Engaged
I love the little treasures found in the PPS board books. I noticed in the April 26th, 2010 board book that the district is paying outside organizations for “Community Engagement Services.” The contracts total $1,528,000. That’s outrageous considering that the Community Involvement and Public Affairs department has a $3,329,710 budget.
I recognize that the department includes Educational Television Services, Community Involvement and Public Affairs, Enrollment and Transfer Services, and the North/South Family Support Centers but that’s still $1,825,511 more than the same departments cost in 2003/04.
Here’s the list of Community Engagement Services Contracts:
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization – $238,000
Neighborhood House – $200,000
Native American Youth and Family Center – $200,000
Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods – $240,000
Latino Network – $234,000
Catholic Charities of Oregon, Inc. – $200,000
Volunteers of America – $216,000
I can’t help but notice that the organizations represent low income people and communities of color. How have these contracts benefited those communities? Why couldn’t district staff engage the same communities?
15 comments
I can’t speak for all those groups, but as for IRCO, I don’t think the district retains on staff interpreters for all of the various language groups from which our students come. IRCO has interpreters for more of the minor languages than does PPS. Does that make sense?
ESL teacher, It makes sense that PPS wouldn’t have staff interpreters for all language groups but there are separate contracts for translation services. These contracts are in addition to the translation agreements.
Carrie look in Special Education for Karen Hannan. She is the life coach that is suppose to help Joanne Mabbot get along with her assistant director. Yes we are paying for that.
Look at how Joanne Mabbot has now started placing students in out of district private schools again as well as last year hundreds of students on home instruction. When will the district wake up??
I saw that in the board book for today for the out of district private schools.
Moonlighting, A quick search of Karen Hannon shows that she has contracts going back to 2003 for facilitation and dispute resolution services. It was about $15,000 at that time. No shortage of disputes at PPS.
but right now this year she was contracted to be a life coach for Joanne and her assistant director to help them get along…..and guess what it didn’t work.
Stephanie how much money going to out of district private placements?? where can I get that information.
I got the information from the PPS website http://www.pps.k12.or.us/files/board/8-09-10_Board_Book.pdf
Community Engagement Services Contracts are totally different than Interpretation and Translation services provided by PPS and outside agencies. It is a good thing that PPS gave monies to these agencies to do this much needed service to the various communities. The federal monies need to be spent. However, it should not take away PPS responsibilities to engage communities and parents of color. As of now, I have not yet seen a comprehensive plan from PPS Communications Department as to how they were going to engage parents and communities except for a large volume of translated materials that might not even reach second language families. It is superficial engagement with very little substance and real impact on closing the students’ achievement gaps.
Heartspring 07/01/10
through
06/30/11
Expiring
Term:
01/01/09
through
06/30/10
Personal /
Professional
Services
PS 54894
Amendment 5
Special Education:
One-year extension of
IEP plan for a particular
District student.
Fund 101
Dept. 5528
$232,175
$995,024
$0
J. Mabbott
WTF?
that is because Joanne Mabbott is so out of her league and can’t do the difficult work. This student never should have gone to residential and we pay for parent vists…Now he has been there 3 years because of Joanne Mabbotts laziness and inablity to make good decisions for the district and for kids. Remember she is 19 million dollars over budget this year and the district protects and covers for her./??????
from my own personal knowledge,,, the current district,PPS, protects and covers only those they like. Not exactly a cross the board policies for every employee.
Moonbaby: You are correct. Carole has her favorites: Zeke, Hank, Robb, Jollee, Cynthia, Cliff, Susan, Joanne, Carla and a few others… Some of these people have messed up big time.
I have seen it over and over again, but come on 19 million over and having to have genral fund bail her out, using all ARRA money the first year. Not making MOE- that will mean financial sanctions.
Carole Smith could VERY EASILY plug the current $6 million hole by getting rid of these expensive consulting contracts. Those dollars belong in the classrooms. What a waste.
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