Fund Balance

The following, paraphrased, was provided by Fernanda Foertter, Friends of Oak Ridge Schools. My paraphrases are in red.

It’s that time of year again that we have to clarify what a Fund Balance means because our City Council confuses everyone:

— schools do not get regular income every month

— schools get lump sums depending on the funding source at various times of the year (fed/state/local)

— school must make payroll and deal with emergencies.

• Fund Balance is mandated by state law.
• Fund Balance is NOT a savings account.
• Fund Balance is NOT schools hoarding cash.

Fund balance is there to make sure the schools can make payroll/light/bus expenses because funding doesn’t come every month. So it needs to keep some cash in the account for those times. The recommended amount is ~10-15% of total budget. For our school system that would be anywhere between $6M – $9M. Yes it’s a lot of money. Yes, our school system maintains less than recommended! But should a fire happen or a hail storm or stampede of angry unicorns, the school would be able to make payroll, fix the holes, and clean up all the glitter and cup cakes left by the rude unicorns, or at least the glitter.
Because once the city/state/feds fund the schools no more funds are added unless a disaster is declared a State of Emergency but even that would take time.

Thank you Ms Foertter.

In closing, just 160 days for the return of civility to City Council.

Seven Keys for Tennessee

In September 2014 I wrote here about Oak Ridge Schools’ Seven Keys for College and Career Readiness.  The Seven Keys were designed by Oak Ridge Schools superintendent Bruce Borchers working with parents, teachers, community leaders and schools leadership to measure academic progress.  I was fortunate to be a small part of that effort.  In the community meetings participants placed their ideas on peeparing students for life from kindergarten through high school on sticky notes. The notes were prioritized by Dr. Borchers and his staff with input from participants.  The points were converted to measures and aligned to requirements of Race to the Top and Tennessee’s state curriculum. The Oak Ridge Board of Education approved The Seven Keys in spring 2014.

 

The Seven Keys represent more than just measurement of academic progress. The Seven Keys is a vehicle to challenge our schools and school system to not just teach a curriculum but to insure curriculums are aligned to varied but specific paths to career or college where the journey begins by the third grade.  In 2009 less than 20% of Tennessee high school graduates were college ready.  At the same time some high schools were not providing alternative career paths.  Those situations are improving across the state with enhanced curriculum and accountability standards. Oak Ridge Schools has long provided career academies. Yet the process of defining The Seven Keys focused attention on students staking out paths in elementary schools snd following them through graduation. Embedded in that focus is does Oak Ridge Schools provide college and career paths aligned with industry and businesses, not just today from years into the future as third graders matriculate through graduation. Under Dr. Borchers’ leadership, education is being structured and enhanced continually, from elementary grades upward to give each student their opportunity to thrive, to dream and to reach for their individual goals. Career options have been added, working directly with industry and Roane State Community College. This year Oak Ridge High School added a career track mechatronics program but also enhanced STEM training starting in early elementary grades and individualized in middle school with digital learning.  New offerings are in the works but just being a parent I will await for the school system to finalize and announce. The main point in all of this is that The Seven Keys was designed to teach and mold every student for success in life following their interests. Thank you Dr. Bruce Borchers for your vision and leadership.

Earlier this year under the direction of their superintendent Dr. Chris Marczak and with approval of their school board, Maury County Public Schools implemented The Seven Keys.  Dr. Marczak played a role in the development of The Seven Keys in 2014 while serving as assistant superintendent, Oak Ridge Schools.

 

Maury County Schools have also developed partnerships with their local businesses, industry and Columbia State Community College.  The Maury County Business and Economic Alliance (Maury Alliance) has already partnered with the school system. Their motto is “Unlocking potential for all students.” That sums up the goal of The Seven Keys.  I am certain that by working together Maury County Public Schools and the Maury Alliance the paths for students will increase while strengthening the preparation of students for those paths.

 

I am glad another school system, under dynamic leadership, sought to use Oak Ridge’s The Seven Keys for College and Career Readiness. Still there is room for your school system to embrace The Seven Keys. I have a vision of the almost 140 public school districts of Tennessee adopting The Seven Keys or a similar set of measures.  I can even see the Tennessee Department of Education aligning The Seven Keys to curriculum and using measures of The Seven Keys as part of accountability. I can even see Tennessee investing more to use Seven Keys to unlock our state’s future.  Well I am a dreamer but why not!

