Home Run with coaching hire

South Park hires parents' choice for baseball coach
Friday, November 12, 2010 By Sarah Steimer

The South Park school board voted Thursday evening to hire Steve Bucci as its high school baseball coach.

Last month the board had scheduled a motion to approve Rick Bubash as coach, but parents attending the meeting asked the board to reconsider Mr. Bucci's application.

Mr. Bucci's hiring is contingent upon his submission of a letter of resignation to Bethel Park School District, where he is currently the high school's baseball coach. The South Park school board will negate its offer if Mr. Bucci fails to resign.

Mr. Bucci's current position at Bethel Park came under debate when the district's teachers union filed a grievance over his hiring. Under the union's policy, a teacher in the district gets privilege for a coaching position. An arbitrator ruled in favor of the union; however, the school district is appealing the decision. South Park board members were concerned that if they hired Mr. Bucci, he would return to Bethel Park if the court ruled in his favor.

Sarah Steimer, freelance: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com Source: http://post-gazette.com/pg/10316/1102629-100.stm#ixzz155P6pSlW

Long wish list for Pittsburgh Public Schools chief made - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

My son and I went to the A+ Schools meeting last night in The Hill to talk about the next superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools. Let's look at the news that is out today about that meeting.

The Trib says that the community has a long list of qualifications and qualities -- but really -- I think that there was more of a large interest and not so much a long list. The list that got promoted on the screen was long and it was pre-made from A+ Schools. And, the one speaker had a theme that was about 'going deep' in a few areas and NOT trying to go to many points but in a more shallow way.

The little voting was hardly about building 'consensus.' It was a fun treat, but to really build a consensus, there would need to be much more voting and re-voting and re-asking of ballot questions. We don't get too far when the first questions are -- what is your skin color -- and there are less than 10 questions to vote upon throughout the entire night. People in the room could see who was in the room without the need of a clicker response on skin color.

It was an interesting night among community, no doubt. But it wasn't about consensus.

I did enjoy seeing many of my top replies get warm reactions among the others in the room. I want an "open source mentality" from the next superintendent. That means collaboration is important. I want an emphasis on sports reform to continue in planning and become a reality if the plans make sense. I want that because I feel that our schools are with lower spirit and missing out on valued community interactions. Bingo! Many people expressed a desire for the next superintendent to build student and neighborhood morale by bringing all sectors of the community -- like parents, colleges, businesses and service groups -- together for the benefit of students.

Long wish list for Pittsburgh Public Schools chief made - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Community leaders and parents have a long wish list when it comes to the qualifications and qualities of the next city schools superintendent.

They want someone with experience in the classroom and in an urban school district who is fiscally responsible and will listen to the community and reduce the racial academic achievement gap.

"We need someone who knows how to manage change," said James Stewart, who serves on an advisory board working to reduce the achievement gap in the district.

Stewart was among about 90 people who attended an A+ Schools meeting Thursday night at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Hill District to share their ideas about what qualifications and qualities are important in the next Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent and what the priorities should be. The information gathered will be shared with the school board members.

The Black Political Empowerment Project and the Urban League of Pittsburgh co-sponsored the meeting.

A+ Schools used an electronic polling system so everyone could see the consensus around the room after smaller group discussions. The options used were gathered from an online survey A+ Schools conducted about the superintendent search.

Superintendent Mark Roosevelt is leaving at the end of the year to become president of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Many people expressed a desire for the next superintendent to build student and neighborhood morale by bringing all sectors of the community -- like parents, colleges, businesses and service groups -- together for the benefit of students.

However, they believe the superintendent's top priorities should be continuing efforts to promote teacher excellence, reduce the racial achievement gap and provide support and instruction based on students' needs.

Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of Great City Schools, a Washington, D.C.-based advocate for urban school districts, spoke before the discussion. He said the meeting is a good start.

"The secret to (successful) searches is the community and the board to be clear about what they want, the direction they want to go in, the process they want to follow and then following that process and being transparent about it," Casserly said.

Frankly, I don't have much faith that Pittsburgh's school board and the diverse community will have great clarity in our wants. We all agree that we need a person to take the job and do well.

The P-G article also talked about "morale" -- more school spirit, IMHO. Trust and morals play into the quality as well.

Being able to listen is a HUGE character trait that comes with leadership.

City schools: Same or new direction?
Citizens tell 6 school board members they want good listener, morale builder as superintendent
Friday, November 12, 2010
By Eleanor Chute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What should the Pittsburgh Public Schools board consider when looking for a replacement for superintendent Mark Roosevelt?

About 85 community members gave their opinions at a community forum Thursday night.

The top vote-getter for the most important qualification -- 23 percent -- was experience in the classroom or administration. The second highest, 20 percent, was evidence of being able to reach consensus and work collectively.

For the top quality, two characteristics tied, with 58 percent of the vote combined: being willing to listen and having the ability to build morale and inspire confidence.

