The year in education: Wins, losses and unsung heroes

Alan Borsuk:

Did not much happen? Consider the waves of flat data on how kids are doing.

It may take a while to sort out this year. But that won't stop me from offering a few awards for, um, distinguished something or other.

Most jaw-dropping moment of the year: Adding into the state budget a statewide private school voucher program. Literally in the middle of the night, with no public hearings or advance word, this emerged from a backroom deal by key Republicans and voucher lobbyists. It is limited to a small number of students now. But if Gov. Scott Walker wins re-election in November and Republicans keep control of the Assembly and Senate, there is a strong possibility vouchers will become available widely in Wisconsin.

Education person of the year: Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Thornton. In his fourth year, Thornton and his powerful behind-the-scenes chief of staff, Naomi Gubernick, are at the center of so much. Thornton is both tough and a nice guy, each an asset in his work. He is good at spreading optimism. He's got plans and goals that sound good and, in many ways, are. And he's politically adept. But he is a perplexing figure who seems eager not to be challenged by subordinates or pesky people like reporters. A "gotcha" style of management by bosses seems to be pretty common in MPS, undermining morale.

The Same Old Same Old Award: Waves of test data and a second round of the new statewide school report cards told us that the Have kids are doing OK in Wisconsin and the Have Not kids are not. As for the Haves, they're not doing so well that we shouldn't be talking about how to give their schools a fresh burst of energy, and that seems to be happening in some places. As for the Have Nots, so little has changed, despite so much effort. There are a few bright spots on the scene, and we need to do more to grow them. Overall, we've got to find paths that are better than the ones we've been on.

The Gone-At-Last Award (Hopefully To Stay): Dr. Brenda Noach Choice School. This was one of a handful of voucher schools that was a model of what's wrong with oversight of Milwaukee's nationally important program to pay for children in private schools. The school was "an abomination," as one strongly pro-voucher leader told me recently. But for years, it fended off attempts to cut off its funding. Finally, this year, after receiving $7,299,749 in public money over a dozen years, the Brenda Noach school ran out of options -- it couldn't find anyone to accredit it. But that doesn't mean the school leaders aren't shopping for accreditation to re-open for next year.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at January 1, 2014 12:43 AM
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