Fwd: Education Notebook - #12-24 - 12.20.12

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Date: Dec 20, 2012 5:06 PM
Subject: Education Notebook - #12-24 - 12.20.12
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EPLC Education Notebook Thursday, December 20, 2012 In this issue PENNSYLVANIA POLICYMAKERS GOVERNOR CORBETT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OFFICE OF THE BUDGET PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TASK FORCE ON CHILD PROTECTION PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN REPORTS DATEBOOK The EPLC Education Notebook (current and past editions) also is available by visiting the EPLC web site at http://www.eplc.org/publications-reports/weekly-policy-notebook/      PENNSYLVANIA POLICYMAKERS The 2013 Session of the General Assembly begins when Pennsylvania legislators take the oath of office the first Tuesday in January (January 1), as required by the state's constitution.   GOVERNOR CORBETT     On November 1, Governor Corbett signed into law  Senate Bill 1225 (Act 210 of 2012). SB 1225 codifies the Library Code in consolidated statute form to improve the readability and reconcile conflicts between the Library Code and regulations that have been issued under it. It also sets forth the manner in which State-aid for libraries will be allocated for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. Funding for State-aid to libraries in Fiscal Year 2013-2014 will be dependent upon appropriations made by the General Assembly in the General Appropriations Act and approved by the Governor. Click here to read the fiscal analysis prepared by the House Committee on Appropriations.   HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES    On November 30, the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform, pursuant to House Resolution 774 (2011-2012), unanimously adopted its final report with recommendations. The special legislative panel was tasked with studying the interrelationship between all taxes affecting municipalities and school districts, with an emphasis on property taxes. According to the Chairman's final remarks, the Committee, through its work and subsequent recommendations, attempted to find common ground on initiatives or actual legislation that can be acted upon when the legislature convenes in 2013.  Here are just a few of the recommendations approved by the Committee:     At the start of the 2013-2014 Legislative Session, introduce a resolution to re-establish the select committee created under House Resolution 774 of 2011-2012; Amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to provide for a homestead and farmstead exemption of up to 100 percent of the property value. Review all state-imposed public education requirements that are not mandated by Federal statute or regulation for cost-effectiveness, fairness, and/or educational value. Develop recommendations for achieving efficiencies and increasing cost effectiveness in the construction, maintenance, renovation, and disposition of public buildings and school facilities, helping to ensure that students have access to adequate facilities. Develop a new funding formula for special education based on the actual costs of providing special education instruction and services. Direct an independent entity or entities to determine the actual costs of educating a student at a charter school and at a cyber-charter school and the effects on local school budgets and property taxes. Click here to read the full report and recommendations.      OFFICE OF THE BUDGET On November 26, the Governor's Budget Office released "The Keystone Pension Report: A Discussion of Structural Reform and Relief to Pennsylvania's Retirement System for Long Term Sustainability." The pension report, according to the Office of the Budget, "is intended to provide financial facts, highlight key issues, and advance the dialogue on meaningful pension reform and relief, with the goal of creating a common framework around which solutions can be structured." The report examines the following questions: What are the state's pension systems? What created the pension problem? What is the pension challenge? What happens if we do nothing? How can we create a framework for solutions? In setting the stage for what appears to be a top budget priority, the Governor has described     Pennsylvania's two public pension systems (PSERS, SERS) combined unfunded liability of over $41 billion as a "tapeworm" or "Pac-Man" devouring the state's budget and severely undercutting the Commonwealth's ability to fund essential programs and services such as education, public safety and human services.   But not all agree with how the administration's pension report frames the policy dilemma and  solutions. Mike Crossey, President of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA)  believes the Corbett Administration's pension report sets up false choices between fixing the pension dilemma and funding crucial state programs. He faults policy decisions that provide more than $800 million in corporate tax breaks - more than the projected pension debt owed in Fiscal Year 2013-2014 -- for adding to the pension crisis. Click here to read the full statement by Mike Crossey.   The Keystone Pension Report is available at www.budget.state.pa.us.     On December 5, Secretary of the Budget Charles Zogby gave a mid-year budget briefing which provided a glimpse of what to expect in February when Governor Corbett unveils his 2013-2014 state budget proposal. Secretary Zogby's presentation reiterated the Governor's earlier budgetary directives to state agencies to maintain level funding and to expect that no general fund dollars will be used to backfill reduced federal funds. He also restated the Governor's commitment that no new taxes will be part of the proposed Corbett budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014.    The Secretary's mid-year budget report identifies the following challenges in crafting the upcoming state budget:   Pension cost growth of $511 million (PSERS, SERS); Managing growth in welfare spending in light of continued health care cost inflation; Controlling the growth of Corrections costs; and Pending litigation against the Commonwealth.  Click here to learn more about the budget process in Pennsylvania. PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION On November 20, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced that it received an award of $6.5 million from a federal grant to provide professional development opportunities for educators who provide special education services to students with disabilities. With funds from the federal grant program, Pennsylvania teachers and school leaders will receive intensive and on-going training to establish goals, provide effective instruction, and ensure that all Pennsylvania students graduate from high school with the skills to be successful. Specifically, the professional development provided will ensure that: Educators know and can effectively teach to the Pennsylvania Common Core academic standards; Educators plan and deliver effective instruction that meet the needs of Pennsylvania students; School leaders have the ability to implement policies, practices and procedures that support the learning of all students; Students demonstrate growth and achievement in English, language arts and math; Students can effectively participate and engage in learning, using communication supports and technology; Parents have high expectations for achievement for students; and Institutions of higher education prepare future educators and leaders with the necessary training. On November 29, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced that Shaler North Hills Library in Glenshaw (Allegheny County) was one of ten recipients nationally to receive the 2012 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The award is the nation's highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for their service to the community. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (located in Washington, D.C.) annually recognizes institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Click here to learn about the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.    On December 4, Secretary of Education Ronald Tomalis recognized two outstanding Pennsylvania educators at the Keystone Awards of Excellence banquet in Hershey.   Ryan Devlin, a teacher in the Brockway Area School District, was named Pennsylvania's 2013 Teacher of the Year. Devlin teaches eleventh grade British literature, eighth grade computer science, and two senior high electives on creative writing and digital media. He also is Chairman of the high school's English department. Devlin is a graduate of Waynesburg University where he received his bachelor's degree in secondary English education. He earned his master's degree in educational leadership from California University of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania's Teacher of the Year program is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National State Teacher of the Year, which was founded in 1995.   Jennifer Hoffner-Turkowski, a first grade teacher at University Park Elementary School in the Gateway School District, was awarded the 2012 Milken Educator Award. Hoffner-Turkowski has taught for eight years and holds bachelor's degrees in both elementary education and health policy and administration. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in education, including principal certification. The Milken Educator Award, sponsored by the Milken Family Foundation, is one of the nation's top teacher recognition programs that honor K-12 teachers, principals, and specialists with a $25,000 individual, unrestricted award. The first award was granted in 1987 and since that time the foundation has awarded more than $63 million to over 2,500 educators across the nation.   PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE On December 3, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reported that the Commonwealth collected $1.7 billion in General Fund revenue for November, which was $23.1 million, or 1.4 percent, less than anticipated. However, fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $9.8 billion, which is $59.1 million, or 0.6 percent, above estimate. To review November collections for sales tax receipts, personal income tax, corporation tax, inheritance tax, realty transfer and others, visit www.revenue.state.pa.us.   TASK FORCE ON CHILD PROTECTION On November 27, the Task Force on Child Protection established by the General Assembly in December 2011 released its final report with numerous policy and statutory recommendations to improve state laws and procedures governing child protection and the reporting of child abuse. Among the key findings and recommendations included in the report:     The Task Force recognizes the importance of children's advocacy centers (CACs) and multidisciplinary investigative teams (MDITs). The Task Force supports a dedicated funding source to establish and sustain CACs. The Task Force recommends that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency conduct a thorough study of the existing CACs and MDITs. The Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police departments should train troopers and officers regarding the efficacy of forensic interviewing within the CAC setting in the investigation of child abuse and child sexual abuse. The Task Force recommends an analysis of state statutes and regulations that require, or fail to require, the disclosure of a licensed professional's sexual misconduct, arrests, and convictions to the relevant licensing or certifying board. The Task Force supports the enactment of legislation to expand reporting requirements where allegations of sexual misconduct have been made. Such legislation should include barring school entities from entering into confidentiality agreements with educators accused of misconduct.  For more information on the Task Force on Child Protection, visit www.childprotection.state.pa.us  PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN Notice was published in the November 24 Pennsylvania Bulletin (Vol. 42, No. 47) announcing future meetings of the State Charter School Appeal Board. The board will meet on the following Tuesdays in 2013: February 19; March 26; April 30; and June 11. These meetings will be held in the Honors Suite on the First Floor or Heritage Room A, Lobby Level of the Education Building, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg beginning at 1:00 PM. Click here for additional details. REPORTS Recently, the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) released a new series of policy guides entitled "Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn" that address safety and violence prevention in and around schools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assisted in the development of the guides which are designed to provide vital tools for state and local education policymakers and administrators, as well as school health professionals, youth-serving organizations, and health and safety advocates. The guides contain recent scientific data, analysis, examples of state and local best practices, and evidence-based model policies that can be adapted by schools, districts, and states. For more information about the guides and how to order visit www.nasbe.org/fhrtl.  DATEBOOK    The Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators will hold an Education and Workforce Development Symposium on "Preparing Students for the Workforce of Tomorrow" in Hershey February 26-27. Click here for additional information and registration details. The Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) will hold their 58th Annual Conference and Exhibits in Pittsburgh March 19-22. Click here for more details and registration.  The Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) will hold its 2013 Annual Conference in Harrisburg April 22-23. Click here for more information. For information on upcoming events, please visit www.eplc.org and click on "Events Calendar". EPLC Education Notebook is published by The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC).  Permission to reprint or electronically redistribute the Notebook in whole or in part is granted provided attribution to EPLC is provided.  The Education Policy and Leadership Center is an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit organization.  The Mission of the Education Policy and Leadership Center is to encourage and support the development and implementation of effective state-level education policies to improve student learning in grades P-12, increase the effective operation of schools, and enhance educational opportunities for citizens of all ages.

