It is no secret that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker wants to more privately managed charter schools in his state. He has been openly campaigning for Question 2, that would privatize a dozen schools every year for the indefinite future. As readers on this blog have often noted, once charter schools are part of the picture, they dominate all discussions about education. As we have seen in many other states, charter schools fight any accountability or transparency even though they receive public money. They operate in secret with taxpayer dollars, keep the students they want, push out the ones they don’t want.
Recently some emails became public that reveal an interesting part of the discussion. The advocates for charter schools in the governor’s office are advised to use their personal email accounts, so their efforts to promote privatization cannot be subject to FOIL (Freedom of Information Law). They are paid by the public, and acting against the public interest, and they don’t want voters to read about their conversations.
The emails can be seen here.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
And you would be upset about that because…? You do not seem to have any issues with Clinton doing the same, for the very same reasons??
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Clinton said she was wrong to use a private mail. What is Charlie Baker’s excuse? Will the FBI investigate him? Don’t hold your breath.
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What’s wrong with private emails?
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Check out this at the bottom of page 9 of this November 2015 email ( in pdf form):
Click to access procharter.pdf
An agenda item of this Question 2 committee instructs everyone to only communicate via personal email accounts. (near the bottom of the page), keeping communication separate by not using the company’s or government body’s email.
I imagine this is to keep them from being FOILed at a later date/
On the subject of emails, here’s something else for Massachusetts voters and parents to consider.
It appears that Question 2 and school closings in Boston (and elsewhere in Massachusetts) — closings that are caused by the defunding that accompanies charter school expansion that will be enabled by Question 2 passing — are inextricably linked, as evidenced by a private leaked email from Marc Kenen (BELOW), the co-author and lead proponent of Question 2, and also the founder/head of the Massachusetts Charter Schools Association
(FUN FACT: that’s the original — and more honest — name of Kenen’s organization. To put one over on the citizens of Massachusetts citizens and parents, Kenen later changed this to the “Massachusetts Public Charter Schools Association”… adding in “Public”, to perpetuate that canard that charter schools are public when they ain’t.)
I just read a Boston Globe article earlier this week on possible school closings:
Boston School Closings Are Now Back on the Table –
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/10/24/boston-school-closings-back-table/mxHZRkSEvB0fqwOoWWoPLK/story.html
The following quotes make it sound like future and massive school closings in Boston are a done deal — regardless of whether or not Question 2 passes. Of course, if Question 2 passes, and schools ARE closed, those schools will be rip for the picking, and for moving in privately-managed charter schools. A one-two like that—
1) Question 2 passing, then 2) a bunch of empty school buildings ready for charter invasions.
… will enable a rapid charter school explosion.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
BOSTON GLOBE:
“We want to move forward purposefully and slowly so that any decisions we would make would be a net benefit to students,” said Erika Giampietro, a special assistant to the superintendent and an advisory committee member. “Certainly there are a lot of hard trade-offs involved in these decisions.”
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
AND
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
BOSTON GLOBE:
“Superintendent Tommy Chang said in a statement, “This report is a courageous step towards financial stability for our schools and deep investments in our students.”
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Well, such a “courageous step” also benefits the charter school industry, as shown in a leaked private email that Massachusetts Public Charter School Association leader Marc Kenen sent a few years ago to his allies, or his “charter friends.”
As in Chicago, pro-charter forces in Massachusetts — including Massachusetts Public Charter Schools Association leader and Question 2 co-writer Marc Kenen — have repeatedly denied that closings of traditional public schools are connected to charter school proliferation in any way.
That’s what Marc and other charter folks say in PUBLIC.
In PRIVATE? ehhh, not so much.
Check out this private email of Marc Kenen’s to his “charter friends” that shows otherwise:
https://btu.org/city-superintendent-and-charter-leaders-meet-quietly-to-decide-on-what-to-do-with-surplus-school-buildings-proposed-for-closing/
(CAPITALS for emphasis are mine, JACK)
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
“From: Marc Kenen [mailto:kenen@rcn.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 08:31 AM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:
Subject: Boston charters sit down with BPS and the city
“Dear charter friends,
“In an unprecedented meeting yesterday, Boston charter school leaders met with Boston Superintendent Carol Johnson, her staff and high ranking members of the Menino Administration. The topic of discussion was a possible ‘compact of collaboration’ between Boston charters and BPS addressing the question:
” ‘Are there ways to work together that would improve the education of all Boston students?’
