Posted: Thu, Aug. 23, 2012 , 3:01 AM
Joe
Watkins: Concerns over school choice advocate taking charge of Chester
BY WILL BUNCH Philadelphia
IT MIGHT HAVE once seemed unthinkable: Handing the keys to a
large, troubled public-school district over to a high-profile advocate for
increasing privatization, including vouchers and for-profit private schools. But activists said that last Friday's surprise
announcement that Gov. Corbett had named the Rev. Joe Watkins - an MSNBC pundit
who headed the Students First PAC, the pro-voucher group that's dumped millions
of campaign dollars on Corbett and other pols - as chief recovery officer to
run the Chester Upland schools in Delaware County marks a tipping point.
Joe
Watkins: What Will Happen to Chester Upland
Diane Ravitch’s Blog August 21, 2012
Sometimes something happens
that is so astonishing, so breathtaking, and simultaneously so disturbing that
I don’t know how to characterize it.
“Talk about putting the fox in charge of the
henhouse”
Joe Watkins: Taking the
Public out of Public Education
Yinzercation Blog — AUGUST 22, 2012
Talk about putting the fox in charge
of the henhouse. State Education Secretary Ron Tomalis just picked Joe Watkins
to be the Chief Recovery Officer (CRO) for the struggling school district in
Chester Uplands. Under new laws passed with the budget this summer, the state
can now appoint a CRO to develop a “financial recovery plan” for districts like
Chester Upland over in Eastern PA and Duquesne,
right here in the heart of Yinzer Nation.
The CRO has enormous power to close
schools and convert them to charters, to cancel contracts with vendors, and to
renegotiate teachers’ contracts. He can even force local
school boards to raise property taxes. And if school board members don’t go
along with the plan, the state actually now has the ability to prevent
individuals from resigning their posts!
UPDATE 08/21/12
"It would have been hard to come up with a nominee who is more
publicly associated with the effort to undermine public education…"
Controversial choice to
turn Chester Upland
schools around
WHYY Newsworks By Dave Davies August 20, 2012
The man chosen to fix
the Chester Upland School District
State Education
Secretary Ron Tomalis picked Joe Watkins as chief recovery officer for the
troubled school system. Watkins is a Philadelphia
State Sen. Daylin Leach,
who sits on the education committee, said Watkins is an ideologue who is
ill-suited to rebuilding a strong public school system.
"It would have been
hard to come up with a nominee who is more publicly associated with the effort
to undermine public education," said Leach, D-Montgomery.
School Choice Group's Chairman Takes Over Pa.
Recovery District
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Ronald
Tomalis has named Joe Watkins, the chairman of Students First PA, a
pro-school-choice advocacy group, as chief recovery officer of a school
district that last week was designated as in "financial recovery,"
the state education department said in an Aug. 17 statement.
As the Philadelphia Inquirer story highlights, Watkins will have
broad authority to remake the Chester Upland district in a variety of ways. He
has the power to convert traditional public schools into charters, close
schools, and demand a new teachers' contract. Perhaps not surprisingly, a
Chester Upland school board member told the Inquirer that the decision to appoint Watkins
was "shocking" because she viewed Watkins as not
"objective."
On Joe Watkins: The Chester Upland “recovery” is
not about improving public education, but rather closing schools, cutting staff
and converting to charter schools.
Commentary on the
appointment of Joe Watkins as Recovery Officer for Chester Upland School
District
Opinions expressed are
my own and do not necessarily represent any organization that I may be
affiliated with.
Betsy_DeVos’s astroturf
group, American Federation for Children has contributed over $2.5 million to
the Students First PA PAC over the past three years to fund the privatization
of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
Mr. Watkins resume does not show any experience
whatsoever with public school finance, but then why would it? The “recovery” is not about improving public
education, but rather closing schools, cutting staff and converting to charter
schools. Here
is a link to the American Federation for Children’s website announcing Mr.
Watkins appointment.
In 2011, nearly 45 percent of Chester Upland’s
students attended charter schools.
Academic performance at the charters is mixed; some of Chester Upland’s
regular public schools perform better, some perform worse. The Chester Community Charter, the state’s
largest, is managed by a company owned by Vahan
Gureghian, Governor Corbett’s largest individual campaign donor. It is also on the short list of schools being
investigated for alleged cheating on the state’s PSSA exams.
Middle-class American
students who attend well-funded public schools rank at the top of the world on
international tests. After 20 years there is
no clear evidence demonstrating that charters or vouchers are systematically
more effective than traditional public schools in improving student performance
for students in high-poverty schools.
What is clear is that charters can be extremely lucrative for owners and
management companies.
