Most of us veteran stakeholders on the front line trenches of district public school primary/secondary education know some thing the GBC has overlooked, city schools resent and current results-driven increase outcomes have begun its turnaround before his arrival in 2007 for increase student achievement.

In that quote missing by GBC president and CEO Don Fry read at the dinner: that Alonso is capturing the attention of parents, business advocates and the system’s many stakeholders is not all in a most responsible, or positive attention getting light.

When are people going to realize that Alonso is setting up everyone underneath him in BCPSS for failure. Alonso gives principals, who are trained educators and not business managers, the power to choose how to spend their school budget but does not give them the power to discipline misbehaving kids. Who cares if you can choose what textbooks to buy but you can't discipline a student that constantly hinders the learning of others? Alonso is doing this so when a school fails he will not be the person to blame.

Alonso is all about numbers. Suspensions are down but we all know that incidents are not. He got dropouts to enroll in school but we won't hear how many of them dropped out again. It's all about the data looking good to the public and the media.

How many times have teachers on this blog written that, despite asking Alonso to come to their schools countless times, he offers no support? How many times have teachers on this blog said that the best they get is one of his useless lackeys sent to their school? He's afraid to see the harsh reality of the condition of many of the schools in BCPSS.

I could've told you that the schools that closed would close. Alonso doesn't actually care what teachers, parents, students, or neighbors think. Sure, he makes it appear to the public and the media that he is open to suggestions but he made up his mind and that was that. So much for community involvement.

For those of you Inside ED public school stakeholders and classroom teachers in the BCPSS, may be before your time pre-SY2007 all teachers of the year honors program were hosted annually at Martins West by the Baltimore City Council of PTAs Inc. included each site school for our districts primary/secondary schools without funding resources from the school system budget hosted for 190 schools of more than 6,000 teachers in the city.

If the CEO is sincere in his quote: “Dr. Alonso really believes that in every school there is at least one great teacher” perhaps seeing at least one nomination would be a mandatory evaluation measurement implemented that could be used to judge principals school year personnel evaluation. If they don't know their staff members well enough to identify that one great teacher or if they don't respect their staff enough to agree that they have at least one great teacher than they are to be recognized as failing principals. Then have BCPSS host 2010 Teacher of the Year Banquet.

IEP - While I'm a bit hesitant about the "mandatory" recommendation, I think this is a fantastic idea. Maybe an internal media blitz to schools asking them to consider nominating a teacher for a selective event.

Also, the CEO's Office does want teacher-input. His office created the Summer Teacher Fellowship so that roughly 20 teachers will be paid to work in the central office to help influence policy-making throughout the district's departments. This is a significant expenditure, and the major purpose is to ensure that policies reflect teachers' input. All teachers had to confirm that they plan to continue teaching the following year, and from what I've heard, the admissions process was extremely competitive.

(Inside Ed post @ Bill)

“Mandatory” puts teeth in to the level of high priority. If it is not made mandatory the administrators/principals will not do it. An experience fact based outcome in this school systems historical/present background and demonstrated in current behavior tendencies speaking. That’s why inserting the word “mandatory” is so powerful. You recognize don’t you!!

My on-line search of the BCPSS web site did not reveal any links for data/document regarding a 2009 CEO Summer Teacher Fellowship?? Any way the school systems operations divisions lead by the CEO and his executive directors, staff does not develop nor establish school system policy-making that is the duty of the governance body the Board of School Commissioners (BOSC).

From my school system background and involvements with both the operations/governance, the operations are limited to providing input, recommendations to advise the BOSC regarding policy. But for, teaching and learning academic programs models, curricular and instruction planning initiatives, staffing models, testing assessment standards, and those types of guidelines are handled by the operations. “Fill me in if I stand in need to be corrected” then so be it.

Your quote: “The size of the expenditure for the summer program and the major purpose for being is to ensure that policies reflect teachers' input. All teachers had to confirm that they plan to continue teaching the following year, and from what I've heard, the admissions process was extremely competitive.” All that is moot if the school systems culture and climate remains unchanged!

IEP is correct. The PTA did do a huge celebration at Martin's West. I was the recepient from my school several times. One word of distinction,though. This event did not lead the the CITY and STATE Teacher of the Year. That was another group of nominees and examiners. I was part of that also. The city/state event involved an application, interviews, judging etc. The PTA teachers were chosen in various ways within each school;the principal, a vote by all the teachers, PTA involvement etc. Both were/are wonderful events but were definitely different. The state event is very strenuous.

In any event, all posters who sugeest that administrators should be able to nominate at least one(if not more) teachers to any such event are correct. We need to celebrate all deserving teachers.Teachers, parents, community members, and those who supervise principals should encourage nominations. It is a great way to not only reward excellent teachers but also promote the field!

IEP - I see your mandatory point. I just worry that it dilutes the effectiveness when the principal is forced to participate. Again, though, your concern is valid.

