July 13, 2011 - "A Changed Muslim" Turkish charter student film
entered by Muslim Student Ass'n in Muslim Interscholastic Tournament
June 27, 2011 - Charter operators' 6 tries for Texas
legislation with PSF guarantee language--in 4 months.
June 20, 2011 - Follow the money: Turkish charters... TCSA...
Delisi PAC ...Texas House & Senate members.
June 19, 2011 - Austin American-Statesman story on
Texas legislators having 2nd thoughts about Turkey trips.
June 18, 2011 - More TCSA PAC info.
June 8, 2011 - Update: Pay to play at the Texas Senate?
Charter schools give the committee where they need votes
$15,000 -- and surprise, surprise, the vote is 8 ayes, 0 nays.
June 7, 2011 - Texas Turkish charter school operators
at the Texas Lege: Cash from the PAC.
June 6, 2011 - NY Times story on Texas Turkish charters.
May 11, 2011 - Cosmos Foundation/ Harmony
charter schools' Day at the Texas Lege (below).
May 1 - 31, 2011 - Pro-Harmony charter schools flyer distributed to Texas
House of Representatives by Rep. Jose Menendez, who accepted $500 from
Texas Charter School Association.
April 1 - 30, 2011 - Overview of Texas Cosmos Foundation, charter
operators of the Harmony schools.
entered by Muslim Student Ass'n in Muslim Interscholastic Tournament
June 27, 2011 - Charter operators' 6 tries for Texas
legislation with PSF guarantee language--in 4 months.
June 20, 2011 - Follow the money: Turkish charters... TCSA...
Delisi PAC ...Texas House & Senate members.
June 19, 2011 - Austin American-Statesman story on
Texas legislators having 2nd thoughts about Turkey trips.
June 18, 2011 - More TCSA PAC info.
June 8, 2011 - Update: Pay to play at the Texas Senate?
Charter schools give the committee where they need votes
$15,000 -- and surprise, surprise, the vote is 8 ayes, 0 nays.
June 7, 2011 - Texas Turkish charter school operators
at the Texas Lege: Cash from the PAC.
June 6, 2011 - NY Times story on Texas Turkish charters.
May 11, 2011 - Cosmos Foundation/ Harmony
charter schools' Day at the Texas Lege (below).
May 1 - 31, 2011 - Pro-Harmony charter schools flyer distributed to Texas
House of Representatives by Rep. Jose Menendez, who accepted $500 from
Texas Charter School Association.
April 1 - 30, 2011 - Overview of Texas Cosmos Foundation, charter
operators of the Harmony schools.
Dec. 1 - 31, 2008
National HQ for school district online check registers update:
401 U.S. school districts with online check registers!
in 27 states! 294 of the districts are in Texas!
Also: Chicago PS under new US DOE secretary
Arne Duncan's watch -- money scandals,
proposed gay high school, no CPS check register online.
Nov. 1 - 30, 2008
Dallas ISD
Oct. 1 - 31, 2008
Ending corruption in public education job one for new president (after keeping our nation
strong and secure). 'The use of public funds for personal gain violates
the public’s trust and undermines our democracy.' -- U.S. Attorney
Alice H. Martin Unfolding in Alabama: computer scheme for poor children, its
organizer (John Katopodis, Ed.D., a former city councilman, county commissioner and
occasional distributor of computers to poor kids via a city program connected to public
schools), and a combined FBI/IRS investigation makes a vivid and instructive case. It
shows us clearly where U.S. public education has lost its way along with its mission and
soul to the point where our country is imperiled. ALSO: Dallas ISD (TX): Mike Hinojosa's
$148 million misspend, firing teachers rather than edu-vendors; report on financial exigency.
Greedy NY edu-pension abusers. California publisher Tim Crews wins FOIA award.
Another ERDI supe (Annette Griffin) in the news -- for DUI. Kansas principal Don Atkinson
goes to jail. Eanes ISD (TX) check register online. Supes' private lives: New Miami (FL)
supe Alberto Carvalho and the emails with the Miami Herald education reporter. "Team of
Eight" failures.
September 1 - 30, 2008
3 big urban districts, 3 big deficits, 3 superintendents in trouble: Detroit ($408 million), Miami
($84 million), Dallas ($64-84-148 million) Aftermath:
Rudy Crew (Miami) -- named AASA superintendent of the year in February 2008 -- was
ousted by his board on Sept. 10, 2008.
The State of Michigan is about to take over Detroit PS, which at 88,000 students fell short of
100,000 for their "first class" status.
Dallas ISD supe Mike Hinojosa first told his community he had overspent by $64 million,
then he said it was $84 million, then it was $148 million for the past two years. Texas
education commissioner Robert Scott has threatened DISD with the appointment of a
conservator.
August 1 - 31, 2008
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (FL): Rudy Crew hangs on to job by one vote then
late in the month Evelyn Greer, one of his five votes, loses her board seat; 62 arrested in
drug bust, some M-DCPS employees. Katy ISD (TX) fires tech vendor Xpediant--
previously under fire for not being in synch with Texas Comptroller, then has another tech
vendor not in compliance with Texas Comptroller. Former Jefferson ES principal Don
Atkinson pleads guilty in Great Bend. San Francisco USD ass't principal Gerald Courtney
arrested on charges of pimping and running brothels. Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School
(NY) principal Mary Petrilli allegedly wielded a 12-inch kitchen in a domestic dispute. Best
practices: Father Greg Boyle, Los Angeles (CA); Beeville ISD (TX).
ERDI consultants: Update.
