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.
Workplace Bullying behavior severely hampers productive work time. There are a number of managers who have been allowed to get away with this kind of mismanagement of resources under the Mijares years. Here is a local Lawyer who specializes in employee rights. He is located in Newport Beach- Frank Pray.
click this link and see what he has to say about the subject on his website: http://employeerightsatty.blogspot.com/2005/12/equal-opportunity-harassment-workplace.html
Between 2003 and 2005, anti-bullying bills have been introduced in five states — California, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Washington and Oregon. It has not yet become a law. SAUSD would do well to clean up its management practices well before this law is passed.
#669
Leapin’ Lizards …it’s a well known secret Espinosa, Bishop & Jones are the most grieved principals. Espinosa, rightfully, has been warehoused with Bishop/Jones, hopefully, not far behind.
Today’s announcement that Esther Severy is retiring isn’t too surprising since McFadden’s academic performance is under scrunity.
The SAUSD parajito also told the OJ that Dr. Wagner, Thorpe Fundamental principal, is retiring as well.
The latest bargaining proposal by SAUSD admin is that teachers pay over $800 per month for health care.
I think this problem begs the question: “How are other school districts handling health care costs increases?”
#676-
Check out SAEA’s website at the link listed below and access the Bargaining Update PowerPoint Presentation.
Kudos to the current SAEA leadership for making this information public.
http://www.sateach.org/index.html
#657, 676
To be more accurate, SAUSD is proposing $800. for the most expensive option of health care, PPO. There are Kaisers in the north, south, and east county. They are building a Kaiser hospital in Irvine. There are plenty of HMO choices. It could be that some people chose the most expensive option as it costs the same. It is just human nature to choose what is in ones best interest. If the costs justifies the expense, then PPO will be chosen by that person based on their particular needs. It is not a percentage increase but the actual costs above the cost of a HMO.
I am not particularly impress by the union going to impasse over this issue any more than two depts. within the district disagreeing. Two years ago from this month our union gave the teachers up with a 4% pay cut on their own volition. Only now is the pay being restored. This was unsolicited by the district. So to read that they care about this or any issue rings untrue. This union the forces you to join them and only one choice at that, having their people count their own election ballots, do not call you or your reps back or return emails, fails to follow-up on any issue you have, and so on, who is on who side. The relationship is just too cozy. The teachers issues are pawns to be exchanged for favors.
This whole impasse strikes me a charade for your benefit. The union pretends they are fighting for us, and the district pretends they are holding fast. Meanwhile, the deal is probably already done.
To # 678
Their are certainly some very solid truths to your comments. Yet the debate seems to be based on whom you choose to believe. For example I’ve been told the district requested impasse while SAEA wished to continue negotiations. The district wanted no part of any counter offers and are intent on elimination of the PPO alternative.
Again many chose the PPO option based on personal circumstances. Many years ago the PPO option was the only coverage for employees living outside of Orange County under an insurance program called the Orange County PPO. Kaisers were sparse and not a viable option.
Today things have changed both with coverage and logistics. A significant number of staff live outside of OC and commute from as far as Riverside, Corona, and elsewhere. Possibly HMO’s may be a viable alternative if doctors and hospitals near your homes and families will take those programs. Obviously the availability of coverage as it relates to individual personal circumstances has to be a consideration.
Regarding the unions. It is obvious the unions all have agendas. Forced closed shop should have removed all doubt from anyone drinking union kool aid. The mantra to justify closed shops was better representation. I have never seen much difference. Unions still agree to lower benefits, defer pay raises, or agree to pay cuts the minute the district takes a hard line and talks about cutting several hundred employees.
Legislation proffered by unions and so highly touted turns out to be lengthily legal battles in court as soon as the union tries to enforce these laws.
Districts laugh. They have deep pockets and know they can bog down employee protection laws for years in court at the expense of the employee trying to fight for his or her rights. How many cases have we read about where teachers have had to employ their own attorneys for compensation?
No I’m not a strong proponent of unions. While they blandly advocate they are the protectors of all, they are not what they purport to be. Of course they do have benefits. You can get discount tickets to Disneyland, Knotts, Seaworld and other leading attractions.
http://www.districtadministration.com/newssummary.aspx?news_date=2007-01-29&news_id=13549
Rookie Teachers Need Hand to Become Veterans
Chicago Tribune
1/29/2007
First-year teacher Jennifer Latek had been warned: You’re going to feel isolated when you work in the Chicago Public Schools system.
