Rhee-form Group, Students First, Looking at Local School Board Elections?

(From the blog The Iowa School Bell

The Michelle Rhee education deform group, Students First has been in Iowa for a couple years now. They have attempted to influence state policy by pumping $300,000+ into state legislative elections,supporting mostly right-wing candidates. They were also very active but not that effective at lobbying for disproven  extreme “reforms”, like tying student test scores to teacher evaluations and expanding charter schools, during the last legislative session.

Over the summer, Students First Iowa decided to take a new tack by appointing anew state director, Patty Link, a former Des Moines School Board member and someone with strong connections to Democrats (via her husband and Democratic consultant Jeff Link). One could assume that this move indicated Students First Iowa was going to focus on trying to find more Democrats for Education Reform types and maybe look to get involved in local school boards.

It now appears that Students First may indeed be starting to get involved in local school boards through the election process. A quick drive by the Link household and you will see school board election signs for two Des Moines school board candidates, Connie Boesen and Rob Barron. Furthermore, candidate Barron recently had a meet and greet at Beaverdale Books that was put on in part by Students First State Director Patty Link. A look at Barron’s campaign website includes an endorsement from Link.

The question needs to be asked then, that since Mrs. Link is the state director of a radical, hedge fund financed, education deform group and she is involving herself in local school board elections by actively supporting candidates is there a connection? Does Mrs. Link support these two candidates because she expects a sympathetic ear for her organization’s radical policies? Is Students First Iowa hoping to begin populating our local school boards with people who will advance their agenda? We do not know one way or another, but considering how ineffective the organization has been at the state level, there can be no doubt that attempting a local level takeover may be their next step. It merits questioning the candidates that are accepting the endorsement and support from the Students First’s state director whether they are aware of and agree with that organization’s radical, harmful agenda.

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razzpunk

  • interesting

    I’m going to ask Rob Barron whether he supports the Students First agenda.

    I haven’t studied the Des Moines school board candidates yet.

    • Make sure you post his reply!

      • will do

        Worth noting that he has been endorsed by several labor unions, including AFSCME Iowa Council 61: “Rob Barron has extensive experience with education policy through his work in Senator Harkin’s office. Our Union has worked with Rob for years and we know and trust him.”

        Education reformers like Michelle Rhee have clashed with teachers’ unions in other communities.

      • response from Rob Barron

        First, I have not received any assistance from Students First nor will I.  Second, I am proud of the support my candidacy has gathered and that my friends Patty and Jeff Link are supporters.  Patty and I have not had any discussions about Students First, nor any of the group’s positions.  While I share the organization’s goal of improving our public school system, I strongly disagree with their statement that our schools are failing our kids and the philosophy that teachers are the root of the problem.  I have spoken about the ways I believe we can better value the teaching profession- hiring additional associates, lower class sizes and better pay to start.

        This is my first campaign, and it is probably naive of me to believe that I can help bring opposing groups and interests together.  Those who know me well would testify that I am not a proxy for anyone’s beliefs.  Friends, new and old, have committed to supporting me because I am bringing a positive message to this campaign.  As a board member I’ll stay positive throughout and talk with anyone who wants to help move us forward.

  • Patty Link was named to

    a state council to study and recommend new statewide systems for evaluating teachers and school administrators.

    That’s not good news if she’s going to be pushing Michelle Rhee’s Student First snake oil.

    It was also notable that there were no academic educational measurement experts named, especially since we have a nationally recognized program at the U. of Iowa. Someone is needed to remind the council members of the technical limitations of using student test scores for teacher evaluation.

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