Friday, July 30, 2010

Road Show for School District Critics Continues #edu #education

Education

Road Show for School District Critics Continues
San Diegans 4 Great Schools, a newly formed group that is seeking changes to how San Diego Unified is governed, brought its message to a tough crowd at the Ocean Beach Town Council Wednesday night.
A retired teacher called it an overly vague "dog and pony show" that didn't address real problems in schools. "Governance is a minor issue," said Mike Berrill, who used to teach in East County. "You've got a problem that's way bigger than how many board members are squabbling."
Scott Himelstein, who organizes the group of philanthropists, business leaders, parents and other community members, said he respectfully disagreed. "Governance plays a big role," Himelstein said. In light of those other problems, he said, "What have we been doing all these years?"
The meeting is part of a longer road show as the group airs its concerns about the schools and shares findings from a University of San Diego report on school finances and achievement.
Himelstein has repeatedly said the group has no specific plan yet, but it has already been