Principal of Poly has already accepted another job in the system. This is another reason why the City Schools are not moving forward even more swiftly. A true leader steps up and addresses rumors immediately and forcefully. This whole thing is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of those who care about the future of these schools.

@veteran teacher - where does one find these "true leaders" you speak of? When it comes to personel issues the rule is tight lipped and cautious in my experience. The exception that comes to mind is Shirley Sherrod, and we all know that didn't work out very well. Personally, I expect we'll never know the whole story and we won't even hear an announcement until all the appeals have been heard.

They weren't so tight lipped when Susan Burgess(George Washington Elementary) or Angela Faltz ( Abbottston Elementary) were removed so why the cone of silence now.

These three schools have long been considered the leaders of a stumbling pack and to see them start of the school year with leadership issues is troubling.

And what about the parents? By my count there are close to 4000 students at these three schools. Do they know what is going on? Do they care? I guess stop snicthing goes beyond the street culture in this city. Someone has to know, someone has to tell.

I don't know that we have true leaders anywhere. However, saying something positive like "We know that there are rumors about the leadership at two of our leading schools and these rumors will be addressed in (insert number of days here). Until that time, we would like to ask for patience from everyone concerned." That would at least acknowledge a situation exists. @OTT--No, the parents probably don't know and most do not care. Not because they don't want to but because these same parents know that their opinion doesn't count for much.

@OTT -
You're kidding, right? You think that someone is communicating with parents on these issues?!? Parents and students are the last to know, but students hear the hallway gossip (started by teachers, perhaps?) that parents don't. So NO, parents don't know what's going on!

As far as your implication of not caring goes....I'll keep my response to myself as I know that profanity is a way to get a post censored.

I am more than a little tired of the haughty attitude that is displayed on this board by some teachers (or at least I'm guessing they are teachers, anonymous posts and all) that they are the only people that care about these kids and that the parents are MIA. How the heck would you know how involved and how caring a parent is from your perspective? Who's paying the bills, working the extra hours to buy them extra stuff, planning out of school enrichment, rushing home to support homework, going to school meetings? And last time I checked there were plenty of parents going to plenty of meetings.

I have NO inside information, but I would bet that involved parents (plus powerful alumni) have a lot to do with these "personnel issues". Why are there no big announcements like GW or Abbottson? Well, duh, there is no smoking gun! Its shades of grey and contract issues and unions and powerful people on both sides of the issue.

I had a resolution to stay more positive this year... darn! I made it to August at least.

Erica, Liz or John-John, could you please fill us in on what is going on with Baltimore City teacher contracts for 2010-2011? I believe I heard they were negotiating changes due to the Race to the Top application but I haven't heard any updates recently.

@ post by city teacher - now that is scary... shouldn't you be getting that information from the BTU not the Sunpaper?

@ a parent - the students know. I have been told it is on Facebook and YouTube. They are sometimes a lot better then the adults.

@ OverTheTop... you would think! See for yourself on the BTU website. A whole lot of nothing!

the principals aren't covered under btu. btu covers teachers and the post isn't about teacher transfers. try http://psasa.org/ instead.

Jim,
PSASA has no information either, the best place to look is on the City Schools website to see the budget for FY-11. There it should show if funds were allocated for raises or just regular COL increases. Also, think on this--do you really think raises will happen with the RTT money? That money I think is for pay for performance and maybe school-based capital improvement projects.

Thanks Jim. Actually, I never thought about raises (In this economy, I'm just thankful to have a job!). I had heard (correctly or incorrectly, I don't know) that the way a teacher's salary is determined may be changed. I was told that instead of getting paid according to the amount of credits you have beyond a bachelor's degree, they may be changing it to something related to performance.

Okay focus people.... three of the top schools in this city are currently without permanent leaders. City, Poly and Western are all in the same boat now. Somebody,somewhere needs to explain.