Luckily for Latek, the warning proved wrong. Colleagues at Amundsen High share their expertise and encourage her questions. Administrators visit her classroom often, offering praise and constructive feedback.
In a system where about half of all new teachers flee the district or the profession within five years, Latek plans to stick around. Her experience reflects the findings of a new study analyzing Chicago teacher retention: Novice educators in well-managed schools with supportive colleagues are far more likely to stay than those left alone to cope with the sink-or-swim initiation in urban classrooms.
Reducing teacher turnover is a top priority in Chicago because the constant churn hurts student achievement, destabilizes schools and wastes money. And like so many of the challenges in the nation’s third-largest school system, fixing the problem requires a commitment at individual schools, not another central-office mandate, to nurture new teachers, the study suggests.
“In the beginning, you really feel thrown into it, but then you realize that the administrators and faculty are really there to help,” said Latek, 25, a native of Elmhurst. “My bad days are only bad because I feel like I haven’t done my best.”
The study, released Thursday by the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago, also concluded that the district’s formal mentoring program does little to retain teachers in chaotic schools and in the most challenging classrooms.
Teacher turnover and long-term substitutes are counterproductive to academic success. Unfortunately SAUSD has too many long-term subs hired on as a cost-savings measure.
BRC is window dressing intended to make the stakeholders feel good about getting fleeced.
BOE needs a wake up call.
District’s Flyer full of lies.
January 29, 2007
It
FACT VS. FICTION
#1 District Fiction:
Jane Russo has failed to see her upcoming failures. She sits in a place where she cannot see what goes on. No one tells her out of fear because you don’t know who you can trust because of retaliation.
The first will be the onslaught of Worker’s Comp cases this year that will end up having a high price tag because they had to be litigated. Not only for the Comp claim itself, but also other employee law issues like failure to accomodate for disabilities. The reason is the ineptitude of the new Risk Management Director who doesn’t believe in employee rights. She also likes to encourage the temporarily disabled to “please go away for ever” and will not answer any questions. Once you get on that 39 month rehire list, you will stay there. She will make sure the employees know that she can and will do you harm. She may have saved some money for the District up to this point, but many of the court cases will be filed very shortly and again the children of Santa Ana will pay the price. In the meanwhile she gives herself a pat on the back and takes credit at management meetings for all the good that has come upon SAUSD.
Secondly, Juan Lopez tells his gatekeepers to screen all his calls, and he never returns any phone calls. Not even one phone call. If he were to do this, he could resolve a lot of issues before they get so bad that they have to go to court over it.
All other Departments seem to be doing their job. They just don’t like Camille Boden interjecting her “employee rights violating ways” into their field of expertise. She thinks she should be the timekeeper of the disabled and makes sure you don’t get paid at all. We will surely make her unethical ways come to light in a Court of Law.
Will Jane Russo do anything about it? I don’t know. If she starts now there will still be lawsuits, but fewer of them.
Anon.
Santa Ana, CA – January 26, 2007
The Board of Education of the Santa Ana Unified School District appointed Thomas R. Mendenhall as Coordinator of Special Education at the regular Board meeting held January 23, 2007.
Previously, Mendenhall served as Interim Coordinator of Special Education and before that as a high school teacher serving Special Education Students and their families. He has worked in the Santa Ana Unified School District since 1990, and also served as a teacher and band director with the Capistrano Unified School District.
Mendenhall received his B.A. degree in music from California State University, Los Angeles, and his M.S. degree in administration from National University.
Here we go again another Superintendent and more management at a time when we are cutting. How much are these to positions costing the District? Who did these people replace? Richard Erhard, he was a Director not a Superintendent!!!
The Board of Education of the Santa Ana Unified School District appointed Doreen M. Lohnes as Assistant Superintendent of Support Services at the regular meeting on December 12, 2006.
The Board of Education of the Santa Ana Unified School District appointed Thomas R. Mendenhall as Coordinator of Special Education at the regular Board meeting held January 23, 2007.
Camille Boden has given a huge assist to some of the worst principals. She and Lopez are a terrible combination.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Richard Berman: No Hollywood ending for some teachers
By RICHARD BERMAN
Executive director of The Center for Union Facts, a business-backed
organization critical of some union leadership.
