If you have been reading this blog, you have already read about Antwan Wilson’s fiscal problems in Oakland, which he left behind to become the Chancellor of the D.C. schools. D.C. copied New York City, based on inflated claims of dramatic educational gains, and has a school system run by the Mayor. D.C.’s mayor chose Wilson and assured the public that he had a “proven record” of fiscal stability. But after he left, it turns out that he overspent the budget by 100% for administration, having added 75 positions–mostly in the central office–that had not been budgeted.
But as Valerie Strauss writes here, he left the Oakland budget in a shambles. Wilson is a “graduate” of the unaccredited Broad Superintendents Academy. Apparently one of the very important skills taught there is to load up the district with new administrators. Wilson did that.
Antwan Wilson came to Washington nine months ago to become chancellor of the city’s school system, a surprise choice by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, who said she picked the Oakland, Calif., public schools chief because he was a “proven manager” who brought fiscal stability to that district.
But just a few months after Wilson left Oakland, the perennially troubled district is in such severe financial straits that the Board of Education on Nov. 8 ordered $15.1 million in immediate budget cuts — on top of millions of dollars in reductions made earlier in the year.
Mental health services, computer labs, librarians and supplies are now being pared or eliminated at some campuses, and the fiscal pain is expected to continue into the 2018-2019 school year, with additional cuts ordered by the school board. A recent analysis of the district’s finances by state auditors concluded that “the district has lost control of its spending.”
Wilson, who became superintendent of the 37,000-student Oakland district in 2014 after working as a teacher and principal in other states, through a spokeswoman declined requests for comment over the past week. Bowser’s office did not reply to requests for comment.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Cats like Wilson defy the laws of gravity for a while until finally what goes up must come down but not until the damage is permanent and the perp on the other side of the country. From the Broad Academy course book: Ed Adm 101: Failing Upwards: How to guarantee the next bump up in power, prestige and income through lying, cheating, using children for personal gain and many other topics to be discussed.
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Once OUSD fell under state control back in 2003, the writing was on the wall. Between 2003 to the present, 29 charter schools have opened, for a grand total of 46 charter schools with approx. 12,000 seats, nearly 25% of the total student population. We have seen top down fiscal mismanagement brought to you by no less than 4 Broad-trained superintendents. Last year, the district had no internal auditor. Wilson didn’t operate his schemes all by himself; he was enabled by a school board backed by the usual cast of corporate malformers, including Walton, Broad, and Bloomberg. At the most recent board meeting, with 2-plus hours of public comment on how these budget cuts are decimating schools, one of the board reps admitted that they acted like “sheep”, and basically approved nearly every hire/contract/proposal brought to the board by Wilson. Teachers in tears because they literally had no supplies. It was just gut-wrenching. If the suits in the central office really wanted to share the pain, they need to start bringing their own paper, pencils, and Kleenex to work. After all, it’s now what they expect teachers to do.
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Yes, I just bet that Wilson and Bowser wouldn’t comment.
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Sounds like a surefire way to smooth the path for takeover by charters….on the grounds of “mismanagement.”
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I’m surprised not to read that Wilson loaded up the district on not just admin but outsider consultants too, outsourcing public service positions to private businesses. That’s was Deasy did.
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I hope the first thing the Board did was pare down the bloated administration. Unfortunately outside consultants eat of dollars that cannot be recovered.
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