovefest
"Lovefest" and "love-in" were two of the words that speakers used to describe last night's hearing on Dr. Alonso's proposed budget. Not a single person spoke against the plans to start dismantling the central office and empower principals in exchange for accountability, even after Brian Morris asked if anyone had any constructive criticism. Several pillars of the city's educational community heaped praise on the proposal and pledged their support to help implement it. Among them: Pat Welch, the former city school board chair and Morgan's education dean; Ray Lorion, the Towson education dean; Anne O. Emery, a retired administrator and Maryland Higher Education Commission member who now runs a charter school; and Mariale Hardiman, the former Roland Park Elementary/Middle principal who now works at the Hopkins School of Education. Several current principals and charter operators also spoke glowingly.
I wonder if there will be more public debate when the school board votes on a funding formula that inevitably will take money away from some schools and redistribute it to others. As I reported in my story today, the board will be facing some tough questions in the next few weeks as it tries to figure out what's fair -- which students are worthy of more funding and how much money the system should take out of the base for everyone else.
By the way, a "Frequently Asked Questions" document about the budget is now on that system Web page with all the budget stuff.
Happy spring break to all of you headed on vacation today. InsideEd will be here in your absence, posting whatever we can muster on a week when schools are closed.
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Comments
I think a lot of people are ready for change. I am hoping, desperately, that this works.
Posted by: VoiceForSchoolTruth | March 20, 2008 5:59 PM
Alonso is a strong leader, and decentralization is probably a good idea. But he is pushing way too hard and way too fast. There is lots of potential for great harm here. If the staff at North Ave are so incompetent, who is going to make this reform that is rushing forward at such an unprecedented pace actually work? Am I the only one who feels like I'm watching a train wreck in the making? Why take such huge and unnecessary risks with our children's education?
Posted by: dmitri zilliches | March 20, 2008 9:55 PM
Yes everyone is looking for change but the specifics of this plan have not been revealed. I of one would like to know which schools received more funding that the others. If it is Poly, City, BSA and even Roland Park as so many have suggested over the years. I would expected a considerable backlash as reduces their budgets to establish "parity".
Posted by: OverTheTop | March 21, 2008 8:44 AM
One interesting thing I heard yesterday was that many suspect Alonso will not last long. Principals are looking at the opportunity to spend money as if they'll never have it again - looking at spending to get things that can last long-term (copy machines, electronic equipment) rather than short term.
Posted by: A Teacher | March 21, 2008 7:39 PM