Senator Dinniman’s legislation would make it harder to have a corrupt school board.

Corrupt and politically ideological school boards can have a negative effect on education, property values and the legal expenses of school districts. For instance parents do not want to live in a school district where creationism is taught in place of science.

I believe there is a larger problem with public corruption within school district administration in Pennsylvania. I do not think that public corruption in Pennsylvania school districts is extraordinary; I believe that public corruption in Pennsylvania school districts is common.

There are too many school districts in Pennsylvania. There are far too many school districts in Pennsylvania for any law enforcement agency to investigate one by one.

School district budgets can be extremely difficult to navigate. Extortion and payoffs can be well hidden. Funds can be transferred to private accounts within the labyrinth of a school district budget. It It is too easy for school administrators and school builders to have a cozy relationship.

The only recourse the public has to root out public corruption within school districts are whistleblowers. Most people who have information and are potential whistleblowers within school district administration are well aware that no matter what the outcome they will never get a job in a Pennsylvania school district again. In the absence of a whistleblower it is very difficult for investigative reporting by news organizations.

I propose that Pennsylvania moves to a 6 school district state; Western North, Western South, Central North, Central South, Eastern North, and Eastern South. It would then be possible for the Attorney General of Pennsylvania or the USDoJ to investigate public corruption in Pennsylvania’s school districts.

The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Dinniman introduces school board legislation
Bill would ban school board candidates
from running in primary elections
Friday, November 13, 2009
By DAN KRISTIE
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/11/13/news/srv0000006808324.txt