tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4332186191969402337..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Our Mystery Donor RevealedMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29860709385732220382012-04-22T22:11:22.907-07:002012-04-22T22:11:22.907-07:00ethics LOL. In a proactive act the
board asked Way...ethics LOL. In a proactive act the<br />board asked Wayne Barnett the Executive Director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission to<br />judge the matter. He informed them<br />thus;<br /><br />"The receipt of a campaign <br />contribution does not impact an<br />elected official's ability to <br />participate in official matters involving the contributor. <br />Since Buckley v. Valeo was decided<br />in 1976, contribution limits and<br />full disclosure have been the <br />accepted methods of addressing <br />the concern that public officials<br /> can be influenced by campaign<br /> contributions. So long as school<br /> board members have complied with<br /> the contribution limits <br />contained in RCW Chapter 42.17,<br /> and so long as they have also<br /> disclosed the identities of <br />their contributors to the <br />extent required by law, the<br /> Board's Ethics Policy does not<br /> require anything more of them<br /> before engaging in official<br /> business with a contributor." <br /><br />I got this gem from "Director" Carr<br />and Martin-Morris soon agreed when<br />I suggested they recuse themselves.<br /><br />Buckley vs. Valeo was in response to officers having a campaign donation limit. RCW Chapter 42.17<br />quoted and used by Wayne reflects<br />campaign donation limits. Let's be<br />very clear here campaign donation<br />limits do not apply to school board<br />elections. So Buckley???<br /><br />Lastly the issue here is the possible influence on a Board <br />member via in-direct donations.<br />The TFA never directly donated to<br />Carr or anyone, the disclosure of<br />Board member's donors does not<br />lead one to understand the connection. However when a Board<br />member's donor bankrolls the TFA<br />in Seattle and pays up an order of<br />magnitude beyond a generous donor<br />there is (in my opinion) a clear<br />conflict of interest.<br /><br />Carr and Morris disagree due to<br />Mr.Barnett - I think he is wrong.ConcernedSPSParenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15225940383725947861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16672753925505473862011-09-20T15:24:58.490-07:002011-09-20T15:24:58.490-07:00Is anyone planning to testify to the board tomorro...Is anyone planning to testify to the board tomorrow on the questionable ethics of accepting campaign contributions from these donors?chungahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106667474153634408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45783131833323085252011-09-16T17:53:32.476-07:002011-09-16T17:53:32.476-07:00Sure looks like we may need to do to court again t...Sure looks like we may need to do to court again to find out what the law actual means.<br /><br />Seems like because Norm Rice said (in August 2010) that the Seattle Foundation planned to bring in TfA in 2011 to close the achievement gaps that there is a big problem with requesting Conditional certification to close the achievement gaps. Norm clearly did not do research on TfA results in situations like Seattle's and did no research on State laws governing conditional certification. ...<br /><br />Is Norm a fan of violating state laws?<br /><br />Guess we may need to go to court again on behalf of the educationally disadvantaged learners that the SPS serves so poorly.<br /><br />In fact the SPS refuses to have community engagement on options for closing the achievement gaps. WOW what total BS this TfA proposal has been from the very start.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42159439236666590072011-09-16T17:24:45.352-07:002011-09-16T17:24:45.352-07:00What's worse, it's an experiment on childr...What's worse, it's an experiment on children of color who are living in poverty--already our most vulnerable students.<br /><br />Why doesn't HR direct these TFA recruits to other schools, like Betty Patu asked? Susan Enfield replied that, of course, they can (theoretically) be sent to schools like Loyal Heights.<br /><br />But as astute readers of this blog have pointed out--HR sends the applications to the schools, and Janet, Susan, and the TFA syndicate had already chosen their marks--the schools that fit their model--those "poor, minority children."<br /><br />Does this script help TFA fundraise? Does it allow their ambitious recruits to brag about their time in the 'hood when they have their interviews with Goldman Sachs in two years?<br /><br />Susan Enfield can claim to be on a mission to deal with the achievement gap until the cows come home, but she is a hypocrite who is putting the least prepared adults into classrooms with the most vulnerable students. She now has zero credibility on this subject (even less than when she did NOTHING about the achievement gap as Chief Academic Officer).<br /><br />--you can call a pig Princess but it's still a pigAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55486345798273535892011-09-16T17:15:28.735-07:002011-09-16T17:15:28.735-07:00Juana,
