Thursday, March 4, 2010

Students Mobilize For Capitol Education Protest - Education News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Students Mobilize For Capitol Education Protest - Education News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"Students Mobilize For Capitol Education Protest
Violence Reported At UC Santa Cruz"

Students and teachers mobilized Thursday for an education protest at the state Capitol in Sacramento, while some violence was reported at University of California, Santa Cruz.

Protesters are upset over budget cuts that have led to canceled classes, faculty furloughs and steep fee hikes. The protest, which is part of the Day of Action, comes at a time when the state is facing a $20 billion deficit.

Demonstrations, marches, teach-ins and walkouts were planned at many campuses. Regional rallies were scheduled in civic plazas in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and other cities.

David Kliger, campus provost at UC Santa Cruz, sent a message to the campus community warning of reports of protesters carrying clubs and knives. He said it also appears that someone smashed a car windshield with a metal pipe.

"Behavior that degrades into violence, personal intimidation, and disrespect for the rights of others is reprehensible, and does nothing to aid efforts to restore funding to the university," Kliger wrote.

Meanwhile, some students gathered at 5 a.m. at Sacramento State to make signs for the Capitol rally, which was set to get going at about 11 a.m.

Start the Day for Students | Kids

Make your voices heard on March 4th and tell the governor, "NO MORE CUTS TO EDUCATION!" Start the Day for Students and Stand Up for Schools.

Demonstrators block paths to UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz; local schools picket - Inside Bay Area

Demonstrators block paths to UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz; local schools picket

Protests, rallies mark "Day of Action" for education funding

Teachers and students from schools of all levels are fanning across the state today as part of a "day of action" that started with discussions at UC Berkeley and spread across the country.

Rallies are scheduled around California, as well as in some other states. The protests follow months of growing unrest throughout the state's educational institutions.

Check back regularly for updates to this story. E-mail your rally photos topix@bayareanewsgroup.com.

9:45 a.m.

BERKELEY — An on-campus demonstration has swelled to more than 100 and has led to some minor skirmishes between protesters and students trying to get to class.

The demonstrators have blocked Sather Gate, a main access point, and have been encouraging their passing peers to join their efforts, calling for a student strike.

"Don't go to class. Join our protest," one demonstrator was heard saying.

Students trying to walk through the picket have been met with physical resistance, which has resulted in some tussles.

OAKLAND — Hundreds of students from Allendale Elementary School in East Oakland are marching along 35th Avenue and have pooled together at the Interstate 580 overpass.

The students made the half-mile trek to the overpass, where they are garnering the attention of passersby and freeway motorists.

8:15

a.m.

BERKELEY — About 80 students are blocking Sather Gate on campus, holding signs bearing slogans including "Instruction not Construction," "Spanish students for public education," and "Reclaim our university."

A Japanese student brought to the rally six Japanese students who traveled from Japan representing the All-Japan Federation of Student Self Government Associations.

CONCORD — Dozens of parents, teachers and students showed up outside Monte Gardens Elementary in Concord this morning to hear a representative of the California Teachers' Association, local legislators and other officials speak about the importance of education in California. Cuts leave California schools with $2,000 less per student than those in other states, they said.

State Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan and Senator Mark DeSaulnier both said they have voted against cuts to education. Emergency legislation being pushed forward today in Sacramento could threaten another $800 million in funding for K-12 education, DeSaulnier said.

"Public education is the priority," he said. "We have horrible choices. But in these tough times, you've got to protect the kids, because if we're ever going to get out of this, we've got to have a well-educated workforce."

Steven Lawrence, Superintendent of the Mt. Diablo school district, said schools will conduct emergency drills at 8:30 a.m. to demonstrate the disastrous effects budget cuts are having on education. He said principals informed parents through automated phone messages last night that students were encouraged to participate in before- and after-school activities, but were expected to stay in class during the day. The teachers' union has also stressed to educators that students are not supposed to leave school. Some students had said they planned to walk out after lunch.

