The Trustees at the Santa Ana Unified School District are at it again. This time they are giving away a car to a student with perfect attendance, according to the O.C. Register.
The Queen of Condescension, Audrey Yamagata-Noji, had this to say about the car deal, “It’s a novel idea. Some parents already pay their kids for good grades. We are offering this incentive.”
So doing well in school in order to succeed in life is not reason enough to attend school?
As usual, this move has to do with money. The Register reported that, “Santa Ana Unified, facing a $17 million budget deficit, hopes the giveaway will save the district money by curbing absenteeism. Every day a student misses school costs the district about $25 to $40.”
The Register also stated that, “Two years ago, the district offered a new television for perfect attendance. Back then, some parents welcomed the contest, while others said it was patronizing or even insulting. Critics said the district made it appear as if parents would only be interested in their children’s education for a prize.”
That still holds true today! The real irony of all this is that many of the families with children in the SAUSD system are headed by immigrants who cannot get a driver’s license in California. If they win a car, just what exactly will they do with it?
What a sad joke. How about involving parents by making our kids grades available online – in real time so we can know from one day to the next how they are doing? This is being done already at other schools in Orange County. Of course the last thing you will ever get from the SAUSD is innovation, empowerment and increased communication with parents. But you might get a new car…
If they are here illegally, they should not be….and if those that are here illegally win the car….they could probably sell it for $ for their families.
LMAO.
Here’s a propostion for the Queen of Condescension — 10-day Fiji trip, all expenses paid giveway. Eligibility based on those students who pass CASHEE.
I hear the car they are giving away is a 1964 Impala with hydraulics. Something with real West Coast G style!
Why don
Why do they have to bribe the Mexican kids and their parents in Santa Ana to go to class and in Garden Grove the Mexican kids seem to go because they like school or are learning something there?
The television giveaway mentioned in the article was an enticement for parents NOT to keep their kids homes for ONE day only. The district engaged in this gimmick because they wanted Nativo Lopez’s immigration rally to fail. It had nothing to do with saving the district money or caring about the education of the kids — it was intended to take a swipe at Nativo Lopez. It’s time Richardson’s obsession with Nativo come to an end.
If district administrators genuinely care about the education of its 56,000 students, then a “real” superintendent would make all administrators and principals ACCOUNTABLE.
Yes, GGUSD kids fare much better than SAUSD — why? They have a superintendent who knows what she’s doing.
C’mon folks, major 500 companies succeed because they have competent and capable CEO’s and CFO’s that demand accountability and results. Why does SAUSD settle for less?
The article says all students, K-12 are eligible. I find that utterly absurd.
Here’s a novel idea Noji – laptop computer incentives for the intermediate and high school students and a PC for elementary students. A computer could open a whole new world of educational opportunities for these students.
Legal or illegal status has nothing to do with the board’s latest hair-brain idea to attempt to recoup $17 million by resorting to such gimmicks. Fiscal mismanagement continues to plague SAUSD and the BOE and administration never look to themselves as the cause.
Something stinks.
“How about involving parents by making our kids grades available online” Didn’t know the district has the money to provide computers for every student family. Another great idea Art!
Art:
Can you tell us the vote on this matter?
I think each voter ought to get a reminder of how foolish our board members are around election time.
The really cool thing about this car give-away is that Art has kids in SAUSD and could win the car! Wouldn’t that be awesome?
In terms of prizes wouldn’t an OCTA annual bus pass make more sense for most of these young whipper snappers and their parents?
Wow! A chance for someone to win big! SAUSD with their Casino Mentality strikes again!
Meanwhile, teachers are expected to present their pleas before Tuesday’s board meeting to keep medical benefits reasonable. That should be interesting
#8
At least Art has children enrolled in SAUSD schools. No elected school board member can make the same claim. Either they don’t have children or they have sent their kids to schools outside the SAUSD system.