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High Tide for Republicans in Pennsylvania?
Politically Uncorrected by G. Terry Madonna & Michael L.Young November 26, 2018
Have we seen high tide for Republicans in Pennsylvania?
From the Civil War until the mid-20th century Republicans dominated Pennsylvania politics, gradually giving way to a shared power two-party system by mid twentieth century. But by the early 21st century Republicans had reestablished control over state politics, coming to control the state legislature by overwhelming numbers as well as the state’s congressional delegation. As recently as four years ago, the GOP controlled the governor’s office, maintained unchallenged control of both houses of the state legislature, and dominated the state’s congressional delegation, holding three of every four seats. Few if any political parties outside the southern states have enjoyed such a hegemony lasting as long as Pennsylvania’s GOP. But now the party may be facing long-term decline after some 160 years of party ascendancy. Evidence for that conclusion is abundant:
https://www.fandm.edu/politics/politically-uncorrected-column/high-tide-for-republicans-in-pennsylvania
How’s Philly local control going? On a ‘historic’ day, mayor, school board weigh in
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Posted: 37 minutes ago
A year after he declared the city would take back control of its school system, Mayor Kenney said he was pleased with the early results. "The investments and personal commitments that we've made in the past year reflect the kind of future that we dare to dream for this city," Kenney said. Flanked by City Council President Darrell Clarke, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. and the full complement of his new school board, the mayor spoke in City Council chambers on what he said was a "historic" day. The city's charter now calls for at least two public hearings on the district's management per year, and Tuesday's was the first. The new board — President Joyce Wilkerson, Vice President Wayne Walker, and members Julia Danzy, Leticia Egea-Hinton, Mallory Fix Lopez, Lee Huang, Maria McColgan, Christopher McGinley, and Angela McIver — was chosen in the spring and took over governing the district July 1, after the formal dissolution of the School Reform Commission. (Students Julia Frank and Alfredo Praticò also sit on the board as non-voting members.)
http://www2.philly.com/philly/education/philadelphia-school-board-mayor-kenney-city-council-hearing-local-control-20181127.html
What happened when City Council and the new Philly school board met for first time
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent November 27, 2018
Philadelphia’s City Council held a first-of-its-kind hearing Tuesday with school district officials and members of the city’s new school board, the latest sign that city lawmakers will be keeping closer tabs on the schools. The content of the hearing — topics such as funding, staffing, and building conditions — won’t surprise close observers of Pennsylvania’s largest school district. But it was a milestone meeting nonetheless, simply because it took place. “This is to, a large degree, a momentous day,” said Council President Darrell Clarke. “I know a lot of people have been waiting for this day in a very public way.” After 17 years under the watch of a state-controlled board, Philadelphia’s public school district will now answer to a school board made up of mayoral appointees. City Council will also have say in those selections, likely ensuring a closer relationship between the district and Philadelphia legislators. That closer relationship will include at least two meetings a year where board members and district officials appear before City Council and the public.
https://whyy.org/articles/what-happened-when-city-council-and-the-new-philly-school-board-met-for-first-time/
“Serious followers of Christ need to recognize public school advocacy as a vital part of their public witness, he asserted. Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” Likewise, public schools invite all children to receive an education and attain their God-given potential, Johnson insisted, adding, “All means all.”
Public school advocacy vital to Christians’ public witness
Baptist Standard by Ken Camp / Managing Editor NOVEMBER 19, 2018
DALLAS—Progressive Christians should acknowledge every child’s right to quality education as a justice issue, and conservative Christians should recognize neighborhood public schools as the third pillar—alongside the church and the home—for building responsible citizens with moral vision, Charles Foster Johnson told a Dallas audience. “Public schools are the place where we create a public consciousness,” Johnson, founding executive director of Pastors for Texas Children, told workshop participants at the Red Letter Revival, a movement of Christians who say they want to apply the teachings of Jesus in society. “We need quality, fully funded public schools where every child is accepted.” Public education for all is a moral duty, and public schoolteachers work in a “holy sanctuary” of learning, said Johnson, former pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio and Second Baptist Church in Lubbock. “They work long hours at low pay, often serving the poorest children,” he said.
