I live in a very liberal school district (University connected). There is much corruption, lack of transparency, networking involving local businesses and PAC funding...yet it's a (bought/paid for status) top rated district w/n the state.

A 24 year veteran Board Trustee who won our state's School Board Trustee of the year award last month was ousted last night. She is in her 60's (no longer has kids in the district) and thought her longevity/history/status/community connections + PAC support negated the need for showing up to any of the non Democratic led candidate discussion forums. She's out; and while I can't be more pleased, the community "network" has a way of getting them back in if people relax their voting power. Also, a friend of mine (a former Teacher in this district) won a spot (came in FIRST out of all the candidates) after 4 years of attending Board meetings, writing summaries, and playing watchdog w/this corrupt group. She is tenacious. I'm so proud of her and have a blip of hope that the rubber stampers/"Yes" Trustees get some blowback.