As my final observation from the fair....Nearly everyone I talked to asked me a question that started, "What are you going to do about.....?" And there were some very tough questions I might add!
It was almost eerie that the "who you know" question nagged me every time I got asked a "what" question. My opponent doesn't have to ever answer these questions or a million others because he is running from the "who"perspective. Who he knows and who knows him...
I am absolutely certain that my answers to these questions will help me in the end. The question remains will voters get past the "who" and take a look at the "what" by November. If they do I win!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
More State Fair
After seeing literally thousands of families come through here this week I do hope that the adults are paying close attention to this election.....Education of all children will be affected by this election.
My fear is that they are not.
My fear is that they are not.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
State Fair Lesson One
From the conversations I am having I am learning that I have two opponents. One is the name...That is the "good guy" that "we" met years ago at the church supper who must still be doing a good job because he is still in office.
My other opponent is the person....who has been there for 24 years and is not satisfying many people in terms of performance. This is the person who many feel should be retired.
The person disappears when the name is the only part of the conversation.
My responsibility is to connect the person with the name.
My other opponent is the person....who has been there for 24 years and is not satisfying many people in terms of performance. This is the person who many feel should be retired.
The person disappears when the name is the only part of the conversation.
My responsibility is to connect the person with the name.
State Fair Musings
If you are in the mood to buy stocks buy them in the company called "graco" they make baby strollers and everyone has one! Also, there is a back pack in the shape of a bear or a monkey that is on every toddler here at the fair.....!
Monday, July 21, 2008
State Fair...Again
I have had another interesting day at the fair. I have been asked about home schooling, federal funding, closing schools, and keeping schools open. You can't hide at an event like this.
Every candidate should have to stand for this kind of scrutiny every election. Just being in a booth and available to anyone who wants to engage is quite an experience.
I don't have the the luxury of "expecting" folks to vote for me. And you know what... I like this way better. I have to be prepared for anything while I am in front of the public all day. This is the purest form of retail politics. I understand why town meetings help the public and candidates hone in on the issues.
Now if everyone here would vote...........for the "right" guy.
Every candidate should have to stand for this kind of scrutiny every election. Just being in a booth and available to anyone who wants to engage is quite an experience.
I don't have the the luxury of "expecting" folks to vote for me. And you know what... I like this way better. I have to be prepared for anything while I am in front of the public all day. This is the purest form of retail politics. I understand why town meetings help the public and candidates hone in on the issues.
Now if everyone here would vote...........for the "right" guy.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
State Fair
I have now been in 10 parades and am spending the week at the state fair. We are the only statewide candidate with our own booth. Everyone else is affiliated with a party booth.
The parade was long and fun! I have to get dog treats though.
We are in Commercial building 2 and surrounded by booth operators who do this for a living. What a grueling job the state fair circuit would be!
It has been rewarding to talk to many folks from all over the state about education. I have been asked every question that could ever be thought of to ask a candidate. Some are easy and some are very difficult. Not because of the question but because they are often complicated issues and I don't have the time in this setting to answer everything.
On we go and then back on the parade circuit next weekend...
The parade was long and fun! I have to get dog treats though.
We are in Commercial building 2 and surrounded by booth operators who do this for a living. What a grueling job the state fair circuit would be!
It has been rewarding to talk to many folks from all over the state about education. I have been asked every question that could ever be thought of to ask a candidate. Some are easy and some are very difficult. Not because of the question but because they are often complicated issues and I don't have the time in this setting to answer everything.
On we go and then back on the parade circuit next weekend...
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
DPI Restructure Addendum
I do believe that the DPI has been systematically dismantled by the legislature and others over the last 10 years. I do not believe it has been entirely a one party process.
The loss of the deputy position is only a metaphor for other issues.
The lawsuit and the ensuing committees formed by the Governor demonstrate further that the DPI is no longer a player in the formulation of education policy.
The bill to eliminate the licensure requirement for the office of State Superintendent, while ludicrous, is another example.
We can place the blame for these actions on a lot of things but I believe that my opponent owns much of this himself.
This "crisis of confidence" will continue over the next 4 years unless something changes.
The loss of the deputy position is only a metaphor for other issues.
The lawsuit and the ensuing committees formed by the Governor demonstrate further that the DPI is no longer a player in the formulation of education policy.
