The Des Moines Register claims that education reforms could erode the tradition of local control. This is a very real issue for our district, although not one that is new.  Something known as Dillon’s rule limits the powers granted to local governments to those expressly granted by the state.  This means local school districts only have powers and authorities expressly granted to them by the state.  If its not clearly stated,...

Richard Doak writes a compelling article in today’s Des Moines Register. Iowa is changing, and Richard Doak provides the evidence.  A larger portion of Iowans can be classified as in poverty or near poverty, and we have a rising number of English as a Second Language learners.  ESL population has doubled from 8% to 16% in the DMPS in the last decade.  If we hope to improve the educational outcomes of Iowans, we must deal with...

My name is Dave O’Connor and I teach 8th grade civics at Merrill Middle School in Des Moines.  Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this evening. Two hallmarks of today’s School Reform movement are: The necessity of “data driven”, “researched based” decision making and The idea that the United States is engaged in a “GLOBAL economic and educational COMPETITION” with the likes of successful nations like Finland...

The Des Moines Register published an editorial today calling for teachers to share in the sacrifice to make up expected budget shortfalls.  Specifically, they point out that health care coverage for the family is included as a benefit, and it is reasonable to expect teachers to contribute to this benefit. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120308/OPINION03/303080070/Ask-school-staff-share-sacrifice First, I am a member of the...