Dr. Hans Plotseneder, a CMS teacher who joined other residents in protesting the school board's decision last year to close about a dozen schools, says the trespassing charge police filed against him have been dismissed.
Plotseneder, a frequent speaker at school board meetings, said in a press release that the dismissal of the charges were important beyond just re-establishing his reputation. "This dismissal will contribute to reducing the fear of CMS teachers to exercise their Free-Speech rights."
He feels he was wrongly arrested. CMS police felt they were justified in arresting him and NAACP President Kojo Nantambu. (His charges were also dismissed). The Observer reported on the arrests. Plotseneder wants the dismissal reported as well in the interests of protecting his good name.
Consider it done.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Charges dismissed against school board protester
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24 comments:
It would seem that if you complain about CMS, you get arrested or sent home for the day:From WCNC:
As many as 10 -12 Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools have broken or faulty air conditioning units, according to Judy Kidd, the president of the Classroom Teachers Association.
According to various teachers, the temperature inside Carmel Middle School was 94 degrees, and the temperature inside Mint Hill Middle School was 84 degrees.
“Eighty four is pretty hot for any of us to manage,” said Becky Thompson, a teacher assistant at Mint Hill Middle School. “The room has been really hot and so we sweat pretty quickly once we get inside the door in the morning.”
Thompson works in a classroom of autistic students, many of whom are non-verbal. She sent notes home with the students which read, “Our classrooms are very hot (mid-80s). Please make sure your child wears shorts and cool tops.”
The CMS maintenance director confirmed to NewsChannel 36 that some schools were entirely without air, and the maintenance staff is triaging complaints to fix the issues as quickly as possible.
Kidd also told NewsChannel 36 she heard from one proctor of End-of-Grade testing at Carmel Middle School who reported temperatures of 94 degrees inside the classroom.
Kidd also said today’s schools are not built like schools of the past, and that it is unfair to compare going to school without AC in today’s world, to going to school without AC decades ago.
“In newer school buildings and school wings, there aren’t windows that can be opened. In my classroom, I have one window that can be opened, but it is locked shut,” said Kidd.
The teacher assistant who first alerted NewsChannel 36 to the problem, Becky Thompson, was sent home for the day. CMS won’t comment and said it is a “personnel issue.” Thompson says she was sent home, in her mind, for insubordination.
She was told to return to work on Friday, although it is not clear if she will face any further punishment.
The air conditioning issues at various schools is more evidence that CMS is way too big.
Well, I've been getting paid to sit and chaperone middle school and high school students watch Disney movies while EOG and EOC re-tests are being administered. The state gives students a second chance at passing tests if they fail the first round slightly upping CMS's pass rate.
Students who passed NC state tests the first time completely finished school the day they passed with nothing left to learn and nobody to teach since their regular teachers are not allowed to administer re-tests. Translated, if a student failed their general science test (a lot in a class I covered this week) a band teacher or a social studies teacher from the same school has to proctor the re-test throwing the entire school bell schedule off for everyone but allowing time for lots and lots of fun movies shown on a large and technically advanced Smart Boards. Pass me the pop-corn!
Did I mention the number of paid substitutes who factor into this picture?
I have to wonder if CMS will re-test their pay for performance exams as well. If students are given a second chance to perform better, than shouldn't teachers be given a second chance to perform better?
Seriously, the school year should have finished about 2 weeks ago. How much does it cost to keep 178 schools running under these conditions (air conditioning or no air conditioning) ? Keep a few schools open and bus kids who need to be retested to them.
A mind (and your money), a terrible thing to waste.
Speaking of paid substitutes:
Once Pay-for-Performance tests are completed (on top of EOG's, EOC's, course summation tests not included as part of NC state's testing lineup, AP exams and retests for students who failed the first time), what is the incentive for a teacher to stick around school and not use up every bit of personal leave time?
Gee, I don't know how we ever survived school without air conditioning.
I never went to an air-conditioned school until I got to college.
What is more troubling than air conditions not working, are air conditions being turned off automatically at 3:30pm. What teacher finishes all of their school work at 3:30pm. The rooms get unbearably hot very quickly! I bet Pete Gorman has air after 3:30. It all falls in line with him canceling the program that honors exceptional award winning teachers at the end of the year. Pete does not care about CMS employees!
Did anyone hear this..
The GOP caucus accidentally left audio recorders running during a secret meeting at the General Assembly today. According to the audio tape, the GOP leadership discussed budget strategy (including a plan “to obfuscate” during the debate) as well as plans to attack NCAE and educators for speaking out for students and public education. The entire secret meeting was listened to and recorded by the media, including WRAL, News & Observer, Charlotte Observer, Associated Press, The Insider, and News & Record.
