Three incumbents on the Indianapolis school board have collectively raised about $6,000.
Their opponents have raised over $100,000 from corporate reformers who want to bring more charters to the district. Follow the money.
The challengers are heavily funded by groups like anti-teacher, anti-union, pro-privatization Stand for Children, the Chamber of Commerce, and big contributors from across the nation. Clearly, the corporate reformers want to hasten the pace of privatization.
Stand for Children has sponsored anti-teacher, anti-union legislation in Illinois and in Massachusetts.
Will voters in Indianpolis allow the corporate reformers to buy control of their public schools and turn them into privately managed charters? If you live in Indianapolis, defend your community’s public schools. Tell the corporate reformers they are not for sale.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Connected/interwoven into these privatization efforts are a myriad of big business interests who are interested in reaping great rewards (also known as stealing public tax dollars). I’m looking for some info on how it is the technology sector is taking advantage of the push for the misnamed “Education Reform.”
Does anybody here have information/leads on the following:
What are Technology companies like Google’s financial/political connections to the privatization efforts (aka education reform) aimed at the public education system?
How is Google e.g. using public policy in the education sector to get their products (Chrome Book) into the public school systems (especially in NY State)?
Who is facilitating all of this and who is involved in funneling public monies (taxes) into the private sector of the technology industry?
What role are Superintendents, CIO’s, Tech Admins, etc. playing in all of this?
Are they getting kickbacks, career advancements, benefits etc. as they advance this agenda?
USDE is one of the players in the push for technology in schools and funding initiatives. Just a used the phrase USDE Technology Plan.
Thanks Laura. I’m interested in following the money trail and particularly interested in examining how local/regional school officials are involved not only in pushing this agenda but what very real incentives/perks they may receive as they are doing so. It’s hard to make the legal case that it is corruption as so much of it has become sanctioned policy.
It’s amusing that ed reformers don’t believe that funding matters for public schools. because they sure believe funding matters for political campaigns.
When they want “results!” to win elections and then privatize they’re more than willing to pour money in 🙂
People are usually willing to pay for things that they believe will benefit them.
This is what is happening to Detroit Public Schools board elections. No one wanted these seats until the looters from Skillman, et al came and decided they could back door re segregation and tracking with their Excellent and Failing schools.
They can trump all local accountability and run their candidates. They have demonized us, disappeared us and now are sending their puppets in.
Still waiting to hear from Joe Nathan, TE and WT. I thought charters were in such high demand that parents were begging for them and there were wait lists miles long. If that’s the case, why do the “reformers” always need to buy the control to push through the charters? Why don’t they just let all these pro-charter parents put pressure on school boards and legislatures for them? What do you guys think of buying democracy in the name of charters?
Dienne: the “anti-regulation” crowd isn’t actually “anti-regulation”—in fact, quite the opposite.
They don’t mind using “big gubmint” and its coercive powers when it suits their interests.
And they don’t mind buying and selling elected officials of all kinds. It’s just another business expense—
And it’s all for the kids!*
😳
And they don’t mind making the occasional sacrifice either. For one of the latest examples:
[start quote]
The district on Monday also updated details of Deasy’s separation agreement. He’ll receive about $61,000 for unused vacation days in addition to about $70,000 in severance to be available as needed through year’s end.
[end quote]
Link:http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-lausd-cortines-20141021-story.html
*Like all self-styled “education reformers” that rake in $tudent $ucce$$, John Deasy is just a kid at heart.
Rheeally!
But not really…
😎
Well Indiana sold a public highway to a private enterprise that subsequently raised tolls and has a guarantee against loss of income if the state builds another highway that may compete with the privatized road. So I won’t be too surprised if Indianapolis residents allow privatization of its public schools.
Michael Brocum: say what!?!?!
😡
That’s correct, KrazyTA.
In 2006, then-Governor Daniels (a big fan of school reform, and former state Superintendent Bennett’s puppet-master) sold the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80/90, connecting Chicago with points east) to an Australian/Spanish multinational corporation.
The state received several billion dollars upfront for a 75 year lease, after which the road would return to Indiana’s full ownership. These funds were used to fund projects around the state, but apparently this money has already been used up.
Just this summer the Australian/Spanish corporation filed bankruptcy, so the status of the Toll Road is currently in limbo. I’ve been watching the papers for something that makes sense to a non-lawyer like myself. Apparently Indiana cannot take back ownership of the road, but I can’t untangle the legal-speak that says so.
The charter school movement in Indianapolis began in 2001 approximately one year after the swearing in of the first Democrat Mayor since 1967. At the urging of Mayor Bart Peterson, the Indiana legislature approved a law making Indianapolis the first U.S. city where the mayor has the ability to authorize charter schools. This occurred in 2001 when the Indiana Governor was Democrat Frank O’Bannon. Mayor Peterson quickly appointed David Harris, a young lawyer, as his education deputy who then assisted in the granting charter school status to approximately 16 separate charter schools by the close of the 06-07 school year. Peterson lost his next bid for Mayor; however, Republican Mayor Ballard continued and expanded the number of charters granted. By that time, the reform profiteers from all corners of the US were setting their sights on Indianapolis as ripe for the picking. The reformers run the gamut of political thought from right-wingers to far left progressives with dollars being the lowest common denominator.