Toussaint's blog

Vicki Phillips just went over to Gates, true to her obvious allegiances to corporations over the public good.
The Oregonian's coverage included this excerpt and quote from School Board member, Dan Ryan:

"Gates, which has issued millions in grants to Portland Public Schools, received an infusion of $31 billion from investor Warren Buffett last year. Ryan said Phillips' move to Gates' Seattle office should be cause for celebration: "Do you know what it's like to have someone at the Gates Foundation who's your best friend?" he said. "
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1177565360...
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From Christina, Delaware:

Now that the Broad Foundation trained Superintendent has quit, leaving the district $37 million in debt, a Broad trained school board member, John Mackenzie is proposing charterizing the entire district.
http://www.udel.edu/johnmack/csd/charter_strategy.htm

The next link is an article by Paul T. Hill about Charter School Districts:
http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?knlgAreaID=110&subsecID=134&contentI...

Below is an account of the teacher's strike in Oaxaca, Mexico. There has been no reporting on this in the mainstream press. While the repression here has not been as harsh, it is striking to hear that funding basic needs for students is a major issue in the strike. Sounds very familiar.

http://susanohanian.org/show_outrages.html?id=6210

Mexican Police Accused of Killing 11 Striking Teachers in Oaxaca

EXCERPTS
Thousands of state security forces have raided the southern Mexican city of Oaxaca to break up a peaceful teachers strike. Witnesses say eleven people were killed, including two children. The state government denies the allegations. We speak to a teacher taking part in the strike. .....
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This speech was written by a woman in Christina School District in Delaware. Her district is in a huge financial crisis with losses of $12 million this year and predictions of $20 million deficit next year. Because of time constraints, Kari was unable to read the whole thing. Joey Wise is their former Broad- trained superintendent. The similiarities to our district are mind-boggling.
Anne

My name is Kari G. I have two children who currently attend school in the district. For the past several years, I have come before the board to address my concerns with the direction in which this district was heading.
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Does it ever end? Read video teacher Lenny Edwards' letter about another loss for Jeff.
NSA will be a part of any protest against this. I cannot believe this district's audacity.
Anne

From: Leonard Edwards [mailto:ledwards@pps.k12.or.us]

>
>Dear Jefferson Community Members and Supporters:
>
>I was informed Friday afternoon, June 9th that the Jefferson Video
>Production Department is being terminated and the studio is to be
>evacuated. This means that Jefferson students will no longer be able
>to: cablecast the Keep Living the Dream: Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther
>King, Jr., to cablecast the Rose Festival Ambassador selection, to
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Small schools changing shape of nation's largest school system
Posted 5/13/2006

zPhoto
Kimberly Delgado, 14, left, Marlin Molina, 15, and Evelina Mendez, 16, right, react with cheers and applause as they win the concentration game in history class at the Academy For Career and Sports High School, Bronx, New York.

By Nahal Toosi, The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Five years ago, Sharis Wingfield couldn't have imagined attending a high school that emphasizes sports vocations and teaches kids math using batting averages. She also couldn't have envisioned a scenario where her high school would be smaller than her junior high.
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Note: WASL is a Washington Assessment for Student Learning test.

Press Release- For Immediate Release

Mothers Against WASL to Sponsor Race Car in Rose Cup

Contacts: Lisa Sampson, Executive Board Member, Vancouver, 360/608-4896

Juanita Doyon, PEN Director, Spanaway, 253-973-1593

In their quest to diversify word-spreading strategy, Parent Empowerment Network/Mothers Against WASL will raise WASL awareness by sponsoring race car driver Steve Sampson in this weekend's Rose Cup at Portland International Raceway.

Steve, who has taken first place in his past two races, will be driving his '94 Camaro Z 28, freshly adorned with the traditional red slashed WASL symbol of Washington State's most outspoken high-stakes test resistance group, Mothers Against WASL.
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