New Haven Independent

Posted by: Ka Ching | October 21, 2009 1:33 PM

Just when the NHPS give you reason to believe that they've moved beyond the politics of personality and victimhood to really engaging substantive criticism and reform . . . this whole back and forth reeks of the pettiness that defined the Mayor's relationship with Achievement First until recently. So TOC plays to the media. Big friggin' deal -- they know that that gets them leverage. Be the bigger man and engage them on the substance anyway. You've already got translators and translated materials? Fantastic! Then let's hear about that and how parents who for whatever reason haven't had access to those translations can get them and not about your temper tantrums. Many of us in this city are optimistic that the ongoing reform effort signals an attitude change at the NHPS in how it deals with criticism and how it engages reform. This little incident isn't so encouraging. Just wish Reggie Mayo ... will stop having temper tantrums when he feels in any way challenged by reformers.

Posted by: angelo | October 21, 2009 2:55 PM

engage them how? what do they offer, other than their self-selected notion that they speak for parents. they speak for nobody but themselves, and are remarkably unproductive in the way they parade around. they wanted publicity and they got it. now what? every piece of paper I receive from the board of ed is in English and Spanish. let's concentrate on program, but let's not assume that TOC has anything to offer just because they say they do. so far, as a bystander to this fight, but one who cares about the schools, I see nothing useful from TOC

Posted by: Claudia | October 21, 2009 3:14 PM

When is the school district answering these questions?

1. Why did Dr. Mayo not deem it necessary to respond to any of the TOC letters sent to him in August?

2. Why did TOC need to wait when the school district didn’t react for nearly five weeks? Wait another five?

3. Why did the superintendent not proactively explain to TOC that the interpretations they were expecting could not be realized? In the business world if you get a debriefing letter you ought to respond if you do not like the content otherwise it is considered as agreed to.

4. Why does the school district need to be pushed by a parents’ group when it comes to improving parental involvement for the sake of closing the achievement gap?

What was this all about? Translation or traducción in Spanish. When on August 5th Mayo was asked by his own staff for clarification about translation in schools with heavy Hispanic populations Dr. Mayo said the following: “There will be small groups. There will be. That’s what I’m saying. There will be translation.”

Posted by: Finding it Funny | October 21, 2009 3:14 PM

I'm finding it funny that Reggie Mayo makes this quote

“I refuse to work with a group who is all about attention grabbing media stunts, finger pointing and callous misrepresentation about what was agreed to,”

Yet he has worked for the Destefano administarion for years.....but I guess for $224,000 a year you can deal with King John.

Posted by: William Kotzwinkle | October 21, 2009 3:34 PM

At my house there plays a broken record and it goes like this:

fire mayo

fire mayo

fire mayo

fire mayo

And we need TERM LIMITS for the mayor. This joke on us has gone on long enough!

Posted by: New Havener | October 21, 2009 3:37 PM

Mayo is the professional in this situation, he needs to grow up and act like one rather than throwing a tantrum because a group of parents hurt his feelings.

Posted by: streever | October 21, 2009 3:38 PM

Hmm,

I understand that Dr Mayo's feelings are hurt, and sympathize with him.

But--isn't it a reasonable request that parent orientation night, the first contact with parents/school, have translation? I'm sorry, but we have a significant number of parents who do not speak english well. If we as a city are serious about serving their needs, we need to be serious about bringing them into their children's education.

Look, I agree that TOC are a little too quick to point fingers, but I also think the schools have been a little too slow in their response. It wouldn't hurt us to provide translation at orientation & really bring parents in right off the bat--I think it's important that Dr Mayo & the school accept the difficult partners of TOC & that TOC try to work with them.

Posted by: The bottom line | October 21, 2009 5:44 PM

Asking the district to have translators at 50 schools is over the top!

Schools with significant populations of Latinos-- such as Hill Central, Clemente, Jepson, Fair Haven, Mauro Sheridan, likely have people who can translate for parents and others.

Of course the district could ask all parents at all schools if they need translation but in doing so the district better be ready to provide translators for several languages including Chinese, Arabic, Greek along with Spanish.

The bottom line is the request is unreasonable to begin with.

How about working with some community organizations to develop a corp of volunteers who can be available to do this in the schools where there are not large concentrations of families who speak English as a second language. like Lincoln Bassett, Wexler Grant, King Robinson and Edgewood.

What ideas do TOC have other than asking the district to provide translation in every school, everytime a parent walks in? Please post them.

Posted by: ctscoots | October 21, 2009 7:35 PM

I have a hard time sympathizing with TOC. They seem like a group in need of identity and direction. The parents are obviously engaged in their children's schooling, but they tend to be all over the board when it comes to the groups aspirations, and more worrisome about basic facts. For example, one volunteer tried to convince me that translation is a 'big deal' by pointing out that nearly 90% of Columbus School's parent population speak a language other than English. When I pointed out that Columbus' program is bilingual and EVERYTHING is done in English and Spanish they didn't have an answer. I've had similar problems with conversations on other topics as well. After nearly 2 years of hearing from this group they still don't seem to have their act together in anything other than organizing a photo op.

Posted by: DOUBLE TALK | October 21, 2009 7:42 PM

“I refuse to work with a group who is all about attention grabbing media stunts, finger pointing and callous misrepresentation about what was agreed to,” Mayo wrote.

-----------------------------------------------

Hmmm. That's hilarious coming from a guy who leads a school district that boasts on its website "NHPS in the news!" -- citing coverage by politico.com and the Wall Street Journal. Never mind he also works for John "We need to cut paraprofessionals from schools, but my staff gets a raise" DeStefano.