Everyone loves a great teacher. The continued success of movies like
“Freedom Writers” or other classics in the genre indicates that we love
big-screen reassurance that a great teacher can set hearts aflame with
desire for learning, no matter the circumstances.
But the camera doesn’t show everything.
Jaime Escalante, the legendary teacher immortalized in “Stand and Deliver,”
left his own East L.A. math program after it became a victim of its own
success, one fact the movie did not mention. His classes were so popular
that they grew beyond the size considered acceptable by the teachers union.
Explaining his departure, Escalante said: “I work for the students, not for
the teachers. . The teachers union was not in my favor.”
Union rules also prevented Escalante prot
#688
SAEA is under new leadership with
David Barton. His focus is strong and he is scaring district administrators who want to punish teachers by withholding pay and jacking up the cost of basic health care benefits.
Teachers in SAUSD deserve representation.
http://pissedoffteeacher.blogspot.com/2007/01/why-teacher-unions-are-good-for.html
Why Teacher Unions Are Good for Teachers and the Public
The following article was printed in the American Teacher Magazine that came out this week. This is what the UFT should be touting.
They Protect Teachers’ Rights, Support Teacher Professionalism, and Check Administrative Power
By Diane Ravitch
We live in an era when leaders in business and the media demand that schools function like businesses in a free market economy, competing for students and staff. Many such voices say that such corporate-style school reform is stymied by the teacher unions, which stand in the way of leaders who want unchecked power to assign, reward, punish, or remove their employees. Some academics blame the unions when student achievement remains stagnant. If scores are low, the critics say it must be because of the teachers
Good deed goes into overdrive
A Trabuco Hills High student far exceeds his goal by collecting 11,000 books for elementary school students in Santa Ana and Tustin.
By FERMIN LEAL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
SANTA ANA
Coincidence or not?
After Russo is selected as superintendent, district decides to go impasse.
That’s what you get when you’re stuck dealing with a novice in such matters. Unfortunately Russo is heavily relying on the district thugs to push through their agenda.
The dancing Scotsman will only reinforce the Richardson/Pulido agenda and poor Audrey is forced to kot-tow to Miguel
As an observer of Saddledback High School, I think that workplace targets are used as scapegoats to hide other managerial problems within a dysfunctional work setting. It is a way to divert the attention of others from the core issues that hurt an oganization. It also sends out a message to other employees that they could be next.
I am a special educator who has worked in the field for more than 20 years. I am having serious problems with my administration. I don
As a school administrator, I believe that people who do not put the interests of children first should not be in education. These actions are illegal, immoral and unethical. You merely have to do what is right. If your situation with administration is as intractable as you believe, there are some other options.
Discretely contact your state special education director and explain the situation to him/her.
Discretely contact the parents. Talk to them about the parental rights booklet you should have delivered to them and point out parts from the booklet that are relevant in this case. Parents have strong rights because of such situations as you mention.
You owe it to your school and to your continued employment to stay as close as possible to the chain of authority. Read your school policies closely, then pick the person you trust most in the upper echelons of administration and ask for a confidential meeting. Your school will lose a lawsuit based on these facts and should pay attention for this reason, even if they are not interested in doing the right thing.
One last thing: Contact the attorney who represents your teacher organization. Tell them about the situation, what you are doing, and ask him/her to intervene in protecting your job when you mutually decide this is necessary.
#694
If you contact the union, hope they do the usual and ignore you. Otherwise, they will blow your cover, rile things up for you and then leave you out to fend for yourself.
The union and the district, two peas in a pod.
#696
Under the reign of Mijares and Harrison the union and district were 2 peas in a pod.
It’s different with Dr. Barton at the helm of SAEA – he’s a pro. Unfortunately Russo doesn’t have the experience to navigate these unseemly waters.
#697
Dr. Barton has his own boat anchor – Director Gladys. She’s about as counter-productive as an advocate and problem solver as a union can get!
Retire her lazy butt already.
If Dave Barton is a professional, and as Gladys is a lazy non-performer, what does that say about Dave Barton?
If Dave Barton is a professional, and as Gladys is a lazy non-performer, what does that say about Dave Barton?
David Barton has assumed his position in SAEA for several months now. Gladys has been there for several decades and is very comfortable with her job she is supposed to be doing. If you need actual assistance, she’s not the one to go to.
