Carrie Meek: Vouchers a good option

Support for public schools and support for private-school vouchers are not mutually exclusive, former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek, a longtime voucher opponent, told the Gradebook this afternoon. Meek's comments came in response to news that her foundation is offering tax-credit vouchers to poor kids in Miami. "Yes, I was an opponent of vouchers," Meek, 81, said when reached by phone at home. But "I was an opponent because I thought they were taking away from public schools … The way I see it now, they are not taking away."

Given Meek's longtime opposition to vouchers – and her status as a legend in the black community - some voucher opponents did a double-take when the the Gradebook reported that the Department of Education had authorized her foundation to offer them. But Meek said while she has "tweaked" her position on vouchers, she remains a steadfast supporter of public schools and of increased educational opportunities for the poor. "I spent a great part of my life trying to strengthen minority children and minority families," she said. "To get a scholarship like this would be very helpful to some of these children."

The response from voucher opponents? Vouchers are "always a bad idea," no matter who supports them, said Mark Pudlow, spokesman for the Florida Education Association, the state teachers union. "You’re setting up a parallel system, and you're devoting your time and your attention and your money … to these alternative programs. Meanwhile, we’re looking at budget cuts for public schools."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Comments

[College]

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Terminator:

Based on her website and her community acitvities, The Carrie Meek Foundation has been involved in tutoring programs for public school students. Her support for public school students and their struggles has not changed. I am reading that she sees this as just an additional way for her to help struggling children in the most improverished neighborhoods of Miami-Dade

As to your "claim" that she is getting money off this program- I am neither an employee nor board member of the Carrie Meek Foundation so I can not say if she receives any compensation for her tireless efforts to help financially needy residents of Miami-Dade. I will point out though that according to state law, Scholarship Funding Organizations can not use any tax credit funds, nor interest earned on those funds, for administrative expenses. Every dollar contributed must go for scholarships. Also the non-profit scholarship funding organizations must submit a detailed audit, conducted by a CPA, to the DOE and DOR.

Too bad all of the money the state sends to the school districts (or heck, I would be happy with even 65% of those funds) are not spent in the public classrooms.

I assume you do not like people making baseless claims about you and catagorizing you as say a racist or bigot though some have stated that your comments lend them to see you in that light. Shame on you for doing the same to others you don't even know!

[terminator]

do your research:
You don't answer any of my questions, so I'll assume Mrs. Meek is drawing a salary for her role in sponsoring the voucher clearinghouse.
I also thank you for your assumptions regarding my big boat, my writing and private schools.
I assure you, I'm not John Grisham, I don't own a big yacht and my kids don't go to Ransom Everglades but I do know plenty about education and politics in Florida.
My children attend public school (one that has received an A seven years running because the parents are involved, they care about education and they take positive steps to ensure the school's administration and teachers stay on their toes).
We have no need for vouchers in our area of town because the community is involved and highly values public education.
I haven't noticed Mrs. Meek doing anything for the public schools in her area, you know the ones that are all F schools.
Amazing how folks like her and "Uncle Tom" Willard Fair want to play big man on campus when it comes to education but they can't be bothered doing anything to clean up their own house.
Like I said, hopefully Mrs. Meek's foundation is above board and Kendrick will have some questions to answer next time he asks the teacher's union for their support.

[do your research]

Terminator,

Your racism, classism and your own self serving needs shine through in every word you write. Why all the conspiracy theories? Working on your next novel already? I thought you had to be out on your big boat to get that done, or perhaps in your quiet time while your kids go to their nice private school?

Can you say: HYPOCRITE?

