Walmart, Eli Broad, others paying DC teacher bonuses...say do it our way or we pull the money.

[madfloridian]

I believe when you let corporations fund your schools and pay the merit pay bonuses of your teachers, you are giving them a big wide opening to exert power over public education.

It is starting in DC right now.

Foundations reserve right to pull funding if D.C. schools chief Rhee leaves


Image from New America site

The private foundations pledging to help finance raises and bonuses for D.C. teachers have placed themselves in the middle of the city's mayoral race with one of the conditions for their largesse: If Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee leaves, so could the money.

The private donors have told the District that they reserve the right to reconsider their $64.5 million pledge if leadership of the school system changes, further complicating a proposed labor contract that has generated controversy since Rhee and union leaders announced it this month.

That clause, yet to be publicly discussed by D.C. officials, is a standard feature of private grants. But it comes at the beginning of a primary campaign that could leave Rhee out of a job. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) has staked much of his campaign on evidence of Rhee's success in improving schools. His opponent, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray, has sent mixed messages about retaining Rhee, telling reporters after his campaign kickoff Saturday that school reform and Rhee's presence are "not inextricably tied."

Who is going to pull their funding unless Michelle Rhee stays?

Should the foundations pull their funding after the agreement is finalized, the District could be liable for at least $21 million -- the amount of private money earmarked to pay teacher salaries. According to the contract, the Washington Teachers' Union could sue the city or seek arbitration for breach of contract.

The leadership condition, set out in letters to District officials from the Walton Family Foundation, the Robertson Foundation, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and the Broad Foundation, could also be a deal breaker for D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi, who must certify that the money promised in the contract is available before the pact is approved by union membership and the D.C. Council.

Susan Ohanian has something to say about this at her blog under Outrages.

Strings attached to foundations' funding for D.C. teacher pay

Ohanian Comment: Will the teachers accept a contract written by the Wal-Mart/Waltons, prime public school detractors? Not to mention Broad, et al.

Isn't it interesting that the Wal-Mart/Walton goals are so closely aligned with Obama-Duncan education agenda?

This is the first attempt to embed private money in a public collective bargaining agreement and if the teachers agree to it, they are short-sighted beyond help. Or pity. Just let Michelle Rhea stomp all over them

Allowing corporations to fund merit pay for teachers is just another step on the path toward privatization of public education.


Washington Teachers Union President George Parker and DC Schools Chief Michelle Rhee announced a tentative agreement this week. Flanked by Mayor Adrian Fenty and AFT President Randi Weingarten, the two lined up behind a deal that would institute a privately funded merit pay plan while continuing to whittle away at teacher job security. Photo: Washington Teachers Union.

Across-the-board raises of 20 percent over five years (retroactive to 2007) and the merit pay system are to be funded to the tune of $65 million in private money from the anti-union Walton and Broad Foundations—and others. The unprecedented move to let private donors underwrite merit pay is Rhee’s attempt to show that D.C. schools are serious about upping test scores and tying teacher evaluations to them—a key criterion for winning federal money in the Race to the Top competition.

Rhee is a good investment for the foundations’ corporate-style overhaul of education, which seeks to bust the unions, dismantle schools, and turn them over to private charter operators. And this deal could protect her job.

[tonysam]

1. The usual suspects are unrec'ing this

What in the hell is the matter with people?

[DJ13]

2. Too many DLC, not enough independant thinkers

[Hannah Bell]

5. and wall-bots

[madfloridian]

4. We fought this plan under Bush, but now too many accept it...

as okay under Obama's administration.

That is a problem.

It is moving so fast it will soon be unstoppable.

[Hannah Bell]

6. "it's ok if a democrat does it"

[madfloridian]

34. I am afraid that is very true now.

Unfortunately.

[abelenkpe]

3. k & r nt

[newtothegame]

7. Who are the racists trying to get Ms. Ree fired?

I actually agree with these grant-making organizations that they shouldn't encourage this racism.

[JuniperLea]

8. I like to see a tree's fruit...

Before I deem it inedible and cut the tree down. But that's just me, clearly.

[madfloridian]

18. The bottom line is that DC will no longer get to decide their own policies...

and pick their own chancellor.

If the teachers agree with that, so be it.

[dmallind]

9. I'm not a fan of the program but while it exists that's unavoidable

You can't FORCE organizations to fund programs they dislike outside the tax system.

[madfloridian]

11. Great plan. Let Walmart call the shots. Yep, that'll work.

[dmallind]

12. ...or....just don't ask Walmart for money.

When you pay you get to have a say.

[JuniperLea]

15. I guess it's just better to throw the baby out with the bath water...

Refuse the money, and let the entire system collapse.

[dmallind]

21. Well you have to make a call

If you desperately need money and the only people who can provide it will only do so with conditions the decision is simple - are the conditions or the lack of money worse?

[madfloridian]

17. So you agree with my post that we should not ask them for money..

for public education.

[dmallind]

20. Yes - that was the "I am not a fan of the program" bit. NT

[madfloridian]

10. Okay, now I see.

Those who care about education remaining as a public entity, regulated as such....are just too few here anymore.

When I post about how quickly the takeover is happening, how easily, the thread attracts privatization supporters.

