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.
#262
What’s fascinating about this tidbit is that Lewis Bratcher was overlooked as interim deputy superintendent.
Bratcher is a casuality of Noji’s election campaign. Noji needs to cut some of Mijares’s cronies loose. She must demonstrate it’s not business as usual. The mess ups at VHW can no longer be ignored or tolerated.
Have an administrator that can
It appears my post asking the question, “Has Bob Nelson been appointed interim Deputy Superintendent?” has been answered by the Board last night. To poster #263, there are two points to be made: 1) I know more about the internal politics of SAUSD then you do…..2) Poster #264 got it right, Bratcher has been dissed again telling everyone with half a brain that Bratcher will be shown the door in the future, hopefully sooner than later.
On the positive side, Bob Nelson is one hell of a great administrator. His appointment will go down as a smart move for SAUSD. On the bad side, Nogi’s smart move has come too little too late for her re-election campaign. Had she gotten rid of Espinosa, Jones, Bishop, and Bratcher last July and put Nelson in place at that time, as I had recommended on July 17th, she would now be a hero instead of a goat.
Audrey, timing is everything and in politics, there are only interest. Loyalty is, at best fleeting and transitory. You hung onto your loyalty far longer than you should have. When Mijares went looking for another job last year, you should have acted then to neutralize his network of cronies, that anchor wrapped around the neck of the district. But instead, you allowed yourself to be fooled by the Mijares magic without fully understanding that he was nothing more than a slick trick.
And that is your biggest sin: your inability to sort reality from illusion. That is the main reason you need to be replaced. Today SAUSD needs leaders who are firmly grounded in reality, able to make hard decisions based on the facts. You can’t do that. In the brave new world of NCLB, where facts emerge from state and federal testing, you still practice the politics of social connections, and cocktail parties, and back scratching. You don’t believe me? Then explain that dog and pony show you put on last night at the board meeting where your pal and campaign advisor B. Medrano was given the spotlight and Bratcher praised to high heaven the incompetent Valley West principal Tony Espinosa. It was all another illusion designed to fool us instead of trying to educate us. Hopefully the newly elected board will spend more time educating the people of Santa Ana and less time behaving like used car salesmen.
Why Liars should not be allowed to continue as principals and
vice principals: Because they are a huge liability for the district. Any school site leader that would lie in writing will never be able to defend themselves, the district or their underlings in court. Their superiors will also be held accountable for their misdeeds.
Anonymous Says:
9/14/2006 4:45 PM
This thread pertains to the overcrowded classroom conditions, lack of textbooks, high number of long term substitutes and SAUSD leadership.
The departure of Mijares provides a glimmer of hope, however Noji persists in protecting her crony administrator pals at Valley, Willard, Saddleback, McFadden and Santa Ana HS.
I am not a professional educator, like Dr. Noji, however, placing kids in overcrowded classrooms, failing to provide them with textbooks, saddling them with substitute teachers and ineffective administrators is too many strikes for any kid to succeed.
Valley, Willard and McFadden continue the downward academic slide, yet the usual cheerleaders prop up these administrators for false praise.
Now let’s get the conversation going about the misuse of tax dollars and the inequity of providing the opportunity for a quality education for ALL SAUSD
students.
Why are the students at Valley West only permitted to use classroom textbooks?
Why have administrators mainstreamed all special ed students into the classrooms?
Why didn’t the district hire the additional counselors, approved by the Governor, prior to the start of the school year?
What’s the status of the missing ASU funds at Century HS? Who stole the money from the students?
How many students are registered at Valley West?
“9/13/2006 11:54 PM”
Keep Dreaming!
If by newly elected board you mean, cecilia and palacios, I got news for you.
Keep dreaming!
Keep Dreaming!
If by newly elected board you mean, cecilia and palacios, I got news for you.
Keep dreaming!
That reminds me. What in the world is Bernedette Medrano doing running Noji’s campaign when she never has bothered to file taxes for SAEF? Doesn’t that fact bother either of these two women? Medrano is like a lead-filled life vest on Noji while she treads water!
Esther Jones at the last staff meeting pointed out that the site didn
I would like to ask why “Comment moderation ” refused to post my “ode to Bernette Medrano?” There was nothing untoward in the ode. Everything in the ode was factual and founded on principal and not on gutter crap (which may say something about the paranoid sensibilities of regulators censoring this blog site).
Special ed dept head at SHS is on everyone
for #273
Don’t know how long you’ve been blogging here, but Medrano went nuclear about a posting and a pet principal. It was reported on this blog that she threatened to shut down OJ. Maybe the commentators are exercising caution when it pertains to this individual.