The group also picked a top priority, with 28 percent naming addressing racial disparities in access and outcome and 26 percent choosing ensuring that teachers are effective, supported and trained. Only 6 percent voted for continuing the work already begun as a priority.

The forum at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Hill District was organized by A+ Schools, a public education advocacy organization, and co-sponsored by the Black Political Empowerment Project and the Urban League of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Roosevelt announced that he was resigning at the end of December to become president of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The board has not yet named a temporary or permanent replacement.

Six of the city school board members attended the forum: Dara Ware Allen, Mark Brentley Sr., Bill Isler, Thomas Sumpter, Sherry Hazuda and Sharene Shealey.

At the forum, participants met in small groups and then recorded their answers on an electronic device.

An electronic tally divided participants into five regions, but the largest number -- 46 percent -- were from the East End. About 55 percent were black, and about 39 percent were white.

The largest groups were concerned citizens, 33 percent; educators, 30 percent; and parents, 24 percent.

The meeting included some expert advice from Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, and Thomas Payzant, former superintendent of Boston, San Diego and several other districts.

Dr. Casserly said some boards make the mistake of first thinking about whether they want someone with experience, certain degrees, an urban background or other traits.

But he said the first thing that must be considered is what kind of a school district the board envisions. He said board members must think about whether they want to continue in the same direction or make some changes.

He said it would take a different type of leader to build on what's existing than to start over.

Dr. Payzant said the board needs to reach an agreement on both how to sustain what's working and how to change. He recommended the board set three to five key goals.

Sports and the arts also got a mention in one of the long lists -- and got the top support of 23% of the voters. That's a nice win too.

What if the City League Sports Teams merged into the WPIAL?

The City of Pittsburgh school district has sports teams that form its own league, often called the City League, also known at PIAA District 8. In Roman Numerals, VIII. Isn't sports jargon something?

The City League plays various sports, but, all the teams from all the schools play in the same league but also play in the same "classification" for the regular season. The big schools are mixed in with the little schools. Every week there are games between the Davids and the Goliaths. When little Westinghouse plays Brashear or Allderdice, it is Westinghouse with the slingshot and the much larger student body on the other side of the pitch.

Meanwhile, in the WPIAL, the little schools play against the little schools. The middle sized schools play against the middle sized schools. And, guess what, the biggest schools play against the other big schools. This happens all the time, with the exception of a few exhibition games.

Competitive balance matters greatly in sports. In the city, there is none of that. In the rest of thw world, it is one of the most important features for competitions.

In some sports, such as soccer, there are three classifications. In other sports, such as basketball, there are presently four. The smallest schools are Single A. The largest are Quad A.

If the city sports teams merge into the WPIAL, a splendid benefit will be the on-going embrace of the classifications and an awareness of competitive balance. The soccer teams would play in one of three classifications based upon the student population of that school.

To be exact, the students of each gender in grades 9, 10 and 11 are counted, not grade 12. This counting happens every two years.

In the charts below various options are presented based upon the suggestion from some that the PPS schools should enter into "co-ops" as the teams migrate to the WPIAL. For example, with a co-op, the students of Pgh Sci-Tech might play on the same teams as the students of Pgh U-Prep. That's just one possible co-op example. With this example, every day after school the U-Prep students who wanted to play basketball would need to finish their school day at U-Prep and then get onto a bus and go to the gym at Pgh Sci-Tech, put on the Sci-Tech uniforms, and so on. Of course they'd need to try out and make the team first. Sci-Tech's team would have players from both Sci-Tech and U-Prep. Furthermore, the student population from both Sci-Tech and U-Prep would be counted as one unit so as to determine the team's classification.

The smallest schools are listed at the top of the list. The largest schools at the bottom. 

Pittsburgh Allderdice and Pittsburgh Brashear are big schools. No matter what, those teams from those schools would play in the 3A classification against the other giant schools in Western PA: Norwin, North Hills, Mt. Lebo.

But Pittsburgh has a number of smaller schools. Unlike the present city league, the teams at Langley, Oliver, Westinghouse would NOT need to play against the soccer powerhouse Allderdice and the over-reaching Schenley. Unless, of course, the ugly plan of coops is put into place. Then the kids at Langley would play with Brashear and face off with the big schools. And if Westinghouse joins with Allderdice, as one of the plans option reads, they would be playing against the bigger schools as well.

Kids from Pgh Westinghouse and Pgh Langley don't want to play all their soccer games against teams from Hempfield and Seneca Valley. Those kids play soccer year round. Those kids play with their soccer mates for years as they grow and develop in their respective soccer programs and reach varsity status in their high school teams.

For sure, the smaller schools have some talented players. But, the smaller schools don't have a full bench of year-round cup players. Often, varsity athletes at smaller schools get to play two or three sports per year where the players at the larger schools are often more devoted to a single sport and play year-round in that sport with camps, club programs and specific conditioning.

