Once again we have had to set up a new SAUSD corruption thread as the last one started to run slow with all the comments on it.
Our schools are in crisis today – not just here in Santa Ana but all over the state. The only thing we know for sure is that we are going to take more budget hits.
I am amazed that the SAUSD hired back all their laid off administrators. How crazy is that? Class sizes are growing, good teachers are laid off, and the union, as usual, is asleep at the wheel.
We will continue to reason through all this here at the Orange Juice blog! We can but hope for the best…
Why is all the concern on teacher accountability? When does SAUSD hold site administrators and administrators downtown accountable? Juan Lopez made a terrible decision hiring Dennis Cole to be the Site Administrator at Willard. Time after time in SAUSD, he has made horrendous decisions in his choice of administrators. Why is he not held accountable and instead given a raise?
And, now with the poor decision to place Dennis Cole at Willard, when is Jane Russo held accountable for her lack of leadership in coming to a quick resolution of the problem at Willard. For 6 years, she let Jeff Bishop destroy the school and then finally transferred him to Sierra. Is she going to leave Dennis Cole in for six years as he creates the Willard Christian Academy? In most other districts, the administrator would be replaced now (even if someone was put in on an interim basis). At this point in the school year, to do anything other than remove Cole ASAP would be tantamount to criminal negligence.
I’m ready for the school to be taken over as a charter school unless something changes quickly. This is beyond ridiculous.
At one time there was an outcry of administrator accountability, however the former superintendent and his lame cabinet were successful in silencing the members of the community that led the charge.
Trustee Noji singlehandedly recruited the current superintendent just like she did Trustee Hernandez. Noji has carefully put in place puppets that will support her agenda.
And the mayor of Santa Ana has been careful to protect his investment of Richardson,
Noji and Hernandez on the BOE. You must first understand the politics of the City before there’s any hope of rescuing SAUSD.
I too,
am ready to have Willard turn into a Charter School, if that’s what it takes to have Dennis Cole removed.
Dennis Cole is not an Educator nor does he care about education Willard students. If, he did, he would have kept his personal religious views out Willard. This alone, should wake up the School Board, who are elected officials and step in to remove Cole and replace Jane Russo for allowing and turning her back of Willard students.
This is bigger than you and I. It is about a Bigot pushing, bullying; without choice his religion on students, who himself said, during our weekly meeting don’t know what they want!
It is not about religion.
It is about an individuals attempt to bring Christianity into a public school setting, without freedom of choice. It is about an individuals attempt to convert 11 year old kids. Like Dennis Cole said, himself! These are vulnerable children! And, Dennis Cole is extorting these vulnerable children. Dennis Cole also extorts the vulnerabilities of new and inexperience teachers with threats of dismissal or reprimands.
He reminds me of the infamous David Koresh. Dennis Cole gives, to a lot of us, the impression that he wants to have his own following and sees Willard as the perfect breading ground for his congregation. What a better place, Willard, under his pretense of reform and transformation.
I urge you, to look at your sons and daughters, would you like your school teacher or Administrator going behind your back and taking the role of parenting away from you. Teaching him or her, different religious beliefs other than your own.
I think not!
You would be calling your district’s Superintendent or the School Board and demanding a stop. But, because these are low income, non English speaking parents, that for the most part have 2 or maybe 3 low wage paying jobs to make ends-meat. Dennis Cole, extorts for his own agenda and counts of the fact the Willard parents don’t have the knowledge or education to put up a fight to stop him!
One needs to fully grasp the injustice Dennis Cole is doing, he could have in so many ways, open the door to the staff and students alike to embrace his vision. But, typical, Bigot Administrator, did like so many behind him have done. his way or not way at all!
Cole’s latest actions have landed him in another post at the New Santa Ana blog:
http://newsantaana.com/2010/12/12/willard-principal-dennis-cole-cancels-all-the-student-clubs-at-his-school/
And here on the Orange Juice:
http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2010/12/the-wrath-of-cole-willards-jaguars-for-jesus-principal-bans-all-student-clubs/
Welcome any comments – and send suggestions/corrections to ChezVern@aol.com
When Cole dictated that all staffers were to take on extra hours, no matter how he phrased it, did anyone call the Teacher’s Organization and say, “is this legal?” In our district, it would NOT be and would be a contract issue, not just a Willard School issue. If you allow him to do this, it will soon be “usual and customary” and you, and all teachers in the District, will be stuck with this forever. I’ve seen it happen in similar situations. Act now before it’s too latel
outside the SA school district,
No, Dennis Cole get Lloyd Bennett and Paul Zive to go and sell it to the staff and make them feel like they will be the bad and rotten apples if they/ we don’t all go along with the compact hours.
mostly everyone is afraid to say no, because they will be targeted by Cole, as soon as Lloyd and Paul go back to him and mention which of the staff members is not willing to, like good sheep, get in line and follow.