July 5 - 31, 2008
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (FL): AASA superintendent of the year (2008) Rudy
Crew and M-DCPS; Miami "evacuees" go to Memphis: Kriner Cash & PD chief Gerald
Darling; Renier Diaz de la Portilla's 10,000-plus signatures on "Rudy Recall" petition; M-
DCPS board attorney JulieAnn Rico suspended with pay for accepting $15,000 cash
moving allowance for her move to Miami from her house in Palm Beach -- then doesn't sell.
ALSO: Ruben Bohuchot and Frankie Wong found guilty in Dallas ISD (TX) "Yachtgate"
technology trial; Hector Montenegro leaves Arlington ISD (TX) superintendency with no
cash buyout thanks to HB 189; former Prince George's County (MD) supe Andre Hornsby
found guilty in retrial.
ALSO: Audit finds then-supe Nicholas Brown's Stanhope Borough School District (NJ)
misspent $900,000.
July 4, 2008
United States Declaration of Independence & Constitution
May 22, 2008 - July 3, 2008
DC Examiner editorial re check registers
"What was Alton Frailey [Katy ISD/TX] thinking?"
Supe John Gratto/Sag Harbor, NY
Mesquite (TX) championship coach Steve Halpin's "gambling addiction" - district's self-
investigation
Pennsylvania's public education leadership & Ridley School District's $573,792.71 loss..."
Oops"
Is Hillsborough, FL supe Mary Ellen Elia unlucky -- or should she be fired? Hats off to Bill
O'Reilly, with a question
Detroit Public Schools (MI): Way to go, Marie! And has Detroit's Jan. 2007 Sherry
Washington
Gallery investigation gone AWOL?
Oregon: Former Stanford football star Irv Nikolai, worked as La Grande, Oregon's interim
school
superintendent until his arrest May 2 by Hillsboro police, FBI agents and Union County
deputies at his office on four charges of first-degree sex abuse
February 26 - May 21, 2008
Voyager/ProQuest
Voluntary ethics pledges for school board candidates
Florida - Hillsborough supe Mary Ellen Elia & 5 teachers' sexual misconduct with students
Kansas - Great Bend Schools 428
Colorado - Colorado Springs School District #11
Maryland - Montgomery County Public Schools / supe Jerry Weast / principal Mo
Carrasco
Texas - Dallas ISD school board ethics
Texas - Mildred ISD
February 15 - March 25, 2008
Florida - Miami-Dade County Public Schools
February 15-25, 2008
Florida - Miami-Dade County Public Schools
February 1-15, 2008
Public school legal vendor Linebarger Goggan's marketing practices
Robin Hood in Texas: "poor district" Edgewood ISD's employee fitness center
5-time dipping school att'y (Copiague, NY)
New Orleans' $15,000,000-loss of school buses to Katrina: Who was responsible?
TASA MidWinter - more here also
Arlene Ackerman: Questions for Philadelphia, including Voyager
Broad Foundation in Oklahoma City
Texas SBOE's 2 RINO's: Former chair Tincy Miller of Dallas and Weatherford ISD's Pat
Hardy
have been voting solidly with the liberal Democratic education establishment
January 2008
National School District Honor Roll: 145 districts, 13 states, $45 billion
Miami, Florida CPS posts its check register online
Oklahoma City Public Schools: Supe John Q. Porter ($326,530 payoff), board president
Cliff Hudson quit; issues re Porter's former employer Montgomery County Public Schools
(Maryland), Wireless Generation, Broad Foundation
TASA MidWinter Conference
Gordian Knot/lightbulb moment
Capistrano USD recall
Philadelphia (PA) - Questions for Arlene Ackerman re Voyager, contract buyout stand
Voyager
Texas ISDs: Argyle, Cleburne
National HQ for school district online check registers update:
401 U.S. school districts with online check registers!
in 27 states! 294 of the districts are in Texas!
Also: Chicago PS under new US DOE secretary
Arne Duncan's watch -- money scandals,
proposed gay high school, no CPS check register online.
Nov. 1 - 30, 2008
Dallas ISD
Oct. 1 - 31, 2008
Ending corruption in public education job one for new president (after keeping our nation
strong and secure). 'The use of public funds for personal gain violates
the public’s trust and undermines our democracy.' -- U.S. Attorney
Alice H. Martin Unfolding in Alabama: computer scheme for poor children, its
organizer (John Katopodis, Ed.D., a former city councilman, county commissioner and
occasional distributor of computers to poor kids via a city program connected to public
schools), and a combined FBI/IRS investigation makes a vivid and instructive case. It
shows us clearly where U.S. public education has lost its way along with its mission and
soul to the point where our country is imperiled. ALSO: Dallas ISD (TX): Mike Hinojosa's
$148 million misspend, firing teachers rather than edu-vendors; report on financial exigency.
Greedy NY edu-pension abusers. California publisher Tim Crews wins FOIA award.
Another ERDI supe (Annette Griffin) in the news -- for DUI. Kansas principal Don Atkinson
goes to jail. Eanes ISD (TX) check register online. Supes' private lives: New Miami (FL)
supe Alberto Carvalho and the emails with the Miami Herald education reporter. "Team of
Eight" failures.
September 1 - 30, 2008
3 big urban districts, 3 big deficits, 3 superintendents in trouble: Detroit ($408 million), Miami
($84 million), Dallas ($64-84-148 million) Aftermath:
Rudy Crew (Miami) -- named AASA superintendent of the year in February 2008 -- was
ousted by his board on Sept. 10, 2008.