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Fwd: [DW] CFP - International Conference for E-Democracy and Open Government 2013 - Proposals Due Jan 15, Conf May 22-23

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From: Steven Clift
Date: Thursday, December 20, 2012
Subject: [DW] CFP - International Conference for E-Democracy and Open Government 2013 - Proposals Due Jan 15, Conf May 22-23
To: newswire@groups.dowire.org


A premier e-democracy research event!


From:
http://bit.ly/CeDEM13CFP

PDF version:
http://bit.ly/SZY7Tr


CeDEM13
International Conference for E-Democracy and Open Government 2013
Venue: nCampus Krems
Date: 22.05.2013 - 25.05.2013

The international Conference for e-Democracy and Open Government
brings together e-democracy, e-participation and open government
specialists working in academia, politics, government and business to
critically analyse the innovations, issues, ideas and challenges in
the networked societies of the digital age.

Or: networking, great keynotes, good food.

CALL FOR PAPERS: CeDEM13


The CeDEM represents a continuation and development of the E-democracy
conference initiated in 2007. The Centre for E-Governance at the
Danube University Krems has been organising conferences on e-democracy
and public administration since 2007. The CeDEM was first presented in
2011, and in the meantime also boasts a spin-off in Asia, held for the
first time in November 2012.

Papers submitted are peer-reviewed in a double-blind process (with a
50% rejection rate) and if accepted, are published in the proceedings
(Edition Donau-Universität Krems) in paper format and online according
to open access principles. Workshops proposals, PhD colloquium papers
and reflections that have been selected by the chairs will also be
published in the proceedings. Authors of the best peer-reviewed papers
will be asked to re-submit their revised and extended papers for the
autumn issue of the Centre for E-Governance's open access eJournal of
eDemocracy and Open Government  (www.jedem.org ).
The CeDEM offers a PhD Colloquium in cooperation with the Danube
University Krems' Platform for Political Communication and netPOL  (
www.netpol.at ). The Doctoral Colloquium provides PhD students the
opportunity to present their work and gain feedback from experts as
well as meet other PhD students. Students from any stage of their PhD
are invited to submit their papers on any of the conference topics
(see the tracks); prospective students should send a report of their
PhD projects and work so far.



