Without "End-User" and "Neighborhood-Level" Oversight, it is Missing the Mark

Subject: Public Policy - PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Area: National-State-Local


The more I see funding being tossed out without some real monitoring-transparency-accountability that is tied to the end-users, parents, recipients and neighborhood-level stakeholders; I am not only weary, I am vehemently against it.

Yes. Funding is a must.
But, funding is just part of the solution.

What is the “trump card” for leveraging the “social dynamics” that will sabotage the efforts.

What is being done to ensure that the funding is said to be for one thing but once in house it becomes our own private do-what-we-want pillaging.

What are these folk doing to earn the right to use this money? Other than, providing a slick and professional application backed-up by hired professionals whose worth is to get big bucks from large depositories – federal government and charitable organizations. It is a racket.

The U.S. Committee on Appropriation and the U.S. Committee on Finance could help find deficit repair in proper monitoring of the People’s money.

Race to the Top
I am in Wisconsin. Last year, there was in-fighting of proposed “take-over” by then Democrat Governor Jim Doyle, State Superintendent Tony Evers and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Now that Republican Governor Scott Walker is in office, he has already thrown his hat in to “bust-up” or further “dilute” the strength of the public school system by removing the cap on voucher programs tied to Milwaukee Public Schools. The two camps, Doyle-Evers-Barrett last year and Walker this year, were/are after the federal funding that follows People of Color, the Work-Challenged and other protected classes. They come up with the 20-20 sell game of “for-the-children”. But, absolutely nothing is further from the truth.

Why? Because they never talk, in-service, ask and strategic plan with the parents of the children a "WE" Action plan. The blueprint is flawed if you fail to respect the statutory and biological rights, authority and influence of the parent or guardian. They are the first and always teachers.

You can bet State Superintent Evers and the gang will be at the door "pushing" and clamoring for dollars - using their office powers to gain entrance - using the archaic laws on the book to Govenor Walker's faux pax as a shield for consideration as well as "we are for the children" pledge and even accountability. Yet, Evers is so arrogant that he will not return calls, fail to have dialog to promote inclusion, best practices, accountability and transparency for the end-user. He has failed to answer emails and is in lock-step with the UW Board of Regents in failing to provide Affirmative Action to Milwaukeeans. He like others in public authority sit on multi-boards and cross-pollinate the appearance of conflict of interest - especially when it is seen.

The PARENT FACTOR is mandatory. The PARENT FACTOR is the missing link. The PARENT FACTOR is the beginning, middle and end for success.

"Every state that applied for Race to the Top funds now has a blueprint for raising educational quality across America," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "These funds will encourage states to continue their courageous work to challenge the status quo and build on the momentum for education reform happening in our classrooms, schools and communities."

So, when U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan wave $500m, $200m, $20m and $10m, it is like throwing bloody meat in the ocean where hungry sharks are swimming. It will be eaten. It will be retrieved by the sharks who happen to be swimming by (in the right place at the right time) – the sharks that are able to navigate the waters the quickest – the most powerful and intimidating sharks. Yes. Sharks were feed. But they were not the intended or target audience.

It is the same in the wild yonder of federal funding.