Update 3/5/08: This post now has 2,003 comments! However, it has exceeded the capacities of our server and has been truncated recently at about 1,529 posts. But one of our readers has stepped up to the plate and painstakingly copied all of the comments into three NEW posts:
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2008 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2007 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2006 Comments
We have also started a NEW open SAUSD thread, which I hope our readers will post to regarding new SAUSD news and views.
You can also go to our home page and go to the right column. Click on “SAUSD Posts” and you can get links to ALL of our past SAUSD articles.
I must say, I am amazed at the stories that have been posted on this blog in the wake of Al Mijares’ exit from the Santa Ana Unified School District. I am posting this item merely to give SAUSD bloggers a place to post their comments. Post away my friends – we have an opportunity now to finally do away with the corruption left over from the Mijares regime. Change is at hand, but we must remain resolute.
I noted that someone affiliated with the SAUSD administration recently posted a threat on this site – alleging possible legal action against SAUSD employees who post anonymously on this site. That is despicable and a form of terrorism. Do not let fear restrain any of you from revealing the truth.
The final challenge we face in Santa Ana is to replace Mijares with someone competent. We won’t have another opportunity like this anytime soon. This process must be open and focused and whatever else happens we must keep Audrey Noji out of the Superintendent’s position. As a member of the Cerritos College faculty and a member of the teacher’s union at that campus I opposed her when she tried to get a job at our campus. If she goes after the SAUSD superintendent post I will do so again. I know we can do better!
All of my children are in the SAUSD system. For their sake and that of all schoolchildren in the district, I urge those who are rebelling against the last vestiges of Mijares’ broken empire to keep the information flowing and to do whatever it takes to ensure that our next superintendent will be up to the task. Mijares certainly was over his head throughout his doomed tenure.
This is a bit of good news to share. Denise Byrd has her job back. Her story was number 6 on this thread.
I understand it was Christine Anderson who helped her get it all sorted out. Congratulations and welcome back, Denise.
#568- District Insider, If you are right it will be interesting. The board line-up definitely looked odd, but that would help explain and help promote Richardson. He can now claim that he was the president of the SAUSD BoE.
Anyone know whos idea it was to bring back Jane Russo for some much needed house cleaning?
Even the district website reflects a new direction that was lacking under Mijares.
If “District Insider” is even remotely accurate, this person must think 15 minutes of fame is more important than his/her job. I wouldn’t want “DI” working for me, that’s for sure.
Someone is exposing dirty local politics and your focus is on the messenger. DI wouldn’t like working with you either, i’ll bet.
We can only hope that Russo keeps cleaning things up. Eventually she may get to your work station #570.
Anyone know if Bernedette Medrano bothered to pay taxes yet?
To 568 …
LMAO … now that Umberg is in the BOS race, Bustamante is toast.
Your so-called inside scoop is stale news.
This is for the Saddleback staff that has had the courage to stand up to really horrid managers (Jones/Carrigg). Fight on!:
“The starting point of a movement, though silent and barely visible, can be described with some precision. It happens when isolated individuals who suffer from a situation that needs changing decide to live “divided no more.” These people come to a juncture where they must choose between allowing selfhood to die or claiming the identity and integrity from which good living, as well as good teaching, comes.”
Parker J.Palmer, Courage to Teach
To 574:
You and everyone else are going to be disappointed when you find out that Russo will do nothing to clean anything out. She is either incapable or unwilling to do anything to her friends in the district office. All issues will be ignored. Consequently, status quo and stagnation will reign supreme.
#577
Russo is part of the culture of cronyism that thrives within SAUSD.
That’s why Noji and Richardson are prepared to appoint her as the next superintendent. Noji, Richardson and Miguel Pulido prefer to keep their consitutents in the dark.
Noji and Richardson want to withhold the bad news until the bitter end.
577, Right on, and I had such high hopes for Richardson. What a major disappointment!
#576
Natty quote. Under the Mijares regime this line of philosphy was snuffed out. The Mijares tactic was to extinguish any dissent voice that dared hold him accountable. Mijares engaged a number of administrators – Bennett, Bratcher, Espinosa – to accomplish this end.