True, our definition of policy was not the same. The Board does approve policy - you're absolutely right on target there. However, with each policy there are regulations that the Board does not approve. I guess I meant helping in the creation and operation of the implementation of the policy through the policy regulations.

I believe they took down the job posting once the executive office completed interviews.

@ Ralph

I don't understand....if Alonso made all of the decisions and all of the principals in the city were nothing more than glorified ISTs, wouldn't everyone complain about how decisions about money are made so far away from the kids without regard to individual school needs? Furthermore, maybe we SHOULD be challenging the idea that principals need to be educators...after all, isn't that what we teachers are for? Principals should be excellent personnel managers and motivators and strategists. They should be making decisions about resources and acting as a liason between the school and outside stakeholders. I think probably too many principals treat their teachers like their students, imposing their will rather than working as a partner.

No one has taken away the power to discipline kids...principals have just been told to find a way to discipline students without removing them from school. Doesn't that sound like a good thing? More kids in school for more days? And for every story you tell me about some kid who was just a total disturbance and was never removed from school, I'll tell you one about a kid who acted out because he was falling behind in class, got suspended and came back even farther behind which led to more acting out.

Lastly (although I reserve the right to come back to some things), I'd say that sending an email to request that the CEO of schools come to visit your school and getting him to send a representative is actually pretty responsive of him. Did other CEOs do that?

(Inside Ed post @ Bill)

Bill lets get it right regarding “policy-making” you are clearly misleading readers in the wrong function and working understanding.

Stop trying to clean up the wrong policy-making definition you clearly do not understand the mechanics between school system operations/governance. Its okay not to know/understand something, it is not okay to continue to getting stuck and twist and turn saying, quote: (“I guess I meant”) while still mislead when you know you don’t understand the working application or mechanics of school system policy-making. Try to be more correct, truthful, and accurate with your opinions and interpretations when talking about the school system operations. Don’t mislead.

IEP - Unacceptable. You need to relax because you're wrong on this. Call "policy" whatever you want, sir; it doesn't change the basic premise that teachers working in the CEO's office would beneficially influence POLICIES, programs, and regulations.

Please examine the Board's new systems and processes for passing POLICY + REGULATION (where regulations accompany the policy and are NOT approved by the board). Done with this discussion.

Sorry, I'm fired up now. Challenge my positions all you'd like, but please don't challenge my integrity or sincerity in the content of my writings. I work too darn hard, and care way too much, for you to feel justified in attacking my intentions. Challenge the arguments, not the person's character. I've never mislead through writing (although there are plenty of times I've been wrong), and I've been extremely up front when I know that I'm unsure about an issue. To suggest that I intentionally misled or could have been more truthful is simply unacceptable to me. Ok, now I'm seriously done with the discussion.

(Inside Ed post @ Bill-Chief Executive Officer Graduate Intern BCPSS )

BCPSS/City Schools Chief Executive Officer Graduate Intern William.C. Ferguson Some One is getting Defensive!

Folks you wonder why he is given the opportunity to promote his BLOG by Sun paper Posted by Sara Neufeld at 6:02 AM in Baltimore City. Folks connect the dots directly to the CEO's office: (May 4, 2009
Bill has a blog
Check out Bill Ferguson's new site for details of the projects he's working on for the Baltimore schools. I've added it to the blogroll.

So Bill, are you still so charmed by the run on and incomprehensible posts? Oh, and the hostility and sense that any one that doesn't agree is ignorant, lovely. Before you call me a lightwieght (again) - I've got 10 years on as a BCPSS parent and 13 as a BCPSS student. And somehow I learned to write English during those student years.

BTW - if I&EP were to start a blog, it would get promoted here. Anybody who's a commentor (or just asks) and has a blog related to education gets it promoted here (myself included).

Apparently, integrity isn’t “one” size fits all concept. Suppose a former colleague contacts best buddy TFA’ers, including ambitious defectors seeking “pot of gold” beyond borders of city with inside track advantage to the “worker bee” network positions. Apply, apply, apply today for another TFA’er holds key interview and selection position. Jump on board, we are the future of City Schools; proven instructional/leadership expertise does not matter. (“friends first” remains in vogue) Another truth, folks just love to share “inside” connection info (this crossed the city in no time at all)

Denials or elaborate explanation may or may not pour forth. And maybe, there is no truth beyond just offering insider influence; maybe it is simply a hungry ego seeking to inflate one’s self importance. Truth will be revealed in the hiring.

(In side Ed Post @: a parent | May 8, 2009 8:23 AM)

Lightweight your systemic paucity not to list any personal contributions made to the BCPSS school community organizations/education parent organizations participation or any related in kind service participation by you is very clear. Your all talk.

