On October 16, 2009 there were parents, teachers and school staff who testified about the recent DC Public Schools layoff fiasco. What topped the list was the testimony by McKinley students, staff and parents about the infamous Principal David Pinder , new leader from Baltimore, Maryland. The October 16 council hearing was shown as recently as yesterday evening on DC television and also is available on the DC city council website. The council hearing set a record and lasted from 10:00 am on Friday and went until 4:00 am on Saturday.
The top story according to RIF'd McKinley High School 12th grade counselor, Rhonda Robinson was her allegation that David Pinder created false transcripts of classes for certain McKinley High School students. Robinson reported that these students never took the classes that appeared on their transcripts and actually received high school credits and grades. Robinson shared with Chairman Vincent Gray that she has evidence of these acts by Principal Pinder and plans to submit proof to the city council chair. Other acts reported by various students, staff and parents who testified before the council ranged from bribery of students and staff with money and other favors , failure to report drugs and guns on the school premises, an illegal audit, an OAG investigation, inappropriate behavior on the part of the principal with McKinley SH students on Face Book social network, Pinder disinvited students to attend McKinley High School without cause, intentionally reduced the enrollment of the student population, illegally suspends students or threatens to suspend students without cause, fails to consult with Local School restructuring Team, targeted certain staff members for termination, made the school top heavy by hiring numerous administrators, and discussed staff members in a derogatory manner in the presence of students, etc. I strongly encourage you to look at the October 16 hearings if you live in DC. They are scheduled to appear on DC TV. If you do not live in DC go to the DC Council website and click on watch live where you can view the October 16 hearing on scheduled dates. There were many horror stories from various credible sources of the atrocities that are occuring within our schools that are going unchecked . After listening and seeing some of the testimony first hand, I literally felt sick to my stomach and wondered what the DC City Council who has oversight management of school governance will ultimately do. It is obvious that this unchecked abuse of power that seems to be rampant in many schools can't help but have an adverse impact on our students, staff and community. If you are concerned about what is happening in our schools then encourage parents, community residents, labor representatives, RIF'd and terminated teachers, principals, vice principals, school staff, retired teachers, administrators and concerned others to show up on October 29, 2009 @ 10:00 am to the Wilson Building located at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Chancellor Rhee will testify before the council on the DCPS budget, equalization and the controversial RIF (reduction in force) in what many believe was fabricated in order to rid the system of a significant share of our educational workforce particularly veteran teachers. Posted by The Wash. Teacher featuring Candi Peterson, blogger in residence. Graphics by Celeste Jones. |
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