Rob Schofield is slamming Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata for questioning school board members Susan Evans and Christine Kushner about their ties to the Great Schools in Wake Coalition.
In a blog post today, Schofield of the liberal N.C. Policy Watch writes that "Tata is little more than a puppet voice for the same forces that owned and manipulated the former “gang of five." He calls Tata's latest actions a "dishonest and politically-calculated assault. He praises Great Schools as a "heroic citizens group" that is "made up almost of exclusively of concerned moms."
Schofield, who has been a frequent critic of Tata, contends that raising concerns that Evans and Kushner are kowtowing to a special-interest group are "an outrageous set of lies." He points to the various groups that current and former Republican school board members have been involved with.
"The bottom line: Absent some kind of sincere apology, Tata has irreparably compromised his ability to lead the Wake County schools in an honest and productive way," Schofield writes.
Comments
Amen snordone
Sat, 02/25/2012 - 09:43 — VillageMentalityAmen.
Well stated. I hope Tata is given the same opportunity to continue his on the job training as the new board members. He has more than demonstrated his desire to work for and serve the children and families of our community.
here is what I see
Sat, 02/25/2012 - 08:36 — snordoneOf the new board members ( all were associated with GSIW), Christine and Jim are trying to learn, understand and focus on the issues. They are magnet parents and therefore don't understand the big picture in the county - yet - but they may get there. They always initially gravitate to that extreme end of the spectrum but then seem to move more towards balance. Susan - nothing. She seems to be committed to extreme, she is the new Ron. I am waiting for all of them to realize that the parents who actually followed policy 6200 - the base and base Title I parents - have earned respect. They did not leave for magnet, private or charter, they stayed and invested in their schools. They deserve better than what they are getting from this BOE.
GSIW is loud and is made up of a small but very political, very extreme group of people. They are disinterested in good governance, they want political control back, plain and simple. They don't care about educating all children, they do care about balancing black and white, rich and poor. The are content with balance and disinterested in whether children learn and can move out of poverty.
Tony deserves better than what he has been given, but he just needs to set very low expectations from them and he will not be disappointed.
Amen, ThatDad.
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 16:55 — virginiadareAmen, ThatDad.
Deleted
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 04:04 — jeffrey1Deleted
Easy there, big fella!
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 16:16 — ThatDadWelcome to the civilian world, General. These board members don't work at your discretion, or under your supervision. You do not get to tell them how to conduct themselves. As a matter of fact, just the opposite is true. If you question that reality, just check with the dedicated, talented, experienced and effective man whose office furniture you inhabited. NO ONE is above the BoE. Except the voters. On that one, you can check with those who bumped that real educational leader out and hired you. You can reach the main one (aka The Godfather) at home, and the others will be equally available after November, 2013. Just about the time that new contract is NOT renegotiated...
For me and many others, the jury has been out on you as we waited to see what this assignment plan really looks like once 2012-13 gets underway. We tried not to lump you in with Margiotta, Tedesco et al. We hoped that your Palin rants were somehow an abberation. Your behavior this week has called the jury in early. You don't have the training, you don't have the experience, you don't have the skillset... and now, quite clearly, you do not have the temperament or class to hold this incredibly important (not political!) position. You need to go, and this district needs to find a non-partisan EDUCATOR to run our school system. Not a partisan hack. 'NEW board members are too tied-in to political organizations'... made me laugh so hard I almost choked. NEW board members... ha-ha-ha-ha!
Good luck in your next career. I'm sure there will be some right-wing organization that will be glad to pay you to ... well, just to be you! Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Hopefully your left-wing bias
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 22:39 — FSandYOUwon't seep into your kids milk. You know you sound a lot like Mr. Evans, Susan's husband, but what the hay, let the nut jobs continue to surface. 6 hours and 32 minutes it took for his piece of genius to surface.
If you and the other 14, including Mr. Stamp Licker, think Tata needs to go, then tell
your wife, I mean those you supported, elected and are now PO'd at to get off their lazy "we don't know what to do now" butts and do it! Then our kids can fall a little further behind while the nut jobs like you, Susan, Kusher and the rest of the GWISIWGGWSIW cry babies get their way one more time.On a positive note, at least you got VD on your side. And she carries pom poms!
