Also, our Legislative Priorities for 2009 are now on-line.
Martin County has a lot in common with Broward!
School employee salaries: Broward and Palm Beach
Harvard study shows no gains from Florida’s class size reduction
(NEWS ALERT): Reform Leaders Launch New American Federation for Children
OPPAGA Report: Tax credits for business donations to K-12
Best Political Activist - Charlotte Greenbarg
Broward School Official Conspired to Build…
Dysfunction Junction: The Broward School Board Story
The Broward School Board sold our children's future out to their lobbyist and construction-company friends, overspent hundreds of millions of dollars, and dug the district $2 billion in debt.
The board remains under federal investigation
Great Teachers Do More Than Just Teach, They Change Lives
Over the last decade Florida embarked on a bold mission to improve the educational opportunities for its students. At the time, Florida was ranked 38th in the National Educational Rankings and was considered mediocre at best.
Suspended School Board Member To Plead Guilty
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Suspended Broward County School Board member Beverly Gallagher has reached a plea deal with prosecutors. Gallagher will plead guilty to one count of bribery when she stands before a federal judge Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale.
Tallahassee Report-March, 2010
My first meeting was with Representative Kurt Kelly for a discussion of education issues. He informed me that he will be running for US Congress and, should he be successful in his primary, he would be challenging Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson from the Orlando area.
IJ announces Supreme Court victory for free speech
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court announced a landmark victory for free speech, making clear in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that under the First Amendment the government cannot stifle dissent by restricting the right of corporations to spend money on independent political speech.
The Fabric of Society Is Being Torn Apart by Corruption
As 2009 draws to a close, the fabric of society is being torn apart by corruption. So says the top Federal Bureau of Investigations agent for South Florida.
In a speech resembling a morality pep talk, John Gillies, the FBI special agent in charge of the Miami division, last week gave a summary of his office's caseload to a West Boca Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Broward school construction: Problems persist despite years of reform attempts
Broward School District officials set out to build a new $4.5 million bus depot in Pembroke Pines in 2001, anticipating it would be complete in just over a year.
Eight years later, it is still not finished and the price tag has tripled to about $14 million. While buildings are up and buses are parked, work is still being done on the facades and irrigation system. Completion is not expected until April.
Make it easier to remove abusive teachers
Alexandra Kralik, a kindergarten teacher at A.C. Perry Elementary School in Miramar, does not belong in any classroom. Teaching is a profession ideally consisting of highly trained and qualified professionals with impeccable character imparting knowledge and molding the minds of our future leaders.
Broward school auditors' reports don't always win them friends
FORT LAUDERDALE - At the nation's sixth largest school district, auditing how the money is spent by co-workers and elected officials isn't always the best way to make friends.
Hollywood Folks Stand Up for School Board Auditors
A coalition of civic groups in Hollywood is coming to the defense of the beleaguered Broward County School Board auditors, who essentially are being pilloried by board members for doing a good job trying to protect taxpayers' dollars.
You may know that some board members, led by Stephanie Kraft, harangued Auditor Pat Reilly at a recent board meeting.
Ashbritt Report including Administrative Responses 7/16/09 and 7/23/09
Part 1
Part 2
TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS ITEM D-6 SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY – MEETING AUGUST 4, 2009
District auditor criticized for "editorializing"
Several Broward School Board members criticized a district auditor for “editorializing” in a recent audit that found the district overpaid more than $765,000 for the repair of portable classrooms damaged by Hurricane Wilma.
The audit by Dave Rhodes, the district’s director of facilities audits, states that “there were clear signs of coercion and falsified documentation to facilitate the approvals and ultimately the recommendation to process payments to AshBritt, Inc.
Auditor to AshBritt hurricane firm: Give School Board Back the $765,000 You Ripped Off!
In what amounts to a gross violation of the public trust, the Broward School Board's auditor has determined that the giant environmental services firm AshBritt Inc. overbilled and, at times, double-billed the School Board $765,000 during emergency work done in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, according to a 48-page report obtained by the Pulp.
Focus on why kids don't learn, not the FCAT
Re state Sen. Dan Gelber's June 21 article, Too much emphasis on one test: The exam would be easy to pass if our students were taught properly and disciplined to focus on education. Children's education should be parents' priority.
Court Affirms Reimbursement for Special Education
In a decision that could help disabled students obtain needed services and cost school districts millions of dollars, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that parents of special-education students may seek government reimbursement for private school tuition, even if they have never received special-education services in public school.
GAO report: Special-needs kids abused in school
Congressional auditors have uncovered widespread abuse of techniques use to restrain or discipline special-education students in U.S. schools, with some deaths linked to the practices, a top congressman says.
Secrets of Successful Teaching
As an educator and policymaker, you understand the importance of the teacher in the classroom in providing a quality education to each and every student across our country.
Study after study proves that great teachers produce great students. The effectiveness of an educator can make the difference between academic success -- or educational failure.
Federal Report Confirms D.C.Voucher Effectiveness
There is good news out of Washington, D.C. this afternoon- news that impacts the future of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.
The U.S. Department of Education today released a crucial report demonstrating that the D.C. voucher program is making a significant impact on student academic achievement.
Latest News on Milwaukee Program
Co-sponsored by State Policy Network and the Alliance for School Choice, the Education Exchange is a quick-read update on recent events in education – in the states and nationally. Below are the latest education resources and news. If you would like the Exchange to feature your organization’s work, please submit links to your recent studies to Liz at schoolchoicelady@cox.net.
It takes a lot to dismiss a teacher
In a span of 18 months, a co-worker accused Sachse of cussing her out. A confiscated note suggested he wanted to meet a 14-year-old girl behind a Dumpster. A parent said he threatened to pull another girl's pants down. Away from work, police arrested Sachse (pronounced SAX-see) on a charge of stealing a $5.95 sandwich — an arrest he was supposed to tell his boss about within 48 hours, but investigators said he did not.
Charlotte's letter to President Obama on D.C. vouchers
I implore you not to cut the school choice program for the disadvantaged children in the District of Columbia . I've been an education activist beginning in the 70s when I realized Florida had no school crossing guards and worked with my community to find funding for a statewide program and get the state law creating the program passed the first time out.
Ira's reasons for opposing "Free Choice" Act
I know you are a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). I retired from the teaching profession last June after having served 30 years as a classroom teacher. Florida being a right to work state allowed me the freedom to choose whether or not I should be a union member.
Ira Paul attends Celebration of Reading Event
I recently attended the 9th Annual Celebration of Reading event held on February 13th at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida. This was my first time attending this event and I was very impressed.
Breaking: Broward School Buildings Chief Misled Public About License
It sounded pretty cut and dried at the Broward School Board's December 11 audit committee meeting. Audit committee member and veteran activist Charlotte Greenbarg asked the board's chief building officer, Ronald Morgan, about the status of his state license.
Broward County Schools Inspector Charlene Blackwood Wins Appeal After Eight Years of Struggle
I couldn’t be happier. I finally feel vindicated in my actions on behalf of the students, staff and public of Broward County School District . This ruling has justified all of the long hours spent to initiate changes, especially with mold and mildew. It also vindicates the lies, intimidation and harassment I, and others who supported my position, have endured during these past 8 years.
IVBE President Ira Paul receives well-deserved and well-traveled appointments
At the National Charter School Conference in Orlando (November 19, 20, 21) Ira was one of the commissioners representing the Florida Schools of Excellence Committee and a participant in one of the panels.
