Author: Mary Ollie

What Fresh Hell is This?
April 19, 2017 No Responses

What Fresh Hell is This?

      The subject heading stood out from the rest of the Monday morning email deluge. I share this because the email was from a friend who had been following the 2017 session of the Idaho Legislature. The body of her correspondence...
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Damn the Iceberg! Full Steam Ahead!
January 22, 2017 No Responses

Damn the Iceberg! Full Steam Ahead!

      Governor Otter has vowed to stay the course on his education plan. In his proposed budget message, he referred to the governor’s task force recommendations for education. This task force was formed December 2012 follow...
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Governor Otter’s Education Budget: Throwing Money at the Corporate State
January 10, 2017 No Responses

Governor Otter’s Education Budget: Throwing Money at the Corporate State

      Governor Otter has proposed several big money education items in his budget. Each builds on previous programs recommended by a task force created in 2012 and operating on information at least that old. None of the task force...
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Education Supply Chain Management and Control
January 1, 2017 No Responses

Education Supply Chain Management and Control

      In 1978, Pfeffer and Salancik published External Control of Organizations. The full title is “External Control of Organizations – a resource dependence perspective“. The authors make the point that those who co...
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Trickle Down Economics and Getting Soaked
October 23, 2016 No Responses

Trickle Down Economics and Getting Soaked

      Back when I was growing up the term “trickle down” had an entirely different meaning. It was what happened when my younger brothers couldn’t make it to the outhouse on time. Today, trickle-down economics co...
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Does Silence Mean Consent?
October 23, 2016 No Responses

Does Silence Mean Consent?

      “Silence means consent” is an often repeated phrase that is used to justify decisions. When it comes to education decision-making in Idaho, silence does not mean consent. Instead silence indicates a communication...
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Dark Money and Deep Water – Western Ada Recreation District $20 million Bond
October 16, 2016 No Responses

Dark Money and Deep Water – Western Ada Recreation District $20 million Bond

      On November 8 voters living in the Western Ada Recreation District will be asked to approve a $20 million bond to build two swimming pools. One pool will be located near Amity and Eagle in south Meridian. The other is...
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Important Notice of State Board of Education Meetings
August 25, 2016 No Responses

Important Notice of State Board of Education Meetings

      These meetings are not well publicized – They hope you won’t attend. If You Want a Say in Your Child’s Education You Must Attend! Our thanks to Mary Ollie for putting this information together As citizens we ...
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The Idaho Education Network mess goes from SNAFU to FUBAR
August 24, 2016 No Responses

The Idaho Education Network mess goes from SNAFU to FUBAR

      Your Crony Government Hard at Work Costing You Money Credit my brothers for introducing me to military jargon. SNAFU, TARFU, and FUBAR are said to date from the 1940’s and while crude expressions, these do a better job...
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You Thought the NSA was Invasive? Schools are Worse!
August 21, 2016 No Responses

You Thought the NSA was Invasive? Schools are Worse!

      Parents Upset about Invasive School Registration Questions Across Idaho, parents are discussing the kinds of school registration questions being asked about their children and they are not happy. During the past week parents...
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Rulemaking: The Devil is in the Details (Part II – State Devils)
June 28, 2016 No Responses

Rulemaking: The Devil is in the Details (Part II – State Devils)

      Once a bill becomes law, agencies begin the rulemaking process that details how the law will be implemented. This essay is the second of two that looks at how the rule-making process can be manipulated. The first detailed...
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Learning the Rules is the First Step in Stopping Government Control
June 20, 2016 No Responses

Learning the Rules is the First Step in Stopping Government Control

      Every issue of Gem State Patriot News includes the phrase “Knowledge is Power as Silence is Consent”. When I read that phrase, I find myself nodding in agreement and at the same time feel my blood pressure rising...
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