Estelle Portugal, the mother of a 7-year-old second-grader at Monte Gardens, said she showed up at the early morning rally because she has seen how much harder it is for her child to receive individualized attention in a class that has swollen from 20 to 33 students.

"We need more teachers so the kids can get a better education," she said.

8 a.m.

SANTA CRUZ — Students have blocked both entrances to the UC Santa Cruz campus and began marching near the base of campus as the March 4 Day of Action began.

Western Drive is blocked as dozens of students have lined the road stopping traffic. At Western and High drivers and students interact as drivers make their plea to gain access through their neighborhood and onto campus. Those wishing access and onto campus are mostly denied including a sobbing health care worker, though those who say they live in Bonny Doon are allowed through. A contractor at the UCSC arboretum was denied access, which resulted in a strong exchange of words. He vowed to never hire any of the students again. He parked his vehicle and walked ont

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG | Central Falls Superintendent Agrees to Resume Talks with Teachers

The school superintendent who last week fired all teachers at Central Falls (R.I.) High School has agreed to resume bargaining and include the union in all discussions on a comprehensive education plan that will help students and teachers succeed. The move followed nationwide public outcry, with thousands signing an online petitionto tell school officials the students deserve better and they should work with teachers to build on improvements at the high school. (Keep the pressure on the Central Falls school administration. Sign a petition here.)

AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement that she was pleased the superintendent has agreed to resume talks:

The dedicated teachers and staff [of Central Falls High] want nothing more than to continue and improve upon the progress they have made. Real, sustainable change will only happen when all stakeholders work together.

The AFT is committed to supporting Central Falls Teachers Union President Jane Sessums, the students of Central Falls High School and our members, the educators of Central Falls, throughout the negotiations and process of transforming the school.

On Feb. 23, the Central Falls school trustees fired the entire teaching staff of the high school, which is located in Rhode Island’s smallest and poorest city.

In all, 93 got pink slips-74 classroom teachers, plus reading specialists, guidance counselors, physical education teachers, the school psychologist, the principal and three assistant principals. Negotiations over strategies to improve the school between teachers and the school superintendent broke down when the superintendent walked away from the table and fired the teachers.

voiceofsandiego.org | Why I'm Marching Against School Cuts

voiceofsandiego.org | News. Investigation. Analysis. Conversation. Intelligence.

Guest Blogger: Why I'm Marching Against School Cuts

Jim Miller teaches English at San Diego City College and is the author of several books. His next novel, Flash, is forthcoming on AK Press. He also serves as the vice president of political action for the local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. These are his views, not mine, so if you have comments, questions or counterarguments, please post them directly to the blog. -- EMILY ALPERT

"There is something about a march that is very powerful. It's a powerful weapon, a powerful organizing tool, and it has a powerful impact on those who participate." Cesar Chavez

On March 5, the California Federation of Teachers is launching the March for California's Future, which will take seven weeks to go from Los Angeles to Sacramento in order to raise public awareness about three central ideas:

*Restore the promise of public education

*A government and economy that works for all Californians

*Fair taxes to fund California's future

I am doing this march because we are witnessing the destruction of the California Dream. Our state ranks 47th in the country in per-pupil spending on education for K-12 and 45th for community college spending. Our California State University and University of California systems, once affordable ladders to opportunity for the working and middle classes, are now increasingly unaffordable. We are on the verge of gutting vital social services such as health care for children and home care for the elderly and disabled in a way that should shame any civilized people.

I am marching because we are pondering closing a host of our beautiful state parks and seriously considering privatizing our prisons. We are slamming shut the doors of opportunity and gutting our infrastructure. All of this is being done in the service of protecting the interests of the most fortunate individuals and large corporations at the expense of the greater good. This is not a just future for California. We cannot let it stand.

I am marching to reframe how we address California's budget deficit. We can do this by returning the top tax brackets ($250,000, $500,000 annually and up) to what they were during the Pete Wilson years, enacting an oil severance tax like the one in Texas, closing the corporate loophole in Proposition 13 that treats big businesses the same as individual home owners, and rolling back other loopholes and pay-offs that the top 1 percent of earners and corporate power brokers have received while nearly doubling their share of income over the last 20 years.