If Richardson and Noji have their way, Russo will continue to extinguish any dissent voice and all hope of a new day will be dashed.
A roster of failed site level administrators that have been given positions at the district office should be posted for everyone to see. It might also be useful to have a summary of why they are being protected. Which school board member is finally going to own up to this shameful practice?
Saddleback’s mobbing tactics currently being carried out by Jones, Carrigg and Gomeztrejo are detailed in the following list. If you are in the ELD or Special Education Departments, you are really screwed. Department heads Diane Lamb and Marilyn Deyoung actively help bully administrators out of their own cowardice. They don’t stand up for their colleagues and should not be trusted.
1. By standard criteria of job performance, the target is at least average, probably above average.
2. Rumours and gossip circulate about the target
A roster of failed site level administrators that have been given positions at the district office should be posted for everyone to see. It might also be useful to have a summary of why they are being protected. Which school board member is finally going to own up to this shameful practice?
You mean like Machado and Byfield?
Who else?
583 asks who else …
Lewis Bratcher
Socorro Barron (Lathrop)
Tony Espinosa (Valley HS)
It looks like Bob Silva (Esqueda) will be joining the ranks. Does any know the real reason he was removed?
#585
You’re right about Silva removal as principal at Manuel Esquesda.
If I were a betting person, I’d say a parent’s complaint – registered at a school board meeting – about Esqueda’s School Site Council is the root of his dismisal.
Unfortunately many more schools suffer from school site council oversight.
The principal at Santiago Elementary fails to hold elections. She appoints members to the council. Her flagrant disregard to include parents is just one sign of how site principals slam the doors on parents.
I don’t care if she posts great test scores, her shameful disregard for parents should not be tolerated.
Some of the questions that need to be asked are the following:
How many employees, by classification, are on paid or non-paid leave? Of those employees, how many are administrators, under contract, that are not performing the duties detailed in their contract?
Principals, such as Espinosa, Byfield, Machado and Silva, command six-digit salaries, each.
Are their current salaries commisserate with the duties they’ve been reassigned to? If district administrators – Mijares, Russo – have deemed them unacceptable as principals, why are they allowed to linger on the payroll?
This is one example of the poor fiscal mismanagement currently sanctioned by the current Superintendent and her cabinet. It’s been reported the board must cut $17 million. How much pork is being spent on keeping these poor performing employees on the payroll?
Kicking the problems under the rug has been going on for years. It always happens but it is out of control now because Mijares was superintendent for so long. Each time a new superintendent comes in they clean house and then it starts all over again. The school board has to sign off on the deals so having school board members around for such a long time has also made the problem worse. They protect each other because if one failed administrator or school board member is exposed they will all go down. Some of the deals are made because it is difficult to prove the wrong doing. It is easier to make a deal than to fight through the legal system. All of the hard working employees suffer because of the corruption. The students suffer because the system is corrupt.
Some really good questions that cries out to be addressed. Why are all these administrators that are now in the district office still drawing very large salaries, and for what?
Another example of poor fiscal management is the office of Research and Evaluation. Take a look at the SAUSD website.
http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/departments/research_eval/
Apparently is takes 8 people making about $100,000 each or about $1 million a year to figure out that Santa Ana isn’t doing well. Or you can look at the Star Report and come to the same conclusion for nothing.
Here is a post for yet another position. http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/departments/personnel/postingdetail_certificated.asp?id=462
Apparently 8 people to do a two week job is not enough.
Add Maria Mojarro to the list of banished principals that has been relegated to the district office or TUPE.
Isn’t it odd that administrators closest to Mijares – Espinosa and Silva – have been stripped of their principal duties? Did these Mijares loyalists turn bad seed principals after Mijares’ departure or did Big Al protect these poor performing principals out of loyalty?
Mijares’s departure left a major wake of destruction and it’s just starting to ooze out.
At $100,000+each per year this is a good start on the $17 million budget reduction. The list now includes.
