The Tales I Cannot Tell

There are many.  Too many nowadays.  There are many reasons.  Retaliation against people is the biggest one.  Another one is waiting on more information.  Blogging takes a lot of time and effort.  Especially the way I do it.  I have more articles in my draft folder then I ever have.  Many are in my head.  Some are… with others.  Sometimes there are games afoot.  Sometimes a source drops a load of information and then disappears.  I’ve learned I have to vet some sources a bit more than I used to.

Some of these articles would be permanent game changers for some people, schools, or even districts.  Even some of our politicians in Delaware should have reason to fear.  Delaware is a small state but large in secrets.  Through it all, it always comes back to Jack Markell, one way or another.  He is the Kevin Bacon of education connections in Delaware.

Many of the tales I cannot tell are heart-wrenching.  They are incredibly sad and all I can say is some children should never be treated the way they are in some schools.  If you are an education leader of some sort in our crazy state, and you are wondering “Does he know?”, chances are pretty good I probably do.  For those who think “he is clueless, he has no idea what is really going on”, be advised I most likely do know exactly what is going on, why it is happening, and the trail of breadcrumbs you left.

I know about a lot of the side deals, and the knife thrusts in the backs of enemies, and the things some think only a select few know about.  You are wrong.  I know when I’m being used, even though you don’t think I do.  Sometimes I allow myself to be used because I know what is at the other end of the tunnel.  I know why some react and why some stay quiet as a church mouse.  I know why some stopped reacting.  I know those who drink the kool-aid in public but tell me in private they know it is wrong.  I know who has a forgiving heart, who has the capacity to forgive, and who has a dead heart.

I know a lie before the words finish coming out of a mouth.  But the most stunning thing I know is there are some things I could write about and the whole state could read it but nothing would happen.  I know about the corruption in our state, from the top to the bottom.  I know the looks some give me can be an “I understand” or “Please go away” or “You can’t do a thing to stop any of this” or “You know nothing”.  Some desperately tell me how wrong I am only to see the dawn of realization hit them later.  I know those who try to distract me to keep me away from something else.  It has worked in the past but it is much harder now.

I know about the money trails and how some try to hide it.  I see the categories and we both know it is utter bullshit.  I see it more than you think I do.  I hear the administrator horror stories.  How unfairly so many of our teachers are treated.  I know those who don’t bat an eye when making the wrong decision to protect themselves while others suffer.  I know about those who think a climb to power is better than integrity and dignity.  I know far too many who are blinded and manipulated and believe what they think they are hearing.  I know who my enemies are.  That is very easy.  I know those who want me to think they are my allies but I know they aren’t.  I know those who are genuine and true and want the best for children.  I know the chess players and the ones who think they are grand champions but the reality is they should stick to checkers or go fish.

These are the tales I cannot tell.  Many of them are just in a “for now” status.  Some can NEVER be told.  Some I plan for an exact moment.  Some will join together in unholy matrimony in ways even I couldn’t imagine but make sense when they do.  Some I find out about and publish right away while others age like a fine wine.  I have seen a future and it is a very dark place for all of us.  I’ve seen the past and paths clear more each time.  I see the futurists, always scheming and plotting.  I know things that will happen that nobody knows about yet.  I know things that some think will happen but they are going to be very disappointed.  I know when to walk way over the line and when to draw back.  I know when the line is blurry and sometimes I know when it is invisible.  I know what the biggest trick of all was and who was involved, even though I don’t write about it.  I know so much more than you think I do.  This is… Exceptional Delaware.

Delaware DOE Isn’t Digging Delaware STEM Academy Right About Now

The Delaware State Board of Education put the Delaware STEM Academy on formal review at their April meeting for low enrollment and financial viability.  At their first Charter School Accountability Committee meeting on May 10th, the committee said the school was out of compliance in every single area in their formal review.

The main area of concern which prompted the school to ask for a formal review (yes, they asked because the DOE was about to do it anyways) is due to low enrollment.  And it is very low.  Their approved charter calls for 250 students.  By April 1st prior to the next school year, all Delaware charters must have 80% of their approved enrollment.  Delaware STEM Academy needed 200 enrolled students.  Applications and pending decisions don’t count.  They must be enrolled.  As of April 15th, the school had 91 enrolled students.  As of May 10th, they had 113.  They aren’t even close to 80% with their current 45.2%.  And we are approaching the end of May.

In a cover letter sent to the Charter School Office requesting their formal review from 4/15, their Board President, Ted Williams, informs the Delaware DOE they have entered into a contract with Innovative Schools.  But in the initial report from the 5/10 meeting, we see something very different:

Ms. Field Rogers asked the school whether it has a final contract with Innovative Schools. Mr. B. Taylor stated that the contract has been approved by the board but it is not yet signed.

While this may be seen as being picky on my part, “entering into a contract” would imply the contract was signed.  In the DOE’s eyes, a signed contract could be helpful in determining their decision in the school’s favor.  It would show the school has support in place to help put the foundations together by the time the school opens.  But implying a month earlier there is a signed contract only to find out there is no signed contract during their CSAC meeting probably wasn’t a wise choice from Delaware STEM Academy.

One part of the below report which I found to be a bit arrogant was this:

Ms. Field Rogers asked the school whether the grant funds would be returned if the school does not open. Mr. B. Taylor agreed that the funds would be returned to the funders. Mr. Williams added the private donations would not be returned.

This probably isn’t the best idea either unless it was explicitly told to those donating money it wouldn’t be returned in the event the school doesn’t open.  It may cause others to think twice before donating to charters before they even open.

This is the part I don’t get though.  The school wanted 250 students as their approved enrollment for their first year with students in 9th and 10th grade.  Here we are, over two years since the school was approved, and the DOE is allowing the school to submit a budget scenario where they have 105 students.  Is this even allowable as per Title 14 of Delaware code?  It is, if that is what the school applied for.

…and enrollment of no less than 200 students at full enrollment and no less than 100 students during the first 2 years of operation…

The school didn’t submit a modification request to change their enrollment numbers.  This charter school was approved back in April of 2014.  They already got a one year extension from Mark Murphy.  Delaware Design-Lab High School faced this scenario last year, but their enrollment numbers weren’t at the danger levels Delaware STEM Academy is at.  You can only use that get-out-of-jail-free card once in Delaware.  Here we are over two years later and they still aren’t even close to being ready to open.  Granted, between Delaware Met’s closure this year and what I dubbed Wilmingtonitis yesterday with an overabundance of charter schools, it is obvious we are way past the saturation point in Northern New Castle County for charter schools.  This is not looking good…

asdf

Hillary Clinton’s Educational Proposals

kavips

Here are her educational proposals (in case you did not know).

A. Remold the entire American system for human resources development…scaling up the whole new human resources system nationwide over the next four years, using the (renamed) apprenticeship ideas as the entering wedge.

B. Create a seamless web of opportunities, to develop one’s skills that literally extends from cradle to grave.

C. It needs to be a system driven by client needs,  (Clients?)  guided by client’s clear standards and regulated on the basis of outcomes that providers produce for their clients.

D. Proposed Methods To Accomplish These Goals.

1) scaling up the whole new human resources system nationwide over the next four years, using the (renamed) apprenticeship ideas as the entering wedge.

2) combine initiatives on dislocated workers, a rebuilt employment service and a new system of labor market boards to offer the Clinton administration’s employment security program.

3) concentrate on the…

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