What many may not realize is:
TFA got $6....Juana,<br /><br />What many may not realize is:<br /><br />TFA got $6.2M from the rich boys club last spring for their PNW expansion (including $200K from Normy)<br /><br />The $4K is per year per candidate. The TFA contract is for 20-25 candidates per year (TFA contract runs to 2013. At 2 years ea, the first years crop could be $200K.. What a waste, no?<br /><br />Not included is the wages(borne by the district) for the ill-prepared, inexperienced teacher, plus the wage for the Star mentor teacher, plus the lost opportunity cost to train a teacher new to the profession who plans to stick around.<br /><br />Not included is the $80K start-up cost at the UW for a (short-lived) TFA alt cert program.<br /><br />Not included is the opportunity cost of talented young teachers who decide to say WTF and go to districts who don't play these games.<br /><br />Not included are the state employees who shill for TFA on our dime.<br /><br />Yeah, Norm, a bargain at $20K<br /><br />...am I forgetting anything?StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69060114668910178012011-09-16T17:10:10.088-07:002011-09-16T17:10:10.088-07:00Juana,
"Experiment" excellent word choi...Juana,<br /><br />"Experiment" excellent word choice.<br /><br />Illegal Ill-advised experimental venture would be even more accurate.<br /><br />The last big experiment was the three-year completely unmonitored Cleveland high math experiment brought to us by UW Dr. James King and the NSF/EHR ... it was a complete disaster.<br /><br />Look for this TfA boondoggle to impact nothing in a positive way..... other than the careers of TfA folks.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81408936294840758912011-09-16T15:18:49.885-07:002011-09-16T15:18:49.885-07:00Maybe I'm not understanding the big cheer by t...Maybe I'm not understanding the big cheer by the school district for $4,000 from any donor regarding TFA. Seems such a low price for an EXPERIMENT that impacts many school kids, teachers and families. Am I missing something?Juanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097177785466883340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83377422656271548082011-09-16T12:46:05.117-07:002011-09-16T12:46:05.117-07:00I used to like Sharon Tamiko Santos ...
Actions s...I used to like Sharon Tamiko Santos ...<br /><br />Actions speak louder than political BS.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5614017381384928482011-09-16T12:27:21.586-07:002011-09-16T12:27:21.586-07:00I used to like Norm Rice.
SusanI used to like Norm Rice.<br />SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17365405044666086012011-09-16T12:16:34.628-07:002011-09-16T12:16:34.628-07:00Drilling Down says:
Continued analysis at Seattle...Drilling Down says:<br /><br />Continued analysis at Seattle Foundation donors: Intellius. Its founder Naveen Jain is a well known serial entrepreneur who has attracted any number of lawsuits and threats to sue. He has counter-sued, apparently. He is no longer at Intellius. Intellius, the company, had a shaky reputation a few years back around its handling of data and the value of its marketing product. <br /><br />Maybe the company is now looking for corporate redemption via civic giving. But it is a curious choice to attach a controversial company to a controversial (TFA) cause. I would have thought The Seattle Foundation, TFA AND SPS would have wanted funders with squeaky clean reputations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23049273209033978702011-09-16T12:03:52.059-07:002011-09-16T12:03:52.059-07:00I will be advising the Board NOT to commit to addi...I will be advising the Board NOT to commit to additional TFA hires until the amount and method of fee payment is finalized. They will be putting the district at risk of failing to meet its obligations under the contract.StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80480436819452232612011-09-16T11:55:32.426-07:002011-09-16T11:55:32.426-07:00The board needs to understand something here. The...The board needs to understand something here. The Seattle Foundation's press release (written by Lesley Rogers) notes that "grant funds" are available to TFA for more TFA teachers hired in