[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: 2008 in Review

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
2008 in Review
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1230357663.shtml


   Now is the time when many of us bloggers like to review our favorite
   or most covered events of the past year. I could do the same, speaking
   of things like the caucuses, the veto override, the late spring, my
   favorite movie (Mamma Mia), joining True North, and of course, the
   2008 elections.
   This past year has had one clear theme for me - the Robbinsdale Area
   Schools, District 281. This actually started a few weeks earlier,
   after the 2007 Referendum went down by several percentage points. This
   launched a spate of local protest when at least four schools were
   being considered for closing as a result, most likely Northport
   Elementary, the school my daughter attended years ago.
   So I started attending Board meetings and got caught up in studying
   this strange world unto itself called public education. I couldn't
   miss an episode and later participated in some efforts like the 2008
   Strategic Plan. Said involvement was in earnest, my genuine attempt to
   help the district by providing what the District seems to so obviously
   lack - contact with the outside world.
   In learning more about the processes in general and the people in
   particular, I've had to change some of my perspectives on the problem.
   I think that's been evident in my postings. Chief among these is that
   local Boards, even Superintendents, have fewer options than I
   originally thought. They are heavily regulated by the State and must
   comply as they provide most of the money. Federal money has all those
   strings attached you've heard about and more. The teachers' union is
   easily the most political powerful and successful special interest
   group in Minnesota, able to thwart or mollify even the most promising
   of reforms.
   I see my focus on the public schools continuing in 2009, starting with
   the Legislature. The 2009 session could be the most target-rich
   blogging environment to date, maybe even the most fun in terms of
   liberal vs liberal.