The State of Michigan is about to take over Detroit PS, which at 88,000 students fell short of
100,000 for their "first class" status.
Dallas ISD supe Mike Hinojosa first told his community he had overspent by $64 million,
then he said it was $84 million, then it was $148 million for the past two years. Texas
education commissioner Robert Scott has threatened DISD with the appointment of a
conservator.
August 1 - 31, 2008
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (FL): Rudy Crew hangs on to job by one vote then
late in the month Evelyn Greer, one of his five votes, loses her board seat; 62 arrested in
drug bust, some M-DCPS employees. Katy ISD (TX) fires tech vendor Xpediant--
previously under fire for not being in synch with Texas Comptroller, then has another tech
vendor not in compliance with Texas Comptroller. Former Jefferson ES principal Don
Atkinson pleads guilty in Great Bend. San Francisco USD ass't principal Gerald Courtney
arrested on charges of pimping and running brothels. Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School
(NY) principal Mary Petrilli allegedly wielded a 12-inch kitchen in a domestic dispute. Best
practices: Father Greg Boyle, Los Angeles (CA); Beeville ISD (TX).
ERDI consultants: Update.
July 5 - 31, 2008
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (FL): AASA superintendent of the year (2008) Rudy
Crew and M-DCPS; Miami "evacuees" go to Memphis: Kriner Cash & PD chief Gerald
Darling; Renier Diaz de la Portilla's 10,000-plus signatures on "Rudy Recall" petition; M-
DCPS board attorney JulieAnn Rico suspended with pay for accepting $15,000 cash
moving allowance for her move to Miami from her house in Palm Beach -- then doesn't sell.
ALSO: Ruben Bohuchot and Frankie Wong found guilty in Dallas ISD (TX) "Yachtgate"
technology trial; Hector Montenegro leaves Arlington ISD (TX) superintendency with no
cash buyout thanks to HB 189; former Prince George's County (MD) supe Andre Hornsby
found guilty in retrial.
ALSO: Audit finds then-supe Nicholas Brown's Stanhope Borough School District (NJ)
misspent $900,000.
July 4, 2008
United States Declaration of Independence & Constitution
May 22, 2008 - July 3, 2008
DC Examiner editorial re check registers
"What was Alton Frailey [Katy ISD/TX] thinking?"
Supe John Gratto/Sag Harbor, NY
Mesquite (TX) championship coach Steve Halpin's "gambling addiction" - district's self-
investigation
Pennsylvania's public education leadership & Ridley School District's $573,792.71 loss..."
Oops"
Is Hillsborough, FL supe Mary Ellen Elia unlucky -- or should she be fired? Hats off to Bill
O'Reilly, with a question
Detroit Public Schools (MI): Way to go, Marie! And has Detroit's Jan. 2007 Sherry
Washington
Gallery investigation gone AWOL?
Oregon: Former Stanford football star Irv Nikolai, worked as La Grande, Oregon's interim
school
superintendent until his arrest May 2 by Hillsboro police, FBI agents and Union County
deputies at his office on four charges of first-degree sex abuse
February 26 - May 21, 2008
Voyager/ProQuest
Voluntary ethics pledges for school board candidates
Florida - Hillsborough supe Mary Ellen Elia & 5 teachers' sexual misconduct with students
Kansas - Great Bend Schools 428
Colorado - Colorado Springs School District #11
Maryland - Montgomery County Public Schools / supe Jerry Weast / principal Mo
Carrasco
Texas - Dallas ISD school board ethics
Texas - Mildred ISD
February 15 - March 25, 2008
Florida - Miami-Dade County Public Schools
February 15-25, 2008
Florida - Miami-Dade County Public Schools
February 1-15, 2008
Public school legal vendor Linebarger Goggan's marketing practices
Robin Hood in Texas: "poor district" Edgewood ISD's employee fitness center
5-time dipping school att'y (Copiague, NY)
New Orleans' $15,000,000-loss of school buses to Katrina: Who was responsible?