Pittsburgh Obama, in the chart below, given the assumptions of school enrollment, is posted as the second smallest school in the middle classification, Double A. But, if Pgh Obama should contract every so slightly, it would be one of the larger schools in Single A. That's a big difference. Playing Vincentian Academy, with 84 boys students, and playing against Hampton, West Mifflin and Montour means a great deal in terms of competitive balance.

What is worse is if Pgh Obama is forced to hook up in a boys coop with Pgh Sci-Tech and Pgh U-Prep. Then the side goes against Plum, Penn Hills and North Allegheny in every match. Getting a single win might be impossible.

This week those same kids, playing under the banner of Schenley, played against Norwin and Hampton and the combined scores for boys and girls games was 13 to 2.


Example 1: boys, soccer, 3 classifications in PIAA.

Boys Soccer Classifications:
Single A
Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh, 20
Beaver County Christian, 33
Trinity Christian School, 38
Eden Christian Academy, 49
Geibel Catholic, 67
Quigley Catholic, 68
Saint Joseph, 72
Vincentian Academy, 84
Elderton, 91
North Catholic, 98
Winchester Thurston, 102
Monessen, 106
Sewickley Academy, 108
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 115
Serra Catholic, 128
Pgh CAPA boys, 128
Bentworth, 136
Springdale, 141
Chartiers Houston, 148
Bethlehem Center, 149
Avonworth, 150
Neshannock, 150
Pgh Sci Tech, 150
Brentwood, 162
Riverview, 165
South Side, 171
Pgh Westinghouse, 171
Bishop Canevin, 175
Carlynton, 176
Pgh Oliver, 183
Pgh Langley, 188
Greensburg Central Catholic, 190
Pgh U-Prep, 190
Seton LaSalle, 199
Mohawk, 207
Shady Side Academy, 213
West Shamokin, 218
Riverside, 219
Freedom, 225

AA Classifications
Brownsville, 222
Pgh Obama, 225
South Allegheny, 230
Charleroi, 233
Steel Valley, 241
Ellwood City, 245
Quaker Valley, 246
Freeport, 250
New Brighton, 252
Burrell, 254
Southmoreland, 261
Washington, 263
South Fayette, 266
Deer Lakes, 267
Waynesburg Central, 267
Beaver, 279
East Allegheny, 282
Mount Pleasant, 285
Pgh CAPA girls, 285
Keystone Oaks, 296
Yough, 309
McGuffey, 317
Valley, 318
Blackhawk, 321
Derry, 321
South Park, 321
Highlands, 325
Kittanning, 325
Pgh Perry, 333
Indiana, 336
Belle Vernon, 346
Elizabeth Forward, 353
Pgh U-Prep + Pgh Sci-Tech, 340
Pgh CAPA (boys) + Pgh Obama, 353
Hopewell, 356
Thomas Jefferson, 358
Ambridge, 366
Uniontown, 375
Mars, 378
Knoch, 380
Greensburg Salem, 387
West Allegheny, 389
Pgh Carrick, 392
Pgh Obama + Pgh Westinghouse, 396
Hampton, 399
Montour, 403
West Mifflin, 406
Ringgold, 418

AAA Classification
Central Valley, 339
Trinity, 429
Chartiers Valley, 447
Moon, 465
Laurel Highlands, 481
Albert Gallatin, 482
Franklin Regional, 498
Pgh CAPA girls + Pgh Obama, 510
Pgh Perry + Pgh Oliver, 516
Peters Township, 541
Pgh Brashear, 558
Greater Latrobe, 560
Upper Saint Clair, 560
Kiski, 565
Woodland Hills, 565
Pgh Obama + Pgh Sci-Tech + U-Prep, 565
Plum, 568
Canon McMillan, 577
McKeesport, 578
Pine-Richland, 595
Gateway, 606
Fox Chapel, 610
Penn Trafford, 610
North Hills, 619
Pgh Allderdice, 625
Baldwin, 641
Connellsville, 643
Mount Lebanon, 658
Bethel Park, 665
Norwin, 666
Central Catholic, 670
Shaler, 677
Penn Hills, 686
Pgh Langley + Pgh Brashear, 746
Hempfield, 792
Pgh Allderdice + Pgh Westinghouse, 796
Seneca Valley, 899
North Allegheny, 984
Butler, 1107

Another look at the WPIAL merger with the city comes with a four classification sport. Soccer, as above, has three classifications. But boys basketball has four. Likewise, football has four classifications. But the PIAA wanted to make five for football a couple of years ago, and the WPIAL didn't want to do that as it would be impossible to have five games played at Heinz Field on one day.

Wilkinsburg does not filed a boys soccer team. But it does have a boys basektball team, in Double A.