CeDEM13 Tracks

Track: E-Democracy and E-Participation
Chairs: Axel Maireder (University of Vienna, AT), Francesco Molinari
(Parterre project, IT), Marko Skoric (Nanyang Technological
University, SG)
•       Sustainability of e-participation and citizen engagement; best
practices and key factors for success; motivational factors and the
impact of participation;
•       Participatory and communication platforms; ICT for e-participation;
mobile media and new forms of participation; applications for
citizens;
•       Citizens and government interaction, business and government
interaction; different perspectives of citizens, government, NGOs,
NPOs, practitioners, service providers;
•       Digital divide: gender, age, education, etc.; citizen inclusion;
•       Participatory budgeting, the European Citizen Initiative; new
approaches to direct democracy, new forms of democracy enhanced by
ICT;
•       Critical perspectives: wrongdoings, bad and worst experiences, hype
but not reality, fringe groups;

Track: Open Collaborative Government
Chairs: Sylvia Archmann (EIPA, NL), Reinhard Riedl (Bern University of
Applied Sciences, CH), Norbert Kersting (Universität Münster, DE)
•       Open government initiatives;
•       E-Government modelling and simulation, technological developments,
smart/mobile democracy;
•       Architecture, concepts & effects; access and openness, network
effects, power laws, long tail, crowd sourcing for government, social
web, semantic web;
•       Citizen vs. consumer; public administration vs. business; key
stakeholders and roles in collaboration; motivational factors,
collaborative intelligence;
•       Social media & networks, engagement and accountability, generation
of content and knowledge, collaborative culture, G2C & G2B
collaboration;
•       Increasing effectiveness and efficiency;
•       Collaboration tools, decision making tools;
•       Critical perspectives: wrongdoings, worst and bad experiences, hype
but not reality, fringe groups;

Track: E-Policies and E-Society - Human Rights for the Internet Age
Chairs: Matthias C. Kettemann (University of Graz, AT), Edith Maier
(FHS St. Gallen, CH), Philipp Müller (University of Salzburg, AT)
•       E-policies for an e-polity?
•       Human rights for the Internet age;
•       Internet Governance between international law and national rules;
•       Freedom of expression on the Internet: Copyright vs. creative commons;
•       The right to access the Internet as a new foundation for
participation in society;
•       New human values for new technologies: dignity in e-society;
•       The re-emerging importance of the real: a new dawn for physicality
in a digital world?
•       Machine-human interaction and the Internet of things: legal and
political aspects;

Track: Social and Mobile Media for Public Administration
Chairs: Peter Mambrey (Universität Duisburg-Essen, DE), Morten
Meyerhoff Nielsen (Danish Agency for Digitisation, DK)
•       Administration and media, social media and social networks;
•       Information provision, mobile devices, service delivery with new
communication channels;
•       Blogging, micro-blogging, social networks, e-learning; social media
to engage citizens (living labs);
•       One-stop-shops;
•       Private engagement and civil servants' official roles;

Track: E-Campaigning & E-Politics
Chairs: Ralf Lindner (Fraunhofer ISI, DE), Andy Williamson (Hansard
Society, UK),
•       Political online campaigning, mass communication;
•       Mobilisation via social media, networks vs. traditional party-structure;
•       Social and political self-organisation, revolution via web 2.0, the
European Citizen Initiative, new parties and political movements
(pirates);
•       New journalism, internet media;
•       Best practices; lessons learned;

Track: Bottom-Up Movements
Chairs: Axel Bruns (ARC Centre for Creative Industries and Innovation,
AU), Farida Vis (Universit of Sheffield, UK
•       Online communities, innovation, bottom-up vs. top-down;
•       NGOs/NPOs in a connected society;
•       Online spaces for self-organisation and citizen engagement;
•       User generated content, peer production;
•       ICT and revolutions: who are the good and bad? The role of
journalism, alternative media and the counter-public sphere;
•       Online activism, grassroots and their organisation;
•       What happens after the online revolutions?

Track: Open Data, Transparency and Open Innovation
Chairs: Julia Glidden (21c Consultancy Ltd., UK), Johann Höchtl
(Danube University Krems, AT)
•       Legal, licensing and political issues: creative commons vs.
copyright, freedom of information, information sharing, data
visualization, transparency, opportunities and limitations;
•       Technical frameworks of open data/access and mashing platforms, open
data formats and APIs;
•       Open innovation for public services;
•       Costs and benefits of open data provision, principles and good
practice of open data; open access and crowd sourcing

Track Open Science and Open Access
Chairs: Helmut Leopold (Austrian Institute of Technology, AT), Stefan
Blachfellner (Stefan Blachfellner Consulting, AT), Keith Jeffery
(Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK)
•       The role of scholarly communication for democracies;
•       Implications of open access for citizens, governments, research and
universities;
•       The impact of open access and transparency on e-participation;

Track: Freedom and Ethics in Digital Societies
Chairs: Peter Kampits (Danube University Krems, AT)
•       Technology and responsibility: rational technology assessment;
•       Internet: the enlargement or the illusion of freedom;
•       The might of Internet;
•       The disappearance of reality in the cyberspace;
•       Knowledge versus information;
•       From homo sapiens to homo digitalis;

Submissions

On the basis of the open discussion held with participants, track
chairs and PC-members, the CeDEM13 will focus on e-democracy and open
government in the context of human rights and freedom in a digital
society. We invite individuals from academic and applied backgrounds
as well as business, public authorities, NGO, NPOs and education
institutions to submit their papers, reflections as well as workshop
proposals to the topics addressed in the tracks below. We welcome
interdisciplinary approaches to the emerging conference topics.