Western is a another story, Mrs. Matthews announced her retirement at the start of the year. The system has failed to get a canidate. City and Poly are a recent development, a quite interesting one at that. Will Barny and Tim take jobs at now vacant neighborhood schools? Tune in Tuesday to find out.... Might be an interesting board meeting this week.

Ummmm - let's think about the ramifications here. Word on the street is that Wilson (Poly) was reassigned to Reginald F. Lewis. So - what central office is saying is that they can take an incompetent leader (which he is - just ask to look at our SAT and AP scores) and place him in an incompetent school. Who loses in this game? The students of Lewis of course. I don't think you should gamble with the lives of innocents in this way - especially since they are already low on the social totem pole. What ever happened to getting the best leaders into the worst schools?

@ Poly: I actually think it's a great PR move. If the rumors are true and Barney goes to RFL it's going to be a funny year. The spin will be they are doing the exact opposite of what you say. The system will tout that they have put a strong, academic into RFL to turn it around. Same if they move Tim over to DuBois. Oh I can't wait to see those two actually work next year. They won't be able to go to every little political event in the city, hang at North Ave or chill.

That said, I hope they prove me wrong and turn those schools around. The kids and staff have a right to be in a productive school. Are there any prinicpals in the system that could take City and Poly to their rightful heights?

Im anxious to see how this plays out. Dawson has done alot for City... At least IMO he did. Might i ask WHY they're saying they want to get rif of him? Wht exactly makes him an incompotent leader? And if they DO replace him i hope they consider more than academics. I mean it most important, but its not the only factor. I think they should consider student life as a whole and work to restore that ol City Pride.

You folks don't know the half of it. I know nothing about Poly, but I know that at City College there were multiple violations of federal special education law, that boarder line criminal statements were made especially to the female population of the school, that the environment became hostile to female teachers, that female students were placed in compromising positions, that unqualified student after unqualified student was brought into the school to boost the athletic program, that these students were told by recruiters not to worry about their grades, that these same athletes were often not held accountable for behavior and that those adults who tried to speak up were threatened behind closed doors or Dawson tried to transfer or fire those who stood up to him. Why has it taken five years for this to finally come to light? I left City rather than stay in an environment where morally reprehensible behavior was becoming the norm.

All of the city wide schools fold their academic standardslike a cheap suit for athletes. I would love for someone with courage to pull the composite scores of City, Poly, and Dunbar Basketball and Football teams. I'm sure few would be shocked to see that a high number of those kids wouldn't have made the cut off scores to get in.

I get it, athletics are run almost the same in college (unless you're an Ivy). I just question the equity of the system because so many kids are on the waiting list. If you're an athlete the list means nothing. I question if teachers at those schools are pressured to pass the student athletes. Just asking a question that @Former City Teacher seems to raise in her post.

@PT - if what you state is true then your head should be next on the chopping block. Wilson did not teach one class and did not hide the fact that he was disappointed with the test scores. One of the accepted models for reform is to zero-base the staff. If the new savior does not do better then the teachers will be the next to go... Stop pointing finger and do your job.

@ Poly Teacher - test scores have been going down across the country. Why is this pinned on the principal? Seems pretty thin.

@Former City Teacher - makes me glad we went in the other direction. But why does a magnetic school have special ed students to begin with?

It seems that we may be missing the point here. Poly, City, & Western are not high performing schools. They inherit and only permit high performing students from middle school. Or some may say that they "cream". In that, youngsters who attend Poly, City, and Western are required to have the highest composites scores coming from middle school to gain admittance. The composite score is made up of factors like MSA scores, 7th-8th grade, GPA, & attendance. Students who have out performed their peers in these criteria may go to one of the "Trinity" if they so choose. Furthermore, these students in most case have more social capital as it relates to parental and family support. It has been this way since the establishment of these schools and perhaps why when you're from Baltimore people often ask where did you go to school and they don't mean college. It is an attempt to size one up by these superficial but at the same time uniquely Baltimore metrics.

As for the current sitting principals at those schools. I believe they are principled and committed leaders. I don't know what may have happened but for the children sake I hope that it gets resolved. As Ted Sizer so eloquently pointed out ".The Children are Watching".

Here's another loosely related point: Schools mirror communities. I daresay there is not one single successful school where there is not some meaningful level of ownership or accountability by families and communities of student performance and outcomes. In other words, the overwhelming majority of the students families must be actively involved and supportive of the school.

@NewPolyParent -
I just want to address your question "why does a magnet school have special ed students?"

Just because a student has an IEP (Individual Education Plan) does not mean they aren't academically gifted. One example that comes to mind - you have a kid with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair and assistive communication device to "talk" to the teacher and classmates. When using these devices this student scores advanced on the MSA, gets straight A's in class and rarely misses a day at school. That would be how you get a special ed student at a magnet school. I could make up another example, but I hope you see my point. Magnet school students are academically gifted. Special ed students can me academically gifted.

Sorry if this comes across a little harshly, but as a mother of a Special Needs student I found your statement very insulting.

@Clearmind1 - wrong on two points. These schools are magent school and their purpose is to educate high performing students... no creaming... just doing their job.

Secondly - these are city wide schools so their community is the entire city. Citywides also tend to suffer from low involvement because their community is spread across the horizon. The difference is that these students tend to GO HOME to parents that value education.

Of course, the "Trinity" schools should have special education students. Special education does not mean diminished mental capacity alone. It could be a physical condition or a requirement for classroom adaptations. Would you have rejected Stephen Hawking from any of them? And he would certainly qualify as special ed. That is another reason these schools are an object of controversy. For too long, the "Trinity" was allowed to reject students out of hand instead of working with talented students who needed extra support. I hope whoever takes over does a good job of recognizing everyone's potential.

To New Poly Parent!

First off, the term is magnet schools although that is a dated term not really appropriate for Poly.

Secondly, principals are charged with being leaders who can help students and teachers achieve. That IS their job.

Most importantly, this is the 21st Century and children/students with special needs have as much right to go to Poly as anyone else if they meet the criteria. Frequently, the special situation has NOTHING to do with intelligence.

OMG, I can't believe the ignorance of your post.

The board does not make these type decisions. The decisions are made and the results go into the PEP report.

PSASA is weak. It is about time, that the principals at these schools will now have to prove themselves.

They were given cushy jobs based upon their connections.

M. Madoff

What did I tell you? The spin begins, "thankful for him to take this challenge." Barney is in for a rude awakening now that he's at a real baltimore high school. Poly is lala land, a great school with a specific high performing student population. No more days talking with alumni and parents; he's in the real game now. Heck, when a kid failed Barney kicked them out (please don't act like they don't, I can name kids). There is no escape hatch from Lewis, unless you expell a kid and then they will be back in 45 days.

This system and the higher management has no idea what it's like to run a neighborhood school (and those of you who say neighborhood/zone schools don't exist also don't have a clue). There isn't a person at the top whose been a principal in a neighborhood school, no Dunbar doesn't count. Alonso and the others haven't even worked as a principal. It's so easy to talk trash when you've never done it. Our neighborhood schools are failing because the system refuses to take action, action with understanding of the issues.

Looking around there seems to be 1 or 2 neighborhood schools starting to move in the right direction, but I'm sure those principals are getting beaten up. They have a thankless and brutal job.