It just takes one phone call to make it an official notification of illegal practice. It may already be too late, but you might want to try. You might also want to file a complaint with the State. File in writing so that they can’t come back later and deny knowledge of the practice. A contract cannot be changed by simply having staff members raise their hands for an arbitrary practice. Hours, duties, etc. are “arbitrated” in the contract. Do yourself a favor and by doing so help all “contracted” employees.
Willard was identified as a persistently underperforming school. As such, there were 4 models of change offered. The district chose the “transformation” model. As part of that model, the district negotiated with the union over various items. That’s where the MOU came from, and as I understand it, that’s where the compacts that were voted on at all the PLAS schools originated.
And Willard’s staff voted to accept the compact, which states that staff members will perform 30 hours beyond their contractual duties. Not with a show of hands, but with secret ballots counted by the SAEA.
The one person Dennis Cole needs to address is his Office Manager, Maria Gutierrez, she is the most inept person ever. Most of the time she is yelling at the office staff and causing a
hostile work environment. She belittles the front office workers. It doesn’t surprise me, because shes being trained by the best.
Maria Gutierrez needs to learn how to treat the office staff as well as the rest of the Willard employees with respect. You can hear her annoying screeching voice from a mile away.
She can’t talk with a normal tone of voice, she always yelling or screaming, and she wonders why she has no friends either. Most of the time you will see her having lunch by herself,
no one wants to sit with her.
Students,
there have been several instances, I have dropped of my attendance during my prep period, when here comes a student into the office looking for the nurse. She immediately
turns to the students and sends him or her back to class without asking whats wrong. It frustrates me, if that was my kid, I would be calling down town and reporting her A$$$.
The students turns around and tells her, “but I don’t feel good, can I call me parents” With and angry voice,
she screams at the kid and tells them, “we don’t have a nurse, just go back to class”.
My heart melts to see the little one turn and walk away.
Employees like her are the one Dennis Cole needs to take a hard look at and force her to do her job and stop treating kids like dirt.
I have personally witnessed this in several occasion, this is why I make it a habit to turn my attendance sheets myself instead of sending a student or just walk by the office durng my prep.
People like her don’t get it, if it wasn’t for the kids, she wouldn’t have a job, but like bad Administration, that knows, the Willard kids will most likely not tell their parents how
rude or disrespectful the adults were to them.
I invite you or anyone, to stop by the Willard front office. Don’t say anything just come on in. Wait for the office staff to address you. Mostly, you will get to meet Maria
Gutierrez and then you can form your own opinion.
How will you know who she is..
Trust me,
you will know when you meet her.
Talk about a rude, disrespectful and someone who literally does not know what she is doing.
It’s almost comical to watch her, run in circles trying to get a simple answer.
Gosh, is the same Paul Zive that was accused of student abuse last year? Wow, can we say not surprised that he is kissing butt!
John Wooden said “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
Anon surely knows that the accusation was short-lived. The student recanted and admitted that the story was a lie. It would have been far more accurate to say “wrongly accused,” but that would not have been as juicy.
My character is intact, and my reputation will survive this spurious attack. I cannot say the same for anon’s character or reputation.
Paul Zive
Paul Zive will do whatever it takes to be in the good graces of Cole. He did the same thing with Bishop.
And Lloyd Bennett is another one – kiss, kiss
I mean Lloyd (coming in late, leaving early) Bennett whenever he needs t. He and Pete Almanzar cover for each other. One of them covers for the other. This goes on year after year and we all know it. Almanzar is always last on campus and first to leave (many times before the bell rings). But Bennett and Almanzar are smart – they stay in the good graces of the principal.
I am learning more about my school on this blog than I do actually working there. lol! I’m not sure how much of this is accurate, but everyone has their opinion. Maria really isn’t as bad as she was in the years past and as for “What?” – I totally agree!
I bet you didn’t know Amazing Grace was a Christmas carol, either!
Not only is Amazing Grace a Christmas carol but bringing up Constitutional issues as it relates to a public school is political gesturing. More later…
annon c.
Not to offend you but let me provide the background of the song “Amazing Grace.”
The song Amazing Grace was not written as a Christmas carol.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Amazing Grace” is a Christian hymn written by English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725–1807), published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, “Amazing Grace” is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world.