Example 2: Boys Basketball Classifications (4 classes)
Single A
Trinity Christian, 38
Eden Christian, 49
Geibel Catholic, 67
Quigley Catholic, 68
Mapletown, 69
Saint Joseph, 72
Avella, 80
Vincentian, 84
Elderton, 91
North Catholic, 98
Western Beaver, 98
Cornell, 99
Winchester Thurston, 102
Jefferson Morgan, 104
Monessen, 106
Sewickley Academy, 108
Union, 112
West Greene, 112
Lincoln Park Charter, 113
OLSH, 115
Leechburg, 116
Clairton, 124
Carmichaels, 125
Rochester, 125
Serra Catholic, 128
Pgh CAPA boys, 128
Bentworth, 136

Double AA
California, 140
Springdale, 141
Aliquippa, 148
Chartiers Houston, 148
Bethlehem Center, 149
Avonworth, 150
Neshannock, 150
Pgh Sci Tech, 150
Wilkinsburg, 155
Frazier, 157
Jeannette, 158
Sto-Rox, 160
Brentwood, 162
Fort Cherry, 162
Riverview, 165
South Side, 171
Pgh Westinghouse, 171
Bishop Canevin, 175
Carlynton, 176
Northgate, 176
Shenango, 177
Pgh Oliver, 183
Burgettstown, 188
Pgh Langley, 188
Laurel, 189
Greensburg Central Catholic, 190
Pgh U-Prep, 190
Seton LaSalle, 199
Apollo Ridge, 202
Mohawk, 207
Shady Side Academy, 213
West Shamokin, 218
Riverside, 219
Brownsville, 222
Freedom, 225
Pgh Obama, 225
South Allegheny, 230
Charleroi, 233
Steel Valley, 241
Ellwood City, 245
Ford City, 245
Quaker Valley, 246
Beaver Falls, 247
Summit Academy, 248
Freeport, 250
New Brighton, 252

Triple A
Burrell, 254
Southmoreland, 261
Washington, 263
South Fayette, 266
Deer Lakes, 267
Waynesburg Central, 267
Beaver, 279
East Allegheny, 282
Mount Pleasant, 285
Pgh CAPA girls, 285
Keystone Oaks, 296
Yough, 309
McGuffey, 317
Valley, 318
Blackhawk, 321
Derry, 321
South Park, 321
Highlands, 325
Kittanning, 325
Pgh Perry, 333
Indiana, 336
Central Valley, 339
Pgh U-Prep + Pgh Sci-Tech, 340
Belle Vernon, 346
Elizabeth Forward, 353
Pgh CAPA boys + Pgh Obama, 353
Hopewell, 356
Thomas Jefferson, 358
New Castle, 360
Ambridge, 366
Uniontown, 375
Mars, 378
Knoch, 380
Greensburg Salem, 387
West Allegheny, 389
Pgh Carrick, 392
Pgh Obama + Pgh Westinghouse, 396
Hampton, 399
Montour, 403
West Mifflin, 406
Ringgold, 418
Trinity, 429

Quad A Classification
Chartiers Valley, 447
Moon, 465
Laurel Highlands, 481
Albert Gallatin, 482
Franklin Regional, 498
Pgh Perry + Pgh Oliver, 516
Peters Township, 541
Pgh Brashear, 558
Greater Latrobe Senior, 560
Upper Saint Clair, 560
Kiski, 565
Woodland Hills, 565
Pgh Obama + Pgh Sci-Tech + Pgh U-Prep, 565
Plum, 568
Canon McMillan, 577
McKeesport, 578
Pine-Richland, 595
Gateway, 606
Fox Chapel, 610
Penn Trafford, 610
North Hills, 619
Pgh Allderdice, 625
Baldwin, 641
Connellsville, 643
Mount Lebanon, 658
Bethel Park, 665
Norwin, 666
Central Catholic, 670
Shaler, 677
Penn Hills, 686
Pgh Langley + Pgh Brashear, 746
Hempfield, 792
Pgh Allderdice + Pgh Westinghouse, 796
Seneca Valley, 899
North Allegheny, 984
Butler, 1107

Coops stink for PPS.

NCAA Division Swimming Rankings

Division III
Men's Team Rankings

1 Kenyon 425, 2 Denison 399, 3 Emory 347, 4 Kalamazoo 292, 5 Johns Hopkins 290, 6 Washington (Missouri) 267, 7 Stevens Institute 233, 8 MIT 214, 9 Williams 196, 10 Amherst 194, 11 TCNJ 177, 12 DePauw 158, 13 Carnegie Mellon 154, 14 Washington and Lee 143, 15 Hope 140, 16 Middlebury 137, 17 UW-Stevens Point 127, 18 Grove City 124, 19 Chicago 123, 20 Carthage 93, 21 St. Olaf 91, 22 Tufts 88, 23 Case Western Reserve 85, 24 St. Thomas (Mn) 79, 25 Olivet 78

