Letters: Communications essential

A recent Advocate editorial discussed the appropriateness of the Louisiana Department of Education’s hiring of a public relations person, who will be dedicated to ensuring that the newly enacted public education reforms are properly communicated across the state (“PR additions odd priority,” Sept. 25). The conclusions drawn seem both inappropriate and out of context.

During this time of sweeping education reform in Louisiana, it is crucial that the changes and new priorities be communicated to educators, parents and students efficiently and effectively. The Baton Rouge Area Chamber and other business organizations strongly supported these reforms during the most-recent legislative session but understood that there would be a steep learning curve for educators, parents and the public to understand the many facets of the new laws.

As a business leader and chairman of BRAC’s education council, I appreciate the fact that these reforms are complex, yet they must be put into place swiftly. As such, we believe that clear communication is crucial and having the proper staff in place to handle this is vitally important. The state of Louisiana has the opportunity to set the tone for education reform across America. We must work together to ensure these changes are implemented as intended for the betterment of our education system and our children’s future.

Danny Montelaro, chairman

BRAC Education Council

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by twinkie1cat - 02/10/2012

Chucky, I am proud of you. You are usually such a conservative. You were the only writer to mention that John White's spin doctor will get that $12,000 per month for working for him PART TIME even though White calls it a full time job. How in the world can anyone do two full time jobs in separate states and be accountable? Is this woman his girlfriend or something? Sounds a lot like Jindal's also paying his guy for two positions. So this is where the raises for the schools and medical care is going, spin doctors for the executive branch.

2) Comment by twinkie1cat - 02/10/2012

Thank you Noell Hammat. Sometimes it takes someone who has been on the school board to comprehend all the gory details. I heard that a former administrator investigated in the massive Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal (which had gone on since at least 1990---I know because I was there) is now a principal at an RSD school in Baton Rouge. A teacher who was under her at another RSD school said that last year the principal tried to fire her for "teaching while white", a common problem in APS for many years. The RSD just picks the cream of the crop, doesn't it? I'll bet the scores will come up at this person's school, but it won't be because they are being well educated!

3) Comment by timesright - 02/10/2012

@twinkie1cat I could have listed many more "groups" and people. The list could be quite lengthy as many of us know. Thanks for including ones I did leave out. How in the world I could have forgotten TFA is beyond me! We don't want to forget all those so called think tanks, either!

4) Comment by iluvbtr - 02/10/2012

I find in interesting that The Advocate published BESE President Penny Dastugue's defense of John White's PR hire in today's Opinion section, but chose to exclude it from the online edition. Perhaps it's because someone doesn't want to us to be able to comment on her letter.

5) Comment by spqr - 02/10/2012

A very well written letter. And at the end of the day it is still a joke.

6) Comment by twinkie1cat - 02/10/2012

Times Right: Be sure to add Teach for America and its political arm, Students First, to the so-called grassroots groups out to destroy our schools. TFA gets up to $5000 per pretend teacher it puts in a teaching position. Michelle Rhee has totally snowed American politicians on a national level. John White was a TFA, no teaching degree. It's no wonder he needs a spin doctor. But Jindal likes fake teachers because he does not believe advanced degrees and experience make them better. Right, And I know why. It's because real teachers talk back. TFAs pad their resumes and run. I have known only two who were any good and one of those is now working on her Masters in Special Education. The other wants to be a lawyer and work in Education Law. Strange how there is not one positive comment to Mr. Montelaro's letter, even after 24 hours. Seems to me the public is already very well informed.

7) Comment by iluvbtr - 01/10/2012

If I were in John White's shoes or on the BESE board, I would also seek to hire someone that has proven to be effective at delivering the ALEC propaganda to gullible "business leaders" and the unsuspecting public. During this time of sweeping destruction of public education in Louisiana, it is crucial that the changes be communicated to educators, parents and students efficiently and effectively before anyone figures out that restructuring is not reforming. Please tell me this madness can be stopped before it's too late!

8) Comment by LayneSt.Julien - 01/10/2012

All I can read into this letter is that they want to get the job done quickly and efficiently and that they need the best PR possible to make that happen. Problem is, the "job" is get the public to buy in to this travesty they're calling "education reform" so the money will flow at maximum speed from the public coffers into the hands of the private entities that stand to profit. The DOE hasn't had need of special P.R. help in the past but has had faith in the parents to understand the issues and make the best decisions. John White is scared that, left on their own, this is exactly what will happen now, that the public will indeed understand, and they will reject his grand scheme.