What's happened to the rest of us during that period? We've paid our taxes and watched the middle class decline and the gap between the rich and the poor grow. We've seen our

Schools Matter: AP Reports Millions Rallying to Save Public Education

AP Reports Millions Rallying to Save Public Education

Students, teachers rally to protest education cuts

03/04/10 at 11:48 AM

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Millions of students, teachers and parents are expected to rally throughout California and many other states to protest deep cuts in funding for schools and universities.

Demonstrations, marches, teach-ins and walkouts are planned nationwide Thursday in what is being called the “March 4th National Day of Action for Public Education.”

Events are being held at most of California’s public colleges and universities to protest budget cuts that have led to canceled classes, faculty furloughs and steep fee hikes.

PA is RttT finalist | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

15 States Plus D.C. Are Named Race to the Top Finalists - Politics K-12 - Education Week

15 States Plus D.C. Are Named Race to the Top Finalists

By Michele McNeil on March 4, 2010 11:30 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

And the highly anticipated Round One finalists are...

Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

The Final 16 beat out 25 other states and earned the highest scores from the peer reviewers, who awarded points based on a 500-point grading scale that judged states' commitments to improve teacher effectiveness, data systems, academic standards, and low-performing schools.

The list of finalists is supposed to reflect U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's promise that he would set a very high bar for this education-reform competition, which has become one of the Obama administration's most high-profile policy levers. At stake is $4 billion from the economic-stimulus package approved by Congress last year, not to mention bragging rights.

We'll have more analysis on the winners—and losers—later, but our first take on the list of finalists is that many of them are Southern, right-to-work states. New York is a surprise because many argue its student-teacher data law is weak, and its attempt to loosen restrictions on charters failed. Kentucky made the list, but has no charter law. Also, Colorado is the only Western state to make the cut.

Now, these finalists will each assemble a five-person team that will come to Washington the week of March 15 to make a presentation to the peer reviewers, who can then adjust their grades before coming up with a

Day of Action Protests - 3/04/10 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com

Day of Action Protests

Updated at 05:46 AM today

TAGS:

uc berkeley, sacramento, school cuts, budget cuts, education

All over the Bay Area and all over the state, Thursday will be a day of protest. Students, parents, and teachers will be seen and heard. They will demonstrate against state cuts to education from kindergarten to college.

7 a.m. Picket lines will go up at the University of California at Berkeley.
7:30 a.m. Protests in front of all Oakland Unified School District schools, followed by a noon rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland.

