tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post5549527248021735667..comments2024-03-18T16:51:10.406-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Chris Reykdal for State Superintendent of Public InstructionMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28803772842695114022016-09-16T10:13:17.448-07:002016-09-16T10:13:17.448-07:00Here's your first one, Horace: Jacksonville
A ...Here's your first one, Horace: <a href="http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2016-05-26/story/management-company-jacksonville-charter-schools-faces-charges-fraud#" rel="nofollow">Jacksonville</a><br />A management company operating two charter schools in Jacksonville pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of grand theft, money laundering, fraud and aggravated white collar crime.<br /><br />The indictments, handed down earlier this month in Escambia County, charge four companies, including Newpoint Education Partners based in Clearwater and three vendor companies working with Newpoint.<br /><br />The indictments allege the vendor companies — School Warehouse Inc., Red Ignition LLC and Epiphany Management Group — have ties to Newpoint and yet were fraudulently billing a Newpoint-managed school in Pensacola called 21st Century Academy. The alleged fraud amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars, which ostensibly paid for supplies, equipment and services from 2011 to 2015, the indictment says.<br /><br />The indictment also says Newpoint and its vendors laundered the proceeds through multiple bank accounts “to conceal criminal activity.”<br /><br />Newpoint still manages San Jose Academy, a middle school, and San Jose Preparatory High School in Jacksonville. Both charter schools operate in one building totaling 376 students in December. It is unclear if the schools played any role in the activities alleged in the indictment.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77030411161053343272016-09-15T17:04:02.459-07:002016-09-15T17:04:02.459-07:00Reykdal is against charters and always have been. ...Reykdal is against charters and always have been. <br /><br />Dr. Goodloe-Johnson did nothing illegal; she may have not watched over people as she should (and she took responsibility for that ) but she did nothing wrong. <br /><br />Horace, I'll take that challenge because I see the plethora of fraud and mismanagment from charters every single day. As well, Charlie is right; districts get in much more trouble than charters because they have very direct public oversight.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16771848167345773292016-09-15T10:29:28.507-07:002016-09-15T10:29:28.507-07:00Thanks, Charlie, your reply reads like an open inv...Thanks, Charlie, your reply reads like an open invitation to me posting an article/report each day regarding fraud, corruption, financial mismanagement in a public school/district. You can then match that with the same from a charter school. Let's see who exhausts examples first.<br /><br />HoraceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58700703560220317212016-09-14T17:16:47.200-07:002016-09-14T17:16:47.200-07:00Similar to Gerry Pollet, Chris Reykdal has a solid...Similar to Gerry Pollet, Chris Reykdal has a solid history of opposing charter schools.<br /><br />Re: SB 6194- Reykdal attempted to remove references referring to charter schools as<br />public schools:<br /><br />http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Amendments/House/6194-S2.E%20AMH%20REYK%20H4735.1.pdf<br /><br />SB 6194 and Roll Call: <br /> https://app.leg.wa.gov/far/RollCall?rollCallId=44543&bienId=23&rollCallId=44543&bienId=23Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34412261256322454162016-09-14T16:04:59.869-07:002016-09-14T16:04:59.869-07:00Seriously, Horace, you don't want this fight. ...Seriously, Horace, you don't want this fight. There are countless cases of horrendous financial abuses by charter schools. Yes, of course there is the occasional case of financial scandal in public schools, but it isn't anywhere near as frequent or drastic as it is in charter schools.<br /><br />Seattle Public Schools is subject to an annual audit by the State Auditor. Who audits charter schools? Nobody. Seattle Public Schools' budget is a public document. The budgets for charter schools are private. The terrible scandal in Seattle's public schools was for an amount less than .25% of budget. It didn't close any schools or even have much of an impact on the classrooms and students. Charter schools sometimes get taken whole and close, putting all of the students out in the street.<br /><br />Seriously, Horace, if you had the data you would know that this is not the point you want to debate as a rationale for charter schools.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49768100765595394172016-09-14T15:58:51.322-07:002016-09-14T15:58:51.322-07:00Reykdal's position on charter schools?