She’s a boat anchor for a guy like Barton who likes to get progress made. Maybe she’ll do the membership a favor and retire. Just don’t slip that Tom Harrison into her vacancy.
I absolutely agree with #700 comment. Gladys does nothing. But why must the members wait for HER to decide to retire, and why should she? She does nothing, accountable to no one and makes bank. If Dave Barton is a person who likes progress, why does he keep her on staff. Though CTA appointed her, he could do more than nothing to see she works or leaves. Doesn’t say much about CTA either.
Where do these do nothings come from?
I think the teachers who have written awful comments about Gladys Hall-Kessler and Tom Harrison are an embarrassment to our profession. These people have no clue who these people are or what they have done for Santa Ana teachers. This blog is really about the problems at SAUSD. But some are using it to slander SAEA leaders who have helped countless SAEA members over the years. They should read the contract we have. We have one of the best contracts in California. Administrators hate the evaluations language because it’s so difficult to give negative evaluations withour doing all they can to help teachers improve. The hours of work has reduced the number of minutes teachers work. Elementary and intermediate school teachers no longer have yard duty. That is unheard of. Talk to teachers in other districts and ask them if they have yard duty. Then tell them we don’t. How did that happen? Our monthly contributions for health benefits has been among the lowest. And somehow the 13.44% restoration we got seems to mean nothing. Oh yes, we took that awful 4% paycut 3 years ago. Never again. But we were promised restoration, and we got more than promised. Our health benefits have also remained well below what most people in our profession or any other profession pay in a time when health benefits have been increasing double digits every year.
If these people are so unhappy with SAEA, then why don’t they get involved instead of whinning and complaining and writing about something they clearly know nothing about.
By the way, David Barton,or any SAEA president for that matter, has no input who the executive director will be. Gladys has been SAEA’s executive director for a long time now. She is SAEA’s advisor and she is employed by CTA. She is responsible for much of the tough contract language we have. She has helped countless teachers’ careers over the years. Gladys has been the only SAEA president who served a full 6 years. I’m sure she doesn’t even bother to read this pathetic blog. I wasn’t going to respond because the people who have dragged SAEA leaders though the mud are really not worth responding to. But I’ve had enough.
Clearly, this blog is not monitored or the slander, lies and ignorance would not be published here. It’s fine to criticize in an intelligent and thoughtful manner without leveling mean spirited attacks on people. This blog should be shut down.
#702 wrote.
Clearly, this blog is not monitored or the slander, lies and ignorance would not be published here. It’s fine to criticize in an intelligent and thoughtful manner without leveling mean spirited attacks on people. This blog should be shut down.
Two responses come to mind. The 1st amendment and ‘Where there is smoke there is fire’.
If no truth to these 700 allegations exist then no harm done. If these allegations even have a breath of truth, then someone, especially those part of the problem, will surely complain and call to shut this blog down.
The I was not going to respond..” is always the first indication someone has struck a nerve elsewhere, or has someone uncovered a truth perhaps?
#702
You are saying that the director for the teachers’ union was appointed into that position years ago, and she’s done some substantial things in the past and any one who questions her abilities is being an unprofessional teacher who should just shut up or volunteer more?
Well the number of grievances was in the hundreds last year. Don’t you find that an unacceptable number? How many of those grievances are like in nature? Maybe the reoccurring ones could be addressed by the director? You don
If you read what I wrote carefully, you would have noticed I said, “Clearly, this blog is not monitored or the slander, lies and ignorance would not be published here. It’s fine to criticize in an intelligent and thoughtful manner without leveling mean spirited attacks on people.” I didn’t say Gladys or anyone else shouldn’t be questioned. I’m saying mean spirited attacks on people comes off as unprofessional and deameans our profession. One can be critical without using terms such as: “Retire her lazy butt already.” (referring to Gladys.) Do you really believe that’s an appropiate statement to write? Sounds extremely immature and unprofessional to me. But that’s just my opinion.
As for tons of teachers leaving SAEA. Where did you get that information from? That’s not true. There are very few agency fee payers in Santa Ana Unifed. I suggest you get your facts straight. So easy to make up anything to write on this blog without evidence to back it up.
Moreover, agency fee payers still pay dues to SAEA. Perhaps you should learn about how agency fee works before you write that SAEA is working with a reduced budget. When was the last time you attended a rep council meeting? We just voted on a new budget because SAEA has more money than they originally believed they had.