9) Comment by LayneSt.Julien - 01/10/2012

All I can read into this letter is that they want to get the job done quickly and efficiently and that they need the best PR possible to make that happen. Problem is, the "job" is get the public to buy in to this travesty they're calling "education reform" so the money will flow at maximum speed from the public coffers into the hands of the private entities that stand to profit. The DOE hasn't had need of special P.R. help in the past but has had faith in the parents to understand the issues and make the best decisions. John White is scared that, left on their own, this is exactly what will happen now, that the public will indeed understand, and they will reject his grand scheme.

10) Comment by Noel Hammatt - 01/10/2012

Oh Dear BRAC Education Council, oh ye of such wonderful educational credentials. We are well aware of your excellent credentials in communication. After all, you helped eliminate any effective opposition to takeover of schools bought and paid for by local taxpayers, in order to support the high salaries of a few carpetbaggers and select coat-tail-hangers from the local community. A finer blitzkrieg is hard to find. You placed your supporters in the House and Senate conference rooms prior to the opening of the doors to the Capitol so that teachers might get in to voice their comments based on actual research and experience, something you know nothing about, when it comes to education. You even clapped at the unconscionable rules, applying ONLY TO TEACHERS, that required them to tell what their status was on that day, regarding why they were not in school. It is so clear that what is planned and orchestrated from the comfort of high-back padded executive chairs in the offices of ALEC, APEL, BRAC, BRAF, CABL and a litany of other groups who stand to profit from the privatization of public education, requires a lot of massaging and spinning in order to make it palatable to the general public. As you say, "these reforms must be put in place swiftly." Yes, again, if you are going to take over a significant sector of the local economy, you must do it swiftly, BEFORE PEOPLE CATCH ON TO THE FRAUD! A couple of points not yet covered by the wonderful comments of others below: Up until very recently, if someone had a question they went directly to the section or the people involved in the issue at hand. Today, ALL requests have to go through the "communications" office. Let's be honest, the only reason for this is to ensure the full and total control of INFORMATION that might . just might, show the public the deceit carried on in the department. The local media is NOT doing the job we expect them to do. Dig, ask for the investigation status of Kenilworth Middle School that started in the summer of 2011. Ask why we still don't know how voucher decisions were made. Ask why there is no access to information about the failing RSD schools. A steady stream of press releases filled with inaccuracies is not likely to stop the flow of question. A leak here and there, which the "communicators" are doing everything they can to stop, will became a flood that leaves bodies in its wake. Keep this in mind.

11) Comment by timesright - 01/10/2012

You are just so wrong, Mr. Montelaro. Your statement "The state of Louisiana has the opportunity to set the tone for education reform across America." is a farce. God help you if that is really what you think. You must really want to destroy public education. The reforms pushed through by groups like you, who have very little or no experience in education are the laughing stock, but incredibly sad, throughout the nation. The reform for education has been set by the educators in Wisconsin and most recently the Chicago educators. It is being set by other supporters of public education throughout the country. This reform is not a reform plan guided by the experts in the field but by ALEC, Students First, BAEO, Parent Revolution and other so called grassroots organizations funded by big money from the Billionaires Club members. I would like to think that the slogan "Louisiana Believes" is about improving public schools. Instead, however, it is causing its destruction and robbing the taxpayers to pay for programs that have been tried elsewhere and proven to have no credibility. It is about profit for publishers, charter schools, etc. I see no profit for children or for public schools. Louisiana doesn't need high salaried persons to communicate that, sir!

12) Comment by Iamhopeful2 - 01/10/2012

Give me a break Mr. Montelaro. It's not the complexity of the "reforms" it's the MYSTERY. If public information were made public there would be little need for formal Public Information Requests. If the information requested actually existed, it would be easier to provide. If it were posted on the website, a single link could be provided, Mr, White finds plenty of time to send out endless inane Louisiana Believes missives. He might consider dropping the PR, which tends to incite more than inform, and focus on producing policy that would actually support and improve services and conditions that would help the real educators serve our children. Besides, why does Mr. White need a paid Communications person when he evidently has the free services of Michelle Rhee's Stand For Children. Then let's don't even talk about the qualifications of his new hires. Seems all you need these days to work for Jindal's DOE or BESE are TFA credentials or some connection to Jeb Bush.