The conference proceedings will be published with the Edition Danube
University; in addition, the complete proceedings are fully accessible
online.
•       Research papers shall be 12 pages maximum and will be double-blind
peer-reviewed;
•       Case studies / Project papers shall be 12 pages maximum and will be
double-blind peer-reviewed;
•       Reflections shall be 6 pages maximum and will be selected by the chairs;
•       Workshop papers shall be 4 pages maximum and will be selected by the chairs;
•       PhD Colloquium papers shall be 3 pages maximum (excluding literature
list) and selected by the organisers of the colloquium;

Important Dates


Deadline for the submission of all papers, workshop proposals,
reflections: 15 January 2013
Notification of acceptance: 29 March 2013
Camera-ready paper submission: 21 April 2013
Pre-conference event: 21 May 2013
Conference: 22-23 May 2013
Open space, extended workshops, PhD colloquium: 24-25 May 2013

CFP Cedem13


pdf, 81 KB

Open Access eJournal of eDemocracy and Open Government (JeDEM)

A selection of revised and extended papers from the CeDEM13 will be
published with the autumn 2013 issue of the Open Access eJournal of
eDemocracy and Open Government. (www.jedem.org) that is indexed with
EBSCO. A special issue is planned for submissions made to the PhD
Colloquium.

 Programme Committee

Georg Aichholzer (Institute of Technology Assessment, AT)
Sylvia Archmann (EIPA, NL)
Frank Bannister (Trinity College Dublin 2, IE)
Kheira Belkacem (University of Leeds, UK)
Lasse Berntzen (Vestfold University, NO)
Axel Bruns (ARC Centre for Creative Industries and Innovation, AU)
Thomas Buchsbaum (Austrian Ambassador in Iran, AT)
Yannis Charalabidis (University of the Aegean, GR)
Peter Cruickshank (Edinburgh Napier University, UK)
Anni Dugdale (University of Canberra, AU)
Tom van Engers (University of Amsterdam, NL)
Chantal Enguehard (Université de Nantes, FR)
Peter Filzmaier (Danube University Krems, AT
Joan Francesc Fondevila (Centre d'Estudis sobre el Cable, ES)
Olivier Glassey (IDHEAP, CH)
Julia Glidden (21c Consultancy Ltd., UK)
Hans Hagedorn (DEMOS Gesellschaft für E-Partizipation mbh, DE)
Stevan Harnard (Université du Québec à Montréal, CA)
Dennis Hilgers (Universität Hamburg, DE)
Johann Höchtl (Danube University Krems, AT)
Roumiana Ilieva (Technical University of Sofia, BG)
Marijn Janssen ( TU Delft, NL)
Keith Jeffery (Science and Technology Facilites Council, UK)
Evika Karamagioli (Gov2U, GR)
Norbert Kersting (University Münster, DE)
Jens Klessmann (Fraunhofer FOKUS, DE)
Bozidar Klicek (University of Zagreb, Croatia)
Sotiris Th. Koussouris (DSSLab, NTUA, GR)
Robert Krimmer (ODIHR-elections, PL)
Ah Lian Kor (Leeds Metropolitan University, UK)
Rudolf Legat (Austrian Environmental Agency, AT)
Daniel van Lerberghe (Politech EurActiv, BE)
Nele Leosk (e-Governance Academy, EE)
Ralf Lindner (Fraunhofer ISI, DE)
Jan Linhart (echo source, DE)
Martin Löhe (Fraunhofer FOKUS, DE)
Jörn von Lucke (Zeppelin University, DE)
Rolf Lührs (TuTech Innovation GmbH, DE)
Arthur Lupia (University of Michigan, US)
Ülle Madise (Legal Adviser to the President, EE)
Edith Maier (FHS St.Gallen, Switzerland)
Viktor Maier-Schönberger (Oxford Internet Institute, UK)
Peter Mambrey (Universität Duisburg-Essen, DE)
Flavia Marzano (Stati Generali Innovazione, IT)
Morten Meyerhoff-Nielen (National IT and Telecom Agency, DK)
Jeremy Millard (Danish Technological Institute, DK)
Francesco Molinari (Parterre project, IT)
Philipp Müller (Universität Salzburg, AT)
Christina Neumayer (IT University of Copenhagen, DK)
Hannu Nurmi (University of Turku, FI)
Ismael Peña-López (Open University of Catalonia, ES)
Flooh Perlot (Institut für Strategieanalysen, AT)
Nguyen V. Phuc (Asian Institute of Technology and Management, VN)
Carl-Markus Piswanger (Austrian Federal Computing Centre, AT)
Wolfgang Polasek (Institut für Höhere Studien, CH)
Singara Karna Rao (Tsukuba University, JP)
Peter Reichstädter (Austrian Federal Chancellery, AT)
Reinhard Riedl (University of Zurich, CH)
Philipp Rössl (Danube University Krems, AT)
Christian Rupp (Austrian Federal Chancellery, AT)
Michael Sachs (Danube University Krems, AT)
Günther Schefbeck (Austrian Parliament, AT)
Doug Schuler (The Public Sphere Project, US)
Erich Schweighofer (University of Vienna, AT)
Alexander Stocker (Joanneum Research, AT)
Jakob Svensson (Karlstad University, SE)
Ella Taylor-Smith (Edinburgh Napier University, UK)
Ben Wagner (European University Institute, CH)
Cornelia Wallner (Zeppelin University, DE)
Gregor Wenda (Federal Ministry for the Interior, AT
Elin Wihlborg (Linkoping University, SE)
Andy Williamson (Hansard Society, UK)
Frank Wilson (Interaction Design Ltd., UK)
Petra Wolf (TU München, DE)


Honarary Board

Peter Filzmaier (Danube University Krems, AT)
Ann Macintosh (University of Leeds, UK)
Jeremy Millard (Teknologisk Institut, DK)
in progress


Management

Gerlinde Ecker (Danube University Krems, AT)
Nicole Waldorf (Danube University Krems, AT)


 Social Events&Networking

Pre-Conference Get-Together
There will be a social event in the evening of 21 May 2013. This is
the only event that is not included in the conference fee!
Further details to be announced.

Conference Dinner
The conference dinner on 22 May 2013 is an important part of the conference!
Further details to be announced.

Post-Conference Get-Together
Do not leave the conference too early as we like to end our conference
with a cheese & wine  on the terrace.

Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com
  Executive Director - http://E-Democracy.org
  Twitter: http://twitter.com/democracy
  Tel/Text: +1.612.234.7072

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PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim and Water Polo Camp Head Coach
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Fwd: Help Us Build Baylor Stadium

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Baylor University <enews@baylor.edu>
Date: Wed, Dec 19, 2012 at 1:26 PM
Subject: Help Us Build Baylor Stadium
To: Mark@rauterkus.com

	More than 113 years ago, the Baylor Football story began as the Bears battled opponents at an on-campus field near the heart of student life. Today, we stand on the brink of a new chapter in Baylor's history. With the generosity of faithful alumni and friends, we will bring Baylor Football back home to campus for our 2014 season. We need your help. You can make your mark at Baylor Stadium through the Baylor Stadium Bricks Campaign. Your gift supports stadium construction and will help make our on-campus field a reality! In recognition of your gift, an engraved brick bearing your personal message will be installed at the stadium. As Baylor Nation celebrates a third-straight bowl game and sees another exciting year come to a close, be sure to take your place as a part of our bright future. Show your Baylor pride, honor a loved one, or secure a brick as a gift to surprise a fellow fan! It will take a Nation to build Baylor Stadium, and it won't be complete without you.

Copyright © Baylor® University. All rights reserved. Legal Disclosures. Baylor University  Waco, Texas 76798  1-800-229-5678

Swim Cuts for AA WPIAL Teams

Some thoughts about the school shooting

D.V., on KDKA Radio, was talking about the school shooting and I posted these thoughts on Facebook.

Just listening to KDKA Radio show with D.V. Posted much of this to his wall, but since I have not sounded off on the recent school killings, here goes.

KENT STATE's trouble (4 dead in O-hi-o) had ARMED Guards at the school and THAT was the problem. School shooting. Bad scene. That is perhaps what set the course for no guns.

Pgh Public Schools has both School Security AND School Police. The police are not generally full time at any certain schools, unlike security that has regular gigs at the doors of the schools. The POLICE have guns, I think. The security does not.

A problem with paid, armed security guard(s) at schools means one less librarian, or one less school nurse, or one less teacher or 10 less crossing guards. I'd rather have 20 kids per teacher and not one grade with 40 and an armed guard.

Another situation that could unfold at a school is that the crazy gunman goes first to the armed guard and then goes on a spree without any other armed guard to thwart the rest of the killing. If armed guards were 100% insurance -- why are there still bank robbers?

Another solution: I'd much rather have working K9 at schools. Some are GUN dogs and others are DRUG dogs. We could even train the dogs at a magnet school as part of the zoo! The dogs would be a lot more affordable and would, generally, be more dependable too.

Update about PPS Summer Dreamers

Good info from PPS about 2013 Summer Dreamers, http://tinyurl.com/cfcal2r

Of course, what comes below is subject to PPS Board approval.


Summer Dreamers Academy 2013 Program Plans

The Summer Dreamers Academy planning team continues to think strategically about how best to provide high quality summer programming to the greatest number of Pittsburgh Public Schools students, and those with the greatest need. We remain focused on stemming summer learning loss and providing engaging academic programming and unique activity offerings to K‐8th grade campers; we look forward to continuing to support PPS students to become Promise Ready©.

Summer Dreamers Academy Outcome Goals
1. Minimize or stop the effects of summer learning loss for participating youth.
2. Prepare students academically and socially so that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to
successfully begin the next school year.
3. Encourage a passion for learning and exploration that is a driving factor for future academic success.
4. Motivate youth to persist in the face of challenges with the knowledge that hard work and effort will yield
success.

The information below outlines our preliminary plans for the 2013 program. Feedback from parents, campers and staff members, along with data from our external evaluators, directed our decision making. All information is officially pending funding and Board approval.

Program Dates & Times
In order to provide the maximum academic benefit to campers, the 2013 Summer Dreamers Academy will be a 27 day program. Program dates are Monday, July 1st – Wednesday, August 7th for campers (no camp on Thursday, July 4th), with pre‐camp professional development and post‐camp wrap‐up requirements for staff. Summer Dreamers will remain a full day program, with camper arrival scheduled for 8:30 a.m. and dismissal scheduled for 4 p.m.

Enrollment
Enrollment for Summer Dreamers will launch in early March with the mailing of enrollment materials to the homes of all K‐8th grade students in the District. Additional enrollment materials will be available at schools and through the parent hotline. The enrollment deadline is May 3rd, 2013 – no late registration forms will be accepted. The enrollment status of all applicants (accepted or not accepted) will be communicated to families in late May.

Based on current budget projections, we anticipate serving roughly 2300 K‐8th grade campers ‐ about 320 campers per grade level in K‐5th grade, and about 100 campers per grade level in 6th – 8th grade. Every student in grades K‐8 is encouraged to apply. Acceptance will be determined through a weighted lottery considering factors including a student’s free/reduced price lunch status and academic performance on PSSA (4th – 8th graders) or DIBELS (K‐3rd graders) assessments. Also, in 2013, admission decisions will allow for sibling preference – if one child in a family is accepted to Summer Dreamers, other children in the household will also be admitted.

Sites
Summer Dreamers will operate four regional elementary (K‐5) sites and one central middle grades (6‐8) site in 2013. Elementary sites will be Pittsburgh: Carmalt, Classical, University Prep and Faison. The middle grades location will be Pittsburgh CAPA. Elementary campers will be assigned to a site based on their feeder school.

Transportation & Food
In accordance with the District’s transportation policy, Summer Dreamers provides transportation to any camper who lives more than 1.5 miles from his/her assigned camp site. We also offer a healthy breakfast, lunch, and snack free of charge to all campers.

Daily Schedule
All K‐8th grade Summer Dreamers campers will participate in two 90‐minute morning academic blocks and two 75‐ minute afternoon activity blocks in 2013.