Women's Team Rankings

1 Emory University 375, 2 Denison University 351, 3 Kenyon College 342, 4 Williams College 270, 5 C-M-S 214, 6 Johns Hopkins 205, 7 Amherst College 199, 8 MIT 169, 9 UW-Stevens Point 162, 10 WashU 146, 11 Carthage College 144, 12 Stevens Institute 118, 13 UW-LaCrosse 117, 14 Grove City College 99, 15 Chicago 87, 16 Carnegie Mellon 85, 17 Hope College 85, 18 Calvin College 83, 19 Ithaca College 82, 20 Mary Washington 82, 21 Kalamazoo 65, 22 Middlebury 62, 23 Gustavus Adolphus 60, 24 Keene State 59, 25 Springfield 58,

Division II Dual Meet Poll - AP Format

Women's Team Rankings
1 Grand Valley State 421,  2 Ashland 341,  3 UC-San Diego 328,  4 Drury 298,  5 Incarnate Word 293,  6 Ouachita Baptist 292,  7 California-PA 254,  8 Truman State 234,  9 Indianapolis 229,  10 Tampa 229,  11 CW Post 222,  12 Indiana -Pennsylvania 206,  13 Wingate 204,  14 West Chester 190,  15 Bridgeport 150,  16 Grand Canyon 136,  17 Clarion 130,  18 Nova Southeastern 123,  19 Henderson State 118,  20 Southern Connecticut 106,  21 Wayne State 104,  22 Saint Cloud State 98,  23 Pace 84,  24 Findlay 79,  25 Hillsdale 67

Men's Team Rankings  

1 Ashland 439,  2 Missouri S&T 385,  3 Grand Valley State 372,  4 Drury 357,  5 Incarnate Word 341,  6 Wayne State 327,  7 UC-San Diego 282,  8 Nova Southeastern 281,  9 Ouachita Baptist 275,  10 Wingate 273,  11 Florida Southern 252,  12 Indianapolis 198,  13 Queens University 197,  14 Grand Canyon 178,  15 Bridgeport 161,  16 Southern Connecticut 148,  17 Tampa 124,  18 Lewis 116,  19 Texas at Permian Basin 111,  20 West Chester 109,  21 Henderson State 107,  22 Limestone 104,  23 Mesa State College 98,  24 Bloomsburg 85,  25 Clarion 79

At first, plans put green in place of Igloo

At first, plans put green in place of Igloo

GRASS. Great.

Councilman protests South Side patrol cancellation

Councilman protests South Side patrol cancellation

Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus today sent a letter to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl complaining about the abrupt cancellation of special police details last week in the South Side entertainment district.

The city had saturated the neighborhood with police on recent weekends amid complaints from Mr. Kraus and residents about illegal parking, public urination and other problems connected with weekend revelers.

Mr. Kraus said he was pleased with the progress being made and stunned when the city canceled the operation with little explanation last weekend. Even stranger, he said, the cancellation was announced just hours after the city said the special patrols would continue.


Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/10314/1102176-100.stm#ixzz14uH6jIrf

I think I did a post on this latest folly from Bruce. KDKA Radio was reporting that the sweeps were nixed after Bruce went to the mayor's office and had a melt down that began with some conversation about the loan that was promised but not delivered to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Last night the police were in the South Side, in force, giving out tickets to those who ran the red light at 10th Street and East Carson Street. There were nearly a dozen motorcycle police and when I walked past -- three were giving out tickets a couple blocks away and another batch were on their motorcycles ready to swoop as any driver pushed the yellow light into red and dared to pass through the intersection.

Freediver Carlos Coste sets new world record with 150m swim through cave | Mail Online

Freediver Carlos Coste sets new world record with 150m swim through cave | Mail Online

This is a worthy read. Hat tip to ASCA.

Pittsburgh Public Schools -- THIS SUCKS!

Pittsburgh Public Schools shuffles reconfiguration plan - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Public Schools is proposing two changes in its plans to reconfigure schools in the East End.

Administrators asked the school board Tuesday to make the single-gender academies at Westinghouse High School a magnet program open to all district students and move the Obama 6-12 International Baccalaureate program a year early to Peabody High School, which closes at the end of this school year. The program wasn't to move from Reizenstein until 2012-13.

The district could postpone an early college program at Oliver High School until 2012-13 because of ongoing community discussions about changes to North Side school configurations. The board is expected to vote on the plans later this month.

No way.

Pgh Obama is to stay at Reizenstein for the rest of this year (2010-2011) and for next year (2011-2012). Then the move to Peabody should occur for the start of the school year in September 2012.

Sports Reform aricle in the Trib

Future of City League uncertain - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "The public received its first look at the potential future of athletics within Pittsburgh Public Schools on Monday night -- a future that could see the end of the century-old City League."

Let's get into this article.

At a community meeting at Oliver High School, Jake House, the leader of the school district's athletics overhaul committee, presented comprehensive working recommendations for athletic reform in the district. The idea for reform was born in part from an internal Title IX audit the district performed last year, but it also came from the City League's dwindling participation numbers and lack of success at the state level.

Not really. The Title IX audit was unwelcomed by me. The Title IX audit told us what we already knew. The Title IX audit was a huge waste of time. It cost a little money, but it was a sink that delayed the reform efforts by more than two years.

