Education
Will Tomorrow Ever Come?
MSU Tomorrow Plan DelayedWe’ll all have to wait just a little bit longer for the unveiling of the MSU Tomorrow Plan. While the Plan, the guiding vision for the physical development of the campus for the next 25 to 75 years, was originally scheduled to be published by the end of this month, it’s running a bit behind schedule in the drafting process.
“Production is a little behind,” said Victoria Drummond, MSU Facilities Services-Planning Design and Construction associate planner. “It will most likely be closer to March.”
Sounds like most major projects, eh? Still, when considering this Plan was actually created upon the principle to avoid the rushed, short-term decisions that could potentially have detrimental long-term impacts on campus growth in the future, waiting a couple months to iron out the details and make certain it is both workable and viable is in line with one of the Plan’s main goals: slow down, think it out and make educated, well-planned decisions.
Drummond views the plan as the accumulation of a tremendous amount of campus and community collaboration to create what she views as one of the most unique, creative and inspiring campus master plans in the country.
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A Community Conversation
Montana Regents Tour State Seeking Input on GoalsThere is a rare opportunity to address concerns to the Montana University System as a series of Regent’s and public conversations commence in the Bozeman area.
Its goal: Open dialogue between representatives of the university system with communities about the future of the system fitting Montana’s needs.
Last year, associate commissioners traveled Montana discussing the state’s healthcare and the university system. This year, they are taking a broader approach. They are seeking input as they develop their strategic plan for what the University system focuses on as guiding goals and objectives.
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Education Reform
Teaching to the Test Ain’t WorkingAlmost exactly one year after Denver School Superintendent Michael Bennet announced his ambitious education reform plan for the district, scores on the latest Colorado Student Assessment Program were announced. "In the eight grades that took the CSAP in 2007," the Post reports, "scores were either flat or down over all grades in almost all subjects: math, reading, writing and science."
Now, Gov. Bill Ritter has formed yet another committee to come up with yet another education reform model -- the so-called P-20 Council convened this week, even as Bennet and Denver chief academic officer Jaime Aquino were exhorting educators at the Principal Institute at the Convention Center.
Am I the only one who thinks that these two goals – true education reform that benefits students and educators, and doing well on the CSAPs – are mutually exclusive?
The Churchill Fiasco
Note to CU: Settle With The Jerk
I read yesterday's accounts of the firing of Ward Churchill with a mounting mix of aggravation and indignation. Not at Churchill himself, who demonstrated himself to be a contemptible buffoon long ago, but at the CU Regents, who should have disposed of this matter at least a year ago.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have one word for you: settlement.
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Politics: Commentary
How Many Are You? The President Wants to KnowDon’t miss Sarrah Benoit’s funny story in this morning’s Idaho Statesman.
Nothing new under the sun here, but it's yet another tale indicating that education apparently doesn’t begin at home in the White House.
Benoit interviewed Rebecca Greenwell, an Eagle high school student, after a trip to Washington, D.C. . Greenwell had breakfast with President Bush, and one of the questions Benoit asked her was, “So, you talked to him?”
Greenwell said, “Ya. I said weird things. He was like, ‘What’s your name?’ I said, ‘Uh blara uh ecca.’ I don’t know why I said that. It was almost like a movie.
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Teachers Finally, almost get what they deserve
Utah Teachers Finally Catch a BreakUtah teachers are finally getting a decent raise this year, but is it really enough? With local papers like the Deseret Morning News sporting fancy headlines like “some teachers will be getting more than a 10% hike,” some Utahns might get the false impression that the job of paying Utah teachers what their worth is done.
After all a 10% hike sounds great, doesn’t it? But, that isn’t the real or whole story. Teachers in that lofty sounding category will be taking home no more than $2500 extra dollars next fiscal year. Now, remember what your teacher taught you about percentages – yep – that means these teachers are only making a whopping $25,000 per year in the first place. Now, of course $27,500 per year is better, but – it’s hardly a salary the state should be bragging about.
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Utah Blog Pick of the Week - Craig Johnson of the Utah Amicus
Court Upholds Voters’ Constitutional Right to an Authentic ReferendumDEMOCRACY was a winner today!
A few minutes ago, the Utah Supreme Court UNANIMOUSLY decided to uphold Utah voters' constitutional right to an authentic referendum process. In an unusually expedited verdict, the court upheld 4-0 that the VOTERS will have the final say on whether to enact a poorly regulated and controversial private school voucher program. The court stated in CRYSTAL CLEAR terms what the rest of us already knew - that HB174 is connected to HB148 and that it cannot stand alone. By voting 'NO' to HB148, citizens can be assured that their vote against private school entitlements will count!
Congratulations to the State Board of Education for showing wisdom and foresight and for standing up to powerful political interests, including an authoritarian Attorney General bent on imposing his will. Congratulations to Carol Lear and Jean Hill at the USOE for providing such excellent legal advice and for advising caution and restraint. You are both a class act and we're lucky to have you around fighting for Utah schoolchildren.
To read the rest of this blog, please follow the link to The Utah Amicus.
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Friday is the first of June - how did that happen?
Boise City Midweek News
Depot Will be Open to the Public on Sundays
The City of Boise is expanding the hours for the Boise Depot beginning this weekend. Starting June 3rd the Boise Depot, Great Hall and Bell Towers will be open Sundays from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. through September 30th. Admission is free.
Plenty of Summer Classes Are Still Open at BSU
Many summer session core classes and upper-division, graduate and doctoral classes are still available at Boise State University.
More about both these stories --->
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No Means No
Utah School Board Votes not to Implement VouchersIn a bold move, the Utah State School Board, in an emergency session voted not to implement the private school voucher law as it currently stands, going against the advice of the State Attorney General and official legal council for the board Mark Shurtleff.
Shurtleff made his opinion clear from the beginning, issuing a letter to the board weeks ago where he all but threatened them to go forward with a seminal version of the bill currently under referendum and awaiting a public vote. All leaning from the Attorney General aside, the board refused to apply the earlier and sketchier voucher bill in an effort to force the issue to the public table sooner rather than later.
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Site Aimed at Scholars Worldwide
New Web Community Created by BSU Student Debuts
A new Web-based community for scholars, Pronetos, has debuted this week.
Pronetos, or the "Professors' Network", is the brainchild of Chris Blanchard, a Boise State University graduate student in history. While working as an undergraduate student to publish a paper with social work professor Dan Huff in 2003, he became frustrated by the cumbersome process of peer review and publishing. As a certified Web developer, he knew the internet could solve a lot of his problems.
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