Different Public School System, Same Outside Companies Involved: SUPES Academy, ERDI, Digital Promise, League of Innovative Schools, Broad Academy

Baltimore County 2.0: Parents File Suit Against Washington State School District with Baltimore County Schools’ Ties

..Among the school systems’ similarities are superintendents who worked as consultants for controversial education consulting firms, SUPES Academy and the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI). Both graduated from the SUPES Academy Richmond cohort, two years apart.

Both districts also have connections to Digital Promise, League of Innovative Schools and professional development company, Modern Teacher, whose founder also created the National Center for Digital Convergence (NCDC).

Watts, and at least two Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) employees have had positions on the NCDC’s advisory board.  BCPS’s executive director for the Department of Innovative Learning, Ryan Imbriale and his wife, director of Enterprise Applications, Jeanne Imbriale, disclosed the positions on their financial disclosure statements, documents obtained by The Baltimore Post.

Some Kent School advocates say they see the relationship between their school district having a Modern Teacher connection, and a superintendent that served on the NCDS’s advisory board, as a clear conflict of interest.

Baltimore County schools has paid out over $1 million to the vendor, which goes by eSchool and various other names, records obtained through a Maryland Public Information Act show. Books by Modern Teacher are required reading for Kent Schools administrators, according to advocates there.

Along with the questionable vendor relations, Mrs. Bettinger said that, with the addition of the Broad Academy where Watts received his superintendent training, that the school system lacks any “evidence that (those companies) bring any type of positivity to our school districts.  I’m not finding a lot of logic and reason in what is happening in our school districts,” she said...

https://thebaltimorepost.com/baltimore-county-2-0-parents-file-suit-against-washington-state-school-district-with-baltimore-county-schools-ties/?fbclid=IwAR2NJcJGq4HdldFFvsNxqgn__gyS0TKUtJT-rPayzCxy0cCU35YF3UkUXw4

Former P.G. Superintendent John Deasy finalist in CA school system

...John Deasy was named Wednesday as the finalist to become superintendent of San Joaquin County’s largest school district.

“I’m thrilled to be taking the job,” Deasy, 58, said during a phone interview from Los Angeles. “I’m humbled, honored and very thankful for the board to consider me.”

Deasy’s career in education spans 35 years, with beginnings as a high school teacher, principal and several superintendent roles on both coasts.

Most recently, Deasy led Los Angeles Unified, the nation’s second-largest school district, from 2011 to 2014. Before that tenure, he served as superintendent in Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland from 2006 to 2008, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified from 2001 to 2006, and Coventry Public Schools in Rhode Island from 1996 to 2001.

After his time at LAUSD, he became superintendent consultant for the Broad Center, where he coaches current and emerging national education leaders, according to an online biography. He also maintains a management consulting practice and is active on a number of boards, including those of UnboundED, College Summit and Cambiar.

He is the board chairman of Reset: New Day, New Year, an alternative prison for young men, and editor-in-chief of “The Line,” a magazine dedicated to civil discourse on pressing social issues, education and social justice.

Born in Boston and raised both there and in Providence, Rhode Island, Deasy earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Providence College and a doctorate from the University of Louisville in Kentucky...

http://www.recordnet.com/news/20180502/former-los-angeles-superintendent-picked-to-lead-stockton-unified

Broad Foundation suspends $1-million prize for urban school districts

Billionaire Eli Broad has suspended a coveted, $1-million prize to honor the best urban school systems out of concern that they are failing to improve quickly enough. And, associates say, he's no longer certain that he wants to reward traditional school districts at all.

http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-broad-prize-20150209-story.html

John Deasy Can Now Train New Superintendents!

 And the cycle continues...

LA TIMES: Ex-schools chief Deasy to work for leadership academy of Eli Broad

Former Los Angeles schools chief John Deasy has accepted a consulting job as “superintendent in residence” for a training and coaching program funded by local philanthropist Eli Broad.
Deasy, 54, resigned under pressure last October after leading the nation’s second-largest school system for three and a half years...

...Under Deasy, L.A. Unified continued an incremental rise in student achievement, even during a period of deep budget cuts. But his last year was marred by two troubled technology projects: A $1.3-billion effort to provide iPads to all students stalled and eventually led to an FBI investigation, and a new student records system malfunctioned this fall, putting students at risk of failing to obtain graduation and college admission records...

Morrison resigned as CMS superintendent after investigation into misconduct allegations | CharlotteObserver.com

Morrison resigned as CMS superintendent after investigation into misconduct allegations | CharlotteObserver.com

WPost: Secret policymaking on school reform is on the rise

But, The Washington Post won't report on what goes on in Montgomery County Public Schools. Same story here, but no reporting.  Why not?  