@ New Poly Parent - You're completely right. Why have so many poor teachers been allowed to remain at the school during his tenure? (That's another national trend that maybe we want to bring up here) Why is it that if I'm such a poor teacher he, or his assistants, have never stepped into my classroom to actually evaluate, then support me? Why is that we had almost 20 new teachers last year with no concentrated, accountable mentoring program? Why is that I have never gotten anything other than glowing reviews on my evaluations? Why has the school been floating at sea without clear guidance or mission? Why is it that our climate scores in most categories are down? Why is it that you probably never heard of the seven fires that we had two years ago? Why is it that you probably don't know about the sexually lewd activities that take place on a weekly basis? Why is it that you probably don't think about the final week of instruction for seniors as dangerous days for your son/daughter? (Just ask your Freshmen/Sophomore what I mean) Why is it that you think that only teachers are to blame? Go ahead - zero base the staff and hire new leadership, personally I have been saying that for the last three years. If you knew me - you would know that I have been pointing the finger at our entire failed project for the last six years - including our poorly attended parent association, teachers, students, custodians, leaders, and community. These stakeholders need to be aligned in order for any school, let alone Poly, to succeed. The first step - is hiring a leader who actually has vision and an ability to communicate that vision to other human beings.

@ AP & VT - thanks for the information. I was under the impression that special ed and special needs were separate categories. My QUESTION was about special ed but I stand corrected. I fully understand special needs. My neighbors' daughter is the example you gave and although she does not attend a BCPSS school, I fully understand her right to be there.

@ WE - I find your moniker misplaced. If you were a W.E. you would have corrected my inappropriate terminology instead of criticizing and leaving my hanging for an answer.
And O.M.G. (really are you 15) I can't believe the arrogance of your post

@P.T. Thanks for the heads up, just finishing up the H.S.Prep program and will walk in with things to look out for.

Heard Dr. Wilson on the radio this morning.... Sounds like he fell on his sword because of pressure from outside groups.

I find it hard to believe that if he had been planning this for two years that he would have waited until August to make the annoucement. While they may cheer for the students at Lewis what about the ones he left behind at Poly, now without a principal two weeks before school starts.

Dr. Wilson did fall on the sword. He was given the option of being reassigned, resign, or be fired. He took the high road with his interview today. He is a professional. But make no mistake about it, he was forced out by Dr. Alonso. The sad part is that Dr. Alonso plans to close Lewis school next year. Keep watching the story will continue to unfold.

I have been reading all the comments posted on the story about the reassignment. I wonder why all of this information is just coming to light. Poly has a PTA, an alumni assocation and a foundation, why aren't they informing people of what is going on?

Is there a way people can find out such things about any school without following to blogs and gossip?

What will Tim do with those horrible orange suites he likes to wear? The trinity has been torn up, if I were the principal at Dunbar I'd be getting a bit concerned. They try to be part of the big three.

I don't see how some high schools aren't closed next year. Lewis is on the block, never worked. Dubois is a bit better, but struggles too.

There are too many high school seats and enrollments are down almost everywhere except the selection schools. Mervo is through the roof.

Dr. Wilson can find a school in another system now. His job now is to keep the lid on as they cut the school. Sad because he hasn't kept the lid on Poly and well, Lewis isn't a Poly. The kids are going to eat his lunch, yummmy.

Today there is an article that says Poly was having a bunch of issues. I guess the question, than why move him to a troubled school like Lewis never came to mind for our BS reporters. Think! We need to have some reporting people, the cover is going to blow away.

As I follow the vaious articles about the decimation of principals in City Schools, I appreciate it is easy to blame Alonso who appears to have a single crude tool in his reform strategy: fire people, and the more the better. What suggests itself to me is that Mr. Gittings is incapable of serving his constituency. I follow the board meetings on 77 religiously, and I always cringe when Mr. Gittings delivers his ad lib comments, especially when the issues affecting principals are so many and so critical. I respectfully suggest to PSASA members that they might better position themselves if they put a professional with some backbone and clout into the top PSASA slot. Mr. Gittings should reflect on his complete lack of success these last years and help his colleagues by stepping aside.

Last school Board meeting of this year and still no annoucement. The school has been without a leader for the entire year!!!!

The results of the nationwide search are in and the new leader for Poly was found in the schools' office. Pushing the envelope on that one???