Bridgeport Public Schools

BRIDGEPORT — Faced with the likelihood that the district will be given the same $215.8 million operating budget for the fourth straight year, Schools Superintendent John Ramos is planning a community forum to let the public know how that may affect the district.

“Designing Schooling for the Times We Live In,” will start Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, 45 Lyon Terrace. It is free and open to the public.

Joining Ramos will be Rudy Crew, former chancellor of the New York City and Miami Dade County School districts who now runs Global Partnership, a consulting firm working to improve Warren Harding High School.

Ramos said he has been probing the issue of how to deliver 21st century learning in a “fiscally hemorrhaging environment” for the last couple of years.

“Every year, we need more money, but get less,” he said. With no more “edges” to cut, he said the district needs to come up with a different model for delivering education services. (more…)

Warren Harding High School

BRIDGEPORT — It’s easy to pick out freshmen like De’Najha Willis when the 2:05 p.m. bell rings at Hillhouse High School in New Haven.

Her tan pants and navy top set her and fellow freshmen apart from the baggy blue jeans, sweats, and colorful sneakers worn by upperclassmen. Her attire is part of a high school uniform policy being phased in at the urban high school.

“I didn’t like it at first but I really don’t mind anymore,” said Willis.

Willis, 15, said she likes not having to worry about what to wear in the morning.

Soon, all high school students in Bridgeport could also be relieved of this dilemma.

Armed with a parent survey that shows overwhelming support for uniforms, the districtwide Parent Action Committee will approach the Board of Education Monday evening to ask that the district’s two-year-old elementary school uniform initiative be extended into the high schools as soon as next fall. (more…)

Who’s Qualified to Run New York City Schools?

Cathleen Black, named as the next chancellor, has no background in education. Does that matter?

More Than Managing “Assets”

Rudy Crew served as Chancellor of New York City Schools from 1995 to 1999 and Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Schools from 2004-2008. He is a professor at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education and president of Global Partnership Schools.

We’re in danger of making the New York City public schools a plaything for the rich and famous. Perhaps the thinking is that directing schools is something you do when you’re finished doing your real job; an avocation that starts with a love of learning and warm remembrances of being in school yourself. (more…)

Can $100 Million Change Newark’s Schools?

Mark Zuckerberg, a founder of Facebook, has pledged $100 million to improve the city’s public schools. How should that money be spent?

Reduce Teachers’ Isolation

Rudy Crew served as chancellor of New York City Schools from 1995 to 1999 and superintendent of Miami-Dade County Schools from 2004 to 2008. He is a professor at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education and president of Global Partnership Schools.

Far too often, we define solutions in education without really defining the explicit or immediate problem. By any stretch, Zuckerberg’s generosity in giving $100 million to Newark public schools should be applauded as a signal that he and Mayor Booker understand the need for investing in public education. And, in a time when there seems to be a national search for Superman to save our public education system, focused philanthropy can have a tremendous impact in destabilizing the old culture of failure while solid, aggressive leadership creates a new one. (more…)

Eleanor Osborne, educational change
agent for Harding High School

BRIDGEPORT — Eleanor Osborne, a former New Haven school official and adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University has been named the Education Change Leader, in charge of turning Warren Harding High School around.

School board members were notified of the appointment Monday. Osborne will work for Global Partnership Schools, the firm hired by the district to use a $2.2 million federal grant to “restart” what is considered one of the lowest performing schools in the state. She started the job on Monday.

Joseph Garcia, a vice president at Global Partnership, would not say what Osborne will make in the position. He did say her full time job will be to help the firm deliver on its promise to improve test scores and attendance and lower the drop out rate at Harding. She was one of four candidates considered for the post. (more…)

Linda Conner Lambeck, Staff Writer, Connecticut Post

BRIDGEPORT — After less than two weeks into the new school year, a group in charge of restarting Harding High School have clustered ninth graders into one section of the school, limiting their exposure to the rest of the student body and displacing some veteran teachers from long-held classrooms in the progress.

All students have started getting a daily 30-minute “advisory” period with an adult in the building, a practice some are still feeling their way through.

Tardy sweeps have begun to lessen loitering in the hallways.

There is still no signed contract with the district. The educational change leader promised has not yet been hired. Work to find a new principal to replace Carol Birks is ongoing. (more…)