It's ironic today that you posted this reference and I was just going to post a similar reflection on why the security at the Cleveand Metopolitan School District felt it was so important to confiscate my camera.

This month's New Yorker includes powerful images highlighting The PROMISE--of the American Civil Rights Movement.  It's a promise we must not forget.

The portfolio by Platon incorporates images shot by photographers credited and archived  at Corbis, Image Works, Magnum, TIME & LIFE, Getty, Polaris, and the Associated Press. 

Can REALNEO get remembered for capturing a story and moment we should not be allowed to forget?

I was allowed to attend the meeting, but not to bring my camera into the School District building.

Singling me out for my camera was ludicrous, given the fact that a number of people walked through their security check point with cell phones that can take pictures... thanks Norm for the offer to be there--I think the next board meeting is this Tuesday, when the District will most likely trot out another modification to the plan--I will get the details and post here.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Board Business Meeting – 6:30pm
John Marshall High School
3952 West 140th Street, Cleveland

Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Board Work Session – 6:30pm
Board of Education Administration Building
Board Room
1380 East Sixth Street, Cleveland

Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Board Business Meeting – 6:30pm
East Clark School
885 East 146th Street, Cleveland
 

I anticipate that the District will again drop Ginn and Tremont...only not call it a mistake this time...to appease the School Board's discontent with the unbelievably, sloppy, irrational and criminal--"plan."  The PD put out another corporate pro-editorial today, which now uses the word "daring," to sell it. UNREAL NEO.

I wrote a response to a similar gushing editorial in Crain's Cleveland a few weeks back--I won't even bother to respond to the PD.  At least Crain's printed my editorial.  Thanks Crains.

Sanders' transformation plan a farce
 

Nothing illustrates the disconnect between suburban/exurban Northeast Ohio and the city of Cleveland more than the letter to the editor submitted to Crain's by Jim Rundo of Chesterland in your Jan. 25 issue.

Mr. Rundo rhapsodizes about the foundation-funded Boston Consulting Group/Eugene Sanders Transformation Plan for the Cleveland schools, and admits that he lives nowhere near Cleveland — but only has Cleveland's best interests at heart — when he steps up to proudly endorse the plan that he acknowledges will be painful.

Well, it is time that those of you living outside the city of Cleveland realize that we, who do live here and who do pay taxes in the city of Cleveland, are tired of being your blood meal.

It is time that you acknowledge that Eugene Sanders and Daniel Burns were recruited to destroy and corporatize the unionized Cleveland public school system. Outside corporations and contractors have had their field day at the taxpayers' and at our children's expense. Corporate interests have intentionally undermined our schools and communities to line their pockets.

This Cleveland Metropolitan School District school board can either recognize the fraud and vote against the Sanders' Transformation Plan on Feb. 23 or they can continue to bleed away our future.

It's that simple. Eugene Sanders and his administration are under investigation in Toledo for fiscal malfeasance. It's only a matter of time before the full extent of fraud and corruption is uncovered here in Cleveland as well.

I respect Crain's Cleveland Business and the business community in Northeast Ohio. I ask you to not endorse this plan and to hold our school administrators accountable to every child and to the taxpayers supporting our schools.

Laura A. McShane

Cleveland