The Observation Deck

Joel Klein's recent article in the Atlantic describes his frustration at trying to improve performance and efficiency in New York City Schools. He was chancellor of New York City Schools for eight years:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/pri ... ools/8497/

One interesting quote:

"Similarly, I faced repeated requests for “constituent services,” meaning good school placements for wired constituents. After we reorganized the system and minimized the power of the 32 local superintendents—the go-to people for politicians under the past regime—a local official called me and asked, “Whom do I call for constituent services after your reorg?” I replied, “What’s that?” Impatiently, he asked, “How do I get a kid into a school when I need to?” I jokingly answered, “Oh, we must have left out that office in the reorg” (actually thinking, silly me, that the school system should use equitable rules for admission). He said, “Go fuck yourself,” and hung up."

We may be getting a glimpse of what those outside groups are hoping to get for their $50,000.

School reform is hard because neither side wants to see or accept parts of the truth.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:School reform is hard because neither side wants to see or accept parts of the truth.

How so?

It seems there was a secret school board meeting recently to discuss raises for administrators. Is that what the levy was for? Why the secret meeting?

Another item from the article:

"It’s possible for a teacher in New York City to retire at 55 and draw down an annual pension of more than $60,000, plus lifetime health benefits for herself and her family. The pension is not subject to New York State or local taxes and goes up with cost-of-living increases."

It's a nice system. You organize for high taxes and high pensions and early retirement but get your friends in the legislature to make your pensions exempt from income tax. If you have a 401(k) in New York you are out of luck.

I've known about that system for quite awhile but it doesn't get any publicity. The system is able to continue and expand because there is a cone of silence aroung the issue. That last think people want is the public to know what is going on.

Bill

I am not sure how much we can rely on an article about New York Schools to underline what is wrong here, or even more to the point "Why School Reform Is So Hard." Some have called and emailed that the entire thread should be moved to global where it would seem to fit better.

Here in Lakewood, the schools needed a Levy of more than 10mill I believe to even break even in the coming years. To my recollection the Levy Committee headed by Mayor Summers, and Burgess and Burgess had decided that the more to only ask for 6.9 mill and to make drastic cuts to programs, teachers, and things needed for the day to day running of the schools. One would have to ask members of that committee what they saw as drastic cuts, and if at the same time they figured in the recent raises to the administration and teachers that were left.

It would seem that Dr. Estrop down in Springfield, where we are launching an Observer this year, is a tougher cat to deal with. He recently got the teachers and staff in Springfield to agree to a no raise contract, no additional benefits, and I believe a reduction in what the schools pay into health care.

I often wonder if the staggered voting does not also create a sped bump for change at both
the schools and city hall.

FWIW


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:Here in Lakewood, the schools needed a Levy of more than 10mill I believe to even break even in the coming years. To my recollection the Levy Committee headed by Mayor Summers, and Burgess and Burgess had decided that the more to only ask for 6.9 mill and to make drastic cuts to programs, teachers, and things needed for the day to day running of the schools.

Cut's? They are planning to increase spending nearly $10 million over the next few years. Increase spending even as they close schools and buy out employees?

Why are they handing out raises when the revenues are stagnant?

Why do they use regularly scheduled School Board meetings to discuss awards for various school programs and secret meetings to discuss administrator raises?

If the schools are in such dire financial condition why is the school board rubber stamping LTA contracts?

Why is it so hard to find out what Lakewood Schools spend on substitute teachers?

If members of the board are receiving government pensions from government jobs who do they really represent at contract time?

Who are the special interests that are pledging to spend $50,000 on a Lakewood School Board race? What are they buying?

The School Board recently sent out a report bragging about "saving" $1.5 million in salaries and benefits by buying out employees. Where was the discussion about the buyout? How much was spent on the buyout? Who got how much and for what?

How do you save $1.5 million but spend $10 million more?

If I decide to run for Lakewood City School Board it will be a campaign based on my belief that the Schools need a little sunshine.

Step one might be to discuss student awards at the Secret School Board Meeting and to discuss school finances at the regularly scheduled school board meeting.

I don't have any illusions about success. If a man like Joel Klein got absolutely nowhere in his efforts at reform what chance does Bill Call have? You never know, my favorite saint is St. Jude.

Here is a start:

An Eight Hour Day Properly Supervised and Supported

Bill Call wrote:

Bryan Schwegler wrote:School reform is hard because neither side wants to see or accept parts of the truth.

How so?

Because while I might be oversimplifying it there are generally only a handful of positions that are taken when school reform is discussed and no one seems to be willing to budge or see that the truth is in the middle...

Position 1: Schools are broken, teachers and their union are evil, and the gov't has no place in paying for schools. Go charter schools yay!

Position 2: Teachers are saints, how dare you say anything bad about such a noble profession, you must hate children. We deserve anything we ask for without question because it's "for the children!"

Position 3: My child is perfect and my parenting and involvement is perfect. It couldn't possibly be either of our fault that educating kids today is difficult! It's the fault of the evil heartless child haters with no kids of their own, they couldn't possibly understand.