Barron
Bratcher
Byfield
Espinosa
Machado
Mojarro
Silva
Someone needs to review the retired SAUSD administrators that return as “special consultants.” Bob Nelson and Susan Brandt are a good start.
Russo’s mentality of recycling tired administrators is an indicator that she lacks the skills to lead SAUSD as its superintendent.
Her allegiance to collegues from the 80s and 90s is not healthy for a school district that is in complete chaos.
Would there be any reason why Helen Stainer and Marjorie Cochran shouldn’t be added to #591 list?
Right on #592.
LMAO .. the district has assembled a budget reduction committee to review the $17 million budget cuts the district must implement. Do you think they’ve considered cutting out some of the surplus administrators? Not.
That’s why Noji and Richardson are fighting to appoint Russo as superintendent. They do not want all the district’s dirty secrets aired.
#591
Add Jones and Carrigg from Saddleback. They give out lots of $$$$$ to their spies and cronies. You get rid of those two and there are another half dozen do-nothing pals who will be exposed and will drop out because they don’t do their jobs.
Jones uses a relative of Pat Machado’s for her spy on the Saddleback school site. There are others who just use the system there, too!
What about Bernedette Medrano?
She showed her colors as part of the big problem of over-paid SAUSD CLUB members.
Barron, Bratcher, Byfield, Cochran, Espinosa, Machado, Mojarro, Silva, Stainer. That is probably about $1,000,000. Keep adding to the list and SAUSD will not have to cut anything but waste to get to the $17 million.
LMAO .. the district has assembled a budget reduction committee to review the $17 million budget cuts the district must implement. Do you think they’ve considered cutting out some of the surplus administrators? Not.
Who is on that committee? How many of the feather bedders mentioned so far?!?
17 million needs to be cut? Why didn’t the district sell the five story building on Broadway when the market was hot? Why didn’t they close Grant? Why don’t they put Community Day in with Mountain View and stop leasing the space on Pullman? Why did they spend money on remodeling the lobby? And yes, why do they stil1 have employees who don’t perform?
#599
Maybe the board will ask the teachers to take another pay cut to help them through this fiscal crisis.
Who is going for the school board seat:
http://o-juice.blogspot.com/2007/01/who-is-going-for-school-board-seat.html
#600
Even with the union that ram rod the pay cut down the throats of teachers, it did not affect the deficit one cent. The more they have the more they spend. Thanks to the posts, we are seeing why and how.
Hopefully, the teachers will be more enlighten should the occasion arise.
#601
I checked out the latest OJ thread – Who is Going for School Board seat – only to learn that Susan Brandt, SAUSD public information officer – refused to disclose the names of candidates that have submitted applications.
It is so typical of the district to appoint a teacher to head up the Public Information Office. She must be green because she’s opened the district to criticism by
1.) failing to be customer friendly
2.) blogging her response
Isn’t it comforting to know that our tax dollars are being spent on Susan Brandt prowling the blogs.
All the while today’s LA Times headline screams “Santa Ana to cut 60 teaching positions, Slash 07-08 budget.” And a high priced PIO officer spends her days blog hopping.
I take issue with the individual who wrote, “Even with the union that ram rod the pay cut down the throats of teachers.” SAEA didn’t ramrod the 4% paycut down teachers’ throats. The District’s mismanangement of funds is what led to SAUSD’s financial crisis in 2004. And please remember that we are receiving a 13.44% restoration this year. However, I do agree that even though we sacrificed 4% or our salary for two years, district officials continue to squander money on wasted programs and incompetent administrators. Now SAUSD is crying the “sky is falling” do to declining enrollment and the rising cost of heath care. No one is denying that our enrollment has declined or that the rising cost of health benefits is a significant problem. But teachers have already sacrificed enough. And somehow the District, nor the article in the Times, mentions the 8.4% COLA they have received in 2006-06 from the State. You can bet that we will never agree to another paycut ever again to bail the District out. Every year the District puts out scare tactics that they need to RIF lots of teachers. Yet, this past year, all the RIFed teachers have been brought back. The District has opened up Safety Net positions and they are now hiring more teachers. They know full well that a great number of teachers will be retiring at the end of this school year. SAUSD is not fooling anyone.