Newton wrote the words from personal experience. He grew up without any particular religious conviction but his life’s path was formed by a variety of twists and coincidences that were often put into motion by his recalcitrant insubordination. He was pressed into the Royal Navy and became a sailor, eventually participating in the slave trade. One night a terrible storm battered his vessel so severely that he became frightened enough to call out to God for mercy, a moment that marked the beginning of his spiritual conversion. His career in slave trading lasted a few years more until he quit going to sea altogether and began studying theology.
Ordained in the Church of England in 1764, Newton became curate of Olney, Buckinghamshire, where he began to write hymns with poet William Cowper. “Amazing Grace” was written to illustrate a sermon on New Year’s Day of 1773.
We all know the story of John Newton and “Amazing Grace,” Juice Brother. Even those of us who don’t play church music for a living. There were two movies made about it, the second one by Bill Moyer.
I think it should be done in E Major, modulate to F for the final verse. When shortening it (it does get monotonous) I do verses 1, 4 (Thru many dangers) and 5 (When we’ve been there.) Everyone likes to end with “When we’ve been there…” but I’m a stickler for making it clear where “there” is, hence requiring it to come right after v. 4 which ends “and grace will lead us home.”
But performing it at a public school? Along with a bunch of other religious, Christian songs, done by the actual school choir? Totally inappropriate and unconstitutional.
I don’t know that I have ever attended a performance of a school choir at this time of the year without having the program loaded with “religious, Christian songs.” Unconstitutional? I don’t think so.
The choir also performed Silent Night, Jingle Bells, America The Beautiful, and The Star Spangled Banner.
It’s not what was INculded: it’s what was NOT
# Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican) — December 12
# Hanukkah (Jewish) — Begins at sundown on December 1 (ends December 9)
# Kwanzaa (African American) — December 26 to January 1
# Omisoka (Japanese) — December 31
Loy Krathong (Thailand)
“The Dreidel Song”, http://www.ort.org/ort/hanukkah/song.html
“Feliz Navidad”, http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/christmas_songs/feliz_navidad.html
Kwanzaa: http://holidays.kaboose.com/kwanzaa/kwanzaa-music.html,
Loy Krathong (Festival Song)
Cultural awareness and enjoyment should be a prime objective of musical assemblies.
Vern. You are correct. Christian songs should not be sung at public schools nor should public employees be given the day off with pay on December 25th.
While you raise the issue of public schools. Muslim prayers should not be permitted in public schools during school hours
Larry Gilbert,
The song was apparentily performed today in a public school setting at a Christmas Assembly.
taxpayer.
Amazing Grace is a very popular song that is often sung around the world. Having sung it on a river boat in the Yangtze River in China it is internationally known.
Larry Gilbert,
I agree, The song Amazing Grace was not written as a Christmas carol.
This simple fact, however, must have eluded the choir director for Willard Intermediate School’s after school choir elective and the principal at Willard Intermediate.
P.S.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ordained in the Church of England in 1764, Newton became curate of Olney, Buckinghamshire, where he began to write hymns with poet William Cowper. “Amazing Grace” was written to illustrate a sermon on New Year’s Day of 1773.
It isn’t clear when Willard’s principal was ordained.
Paul Zive quickly comes to rescue his reputation, little does he know he has none, with his peers.
He assigned himself as the Union Rep. only to be Dennis Cole’s RAT!
It’s funny to hear Dennis Cole, walking through the hallways, stopping to talk to staff,
just before he walks away, his departing words are, “Thanks, Buddy”!
Last year, yeah!
everyone bought into his “Thanks, Buddy” line of Bull-crap. Now, everyone is on to him. His
“Thanks, Buddy” BS, really means, “Thanks, A$$$..0” Everyone knows, he doesn’t mean any kinds
words.
It is his fictitious way, of trying to fool people into believing how kind and nice he is.
Bull!
Dennis Cole, pulls off all the stops and goes over board, to be nice to you in public or
when there others around, and when he is introducing you to visitors, but any other
time, be careful.
he reverts to his true self,
Evil
manipulative
dishonest
IMMORAL
and
deceitful
Hey Dennis,
You might have fooled us the first year, but now the jokes on you, “BUDDY”
we know your game.
I am sure we all have them in all of SAUSD. Staff that will sell their co-workers, friends or co-workers they called friends down the river for the “soul” purpose of being in the good “graces” of their principal. In our case, Dennis Cole!