TASA MidWinter - more here also
Arlene Ackerman: Questions for Philadelphia, including Voyager
Broad Foundation in Oklahoma City
Texas SBOE's 2 RINO's: Former chair Tincy Miller of Dallas and Weatherford ISD's Pat
Hardy
have been voting solidly with the liberal Democratic education establishment
January 2008
National School District Honor Roll: 145 districts, 13 states, $45 billion
Miami, Florida CPS posts its check register online
Oklahoma City Public Schools: Supe John Q. Porter ($326,530 payoff), board president
Cliff Hudson quit; issues re Porter's former employer Montgomery County Public Schools
(Maryland), Wireless Generation, Broad Foundation
TASA MidWinter Conference
Gordian Knot/lightbulb moment
Capistrano USD recall
Philadelphia (PA) - Questions for Arlene Ackerman re Voyager, contract buyout stand
Voyager
Texas ISDs: Argyle, Cleburne
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
| Nov. 1- 30, 2007 3 major TX districts post check registers in 1 week 82 districts, 6 states, $34.6 billion; role played by San Antonio Express-News Texas SBOE says "NO" to McGraw-Hill's Everyday Math; pix from Nov. SBOE Texas Auditor clears education commissioner Scott of IG charges Andre Hornsby's mistried mistrial Questions for supes: Hector Montenegro (Ysleta ISD to Arlington ISD); Dana Marable (Marble Falls ISD to Longview ISD to Temple ISD) Montrose, MI bookkeeper Dana Bacon to prison: $1.2 million Marble City, OK supe Larry Couch: $500,000, not $100,000? Oct. 16-31, 2007 "Arresting" news: What would you do? Portland (ME) board birth-control decision Ohio ass't elementary principal's toddler/car/school lot Andre Hornsby's Maryland trial Robert Scott appointed Texas education commissioner Sept. 1-Oct.15, 2007 Please see links at right Aug. 28-30, 2007 Best practices: Check registers August 7/24, 2007 (Marble City, OK) August 1, 2007 July 11, 2007 June 1, 2007 - June 30, 2007 Apr. 16, 2007 - May 31, 2007 Mar. 14 - Apr. 15, 2007 Feb. 22 - Mar. 13, 2007 Jan. 16 - Feb. 22, 2007 Nov. 20 - Dec. 20, 2006 Sept. 26 - Nov. 11, 2006 Aug. 13 - Sept. 26, 2006 June 8 - Aug. 3, 2006 May 13 - June 8, 2006 April 21 - May 3, 2006 April 4 - 19, 2006 Feb. 5 - Mar. 27, 2006 |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
| FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of education issues vital to a republic. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C., Chapter 1, Section 107 which states: the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright," the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use" you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. |
| Copyright 1999-2011 Peyton Wolcott |
| Although many commentaries have mentioned education lobbyists by name or client, this series focuses on one of America's largest lobbying firms; Akin Gump Strauss Hauer Feld LLP has been active in Texas and has had a national impact, one example being Austin partner Sandy Kress, credited as being the architect of the No Child Left Behind Act. It's our schoolchildren who are affected by Akin Gump's lobbying and our tax dollars which are ultimately footing the bills. I have contacted Sandy Kress on multiple occasions and have also attempted to contact Akin Gump so that they might refute anything factually incorrect in any of these commentaries; to date, no refutation of the facts presented in these commentaries has been received. Akin Gump (Sandy Kress et al) Areva / Libya / Rice Akin Gump (Sandy Kress et al) Pearson Lobbying Akin Gump Washington, DC Lobbying Akin Gump (Sandy Kress et al) Texas Lobbying Related: |
| Good Question |
| Texas Monthly (p. 27, August 2007) Questions regarding the editorial choices behind this and other TM commentaries, including covers this year featuring Vice President Dick Cheney (January 2007) and our U.S. astronauts (July 2007). TAS/MUS Scrapbook (golfing superintendents) When Texas public school administrators decided to hold a conference at a resort to play golf with vendors on Friday of our state's accountability (TAKS) testing week, members of their staffs from across the state -- thank you all, you know who you are -- who thought this was neither a good use of taxpayer dollars nor their bosses' time contacted me privately. This is how I came to travel to a resort in Boerne, in the Texas Hill Country near San Antonio, on Friday, April 20, 2007 with my camera to take pictures on a golf course. Note the pix of the signs; these show that the golf-cart twosomes, one supe/one vendor, were pre-arranged and not accidental or "Oops." Also, veteran teacher Donna Garner has questions regarding the role of politics and money in Gov. Perry's choice of our next education commissioner; she also has questions about: o Sandy Kress and his TEKS stand in 1997 o John Stevens (late of Texas Business and Education Coalition) o Shirley Neeley's TEA Inspector General report. |
| Commentary archives by date |
| May 1 - 13, 2009 - TX Lege $390 million for pre-K, Alaska baby-porn educator Fred Deussing out of prison early; PA supe Robert P. Walsh gets 1 year in prison for stealing $90,000; Yonkers schools (NY) accountability; Ysleta ISD audit finds former supe Hector Montenegro took 221 trips in 4 years; Monroe (FL) supe Randy Acevedo & his wife's arrest (aove) for district credit card abuse; Midland ISD supe Syl Perez and $90,000 earmarked pork by U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway for fuzzy math -- plus the teacher/ student/sex cases. Apr. 1 - 30, 2009 - Liberty (MO) former supe Scott Taveau (R) arrested in Florida; questions for Midland ISD supe Syl Perez & ass't supe Ed Zachary re fuzzy math earmarked pork from Congressman Mike Conaway; Ysleta ISD (TX) audit finds former supe Hector Montenegro violated state law; 4 of 6 Washoe (NV) supe finalists bow out; trustee Cheryl Oprisko asks all the right accountability questions in Portage Township Schools (IN); Craig Lazzeretti presses Broad supe Deborah Sims for answers in elementary school music teacher arrest for child porn case; Dallas ISD auction of seized P-Card items. Mar. 1 - 31, 2009 - Ask questions! Supe exit packages worthy of kings and queens. Cage fighting at Dallas high school - under then-supe Mike Moses? Supe golf extravaganza weekends. Capistrano USD fires supe Woody Carter for cause. Ohio: 800 candidates for 1 janitor job. Katy ISD supe Alton Frailey's two declared homesteads. Feb. 1 - 28, 2009- Dallas mayor Tom Leppert goes to DC; RINO Bo Pilgrim; ProAct Search executive Nancy Noeske places Meria Castarphen in Austin ISD (TX) -- her second job for Meria; HEB grocer Charles Butt's "Raise Your Hand" campaign hires Texas lobbyists; Jan. 1 - 31, 2009 Charles (HEB) Butt's "Raise Your Hand." Geithner-itis. AASA supe of the year finalists. Sully Sullenberger. Check register rosters update. |
