[Speed Gibson,
Wednesday January 5, 2005 at 3:54pm]
How Dare She Do Her Job!
Last month, Swiftee told the story of Pat Harvey, Superintendent of the St. Paul Public Schools.
Could it be the same thing is now happening in Minneapolis, to their new Superintendent, Thandiwe Peebles? A lengthy article about her in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune certainly has me wondering. It goes three times around the barn but never enters. Writer Steve Brandt simple quotes people for and against, mostly the latter.
But there is also this gem:
Seven people in the communication office? Seven? That has to be more than the Governor has. Just how much public relating does a school district need to do?
It's not clear yet if Peebles is a true reformer or simply a bull in the china shop. We'll have a better idea after the 2005 Legislative session is over. Education Minnesota's job description for Superintendents is to raise money. If Minneapolis falls short of their targets, Peebles can expect the some of the same treatment that Harvey and Yecki received.
Four years ago, when Dr. Harvey actually tried to bring change and accountability to the district she was vigorously attacked by the teachers union and it’s minions already on the school board at that time. Her strongest supporter..at that time..was board member Becky Montgomery who paid for her failure to heel to the union’s commands with her board seat during the next election after a particularly vicious campaign against her was mounted by her disgruntled masters.
She, and two others (who did not run again) were replaced by three candidates hand picked and supported by the union. In fact, then union president Ian Keith’s wife acted as campaign manager for one, Toni Carter.
Could it be the same thing is now happening in Minneapolis, to their new Superintendent, Thandiwe Peebles? A lengthy article about her in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune certainly has me wondering. It goes three times around the barn but never enters. Writer Steve Brandt simple quotes people for and against, mostly the latter.
But there is also this gem:
Also departing within weeks of Peebles' arrival were five of seven people in the district communication office; one retired and three formed a business together. That has left the district with less staff experience to handle news events such as a recent TV report on playground bullying.
Seven people in the communication office? Seven? That has to be more than the Governor has. Just how much public relating does a school district need to do?
It's not clear yet if Peebles is a true reformer or simply a bull in the china shop. We'll have a better idea after the 2005 Legislative session is over. Education Minnesota's job description for Superintendents is to raise money. If Minneapolis falls short of their targets, Peebles can expect the some of the same treatment that Harvey and Yecki received.