Reagan's hostility to teachers worked so well, he is finally succeeding from the grave to turn schools over to private companies without regulation.

[EFerrari]

13. It's just a busy Friday for me.

K&R

[madfloridian]

22. Well, thank you for taking the time....

to rec. Means a lot. :)

[Dappleganger]

16. Money talks.

People are too easily enticed by money with strings.

[madfloridian]

35. Agreed.

Take money from public schools...make them eager for other sources of funding. It's working.

[Dappleganger]

14. Well at least they KNOW who is pulling the strings...

unlike here in Jacksonville where city councilmen lie about which corporations helped finance their campaigns and then pretend there are no connections.

[madfloridian]

33. There's a lot of that going on in our area of FL as well...

Bunch of good ole boys.

[loudsue]

19. Isn't buying votes illegal in this country anymore?

Walmart has truly turned the U.S. into a 3rd world country.

[madfloridian]

43. True.

:hi:

[Starry Messenger]

23. k & r

[Union Yes]

24. Thank you for being a warrior for public education madfloridian. knr

:patriot:

[madfloridian]

25. Soon it will be too late.

Many of us try, but people are tired of hearing it. Easier to ignore it.

[fishwax]

26. kick

:kick:

[madfloridian]

27. Thanks for the kick.

It is happening in more places than DC now.

Big problem.

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. Did you have to put that witch's picture in your post?

Other than that, great post, Mad. :)

[madfloridian]

31. Well, just take a look at this one I posted below ...

in the post about her huge signing bonus, salary, and yearly bonus.



Lovely

[malletgirl02]

29. How much does Rhee get paid?

Doesn't she make around $200,000 a year. It seems to me if they can pay Rhee and other administrators that much, they could pay teacher bonuses without resulting to money from Walmart.

[madfloridian]

30. In 2007 it was $275,000. Also $41, 250 signing bonus. $27,000 annual bonus

"Acting D.C. schools chancellor Michelle A. Rhee will be paid $275,000 annually and will receive a $41,250 signing bonus if she is confirmed, making her the highest-paid school leader in the immediate metropolitan area."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/03/AR2007070302299.html

Ain't she the cute one?


Acting schools chancellor Michelle Rhee at Monday's confirmation hearing. Rhee's contract makes her eligible for a $27,500 annual bonus. (By Dayna Smith For The Washington Post)

[AnArmyVeteran]

32. ALL CORPORATE DONATIONS are the PEOPLE'S money!

Corporations' donations come from people. It's money they made by overcharging for the products they sell, or they wouldn't be 'giving' anything to anyone. It funny how conservatives say taxing corporations is just a tax on people because they pass the expense on to their customers. But conservatives don't see corporate gifts in the same way. They think it is the godlike generosity of the corporations, when in reality it is just them giving something and passing on the cost to the customers. It's the PEOPLE'S money.

BTW, each of the Walton family is worth about 20 billion. And what did they have to do to 'earn' that money? They had to squirm out of their momma's womb, that's it! And yet conservatives believe people who are born into massive wealth deserve all of the money they have like they actually earned it. Babies are born every day, but they don't have $20,000,000,000.00 waiting for them outside. Death tax my ass. The rich get more benefits from the country than anyone else does. So they should be taxed at a much higher rate. And inheritances of 20 billion dollars should be taxed to death to help the people who truly built this country.

[madfloridian]

36. "passing on the cost to the customers."

Yes, rest assured they will do that.

:hi:

[Starry Messenger]

40. +1000

[madfloridian]

37. "a distasteful bribe" by corporations

http://www.examiner.com/x-2763-DC-Charter-Schools-Examiner~y2010m4d28-Foundations-promise-money-to-DCPS-in-exchange-for-Rhee-keeping-her-job

"In an act that is most accurately described as extortion it turns out that the private foundations promising to cover teacher raises in the recently negotiated teachers' union contract will only do so if Michelle Rhee is Chancellor. The Washington Post's Bill Turque has done a fine job in uncovering the distasteful bribe in which the Walton Family Foundation, the Robertson Foundation, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, and the Broad Foundation are making their $64.5 million contributions to the public schools contingent on their being no "material change in DCPS' leadership." $21 million of these funds are directly tied to teacher raises in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Mr. Turque goes on to say that the City's CFO Natwar Gandhi must certify that there is money to cover the contract before it can go to union members and the D.C. Council. The foundation money, according to the CFO, is making this process complicated.

Understatement of the year. In fact, there are plenty of reasons why there could be a change regarding who has the Chancellor position. Ms. Rhee is getting married in September and maybe she will decide that a marriage with a husband living in California is really not a marriage at all. Or perhaps someone will finally hold her accountable for the mess she has created at DCPS over teacher hiring and firings related to budget projections. Lastly, we could have a new Mayor who will bring in a DCPS leader who can be trusted."

[Quantess]

38. This is rotten.

early AM kick.

[madfloridian]

42. Agreed and thanks....

for the AM kick.

[The Gunslinger]

39. talk about a silppery slope....

Letting Corporations mess with the education system is not a good idea.

[madfloridian]

41. Very slippery slope....

and there is no party opposing it now.