MORE: www.standupforschools.org

7:15 a.m. News conference by Mt. Diablo Unified School District Superintendent Steve Lawrence and California Teachers Association Vice President Dean Vogel to discuss the impact on the District of State Education Cuts.
8 a.m. March by students, parents and staff of El Dorado Elementary School to protest budget cuts that could lead to increased class sizes, and a loss of educational programs. Starts and ends at El Dorado School, 70 Delta St., San Francisco
8 a.m. Seven Bay Area school districts are moving up their Spring "disaster drills" to today to draw attention to "disastrous" state budget cuts. Throughout the bay area at various morning times.
10 a.m. Picket line by students and faculty at San Francisco State University, followed by a noon rally at Malcolm X Plaza. 19th and Holloway Avenues, San Francisco
10 a.m. Student walkout at Canada College and Skyline College. main quad, Skyline College, 3300 College Drive, San Bruno, main quad, Canada College, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City
11 a.m. Student walkout at Laney College, quad, Laney Community College, 900 Fallon St., Ialand
11:45 a.m. March by San Jose State University educators with The California Faculty Association and San Jose Teachers Association President Janice Allen. Starts at City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose and continues to Seventh Street Plaza near San Jose State University
Noon Campus walkouts and general assemblies to protest education cuts.
--Agora Stage, California State University, East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward --Sonoma State University, Stevenson Hall Quad, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, --Malcolm X Plaza, San Francisco State University, 19th & Holloway, San Francisco, --Cesar Chavez Plaza, Chabot Junior College, 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward, contact: Kip Waldo (510) 847-6093 --Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue, University of California at Berkeley, --Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill, --Wellness Center Amphitheatre, City College of San Francisco, 50 Phelan Ave., San Francisco,
1:10 p.m. Teachers, parents and elementary school children will walk out of school an hour early to protest the impact of education budget Cuts at Dianne Feinstein School.
March starts at Feinstein School, 25th Avenue and Vicente Street, and continues to Larsen Park at 19th Avenue and Ulloa Street, San Francisco
3 p.m. "Feeder March" for the 5 p.m. Rally at the San Francisco Civic Center. Starts at 24th & Mission Streets, San Francisco
4 p.m. Pre-rally by the United Educators Association prior to a 5 p.m. mass rally. Civic center, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco
4 p.m., Oakland Education Association President Betty Olson-Jones will speak at a news conference at the State Building. 1515 Clay St., Oakland
4 p.m. "Day of Action" by members of San Jose's East Side Teachers Association. Assemblyman Joe Coto, D-San Jose, scheduled to attend. Independence High School, 1776 Educational Park Drive, San Jose
5 p.m. Mass rally to protest budget cuts to education, sponsored by United Educators of San Francisco, featuring a performance by The rock band Angry Tired Teachers.
Civic Center Plaza, Carlton B. Goodlett Place and Grove Street, San Francisco
5 p.m. Rally by students and teachers throughout the state to protest education cuts. All 23 California State University campuses will have events.
More Bay Area Events
CONCORD: CTA Vice President Dean Vogel will join a 7:15 a.m. news conference at Monte Gardens Elementary, 3841 Larkspur Drive, Concord, 94519, to sound the alarm about state cuts hurting the Mt. Diablo Unified School District which faces about $60 million in cuts over the next three years. All schools will hold a disaster drill at 9 a.m. to call attention to the disastrous impacts of state education cuts. Teachers will wear "disaster attire" during the drills, including hard hats and Red Cross T-shirts. The news conference includes a mock bake sale with $1 million cupcakes and will be attended by Superintendent Steve Lawrence, PTA representatives, state Senator Mark DeSaulnier, Assembly member Joan Buchanan and teachers talking about soaring class sizes and the cutting of music and library services. More info: www.mtdiabloeducationassoc.org. Contacts: MDEA President Mike Noce at 925-676-4664 or 925-250-6557 (cell); or Mike Myslinski, 408-921-5769.
CLAYTON: On March 4, 2010 the Clayton Valley High School community will START THE DAY FOR STUDENTS! On March 4th please join CVHS students, teachers, staff and community members in the Statewide Day of Action in an effort to speak out about the painful effects cuts are having on students, schools and communities throughout California. In the last two years, $17 billion was cut from California schools and colleges and now students and schools are being threatened again. We can't let that happen!
We are asking you to join us and be a part of the campaign to fight for the resources our CVHS students deserve. On Thursday, March 4th at 7:00 a.m. we will gather in front of the high school to send a message to Sacramento that education is essential to building a better California. Please consider joining other parents and community members in this important demonstration of support for our school. There will be a district-wide "Disaster Drill" at 8:30am.
This "Disaster-Drill" will occur simultaneously at MDUSD schools to symbolize the disastrous conditions our students face as a result of the cuts to public education in California.
OAKLAND: CTA Vice President Dean Vogel will be interviewed live about the Day of Action and massive cuts to K-12 education at 8:45 a.m. Thursday on the morning news program of KTVU at the station's Jack London Square studios. To arrange more Bay Area interviews, contact Mike Myslinski at 408-921-5769.
