BARBWIRE by ANDREW BARBANO

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A great week for scandals
School district master chefs continue cooking the books
Tenth in a continuing series on the collapsing future of Nevada education
Teachers' business tax petitions hit Nevada streets while Chicago teachers do likewise
Damning inspection report brings union call to oust Reno VA hospital leadership
State ignores voter registration lawsuit until the day after this column printed
I defy you to find all of the following elsewhere either in depth or in context.
NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER: New community TV channel
Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 9-13-2012 Daily Sparks Tribune
Humongously updated on 9-14, 9-15, 9-17, 11-5-2012

If you believe the latest PR from the Washoe County School District, life is beautiful and all the little children reside in Happy Valley with full stomachs and bright futures.

So what's wrong with that picture?

For starters on Sept. 10, a full report on purported increases in math, reading and science scores was not released, just carefully culled highlights.

Staffers told KRNV TV-4 news that the complete report was not yet ready. So why release just pieces? Only one plausible reason looms obvious to an old media manager: Get the positive stuff out now so that the full report will be old news when published and thus merit far less attention.

Clever. And cynical.

The real bomb will drop later this month when they validate the accuracy of the Barbwire's now ten-part series We Don't Need No Education. I reported in April that former Superintendent Heath Morrison's miraculous graduation improvements were really just a change in how dropouts were counted. Morrison later admitted it to the Charlotte (NC) Observer.

[UPDATE 9-14-2012] — The Nevada Dept. of Education today released its 2011-2012 Adequate Yearly Progress Report, a measurement based on federally required standardized tests.

Fewer than half of WCSD schools passed.

State and local officials downplayed the results and presented their solution to the Reno Gazette-Journal: They will change the method of counting next year, eerily echoing Morrison's reshuffling which made him national superintendent of the year before bailing out to the land of Jesse Helms.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg officials want their graduation rate computation changed and hired just the right guy for the job.

Next week's grad stats for Morrison's third year will be less interesting than the PR spin of school district officials.

[UPDATE 9-17-2012] — TOLJASO DEPT. The Awful Truth in the morning: "Successes and Challenges" headlined the WCSD PR.

Challenges indeed. As only the Barbwire predicted last spring, Morrison's disappointing third-year graduation rate explains why he got outta Dodge after year two.

        WCSD Board Chair Ken Grein sent out a press release in the afternoon of Sept. 17 actually praising the slump in the graduation rate as something positive. He neglected to mention that the official (albeit pumped-up) rate has gone down on his watch.

"Our community, together with WCSD teachers, principals, and staff have worked hard the past few years to get more students to graduate. As a result, those efforts have resulted in the District's graduation rate climbing 14 percentage points between 2009 and 2011. WCSD announced today the District's graduation rate is at 69 percent, with the total number of high school students graduating stabilizing," Grein asserted.

Unlike the Titanic's stabilized water levels, Washoe may not be so lucky. (See below.)

The Morrison-manipulated rate stood at 70 percent after his second year with a projected 71 percent rate for year three (2011-2012), according to numbers WCSD provided to the Nevada Dept. of Education. ("Performance Targets for 2012...Graduation Rate: 71%." Go to Nevada Accountability Report at NevadaReportCard.com and click on Washoe.)

        Grein further touted the positive math/science/reading PR disseminated on Sept. 10 but ignored the embarrassing and contradictory Average Yearly Progress stats which the state published on Sept. 14.

"Together, we can work hard to ensure the 63,000 students in our District can graduate college and highly-skilled career ready," (sic) Grein stated. "To do so, we want to invite you to join us at the upcoming Door to Door for Student Achievement event on September 29 from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. We will visit students who are struggling to pass the high school proficiency exams, who are behind on credits, and who have attendance issues who need your support and encouragement. Many need to know that our community cares about their future. By giving them the vote of confidence that they need, we can make a difference," Grein asserted.