If you work at Willard, I would highly advise you to be cautious of what you say around the following individuals;
Lloyd Bennett
Paul Zive
Mike Miller
Pete Almanzar
Randy Clark
These people are Dennis Cole’s “Rats”, you need no say anything negative, but they will report back to their puppeteer, Dennis Cole. They’re like a viruses, infecting people, with Cole’s lies and if you don’t agree and break the contract, only so Dennis Cole can look good in Jane Russo and Dawn Miller’s eyes and so he can report back to the district and say, “Look at all the positive things we are doing at Willard”
Yeah, sure!
you are, violating workers rights, violating state law and supreme court ruling!
Way to go!
Who brought in the Santa Claus, at Willard?
was it a coincidence, Dennis Cole wife showed with their kid 30 minutes before , ready to meet Santa or was it a Dennis Cole church disciple?
There were several people dressed as Santa during the day. I don’t think any were Willard staff members.
Maybe they were voluntary lunch supervisors?
Does anyone know anything about the choir director’s background?
Is he employed by SAUSD or does he also come under the heading of “volunteer lunch supervisor”?
If he is he an employee of SAUSD is he a music teacher? If so, please someone, let him know that Amazing Grace is not typical public school holiday assembly music (let Mr. Cole know, too).
anon c
Didn’t I read a while back that there was a musical fundraiser by Cole’s church to raise money for the music program at Willard? If that is true, and if the current music teacher is someone from Cole’s church, that would mean that the church had a fundraiser to pay a member of their church to teach music to Willard students. Huh?
Correct,
Dennis Cole did have a fundraiser sponsored by his church, I believe in Oct. He brought church fliers, posted them in the front office and all the staff mail boxes.
Dennis Cole’s acolytes endorsed his practice and went with him to the fundraiser.
I also think there’s something in the law, that prohibits everyone from distributing religious material in a public school.
There are laws prohibiting the distribution of religious material in a public school.
SAUSD considers all of this a non-issue unless more than one person complains.
What do you think:
http://www.smartbrief.com/news/ascd/storyDetails.jsp?issueid=30F7675F-603D-4EB2-B1BD-3B4FF1EBD7ED©id=CCD6E357-804C-4B63-903D-BC7209A7578B&campaign=facebook&ref=facebookCCD6E357-804C-4B63-903D-BC7209A7578B
Yeah, Right!
That will be the day, Jane Russo takes the helm and starts to mandate her principals to treat their staff with respect dignity.
It will never happen, Jane Russo needs to go along with all her administration!
Until you get an Administrator in Jane Russo’s place that demands accountability, school site administrators will continue to get away with murder, just look at Dennis Cole.
Jane needs to be remove, along with a her cronies, IMMORAL, cronies that is!
OMG –
Trustee Noji needs to be removed. She is the lone individual who recruited the current Superintendent. And, her board buddies, RIchardson and Hernandez, make for the convenient majority.
Noji and Richardson have nearly half a century of combined years of service on the board.
Are we better off?
It’s time the community considers term limits for the SAUSD board of trustees.
Apparently, the who, what, when, where, and why of Willard’s music director is unkown??
who cares!
I want to know that the adults who are working directly with our children are certified, finger printed, have a background check, and, whether paid or volunteer, are sanctioned by the School District. If they are paid, I want to know with what funding. If a volunteer, I want to know that they are supervised by school district personnel.
exactly!
Interesting. Those comments make the musical director far more meaningful than I even considered.
Somehow secrets always have a back story.
Secrets?
Mr. Cole wants Willard to have a music program. So Willard has an instrumental music teacher who gets paid to teach the band, and a vocal music teacher who gets paid to teach the choir.
In that capacity, the vocal music teacher is an employee of SAUSD, subject to all the rules and restrictions the district imposes.
Would you honestly prefer that there not be a music program at Willard?
The problem is that the holiday concert was nothing but religious music, including Amazing Grace which isn’t even a Christmas tune. This is inappropriate at a public school, and smacks of more of Principal Cole’s proselytizing. It WOULD be good to know who this vocal teacher is and if she was instructed to do this, and by whom.
As previously noted, the choir performed Amazing Grace, “The choir also performed Silent Night, Jingle Bells, America The Beautiful, and The Star Spangled Banner.”
Two religious songs, one secular winter song, and two patriotic songs. “Nothing but religious music?” I think not.
OK, heard wrong. If that’s the whole program, then there should be no problem.
“Soon Miss Fanny Bright was seated by my side…” Doesn’t get more secular than that!
WHO is paying? If you check back on entries in this blog, there seems to be some contention as to where these “teachers” came from. Are they certified? Are they volunteers? If these instructors are being paid, from what funding? The arts ARE important, but protection of the children must be paramount. Also, presuming that these are unpaid because Cole is not allowing for teacher allocations for any non academic paid positions, many, perhaps even most, students are cheated out of the opportunities to take part in these before/after school programs. On the other hand, religious based programs are offered during the regular school day, and scripted by certified and District paid employees.