Secret policymaking on school reform is on the rise

Starr's Hire is a Broad Academy Graduate

The Montgomery County Board of Education Appointed Dr. Kimberly Statham as Deputy Superintendent on Superintendent Joshua Starr's recommendation.  Ms. Statham is a graduate of the Broad Superintendent's Academy.  MCPS has sent a number of administrators to the Broad Superintendent's Academy over the last few years.  

Maryland's new State Superintendent is also a Broad Academy graduate. 

Here's a guide for parents to acquaint them with the academy.

A Parent Guide to the Broad Foundation’s training programs and education policies

The question I ask is why should Eli Broad and Bill Gates have more of a say as to what goes on in my child’s classroom than I do? ...

Chicago could have had Jerry Weast!

MCPS Superintendent Jerry Weast was on the short list for the job of Chicago's superintendent.  But, instead of picking Weast, Mayor Rahm Emanuel picked Broad Superintendent Academy graduate J.C. Brizard.  
Here's an update from Diane Ravitch on how that selection is working out.  Wouldn't Jerry Weast have turned Chicago public schools around by now?


Chicago Supt Brizard Admits Failure

Meet New Maryland State Superintendent

Maryland State Board of Education today announced that Dr. Lillian M. Lowery, Secretary of Education for the Delaware Department of Education, has been selected the State’s next State Superintendent of Schools.


http://www.dmcouncil.org/membership/member-news/39-lillian-m-lowery-delawares-secretary-of-education

Sudden Bridgeport School Switch Months in the Making

From the Wall Street Journal:

By Shelly Banjo

Behind what seemed to be an emergency takeover of Bridgeport, Conn.’s public school system in July turns out to have involved six months of back-channel negotiations among state education officials and a hedge fund manager’s charitable foundation, new documents show.

Last month, Bridgeport’s board of education voted to dissolve itself amid an $18 million budget shortfall and infighting among members. The state board approved the measure in an emergency vote. Within days, the acting city schools commissioner began holding meetings in the area, looking for five new members to join a reconstituted board in Connecticut’s second largest school district.

The rapid actions taken by the boards of education–made just ahead of a new school year and an approaching school-board election–surprised many in Bridgeport. Parents held protests, sent angry letters to acting Commissioner George Coleman and filed suit to slow the process.

Now, email correspondence compiled by the State Department of Education and first reported in the Connecticut Post show that the process may have been influenced by private interests looking to bankroll education reform efforts in Bridgeport, secure mayoral control of the school district and oust the current board.

Dating back as far as January, emails referencing a state takeover of the Bridgeport public school system were exchanged between the Bridgeport Schools Superintendent John Ramos, the state board of education head Allan Taylor, Coleman, and Meghan Lowney, who according to tax forms was an independent contractor for the $134 million family foundation of Sue and Steve Mandel, the founder of Lone Pine Capital in Greenwich. The emails also mention Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch’s involvement in the matter, though he was not included on any of the emails reviewed.

For more, go here.

To Weast & Board: "Why isn't something being done about bridging achievement gap amongst our kids?"

At the April 21, 2011, Town Hall Meeting at the Coffield Community Center in the Lyttonsville neighborhood of Silver Spring, Maryland, Mr. Frank Petersen made the following statement.



 Silver Spring, Maryland is in Montgomery County, Maryland.

APNewsBreak: Emanuel picks Rochester schools chief to head Chicago's schools :: The Republic

APNewsBreak: Emanuel picks Rochester schools chief to head Chicago's schools :: The Republic

Jim Clark: Is Heath Morrison's glitter wearing off? | TahoeBonanza.com

Checking in on a former MCPS administrator, now a superintendent in Nevada. Commentary from Tahoe Bonanza.com

Jim Clark: Is Heath Morrison's glitter wearing off? | TahoeBonanza.com

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — The glitter is beginning to wear off our many-degreed new superintendent of schools. Readers of the Bonanza know all too well about the recent battle that raged amongst Incline/Crystal Bay citizens over the proposed International Baccalaureate program for our schools. Dr. Morrison's position was if locals could raise $150,000 the school district would staff the program. Because of controversy, only $85,000 was raised.