As I was driving through Santa Ana on my way home I noticed a sign: Sal Tenajero for City Council, which means if he wins there will be 3 openings for School Board. The 3 that are running will become School Board members. Noji and Rob (Pro Admin)always vote togther, Palacio and Cecilia (Pro Teacher / Classified )will most likely vote alike that leaves Avila as the swing vote, God help us!!
#272
You’ve got it wrong. There are only two SAUSD seats up for election this Nov. The scenario you inaccurately painted indicates there are three seats. SAUSD voters will be voting to fill 2 seats only on Nov. 7.
Should Tinajero prevail in his bid for city council, then there will be a vacancy on the school board. At that the time the school board will take the appropriate action provided by board policy to fill the vacancy.
If a special election is the appropriate action, and I hope it is, Santa Ana voters might be going to the polls to elect a new school board member and a council member for Ward 1. The school board and city could share the cost of a special election.
Of course, either body could have provisions that provide for appointment by majority.
Stop trying to muddy the waters regarding the Nov. election.
Dust off your Government 101 textbook and refamiliarize yourself with elections.
Wasting money. Like Saddleback
#272 “The best parts of the faculty meeting were hearing everyone cheer for our WASC 6 year accreditation that Val Glover engineered and the tagging presentation by Officer Walt.”
He was great. We learned a lot! When someone asked him what percentage of the student body was involved in tagging, he was thoughtful for a moment and then said he estimated it was maybe 2%. Evelyn Carrigg follows up by saying, don
Officer Walt was probably correct in his estimate because about 80% of tagging at SBHS is done by non students on weekends while out having weekend fun. Identical tagging happens at other schools over weekends and when some are caught usually don’t belong to that school.
Whatever the issues with Evelyn Carrigg are, don’t include tagging as part of it. I think a little paint is less important than education. Let the cop do his job and you make sure the administration does theirs. That seems to be the big question here.
Substitutes at Valley West who report to the main office for their room keys, get a surprise. There are N O keys. The school is not locked. The kids bring their books home, but what will prevent someone from taking off with the Teacher
http://o-juice.blogspot.com/2006/09/lots-of-laughs-at-santa-ana-candidates.html
In his closing statement, Pulido slapped down Tinajero by asking why Tinajero did not stay on the school board – after all the Santa Ana Unified School District is the worst in the state. I’m sure that Santa Ana schoolteachers who live in our city are going to love that quote!
http://o-juice.blogspot.com/2006/09/lots-of-laughs-at-santa-ana-candidates.html
Audrey Noji couldn’t get out of her seat fast enough after Miguel blasted her school board presidency by saying SAUSD has the worst school board in the county!
Noji sidekicks claim she ran out of Council Chambers seething while dialing Rob Richardson.
Meanwhile Nelida Yanez’s announcement that Bist, Alvarez and Noji support her is the kiss of death.
Noji doesn’t like teachers and Pulido is dismissive of the board majority he helped elect.
These two residents have collectively mis-served the community for nearly 3 decades.
No wonder term limits are an attractive alternative.
Nominations for the most dishonest backstabbers at Saddleback: Dept Head of Special Education, Math Department Head, Old Lady VP, Principal, secretary to the principal, secretary of student relations. Watch your back around those girls!
#286
Your account of what’s happening at Saddleback mimics the antics at Willard. Now that Willard’s principal doesn’t have Mijares to protect him, many are hoping for new leadership. Soon.
“9/23/2006 12:17 PM”
Your wishes will not be granted!
If you dislike willard so much, why are you still there?
You will probably leave before anyone else does.
Need help packing!
9/22/2006 6:39 AM
Gumblings about the lack of bathroom facilities continues to grow at Valley West/Godinez. Godinez was built to house 2,500 students. Valley’s enrollment is teetering at 3,000!
Don’t be fooled by Bratcher and Noji’s glowing praises of Valley West’s opening. It’s a mess.
Too many subs. Not enough textbooks. Too many unresolved safety issues. Overburdened bell schedule.
Someone broke into the front office at Valley West and stole a computer.
Teachers worry about their classrooms because they don’t have the keys to lock their own doors.
You can always spot an SAUSD schill. It appears poster #288 is threatening #287.
Could be #288 is waiting for Willard’s standards to dip -75 before yanking the current principal.
Thanks for the offer to help pack, but I’m staying put. Credentialed teachers are at a premium.
Is #288 a credentialed teacher or a professional educator?
School has been in session for nearly 4 weeks and still no keys for teachers to lock their classrooms. Overcrowded classrooms.
High number of subs.
The district’s cost cutting measures are impacting the classroom!
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1285853.php
CSUD interim Superintendent story in the Register. Where is the Register story on SAUSD?
In his first three weeks, Interim Superintendent Charles McCully has made himself known in Capistrano Unified.