the next year (one?). Are the funds going directly to TFA or to SPS. If the latter, is this a gift or a grant? I would say it is a grant: there is a designated purpose for a given period (one year). <br /><br />If this is a grant (and I believe it is), it must conform to Superintendent Staff Procedure <a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/procurement%20and%20distribution%20services/procedure6.pdf?sessionid=450b6d87cf36af6fd48cb165ec8b96f7" rel="nofollow">G45.06</a> which states grants shall be coordinated throught the Grants Office, applications must be approved by Financial Services and others. Grants for over $250K or that carry funding obligations after the grant expires require approval by the School Board. This requires introduction and action at legislative meetings.<br /><br />First, a TFA hire is a commitment of funds of $8K ($4K for two years). The TFA contract gives a range of 20-25 TFA teacher candidates per year. That presents a potential financial exposure of $160K-$200K. The Seattle Foundation statement only mentions one year. Who is on the hook for the continuing fees? Sorry Normy, this ain't no $20K.<br /><br />Direct payment to TFA is unacceptable. SF is not a party to the contract. SPS' name is on the contract; a contract that states SPS SHALL pay fees (the contract's ambiguous and conflicting language re: "shall have no obligation" would be interpreted in court against the author of the document.) If SF gives money to SPS, it's a grant. <br /><br />Gifts or donations are to go to Alliance (yeah, whaddup wi' dat?) for beneficent dispensation. This is not a gift.<br /><br />I want to see the grant application and agreement please.StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9825005550750305442011-09-16T10:54:30.898-07:002011-09-16T10:54:30.898-07:00How can TfA even be considered a charity under the...How can TfA even be considered a charity under the circumstances here in Seattle? TfA is skimming $4,000 per Seattle "corp member" hired to do a job that is paid out of district funds. Jobs for which there is apparently no shortage of qualified applicaants. I can't believe that Norm can believe, nor say with a straight face that this is the best way increments of $4,000 can be spent to help children attending Seattle Public Schools.<br /><br />WV says "comas"...yup <br /><br />OompahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76942686105392336272011-09-16T09:03:00.789-07:002011-09-16T09:03:00.789-07:00The Seattle Foundation does two things. First, the...The Seattle Foundation does two things. First, they operate donor advised funds which allow people to make gifts to 501(c)(3) organizations (charities) in a bit smarter way than writing checks directly. People put a bunch of money into an account at the Seattle Foundation and make gifts to charities out of that account. The donors choose when to make the gifts, how much to give, and who gets the money.<br /><br />The Seattle Foundation also directs some giving. When donors die, any amount left in their account goes into a pool of money that is directed by the Foundation's board. So the Foundation itself is choosing charities to support, such as Teach for America.<br /><br />The individual donors named in the article might be directing grants to TfA from their Seattle Foundation accounts. The Seattle Foundation may also be promoting grants to TfA to their donors. Finally, the Seattle Foundation may be making grants to TfA out of the pool of money that the Foundation controls.<br /><br />Donor advised funds and community foundations are wonderful ideas and they are really great tools for planned giving, but you need to know what their policies are for when the original donor/advisors die. Some allow the donors to name successors, some do not. In addition, it is wise to know what sort of giving the board prefers to do with the Foundation account.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-154805293832385352011-09-16T09:01:52.106-07:002011-09-16T09:01:52.106-07:00Matt Griffin has been sending emails around saying...Matt Griffin has been sending emails around saying he's looked at the candidates and he's sticking with the incumbents. Now we know why. It's his right to contribute to school board candidates and to TFA. It's the little people's right to publicize the connection. Nationally and neighbor to neighbor. <br /><br />- the other skeptical -Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86323073451143557982011-09-16T09:00:04.650-07:002011-09-16T09:00:04.650-07:00The Problem with the Seattle Foundation is just li...<b>The Problem with the Seattle Foundation is just like the SPS problem.......<br /><br />Instead of investigating causes of achievement gaps and possible actions that could improve the situation ... they do the irrational.