Winning Are Good

The local media reported yesterday that Frank Sanchez, local businessman and active political figure, was named an Under-Secretary of Commerce within the Obama administration. Good for him. He’s a smart, hard-working type, easy to talk to and has his ego in check. And, ya gotta love his Mom!!!

To be clear, Sanchez was an Obama supporter from the get go, and he is now reaping those rewards. Glad to see Obama filling his staff with competent people, not just political hacks.

Speaking of such, I will remind you friendly readers that political non-partisans Susan Valdes and April Griffin openly endorsed Hillary for president. Of course, they’d also endorse Twiddle Dum if he could advance their careers.


All the News That’s Fit to Print

Keep your eye on Tom Marshall, the newest SP Times reporter to cover Hillsborough education news. His first story ran today about Magnet and Choice options.

He’ll have a tough time duplicating the quality and quantity of stories that his predecessor Letitia Stein put out, but I think Tom will do quite well. I would advise district administrators and school board members to give him a chance and not be too guarded. He’s not the attack dog type.


Alternative Education

The Gradebook.com today reported that Pasco schools administrators are considering closing two alternative school centers to save money, the result of budget cuts. What a shame!

For those of you not familiar with alternative education, it represents sites and programs for kids to disruptive for normal classes: kids who would normally be suspended or expelled. Alt Ed gives these kids a second chance to succeed through specialized guidance, counseling, and instructional techniques.

The whole point of Alternative Education is to keep more students in school and getting more of them to graduate. A secondary benefit was to keep students off the streets and out of trouble: away from drugs and other serious crimes.

Until recently, Alternative Education students received weighted funding from the state to help defer the costs associated with their needs. That money has now been eliminated.

I guess our legislators thought charter schools were a better option. No matter how many accountability policies they put in place, those folks in Tallahassee simply don’t trust school districts to spend money wisely.

posted by admin @ 6:00 PM