Interesting...
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 15:56 — ThatDadYour theories are certainly fascinating. Sometime you can let us know how many shooters were hiding beyond the grassy knoll...
FACT: I am not an elected official, party representative, PAC or SuperPAC member/supporter, lobbyist or 'politico' of any kind. And I am not married to, affiliated with, or connected to any members of the BofE or any other government entity. I am just a father who knows a great deal about this system and wants the best not only for my own children, but all the children of OUR community. The ones headed for college, as well as the ones highly unlikely to ever leave Wake County for school, employment or residence. ALL of my future 'neighbors'...
And yes, I do try to help my children understand that doing for others is the most noble aspiration I know. Beyond that, we don't get too deep into politics/party affiliations/etc. If that makes this Independent a 'leftie', then I will wear the badge proudly.
You certainly are upset with the new BofE members, and this is intriguing. They really haven't done anything yet, other than stand down and let the General move forward on his assignment plan. And extend his contract. If elected board members cannot question a plan that is likely to send more kids and families into chaos and frustration with the system* as well as INCREASE non-instructional costs, then who can???
(*-remember that poll Ron approved... the one that found about 96% of parents satisfied with their current assignment under the OLD plan?)
None of this or your post have anything to do with the factual point I was making, namely that the Superintendent works at the discretion and direction of the BofE and that they are his boss, not vice-versa. And when one publicly disparages and questions the ethics of the bosses, there should be accountability.
I also try to teach children that name calling is a poor substitute for having nothing meaningful to say. So I will assume that you meant 'nutjob' as a term of respect.
..(*-remember that poll Ron
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 17:08 — starsonours..(*-remember that poll Ron approved...the one that found about 96% of parents satisfied with their current assignment under the OLD plan?)... I recall a poll that asked if you were happy with the school your child attended but I don't recall one that asked are you happy with the way your child was assigned to the school they are attending. I was one of the ones who in the 96% who were happy with my current school's staff, but not happy with the assignment plan that put us there. The School's staff did not put us there so why would I be mad at them for the BoE's assignment plan? But since you have a poll showing 96% were satisfied with their current assignment please share it with everyone else.
Count me as another one
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 20:43 — loriacCount me as another one satisfied with my older son's school and staff. But, since my younger son was reassigned in middle school, and the choice was track 2 (even with a sibling in the HS) or move to another school, I opted out and ponied up another year of private school fees. I didn't get to answer the survey for him. Yah, everything was just fine.
I can't believe the stupid people who still trot out that survey.
Exactly. Count me and dozens
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 17:37 — jeffrey1Exactly. Count me and dozens of my neighbors that were said we were satisfied with our school, yet very unhappy at the switch to Mandatory Year Round forced on us at that school.
In other words, that poll was, and still is, meaningless.
Speaking of "Nut Jobs"
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 08:46 — shank56You know you sound a lot like Mr. Evans, Susan's husband, but what the hay, let the nut jobs continue to surface.
And you sir, sound a lot like Mr. Prickett, Deborah's husband, aka Woodstock. Looks like Mrs. Deborah should have kept you in timeout a little longer.
I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 13:21 — FSandYOUdoes that make me a doctor too?
You and RuthsChris should go rent a Scooby Doo movie and pick the lint from between each other's toes while you dream up some more of your stupidity.
Thank you for sharing his
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 09:08 — ruthlissThank you for sharing his identity.
Your reply should have been
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:22 — starsonoursYour reply should have been "Thank you for speculating on his identity"
I sure hope no one finds out I am really Brad Pitt.
Yeah, FSandYou was posting
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:50 — jenmanYeah, FSandYou was posting at the same time as Woodstock so I don't think they are the same person.
Not going to happen
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 20:35 — occum_sharpeThis new board does not have the guts to push him out the door, just like they didn't have the guts to stand up to the fastbreak assignment plan.
Guts or ??
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 16:00 — ThatDadMaybe they just want to restore some dignity and respect on the BofE instead of endless mudlinging. Or maybe they just want to sit back and watch him self-destruct... he seems to be off to a marvelous start this week!
Funny...
