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.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/05/us_reading_prog.html
A Texas businessman listed as a major fundraiser for President George Bush has made millions of dollars in profits from a federal reading program that critics say favored administration cronies at the expense of schoolchildren.
A company founded and owned by Randy Best, who is listed by the nonprofit group Public Citizen as a Bush “Pioneer” during the 2000 presidential campaign, received the lucrative contracts under a Bush administration initiative called Reading First.
[…]
…congressional investigators say Reading First contracts were awarded by the administration based on politics and financial ties, not merit.
“They designed it for their friends and cronies, and they ended up not designing the best program for America’s schoolchildren,” said Congressman George Miller, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.
In a report earlier this year, the inspector general for the Department of Education found repeated instances of conflict of interest in the Reading First program.
#975 How is your posting relevant to this thread?
#976
Number # 975 is employing the typical tactic of strawman to draw away from the corruption topic. If you go back and review any relevant topics you will suddenly find some unrelated story about a School district in New York or somewhere that has nothing to do with SAUSD. It is a feeble attempt to continually distract from the facts brought out but as long as someone keeps pointing this out it gets things back on track.
So why was the principal at Santiago booted? Who’s going to replace her?
#978
After 15 years at Santiago, she is going to be principal of a fundamental elementary school.
# 978 New Principal of Santiago will be Chad Hammit from Edison, a PI 5 school. Wonder how long it will take for Santiago to become a PI 5 School. The old Principal shuffle.
Linda Bell of Santiago was appointed to succeed Dr. Wagner at Thorpe Elementary.
Hopefully the Title I and teacher substitute abuses initiated by Bell will cease under the leadership of Chad Hammit.
Robert DeBerry is retiring from Walker Elementary.
Has a replacement been announced yet?
Today’s news reports …
“Two of the city’s more successful charter-school companies sued the Los Angeles Unified School District on Thursday, alleging that the school district has failed to make space available for their students as required by law.”
The Calvario Temple chisme reports success of securing the former Grant school site as their new school site in the fall. Apparently they will share the site with the district’s ARC (Attendance Recovery Center)or the district’s truant program. Mixing elementary school children and truant students is an unusal approach to educating youth.
And they shut down a neighborhood school only to turn it over to a church-based school and truant kids?
#982
Roxanne Owings who hails from Martin Elem will take the helm at Walker.
Grant, according to board member Hernandez, was closed because of its poor academic performance.
If the Calvario Temple chisme is accurate, it’s unfortunate SAUSD stewards shuttered a neighborhood school only to turn the site over to a church based charter school.
Meanwhile, why were Measure C funds used to purchase land for the district’s new warehouse at the Otsuka site?
Some more budget reduction suggestions for Mr. Trigg: How about eliminating the position of District Nutrition Administrator. SAUSD already has a nursing staff (they know about health), and school lunches already comply with state guidelines. Did SAUSD really need to create another administartive position regarding nutrition in times of a budget shortfall?
Just a freindly suggestion to help ease the pain.
All roads lead to
#987
Nigo Nigro & White’s April 24 prelim audit findings summarizes:
> Over the next 1-2 weeks, NNW will have completed the audit by:
– Finalizng the audit of the J7- CSR report
– Conducting additional interviews of schoolsite and district personel
– Completing required work in meeting auditing standards
– Completing and delivering the audit report.
Nearly 30 days has passed and Tuesday’s school board agenda does not list NNW’s final audit report on the agenda.
Supt. Russo, where’s the report?
And why isn’t school board president Rob Richardson, self-proclaimed steward of SAUSD, holding Supt. Russo accountable?
950, 972
>
>
>
> A funny thing happened to last week!
>
> On my way to a doctor’s appointment, last Thursday
> evening, I saw a sign on
> a restaurant, which read, “GRAND RE-OPENING, UNDER
> NEW MANAGEMENT.” I had
> been at this same restaurant about three months ago;
> the stench as you
> walked through the front door was horrid, the person
> who I believe was the
> cook looked like he had been dumpster diving, the
> waitress looked like a
> life long drug user, she probably was not more than
> 90 pounds.
>
> No sooner, did I walk in and after the “shock &
> awe,” I ran out.