Position 4: I don't care because I can't be bothered to be civically engaged or care about my community. My car is more important.

So yes, while I was mainly creating those in jest, the reality is there are some people in those positions and education reform and funding is very divisive. And much like any divisive issue, people tend to dig in an not see the points of the other side.

Whether it's religion, politics, or any other hot topic, school reform could benefit from a whole lot more serious dialogue and less dug in rhetoric mentality.

Bill and Jim,

As a preliminary matter, the special meeting was not a "secret" meeting. The Board initially cancelled its May 26th special meeting due to the passing of Linda Beebe's husband; but the Administration still had items that it wanted the Board to consider so a May 26th special meeting was noticed on May 24th. No action was taken with respect to administrative salaries at that meeting.

I will defer to Mike Summers in answering any questions relating to "Citizens for Lakewood's Children" and/or Burges & Burges Strategists levy campaign strategies as I was not a member of that campaign committee. See http://lakewoodschildren.org; http://www.burgesandburges.com.

I voted to place a new operating levy of 6.9 mills on the ballot because the Administration reported that was the amount our Community could afford and still maintain academic excellence in spite of the fact "(i)t would take a 12.9 mill levy to fully fund current operations." See Community Value, Quality and Accountability PowerPoint Presentation at http://www.marklingforlakewoodschools.com/Community%20Value,%20Quality%20and%20Accountability%20PowerPoint%20Presentation.ppt.

I also believe that the Board and Administration were very transparent in the operating levy process and shared information with the Community through The Lakewood Observer. See, e.g., http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2010/01/13/superintendent-levy-needed-to-maintain-educational; http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2010/01/26/levy-pay-freezes-and-budget-cuts; http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2010/02/10/levy-kicks-off-with-city-and; http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2010/04/06/board-to-consider-staff-budget-cuts; http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2010/04/20/board-approves-4-milllion-in-cuts; and http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2010/05/19/thank-you-lakewood-for-supporting-issue. See, also, http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8728; http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8776; http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8899; and http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9106.

And I agree that any action on administrative contracts should take place at a regular board meeting.

Matt

Bill Call wrote:Who are the special interests that are pledging to spend $50,000 on a Lakewood School Board race? What are they buying?

Bill

One could ask the definition special interest?

It is all legal, and to be honest I am not sure I am that outraged, it is what politics have
come to, and right now some big things in play with the restructuring of the county.

But if you are a regionalist, and believe in regionalism, and county government, had to call
it special interest, more like different interests.

I mean if we are going to talk Ds and Rs. The Ds not only held onto power, but have
mobilized all sorts of things in case the fall out was worse. On the other hands with massive
allegations of fraud, and corruption Rs have all but gone into hiding, and I cannot see
2011 or 2012 being better as Rs run for the hills becoming Ds and Is.

So is it really special interests? Or their interests?

As I mentioned earlier, billions have been spent trying to educate us for the need of
regionalism over the past ten years. I am sure it is much more cost effective backing
candidates and politicians. Look at Lakewood's chameleon PAC, who also gave up on
their education agenda preferring to work with politicians instead.

$50,000? I only see a couple scenarios for that much coming in, and one for much more
than that. But I think we have seen the slates drawn up already where the big money is
headed.

I will say that the dynamics of Lakewood's politics are much crazier than they appear right now.

Might be an interesting fall.

FWIW

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:I will say that the dynamics of Lakewood's politics are much crazier than they appear right now.

Might be an interesting fall.

FWIW

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You always stop writing just when the story starts to get interesting.

One mans special interest is another mans legitimate interest.

There is an incestuous relationship between groups that depend upon government support for their survival. By loading boards and commissions with like minded people those boards and commissions see to it that the money flows, no questions asked.

Special interests are those making sure that the "money flows, no questions asked" polciy continues. The board plans to lay off high priced employees and close schools and increase spending by $10 million?

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Bill

I am not sure how much we can rely on an article about New York Schools to underline what is wrong here, or even more to the point "Why School Reform Is So Hard." Some have called and emailed that the entire thread should be moved to global where it would seem to fit better.

That doesn't surprise me. Before the Observer came along those who controlled the levers of power had no fear of having their policies or behavior challenged anywhere in the media. The Lakewood Post was more Pravda than Spectator. The Plain Dealer ignored waste, fraud and corrption in the County until they discovered it could be used as a vehicle for regionalism.

The interesting question is why so many have called or emailed to have the thread pulled. Perhaps they are afraid of questions like:

Why is the district increasing spending by $10 million dollars even though we have fewer schools and fewer employees?

If a member of the school board has relatives collecting a pension or paycheck from the school system should that member vote on contracts? Who do they represent at contract time?

Real unemployent is nearing 18%, property values have declined 10% in one year, the population is struggling to put food on the table and the board is handing out raises? Spending money on buyouts?

The interesting answer is that they are quietly trying to kill the discussion because they fear the consequences of an open discussion. The article applies to a discussion about Lakewood schools because Lakewood schools are in more need of reform than New York City Schools. Why? Because New York City Schools are supported by hundreds of billions in tax dollars generated by the financial industry, Lakewood is not.

Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.