Time
8:00 am
8:30 – 8:45 am
8:45 – 9:10 am
9:10 – 9:15 am
9:15 – 10:45 am
10:45 – 10:50 am
10:50– 12:20 pm
12:20 – 1:05 pm
1:05 – 2:20 pm
2:20 – 2:25 pm
2:25 – 3:40 pm
3:40 – 4:00 pm
4:15 pm

Activity
Staff arrival
Camper Arrival & Breakfast
All Camp Meeting
Transition to Block #1
Block #1 (Academics – ELA or Math) Transition to Block #2
Block #2 (Academics – ELA or Math) Transition to Lunch
Lunch
Transition to Block #3
Block #3 (Activities)
Transition to Block #4
Block #4 (Activities)
Camper Dismissal
Staff dismissal


Staffing
Each camp site will be led by a Camp Leadership Team consisting of a Camp Director, Operations Managers, Curriculum Coaches, and an Activity Specialist. The Camp Leadership Team works closely with the Summer Dreamers Academy central office planning team to plan and execute the program at their site. Certified academic teachers will implement the morning ELA and math blocks and provide support for Special Ed and ESL campers. Activities will primarily be facilitated by activity provider staff (see more information about Activities below), but certified activity teachers will be hired by Summer Dreamers to provide additional support and assist with linking activities to academic standards. Camp Coordinators will be hired at each site to assist with camp site operations and to work with teachers and campers during instructional time. Each camp site will also have a full day nurse and security guard.

Activities
We are continuing to select activity provider partners through the Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Proposals for 2013 were due on December 7th, and partners will be announced in late January. Providers submitted proposals to serve elementary and/or middle grades campers and requested to facilitate 75‐minute activities with two different groups of campers, or extended 155‐minute activities with one group of campers. We strive to provide exciting activity options at all grade levels. Campers will be able to rank their activity preferences upon enrollment, and placements will be made on a first‐come, first‐served basis for admitted campers. Activity offerings for each site will be included in enrollment materials.

Curriculum
Feedback on our 2012 program is being used to guide curriculum planning for 2013. All K‐8th grade Summer Dreamers campers will participate in a 90‐minute literacy block and a 90‐minute math block daily, to support academic growth and combat summer learning loss in a fun and exciting atmosphere. The literacy block will be based in a National Geographic content‐based literacy curriculum, with a daily intervention block to support struggling readers at the elementary grades. The McGraw Hill Number Worlds curriculum will serve as the foundation for the mathematics component of Summer Dreamers, with a focus on problem solving and real‐world skills. New in 2013, all enrichment activities will include a connected writing project. Campers will brainstorm, draft, edit, revise, and publish a finished work that showcases what they learned and did in their daily activity blocks. The enrichment activity will serve as the theme upon which youth will base their writing, and projects can take on many forms, such as a newspaper, fictional story, how‐to guide, or blog.

Visitors on a small boat trip

Let's get this video to more than 1-million views.

Planning ahead.

Looks like a little prayer on the sideline.

Fittest Students get better grades

Here is our 12-12-12 training group from 6 am practice.

Published: Dec. 9, 2012 at 10:32 PM

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Middle school students in the best physical shape do better than their less fit classmates on standardized tests and report cards, U.S. researchers say.

Lead researcher Dawn Coe, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville who conducted the research as a doctoral student in Michigan State University's kinesiology department, said the study was among the first to examine how academic performance relates to all aspects of physical fitness -- including body fat, muscular strength, flexibility and endurance.

"We looked at the full range of what's called health-related fitness," Coe said in a statement. "Kids aren't really fit if they're doing well in just one of those categories."

Coe and colleagues gathered data from 312 students in sixth through eighth grade at a West Michigan school by gauging the kids' fitness with an established program of push-ups, shuttle runs and other exercises.

They compared the fitness scores to students' letter grades throughout the school year in four core classes and their performance on a standardized test.

The study, published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, found the fittest students got the highest test scores and the best grades, regardless of gender or whether they'd yet gone through puberty.


Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2012/12/09/Fittest-students-get-higher-grades/UPI-27161355110372/#ixzz2EqjHbbic

PPS Q and A

 

... a planning process that will challenge (us all) to think differently ... in light of continued enrollment decline, increased costs, flat revenue projections and strong support for more school choice...

Hummm....

The thing that sinks my heart is the "continued enrollment decline." They seem to think "continued enrollment decline = gravity." 

Or, "continued enrollment decline = urban school district."

I don't want a PLAN that counts on "continued enrollment decline." 

Screw that philosophy.

Sure there is that old saying, "Those that fail to plan plan to fail." But, what PPS seems to want to do is "plan for continued enrollment decline." That might as well be "Plan to fail and fail with grace."

We need to build a robust school district that families enjoy and citizens respect and students never depart unless they have a diploma.

---

... the District has created other means to maintain the number of students that receive pre-kindergarten services, including instituting a tuition-based program for those family that do not qualify for the State and federal funds. With this added option, we are now able to serve a large number of three and four year olds in Pittsburgh.... 

PPS should have a plan for attending something like Summer Dreamers for those who do not get admission to the PPS Summer Dreamers program. In the summer of 2012, more than 1,600 students wanted to attend and applied to PPS Summer Dreamers and instead got a 'rejection letter.' The Summer Dreamers program is shrinking, due to funds. The number of Summer Dreamers sites for middle school students went from more than 10 to 3 in 2012 and 1 in 2014. That's fine. However, what kills is that a tuition based program could be offered to citizens. Then we'd be able to offer Swim & Waterpolo Camp, say in the mornings, for kids who are not on free and reduced lunch and to kids who are proficient in their standardized test scores.

---

As for transportation and the lack of PAT bus passes for high school students, the reply includes this from PPS:

Why did you take bus passes away for high school students? Sometimes we have to stay after school and can't get home.

In 2012, the District reviewed several options to cut transportation costs and  respond to threats of looming Port Authority of Allegheny County reductions to neighborhood bus service.  As a result, the District worked collaboratively with 19 transportation companies and approved a transportation contract that saves more than $1.8 Million over the next two school years.  In addition, the threats of  tentative cuts from the Port Authority required the District to be proactive and decrease the number of purchased bus passes by 1,300, therefore placing more high school students on yellow busses.  This change does not negatively impact afterschool activities.

No way. There have been some good changes. But, there is no way that the lack of bus passes for high school kids have been without a hit to afterschool activities.

