We have all been so busy focusing on the replacement of Jose Solorio in Ward 1 of the Santa Ana City Council, that we have forgotten, seemingly, about the replacement of Sal Tinajero on the SAUSD school board. Time to start thinking about this again.
There are quite a few names being floated for the school board seat, including:
- Oscar Garza – a Republican who served on the school bond oversight committee. He also worked with Tim Whitacre on the recall of former SAUSD trustee Nativo Lopez. Garza has an MBA and he works for the County of Orange. He ran for the school board before, and refused to do so this year. He also refused to back any of the Santa Ana City Council candidates this year – which I found odd. How could none of them be worthy of support? It makes me wonder if Garza is too cautious to be an effective trustee. Also, I wonder if school Board member Audrey Noji will back him, even though he has been a very vocal opponent of her friend and backer, Santa Ana Council Member Claudia Alvarez?
- Tim Whitacre – another Republican who is best known for helping to recall Lopez. He is a realtor, but he also works on mortgages. I don’t know if he finished college, but he did serve in the U.S. Marines. He home schools his son. He also opposed the SAUSD school construction bond. He is known to be an ally of Rosie Avila, the school board member famous for telling us that God was mad at Santa Ana, or something to that effect.
- Tino Rivera – he is still a Democrat, even though he told Whitacre he would become a Republican after the Santa Ana City Council election. Rivera lost his bid for Ward 2 however, so I guess he is going to remain in the Democrat column. Rivera is a graduate of local schools, and he runs a temporary labor company. I don’t think he finished college. His wife, Bertha, is on the SAUSD superintendent selection committee.
- Sergio Verino – a Democrat, has also been mentioned. I believe he is allied with school board member John Palacio. He is a former employee of the school district, and a current Santa Ana city inspector.
- Cecilia Aguinaga – a Democrat, ran for the school board this year, and somehow lost despite being supported by the teacher’s union. She has told me that she too wants to be considered for the current board vacancy. She has an associates degree from Santa Ana College, and her kids all attended private schools, or are now in college. Her husband owns a local business. She also works for the school district, I think the school police department.
Another name that I think merits consideration is Evangeline Gawronski, a candidate for Ward 2 on the Santa Ana City Council this year. She has over 20 years experience as a substitute teacher at Mater Dei High School.
I am told that SAUSD faces takeover by the state sometime next year, if they cannot get their act together, under the federal No Child Left Behind act. So whomever gets the appointment is in for a bad time. If the school district cannot right the ship, the entire school board will be forever known for this failure. This will be the end of their collective political careers. Now we know why Tinajero jumped to the City Council, and why school board member Rob Richardson wants to do the same, according to inside sources.
The next SAUSD school board meeting is coming up next week, on December 12. Don’t miss it – this could be an interesting meeting indeed. If the school board members cannot come to an agreement, we will be looking at yet another special election in Santa Ana.
Seems like Garza is the best choice by far. I know he had a Noji sign in his yard during the elections so I imagine she might be ok with him. One of the problems with endorsements is the candidates don’t go and ask for the order so to speak. Does anyone know what candidates actually asked for Oscar’s endorsement and he told them no? Lot’s of people don’t endorse for many reasons. Look at French Park neighborhood. Debbie McQuin and activists there all endorsed Evangeline Gawronski and had signs in yards for her. Well, now they need the council’s help to buy an old house with Redevel. funds. Do you think Michele Martinez is super excited to help them after none of the supported her? That’s just one reason why some chose to take a more low profile stand in the best interest of thier neighborhoods and projects they want to get done regardless of who wins or loses elections.
For #1 …
As an elected official Ms.Martinez has made a commitment to work with and for all residents of the city. For you to imply, by your post, that she seeks vengance towards those who did not support her is simply not true.
I hope that those who chastised Cecilia Aguinaga for not sending her children to SAUSD schools will remember that Oscar Garza sends his children to private school as well.
Art,
Why doesn’t the district website make available, online, the application for the open school board seat? Is the district self-policing potential candidates by requiring them to place a phone call or send an e-mail? This tactic certainly gives them a head’s up on who might be interested in applying for the position.
The application should be downloaded on the website for anyone to access without having to go through the district office directly.
You’re missing the big picture. 13% of OC students, Class of ’07, are in danger of not receiving a diploma. That represents 3,794 OC students and 70% of those students are SAUSD seniors.
How is it that SAUSD has 2,674 seniors in danger of not receiving a diploma?
What’s the district’s plan of action to remedy this fiasco?
Interesting pattern of County employees running for public office seems to be developing. Wonder if that is good or bad? One thing facing SAUSD is the change from explosive growth in school age kids to declining enrollment – that brings with it reduced State funding, which may lead to the next crisis for the School District. Watch this one closely —–
Quite honestly, I’m tired of seeing government employees always running for office. Jose Solorio, Claudia Alvarez, Carlos Bustamante and I am sure a host of others all work for the County of Orange. I think County employees and government employees in general are attracted to running office because gov’t employees know they can miss work (or not work at all) and they aren’t penalized financiallly or otherwise.