Let’s go back to a school schedule which includes the Arts, with District/State sanctioned instruction, and opportunities for all students, not just the few who can stay after school. If the local church wants to sponsor a church choir, this could be a church based/church sponsored program on church property
Your “presumption” that they are unpaid is false. I addressed that previously.
The choir director formerly worked in LAUSD. Music teaching positions are few and far between. He’s hoping to get full time employment in our district now. (He must not read this blog.)
” Cole is not allowing for teacher allocations for any non academic paid positions…” then why have they been interviewing for someone to free up a math teacher for support? And a STEM coordinator is in place now. The former has taken time for everything to sort out — the teacher who applied for the position had to be replaced, and the teacher who applied for HIS position now has to be replaced, and the interview process has been on-going for a while.
Willard has its problems, but lies and innuendo won’t fix them.
First of all, I am not posting this to suggest anyone is a sex offender or anything close to or relating to sexual misconduct.
However, a tax payer and concerned citizen (Posted December 29, 2010 at 6:38 PM) did bring up issues we should always be concerned with.
Willard Intermediate is no stranger when it comes to horrific problems with volunteers.
Just saying, “Who cares?” as anonnnnn (Posted December 29, 2010 at 11:14 AM) is not indicative of the staff at Willard. We care. That is why it is important to know who the musical director is, what his background is, has he gone through the district checks, what ties to the community he has and, specifically, what religious and/or political ties does he bring to the situation.
On a somber note, not in anyway shape or form relating to the musical director, most of the staff currently at Willard may not remember the following incident:
http://articles.latimes.com/1999/feb/27/local/me-12256
Mother of 3 Sentenced for Sex With Minor
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA / A news summary | The Regional Review / DEVELOPMENTS IN ORANGE, RIVERSIDE, SAN BERNARDINO AND VENTURA COUNTIES
February 27, 1999
SANTA ANA — A mother of three was sentenced Friday to 89 days in jail after pleading guilty to having sex on three occasions with a 13-year-old boy who attended the Santa Ana school where she coached cheerleading.
Heather Jean Graham, 35, must register as a sex offender and is prohibited from having any contact with minors unless accompanied by another adult, according to the terms of the sentence imposed by Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory H. Lewis.
I forgot to mention, for those who don’t remember the incident, that Heather Jean Graham, 35, who must register as a sex offender and is prohibited from having any contact with minors unless accompanied by another adult, according to the terms of the sentence imposed by Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory H. Lewis, was a well known volunteer at Willard.
District Insider
Posted January 2, 2011 at 6:50 PM
You have to remember on important factor!
Dennis Cole is a control freak, and a micromanaging bigot. He is the typical Administrator who feels, thinks, and believes he is protected by D.O Administration; Jane Russo, Dawn Miller and Cathie Olsky.
Why? You might ask!
He is a friend of Dawn; appointed by Jane and placed at Willard Cathie for one specific mission, break the will, turn employees against each other, reprimand, remove or terminate any employee who does not “obey” his directives. All this, sanctioned by the D.O, approved by Jane Russo.
You might not remember the press release from Angela Burrell
Public Information Officer. You need only read the section under Dennis Cole and the brief description of his background and why he was placed at Willard to start to understand his mission objective and the support he has from the D.O. You might also not remember how the D.O described Willard staff; IMPLANTED, DEEP ROOTED.
D.O Administration place him at you school for one specific mission, I can highly assure you, it is not to raise test scores or improve the quality of education there at Willard. D.O, along with Jane Russo does not care of or about Willard Staff or Students alike. If they did, they would have never placed an Administrator with little to no background or experience in Administration.
Your best chances of getting rid of your Principal Mr. Dennis Cole are the same directives he received from the D.O themselves. They gave him such large room for error, and at the same time gave him unrestrictive access and unquestioned support.
The D.O was blind with their objective, they neglected to set guidelines to avoid the pitfall that all new power hungry, micromanaging unprofessional immoral Administrators fall into. The D.O did not anticipate your Principals fanatical religious believes. The D.O can not protect or support his fanatical religious believes him much longer. He is his worst enemy. Dennis will hand you all you need to file a complaint against him, not only with the D.O, but the State Dept of Labor, Cal/Osha and EEOC.
Regardless, of what your Principal does this new calendar year or what new directives Jane Russo gives him, he will always revert back to his religion for direction. You all have what he does not, decency and common sense.
And foremost, always carry a voice activated recorder. He can not repeal his own verbiage or say you are lying or misinterpreted his verbiage.
