"2010 Gov.'s Race May Be the One To Watch"

According to the editorial in this morning's Journal. link

The Journal editors are trying to gin up interest in the 2010 gubernatorial race between Heather Wilson and Diane Denish.

Ginning up;

1) To create or arouse strong feelings in (someone); move or excite.
2) To fabricate, invent or concoct (something), typically with deceitful intent.

On the other hand, voting begins this week in the APS School Board Election. And so far, not a word from the editors, and not a word from the Journal's education reporter.

I have it on good authority,
that the candidates have not heard a word from the Journal.
They have not been asked one single question,
they have not been asked for anything at all.

Votes will be cast before anything at all appears in the Journal.

We will hear from the editors on the subject of the school board elections, eventually. Some morning, a day or two after the election, Journal editors will berate voters for not showing up at the polls, for not giving a damn enough to even vote.

Shame on the Journal editors, and shame on whomever at the Journal, whose decision it is; not to cover the school board election. Shame on whomever at the Journal, who decided that fundamental and serious issues in the upcoming election will not be laid out for voters to discuss.

Voters in Albuquerque depend on the Journal. There is no other publication that voters look to, more than they look to the Journal for the information that they need to vote knowledgeably and intelligently.

Yet the Journal will give them nothing.

President of the New Mexico Broadcasters Association, and
school board candidate Paula Maes, would rather that the issues not be placed on the table. She would rather not be asked about administrative role modeling of the student standard of conduct. She would rather not be asked about the multimillion dollar relationship between her husband's law firm, the Modrall, and the APS.

What the Journal is doing, is called journalistic malpractice.

They could actually be sued for what they are doing.

Not that any board candidate has the power and resources
to successfully sue them.

So they, the Journal and the candidates with something to hide,
will prevail, just like any bully prevails in an environment he controls.

Shame on the Journal.
Really, shame on them.


cc Journal editors, and Journal Education Reporter
upon posting

Herding cats, or one on one?

(This post has been extensively rewritten and republished
with a necessarily inaccurate date and post time.)

It is hard to imagine a situation more ideal than a pupil/teacher
ratio of one to one.

In truth, very few students really need a full time teacher.

Some can handle two to one, four to one; thirty to one,
or as in a sociology class at the UNM, 600 to 1.

It has to do with the ability to learn independently.

Independent learning depends heavily on self discipline.

Students are not acquiring self discipline enough to learn alone.

When Character Counts! was unanimously adopted by the
board in 1994, it was with the understanding that it was to
become part of the curriculum.

It was understood that students would learn how to behave
and develop character enough to want to.

They have not acquired that knowledge and character,
because they have never had role models in the leadership of the APS.

The leadership of the APS is not, and never has been accountable to the same standards of conduct that they established and enforce upon students; not even for the few hours each day that they are enforcing them upon students.

The leadership of the APS can not enforce a discipline policy
on students, because they will not enforce one upon themselves.



There is no written discipline philosophy for the APS.
If there was, they could point to it.
There is no written set of commonly shared beliefs,
that the leadership of the APS is obligated to enforce.

There are only poorly crafted and often conflicting policies
that are unenforceable by those with control over the
least amounts of power and resources.

Consider for example the issue of sagging.

The administration banned sagging and then did nothing to stop it. There is not a secondary school in the district, where you will not see sagging;
the permission of prohibited behavior.

This is not about sagging. link

It is a teacher's responsibility to tell a child to stop misbehaving.
It is an administrative problem, when the child says no.

The leadership of the APS is completely unaccountable for
student discipline problems in schools; problems which are
a major impediment in educating children effectively and efficiently.

They cannot even be compelled to tell the truth about the problem.

If the data were gathered, it would prove that the leadership
of the APS has failed to carry their fair share of the burden
of maintaining order and an educationally efficient environment.

That is why they don't gather it.


And every year, we need more and more teachers to babysit more and more chronically disruptive students.

But we don't get more and more teachers every year,
so the net effect is that; static pupil teacher ratios
are increasingly ineffective and inefficient.

Graduation rates, drop out rates, truancy rates, discipline problems in schools, graduation rates, ... all depend on student discipline.

