RE: Question 1: Who's in charge?

This proposal is anything but modest.  I agree that there should be more local control, but disagree that that it should take the form of more charter schools or putting pricipals in charge of hiring, firing, etc. of employees located at particular school sites.  School employees are employees of the various boards of education, and this is where any local control should be, with elected local boards responsible to the voters.

Moving in the direction of privatization, which this proposal clearly does, will not solve our problems.  What will is putting education policy under the direction of one elected official -- I would suggest the Superintendent of Public Instruction -- and a fully elected State Board of Education.  Implementing policy and excercising local control should be the local boards of education.