| LOOKING FOR SOMETHING? Friends, until I'm able to post more detail here regarding all of this site's 300+ pages, the best way to find something is to use either the search tool at the upper left of my site or Google. With my site box you cannot refine your search by putting it in quotes; with Google you can. For example, if you want to know more about the Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools' golf tournaments where superintendents play golf with vendors at resorts on school days, you can Google "TAS/MUS" and "golf" -- and my name also in quotes. Last time I checked there were almost 100 reports. As another example, a recent search for "online school district check registers" turned up 2.5 million Google reports (ten times more than just six months ago), with my site the first four entries. Here's another way you can use this site: Say you're a trustee in a school district and you're thinking about hiring a superintendent from another district. You could search MSN.com for that superintendent's name and mine with each in quotes, like this: "John Doe" and "Peyton Wolcott." Hope this helps. If not, please email me and I'll do what I can; there's a form on this link because the more information you can give me up front the better and quicker I can help -- if it's something I can help with. Peyton |
| Friday, April 18, 2008 TAS/MUS Spring Conference Horseshoe Bay, Texas |
| Your local school board meeting is one of the purest forms of local politics -- and an opportunity to view what is often your county's largest taxpayer-funded budget in action. |
| School News Quick Links |
| June - July 2009 Apr. - May 2009 Feb. - Mar. 2009 Dec. 2008 - Jan. 2009 Oct. - Nov. 2008 Sandy Kress' fellow lobbyist-lawyers exit Akin's Austin office en masse; Clatskanie, Oregon's woes. New York pensioners such as retired supe John George taking advantage of taxpayers. Connie Calloway's chauffeurs quit in Detroit rather than carry her purse. Scary in Detroit: Modern Brownshirts standing outside voting place on November 4, one wielding a nightstick. |
Summer - Sept. 2008
AASA superintendent of the year for 2008
Rudy Crew exits Miami-Dade County
Public Schools in Florida; Gary, Indiana
schools gets rid of its credit cards.
It wasn't Darwin: TEA's Chris Comer's
employee subordination issues.
Andre Hornsby's trial.
AASA superintendent of the year for 2008
Rudy Crew exits Miami-Dade County
Public Schools in Florida; Gary, Indiana
schools gets rid of its credit cards.
It wasn't Darwin: TEA's Chris Comer's
employee subordination issues.
Andre Hornsby's trial.
| Then-Detroit supe Connie Calloway, whose 2 district-funded chauffeurs refused to honor her Order of the Purse |
Dec. 1, 2007 - Jan. 6, 2008
2007 Year in Review
National School District Honor Roll: 135 districts, 11 states, $39 billion
Texas SBOE rejects McGraw-Hill's Everyday Math; former TEA science
executive Chris Comer makes national news;
Questions: Washington, DC: When will Michelle Rhee and Adrian Fenty
put their schools' checks online? Kansas City supe Anthony Amato; OK
supe Larry Couch: $100,000 missing now $500,000, cert revoked by OK
SBOE; TX Dana Marable: questions follow from Marble Falls ISD to
Longview ISD to Temple ISD; Rod Paige wants to help North Forest ISD --
why not do it pro bono?
Other news: Teacher arrested - Argyle ISD (TX); trustee arrested - Mitchell
SD (SD); NSDHR addition - Ysleta ISD (TX); SLAPP - Lake Travis ISD
(TX), partying admin. in Mobile (AL); business mgr. embezzles $1.1 mil (IN);
Andre Hornsby's mistried mistrial (MD); cafeteria worker embezzles
$260,000 (CA); supe Joe Lewis and Beth-Meth principal fallout (PA).
2007 Year in Review
National School District Honor Roll: 135 districts, 11 states, $39 billion
Texas SBOE rejects McGraw-Hill's Everyday Math; former TEA science
executive Chris Comer makes national news;
Questions: Washington, DC: When will Michelle Rhee and Adrian Fenty
put their schools' checks online? Kansas City supe Anthony Amato; OK
supe Larry Couch: $100,000 missing now $500,000, cert revoked by OK
SBOE; TX Dana Marable: questions follow from Marble Falls ISD to
Longview ISD to Temple ISD; Rod Paige wants to help North Forest ISD --
why not do it pro bono?
Other news: Teacher arrested - Argyle ISD (TX); trustee arrested - Mitchell
SD (SD); NSDHR addition - Ysleta ISD (TX); SLAPP - Lake Travis ISD
(TX), partying admin. in Mobile (AL); business mgr. embezzles $1.1 mil (IN);
Andre Hornsby's mistried mistrial (MD); cafeteria worker embezzles
$260,000 (CA); supe Joe Lewis and Beth-Meth principal fallout (PA).
May 14 - 31, 2009 - Former Liberty supe Scott Taveau (R) pleads not guilty after being extradited back home to Missouri from his home in Florida. PA supe Ross Scarantino pleads guilty to accepting a $5,000 bribe from a contractor. Former MI supe Kenneth C. Watson arrested in Florida. Two sets of Mr. & Mrs. PTO arrested. |
May 25, 2009 - Memorial Day - Given Mr.
Obama's admission on C-SPAN that "we are out of
money," what is your plan for turning this around?
Here's mine.
Obama's admission on C-SPAN that "we are out of
money," what is your plan for turning this around?
Here's mine.
May 17 - 31, 2009 - May 18-23, 2009
Are you seeking transparency? A laptop in every Texas schoolchild's
pot? Ben Chavis at American Indian charter in Oakland, CA.
Embezzlements: Computers stolen & resold in Cumberland (RI) and
$120K PTA at ABC USD (CA). Hawaii HS bans student
electronics. How can school board trainings be improved?