[terminator]

8:58
I wasn't very good in math when I attended school but I do remember the term "common denominator" and the common denominator in all of my stories is "corruption" with the Meeks being inolved. Call it guilt by association if you want.
Now I'm not saying they've got blood on their hands but if I was one of those poor black folks living adjacent to Poinciana Park in Miami's Liberty City ghetto, a teacher who belongs to the United Teachers of Dade or a taxpayer of Miami-Dade/Broward County, I don't think I'd be real enamored with the Meek clan about now.
Can you say: self serving?
Sure it looks all sugary, helping poor black kids from the ghetto get a decent education but the bottom line is: how much money are the Meeks making off this voucher scheme? Is Carrie Meek drawing a salary as executive director? Are any of the board members receiving renumeration for services provided? Are there any conflicts of interest involving those serving on the Meek foundation board?
Looks to me like the Meeks have sold out to the Republican right wingers. They figure, "if you can't beat em join em" and the state's corporate voucher scholarship program is a good angle to play.
Kendrick will have some explaining to do next time he runs for Congress. Alot of teachers will want to know why they should support a guy who favors vouchers?
Is this the same Kendrick who staged a sit in in Gov. Jeb Bush's office several years ago?
Now his momma's doing business with the Jebster and his business partner John Kirtley?
Can you say: HYPOCRITE?
We'll be watching. Hope Carrie Meek has all of her bases covered.
The Miami Herald just loves to investigate wayward politicians.

Terminator;
Search all you want- this is all about helping kids; nothing more, nothing less!!

We all know that you hate giving poor families the same opportunities that you and I have for our children.

It is wonderful to see Mrs. Meek put the children first, something she has done all of her life. Unlike people like you.......

Wow, Terminator, I guess that's a perfect example of "when you can't attack the message, attack the messenger?" So you don't like Mrs. Meek, her son, his wife? Anyone else you'd like to go after?

I guess we already have in your mix "a number of affordable housing scandals" in Dade, Wackenhut Security's billing practices, and Pat Tornillo stealing from the Miami Teachers' Union (so does that support the argument for vouchers?)

Anything else you'd like to throw in there?

[terminator]

The real story Ron is "what's in it for Carrie Meek and sonny boy Kendrick"?
Ironically, now that Carrie doesn't need public school teacher's support anymore since she's no longer running for political office, all of a sudden, she does an about-face on vouchers.
As I had previously reported on this blog, Carrie Meek and Kendrick Meek offered their political support to a sleazy Boston developer who was going to redevelop Miami's Liberty City Poinciana Park into a high tech magnet.
Turns out, he was just pulling the wool over Miami-Dade County getting millions out of the deal while absolutely nothing was done.
Carrie Meek was getting office space rent free from the developer in his Opa-Locka building while driving a Cadillac Escalade courtesy of the same developer.
All the while, Kendrick Meek was lobbying the federal government for more money even though the developer had already ripped off the city of Opa-Locka with the same development scheme several years earlier.
Miami-Dade county which has been embroiled in a number of affordable housing scandals (the feds recently took over their HUD operation) ultimately pulled the plug on the project.
After $hit hit the fan in the Miami-Herald, Carrie Meek returned the Escalade and Kendrick Meek cancelled his support for the project.
While in the state legislature, Kendrick Meek worked for Wackenhut, the private security company. Wackenhut is currently embroiled in several whistleblower lawsuits regarding ripping off Dade and Broward County to the tune of millions with fraudulent billing practices.
Interestingly enough, Kendrick Meek's wife (Leslie Meek) worked for and was close to former disgraced head of the Dade Teacher's Union (Pat Tornillo) who was convicted of stealing several million dollars and served time in federal prison prior to his death two months ago.
Several weeks prior to the FBI raid on UTD headquarters (Meek's wife who was the attorney for UTD) closed down her law office and disappeared from the building.
So the story here kids is: "all that's gold doesn't necessarily glitter".
If I was an investigative reporter, I would be shining a spotlight on the Meek's business activities as it relates to their new "voucher" scheme.
While I'm sure they want to help inner city kids get a better education, one has to wonder how much the Meeks are profiting off this venture?

[Kelvin Davis]

Typical teachers union response. Wish we could get everyone pulling in the same direction on educating our kids.

Mrs. Meek is correct tax credit scholarships and support for public schools are mutually exclusive.