I see you Principal here all the time, there are many here who support Willard Staff.
Happy New Year.
U people need to get a life. Why was school invented…….to keep kids off the streets. duh. now its no child left behind. sure. No one on this blog sounds intelligent except one person, even though its not the opinion I share. Shame people don’t realize what it really takes to educate; From home or at school. Thomas Jefferson would be ashamed.
Isn’t anyone bothered that not only you do not have this year’s contract but it is not even discussed! This seems odd to me since your SAEA President is paid over $100,000 from the Human Resource budget. As your SAEA President and Juan are so close, it should facilitate a quick (sweetheart) deal for the district and should be easy to sign. Anyone see a conflict of interest? You don’t really have a vote anyways. What you have is the union that counts the vote to match results that they want. Perhaps an independent organization that will count the votes might give credibility to the union. Nay, they will never go for it and the teachers will never demand it.
No need to wonder why anyone’s grievance is ignored. Your SAEA Grievance Chair pulls in over $108,000 from the district. Do you think she will bite the hand that feeds her?
You are so right. Thanks for speaking out. I am ignoring the hack post below yours. She rises to the union’s defense no matter what.
You really don’t know what you are talking about. The union president’s salary is paid according to the teaching pay scale, same as other teachers. The union pays half of her salary and the district the other half. An invitation is made to all to be involved in the counting of the votes and those running for office do not count votes. If you had ever attended a union meeting you would understand that the relationship between Juan Lopez and the union (Susan) is quite adversarial yet there has been recent collaboration regarding solutions for the ever increasing health benefits for all SAUSD employees. Grievances are not ignored, the process is lengthy and the district does everything they can to extend the time in the hopes that the grievances will magically disappear. Recent resolutions of grievances have taken up to two years as they make their way through court processes.
According to the OC Register, Susan Mercer was paid $100,435.13. So either the union isn’t paying their half or she is pulling in over $200,000. She may be paid according to the teaching pay scale, but unlike the other teachers, she doesn’t teach. Juan Lopez and Susan Mercer have had all last school year and now six more months, and between the two of them can’t reach an agreement. Neither of them are doing their job. There is no excuse for that.
About the invitation to be involved in counting. First, you are too far to see and verify the actual counting. Then those who do the actual counting stall until you are so bored, you leave. I have heard of a rep counter who gave thumbs up to the incumbent during the counting process. And what’s with the procedure of the ballots stored at union headquarters. No chance of ballot tampering, is there?
While I have never been to a union meeting, I hear that differences of opinion are not only not solicited, it is all but prohibited. How many teachers now attend union meetings? What’s the point if you are not wanted to be heard?
The grievance is not a lengthy process. In fact, it has a short, definitive time line. It is too bad it is routinely ignored by both the district and union. It is only after the process goes to Tier 3 that the time line is not stipulated in the contract. That’s when the complaint goes to arbitration. There is no court process. (tmare, you should know that) It is at this point it is selectively forgotten. Two years for a grievance? You pay union dues for that? What’s the point! Nothing to do with your Grievance Chair being paid by the district. How do you explain that?
There are three reasons why teachers pay union dues; Contract Negotiations, legal protection, and there is no choice.
What flavor are those grapes?
Apparently, yes, Susan Mercer was paid $100,435.13 last year. That would be the gross compensation amount from her W-2. Are you familiar with the exact accounting involved? Or are you making things up out of whole cloth?
I suggest it’s the latter.
The simple truth is that Susan Mercer was and is paid well to do a job and she didn’t do it. Once again, the teachers of Santa Ana should have had a new contract at the beginning of the school year and it wasn’t done. That is the simple truth.
While she’s at it, she could tighten the contract language so that grievances could be resolved in a timely manner and not 2 years. Do you dare suggest that?
is there still a forum available for the discussion of classified issues?
I’m almost positive THIS blog is open to everyone in all job positions. It seems the mess at Willard takes over, but all employees are in the boat together, along with parents and other citizens. Discuss away.
A delay in reaching an agreement could potentially be in SAEA members’ interests.
At any rate, negotiating a contract is not the responsibility of just one or two people; the SAEA Board of Directors, Bargaining Team, CTA staffperson, and others would be involved as well. These groups and individuals would also be responding to pressure from members to settle; I have not, however, previously heard of members’ concerns over the status of negotiations.
Regarding the President’s salary, the Contract reads as follows:
4.6.1 The Association President shall be released with full salary and benefits from all District responsibilities for the term of this Agreement. The Association shall reimburse the District the amount of one-half (1/2) the Association President’s salary and benefits for that period.