“The meeting was the first in a series to be held over the next couple of months to explore collaboration. Many issues were put on the table in an initial brainstorming session with more in-depth follow-up scheduled for future sessions.
“In a related story, the Globe reported this morning that Mayor Menino and Superintendent Johnson announced yesterday THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CITY LEASING EMPTY, OR SOON-TO-BE EMPTY BPS BUILDINGS TO BOSTON CHARTER SCHOOLS.
“THIS IS BEING DISCUSSED IN THE CITY IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE MOVE BY THE DISTRICT TO CLOSE A NUMBER OF BPS SCHOOLS AND REORGANIZE / CONSOLIDATE / MOVE OTHERS.
“SUCH A REAL ESTATE RELATIONSHIP WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE A TREMENDOUS BREAKTHROUGH FOR CHARTERS IN THE STATE, AND IN THE NATION.
“As goes Boston, so goes….. ”
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
The Boston Teachers union posted this leaked email, and responded to it here:
https://btu.org/city-superintendent-and-charter-leaders-meet-quietly-to-decide-on-what-to-do-with-surplus-school-buildings-proposed-for-closing/
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
BOSTON TEACHERS UNION:
“BTU: “Charter School Operators to Benefit at Our Students’ Expense:
“Last week, as thousands of Boston students, parents, and teachers were learning – many for the first time – that the Superintendent was about to propose that their school be closed, charter school operators were meeting secretly with city and school officials to plan on how to make use of the closed buildings.
“As you will read in the below verbatim email from Marc Kenen, executive director of the Massachusetts Charter School Association, charter school leaders are salivating at the possibility of leasing ‘surplus’ Boston School buildings – even though the final decision on the superintendent’s proposal to close as many as a dozen Boston schools has not yet been made.
“Charter schools currently drain over $60 million from the public schools’ education budget. Under the Ed Reform law, charters will double and the yearly outflow to charters will reach an estimated $110 Million. As our schools suffer through yet another round of budget reductions, we have to ask,
” ‘How much will be left for our public schools after charters grab their share?
“Looked at another way,
” ‘How strong is the city’s commitment to our public schools?
“Here is the verbatim email by Marc Kenen, ED of MA Charter SchoolS Association: … ”
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
AND THEN THEY SHOW THE ABOVE EMAIL OF KENEN’S
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It depends upon what is in them. If, for example, there was evidence of neglect or abuse of regular children who do not have disabilities or special problems, then it would be good to keep it quiet.
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If you want to keep your dealings from public view, then private emails will keep information out of the Freedom of Information Act domain. You have to ask yourself why this is necessary when the item discussed relates to public matters you are elected to represent.
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James Comey is on this.
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After reading those emails, there can be no doubt that Governor Baker is the school privatization industry’s / charter school industry’s “Manchurian Candidate”, put in office to push school privatization in Massachusetts at their behest.
That also explains Governor Baker’s visit to meet in private with Wall Street Question 2 promoters last this week in NYC .
He’s obviously beholden them them, and not to the citizens and parents of Massachusetts, as also evidenced by this flow chart / graphic:
https://twitter.com/ AASchapiro/status/ 791483227340939265
During the remaining days leading up to Tuesday, November 8, as you see or listen to the slick and expensive Madison Avenue-level TV/radio commercials promoting “YES” on Question 2 promulgating such lies as …
“Question 2 will add more money to public schools (LIE: it won’t. In fac
it will do just the opposite.
or
“Question 2 won’t take money away from existing public schools (LIE: it will… a lot of money, in fact.)
… or when view the slick mailers you find in your mailbox, or when listen to robo-calls, think about this following post about EXACTLY WHO is paying for those ads:
The latest is that over $21.7 million of out-of-state money from the most ruthless capitalists who have ever walked the Earth — Eli Broad, the Walton family of Walmart, Wall Street hedge fund managers, etc. — is pouring into Massachusetts to pass Question 2.
Read this well-researched article here for that $21.7 million figure:
These profit-minded plutocrats who are pouring in this money obviously …
— do not live in Massachusetts,
— have no children, grandchildren, or other relatives that attend public schools in Massachusetts
— have never given a sh#% about the education of middle or lower income until recently, when they realized they could make a buck off privatizing Massachusetts schools via the expansion of privately-run charter schools,.
They want to these corporate charter schools to replace truly public schools — the ones that, for generations, have been accountable and transparent to the public via democratically elected school boards, and which are mandated to educate ALL of the public… including those hardest or most difficult to educate … special ed., English Language Learners, homeless kids, foster care kids, kids with difficult behavior arising from distressed home lives.