Yet the leadership of the APS will not name a time, a day, and a place, where they will sit and answer legitimate questions about their failure to maintain order in schools.

In fact, they will not name a time, a day, and a place, where they will sit and answer legitimate questions about anything.

This should be an issue in the upcoming school board elections; one month away.

If is is not, it is because the Journal, KRQE, KOAT, KOB, KKOB have decided that it will not be.

It is, apparently,

not newsworthy.

Republican Party roundly despised

Consider the comments on this post about NMRP
National Committeeman and Modrall attorney
Patrick Rogers. link

Who knows how much of any of the story is true;
the truth being so hard to come by these days.

Although a hearing seeking restraining order against
Rogers and the NMRP ruled in Rogers' favor,
the fact that Rogers refused to answer legitimate questions
about the circumstances, proves his guilt "beyond doubt".
(Which of the commenters do you think has any doubt that
Pat Rogers is a thug?)

It disturbs me that this is the perception of so many, about
the NMRP specifically and the Republican Party in general.

At least some of the negative perception is well deserved;
consider NMRP Chairman Allen Weh's performance in
Las Cruces, and his current efforts to beat back
Robert's Rules of Order and the fairness that they would
bring to NMRP deliberative meetings.

Changing this perception must become one of the top priorities of the Republican Party, or none of the other priorities will amount to a hill of beans.

Why? Weh

Why Weh, won't you surrender the central committee meeting agenda to the public record?

Why Weh, won't you explain, defend, deny,
or even acknowledge, that your plan is to deny stakeholders
meaningful participation in decision making that affects their interests?

Why Weh, are you promising an all inclusive party and
delivering a good ol' boys club that is anything but?

Why Weh, would you compromise your character

to gain a tactical advantage in a power struggle
whose ultimate goal is to deny stakeholders
legitimate access their government?


... and think you that you are going to get away with it.





Update. A few hours after I posted this piece, I received
a copy of the call to the meeting. It appears that guests
will be allowed to attend for $20, which apparently includes lunch.

I would suppose members of the press are guests as well.

They represent a need to get reservations in by Monday the 5th
although the meeting is scheduled for Saturday the 10th.


Now, we've only to make sure that the whole meeting is run by
Robert's Rules of Order, and not by the rule of the gavel.

Learning and teaching styles

It has been widely known for a very long time that students have different learning styles. link

And it has been known for a very long time that teachers have different teaching styles. link

We have yet to pair students and teachers accordingly.

Why?

Build a Culture of Accountability: Five Ways to Enhance the Level of Accountability...

from the internet link

"Holding people accountable for results is the foundation of an organization's performance; it's management 101."

"...few factors negatively impact morale and productivity more than the perception that others are not held accountable for results,..."

Which of the following is recognized and implemented in the APS?

1. Translate strategy into specific objectives.
2. Coordinate actions across levels and work units and follow up on progress.
3. Provide accurate and timely information to employees.
4. Ensure that your actions are consistent with company objectives, values, and priorities.

Leaders can't expect people to trust or follow them if they are not willing to live by the same values and support the same priorities that they require of others.

5. Clarify expectations and head off potential problems.

The leadership of the APS is unwilling to hold itself accountable to the same standards of conduct and competence that they enforce upon employees.

More importantly, the leadership of the APS is unwilling to hold itself accountable to the same standards of conduct and competence that they enforce upon students,

and then they wonder why students are not behaving and why students are not succeeding.

I posted on Heath Haussamen's blog.

Haussamen posted a piece from Allen Weh, link and is
apparently not allowing any controverting information to
be added by means of a comment on the post.


I have written and posted another comment;

Ask Allen Whe for a copy of the agenda for the State Central Committee Meeting.

Ask him if he and the "all inclusive" party intend to keep you, and other members of the press, out of the meeting.

And then report upon what you find.

You have published one side of the story;
now publish the other.

No Weh

It is fair to assume that NMRP Chairman Allen Weh
has heard that he has been asked two legitimate questions. link

Can't prove it of course,
but that's the whole point in stonewalling.


He will answer or not, according to his conscience.

I would suggest that there is no good and ethical reason
to keep the agenda secret, or to close the meeting to
stakeholders including the press, who are obliged to be there.

