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From: The Deadliest Jobs in Rhode Island
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STEPHEN, of all the deaths how many were union workers? Be honest dont call the union guy for the answer.It looks a lot like Stephen is writing to promote unions rather than reporting facts.
From: Aaron Regunberg: Do Mayoral Academies Have Something to Hide?
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Tom, BVP does a great job fundraising, as a parent I know there are fundraising events every month, but even with that option we would not have been able to recover from the purposed cut outlined in SP 2709. Additionally, if the school wants to advertise in order to create a more diverse atmosphere… that is a positive thing. Not every parent is aware that they have the option of Charter schools or Mayoral academies.From: Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
in Politics
As an "old timer', Almonte is going to have to explain why he wasn't publicly waving the red flag before RI's cities started to descend to near-bankrupt level, while Raimondo will be able to talk about how she started to fix the problems caused by "old timers". Raimondo has run successfully statewide and has high positive name ID. I can't see Almonte beating Raimondo.You had to figure that things would eventually catch up with Bill Lynch. There has been way too much smoke around Lynch for years....something was bound to catch fire.
From: Unemployment Rises to 11 Percent
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I think its here to stay,all manufacturing jobs are gone.The cities and towns are broke . People are moving out of state.From: Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
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Dump Cicilline 2012From: Aaron Regunberg: Do Mayoral Academies Have Something to Hide?
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Hi Tracey. It's clear I have offended you, and I apologize for that--I think the reason that this piece came out offensive is that my main focus (and I believe the main focus of this bill) was on its importance re: the incoming Achievement First schools. You're right that I've never been in BVP and don't know enough about it. I have, however, been in Achievement First and know a lot about their schools. And they do have a consistent and disturbing pattern of serving lower numbers of free lunch, reduced lunch, special needs, and ELL students; they do have a consistent and disturbing pattern of high attrition; and they do seem to have issues keeping their teachers as long-term professionals in a sustainable way (the good thing about TFA teachers is they don't need retirement, which is maybe why AF tries to get so many of them). The focus of this bill, I believe, is on ensuring that AF won't wreck its already-underfunded sending districts, and if it is unfairly affecting BVP then that's something we should all put our heads together about.However, there's one other option for schools to take. I guess my big question is why can't schools like AF and BVP utilize normal charters (which have more accountability built into them) like every other charter school in the state? Why do you need the special mayoral academy exemptions?
Now, lastly, it's my turn to take offense. Rhode Island's urban school districts need to make some major changes to provide the education their students deserve, yes. But we're not going to do it by disinvesting form them. Your stock analogy is inaccurate and insulting to all of the students who are in this system. With 60% free and reduced lunch (and a larger percentage of that in the reduced than the free category), BVP's demographics are nowhere near the low-income districts that you want to disinvest from. To give up on public education like your analogy implies goes against the best parts of our democratic values and society.
From: Aaron Regunberg: Do Mayoral Academies Have Something to Hide?
in News
Wow Aaron & Tom RI's most famous "HACKS" The party is over men. Time to see what its like to have to work for a living. Oh, and be held accountable.From: The Deadliest Jobs in Rhode Island
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I would have to question the accuracy of the union versus non-union statements, especially since the source they're coming from is a union source. For example, what are non-union FedEx's numbers in comparison with union UPS? What are the non-union versus union numbers in construction based on? If you're including illegal aliens in that count, then those numbers are skewed because illegals aren't authorized to be working in the US in the first place, and they likely aren't properly licensed or trained either(and the companies that hire them should be heavily fined by the government for hiring illegals in the first place).It's a bogus claim that union workplaces are safer. Truck drivers have federal mandates dictating how long they can safely be on the road per day and the unions have nothing to do with that. Reckless driving on the part of other drivers who cause accidents won't more adversely impact a non-union versus a union truck driver. The only difference is you're paying 2-3x as much for the union truck driver to get the same service. Non-union service companies would have their licenses revoked if they were constantly violating safety regulations. In the end, paying triple the cost for union labor just isn't worth it.
From: Aaron Regunberg: Do Mayoral Academies Have Something to Hide?
in News
BVP and RIMA clearly have more money than they need since they're spending money underwriting NPR and advertising on the radio all day. This is, mind you, for a school that is already oversubscribed.From: Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
in Politics
Questioning the "HOT" status of Almonte. A name mention in the paper, followed by numerous mumblings about missing the International Institute for Sport problem, as well as a dozen years of failing to recognize the short fall in the pension and the remarkable problems with the pension actuarial process - all retirees are not white males (contrary the former actuarial assumptions that slid passed Almonte for 12 years).Spot on with Bill Lynch - there seems to be a grand jury subpoena floating around somewhere with his name emblazened on it... Now that he is free of the Institute, it will be interesting to see what does and what does not remain privileged.