https://www.baptiststandard.com/news/texas/public-school-advocacy-vital-to-christians-public-witness/
With Susan Wild taking her oath, the Lehigh Valley once again has a lawmaker in the U.S. House
Morning Call by Laura Olson Contact Reporter Call Washington Bureau November 27, 2018
The Lehigh Valley’s new congresswoman, Susan Wild, took the oath of office Tuesday night, giving the region once again a voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. Wild’s special-election victory means she’ll be toggling between the duties of an official lawmaker and those of an incoming freshman. But on Wednesday, perhaps the toughest task falls to the staffer who will sift through all the voicemails waiting on her new office line. “As of the time I get sworn in, this office line gets turned on,” Wild said Tuesday afternoon during an interview in her new office. “It’s going to be a big job.” Wild, 61, a civil litigator and former Allentown solicitor, was tapped by voters for two jobs in her victories earlier this month. She narrowly won the special election to represent the 15th District, which includes Lehigh County and parts of Northampton, Berks, Lebanon and Dauphin. Wild will finish out the term of longtime U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, a Republican who retired in May. Her addition to the delegation will mark Pennsylvania once again having two women in Congress. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Delaware County also won a special election and began her official duties earlier this month.
https://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/capitol-ideas/mc-nws-susan-wild-swearing-in-congress-20181126-story.html
This is what the midterms told us about public support for gerrymandering reform | Opinion
Penn Live Guest Editorial oped@pennlive.com By Franklin L. Kury Posted Nov 27, 8:45 AM
Nationwide, the Nov. 6 midterm elections demonstrated a growing public desire to end gerrymandering of Congressional redistricting with independent redistricting commissions. Voters in Colorado, Michigan and Utah approved reforming their redistricting systems with independent commissions to draw Congressional maps. Colorado did it by a 71 to 29 per cent vote, Michigan by 61 to 39 percent and Utah 50.3 to 49.7 per cent. In its 2018 primary Ohio voters approved a similar proposal after the Ohio legislative leaders and state League of Women Voters worked out a compromise they both supported. When these four ballot box initiatives are implemented, ten states will have Congressional redistricting in the hands of an independent commission. The six currently with such commissions are Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, New Jersey and Washington. Pennsylvania’s congressional elections, using a new map drawn by the state Supreme Court, showed the difference fairly drawn maps can make in giving the voters competitive Congressional districts.
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/11/this-is-what-the-midterms-told-us-about-public-support-for-gerrymandering-reform-opinion.html#incart_river_index
El-Mekki: Just 2% of U.S. Teachers Are Black Males, but at National Convening We Come Together as a Powerful Force for Change
The74 by SHARIF EL-MEKKI November 26, 2018
Sharif El-Mekki is the principal of Mastery Charter School–Shoemaker Campus, a neighborhood public charter school in Philadelphia that serves 750 students in grades 7-12. From 2013-2015, he was one of three principal ambassador fellows working on issues of education policy and practice with the U.S. Department of Education under Secretary Arne Duncan.
In the 1860s, Black Codes, including vagrancy and loitering laws, were established to prevent black people, particularly black men, from coming together. These Black Codes were used to vilify and cement a distinct and racial wedge between black people and their supposed new freedoms. Fast-forward to the present and this blockade continues to exist—albeit in a different form. Currently, 2 percent of the nation’s teachers are black male educators. Just 2 percent. This means in most schools across America, black male educators rarely find themselves in shared spaces. This is what The Fellowship — Black Male Educators for Social Justice seeks to do: Despite the obstacles, convene black male educators from across the country for professional development and community building. We also advocate for the few black men who are leading classrooms and schools and work to address the “leaky pipeline.” The pathway to leading a classroom is fraught with obstacles and leaks: high concentrations of black males in poorly performing K-12 schools, low graduation rates, lack of college readiness by too many graduates, challenges to passing teacher certification exams, low retention rates, etc. Our organization was created to address these leaks, in a concerted effort to retain these critically important black male educators.