</b><br /><br />The Seattle Foundation proclaims that the Seattle Foundation will bring TfA to Seattle as a solution for narrowing the achievement gap.<br /><br />NO valid RESEARCH ....<br />NO basis for such a move ..... other than Oligarchs know best.<br /><br />This move violates WAC 181-79A-231 as you can be sure the neither the District nor the Seattle Foundation investigated all other options for closing the achievement gaps....<br /><br />The GOAL was to bring the TfA syndicate to town ... this had ZERO to do with the achievement gaps.<br /><br />If the achievement gaps were a concern there would have been actual research done on the causes of the Gap and open discussion of possible solutions. => <b>This is called <i>community engagement</i></b> (just in case you forgot -- its been a really long time).<br /><br />The Fact is there are huge differences in the Reading and Math Gaps when Seattle is compared with other Puget Sound school districts with significant Low Income populations. Seattle is an incredibly poor performer in this regard.... IT is not Seattle's Teachers that are the problem ...it is the instructional materials and direction provided by leadership ... The district's that are doing better have leaders making evidence based decisions unlike Seattle.<br /><br />Does the Seattle leadership and Board continue to make extremely poor decisions so that the lack of GAP progress can be an excuse for continued reform ... like bringing in TfA?<br /><br />There are proven practices that are being ignored by the SPS..... but Norm Rice is NOT going to actually address real solutions because that is NOT what this next expensive move is about and I am sure he would not want to embarrass Susan Enfield or the Board with the truth.<br /><br /><b><i>The SPS Directors ignored the data and will now likely ignore the motivations of the donors as well as the data and the State Law.</i></b><br /><br />Welcome to wild west Seattle Schools with<b><i> the leadership that ignores policies and laws when it suits those with the money.</i></b>dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63617845135376604702011-09-16T06:45:39.414-07:002011-09-16T06:45:39.414-07:00Let me get this straight, Norm Rice is writing che...Let me get this straight, Norm Rice is writing checks from his personal account for TFAers?<br /><br />And I heard that SSIA closed its doors this week.<br /><br />Something is very wrong.pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40899240264910662212011-09-16T05:18:33.469-07:002011-09-16T05:18:33.469-07:00Zebra - I wish I could believe you. I can't. R...Zebra - I wish I could believe you. I can't. Rice's actions should be viewed in the context of the last 3 decades of 'peace in our time' sell outs by too much of the current Democratic Party leadership - <br /><br />the country was turned in Somalia or the Sudan, so we little pee-ople are supposed to feel we got something when we lost only a little, instead of everything. <br /><br />Norm belongs with Patty & Maria & Gary & Dwight & Norm & Adam & Jim & Chris ... and Arne and Arne's boss --<br /><br />take your fat paychecks for decades of selling us out, and go away. <br /><br />It makes perfect sense for Norm to go to bat for the incestuous yuppies of the Kopp Kipp Krime Syndicate. <br /><br />TheyArentOnOurSideAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8913646534541291402011-09-15T22:15:29.136-07:002011-09-15T22:15:29.136-07:00NCLB was based on the fraudulent claims of success...NCLB was based on the fraudulent claims of success in Rod Paige's Houston Miracle.<br /><br />Will Seattle get more TfA as we have Norm Rice's fraudulent claims of TfA success?<br /><br />=====<br />The idea that schools will be improved by under trained teachers making a two year stop in the classroom before grad school is ridiculous.<br /><br />So why is Norm Rice selling this crap?dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8144220676516527022011-09-15T21:38:54.980-07:002011-09-15T21:38:54.980-07:00Alf,
Great find... the You-Tube upload was on Aug...Alf,<br /><br />Great find... the You-Tube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6ETyV7CGzg" rel="nofollow">upload </a>was on August 31, 2010.<br /><br />Nice Work!! Listening to what Norm Rice has to say. It is clear he is part of the conspiracy to run around state law.<br /><br />His sales pitch for TfA is riddled with information that has NO statistical basis.<br /><br />Zebra Zulu ... Norm sure needed a different speech writer for his "TWO MINUTE" propaganda pitch.<br /><br />He completely fails to connect any causes for the achievement gaps to his proposed solution.<br /><br />His TfA "research shows" statement is complete BS.<br /><br />What research is he referring to?