---

Why close high performing schools like Northview? Most students there walked and achieved AYP?
In order to create a more sustainable District, in 2011/12, we evaluated all of our schools based on four equally weighted criteria: Student Achievement, Student Enrollment, Facility Condition and Operations Costs.  Based on these factors, schools such as Northview were closed.  You can read more about the District’s realignment plan here.

Great question. Not so great reply. #Fail

---

Another inspired question and another #Fail on the answer.


Is there a way to re-imagine the relationship between charter schools and the regular public schools so that they are not draining each other of resources in an environment of scarcity? How can we move toward adopting strategies that are successful in charter schools within the Pittsburgh Public Schools?

In our ever changing economy, Pittsburgh Public Schools continually strives to seek cost-efficient solutions to our families that will accelerate student achievement. Although a formal plan has not been devised as to how we could begin to work with charter schools, we are always open to dialogue about ways to provide the best educational experience possible to our students and their families.

---

This is so interesting I'll repost it just for the heck of it. The year being talked about is the first year of graduation from Obama. This class had it hard.

Additionally, 24 students took a total of 92 IB exams in May 2012. 61 exams received a passing score of 4, 5, 6, or 7, which represents 70% of the total. 5 students were awarded the IB Diploma, which is an internationally recognized award.

The number of those taking the IB exam with the graduation year of 2013 are much higher. Through the roof applies.

---

I've got to spend some time looking at this. http://www.pittsburghteachingconditions.org/

No Saturday Practices -- still

Bad news. Too busy last week to nail down a time and place for our Saturday swim practices for the varsity boys and girls teams at Pittsburgh Obama. I heard more than a week ago that the Saturday pool permit to hold practices as denied. At first it was not permitted because the school was hosting a flea market for the band and SAT testing. Then all Saturday pool permits were denied because the custodians said the pool needs to be cleaned on Saturdays and the time from 9 to 11:30 for swimming and weight lifting was not possible.

Okay.

Our season is on the rocks without Saturday practices. I'd rather have the kids for an extended Saturday time, then off on Sunday. This is a time when most don't have pressing homework.

We might be able to practice at Allderidice or Sci-Tech. 

But because of no Saturday practices, I do get to take Grant up to North Allegheny High School, where they do have clean pools, and practice there with Tiger Water Polo Club. His practice time was 8 to 10 am. There was boys basketball then a girls hoops tournament. The football team was departing for a semi-final game in Altoona and the swim team left for a swim meet in State College. 

Lots of people tell us that we should just move out of the city where there are plenty of additional opportunities for the kids on a week long and year round basis. The city has the team. But, the team can't practice. Then there is wondering why the performances of the students, overall, and the parent engagement, by-and-large, are so lackluster.

Sure, pockets of inspiration and perspiration occur among our city kids -- but -- everyone should have every opportunity to excel. The road blocks, like no Saturday practice for the swim team stink. Going to another school to practice is not a way to run a district that aims to be a "District of first choice."

PPS Elem Swim Meet is today

MEMO:

To: Parents and Guardians of PPS Swimmers

From: Executive Head Coach,

Swim & Waterpolo Camp,

PPS Summer Dreamers

Swim fast today. Good luck!

We hope you all have fun at the meet, but we also want to inform you of a few new things that might be in your future.

PPS Summer Dreamers starts July 1, 2013 and look for

Swim & Waterpolo Camps!

This year the PPS Summer Dreamers, starting on July 1, 2013 and going to August 7, 2013 (28 days) is slated to have more Swimming and Waterpolo than ever before. Well, this is unofficial news. The proposals are still being crafted and the final schedule is not yet public. But that is our plan.

Swim & Waterpolo Camp has been a big success in the past for many Summer Dreamers. But, Swim & Waterpolo was only at limited sites. In 2012, we did it at the brand new swim pool on Center Ave, the Thelma Lovette YMCA and at Citiparks Ammon Rec Center in The Hill District. In 2011, we swam at Peabody.

In 2013, the plans call for Swim & Waterpolo to be an option at every camp site. This activity will include those in Middle School Grades as well as in Elementary Grades. Look for us and be ready to sign up in 2013 at PCA, Faison, CAPA, U-Prep and Carmault.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to call or email:

Mark Rauterkus, Head Coach, Swim & Waterpolo Camps at

PPS Summer Dreamers, an activity to be sponsored by the

Thelma Lovette YMCA in 2013.

Mark@Rauterkus.com

412-298-3432

Fwd: Coach Pat

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Megan Netland via Change.org" <mail@change.org>
Date: Dec 1, 2012 9:24 AM
Subject: Coach Pat
To: <mark@rauterkus.com>

My hero, Pat Summitt, is the winningest coach in the history of basketball -- men's or women's -- and she's suffering from Alzheimer's. Join me in asking the NCAA to name the women's championship trophy after Coach Pat. Sign Megan's Petition Mark - Patricia Summitt is my hero. She's a basketball legend -- the winningest coach in the history of the game. She basically built the sport of women's basketball from scratch, and fought all her life to make sure women and girls have the opportunity (and funding) to play sports. I grew up playing basketball and idolizing Coach Pat. When she took over the job of head coach at the University of Tennessee in 1974 -- at the age of 22 -- women's basketball wasn't an Olympic sport or even officially recognized by the NCAA. Coach Pat changed all that, and 38 years later, she has eight NCAA championships and an Olympic gold medal. It breaks my heart that Coach Pat had to step down earlier this year due to her struggle with Alzheimer's. Women's basketball as we know it wouldn't exist without her, and I think the NCAA should do something special to honor her incredible legacy. That's why I started a petition on Change.org calling on the NCAA to name the women's college basketball championship trophy after Coach Pat. Will you click here to add your name? Currently, the championship trophy isn't named after anyone. In fact, only one NCAA women's basketball trophy is named after someone, and that person is a man! It would be so easy for the NCAA to give Coach Pat this honor, and I know it would mean so much to her. When I was a little girl in Iowa, Pat Summitt made me want to do bigger things in my life. I wanted to play for her. I wanted to be her. Coach Pat deserves this honor now, while she can still be here to see it. I know other petitions on Change.org have helped women's sports -- last year, a petition even helped women in Olympic boxing stop being forced to wear skirts while competing! I know that if enough people sign my petition, we can convince the NCAA to honor Coach Pat. Click here to sign my petition calling on the NCAA to name the women's college basketball championship trophy after Pat Summitt, the legendary coach who made women's basketball what it is today. Thank you, Megan Netland Minneapolis, MN This email was sent by Change.org to mark@Rauterkus.com   |   Start a petition Unsubscribe. Edit your email notification settings.