The idea for reform of athletics has been put upon Mr. Roosevelt since he arrived in Pittsburgh -- by me and others. For years I told him that this needed to happen. Finally, in January 2010, I got an email from Mr. Roosevelt that he was going to take sports off the back burner.

Before Mark Roosevelt's arrival to Pittsburgh there was another effort at sports reform -- 2001 vintage. I was not on that exact committee but did attend four or five meetings at various locations (East Liberty Libary) to talk among other interested people about those efforts. Dr. John Thompson was in town then. Promises were made -- and then broken. Reminders were made -- and then those got broken too.

If there were 100 suggestions that were made back in 2001, less than five were done. One of the big victories -- middle school boys play fall baseball, not softball. That's nice. My son played baseball this year. Greenfield won the city middle school league. There were a few great teams and players. Allegheny, South Hills, Colfax and others were impressive. Pgh Obama had some good players and good innings too.

This is no "grassroots effort" to reform sports. This is a superintendent ordered effort with a newly hired, full-time employee.

In a grassroots effort to improve the school district's overall athletic program, the wide-ranging proposals have been spread across eight categories: coaching, wellness, connection to academics, sportsmanship, facilities and equipment, transportation and schedules, league structure and participation.
"I feel like we're moving in the right direction," said Derrick Lopez, the district's assistant superintendent for secondary schools. "It's not like we've gotten to these recommendations without a lot of conversation and disagreements. But I think we've gotten to the point right now where we want to make sure what's best for the kids participating in sports is what the recommendations will hold."

The aim is subject to personal opinion, but I'd say it isn't to improve the overall athletic program. Improvement and reform are close cousins. A booster group could make improvements. This is much more. This is more urgent.

Mr. Lopez feels that the moves are going in the right direction, but I don't. The talk might be buzzing around various directions -- some right and some wrong. But, the positive movement is yet to be seen by me. The low-hanging fruit for quick improvements has died on the vine this fall. Things are plugging along with each sport and each sport -- but -- the status quo is not the right direction. The system has been content to manage decline for years.

Good to see that there is mention of disagreements from Mr. Lopez. Those recomendations are not supported fully. Some are harmful in my not so humble opinion.

I've misplaced by decoder ring, so if anyone can filter the following quote, please do so in the comments: "But I think we've gotten to the point right now where we want to make sure what's best for the kids participating in sports is what the recommendations will hold."

But the recommendations regarding league structure would mark a drastic change to the look of high school sports in the area. Under the proposal, the City League -- also known as PIAA District 8 -- would join with the WPIAL, District 7 of the PIAA. Also, on a sport-to-sport basis, several former City League schools may co-op their athletic programs if participation numbers in a certain sport are too low.

"Right now, in looking at all of things we've gathered to this point, we are looking at what it would look like for the City League to dissolve and to merge with the WPIAL," assistant superintendent for secondary schools Derrick Lopez said.

When I first heard of the plan to consider joining the WPIAL, I was elated. Then my heart sank with the next suggestion of forming new coops, (or co-ops) among schools to form sports teams.

Coops are failing now in PPS in terms of sports participation. They stink. U-Prep is not getting its kids into sports teams as it should and could.

Citizen quote: It took the spirit away and killed it.

Well, to be sure, they (PPS) killed school spirit with a move of all the football games to Cupples Stadium on the South Side. They killed neighborhood spirit too. But, sports are still alive and not dead YET. PPS sports, on the whole, are sick, injured and in a deep slumber. The killing blow, however, could be sports coops.

It was 20 years ago today. Our 20th Anniversary

I like to say my dad taught me very well. He taught me how to "marry up."



This photo was taken on our deck at are home on the South Side in 2004. I think it was before a gala event hosted by the Depaul School. My wife is a board member there. We missed the event this year as we were in South Africa.

Water Polo Streaming annoucement

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: Dan Sharadin <commissioner@collegiatewaterpolo.org>

Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 20:25:11 -0500 (EST)

To: Mark@Rauterkus.com<Mark@Rauterkus.com>

Subject: Streaming annoucement

November 9, 2010 CWPA to Stream Championships Live Need to get your water polo fix??? Looking to see some great collegiate competition??? Last week the Division III Collegiate Club Championship was held at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. All games were streamed live and archived as well. You may still access the games to watch the action. This weekend all of the competition at the Collegiate Club National Championship will be streamed live from Cedar City, Utah and will also be available for viewing following the weekend. Games begin Friday morning at 9 AM and continue until 11 PM Eastern time on Friday and Saturday. The championship round begins Sunday at 9 and concludes in the afternoon. The following weekend of November 19-21 features the top eight men's varsity teams in the conference competing for a chance to go to the NCAA Final Four. Games will be streamed live beginning Friday and will also be recorded and available following the tournament. For more information, check out the website at www.collegiatewaterpolo.org.

