‘On what are you going to blame the next disruption? Solar flares? ‘
Florida’s Education Commissioner, Pam Stewart, may be furious with the vendor whose technical tinkering led to problems logging on to statewide tests this week – the second time in two months – but Palm Beach County School Board’s Vice Chairman is furious with her.
And he expressed that fury at a meeting Wednesday.
“I don’t imagine she’s watching but I’m certain that this will get to her,” Barbieri opened.
Amid the barrage that followed:
“Commissioner Stewart, the last time I checked, the buck stops in your chair. You are, after all, the Commissioner of Education. Where do the children direct their fury at this massive failure? Who is holding you accountable? On what are you going to blame the next disruption? Solar flares? Satellite disruption? Stop playing the blame game.”
But to get the full effect, play his entire two-minute, 29-second vent above.
Barbieri hits with a we-told-you-so on being ill-prepared to give the test, asks for students to be held harmless for the results of the tests and demands an apology from her to those students.
Testing on the Florida Standards Assessments continues through May 8. But the company that is behind those tests is also debuting the state’s new end of course exam in algebra, which schools can schedule from now through May 15, according to the district’s testing schedule.