Are proponents of Question 2 seriously making the argument that out-of-state billionaires and Wall Street hedge fund managers are pumping in all this money because those folks care so much about the education of kids in Massachusetts?
You really think they are NOT seeking a big money return on these ($21.7 million campaign donations?
Does that pass the smell test?
Can you provide an example of JUST ONE TIME in the past where they poured in this kind of cash to something … no strings attached, and with no expectations of return?
If, as Q 2 supporters like Marty Walz claim, the most ruthless capitalists that have ever walked the Earth are now kicking in this kind of cash to pass Question 2 merely because they care about children’s education —
… and if they are not about their profiting through the privatization of public schools brought about by the expansion of privately-run charter schools,
… then I’m sure one of you Q 2 supporters could google and find a past example where they have done something similar .. .again out of generosity… with no expectation of an eventual monetary return…
Something like …
“Well, back in 2000-something, or 1900-something, these same folks donated $20 million to the (INSERT CHARITABLE CAUSE HERE). Here’s the link that proves this.”
No, I didn’t think so. When this was brought up in a debate, Mary Walz refused to address it, saying, “We need to talk about the kids, not the adults.” Well, keeping money-motivated scum from raping and pillaging Massachusetts public schools IS CARING ABOUT THE KIDS, Marty! (By the way, those are many of the same folks who raped and pillaged the housing/mortgage industry a decade ago … go watch the film THE BIG SHORT to get up to speed on that … they’ve just moved on to new place to plunder.)
So the real question is:
To whom do the schools of Massachusetts belong? The citizens and parents who pay the taxes there?
Or a bunch of money-motivated out-of-state billionaires and Wall Street hedge fund managers who are trying to buy them via Question 2, and the expansion of privately-managed charter schools which they control, or also profit from their on-line and digital learning products that will be sold to these charter school chains?
If you believe the former, THEN FOR GOD’S SAKE, VOTE “NO” ON QUESTION 2.
Send them a message: Massachusetts schools are NOT FOR SALE!!!
Oh and go watch the John Oliver charter school video:
Oh and listen to this dissection of a “YES on 2” radio ad:
http://wrsi.com/monte/dissecting-the-great-schools-massachusetts-ad-on-question-2/
or watch this video:
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cross posted at http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Massachusetts-Governor-s-O-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Charter-Schools_Corruption_Diane-Ravitch_Email-161031-116.html#comment626044
with this comment:
As we know, the charter school movement began as a way to help public schools by encouraging innovation. However, in the past 25 years, it has evolved into an industry that is bent on privatization and that shamelessly diverts money and real estate from public schools.
The charter movement today is the darling of ALEC, the Koch brothers, and every rightwing governor and think tank.
In this article,
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/24/new-layers-dirt-charter-schools Paul Buchheit describes the dark role that charter schools now play on behalf of corporate elites and their determination to privatize public education for fun and profit.
Their most important innovation seems to be their commitment to turning schools for children of color into tightly disciplined boot camps, where they learn the value of unquestioning obedience.
Any prospect of collaboration with public schools disappeared long ago, as it would be a compact between a robber and his victim.
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Ah, that’s some kind of advice Colin Powell gave to Hillary Clinton on the Day 1 as Secretary of State. And look what happened to both!? The Congress let Powell walk away from scrutiny, but lashed out and grilled Hillary on the same count– the use of private mail server!
What’s more ironic is that James Comey also gives this kind of advice to legal authority to keep their dirty hands within the sleeves. And he sends a totally opposite message to the general public and the third parties, by requesting mandatory scrutiny of communications(including, wiretapping and de-encryption) under Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA).
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private e-mail accounts can be hacked too
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If they are sending and receiving emails that support a candidate or ballot initiative they are prohibited by law from doing so on government-issued equipment and while being paid for government work. It would be illegal for them to use their work emails to support Question 2.
Now, if they are campaigning for Question 2 while on the clock, using their own equipment and email or not, that, too, is illegal. The two emails linked to in the post were both sent off hours, one on a holiday and one in the evening.
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These emails show that the advocates for charter schools in the governor’s office are engaging in unethical conduct, and possibly illegal as well as sallyo57 says.
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Laura,
What I meant is that their conduct is not illegal if done on their own time and on their own equipment. Neither of the two linked emails were sent during office hours, one on Nov. 11 (holiday) and one at 8:50 pm. Those would only violate the law if they used government-issued computers, tablets or phones to send them.
Sally
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