Comments on: Superintendent search committee: Who’s on it

By: harlemmoon

harlemmoon — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:30:33 +0000

Nextset, your side of the fence isn’t so awful – particularly where there is sound reason and logic.
I have no illusions, however, that our agreement is lasting!

By: Nextset

Nextset — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:20:23 +0000

I thought Harlemmoon and I weren’t supposed to agree on things… what’s happening here?

By: cranky teacher

cranky teacher — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:38:47 +0000

Like I said, I don’t disagree with the frustration.

Personally, I see these problems as systemic and unlikely to be solved by a superhero or two.

If you study, parent or work at one of these schools you can’t wait for a principal or superintendent to save us.

As for the recent string, they are just puppets for Jack O’Connell and the Broad folks. If you weren’t happy with them, you should at least be happy the same crew isn’t picking this one…

By: harlemmoon

harlemmoon — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:26:08 +0000

Yes, Cranks, I am frustrated. I am working diligently toward the day when the expectations for every student in OUSD are limitless. When we can expect that they will graduate literate, prepared and capable. When aspirations are more than becoming the next best ball-player or rapper.

Yes, Cranks, it’s high time we set the bar high and demanded that our children reach for it – or at the very least, try!

Yes, Cranks, I want true leadership. Heck, even you can’t deny that Matthews and Mayor, and Statham before them, are complete zeros. So, here we are. Another crossroads. And the promise, the hope for a world-class school district is as far off as a third Bush term.

By: cranky teacher

cranky teacher — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:05:19 +0000

TheTruthHurts: You can trash them all you want, but some of these folks have quite a bit of experience in education. Since you mentioned Dan Siegel:

– He was the Chief Counsel to the Superintendent for several years.

– He served on the board for 8 years, about half that time as president of the board.

– He has long taught a course at Mills in the Education Department (schools and the law for administrators).

– His son went through OUSD, graduating from Skyline.

– He lives in East Oakland and has for 30 years.

Yes, he received a ticket for pot. However, did you notice that our GOP Gov. wants us to consider legalizing it?

You and Harlemmoon and Nextset are extremely frustrated and who could blame you? However, I see no purpose or help in your shrieking and rather ignorant attacks. Attacking politicians, bureaucrats and all the rest is so easy. Where does it get us?

Who should be making the selection?

By: TheTruthHurts

TheTruthHurts — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:52:39 +0000

Do any of these people know what it takes to manage a school district? Only one represents parents specifically. Isn’t Dan Siegal the role model busted for POT a few years back? Frankly, my expectations are so low it doesn’t matter. I’m sure this group will make the selection ever more political instead on focusing on what is broken, what needs to be fixed and who can fix it. We’ll be talking about personality and appeasing constituencies instead of educating STUDENTS. HELLO, does anyone focus on the students? Where’s the education experts? The financial experts? The parents? Oh well, what can we expect.

By: Nextset

Nextset — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:47:38 +0000

Me – run for school board? In Oakland?? Who’d vote for me anyway! I’m not politically correct. Oakland wants feel good candidates who tell the people what they want to hear. If the voters of Oakland wanted a good school district, they’d have one. Like they once did.

By: Superintendent Search Update « Great Oakland Public Schools

Superintendent Search Update « Great Oakland Public Schools — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:10:11 +0000

[...] permanent superintendent. Last week, they invited four semi-finalists to interview this week and named an advisory committee to interview their final candidates. The names of the semi-finalists have not been made public. [...]

By: harlemmoon

harlemmoon — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:54:20 +0000

Cranky, it’s easy to freak out in Oakland.
Exposed myself? Nah, That’s a bit harsh. Sorta like calling a stern teacher cranky…oh wait.

By: cranky teacher

cranky teacher — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:28:54 +0000

Harlemmmoon, you just exposed yourself as someone who is simply reactionary. You didn’t even read the headline before you went into freak out mode.

You and Nextset are so damn smart, you should run for school board. It’s honestly not that hard to land on the thing if you work at it for a year, get some core supporters and walk precincts.