Former school board member Maria Pereira on Sunday continued her challenge of paid canvassers working for Families for Excellent Schools, the charter school advocacy group circulating petitions to present to the Board of Education “in support of system-wide change that would give every Bridgeport student access to a high-quality school.” Pereira, on video, once again confronted the veracity of a paid canvasser, this time in front of Walgreens at North and Main. Last week an FES canvasser was confronted by Pereira near Dunbar School in the East End, filmed by her friend Tammy Boyle, a public school parent. Pereira, an opponent of charter schools, issued this update to her public school contacts:
I received a call early this afternoon that a woman in a blue shirt was standing in front of the Walgreens located on the corner of Main and North Ave. This person also called me back to tell me she was walking up Main Street and stopped in front of Colony Diner and Dunkin Doughnuts. Both Tammy (Boyle) and I found her on Garfield Street. We parked down the block and just started down the sidewalk towards her direction. She was not door knocking. She was simply approaching every person sitting outside, washing their cars, etc. She approached Tammy and I and asked us to sign her petition. Once again, the petition was only available in English, not Spanish. We started asking her a few basic questions and she looked uncomfortable. I asked how signing her petition would help improve Bridgeport Public Schools? She ignored me. I asked her again and she responded by stating if I had any questions regarding the petition I should contact her supervisor, Francisco Medina. She also stated we could go to the “headquarters” and speak to him there. We asked her for the address and she stated it was at “1001 Main Street.”
We asked her if we could video tape her because Tammy was active in the public schools and had many friends on Facebook who would be able to view the video. She said “no, taping was not allowed.” I persisted and asked her why she was uncomfortable with our video taping her and placing it on Facebook for all to see. She was adamant that no video taping was allowed and that I could contact her supervisor. Within seconds of walking away from us she immediately started making calls on her cell phone. It was quite obvious that FES had now trained their canvassers to not allow themselves to be taped.
We then headed over to Walgreens on North Ave. and found the two male canvassers that were in front of Dunbar School last week, standing in front of the store asking people to sign the FES petitions. I walked up to one of the potential signers and educated them about FES, who funded them and what FES represented. The woman refused to sign the petition and walked into Walgreens. The gentleman featured in this latest video is the same canvasser heard in the background in the Dunbar School video we took last week. It speaks for itself. Unfortunately, I am horrible at technology and failed to record him when he told me “that’s why they got rid of you and you lost your job.” I replied by informing him I have never had a “job” with the City of Bridgeport or the BBOE and he was just telling more lies.
We then went to locate 1001 Main St. This is the address of Arcade Mall. We entered the arcade but were unable to locate a FES office. I approached a man sitting at a patio table and chairs placed in the hallway of the arcade. It was then that I noticed he was seated at a table with the FES petition (English only) and FES fliers. I explained that we had been informed that FES was located at this address by one of the canvassers. He stated it is located “at an offsite location.” He also asked if we were interested in helping to circulate their petition. I said no, however, a canvasser had just told us an hour ago that the “headquarters” was located at 1001 Main St. I asked where is the offsite location? He stated once again “it is at an offsite location.” I took out my camera to video the location and materials and he quickly got up and moved out of the shot. As we walked away, a short Hispanic male approached this gentleman and they started speaking about Tammy’s and my visit.
I just don’t understand. If you are speaking truth and are being honest and transparent, why are these people afraid to be videotaped? Tammy and I have now seen and spoken with five FES canvassers and not a single one of them had a petition available in Spanish.
Maria, have you ever thought of doing a commentary on News 12? I totally appreciate your passion against charter schools. Harassing the canvassers is not getting your message out. A commentary in the Post and News 12 could reach your audience to make a change. I am not sure what other avenues you are exploring, but with your handle on this information, I think you are just expending valuable information to a very small audience interested in your message.
Steve, What am I doing that is any different than Channel 12 or Channel 8? Undercover reporters receive tips and show up unannounced to speak with alleged con-artists, scam artists, disreputable people on camera all the time. They often show up unannounced in order to get an authentic unrehearsed response.
Many of the communities these paid canvassers are working in are impoverished, therefore many of the residents do not purchase the CT Post never mind read it.