>
>
>
> Therefore, I decided to stop by and check what fuss
> was about. At first, the
> look and smelled was different. I did not see the
> dumpster diving cook or
> the hype for a waitress! I waited for about 10
> minutes before anyone asked
> for my order. Who do you thing showed up? Yeah! The
> same waitress, seconds
> later the same cook comes to the register and asked
> the waitress what I had
> ordered.
>
> I got up; left thinking where the “grand re-opening,
> under new management”
> was about!
>
> Moral to the story;
> up and until everyone takes accountability for their
> inability to take
> responsibility and accountability for their
> incompetence, you can request,
> demand and wish for new administration will not
> change the fact that one
> must take a long hard look at oneself before you
> demand change!
#989
???????????????????????
What significant exposure, to litigation against the district, has arisen over the CSR revenue boosting boondoogle?
Supt Russo repeatedly observed that it was a minor misunderstanding of implementing CSR. And the public was informed this misunderstanding would cost the district $2 million.
So, what gives with shuffling this matter to closed session? And what is the **significant exposure?**
How many times can Supt. Russo and her cabinet lie to the public before they are declared liars? And when will they beheld accountable by the BoE for their incompetent mismanagement?
***********Agenda Item ********
From Closed Session Agenda (b) for May 22:
You will see
#991
Very interesting. Could this be a ruse to withhold information from the public?
This district has NEVER been about transparency.
Or is the state at long last stepping in?
# 991
Now that’s a doggone good question. If the state decides to reduce the money back based on violations of the CSR do they expect an explosion of litigation from parents or teachers? It’s almost self incrimination to list this in the board minutes.
If the district is exposed to significant litigation I would think it might be about the way Camille Boden has run the Risk Management department and treated both Certificated and Classified employees regarding workman’s compensation claims the district has faced as a result of teacher harassment and staff injuries. Many have resulted in lawsuits because of the way they were handled.
To the interested observer, there have been small but noticeable changes in district business. Board minutes and agendas are posted in a much timelier manner. These documents are also much more organized and transparent in their presentation. One has only to look at minutes taken at the October 2006 board meeting ( just choose board minutes pre- Jane Russo as an example) and hold them up to the current set of minutes. There is a huge difference in the quality of detail and the presentation of SAUSD information.
One detail missing, though, is the documents that are stated as being attached to the minutes. That information is referenced in the minutes, but is not present on the district website.
Disabilities are not contagious. Why are the newest facilities still off limits to a student population that does best with modern access designs and the better principals assigned in the district? My guess is that it is the same reason why this district routinely steals Low Incidence monies intended for this same group of students. Bigotry and featherbedding. Why is it okay to hate the disabled students in SAUSD?
#994
I’ll sleep better knowing the minutes of the board meeting are posted in a more timely manner.
In the meantime, the Supt. and her incompetent cabinet engaged in illegally boosting revenue by asking teachers to falsify attendance records.
The ACLU took on the city and won. I hope they take on SAUSD. The district rips disabled and mainstreamed students as well as parents.
#993
#996
The BIG dirty secret in SAUSD is that there is unquestioned bias against special needs students. No lasting lessons have been learned by the original Mendez suit that involved the Santa Ana district a half a century ago.
#998
The practices at Segerstrom should be closely scrutinized. Maher runs that school like it’s her private high school. I’d like to know how many special ed students attend Segerstrom HS? And how many students have been granted an intra-district transfer or just dropped out?
The high school boundaries are really messed up. Check ’em out.
Tonight’s agenda ..
Discussion Item: Open Court Component Update
Regular Agenda
11.0 Admin Regs.Employee Rules & Regs for use of e-mail. 1st reading.
16.0 Board policy/Admin Reg Graduation ceremonies and Activities.
The first go-around with Open Court created plenty of discention; round 2 should be equally lively.
Looks like the district is taking action to curtail employees from reading the OJ!
Noji wants to freely hand out certificates to students who did not fullfill all graduation requirements. Why are district admins and Noji fearful of disclosing the real graduation numbers?
On the SAUSD minutes for May 8th it says the meeting starrted at 4:50 pm. I find it kinda odd they did not announce this time change on their website. I was a bit late knowing the meeting starts at 6pm. and was not able to comment. ;( Does anyone know what this new “Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan” Forum today at 6:30 pm at Valley West HS Theatre is all about?! Sounds like they are asking the community how to run their schools? Parents and community members have made numerous suggestions but the SAUSD just don’t WANT TO GET IT. They love going in circles like a dog chases its tail!!!