https://www.the74million.org/article/el-mekki-just-2-of-u-s-teachers-are-black-males-but-at-national-convening-we-come-together-as-a-powerful-force-for-change/
How Teachers Can Impact The Pathway to College for Young Black Students
Journal of Blacks in Higher Education Filed in Research & Studies on November 19, 2018
A new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, American University in Washington, D.C., the University of California, Davis, and the University of Connecticut has found that Black students who have at least one Black teacher in elementary school are much more likely to graduate high school and go on to college. The researchers found that Black students who had just one Black teacher by third grade were 13 percent more likely to enroll in college, and those who had two Black teachers were 32 percent more likely to go to college. Additionally, the research found that students who had at least one Black teacher during their K-3 years, were more likely to be described by their fourth grade teacher as “persistent” or that they “made an effort” and “tried to finish difficult work.” Previous studies from this research team had found that having at least one Black elementary school teacher reduced the probability of dropping out by 29 percent for low-income Black students and by 39 percent for very low-income Black male students.
https://www.jbhe.com/2018/11/how-teachers-can-impact-the-pathway-to-college-for-young-black-students/
Blogger note: The author of this letter to the editor, Dolores McCracken, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, passed away on Nov. 13, following a brief battle with cancer.
Public school educators critical to kids’ success | Letter
Express-Times Letters to the Editor by Dolores McCracken President, Pennsylvania State Education Association, lehighvalleylive@express-times.com Posted Nov 27, 12:00 PM
America’s public-school educators and school support professionals prepare our students to tackle the challenges of tomorrow and succeed.
They teach students to read great books and become math wizards.
They introduce children to the wonders of history and science.
They stay after school to help students get the extra help they need.
They challenge students to do things they never thought they could — write a poem, create an algorithm, play a Bach sonata.
The classroom is where students learn to think, solve problems, and cooperate with each other.
These skills are critical in shaping the future of America.
During the recent American Education Week in November, our public-school educators and support professionals were proud to invite parents and members of the community to see firsthand all the amazing things happening in our schools
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/2018/11/public-school-educators-critical-to-kids-success-letter.html#incart_river_index
Auditor general releases gun safety report, says it is time for ‘common-sense solutions’
Beaver County Times By J.D. Prose Updated Nov 27, 2018 at 5:35 PM
In a new gun safety report for Pennsylvania, the state’s auditor general makes a dozen recommendations, including ones concerning mental health care, concealed carry background checks by county sheriffs and an executive order from the governor requiring a monthly report on guns connected to crimes. “It is time for everyone to set aside the rhetoric and finger pointing and to work together for common-sense solutions,” said Auditor General Eugene DePasquale during a press conference in Harrisburg unveiling the 20-page report titled “A Safer Pennsylvania: A Community Approach to Firearm Safety” that he launched a year ago. DePasquale said that 63 percent of the 1,555 gun-related deaths in Pennsylvania in 2016 were from suicides. Shootings over the last decade, he said, have accounted for $1.5 billion in health-care costs because 76 percent of victims were uninsured or publicly insured.
http://www.timesonline.com/news/20181127/auditor-general-releases-gun-safety-report-says-it-is-time-for-common-sense-solutions
Seal of approval for CentreREADY
Initiative looks to train students to become qualified employees
The Sentinel by BUFFIE BOYER Sentinel reporter bboyer@lewistownsentinel.com November 28, 2018
STATE COLLEGE — In an effort to build a better local workforce, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County and the county’s public school districts and career/technical training institutions, have partnered together to create the CentreREADY program. CentreREADY is a workforce preparedness initiative where students can voluntarily participate in collaborative worker certification program designed to better match local employers with a quality workforce. While in the program, students will achieve desired levels of proficiency in the skills employers want and businesses need to be successful. Jennifer Myers, vice president of economic development for the CBICC, said one of the biggest challenges currently facing the employers in Centre County is finding employees with the appropriate skill set commonly known as “soft skills.” Two years ago, the CBICC’s business and industry partnership committee met with area companies to find out what challenges and issues each company faced. As the visits evolved, the issue that topped the lists consistently was the lack of soft skills like work ethic, manners, team work, communication, problem solving and understanding supervision.