I send emails and also sent these videos to approximately 100 of my personal contacts. I regularly ask all my contacts to forward the emails and/or videos. I recently started posting on Facebook and several of my friends shared the information with their Facebook contacts.
My goal is also to knock on 1,000 doors and educate others on FES, charter schools, etc. Do you know the number one reason my neighbors tell me they are willing to listen to me and trust me? It is because I am not compensated for the work I do. I also often hear I am knowledgeable and passionate. My first YouTube video in front of Dunbar already has over 300 views. I think that is a reasonable starting point.
I just have to keep plugging away and I am absolutely committed to do so.
Good for you!!!
My point though is Channel 12 will actually let you do an editorial and I thought you would enjoy it. You are right, they are in impoverished neighborhoods and may not read the Post but you can bet every one of them have cable television.
“You’re a liar!” Tammy Boyle, Bridgeport Parent Advisory leader, video recording with off-camera comment?
“Who’s a liar?” Alleged FES representative looking for signers of petitions.
Maria asks for “specifics” from the FES rep. She is seeking the truth and has said she only deals with facts and truth in the past. When she states the millionaires and billionaires, the Wall Street executives are pocketing 10% of every dollar, where are the specifics? I have been interested in City financial highlights and hi-jinks for years now. How in this State and in this City are the millions that are operating Charter schools being returned to “rich people?”
Steve, let’s see if Channel 12, one of whose video reporters received an award at a CC ceremony recently, is going to cover anything not on the Mayor’s approved agenda. How many media resources can get effectively silenced by a municipal administration? Time will tell.
The “alleged” FES rep. actually held up an FES flier to my camera. Did you miss that part? He was wearing an FES t-shirt in front of Dunbar School last week and on Saturday. He admitted to Tammy and I last week he was being PAID by FES.
The specifics are in the 300-600 page charter school applications that included a five-year budget. I didn’t create the budget, the charter school management organizations did. Dr. Perry who is a Hartford Magnet School principal and has a lucrative public-speaking business will earn $2.6 million in his first five years for managing Capital Prep Harbor Charter School. Great Oaks founders will earn $1.6 million in its first five years. Achievement First will earn over $4 million. This in no way includes the federal tax credit investors are eligible for when they “invest” in opening charter schools in impoverished communities.
Please re-review the video. I stated millionaires, billionaires and Wall Street executives “fund” Families for Excellent Schools. Time to loosen the bow tie.
I just reviewed the video for the fourth time, but I turned down the volume. As the representative for FES said, your voice is angry and tough to listen to for a period of time.
Specific truth, Maria, not general “info” that you call facts. Achievement First gets $4 million over a period of years, maybe five, like your other comparisons. But aren’t they paying teachers and other educational expenses to operate their programs with that money? The money you are mixing in with this are five-year fees to the organizations for administering, providing other services, etc. and not for paying 10% to go into the pockets of millionaires and billionaires. Listen to your exact words and the message they communicate.
When you accuse the FES representatives of false messages, you really need to defend your own YouTube act as well. Of course, when you are really angry, maybe there is inadequate oxygen getting to your thinking matter? Time will tell.
Well here is a suggestion, don’t listen to it. Mr. Bow Tie, no, not a single dollar of the management fees funds a single principal, teacher, guidance counselor, custodian, etc.
No sir, it is you who needs to listen to my “exact words.” The 10% in management fees is paid to the founders or management company that oversees the charter school(s). I NEVER stated the 10% goes to millionaires and billionaires.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has thanked me personally, by email and Facebook for my well-received “YouTube act.”
It is an absolutely beautiful night and I have spent time outdoors this evening breathing in big gulps of oxygen to ensure my “thinking matter” is in good working order so I can continue to spar with and defeat the one and only Bow Tie Bozo.
Your thinking matter may meet your standards but you may need to get to Beltone soon to have your hearing checked!
A transcription of your “YouTube Act” does not state verbatim what you claim. You like facts, then defend the facts you are presenting to the FES representatives. 10% of Charter School dollars going to the wealthy? Show us the evidence in Bridgeport Charters!!! Perhaps a little overstatement or hyperbole? Thought you liked “truth” and “facts.” Maybe? Most of the time? Some of the time? Perhaps you do not like to be held to the rigorous standards you ask of others? Time will tell.
