At last night’s meeting of the Whitewater Unified School District’s board, the board heard a presentation from the district about fall instruction for the first two weeks of school, and the metrics the district is considering when deciding schools’ status after those initial weeks. The meeting was informational only, so the board took no action.…
Education
Conspiracy Theories, Culture, Disinformation, Education, Social Media
Facebook Discussions as Displays of Ignorance, Fallacies, and Marginal Literacy
by JOHN ADAMS • • 3 Comments
In communities in the Whitewater area, assorted Facebook pages (particularly) are a significant means of messaging about politics, culture, etc. Too often, these messages are evidence of ignorance, fallacies, and are poorly written (to the point of only marginal literacy). Over time, as these rural communities have suffered relative economic decline, they have also experienced a…
City, Coronavirus, Education, Open Government, Public Health, School District
The Whitewater School Board’s Decision on Early Fall Instruction: 4 Points
by JOHN ADAMS •
Updates, afternoon of 7.28.20: (1) I’ve added a recording of the 7.27.20 meeting. The best record is a recording. (2) A reader emailed to ask where I stand on recent pandemic-related public actions. On masks, I supported the city’s ordinance (to take effect 8.1) as an unfortunate necessity to preserve safe mobility in the marketplace.…
Conspiracy Theories, Coronavirus, Culture, Disinformation, Education, Free Markets, Public Health
The Price of Ignorance is Widely Paid
by JOHN ADAMS •
As nationwide chains take sensible measures to require masks, ordinary workers at those chains find themselves the underserving recipients of abuse. Kelli Weill reports Walmart Workers Are Terrified of Enforcing Mask Rules: Even in a time of record unemployment, some of Dan’s colleagues at an Indiana Walmart have walked off the job. They aren’t quitting over…
Coronavirus, Education, Public Health, School District
The Choice on Schools Is About Hard Work
by JOHN ADAMS •
The choice before us is not between schools staying closed or schools reopening in potentially unsafe conditions. The choice is whether we care enough about opening schools to do what is necessary *now* so it will be safe to do so in the fall. — Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) July 7, 2020 Hennessey sees what truly…
Coronavirus, Education, Public Health, School District
Local Portents on Addressing the Coronavirus
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Whitewater Unified School District, like every other district in the area, has choices to exercise about holding classes during this pandemic. The district recently sent an email link to a survey soliciting parents’ views, and the new district administrator and veteran school board will soon have important decisions to make. Over in the Jefferson…
Education, University, UW System
Sole Finalist in UW System President Search Withdraws
by JOHN ADAMS •
Kelly Meyerhofer reports today that University of Alaska president withdraws as sole finalist in UW System president search: The sole finalist in the running to lead the University of Wisconsin System withdrew his name from consideration Friday after a months-long search marred with criticism. University of Alaska System President Jim Johnsen, 62, informed search committee chairman…
City, Education, School District
The (Unexpectedly) Divergent Paths Before the Whitewater Schools
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Whitewater Unified School district is looking for a new district administrator. The public K-12 district serves Whitewater and some smaller towns nearby. Over the last two days, the two finalists for that position participated in public forums held via audiovisual conferencing. There’s no reason whatever to doubt that both candidates are sincere in their…
Education, School District
District Administrator Search Community Forums: 4.21 and 4.22
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Whitewater Unified School District, the public school district for Whitewater and several smaller towns nearby, is searching for a new district administrator. There will be community forums via videoconferencing with the two finalists, Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, Executive Director of Student Services for District #89 in Melrose Park, Illinois, and Ms. Kellie Bohn, Superintendent for…
Education, School District
The Whitewater School District’s Survey – Work to be Done
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Whitewater Unified School District is searching for a permanent district administrator, and a consulting firm (Hazard, Young, Attea) solicited survey answers on respondents’ opinions and preferences. The summary of the survey results appears below, as a .pdf file. (A link to a separate leadership profile from the consultants also appears at the end of…
Education, Open Government, School District
Whitewater Schools: Meeting, Survey, Timeline for the Next District Administrator
by JOHN ADAMS •
There are important steps ahead in the Whitewater Schools’ search for a new district administrator. (A link on the district webpage has information about the process. I’ve reproduced key information below.) Tonight, at 6:30 PM in the Whitewater High School library, there will be an open forum where residents can share their views on what…
City, Culture, Education, Open Government, School District
A Change of Venue for a Public Forum
by JOHN ADAMS •
One reads that the Whitewater Schools have changed the location of a public forum for the selection of a new district administrator to the library in the high school. The forum is now scheduled for 2.18.20 @ 6:30 PM (“Residents will have a chance to offer input on the school district’s next leader at 6:30…
Education, Open Government, Press Release, School District
Whitewater Schools: Paltry “Community Input”
by JOHN ADAMS •
Update, 2.10.20 – Since this post, the location has now been changed to Whitewater High School’s more spacious and inviting library. There’s a story in a local newspaper about a public forum for community input on the search for a permanent Whitewater school district administrator. Here’s the beginning of the newspaper’s account of the district’s efforts:…
Culture, Education, School District
Ready-Made is Poorly Made
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Whitewater Schools now have an interim district administrator, and the district is looking to hire a permanent replacement. At the most recent school board meeting of 1.27.20, there was a brief discussion of community involvement in the selection process (see meeting video). The school board president and vice president (having each been on the…