This blog is new and somewhat experimental for the Canton School District. We wanted to create a forum for addressing our community's questions and concerns in a timely manner. The blog will be monitored by Lynn McMullin, Assistant Superintendent of Schools. Posts to the blog must be both signed and appropriate for communications within an educational setting.
So, we're wondering what's on your mind?
ALT Text for Web Accessibility
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In the semester web design course I teach for middle school students, I
share a series of videos and activities in a lesson series on web
accessibility. I ...
3 days ago
Posts
Hi Lynn, I just read your response to the magazine article. It really concerned me as I was taken back that we were not included. Thanks for the clarification and the recognition because we all have been working hard to make our schools better...and we did !. Pat Maloy
ReplyDeletePat is referring to a posting, titled "Response to Connecticut Magazine Article," available in the scrolling grey box on our website. It is Canton's detailed response to the magazines' "Top High Schools" list, which did not include Canton.
ReplyDeleteA student said:
ReplyDeleteI'll be anticipating some interesting content on this weblog-I'm only wondering how we are to find out about it.
The usual method for a forum is to allow any party to begin an conversation ("Post"), and the usual format is called a "discussion board" or "Bulletan board". It would requite much more work then simply running a blogger page, but it would also allow for much freer and less abridged discussion. A weblog is well suited, however, to announcing things-if that is what you had in mind, then this is right on the money. If, however, you wanted a place for people do discuss topics related to the school-that you did not begin a conversation about-then you may be persuaded to look into the following solutions:
"http://www.phpbb.com/" - First result on google.
"http://getvanilla.com/" - Second result
"http://java-source.net/open-source/forum-software" -third result with a few diffrent options (all of them written in java).
If you do choose to implement a board, make sure you don't pay any money for it.
Finally, why BLOG-why not blog? its weblog, not Big Lines On Google, right? It just looked odd on the site's page.
This could be really nice alone, as long as it is not abandoned after a few posts.
I'm a student, and generally regarded as up on techonological matters. A blog is not what you want-a blog is a log, a column, a regularly released statement from the 'blogging' party. It is not a public forum, because (generally speaking) only the creator of the blog can actually "post" or write a blog entry (except for reader comments on those posts). What you want is feedback, and what you have made is a megaphone. A much better option would be a "Board" (aka forum), or just have us email you.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have begun a blog. I find that blogging is a great way of communicating, however, our community may not be aware of how to utilize it to its potential. I have my own blog for over a year now and find it a terrific way to communicate. Maybe an informational session might be appropriate or some type of info sent home with the kids to inform parents how to use the blog.
ReplyDeleteThis will certainly be a good experiment but I do have to agree with the above comments concerning ‘best practices’ and using a blog. As is evident, there are many topics people will wish to discuss.
ReplyDeleteAdministering this could be a nightmare if a single thread contains a host of topics mixed together without assigning a search topic. I view this is a beta test and I look forward to seeing what develops out of it. Starting is the hardest thing to do. I commend you and thank you for initiating this tool.
As far as the budget: I would be interested to know, in light of the current economical environment, if there are plans to reduce, stay the same, or increase the budget?
As the state is less able to send the number of dollars our ways as it has in the past, how do you propose we will handle this shortfall?
Right now (March 18, 2009)the Board of Education's adopted budget is a 2.58% increase. However, because of fixed cost increases in teachers' salaries and benefits, insurance, out-of-district tuitions, and some operational expenses, the money allocated to programs, instruction, supplies, and technology has significantly decreased. Summer School at CBPS and CIS has been cut, as has .5 of the ACT Program at CIS. A portion of the athletic budget will be covered by a new pay-for-play fee. Another example: there will be no new technology purchases next year and the 5-year replacement cycle for computers is being postponed. The only technology expenses will be the maintenance of servers, licensing for Microsoft, First Class email, the student information system (attendance and grades), virus protection, and so on.
ReplyDeleteThere is a cut in 10 paraprofessionals, 2.2 teachers, 1 custodian, and many individual budget lines.
The budget also includes the architect fees and a downpayment on the modular classrooms for CBPS, which is part of the Capital Improvement Budget.
So, while the budget shows a 2.58% increase; it's a significant cut in programs for the schools.