Tony Knopp
for Cambridge School Committee
"I am concerned that while we pay for the best education, we don't always get the best."
visit Tony's own Home Page at: http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
Tony Knopp's Online Meeting
Directory
Pledge to Cambridge Voters
Personal Background
School Budgeting Process
Parental Involvement
Empowerment of School Councils
Technology in Education
Endorsements
News and Special Events
Who to Contact to get more information
visit Tony's own Home Page at:
http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
Tony Knopp is the father of two children at the Tobin
School (4th grade and kindergarten), a two-term co-chair of the Tobin School
Council, and a parent activist for technology education. Tony has
identified four focal points for his campaign and conditions to which he
pledges immediate attention when elected:
"I am running for the Cambridge School Committee because I
believe it is critical for the committee to
include parents with
children in the school system. I am one of these parents. It is up to
parents at local schools working with educators and principals who are the
best judges and who can best implement what is necessary for our children's
schools."
"I am committed to introducing technology education as a
vital component of the educational process in all schools, in order to
prepare our children for the 21st century. Technology is a piece of the
education puzzle and must be a part of all our children's classrooms. We
are able to begin preparing our kids today for the technical skills they
will need to thrive in tomorrow's economy" (As a parent activist Knopp had
crucial involvement with TECH 2000 -- a comprehensive, system-wide plan to
add technology and telecommunications as another educational tool in our
schools.)
"I am committed to empowering School Councils in order to
increase teacher accountability and parent involvement. The recently
enacted Massachusetts educational reform dictates that more control be given
to individual schools through specially constructed School Councils, but
very little authority has been transferred to the councils. I would like to
see this change in an orderly but timely manner"
"I am committed to improving and clarifying the budget
process in the Cambridge School system. The budget must be clearly
understood by the public and reveal opportunities to reallocate spending to
more areas that positively impact the educational process. I will fight for
all kids and with all parents to get the best value for the education
dollars spent."
-Tony Knopp
visit Tony's own Home Page at:
http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
Empower
School Councils
I am committed to empowering local School Councils in order to
increase teacher accountability and parent involvement.
Background
The 1993 State Educational Reform Act mandated the creation of
local School Councils comprised of elected parents and teachers. The goal of
the Act is school-based management, where local "managers" (i.e. the
principal and teachers) would have responsibility for the educational
process within their schools. To support this goal, the School Councils
would directly involve parents to steer and monitor the process.
Until now, the Cambridge School Department has worked to
subvert the goals of this Act, and at best pay it "lip service". School
Councils in Cambridge are essentially powerless. Nearly all school
management decisions continue to be made by the central bureaucracy of the
School Department. This bureaucracy has managed to limit the power that
School Councils are entitled to under the Educational Reform Act.
My Position
As a two-term Tobin School Council co-chair, I see the need
for and insist that School Councils be given real power and autonomy to
decide what happens in their schools. This will result in a dramatic
improvement in the quality of education. The effectiveness of principals
and teachers will also be enhanced as they have greater impact on the
educational process, with genuine assistance from their School Councils.
Parents will also be able to monitor the process and ensure accountability.
Parental involvement will rise, with corresponding increases in school
effectiveness, educational achievement, as well as community,
school, and family pride.
I believe School Councils must be empowered. Some of the
objectives that I will ensure are pursued include:
Meaningful participation by School Councils in hiring
and evaluating staff.
Control by local principals and Councils of their substitute teacher
pay accounts. At the end of the year, 60% of the funds saved can be spent
on locally-identified needs or improvements.
Allow each school, within budgetary constraints, to select dedicated
teaching specialists. The current system forces sharing of staff between
schools which results in a weak identification with the school community.
Spend professional development and training funds in response to
needs determined by local principals and teachers, with input from School
Councils.
Give School Councils the opportunity to investigate food service
alternatives.
Empowering School Councils means that control, responsibility,
and accountability takes place at the local level, where you and I can make
a difference. I am committed to working with and empowering all sixteen
School Councils to make school-based management a reality.