His po...Reykdal's position on charter schools?<br /><br />His position is whatever WEA tells him it is. <br /><br />Boo Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91011778918413767692016-09-14T14:56:10.796-07:002016-09-14T14:56:10.796-07:00What is Reykdal's position on charter schools?...What is Reykdal's position on charter schools? His website doesn't say anything.<br /><br />Jone's website has a section on Charter Schools where she states, "As State Superintendent, I will enforce the law, because I am committed to serving all students."<br /><br />My question to her is: if they are found (again) to be unconstitutional will she enforce closing them down? Seems like a risky statement to me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51918043890516436332016-09-14T13:58:08.335-07:002016-09-14T13:58:08.335-07:00Haha, Ivan. You've got to be joking. How man...Haha, Ivan. You've got to be joking. How many examples do we have here in SPS alone of mismanagement, dishonesty, profiteering, and corruption? How soon we forget the names Manhas, Goodloe-Johnson, Potter, et al. Are you suggesting these events of fraud and corruption and financial mismanagement are limited to SPS? These occurrences are prevalent across ALL large, urban school districts and many other non-urban school districts. These are complex bureaucracies dealing with millions of dollars. Public schools are ripe for fraud and corruption and mismanagement. <br /><br />Spend an afternoon reading newspaper accounts of Miami-Dade, Detroit, Philadelphia, etc. All the evidence is there.<br /><br />HoraceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43264145497551398442016-09-14T12:09:55.274-07:002016-09-14T12:09:55.274-07:00The Seattle Times and Jones on teacher compensatio...The Seattle Times and Jones on teacher compensation:<br /><br />"Both Jones and Reykdal have close connections to the state teacher’s union, but Jones has an independent voice that could help lawmakers work toward a compromise on reforming the state’s teacher compensation system."<br /><br />http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/the-times-recommends-erin-jones-for-superintendent-of-public-instruction/<br /><br />What does this mean?<br /><br />The Jones campaign leaves me with many unanswered questions.<br /><br /><br />Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65472320049296672922016-09-14T10:58:59.638-07:002016-09-14T10:58:59.638-07:00It is difficult to understand where Jones stands o...It is difficult to understand where Jones stands on testing. See minute 3:55:<br /><br />http://q13fox.com/2016/09/06/voter-guide-erin-jones-candidate-for-state-superintendent-of-<br />public-instruction/<br /><br />Jones states she does not support charter schools, but SSS blog reports:<br /><br /><br />"I queried The Stranger to ask if they felt they have misunderstood/misinterpreted what Jones said. Here's what they say:<br />I think Erin’s comments to you jibe with what she said in the interview. I don’t think we misinterpreted anything, and Erin hasn’t said we did. <br />They went on to say this:<br />When I followed up with you on charter schools, you acted quizzical about where anyone could have gotten the idea that you like them. But you briefly praised the region’s charter schools during our meeting, calling them “FABULOUS," then backtracked when another candidate objected: “Well, they would say they are fabulous.” You can’t act like no one has a reason to doubt your position on the issue."<br /><br />Reykdal has a record: <br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Reykdal<br /><br /><br />Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43206756102605155522016-09-14T09:19:21.430-07:002016-09-14T09:19:21.430-07:00Haha, Horace:
The only fact in that statement is ...Haha, Horace:<br /><br />The only fact in that statement is that it's your opinion.<br /><br />-- Ivan WeissAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77238679429999287152016-09-14T09:10:25.714-07:002016-09-14T09:10:25.714-07:00So, Jan, I'm assuming that you don't mind ...So, Jan, I'm assuming that you don't mind paying taxes to support widespread mismanagement, dishonesty, profiteering, and corruption in public schools. The fact is that it's much more pervasive in public schools than charter schools.<br /><br />Also too, I'd love to not pay taxes for things I don't like --- I've got a laundry list of items paid for out of my taxes that I'd like to opt out of. Where can I sign up for that?<br /><br />HoraceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78686480307851870862016-09-14T05:47:34.809-07:002016-09-14T05:47:34.809-07:00Interesting how commenter/troll #1 says they'r...Interesting how commenter/troll #1 says they're voting "against a pro-union supporter and voting for Jones." The way that it is worded almost makes Jones sound like she is anti-union. <br /><br />Just an observation...<br /><br />CTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50338952219069676172016-09-13T23:50:06.762-07:002016-09-13T23:50:06.762-07:00Former SPI Terry Bergeson and Randy Dorn have endo...Former SPI Terry Bergeson and Randy Dorn have endorsed Reykdal:<br /><br /><br />"I am proud to endorse Chris Reykdal for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the position I previously held for 12 years. First and foremost, Chris is a strong advocate for our wonderful and diverse Washington students. That is job one for our State Superintendent of schools. He is also the only candidate with the comprehensive experience and background to improve student achievement, support the educators and staff in our 295 school districts, and lead a complex agency of more than 400 employees. Chris’ education finance background is ideally suited to help the state achieve the McCleary funding solution. He has the executive management experience, formal education, teaching background, legislative experience, and critical relationships in Olympia to turn No Child Left Behind’s punitive approach into powerful and relevant teaching and learning supported by meaningful accountability. The job is complex and the management challenges are immense; but Chris has the transformational leadership style to turn those challenges into opportunities for our children’s future. I urge you to support Chris in his campaign to be our next State Superintendent of Public Instruction." Terry Bergeson - Former Superintendent of Public Instruction.Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78486346459415801992016-09-13T17:32:07.149-07:002016-09-13T17:32:07.149-07:00"how important portability is in driving down..."how important portability is in driving down cost and insuring fairness and non-discrimination"<br /><br />If you mean portability as between one truly public (as opposed to private charter fake-public) school and another, I am with you. But I reject the idea that parents and children are nothing more than "consumers" of education -- to be shilled to by hucksters and profiteers shouting sales slogans while trying, on the side, to make as much profit as they can by spending the fewest possible dollars on actually educating the kids. <br /><br />Public schools are part of every citizen's civic life -- like fire stations and National Parks, and the interstate highway system. We don't all use them -- but we all pay for them. It is what we do as citizens to build the communities we want to live in. It is more like a "civic family" model -- and less like a "buyer -- seller" model). Citizens without kids still have a stake in the game, as the function of schools is to educate the citizens of the next generation -- those who will vote, fight the next generation's wars, and run society when today's grown ups will be grandparents, or gone. <br /><br />If the 2008 Great Recession did not teach me fully to stop worshiping at the shrine of "private enterprise" -- the destruction of the entire public school systems of cities like Detroit and New Orleans did. Private enterprise does some things well, and others extremely poorly. Private schools have never wanted to, or agreed to, take "all kids" -- but that was ok, because taxpayers weren't footing the bill. Charters also do not want to take, or educate, all kids -- nor do they want to provide any due process, or public accountability for what they do or don't do. But they DO take tax dollars. I am implacably NOT ok with paying taxes to support what I perceive as widespread mismanagement, dishonesty, profiteering, and corruption of charter schools in states like Michigan and Ohio. <br /><br />Jannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16596153178441051442016-09-13T17:05:44.071-07:002016-09-13T17:05:44.071-07:00Erin has called the OSPI Superintendent a figurehe...Erin has called the OSPI Superintendent a figurehead who simply represents OSPI at functions and meetings. She mentions this in an interview I had with her this summer.<br /><br />One thing I want to add to Melissa's excellent list of roles and responsibilities of the OSPI Supe is they will take the lead on how WA state provides leadership on responding to the requirements of the ESSA law that was put into effect in December of 2015.<br /><br />This new federal ed act provides greater latitude to the states to come up with their own guidelines per the ESSA requirements.<br /><br />This is a huge task and of the utmost importance in terms of how our students and teachers will be affected.<br /><br />I suggest that people watch this process closely because it will have huge ramifications for our students and teachers.<br /><br />You can check out the OSPI website for some of the information here, http://www.k12.wa.us/ESEA/ESSA/ and for a more thorough evaluation of ESSA, check out Mecedes Schneider's posts on the subject. Just Google her name and ESSA. She has studied the 1,000 plus pages of the law's text.<br /><br />You can read a brief evaluation of her concerns here, https://deutsch29.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/my-chief-concerns-about-essa/<br /><br />This is a serious task and you must think carefully about who can shoulder this task the best.<br /><br />Dora Taylor<br /><br /><br />dorainseattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15254605093014166548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19916410136707834142016-09-13T10:48:56.989-07:002016-09-13T10:48:56.989-07:00Thank you for this post Melissa. All the good reas...Thank you for this post Melissa. All the good reasons to vote for Chris for this election. <br />-MariaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67974331983361999712016-09-13T02:29:45.569-07:002016-09-13T02:29:45.569-07:00Learning that an anti-union, pro-charter commenter...Learning that an anti-union, pro-charter commenter aims to defeat Chris only confirms and reinforces my support for him. <br /><br />-- Ivan WeissAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44125887057575753382016-09-12T23:47:55.904-07:002016-09-12T23:47:55.904-07:00@same old
"how important portability is in d...@same old<br /><br />"how important portability is in driving down cost and insuring fairness and non-discrimination."<br /><br />I disagree with that assertion. What makes it less expensive? Seems like self selection usually leads to less fairness and more segregation by income, ability, and all other factors.<br /><br />-NNNCrAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59074437985216521332016-09-12T23:25:48.274-07:002016-09-12T23:25:48.274-07:00The majority of voters want some type of charter s...The majority of voters want some type of charter school???? How big was that "majority"? Look at the map of how that vote went down. The wealthiest neighborhoods, who send their kids to private schools, voted to send other peoples' kids to charters. The high FRL neighborhoods did NOT vote for charter schools. <br /><br />As for money not being the only option, how do we know until we've complied with McCleary and actually fully funded the public schools before further bleeding them to support charters.<br /><br />open earsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70623214597709700292016-09-12T23:04:39.248-07:002016-09-12T23:04:39.248-07:00I will be voting against a pro union supporter and...I will be voting against a pro union supporter and voting for Jones. If this guy is supported by the old guard who basically did nothing then I can't vote for him. <br /><br />Safety nets are becoming hammocks! <br /><br />Read Chris's following statement very carefully," I have nothing but respect for the parents who are seeking better opportunities for their children, but schools aren’t just owned by parents. They are also owned by the 4 million taxpayers and voters who don’t have children in schools. We, the people, own our schools. As soon as we believe that every “customer” of government can take their share of the tax contribution (and more) and use it in the market place, we will destroy what it means to be public."<br /><br />He is very confused about how most social programs work and how important portability is in driving down cost and insuring fairness and non-discrimination.<br /><br />Chris, schools are owned by the children not parents. I don't own the fire station or the firetrucks, but I contribute in the form of property taxes, the same as for schools. The difference is 90% of the population will never use the services of the fire dept, but 80% of the population at some point will send their children off to a building run by people they don't know to be taught many things that are questionable, so parents have a little more skin in the game than you average tax payer, ya think? <br /><br />Chris forgets the majority of voters want some type of charter school. Chris, you seem programed and out of touch with the current state academics and unfortunately like WEA think money is the only solution.<br /><br />Same old Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com