Mayoral Candidate Otis Rolley
Otis Rolley has invited the people of Baltimore to share ideas about how to improve Baltimore’s public schools. Here are the details:
WHEN: Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
TIME: 6 – 8 p.m.
WHERE: Huber Memorial Church
5701 York Road
Baltimore, MD 21212
Here are some links, so you can get up to speed before you go:
- Rolley’s Plan: “The Rolley Plan to Improve Baltimore’s Education System for the Future of Our Children and Our City” (PDF)
- My critique: Roll(ey) Call: Why the Frontrunner for Mayor Needs to Revise His Education Plan, ASAP, June 19, 2011
A little note: Since June 19, the Rolley campaign has rephrased its pitch. “Mayoral control” and “vouchers” were initially touted as “radical.” Now, you’ll hear references to “city control” and “helping students escape the worst performing middle schools.”*
- News on the recent cheating revelations, which Rolley referred to in his invitation to tonight’s event: “Cheating, tampering found in city schools,” The Baltimore Sun, Erica L. Green, June 23, 2011
- A light factcheck of Rolley’s criticisms of the current mayor, post cheating revelations: “O Rolley?” City Paper blog, Eric Erickson, Jr., June 23, 2011
Here are two questions I’d like to put on the table:
- Rolley claims his plan has “been proven to work in other cities.” I’m interested to hear which cities and what constitutes proof.
- The citywide enrollment model of charter schools undercuts the role that zoned public schools can play in attracting new residents to city neighborhoods. So why is Otis Rolley – a city planner and a parent of a student at Roland Park Elementary/Middle School – pushing so hard for charter schools? (Which are proliferating apace as it is.)
I may not get a chance to ask these questions. So why not start the conversation here? Comments welcome.
* NOTE: In a handout from the town hall meeting itself, the campaign refers to vouchers as “opportunity scholarships.”
Re:education in Baltimore 