SEVEN BAY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT DISASTER DRILLS: To draw attention to disastrous state budget cuts, at least seven Bay Area school districts are moving their required spring fire drills to the morning of March 4. The districts and times of the drills: Mt. Diablo Unified, 9 a.m.; Oakland Unified, 9:15 a.m. (see details at www.OaklandEA.org); Dublin Unified, 8 a.m.; New Haven Unified in Union City, 8:15 a.m. for elementary schools, 8:45 a.m. for high schools; San Lorenzo Unified, 10:30 a.m.; San Francisco Unified, 10 a.m.; Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, various times in the morning at each school. Contact: Mike Myslinski at 408-921-5769.
OAKLAND: Starting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday with protests in front of all Oakland Unified schools, the Oakland Education Association is taking part in a day of events. The school district's 9:15 a.m. disaster drill will be followed by a community coalition rally from noon to 4 p.m. at Frank Ogawa Plaza at City Hall, with OEA President Betty Olson-Jones speaking at a 4 p.m. news conference at the Elihu Harris State Office Building, 1515 Clay St. Oakland teachers will then board BART for a ride to the huge 5 p.m. San Francisco Civic Center rally co-sponsored by San Francisco educators and many groups. Contact: OEA President Betty Olson-Jones at 510-866-3676 (cell).
CUPERTINO SCHOOLS TOWN HALL MEETING: In response to state cuts threatening the outstanding success of the high-achieving Cupertino Union School District which ranks ninth out of California's 1,000 school districts with an Academic Performance Index overall district score of 948 the Cupertino Education Association will take part in a 6 p.m. town hall meeting. Location is the Lawson Middle School Event Center, 10401 Vista Drive, Cupertino, 95014. State cuts resulted in the district issuing 109 pink slips for teachers and deciding to increase K-3 class sizes from 20 to 30 students. CTA Board member Don Dawson, a San Jose teacher, will moderate the education coalition event hosted by teachers, the district, the California School Employees Association, the Cupertino Elementary School Administrators Association and SEIU. Educators will be leafleting parents at all 25 school sites before school starts on March 4 as well. More info: www.ceaweb.org. Contacts: CEA President Dave Villafana at 650-823-9563 (cell) or the district's Jeremy Nishihara, 408-252-3000, ext. 323.
SAN FRANCISCO: Facing a budget deficit of $113 million over the next two years, and the chaos from nearly 900 pink slips being sent to teachers and administrators, San Francisco Unified educators will be pushing back with a huge "Defend the Classroom" regional rally with other Bay Area teachers and unions on Thursday. Hundreds of members of United Educators of San Francisco will gather with parents and other Bay Area teachers at 4 p.m. at the Civic Center, then march to the State Building, corner of Van Ness and McAllister, and then return to the Civic Center for a huge 5 p.m. rally. Details at www.uesf.org Contact: Matthew Hardy at 415-956-8373.
SAN JOSE: K-12 and higher education events are planned. In the early morning hours, San Jose Unified teachers will do informal tailgating at all school sites before school starts, offering parents coffee and doughnuts, along with the latest info on district cuts. Later, San Jose Teachers Association President Janice Allen will march in solidarity with San Jose State University educators against SJSU cuts as part of a California Faculty Association event where she will also join other speakers. The march starts at 11:45 a.m. at San Jose City Hall and ends with a rally at Seventh Street plaza near SJSU. Contacts: SJTA President Janice Allen at 408-267-0411 or 408-504-7708 (cell); contact for SJSU march is Sue Pak, 510-290-4308.
FREMONT: With jobs for up to 200 temporary teachers on the chopping block, Fremont Unified teachers will be protesting at all school sites before school at various times from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., depending on the school's start time. The district is also raising K-3 class sizes from 20 to 30. Parents and other supporters will be asked to join the morning picketing and also take part in a 3:15-5 p.m. rally at the corner of Mowry and Fremont boulevards. Contact: Fremont Unified District Teachers Association President Brannin Dorsey at 510-331-1663.
PITTSBURG: CTA Board member Eric Heins and Pittsburg Education Association President Chris Coan will be doing informational picketing starting at 7:10 a.m. at their Willow Cove Elementary School, 1880 Hanlon Way, Pittsburg. Teachers and administrators at all Pittsburg Unified School District schools will be picketing at their campuses at various times from 7:10 to 8:15 a.m., then meet up for a 3 p.m. rally at the corner of Leland and Loveridge streets. Cuts in the district include raising class sizes in grades 1-3 to 30 students. Contacts: Eric Heins at 415-794-1513 or Chris Coan at 925-759-0519.
SANTA ROSA: Before school starts Thursday morning, educators in school districts across Sonoma County will be protesting state cuts to education and calling local state legislators to warn them against making more cuts to schools and other public services. Educators will also be getting community members to sign the CTA-sponsored Close Corporate Tax Loopholes ballot measure to reverse $2 billion in tax breaks given last year to large corporations. Contact: Andy Witthohn at 707-972-9162.
MONTEREY: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell will join local educators in a 4 p.m. rally against school cuts at Colton Hall on Pacific Street in Monterey. Other speakers will include Monterey Bay Teachers Association President Jill Low in this education coalition event coordinated by MBTA, the California Faculty Association, California School Employees Association and others. Students will perform skits and read poetry. Contact: MBTA President Jill Low at 831-375-8942 or 831-521-5509 (cell).

