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.
To 1618 Your parajito is smoking something and can’t count. Hey genius as per our contract when teachers are out for training there are subs. So are you saying we shouldn’t get training? Let go of your anger, or seek anger management or counseling.
Give Juan Lopez an “A” for consistency. He
Districts with little community input and oversight have a lot of problems with decent leadership and planning. The kids are seen as numbers. The teachers are seen as numbers. Here is an illustrative post of what is happening in another district that really helps illustrate some of the problems of SAUSD. See if you don’t find some of the comments familiar to what you are seeing in our district:
http://california.teachers.net/chatboard/topic7027/10.09.07.12.38.30.html
Re: grade tampering in san diego unified schools
Posted by Hi Steve on 10/09/07
The reason these things are frequent in San Diego Unified are probably because
Unified tends to hire a lot of teachers under at-will contracts. When you know you
can be fired at any time for no reason and the counselors and administration come
to you and bully you into changing grades, most teachers to preserve their jobs and
future job prospects will cave and change the grades. In my case, I refused to
change the grades so they waited until the last week of school when I was no longer
needed to teach then they had a sub take my classes for two days of finals and they
took my grades and changed them however they liked. The reason they could do this
to me was because I replaced a teacher mid-year and was given an at-will contract.
If I would have known the ramifications of accepting such a contract I would have
refused it. It meant I had no rights and no protections. Unified also hires many
student teachers whose graduation with a degree or credential is dependent on
pleasing the host school so when they are told jump, they say how high. In any
given year, at least 50 percent of my department is either at-will or interns.
The other thing my school likes to do is to put students in these after school
classes which are taught by the cheerleading coach at the school. He has no
credential in an academic subject and he has no knowledge of the subject he is
given to teach afterschool. He just babysits the students and passes them. The
students in this class have reported to me that they turn in no homework–it is the
honor system that they are doing their homework–and they are given no tests to
pass. They told me that they basically listen to music, eat and gossip for a few
weeks and then are given a passing grade for classes like Intermediate Algebra,
English, you name it. And they don’t even have to show up when they are supposed to
be there. They come 30 minutes late, take an hour break, leave half hour
early…All of this is aided and abetted by the counselors who puts any teacher on
their black list who requires attendance or actual work. The tenured teachers
mostly won’t agree to babysit this glorified afterschool party. The counselors are
in charge of it and they try to get the brand new teachers to do it because they
can try to force them to go along with it. And again, the new teachers who try to
have any standards for this afterschool “class” become a target for teachers and
administrators. Pretty sickening, huh?
I know this sounds unbelievable and crazy but I swear on everything that I love in
life that every word of it is true.
I think this illustrates why it is so important to have a large proportion of
senior and veteran teachers in a school. Those teachers have the legal standing to
stand up against these types of abuses. When a school has a high proportion of
vulnerable, powerless teachers (hired at-will, or interns/student teachers, or
untenured) then an atmosphere is created in which the teachers do not have the
ability to enforce educational standards against administrative abuses and as a
consequence academic standards are often compromised by administration who wishes
to be popular with parents and students or wishes to raise their graduation rates
at the school.
Saddleback’s principal is concerned about driving through “poverty” areas of the city. How out of touch is that? SA would do better to get informed and unafraid leaders for their schools. Who did she know to get this job? Most likely, Noji.
Poor staff at Saddleback. When will they get a break? Poor staff at Valley, when will they get a break? And saddest of all is Willard – run by a tyrant and his non-employee hacks.
Either Russo is engineering these continued fiasco choices or board of education members are forcing these abuses. Is anyone accountable?
“Stay tune”
For What, for you to stop making an “As” out of yourself. You keep harping. Have you ever consider, if parents did not what nor believed in corporate academy or your school, parents would not support the program. Your tedious and Obsolete, move one! Read a book, or even better write one and when no one buys them you’ll realize we are right!
Day 10
Still no supervision at Mendez!
Can Ms. Landsiedel really be this stupefied. What will it take, parents to show up at the next board meeting or for Williams to be called!
State Constitution. That constitutional subdivision, part of Proposition 8 (known as the Victims’ Bill of Rights initiative, adopted by the voters at the Primary Election in June 1982), states: “All students and staff of public primary, elementary, junior high and senior high schools have the inalienable right to attend campuses which are safe, secure and peaceful.”
A school campus can not promote such without safety!
Jim Miyashiro has no friends, he has to buy them!
