The New York Times today posted an in-depth article about Baltimore County Public Schools’ relationship with tech companies, and in particular focused on former Superintendent Dallas Dance. The article shows what appears to be a “pay-to-play” system in which junkets and other benefits were bestowed upon school officials in return for lucrative contracts.
The Times’ story comes on the heels of The Baltimore Sun’s recent investigation into Dance’s extensive travel schedule and reports that prosecutors are investigating his relationship with companies that did business with BCPS.
Dance unexpectedly resigned in April after signing on for another four-year term as superintendent.
The New York Times article is here.
For-profit tech company features Rodgers Forge Elementary students, staff in promotional video
Op-ed: Students not benefitting from Dallas Dance’s costly travels
Accusations of hate, lies and retaliation on BCPS school board
Ethics panel finds Dallas Dance did not make proper financial disclosures
It is on the front page! Really fantastic article. Also, I appreciate that the flyer has been willing to publish on related issues all along.
And this earlier investigation of the former superintendent’s travel, posted by the Flyer: http://bit.ly/2h6TSVE
This is not an issue of the past, either. These multi-million dollar edtech contracts are still in place, and are being supported and advocated by current interim superintendent Verletta White. DreamBox ($3.2 million); iReady/Curriculum Associates ($3.2 million); Discovery Education ($10 million); Middlebury Interactive Languages (MIL) ($7 million) and millions more, mostly for software.
There’s also widespread travel costs for a handful of administrators: at least $400,000 confirmed by BCPS for “travel, conferences, professional dues” and related—for 2017-18 alone.
Just one year. And likely much higher.
More info here: http://bit.ly/2yy5KuR
Questions remain. We can all ask them. Taxpayer monies spent on the experimental laptop-per-student digital initiative known as STAT are being siphoned off “all areas of operation” at BCPS, according to school documents. Where is the balance?