The Commerce File

A "very restrictive and exclusive Spanish language immersion program" at Grace Hudson...Let's see informed pundit of crap...to sell papers in this awful economy, you must print sensationalized "observations" every so often.
Your hatred of public schools and your boner for charter/"academies" is amazing. How about a story looking into the preferential treatment of proficient students placed into programs at Redwood Academy while others, with special needs and that are proficient, are placed at A+? Woops, don't ask that question! Oh ya, sorry, when the directors husband sits on the Chamber of Commerce board you must cater to those that "buy" your "news" space.
How about the racial make up of River Oak? Looked up those demographics lately in that predominantly Hispanic neighborhood? Huh?
This is the last straw! I'm encouraging many to cancel your paper, look up real news in the Press Democrat and reputable news organizations, not your "commerce" sections.
Look up testing requirements and check all your facts before stirring the pot to sell a crappy news product. Enjoy your coffee at Schats! Hope it's still free!

I am wondering where Ms. Meadows got her information and why she is targeting Grace Hudson Elementary School.
Ukiah Unified School District is required by law to send letters to all parents of students who are enrolled in schools in Program Improvement. At this time all but one elementary school, Calpella which is K-2 only, is in program improvement. Ukiah Unified as a district is also in Program Improvement.
There are two accountability reporting systems. One is a state system and the other is a federal system. California has a system of accountability that measures growth (API), where the federal government measures the percent of students who score at or above proficient (AYP) on standardized tests. It is the federal accountability system that puts schools/districts in program improvement. The federal system does not take into account any differences of students. It clumps all students together regardless of disability, language proficiency, socio-economic, etc. The requirements for the percentage of students expected to score at or above proficient continues to climb every year. The expectation is that EVERY child will score proficient by the year 2014. Remember that expectation is regardless of disability, language, or any other differences children may have.
Most schools in Ukiah Unified have shown great growth in the California accountability systemm exceeding the growth targets set each year by the state. These are accomplishments that are a true measure of the continuous improvement/growth a school is making from year to year.
Again, I wonder where Ms. Meadows got her information, why she has targeted Grace Hudson Elementary School, and why she did not bother to find out more about Ukiah Unified's Dual Language Immersion Program before writing her commentary.

I haven't bought this paper for 5 years! I wish the writers and editors knew how to use the English language as well as the Grace Hudson School staff and students. They correct their grammatical errors.

Please note that this is a paper that publishes original articles that make fun of homeless people. Hopefully you are not expecting genuine journalism.

Get the Facts Straight wrote:

I am wondering where Ms. Meadows got her information and why she is targeting Grace Hudson Elementary School.
Ukiah Unified School District is required by law to send letters to all parents of students who are enrolled in schools in Program Improvement. At this time all but one elementary school, Calpella which is K-2 only, is in program improvement. Ukiah Unified as a district is also in Program Improvement.
There are two accountability reporting systems. One is a state system and the other is a federal system. California has a system of accountability that measures growth (API), where the federal government measures the percent of students who score at or above proficient (AYP) on standardized tests. It is the federal accountability system that puts schools/districts in program improvement. The federal system does not take into account any differences of students. It clumps all students together regardless of disability, language proficiency, socio-economic, etc. The requirements for the percentage of students expected to score at or above proficient continues to climb every year. The expectation is that EVERY child will score proficient by the year 2014. Remember that expectation is regardless of disability, language, or any other differences children may have.
Most schools in Ukiah Unified have shown great growth in the California accountability systemm exceeding the growth targets set each year by the state. These are accomplishments that are a true measure of the continuous improvement/growth a school is making from year to year.
Again, I wonder where Ms. Meadows got her information, why she has targeted Grace Hudson Elementary School, and why she did not bother to find out more about Ukiah Unified's Dual Language Immersion Program before writing her commentary.