The bill to eliminate the licensure requirement for the office of State Superintendent, while ludicrous, is another example.
We can place the blame for these actions on a lot of things but I believe that my opponent owns much of this himself.
This "crisis of confidence" will continue over the next 4 years unless something changes.
DPI Restructure Press Release
For immediate release: Detail on Restructuring the Department of Public Instruction
We have a unique opportunity to turn this organization into a positive, proactive agency of state government since it appears most of the DPI leadership team is leaving within the next year.
“When it comes to what is best for students we all need to work to say yes as often as we can.” “We must systematically rebuild what has been dismantled.”
Ask the legislature to support the reinstatement of the position of deputy superintendent. The focus would be on problem identification, and coalition building.
Create a unit within the department to react immediately to any statutes that are approved related to education “adequacy” by the legislature.
Create a new format to address further regionalization (where appropriate) of the education system without impacting any existing districts. We may have too many regional structures already. We must as a state continue to focus on every student by assisting schools at the margins of the education continuum.
Ask that the Center for Distance Education (CDE) and the Educational Telecommunications Council once again have a relationship with the DPI. They were placed under the Information Technology Department by the legislature previously.
Add a Public Information Office to the department. Communicate with the public and the education community using current technology including web 2.0 tools such as wikis, blogs, and podcasts.
Refocus on the concept of “What can we do for you?”
Redo accreditation documents to reflect today’s need for flexibility
De-emphasize accreditation visits and emphasize “how do we know when children are successful?”
Create a collaborative structure between and among divisions of the DPI.
Complete the data warehousing process so that information can be valid and reliable.
Make the DPI web site as comprehensive as those of the schools in North Dakota.
“Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results will never result in change.”
We have a unique opportunity to turn this organization into a positive, proactive agency of state government since it appears most of the DPI leadership team is leaving within the next year.
“When it comes to what is best for students we all need to work to say yes as often as we can.” “We must systematically rebuild what has been dismantled.”
Ask the legislature to support the reinstatement of the position of deputy superintendent. The focus would be on problem identification, and coalition building.
Create a unit within the department to react immediately to any statutes that are approved related to education “adequacy” by the legislature.
Create a new format to address further regionalization (where appropriate) of the education system without impacting any existing districts. We may have too many regional structures already. We must as a state continue to focus on every student by assisting schools at the margins of the education continuum.
Ask that the Center for Distance Education (CDE) and the Educational Telecommunications Council once again have a relationship with the DPI. They were placed under the Information Technology Department by the legislature previously.
Add a Public Information Office to the department. Communicate with the public and the education community using current technology including web 2.0 tools such as wikis, blogs, and podcasts.
Refocus on the concept of “What can we do for you?”
Redo accreditation documents to reflect today’s need for flexibility
De-emphasize accreditation visits and emphasize “how do we know when children are successful?”
Create a collaborative structure between and among divisions of the DPI.
Complete the data warehousing process so that information can be valid and reliable.
Make the DPI web site as comprehensive as those of the schools in North Dakota.
“Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results will never result in change.”
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Devil's Lake Moves AYP Scores
According to the paper today, the Devil's Lake schools have made up a great deal of distance in their AYP scores on state tests. They should be congratulated on making that happen.
The problem is that that we have an entire state system that was impacted by the recent results. Someone at the state level owns the responsibility for insuring that all schools were aware of the changes in the AYP requirements. Also, they had the responsibility to insure that every school had a plan in place to make the same thing happen that happened in Devil's Lake.
The problem is that that we have an entire state system that was impacted by the recent results. Someone at the state level owns the responsibility for insuring that all schools were aware of the changes in the AYP requirements. Also, they had the responsibility to insure that every school had a plan in place to make the same thing happen that happened in Devil's Lake.
Hoeven's new/old idea
Last week Governor Hoeven rolled out an explanation of his plan for the $300 million he has proposed for schools. The primary issue was the $200 million in property tax relief for tax payers.
He is revisiting the proposal that he laid out before last session. Straight property tax relief applied through school districts. He wants to dump the income tax credit approach that has been the practice for the last two years.
The legislators in the last session refused to give property tax relief to out of state real estate owners. Thus, we have the income tax credit approach instead of the school district approach.
