Also, our Legislative Priorities for 2011 are now on-line.
Broward Inspector General contact info: www.browardig.org, and a tip line: 954-357-TIPS
Ira Paul's report on 2011 Education Summit
IJ launches state chapter in Florida
Database: Broward school construction costs 2004-09
Grand Jury's Scathing Report on Broward Schools...Abolish the School Board
2010 Excellence in Action Summit on Education Reform
Martin County has a lot in common with Broward!
School employee salaries: Broward and Palm Beach
(NEWS ALERT): Reform Leaders Launch New American Federation for Children
Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy)
- A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
Florida Charter Schools: big money, little oversight Miami Herald
Preparing for her daughter’s graduation in the spring, Tuli Chediak received a blunt message from her daughter’s charter high school: Pay us $600 or your daughter won’t graduate. She also received a harsh lesson about charter schools: Sometimes they play by their own rules.
State investigating Broward school's project
Chief Auditor Pat Reilly found a number of "irregularities" in a controversial $5 million maintenance building project -- including a lack of a valid contract to do the work, a lack of approvals and inspections for done, and some funny-business paperwork. On top of that, it was revealed that the state's Department of Community Affairs was investigating the project.
Broward School District spent $3 million on time card system but hasn't used it in troubled department
The Broward School District has invested nearly $3 million over seven years in an electronic timekeeping system to track employees' work hours, cut overtime and prevent fraud. But one of the most troubled departments – facilities and maintenance – has never used it, despite audits going back about a decade detailing lax record-keeping. And those problems have continued.
Negotiations resume between Broward and its school teachers
Broward Teachers Union President Pat Santeramo
Smarting from criticism, the Broward public schools administration and the teachers union have returned to the bargaining table to hammer out a contract and salvage $52 million in state and federal money.
The board remains under federal investigation
$2 million later Broward schools project in legal limbo, unfinished
For three years, the Broward school district has allowed work to proceed on a $5.2 million office building in Pembroke Pines despite a deepening budget crisis that prompted at least one School Board member to question whether it was still needed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
