Sunday, September 27, 2009

Introducing "The Broad Report"

I’m NOT the only one who is extremely bothered by what Eli Broad has been up to over the last several years. Since I started this blog in February 2008, I’ve been contacted by other people via private emails and blog comments. As it turns out, there are many other public school parents, public school teachers, and a variety of people all across the U.S. who are greatly disturbed by things that are happening to the public school systems where they live, courtesy of Eli Broad's "philanthropy." We certainly don’t feel like our communities, or our kids, are benefiting from his largess.

Because the dissatisfaction is definitely out there, I thought it was time to create a place where people could come together and share what they know. The result is a website I put together over this past weekend called The Broad Report. Eventually, I plan to add more information about the Broad Residency, recipients of Broad Foundation grants, details about the individuals and all their connections, and other lovely tidbits. Grassroots contributions are most welcome. I'm most interested in accurate, verifiable information, so please include links when you can. I do realize that sometimes the reports may only be anecdotal.

Eli Broad is a wealthy and well-connected individual who has acquired an incredible amount of influence over a very important public sphere. He is also an unelected person who plies his trade in back rooms, or at by-invitation-only affairs. He never presents himself at truly public forums, thus conveniently protecting himself from any public response which would be negative. Those of us in the trenches are left to our imaginations to come up with strategies to counter what he's doing.

I started researching Broad and his effects a few years ago after my daughter's principal started complaining about the "Broad-people" who had taken over "downtown" (also known as the school district's central office). I had never heard the word "Broad" before, other than when it was used to refer to the home building company Kaufman and Broad. This particular principal was an excellent one and very highly regarded. She was a school budget expert who was extremely creative with finding ways to bring good things to her students. Close to retirement, she soon just decided to bag it rather than try to fight with the "downtown" mess being caused by the Broad-takeover.

At that time, Oakland was being subjected to the first of three successive Broad-trained state administrators who assigned a host of Broad Residents to important positions in the OUSD administration. These people drastically altered our district during the six years they were here. The breakdown was what the principal had been witnessing.

During the Broad-trained state administrators’ reign, which was very likely facilitated by Broad and other pro-charter heavies who had made huge contributions to the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction campaign of Jack O’Connell, charter schools were opened, traditional public schools were neglected and/or closed, the community voice was blocked, etc. The damage to the integrity of our already less-than-strong community, as well as to our district's institutional memory, may never be regained. Of course, this was exactly what they were after, as their personal storyteller, Joe Williams (now executive director of Democrats for Education Reform), reports here.

The more you look into it, the more you become aware that this is a very cozy group. Randolph Ward was State Administrator #1 who worked the first three of the six years. Because of the harsh way he handled things when he arrived, threats were made against him by some of the more aggressive frustrated members of this city, so he ended up hiring a full-time bodyguard for the rest of the time he worked here. Ward left in 2006 and is now the San Diego County Superintendent of Schools.

Last summer OUSD regained local control, but a few of the Broadies are still lurking around.

About 20 years ago, I had my aptitudes tested to find out who I was, and to find out what I should do when I grew up. I was told that I’d be good at things like historical research, investigative writing, corporate training, and several other things. At the time, this advice went in one ear, and out the other.

In those days I had an eighteen-month old and was working part-time as a critical care nurse. I had never written much of anything in my life, and viewed myself as a frustrated artist and sleep-deprived mother. I suppose sometimes one just can’t help but to gravitate to the types of things they do best.

By the way, "Broad" rhymes with "load," "road," and also "toad."

P.S. (added 3/17/2011): I've written to the Foundation a couple of times in an attempt to engage them, but they've never responded. They do check on The Broad Report blog from time to time, however.


12 comments:

andrew said...

Evil Eli came by his fortune running a homebuilding company KB Homes and an AIG-related insurance concern. It was heartening to see KB stock take a huge hit in the market last week and that is going to continue. The oligarches are weakening right now and it is the reason why so many of their efforts have been turned over to the US government and the Obama/Duncan Education Department. We are well along to the formation of the corporate state described by Benito Mussolini. The activists now courageously defending the public schools must ultimately become part of a broad (no pun intended) movement to combat fascism.

Paul A. Moore
Miami, FL

The Perimeter Primate said...

I got their attention:

Hit #24 Direct Hit September 28, 2009 10:44 AM IP: 65.214.152.90 (mail.broadfoundation.org) Windows XP Los Angeles, CA, United States Internet Explorer 7.0

Hit #25 Direct Hit September 28, 2009 10:42 AM IP: 65.214.152.90 (mail.broadfoundation.org) Windows XP Los Angeles, CA, United States Internet Explorer 7.0

Hit #31 Direct Hit September 28, 2009 10:28 AM IP: 65.214.152.90 (mail.broadfoundation.org) Windows XP Los Angeles, CA, United States Internet Explorer 7.0

Hit #32 Direct Hit September 28, 2009 10:24 AM IP: 65.214.152.90 (mail.broadfoundation.org) Windows XP Los Angeles, CA, United States Internet Explorer 7.0

Hit #33 Direct Hit September 28, 2009 10:23 AM IP: 65.214.152.90 (mail.broadfoundation.org) Windows XP Los Angeles, CA, United States Firefox 3.5.3

Anonymous said...