Apparently, there are still legislators who don't like the Governor's idea and it appears that it will be a fight next winter.
My position is still the same as it has been. We must have clear education related property tax relief. People must be able to see, feel and touch that issue. Otherwise they will not accept it as real.
I agree with the Governor's approach. But...I want the $200 million to go to the school foundation program. I want to shift the income tax credit to the Gov's plan and add another $100 million to that program.
He is revisiting the proposal that he laid out before last session. Straight property tax relief applied through school districts. He wants to dump the income tax credit approach that has been the practice for the last two years.
The legislators in the last session refused to give property tax relief to out of state real estate owners. Thus, we have the income tax credit approach instead of the school district approach.
Apparently, there are still legislators who don't like the Governor's idea and it appears that it will be a fight next winter.
My position is still the same as it has been. We must have clear education related property tax relief. People must be able to see, feel and touch that issue. Otherwise they will not accept it as real.
I agree with the Governor's approach. But...I want the $200 million to go to the school foundation program. I want to shift the income tax credit to the Gov's plan and add another $100 million to that program.
Example of Why I'm Running
In the Friday Herald a small sidebar note reflected why I am running for this office.
The DPI applied to the Federal Government for relaxation of some of the issues related to AYP scoring on state tests. Our application was rejected.
According to the paper "Sandstead said the rejection largely was a result of federal officials not understanding North Dakota's rural nature."
That is completely unacceptable! There is no way that the federal officials should ever get away with that excuse. Nor should our state's education leader be allowed to use that excuse. If we don't get the permission it has to be related to the request or anything other than "they didn't understand."
Never should it ever happen that someone on the other end of a request doesn't understand us or our issues.
The DPI applied to the Federal Government for relaxation of some of the issues related to AYP scoring on state tests. Our application was rejected.
According to the paper "Sandstead said the rejection largely was a result of federal officials not understanding North Dakota's rural nature."
That is completely unacceptable! There is no way that the federal officials should ever get away with that excuse. Nor should our state's education leader be allowed to use that excuse. If we don't get the permission it has to be related to the request or anything other than "they didn't understand."
Never should it ever happen that someone on the other end of a request doesn't understand us or our issues.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Changes at DPI
While it probably won't make a huge difference in the election cycle, I find it curious that there seems to be a lot of changes going on at the DPI.
D. Massy and G. Gronberg have announced their retirement dates for down the road from now.
Another 6 folks have resigned in the last month. And now I received word that the Deckers are leaving the department.
I have to assume that folks move in state government agencies all the time but this does seem to be a sea change.
D. Massy and G. Gronberg have announced their retirement dates for down the road from now.
Another 6 folks have resigned in the last month. And now I received word that the Deckers are leaving the department.
I have to assume that folks move in state government agencies all the time but this does seem to be a sea change.
NECC National Educational Computing Conference
I just got back from a quick but significant learning experience at the National Computing Conference. It has the largest number of exhibits of all conferences of this type in the world.
It appears that today's schools are adding "white boards" to the mix of technologies. White boards are a combination of the old chalk board concept mixed with a new computer monitor technology. They are very usable and have come a long way in the approximately 10 years they have been around. Schools have embraced them.
I also found there to be a fascinating and growing interest in new Web 2.0 tools. These include many advanced networking/collaboration items. Google has several new items (google docs, create a page, and google spreadsheet. Once posted, these are items that one can invite others to edit for the purpose refinement. There are many new uses for blogs, Wikis (yes, I said wikis) and podcasting. This is an educational response to the "myspace" &"you tube" phenomenon.
These may become important in the future of education. Stay tuned!
It appears that today's schools are adding "white boards" to the mix of technologies. White boards are a combination of the old chalk board concept mixed with a new computer monitor technology. They are very usable and have come a long way in the approximately 10 years they have been around. Schools have embraced them.
I also found there to be a fascinating and growing interest in new Web 2.0 tools. These include many advanced networking/collaboration items. Google has several new items (google docs, create a page, and google spreadsheet. Once posted, these are items that one can invite others to edit for the purpose refinement. There are many new uses for blogs, Wikis (yes, I said wikis) and podcasting. This is an educational response to the "myspace" &"you tube" phenomenon.
These may become important in the future of education. Stay tuned!
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