Dr. Morrison used home visits to completely wipe some students off the rolls as though they never existed, thus pumping up his graduation improvement percentage. (See longtime Charlotte Observer education reporter Ann Doss Helms' blog as quoted in the Barbwire of 24 June 2012.)

True chutzpah means Nevada having to say you're sorry.

In a further display of self-congratulation, the district has published PR touting its application for a national award based on the manipulated Morrison stats.

In his Monday Sept. 17 press conference, new Washoe Superintendent Pedro Martinez, late of the Gomorrah South school district, noted that only 2,500 (58.14 percent) of the 4,300 current Washoe seniors are on track to graduate.

Hence the September door-knocking.

All well and good if older students are not wiped off the books Morrison-style. Oldtimers wryly note that such visitation ceases after the annual September nose count which determines how much money the district gets from the state.

Martinez seems like a good guy with the best of intentions but without enough thumbs to plug a leaking dyke. He and the administration are wedded to the validity of the Mythological Morrison Miracle (Barbwire 4-22-2012), belief in which has spread to Las Vegas.

No one has been able to find a vaccine for Nevada education's viruses in four decades and we don't have enough water to play Lourdes.

TAKE MY TAX, PLEASE. Without fanfare, the Nevada State Education Association began circulating its business tax petition about three weeks ago. They are telling supporters they need signatures turned in by Nov. 1. That's an awfully tight deadline and the union faces more court action by anti-tax moonhowlers. For info, call NSEA at 775-828-6745 or 800-232-6732.

For background on Nevada's regressive tax history which starves education and public services, go to JoeNeal.org.

If the new taxes for education are not imposed, the only recourse left will be a lawsuit against the state for violating the Nevada Constitution's mandate to provide for an adequate system of public education.

Former University Chancellor Jim Rodgers published research several years ago showing that Nevada is wide open to lose such legal action, in which case a federal judge will order the state to raise taxes and the court system will basically run our school system for the foreseeable future.

Why not? A judge can't do any worse than what's been happening for the last 40 years or so.

READ MORE ABOUT IT: Click here for Rodgers' memorandum and related documents plus a Legislative Counsel Bureau smoking gun study. Stay tuned for a new report about deficiencies, questionable graduation rates and foisting blame by the Clark County School District.

Education Apartheid: The Racism Behind Chicago’s School “Reform” Occupied Chicago Tribune 9-12-2012 What the Chicago strike's about Teacher-Poet Glen Brown / 9-11-2012 Reaganaut: Fire all 26,000 as Reagan did the air traffic controllers who had endorsed his candidacy CBS Chicago / 9-12-2012

REQUIRED READING. Get the Sept.-Oct. issue of Mother Jones Magazine for a sensational article on education and the depredations of turning the whole system into prep for a test that only white kids do well.

Also go to investigative reporter Greg Palast's website or the Occupied Chicago Tribune for a story entitled "The Worst Teacher in Chicago."

The worst teacher at a public school became the best at a private charter school for one reason: She took a huge pay cut, which pretty much sums up education reform according to conservative moonhowlers.

"Here's what the teacher who was terrible at $70,000 but brilliant at $41,000 told me," Palast wrote.

"'They're not doing this in white neighborhoods. They want to get rid of older, experienced teachers with seniority who cost more. Get rid of the teachers and, ultimately get rid of the kids. And the charter school gets to pick the kids who get in,'" Palast reported.

Can you see a profit motive emerging in all this?

New Washoe Superintendent Pedro Martinez did make one accurate statement to the media this week: "We need more resources."

That means money.

So circulate that tax petition.

Now.

V.A. BLUES. Reno's Ioannis A. Lougaris Veterans Administration Medical Center took a hard hit this week with publication of the long-awaited Office of Medical Inspector's Report detailing a long list of deficiencies.

American Federation of Government Employees Local 2152/AFL-CIO, the union representing hospital workers, has called for a change in management based on the scathing results.