The High Cost of Workplace Jerks and Office Bullies
Workplace jerks do their dirty work in all sorts of ways, ranging from the subtle to the obnoxiously blatant. Whatever the tactic, workplace bullies pack an emotional wallop, demeaning and de-energizing employees and customers alike.
Jerk-infested workplaces are more common than employers like to think – or at least admit!
http://hrblog.typepad.com/hrblog/2007/05/the_high_cost_o.html
In addition to turnover, lower productivity, absenteeism and even
higher rates of disability and stress-related illnesses, office
bullies can cost a company a lot of money. In a recent article in the McKinsey Quarterly (2007, Number 2) one company calculated the extra costs (or TCJ = total cost of jerks) generated by a star salesperson – that assistants he burned through, the overtime costs, the legal costs, the anger management training and so on. The extra cost of one jerk for one year was $160,000.
One study, which included interviews with 30 people who had either witnessed or experienced workplace bullying, indicated that 40 percent of the targets left their organizations, while 30 percent of the witnesses were planning on leaving their workplaces as a result of the behavior.
Employers committed to sustaining a civilized workplace have several options. First and foremost is the enforcement of a “no-jerks” rule.
Bullying behavior must be dealt with immediately. Repeat offenders
aren’t ignored or forgiven again and again. Jerks must change
behavior or change employers.
For anyone going thru an unbelievably petty grievance over trumped up accusations, here are some of the tactics used by an incompetent manager/supervisor who will resort to using the evaluation process or corrective steps as weapons to drive you from your job assignment. We all know who the worst of the worst are, no matter what the board and the administration claim. We all know who the real trouble makers are -who get their kicks out of harassing decent employees so they can somehow feel that they are accomplishing something, themselves. Sad that decent employees have to change assignments while the real problem gets a free pass. The students and tax payers deserve better:
http://hrblog.typepad.com/hrblog/2007/05/25_top_workplac.html
25 Top Workplace Bully Tactics
Workplace bullies use many methods to intimidate their targets. Based
on studies of toxic workplaces, the Workplace Bullying Institute has identified 25 of the Top Workplace Bully Tactics employed by workplace bullies.
1. Falsely accused someone of “errors” not actually made (71 percent).
2. Stared, glared, was nonverbally intimidating and was clearly
showing hostility (68 percent).
3. Discounted the person’s thoughts or feelings (“oh, that’s silly”) in meetings (64 percent).
4. Used the “silent treatment” to “ice out” and separate from others (64 percent).
5. Exhibited presumably uncontrollable mood swings in front of the group (61 percent).
6. Made up own rules on the fly that even she/he did not follow (61 percent).
7. Disregarded satisfactory or exemplary quality of completed work despite evidence (58 percent).
8. Harshly and constantly criticized having a different standard for the target (57 percent).
9. Started, or failed to stop, destructive rumors or gossip about the person (56 percent).
10. Encouraged people to turn against the person being tormented (55 percent).
11. Singled out and isolated one person from coworkers, either
socially or physically (54 percent).
12. Publicly displayed “gross,” undignified, but not illegal, behavior (53 percent).
13. Yelled, screamed, threw tantrums in front of others to humiliate a person (53 percent).
14. Stole credit for work done by others (47 percent).
15. Abused the evaluation process by lying about the person’s
performance (46 percent).
16. Declare target “insubordinate” for failing to follow arbitrary commands (46 percent).
17. Used confidential information about a person to humiliate
privately or publicly (45 percent).
18. Retaliated against the person after a complaint was filed (45
percent).
19. Made verbal put-downs/insults based on gender, race, accent or
language, disability (44 percent).
20. Assigned undesirable work as punishment (44 percent).
21. Created unrealistic demands (workload, deadlines, duties) for
person singled out (44 percent).
22. Launched a baseless campaign to oust the person; effort not
stopped by the employer (43 percent).
23. Encouraged the person to quit or transfer rather than to face more mistreatment (43 percent).
24. Sabotaged the person’s contribution to a team goal and reward (41 percent).
25. Ensured failure of person’s project by not performing required
tasks, such as sign-offs, taking calls, working with collaborators (40 percent)
#1002
The district is gearing up for another bond. Many SAUSD facilities are in need of modernization and/or renovation.
