I want to start by saying Kilroy is not about saving charter schools and is about social justice and real full transparency of state and federal government including agencies within like public schools.
Reach and Pencader “failed” because of leadership within and not because of Jack Markell, DOE Dan or DEDOE. HOWEVER, because Jack Markell moved the Delaware Department of Education away from being a supportive working partner to a partisan extension of his misguided education agenda they’ve dropped the ball compounding the failures within Reach and Pencader. If DEDOE had been focused on effective “proactive” oversight they would have addressed the lack of required Citizen Budget Oversight Committee. In Reach’s case it was a “parent” who repeatedly yell fire as in there is a serious problem. It’s really, sad if DEDOE was more proactive in communication skills parents would have know their right to participation in financial oversight. There are only a handful of parents / citizens who monitor legislation and study it. Parents rely on their state legislators to be their advocates and lobbyist but in recent years those legislators have fallen short. As far as Pencader, they lacked effective oversight in finances and apparently a school leader not adapt in accounting. But this has changed for both schools whereas “parents” woke up and smelled the coffee.
We know for a fact the Delaware Department of Education charter school review committee has recommended closure for both schools. Personally I feel the process is skewed because the DEDOE person in charge of charter schools is on this committee which in my opinion should not be partisan to the governor but objective to the issues and failures of the schools “and” DEDOE. The bottom-line is, we can’t have the judge sitting on the jury. Nor can we have political partisan persons on the review committee.
We often hear of the “Delaware way” and many don’t understand it! Folks, I assure you there is a what I call , the Delaware Political Star Chamber running Delaware and are in control of the politicians. Think real hard as to why the Delaware Republicans haven’t been attacking a Democrat Governor on the issues and DEDOE dropping the ball and putting their asses in the face of the law? Isn’t 2012 an election year? Go to Rodel’s webpage and review their list of board members. Not necessarily saying Rodel is the evil one but it the relationship of board members that will give you the clue. We all know “money” controls power in political and labor (more power to them) has a political edge.
The faint and I mean faint rumors favorable to Reach and Pencader I hear aren’t convincing. Our Governor Jack Markell has his poker-face on and is keeping his cards close to his chest. The reality is with the Republican members of the Delaware Political Star Chamber backing Markell , Markell is a shoe-in for reelection. If Reach and / or Pencader parents can’t save their schools from closure the voice to undermine Markell’s election bid won’t happen.
Government exists to serve the people not the other way around! Reach and Pencader failed. However so did those who Markell handpicked to run DEDOE. The fate of Reach and Pencader is down to the morals of the one man, Jack Markell. He knows DEDOE dropped the ball in ensuring those financial review committees were in place. The question is, will he man-up?
Reach and Pencader parents you must make next week’s public meetings your last stand all or nothing! The media will be there and you must come out in force and please bring your children and even their grandparents. It’s your only hope! Reach nor Pencader is asking for financial assistance from the state! The new school leaders and parents are ready to keep the schools process transparent and only want a chance. Didn’t Markell ask the voters for the opportunity to be their governor ? Is Markell struggling to delivery his promises? Parents, you are the “We the People” and the “public” in public education. You are not the public servants as the government and Jack Markell are the public servants. The choice to stand or sit down is yours. I have no vested interest in either school nor do I have a child in either school. You don’t see a icon asking for donations on this blog. I am for open government and that is what failed at Reach and Pencader. You collectively have tremendous voice and power and at the public meeting this week you’ll see which of your local politicians stands with you or ignores you. You won’t beat Markell at the polls but you can’t beat those local politicians who fail to stand with you or rather your child.
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