Is Markell behind dumping tenure?

One beautiful thing about Delaware it’s small and voices carry in the wind. Do we have a governor that is sincere with his state’s public school teachers. Word has it somebody in Dover isn’t happy about folks singing “Hit the Road Jack.” Has the wheels of pay-backs been started? Paying ball with Arne Duncan gives some $$$$ oil to turn the screws on Delaware unionized teachers. As for my buddy in Red Clay I urge you to keep your nose to the Red Clay grindstone and stay out of the big agenda.

Joanne Weiss has strong ties to the Eli Broad Foundation and now she is on Arne Duncan’s team to help move his national agenda for greater federal control of local public schools including Delaware’s. Don’t let Vice President Biden fool you because he’s on board with Arne Duncan. I think it’s time to send Joe a big message by not electing Beau Biden to Joe’s old senate throne. One sellout Biden in Washington is more than we need.

Bring down New York and Delaware will fall. R.I.P. DSEA

Obama official to New York: Change your tenure law or else

“The Obama administration official in charge of an educational innovation fund yesterday issued a warning to a New York audience: Unless the state legislature revises a law now on the books about teacher tenure, the state could lose out on the $4.35 billion fund she controls.”

“Joanne Weiss said the Obama administration aims to reward states that use student achievement as a “predominant” part of teacher evaluations with the extra stimulus funds — and pass over those that don’t. New York state law currently bans using student data as a factor in tenure decisions.”

“Test scores aren’t everything, Weiss said. “But it seems illogical and indefensible to assume that those aren’t part of the solution at all,” she said, echoing nearly word-for-word Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s remarks last week to the National Education Association.”

“Secretary Duncan Sets Tone for ‘Race to the Top’ By Naming Innovative New Leader Joanne Weiss Joins Department of Education From NewSchools Venture Fund To Implement Unprecedented Incentive Program For Bold National Reforms”

I can’t believe Joe Biden sits by and watches Arne Duncan’s carrot on the stick game being played with financially cripple governors. But don’t let Jack Markell under-estimate you as the revised state budget will reflect cuts in public education in Delaware to bolster his tears of poverty. Race to the Top stimulus funding is a supplemental program and Markell sees it as supplant funding. Folks the money being used is monies from the president’s stimulus package. The only thing being stimulated is Obama / Biden’s plan for federal takeover of local public schools. How many times have we heard Red Clay school board say, “our hands are tied please contact your legislators?” On October 27, 2009 our superintendent will embrace Arne Duncan, Jack Markell and Skipper with Rodel in tow. For sure a few of our board members will be in attendance.