Oh dear, you are coming across as angry. Suddenly we have exclamation points.
I never stated 10% of every dollar given to charter schools goes into the pockets of “the millionaires or billionaires.” Does my video “state verbatim” what you claim? No, it does not.
Still waiting for the results from your “research” on the state charter schools located in Bridgeport that “require” parental involvement and “sweat equity.” Will you be posting it soon?
Maria Pereira called me a liar. I stood tall. My reputation manager said things were intact. I didn’t dodge a bullet, I ignored a nuisance. Now she’s confronting strangers in the name of education.
Local Eyes, so Mr. Dunbar has every right to approach strangers in front of Walgreens seeking petition signatures without being honest and transparent, however are you saying I have no right to approach him in the same public setting? Why such a different set of standards?
If I were circulating a petition or door-knocking and someone wanted to video record our exchange, I absolutely would not have a problem with it. When you speak truth you have no reason to hide. If I were in front of Walgreens, I would have absolutely stood my ground.
He couldn’t support the unsubstantiated comments he was making to Walgreens customers so he left. When paid canvassers are knocking on doors or circulating petitions, shouldn’t they be able to answer basic questions?
If you want something in Spanish, ask yourself if your organization belongs here:
www .Solounopuedeserelmejor.com
A female canvasser was in front of Stop & Shop yesterday, collecting signatures. She wants to help the Bridgeport School. I wonder how???
invincible, I specifically asked the female canvasser who approached Tammy and I to sign her petition how does our signing her petition help improve Bridgeport Public Schools? She either wouldn’t or couldn’t answer this very basic question. Enough said.
I just received a call from a BPS parent who was approached by an FES canvasser in the P.T. Barnum area. The canvasser was stationed at a BPS bus stop where children depart from their bus and parents wait for their children. He asked this parent to sign the petition to improve the public schools and “help the kids get better computers.” This parent refused to sign the petition and sent me a photo of the canvasser. Pure, unadulterated lies.
6to6 magnet got a brand new shiny playground and new computers. That was the only school in the JFK Campus that got a new playground. The playground that got replaced was newer than the ones High Horizons and Multi-cultural currently have. Now, who spent their $5 mil on the kids and who didn’t?
I also notice in the last two months, the BOE hired about 20 new administrators @ about $110K each, or $2.2 million, yet no new playground for BPT’s best schools. For every month those all-important administrators were not hired the BOE ‘saved’ $183K. Where did that money go? It certainly did not go toward playgrounds. The last time I can remember the BOE spending money on the kids was when Vallas bought them Chromebooks but that was a different administration.
I can hardly believe in sanctifying one group and vilifying the other when one group has failed your school children for years @ 1/4 of a Billion dollars/year and the other has not even been around long enough to graduate a kindergartener and has a $5 million budget. $5 million dollars, the BBOE losses more than that in the decimal points.
I have 2 questions.
1. A billionaire is doing all this to pocket 10% of $5 million, or $50K/year, and you say there is a group of them. That means they would have to split the $50K. If there are five people in the group, they get $10K each. One billion dollars in a passbook savings account would make $5 million/year. If they got the entire BOE budget that would be $5 million each, or the same return as a passbook savings account. Bpt’s entire grand list is $7 Billion. If these guys wanted to ‘get’ the BOE budget they could buy the entire city and take it.
2. Why is Goliath so afraid of Dave?
BOE SPY, 6 to 6 Magnet School is not a Bridgeport Public School and what $5 million are you referring to?
Both Multicultural and High Horizons have very well run Parent Advisory Councils, The former High Horizons president just moved onto Fairchild Wheeler Inter-district Magnet School this year. I know both presidents quite well and have never heard either one express concerns regarding the condition of their playgrounds. If the parent leaders aren’t advocating for new playgrounds, why is it an issue for you?
Vallas should have not spent millions on the purchase of Chromebooks. Many of our buildings did not have the technology infrastructure for the addition of thousands of computers that need wireless access points. There are entire classes that cannot obtain internet access, the Chromebooks run very slowly and literally in some classes, half the students have wireless access and half do not. Teachers have to scrap the utilization of the Chromebooks and revert back to traditional teaching methods.
