We are starting this petition to retain a tenured and recognized member of the faculty who has led a number of projects to encourage women into STEM programs, is a revenue generating professor in a deficit laden school, has an asteroid named after her, and teaches twice as many classes per year as the Physics professors at Orono. Due to the retrenchments put forth by the interim President Flanagan and Provost McDonnell, in December she will be unceremoniously ripped from the Physics program against her tenure and union contract. This decision will not only affect students currently enrolled in the program but will negatively impact the overall quality of education at the university and drive income earners from Southern Maine.

Harding High School has a long history, tradition and legacy that have grown over almost 90 years. We the alumni hold these things close to our hearts since we have worked hard to build that history, legacy and uphold the traditions. We are petitioning those in authority to prevent the renaming of our dear Alma Mater, Warren Harding High.

One day soon, you might be stopped on the street and asked to sign a petition in support of "great new public school option coming into the neighborhood." At the top of the petition, you will also see the words "Success Academy Charter Schools." Here in District 1, we want our schools to reflect our values, cultures, and diversity. Given rising class sizes, rampant overcrowding and inadequate funding, who wouldn't want another great public school? But the Success Academy claim is very deceptive. Success Academy Charter Schools take resources and space from our public schools. What’s more, Success Academy Charter schools do not serve the same number of high-needs students as do our district schools. Our schools, which will lose resources to Success Academy, will enroll even more at-risk students that Eva's schools will not take. Standing up to say no to Success Academy can help protect and support the community schools we already have in District 1. By signing this petition you are telling Eva Moskowitz and Success Academy that we are a strong, united community dedicated to supporting schools that truly serve our needs. Dear Success Academy, THANKS, BUT NO THANKS!

We do not have enough spending in our honors school system. There is about $1 for every honors student a year!

I just started this journey with my children and the more people find out that my son can not participate with kids he has been playing sports, the more shocked they become. I believe many people aren't even aware that this law is in effect, NY being one of 19 states that do not allow HS children to play sports. It is time people become aware of this discrimination!!

Time magazine is about to use its cover to blame teachers for the problems in America’s schools. On Monday, Nov. 3, this cover will be in every supermarket checkout line and newsstand across the country—and it’s already online. Time’s cover misrepresents its own reporting. The Time article looks at the wealthy sponsors of these efforts. And while it looks critically at tenure, it also questions the testing industry’s connections to Silicon Valley and the motives of these players. The cover is particularly disappointing because the articles inside the magazine present a much more balanced view of the issue. But for millions of Americans, all they will see is the cover and a misleading attack on teachers.