Preferential pedophile updates: Edgar Friedrichs, Fred/Frederick
Deussing. Two Mr. & Mrs. PTO embezzlements. Pittston (PA) supe
Ross Scarantino and two trustees charged with accepting bribes.
Are you seeking transparency? A laptop in every Texas schoolchild's
pot? Ben Chavis at American Indian charter in Oakland, CA.
Embezzlements: Computers stolen & resold in Cumberland (RI) and
$120K PTA at ABC USD (CA). Hawaii HS bans student
electronics. How can school board trainings be improved?
Preferential pedophile updates: Edgar Friedrichs, Fred/Frederick
Deussing. Two Mr. & Mrs. PTO embezzlements. Pittston (PA) supe
Ross Scarantino and two trustees charged with accepting bribes.
May 31, 2009 - Donna Garner page: Laptop bill
before Gov. Perry for veto. "Raise Your Hand for a Hand
Out."
before Gov. Perry for veto. "Raise Your Hand for a Hand
Out."
June 1-12, 2009 - NY's Ken Mitchell for
"AASA Superintendent of the Year" - a true hero.
Randy and Monique Acevedo of Key West
(Monroe County PS), Florida arrest/credit card
updates. Trial continued 7th time for former Capo
USD (CA) supe James Fleming.
"AASA Superintendent of the Year" - a true hero.
Randy and Monique Acevedo of Key West
(Monroe County PS), Florida arrest/credit card
updates. Trial continued 7th time for former Capo
USD (CA) supe James Fleming.
O
June 13 - 30, 2009 -
Dallas ISD & Detroit Public
Schools (Kwame, Mike Moses,
Ruben Bohuchot, more), Monique
& Randy Acevedo (Monroe
County PS/Key West) Florda.
Orangetown's (NY) Ken Mitchell
for AASA supe of the year for
courage.
Dallas ISD & Detroit Public
Schools (Kwame, Mike Moses,
Ruben Bohuchot, more), Monique
& Randy Acevedo (Monroe
County PS/Key West) Florda.
Orangetown's (NY) Ken Mitchell
for AASA supe of the year for
courage.
| Edu-lobbyists |
Feb.-May 2009
June - Sept. 2009
Oct. - Dec.. 2009
June - Sept. 2009
Oct. - Dec.. 2009
August 1 - 31, 2009
Justice in pursuit of Key West (Monroe
County PS) supe Randy Acevedo and his
wife/employee, Monique. (More about
Key West public schools here.)
Justice in pursuit of Key West (Monroe
County PS) supe Randy Acevedo and his
wife/employee, Monique. (More about
Key West public schools here.)
September 23 - 30, 2009
Does America need instead of our 15,000
local districts only 70 -- the size of Chicago?
That's what some are pushing for.
September 1 - 22, 2009
Why nationalization of our schools
(consolidation and national standards) is a
bad idea.
September 23-30, 2009
Does America need instead of our 15,000
local districts only 70 -- the size of Chicago?
That's what some are pushing for.
September 1 - 22, 2009
Why nationalization of our schools
(consolidation and national standards) is a
bad idea.
September 23-30, 2009
October 1 - 31, 2009
State audit cites $80,000 in missing laptops, other
post-John (meth principal) Acerra problems in
Bethlehem, PA; middle school drama teacher
Dave Surridge arrested in NC (student sex),
held on $2 million bail; Broward County, Florida
trustee Beverly Gallagher can try to run in that
red jacket but she can't hide from the feds who
arrested her. Also: Lotsa Hueys arrested in
Arkansas over missing athletic event gate
receipts.
State audit cites $80,000 in missing laptops, other
post-John (meth principal) Acerra problems in
Bethlehem, PA; middle school drama teacher
Dave Surridge arrested in NC (student sex),
held on $2 million bail; Broward County, Florida
trustee Beverly Gallagher can try to run in that
red jacket but she can't hide from the feds who
arrested her. Also: Lotsa Hueys arrested in
Arkansas over missing athletic event gate
receipts.
November 1 - 30, 2009
Ten reasons -- ranging from $400 to $82
million -- for asking your superintendent
what your district's procedures are for
handling your money and keeping it safe
from fraud, embezzlement and senseless
preventable loss. Also, was that
Newsweek cover of Sarah Palin fair
journalism by editor Jon Meacham? And
should a retired pension-
collecting supe (far right) be charging $600
per day plus another $8,000 for doing
on-the-job searches? Another retired
supe, M. Joseph Brady, is working for
free, an hour away. When does "give
back" start?
Ten reasons -- ranging from $400 to $82
million -- for asking your superintendent
what your district's procedures are for
handling your money and keeping it safe
from fraud, embezzlement and senseless
preventable loss. Also, was that
Newsweek cover of Sarah Palin fair
journalism by editor Jon Meacham? And
should a retired pension-
collecting supe (far right) be charging $600
per day plus another $8,000 for doing
on-the-job searches? Another retired
supe, M. Joseph Brady, is working for
free, an hour away. When does "give
back" start?
Jan. 1 - 15, 2010 - Race to the
Top -- or Bottom? Lou Gerstner laid out
the feds' plan for nationalizing our schools
in Dec. 2008 Wall Street Journal op-ed.
Jan. 16 - 31, 2010 - Bill
Gates' role in Race to the Top -- on the
ground in Texas at a behind-closed door
data-exchanging meeting between
Gates-funded representatives and school
employees
Top -- or Bottom? Lou Gerstner laid out
the feds' plan for nationalizing our schools
in Dec. 2008 Wall Street Journal op-ed.