You will find the union's statement ("gross mismanagement and direction obstruction of care by the Reno VA's leadership") and the study with the expanded web edition of this column at NevadaLabor.com. [CLICK HERE FOR SMOKING GUNS + 10-29 update —> Whistleblowers Fired.]

Still no word on another item I published a year or so ago that of $31 million in additional staff funding, no African Americans were hired.

Amazing.

[UPDATE 9-15-2012] It appears that raising a public profile and contacting administrators sometimes helps. There appears to have been a bit of a breakout of tokenism.

WHERE THE SUN NEVER SHINES DEPT. The NAACP lawsuit against the state for violating federal law requiring agencies to offer voter registration has been ignored. Which means fewer people will be able to vote in November. Who does that benefit?

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER DEPT. [UPDATE 9-14-2012] I am not on a big enough ego trip to think that I caused it, but the day after the latter item ran, the Las Vegas Sun published a long story about how the state has positively reacted.

Apparently the first that some of the plaintiffs heard about this came from the newspaper.

The truth is anybody's guess at this point. I've asked some questions. Stay tuned for answers. (As always noted hereinbelow, my comments are my own and not official statements from the Reno-Sparks NAACP.)

—>UPDATE 10-31-2012: NO HALLOWE'EN PRANK — Nevada Division of Welfare will now follow the law allowing employees to vote

SUPPORT THE NEVADA CITIZEN TV PROJECT to re-establish a sorely needed non-corporate community channel in these parts.

In-depth discussion — and in-depth investigation and analysis — can only come from such an entity.

For instance, I defy you to find all of the above elsewhere either in depth or in context. I've been doing this awhile.

You may donate at ReSurge.TV or contact me. This is important.

Thank you.

Be well. Raise hell.

____________
Andrew Barbano is a 43-year Nevadan, chair of the Nevada César Chávez Committee, producer of Nevada's annual César Chávez Day celebration, first vice-president and political action chair of the Reno-Sparks NAACP, labor/consumer/civil rights advocate, member of Communications Workers of America Local 9413/AFL-CIO and editor of NevadaLabor.com and JoeNeal.org. As always, his opinions are strictly his own. Check local listings for other Nevada cable systems. E-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us. Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Daily Sparks Tribune since 1988.