<br /><br />Research in Mississippi where few fully certificated teachers were available?<br /><br />Well now we know why Jennifer Wallace executive Director of the PESB was so big on approving the end run around the state law. Big Bucks want it and Jennifer Delivers.<br /><br />What a political system!!!<br />What public servants!!!<br /><br />Wonder where Randy Dorn stands on these shennanigens?<br /><br />Where is my republic?dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28050143791029066142011-09-15T21:37:59.808-07:002011-09-15T21:37:59.808-07:00To StopTFA @ 9/15/11 4:54 PM, & re: Seattle Fo...To StopTFA @ 9/15/11 4:54 PM, & re: <i>Seattle Foundation Supports Teach For America<br />Date: 5/21/2010</i><br />$240-250k may still be chump change to the Seattle Foundation if the Gates Foundation is the one actually footing the bill:<br /><br />http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Grants-2010/Pages/Seattle-Foundation-OPP1019017.aspx<br /><br />I agree with slippery slope @ 9/15/11 9:08 PM -- Board Members who are receiving campaign funding from the TFA funders should recuse themselves from the TFA vote.gavrochehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11336376340965305696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73265539112677408312011-09-15T21:25:01.670-07:002011-09-15T21:25:01.670-07:00And here is Norm Rice's Seattle Times guest co...And here is Norm Rice's Seattle Times guest column in August of 2010: <br /><br />http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2012704319_guest24rice.html <br /><br />-- Citing MGJ's blatantly false 17% statistic as a reason for drastic ed reform<br /><br />--a statistic provided by SPS Broad Foundation staff<br /><br />--- during Enfield's tenure as Chief Academic Officer, as I recall. <br /><br />--But she knew nothing about the donors even up to this month's School Board meeting.<br /><br />Curiouser and curiouser. . . .. .Alfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41125774122852185702011-09-15T21:23:41.854-07:002011-09-15T21:23:41.854-07:00The Seattle Foundation website explains a lot.
F...The Seattle Foundation website explains a lot. <br /><br />From the <a href="http://www.seattlefoundation.org/ABOUTUS/Pages/default.aspx" rel="nofollow">"About Us" </a>page:<br /><i><b>"We maintain an unparalleled understanding of local needs and issues through regular dialogue with hundreds of King County nonprofit organizations to gain a first-hand understanding of the most effective programs and strategies. "</b></i><br /><br />WOW so that led Norm Rice and friends to believe that TfA would be the preferred route to narrowing achievement gaps.<br /><br />I am scratching my head in disbelief.<br /><br />============<br /><br />The Seattle Foundation's mission is to create a healthy community through engaged philanthropy, community knowledge and leadership. We inspire informed and generous giving to make our community—local, national and international—a vital and healthy place to live. <br /><br />========<br />So Mr. Rice have either you or your donors <br />read WAC 181-79A-231?<br /><br />If so please tell me when the "review of all options for closing the achievement gaps" took place.<br /><br />I have yet to find a shred of evidence that TfA has ever reduced achievement gaps in a community that had an adequate supply of fully certificated teachers.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12063705551492245752011-09-15T21:13:18.204-07:002011-09-15T21:13:18.204-07:00One year ago: 2010: youtube
Watch Norm Rice one...One year ago: 2010: youtube<br /><br />Watch Norm Rice one year ago soliciting donors to bring TFA to Seattle. Surprising that Enfield had no idea who the donors were -- it's been a year in the works.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6ETyV7CGzgAlfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31142881891445941312011-09-15T21:08:36.613-07:002011-09-15T21:08:36.613-07:00Is there any precedent for recusal for board membe...Is there any precedent for recusal for board member votes (you know, like Sundquist should have done during the vote for the closing of Cooper so his family's home school, Pathfinder, could take it over)?<br /><br />With the money being given to this so-called foundation, and its prior and current connection to the election campaign of four sitting board members, I think Michael DeBell, Kay Smith-Blum or Betty Patu should be "encouraged" (via email inundation) to introduce an amendment such as:<br />Those with campaign contributions given by the members of this foundation should be excused from voting on matters related to this foundation.<br /><br />--let's see how DeBell skates on this slippery slopeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com