13) Comment by twinkie1cat - 01/10/2012

Communication is not the problem between the Dept. of Education and educators, parents, and students. The teachers know they are being messed over. All the Kool-Aid in the world won't end that unless it is laced with LSD. The problem is too obvious for even to a Teach for America to miss. The parents will know when their kids bring home worksheets that teach them dinosaurs rode on Noah's Ark and that the KKK was formed to "return morality to the community" from these so- called christian charter school that their taxes are paying for . The kids, well they are the victims of the so-called reform. They won't know until they find out they have not been taught to read or think, only to pass tests, and can't get a job doing anything but bussing tables or making beds because they have no real education.. BRAC is obviously full of Republicans trying to make a buck off of privatization of our schools and creating an oblivious work force that will slave like the Epsilons in Brave New World. Yall can't stand tax money going to anyone but "producers". Overpaying John White and his staff won't solve the problems of education. Getting rid of him and Jindal's hand picked BESE majority is the best start. Putting a real teacher with two or more Education degrees, a spine, and at least 10 years of classroom experience will go a long way. Electing only certified teachers to BESE will take them to 90%. Disposing of Jindal, preferably with a VERY embarrassing impeachment and a trip to the federal pen would complete the job. The schools will only improve when the money makers take their hands off of them and let the professionals do their job free of outside interference.

14) Comment by [e-mail] - 01/10/2012

Hey Spudaroonski; you touched on something that always perplexes me, i.e. how can people who peddle such obvious nonsense while pretending to believe it in order to dupe others stand to look at themselves in the morning? When I look at the man in the mirror I know that he knows who I am, what I stand for, and I hope that others see me the same way.

15) Comment by [e-mail] - 01/10/2012

The premise of this letter is that our highly paid "educators" don't have sense enough to do their own jobs? That our new highly paid State top "educator" can't answer their questions? Or is it that these "educator" icons are so very busy with politics and money grubbing that they just don't have time? It's all nonsense and is just a way to dispense largesse at the expense of the Louisiana taxpayer. Mr. Montelaro is obviously in harness; a part of this ridiculous farce.

16) Comment by civitasiveritas - 01/10/2012

All of these profiteers all do one thing very well. They stay on message. BRAC, BRAF, LABI, CABL, APEL. Must be hard sharing one brain. Or at least one brain-trust. I hear they are not joined at the hip, but only in their bank-accounts. Notice how John White and Danny Montelaro conveniently fail to point out that it was lies and deceit that caused so much of the confusion? And none of them mention that now BESE wants there own "Spinner in Chief."Speaking of lies and deceit, Superintendent White, are you ever going to be honest and let us mere mortals know about the secret deliberations and negotiations that went into passing out all of those tax dollars to favorite schools. You know, and we know, that there is no evidence that suggests that they do any better educating similar students than public schools. And of course they have no data to share publicly about their achievements for similar students, so, is that why you paid money to your friendly non-profit supporters to "get the message out?" Is that why you direct viewers of your website to private, wealthy "non-profits" to keep your message pure? Where is the organization chart for your department? Is there a reason it is marked "confidential" and not to be copied? Is this more "muddying of the waters?" Face it folks, White lies.

17) Comment by Chucky - 01/10/2012

@Danny M.- “we believe that clear communication is crucial “ Is that the royal 'We' ? And to refer to your self as a “business leader” is some what presumptuous and would sound better if someone else dubbed that title on you. So, if this is such an all important job, why will she be splitting her time between Fla. and La. ? There is just so much wrong with this position and during a hiring freeze no less.

18) Comment by Spudaroonski - 01/10/2012

No Danny, the conclusions drawn were not inappropriate or out of context. They were spot on and right on the money. No one is buying the ***** the governor and his little toadies like you are peddling. You must have your wife shave you because it has to be hard to have to look at yourself in the mirror every morning.

19) Comment by postscript56 - 01/10/2012

"Clear communiation" is one way of putting it, but "propaganda" would be more accurate.

20) Comment by Traveler - 01/10/2012

Mr. Montelaro, I have two questions: First, did State Superintendent of Education John White ask you to write this letter? Second, would the Baton Rouge Chamber pay a comparable salary to an individual hired to communicate one of your programs? My guess is that, if you answer me honestly, you will reply "Yes" to my first question and "No" to my second question.