Central Falls superintendent open to talks

[FBaggins]

PROVIDENCE—The superintendent of Central Falls, who fired all of the teachers in the city’s long-troubled high school, said Wednesday that she’s willing to negotiate after their union promised to support reforms.

Superintendent Frances Gallo said an offer from the teachers gave her hope that differences could be resolved without mass firings.

...snip...

Gallo said in a statement that she welcomes the union’s input on a transformation plan for the high school. “It so closely mirrors my requests for assurances that I am pleased to reassure the union their place in the planning process. I do so with the belief that everyone has come to understand the meaning of comprehensive school reform,“ Gallo said.


http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/news/local/education/article/central_falls_superintendent_open_to_talks/32429/

[BeFree]

1. Obama success

He has pushed this system to the table to begin reform.

[MichiganVote]

2. Yeah right...the union filed a labor civil suit...that takes time and money from a district.

This is all fluff.

[FBaggins]

3. I think that the real change is that we're now past March 1st

and the union has moved a bit off of their position.

She has maintained all along that if she was going to get rid of any teachers, she had to give them notice by March 1st or she would have to wait another year to get rid of them. Now that the notice has been given, she has a little flexibility as long as Gist remains open to a change if Gallo requests it.

The labor civil suit isn't a threat to her... that's the "fluff"

[MichiganVote]

4. Doubtful.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. So she's worried about a March 1st deadline but firing tenured teachers is no big deal?

Very doubtful.

[FBaggins]

9. That's correct.

Firing tenured teachers is "no big deal" in this environment. It's being done all across the country with hardly any response but support.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Link?

[FBaggins]

13. Link to what?

Examples of schools closing and teachers being laid off all across the country?

Where have you been? Are there not seven such schools in Chicago alone that have been in the news lately? Have there not been scores of articles here about public schools being replaced by charter schools all over?

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. "It's being done all across the country"

Chicago is not all across the country. So please pray tell. What other districts all across the country are firing tenured teachers?

[FBaggins]

18. I'm sorry P2B... but are you really serious?

You're telling me that you don't think it's true?

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. I'm asking you to post a link proving districts all across the country are firing tenured teachers

This isn't that hard.

[FBaggins]

25. Very well.

No... it isn't "hard" - it's just shocking that you would ask. We've been talking about union busting/layoffs/charters/etc here for months. I asked because I couldn't believe that you didn't know (and would thus be intentionally wasting my time - and I didn't think that fit you).

Michigan
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=219x16561

You posted at least a couple re: Kansas City closing half of its schools (but charter population increasing)-

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=219x19244
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=219x19826


Do I really have to look up examples from New York (scores of schools) and Florida (vouchers/closed schools/charters)?

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. That's Detroit

There is no plan to fire any tenured teachers in KC.

So far you have Detroit and Chicago. That's hardly all over the country.

[FBaggins]

27. Sigh.

Detroit...

and DC ("Rhee quickly closed about two dozen schools, fired tenured teachers and became a one-woman national test of school reform(sic)" - http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070360/1002/NEWS/Mayoral-control-brings-big-school-changes-in-D.C.)


Additionally... I have a hard time accepting "Chicago isn't all across the country" when Duncan is running the show and Chicago is, AT BEST, just a few steps ahead of the country.

[FBaggins]

5. Additional reports

Gist earlier said the process is not a negotiation, but she also indicated that Gallo could approach her with another plan.

"I'm pleased that the teachers have reached out and that Dr. Gallo is going to work with them in the planning process," Gist said in a written statement. "Our focus is on how we can ensure that the children of Central Falls receive an excellent education, and that is always going to be improved when all of the adults are working together."


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jQe6oVWR8RCYpv36bVIUomkB09NgD9E7FVD01


Teachers' union president Jane Sessums says she hasn't read Gallo's offer to restart talks but is cautiously optimistic they can resume.

Central Falls Superintendent Frances Gallo said an offer made late Tuesday by the Central Falls Teachers' Union gives her hope the issue could be resolved without mass firings. The offer includes support for a longer school day and providing before- and after-school tutoring for students, she said.

"That gave me enough hope that I could say, 'What are we waiting for? Get back to the table,'" Gallo said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jQe6oVWR8RCYpv36bVIUomkB09NgD9E7F9N01

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Amazing what public pressure can accomplish

[FBaggins]

8. You're kidding, right?

What public pressure? Public officials at all levels on both sides have supported her decision... even used her as an example. Almost every editorial has been supportive.

The better statement would be "it's amazing what coming to their senses and saying 'can we still have that deal?' can do if the other side is fair"

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. LOL

I've seen overwhelming support for the teachers. We must be reading different editorials.

[FBaggins]

12. Overwhelming?

If we're reading different editorials it's because you're reading three or four of them that you like and I'm reading all of them.

Support isn't even "overwhelming" here on DU. I can't imagine an audience that would be more favorable to unions and teachers.

How many conversations have we had here asking why democrats aren't more supportive or why politicians are even willing to make public statements in favor of the move? Politicians (individually) have been known to be politically tone deaf at times... but this badly?

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. We haven't been reading the same threads

The one I started last night that had over 150 votes last time I checked was overwhelmingly supportive. There are several others just like it.

[FBaggins]

21. So it would appear.

Sorry if I've missed some overwhelming displays of support. It would have been nice.

What I have seen is the local, state, and federal education administration (both parties I think) as well as the governor (R), at least two canddiates for gov, the school board (including current teachers), the Lt Gov (D), and the president - all not only supportive, but running to microphones to TELL people that they're supportive of the decisions.

I also see the union asking for another chance after they reportedly went to the RI congressional delegation (four democrats) for help. What I haven't see (and would love to) was any of those elected officials standing up in support of the teachers. It is only an assumption, but I think a fair one, to think that those two are connected.

[Hannah Bell]

16. seems 75% favor firing arne duncan.

yeah, everyone knows how dispassionately unbiased you are.

that's the ticket.

says the poster who insisted gallo started out intending to pink-slip everyone & then kindly conceded to allow 80%, then 100% of teachers to keep their jobs.

i notice you never responded to the evidence that showed otherwise.

[FBaggins]

17. There's a simple reason for that.

You haven't provided any evidence that showed otherwise.

You've seen quotes from BOTH sides that say that she got to at least 80%... AND you've been shown that this can not happen in the "turnaround" phase... yet you continue to insist that it must have.

says the poster who insisted gallo started out intending to pink-slip everyone

Not because she intended to fire everyone, but because she wanted the option of firing some of them after an outside assessment and couldn't do that unless she had given them notice by March 1st.

[Hannah Bell]

19. uh, yes, i did.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hannah Bell]

22. you ain't fooling anyone

[FBaggins]

23. Ah... I see that you've looked over that thread and realized your mistake

Or you would have had a beefed respose than bluster.

That's ok... Apart from that blind spot I've always thought highly
of you... And it isn't like it isn't a common error... Better than not caring to be sure.