I would further suggest that a refusal to respond means that
he will continue to resist the party reform manifest in the
adoption of Robert's Rules of Order.


And I would suggest that a refusal to respond means that
he is going to try to convene the meeting in secret from stakeholders.



It's time to cowboy up.

You pick a side, when you don't pick a side.

Who watches the watchers?

I assume that every agency of government includes someone
whose job it is, to watch over the public interests and resources.

It would appear that they are not doing their job;
the public trust and treasure are not being protected from
the waste that flows from corruption and incompetence.

Take for example the agency of government called the APS.

Someone was supposed to have been watching over the public
interests and resources for these last hundred years.

Now we discover, as reported by the Meyners Audit,
that the leadership of the APS has never protected tax dollars
with adequate policies, adequate accountability, or with
adequate record keeping; the most basic requirements for
fighting the waste created by incompetence and corruption.

So who watches over watchers in the APS?

Apparently, no one.

And now, when asked to allow a watcher to come in and
ferret out the truth about the corruption and incompetence
in the leadership of the APS,
an impartial administrative accountability auditor,

the leadership of the APS says, "no way."

School board head honcho, Paula Maes, said that
she will never allow an audit that names the names of the
incompetent and corrupt administrators and board members
in the leadership of the APS.


So who watches over Paula Maes and her ilk?

Apparently, no one.
And likely, millions of tax dollars have gone missing.

There was a time in the life of NMRP Chairman Allen Weh

when he was able to summon the character and the courage
to earn a recommendation for the Navy Cross, to be awarded
the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with “V” for heroism,
three Purple Hearts, and five Air Medals in addition to the
Legion of Merit, and two Meritorious Service Medals.


Can he summon the character and the courage now,
to answer two simple questions, candidly, forthrightly,
honestly, on the record, and rather immediately;

1. Will the debate over the adoption of Robert's Rules of Order, be the first item on his agenda for the upcoming meeting of the NMRP State Central Committee? and
2. Will the meeting be open to the press and other stakeholders, allowing them meaningful participation in a decision making process that affects their interests?

Any answer except yes, means no.


cc Allen Weh upon posting

Struggle for power in the NMRP

I heard it characterized as the "machine republicans" versus "free republicans", and the characterization resonates in me.

It is the "rule from the top down", against the "rule from the bottom up" republicans.

It is the "good ol' boys club", against the "all inclusive" club.

It is more of the status quo, against a fresh beginning.


More than anything else, it is the "rule of the gavel" mentality
against the "Robert's Rules of Order" mentality.
link (the official site) or wikilink (easier for a quick read)

Rules are written by the powerless to level the playing field with the powerful. Rules are then perverted by the powerful to retilt the playing field in their favor.

Allen Weh and the ham fisted style of leadership that has largely destroyed enthusiasm of any kind in the Republican Party of New Mexico, will do every thing they can to prevent Robert's Rules of Order, from becoming the rules that govern deliberative meetings of the Republican Party in New Mexico. The fight will take place at the upcoming NMRP State Central Committee meeting.

Allen Weh attempted once already, to call a meeting of the Central Committee without putting the amendments on the agenda. that would have established, among other things, parliamentary procedure at deliberative meetings, that protects the rights of the powerless. His attempt to hide the issue from the membership, is exactly the kind of despicable behavior that Robert's Rules will prevent in the future.

Allen Weh, et al. would like to maintain the power to suppress legitimate opposition by pounding it down with the "rule of the gavel"; an indefensible notion that Allen Whe, and others like him, are so good for the party, that they should be given the power to steer decision making in directions that suit their interests.

Case on point;

Republican Party Rules link make no mention of a need for candidates for state party office to announce their candidacy in time to have their name places on a ballot to be printed in advance of the State Central Committee meeting where the election takes place.
Sensing an opportunity to stack the deck, Weh has decided that there will be no opportunity to nominate candidates from the floor of that meeting.
His decision meets no need but his own. He thinks he can get away with it by his own unilateral decision.
He will attempt to place the amendment that provides for Robert's Rules of Order to be adopted, on the agenda after he manipulates the election process for state officers.
He will meet with substantial opposition.
The discussion of Robert's Rules of Order, will be the first order of business.
Some one else first wrote;

"The most important decision a group will ever make, is their decision about how decisions will be made. It should also be their first."