In short, they’re hitting the campaign trail with the hope of getting your support/money.
Ready to get fleeced, again?
Employees,
Enrollment packet information:
http://www.sateach.org/Open%20Enrollment%202007.html
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1706579.php
Former Capistrano Unified chief Fleming indicted
Ex-superintendent charged with misappropriation of public funds. Assistant Superintendent McGill also indicted.
By LARRY WEBORN
The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA
Hoooooh Ya! Bingo!Doess this mean the incompetent Dr. Noji, Richardson, Hernandez, and RUSSSO will be in jail soon?!!!! Sheez let’s all cross our fingers for this to happen;)
And let’s not forget their Principals’ and administrators!
Don’t hold your breath. The community has to care before the elected officials are held responsible, or haven’t you noticed. Have you seen anyone in Santa Ana politics indicted lately?
The thing that stands out about the CUSD fiasco is that there were alarm bells going off everywhere and yet it took such a long time and such concerted efforts to get to this point of indictments. One of the board members expresses shock that the Assistant Super would do this kind of thing, while others expressed opinions on her vindictive and cruel personality aimed at underlings and the community members. This Jekyll and Hyde conduct is typical of criminal doings in an organization. Lying and pretense is an obvious indicator of evil at work. Many of the recall supporters described the situation as
So many people are expressing vindication now. One person describes it as an adventure into the
The fact that false class rosters have been going on for a number of years, and administrators have gotten caught faking graduation numbers, should be a fair warning to the SAUSD board that there are mostly likely a lot more troubles brewing in the criminal mentality that has been a part of this district during the Mijares years. Ripping off students IS evil. Pretending like its not or pretending like it
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Today’s editorial: Lesson in hubris at Capo Unified
Indictments of former superintendent, assistant, should encourage community vigilance.
An Orange County Register editorial
The indictment last week of two former top officials at Capistrano Unified capped a long and bitter battle at that south county school district over efforts to reform leadership that had grown arrogant and out of touch with the public. An indictment is a far cry from a conviction, but the county grand jury’s decision is indeed vindication for the hearty band of parents who attempted to recall the school board and offers encouragement for grass-roots activists who want to keep their government accountable.
Former Superintendent James Fleming was charged with the misappropriation of public funds, using school funds to defeat a recall effort against his allies on the school board, and conspiracy. Former Assistant Superintendent Susan McGill was charged with perjury and conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public.
We still recall meeting with CUSD grass-roots activists when the recall idea was just getting started in March 2005. Supporters of that drastic move were frustrated by a variety of individual policies
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/67638.html
ALBUQUERQUE, May 30 U.S. employees are bullied up to 50 percent more often than workers in Scandinavia, a new study has shown.
The study, published in the Journal of Management Studies, suggests that bullying behavior is ingrained in the culture of the U.S. workplace.
Pamela Lutgen-Sandvik, of the University of New Mexico, said the negative effects of workplace bullying are widespread: Employees who witness others being bullied suffer secondary harm, reporting high levels of stress and low levels of work satisfaction.
Some of the bullying acts included: having information withheld that affected a worker’s performance, being exposed to an unmanageable workload, given tasks with unreasonable or impossible targets/deadlines, having opinions and views ignored and having work excessively monitored.
“Workers suffering on the job and thinking they are ‘going crazy’ learn that the phenomenon has a name, what it looks like, that it happens to many workers, and potentially, what they might do about it,” Lutgen-Sandvik said in a statement. The study found that many U.S. companies enable powerful organizational members to bully others without recrimination.
http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/departments/pio/release.asp?id=147
New Administrative Appointments Approved By Board of Education
Santa Ana, CA – May 31, 2007
The Board of Education of the Santa Ana Unified School District approved five new administrative appointments including four elementary school principals and a manager of network computer services during the month of May.
Robert Chavez, a former network specialist for the Whittier Union High School District, will be filling the vacant network computer services manager position effective June 11. Chavez has more than 18 years of technological experience having worked with National Computer Systems, Xmark Corp. and operating his own company, RAMTECK.
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon has been appointed as principal of Martin Elementary School. She served as an outreach consultant, taught bilingual classes and was most recently assistant principal at Pio Pico Elementary. Gonzales-Solomon holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Chapman University and a master’s in Educational Administration from Azusa Pacific University.
