The John Locke Foundation is pitching a new checklist for voters to use when deciding which school board candidates to vote for this year.
The 28-question checklist touches on a variety of areas. Some of the questions may have a more conservative bent, which isn't surprising considering who put the list together.
Here are some of the questions:
* Has the school board established reasonable attendance areas that minimize disruptions for families and maximize learning opportunities for students?
* Has the school board established a school calendar that minimizes disruptions for families and maximizes learning opportunities for students?
* Does the school board fully support charter schools?
* Does the school board enforce policies that protect the ideological and religious beliefs of all students?
"We know you're 'for the children' and you want to 'protect the classroom,' but what does that really mean?" asked Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation Education Policy Analyst in a press release. "This new checklist will help school board candidates, parents, and all voters determine where the candidates stand on important public education issues."
Click here to download the checklist.
Comments
Candidate checklist
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 13:37 — stoopsThank you for the comments.
Let me add a little context. A county commissioner (from a western NC county) asked us to put together a checklist for county and municipal government. We published that checklist in August.
We decided that a school board checklist would be a nice complement to that one. Thus, the school board checklist was born. Some believe the checklist is a candidate questionnaire. It's not, although I do not object to a citizen using it in that way.
So...
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:02 — Bob_SconceIt's important to note that the Locke report appears to be targeted to a statewide audience and isn't directed specifically at Wake County. It appears focused generally on good-government principles -- things like transparency, proper allocation of resources, focusing on education. I'd be surprised if anybody on the left disagreed with these ideas.
The questions about fully supporting charter schools is just one item in a list contained in a broader question about supporting optional programs authorized by the state.
Regarding an expansion of
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:07 — woodstockRegarding an expansion of charter schools, even the President supports that.
Ah yes, the John Locke Foundation
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 09:56 — James_ProtzmanArt Pope spends $5 million a year to seduce news organizations like the N&O to carry their water ... a good investment with proven results. I sure hope they sent a note of thanks for your help in spreading their propaganda.
Have you read the
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:05 — woodstockHave you read the questions? Which ones do you specifically feel are out of line?
Crucial Questions: A Checklist for School Board Candidates and Citizens
Yes. I read the questions.
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 11:31 — James_ProtzmanMy comments were not about the questions, but about their source (the John Locke Foundation). The overly cozy relationship between Art Pope's Empire and the N&O is disturbing to me.
Recently, the N&O publisher joined one of Pope's boards of advisors. The last time I did the analysis, JLF "experts" were quoted in N&O political stories more than twice as often as sources from left-leaning organizations.
As I said, Mr. Pope's investments are returning reliable dividends.
stay with the questions
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 18:21 — Taxpayer2008So go after the messenger (yawn) if you don't like the questions...
you must be joking !! as
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 12:45 — AngelaWyou must be joking !!
as he is ALSO on the WEP board http://www.wakeedpartnership.org/about/trustees.htm
and recently
"Orage Quarles, III, who has served as president and publisher of The News & Observer since 2000, has been named to the Advisory Board of the Foundation for Ethics in Public Service, Inc, a non-profit, non-partisan organization which educates citizens and public officials about ethics and public corruption"
Are you suggesting that the
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 12:14 — woodstockAre you suggesting that the N&O has a right-wing bias!? There is a first time for everything, I suppose.
Did I miss this one?
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:22 — user12345If not ... that is what I would like to see added ...
Does the School Board ensure equal opportunity for each child such that there little disparity between the offerings and resources of each school? If there is intentional disparity such as magnet schools, do all children have equal opportunity to attend?
So the answer to both of
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:26 — shearertwSo the answer to both of those questions in WCPSS is, absolutely NO. Not just no, but they have no intention of having the answer be YES.
If these are such important questions for you, why then are you such an advocate of the current BoE when they clearly are against both of these principals.
Because no one else has made
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 12:10 — user12345Because no one else has made this a point yet (including WSCA)... many people are not even aware of the disparity because they are only aware of a few schools... they think erroneously that every school enjoys the same offerings, quality teachers they have … I don’t think the BOE created, encourages not condones the inequity … it has just evolved and is a low priority compare getting enough seats for all the kids, teachers to teach them, and buildings to house them …
No …I am not really an advocate for the current BOE though it may seem that way with others here wanting blood (e.g. a moderate in a John Locke meeting seems liberal/Communist) ... I just think the BOE has a tough job (finances, growth, unfunded state and federal mandates, reporting, more two working parents, LE, ED, etc.) so nirvana won’t be as easy to reach as other here seem to suggest …
Creating equal
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 16:11 — thedudescousinCreating equal opportunities for all students is part of Carlene's platform.
I am very aware of the
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 12:33 — JSBinNCI am very aware of the disparity, in particular at MS and HS Levels - across the schools of this county. While this current BOE may not have created ALL of it - I think that they have recongnized the issue for some time - years of time - but aren't really moving ahead with inquiry, plans or anything to try and improve the situations. It's like they are frozen... unable to even start with doing anything.
I agree it isn't going to get fixed overnight. I just don't see any signs of leadership or even solid understanding about what the issues are, and plans or steps to make it better. I am a simple girl - I'd like to see a top 10 list of issues the board recongnizes as highest prioriy issues to resolve, goal dates, and 3-5 high level thoughts or ideas on how to resolve. This would be a working document - something to use as a guide - that would be revisited frequently as a measuring stick on how things are progressing in a better direction, as well as ensure the priorities are still real and valid. New ones roll in as current ones are solved.
I like the concept
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 19:38 — TrailerParkGirlbut part of it is having the issues the board recognizes align with the issues as recognized by stakeholders.
Right now they do have a work plan that covers four strategy areas and those things are also in the superintendent's performance goals. However, these documents don't appear to have specific goal dates for each area.
http://www.wcpss.net/Board/boe-work-plan--2008-2011.pdf
http://www.wcpss.net/superintendent/performance/2009-10-superintendent-performance-goals.pdf
I know schools have school improvement plans. Is there a district improvement plan that might include issues to resolve and goal dates similar to the school plans?
Right on ... I am with you
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 12:40 — user12345Right on ... I am with you ..
Why is this News !?
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 09:53 — mseilerlI'm sure the John Locke foundation publishes advice and comments on a wide variety of issues and elections. How is that newsworthy !?
Uh...
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:36 — Bob_SconceI don't know if you noticed, but this is posted in a BLOG. It's not in the newspaper. Blogs always have little tidbits that might not be "newsworthy" enough to make it to people's frontstoops.
FYI: Charter schools are not
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 09:24 — woodstockFYI: Charter schools are not private.
Charter schools should
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 08:50 — blackdogCharter schools should remain private. If you want to preach your education, it must be privately funded. The Locke Foundation as well as other conservative groups can subsidize them.