The Time to March for California's Future Is Now | California Progress Report

By Marty Hittelman
California Federation of Teachers

It is no longer enough to say that "Sacramento politics is dysfunctional," or that the political and legislative processes in the Capitol are stymied by "partisan gridlock." These first impressions have some basis in reality but don't adequately address California's real problems. These impressions only lead to a feeling of inevitability, cynicism, and despair.

What we need in public discussion is a clear picture of the problem and then a plan to fix it. And we all need a sign of hope that change will come. That's why, on March 5, we begin a "March for California's Future." The March will start with a group of public employees who will walk from Bakersfield to Sacramento. By April 21 the March will swell, as it reaches Sacramento, to many thousands. This 250 mile march, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers and its diverse allies from labor, the faith community, and other civic supporters, is designed to draw attention to the underlying causes of the state's woes as well as gather signatures for a majority budget initiative.

The "March for California's Future" plans to kick start a "reality" discussion on how all Californians can join the fight for a livable California. The three themes of the march are "restore the promise of public education," "a government and economy that works for all," and "fair taxes to fund California's future."

One of the marchers is Irene Gonzalez. She grew up in foster homes throughout the Central Valley. Determined to make something of herself, she worked hard to put herself through school, eventually earning a masters degree. Today she is a probation officer, helping her clients stay out of trouble and on the right track to become productive members of society. In that process she keeps the rest of us safer too.

Gonzalez's job would be difficult under any circumstances. But now it's almost impossible. State funding cuts over the last few years have eliminated counseling and educational services for her clients, and the economic recession has narrowed what limited employment options they might have had. "I'm marching," says Gonzalez, "because I want the people I work with to have an opportunity, like I did, to become somebody--so that they don't sink back to where they came from."

Another marcher is Jim Miller. He's a professor of English and Labor Studies at San Diego City College. Due to funding reductions to public education, SDCC offers

Here it is…. EducationCEO's Blog

EducationCEO's Blog

After a much-needed and long overdue (quasi) social media hiatus, I am back. And I can honestly say that I nearly lost my damn mind…more than once during the past 3 years. I have been working on developing a Visual & Performing Arts Charter School for my community since 2007. Despite obstacles, mostly political and financial, I kept going. Why? Because I consider myself to be a keen observer. I pay attention to what happens around me, especially the things that other people do not notice, e.g., home value determines both the type and number of innovative programs offered at neighborhood schools. I moved to Snellville (Gwinnett County) 5 years ago when I purchased my first home. I knew that the school district had a reputation for being one of the best in the state (not that that statement says a lot considering the national rankings, but that’s another topic altogether).