Vallas put the cart before the horse. We needed millions in technology infrastructure BEFORE investing millions in new Chromebooks.
What $5 million are you referring to???
If you think 10% of $5 million is $50K, you need to enroll in a remedial math course. 10% of $5 million is $500,000, not $50,000.
Maria,
While you are teaching math to bloggers, perhaps you will provide a history lesson of what went on with the BOE when you were a member regarding emphasis on getting “technology infrastructure” before the technology arrived.
How much awareness, support and guidance was present in the BOE structure for noting Central High infrastructure, for one, was in places 50 years behind?
Instead of the Vallas bashing so popular with you, what part did you play in raising the infrastructure issue? And getting some action? I don’t know the history personally, but assume you do since you are in critical mode.
You did the math showing 10% of $5 Million is $500,000 but can you show how such a number gets into the pockets of millionaires and billionaires? Of course if you never said it or don’t mean it, I guess you will retract your words. Time will tell.
John, no answer when you asked what she accomplished while on the BOE.
Vallas was being paid $234,000 plus benefits, a city vehicle and expenses as Superintendent, not me. He took a teacher from Central High School and promoted him to Director of IT, not me. This new director has never run a technology department or system as large as the BPS, not even close. This gentleman is completely over his head and the BPS has had very real issues with the entire system repeatedly crashing during his stewardship.
I supported and voted for federal E-Rate grants every time they were presented for a vote. However the grants never came to fruition.
A vote to support the purchase of the Chromebooks never came to the BBOE while I served on it. I believe it was mainly funded in the Capital Budget, not the Operating Budget. As you aware, the City Council votes on a Capital Budget, however Mayor Finch prioritizes the projects funded, not me.
BOE SPY’s incorrect math had absolutely nothing to do with the 10% charter schools pocket.
Do you have an AARP card? If you don’t, I would get one as soon as possible. Your health and well-being seem to be unstable.
In regards to what I accomplished as a BBOE member, it would certainly be more than either of you have ever accomplished in this city.
Unlike some, I have NEVER been compensated for the thousands of hours I have given to my community. I have spent over $40,000 of my personal funds to fight for every Bridgeport resident’s right to vote, creating fliers, posters, funding the costs associated with community meetings, etc.
When parents or BBOE employees have concerns or issues about their schools or troubling activities, do they call you for help? I receive emails and calls regularly because people know I have a record of getting results.
If it weren’t for the combined efforts of Carmen Lopez, Sauda Baraka, Bobby Simmons, John Bagley and me, this city wouldn’t be having the conversation around education that is occurring today.
I remember attending Max Medina’s last BBOE meeting at Geraldine Johnson in 2009. He had volunteered on the BBOE for 16 years. When I deducted all the paid staff in the room that night, there were fewer than 10 parents and community members. I remember saying to myself, “this is going to have to change.”
When you attend BBOE meetings today, the room is often filled to capacity and there are times there is standing room only.
And although I served in the minority, I was instrumental in stopping Dr. Ramos and the “six” from closing Dunbar School, defeated Dr. Ramos and the “6” attempt to spend over $10,000,000 in the leasing of a contaminated building to create a new BBOE office, an expenditure that would have not directly impacted a single child. I was instrumental in the defeat of the Local Charter School that Excel Bridgeport and Meghan Lowney tried to get the BBOE to fully fund. This would have siphoned millions away from our already severely underfunded schools.
There were other contributions as well, however I just do not have the time to list them all here.
Maria, the things you did were bad things. The kids are still failing. The district would have run better without Dunbar. That school went to the Commissioner’s Network. That is bad. We could have saved those kids years ago but you would not let us. Kowtowing to the parents is not always good. Sometimes your medicine taste bad and you just have to take it or you do not get well.
I did such bad things, I have a significant base of support, many of whom include BPS parents.
Closing neighborhood schools does nothing to improve a child’s education or a community. One only has to look at New Orleans, Philadelphia and Chicago to confirm that. Closing neighborhood schools destabilize neighborhoods and negatively impacts real estate values.
Who is “we?” What volunteerism have you contributed to improve schools like Dunbar or the BPS as a whole?
Are you aware when Dr. Ramos proposed closing Dunbar School, every single child was either going to have to walk to or ride a bus to another underperforming school? When I shared that information with Dunbar parents and community members, they saw no value in closing Dunbar School.
