| Making the Grade | Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt has put the district on a steep learning ...
Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt had turned in his 45-page report -- a self-evaluation of his second year as the district's leading man. And as he entered the July 25 meeting of the Pittsburgh school board, all he needed was a grade. At the head of the long, slender conference table in the district's Bellefield Avenue headquarters, Roosevelt sat quietly as board members debated whether he had accomplished what he set out to do in his first two years -- and, subsequently, whether he deserved a pay increase of $15,000. Not everyone thought Roosevelt deserved high marks. "We need to show tough love to the man at the end of the table," said school-board member Mark Brentley, joining the meeting via speaker phone from St. Louis.
Trying to beat the bell
RATHDRUM -- It almost looks like work is just getting started at Lakeland High School, but in fact it's nearly done.When classes resume on Tuesday, there will still be a significant amount of exterior work to be completed, but inside only details need to be tended to, said Conrad Underdahl, school principal."There are little things, but a lot to do," he said. .
MONDAY MORNING SPECIAL
It was a sweltering hot August day. The type that leaves you forgetful of where you might have parked your pickup. So, I was hoofing it up the one-way street that leads to the cul-de-sac of dreams where my elusive friend Bubba makes his home. When you walk, you see things that otherwise escape your attention. Some of the 8-foot-high weeds actually have delicate little veins running through their bitter prickly leaves. Not all of the crushed water bottles claim to have been shipped from high mountain streams. And some people have 60-foot wide holes in their front yards. "Bubba-ubba-ba! What-ut-ut are-ar you-oo-oo do-oo-ing?" I called out into the chasm. "Be-ee right-ite there-air-air!" came Bubba’s reply from the depths. * * * Five minutes later, moving up hand-over-hand on a ladder with no base in sight, Bubba popped his head up.
COOKING UP TROUBLE
Every year high school football coaches and players complain about the heat during August practices. But they say they've never had to face anything like this. The National Weather Service agrees. Since Aug. 1, the average high temperature in the area has been 98 degrees. Practice began Aug. 6 right about the time a high pressure system began to sit on the South. The heat and humidity is beyond oppressive. It's dangerous, especially for players wearing helmets, dark jerseys and practicing in the oven that is the New Orleans metro area right now, experts said. Tuesday, for the fourth consecutive day, the National Weather Service issued a heat warning for most of the parishes in southeast Louisiana. Football teams have always had to deal with heat and humidity, but the recent days have been record-setting.
|