This "plot" to reform the NMRP, is the product of a group that the leadership of the NMRP calls "that Saturday morning group" hosted by State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones. link I have it on good authority, first hand, that there are no less than two spies that attend the Saturday morning discussions and then report back directly to the leadership of the NMRP.

Allen Weh once said, after stomping on the opposition by means of his "rule of the gavel";

“It’s my bat, my ball ..." link

Not any more it isn't.

Silent whistle is an oxymoron.

when you consider the purpose of a whistle.

Anonymous writes

"Whenever an organization forms its own internal audit,
awareness, or review, especially with an air of secrecy
or "confidentiality", it can only be self-serving.

This would mean 2 things in my experience:
1)The activities reported would lead bosses to a better cover up and give them a chance to conceal evidence and
2) they would form a plan to protect their own asses from being tied to the inappropriate behavior.

Thus, this kind of system doesn't help the public,
doesn't bring inappropriate activity to light,
and will not be public-user friendly.
However, from a political view, and when you
"say it fast", it tells the public "we care".

In actuality, it means "we care (about covering our asses)"

What do you think happens when
there are millions of tax dollars on the table,
too few rules, too little accountability,
and too little record keeping?

So you go ahead and blow a silent whistle,
tell the one of the good old boys, that
other good ol' boys are ripping off millions of dollars,
and see what they do about it.




What if they just came right out and said;

We are using tax dollars to buy a service that appears
superficially to provide for a principled resolution of
legitimate complaints, while it in fact allows us
to secret from everybody but us, all of the corruption
and incompetence that is deliberately allowed or
negligently permitted in the administration of the APS
and more than a billion tax dollars a year.

Who do you suppose is going to do an audit to ferret out the corrupt and incompetent in public service?

Do you really suppose that the people who are stealing millions of dollars are going to do an audit that will reveal their criminal enterprise?

Do you really suppose that the people who are so incompetent that they could let millions of tax dollars go missing, will do an audit that will expose their incompetence?

Do you really suppose that the administrators who are not personally corrupt and incompetent, and who have done nothing to expose the incompetence and corruption, are suddenly going to stand up and expose what they have enabled?

You do so, in bone crushing naiveté.

And there will never, ever be an audit.

Now that we have proven SilentWhistle not to work

If APS' Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline is itself
fraud, waste, and abuse, link

where do you report that fraud, waste, and abuse?


a fair question brought up by a reader

Manifestly dishonest APS leaders by name

We will begin of course, by defining "dishonest".
For the purpose of this post, we will use dishonest as defined
by the APS Student Standard of Conduct,
by which APS leaders are bound as role models.

The Student Standard of Conduct mentions the obvious manifestations of dishonest behavior. In addition it specifically adds "stonewalling" as manifest dishonesty.

In so far as none of those who will find their name on this list, will stop stonewalling in response to legitimate questions about the public interests in the public schools, they are manifestly dishonest.

• The entire Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education;
  
  • Paula Maes,
  • Robert Lucero,
  • Berna Facio,
  • MaryLee Martin,
  • Delores Griego,
  • Marty Esquivel and
  • Jon Barela.
• Superintendent Winston Brooks,
• Chief Operations Officer, Brad Winter,
• Chief Academic Officer, Linda Sink,
  
• Executive Director of Communications, Monica Armenta,
• Director of Communications, Rigo Chavez,
• Executive Director of Human Resources Andrea Trybus,
• Chief Financial Officer, Gina Hickman,
• Director of Internal Audits; Margret Koshmider
  
• Executive Director of Instruction & Accountability Rose-Ann McKernan,
• Director of Instruction & Accountability, Thomas Genne,
• Chief of School Police, Bill Reed, and
  
• The Modrall Law Firm, the litigations arm of the leadership of the APS
  

Necessarily part of the list would be;
The Albuquerque Journal, KRQE,KOAT, KOB, KKOB

All that anyone of these people has to do to remove their name
from this list, would to set the time, the day, and the place where they will respond to any legitimate question about the public interests in the public schools,
candidly, forthrightly and honestly.

