I have a story in today’s paper looking at the importance of school leadership. While interviewing for this story, I collected a lot more information than could fit in the newspaper article. But that’s the beauty of the blog! Here’s what each superintendent had to say about leadership and their top priorities for the district. Enjoy.

Interest rates on Stafford student loans will be on their way down in the next few years if Congress has its way. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 passed the full Congress on Friday and now awaits President Bush’s approval

If made law, the bill would gradually cut Stafford interest rates from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent by 2011. The lowered rates would only be available to new borrowers but, according to Sen. Chuck Schumer—who held a press conference discussing the interest rate cuts today— other borrowers could eventually qualify for the lowered rates too thanks to a bill on loan consolidation that’s also in the works.

The College Cost Reduction an Access Act of 2007 would also increase Pell grants and would limit the size of monthly loan bills. (For a good summary of the bill, check out this site.)

I called the White House media relations office earlier today to ask if the President is planning on signing the bill. As of 5:15 p.m., I hadn’t heard back. I’ll let you know if that changes.

An original composition created last year by Ossining fifth graders has been chosen for performance at an annual electronic music showcase. Congratulations! Here’s the press release…

Student Composition Chosen for Performance at NYSSMA’s Winter Conference

(OSSINING, N.Y.) – An original composition created last year by Claremont School fifth graders Silvia Roldan and Peter Yergeau has been chosen for performance at the 2007 12th Annual Electronic Music Composition Showcase at the New York State School Music Association’s Winter Conference in Rochester, NY, November 29 to December 2. It is one of only nine compositions chosen for performance from across the state.
The students took a Composition and Arranging course taught by Peter Piacquadio through the school’s HEROES program, which offers classes before- and after-school. The course uses music technology hardware and software applications, and was created in response to overwhelming student interest.
This year, Roldan is a sixth grader at Anne M. Dorner Middle School. Yergeau is attending The Master’s School.
The Ossining Union Free School District, nationally recognized for its mission to further the success of all children, serves approximately 4,200 pupils in six schools: Roosevelt School for newborn to four-year-olds, Park Early Childhood Center for kindergarten through first grade, Brookside School for grades two and three, Claremont School for grades four and five, Anne M. Dorner Middle School for grades six through eight, and Ossining High School for grades nine through 12.

School grounds are among the many places you’ll find Sept. 11 memorial ceremonies today. In Rockland, those schools include St. Anthony’s Elementary in Nanuet and Rockland Community College in Ramapo. (Read more about those ceremonies and others in tomorrow’s paper.)

Schools across the country are marking the solemn anniversary too. A few examples:

• * Guest speakers in Illinois.


• * Singing in Florida.


• * A flag raising in Alabama.


• * Lesson plans in Arizona.


• * Talking, writing journal entries in Indiana.

The school year got off to a bit of a rough start this year in Mount Vernon. The schools were supposed to open last week, but a few didn’t open until today. And parents this morning were protesting what they said were unsafe conditions at Columbus Elementary School. Click here for the story.

Reporter Nicole Neroulias sat down to discuss the story for The Hall Monitor.

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It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Superman! Um, no, wait a minute… It’s Punctuation Man!

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Ever take a gay studies class in college? Ever consider minoring in the subject? According to this report by the Associated Press, that may be easier to do now more than ever.

No Child Left Behind has often been cited as the reason behind rising test scores in some states and more teachers becoming certified. However, the federal law has hampered true analytical learning and had many other unintended consequences, according to a short film developed by Joseph Landreth of BeTheChangeFilms.

The Hall Monitor was shown the 9-1/2 minute film, which is available on YouTube. It contains the opinions of teachers, students and experts, including Gerald Bracey, a Virginia-based writer and researcher on education issues who also regularly e-mails me with ideas and insights.

Take a look at the film and let us know what you think. For more information, visit http://www.bethechangefilms.com/.

Update: The embedded YouTube video was removed from our site because of potential legal issues. However, the filmmaker sent The Hall Monitor the video, which is now hosted on our servers.

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Lower tax rates have been announced in the Carmel and Mahopac school districts. Read on for more information.

UPDATE: Please click here for today’s story in The Journal News.

The Manhattanville College Board of Trustees met today to review the circumstances surrounding the departure of one of its senior executives, Vice President for Student Affairs Mary Corrarino. After more than two hours of deliberation, the “vast majority” confirmed their support of President Richard Berman, who has come under fire for Corrarino’s departure and recently suffered a vote of no confidence from the college’s faculty. Click here for the story in The Journal News.

Please check back for updates….

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Dads, give yourself an extra half-hour or so in the morning to take your kids to their first day of school tomorrow or Thursday. That’s the message from the Black Star Project, a Chicago-based group that seeks to increase the involvement of fathers in their children’s education.

Through its Million Fathers March, the group is hoping to start a national movement where men, particularly black men, use the first day of school as an opportunity to meet with school officials and teachers and become involved in activities.

The march is in its fourth year and the ultimate goal, according to the organizers, is the elimination of the racial achievement gap with fathers showing a greater commitment to helping kids with their studies.

If you are a father who is looking to become more involved in your children’s education, let us know. You can also visit http://www.blackstarproject.org for more information about the project.

Are higher scores on standardized math tests a result of easier test questions? That’s what the New York Daily News is suggesting in a report published today.

This summer, the paper gave the same group of kids a state standardized math test from 2002 and a standardized test from 2005. The kids did better on the ‘05 test.

Said one 9-year-old participant: “”The 2002 questions were more complicated than in 2005 … In 2005, they kept it short, simple and sweet.”

Congratulations to Ossining High School Senior Jessica Bailey for completing the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Philadelphia.

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A teen who tricked football fans from a rival high school into holding up signs that spelled out “We Suck” has apparently been suspended for the prank.

According to the Associated Press, Kyle Garchar, 17, a senior at Ohio’s Hillard Davidson High School, “created a grid to plan how the message would be spelled out once fans in three sections held up either a black or white piece of construction paper. Directions left on stadium seats instructed fans to check that the number listed on their papers matched their seat numbers. Darby supporters [from Davidson High rival Hilliard Darby High School] were told the message would read ‘Go Darby.’ ”

(To see the prank in action, check out the YouTube video here.)

Davidson High School’s principal reportedly gave Garchar a three-day in-school suspension and banned him for extracurricular activities for a semester. Did Garchar deserve it? Popular sentiment—if YouTube comments are any indicator—seems to be with the teen and against his principal.

What do you think?