By David Scharfenberg
(From NPR Boston, May 31, 2013)
Sensing a rare opportunity to shape policy here and beyond, charter school advocates are weighing significant investments in Boston’s first competitive mayoral race in a generation.
Two national advocacy groups with local affiliates — Stand for Children and Democrats for Education Reform — are considering involvement. And several wealthy benefactors of the local education reform movement say they’re committed to spending in the race.
“There’s a lot of money on the sidelines trying to figure out what to do about the Boston schools — and this mayoral election is critical,” said Richard Burnes, a semi-retired venture capitalist and longtime activist who plans to spend. If “we get one of these pseudo reformers who’s really in the pocket of the [teachers] union, that’ll be a disaster.”
Advocates — who are contemplating sizable, independently funded get-out-the-vote efforts — have not yet coalesced around a single candidate. And there is concern among some about trying to pick a winner in a sprawling, unpredictable field of 16 contenders.
Read the full post here.