As questions arise over a $500M Apple deal, LA school district votes to destroy internal emails

[Blue_Tires]

California’s largest school district just dealt a major blow to public transparency.

According to the Pasadena public radio station KPCC, the Los Angeles Unified school district (LAUSD) has voted to destroy all internal staff emails after one year. The reason for doing so, according to the board’s new policy, is that, “Because the District relies on public funds, it is imperative for the District to minimize its costs and, therefore, dispose of information and Records in a timely manner.”

That sounds reasonable on the surface, but consider the timing of the announcement: Less than three weeks ago, KPCC published emails revealing that LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy had met with representatives from Apple and the textbook company Pearson to discuss the purchase of iPads and educational software. These meetings occurred a year before public bidding opened up on the contract to supply technological resources to LA schools. Although Deasy claims the discussions were unrelated to the impending contract bid, Apple and Pearson went on to win the deal which is worth a record $500 million.

Following the release of the emails, Deasy cancelled the contract and vowed to reopen the bidding process.

The emails were made public by way of a California Public Records Act request, but thanks to the new policy the school district will no longer be required to – or, it seems, able to – produce internal emails like these because they are over a year old. Had the rule been in place a few weeks ago, KPCC could have been blocked from retrieving the emails and the Apple-Pearson deal would have likely stood unquestioned.

http://pando.com/2014/09/11/as-questions-arise-over-a-500m-apple-deal-la-school-district-votes-to-destroy-internal-emails/

I'd said back when the deal was announced that it was just a big con...Here are some previous threads:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023356700
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023758405
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014628006

[merrily]

1. US schools are battlefield for the hearts and minds of USians.

Over the years, I've seen stories about prominent Republicans, mostly women--Mrs Bush 41, Mrs. Bush 43, Mrs. Cheney, et al. writing books for very young kids. I'm guessing that those books are not going to be spreading liberal ideas.

Over the years, I've seen stories about how Texas, being (collectively) the largest public school district in the country, in essence, decides what public school textbooks say. I'm guessing that those books are not going to be spreading liberal ideas, ideas, either.

Over the years, I've seen stories about religious groups and churches volunteering to teach classes, such as American history, in public schools in Texas, at no cost to the schools--and the schools allowing that. I'm guessing that those public school courses are not going to be spreading liberal ideas, either, or secularist ideas.

Over the years, I've seen bipartisan, but still partisan, stories of private charter schools being funded with public tax money and being allegedly superior to public schools. I'm guessing that people who think that private schools funded by public money are superior to public schools funded by public money are not going to be spreading liberal ideas, either.

And then of course, there are church youth groups and like, also probably not spreading liberal ideas.

Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts? Dunno. Never joined.

Anyway, anyone have any thoughts on the so far highly predictable result of the above?

[Blue_Tires]

2. kick