Caroline Grannan was an editor at the San Jose Mercury News for 12 years. Currently she contributes to a number of Internet sites dealing with education and schools. She is a San Francisco public school parent, advocate, and volunteer and has followed education politics locally and nationwide.

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Blast from SFUSD's past: Rojas crony pleads guilty in Dallas

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May 29, 10:21 AM

by Caroline Grannan, S.F. Education Examiner

Veteran SFUSD parents, staff and observers well remember the Wild West days of the Bill Rojas administration, 1992-’99. Rojas departed to run the Dallas school district, took several of his associates with him, and left Dallas under a cloud a couple of years later. Meanwhile, his buddies have been getting into legal trouble in Dallas for various shenanigans.

Now William Coleman, once Rojas’ No. 2 guy in SFUSD, has pleaded guilty in Dallas to charges of attempting to influence a grand jury, and has agreed to testify against another former SFUSD administrator, Ruben Bohuchot, on multiple felony charges over Dallas dealings.

When Rojas’ successor, Arlene Ackerman, arrived in SFUSD in 2000, her first task was to clean up Rojas-era corruption, and she scored some impressive successes shutting down shady schemes and getting crooks busted. Even the controversial Ackerman’s detractors generally give her full marks for that aspect of her tenure. But the Rojas aura lives on in Dallas.

Here’s the May 29, 2008, Dallas Morning News on the Coleman/Bohuchot dealings:

Former DISD administrator will testify in plea deal

William Coleman, a former top Dallas school administrator, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of attempting to influence a grand jury that was investigating a bribery and money-laundering scheme in the Dallas Independent School District.

In exchange for his guilty plea, Mr. Coleman agreed to testify for the prosecution next month in the trial of former DISD Associate Superintendent Ruben Bohuchot and computer company executive Frankie Wong on felony charges, including bribery and obstruction of justice. …

Ties between Mr. Coleman and Mr. Bohuchot go back more than a decade when they worked together in the San Francisco school district.

Both men came to Dallas in 1999 to work for their old boss, former San Francisco Superintendent Bill Rojas, who became DISD chief in 1999.

Click to read the rest of the story.

Topics: SFUSD history , Bill Rojas

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Comments

Stockton's SAT gap reveals how opportunity passes many kids by

2 comments

December 4, 11:13 AM

We fret constantly about the “achievement gap,” but astory in today’s news reveals something equally shocking – a glaring opportunity gap. This story comes out of Stockton, Calif., where last year only 9% of the school district’s... Read More
Topics: achievement gap , College admissions

D.C.'s imperious Rhee itches to wield the ax against teachers

1 comment

December 3, 9:13 AM

Michelle Rhee is being watched. As she wrestles the demons of Washington, D.C.’s school system, the flashy chancellor of D.C.’s schools has educators everywhere keeping an eye out to see whose blood ends up being shed.The update on Rhee in... Read More
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1 comment

November 28, 2:15 PM

Families who want seats in San Francisco’s most popular public schools need to get in line – or, more precisely, into the lottery. The odds are against them and the process is off the top of the stress-o-meter.So what’s a parent looking... Read More
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High school football ruling gives foster kids a fair deal -- and adults a lesson

9 comments

November 25, 11:00 PM

A high school football player can’t be required to jump extra hurdles to make the team because he’s a foster child, a judge has rightly ruled.And that ruling restored the entire football season for the Placer High School Hillmen of Auburn,... Read More
Topics: high school sports

Finding a school in San Francisco: Lesson 1

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November 25, 2:45 PM

This time of year, San Francisco parents are looking at kindergartens, sixth grades and ninth grades. In our school district, that can be a killer task -- as stressful and momentous as seeking a job or finding a house.In other school districts –... Read More
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Catholic school pushes out GLBT family over Prop. 8 opposition

13 comments

November 22, 11:38 AM

SFGate’sThe Mommy Files blog posts about Robin McGehee, an enthusiastic mom and parent volunteer at Fresno’s St. Helen’s Catholic School – so committed that the principal recruited her last May to step up as president of the school’s... Read More
Topics: Election 2008 , gay marriage , Prop. 8

Two chances to plunge in and learn more about our schools

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November 20, 2:53 PM

SFUSD invites all and sundry to a community summit this Saturday. Here's the district's info, though you don't have to be a hardened cynic to cringe at PR happy-talk like the term "joyful learners." But don't skip the summit because of that!SFUSD... Read More
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1 comment

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November 19, 3:55 PM

The moment that strikes fear into San Francisco parents’ hearts is upon us. Yes, that moment. Brace yourself. It’s time … to apply to high school.But take courage. There is help – and it’s not nearly as scary as it used... Read More
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