A. The position of President of the Santa Ana Educators’ Association (SAEA) shall be regarded as a 12-month assignment (225-day calendar) and shall be paid monthly. The placement on the Certificated Salary schedule shall be appropriate for the President of SAEA. That portion beyond the traditional 10-month calendar shall be equal to the daily rate of pay for the additional days of assignment beyond the traditional calendar year. Upon receipt of District invoice, the Association shall reimburse the Santa Ana Unified School District for the actual added amount as well as the STRS, Medicare, and Workers’ Compensation costs/expenses resulting from the additional days beyond the traditional calendar year. The President of SAEA shall continue to be a full-time release position.
Thank you Patricia O’Neil for your well documented response. My point is as it was before, that it is not up to members or individuals to pressure anyone to do their job. The groups involved know what their jobs are and they are not doing it. As you should have been elected, you wouldn’t need prodding to get the contract done on time. Perhaps you could find out why the SAEA Grievance Chair is on the HR payroll. Is there any contract language about this?
Perhaps you should read the first two sentences of Patricia’s well documented and reasoned response again.
wouldn’t it be wonderful if anyone, other than the few support teachers, would actually attend any of the outside school functions, like concerts? I would hope for district higher-ups, but gosh, even any of the principals of the schools would be great.
I’m sure Patricia could elaborate on the Grievance Chair’s pay. Thank you, Patricia for your factual response. In regards to the contract, Patricia is right as no one has complained about the lack of a contract at this time. Susan has elaborated extensively on the reasons why it benefits the members to hold off on a contract right now. So much of this involves the lack of clarity from the state regarding the budget and the fact that it can change at any time. One major issue that the union has been working together with the district on is health benefits. Both parties are trying to work out a Benefits Trust. If we were to negotiate a contract prior to finding a solution to the health benefits issues, we would lose a significant amount of money. I think Susan and the other board members made a clear case as to why it is not to our benefit to try to negotiate a contract under such circumstances. Many districts do not have a contract yet. From personal experience I will say that I know Susan to be extremely hard working and responsive.
classified employee,
The board was only set up like that for a short time. I guess it didn’t work out due to the limits of the software. I’ve always thought that a forum type of situation would work better. This is all we have. Since this is a SAUSD thread, you are welcome to address your comments/questions here and I’m sure some other classified employees are lurking around and ready to discuss your issues.
Scene: MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate School. It’s the end of a school day, the first week back after a long break. It’s also the beginning of a 3 day weekend; the kids are excited. There is no one out supervising but for the lone DSO in the parking lot directing traffic. Where are the administration you ask? Good question. Actually this is a question that could have been asked this entire year at MacArthur; for no administrator seems to venture further than a few feet from the main office.
I remember reading the same problem with the administrator at a middle school. Are they all working from home?
Anonn
Why do so many administrators seem unaware of the importance of being visible when students are out on campus – before school, nutrition, lunch, after school, etc.? I’ve seen this happen at many schools. Admin seems to be under the impression that a DSO frees them from their responsibilities of being outdoors. Whatever happened to being out and about conversing with students and parents?
Congratulations to Carl Harvey Elementary School’s students, parents, and staff! The Orange County Register reports today that they are in the top 10 in the Register’s rankings. Harvey (98% Hispanic and 94% low-income) went “from No. 156 to an extraordinary No 9 . . .”
As presumably all Santa Ana elementary schools are doing, they post student achievement, group by skill level, and have teacher collaboration meetings. So what do they do differently? Scott Martindale, of the OC Register, gives one clue when he writes the following (emphasis added):
“The secret to Harvey’s success, teachers say, is an unwavering commitment to parent buy-in, even from those who don’t understand the American education system or insist they can’t help their children. If a child isn’t turning in assignments, the parent is brought to the principal’s office, where Stetler explains that the parent must be vigilant.
Harvey’s parents are taking note.
‘Before, I didn’t care about education; I was just working,’ said parent Maria Perez of Santa Ana who has a fifth-grader at Harvey and a ninth-grader who went to another Santa Ana School. ‘I was disappointed because my older son didn’t do very well; they just patted you on your back and sent you home. Here, they work with you and identify the problems early on. You feel welcome, respected. They find solutions.’”
Sounds like a no-excuses environment really makes a difference.
““The secret to Harvey’s success, teachers say, is an unwavering commitment to parent buy-in, even from those who don’t understand the American education system or insist they can’t help their children. If a child isn’t turning in assignments, the parent is brought to the principal’s office, where Stetler explains that the parent must be vigilant.”
MQ says:
This is what really gets on my nerves!
