I reported yesterday that an administrative law judge found that the school board of Douglas County, Colorado, had violated the state’s fair campaign practices law by commissioning Frederick Hess to write a paper extolling the school board’s agenda of privatization.
But when I read the story in the Denver Post, I realized that the school board had been even more active in promoting its agenda than commissioning a favorable report.
The suit was brought after a complaint by Julie Keim, a candidate who lost in the recent election. The reform slate won.
According to the Denver Post:
The judge did not fine the school district for the violation, citing that Keim had not requested such action.
School district officials said they plan to appeal the decision. Board president Kevin Larsen argued that the ruling would “silence all public entities for months on end.”
“The judge seems to have concluded that it is a violation of law anytime the district disseminates positive news involving its education policy agenda if there are also candidates for school board who support that agenda,” Larsen said in a statement. “The district does not agree with that interpretation of law.”
Larsen also said that the district planned to seek reimbursement for litigation costs on the complaints dismissed by the judge.
Those complaints included allegations that the district violated fair-campaign practices when its fundraising arm paid former U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett to write a report and give a speech before the election, when school officials stopped some volunteers from placing campaign fliers on cars during after-school events, with a Facebook post that alleged an audit of Keim, and when posting notices on a couple of charter school websites mentioning campaign forums or events that excluded certain candidates.
Questions:
Should a school board be allowed to spend public funds, supposedly collected from taxpayers for educating children, on its election campaign? Would all “public entities” be “silenced for months on end” if they were unable to spend public funds on their campaign?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Douglas County is well…Douglas Country. Dark money TALKS in this school district.
And what of the ethics of the individuals willing to write and publish “white papers” for hire?
Here is a quote from an earlier newspaper article: http://castlerocknewspress.net/stories/Hearing-reveals-actions-before-school-election,6856?
The Feb. 6, 2013, contract between DCSD and AEI outlines a $30,000 payment and scope of services, asking the organization to “research, create, publish and publicize” a 25-30 page white paper with three to five sidebars. DCSD’s requirements for the paper included a description of the district, the problems its reforms are meant to address, how the reforms are “new and different,” district challenges in the face of its reforms and lessons learned. The district’s lead spokeswoman and its foundation director, Cinamon Watson, signed as DCSD’s representative.
Hess and Watson also exchanged emails about the paper in which the writer asked for further guidance.
“Ideally, we would love for you all to help us help you,” Hess wrote in a March 22 email to Watson. “Rather, we would prefer it if you would tell us what you want us to focus on, what is most worthy of attention, what you’d like to see written about, and what your general angle on it and the paper is.
Rick Hess will be the keynote speaker at the ASCD Leadership Institute for Legislative Action conference in a few weeks. http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2013/12/is_ascd_embracing_market-drive.html
Right. I don’t understand why Hess’ actions in this haven’t completely destroyed him and whatever credibility he had.
Hello DR.
I answering the question(s) you posed–NO! Rationale: In PA if a state representative “utilizes” public resources (Their Office) OR (STAFF) to campaign they (have been prosecuted). Keep fighting … KEN
(A)nswering … (NO I intended)
Since school board members are elected officials–They ought to be prosecuted! (OR resign).
Yes, when are the prison sentences????
And what of the ethics of the individuals willing to write and publish “white papers” for hire?
Here is a quote from an earlier newspaper article: http://castlerocknewspress.net/stories/Hearing-reveals-actions-before-school-election,6856?
The Feb. 6, 2013, contract between DCSD and AEI outlines a $30,000 payment and scope of services, asking the organization to “research, create, publish and publicize” a 25-30 page white paper with three to five sidebars. DCSD’s requirements for the paper included a description of the district, the problems its reforms are meant to address, how the reforms are “new and different,” district challenges in the face of its reforms and lessons learned. The district’s lead spokeswoman and its foundation director, Cinamon Watson, signed as DCSD’s representative.
Hess and Watson also exchanged emails about the paper in which the writer asked for further guidance.
“Ideally, we would love for you all to help us help you,” Hess wrote in a March 22 email to Watson. “Rather, we would prefer it if you would tell us what you want us to focus on, what is most worthy of attention, what you’d like to see written about, and what your general angle on it and the paper is.”
********
Note that the white paper did not disclose that it had been purchased.
Rick Hess will be the keynote speaker at the ASCD Leadership Institute for Legislative Action conference in a few weeks. http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2013/12/is_ascd_embracing_market-drive.html
They have no ethics or standards. Too many people are on the take.
On top of it all, here are a few quips between one of the 7 Directors, Justin Williams, and several parents. https://mobile.twitter.com/justinwms
The DCSD BOE reforms are not working. Taxpayers in the county are cash cows for any and all indiscretion or whim of this BOE. 48,600 people voted against The Reformers,
50,000 voted for The Reformers. We are in a big pickle down here-
The district was found guilty of violating Fair Campaign practices. They also had a vocal supporter willing to lie on the stand during the trial and her testimony was impeached. The lengths the reformers in and outside Douglas County are willing to go to to keep a unified reform BOE in our district is unbelievable. Using tax dollars meant to educate our children to spread the false claims that “reform is working” (their campaign slogan pushed by AFP in $350k of advertising) is unconscionable. What the article doesn’t mention is how much the “white paper” was edited before it was shared with tens of thousands of parents. Misleading the public into believing their reforms are working was not only funded by public tax dollars, but a clear plan to garner votes.
On top of that, the Douglas County Education Foundation (DCEF – fundraising arm for the district) was used to funnel money to pay William Bennet $50,000 to speak at a Chamber of Commerce event also touting the white paper and DCSD’s supposed “success” at reform; further misleading the voting public through the business community.
Unfortunately, the current BOE has vowed to appeal the court’s findings and will spend more public tax dollars to defend their illegal and unethical behavior. It is truly an awful situation in DCSD.
Dr. Ravitch, thank you for continuing to keep the struggles of the students, parents and educators in our district a national issue. Your support is greatly appreciated.
How can anyone justify spending $50,000 and $30,000 of taxpayer money!!!!!!n What on earth justified this spending??? What the report written on gold tablets??? What an absolute waste of money. Can you imagine being so sleazy you would take that amount of cash from money meant to educate children?????
Perhaps a better strategy would be to hire a PR manager to promote the district. School Board members should use their own monies to promote themselves.
Corporate funded think tanks are the breeding grounds of these mercenaries, whose self-interest is never revealed when news organizations quote them as experts. I am continually amazed at the extent & depth of the lies perpetrated by these hired guns that is accepted as truth without question.
Ms. Klock, the PR department for the Douglas County school district has grown by 300% over the past few months. We don’t need any more folks doing “PR.” We need a few people in leadership positions with some ethics. Sadly, they’ve fired just about everyone who fell into that category over the past year.
So sorry to hear that, Laura. PR should be used to promote the teachers and the students, not a hidden agenda. Right now, our leadership is misguided (being kind) or unethical (being realistic). Where children are concerned, all egos should be checked at the door.
Education is about what is best for ALL children and that cherished trust does not mix with privatization, profit, and politics.