Monday, December 3, 2012
Howard County Schools are no longer in the running for a $20 to $30 million federal grant.
Howard County Public Schools was not one of 61 school districts selected as finalists for a federal Race to the Top district grant that could have netted local schools up to $30 million in federal money. The nearby school districts of Baltimore County and Baltimore City were both selected among the finalists, which were announced last week. But Howard County wasn't able to obtain the approval of the teacher's union for the grant application, which was one of the requirements. "It is disappointing that we will not be able to accelerate our efforts to personalize learning for students in our highly impacted schools with the infusion of $30 million from the federal government," said Supt. Renee Foose. "I am delighted to hear that both …
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Teachers' group, PTA Council of Howard County asks board members to solve disagreements in a businesslike, respectful manner.
Howard Education Association President Paul Lemle's comments to the Board of Education Thursday night were short and to the point. In addressing a perceived lack of civility among board members, he encouraged them to seek help to fix their problems, and to consider resigning if they aren't willing to do so. Speaking on behalf of both the education association and the PTA Council of Howard County, Lemle told school board members he respects the role they play in the education of the county's children. "We cannot and will not accept a board whose interpersonal disputes substitute for the official business of the Howard County Public Schools," he said at Thursday's school board meeting. "You did not choose each other; you were chosen by the …
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Howard County Education President Paul Lemle to read into the meeting record a letter requesting the school board to seek external help to work out its problems.
At tonight's Board of Education meeting, Howard County Education Association President Paul Lemle plans to ask board members to seek external help to fix what he thinks are incapacitating personality conflicts. Last week, HCEA representatives passed a resolution directing Lemle to write a letter to the board, suggesting they solicit the services of either the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center at Howard County Community College or the Maryland Association of Boards of Education. Both organizations offer mediation services or professional training that would be available free of cost to the school board, Lemle said. Lemle has said he believes conflicts among school board members are getting in the way of governing. School board …
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The teachers association is opposed to the plan on many levels.
Board of Education members have heard the testimony from educators, parents and students. They've studied the recommendations made by administrators and they've asked questions—all in an effort to make a decision on whether to eliminate separate reading classes and make other changes in Howard County public middle schools. Tonight, board members will vote on the proposal. The proposal is a multifaceted plan that calls for changing the daily class schedule, eliminates separate reading classes in favor of folding that specialized instruction into core subject classes, increases physical education class time and adds world languages to the sixth-grade curriculum. Imminent changes in the way many school systems do business are paving the way …
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Howard County Public School System Superintendent Sydney Cousin restored service Tuesday morning after meeting with education association President Paul Lemle.
Howard County Education Association President Paul Lemle's access to his Howard County Public Schools System's electronic communications service has been restored. Superintendent Sydney Cousin ordered the account closed Thursday based upon a perceived violation of terms of use, according to school system emails obtained by Patch. The account provides a vehicle for email, emergency alerts and the ability to conference among small groups. The account was restored Tuesday morning after a meeting between Lemle and Cousin. Lemle, an outspoken critic of proposed changes to middle school reading instruction, originally said he thought the account was closed because of an email he sent to Board of Education members Jan. 12. He planned to testify …
Monday, November 14, 2011
The responsibility of teaching reading strategies would fall to teachers in other content areas.
Reading teachers in Howard County middle schools are being told they won't be teaching formal reading classes next year — a proposal that has sparked controversy among teacher advocates who are worried that basic education building blocks could be abandoned. The proposal, crafted by a county school system committee, recommends the elimination of reading classes. Reading teachers would then be reassigned in different capacities in other classes, which would absorb reading responsibilities, said Howard County school board member Brian Meshkin. The Howard County Education Association is among those concerned. On Nov. 8, the representative council — its policy-making body — unanimously passed a resolution stating its opposition to the proposal…
H.R. Pufnstuf
5:19 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Mark- Haha, very intelligent comment. Your teachers have clearly exceeded my expectations (at least in absolute value terms). more ›