You, the reader, have to accept that in response to the question;

Are you willing to be held honestly accountable
to meaningful standards of conduct and competence?

no comment means, no. Stonewalling means, no.


cc everyone, co superintendent(at)aps.edu, apsboard(at)aps.edu, the Journal,KRQE,KOAT, KOB, and KKOB.

Not that it will do any good

but, I have filed a SilentWhistle complaint against
APS Director of Internal Audits, Margret Koshmider.

The secret case ID number is; Case ID: fedef65f-e8ef-9ea4

What does an organization do, when they have no one ethical
enough to pursue complaints of ethical misconduct?





Case Status>>Existing Case Summary


Other submitted on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 9:07 AM
General Information

Case ID: fedef65f-e8ef-9ea4
Submitted: Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Type: Other
Company: Albuquerque Public Schools
Name: Anonymous
Relationship: Other
Select your time zone:


Case Questions

Please identify the person(s) involved including names and titles:
Margret Koshmider, APS Director of Internal Audits

Do you believe that management is aware of this issue?
Yes

If yes, who in management?
APS Superintendent Winston Brooks

When (approximately) did this issue occur?
Ongoing

How did you become aware of this issue?
It happened to me

Does this issue involve any outside parties (vendor, customer, etc.)?
Yes

Please explain:
Margret Koshmider's behavior has a negative effect on SilentWhistle because as a result of her behavior, it has become obvious that APS' use of SilentWhistle is a sham.
It also has a negative effect on anyone who would like to use SilentWhistle, and they no longer have any reason to believe that the system is anything more than a way to keep ethical misconduct by APS senior administrators secret.

Do you believe that anyone has taken steps to hide this incident?
Uncertain

Please describe the issue in detail:
Margret Koshmider received a complaint from SilentWhistle.
She absolutely refuses to address the subject of the complaint which is that the Superintendent of the APS has refused to step up as a role model of and ethical standard of conduct, the student standard of conduct.
Instead, she is steadfastly trying to divert attention to tangential issues instead of the central issue.

What would be the best way, in your opinion, to resolve this concern?
If the SilentWhistle is to have any confidence at all from stakeholders,
it cannot be under the control of those most likely to be reported by the system.

It is a blatant and egregious conflict of interest.


End note: I am at a loss as how to explain why the complaint reads that it is filed anonymously. I must have clicked the wrong button at some point in the process.

Update; I have been notified by SilentWhistle, that APS has responded to the complaint;

This SilentWhistle has been sent to Margaret Koshmider's
Supervisor 12/23/08.

I have emailed Koshmider and asked for the name of her supervisor.

In response to my several objections, Koshmider writes;

Mr. MacQuig (sic)

Your accusations are vague and of your opinion. A facial expression is a facial expression; not proof of anything. I cannot “track a case” without specific facts. I do not base anything on opinions. You placed the issues on the table as the basis of the complaint and cannot support it. If you have specifics I will investigate your complaint. Nothing is self evident and if that is what you have we are done. You will need to find another avenue to register this complaint.

Peg Koshmider

The tangential issues Koshmider would like to focus on instead of the real issue, were not placed on the table as the basis of the complaint. The only thing that I have ever laid on the table as the basis of the complaint, is Winston Brooks ongoing refusal to respond to the call to step up as a role model of the student standard of conduct, the real issue, and an issue that Koshmider is yet to acknowledge in any manner what so ever.

By "facial expression", she is apparently referring to the videotape of Winston Brooks refusing to answer the call to step up as a role model. The call was made last, during the public forum of the December 3, board meeting.

This is an interesting argument, and worthy of some elucidation.

If I had accused Winston Brooks of being a bank robber, and then I argued that, he has never denied it, and therefore it is proven that he is a bank robber, the argument would be nonsensical. Someone accused of bank robbery has no obligation to deny the charge. However, someone accused of not standing up as a role model, is obliged to stand up as a role model, as an integral and essential aspect of role modeling.

If someone is singing, and they can't be heard,
they must sing louder.
If someone is role modeling and they can't be seen,
they need to role model more conspicuously.
It requires an overt act. There is no such thing as inconspicuous role modeling, the concept is oxymoronic.

