Ken Jackson
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Comments
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On the Blog Post Mr. McLellan, Tear down your wall!
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On the article Bloomfield Hills' Glass Has 16th-Highest Compensation Package in State
Ken Jackson
8:28 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
ReplyAs part of its "March roll out" of the PEFA (formerly Oxford Foundation Proposal to refinance public education in Michigan) Richard McLellan, Peter Ruddell and The Mackinac Center generated a list of salaries already available to the public. The particular target is the supremely talented Vicki Markavitch, Superintendent of Oakland Intermediate School Districts, who did much to expose the hazards to Oakland County Schools last fall. The Oakland Press led with the non story yesterday. I am grateful that Bloomfield Patch at least mitigated the political manipulation of the media with a headline reminding BHSD that Mr. Glass is relatively underpaid in relation to his peers.
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On the Blog Post Gov.'s Man says Public Education Like the Tobacco Industry, Hurting Consumers for Money
Ken Jackson
1:05 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Mr. Ruddell,
You quite clearly compared all public education to the tobacco industry. Everyone in the room heard you. You weren't booed. There was a loud guffaw if anything. I was listening quite intently to what you had to say, as were many others. You had to be prodded at one point to respond. I do, again, admire your willingness to talk to a room that size that was not fully in sync with your "draft." Elected legislators pushing the issue dodged the opportunity, as Mr. Powers wrote. -
On the Blog Post The Center for Michigan Report shows a profound desire to support teachers
Ken Jackson
11:57 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
ReplyTo their credit The Detroit News corrected their "news" coverage with a balanced editorial piece on the survey. Today's Sunday Free Press provides full coverage and a nice editorial by Stephen Henderson. Governor Snyder seems more and more inclined to slow all this down....Unfortunately, the chairs of the house and senate education committee have dropped off the program for Tuesday's Center for Michigan conference. The Oxford Foundation, for those not on the email list, is now morphing into "PEFA" (public education finance act).
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On the article Tell Us Your Favorite Classical Piece – and Win DSO Tickets!
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On the article Proposed State Education Overhauls ‘Radical and Dangerous,' Superintendent Says
Ken Jackson
8:30 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
ReplyMary L.
I agree. I resist (most of) the reforms of the Governor. But in the spirit of keeping alive some hope for true K12 improvement through political compromise I would be remiss if I didn't point out that many current public school teachers and administrators can't represent themselves anymore effectively in writing than Mr. Marik. Still, his garbled grammar and equivocation on credentials should signal a need -- at minimum -- to slow down the "reform" process now being rushed through lame duck legislation. There aren't nearly enough safeguards in place to prevent Mr. Marik from hanging a shingle, getting state money, and starting an academy. -
On the article House Republican Education Platform Wrong for Michigan
Ken Jackson
2:41 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
ReplyThis could be usefully shared on all Oakland County patches.
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On the article Letter to the Editor: Local Mom Asks State Lawmakers 'Are You Serious?' About Education Bills
Ken Jackson
12:58 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Thanks Margaret. I didn't mean to be unfair to Mr. Moss. I only wish he would tell his constituents clearly how the school reform playbook works: 1) HB 6004 (fully establish EAA and get hold of a few choice buildings) 2) HB 5923 (guarantee any local charters get district money, further defunding districts) 3) rewrite school aid act so that "District" as we understand it literally has no meaning thus further extending effects of 6004 and 5923. He won't.
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On the article Letter to the Editor: Local Mom Asks State Lawmakers 'Are You Serious?' About Education Bills
Ken Jackson
11:18 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Mr. Haglund,
I agee. I would only add there is little sympathy in Oakland County, too, for these Districts (odd as that sounds). Our local Rep, Chuck Moss, will enable this wholesale reform by passing HB6004 during his lame duck session. -
On the article Letter to the Editor: Local Mom Asks State Lawmakers 'Are You Serious?' About Education Bills
Ken Jackson
9:58 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Kim, The letter is probably from Chuck Moss. He is a leader of school "reform" in this state and he has a history of ignoring parents in Birmingham and BHSD. He is being termed out of office but plans to run again from Senator Pappageorge's seat.
Ken Jackson
8:52 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Mr. Vercellone,
Welcome, belatedly, to a conversation from November 2012 and the approaching lame duck session of the Michigan legislature that would have damaged all Oakland County schools. While we had a very different experience with a particular school and individuals I hope you will -- like thousands of parents, including myself -- channel your positive energy into resisting further attempts at school reform that would make our opinions about individual teachers or principals, well, moot. I am sorry you don't like my "negativity" but I would wager that since you like your child's school you would agree its base funding should be protected?. Despite my criticisms here I would and have been defending that District's existence under reform. Hope you join that fight.