Jan. 16 - 31, 2010 - Bill
Gates' role in Race to the Top -- on the
ground in Texas at a behind-closed door
data-exchanging meeting between
Gates-funded representatives and school
employees
Feb. 1 - 28, 2010 - Foundations such as Bill & Melinda
Gates and Eli Broad (that's him at right with US DE secretary Arne
Duncan sharing a quiet moment at Eli's inaugural party last year for
Mr. Obama) have invaded U.S. public schools; liberals such as Mr.
Broad and the Gates have used their money to change public school
policy and sidestep the U.S. legislative process.
Gates and Eli Broad (that's him at right with US DE secretary Arne
Duncan sharing a quiet moment at Eli's inaugural party last year for
Mr. Obama) have invaded U.S. public schools; liberals such as Mr.
Broad and the Gates have used their money to change public school
policy and sidestep the U.S. legislative process.
H o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n s ' e d u c a t i o n : o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e . Copyright 1999-2011 Peyton Wolcott
Mar. 1 - 31, 2010 - New York City
Comptroller John Liu announces online
checks coming. Top 5 ABZ school spending
transparency Q & As; a Random Round-Up;
Texas SBOE discusses social studies
curriculum;
Comptroller John Liu announces online
checks coming. Top 5 ABZ school spending
transparency Q & As; a Random Round-Up;
Texas SBOE discusses social studies
curriculum;
May 1 - 31, 2010 - List of 13 states declining
Race to the Top.... International Baccalauareate
executives' salaries and Philanthropy Roundtable ....
Texas State Board of Education re social studies...
Big Ed Pot o' Gold , 501 public charities & the folks who
run 'em .... Memorial Day
Race to the Top.... International Baccalauareate
executives' salaries and Philanthropy Roundtable ....
Texas State Board of Education re social studies...
Big Ed Pot o' Gold , 501 public charities & the folks who
run 'em .... Memorial Day
April 1 - 30, 2010 - Education conference
(DFW area), first of its kind in Texas with
conservative speakers .... When love isn't
enough: Milken honoree Crawford Lewis ....
Pasadenu USD's bond election defeat ....
Readers' top 5 transparency questions ....
(DFW area), first of its kind in Texas with
conservative speakers .... When love isn't
enough: Milken honoree Crawford Lewis ....
Pasadenu USD's bond election defeat ....
Readers' top 5 transparency questions ....
| Newsletters |
Memorial Day / May 2010
Texas SBOE re social studies
curriculum
Texas SBOE re social studies
curriculum
June 1 - 30, 2010 - Race to the Top & Common
Core Standards . . . Alabama's RTTT application . . . . Is
IB the BP of public education? . . . . Turkish charter
schools in the US: Grab your (Ottoman) Empire, time to
talk Turkey about Turkey in our schools; the Cosmos
Foundation & Bill Gates' role . . . . Former Llano ISD supe
Jack Patton is working again in Texas public schools, at
Crockett ISD .... 13 states decline RTTT Phase II.
Core Standards . . . Alabama's RTTT application . . . . Is
IB the BP of public education? . . . . Turkish charter
schools in the US: Grab your (Ottoman) Empire, time to
talk Turkey about Turkey in our schools; the Cosmos
Foundation & Bill Gates' role . . . . Former Llano ISD supe
Jack Patton is working again in Texas public schools, at
Crockett ISD .... 13 states decline RTTT Phase II.
September 1 - 15, 2010 - More about the Common Core Standards and Race
to the Bottom -- I mean, Top, the feds' push for control of our local school districts. By
dangling a few bucks in front of them, state and local school administrators and boards are
forever relinquishing what little they had left of control.
August 1 - 31, 2010 - How liberal
progressives like Bill Gates and the Rockefellers
used a nominal conservative (who sent his own kids to his
alma mater, Exeter) Chester E. "Checker" Finn, Jr.. and
his Fordham Foundation to push for national so-called
curriculum standards; how, having accepted Gates' check
and paid the light bill, Checker's apparently now having
second thoughts.
July 1 - 31, 2010 - How Bill Gates used his
money and his foundation to bypass Congress & force dumb-
down "standards" -- as part of his overall liberal progressive
vision for forcing socialism on American public schools. As
Jim Stergios of the Pioneer Institute says, "Bill Gates gets
what he pays for." As Charlotte Iserbyt, author of "The
Deliberate Dumbing Down of America" says, "Do these
people really think they can protect their children and
grandchildren?"
to the Bottom -- I mean, Top, the feds' push for control of our local school districts. By
dangling a few bucks in front of them, state and local school administrators and boards are
forever relinquishing what little they had left of control.
August 1 - 31, 2010 - How liberal
progressives like Bill Gates and the Rockefellers
used a nominal conservative (who sent his own kids to his
alma mater, Exeter) Chester E. "Checker" Finn, Jr.. and
his Fordham Foundation to push for national so-called
curriculum standards; how, having accepted Gates' check
and paid the light bill, Checker's apparently now having
second thoughts.
July 1 - 31, 2010 - How Bill Gates used his
money and his foundation to bypass Congress & force dumb-
down "standards" -- as part of his overall liberal progressive
vision for forcing socialism on American public schools. As
Jim Stergios of the Pioneer Institute says, "Bill Gates gets
what he pays for." As Charlotte Iserbyt, author of "The
Deliberate Dumbing Down of America" says, "Do these
people really think they can protect their children and
grandchildren?"
