Search Results for 'charter schools'
Money Isn’t Working In School Board Elections
When it comes to school board elections something is different. Just ask Michael Bloomberg, Rupert Murdoch and Michelle Rhee. They lost big in Los Angeles.
Despite Michael Bloomberg, Michelle Rhee and Rupert Murdoch’s big contributions, LAUSD board member Steve Zimmer was re-elected to the board, defeating their hope that Los Angeles would become the next big pathway to privatized education.
It seems that money, which is a must in other elections, doesn’t count for much in school board elections. And we don’t need to look at Los Angeles for proof. We experienced this phenomenon in Delaware.
Last year I wrote several posts on the upcoming school board elections. I hadn’t been paying much attention at the time, but as the election drew near, my attention was snagged. Something different was happening:
I haven’t really commented on the upcoming School Board elections, mainly because I can’t wrap my head around what’s going on. With all the attention on these races – phone polls, money, PACs – I keep feeling I’m missing something – Big. What is going on? What’s on the line? And why the hell is so much money being dumped into an election that, I predict, will still have a dismal turn-out.
Basically, what’s the agenda? For the life of me I don’t see it. Yeah, I get the split is between Charter and Choice (Ed reformers) supporters vs Traditional Public School supporters, but that’s hardly new. What’s new are the aggressive tactics being employed and the money being spent. All of this keeps me wondering… Am I missing something about these races; something that makes them vitally important? Is something major about to change depending on who wins these elections? If so, what?
So that’s where I started. The amount of money being dumped into our local school board races caught my attention. What held my attention was the emergence of Voices 4 Delaware, a nebulous PAC, that, in essence, became the school board candidate. You couldn’t turn around without being hit with one of their mailers or receiving another one of their phone calls. As I write this today, I can’t even remember the names of most of the candidates they supported, but I remember them.
And just like what happened in Los Angeles, big money lost in Delaware last year.
Tuesday Open Thread (02-26-13)
Thought I’d take a stab at the open thread. I’m really trying to figure out the Republican position on sequester. This is what I’ve come up: Blame Obama for the cuts we love. Ezra Klein doesn’t understand the Republican position either.
The Deliberate Destruction Of Public Education
In Michigan, Bloomfield Hills School District’s superintendent, Rob Glass, has written a letter and posted it on his District’s website. In all my years on the education front, I have never seen such a direct and urgent letter from a superintendent. Everyone needs to read this, because what he’s talking about has happened, and probably […]
The Myth And Politics Behind School Vouchers
Whenever the subject of school vouchers pops up I am always amazed at the pro-voucher contingent’s disconnect from reality. Their vision of a voucher system is so far from the truth that I have trouble not laughing. But… it isn’t funny. What it is is another attempt to destroy public education by pulling money out […]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 19, 2012
Hmmm, this one’s really interesting, at least politically. HB 363(Keeley) requires that bail bondspersons be residents of the State of Delaware. Say-y-y, Isn’t Robert Bovell, who ran against Helene Keeley in 2010 in a primary, a bail bondsman? Why, yes, yes he is. He also ran for mayor as an R, and has run on the so-called ‘Working Families’ Party line. And, isn’t Robert Bovell running for mayor of Wilmington in the Democratic primary this year? Why, yes, yes he is. And isn’t Dennis P. Williams, who is also running as a D, a co-sponsor of HB 363? Why, yes, yes he is. So, here you have a bill introduced on June 5, 2012 that just happens to address the occupation of one of the co-sponsor’s rivals for Mayor. And, as I read the synopsis, this bill would have the effect of eliminating out-of-state competitors of this erstwhile candidate from his profession. Sure as shit smells like a big stinky quid pro quo to me. Can Bovell’s withdrawal from the race and endorsement of Dennis P. Williams be far behind?
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 14, 2012
Hoo boy, we’re gonna have us a (figurative, one would hope) Shoot-Out At the Not OK Corral today. The Sheriff of Nuttingham and his Posse Comatosis will finally have to, um, face the law(makers). Thass raht. HB 325(Schwartzkopf) occupies the Top Gun position on today’s Senate agenda. It’ll pass, and I don’t think it’ll take Gov. Markell too long to sign it. Leaving only the question: Will Sussex County’s self-proclaimed top lawman honor the law of the land?
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 13, 2012
Internet gambling’s almost here. Guess it beats turning people upside down and shaking the coins into the seat cushions. And what would an internet gambling bill without even more sops to the racino industry? Hey, at least it’s a reverse-Robin Hood where the rich at worst don’t get their taxes increased and at best they get more blood money from the degenerates. HB 333(Viola) passed the House yesterday by a vote of 29 Y, 8 N, 4 Not Voting. There are no ideological lessons to be learned from the roll call, as supporters and opponents came from all political stripes. Did I mention even more sops to the racino industry? Yep, more $$’s for thoroughbred and harness purses. Oh, and something to do with waiving racinos’ licensing fees for slot machines.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 12, 2012
The payday loan bill passed the Senate and the Governor says that he will sign it! No amendments, and only one no vote (Mike Katz, whose actions get more inscrutable by the day). Congratulations to sponsor Helene Keeley, Paul Calistro, and to a dedicated and politically-savvy group of supporters. If you contacted your elected officials on this bill, consider yourselves congratulated as well. No, the bill doesn’t have everything supporters would have liked in it, but it’s a major improvement, and it’s more than I thought would get through this General Assembly. A rare victory for progressivism in Dover. Savor it.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., May 17, 2012
Excellent news, as the Payday Loans bill cleared the Senate Banking Committee yesterday. At least one killer amendment awaits, so it’s up to all of us to contact our state senators (politely), and to let them know that we want them to pass the bill unamended. And, if your senators voted to release this bill from committee, call and thank them.
Detroit Students Fight For Their Education – State They Aren’t Dollar Signs
Out of the mouths of babes. On hearing that the schools emergency manager would use his unilateral authority to close nearby Southwest High School, a couple of hundred kids last week walked out of Detroit’s Western High (Mark Maynard’s got video). The students were suspended, so instead, on Friday they started a “Freedom School” across […]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., April 26, 2012
Someone in Sussex County is going to get killed, either by a delusional deputy sheriff who thinks he’s a policeman, or by a stopped motorist who refuses to heed the instructions of someone impersonating a police officer. In a county where there are likely far more guns than people, this is inevitable today thanks, in […]
Red Clay School Board Candidate, Kenny Rivera, Responds To My Questions
Kenny Rivera is the second of two candidates (Other candidate post here) to reply to my questions concerning the upcoming Red Clay School Board Election. Kenny Rivera’s answers to my questions: Why are you running for school board, and what are the top three things you’d like to accomplish during your term? My reasons for […]
Recent Comments