UPDATE: 08/20/12
Return on
investment: Joe Watkins, Chairman of
Students First Voucher PAC that contributed millions to PA political candidates
appointed recovery officer for Chester Upland SD
PA Department of Education Press Release: 08/17/2012
Education Secretary Names Chief Recovery Officer for Chester Upland School District
Harrisburg
Education Secretary Names Chief Recovery Officer for Chester Upland School District
Posted: Sat, Aug. 18, 2012 , 3:01 AM
Political action committee
head named to guide Chester Upland
By Dan Hardy Inquirer Staff Writer
Joe Watkins, head of a political action
committee that supports school choice initiatives, former managing director in
an asset management firm, and a Philadelphia
minister, has been appointed by state Education Secretary Ron Tomalis to guide
the financial recovery of the struggling Chester Upland
School District
School
choice advocate, GOP analyst named financial recovery officer for Chester Upland
Published: Saturday, August 18, 2012
By JOHN KOPP jkopp@delcotimes.com;
@DT_JohnKopp
Pennsylvania Secretary
of Education Ronald Tomalis appointed Joe Watkins the chief financial recovery
officer of the Chester
Upland School
District
Tomalis had placed Chester Upland in financial recovery status Tuesday, which calls for a state-appointed recovery officer to develop a recovery plan for the district.
Watkins is the pastor ofChrist Evangelical Church
in Philadelphia
Watkins also is both a registered lobbyist and the chairman for Students First, an advocacy group supporting “comprehensive school choice.” Students First donated thousands of dollars to the campaign of Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, according to published reports. Watkins said he will be resigning from his positions at Students First.
Tomalis had placed Chester Upland in financial recovery status Tuesday, which calls for a state-appointed recovery officer to develop a recovery plan for the district.
Watkins is the pastor of
Watkins also is both a registered lobbyist and the chairman for Students First, an advocacy group supporting “comprehensive school choice.” Students First donated thousands of dollars to the campaign of Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, according to published reports. Watkins said he will be resigning from his positions at Students First.
Here are prior Keystone State Education Coalition postings on the Students First PAC money trail:
January 9, 2012 FOLLOW THE MONEY: Contributions to Students First PAC - Not Exactly Grassroots $6.66 Million from just 19 donors
October 22, 2011: Students First PAC Contributions to Senate Ed Committee Members
April 22, 2011: Students First PAC Ramps up ...
January 3, 2011 - Follow The Students First PAC Voucher Money
UPDATE: 04/24/12
WIKIPEDIA: “Astroturfing is a form of advocacy in support of a political, organizational, or corporate agenda, designed to give the appearance of a "grassroots" movement. The goal of such campaigns is to disguise the efforts of a political or commercial entity as an independent public reaction to another political entity—a politician, political group, product, service or event. The term is a derivation of AstroTurf, a brand of synthetic carpeting designed to look like natural grass.”
Here’s a classic example; make sure to check out the chart in the link below……
Right-Wing, Anti-Public Education Group Funds Gay, Muslim Democrat as Stealth Candidate in PA House District
How far is the school privatization juggernaut willing to go to disguise and promote their agenda? The Betsy DeVos-led American Federation for Children, through its PA affiliate Students First and its funding recipients, is financing the campaign of Fatimah Muhammad. She is an openly gay, African American, Muslim candidate for State Representative in Pennsylvania
Campaign finance reports show that Students First and its grantees and employees have provided $62,639 dollars of Fatimah Muhammad’s total receipts of $76,030 dollars. See the chart below.
FOLLOW THE VOUCHER
MONEY:
Students First PAC
from 3/6/12 through 4/9/12
Campaign Finance
Report filed by Students First PAC
Second Friday
Pre-Primary filing covering receipts and expenditures from 3/6/12 through 4/9/12
A total of $250,000 was received during the reporting
period from Betsy Devos’ American Federation for Children 3/27/12. Contributions totaling
just over $528K were recorded during the period.
Students First PAC
Contributions
|
||
From
|
||
Recipient
|
Date
|
Amount
|
Friends
of Bill Adolph
|
$5,000.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Ryan Aument
|
$500.00
|
|
People to
Elect Matt Baker
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Bear
|
$500.00
|
|
Kerry
Benninghoff for State Representative
|
$500.00
|
|
Stephen
Bloom for the 199th Committee
|
$500.00
|
|
People to
Elect Michelle Brooks
|
$500.00
|
|
Rosemary
Brown for State rep
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Michelle Brownlee
|
$500.00
|
|
Citizens
for Paul Clymer
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Jim Cox
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Committee
to Re-Elect Angel Cruz
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Bryan Cutler
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Gordon Denlinger
|
$500.00
|
|
DePasquale
for
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Maria Donatucci
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of George Dunbar
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Joe Emrick
|
$2,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Eli Evankovich
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Garth
|
$250.00
|
|
Friends
of Frank Farry
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Matt Gabler
|
$250.00
|
|
Friends
of Jaret Gibbons
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Mark Gillen
|
$500.00
|
|
Team
Gillespie
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Gringrich
for State House
|
$250.00
|
|
Robert
Godshall for Legistature
|
$250.00
|
|
Citizens
for Grove
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Joe Hackett
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Marcia Hahn
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Julie Harhart
|
$750.00
|
|
Friends
of Kate Harper
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Gene Yaw for Senate
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Harris
for State Representative
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Committee
to Re-Elect Doyle Heffley
|
$2,000.00
|
|
Susan
Helm for Senate House
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Tim Hennessey
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Dave Hicknell
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Warren Kampf
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Rob Kauffman
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Fred Keller
|
$375.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Bill Keller
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Killions
Victory Committee
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Thaddeus Kirkland
|
$2,500.00
|
|
I'm for
Knowles Committee
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Tim Krieger
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of John Lawrence
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect John Maher
|
$500.00
|
|
Committee
to
|
$2,500.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect David M Maloney
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Ron Marsico Committee
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Kurt Masser
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Daryl Metcalfe
|
$500.00
|
|
Committee
to
|
$250.00
|
|
Friends
of Nick Miccarelli
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Nicolas Micozzie
|
$500.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Dave Millard
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Dan Moul
|
$250.00
|
|
Friends
of Gerald Mullery
|
$750.00
|
|
Friends
of Thomas Murt
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Mark Musitio
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Donna Oberlander
|
$250.00
|
|
Patriots
for Perry
|
$5,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Scott Petri
|
$250.00
|
|
Friends
of Tina Pickett
|
$250.00
|
|
People
for Jeff Pyle
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Tom Quigley
|
$1,500.00
|
|
Friends
of Marguerite Quinn
|
$500.00
|
|
Kathy
Raap for Representative
|
$500.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Brad Roae
|
$250.00
|
|
Committee
to elect Todd Rock
|
$250.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Chris Ross
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Rick Saccone
|
$4,000.00
|
|
Citizens
for Stan Saylor
|
$500.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Marion Scavello
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Justin M Simmons
|
$2,000.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Curt Sonney
|
$250.00
|
|
Friends
of Todd Stephens, Inc.