But it is not your decision to choose what type of medicine is administered and how much of it they should take. Community organizing is about sharing information and educating the community and then letting each individual decide how to interpret and apply the information. A physician can recommend the medicine but ultimately the patient will decide if they take it, not the doctor.
You, Maria. You are full of crap.
With profound statements like this, you might consider applying for a position as an adjunct professor, a motivational public speaker, etc. Your opportunities are limitless.
You could be right but you are still full of crap.
Good point.
BOE SPY, come on now, you know it’s about power and control.
Ron–Power and control? For whom? A BILLIONAIRE or a bunch of BPT flunkies who want to play ‘big shot’ by passing out $60K/year jobs and $100K contracts? Would a billionaire really need to be in charge of the BOE to have a bunch of people kiss his butt? We are talking about billionaires, Ron. They make more money than most countries and they need the BBOE to round out their pyramid of power. Does your theory apply to all philanthropists, like the Carnegie-Mellon, Gates Foundation, Mother Theresa, Oprah, Bill Cosby and The King (as in MLK) Center? All these people/foundations support educational institutions of one kind or another.
Where does the BBOE fall in the ‘power and control’ pecking order? The president, CIA, BBOE, … I mean, it is a broken system in a broken state in Detroit on the sound and a billionaire wants it for power and control because buying GM wouldn’t do it for them. 2006, 51% of GM $7.4 billion @ $206 billion in revenue.
Really, the Gates Foundation. Bill Gates has almost single-handedly bankrolled the creation of the Common Core. He was instrumental in creating the committee members who developed the Common Core. There were only two educators on the entire committee and the vast majority of the members were from testing companies.
The Common Core required every state that implemented Common Core to develop new standardized tests. All the book publishers had to write and create new textbooks and coincidentally, the new standardized tests would no longer be paper tests that you just bubble in. All the new tests would now be taken on computers. Oh my, what are we to do? We have millions upon millions of students who need to take standardized tests on computers and we either don’t have enough computers or they are obsolete.
So let’s see, who made billions of dollars on the new Common Core standards? We have manufacturers of computers that have made billions, including Microsoft which was founded by Bill Gates. We have all the textbook publishers that have made millions on creating new textbooks. Remember, Bridgeport alone spent $7 million on new textbooks aligned to the Common Core. We have all the testing companies that had to create new computerized standardized tests and of course there are the fees to correct the tests, etc. Charter Schools, the Common Core and the national “deform” movement have nothing to do with improving the education of children. It has everything to do with making the wealthiest white men in the United States wealthier.
They were going to take one test or another anyway. The schools already have computers. Again, you are not commenting about spending money, just who gets it. BTW, those computer test are cheaper and, most importantly, no cheating. Less we forget how we catch ‘educators’ doctoring the test scores every year.
And, how many computers did the Gates Foundation give to BPT?
BOE SPY, the vast majority of the BPS computers were between 5-7 years old and there were in no way enough computers for every child to take the new SBAC test. If the schools already have computers, why were thousands of Chromebooks purchased?
What specific information do you have that supports the computerized tests are cheaper than the traditional tests? In addition, how does a computerized test guarantee there is no cheating? The number-one method utilized to determine if cheating has occurred was the number of erasures from wrong to correct answers. Changing answers on computerized tests will not result in erasure marks.
Are you implying educators in Bridgeport have been caught “doctoring” tests?
I am unaware of the Bill Gates Foundation giving any computers to Bridgeport. The BPS was awarded a grant to help develop and fund professional development. What computers are you referring to?
BOE SPY, as I said, it’s about power and control. Why are the Koch brothers involved with education? Money, education budgets nationwide is one of the biggest in America. Koch brothers want to destroy unions, why, because union members tend to vote for Democrats. Control and power.
How much would it cost these guys to ‘buy’ the B in BOE? The WFP bought it for less than $100K. You would only need five of the nine seats. I mean you think they are paying me, Megan S and any number of others. Just put up some BOE candidates and put all that money into getting them elected. Hire the DTC to do what they do and get your people in charge. End of problem.
