Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh...should someone tell Hickey that there are computer programs available now that can generate fliers like this rather inexpensively? And that the materials for these fliers do not cost *that* much either?

Anyone?

RCSD hired TBWD Strategies earlier this year. Here is the voucher data: Web Link
653669 TBWB STRATEGIES 5/4/2016 $5,074.00
632752 TBWB STRATEGIES 2/11/2016 $5,074.00
They also hired Godbe Research. Here is that voucher data:

655000 GODBE RESEARCH (CORP) 5/10/2016 $16,625.00
638709 GODBE RESEARCH (CORP) 3/8/2016 $16,625.00

This is taxpayer money spent for campaign purposes.

"This is taxpayer money spent for campaign purposes."

Big whuup.

How about the millions spent in ridiculous over-testing, doing nothing but lining the pockets of test providers, usually big, well-connected publishers. Remember, "Big Testing" started with NCLB, when the president tried to help his brother Neil Bush's testing company (Ignite), along with fellow test company friend of Bush family, Bill Bennett.

ehhh, you are correct, Jack, far easier to moan and gripe about a couple grand on research and presentation, opposed to BILLIONS of tax dollars sent to lobbyists and publishers.

Way to go!


======================


NCLB has instead benefited the testing industry in the amount of between $1.9 and $5.3 billion a year. NCLB requires states to produce “interpretive, descriptive, and diagnostic reports,” all of which are provided at a price by members of the industry. Among these are the top four or five players in the textbook market, including the Big Three—McGraw-Hill, Houghton-Mifflin, and Harcourt General—who have, since the passage of NCLB, come to dominate the testing market. Identified by Wall Street analysts in the wake of the 2000 election as “Bush stocks,” all three represent owners like Harold McGraw III, who has longstanding ties to the Bush administration and the lobbying efforts of Sandy Kress.

Other Kress clients, including Ignite! Learning, a company headed by Neil Bush, and K12 Inc., a for-profit enterprise owned by Bill Bennett, tailored themselves to vie for NCLB dollars"

======================


"No childrens left behind" just another malapropism by u-know-who

Oh, the Horror! THE HORROR!!!

...only, none of the information you cite from the firm you name is listed on its website. At. All.

[part removed.]

Re: Public Document Request Dated June 20, 2016
Dear Mr. Hickey:
This letter responds to your June 20, 2016 request to Superintendent John Baker for records from the Redwood City School District. The California Public Records Act ("CPRA") requires the District within 10 days of receipt of a request to make a determination whether it has disclosable public records in its possession that are responsive to your request (Gov. Code, § 6253.) The District is not required, however, to produce all the records within 10 days.
You have requested documents relative to the District's recent "Report Card" mailing. The District believes it has disclosable public records in its possession that are responsive to the items in your request. We have included with this letter a copy of the District's contract with TBWB, its communications and election planning consultant, as well as the agenda and meeting minutes of the Board of Trustees' meeting where this contract was approved.
The bulk of the remaining items consists of communications between and among various individuals both in- and outside of the District. We have begun locating and gathering these communications. Please note that CPRA requires only that we provide documents responsive to your request, but does not require us to create new records or customize or extract from existing records to respond to your specific questions. For example, where you ask in Item 3 for "Meeting (or meetings) at which the "Report Card" mailing was discussed and / or approved," please note that because meetings are not documents, your request is ambiguous, and without additional clarification, no records will be produced other than those items that related to the Board of Trustees' approval of the TBWB consulting contract.
Additionally, only those writings which meet the definitions contained in the CPRA and are not otherwise exempt from disclosure by the CPRA will be produced. (Gov. Code, §§ 6252-6255.) Some of the items you have requested are not subject to disclosure because they are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Government Code sections 6254, subdivisions (a), (b), (c), and/or (k), and 6255; are protected by the attorney-client communication, deliberative process, or other privilege; and / or are not in the care, custody or control of the District.
With these standards in mind, we are making a good faith effort to locate and compile all responsive records. We anticipate the District will be able to make the remaining documents available to you by no later than July 22, 2016. Copies of District records can be made for 3 cents per page, and we will not release or mail records to you until we have received payment. Please advise me whether you would Like copies to be made, or whether you intend to come to the District to inspect the records, and we can determine how to finalize payment. My contact information is below.
Very Truly Yours,
Naomi Hunter, Director of Communications

Not content to mindlessly take up space here, he wants to bog down people with real work to do.

Who's complaining about wasting time and money now?

Meanwhile, schools spend billions on needless testing, instead of teaching critical skills.

Board action on hiring of TBWB:
9.4 Recommendation re: Approval to Hire TBWB to Guide the District in Evaluating the Electoral Feasibility of a Parcel Tax Renewal Measure
The Board approved the hiring of TBWB to guide the district in evaluating the electoral feasibility of a parcel tax renewal measure, (McBride, Lawson; 5-0).
President MacAvoy (Ayes) Trustee Paulson (Ayes) Trustee Diaz-Slocum (Ayes) Trustee McBride (Ayes) Trustee Lawson (Ayes)

No discussion reported in the minutes.