Morrison's response was to call a town meeting at the Incline High auditorium and announce that IB would be offered only in the 11th and 12th grades. He then appointed a “Great Schools Committee” consisting only of educators (and later a few parents) which announced it was going to meet in secret and make recommendations for Incline schools. Public outcry ended the secret deliberations. Morrison then demanded the local nonprofit turn over the $85,000; he also ordered a survey which was sent only to parents, thereby disenfranchising the rest of the community. Then, before the “Great Schools Committee” even came up with its findings, Morrison canceled even the 2 grades of IB. The community is sharply divided over these autocratic antics and many who donated generously towards IB feel they got the short end of the stick...

...Sandoval is too much of a gentleman to criticize a critic, but some of the legislators at the GOP meeting were aghast at Morrison “stabbing the governor in the back.” There was also conjecture about why a superintendent of schools would advocate taking teacher salary funds and using them for school renovations when enrollment is declining. And if he would have had to lay off 5,000 teachers who would use the proposed classrooms? Finally why would Morrison publicly side with Democrats in a meaningless political PR battle where everyone knew up front that the Democrats were going to lose?...

continues here.

Taxpayers fund dinner and more during Broad Prize trip

Records recently obtained by the Parents' Coalition show that MCPS Chief of Staff Brian Edwards used his MCPS-issued American Express card to pay for a $362.86 dinner at the Azalea Restaurant in New York. In addition, Mr. Edwards spent $323.65 at the Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers.

Mr. Edwards attributed these charges to activities related to the Broad Prize announcement, which took place on October 19, 2010.

Charges by MCPS Chief of Staff Brian Edwards to his MCPS-issued American Express Card

Based on the information in the expense log, it isn't certain exactly how many people were fed with $362.86 of taxpayer money.  But even if Mr. Edwards covered the meals for 10 people, we have to wonder why Mr. Edwards is using his MCPS-issued American Express card to pay for meals other than his own.   

Mr. Edwards did not respond to repeated requests for the names of the people whose dinners were covered by the $362.86 charge.   

In addition, the accounting for the $323.65 Sheraton charge is problematic.  If this charge is for lodging, Mr. Edwards should have listed "lodging" on the expense log, instead of "Broad Prize Announcement Activities."  Exactly what "activities" did Mr. Edwards purchase at the Sheraton for $323.65?

John Deasy tapped to take over LAUSD - LA Daily News

John Deasy tapped to take over LAUSD - LA Daily News

...Deasy, LAUSD's fifth superintendent in a decade, will receive an annual salary of $330,000 - an increase of $80,000 from retiring Superintendent Ramon Cortines' salary of $250,000.

He will also receive full medical and retirement benefits, an expense account, and a district car and driver...

L.A. NOW:  L.A. Unified selects Deasy as superintendent of schools

...The contract also includes a potential $10,000 bonus for incentives related to student achievement...

Deasy new LA Superintendent

Inside Ed: Former Prince George's chief appointed to head LA schools

John Deasy, who left the Prince George's County superintendent's job after struggles with the board, has just been named the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District... 

LA Times:  New L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy is seemingly a man of contradictions

L.A. Unified Superintendent John Deasy has ties to the Gates Foundation, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Eli Broad...

Ad for New MCPS Superintendent - Apply Today!

The ad for the new Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools is now running in Education Week. Note the ad says the position is for a new Superintendent to "serve as CEO." 


Actually, what Montgomery County needs is a new Superintendent for the public school system. The "CEO" model of superintendency is what is advocated by certain private organizations. Is that what the citizens of Montgomery County want in a Superintendent, a CEO?  Well, we don't know because the public has not had a chance to weigh in on the desired attributes for the next Superintendent. 


Yes, it is January and the Board of Education said this would be the month for public comment on the search for the next superintendent, but the Board of Education hasn't solicited any public input yet. 

Change.org Petition to Encourage School Gardens in Montgomery County, MD

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

There's always room for MCPS travel!

Superintendent Jerry Weast, Board of Education Vice-President Chris Barclay and MCEA President Doug Prouty in New York City today.

Yes, the presentation they are attending is being live streamed to a party at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville but it's always more fun to be in NYC!




Update: Trip was for naught. MCPS did not win the 2010 Broad Prize. They get to try again next year. 

What the Broad Prize means to MCPS

You may have heard lots of references to MCPS being a finalist for a "Broad Prize" this year. The MCPS public relations office and MCPS staff will tell you this is a "tremendous honor."   


But what do you know about The Broad Foundation? Are you aware of the agenda? 


Are you aware that there this is a new prize given to a limited list of schools? The winners are unable to win in subsequent years. Will all districts on the list eventually be "winners?"


Here's what a parent in Seattle, Washington has to say about the influence of The Broad Foundation on their school system. This is must see video for parents in Montgomery County:

The Broad Foundation vs Parents and Teachers in Seattle