I don’t know who was invited, but I can tell you who wasn’t. DSO, Navarro. It will be interesting to find out if there was a trip and who went with the Chief of Mischief.
Who was the security guard at Mendez?
Who is there now?
What school was principal Landsiedel before she came to Mendez, and what was her tittle? Who is or are the Assistant Principals also?
to #1628
Just cAlling like it iS.
Medrano is bad newS.
1631, 1633
I already had my run in with Dr. Brennan. That woman is unprofessional and has zero interpersonal skills. She is rude, abrasive, short-tempered, controlling and jumps to conclusions.
I already fell victim to her wrath. She accused me of an action based on hearsay. She didn’t bother asking what happened, but accused! The truth eventually came out but the damage was done. After reading her court case, should I be surprised that I was treated this way?
You can read the entire court document here.
http://www.fearnotlaw.com/articles/article13779.html
I’ve since left SHS and will begin my new teaching position at another SAUSD high school tomorrow.
As much as I love the Saddleback students and staff, it’s time to move on. I vowed never to return until that principal is gone.
My prediction is, she won’t last at SHS and she’ll drag them into PI year 2. I’ll give her a year, maybe two before she moves on. I’m sure she’s eyeing a future asst. superintendent position.
#1641
Although posting the entire legal brief was a tremendous wsste of space and time rather than the link as #1640 did, I took the time to read it. Most legal briefs will make your hair hurt before you finish them, as does this one. No where in the brief does it say or incinuate that Dr. Brennen was gay, nor is it germain to the decision reached.
What is Germain is that the AUHSD Superintendent and board looked at the surrounding facts of behavior unrelated to the legal complaint of a hostile work environment. They determined that Dr. Brennen did not perform up to standards as a district manager and simply refused to renew her contract.
In short they did what the SAUSD superintendent and board seem to be unable to do. They admitted to a mistake and got rid of it.
The investigator at AUHSD can only report the facts as he finds them and he found no legal violations. He did note or express some concerns about certain areas of conduct. Areas the superintendent had already discovered and counseled Dr. Brennen on.
This case did not read anywhere into sexual issues, but hostile work environment. As far as this case reads, sexual preference is irrelevent. Instead performance was the key issue.
Performance has been the key issue with many of the SAUSD administration and it is sad to see that right in the middle of these problems they would hire a new administrator with a legal track record of previous, very similar tactics.
Who is responsible for hiring the new principal of Saddleback? Was a background check done? Her reputation is well known and the most basic background check should have raised an enormous red flag. The union better set up a satellite office at Saddleback with this one. Sadly, the staff has been through a nightmare with Jones and now this. Jane and Audrey, are you intentionally trying to sabotage these schools?
#1624
Anonymous said…
I WONDER HOW MUCH MRS MEDRANO MAKES AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SANTA ANA EDUCATION FOUNDATION (SAEF) I HEARD IN EXCESS OF $150,000 PER YEAR
#1641 – Although Dr. Brennan appears to bring a myriad of problems with her, it is inappropriate and unprofessional to discuss her sexual preferences on this blog.
AUHSD must be chuckling over this hiring fiasco as we walk around with egg on our face. Why is it that SAUSD rarely makes a decision that is in the best interest of staff and students? To Jane Russo and the Board of Education, I ask the following question – “Who IS minding the store?”
#1641
Anaheim Union High School Dist’s HR person is Julie Mitchell. Interestingly enough, Mitchell was a principal in the Irvine district and is a very high caliber professional who wanted to get into administration. Irvine has very low turnover rates, so Ms. Mitchell applied for the HR position at SAUSD as well as other districts. She landed at Anaheim Union.
The details in the summation show that the outlandish behavior of the hugger employee was obvious to the newcomer Superintendent and backed up by Ms. Mitchell in HR. Why in the world was the hugger immediately snapped up by SAUSD? Is there a box on the administrator application that can be checked “Serial Tyrant”?
If the summation above is a reflection of reality, then the employee described is not going to change and appears to have a passive/agressive management style that will not serve the needs of staff and students, as was determined by the previous employer. Who exactly is making these faulty choices for managment?
Good grief.
Disgruntled people always have an ax to grind. Most tachers at Saddleback are impressed with the early performence of Brennan. She listens and actually takes the advice of school leadership! I thank all the other bloggers who oppose the gay bashing that goes on. For those limited people who always raise the gay issue, when all else fails, you attempt to discredit that person down by questioning their sexual orientation – whether true or not. Get a life and you won’t have to worry about anyone else’s.
