Former Fairfax Superintendent Endorsing Cell Tower Company President's Book

Anyone want to explain why a public school system superintendent needs to be endorsing a book written by the president of a company that he did business with when he was the superintendent? 

The endorsement shown below from former Fairfax superintendent Jack Dale is on the website of the president of Milestone Communications.  Milestone Communications is the company that wants to put 3 cell towers on every public school playground in Virginia and Maryland. 

Yes, this is the same superintendent Jack Dale who took the Pearson paid for trip to Australia with Jerry Weast.

What's up with superintendents endorsing products and taking trips from companies that want to do business with public school systems?   

“While What Spins the Wheel was gleaned from an amazing, exhaustive bike ride across America, the leadership story is timeless and universal in its application.  As a leader of a large United States school system, Len’s message applies to the important work of the leadership team, the school board and all the businesses serving the community.  Len’s message to us all is an inspiration. Thanks Len for sharing your insights on leading.”
— Jack Dale, former Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

Pearson Foundation grant sent Weast, Dale and Hatrick to Australia

In July of 2010, Superintendent Jerry Weast, Fairfax Superintendent Jack Dale, Loudon Superintendent Edgar Hatrick, and Alleghany Superintendent David Cox took a trip to Australia.

According to a May 21, 2010 Alleghany County Public Schools news release the Australia trip was July 7 -18, 2010, and was paid for by a grant from the The Pearson Foundation.

Superintendent Jerry Weast missed the July 8, 2010 Board of Education meeting.  MCPS Chief Operating Officer Larry Bowers sat in for Superintendent Weast at that meeting and said that the superintendent was "on leave this week."

Unlike Alleghany County Public Schools, it does not appear that MCPS' press office put out a press release announcing Superintendent Weast's selection for this trip. 

A video on The Pearson Foundation's YouTube site shows the attendees on the Australia trip, along with the fabulous locations and sites that they were treated to during this 12 day junket. 

The image at right shows Superintendent Jerry Weast traveling on a bus in the Pearson Foundation/AASA video.  (Who is the woman to his left? Is that his spouse?  If so, how was her travel funded?)

Click this link for the Pearson-Weast Timeline.

Also shown in this video:
Deborah Akers, Superintendent,  Mercer County Schools, West Virginia
Larry Price, Superintendent, Wilson County Schools, North Carolina
Lu Young, Superintendent,  Jessamine County Schools, Kentucky
Robert Slaby, Superintendent, Storey County Schools, Nevada
Mike Stewart, Superintendent, St. Genevieve Schools, Missouri
Daniel Fox, Superintendent, Pershing County Schools, Nevada

Jack Dale stays home, while Weast abandons district

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Dale was scheduled to present at the AASA Pre-Conference in Phoenix, Arizona today.

But he didn't show up.

Instead, a FCPS Assistant Superintendent gave the presentation.

...Dockery said Jack Dale, superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, who was not able to be at the session due to severe winter weather...

But, here in Montgomery County the weather wasn't so bad! Superintendent Jerry Weast decided he could leave his school district.

Apparently, it was more important to give a presentation on the creation of the Seven Keys in 1999 than stay in Montgomery County during the Blizzard of 2010.


Picture is of a MCPS elementary school parking lot as of Thursday afternoon, February 11, 2010.  More pictures here and here.