Smoking Guns... Life and Death at the Reno Veterans Hospital American Federation of Government Employees Local 2152/AFL-CIO Press Release Union Executive Summary of Inspection Report Office of the Medical Inspector Report All Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf ) documents UPDATE: Union Says V.A. Retaliated Against Whistleblowers KRNV TV-4 / 10-29-2012 The Post-Dated Recession: Pay me now or pay me later Barbwire by Barbano / Expanded from the 9-6-2012 Daily Sparks Tribune The Post-dated Recession By Joshua H. Silavent / Daily Sparks Tribune / 5-3-2011 Union decline and rising inequality in two charts by Colin Gordon Economic Policy Institute / 6-5-2012 Used in journalist Mark Robison's extensive Hard Labor: Nevada unions tout role in helping workers, firms, economy (Sunday 2 Sept. 2012 Reno Gazette-Journal, page one, Reno Rebirth section of the print edition). Union men Jim Burrell, Paul McKenzie and Guy Louis Rocha did the movement proud. Not included in the RGJ online edition. WOMEN AND UNIONS — ORPHAN MAJORITIES The Barbwire Labor Day column Reno Gazette-Journal / 9-3-2012 Followed by a moon shadow TRAVUS T. HIPP, 1937-2012 ADIÓS, COMPADRE — Our friend Travus, 75, passed away peacefully between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. PDT on 18 May 2012 at his home in Silver City, Nevada. The sun is in eclipse as I write this at 6:30 p.m. on May 20. CHANGE OF VENUE (5-22-2012) — Adiós in Silver City, Nevada, Saturday, May 26, 2012 —> Updated 5-27-2012 — > The auld church where Travus lived and died proved too small for the expected multitude, so gathering, gnoshing and remembering commenced at the Silver City Community Center, 385 High Street, at 10:00 a.m. PDT. The graveside memorial service began at High Noon. Travus was buried next to his rock star companion Lynne Hughes, a short walk away. My remembrance of Lynne from the 3-21-1993 Daily Sparks Tribune has been linked to Travus' formal obituary at this website. All memories accepted for permanent posting hereat. Stay tuned for pictures and stories of the appropriately rainy day. Thanks for all your kind words. Keep up the good work and the good fight. Be well. Raise hell. Andrew Barbano Barbano remembers the artist Reno Gazette-Journal 5-25-2012 NEW — Travus' life story and obituary Travus' last column in the 5-20 Daily Sparks Tribune Debra K. Reid photo / Sparks Tribune Jan. 4, 2009 Travus T. Hipp & Tales of Nevada's Futures Passed Expanded from the 6-3-2012 Daily Sparks Tribune      At bottom, he was an artist who used his voice to soar and slice, a tenor for the tenor of our times. Many of his mourning California listeners talk about the vocal spells he wove, how he soundly organized the noise of daily life into music that entertained, engaged, enlightened, educated, enthralled and occasionally enflamed. [From the saga of Travus T. Hipp and contributions by The Barbwire to the May 25 Reno Gazette-Journal and May 26, 2012, Daily Sparks Tribune.] POWERFUL PUNDITORY PANJANDRUMS: Compelling guest commentary including random samplings of the wisdom of Travus T. Hipp Nevada Press Assn. annual award winners announced. HAT TRICK: Barbwire takes first place three years in a row. The winning entries Suing for Schools: The 20-year shuck Expanded from the 2-21-2010 Daily Sparks Tribune Click here to view the show on your desktop RED flags flying low over Sparks Expanded from the 1-10-2010 Daily Sparks Tribune The wrath of self-righteous racism Expanded from the 11-8-2009 Daily Sparks Tribune Government contacts Nev. congressional delegation Nevada Legislature State of Nevada Secretary of State Carson City Clark County City of Las Vegas Douglas County Reno City Council Sparks City Council Washoe County Commission Washoe Registrar of Voters The campaign against forcibly-paid newspaper obituaries And they wonder why the newspaper business is dying?   The Dean's List    The Dean of Reno Bloggers could very well be Andrew Barbano, self-described "fighter of public demons," who started putting his "Barbwire" columns online in 1996 and now runs 10 sites. RENO NEWS & REVIEW, 11-9-2006 The 2009 first-place Nevada Press Association award winners Tony the Tiger & the flaky NFL Barbwire / 11-30-2008 Deregulation is never having to say you're sorry Barbwire / 8-3-2008 Nevada: A good place to visit, but do you want to live here? Barbwire / 6-15-2008 The 2008 first-place Nevada Press Association award winners The price of a piece / 6-17-2007 Boxing Pandora /9-23-2007 The Lady in the Red Dress 10-28-2007 1997 Pulitzer Prize entries ...and more ammo Economist: This is a true depression Elliott