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Fw: Faith in America Releases Ground-Breaking New Report

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

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From: "Steve Hildebrand" <steve@faithinamerica.org>

Date: Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:10:40 -0600

To: <mark@rauterkus.com>

ReplyTo: steve@faithinamerica.org

Subject: Faith in America Releases Ground-Breaking New Report

Friends,   Today, Faith in America released its ground breaking new report calling upon LGBT organizations and individuals to adopt powerful new messaging and strategies designed to attack religion-based bigotry as the biggest obstacle to achieving full equality.   Get the report here:   This report is not the final word on this important topic, but it provides powerful and effective messages that will elevate this discussion in a significant way. We hope LGBT leaders and activists will take time to read the report, absorb it and use the tools and arguments we are providing to improve the intersection between religion and homosexuality.   The following are core messages from Faith in America's report. We encourage people, especially LGBT organizations to adopt this language when addressing those who espouse religion-based bigotry.   1.      Religion-based bigotry causes enormous harm to LGBT people, especially young, vulnerable teens.   More than a million LGBT teens are suffering debilitating depression because their families and religious institutions see them as deviants. Suicide rates amongst LGBT youth are four times higher than those of heterosexual youth.   LGBT people are victims of discrimination and bigotry, which are often justified and promoted by religious teachings that say homosexuality is immoral, sinful or an abomination. If we don't talk about it, no one will know how much hurt and suffering it causes. It is particularly important for those in the religious movable middle to hear this, because no concept is more antithetical to the faith values of love and compassion than causing harm to others.   2.    Sexual orientation is a natural part of a human's being whether heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual. Studies have shown that if a person believes sexual orientation is a choice, they are 70% more likely to be against LGBT equal rights (2007 Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs Survey). Conversely, if a person believes sexual orientation is part of how you are created, they are 70% more likely to be in favor of LGBT equal rights. We've learned there is something much deeper here that we need to address. The religious teachings that many people of faith embrace play an important role in whether people see being gay as a choice. Many people of faith believe the heterosexuality is the normal and natural expression of sexuality, while homosexuality is a conscious choice to deviate from this norm. We must educate Americans on the scientific facts about sexual orientation. Homosexuality is not a deliberate choice. It is innate to most people. One's sexual orientation is not a deliberate decision to act against God's will.   3.    Religion-based bigotry against LGBT people is wrong…just as it was wrong to use religious teachings to justify discrimination against Native Americans, African Americans, minority religious groups, woman and interracial couples.   Demonstrating a parallel between historical bigotry against other groups and the attitudes of some people today toward homosexuality is one of the most effective ways to educate people about the denial of equal rights to the LGBT community. Getting people to recognize religion-based bigotry as a common denominator in prejudice and discrimination toward minorities is not a shortcut for changing attitudes but Faith in America has found it to be an effective educational tool for bringing awareness and understanding.   Please take the time to read the full report and then share it with your friends and family. Please also consider a donation to help us with this important work. We can't do it without your help.   Thank you,   Steve Hildebrand Follow FIA on Facebook and Twitter

Use this link to unsubscribe from this mailing list   Faith in America | P.O. Box 1176 | Hudson | NC | 27638

Roast Roosevelt in the $125 cheap seats, anyone?

You're Invited!

As Superintendent Mark Roosevelt and his family prepare to begin a new chapter, we as a community would like to celebrate Mark's remarkable accomplishments. In just five years time, Mark lead the Pittsburgh Public Schools on a journey that established The Pittsburgh Promise and instituted an agenda of school reform that attracted national attention, as well as almost $80 million in funding from outside the region. His leadership also inspired the confidence of Pittsburgh's foundation and corporate communities to again invest in our schools and students. Most importantly, Mark's work has equipped our students with the tools to achieve academic success and the reason to believe in a future full of promise.

Please join us on Wednesday, December 1st at Carnegie Museums' Music Hall to celebrate and honor Mark Roosevelt for all he has given to the students and families of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Food and drinks will be served in the music hall foyer from 5:30-6:45pm and the Roast and Sentiments of Gratitude will begin at 7pm in the auditorium. Tickets to the event are $250 each for reserved front of house seating and $125 each for regular seating. If you would like to purchase a ticket to this wonderful celebration or make a contribution to the Mark and Dorothy Roosevelt Excellence in Urban Education Fund, please contact Marsha Kolbe at marsha@pittsburghpromise.org.

Have a good time.

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PPS has been in a funk for decades that has been about the management of decline. That is what needs to break with the next superintendent. That character trait is what I think Pittsburgh needs in the search for a new superintendent. We need a person who is going to do much more than just manage decline.

The VERY BEST place for our rebirth in PPS is with sports, afterschool, play, community engagement, athletics and extra stuff. That's where we have fumbled most of all. It takes time and not much money to play with our kids. These activities are cheap. This is rewarding as well. That struggle and devotion is all about volunteers. Volunteers put on the Olympic Games. That's total engagement and where both cooperative and competitive spirit is kindled.

Mark Roosevelt made a semi-public apology to me and the others on the sports reform committee a month before he resigned. He said he had put sports on the back burner for the past five years. He was out to change that -- and then he quit.

