Tracy O'Connell Novick Profile picture
Yes, that Tracy Novick•MASC Field Director•I speak only for me here always•nullius in verba•She/her•Name is the same everywhere
Sep 12, 2018 30 tweets 6 min read
Next up in #amreading: “White Kids: Growing Up With Privilege in a Racially Divided America” by Margaret Hagerman. (And yes, this one I bought. Usually, I am a devoted @CWMARSinfo user.)
Aug 28, 2018 13 tweets 3 min read
I mean, here's the thing on hot school buildings in New England:

A) we didn't build for this. We absolutely have not built schools that were intended to have classes running in them during weeks of 90 plus degree days until recently. B) We didn't, because we didn't need to! We didn't HAVE classes running in buildings for multiple 90-plus degree days.
(Ergo, incidently, why A/C is in admin...they're there all summer.)
Jul 31, 2018 14 tweets 1 min read
“Wisdom, and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people, “being necessary for the preservation of their rights and liberties;
Jul 10, 2018 18 tweets 4 min read
Okay, I just stuck the House foundation budget bill in my Dropbox here: dropbox.com/s/9keifw8ws54q…

thread following #FBRC said in-district to 3.75% for regular; 4.75% for voke
House bill says in-district to 4%; 5% for voke

That's your sugar to help the medicine go down, because there is no other good news here.
Jul 10, 2018 21 tweets 8 min read
Okay, the House is going to take up a "foundation budget reform" bill, we're told.

For what should #MAEdu be watching? Well, the first thing is, while we may pick it up, so far the House is being pretty careful about references to the Commission (which I'm echoing by not tagging them with #FBRC).
Jun 6, 2018 27 tweets 9 min read
4 o’clock. Tea time. Time for some #FBRC myth busting. The first objection I hear all the time to passing an #FBRC bill is:

"We don't have the money!"
May 29, 2018 35 tweets 4 min read
Heading Worcester City Hall-ward, as the school budget is before City Council at 4-ish.

Tweeting to follow. Liveblog will go up here: who-cester.blogspot.com/2018/05/worces… Some "things to look for" already posted.
May 28, 2018 24 tweets 7 min read
Massachusetts, how is it that we're okay with our Secretary of Education thinking we don't have to require the teaching of race relations since the Civil Rights era in U.S. history? This has been weighing on me since Tuesday.
May 18, 2018 12 tweets 4 min read
Commissioner Jeff Riley now up at #MASBOinstitute2018 "We've had 25 years of so-called 'education reform' and we've seen some good things...but I think people are tired" #MASBOInstitute2018
May 15, 2018 17 tweets 5 min read
Ok, couple of (possibly scattered) thoughts coming out of yesterday’s #MAEdu accountability update: First: the regs are still open for public comment til Friday; comment on the changes! doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx…
May 10, 2018 40 tweets 7 min read
Ok, @MA_Senate budget tweeting thread is going to be spotty today, but here's a few things:
$30/pupil minimum increases
$40/decile on the low income rate #MAEdu There is BOTH a regional district budget review commission AND a local contribution review commission (the Senate is really opening some cans of worms there!)
Apr 21, 2018 20 tweets 3 min read
Ok, I'm not convinced I have nailed down the best way of talking about this yet, but I think it's good to get some things out around #MAEdu regional schools transportation, especially as we see the #mabudget debate juggle it. The principle is Massachusetts has some teeny districts and had more of them. There can be advantages (financial and otherwise) to teeny districts joining up.
That's where a whole bunch of MGL Ch. 71 comes in.