Swim pool attendance data from Summer 2012. We more than doubled the volume of use!

In the summer of 2011, the total swim pool attendance at the Ammon Swim Pool, Bedford Avenue, Hill District, was 5,471.

In the summer of 2012, the attendance was 12,278.

In the official Citiparks records, the Summer Dreamers for 2012 accounted for 529 visitors. 

We did NOT use Ammon in 2011. 

Less than one year ago, the City Controller, Michael Lamb, did an extensive audit of all the swimming pools in the city. In past years, the average daily attendance was 74 people. 

Of course when I say, "we," I mean us all. There were plenty of other camps, groups, visitors, swimmers, waterpolo players, swim lessons and citizens that graced the Ammon Pool with their presence beyond what I drove and ran into those gates. The church groups, the day-cares the Ozanam Basketball Players -- all should be proud. 

Further, as a point of clarification, the 529 for Summer Dreamers was assumed to be the number of splashes for the morning participation. That averages to about 26 people per day over the 20 days we went to the pool in the mornings. On the first day of camp, we didn't go to the pool because the kids didn't know if they're choice of swimming was given to them. The kids didn't even know to bring their swim suits with them to camp, for example. There were a few other times when there were storms and we didn't get to go to the outdoor pool. On a couple of days we all went to the indoor Thelma Lovette YMCA pool too. 

In reality, some days we took 12 or so to the Ammon Pool and then another day we could take 40. 

Regardless, we got there on foot, after traveling a full mile from school with a combination of running and walking. And, we got back to school for the dismissal or for lunch following the morning swim on foot too. So, our swimmers were doing urban renewal at the same time. We were taking back the streets of The Hill District for kids and fitness. We owned those hills. And, throughout the supervision of the 3,000 miles of total travel in The Hill District this summer, we didn't even suffer a single bee sting nor scraped knee as a result of those travels. Thank goodness.

So, in 2013, the plans are different, sadly. The middle school kids are not going to be going to Summer Dreamers at U-Prep. All will be going to CAPA, downtown. Going from Downtown CAPA to the top of The Hill District's Bedford Avenue and Ammon Pool is more of a stretch. But, we're proposing we do it with some changes. 

The new solution to fit the CAPA setting for middle school students being proposed has Hill District kids departing CAPA after lunch and going on the fitness run / walk and swimming in the afternoons with their activity periods. However, those campers won't go back to CAPA after the swim and activities. They'll have dismissal in their own neighborhood rather than in Downtown. Going back to CAPA just to get on a bus to go back to The Hill District is too much. 

How Libertarianism Can Help to Solve the Homelessness Problem in Pittsburgh

Guest posting by Eve Pearce epearce -at- andalemono.com

According to the charity Pittsburgh Cares, there are over two thousand homeless people in the Pittsburgh region. Seventy-eight percent of them are adults and twenty-eight percent are children. Of the adult homeless population, seventeen percent are veterans. Over one hundred homeless people have died on the city’s streets since 1989. What can be done to help alleviate this problem? According to award-winning libertarian author and social commentator Dr Mary Ruwart, the situation would not be anywhere near as bad as it is today if libertarians were running the country as opposed to the current leaders, who are stifling American society with far too many rules and regulations.

Stop the Government from MeddlingRuwart highlights the fact that towards the end of the 1990s, Mother Theresa’s church order the Missionaries of Charity purchased two abandoned buildings in New York City for a dollar each and managed to raise the sum of five hundred thousand dollars to fund the repair work that was necessary in order for them to be usable as homeless shelters. City officials initially stated that they were fine with the order’s plans to create shelters for the homeless but after work had begun, inspectors broke the news that a hundred-thousand-dollar elevator needed to be installed so that disabled people would have easy access to the accommodation. The nuns responded that the religious vows that they had taken meant that they weren’t allowed to routinely utilise modern conveniences. They suggested that they could carry disabled residents into the shelters manually and applied for a waiver from the regulations governing handicapped access, stating religious reasons. However they had their application rejected and as a result of this, the project was cancelled and the homeless people remained without a place to live. In a libertarian society, the regulations and restrictions that forced these individuals to carry on sleeping on the streets would not exist.

License to Sleep RoughThe USA is becoming a nation where the people are left desperately struggling to remain afloat within a sea of rules that dictate every element of their lives. The problem is that the authorities don’t know when to stop sticking their noses in to matters that don’t concern them. Over the course of the last few years, they have been inflicting unnecessary regulations upon the credit industry, encroaching more and more upon the constitutional rights of the public and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Officials in Nevada City, California, are even pushing for a law that will prohibit individuals from being homeless until they are given a license. Only a small number of these licenses would be handed out, effectively making it a criminal offence to have nowhere to go. What would become of the city’s homeless people if this law came into effect? They would be constantly on the lookout for policemen looking to arrest them simply for being homeless, which would push them even further into the margins of society. 

Ruwart’s Solution

Ruwart states that by removing some of the regulations that the government places upon the US, the economy would improve and less people would lack a fixed abode. There would also be no laws in place that persecute the homeless. She is however realistic and admits that some people would still have nowhere to live. The difference is that more Americans would be wealthy so the homeless would receive more donations.   

She claims that seventy-five percent of every tax dollar goes towards administration costs rather than those who really need it. This means that the main form of help that homeless people receive is from volunteers working in soup kitchens, kindhearted health workers who provide medical care free of charge and people dishing out spare change. In a society where people were wealthier, they would be in a better position to help other people, meaning that the best way to aid the homeless would be to adopt libertarian principles, which would also be extremely beneficial to society as a whole. Perhaps once those without a place to live were financially better off than they are at the moment, they could finally begin to address the issues that had led them to become homeless in the first place and get their lives back on track.