# 1647
There seems to be a slight mixed review thus far on Dr. Brennan. You report Brennan has impressed the staff at SBHS while #1640 seems to have run into the other side as depicted in the AUHSD legal summation.
Time will tell which is the true version. New employees always tend to put their best foot forward until they get comfortable, learn the power structure and whom to “buddy” up with.
Two things stand out thus far. Poster #1640 seems to have hit a wall so hard he/she has already decided to transfer out. The wall hit mimics much of what is related in the legal summation of the AUHSD case.
Secondly in what appears out of desperation, Brennan appealled but Brennan cites no law in support of her claim of evidentiary error.
To me this sounds like a person who refuses to admit being wrong and even when found to be is willing to spend legal fees rather than admit to what was found to be factual.
In other words a perfect SAUSD manager. It will be interesting to see how the SBHS staff continues to work with Brennan through the year.
#1641 – Although Dr. Brennan appears to bring a myriad of problems with her, it is inappropriate and unprofessional to discuss her sexual preferences on this blog.
Not to mention if it had any recourse Willard’s tyrant would have been brought up… or out!
Tracey the hugger is melting down already. The Master Schedule is still not complete! So, instead of addressing the VP in charge of that task, she takes on all the counselors and accuses them of having a “bad reputation” as a reason to give them all a bunch of new rules. She says that any decisions made will only reflect on the employees. Anything that goes wrong will be their own faults, make no mistake.
Speaking of a bad reputation – none of SHS counselors have ever made it onto the internet tagging them with egregious behavior towards other employees, accusations of not knowing their own jobs and the Superintendent of the district disliking their behavior shortly after he arrived in the district. The hugger has.
The hugger is concerned about bad reputations. How ironic.
#1650
This is not a surprising reaction after the beating Dr. Brennan took Thursday on this blog. If your account is accurate she already is starting to distance herself from the responsibilities required of her job and intends to blame others. This sounds very familiar within the district overall although I don’t see it as a meltdown. Just company policy. Time will tell.
#1648
I hardly think Willard’s principal’s sexual orientation has any purpose here.
Jane and Audrey (with Juan Lopez as an accomplice), you have made another poor choice by appointing Tracy Brennan the new Principal of SHS. What an embarrassment you are to the district and to the citizens of Santa Ana. It’s difficult to comprehend how, with your combined years of education, you made such a poor decision. If coming up with Dr. Brennan was the best you can do, then all of you should resign immediately. Shame, shame on all of you.
Here comes more money out of the budget as I see lawsuits on the horizon before Brennan is gone. Here we go again. Either litigation or you’ll have to ship her downtown like you did with Machado.
http://www.sausd.us/14431028131940153/lib/14431028131940153/_files/strategic_plan-en-short.pdf
7. Outstanding employees – We will recruit, select, and retain caring, competent, and qualified staff.
You have to understand that the #7 strategic plan was still on Mijares stationary. Russo obviously has other ideas. I believe Bush called that strategry.
#1653
Rob Richardson is the president. He lets those three throw his political reputation under the bus time and again.
Regarding litigation –
Seven years later my advice to anybody who is bullied would be to go directly to a lawyer of your own choice – somebody who is working with your own interests in mind – at the moment that the bullying starts, and ask the solicitor to write a letter something along the lines of ” Principal XXXX, you stated in front of B1 and B2 that “lots of” allegations had been made against me in “lots of” documents. Please provide me with copies of these documents. I regard your behaviour as harassment and I request that you desist.”
My feeling now is that this letter would probably only cost $1000 and
it would be a good investment because it would be an official record of the fact that you are being being harassed.
A letter of that sort on your official record would send a message to other administrators that I would not tolerate abusive behaviour.
Because the system is so dysfunctional, make sure that you get copies of the letters sent up all the way thru the chain of command and to each board member.
This blog is a living document of the neglect and incompetence that wastes taxpayer money. At some point all this is going to come home to roost. We’ve all seen how long it takes for justice in the unfolding Capistrano saga. It’s satisfying to see possible prison sentences as well as all of the litigation that the corrupt leaders have to go through. Pulling down a huge salary and making obvious mistakes that hurt district personnel and students is wrong. It is criminal to allow it to continue. The driving agenda is obviously about how to shortchange the educational system in Santa Ana, enrich a few/at the expense of many.