Contract with TBWB:

THIS MANAGEMENT CONSULTING AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of April 27_2016 (the "Effective Date") by and between Redwood City School District ("Client") and PUBLIC FINANCE STRATEGIES LLC, DBA TBWB STRATEGIES, a California Limited Liability Company ("TBWB").

RECITALS

Client needs assistance evaluating the electoral feasibility of a Parcel Tax measure, developing a measure for the ballot and implementing a public outreach and communications program to raise awareness of the Client's funding needs.

TBWB is a professional consulting firm that provides ballot measure electoral feasibility, public outreach and communication consulting services.

Client desires that TBWB provide certain consulting services to Client with respect to a Parcel Tax Measure related to protecting academic programs and retaining teachers ("Parcel Tax Measure") pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

1. Engagement of TBWB.

Client hereby engages TBWB to perform the following services (collectively, "Services"):

a. Ballot Measure Development.

TBWB shall perform any of the following services as needed to assist Client in preparing the Parcel Tax Measure for the ballot:

Recommend a final tax rate, duration and tax structure;

Recommend ballot resolution language regarding the programs and services to be funded by the measure, and prepare messaging that clearly articulates how these programs and services will benefit from additional revenue provided by the measure;

Recommend exemptions and procedures for qualifying for the exemptions (e.g. senior exemption applications and process);

Recommend potential taxpayer accountability protections to consider including in the Ballot Measure;

Work with legal counsel to help develop a resolution calling for the election;

Work with legal counsel to develop the 75-word ballot question;

Work with legal counsel to refine the full text of the measure and other materials that will appear in the ballot pamphlet mailed to all voters;

Present recommendations, documents and resolutions to the Governing Board for approval; and

Work with the County Registrar of Voters Office to assist Client in completing the process of qualifying for the ballot.

b. Public Information.

TBWB shall perform any of the following services as needed to raise awareness of Client's funding needs and the Parcel Tax Measure proposal:

Develop informational fact sheets to be distributed at school sites and school functions;

Provide content related to the Parcel Tax Measure to be added to Client's website, included in email updates and added to newsletters;

Prepare PowerPoint presentations for school and community meetings;

Write, design, and produce mailings to educate, inform and engage voters;

Develop strategies and plans to inform and engage key internal stakeholder groups, including teachers, principals, parent leaders, bargaining units, Governing Board and others; and

Develop strategies and plans to inform and engage influential external groups including elected leaders, business leaders, city leaders, ethnic community leaders, faith community leaders, taxpayer groups and others.


2. Term of Agreement. The term of this Agreement ("Term") shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until:
Governing Board action to adopt a resolution calling for an election relating to the Parcel Tax Measure.

Approval of Materials.
Client is responsible for giving final approval of materials developed by TBWB for distribution to the public, including, without limitation, informational fact sheets to be distributed at school sites and school functions, Client's website content related to the Parcel Tax Measure, PowerPoint presentations for school and community meetings, and mailers. Approval of mailers must be given in writing by the Superintendent or his or her designee.

And yet more copy-and-paste from Hickey. Never mind that it does not lead to an *actual* conclusion.

Groan.

I conclude that we should Vote NO on measure U.

An RCSD 1-minute video created for the district by B43 using public funds, was shown before every movie on every screen(20) for a period of 4 weeks. The content is the video that is currently on RCSD home page called RCSD Promo.

This is all aimed at promoting the district to ensure passage of their tax measures. It should be illegal.
It’s called “electioneering”, which if done with public funds, is a felony.

For more election related material see the district website.

Web Link

The file is TBWB_SchoolSitePPT_1a.pdf. Obviously created by TBWB under contract with the district. It carefully avoids mentioning Measure U which is an extension of Measure W which is mentioned and portrayed in glowing terms.
That is clearly "electioneering" intended to influence an election.

Client desires that TBWB provide certain consulting services to Client with respect to a Parcel Tax Measure related to protecting academic programs and retaining teachers ("Parcel Tax Measure") pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Develop informational fact sheets to be distributed at school sites and school functions;

Provide content related to the Parcel Tax Measure to be added to Client's website, included in email updates and added to newsletters;

Prepare PowerPoint presentations for school and community meetings;

Write, design, and produce mailings to educate, inform and engage voters;

I have requested copies of deliverables under the district's contract with TBWB.

Specifically:

Develop informational fact sheets to be distributed at school sites and school functions;

Provide content related to the Parcel Tax Measure to be added to Client's website, included in email updates and added to newsletters; Is TBWB_SchoolSitePPT_1a.pdf the only deliverable for this item in the contract?

Prepare PowerPoint presentations for school and community meetings;

Write, design, and produce mailings to educate, inform and engage voters;

Resign, Hickey.