David Blaska:

The Madison school board that a dozen years ago rejected Kaleem Caire’s proposed charter school catering to under-achieving minority students is now inflicting death by a thousand paper cuts to another proposal that thinks outside the box. Because of Woke politics.

Local real estate moguls John and Jo Ellen McKenzie want to prepare students for careers in the building trades, health care, info tech, and more. These are jobs that go wanting — and pay well — for all the K-12 emphasis of pushing students to go deep in debt for college degrees that don’t pay off.

But “the involvement of Paul Vallas … may also be a drawback for some board members. “I would say, personally, I do have some concerns about Vallas,” board member Maia Pearson said Monday. — Wisconsin State Journal

 Who is this nefarious Paul Vallas? 

Mr. Vallas only ran the public schools of Chicago, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Bridgeport CT. Was the budget director for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Vallas darn near got elected mayor himself in last year but lost a runoff to teachers union toady Brandon Johnson. And therein lies your dagger! Vallas is a critic of teachers unions. Which is why the McKenzies are seeking a charter, which would allow it to bypass teachers union/school board tentacles.

“The biggest obstacle to improving city schools is the Chicago teachers union,” Vallas wrote for the Illinois Policy organization.

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Much more on Paul Vallas.

The taxpayer funded Madison School Board aborted the proposed Madison Preparatory Academy IB charter school in 2011…

Madison’s well funded k-12 system and city government are seeking substantial 607M+ tax and spending increases via referendum this fall.

Madison taxpayers of long supported far above average K – 12 spending.

The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”

My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results

2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results 

Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.

“An emphasis on adult employment”

Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]

WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators

Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results

Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.

When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?