Well stated! I'll be spending some time today gathering information on all school in Ukiah and showing that Grace Hudson Elementary is NOT the lowest performing school in Ukiah. It's called research, which most know KC is too lazy to do since she frequently spews inarticulate, unresearched, biased/racist rants about things she rarely bothers to fully inform herself on beforehand. Isn't it your job to research things before you write them? I have a 3rd grader with more ability to research than KC has shown. UDJ continues to shame itself with it's half-assed reporting and incompetent writing. You would be wise to actually VISIT Grace Hudson Elementary and witness the accomplishments these students perform daily. The faculty is dedicated and brilliant. How is Grace Hudson "restrictive" and "exclusive"? Is it because the parents have to register BEFORE the first day of school? The campus only holds so many. I'll try to get the research done today illustrating as "get the facts straight" has already stated that nearly ALL UUSD schools are participating in program improvement. At least there are signs of improvement. How many schools improved as much as Grace Hudson? How many tested better/worse? As usual, KC is letting the reader do her job. I believe an additional article is in order - only to be written AFTER you get off your a$$ and do some research! Have some pride in yourself KC and present the whole picture for once.

I love the paper. Informative articles and reporters who care about the community. It seems strange that you people say you don't buy the paper, but you come on line to read it for free. It wouldn't matter what was written in the paper you miserable people would complain anyway. Keep up the good work Journal staff, it is nice to be able to keep up on local people and events. This community doesn't know what a treasure you are.

Dont read it wrote:

I love the paper. Informative articles and reporters who care about the community. It seems strange that you people say you don't buy the paper, but you come on line to read it for free. It wouldn't matter what was written in the paper you miserable people would complain anyway. Keep up the good work Journal staff, it is nice to be able to keep up on local people and events. This community doesn't know what a treasure you are.

I agree, it is interesting how much people know about the paper and profess at the same time to not reading it. I think KC does a pretty good job of trying to cover all sides of the issues. She did a good job moderating the Measure A debate.

Dont read it wrote:

I love the paper. Informative articles and reporters who care about the community. It seems strange that you people say you don't buy the paper, but you come on line to read it for free. It wouldn't matter what was written in the paper you miserable people would complain anyway. Keep up the good work Journal staff, it is nice to be able to keep up on local people and events. This community doesn't know what a treasure you are.

Don't read it? It is the local paper. I choose to read it and the Press Democrat daily. I notice that just about every day the Press Democrat is a much better paper that regularly reports on Ukiah events/happenings before the UDJ and in more detail. Reporting should be done AFTER research and investigaion - not full of partial truths and opinion by an editor who clearly has her own agenda. She slams a local school in the commerce file with little to no research before and should be held accountable.

Pittman, don't read it. Get your news from the Press Democrat, I read the Press also. Like having a local paper that keeps the community involved. What have done to help the community?

Dont read it wrote:

Pittman, don't read it. Get your news from the Press Democrat, I read the Press also. Like having a local paper that keeps the community involved. What have done to help the community?

Asks the coward who doesn't use their name. If you have an opinion, stand up for it without hiding. What I do has no relevance here. As a reader of the UDJ, I am asking that the Editor of all people write a clear and fair article about Grace Hudson Elementary. Slamming the entire program in a few skewed sentences is not fair. I do appreciate the UDJ for it's forum to discuss local issues as we are doing now but would like to see more complete reporting printed.
To answer your question as to what I do for my community - plenty and proud of it.

Okay then!

Jennifer Pittman wrote:

<quoted text>Asks the coward who doesn't use their name. If you have an opinion, stand up for it without hiding. What I do has no relevance here. As a reader of the UDJ, I am asking that the Editor of all people write a clear and fair article about Grace Hudson Elementary. Slamming the entire program in a few skewed sentences is not fair. I do appreciate the UDJ for it's forum to discuss local issues as we are doing now but would like to see more complete reporting printed.
To answer your question as to what I do for my community - plenty and proud of it.

Dont read it wrote:

Pittman, don't read it. Get your news from the Press Democrat, I read the Press also. Like having a local paper that keeps the community involved. What have done to help the community?

