[ProgressiveEd] Meeting with Joel Klein

Fri, 21 Mar 2003 11:51:24 -0500

Bruce--
Way to go.
This IS good news.
I agree with all that has been said, would add that you want to include in 
the information about our schools some evidence about the level of parental 
involvement that the small schools have (esp since parental involvement is 
one of the key elements of the stated goals of the DOE changes).  What 
would constitute good evidence and is there any way I can help you gather 
this?
Off the top of my head, I'd recommend having a parent in the meeting who 
has a child who has been at a small school for a number of years, who 
represents the demographics of the school, is active in the PA, and who 
knows some of the landscape.
About the demonstration -- how about tilting it a little bit to make it a 
celebration of our small schools, with less of a confrontational affect and 
more of a Hey, we're here/support us sensibility?
-Jane
--On Friday, March 21, 2003 10:03 AM -0500 Carol Barton 
<[email protected]> wrote:
> You need to keep it small-- have at least one small school administrator,
> teacher and parent, from different schools.  Guarantee racial/ethnic
> diversity among the group.  Be sure to have a list of all the PENNY
> schools, and offer to hand-deliver any of our materials.  Give them
> something in writing.  Be clear that we want waivers (but if pushed, want
> the freedom to adapt core curriculum to our own style, cultures and
> current curriculum). Focus primarily on our need for networks of PENNY
> schools within new districts, under like-minded administrators.  Be sure
> to let him know the precarious situation many superb schools are in, as
> districts are dismantled and we undergo all these changes.  Small schools
> within schools, run by directors, do not fit in to the standard
> bureaucratic structures, and may get lost in the shuffle.  We need
> contacts within the system now, urgently, to work with to help these
> great schools survive.  Let him know we are ready to serve as models for
> his goals, and encourage him to visit more of our schools.
>
> What does this mean for our rally on Wednesday?  How do we work an inside
> track of dialogue, and an outside track of pressure at the same time?
> It's possible, as it's important for Klein to see a lot of parents from
> our school, but it needs to be finessed.  What did you discuss in this
> regard at the meeting last week?
>
> Carol Barton
> parent,  Muscota N. School
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of [email protected]
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 8:22 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [ProgressiveEd] Meeting with Joel Klein
>
>
> Dear folks,
>
> Below is a copy of an email I received yesterday.
>
> Dear Mr. Kanze,
>
> Chancellor Joel Klein would like to set up a meeting with you and
> Michele Cahill.  Please call me to schedule this appointment.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Louise Billington
>
> Assistant to Joel Klein
>
> This invitation comes as a result of PENNY's steady work and, in
> particular, as a result of Mr. Klein's visit to the Children's Workshop
> School and East Village Community School.  It's an opportunity for us to
> spell out who our schools are and what we want in this new
> reorganization.  I need your input about that and your advice as to how
> to respond.  I especially want your ideas about who should be at this
> meeting.  Thank you.  Bruce Kanze
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