I don’t want that type of person that feeds from and abuses the gov’t largess representing me.
Hey Pedroza< A few things…
A teacher does not make a good School Board Member. Their interests are too narrow. Hey, just look at HUGE Sal as an example. This Evangeline person seems to be too narrow minded with a subversive political agenda. Too dangerous for me.
And why do you keep touting this Aguinaga person? Do you even “know” her? Anyone who has ever worked with her knows that she can be quite a difficult person. From what I have gathered from her tenure at SAHS nobody could get along with her and she was always backstabbing people there and everyone was relived when she finally left. We don’t need another nazi on the School Board.
Folks should look for a postive community person for this type of position and you’ll find they are the best candidates, IMHO.
Has anyone mentioned John Raya yet?
#13 …
So, who do you consider the current nazi board member?
Everyone was relieved when Aguigana left SAHS? C’mon, that’s some exaggeration.
I think Gov employees are the only ones who can afford the time to campaign and serve once elected. Why do you think they keep getting called back for jury duty???
OK..I’ll mention John Raya. John got appointed to the Rancho Board and then got his clock cleaned when he ran for election. He also ran for Mayor once and I think he got 243 votes.
Disolve the school board and turn the entire mess over to the state.
The state issues all the money to the schools with big strings attached. So all the control, is at the state level.
The only people aganist state takeover are the people feasting on the studentbody (funds)
Hey Aguinaga…err. #14,
The nazi I am referring to is either Avila or Palacio. I’ll leave it as your homework as to why each of these individuals have been referred to as such.
Exaggeration?? Me thinks NOT!
I like Kim Gerda, Activist from Floral Park, or her husband Joe.
I think Neighborhood activist Florence Leach would be a good board member. I don’t see quite as much these days at public meetings but you can bet she and Miles are home watching all the meetings on T.V. Let’s start a draft Florence campaign for the school board or Ward 1 council seat!!!!!!!!!
Currently the district is PI/Year 2. Should the district enter PI/Year 3, blogger #17 may get his/her wish.
So, Santa Ana bloggers — what do you think about a possible state takeover of our school district?
Dear Anon #20,
If Miles and Florence Leach are watching council meetings it’s on the giant plasma T.V. in the sky because they both passed away nearly 10 years ago. I’m sure they would appreciate your vote confidence though!
>Miles and Florence Leach both passed away nearly 10 years ago< And they still would run a meeting better than Carlos Bustamante or break fewer campaign promises than David Benavidez
#18
If you’re going to hurl vile accustations into cyberspace, then step up provide the documentation that supports your statement.
You committed the words to eternity; take ownership for your actions.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-ocbriefs7.1dec07,0,3936980.story?coll=la-news-politics-california
Candidates for an open seat on the Santa Ana Unified School District board must file an application with the district by Jan. 5.
The seat was vacated when Sal Tinajero was elected to the City Council in November. The four remaining trustees will select an appointee to serve through December 2008
Applications are available at the district’s public information office, 1601 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana. Information: (714) 558-5555
The school board should not have teachers on it. Maybe not even anyone with an education degree.
Board members are to ensure that the staff and teachers (teacher unions) do not ripoff the taxpayers.
It appears that SAUSD has a bad case of “the fox guarding the hen house”
#26 What do you have against teachers? Most teachers are extremely professional and want the school system to function correctly. It takes intelligence and knowledge to make district decisions. I don’t see how you can say that no teacher should be on a school board.
no teacher on the board, because they should not be voting on their own pay contracts.
A retired teacher, ok as long they can’t vote on retirement benefits.
Employee’s should not be the oversee’ers, conflict of interest.
To #27
Hmmm. Maybe #26 feels ripped off because Dr. Noji, a self-professed educator, has been an ineffective school board member for 16 years. Her knowledge and intelligence has swept two-thirds of SAUSD schools into PI (Program Improvement) status and placed the district in Year 2/PI.
There’s too much deadwood at the top!The $17 million cut for the upcoming year will be brutal, but the $750,000 upgrades at the district offices are looking good.
So the inept Oscar Garza appears to be the one to have Sal’s seat eh?
That guy sat silent and stupid while his jefe, Pulido, closed libraries and harmed kids all over Santa Ana.
He has no clue, no plan, no goal.
Maybe Garza can hand the keys over to the State when SAUSD finally sinks to the bottom of the barrel.
I really hope all this talk about Mr Garza is a joke or a sick rumor.
He should not even be considered for the school board, as he was one of the bond oversight members who looked the other way while schools were built over budget and several schools went unbuilt on his watch because of his pathetic oversight.God help us and the children.