The unintended consequences of an endorsement.

[LWolf]

For those who don't know, I live on the east side of the Cascades, in a more republican section of Oregon. Not as conservative as you'll get further east, but still...

I'm a teacher. Teachers, even in red areas, tend to be Democrats, or moderate Rs who will swing D, or independents. There are a few hardcore Republicans, of course, but not many compared to the general population. More of them live in red areas, so I know plenty of conservative republican teachers and school employees. Most of them who talked about it in '08 voted for Obama, even so.

Our district superintendent resigned last spring. She'd been here for a few years; long enough to piss off the teachers AND the classified employees. When she resigned, our board appointed a former teacher to take her place. If they hadn't, we probably never would have reached the budget-cutting agreements that balanced our budget, for the time being. Nobody in either the classified or certified union would deal with her after being stabbed from behind a few times.

We just found out a few weeks ago that she has endorsed Dudley and taken a position with his campaign. She's his "education policy advisor."

The scuttlebutt in her former district? Many of those more conservative republican district employees, who were looking at Dudley as a likely recipient of their vote, have changed their minds, and are not shy about explaining why. If she's part of the team, they aren't on board.

[sandnsea]

1. Ooooh

Well that explains A LOT. What a loon.

We're putting more money into our alternative high school and refusing to go to a four day school week, and your superintendent is pushing that shit. No wonder you're pissed.

Everybody who is working on school reform isn't doing it the same way this nutball has.

Thank you for pointing this out. I'll try to work up an LTTE. What did she do to music because music has a lot of support here. I think pointing out the 4 day school week, closed alternative high school, and one other thing would be enough. What do you think? Or do you have worse stuff?

[LWolf]

2. The music program in elementary and K-8s

ended when the 4-day week was adopted. Those schools also lost PE teachers; that responsibility was transferred to academic teachers along with the loss of their prep.

Since her departure, the 5 day school week was reinstated for this year, along with the PE teachers. I hope we'll get music teachers back as the economy improves and state revenues rise.

[sandnsea]

4. Okay, I want to get this right

Along with the implementation of the 4 day week, the K-8 schools lost their music teacher and PE teacher. Classroom teachers lost their prep time in order to attend to PE.

Why was PE kept? Is it a state requirement?

I know we were about to go to one music teacher for our entire district last year. I think we managed to save two. I don't know whether the lower grades still have PE. I'll have to check all of that before an LTTE. I know we might, might, have one librarian or even just an aide. Have you guys kept your librarians?

Thanks very much for your help.

[LWolf]

6. The K-5 AND the K-8 schools.

Since the music and PE teachers provided our prep, and they were gone, we lost our prep. We added PE to our duties. They wanted to add music to our duties, as well, but that's the one subject we AREN'T licensed for, so they called it "The Arts," and added that to our duties as well. By the last report card, they were calling it "enrichment." There's a spot on the report card, and they wanted it filled. The point was to tell parents that their kids were still getting the same services. Of course, PE or "The Arts, or "Enrichment" planned and taught by a teacher with a full load of academic duties already is not exactly the same quantity or quality as that taught by a specialist. But it was COYA for the district.

PE is a state requirement. Unlike CA, there is no minimum number of minutes per week, but it is required. We have library techs, not librarians, and we did keep them. I think because they are also in charge of keeping our computers running.

The planning period? Since we were teaching during the day, they extended our contractual hours before and after school for that lost prep period. Then they proceeded to fill that time with meetings; all the regular meetings, staff, IEP, SST, and data team meetings condensed into 4 days instead of 5.

[OregonBlue]

3. That is good news. Dudley is running ahead in the polls but I don't believe he will win. Not with

Obama coming to Oregon to campaign for Kitzhaber. I'm East of the Cascades too, 35 miles from The Dalles. Unfortunately, even my neighbors who voted for Obama are a little disheartened. Most of the are planning on voting Dem anyway. A few have said they wouldn't vote but of course I jumped right in with all the things they needed to vote FOR and why not voting would be very bad for them. Since we do mail in ballot, I think most will.

[classof56]

5. Yes, I was astounded to see she had not only endorsed Dudley...

But had signed on to his campaign. Good to know, however, that those teachers who worked for her and might have voted for The Dud are changing their minds. One can only hope enough of those die-hard righties to the east of us decide to do the same. Gives me a glimmer of hope for the gubneratorial race outcome. Though...I just noticed that the Oregonian has endorsed Gov. Kitzhaber, and there are times when that has been the kiss of death for some candidates. Will be interesting to see what the Bulletin does--my spouse is convinced they'll go for Dudley, so we'll see. Gotta keep the faith!

I'm involved in a project with local elementary schools. Some great teachers and students there, if past experience is any indication. Kudos to you and your colleagues in the district!

[LWolf]

7. I predict the Bulletin will endorse Dudley.

I hope I'm wrong. I also hope that her presence influences many to flip their votes. I can count a dozen who've already said so, and those are only the people who I've been around that wanted to talk about the upcoming election.

What project are you working on?

[classof56]

8. Pretty sure you're right about the Bulletin endorsing Dudley.

Interesting editorial this morning about the Redmond school board's survey to get feedback on the interim superintendent. Guess I missed that one. My spouse keeps threatening to run for the school board. I keep threatening to divorce him if he does. (Just kidding!)

The project I'm working on is the 4th Grade Book Contest. The writers group I'm a part of has co-sponsored it for a few years with the Redmond Library, but this year we've taken the lead. I seem to recall you're a middle school teacher, so not involved in this endeavor, but it's been fun. Some pretty talented and creative youngsters around here! I spent the afternoon putting together packets for the 4th grade teachers, will deliver them to a few tomorrow. Also had a conversation with a couple of teachers during which I told them they are greatly appreciated and definitely underpaid. Kudos to all of you!

[LWolf]

9. Sounds like fun.

I think the survey is to consider making him the permanent hire for the sup. position. I hope so.