Perhaps your problem wasn’t solved by SAEA? I don’t know what your experience has been. Tons of teachers have been helped Gladys, Tom and others that you know nothing about.
Grievances in the hundreds? Again, making up numbers. Yes, we have lots of grievances in this district. But it’s not in the hundreds! We do have our share of grievances in SAUSD. No question about it. But how is that SAEA’s fault? Isn’t that the District’s fault? I’m sure most people reading this blog are aware that we have our share of awful administrators in SAUSD. The District is responsible for the large number of grievances we have.
“I bet she does do special favors for special people at most. Anyone who is not a friend and has needed help and gone to her has come away disappointed.”
You bet? So you don’t know, do you? This is not a fact. You just made this up. An executive director can’t do special favors for friends. There is something called a Duty of Fair Representation (DFR). Members can file a DFR is they believe they have not been represented fairly. If what you are saying is true, there must be tons of lawsuits against SAEA? What do you mean anyone who has come to Gladys has come away disappointed? What you really mean is that you have come away disappointed. So your experience is shared by countless outhers? Perhaps you haven’t talked to the teachers who had their careers saved by Gladys. Well you wouldn’t know about those teachers because that information is confidential. Just like I’m sure whatever your situation has been is also confidential.
As for #703’s first amendment repsonse, I’m not saying people can’t say or write whatever they want. My point is those who write statements such as, “retire her lazy butt already” demean the teaching profession. Is that really necessary? And to say Gladys is lazy on a public blog in my opinion is simply an angry attack and possibly slander. And I’m sorry. Gladys is not lazy. I have known here to work at the office well into the night hours and spend a great deal of time helping teachers individually with their problems.
#703 Keep your eye on the ball!
Offering a free car for perfect attendance is demeaning to education and the parents who try to instill in their children the value of a education.
Over the years I’ve seen good and rotten teachers and plenty of long-term subs.
If any business is failing then the employees, along with the admins, should tirelessly work at making their business a success. You, #703, tick off the minutes and appear NOT to give a hoot about academic success.
Administrators, teachers, staff and union are ALL CULPABLE!
Yes, I agree. Giving a car as a prize for perfect attendence sends the wrong message to our students, parents and community.
Parents are also culpable. Most Santa Ana teachers are hard working, dedicated employees. I’m getting tired of teachers getting blamed for all the social ills of society. How about the parents taking some responsiblity for a change?
it has nothing to do with illegal aliens….lets get some quality people to run our schools …Santa Ana has the worst and lazy rich people working so its obvious they dont care… do your research before you open your mouths…..
Thanks for some good information, #705.
But doesn’t it seem to be in everyone’s favor if there would be more accountability and transparency in the district as well as SAEA?
No matter how well intentioned your defense of union officials, there is nothing of real substance to show what they have actually done for how many teachers of late.
You seem overly upset about any challenges to top officials and demands that they be held accountable.
Yes, I agree. Giving a car as a prize for perfect attendence sends the wrong message to our students, parents and community.
How about a weekly drawing at each school where the winner gets a scratchers lottery ticket? Maybe get the PTA’s to sell four leaf clovers and lucky rabits feet to the contestents who want to boost their luck? Really show the community how gullible and naiive SAUD thinks they are.
Show them the contempt they deserve. Instead of hiring and retaining the best possible teaching staff that know how to teach and motivate the students 1000% better than the substitute teacher du jour that has been the budget strategy of this district…give one kid and his family a car. Shortchanging the entire student body of all the SAUSD schools will never be noticed, now will it, Art?
Amazing how readers of this blog salivate over the lies, misinformation, and personal attacks that are thrown on here, until the attack is about them, their department, or their profession.
Please read this blog with a critical eye for “garbage”.
And for those of you who will misinterpret my comments, I’m not a supporter of the union.
#708
SAUSD is no different than any large beaucracy – it has its share of bad teachers and administrators. The teaching profession is not immune. Unfortunately SAUSD has more than its share of stale administrators and teachers. And the current superintendent is not equipped to handle the problems dragging the district down. The BOE hired a superintendent that has ZERO experience in leading an urban district.
If there was an Apprentice
Superintendent show the Donald would have told Russso “you’re fired.”
You get what you pay for.
Keeping my eye on the ball. Here’s Monday’s Register article on the tonights board meeting.
