Comments on: Big money flowing into Oakland school board races

By: J.R.

J.R. — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:06:24 +0000

Non,
I am still looking myself, but I guess that is one of the purposes of legislation:

To relieve the working people of their money and ensure that no one really knows where the money went or how much.

No wonder so many politicians have lived their entire adult lives at the public trough, it pays well and it’s secure(as long as their are boards, commissions and or city,county,state and or federal posts. I doubt that many if not most of these people have ever actually worked an honest day in their lives in the private sector.

By: Nontcair

Nontcair — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:48:01 +0000

Re: #57, I searched the Ed Code. I couldn’t find anything specifically about matching funds for bonds. Who knows? It could be buried within the state financial code; I looked there, too.

FYI, I did see some totally unconstitutional regulations dating back to the school-construction boom of the 1950′s, a time when CA had a part-time legislature, related to a state education *bureaucracy* being delegated the power to make construction-related appropriations during the 1.5 years or so when the legislature was adjourned.

It’s a shame that the “Part-Time Legislature” petition didn’t collect enough signatures to make the ballot this year. It deserves our support.

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:42:11 +0000

I am a lifelong democrat and I phone banked at GO recently. I am so happy that the school board races are finally getting the attention they deserve, and that all board races are contested. That is the way democracy is supposed to work. Public education reform is one of the few places where democrats and republicans actually can find some common ground. I’m not worried about the candidates GO endorsed. I’ve met all of them, and I think they will all be independent, thoughtful school board members. Serving on the School Board is a hard, thankless job. I’m glad that Oakland is developing more civic infrastructure to surface and support good candidates…and if some rich republicans had something to do with that…then we are all in their debt.

By: Nontcair

Nontcair — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:32:14 +0000

If you are not anti-charter then you are not pro public education

IOW, if you are not anti-fascism then you are not pro totalitarian socialism.

By: Jim Mordecai

Jim Mordecai — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:38:15 +0000

Lake Educator:

If you are not anti-charter then you are not pro public education as charters grow privatization of the management of public schools.

My concern about GO is the money behind GO being the Roger Family Dryers fortune. Brian Rogers has two charter schools. Since two $49,000 checks by T Gary Rogers and Arthur Rock make up almost $100,000 of the GO PAC, my point is if you follow the money you got to be thinking that GO is charter school friendly.

When S.F. Venture Capitalist Arthur Rock was asked about his motivation in contributing to Oakland GO PAC he answered that his donation speaks for itself. I take that to mean he believes in reforming public education as a concept as there appears no other link to Oakland Public Schools. Certainly a capitalist would tend to like the idea of charter schools as a reform of public education.

The bottom line is that about 70% of GO PAC money belongs to the two donations of Mr. Rogers and Mr. Rock. Oakland is not Mr.Rocks neighborhood but it is Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood. Although most do not live or travel in Mr. Rogers’ world of the 1%, many find his wealth attractive and seek the trickle down political dollars.

Jim Mordecai

By: Nontcair

Nontcair — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:15:55 +0000

#54 wrote: transfer an asset traditionally held by the public (a civic-minded, city-owned, locally-controlled public school system) into private hands (for the benefit of real estate acquisition, cronyism, profiteering, etc.).

You and your comrades, who long have had a free hand to craft public education in your own left wing socialist images now object when right wing socialists want to craft it in *theirs*.

How pathetic!

Taxpayers are sick and tired of watching you big government advocates fight over our money.

We’re sick and tired of you Hegelians arguing over whose form of socialism is better.

We just want to be LEFT ALONE.

By: Lake Educator

Lake Educator — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:15:15 +0000

A few points on this lengthy discussion.

1. GO is a community-based group that has organized a significant volunteer effort for this election. Contributions have been made by more than 200 individuals and GO is averaging 50-70 people a week who are volunteering their time to call and walk districts. This is about creating a more informed electorate in an often ignored election.

2. GO is not pro or anti charter. GO is pro strong outcomes for kids. The charter vs. district debate is pitting people who care about many of the same issues against each other. Kids deserve better than what we currently give them, especially our kids of color. Period. If our district were really focused on meeting the needs of kids, many things about the way our schools are run would change. That does not mean that charters are the answer – they come with other issues. But we cannot be afraid of competition. We must do better than we are.

By: J.R.

J.R. — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 07:29:51 +0000

This current system big government education juggernaut has been fleecing taxpayers for decades(taking large sums of money while performing at mediocre levels or worse. 400 million dollar budgets annually(billions in LAUSD)the majority of which is compensation and benefits(past and present)and what do we have to show for it(past and present)? Don’t take youe eye off the ball taxpayers, keep an eye on your wallets and watch them all.

By: J.R.

J.R. — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 07:18:07 +0000

This is horrifying, and it has been going on for decades without the benefit of widespread academic achievement, too much reliance on remedial education, and low graduation rates( even though the exit exam is eigth grade level.

http://www.calwatchdog.com/2012/09/24/what-school-bonds-pay-for-from-san-diego-to-burlingame-the-crime-is-whats-legal/

By: J.R.

J.R. — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 06:54:26 +0000

Non,
A little too much legalese, but I believe the pertinent information begins in #16312. Perhaps Nextset will verify, but I see no more than 80 cents on the dollar of matching(I could be mistaken though).