Posted by: Clairvoyant | October 21, 2009 8:31 PM

Looks like Mayo's been set up. Johnny Boy can then give Hairies his job. Hairies then earns what he did in NYC. Was this a done deal?

Posted by: DEZ | October 21, 2009 8:34 PM

Wait, wait, wait, wait, WAIT! Does he REALLY make 224K per year? And we're hiring in people to tell us what's wrong with New Haven's schools? If this is true, then we welcome tuition at Cold Spring! Juvenile antics do not fix our schools. For that sum of money, he should have arrived bearing gifts, and stayed for dessert, no matter how it was served. Bad form, and ill manners.

Posted by: SameOldStory | October 21, 2009 11:30 PM

While I don't necessarily condone Dr. Mayo's behavior at the meeting, I do have to agree with Bottom Line. Where does TOC expect the district to get the money to pay for all of the translators is is demanding? If it wants these translators badly enough, why doesn't this group organize a team of bilingual volunteers who would be willing to provide this service? These volunteers could then take it upon themselves to work with the schools to provide this service.

Do you all know the saying: "If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem"? I challenge this TOC group to come up with workable solutions, rather than continue to complain.

On another note, most countries require immigrants to take classes in the native language of that country, otherwise they are not allowed to *stay* in the country. Thus, there is no reason that schools and businesses in those countries should have to cater to the immigrants and translate everything into different languages. If we start translating everything into Spanish, what need will there be for immigrants here to learn English? I have also traveled overseas quite a bit and have never once expected the people I encountered to speak English. The responsibility lies on the person visiting or moving to a new country to learn the language of that country--not the other way around.

Posted by: NHI Negativity | October 22, 2009 7:46 AM

New Haven is being hailed in National News and in the highest offices in DC for its school reform framework.

This comes on the heels of National Ratings and awards for schools such as COOP and King Robinson.

The State has also praised New Haven for the foundation that it has laid out, pre-reform, through the independent Cambridge Report. This report, among other similar reports, cited to the attention to diversity of programming such as ELL, dual language schools and programs and other initiatives.

The School Constuction Program is another leader, not only in the State but the nation. New, energy conscious and effecient green buildiings, that are designed to be sustatinable for years to come, also getting awards and designations such as Barnard's LEED Gold standard which was a first for a K-8 building anywhere.

The Food Program is another National Model with BOE leaders being invited to DC next month to speak at a National Conference on the successes in New Haven which include eliminating fried and processed foods, using local products when possible, incorporating the harvest from the Sound School aquaponics and summer farm program into the menu, using all whole grain breads, chicken on the bone, fresh veggies fruits and sauce etc.

New Haven has the #1 Wellness Policy in the State which is hailed as another model for other districts to follow due to the wide ranging programming and active community partners.

Yet the negative rants continue. Generally by folks who fail to understand what is going on before they jump on the NHI negative express.

Step away from your keyboards folks and come into the sunshine. There are a lot of really cool things going on in New Haven and you just might be able to help move it along if you try.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | October 22, 2009 9:39 AM

NHI Negativity

Step away from your keyboards folks and come into the sunshine. There are a lot of really cool things going on in New Haven and you just might be able to help move it along if you try.

Come in to the sunshine alright.The only thing that will be moving along will be the people who will be moving out of this state when King John raise your taxes to pay for this.

Posted by: GET REAL | October 22, 2009 3:43 PM

Hey NHI, you can list all of NHPS' accolades from now to forever. Just never forget that those accolades are the product of the many NH teachers who work endless hours to compensate for short-staffed schools and spend tons of their own money on supplies the district fails to provide. Anybody can earn a doctorate and call shots from the outside.

Posted by: NHI Negativity | October 22, 2009 8:21 PM

Hey Get Real. I am with you. Kudos to you for doing your part. I was not singling out any one group. But I suggest that you too have fallen prey to the negativity. Funding is needed to allow you to do your job that is true. Funding is needed for computers, supplies, food, utilities, buses and yes salaries and benefits. Given the true socioeconomic issues at play and many other social stressers more staff and more funding are needed to push achievement up and make education the priority that it should be.

Fighting for credit is a losing game and do so ignores the purpose and mission that you have committed youself to. Let us join in a positive way to seek more funding, more resources and more support. We are all partners in this. To see the children succeed will be to see New Haven succeed.

Wallowing in negativity will not change anything. It will only sustain the status quo. Let us join hands and commit to being the generation of New Haveners who says no to the status quo and yes to the possibility of tomorrow. Let others claim the credit if the must you will know what you did. If we can all honestly say we did what we could do to move education up on the agenda and to raise student achivement then that will be enough.

Posted by: New and Inproved | October 22, 2009 8:40 PM

I don't know what Mayo is so concerned about. Anybody who's ever worked for Mayo knows he promises everything and delivers nothing.

Posted by: James Ohmer | October 23, 2009 12:36 AM

I'm not sure what bases Supt Mayo has for pointing his finger at OTC for their tactics. Media pandering is something he specializes in and it seems to be a rule for his administrators when they engage the press (His research director claims the last set of testing results is what all cities dream of? Hardly; that's an obvious overstatement.)

TOC is not an elected body? (Neither is the appointed BOE - all of them were appointed by a mayor at the head of a coersive, monied, vote pulling political machine.) This is nothing but Orwellian doublespeak.

One lasting question remains, however. "How did this superintendent who had such a close working relationship with the mayor become such a liablity."