Notice it fails to state how much teachers medical PPO costs will be raised or that Grant was proposed closed previously but the board bent due to parent demonstrations? Possibly this writer needs some enlightenment???
By FERMIN LEAL
The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-lausd13feb13,1,2552559.story?track=rss
Districts to vie for $2.9 billion to aid troubled schools
L.A. Unified is expected to apply for the funds from a state settlement. The money is meant to help 500 of California’s low-achieving schools.
By Howard Blume, Times Staff Writer
February 13, 2007
School districts will have seven weeks to vie for a share of $2.9 billion that will pay for smaller classes, high school counselors, teacher training and other initiatives.
State education officials and the California Teachers Assn. hailed the program, which will benefit 500 selected low-achieving California schools.
“This is not the panacea, but this is a significant, targeted, strategic investment,” Jack O’Connell, the state superintendent of public instruction, said at a Monday news conference. “We’re trying to clearly help the most challenging schools. This is a commitment by the state to close the achievement gap.”
Some critics called the plan overly prescriptive; others said the reforms demanded too little of schools.
The money comes from the settlement of a lawsuit filed by O’Connell and the CTA against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for allegedly breaking a funding pledge.
“The lawsuit was a difficult thing for all of us, but real good has come out of it,” said Barbara Kerr, president of the California Teachers Assn.
The new seven-year effort is among several initiatives aimed at closing the performance gap that separates whites and Asians from blacks and Latinos. That gap has not shrunk despite overall school improvement. About a third of some 1,500 low-scoring schools will receive an infusion of $500 per year per student for elementary schools, $900 per student at middle schools and $1,000 at high schools.
The centerpiece is a stipulation that limits a class to 25 students.
“I’ve visited so many schools where the children are literally crammed into the classroom,” Kerr said. “We know class-size reduction is the best reform around.”
Research has not entirely settled that point, but smaller classes are popular with parents, teachers and students. California keeps classes at a 20-to-1 student-teacher ratio for kindergarten through third grade. There also are smaller classes for ninth-grade English, and individual school systems, including the Los Angeles Unified School District, have targeted other grades or subjects. This sweeping plan would apply to all elementary grades and all core academic classes in upper grades.
The state’s improvement targets for participating schools will remain essentially unchanged from the present, which displeased Jim Lanich, an education researcher who heads California Business for Education Excellence.
“Schools are doing what we’re asking them to do, but we’re not asking them to do much,” he said. “This is more of the same.”
L.A. school board member David Tokofsky called the funding “good pork for Los Angeles,” but added, “This is money owed to school districts statewide that will be turned over to 30% of the lowest performing schools, without any public discussion, and without any clear sanctions if they don’t improve. This is money that otherwise goes into programs for kids and pay raises for teachers, which could have been determined locally.”
L.A. Unified hopes to obtain funding for about 80 schools, out of 230 that are eligible. Campuses without space to reduce class size will apply for a limited pool of funds without that restriction.
“The requirements are pretty detailed, without much flexibility,” said Scott Plotkin, executive director of the California School Boards Assn. Such restrictions might not match a district’s “internal analysis of what is most necessary to help the kids.”
The reform plan, with an application deadline of March 30, also would set student-to-counselor ratios for participating campuses at 300 to 1.
In Los Angeles middle schools, this year, the ratio is as high as 1,100 to 1; in high schools, up to 799 to 1. Recent new state funding is expected to cut those ratios in about half even without the settlement money.
With luck, the money could become a down payment on permanent, more widespread school support, said Margie Granado, president of the Montebello Teachers Assn. “I’m praying this extra money will make a difference, so that people will see that.”
——————————————————————————–
howard.blume@latimes.com
Unfortuntately OC is saddled with a very poor education writer. All Calif. school districts joined CTA in suing the Gov., as reported in the Times article. SAUSD is reluctant to disclose its share of the monies received and that’s a sticking point w/the union.
Makes you think twice about the district’s call for impasse.
Trigg is attempting to cloud the issue regarding the $17 million proposed cuts.
Follow the money.
Proposed cuts
http://o-juice.blogspot.com/2007/02/proposed-cuts-for-sausd.html
http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/news/budget_faq.asp
Budget Reallocation Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q – How much will SAUSD need to cut from the 2007/2008 budget?
A – The district needs to cut $21 million from the 07/08 budget. The district is seeking approvals on $15 million in recommended funds at the Feb. 13 Board Meeting. (The Budget Reallocation Committee actually identified $16.2 million in programs that can be cut.)