Can you imagine the possibilities and the outcomes resulting from a state-wide embrace of “Unlocking potential for all students?” Seven Keys for Tennessee. Seven Keys for Tennessee’s children. Seven Keys for Tennessee’s future! 

VICTORY!

WWII ends!

Ok, maybe the news is not that huge but it is still monumental.

It is great the TNReady was suspended for grades 3-8 (cancelled in reality) but there were casualties  along the way, many lost hours of instruction, extra costs to school districts in preparing paper tests, and not least of all, unneeded stress to teachers and students. Fortunately it sounds like most of the $107 million dollars was not paid.

Let’s hope the process to generate a new test for 2016 goes well and that Commissioner McQueen takes time, listens to administrators and teachers, and considers all options. Do it right, not do it quick!

Thank you Commissioner McQueen and those involved in making today’s decision. We know it was not an easy one. With your leadership and Tennesseans working together we will open better doors to our children’s future.

Tick, Tock!

The following statement, reported here, was given by the Tennessee Department of Education last week.

“We will not ask districts to reschedule again beyond what has been communicated to date, and we will not extend the testing window beyond May 10,” department spokeswoman Ashley Ball said in the statement. “…Our priority is for students to end the school year on a strong note, and we do not want state testing to interfere with our students’ end-of-year experience.”

Based on the statement some believe that in order to prepare test packets of matching test questions with answer sheets, verify each is correct, perform and complete testing by May 10 that all testing materials must be received by a district by April 27th (today).  Assuming that is the case, and it may well be the case for some districts, time may be running out.

Tick, tock!

My Letter to Commissioner of Education

To: Candice McQueen,
Commissioner,
Tennessee Department of Education
Candice.McQueen@tn.gov
Commissioner McQueen,

First I want to say I have heard many good things about you from our school leadership in Oak Ridge. Thank you for working to raise the bar in education in our state. Since the failure of the first part of TNReady in February I have been concerned about the testing my daughters and other Tennessee students are to take this school year. With the latest schedule slip, which will cause additional stress to both students and teachers, I respectfully ask you to cancel testing for this year, or as an alternative to not report or test scores outside your department.

Many parents have lost faith in testing and resulting scores that would come from the flawed implementation. While I do understand most of the issues are linked to the contractor, our students, teachers and even schools are the ones that will pay the price. Students and teachers across the state have already paid a price in loss of instruction time and with stresses caused by endless preparation for testing, only for it to be put off, again.

Please use this as an opportunity to reinstall trust with parents across the state in the educational direction of Tennessee. Consider canceling TNReady for this school year. While I cannot speak for anyone other than myself I am confident there are many like me across the state that want high-quality education with high standards. I know you share that. We have the opportunity to accomplish great things if we all work together.  

Thank you for what you do for our sons, daughters and neighbors.

Mike Mahathy
Oak Ridge

An Open Letter to Representatives Calfee and Ragan and Senators Yager and McNally

Honorable Rep. Kent Calfee, Honorable Rep. John D. Ragan, Honorable Sen. Ken Yager and Honoranle Sen. Randy McNally,

First I want to thank each of you for your service.  I also want to thank you for working to raise the bar in education in Tennessee.  Since the failure of the first part of TNReady in February I have been concerned about the state-mandated testing my daughters and other Tennessee students are to take this school year. With the latest schedule slip, which will cause additional stress to both students and teachers, I respectfully ask each of you to ask Governor Haslam and Comissioner Candice McQueen to cancel testing for this year.  

Many parents as well as teachers have lost faith in this year’s testing and resulting scores that would come from the highly flawed implementation. While I do understand most of the issues are linked to the contractor, our students, teachers and even our schools are the ones that would pay the price.  Students and teachers across the state have already paid a price in loss of instruction time and with stresses caused by endless preparation for testing, only for it to be put off, again and now again. 

Please use this as an opportunity to join Representative William Lamberth in asking for testing to be cancelled this year.  While I cannot speak for anyone other than myself I am confident there are many like me across Roane and Anderson counties and the state that want high-quality education with high standards. I know you share that. We have the opportunity to accomplish great things if we all work together. 

Please take a stand for the children in your districts and all across Tennesses. 