Fri, 02/24/2012 - 18:55 — Bob_Sconce. . . instead of endless mudslinging
That is a pretty apt description of what we're getting from GSIW.
Tata has done a bang-up job working exceptionally long hours with basically a skeletal Central Office staff that he cut further (after the Broad Audit said it was already too lean), just so he could save a few teaching positions. He has poured his life and heart into serving this district for the past year -- I'd guess that he's worked more than 100 hours most weeks since he started.
And then along come these holier-than-thou GSIW types with their clever little press releases, board meeting stunts and community meetings where Tata is barred from answering questions. Then, two of his board members actually go out in public and hold themselves out as representatives of GSIW (that is what you do when you accept an award on behalf of an organization). Sure , he probably should have just left the situation alone. But, given his dedication, I'm not going to criticize him for that. He probably has more patience than I would have had.
lots of vague comments
Fri, 02/24/2012 - 22:17 — EBDarcySkeletal staff? When was the last time you were at central office? He may be working long hours but that's not unusual when you are new to a job, particularly when you have no actual experience in the position and limited experience in the field, and for the salary he is being paid. Do you think his predecessors didn't work long hours?
What positions were cut after the Board audit, how much did they pay...and where were those funds redirected? How many central office positions have been added and what are the salaries?
So...
Fri, 02/24/2012 - 23:25 — Bob_SconceI don't have the figures. I do know the results of the audit -- that central office was too lean. And, I know that in Tata's budget for the current school year, he cut more from the central office budget. And, I know that in a series of presentations to BAC's before those cuts, David Netter cautioned that any further cuts to the central office would impact its ability to do its job.
Are you saying
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 21:06 — occum_sharpethat halting an assignment plan that is doomed to fail before it fails and screws up families and real estate and god knows what else is disrespectful and undignified? What's undignified and disrespectful is to lay down and get steam rolled and turn around at a later date and blame it on "the need for civility."
Doomed to fail? With that
Thu, 02/23/2012 - 21:33 — starsonoursDoomed to fail? With that atitude it will. Why take a bath you will only get dirty again so why bathe, it is doomed to fail!!! Lets all stay home because if we go out the door we may be doomed to fail.
We've Had Educators Running this System Before....
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 21:02 — VillageMentalityAnd they've ruined it. Look at the magnets full of haves while the have nots who should be assigned to these schools because of location are not allowed access to.
Look at the academic statistics of our minority children - those denied access to higher levels of math because officials didn't want to lower the test scores of this "award winning " system. What a joke.
We have wasted millions in busing that could've been used in the classroom. All in the name of diversity.
Educational experience does not make a good steward of this system.
And the bottom line: These new democratic knuckleheads are as bought by Great Schools and other democratic money machines as Margiotta et al was by the right. So please spare us your indiginity.
I could care less who Tata was or where he came from. If he had a desire to serve children (he does - he also comes from a family of educators) and he worked hard (he has - far more than Del Burns did. particularly in the community outreach department), then he deserved a chance to serve WCPSS children. After all, Our President (who I voted for) had about as much presidential experience as Tata did as Super. The big difference is the General actually went to school to learn how to lead a school system. HE has put in the EFFORT.
He had every right to call out these Great School lackeys. God knows Margiotta and Tedesco in particular were excorciated for their associations. Turn about is fair play. I personally feel they need to be removed from office. Not Tata.
CLAP CLAP CLAP
Fri, 02/24/2012 - 14:29 — local23Well said. The people who keeping putting down Tata have no earthly clue what it is like to run a company as big as WCPSS, but the military is one of the biggest and he knows how to do the job. Some on this blog just don't like to hear the truth!
Clap ?
Fri, 02/24/2012 - 16:42 — Solon77At what size is it appropriate to accuse board members of ethics violations without any proof ? What do you think would happen if he threw out accusations towards his superiors without any evidence ? While the military is big, I would hardly call it efficient. It gets things done by throwing resources at it just take a look at the IED task force Tata headed up. Search any news archives and you will easily find articles on billions being wasted. In addition, in the military people follow orders and there is not the process of people questioning your actions. So welcome to civilian life where the reins are tighter - accountability to the board and the general masses with every move questioned. Tata messed up on this one and he knows it.