Mr. Medina's testimony on the Racial Profiling Bill makes Medina look like a complete idiot now... Cops doing their legit jobs should never be confused with racial profiling.
From: The Deadliest Jobs in Rhode Island
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FYI: OSHA does identify the employer name where fatalities are involved including a description of the event and causal factors.http://www.osha.gov/dep/fatcat/dep_fatcat.html
From: Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
in Politics
Dan - can't argue that Woonsocket is not hot...but the City Council could not vote on the supplemental tax bill because the city charter calls for two weeks between introduction and passage of legislation.From: The Deadliest Jobs in Rhode Island
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As someone who has worked in the commercial fishing industry, I personally know fishermen that have lost their lives in the past ten years. To answer Charles Beckers' questions, our fishermen don't always beat the odds and it has happened in what would be considered Rhode Island waters.From: The Deadliest Jobs in Rhode Island
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Not recognizing hazards is a leading cause according to Mr. Celenza but since 5 deaths are attributed to truck drivers, it is more likely that bad luck or failure to follow safe rules apply there. For this story to provide more accurate information the author should have used or at least cited OSHAs Fatal Facts as a resourceFrom: Aaron Regunberg: Do Mayoral Academies Have Something to Hide?
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I am responding as a parent who vehemently opposes SB2907 because you deserve an answer to your questions. Here they are in no particular order.FUNDING:
You and I agree that as someone who has three scholars attending Blackstone Valley Prep, I ought to oppose a 25% cut in funding and the closing of our school that would follow. But I also oppose this restructuring as a tax payer. It is simple math. When you know a stock is failing, putting 25% more of your savings into that stock is never the right solution. A strong case could be made with our recent NECAP scores that this bill would effectively shut down the most effective use of our educational tax dollars in Rhode Island’s history. While you argue that the loss of student bodies does not have an effect on the need for teachers and for space – in Cumberland we are seeing something different. For the first time our public schools have the space and the manpower available to offer full day kindergarten to everyone in our town, not just those in BVP – and they are doing so without the extra 25% in funding.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
You have the expectation that BVP reports its numbers to the RI Department of Education annually. That expectation is fair. BVP reports attrition rates and disciplinary action in compliance with every other public school in the state. It is inappropriate for the Senate to create separate, more convoluded methods of reporting absenteeism and attrition for Rhode Island Mayoral Academies. However, it should be noted BVP has taken it upon themselves to create an even higher reporting standard. BVP reports attendance to the RI Department of Education DAILY. THey also post the attendance percentages outside each classroom door for every parent, teacher and child to see. If you accept our repeated invitations to visit the school you will also see next to each classroom door the percentage of homework completed that day. Is there another school in RI with such high expectations of accountability?
RETIREMENT SYSTEM:
BVP offers health care and a very competitive 401K plan to its teachers for one reason: The plans flexibility attracts REALLY GOOD TEACHERS. If it did not, we would choose to participate in the pension program provided within the traditional public school system. As a parent, I do not want to limit our schools ability to hire good teachers. As a voter, I cannot see the logic in a law demanding that Rhode Island Mayoral Academies participate in the same pension plan that is bankrupting towns like Central Falls and Woonsocket.
DEMOGRAPHICS:
We choose our students in accordance to a state mandated lottery. While it is pitiful to leave our children’s shot at a world class education to chance, I certainly prefer a lottery over any law that demands the racial profiling of an educational community.
Our school is designed to dispel one very specific misconception – or excuse – within the educational community; namely, the lie that low income children cannot learn as well as children from high income families. The lottery is a random sampling of our four communities – created a school that is 40% ESL families, 60% free or reduced lunch families, 10% IEP families, statistics that are extremely similar to those in the contributing towns. We do not take the “cream of the crop” we MAKE the cream of the crop. It is great teachers and smart scholars that made 100% of those scholars read at grade level or higher last year. We “hide” this fact by posting it on banners on every floor in our buildings – another indication to me that you have not ever visited our school.
I am proud to be part of a school where a Midwestern, white as a cracker, high income woman, like myself, is learning to speak and read Spanish from my friends in the Family Leadership Council. I am proud that my children, for whom the expectation of college comes naturally, rub shoulders every day with scholar’s whose families greatest hope is that their scholar be the first in their family to continue their education after high school.