(Also see Position Paper entitled: "Increasing Parent Involvement")
visit Tony's own Home Page at:
http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
Increasing Parent Involvement
I am running for the Cambridge School Committee because I
believe it is critical for the committee to include parents with children
in the school system. I am one of these parents.
Background
All studies indicate that children whose parents are engaged
in the educational process "do better" than those children whose parents
abstain from such involvement. Equally important, it is well-known that
those schools with a greater degree of parental involvement are more
successful and effective in delivering a useful education for the students.
My Position
While parent activism and involvement is not the only
ingredient or resource necessary for a good education, it is a critical one.
Cambridge must find ways to increase parent involvement in schools. Over the
next two years, the ability to add funds to the school budget will be
limited. A resource that can be increased, with a virtual well-spring of
energy and commitment, is significantly increased involvement from parents.
I am committed to establishing mechanisms which foster and
encourage parents to get involved in their children's school. Some of these
mechanisms include:
Publishing the school budget earlier, in addition to making it more
comprehensible, so that all parents and taxpayers
have the opportunity to analyze and comment constructively on school
expenditures.
Developing a restructured and "user-friendly" Parent Information
Center which maintains and provides accurate information, as well as
tracking parental opinions in order to
shape the school system's long-term planning objectives.
Creating a city-wide Parent/Teacher Organization which provides
input into school policy and procedures.
Creating a structure for School Council members to meet city-wide on a regular basis to exchange ideas and share successful strategies regarding school-based management.
The School Committee must take a leading role in making
parental involvement a reality. I am committed to working for improved and
effective ways of increasing parental involvement.
visit Tony's own Home Page at:
http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
Technology
in our Schools
I am committed to introducing technology education as a
vital component of the educational process in all schools, in order to
prepare our children for the 21st century.
Background
We live in a high tech world where the ability to communicate
worldwide in real time is a part of our domain. Technology education must
be an equitable and integral part of our school's curriculum in order to
prepare our children for the 21st century.
A strong, effective, up-to-date public educational system serves all of us
by preparing our children to become critical thinkers and productive citizens.
Technology is a tool which enhances learning and increases the
opportunity for creative teaching. Technology is a piece of the educational
puzzle, a piece which must be in schools for them to be effective and
relevant. Using technology in the classroom does not replace traditional
education, but rather supplements and enhances it. As a result of the
"computer revolution" we now have another "instrument of learning" at our
disposal. Access to technology must become an integral part of our
children's school
building like access to the library, art and music studios,
science laboratory, and gymnasium.
Present Situation
In Cambridge, (one of the birthplaces of the computer) our
school children are not being adequately prepared for the high tech world of
the 21st century. Today the presence of computers in our schools is
minimal. The majority of Cambridge educators have not been adequately
trained to integrate technology in their
classrooms.
My Involvement
Over the past several years, I have organized parents in
demanding better access to technology education. I, with fellow parents and
educators, have promoted TECH 2000, a five to eight year plan to bring
technology to all Cambridge Schools.
TECH 2000 will provide all classrooms and schools in Cambridge
with:
Modern computers, printers, supporting networks and related equipment;
Appropriate training and professional development for teachers & staff;
Adequate funding for software;
After-school access to computers for students and community members;
Maintenance and replacement budgets for equipment; and
Technical support for teachers and schools.
The amount required to fund such an initiative can be provided by reducing
spending inefficiencies in the existing budget. Additional funding
mechanisms include: federal funds and state
grants, as well as contributions and donations from the private sector.
Particular emphasis would be placed on businesses involved in the technology
and telecommunications industries.
I will work with parents, School Councils, fellow committee
members and the superintendent to insure that the technology debate is a
positive, inclusive and fruitful one, which brings equitable results for all
our schools.
(Also see Position Paper entitled: "School Budget and
Expenditures")
visit Tony's own Home Page at:
http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
School
Budget and Expenditures
I am committed to improving and clarifying the budget
process in the Cambridge School system. The budget must be clearly
understood by the public and reveal opportunities to reallocate spending to
more areas that positively impact the educational process.