Patricia you make it sound like brain surgery! If ALL the schools in Santa Ana took the steps to make the parents and teachers responsible for the student/Childs education, ALL of the schools would do well!
It all starts in the home, It is one of the single most important and proven factors to a child doing well at school. But what gets on my nerves Harvey Elementary School with all its educational and child development specialist only figured this out now?
So, the moral of the story is I give a slight bow for getting their sh*& together at Harvey. But we must also keep in mind that these kids are not going to stay a Harvey for the rest of their educational training, but will move on to two of the worst schools in Santa Ana…So will all be lost or will district implement trick parent evolvement guidelines and teacher quality?
“Sounds like a no-excuses environment really makes a difference.”
MQ says:
Commitment to excellence has NO room for excuses!
I would be interested to know how fast the kids are being reclassified?
I would imagine that these kids are being reclassified at a high rate because they can’t be reclassified until they are proficient or advanced in Language Arts and/or Math according to test scores. They have achieved great things. Maybe Michelle can find out the stats. I would be interested in that also. I would also like to see the district invest some time in finding out what they have done to improve the school. Then maybe those findings could help to improve the rest of the district. The fact that this school isn’t a charter or a fundamental school should make this school the model for the rest of the the district. I actually have to agree with Michelle on this one. What will the middle schools who receive these kids do to encourage them to continue in their success?
You really are tmare the only one in that district I can truly say I have extreme respect for!
I have a good sense that you truly have a good head on your shoulders and I can only say that I am truly sorry you are surrounded by so many idiots!
I will find out regarding reclassification!
Cheers!
The advantage of being an Outsider is that I don’t have to be part of the collective. Before everyone else goes gaga about Carl Harvey’s success, let’s clarify. Their success is defined by the OC Register, a newspaper. Their formula is not known. It is an environmental rating not an academic one. Keep in mind that they have a population of only 274 students being tested, not 800. One class of 27 students make up 10% of the results, which means a few students doing better than the previous year translates to a much higher percentage. The 2010 results show 41% of the 5th grade students failed to be proficient or advanced. Their API is 828, a little more than the 800 minimum, but a major achievement for Santa Ana. The OC Register frames it as 828 out of 1000 giving the public a false read of the score but teachers know better. Lastly, they don’t know or not saying definitively why they are successful. Sure, getting buy in from the parents helps. Grouping children by skill level is not a proven instructional strategy. In fact it could be shown to be counterproductive. Targeted instruction is a sound byte. All teacher instruction is targeted to every student, they all don’t have to be in the low tracking class to get it. Maybe they are improving because the teaching is more focused on Lang. Arts and the math program. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, let’s see what they do in the following years before making it a model to be emulated.
Again it is not brain surgery! There is a formula for excellent results and it goes like this: Parents who care and teachers who can teach and then students who have no choice but to do well or else!
You are right the system is completely set up for failure; failure is rewarded with more grants, more incentives and schools that do well don’t get sh(*!
The worst thing that ever happened to schools was the “No child left behind act” which really should have read ‘leave them behind and get more money”.
No, Michelle, it isn’t brain surgery. However, it isn’t as easy as you try to make it seem. I have 240 students and I just spent 45 minutes today with the parents of one child. This is the third time this year I have done this with this one child’s parents. He has made remarkable improvement but it has been a long process that has been focused on helping the parents become effective parents. He went from a child who throws temper tantrums every time he receives a school consequence for not having his homework to only missing two homework assignments in the last three months of school. I don’t have time to do this with all of the parents of my students who don’t do their homework and the majority of those parents would not listen and follow through as well as these parents have. I guess the point is that it really isn’t that easy.
There has to be consequences!
If the parents are NOT doing their job then they should meet with some type of team!
You have SST, why not a SPT (sh*& parent team!). If you have more than two kids in your class room that are not turning in homework assignments ect… Then absolutely you need help!
If their was ever a need for a non-profit, this is it! A Non-Profit volunteer group that helps with problem parents, that would also connect to social services that could put restrictions on welfare of parents who refuse to take part in the educational process of their child!
You are not a nanny, but a professional!
This is what is making Americans and even immigrant’s like myself crazy!
Most of these parent’s are not even legal in this country! They can’t continue to be catered too and they must not be allowed to be a burden on our welfare system or our schools!
The teachers need to demand parent evolvement or strike!
If teachers continue to be silent about a major problem in Santa Ana schools, then you must understand that the only people to blame here is the teachers who will not say or do anything about it!
As far as the kids with the temper tantrum’s, send them home! You are not their parents and should not be dealing with behavioral problems and no one should expect you too!
You should focus on good student’s with attentive parents! Send the rest to the SPT!