Parker Guest Editorial / Las Vegas Sun / 11-27-2011 The plight of the paper pushers The great recession made bashing public workers a national sport Dennis Myers / Reno News & Review / 11-23-2011 Bury the Bad News with Rose-colored Reporting How urgent can economic troubles be if leaders say things are getting better? Dennis Myers / Reno News & Review / 11-23-2011 Fact-free nation: Inside the lie machine Mother Jones Magazine May-June 2011 / Cover story and in-depth analysis Bill Moyers: Welcome to the Plutocracy Money fights hard and it fights dirty Speech delivered at Boston University on 29 Oct. 2010 Part of the Howard Zinn Lecture Series Barbwire Corporate Welfare Archive Cabellyup.com From clear-cut forests to dirty Gulfstream waters, this land belongs to old BP TOLJASO LONG TIME AGO BP/ARCO: The greasy root of our evils Barbwire / Daily Sparks Tribune 9-10-2006 The awful truth — Read it and weep, fellow suckers Labor Day 2009: Rise of the Vampire Corpobots Expanded from the 9-6-2009 Daily Sparks Tribune Angry Americans and Freudian fraud Using war to market cigarettes Expanded from the 8-23-2009 Daily Sparks Tribune BARBWIRE Nevada Corporate Welfare Archive Propaganda fuels gasoline price fixing Barbwire 8-14-2005 Donate to the cable ratepayer legal defense fund at our PayPal-enabled ReSurge.TV Consumer War Room Phillips, Kevin; Numbers Racket: Why the economy is worse than we know Harper's Magazine; May 2008; page 43 Phillips has authored numerous books on history and politics over the past 40 years. His most recent, Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism, was published by Viking on April 15, 2008. NAOMI WOLF: Fascist America in 10 Easy Steps There are some things common to every state that's made the transition to fascism. Author Naomi Wolf argues that all of them are present in America today. Alternet 5-20-2007 Johnson, Chalmers; REPUBLIC OR EMPIRE? A National Intelligence Estimate on the United States; Harper's magazine; January, 2007. I love it when heavy hitters validate what I've been saying for years in the tiny Sparks Tribune. Barlett, Donald L. and Steele, James B.; America: What Went Wrong? (1992); America: Who Really Pays the Taxes? (1994); America: Who Stole the Dream? (1996) ; Andrews & McMeel/Universal Press Syndicate. Review of Alex Carey's Taking the Risk Out of Democracy: Propaganda in the US and Australia The Orwell Diversion by Alex Carey Excerpted from the book available below ORDER Taking the Risk Out of Democracy Corporate Propaganda versus Freedom and Liberty By Alex Carey Edited by Andrew Lohrey Foreword by Noam Chomsky University of Illinois Press      SEE ALSO: Lapham, Lewis H.; Tentacles of Rage: The Republican Propaganda Mill, A Brief History; Harper's Magazine cover article; September, 2004, page 32.      By one conservative estimate, the corporate right has spent about $3 billion over the past three decades manufacturing public opinion to suit big business goals. Lapham's number covered the early 1970's to the present day. Alex Carey noted that by 1948, anti- New Deal corporate propaganda expenditures had already reached $100 million per year, not adjusted for inflation, for advertising alone. (Carey, ibid; page 79)      Adjusted for inflation, that 1948 $100 million becomes $801,659,751.04 in 2005 dollars. Conservatives Help Wal-Mart, and Vice Versa As Wal-Mart struggles to rebut growing criticism, it has discovered a reliable ally: conservative research groups. New York Times 9-8-2006; Free registration may be required.       BARBWIRE: Labor Day '94: People vs. corporate con job, 9-4-94 Chilling forecasts from Alex Carey       BARBWIRE: The Nevada Republican Party Becomes Communist, 3-30-97 A prescient Plato on the dangers of oligarchy The sands of time do not cloud the long memories of the sheiks of Araby Barbwire 9-10-2006       Rinfret, Pierre A.; Peace is Bullish; Look magazine, 5-31-1966

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Copyright © 1982-2012 Andrew Barbano

Andrew Barbano is a 43-year Nevadan, editor of NevadaLabor.com and JoeNeal.org; and former chair of the City of Reno's Citizens Cable Compliance Committee, He is producer of Nevada's annual César Chávez Day celebration and serves as first vice-president, political action chair and webmaster of the Reno-Sparks NAACP. As always, his opinions are strictly his own. E-mail barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us.

Barbwire by Barbano premiered in the Daily Sparks (Nev.) Tribune on Aug. 12, 1988, and has originated in those parts ever since. Tempus fugit.

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