Background
Cambridge's school budget is over $84 million, which equates to
a per capita expenditure of almost $10,000 per child. We are one of the
most expensive school systems in the Commonwealth. There are good reasons
for this expense, primarily that Cambridge provides many choices, services
and educational opportunities for its students. I am not opposed to
investing in education. What I am opposed to, however, is not allocating
sufficient investment to critical areas of education.
Present Situation
Cambridge has classrooms with inadequate furniture, schools
with abbreviated arts and music programs, libraries which rely on outdated
procedures, buildings with non-existent science laboratories and test scores
which raise serious questions about the quality of the educational process.
Due to the centralized and bureaucratic nature of the school
department, parents have very little understanding of educational
expenditures. Parents' input into the budget process, either directly or
through the School councils is virtually non-existent. Furthermore, fiscal
and budgetary data that is available is incomprehensible and not reported in
a timely manner.
The status quo is confusing and makes it impossible to
understand where and how funds are being spent in our children's classrooms.
We can not make effective decisions about educational investment in
Cambridge without a clear accounting and reporting of "how, where and why"
funds are spent.
My Proposal
For fiscal reform, administrative efficiency and
accountability to becomer part of the system and schools, parents, taxpayers
and all educators must understand how expenses are incurred. We must
have a meaningful and real input into the budgetary process. I am committed
to establishing procedures which encourage this result, including:
An earlier release of the draft budget which details
justifications for new spending and evaluations of on-going expenditures.
An understandable budget document which is prefaced with an
"Executive Summary."
A mechanism for input from School Councils.
Public budget hearings allowing for constructive dialog
between administrators and parents.
I am committed to discovering and publicizing how our school dollars
are spent. I believe in the need for and will work hard to have fiscal
information available in a timely manner and intelligible format. Clear and
comprehensible budget data will educate us and encourage debate from
parents, taxpayers and School Councils. This will raise the level of
community involvement and certainly lead to a better education for all our
children.
visit Tony's own Home Page at:
http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
Personal
Background
Tony Knopp is serving his second term as co-chair of the Tobin School
Council. He has two children in the Tobin school: Tallulah, School of
the Future, 4th grade; and William, School of the Future,
Kindergarten. Tony, his wife Helene Quinn, Tallulah and William live at 9
Cutler Avenue. During his past five years of involvement in the Cambridge
Public Schools, Tony organized a group of parents that demanded and received
better access to technology education for their children; he has been a
motivational force behind implementing the TECH 2000 Plan (developed by a
coalition of administrators, teachers, and parents) to benefit all Cambridge
Public Schools; and, as previously noted, he has served two terms as
co-chair of the Tobin School Council.
"Many thanks to all of my supporters. Together we will fight hard for our
children's education."
-Tony Knopp
visit Tony's own Home Page at:
http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
Campaign News and
Special Events
Meet Tony Knopp
Alice Wolf, Art and Betty Bardige invite you to meet Tony Knopp and Susana
Segat at a casual gathering on Wednesday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Bardige's, 98 Raymond Street (between Upland and Huron). RSVP: 864-2214.
Cambridge Inside Out
Tony was recently interviewed for the local cable TV program "Cambridge
Inside Out." The interview will be aired twice on Continental Cable's
Channel 3: Tuesday September 12 and Thursday September 14, both at 7:30 pm.
Watch it!
Endorsements
Cambridge Civic Assosiation (CCA)
Tony has been endorsed by the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA).
National Organization of Women
The Greater Boston Area National Organization of Women (NOW) has endorsed
Tony's candidacy for Cambridge School Committee. Among their reasons for
supporting Tony is the belief that Tony's strong stance on technology in
education favors NOW's goal of gender equity in education.
Lavender Alliance
Tony has been endorsed by the Lavender Alliance gay and lesbian political
organization of Cambridge. The Alliance believes that Tony's positions are
in confluence with its political goals.
visit Tony's own Home Page at:
http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
For more information contact:
Tony Knopp
Tony's own Home Page:
http://hermes-op.com/tknopp
Send us e-mail
phone: (617) 661-TONY
snail mail: 9 Cutler Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138
Sean Curran, Campaign Manager