Re: Question 1 - Funding Model

There are too many people getting rich off our present procurement system to think that we can fundementally change the way we spend money in education.

In the military, every dollar spent theoretically makes the job of the private soldier easier to accomplish his or her task.  So it must be in education.

Every dollar spent must be dedicated to helping the students learn more.  

In Los Angeles last year, Marlene Cantor was elected to the school board.  Her campaign was funded largely by the proceeds of her business, Cantor & Associates, an educational resource company.  Cantor & Associates has made hundreds of millions of dollars from school districts nation-wide.  You cannot tell me that Ms. Cantor does'nt have a conflict of interest in seeing this system perpetuated.

Textbook companies are charging up to $100 for a text-book, then releasing a new edition a couple of years later to quash the resale market of used textbooks.

Contractors routinely underbid the cost of structures then citing cost-overruns bill districts excessive fees.  Look at the horrible example of The Belmont Learning Center in Los Angeles.  Cost, $250 million expected before it ever opens it's doors.

None of these dollars even remotely go to the central theme stated above.  Every dollar should go to help the student learn more.

Until we move to a system that rewards only results from educational companies, purchase durable textbooks at a reasonable cost, and hold contractors responsible for the contracts they sign, nothing will change.  Money will be wasted and results will continue to lag.

Please, Please, Please, look at changing the whole equation.  Rewriting the master plan is the one forum that might be able to accomplish this lofty goal.  Sadly, most of the discussion in these forums has been directed at tweaking the current plan, a plan that most here seem to think is not working.

People, if it isn't working, don't keep trying to tweak it.  Think outside the box.  Be open to radical change.  Don't think any idea is too silly to be raised here.

Here's to getting it right.

Brent Smiley