Jersey Jazzman has done some amazing research to uncover the source of the money that is flooding local school board races.
He has found a pattern. The same people are dropping thousands of dollars into key school board races around the country, into districts where they do not live. In Perth Amboy, NJ, school board candidates typically spend about $5,000-8,000, but in the last election one candidate had about ten times that much, almost all from big names in California.
Then he found the same people picking races in other states.
Who is coordinating this campaign?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane,
Where can I find your honor roll?
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Diane,
If the Jersey Jazzman is not on your Honor Roll, there is no need to forward the reference.
Thank you.
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And this is the same Sheryl Sandberg who is being touted for her new book, Lean In, which is on the NYT Best Seller List (it could be #1 this week–haven’t checked).
She’s making the big city book tours–look up her schedule & prepare to picket & protest!
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Same person
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Of course, she already came to Chicago–was sponsored by The Chicago Tribune (natch!) at the VERY fancy Palmer House Hilton–tickets $20, $40 w/book purchase & whatnot. BUT–if she hasn’t yet come to YOUR city–you know all what to do!
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The “Broadfather” is the kingpin. This game was formulated in 1988. They are going after the “Big Cookies”, so to speak.
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Is this like when the NEA and AFT send money to states to help influence the outcome (which is their right)? Do unions have rights to send money around the country, but not individuals?
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Yes if their members are employed in those states. I would think the members would expect it. The billionaires don’t live there and are on the take.
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Oy, Joe, union contributions are pretty transparent, and their reasons are clear. So,too, with organizations like the NRA–everyone KNOWS what they’re all about. Not so with PACS, however–individuals with unknown motives (usually, however, devious, & steeped in greed &/or corruption) hiding behind names and frequently changing them. And then there are the Kochs, the Waltons and Bloomberg (in a class by himself, I guess!)
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I have been discussing the private interests behind the attack on public education with my graduate education students and wanted to share my latest blog post about the 50CAN (and its funders): http://educationpolicytalk.com/2013/04/04/degrading-schools-the-penncans-scam/. Check out other blogs on school choice, charters, and standardized testing that my students are writing.
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