PPS says its all about school safety ... Just don't mention the earthquake, because there's almost no money for seismic upgrades in this bond!

From the Oregon Economics blog:

Now is a good time to raise, once again, the question of why we are being asked to pay $548 million for school facilities improvements that does almost nothing to address the very desperate need for seismic improvements in Portland Public Schools?

Maybe that's in the next $548 million phase.

The shot heard 'round Portland: Seattle superintendent fired for wasting taxpayer dollars

The Seattle school board voted unanimously to fire Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson over a $1.8 million financial scandal involving a district business development program. Board vice president Michael DeBell remarked:

What has occurred -- the financial scandal, the cronyism, the obvious lack of transparency -- is an insult to the taxpayers of Seattle. You pay your property taxes, you obey the rules. Others should do the same.

Last week, the state Auditor's Office released a report saying Seattle Public Schools' small business development program had spent about $1.5 million for services with a "questionable public purpose" and $280,000 for services that were never provided.

Sounds a lot like PPS ...