|
$2,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Dick Stevenson
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Taxpayers
for Rosemarie Swanger
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect John Taylor
|
$1,500.00
|
|
Michael
Tobash for a better 125th
|
$1,500.00
|
|
Friends
of Marcy Toepol
|
$1,250.00
|
|
Friends
of Dan Truitt
|
$2,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Dave Kralle
|
$7,500.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Ernest G Merisotis
|
$7,500.00
|
|
Smucker
for Senate
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Commonsense
4 the Commonwealth
|
$60,000.00
|
|
Citizens
for Jim Christiana
|
$25,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Andy Shaw
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Citizens
for Mackenzie
|
$2,500.00
|
|
Friends
of Kim Ward
|
$5,000.00
|
|
Friends
of John McNally
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Make a
Difference PAC
|
$30,000.00
|
|
Williams
for Senate
|
$30,000.00
|
|
Public
Education Excellence
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Grass
Roots Urban Political
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Women for
Change
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Believe
Again
|
$11,500.00
|
|
Friends
of John McGinnis
|
$10,000.00
|
|
For a
Better PA Fund PAC
|
$25,000.00
|
|
Grass
Roots Urban Political
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Public
Education Excellence
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Citizens
Networking for Progress
|
$8,000.00
|
|
Citizens
for Jordan Harris
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Black
Clergy PAC
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Progressive
Agenda PAC
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Fighting
Chance
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Make a
Difference PAC
|
$86,000.00
|
|
Economic
Development PAC
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Gary Day
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Anne2012
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Fighting
Chance
|
$10,000.00
|
|
TD Bank
|
$25.00
|
|
TD Bank
|
$25.00
|
|
Total
Amount:
|
$528,175.00
|
Students First PAC from 1/2/12 through 3/5/12
Campaign Finance Report filed by Students First PAC
6th Tuesday Pre-Primary filing
covering receipts and expenditures from 1/2/12 through 3/5/12
A total of
$1 Million was received during the reporting period from Betsy Devos’ American
Federation for Children in two payments of $500K each on 2/21/12 and 3/2/12 . Contributions totaling just over $590K were
recorded during the period.
It is
notable that Students First is supporting voucher proponent Fatimah Muhammad
who is challenging Jim Roebuck in the Democratic Primary for the 188th
District. Roebuck is a 24 year incumbent
who is House Education Committee Chairman and has been a strong opponent of
taxpayer-funded school vouchers.
Students First PAC
Contributions
|
||
From
|
||
Recipient
|
Date
|
Amount
|
Friends
of Margo Davidson
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Make a
Difference PAC
|
$50,000.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Tony Payton, Jr
|
$20,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Scott Petri
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Rich Alloway
|
$2,500.00
|
|
Friends
of Leanna
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Justin Simmons
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Committee
to Re-Elect Doyle Heffley
|
$200.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Rob Kauffman
|
$300.00
|
|
Friends
of Gene Yaw
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Anthony Pugliese
|
$5,000.00
|
|
I'm for
Knowles Committee
|
$500.00
|
|
Friends
of Jaret Gibbons
|
$250.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Brian Ellis
|
$1,000.00
|
|
Gloria
2012
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Fatimah
|
$25,000.00
|
|
Citizens
for Jordan Harris
|
$20,000.00
|
|
Friends
to Elect Vanessa Brown
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Committee
to Elect Roinald G Waters
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Rich Alloway
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Volunteers
for Argall
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Make a
Difference PAC
|
$50,000.00
|
|
Citizens
|
$350,000.00
|
|
Friends
of Todd Stevens
|
$2,500.00
|
|
$590,250.00
|
||
Can we uncover donations by Make a Difference PAC and Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania PAC?
ReplyDelete