Additionally, Lisa Hinshaw will begin the new school year in the principal-ship of McFadden Intermediate School. She began her educational career as a teacher in 1980 and has held an assistant principal position at Spurgeon Intermediate as well as principal at MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate School. Hinshaw received her bachelor’s in Education from Oregon State University and master’s in Educational Administration from California State University, Fullerton.
Art Jimenez has been appointed principal at Esqueda Elementary School, serving in several credentialed assignments in the Santa Ana School District prior to becoming interim principal from January, 2007 until his current appointment. Jimenez earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Chapman University and master’s degree in Education from Alliant International University.
The last appointment is that of William Souza as principal of Edison Elementary School, having begun his career as a teacher in 1996. He became a resource teacher prior to his promotion to assistant principal and ultimately his current post. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from National University and a master’s degree in Education from California State University, Fullerton.
The Board of Education meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the District’s Boardroom at 1601 E. Chestnut Ave. in Santa Ana. Board Members include Rob Richardson, president; Rosemarie Avila, vice president; Audrey Yamagata-Noji, Ph.D., clerk; Jose Alfredo Hernandez, member; John Palacio, member; and SAUSD Superintendent Jane Russo.
The above posted release regarding the new computer tech and 5 principals reminds me of a rigged Bingo game where only the balls in the cage are certain to play nice with the district office. What I found interesting is how carefully crafted the wording was within the press release.
Starting with the new computer services manager, Robert Chavez, the release indicates his long 18 year history with a number of companies including his own. It also refers that he was a former network specialist at Whittier Union High School District. Immediately one might wonder why someone with a successful company would join a school district but then again it is a good way to get insurance coverage. According to the WUHSD website, Mr. Chavez is still employed there and no indication of an opening for his position is listed within the employment opportunities area of the webpage. He appears very qualified and why not jump into management if being a network specialist prepares you to be.
But lets move onto the appointed principals.
Lisa Solomon. Her carefully crafted bio shows she is well educated, began as an outreach consultant, bilingual teacher and was most recently AP at Pio Pico under Judy Magsaysay. No where do I read in her experience column how long she has worked for the district or how long her experience as an AP was. Since Judy Magsaysay is a hands on principal, let
Isn’t Lisa Hinshaw over at Carr as a VP?
That is absolutely correct. Lisa Hinshaw was only demoted from Principal at McArthur to Spurgeon until Tony Espinoza was moved to Valley. Sometime there after Ms. Hinshaw was moved to Carr where she again was only an AP. After working there for several years she is now being given her shot at another principalship at McFadden. Since the district biography spin neglected to mention that truth either it had slipped my mind.
RE: the new Computer Services Manager. Noticed that he was from WUHSD. Isn’t that where the Director of ITC, Ricardo Enz, came from? Interesting.
BTW, never worked with Lisa Hinshaw, but she is a very well-respected administrator, highly competent, very organized, etc. Have heard nothing but positive comments regarding her performance at Spurgeon and Carr.
#1021
I have no idea about the connection between the ITC director and Mr. Chavez, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Isn’t that how things are usually done?
Possibly Ms. Hinshaw was a victim of the Mijares regime and she is finally getting her chance. Time will tell.
If Ms. Hinshaw didn’t fit in with the old culture, then there might be good news on the horizon for her new assignment. It certainly was hard to do the right thing in the face of pressure to loyally follow wrong edicts from the top. She wouldn’t have been the only casualty as a good employee being punished for not kowtowing to a variety of questionable practices.
Secondary schools seem to have really been a safe haven for managment employees willing to suspend ethical behavior in order to stay in favor.
Also, did Ms. Hinshaw possibly get the demotion to make room for Ms Maher to move from Saddleback to MacArthur when Ms. Jones was moved up from Lathrop?
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/story/57929.html
Obituary
Obituary: Richard Theriot more than a prolific athlete
After a long athletics career in Orange County, Richard Theriot became a staple in Nipomo
Edna Theriot, who exchanged vows with Richard when the two were 18, spoke fondly of their 60th anniversary, calling it
Controversy surrounding THINK and who it hires to cover after school tutoring. Where is the oversight and why are decisions surrounding it done on the QT? http://o-juice.blogspot.com/2007/06/eye-on-santa-ana-sausd-hiring.html#comments