September 16 - 30, 2010 - The Rip Van Winkle
factor as America wakes up to our new realities ... Irving,
Texas mayor Herbert Gears & Big Girl Panties & your supes'
retirement plan -- that you're paying for .... coercive
confinement of federal prosecutor turned judicial whistleblower
Richard I. Fine in California ... Alleged school corruption
(school board prez Rein & Wanell Stolz) in Redding, California
& bookkeeper Liane Claaseen in Chokio-Alberta, Minnesota.
factor as America wakes up to our new realities ... Irving,
Texas mayor Herbert Gears & Big Girl Panties & your supes'
retirement plan -- that you're paying for .... coercive
confinement of federal prosecutor turned judicial whistleblower
Richard I. Fine in California ... Alleged school corruption
(school board prez Rein & Wanell Stolz) in Redding, California
& bookkeeper Liane Claaseen in Chokio-Alberta, Minnesota.
Oct. 1 -31, 2010 - What's Arizona Attorney
General Terry Goddard going to do to protect Nogales
schoolchildren? ... And who controls your local school
district: your town's business community or your elected
school board members? Follow the money.
General Terry Goddard going to do to protect Nogales
schoolchildren? ... And who controls your local school
district: your town's business community or your elected
school board members? Follow the money.
Nov. 1 - 30, 2010 - Leaving the public in the dark at
Marble Falls ISD in Texas: The lone finalist comes to visit and the
front door's locked to the public -- and we're not supposed to tell
anyone his name. Who's running things, the taxpayers footing the
bill or the superintendents benefiting from the secret search system?
Marble Falls ISD in Texas: The lone finalist comes to visit and the
front door's locked to the public -- and we're not supposed to tell
anyone his name. Who's running things, the taxpayers footing the
bill or the superintendents benefiting from the secret search system?
Dec. 1 - 31, 2010 - Why the Texas Speaker of the House race matters to public
schools.
schools.
Jan. 1 - 31, 2011 - Charlotte Iserbyt's 7-pronged
fork: How progressive liberals have taken over the U.S.
fork: How progressive liberals have taken over the U.S.
Mar. 1 - 31, 2011 - The First Coyote; 3 big stealth
attacks on our schoolchildren. PW 03.22.11 testimony at
Texas Lege on SB 597.
Feb. 1 - 28, 2011 - Tracking Turkish-themed
US charter schools.
attacks on our schoolchildren. PW 03.22.11 testimony at
Texas Lege on SB 597.
Feb. 1 - 28, 2011 - Tracking Turkish-themed
US charter schools.
| NOTE: Friends, there are older archives; will post them sometime in the future. For now, best way to look for something on my site is to use Google's search engine, with my name in quotes followed by your subject; more at far left in grey box. |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
Dec. 1 - 31, 2009 -
Madalyn Murray O'Hair: One
woman's impact on our nation -
for better or for worse. How
are our schools remembering
Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7)?
Madalyn Murray O'Hair: One
woman's impact on our nation -
for better or for worse. How
are our schools remembering
Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7)?
| TX: May 2011 pro-charter speeches |
| Senate Ed chair: $4,000 cash from charter school lobbyist |
| Senate Ed vice chair: $2,500 cash from charter school lobbyist |
| The "Turkey Chart" here |
| MORE TURKEY CHARTER SCHOOL OPERATOR INFORMATION AT SITEMAP |
JULY 13, 2011
"A Changed Muslim" student
film (scene above) from
Harmony charter's Muslim
Student Association entered in
Muslim Interscholastic
Tournament in Georgia, plus
another Random Round-Up,
links to BBC & Fox News
YouTubes re Fethullah Gulen's
worldwide movement....
"A Changed Muslim" student
film (scene above) from
Harmony charter's Muslim
Student Association entered in
Muslim Interscholastic
Tournament in Georgia, plus
another Random Round-Up,
links to BBC & Fox News
YouTubes re Fethullah Gulen's
worldwide movement....
Conservative commentary - Archives (Be sure to also visit SiteMap)
| 2009 |
| 2007 |
| Wikileaks, YouTubes |
WIKILEAKS:
US embassy:
'Turkey's religious
Gulen community'
US embassy:
'Turkey's religious
Gulen community'
YOUTUBES:
Fox News' 'Who is
Fethullah Gulen'?
here.
Fox News' 'Who is
Fethullah Gulen'?
here.
BBC's 'Islam, Inc.'
here.
here.
| MUSIC |
| Here. |
August 5, 2011 - 'No one has the right to question
me'....Exclusive translation of recent F. Gulen YouTube.
me'....Exclusive translation of recent F. Gulen YouTube.
July 1-31, 2011 - Louisiana DOE exec (& Turkish charter
whistleblower) Folwell Dunbar (R) fired after New Orleans
Times-Picayune publishes his year-old ignored letters including
one re alleged bribe by Atlas (TX) VP Inci Akpinar; also, the "Fear
Factor" here in the US regarding the Gulen-inspired Turkish charter
operators: How do we move toward a civil discourse? Especially
when they & their PR firm won't answer questions? Also,
examples of Turkish charters in several states with shared unique
web template.
whistleblower) Folwell Dunbar (R) fired after New Orleans
Times-Picayune publishes his year-old ignored letters including
one re alleged bribe by Atlas (TX) VP Inci Akpinar; also, the "Fear
Factor" here in the US regarding the Gulen-inspired Turkish charter
operators: How do we move toward a civil discourse? Especially
when they & their PR firm won't answer questions? Also,
examples of Turkish charters in several states with shared unique
web template.
Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2011 - Exclusive! New history of U.S. public education
timeline. All on one page: How things got to be as they are.
timeline. All on one page: How things got to be as they are.