http://www.lewistownsentinel.com/news/business/2018/10/seal-of-approval-for-centreready/
Bill White: It's time for PIAA to give private, charter schools their own tournaments
Bill White Contact Reporter Of The Morning Call November 27, 2018
It’s hard these days to find things almost everyone can agree on, but this should be one: It’s idiotic to make Pennsylvania public and private high schools compete in the same tournaments. That’s because private schools can recruit college prospects from all over and the public schools are stuck with students in their district boundaries. The disparity is particularly obvious in football and basketball. Year after year, it’s the same story for District 11’s best Class 6A football team. They look great until they have to play District 12 representative St. Joseph’s Prep, which looks like a Rose Bowl team. This year it was Bethlehem’s Freedom getting dismantled, 42-14. It’s happening all over the state, but the PIAA insists that it can’t conduct separate tournaments for private and public schools. That’s because of our wonderful state Legislature’s Act 219, amended in 1972 to include this deceptively short but incredibly momentous passage:
“Private schools shall be permitted if otherwise qualified to be members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.”
https://www.mcall.com/opinion/white/blog/mc-opi-piaa-football-white-20181126-story.html
PASBO is looking for leaders! The deadline for board seats is Dec 31st, 2018.
PASBO members who desire to seek election as Director or Vice President should send a letter of intent with a current resume and picture to the Immediate Past President Edward G. Poprik, PCSBO, who is chair of the PASBO Nominations and Elections Committee.
More info: https://www.pasbo.org/election
Build on finance, policy, board culture skills at PSBA’s Applied School Director Training
Four convenient locations in December and January
Take the next step in your professional development with Applied School Director Training. Building upon topics broadly covered in New School Director Training, this new, interactive evening event asks district leaders to dive deeper into three areas of school governance: school finance, board policy and working collaboratively as a governance team. Prepare for future leadership positions and committee work in this workshop-style training led by experts and practitioners. Learn how to:
·
Evaluate key
finance documents such as budget and audit materials
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Review and analyze board policies and administrative regulations
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Build positive board culture by developing strong collaboration skills
Locations and Dates:Dec.11, 2018 — Seneca Valley SD
Dec. 12, 2018 — Selinsgrove, Selinsgrove Area Middle School
Jan. 10, 2019 — Bethlehem, Nitschmann Middle School
Jan. 17, 2019 — State College
Cost: This event is complimentary for All-Access members or $75 per person with standard membership and $150 per person for nonmembers. Register online by logging in to myPSBA.
https://www.psba.org/2018/11/applied-school-director-training-state-college/
PSBA Board Presidents’ Panel
Nine locations around the state running Jan 29, 30 and 31st.
Share your leadership experience and learn from others in your area at this event designed for board presidents, superintendents and board members with interest in pursuing leadership roles. Workshop real solutions to the specific challenges you face with a PSBA-moderated panel of school leaders. Discussion will address the most pressing challenges facing PA public schools.
https://www.psba.org/2018/11/board-presidents-panel-2/
NSBA 2019 Advocacy Institute January 27-29 Washington Hilton, Washington D.C.
Register now
The upcoming midterm elections will usher in the 116th Congress at a critical time in public education. Join us at the 2019 NSBA Advocacy Institute for insight into what the new Congress will mean for your school district. And, of course, learn about techniques and tools to sharpen your advocacy skills, and prepare for effective meetings with your representatives. Save the date to join school board members from across the country on Capitol Hill to influence the new legislative agenda and shape the decisions made inside the Beltway that directly impact our students. For more information contact federaladvocacy@nsba.org.
2019 NSBA Annual Conference Philadelphia March 30 - April 1, 2019
Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Registration Questions or Assistance: 1-800-950-6722
The NSBA Annual Conference & Exposition is the one national event that brings together education leaders at a time when domestic policies and global trends are combining to shape the future of the students. Join us in Philadelphia for a robust offering of over 250 educational programs, including three inspirational general sessions that will give you new ideas and tools to help drive your district forward.
https://www.nsba.org/conference
Save the Date: PARSS Annual Conference May 1-3, 2019
Wyndham Garden Hotel, Mountainview Country Club
Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools
https://www.parss.org/Annual_Conference
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do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization
that I may be affiliated with.
