“The Authoritative Allocation of Values”

Late political scientist David Easton once defined politics as “the authoritative allocation of values.” More precisely, politics (in a representative democracy) is the system where one group or another gets to determine how society will operate and can compel adherence to their set of preferred values through laws, sanctions, and rewards. This authoritative allocation of […]

Digging Into Jeffco Ballot Questions Part II: A Look at the Mill Levy

Ballots have now dropped in Jeffco, including questions 5A (a $33 million mill levy override) and 5B (a $567 million bond). In the last edition of Chalk Talk, we looked at the bond, question 5B. In this edition, we’ll take a look at the mill levy override, question 5A. A quick disclaimer – as a […]

Jeffco Election Questions Take Shape

Over this spring and summer, Jeffco Public Schools has been working to engage the community on possible ballot questions for this November’s election. I’d like to take a moment to explain how Jeffco would use potential funds from a statewide effort called Amendment 73, and my recommendation to the Board of Education for local ballot […]

A Provocation on Equity

This morning, I kicked off a district training put on by the National Equity Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to examining and raising the issue of equity in schools. Here are my remarks to Jeffco school and system leaders. I want to start your day with a provocation. When we talk about equity, you hear […]

Why Teachers are Walking Out

In a recently published article in Education Week, Marc Tucker (CEO of the National Center on Education & the Economy) wrote, “Little wonder the teachers are striking. The only question is why it took them so long.” Here in Jeffco, and across Colorado (and the nation), educators and other staff members working in schools are […]