Jeffco School Board Race: Non-partisan

Machine Politics in Arvada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, September 26, 2011

Contact:
Dave Chandler
dave@mayordave.us
303-424-9897

Chandler: Machine Politics in Arvada

Conflict of interest and the appearance of bias have tainted a candidate forum in Arvada says mayoral contender Dave Chandler.

"The city government's TV station has asked the Arvada Chamber of Commerce to organize a candidate forum on October 6, but this Chamber is clearly compromised and biased and should not be involved in this kind of event," Chandler said. "The movers and shakers of a powerful faction of the Arvada Chamber leadership have contributed thousands of dollars to my main opponent. There is big money involved and Chamber staff cannot be expected to act in ignorance of this reality."

Chandler said that the sponsorship by Arvada city government's KATV channel 8 is acceptable if the host for such a forum is impartial, fair, open, and unbiased. "Did the city government do any checking to find out if this private group had a bias before they invited them to organize this forum?"

"There is an odor of machine-type politics arising from this government-private organization partnership. Is this the "business as usual" kind of politics that good citizens of our community should tolerate?"

Chandler pointed out that Chamber board member Ted Terranova and family/business have contributed $1,750 to mayoral candidate Marc Williams; Chamber board member Franke Barone and relatives have contributed $2,250 to Marc Williams (Barone is also Williams's campaign manager); a member of Williams's law firm is a board member of the Chamber and that law firm has contributed the maximum $750 to Williams; and chair-elect of the Chamber board, Brett Haigler has given Williams $150.

"I am running for mayor of Arvada in large measure because I want to give voters the choice whether or not to kick out of office the special interests, big money, and insiders taking care of themselves and their cronies that we are sick and tired of in this country."

http://www.MayorDave.us
http://www.MayorDaveBlog.us

Teachers vote for reducing their union fees in times of economic hardship

Here's a quote from the JCEA May newletter:

"Delegates voted on and approved several resolutions including one that gives the CEA [Colorado Education Association] board the ability to lower dues in times of economic crisis..."

I find this so hypocritical. These are the same people who will be out in droves over the coming weeks to support a tax hike on the rest of us (Proposition 103).

Jeffco Teachers Union resorts to scare tactics to manipulate BOE race

The following is taken directly from the JCEA newsletter. The last paragraph is the threat. I am publicly requesting the JCEA to cite their sources for "indications" as I'm sure residents of Jeffco would be interested in knowing this information as well as which candidates are the "extremists".  I find it interesting that they don't mention candidate names at all, so we must assume that the entire union has already been told who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Or are we to assume that in a non-partisan election, we actually should pay attention to party affiliation? No!

I'm going to attend the CCU debate on Sept 26 [VIEW DETAILS] and make up my own mind. Hmmm that would be so evolutionary, avant-garde and downright progressive!

September 7, 2011 – Issue #2

 

NEA Member Benefits: Money in your pocket, voice in your profession

 

At JCEA we strive to recruit, maintain, and engage membership by creating a real culture of member ownership in the Association. We believe that the true strength of our membership is not only in our numbers, but in the passion that each member brings to the teaching profession and our collective goal of getting real results for children.

We also understand that times are tough right now. Teachers are dealing with a 3% pay cut and an overall weakened economy. So, we thought it was important to remind members of the economic benefits of belonging. “I was amazed at the savings I was able to get by using my member benefits through NEA. Just by switching my car and homeowners insurance to California Casualty I saved $900 a year – much more than my annual membership dues” said Chrisette Soderberg member and teacher at Ute Meadows Elementary.

In addition to the great deals that California Casualty and Horace Mann offer to our members, NEA Member Benefits also includes travel discounts on airfare and rental cars, an auto purchase program and free life insurance. NEA’s Click-n-Save program provides discounts at retailers, local restaurants, online stores, electronics, clothing, household items, movie tickets and more. Visit NEA Member Benefits at www.neamb.com to learn about the full range of benefits and discount programs available to our members.

We know that in order to achieve real results for children we must ensure that every student is taught by a quality teacher. A 21^st Century education is necessary so that students can compete in the global economy. All stakeholders including teachers, parents, administrators, students, community members and elected officials are accountable to quality public schools. Our current economic reality makes this all the more difficult—for the District, and for you as an individual educator.

However because these tough conditions exist, we need to keep together for the good of our students, our profession, and ourselves. Because we are working harder in our classrooms, we also have to work harder outside our classrooms for more resources and better school funding.

Through strong membership and collective action we can restore sanity to the Jeffco school board. If the extremists successfully take over the school board, all indications are that they intend to gut your contract, implement Douglas County style vouchers, and take away your ability to advocate for quality teaching and learning conditions. Join together with other JCEA members by volunteering at least four hours over the next few months. Send your name, phone number, building and home email address to Callie Orgeron at corgeron@coloradoea.org  to get more detailed information.

Peer Pressure and the Jeffco School Board

Peer pressure: Pressure from one's peers to behave in a manner similar or acceptable to them

We all agree that peer pressure is usually a bad thing right? I mean we teach our kids to think for themselves and not just go along with the crowd because it’s easy. We’re disappointed when they succumb, proud when they resist and stand by their principles. 

So why doesn’t that apply when we become adults? Why is it that some people are so intolerant of any opinion that isn’t in lockstep with their own?¹ Why is it that the school board and educational establishment in Jefferson County fall into that category?

Is there really no room for public debate? Is it reasonable to send them millions of dollars to teach our children and not ask for a say in how it’s done or accountability from our educators?² I don’t want insanity in the process any more than they do. (Yes, I’m referring to the questionable behavior of Laura Boggs.) However, I think the insanity stems from the sheer magnitude of the task at hand: namely to slow down the entrenched bureaucracy long enough to get a handle on what’s really going on and shed some light for the rest of us to see.

The Jeffco school district is in financial straits and it’s going to take more than a team of best buddy educators who think exactly alike to fix it. Many schools’ test scores are horrible and the voters need to fire the person in charge of the math program, not give her a promotion.³ The Jeffco school board has to make some tough choices that the entrenched aren’t likely to make.⁴ Pay attention to your vote this October and ask yourself, “Is it maybe time for some outsiders with a fresh perspective or do I want to elect more cheerleaders to the squad who just smile and yell "Yea Team!"?”

Sources:

1.a) School Board Candidate Dahlkemper quits when her boss disagrees with her: http://www.westword.com/1998-10-08/news/off-limits/

… former [Colorado Public Radio] reporter Lesley Dahlkemper resigned after [her boss] Griffin balked at her plan to report statehouse news while simultaneously being married to …[state] legislator… Mike Feeley.

2. Superintendent Stevenson tires of questions from Jeffco residents: http://trsbaudit.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/notes-from-the-arvada-school-budget-forum/

Dr. Stevenson showed impatience with the question and stated she does not favor open negotiations [between the board and the union] … She closed the discussion saying it was time we “quit worrying about the adults and focus instead on the children”. 

3. Fellman was in charge of the failing math program for years:

http://jillfellman.com/fellman-announces-candidacy-for-jeffco-school-board/

Fellman has an extensive background in Jefferson County Schools, ... She was a Director for Learning and Educational Achievement for Jeffco Public Schools, with responsibilities in the areas of math, electives, middle school and staff development.

4.  Leslie Dahlkemper admits the education arena is her “client base” <http://www.coloradopresswomen.org/dream.shtml>

Lesley Dahlkemper's journalism background led to an interview and subsequent marriage proposal from a leading Colorado politician. After relocating to Denver, she got involved on a several educational commissions. "I didn't know it at the time, but I was building my client base," she said.