Education

Federal File: Inefficiency; Finalist Tancredo; Wrong numbers

May 30, 1990 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A Reagan Administration initiative to make the government more efficient by shifting work to private contractors has cost the government more than it has saved, a recent report by the Senate Budget Committee concludes.

Eight agencies have failed to perform any of the feasibility studies ordered by the Office of Management and Budget, the report indicates, while others have made only “token efforts.”

It says even studies that result in contracts can be so costly and time-consuming that any resultant savings are outweighed. The Defense Department has more than 1,700 people assigned to perform “hundreds” of these studies at an estimated annual cost of $150 million to $300 million, the panel found, while the agency estimates savings during the past decade at $27 million to $136 million.

The Education Department has performed only one “privatization” study, of its library. Department sources said the study was too flawed to base a decision on. And action has been blocked by the Congress until it can study the issue.

Tom Tancredo, the department’s controversial regional representative in Denver, was a finalist for the superintendency in nearby Jefferson County.

Mr. Tancredo, who has been criticized for his use of federal mailing privileges to circulate material supporting conservative causes, once taught in a Jefferson County junior high school, but has never held a school administrative post.

His resume was submitted by the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, a conservative group that has opposed tax hikes and likes his support of an educational-voucher system.

“A significant number of constituents expressed an interest in him, and so we thought it appropriate to interview him among the six finalists,” said Kirk Brady, president of the county school board, adding that Mr. Tancredo “had some insights we will find useful.”

The board selected Lewis Finch, superintendent of the Anoka-Hennepin district in Coon Rapids, Minn., who has held several administrative posts.

If you have trouble getting through to the Education Department this week, don’t call the telephone repairman.

All telephone numbers in the department will change as part of the federal government’s conversion to a new interagency communications system.

“It’s being done in the name of efficiency, but it’s sure going to have the opposite effect for a good long while,” one agency spokesman commented.--jm

A version of this article appeared in the May 30, 1990 edition of Education Week as Federal File: Inefficiency; Finalist Tancredo; Wrong numbers

Events

School Climate & Safety K-12 Essentials Forum Strengthen Students’ Connections to School
Join this free event to learn how schools are creating the space for students to form strong bonds with each other and trusted adults.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
Reframing Behavior: Neuroscience-Based Practices for Positive Support
Reframing Behavior helps teachers see the “why” of behavior through a neuroscience lens and provides practices that fit into a school day.
Content provided by Crisis Prevention Institute
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Webinar
Math for All: Strategies for Inclusive Instruction and Student Success
Looking for ways to make math matter for all your students? Gain strategies that help them make the connection as well as the grade.
Content provided by NMSI

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: March 20, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: March 13, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: February 21, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: February 7, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read