Some Things That Make You Go Hmm,,,,,,

was also endorsed by the Toledo Association of Administrative Personnel, I don't know if they also endorsed Jack Ford or not.

As to the showering of benefits on those that are endorsed? It depends, sometimes the candidates gets very little financial help at all only the ability to say they were endorsed. Did the TFT put more into this race than when Steve Steel was elected in direct and indirect contributions? Too early to say but considering the campaign contribution laws changed, it is possible to state that as far as direct campaign contributions Lisa Sobecki, Jack Ford and Richard Brown, when he was the endorsed candidate of TFT, did not get anywhere close to the amount that Steve Steel got when he ran in 2005.

The only way to avoid this would be for candidates not to seek any endorsements at all since any candidate who takes any endorsement faces possible questions of a conflict of interest arising at some point in time. I think the only candidate who did not seek any endorsements at all was John Bulldog Rust. Endorsements are the same as being supported by a citizen group, you are going to be forced at times to make decisions that might not be what they feel is in that smaller groups best interest but are in the bigger picture best interest. If an elected official, no matter the office can't separate the "special interest" aspect from their decision making process, it creates...exactly what we have in Washington right now many times.

On the flip side of the argument unless campaigns are going to be publicly funded without financial endorsements it would create an even larger disparity where candidates who have personal wealth or supporters with personal wealth have an even larger advantage than they do now. Which is why the whole issue of campaign contributions and endorsements ends up being an issue that has no clear solution.

HMMM...

Purnhrt- Scott and Libbey are not teacher led institutions. They are divided up into 3 or 4 smaller schools.

Each school has:
1) School Leader: effectively the principal of that small school. This is a TAAP member.

2) Teacher Leader: a TFT member, usually from the building, who acts as an assistant principal. Not sure what their duty is, but it definitely varies from small school to small school.

3) Counselor/Academic Advisor: still pretty much the same duties as before. TAAP member also.

4) Secretary: the real power behind any school. If you want something done go to this person.

Each campus (Scott and Libbey) also has a:

Facilities Coordinator: Effectively an Assistant Prinicipal of Activities. TAAP member also.

and

Campus Director: This is SUPPOSED to be a person who is in charge of the entire campus. Essentially a Head Prinicpal. But no one has filled this position at Libbey, and I don't know when they will. TAAP member also.

If you take into account the traditional comprehensive administrative structure:
1- Head Prinicipal
3- Asst. Principals (Curriculum, Activities, and Discipline)
3- Counselors
2- Deans
You have a total of 9 TAAP members.

If you total up the Scott small school administrative structure:
1- Campus Director
1- Facilities Coordinator
4- Small School Leaders
4- Counselors
You have a total of 10 TAAP members. (Note: It is only 8 TAAP members at Libbey since it only has 3 small schools)

From basic math, TAAP has maintained an average of 9 administrative positions at Libbey and Scott. I don't think Mr. McClelland (TAAP president) will complain about that.

Libbey has 2 out of the 3 surviving small schools in Continuous Improvement. While this is not good enough, I don't think you can say Libbey is a total failure.

I haven't heard of anything going on at Pickett. IF the Board of Ed does anything with Pickett or Fulton, its gotta be better than letting it remain in the current academic structure that it is now.

Here's a question for anyone to jump on. With the current state of middle school overcrowding in TPS would the district best serve itself by reopening East Toledo JHS, the old Jones JHS, and moving Old West End Academy to Warren and making it back into a middle school? Just something I talked about with a custodian, today.

a facilities-coordinator.

teacher led, not principal led. Old West End was principal led until Mrs. Gregory left because she WAS the principal but that leadership role was taken away from her by the teachers. When she realized that she could not run her school with Direct Instruction as the school was intended to be run, she left and the Old West End has been systematically dismantled.

What I'll be watching as a board member is who puts up the biggest obstacle to change. I found it very interesting all candidates discussed the need for change. Talking about it and actually getting it are 2 different thigs. Since 2006, we've seen significant change both in our school operations and fiscal accountability especially going to the zero based budgeting approach which helped us close a budget gap without the original 7.99 tax levy once requested by Eugene Sanders.

The other thing that has changed is finally we have a district that understands change is necessary but how much change will any of the bargainning units agree to accept and which board members will vote for specific reforms?

One of my most frustrations is how long it has taken for an organization to understand the need for change. Well for some parents the system works quite well - for others they spend so much time and energy trying to work with schools and accomplish little for their children and many get frustrated and leave the system.

I have said for some time we need to concentrate on retention, however that starts with a good experience at TPS and successful students. I've seen kids who have their interest in education totally zapped from them, then we wonder why we have discipline issues and lack of interest from a whole host of students. What will it take to change the culture of TPS?

Jack Ford has talked for years that the schools must clean their own house - will that happen? Lisa Sobecki said she wants to see TPS become a world class school system - that would be an excellent goal but to do so we'll have to deal with some very hard facts and difficult situations. Is everyone ready for it? Time will tell.

Jack Ford received the TAAP endorsement (via UAW) as did Lisa Sobecki and Harold Mosely (remember there was only 2 seats available). The TFT supported Richard Brown until his quick departure and Lisa Sobecki as the original Democrat endorsees.

I don't recall what candidates received the AFSCME endorsements. So it will be interesting to see how this goes forward - TAAP and TFT effectively endorsed the same two candidates and now they'll be on the board as of January. Will there be votes that either bargainning unit will not be supportive of - certainly so we'll have to wait and see who ends up on what side?

Will politics be at the root of every decision and vote? Quite possibly - but where does that leave the students and our community? We need successful schools to make this region successful - who will lead that effort? If we could put the needs of students first, then it will be obvious.

Lisa Renee, you make some interesting points about the endorsement process and campaign finance.

I personally believe that money is the root of most problems in our political system and campaign finance at a state and federal level needs a major overhaul. Each time something is done, such as the state limiting direct contributions to organizations or individuals that they do business with, we become aware of other loopholes. It is almost like they close a loophole to placate the public but purposely ignore other ways to accomplish the purpose.

There is no doubt that direct contributions from the TFT declined. However we are aware of two potential loopholes and will be checking it out after all the reports are available. My personal guess is that the TFT provided more funds (direct + indirect) this time around even with the limit on direct contributions.

As to the difference between say the TFT and the Urban Coalition for example, it is plain as the sun rising in the east every morning. If the TFT endorses, they expect the candidates to vote for their issues. These issues include control over our classrooms and a large pool of funds that they divvy up among the adults of the district. If the Urban Coalition endorses a candidate, we expect that candidate if elected to listen to our concerns and act in the best interests of the community

Sobecki was endorsed by TFT, TAAP through the UAW and AFSCME. Ford was endorsed by TFT and TAAP through the UAW - not sure about AFSCME.

All three have members affected by decisions of the Toledo Board of Education!

does not the other union leadership see that the TFT's leadership and their manipulations of the school board members have for years brought the district to the point of implosion.

A city is only as good as it's schools. That is the bottom line. Are the realtor's the only ones who see the handwriting on the wall?

While out canvassing the neighborhoods during the election campaign I saw an enormous amount of houses that were vacant but not boarded up. It looks like people are abandoning property and making the houses look lived in when really they are not.