Attachments: Principals’ Institute, 2007 – CSI
Table Discussions
DIOCESE OF
PRINCIPALS’ BULLETIN
NOVEMBER 16, 2007
Cyss.org ~
Calendar
~ Principals’ Web Page
~ Forms Due Web Page
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT…
During the Principals’ Institute at Sawmill Creek, I proposed some directions for all of us regarding the approach to learning in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Toledo. This started with a discussion at CYSS about the future of our “Innovative Educators” effort. Much good work has been done, but it seems that the time is right to take it to a new level.
At the same time, work in various regions continues with efforts for more school collaborations and some re-configurations in the planning stages. A common thread through all of these efforts is the need to emphasize our Catholicity, our Catholic identity. Questions that always come up are: How are we really “Different by Design”? and “How do we maintain academic excellence?” It seems to me that we already have the answer to both in our “Credo”.
This was the basis of the table talk at Sawmill Creek. If you remember, we had principals from each region sit together and comment on several questions. We have compiled those responses and they are included with this bulletin as an attachment. Your input will be helpful as we move forward.
Another piece is in process at this time. Some of our
classroom teachers are working with Ann Sardeson and
HOUSE BILL 190:
House Bill 190 was signed by the Governor this week. Among the many topics, the bill addresses background reports for school teachers and employees. The bill is as follows:
1. Criminal background reports must now be done on all new employees in a school, not just those whose job duties entail the care, custody or control of children;
2.
The background reports must be both Ohio (BCI) and
Federal (FBI) regardless of how long the person has resided in
3. These background reports must be repeated every five years;
4. Anyone who is applying for a license of any kind, new or renewal, from the Department of Education, must complete the BCI and FBI reports. These reports must be forwarded electronically to the Department of Education.
5. An employer is expressly prohibited from hiring or continuing to employ any person whose criminal records check reveals a conviction or a plea of guilty to any crime that disqualifies an individual from employment with a school, unless the person has met the State Board’s rehabilitation standards.
House Bill 190 carries an emergency clause, which puts all of these items into effect immediately. However, the C.C.O. has reached an agreement with the Department of Education regarding our current policy of having all teachers who work solely under a Non Tax or Permanent certificate. Those teachers must still have a background report done no later than December 31, 2007. These teachers will not be grandfathered in the policy, but they will not be required to have another background (FBI) report for at least one year.
However, all applications for a new license or renewal
license will require, effective immediately, new BCI and FBI reports.
These can be done at the
http://www.ag.state.oh.us/business/fingerprint/index.asp Look under “Webcheck Community Listing”.
N.A.E.P. RESULTS:
Part of our Credo states:
“we believe our courses of study are not only academic pursuits,
but a search for truth”
Even though this statement goes well beyond mere graduation rates and test scores, we often are faced with questions from the public and from our own stakeholders regarding how our students compare with students from public schools. So, if you are asked for numbers and statistics, below are some that can be used:
Over the years, many of our schools have participated in the “National Assessment of Educational Progress” (N.A.E.P.) in reading and math. The 2007 national results for grades 4 and 8 have been released. Some quotes from the report:
“The average mathematics score for fourth-graders in public schools (239) was lower than for students in private schools overall (246) and in Catholic schools specifically (246). The average mathematics score for eighth-graders in public schools (280) was lower than for students in private schools overall (293) and lower than for students in Catholic schools specifically (292).”
“The average reading score for fourth-graders in public schools (220) was lower than for students in private schools overall (234) and lower than for students in Catholic schools specifically (232). The average reading score for eighth-graders in public schools (261) was lower than for students in private schools overall (280) and lower than for students in Catholic schools specifically (282).”
Note: The above numbers are “scale scores”. These scores are derived from overall level of performance of groups of students on NAEP assessment items. NAEP subject area scale scores are typically expressed 0–500 (reading, mathematics, history, and geography)
More confirmation about what we already know! But it is sometimes necessary to cite hard data. For more information about NAEP reports, go to http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/
MOVIE – “THE GOLDEN COMPASS”:
The following is from
Our office has recently received a number of inquiries concerning the nature of the movie, The Golden Compass, and the novel on which it is it is based. This novel is the first in the trilogy, His Dark Materials, written by the fantasy fiction author and atheist, Philip Pullman.
Apparently, many people assume the novels are harmless
fantasy along the lines of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.
However, there appears to be a strong anti-Catholic worldview permeating
David McCutchen
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Links regarding the Golden Compass and the book series on
which it is based:
Life Site (an international pro-life website):
August 2007
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/aug/07082004.html
The Catholic League
The Catholic League has since taken the lead in the campaign against the series:
October 2007
http://www.catholicleague.org/catalyst.php?year=2007&month=November&read=2332
Catholic League letter sent to Scholastic publications:
November 2007
http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1357
Catholic League’s booklet on the Golden Compass and the book series:
https://secure.catholic.org/cl/orderform.php
LPDC:
The Diocesan Professional Development Committee will meet
Thursday, December 13, 2007, at 1:00 PM at the
Licenses that expire in 2008 may be renewed any time after January 1, 2008. If you have met all of the requirements for license renewal, send the appropriate CEUs, license application and check, payable to “Ohio TEC,” to Vicki for the December LPDC meeting. She will hold the approved application until January 2.
LICENSE DEADLINE:
Applications for any license that expired June 30, 2007, must be at the Department of Education no later than December 31, 2007. After that date, the license is considered expired and the requirement for renewal will be 9 semester hours or 27 CEUs, regardless of when the application was approved by the LPDC.
All license applications must be processed through the CYSS
office, appropriate CEU fees paid, if applicable, and a new background report
must be completed. Because of holiday vacation, all applications for
the renewal of 2007 licenses must be received by
When obtaining a background report to renew a license,
indicate the reason for the report and request that the background results be
sent electronically to the Ohio Department of Education. Also request
that a hard copy of the report be sent to
Valuable
Upgrades to ISTE Memberships:
ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) is a quality resource for schools in the area of educational technology. If you already have a membership, or are considering one, following are a few upgrades that have been implemented:
Area
Tech Conferences: