Today I will discuss the procedures used in determining whether to have school during poor weather conditions. The process starts at approximately 4:45AM when Dr. Harris talks to the Penn Township police officer on duty. The officer is out patrolling the roads and has detailed knowledge about the condition of the roads. The officer is also in contact with the Penn Township road crew who also has input into the decision since they know of any trouble spots and how long it will take to treat the roads. When poor weather is predicted, the police will monitor the roads between 3:00AM and 4:00AM and contact the road crew foreman before 4:15AM. This will give the road crew enough time to treat the roads before the buses start their runs. Dr. Harris then talks to the supervisor at First Student (the bus contractor) to gain his input into the situation.
After gathering the recommendations from the township employees and the bus contractor, Dr. Harris and I will discuss the situation. This all occurs before 5:00AM. Once I receive the information from Dr. Harris, I consult with the superintendents from the surrounding school districts to gain insight into their situations. I call the superintendents from Norwin, Franklin Regional, Jeanette, Greensburg-Salem, and Hempfield. We then decide on a course of action for the day. Hopefully, all of this occurs before 5:30AM. A new procedure for this year will be that I will send out a ConnectEd message to the parents and staff. In years past that message was sent by the building principals. The message will come earlier than in the past for some of you since I will send it out somewhere between 5:30 and 6:00AM. The decision to delay or cancel school is one that all of us in the decision making process take very seriously. Ultimately I make the final decision based on all available information and I alone am responsible for the decision. However, I would not be able to make that decision without the assistance and input of many concerned people. I hope this is a helpful post for you as we move through the winter season. Maybe we will be lucky and have very few weather events this winter!
I am well aware that I will not be receiving a response from Mr. Butler regarding any of my concerns, however, after the last individual posted that he/she was unaware of the concerns, I feel I owe it to those who are uninformed as to what the truth is behind Penn-Trafford. While many members of the township are already well aware, and disgusted by these circumstances, this post is for those who are not.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it seems as though this might be your first time at the blogs, or you haven't seen my past posts regarding the "issues" because Dr. Butler and his staff continually delete them, because they do not want to be condemned for the lack of integrity and morality they have exhibited. So thanks for the input, but until you know the entire story, or are informed enough to culminate an opinion with some prior knowledge, your comment is just as "erratic" as you so wrongfully accused mine of being.
I am more than happy to summarize my "issues", although I cannot ensure that they too will not be deleted. This way, you will be more than informed about what my concerns are.
1- I am curious as to why Mr. Inglese is still an acting principal after he was accused of allowing students to cheat.
2- I am concerned with whether or not Principal Inglese continues to force teachers to change grades. I think parents of the district, as well as the students have every right to know why and when this occurs.
3- I am concerned with the status of the lawsuit against PT regarding the Infringement on Academic Freedom, and the additional one pertaining to the math teachers who were wrongfully unemployed. (These issues both have very negative connotations for the district and something that I find embarrassing when I am questioned by people outside of the district.)
I believe these "issues" are more than fair for Mr. Butler to address.
Thanks.
Let me just outline these concerns are quite valid. The following are excerpts from the Pennsylvania Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators. You can see how compromising student records/grades are a serious violation of equal treatment of students, as well as the set of values, integrity, and reputation that the Penn Township community would unquestionably consider to be essential characteristics of the profession.
ReplyDelete§ 235.1. Mission.
The Professional Standards and Practices Commission is committed to providing leadership for improving the quality of education in this Commonwealth by establishing high standards for preparation, certification, practice and ethical conduct in the teaching profession.
§ 235.4. Practices.
(a) Professional practices are behaviors and attitudes that are based on a set of values that the professional education community believes and accepts. These values are evidenced by the professional educator’s conduct toward students and colleagues, and the educator’s employer and community. When teacher candidates become professional educators in this Commonwealth, they are expected to abide by this section.
(b) Professional educators are expected to abide by the following:
(4) Professional educators shall exhibit consistent and equitable treatment of students, fellow educators and parents. They shall respect the civil rights of all and not discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, culture, religion, sex or sexual orientation, marital status, age, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, disabling condition or vocational interest. This list of bases or discrimination is not all-inclusive.
(6) Professional educators shall impart to their students principles of good citizenship and societal responsibility.
§ 235.5. Conduct.
Individual professional conduct reflects upon the practices, values, integrity and reputation of the profession. Violation of § § 235.6—235.11 may constitute an independent basis for private or public reprimand, and may be used as supporting evidence in cases of certification suspension and revocation.
While it appears you have an issue which is either real or imagined, it has little to do with the positive intent of these blog postings. A suggestion would be to speak to Dr. Butler personally, and refrain from using this format to denigrate or otherwise vilify any individual. To continue in this manner is surely beneath the diginity of any sensible person.
ReplyDeleteTo Dr. Butler, thank you for the enlightening blogs. Keep up the great work.