Comments by DEA Members -The most agreed upon concept is that the teachers will be a part of the entire Darien Community; attending sporting events, talent shows, dramatic and musical performances. Once a child is involved with a school, they are likely to want to participate in other programs offered by that community, such as little league and CCD. Having teachers know their students’ interests and actually see them participate in programs beyond the classroom, strengthens the relationship and the motivation level of both the students and the teachers. -Our principal had told the grade level leaders that the PTO would appreciate any teachers that could to attend our schools’ talent show on Saturday. The PTO hopes to create a stronger community with the teachers. She explained to them that many teachers spend the weekends with their families and have activities for their own children in the town they live in. While, she would pass on the message to teachers, she wanted them to understand that side. This is a perfect example of how allowing teachers to bring their children would increase teacher attendance at school event and create more community in the school district. Since many teachers cannot afford to live in Darien, most teachers’ kids do not attend DPS- and therefore not as many teachers are available to attend school functions outside of school hours. - Up until 2005, faculty children could attend Darien Public Schools. Policy changed due to increase in enrollments. -Similar districts offer this benefit • New Canaan • Ridgefield • Westport • Greenwich • Weston -Benefits • Incentive for longevity of teacher employment • Attract highly qualified new teachers with additional benefit • PTO’s have requested to build strong community involvement of teachers • It would increase teacher involvement since teachers would attend more events with their own children o Sports teams o Sporting events o Talent shows o Theatre and music events o Turkey bowl o Class Advisor – increase participation o Participation in Committees o Names Day o Tall and small dance o Book fair • Teacher/Child would have same school schedule and snow days • Teachers would have less child care issues and it would free up time to attend more events with their own children within the Darien district. -I think there are many positive aspects to this addition in our contract. I think the key information would be comparisons to the surrounding districts. Many of us have given years of service and dedication to the district, and it would be nice to have some additional benefits to assist us in giving our children a better education. I know it would also be easier for parents to have the same days off, snow days etc. However, I heard (not sure if it’s true) that many years ago when this was intact you could have your child here but then they changed elementary schools every year based on the enrollment numbers per school. I would not like my child switching every year so we would have to make sure that whichever school they were enrolled in they stayed in that school. -Teachers whose children attend school in the district they work in could potentially need to take fewer personal or sick days if their schedules align with their children's school schedule. I often hear of teachers who have to leave early, or stay home to take care of or pick up their children due to school closings, sickness or holidays that don't align from town to town. Also, typically parents are very invested in and dedicated to enhancing the schools and educational programs of which their children are a part of. As teachers, of course we are all very invested in our careers and in making this district the best it can be for the children who attend school here. However, if our own children went to the schools here too it seems that the potential for furthering our investment in this district would be even greater. We may be able to volunteer more often, or work more towards enhancing the programs that are offered here, as opposed to going home to our own towns and volunteering our time there. In these ways, I think the tax payers in the town would be benefitting from teachers being allowed to bring their children to school here. These are all just thoughts and points of discussion that have been brought to my attention during conversations with fellow teachers about this subject, (and with some mothers who live in the town)… Not to mention that I believe many of the surrounding towns allow this… if Darien did too, then it would obviously be attractive to potential new hires. In the competitive area that we live and work in, don’t we want to attract the most qualified new teachers to our district?

Concerned Citizens for Full Day Kindergarten represents community groups within the HV School District. Along with increasing academic instruction, developmentally appropriate full-day kindergarten will offer a more relaxed atmosphere and more opportunities for child-centered, creative activities, as well as more opportunities for developing social skills. Currently, Kindergarten teachers face the challenge of squeezing a full day curriculum into a half day schedule. This means Kindergarteners do not receive the full benefit of the reading and writing curriculum or sufficient exposure to Math, Science, Social Studies, Art and Music. The space, curriculum and budget is there. There is no reason to delay! Let's not let time be the reason kindergartners of 2015 do not get a fair education.

Fort Bend ISD currently has a proposal to rezone all Lake Olympia residents attending Elkins High School. Under this proposal, all Lake Olympia residents entering grades nine, ten, and eleven, will be required to attend Hightower High School, starting in the 2015-2016 school year. Please let the voices of Lake Olympia be heard.

Right now Oregon is 47th in the country for what we invest in higher education. There are only three states doing less to support students in America than we are! We have the opportunity to do something really big to support higher education by voting YES on Measure 86, which would allow the state of Oregon to create a fund called the Student Opportunity Fund -- a constitutionally-protected source of student aid for higher education and job training. I believe our students -- who make up the future workforce -- are every bit as important to our state’s economic vitality as infrastructure. Measure 86 would allow the legislature to use the same funding mechanism we use to pay for new bridges and highways to pay for our students to get a college education. Oregon’s graduates right now each have an average of $29,000 in debt. That’s not the Oregon I want to leave to our kids. Support our students and vote YES on Measure 86 on Election Day! There are some really good ideas out there to support students trying to get an education. We already have the Oregon Opportunity Grant which provides direct support to students in need. Also on the horizon, I am very excited about the innovative Pay it Forward proposal that my friends from Oregon Working Families have been leading the way on. Ted Wheeler Oregon State Treasurer

I have a smart student who is now frustrated and not doing well with the common core method. Why fix something that wasn't broken in OPUSD schools? Go back to the old way of teaching.

Majority of my peers spend their leisure time in school, participating in athletics, or establishing a social life; they are not plotting, executing, and contemplating the consequences of criminal activity. These are the primary reasons why adolescents should be given alternative trials and consequences; they do not share the same mental capabilities as adults, so they should be regarded as one.