Many parents in the Seattle public Schools are also very concerned about the Broad influence in its district. The superinendent is Broad trained and currently sits on the board.

http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/search/label/Broad%20Foundation

caroline said...

Great project! But I get the credit for "rhymes with toad," which is now practically part of Eli B.'s last name and shows up all over the Internet. I think there's a poem in there somewhere -- I can see the words "odd" and "fraud" -- maybe even God -- just waiting to be deployed.

ed notes online said...

Keep em coming Sharon.
Maybe a song Caroline.
"Hit the Road Broad
Don't you come back no more, no more."

Anonymous said...

More info on Broad can be found at:

http://seattle-ed.blogspot.com/

nikto said...

Clearly, bigtime developers like Broad see a huge slump ahead for their line of business (paving paradise, etc).

The only solution their money-grubbing foresight leads them to is the inevitable one of FEEDING OFF THE TAXPAYERS via SOCIALISM FOR THE RICH.

The "LA Live" project beat Broad to the punch, so he is now lagging behind the leading-edge developers of downtown LA.

His own project is failing, and had to be partly bought out by interests in Dubai (the world epicenter of Democracy, no doubt).

Broad can't continue to make the BIG MONEY anymore in this economy, unless he leeches off the US taxpayer$$$ instead of doing honest business.

The man is a thief, but a
brilliant one.

One can only wonder at what might have been possible if such a bright, focused man had used his talents for something other than enriching himself or building a great image to feed his ego.

His image...
("Philanthropist", etc-----A Philanthropist who LENDS money instead of giving it!------Andrew Carnegie would be made nauseous by Broad's brand of "Philanthropy", New-Millenium style).

He might have done the country some good, but like so many gifted money-makers, it is ALL about him, ALL the time. Always. And REAL altruism (with no embedded self-interest), cannot be found in the vicinity of Mr. Broad.

A garden-variety kindergarten teacher has far more integrity,
humanity and generosity-of-spirit than Broad has shown in this life.

God save us from billionaires!!!!

nikto said...

CHICAGO SCHOOL "REFORMERS" HELPED BRING ABOUT THE BEATING DEATH OF DERRION ALBERT:

But Corporate School "Reformer" Accomplices in Murder will get off because they are mostly rich white people...

http://trueslant.com/pattihartigan/2009/10/02/teachers-talk-reform-and-student-murder-in-chicago/

nikto said...

BEYOND BELIEF:

Read this stinging criticism and suspicion-cultivating article about grading in Public Schools.

The shocking conclusion and all-round "Better Result" for educational results?

"FORCE THEM TO DO THE WORK"


http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/grades/spotlight-how-unfair-are-grade.html

nikto said...

"FORCE THEM TO DO THE WORK" is the most ridiculous statement I have yet seen from anyone on the "reform" side.

And what do I do with the sometimes more than 50% of a class who REFUSES to do the work required
to pass?

And this is in spite of home calls, office referrals, constant encouragement, threats about failing the class, rewards of candy, class parties, and ofcourse that Teacher's Old Standby Favorite----Lots & lots of BEGGING!!

So what will the reformers do to "force the kids to do the work"?

BEAT THE KIDS?

Use a CATTLE-PROD?

DENY (the uncooperative kids) FOOD & WATER?

LOCK THEM IN A "WORK CELL" UNTIL THEY FINISH THEIR HW?

FINE THEIR PARENTS?
ARREST THEIR PARENTS?

PUT THEM IN FOSTER HOMES?

Enquiring minds would like to ask the "Reformers":

Just how do you make Education of mass-numbers of kids into a uniform, "haircut-like" process?

I'm waiting for their answer.

Like I'll ever get one.

lol

Anonymous said...

Here is an article about another Broad graduate that might be of interest:

"The Curious Case of John Q. Porter"
http://norbeck.org/MCCF/?p=78

broaded-out in pittsburgh said...

PITTSBURGH, PITTSBURGH, PITTSBURGH BROADIE MARK"NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY" ROOSEVELT, LEAVES IN DECEMBER 2010. PITTSBURGH SCHOOL BOARD, WITHOUT DOING SEARCH APPOINTS DEPUTY, ALSO BROADIE. IN LAST SIX MONTHS DISTRICT HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS FACING 60-80 MILLION DEFICIT, 50% OF CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF TO BE LAID OFF, MORE SCHOOLS TO CLOSE, DRAMATIC CUTS IN TEACHERS AND INCREASE IN CLASS SIZE! all this after spending 100 million in untested intiatives. THANKS ELI, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE WITHOUT YOU!