So Eric, what happened to Becky Thompson out at Mint Hill Middle today? Forty lashes? Reassignment to Building Services? Thirteen years in Chateau d'If?Inquiring minds want to know why this article was swept away so fast when most education articles fester for months? We can't blame this on Ann.
"I'm So Clever" idea of the day..
Since most middle and high schools ceased to operate normally after the first round of EOG/EOC testing was completed -leaving plenty of time for students to watch movies, play games, have extra recess time, draw pictures, text, talk, walk back and forth to the water fountain 3 times within an hour and so forth - why not shut down air conditioning in most rooms completely and allow students to hang out and pass 7 hours of time a day in air conditioned gyms, cafeterias and auditoriums to fulfill NC school attendance requirements.
Classrooms without air conditioning soon become unbearable. Add 27+ students....the unbearable has now become stifling! The air is turned off every afternoon and without cross ventilation - (and how many classrooms have windows on two opposite walls) - I soon take my work home to complete.
Just think about our wonderful custodians who work in these conditions all summer long. Mr. Gorman is saving money, by not running the air all summer. The custodians work 10 hour days cleaning, stripping floor wax, then waxing floors with the temperatures rising. This is inhumane!! The students have been without air for a few days, the custodians will work without air throughout June, July and half of August. All to save money - who cares about the health and welfare of those who make our schools look their best. God Bless them all.
Eric or Ann:
Please follow up on the assistant punished for what were at best helpful and at worst, mildly critical comments.
Is it any wonder that teachers are afraid to criticize more substantial issues publicly considering such a move by Uptown?
I've taught at CMS for years and taught in the north with a union. CMS is HORRIBLE. Our principal asks us what we think, we tell it, and then he holds it against employees. I've learned one important less - keep my head down, my mouth shut and just focus on my classroom. As soon as things improve job-wise in the north... I'm outta here, along with many of the excellent teachers. Though it may be controversial, unions attract the best teachers for a reason - better pay, more respect, good working conditions. While they aren't perfect (yes, you should be able to be fired much easier), unions offer protection and I found - a closer staff and a better environment. The south has traditionally attracted newer or teachers who couldn't get jobs in the "good" north. With the economy in the north in a downfall, many of the "good" ones came down here. As soon as that tide turns & the baby boomers retire in the north? I'm out like a scout on a new route.
Tell me again why cms has its own police force? $3 to $5 million to pay and outfit this group that could be spent on teachers and schools.
Criminal.
Anon 4:44...
Detroit is waiting with open arms...
Good luck.
Once again, what a great "failed" message we are sending our youth.
I've been tied up all week with the end of Waddell High story and just saw you guys' questions about Becky Thompson. I'll see if I can find out anything more and post any answers I get here.
Good thing Hans wasn't busted for participating in the protest dance outside of the government center.
Nc state's definition of making academic strides and gains while closing the achievement gap; coaching students to pass eog and eoc tests a second time after they failed the first time. Is this ethical? Ann and Eric, what is the difference in first time pass rates vs second time pass rates? What about students who pass the first time? It's ok for them to sit around and learn nothing the last few weeks of school in a vain effort to get more students barely pass?
7:22,
You'd be surprised how many students posted low twos the first time and middle threes the second time. If math goes first due to too few calculators, then reading scores on the second day suffer. I had many physically fade during first testing and rebound simply needing rest. No time limit testing is not very user friendly.
Pete hasn't said anything lately...any reason why? School board have his tongue?
Since EOG scores are often used to determine who is and is not eligible for gifted (TD) services, shouldn't students who score 3's and 4's also be allowed to take EOG tests twice in an effort to receive this classification which entitles them to extra educational services with specially trained teachers?
Some schools coach students to make the TD cutoff since the more TD students a school has, the more TD teachers they are legally entitled to. My own child was coached and made the cut. (Funny since private schools take CMS gifted classification with a grain of salt). My understanding is the system uses a portfolio and recommendations now to determine giftedness. However, my guess is EOG's still factor heavily into the equation.
Several of you asked what happened to Becky Thompson, the Carmel Middle School assistant. CMS spokeswoman Kasia Thompson told me today CMS won't talk about it -- it's a personnel issue. As for the air conditioning, she said that's been fixed.
So, along with the AC, Ms. Thompson has been "fixed" as well?
Um, gee, good luck to Ms. Thompson! Teacher assistants, like secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers are at-will employees, which means you can be dismissed from your job for no good reason. I certainly hope her speaking the truth does not jeopardize her job. Over the years, I have learned to speak the truth anonymuously....unfortunately it's just the CMS way.
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