He has met with
Residents of CSUD are blessed with a darn good education writer. SAUSD is stuck with Fermin Leal. Leal’s report for SAUSD last week was a mere mention of interim superintendent Russo’ s cookies and punch party for new teachers.
Leal and Russo .. the teachers at Valley West do not have keys to their classrooms. The classrooms are overcrowded. The bathrooms are a problem since there are 3,000 students. Valley West failed its graduation goal and remains in PI, Year 5.
Must be nice to throw parties and it must be swell to report on them.
Cookies, cookie?
The 2005/06 CBEDS numbers for the high schools were: Century 2,611; Saddleback 2,704; Santa Ana HS 3,839; Segerstrom 1,182; and Valley 3,035.
At the June board meeting the following enrollment projections were reported: Century 2,652; Saddleback 2,516; Santa Ana HS 3,705; Segerstrom 1,782; and Valley 2,939.
At the last board meeting Bratcher reported a gain of 75 students at Valley. Couple that info with June’s projection and Valley’s student population is teeming at 3,014 students.
And that’s why two-thirds of the comprehensive high school subs are assigned to Valley West.
The district’s dance to not report true enrollment numbers is fostered under the current board leadership.
Teachers and parents for Cecilia Aguinanga.
The district is a joke.
Our principal, who was a great guy, was removed after the highest API gain in the district. A family man and ranked as one of the highest adminstrators by SAEA and a member of the district’s negotiation team, was sold down the river. We all know it. Why? Because he consistenly supported us during SAIT and ironically, we had the highest API growth in the district. Why, because he supported us in doing our job! The false allegations were never substantiated and in September, after a 5 month vacation, he was “reassigned” to the high school, with none other than “Esther.” Eventually he looked elsewhere and left with his name intact.
Yet as I read these blogs and see others still employed for far worse thing that our principal was accused of, I cannnot understand for the life of me why the district would destroy our school.
That is exactly what has happened with Ms. Odum running the school from afar. Our principal did not let her do “her thing” and by staying loyal to us and the contract, he allowed us to do what we do best….OUR JOB! What a novel concept.
During the time he has been gone, we have seen staff leave, which not one teacher left the last three years, we have see grievences filed, a lack of parent support and a district who is so out of touch with what we were doing that they “assigned” us a new principal who doesn’t even speak Spanish for our 99% Spanish community.
More evidence of being out of touch, we have never seen a Board Member at our school, we have never seen cabinet members at our school and when Mr. Juan Lopez came to give us the bad new regarding the removal of our principal, he basically ran out the back door refusing to answer one question, leaving up to Ms. Anderson to tap dance. Ms. Stainer, who is she and what does she do? Who is Ms. Russo and what does she do?
So now we are in dissarray and our principal, who was paid the entire time, over $50,000, has landed a great job and we are struggling to pick up the pieces that HR, i,.e., Mr. Lopez, destroyed.
My vote is to let ’em all go and help us start anew. As Dr. Mijares would say, “deliver us from evil…”
As a teacher with five years, many of us are contemplating the opportunity to leave and based on the trend…it’s only a matter of time.
I can
“Q. As a temporary boss, what is your role?
A. I will manage this district as though I was going to be here the next 10 years. I am not a placeholder. My goal is to make sure this district doesn’t skip a beat, that we make decisions every day, we don’t defer decisions. I want to make sure our schools and staff stay focused and not be distracted from any other issues.
Q. What will that mean?
A. One thing that we’ve been working hard to do is making sure we become a very transparent organization, that we have nothing to hide. This district should be proud of its many achievements. I want to make sure the district has credibility.
Q. How can you rebuild trust, though, once it is lost?
A. By reaching out to people, to those who have lost trust and confidence in the district. I don’t expect to come into this district and immediately get the trust of all the stakeholders. I expect to earn it.”
Anyone know if Jane Russo is really serious about taking care of tough issues or just a placeholder?
I enjoy reading a rough draft of a commentary (#296) and then the final version(#297). Since all the words were the same but a little better written the second time around, I would have to assume both are the same writer. Not that I don’t agree with the comments, but I would hope a 5 year veteran teacher of a High School would use the word “no” instead of “know” properly and refrain from some of the phrases in the classroom used in the comments.
BTW last time I checked, “croc” is still spelled crock, and the interim superintendant is JANE Russo. Five years? I wouldn’t admit it if it was me, or is that I?
In regards to the comments critical of another poster:
The current administrators are engaged in a circle of lies to erase the truth.
..Overcrowded classrooms.
..Inept site administrators.
..Favoritism for the Mijares
loyalists.
..District failed to meet its
graduation rate for 2005-06.
..PI schools grow to 40+
schools.
..1000:1 counselor ratio at
Valley West.
..2/3 of the district’s high school
subs are assigned to Valley West.
