The four school board candidates that are running against the incumbents are having a much needed fundraiser this Friday.
Just as a reminder, the incumbents that I refer to were also referred to as the Gang of Four in terms of how they voted “Yes” on every policy that our Broad-trained superintendent put in front of them whether it made sense for our school district or not.
Also, Stand for Children, an organization that is pushing charter schools in our state every way that they can, is backing financially and with other resources the incumbents Harium-Martin Morris, Sherry Carr and Steve Sundquist. According to Jonah Edelman, CEO of SFC, their organization selects school board candidates that can be used as vehicles to achieve the goals of their organization and I would say that is exactly what the three of them have been dong so far first under the tutelage of the Broad Foundation and Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, and now apparently all by themselves.
Please read the invitation to attend this fundraiser. If you are not able to make it, any contribution would be appreciated.
A REMINDER REGARDING THE:
THE BALLOT BOX FUNDRAISER
Here is my testimony for the Wednesday October 19, 2011 School Board meeting:
Directors, I am Dan Dempsey,
Tonight approval is sought for an Action Item document described as: Superintendent Evaluation Instrument
But it is titled: “SUPERINTENDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION GOALS”
The document is a list of 20 goals. It is NOT an Evaluation Instrument.
It is not designed to measure much of anything.
15 months ago I began a testimony with the following words:
—–
From the Washington State Auditor’s Office report July-6-2010:
….. “Quote”
RESULTS Overarching Conclusion
Our audit found the School Board and executive management must improve oversight of District operations.
We noted several instances in which public assets were misappropriated or susceptible to misappropriation due to
(1) lack of effective policies,
(2) management’s failure to enforce existing policies and/or
(3) inadequately trained staff.
The Board and District management are not as familiar with state and federal law on school district operations and on the use of grant funds as the public would expect. As a result, the District exposes itself to greater risk of loss of federal funds and increases the risk for non-compliance with laws and regulations.
—–
Tonight this “Action Item on Evaluation” continues this Board’s failure to fulfill its duty to see that Policies and Laws are followed and implemented by the Superintendent.
It is the Board’s job to evaluate the Superintendent.
– Yet the Superintendent is the lead person for this document.
This document is a list of goals NOT the needed instrument to measure items that need to be measured.
The document is NOT an effective Superintendent evaluation instrument.
The Board as a group failed the community on numerous occasions… In addition to the Auditor’s Report, ……
Dr. Goodloe-Johnson’s expensive buy-out exit put many of the Board’s supervisory failures on display.
This evaluation instrument as proposed is nearly useless. It provides little effective oversight of the Superintendent.
Several of you directors and the Superintendent need to be replaced …
The Board needs to take a greater interest in the following of Laws.
On November 3 in Appeals Court, hearings will take place in regard to the Board’s failure to provide legally required “certified correct transcripts of evidence” used to approve school closures and used to approve the $800,000 New Tech Network contract.
Voters .. awaken … replace four incumbent school directors …
with new directors that will make intelligent decisions by applying relevant data.
Directors are urgently needed who are willing to do the job of supervising the superintendent and willing to follow state laws.
Directors, I urge you to reject this document as written.
Thank you.