Seattle Times section dedicated to Education
The Seattle Times online edition has a whole section dedicated to education issues called the Greater Good Campaign.
Tuesday Open Thread
The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested. It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio. (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Comments
I asked at their Facebook page if Gates is funding this effort as well.
I've noted that Chad Magendanz had a press release.
“House Bill 2965 helps define our paramount duty by clarifying what school district expenses are the state’s responsibility to pay. The independent consultants collecting information on school district compensation spending throughout the state this summer would then have clear guidance to determine the state’s overall spending commitment to satisfy the 2012 McCleary ruling," said Magendanz, R-Issaquah.
http://houserepublicans.wa.gov/news/magendanz-introduces-proposal-to-help-end-dependency-on-local-school-levies/
If the state were a study funding for wrap around services such as counselors and nurses, they would fall short of the mark, too.
The Greater Good Campaign began in 2011. At the time, they were funded by Microsoft, The Bellevue Collection, Safeco Insurance, Davis Wright Tremaine and Rowley Properties.
This group needs to register with the PDC.
Polly Anna, you hit the nail on the head. I am ALWAYS suspicious when I cannot find a single name attached to a website or program.
You can't have funding without revenue. But the Times doesn't ask for more revenue, just more funding. The Seattle Times is like a race horse owner who starves his horse nearly to death, and then blames the jockey for his horse’s defeat. "Why didn't you kick the horse harder? It's all your fault," says the Times.
If the Times were serious about amply funding education, then the Times would support measures to increase revenue. Until the Times is willing to do that, its claims of being a champion of education will continue to ring hollow.