The change that BVP brings to the education landscape in Rhode Island is tremendous. I understand that for a failing public school that change is terrifying. But the fact that you’ve covered your eyes does not mean that WE are hiding.
From: Lawmaker Calls on Colleagues to Pay for Health Insurance
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How about Michael Solomon getting a salary for $20,850 + health $15,668.25 + dental $1,380.12= a package of $37,898.37!! For a part-time City Councilman, are you kidding me? Doesn't he have a job? This is what a public SERVANT is paid??? Guess I will run in 2014 just for the benefits. The only councilman who has taken a cut in pay like the Mayor is Zurier but he is still taking the same health and dental packages as Solomon, so should we be grateful of the $1876.56 pay reduction??? In addition, Davian Sanchez is the only councilman who doesn't accept the health or dental!!From: The Deadliest Jobs in Rhode Island
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Jeffrey - no police or firefighter fatalities on the list. Thanks, StephenFrom: Unemployment Rises to 11 Percent
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The overhead costs of government in Rhode Island are suffocating businesses and citizens alike. Thirty-nine municipalities, 38 municipal police departments, 36 school districts, 90-plus fire departments, etc., etc. Add to that rich public employee contracts put in place by uncontrollable, unaccountable, out-of-state arbitrators; entitlements programs that are not policed, that morphed from a safety net to a hammock; Ponzi schemes masquerading as public employee pension systems; 1950's style government bureaucracy where hiring depends on who you know, not competence, and firings never happen. What we have here is a recipe for a Greece-type economic disaster.And where are the profiles in courage among politicians? Where are the bold proposals to deal with suffocating government overhead costs, like regionalization, the outlawing of public, not private, employee unions? No where to be found!
Who will save this state?!
From: Unemployment Rises to 11 Percent
in News
Probably come down as people just give up and move.From: Aaron Regunberg: Do Mayoral Academies Have Something to Hide?
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Hi Jason. I guess my question is, from your standpoint, what is not "common-sense" about the accountability measures in this bill? Is it punishing a school to say you have to serve a representative student body, you have to keep that student body representative, and we're going to hold you accountable to those goals? Folks at BVP and AF compare their test scores to those of their sending districts--they use that as a rationale for why they're helping--so I think it's "common-sense" that we should make sure they're actually serving the same population and not just taking those who have an easier time engaging out of the public school system. Is that off base?I'm really glad to hear your daughter is having a great experience at BVP. I don't know enough about whether BVP is a major financial drain on its sending districts. What I do know is that Achievement First will be--as I mentioned, PPSD's own report pointed to future school closings. You're wrong to accuse me of wanting to punish any schools (c'mon man). What I want is to keep the thousands of other Providence students from being punished with further cuts and closings. I don't think this is a case of one of us "refusing to look at what is best for the children," but rather of us having different perspectives. You (I believe) are thinking of the minority of students who will go to these schools, I am thinking of what's best for the entire district.
From: Aaron Regunberg: Do Mayoral Academies Have Something to Hide?
in News
Traditional public school in The State of Rhode Island are failing our children miserably. A teacher union contract is all about the teacher. Nothing is ever mentioned about the student.From: NEW: Saturday Is Deadline for Registering to Vote in Presidential Primary
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Check out the Secretary of State's website for more info aboutVoter ID and where you can register to vote this Saturday.From: Unemployment Rises to 11 Percent
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That's a good idea. I think Dr. Mazze's point about the threats on bankruptcy being a concern is interesting.From: Costantino Sues City, Councilman Over Missing $37,000
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Edward Smith (rizzo, et al) the phony spouting drivel again...yawn...From: Aaron Regunberg: Do Mayoral Academies Have Something to Hide?
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Mr. Regunberg continually mentions "common-sense" during the article. What about what is best for the children. Take the politics and finances out of the picture and look at it from the children's perspective. Is this legislation "best for the children"? How can you argue against a world-class education for the children of Rhode Island. It seems "common-sense" to me that you would want to grow these "high performing" charter schools so that the children of Rhode Island can get the best education possible. But what do I know. I just see my daughter thriving acedemically and socially at Blackstone Valley Prep which is exactly what you want to see as a parent. It seems like Mr. Regunberg wants to punish schools like Blackstone Valley Prep who help children grow and flourish. I don't understand why people continually refuse to look at what is best for the children and would rather put emphasis on their own political views???Page 720 of 1360 pages « First < 718 719 720 721 722 > Last »
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