That is the problem with all these conspiracy theories. The same group that can hide a UFO and kill Kennedy engages in the Bay of Pigs and Vietnam. When it comes to taking over a company these billionaires are James Bond. When it comes to taking over the BBOE they are Maxwell Smart. The idea these successful, capable people have some clandestine plan to take control of the BOE and are so bad at it makes no sense. How much would it really cost them to rent every apartment in BPT for one month, move 4-6 people into each apartment and let them vote as they see fit? Only 4,600 people voted in the last BOE election with the top guy getting 20% (940) of the votes. That would be 160 apartments @ $1000/apartment or $160,000 assuming all those people voted for all your guys. How anyone else votes would be irrelevant. Each of your candidates would get 960 votes just from your people and you only need five seats.
BOE SPY, there was a recent Board of Education election in Los Angeles, California. Former Mayor Bloomberg, Michelle Rhee, a variety of millionaires donated to this little old board of education election. The pro-charter school candidate backed by the millionaires raised approximately $1 million and one of the pro-public education challengers raised approximately $50,000. Guess who won, the little guy who raised only $50,000.
Can you please share with us why millionaires who do not reside in California, never mind Los Angeles, donated over half a million dollars to a single board of education candidate?
Do you honestly think it is because these millionaires care deeply about the well-being of the poor minority students in L.A.? Please.
I do not know, Maria. I would guess for the same reason you do. They see the importance of an educated population. They just seek to go about it one way and you seek another.
There way is experimental. Your way is tried and failed.
I have never donated to an out-of-state municipal election. Why would I donate to a BOE candidate on the other side of the country?
They could care less about an “educated population.” They only care about supporting BOE candidates who will “support” their pockets.
Please clarify what you mean by “your way is tried and failed.”
BOE SPY, I am now pretty confident you are definitely in need of a remedial math course. There were over 7,000 votes cast in last November’s election, not 4,600. The top vote-getter received approximately 5,000 votes, not 940 votes. Your comments make absolutely no sense and are not based on any facts or reasonable assumptions.
Sorry, I was going by this information:
ballotpedia.org/Bridgeport_Public_Schools_elections_(2013)
They got their info from:
www .sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/electionresults/2013/bridgeport.pdf
Under ‘general election,’ not ‘primary election.’
Were did you get your info?
BOE SPY, the totals in the first link are accurate for the Primary but are completely inaccurate for the General election. I have no idea why.
However if you go to the bottom of the second link, it shows over 8,000 votes were cast in the November 2013 election.
Maria, about that hearing aid? It is time.
I returned to the YouTube posted above and looked in at about 1.0 minutes and heard the following from your voice referring back to “millionaires and billionaires” in a previous breath: “THEY TAKE 10% OF EVERY DOLLAR GIVEN TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PUT IT IN THEIR POCKET. TEN PERCENT OF EVERY DOLLAR …”
You said it. You say you tell the truth. Just the facts, ma’am; just the facts.
Regarding my homework on Charter Schools, third appointment this afternoon after lunch. My understanding of parental roles with Charter Schools today will be refreshed and able to be shared, or attacked. Time will tell.
Once again, I never referenced millionaires and billionaires in that comment. I stated “they pocket millions. They take 10% of every dollar given to charter schools and put it in their pocket.” I was referring to the charter schools themselves, i.e. the founders/management companies. You seem to be demonstrating obsessive behavior and think you have caught me in some sort of discrepancy when you have not.
It would be completely illegal for the millionaires and billionaires who invest in and promote charter schools in CT to take one dime. The way CT Charter Schools get around their non-profit status is to charge exorbitant management fees.
So you’re meeting with Charter School employees to better understand the requirements and sweat equity required of parents. Just curious, do you think they are going to tell you they don’t encourage parental involvement? What school would ever tell parents such a thing?
If the past week of video footage Tammy Boyle and you have provided OIB regarding FES activity, the obsessive activity you suggest may be my problem is occurring on your playground and not mine. When an adult as part of a taping asks young folks to provide credentials as you do, quoting your five years of BOE attendance, it is not as an instructional device but rather as an act of intimidation. You wish to be in dialogue, not as a passive viewer of their activities. A debate about taping in public or private places does truly not assist the education of kids specifically. And I am not sure where the security officer came from, whether from the school, or a car that was called, or some other way, being part of a disturbance takes that security officer away from his other duties. Had you considered that? Is perhaps that not relevant to your ultimate objective?