Thank you,

Mike Mahathy, Oak Ridge

A Request to Oak Ridge BOE

In light of Monday’s failure of the TNReady test platform I humbly request that our Oak Ridge Board of Education (Board) request at the very least a one year exemption of testing data being used in teacher evaluations. After investing millions of tax-payer dollars and many assurances the platform failed on day one!  I have no doubt our school system was and still is ready. The Board and school administration are commended and honestly this has to be disappointing as Oak Ridge is ready to lead by example.

According to news releases tests will now be administered on paper.  Yet, seriously, how much confidence should teachers, students, administrators, the Board and even the public have in test results this year.  Let’s not forget the issue with test scores reported for the most previous school year.

While I am writing this request I know I am not alone. Performance texting can be and will be useful when properly implemented, administered and managed.  Do any of you feel TNReady is ready, even with pencils and paper? Both teachers and students are under test-stress.  Will this help alleviate or add to it?

To the Board, do you have confidence in testing and the results to be obtained this year?  Why not go forward with testing in an evaluation mode only without scores being tied to teacher evaluations or system evaluations for that matter!  Knox County passed a resolution on December 2, 2015 asking for a state-wide one year extension on tying test scores to evaluations.  After Monday’s failure this writer believes the Oak Ridge School system should do the same. Please take a stand for our teachers and students.

Thank you!

ORPSEF Teacher Grants Program

I believe in strong public education for all students.  All of us have a valuable resource to help Oak Ridge Schools enrich student learning, encourage professional development, enhance innovative technological and instructional programs, and provide state of the art facilities to set the standard of excellence in public education.

Please consider donating to Teacher Grants Program of the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation (ORPSEF) with your year-end giving. It’s a great way to support students and teachers!  The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation was formed to enhance, promote, and support the public schools of Oak Ridge, their students, and their mission.  You can watch a short testimonial about ORPSEF.

Once a grant request is approved, funds go directly to the teacher’s school, designated for the specific purpose described in the request. Furthermore, every dollar donated goes directly to the classroom. All our operating expenses of ORPSEF are covered one hundred percent by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and with income from investments. Please note I am not affiliated with ORPSEF though I am a supporter because they support teachers and students of Oak Ridge Schools!

Would you consider a tax-deductible donation today?  You can donate at this page.

http://www.orpsef.org/giving.html

 

School Starts Soon

Just a reminder that school begins for all students attending Oak Ridge Schools on August 3rd.
  

Latest on the Heitman Tragedy: The Note

John Huotari published an encompassing article with the latest information on the death of Alex Heitman.  It is clear that Mr. Huotari did considerable research in writing the article.  The article is available here.

One of the points covered in that article and also one published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel discusses a forensic analysis of a Microsoft Word document that is stated to be a suicide note.  The gist of analysis is that the document had been modified four times.  Some have said that shows the note was altered; some have used the word “doctored” to imply text of the document was either added or changed after the document was created. One thing the analysis evidently did show was that the document was created the day before the untimely death of Mr. Heitman, which is the date Kristie Heitman said the document was created.  From John Huotari’s article, “Now we know from an expert that there’s no way to know who wrote it, and it’s been edited four times…”  Kristie Heitman said “Every time I opened it, I saved it,”  She said she does not want to lose the document. “When it is time, I intend to show this to my son, and I want it in its original form…”

Yet, what does it mean to say a Microsoft Word document was modified?  What can people be certain of?  Following is a demonstration of the how to determine if such a document has been modified, well actually if it has been saved.

The results given in the video are consistent with this paragraph from the Huotari article: The possibility that opening and closing a document by saving it could produce a revision, even if the text is not changed, was confirmed by a specialist that Oak Ridge Today talked to this month. The specialist wasn’t able to offer an opinion of Dean’s analysis for this story on the record, but the person did say on background that opening and then saving a document could show as a modification, depending upon the operating system and software.

As with the reported analysis [The analysis by Dean does not make any claims about whether any text has been altered] I too cannot say if text was changed or not changed. However, I believe Kristie Heitman’s statement: “What would I have to gain by altering it?” This author gives credit to the forensic investigator for his choice of wording, as reported by Mr. Huotari.

What the forensic analysis did substantiate was that the note was created the day before the tragic death of Mr. Heitman, as Kristie Heitman said.