Finally, we had a ray of hope.

Furthermore, and more presently, the suggestions from part of the athletic reform committee calls for widespread adoption of these sports' teams cooperatives where kids of different schools have to join another school's sport squad. That's more yanking of kids and families around town. That's more management of decline. Sports coops make a horrible solution for Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Fw: Pennsylvania voters support Libertarian Party candidates

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

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From: Media-Relations@lppa.org

Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 14:33:40 -0600

To: <mark@rauterkus.com>

Subject: Pennsylvania voters support Libertarian Party candidates

Election results for Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania candidates

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa)
3915 Union Deposit Road #223
Harrisburg, PA 17109
www.lppa.org

For Immediate Release: November 8, 2010

Contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) at Media-Relations@lppa.org or
Michael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org

Harrisburg -  The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that many of  our 2010 candidates received very strong voter support in the general elections despite our statewide candidates being challenged off the ballot this year.

- General Assembly 64th District Rep candidate Vance H. Mays (Venango County) received 15.8% of the votes in his district.
- General Assembly 28th District Senate candidate Ed Gately (York County) received 15.7% of the votes in his district.
- General Assembly 120th District Rep candidate Tim Mullen (Luzerne County) received 14.9% of the votes in his district.
- General Assembly 63rd District Rep candidate Michael J. Robertson (Clarion County) received 11.2% of the votes in his district.
- General Assembly 85th District Rep candidate Erik Viker (Snyder County) received 9.0% of the votes in his district.

Other Libertarian candidates throughout Pennsylvania generally received 5-6% of the votes in their districts.

Libertarian candidates did well despite being at a heavy disadvantage running against two old party machines that benefit from public funding and legal privileges. Despite this challenge, many voters recognized that these Libertarian candidates could improve the quality of government in Pennsylvania.

The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania is grateful to these candidates for the time and effort they committed to running for office. We hope that more voters in the future will see the need for limited government.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in Pennsylvania and the United States. More than 200,000 people across the country are registered Libertarians, and Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information.

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Summer Dreamers for 2011 is starting to fish for proposals

We are seeking activities providers than can provide students entering Grades 1-9 with unique summer activities in Summer 2011. I thought you might be able to help us spread the word to appropriate providers and/or organizations that may be interested in responding to this RFP by December 3, 2010.

Funded by stimulus monies, this unique summer program will offer each student a comprehensive approach to literacy, life skills, high school and college readiness, and summer fun. We are determined to give students the ability to enhance their literacy skills and develop new and unique passions through this innovative camp. We are looking for partners with that same determination.

More About the Activities Providers
* We plan to partner with multiple organizations of varying sizes and experience in providing quality and fun extracurricular activities.
* Activities Providers submitting a proposal must demonstrate an outstanding commitment to children and have the interest and capacity to provide students with unique summer activities such as kayaking, ceramics, drama, debate, urban gardening, and more.
* Providers will be expected to offer activities to students almost every day during this exciting 23 day program.

More About the RFP Process:
* Proposals will be accepted through December 3, 2010 at 5 p.m.
* A second Pre-Bid Conference is slated for 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Nov. 17th.
* Organizations will be selected based on their ability to meet the criteria outlined in the Request for Proposal and possibly interviews.

Please visit our website (www.pps.k12.pa.us/summercamp) for additional information.

Reject the Welfare/Warfare State

Reject the Welfare/Warfare State

Real reductions in federal spending can be achieved only by getting to the meat of the federal budget, meaning expenditures in all areas. The annual budget soon will be $5 trillion unless Congress takes serious steps to reduce spending for entitlements, military, and debt service. Yet how many Tea Party candidates who campaigned on a platform of spending cuts talked about Social Security, Medicare, foreign wars, or bond debt?

Latest results and fixtures: African Women Championship 2010

Latest results and fixtures: African Women Championship 2010

Influence Tracker of Congress Critters at Wired

Ron Paul got 79 percent of the vote in his congressional area in his re-election in 2010.

Chuck ponders the funeral in PA of a swimmer, F.C.

ASCAOnline - Your Coaching Resource

Following the burial, a reception was held at Germantown Academy. There, many of us lingered in the hallowed space that is the swimming pool at GA and the place where Dick Shoulberg has shaped both swimmers and souls for decades. When you step in, you don’t want to leave and you know you are in a cocoon of passion, of heart, of commitment, of success and accomplishment. It is a sanctuary where the greatest of teaching takes place, and where young men and young women grow and emerge and blossom into adults ready to make a difference in the world.

Thanks for the recap.

African Cam

Since our trip to Africa has ended, we've been hungry for more sounds, more sights, more stimulation. This URL goes to an internet camera set up at an African watering hole. It makes a great sound machine.

http://www.africam.com/wildlife/index.php

The audio experience in Africa, even outside our hotel room in Cape Town, was fantastic. The bird sounds are everywhere and quite different.