It is unfortunate that you perceive these issues as vilifying. After reviewing the issues and posts, it appears as though the concerns are legitimate (there wouldn't be a lawsuit if they weren't - proof of the lawsuit was published in print and online by the Tribune Review and Pittsburgh Post Gazette.) I also have been following these blog postings, and it appears as though the "blogger" has made their concerns evident, and asked for public response - as this appears to be a matter of public concern, which I believe is within reason. While the posts may not be referring to the subject of the original posts, it would be my assumption that this blogger is disappointed in the lack of accountability and response that the district has taken in these matters. Perhaps if Mr. Butler would address them, this all would be put to an end. The fact that Penn Trafford is unwilling or unable to address the concerns certainly does support guilt?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteThank you for continuing to read my blog. Once again, I extend an invitation to sit down with you to discuss any of these issues that you have. However, keep in mind that I am bound by an ethical (and legal) obligation not to discuss any lawsuit that may or may not be occurring in the school district. I am also bound by law not to discuss any personnel matters (whether real or imagined on your part) within the school district. I appreciate your understanding in this matter. Again, I would love to sit down with you and discuss any issue with you that I can. Oftentimes, a good one-on-one conversation can help everyone understand each other better. I look forward to your phone call!
Dr. Butler
Dr. Butler,
DeleteYou should be commended for your willingness to discuss the Anonymous blogger's concerns in a face to face setting. The blogger must understand that you and the District would be subject to criminal and/or civil sanctions if you were to discuss publicly personnel or pending litigation. Of course the blogger has other potential recourse such as requesting documents under the Commonwealth's Right to Know Law or by attending a School Board meeting to address his or her concerns. Hopefully your blog will continue to be used to communicate the great things happening in the District under your watch and not a forum for calumny. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for a response (although albeit weeks later), I do appreciate it. Since I wouldn't want to put you or the district in any more "compromising legal predicaments", perhaps you can speak very GENERALLY about your stance on student cheating, and your view of Academic Freedom. You certainly do not have to mention any names or refer to personnel issues, but a general understanding of your stance I think is more than fair to present, as the newest (and possibly most influential) member of the district. As a taxpayer in the district, I would be very willing to know how ethics, integrity, and morals play into your position you hold, and the individuals you employ. I think this now makes addressing this publicly perfectly "legal" and very reasonable!
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
DeleteDr. Butler has let you know that you can discuss these issues with him one on one. Why not do that? Maybe because you don't want him to know who you are. How can he even prove that you are a district resident?
If you have issues to discuss, take Dr. Butler up on his offer to sit down with you. If you would rather not, stop clogging up the comments section of the board and move on.
I agree. Meet Dr. Butler personally and get answers to your questions. I wonder if you are not a party to the aforementioned lawsuit; therefore, you do no want to state your identity publicly. For whatever reason, this issue seems to affect you personally. You seem to only want a public response. You also state others outside the district are concerned. I travel to many areas outside the district, and I have never once heard anyone discuss this issue. Seems like you have a deeply personal stake in this; otherwise, you wouldn't keep posting on every post Dr. Butler makes.
ReplyDeleteI am not a legal expert, but I would imagine that much like Dr. Butler and the district, if I were a "party in the aforementioned lawsuit", that I too, would legally be unable to speak on the issue. As others have posted in support of my concerns/posts, there is a very valid purpose for anonymity. I have been more than willing to modify my concerns in order to make them about "issues" rather than personnel, and to make them general enough that a response can be given without any recourse. If there is nothing to "protect" or any "stakes to be lost", then I find absolutely no reason why Mr. Butler cannot address these issues, but rather is insisting on a one-on-one discussion. It seems rather absurd, that this all continues to go on, yet could easily be ended and resolved with a response.
ReplyDeleteTo address your "out of district" discussions, it is very fortunate that you have not encountered the same "gossip" that I have. Anytime a neighboring school district is sued publicly, it's going to get some people talking. Perhaps we just have children of different ages, or a different professional affiliation, but who is doing the talking is really rather irrelevant. As I have said countless times, as a taxpaying individual and someone who cares deeply about the future of their children and the reputation of their schools - I believe that my requests are more than fair.
I would just like to add, since I do visit this blog often in foolish hopes of a response, there was a reply to the earlier Feb 1st, 7:41 post. The post was in support of my issues with Mr. Butler. You will notice that it is no longer posted. This is the continuing tactic that Mr. Butler (or whoever runs the blog for him) uses. At first my own posts were deleted since they shined a negative light on the district. Once too many people started reading them and replying to them, Mr. Butler could not longer make them "vanish". Now the posts supporting me, and reinforcing why my concerns are valid are being deleted. This way it appears as though I am "the only" one who has this issue/concern/distain. It is truly astonishing that such things can go on, and that they are being done at such a high position in the district. Sometimes it's the lack of response, or reaction to a response that speak volumes about one's character, integrity, and values! .
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