It is shameful. Time will tell if it is also illegal.
#1652
You are spot on about the sexual orientation of Willard’s principal but you cannot ignore this principal’s attempts to hit on employees who do not share his preferred same sex orinetation.
I’m poster #1640, the teacher who left SHS for another SAUSD high school.
To 1641: My purpose for providing the link was to avoid posting such an exhaustive legal document. It does take up too much space. It was inappropriate to discuss the principal’s orientation on the blog. It is irrelevant. What does matter is her character and how she performs as principal.
To 1647: I am far from disgruntled. In fact, I wanted to drop the matter entirely. There were a few teachers who were willing to put up a fight on my behalf, but I felt it was in my best interest to leave quietly and pursue other opportunities. It just so happens that another high school wanted me on their campus. Things fell into place for me, and it was apparent that I just wasn’t meant to work for this principal.
Yes, the entire staff was impressed with Dr. Brennan as was I. Everyone was breathing a sigh of relief when Mrs. Jones left. Anyone who would’ve taken her spot would’ve been warmly welcomed. Our first staff meeting was the most pleasant. As time went by, Dr. Brennan began showing her true colors. Apparently, she has not learned from her mistakes at AUHSD, and she is on track to repeat those mistakes.
I only hope she doesn’t stay too long. Saddleback has been through the wringer, and the students & staff deserve better. I was at SHS earlier this week, and already a few teachers talked about leaving or wished they could leave. Although they’re disappointed with my departure, they commented that I am lucky to be out.
Dear readers,
I deleted a post that appeared to be some kind of legal brief. It mentioned the sexual orientation of an administrator, and I think that was not germane to the argument.
Also, this Luis Navarro character emailed me tonight to whine about the Bishop posts. Apparently someone made allegations about Bishop’s orientation, but I could not find the post.
I have gone back and read a lot of the post re Bishop. He appears to have major issues as an administrator. Never mind his orientation, it seems that he cannot do his job.
I am not sure why this Navarro character is so taken by Bishop…and Noji for that matter.
I think Noji, Russo, Richardson and Avila must go. Hernandez has been fairly useless too.
Hopefully we will have some decent school board candidates next year that we can all get behind.
Thank you all for your continued contributions to the Orange Juice.
Art; Thanks for removing the former post # 1641. I just wish it hadn’t moved my previous post, bad spelling and all, into that numbered spot. So to all who read this blog I just want to be clear that the post now holding #1641 is not the post many of us refer to.
To post 1640/1657 thank you for clarification as to why you moved to another school. Again your reference to post 1641 and 1647 are now off a number, and unfortunately the posts that hold those numbers now were mine. But I think all who are following this blog know who you are talking to and what you meant.
What is most important is you have posted and informed us that the new principal, Dr. Brennan, may present a new problem within the district management system.
As Art points out the problem is at the top. This can be fixed at the next election. As long as staff continue to bring forward problems at schools such as SHS,Willard, Mendez, and others, parents will be more informed, voters will be more informed, and hopefully a change will be coming in the future.
Luis Navarro’s intoxication with Willard’s principal is a topic worth jumping on. Any takers for a Who is Luis Navarro blog?
#1649 – I am appalled that Dr. Brennan could even suggest that the SHS counselors have bad reputations. I have worked directly with each of the counselors concerning my students’ progress. Each of them as shown a genuine concern for all teachers and students, are more than happy to address our needs, and are always kind, caring and professional.
Moving on…I became acquainted with a person who is also a teacher (non SAUSD). I’ve known him for about 6 months now. Imagine my surprise when I learned that he went to school with Dr. Brennan. I told him what happened with my situation. His response: “you’re in a long line of people who have had problems with her.” From what I gathered from the rest of our conversation, Dr. Brennan has the “I’m the new sheriff in town so it’s time to clean house” mentality. His advice is to lay low and stay out of her way.
#1660 – I’m in. I, too, wonder who Luis Navarro is.
Art, #1660 makes a valid point, although it would bring undue attention to him. BTW, he’s a big supporter not only of Bishop, but also Russo, Noji and Claudia Alvarez.
Rumor has it he may run for union president!
#1657
I don’t blame you for reading the writing on the wall and going to a site where that offered a chance of escape. Did you think to contact the union? Do you think they could have helped you at all?
The teachers who have to work with that new principal are in a painful position. If she acts like she did at her last assignments (according to that report), there is bound to be problems for anyone she sees as a threat.