An additional $6 million that will be realized in attrition rates due to the reduction in need for teachers per declining enrollment will need to be identified by March. The District currently has approximately 2,700 teachers.
Q – Why does the District need to make these budget cuts?
A – The goal of SAUSD is to remain financially solvent in a climate of declining student enrollment. For 2007/2008 FY, the District anticipates a loss of 1,600 students district-wide, which equates to a loss of approximately $9 million in average daily attendance revenue provided by the state.
School districts must meet a stringent set of standards and criteria in order to gain certification and maintain independent operational status as deemed appropriate by O.C. Department of Education, and these reductions will keep us in line with this directive.
Q – In which schools is the enrollment declining?
A – The District is recognizing most of the decline in enrollment at the elementary levels, whose families may be moving out of Orange County to more affordable areas to live.
Q – What are the areas in which reductions were recommended?
A – The goal of the Budget Reallocation Committee was to keep the cuts as far away from classrooms and learning programs as possible. The committee reviewed 215 proposals and narrowed the recommendations to 35 for reduction.
Q – Will there be school closures as result of budget cuts?
A – Intermediate grades 7th and 8th only currently housed at Taft Elementary will be recommended for relocation to other intermediate schools. Grade 6 will remain at Taft. Seventh and 8th graders from this school would be redirected to McFadden (the neighborhood school) or MacArthur Fundamental (which participates in a lottery-based system for enrollment).
Grant Elementary
#717 –
How much money is stashed in the district’s reserve?
Why aren’t district administrators disclosing the following factoids:
6 custodial FTE’s will be eliminated.
55 bilingual instructional assistants will be layed off to accommodate Title III funding of intermediate and high school AP’s
Elimination of grades 6 & 8 at Taft. These students will be forced to attend McFadden or Lathrop — two of the district’s poorest performing intermediate schools.
Reduce each high school’s athletic program by 5% or $36K per high school for an annual budget of $685K for each high school. Some sports will be eliminated; fewer freshman and sophmore sports; coaches stipends will be reduced.
Legal Fee Reductions. This item pertains to Workers Comp only. Other legal fees continue to skyrocket due to the large number of lawsuits currently in litigation.
Elimination of 1 Valley HS Program Specialist assigned as a higher education counselor. $100,000.
This is above and beyond the normal unrestricted counselor allocation. Why?
Your tidy SAUSD Q & A is merely window dressing manufactured by the district to make these budget cuts feel warm & fuzzy.
How much money is in the SAUSD reserve fund?
Despite # 717 district ‘word speak’, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize the shell game is still alive and well.
Taft Int. is esentially a seperate school consisting of about 16 bungalows. The entire site had to be built from top to underground just a few years ago. Parking, pick up and drop off roads had to be redesigned or added. Now they are going to tear it out and send these kids to two schools miles away that are notoriously poor performers? Maybe these parents should take a hint from the parents at Grant. It seems complaining and demonstrating works for them and those kids would have only been moved about a mile to Roosevelt, Walker, or Garfield.
The main theme appears to be to save the administrators or save the deadwood and corrupt at HQ.
Although the budget process is complex and unclear at many turns, doesn’t it seem like this is a new development of the district leaders actually sharing the information in a fairly timely way on their website?
I think any attempts at transparency should be applauded and encouraged.
Yes, transparency should be applauded when the effort is real. Trigg, Lopez and Russo are just going through the motions.
Lopez’s assertion that teachers rejected their $100 mo. premium is a bold face lie. Even if there’s a scintella of truth to that statement, why did the district take a leap of $750 in monthly premiums and cry impasse?
The district is cutting costs on the backs of its teachers, custodians and bilinigual aides.
Dig deeper. Follow the $$$$.
Taking $35,000 away from the athletics budget at each high school and leaving them with $685,000 shows how messed up the district is. $35,000 is more than double what is allowed at each school for the budgets of all the other departments. Spending $685,000 for athletics is outrageous given the relatively small number that participate.
Spend the money to educate the students. The fact is that even this small cut will not happen. Watch the screaming about the need to leave this money alone because “athletics keeps the kids in school” or “athletics motivates students to do well in school”.
What happens here is that the teachers of the academic classes subsidize the athletic program by buying the classroom materials so the athletic budget can consume more than 95% of the available funds.