As I worked on developing this school, I began to notice a lot of subtle ‘isms’ within this county, especially as it relates to the school district, program offerings, etc. Snellville has become a majority-minority community (mostly African American) during the past 5-7 years. Most, if not all, of the schools are close to 50% African American and roughly 10-11% Hispanic/Latino. I do not have a problem with living in a majority-minority community, but I would prefer that my kids have the opportunity to experience somediversity while they attend school because, well, the real-world is not comprised of all one race. But no matter our educational attainment levels, income bracket, or automobile of choice, one thing has not changed: When we move in, they move out. Yep, White-flight is alive and well in 2010. And yes, that bothers me. Why? Because despite rhetoric and tomfoolery from the ‘experts,’ I know that African Americans do value education. I can say that the few White people I have met through the charter school efforts have remained committed to staying in their neighborhoods and changing the schools, not the demographics. Unfortunately, those people are truly in the minority. No pun intended.

So fast forward to 2010, after being told by Andrew Broy that our organizationm had to raise $1 million dollars in 30 days to ensure approval and several tersely written letters to Georgia State Boad of Education members (no responses), elected officials (no responses), Cathy Cox (no responses), Georgia Charter School Commission (no responses), and Arne Duncan (half-assed response), I am tired. Not tired of trying to improve education, but tired of trying work within (or against) a broken system filled with people who lack the knowledge and ethics to make sound decisions about the kids in my community who look like me. Yes, I said it. Too many people making decisions for kids with whom they have no commonalities. Does that mean they can’t make any decisions? Absolutely not. But representatives for all groups should have a seat at the table and not just for show. They should be invited based upon their experience, education, and potential to make substantive changes to the manner in which Georgia educates children. That is not happening. I think it will be a very long time before we see this level of change here in Georgia, even when we get a new Superintendent of Schools and Governor later this year.

I took the past 2 weeks off to decide on whether or not to continue efforts to open the charter school. Of course this project is my baby so I was torn. I have invested a significant amount of time and effort into researching, writing, etc. I have learned a lot about myself during the past 2.5 years, most importantly that no one expects me to be a superwoman; that was a self-imposed sentence. I now know my limits. I can only deal with so much foolishness, blatant racism, sexism, and classism. I need a break. I want my life back. I am not giving up this dream. It will not be deferred, just reconfigured.

SCUSD Observer: Pink slip board meeting tonight

SCUSD Observer: Pink slip board meeting tonight
Pink slip board meeting tonight Many rallies are organized today to protest devastating education cuts. Protesters may be out in force at our city schools and on the steps of the Capitol. At tonight's regular meeting, the board will act on staff's budget recommendations -- most ...

School Official Apologizes For Waste - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

School Official Apologizes For Waste - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, Calif. --

KCRA 3 obtained pictures from a viewer of the dumpsters at Alice Birney Elementary School. The dumpsters were filled with items such as a chalk board, unused paper towels and toilet paper, paper towel dispensers, soap dispensers, books, crayons, markers and electronics.The superintendent of the Sacramento Unified School District apologized Wednesday night after a KCRA 3 investigation exposed one school throwing away usable materials in the middle of a budget crisis.

"I'm sorry that that's had to happen. There's no excuse for, you know, even a box of crayons being disposed at anytime, you know, irrespective of the fiscal situation," said Superintendent Jonathan Raymond.

The district is in the middle of preparing the entire campus for a Waldorf school to move this fall, and Raymond said someone made a mistake during that process.

Judy Mansfield, the viewer who sent KCRA 3 the photos, said she saw the dumpsters filled with useful items on at least three separate occasions.

"What was upsetting was the sheer waste. I recognize that it, it might be a drop in the bucket in terms of addressing the budget deficit, but we are all doing little things," Mansfield said.

"We can not afford to have that happen," said board member Roy Grimes.

Schools Matter: Defending Public Education

Defending Public Education From the Daily Californian: By Jeff Schauer Special to the Daily Cal Thursday, March 4, 2010 Category: Opinion > Op-Eds March 4 is a day for the promotion of public education in California. There is a march at the state capitol planned for 11 a.m., a ...

Wake County Now Looking for Cash to Fund New Resegregation Plan of Board Majority In a real life case of Ready-Fire-Aim in action, the resegregationists on the Wake County Board have shown once again how racist ideology can trump common sense, this time by voting 5-4 to blow up the current Wake County economic integration plan, a ...

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