WHO “appointed” her? Anyone know if this was a board decision or a superintendent or HR decision? Is there a length of time for an “appointed” term?
I agree that teachers should continue to report problems. The people responsible for the worst decisions should be held accountable by voters and the unions.
has anyone heard anymore from Mendez?
Has the district finally placed security guard there? How many more students have left campus?
Is Ms. Landsiedel still thinking that kids wont leave school.
I have news for her, my son has been invited to ditch school almost on a daily basis. He has not ditched, at least he tells me.
It is real easy for kids to get lost in the mall area of the shopping center!
Rosie Avila rips her SAUSD constitutents again!
Keeping it real. This Navarro dude has his priorities mixed up! More Jeff Bishops means better SAUSD schools? And what’s up with the Brownsville remark?
Luis Navarro Says:
7/31/2006 5:16 PM
Good Idea lets change the School Boards configuration.
Let
Luis Navarro
Employee, Parent
Resident
10/15/2007 10:31 AM
And posting on a blog during working hours..
Luis must’ve had a an education that was seconded to none. Leave no SAUSD child behinded.
#1667
You must be mistaken. The Luis Navarro that works at Willard, blindly supports Principal Bishop and Dr. Noji, is the CPRO Union Rep for C.S.E.A. would never take time away from his duties at school to make comments on the internet for personal use during school hours.
That would be a violation of the signed employee agreement on internet use subject to dicipline. Did not a school cop recently do the same thing? Amazing how that works.
Mr. Navarro.
My apologies for accusing you of posting during school hours. The previous post was just confusing enough to make me believe you did.
I don’t agree with much you say but I don’t accuse anyone of wrongdoing when I have made the mistake of misreading someone elses post either.
Dr. Barton
#1670 It appears Luis Navarro is posting on the taxpayer’s dime. This time he’s shillling for Claudia “Clownia” Alvarez.
My my, when does he find time to work?
Anonymous Says:
10/15/2007 2:45 PM
Before you shoot at the street cars, you may want to listen to the possibilities of Santa ana not getting transit funding but Irvine and fullerton getting it. you also may want to think about what want santa an to be in the next 10 years. It is not suburbia. urban transit is necessary. As for the roads, no one disagrees with you. However, the money will be there for the roads out of measure m. but of the poor roads would be resurfaced with the rail project. remember if we do not get the funds others will.
Anonymous Says:
10/15/2007 5:16 PM
#3 Louis Navarro, is that your post?
If Saddleback and Valley are overcrowded, why don’t they send some of these students to Segerstrom and Godinez? These news schools have sufficient room to accommodate more students.
#1662
You
#1672
Thanks for the heads up. Maybe I was premature in that apology.
#1673
Good question. Segerstrom’s principal has been mentioned here by others regarding not allowing students in. Godinez may have similar issues.
1672 Anonymous Says:
10/16/2007 4:33 PM
“#1670 It appears Luis Navarro is posting on the taxpayer’s dime. This time he’s shillling for Claudia “Clownia” Alvarez.
My my, when does he find time to work?”
Where is this post?
“Anonymous Says:
10/15/2007 5:16 PM
#3 Louis Navarro, is that your post?”
Are you sure you know what you are talking about or are you blowing smoke! You should read the post’s more carefully.
I know Navarro and he would never post on duty. I am sure a lot more dirt will be thrown his way between now and classified union elections.
I hope you have more and better “C##P” to throw at him. rEaD more carefully!
Nice try!
#1674
I think that is all a pantload. Navarro does post using his own name. If all the stuff you posted about is true, then he’d post it himself.
The classified employees deserve much better than what they’ve gotten from their union. Navarro would be a sketchy choice of a union president, imo.
Navarro has a good following of Classified employees that are fed up with C.S.E.A, the classified union. Along with the disinclination of CSEA and local union leaders to do their job and stop selling employees to the sharks. Navarro would the only candidate to run CSEA out of town.
For this fact alone, Navarro will coup d’etat….. I know I will support him!
Yes, the classified union is completely ineffective and a disservice to all classified employees. However, thinking Navarro is the answer to change is questionable. Remember, he’s in Bishop’s, Russo’s, and Noji’s back pocket. How much do you really think he’s going to right all the wrongs?
BTW, Luis doesn’t always post as himself. He’s been known to post as a disgruntled Willard parent when Bishop and Medrano get trashed on this blog.