I don't read it. I heard about the ignorant statements and came by to read them for myself. KC does not want Spanish taught at the school, but she has twice editorialized that a retail off-sale license should be granted to a "deli operator" 335 feet from the GH campus, in violation of two laws. Said "deli operator" has never operated a deli in his life! Facts? Don't bother her with them.

What do you call a person who knows two languages? bilingual
What do you call a person who knows three languages? trilingual
What do you call a person who knows one language? an American

Is it just me, or does KC strongly resemble Jabba The Hut with a Kathy Bates wig?

Just asking......RRRRRIGGGGHHHHTTT!

"It wouldn't matter what was written in the paper you miserable people would complain anyway."

Those miserable people, as you put it, are just putting right misstatements. What does Grace Hudson have to do with "The Commerce File?" And why is this shameless op/ed piece peddled as news?

Question: What makes K.C. Meadows an expert on Grace Hudson Elementary and their dual language immersion program?

It seems that while Ms. Meadows saw fit to put Grace Hudson's failing test scores at the top of her column on Wednesday, she neglected to do her homework. Grace Hudson is not the only site which is not meeting federal guidelines as outlined at www.uusd.net . The district as a whole has failed to meet federal guidelines under NCLB. The district as a whole and Grace Hudson as a site have both seen improvement over the last four years, but somehow that wasn't part of the story.
The school hosts a dual language immersion program, not a Spanish language immersion program; the classes are split between native Spanish speakers and native English speakers. While instruction begins at 90% Spanish/10% English in kindergarten, the English component increases each year until third grade, when instruction is split 50% Spanish/50% English. I was surprised by the implication that all Hispanic kids speak Spanish ("I mean, you're teaching the Hispanic kids in Spanish and these are still the test results?"), and I'm not sure what Ms. Meadows sees as "restrictive and exclusive" about Grace Hudson. I would be interested to know, as I find the opposite to be true.
You see, I am a parent of three native English speakers who attend Grace Hudson, and I have been nothing less than impressed with the program there. I am also an active volunteer at the school, working on arts and theater with a variety of children. My children are challenged by learning in a second language alongside their native tongue (which is fortunate as the GATE program has completely fallen by the wayside). They are also privy to a rich cultural exchange, which, perhaps unfortunately, perhaps fortunately, there is no test for.
I am embarrassed for the UDJ, and have cancelled my subscription. I LOVED having a source for local news...but it's not worth it. I don't trust the UDJ any longer.

When my daughter was at Eagle Peak, we got the same letter each year. What was our alternative? Pomolita? Jeez.

Oh, about the GATE program. When my daughter started at Eagle Peak, the principal promised that there would be a program...it never materialized. So, no GATE, falling test scores and the opportunity to be transfered to Pomo. What fun.

Don't read the Ukiah Daily Journal as a rule....I read the Press Democrat every day.

The hispanic kids are not taught in spanish but in english
thats what dual immersion is,my son is in six grade and has been there since kindergarten and he loves the program.
We even gave him a choice of after kindergarten if he wanted to go another school or stay in the dual immersion program and he choose to stay. Best program ever you should actually research it before you put it down.

Such political correctness!!! Facts are facts. The illegal Mexican population needs legal American taxpayer dollars to attempt to bring them up to speed. Apparently, it does not work. New York Times for Wednesday, October 21, 2009 page A19, "Hispanic Children Lose Ground in Early Years to Peers, Study Finds", states:.. "...children of Hispanic immigrants...tend to fall behind white students by as much as grade level by the third grade." So, lets dummy down the America, all for political correctness.

Thank you KC Meadows for the courage to report the news as it is and not as you would want it be.

Kc Meadows reports at about a third grade level, so lets all as you put it dummy down so we are able to read her reporting.

Sorry about the double post slow computer.

Most editors and teachers of Journalism tell new reporters/students to write their material so an 8th grade educated person can understand it. Short and sweet. Ms. Meadows is a professional and writes so everyone can understand what she is reporting. Your slip is showing.