#604
No argument that the district mismanaged funds and continues to do so. Two years ago at several board meetings, the board discussed ways to cover the gap. They had a Plan A and a Plan B. No where in any of the plans did they even consider asking the teachers to take a pay cut. That idea came from the union. Do you remember them coming out to all the schools with the sense of urgency that all the teachers approve it quickly or the state will take us over, saving teacher jobs, or some other nonsense. I think it all happened within 2 weeks.
Then consider when was the last time an incumbent lost a union election? Don
Just a note. SAEA’s Election Committee is run by non-SAEA board members who are neutral. And yes, non-incumbents do win sometimes. The current SAEA Minority Director defeated an incumbent. SAEA’s Board of Directors has about 5 new people on their board this year. (Please keep in mind that incumbents in any governmental body always have an advantage simply because their name is known. That’s just how politics works.) It’s illegal for a local union to cheat on elections. No SAEA officer has anything to do with the ballots. They are locked up and only the chair of the Elections Committee (along with the office workers I believe) has access to the ballots. I don’t blame this individual for being angry at the 4% paycut. We were all angry. But we managed to keep excellent benefits and the union negotiated a good salary restoration this year. I’m still angry that SAUSD continues to spend money on useless programs and unnecessary administrative positions.
#605 – Well said!
There is new union leadership that may be better than the back-stabbing Tom Harrison, but time will tell. Keep your eyes on them.
No Union worth a damn would push for teachers to take a big pay cut like that.
It’s good that Claudio got a chance to see some of the bully tactics that this district is well-known for and published them here, for everyone to see. Rude, condescending and bully behavior is simply a cover up for lack of skill sets necessary to get the job done right. Bullying behaviors (witholding information is a signature sign, btw) are indicators of organizational dysfunction. Juan Lopez and Susan Brandt: Thanks for the demonstration!
Choosing a COMPETENT superintendent will be so important to begin to undo all the horrible practices so commonplace at SAUSD.
Here are some suggestions to consider:
The first step in establishing an anti-bully corporate atmosphere is to keep them out of your company. For example, make interpersonal skills assessment a critical part of any interview. Use behavior-based interviewing strategies, i.e., ask questions that require a job candidate to relate past experiences that illustrate how s/he handled interpersonal situations similar to the ones s/he will be facing in your workplace. The benefit to these kinds of questions is that, unlike hypothetical situations, the answers don’t just tell you if a person understands how to handle an event; they tell you how the person has handled it – and is likely to handle it in the future. Here are five commands and questions that can get you started in screening out bullies:
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an employee who failed to follow your directions. What was the situation? What did you do? What was the result? (Watch out for inappropriate discipline techniques and/or communication that focus on the person rather than his/her actions. Look for calm and effective communication, an explanation of the potential consequences for the employee’s lack of follow-through, and agreement to take follow-up action.).
Describe your management philosophy and give me an example of how you put it into practice on a daily basis. (Watch out for micromanaging, reluctance to delegate, a lack of clear instructions, and/or a lack of involvement. Look for listening, availability and regular interaction with employees, and joint problem solving)
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an employee who was having personal problems. What was the situation? What did you do? What was the result? (Watch out for a lack of empathy, over-involvement, a lack of awareness of the problem until it became a crisis, and/or failure to inquire. Look for early awareness of the problem, listening, empathy, joint problem-solving regarding ways to minimize the impact on work, involvement of human resources, (if appropriate) and an action plan).
Give me an example of a time when you got angry with a co-worker. What was the situation? What did you do? What was the result? (Watch out for denial, jumping to conclusions, revenge strategies, and/or a one-sided account of what happened. Look for listening, clarifying questions, the ability to see both sides, and effective communication/conflict resolution).
Tell me about a time when you felt like your supervisor favored another employee. What was the situation? What did you do? (Watch out for unresolved anger, hints at attempts to sabotage the co-worker, a lack of perceived responsibility for dealing with a difficult situation. Look for a sense of having put the experience into perspective and active attempts to make the most of a bad work situation).