I think your explanation of your own comment is weak. Relating “10% of every dollar” in the context of your several preceding sentences shows you pointing to “millionaires and billionaires” with whom you are so angry. The object was not Charter Schools at that moment, regardless of what you meant. In this case you are shooting blanks with your 10% pocketing accusations. Who cares if rich folks get a charitable deduction in parting with their own, presumably legally earned money, for a charitable cause? Once the dollars are given, they must be spent in a manner appropriate to non-profit organizations, in this case to promote education of youth. If the parents of Charter students are happy, if the donors are happy, and you cannot find more serious legal fault with this particular argument, why not give it a rest? Or report the violations you see to the IRS and see what happens.
If you or your legal counsel feel 10% flowing upstream to a parent company, administrative division, or other organizational level is unlawful in the context of non-profit status, it sounds easy to challenge. However if those same upstream entities have responsibilities downstream, then perhaps you are making a mountain out of a molehill. (Whether the responsibilities are carried out well is not the subject of your statement at the moment, though you do use the term ‘management fees.’)
My understanding at this moment is Charter Schools in our District (have not heard from all) do no require “sweat equity” or any type of participation from parents other than that which is freely given to support the child in student activities. One or more have stated or understood expectations of the student and the adults in the family. Seeing a child gets enough sleep, eats regular meals, is supported in age-appropriate homework, gets to school on time and ready to perform school work, respectful of teacher and classmates sounds like a pretty good formula for school success. In one situation the parent and student endorse an agreement that covers school policy, process and expectations and that format comes into play at future times when disagreement may happen. Sounds very practical and workable to me. Would it be appropriate in the public school system? Time will tell.
Ron, your comments regarding the Koch brothers are very much on target. The Koch brothers do want to demolish unions, the poor and the middle class. Their only concern is the 1%.
To whom it may concern,
If it took Paul Vallas to bring Chromebooks to BPS, then kudos to him. Every school I have been in that utilizes them, appreciates them and they are an excellent learning tool for students in the 21st century. Honestly, being critical of Vallas for this is sad. If they are slow and some schools cannot support them, then forgive my French. FIX THE FUCKING PROBLEM. We are not Neanderthals. We are the largest city in the state in one of the wealthiest counties in the country. FIX THE FUCKING PROBLEM! Thank you Mr. Vallas for bringing Chromebooks to our schools. I wonder how the students feel about the Chromebooks at the Discovery Magnet and the Fairchild Wheeler high schools. They love them. The teachers love them. Enough said. Next you’ll tell me Mayor Finch brought Vallas here. 🙂
BOE SPY, as I said, it’s about power and control. Why are the Koch brothers involved with education? Money, education budgets nationwide is one of the biggest in America. Koch brothers want to destroy unions, why, because union member tend to vote for Democrats. Control and power.
Steve, both Discovery and Fairchild Wheeler Magnet Schools were built with state-of-the-art technology infrastructure. They are new schools, not 50-80 years old. Many of our older schools couldn’t consistently utilize the Chromebooks for over a year because of the issues with connecting to access points. Investing millions in Chromebooks that sit in locked carts and are not being utilized by students and teachers is not something to celebrate.
Fixing the problem is easier said then done. The estimated costs to overhaul our technology infrastructure will cost over $25 million dollars. Where do you suggest those funds come from? We are after all the most underfunded public school system in CT.
Maria,
When you were on the BOE, where was the effort to prioritize the financial issues and still come to a balanced result? For that matter where were the Finance Committee voices? Or were they happy to have a balanced budget?
Where is there an estimate for Bridgeport Public Schools showing technology infrastructure with a cost of over $25 Million dollars? When the Chromebooks showed up and the school infrastructure was adequate, were all of the professional educators in the appropriate grades ready to embrace the technology? For those who found it necessary to take classes, how many of those took advantage of the summer courses that were provided free of charge? How many professionals in the public system today still feel the need for training since Superintendent Rabinowitz is a supporter of professional development? Since you did not raise the issue of professionals who are not familiar or comfortable with the technology, is this factor a possible reason for the failure to use what was provided? Time will tell.