Just listing years your quote: "I've got 10 years on as a BCPSS parent and 13 as a BCPSS student. And somehow I learned to write English during those student years". Confirms only that you exist and benefited from district public education, nothing more or less is being said by you. Here learn something else give back to the public community school system is not promoted or mentioned by you folks. Why???? again all talk and no action track record.

Confused Don't Be, to both you and CEO graduate intern Bill.

All this flapdoodle! Incoherent ramblings. Puh-leeze!

Facts: Dr. Alonso has re-engaged the community with family engagement policies that encourage participation, he has reduced central office by one-third and put more resources in schools, and rewards excellence by promoting new leaders, and closing failing programs that existed for decades. Have a nice day.

@ I&E (and Sara)

Threads like this are exactly why we need another meetup. You make arguments like "you're a lightweight because you don't say how you give back to the community" (as if being a parent of a BCPS student weren't enough) and dismiss people's opinions because they haven't posted a resume when you yourself get to remain totally anonymous without putting your own track record up for public scrutiny. At least if any of us have a problem with Bill, we know how to contact him to let him know.

This is the point in the post where others might say, "and I&E, what's your track record? What have you ever done?" but I'm not going to because I don't care. At least not in this forum, where I'm judging your ideas and not you. I would hope that each of us would extend that same courtesy.

(In side Ed @ Posted by: City School parent)

Stop drinking the Kool-Aid.

JAO - Again, unsubstantiated insults frustrate your statements. Objective evidence points to opposite conclusions. Please see the links I provided here:

(1) http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/education/blog/2009/03/baltimore_schools_arts_coordin.html#comments

(2) http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/education/blog/2009/03/baltimore_schools_downsizing_n.html#comments

(3) http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/education/blog/2009/03/baltimore_school_closures.html#comments

Every time I've known of an opportunity, where's the first place I put it? Here, on InsideEd because I knew it would reach people outside of my circle. I've posted it on LinkedIn, the Onion Classifieds, etc. Of course I told my friends about the positions. Who wouldn't? Should I have only broadcast it to people I thought were unqualified?

When we interviewed summer teacher fellows and knew the candidates, we specifically asked to be recused from the decision-making. We have been intentionally mindful of the "connections" issue in North Ave, and I'll do anything possible to ensure that merit is the key qualifier. Most importantly, though, that "connection" you speak of... it doesn't exist. I think you give me way too much credit.

I was defensive because I was insulted. I think civility will almost always lead to more productive and educational discussion. @a parent, my dad always said, "You don't make peace with your friends. And you'll often learn most from those least like you." Sometimes, I forget that - like I did yesterday when writing. It was at the height of my exam anxiety, and I was trying to finish my take home after many, many hours of being awake writing. My sleeplessness got to me.

In any case, IEP, I wonder why you don't identify yourself? It's awfully easy to make disparaging comments anonymously embedded in confused sentences. Maybe if you met with people individually, you'd feel differently, and maybe you'd find it more difficult to take ungrounded pot shots at people who are trying their best to support the district to be the best it can be. In the meantime, I'll take a cue from the Book, and offer another cheek.

@ City School parent

If Alonso has done such a good job re-engaging the community then why did I see, at most, 4 parents during any of the scheduled meeting times (back to school night, parent conferences, PTA)?

So, the school CEO is responsible for the failure of your specific school to attract parents to meetings? Any ideas of how you want him to turn around your school? While you're at it, can you think of anything your school administration, your community or your PTA ought to be doing differently? I know there are schools that do get good turnouts (in different neighborhoods, of different types). How are they succeeding (with the same CEO)? Can we learn from their successes?

I do have ideas of how I want Alonso to turn my school around but like so many other people on this blog have stated, he has yet to show up at my school despite countless requests by numerous staff members.

My question- Why is Bill's Blog the only one you can access through the BCPS internet filter?

@mike -
My guess is because it's not written on a normal blog site (blogspot, typepad, livejournal) like the vast majority of blogs listed. If you're doing a blog, these are easy (and free), but since they host tons of different types of blogs they must hit the BCPSS filter. If you look at the addresses of the other blogs on the sidebar blogroll you'll see what I mean. Not sure if Bill knew that by using his own domain name he'd get around the filter or if it was luck.

Very safe to say I had no idea. Bought the site from GoDaddy b/c I was convinced by commercials during Caps playoff games (great win last night) - and my teaching fellow advisees wanted to share some of my graphic flowcharts from law school. Not to mention, it served as great procrastination during exam studying. So, a parent is dead-on, I bought the site domain name and didn't use the free versions like blogger. Wanted to put up City Schools documents and law school exam study aids. I didn't think the free sites would let me use it for online, shareable storage space.

But while I'm at it, does anyone know of a better site creation program? I'm using Website Tonight and I really don't like it. Would appreciate any advice or suggestions.

To I and E O of CS:

At last, a posting in a complete sentence that is readable. An improvement. Congratulations.