‘You’ve got to sit on people to get the job done.’ ‘If you don’t boss people around, they don’t respect you.’ ‘We run a tough ship around here.’ How many times have these kinds of arguments been used to justify inappropriate management conduct? Worse yet, how many times has it been rewarded?
A study that looked at predictors of job satisfaction across cultures found that the quality of the employee/supervisor relationship was one of two consistent factors across twenty countries. Employees who feel supported, encouraged, and treated fairly by their direct supervisors develop a sense of organizational commitment. Yet, while at least fifty percent of all turnovers are due to poor management practices, the mythical link between inappropriate behavior and productivity still lingers. If your corporate environment seems to be stuck in survival-of-the-fittest mode, it may be time to work with senior management on assessing your corporate values and realigning them with the realities of today’s workplace.
The SAUSD is covering up again – this time they are refusing to divulge who the finalists are for the Superintendent position. Go to http://o-juice.blogspot.com/2007/01/sausd-and-code-of-silence.html for the entire story.
#609
The coverup continues. They did not post the agenda for tomorrow’s school board meeting. The culture of withholding public information is astounding!
Tonight there is a special board meeting were they will / might choose the next Superintendent. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and will adjourn to closed session for discussions about the process of selecting the District Superintendent. In closed session, the Board members will consider the next steps in the selection process or potentially naming an individual as Superintendent.
Following closed session, the public meeting will reconvene where the decision will be announced.
Here is the link for tomorrows 1/09/07 agenda:
http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/documents/agenda/Special%20Meeting%20Agenda%201-9-07.doc
A recall of board members who don’t have children in the district and who are just taking up political space might be a solution. Sure are a lot of interested individuals wanting to sit on the vacant seat tomorrow night.
To#612
It’s uplifting to know so many individuals are interested in the vacated school board seat. And we’re eager to learn more about the candidates.
Applications are public information and should be available for public review at the district office. The application requires candidates to list references. It will interesting to learn who is endorsing who.
Why the rush to select the superintendent? And why have the selection in December with all the vacations and holidays. Why not at the end on the school year where candidates are more likely to change their current positions and there is more time to consider the best choices out in the public forum.
The deal is done. They will hastily hire someone without much consideration and rationalize the choice. We probably will not be surprised or happy.
#613 –
It will interesting to learn which candidate listed Miguel Pulido as a reference.
http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/
UPDATE: Due to the illness of a member of the Board of Education, last night’s special meeting was cancelled. Those agenda items, including the next steps in the search for the new district Superintendent, will be carried over to tonight’s meeting.
Threads on stonewalling by SAUSD in regards to candidates who have submitted applications to fill the empty board position when Sal Tinejaro moved to the Board of Supervisors:
SAUSD By Luis:
http://o-juice.blogspot.com/2007/01/sausd.html
WHO IS GOING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD SEAT? By Claudio:
http://o-juice.blogspot.com/2007/01/who-is-going-for-school-board-seat.html
SAUSD SILENT ONCE AGAIN By
Thomas Gordon:
http://o-juice.blogspot.com/2007/01/sausd-silent-once-again.html
It was announced at tonight’s School Board meeting that Jane Russo is the new Superintendent. Let’s see now that she has the power will will she do with it. Deputy Superintendent position is now open let’s see if they choose wisely or promote another incompetent administrator.
The current School Board will interview all School Board candidates on Jan 16th in the Board room and it will be televised. Final interviews will take place Jan 18th in the Board room.
#618
Televised? They did not televise tonight’s meeting. What makes you think they will televise the candidate interviews?
Besides Richardson’s pal Mark McLouglin is tagged to replace Sal. They’re still rewarding those folks who worked hard on the recall of Nativo Lopez.
You are correct they did not televise the yesterday’s Board meeting but it was said at the meeting last night that the candidate interviews will be televised. They want to make sure that the community knows what going on, at least that’s what they said.
#620
That’s real special — the district wanting the community to know what’s going on. If you’re right, then why wasn’t last night’s meeting televised?