I have accused Winston Brooks of lacking the character and the courage to step up as a role model. His refusal to step up when asked, does prove the allegation. A role model of the Pillars of Character Counts! would step up as a role model when asked.

My allegation that Winston Brooks is unethical because he refuses to step up as a role model is proven by his failure to step up.

No matter what the latest in a long line of incompetent and corrupt Directors of Internal Audit has to say to the contrary.

cc Koshmider and Brooks upon posting.

Open letter to Winston Brooks

Superintendent Brooks,

As you are no doubt aware, I have filed a complaint against you by means of the alleged SilentWhistle. link and others if you have an interest, just read them.

A number of highly unethical attempts are being made in an effort to keep you from standing on the record, and defending your refusal to step up as a role model of the Pillars of Character Counts!

Step up now, or corroborate my allegation that you lack the character and the courage to step up as a role model of a nationally recognized, accepted, and respected code of ethical behavior.

Explain, defend, or deny your refusal to step up at a role model.

Your failure to do so, points to and underscores your cowardice.


cc Winston Brooks at superintendent(at)aps.edu
upon posting.

My response to Koshmider's dodge

APS' Margret Koshmider is trying very hard to keep Winston Brooks from having to stand on the record and defend his refusal to step up as a role model of the student standard of conduct.

She is attempting to close the case without addressing the complaint.

I have written to SilentWhistle;

What a sham.

My complaint is simple. Winston Brooks, the senior most administrative role model of the student standard of conduct, the Pillars of Character Counts!, a nationally recognized, accepted and respected code of ethics,
refuses to be held accountable as a role model.

The unethical behavior is self evident.

Koshmider's insistence that I corroborate a number of tangential complaints is categorically disingenuous and patently dishonest.

Shame on SilentWhistle if they allow this egregious abuse of their system.

Just so we are clear. I wrote to Koshmider in response to her attempt to introduce a red herring. I wrote;

If you are waiting on me to furnish anything more to you at all before you close this case, close it immediately.

BY which I meant move to the next stage of the process,
as in closing arguments.
Which to her, means closing it without resolution.



cc Koshmider upon posting.

SilentWhistle silenced

It would appear that the complaint filed against Winston Brooks will be "closed" without addressing the complaint. link

APS Director of Internal Audit, Margret Koshmider apparently intends to close the case without addressing the complaint.

As I reported, Koshmider responded to the complaint by insisting that I supply evidence of the tangential incidents that I listed on my complaint.

I wrote to her to protest her response.
I told her that I had no intention of gathering impossible to retrieve evidence, to substantiate claims tangential to the actual complaint that

Winston Brooks is behaving unethically in refusing to hold himself accountable as a role model of the student standard of conduct.

She wrote to SilentWhistle this morning;

Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 7:55 AM by Albuquerque Public Schools

Originator requested Silent Whistle be closed. Closed 12-23-08.

This patently dishonest, disgraceful, and conclusive proof of my allegation that SilentWhistle is a sham, and apparently Margret Koshmider is complicit.

CC Margret Koshmider upon posting.

City's no settlement practice slammed.

According to the Journal, link, a federal judge revealed that
the city of Albuquerque has a practice of "no settlement" of
claims against the city. Every case goes to litigation which
has the effect of denying justice to many legitimate victims.

APS has the same policy.

APS' insurer, United Educators, link, recently raised the APS'
insurance premiums specifically based on the district's higher
than acceptable litigation expenses.

Rather than just make a fair settlement with victims of abuse
by the district and its employees, the district makes every
complainant prevail in court - no mean task considering that
APS employs the most powerful law firm in the state, and that
that law firm has a virtually unlimited large bore pipeline to
unwitting taxpayer financial support of education.

The bulk of the money goes to school board head honcho,
Paula Maes' husband's law firm, the Modrall.

Modrall makes so much money off litigating for the APS,
that they won't even tell you how much they make,
even in response to a request for public records under the
New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act.

You can if you want, sue them over the records.

good luck.


As a side note; Paula Maes is running for the school board
again. Not only does she want to continue to feed off the
system, but she needs to be in place to prevent an honest
audit of the relationship between her law firm, and the APS.