..Our second fundamental school
enters PI, Year 1.
..over 250 seniors failed to pass
the CASHEE test last year.
..Valley’s grad rate for 2004-05
is 68%.
..Willard continues its downward
academic slide posting -55
growth according to NCLB.
..Valley West at Godinez is over-
populated by 20%. Where are they
placing the excess students?
..Special Ed program persists in
violating state law.
..open violations of board policy
regarding nepotism.
..Missing ASB money at Century HS
..Downtown protection of certain
site administrators that are
considered favored by Noji.
Come this November the voters must ask why our students are condemed to these poor academic conditions and is it wise to give Dr. Noji a pass of four more years.
Teachers don’t want Dr. Noji to return to the school board and voters should join the chorus of teachers against Dr. Noji.
More and more people are beginning to believe the mayor had it right when he declared SAUSD the worst school board in the county. Under the leadership of Dr. Noji, it certainly is.
#300
That’s right shoot the messenger.
It’s all about protecting the lies the district is promoting.
I wonder, would #300 offer the same razor sharp critique if she witnessed a murder? I can almost hear the platitudes about the ill fitting trousers, outdated fashion or poorly coiffed hairstyle.
It’s a new day. We’re tired of the deception. I don’t care how it’s spelled, constructed or communicated. Read this message, carefully — our students are being denied the opportunity for a quality education. Our students are dropping out. Our students are not graduating. This is a drain on our quality of life.
And you’re interested in chastising and ridiculing teachers for grammar and spelling errors.
Is there a way to find out how many grievances have been filed this past year?
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” — Oscar Wilde
Don’t vote for Cecilia,
#301 and others.
I always enjoy a critique of my critique. Since I am neither a teacher, nor an administrator, I never could spell superintendent either, but I knew her name.
The one sentence you chose to ignore in my critique? “Not that I don’t agree with the comments”. I do.
I just wanted to light a fire and see who might want to stand up and restate some facts and stats.
Informal or not if you want to make your points mean anything and you all seem to be making the points, remember that you are in the spotlight and it’s your credibility on the line by stating these problems too.
You all are on the front line of education. Soldiers on the front line in a shooting war don’t usually have the chance to blame the generals. In this case you all do. Make it count.
The best way to do that, I believe, is to retain your own credibility while doing so.Although I know it’s very emotional, remember to maintain your stature while making your valid..I repeat..valid points.
Enrollment is on the decline. Voters approved to build new schools to alleviate overcrowded conditions.
Valley West continues to accept students driving up the census to over 3,000 students.
School board president and secondary ass’t superintendent publicly lavish praise on Valley West’s administrator for a smooth school opening.
Student counselor ratio at Valley West is 1,000:1 and that accounts for numerous students still without a full schedule.
Valley posted a grad rate of 72% for the 2003-04 school year and 68% for 2004-05. Valley failed to meet its graduation rate, under NCLB, for the past year.
Valley is hovering at 18 subs and the bathroom facilities were built to accommodate 2,500 students not 3,000.
Portables are not an option because Dave Ream is dead set against portables at this site.
It’s about the opportunity for a quality education for all, stupid.
(apologies to James Carville)
Valley is still a mess.
Both Valley West High and Segrestrom High were built for 2500 capacity. However, Valley West is overcrowded with about 3,000 studnets, yet Segrestom has only about 1800 students.
This doesn’t make sense. Since Valley has been in trouble with No Child Left Behind for years, this school should be given preferential treatment over Segrestrom.
The top administrators need to go. This kind of mess has been going on too long.
Posts 296 & 297 look like the poster didnt understand that moderator feature was in place and was determined to get the message out by posting, similarly, two times in a row. We appreciate your determination to alert others to your school’s hideous situation.
Late last week, Saddleback
The intellectual dishonesty of dissemination of information marches on.
Bratcher continues to cling to the district’s report that 2,700 students are enrolled at Valley West. This report does not include the accounting of special ed students.
VWH staff reports 3,051 students are enrolled at VWH.
The school was built for 2,500 students.
Segerstrom enjoys an enrollment of 1,780 students.
The district’s decision to allow overcrowding conditions at VWH and protect the under enrolled at Segerstrom must be addressed.
If this is Jane Russo’s brand of customer service we’re in for a long and contentious school year.
Isn’t Segerstrom HS an open enrollment school? Redirecting freshman or sophomores from Valley West to Segerstrom shouldn’t be a problem unless the Segerstrom principal is resisting such action.
Voters need to know why Maher has a free pass when it comes to her special brand of entrance admittance standards. Segerstrom is a public school supported by taxpayers. Someone needs to remind her about public education.
The burden of Valley’s renovation should be shared. Over taxing the Godinez facilities, teachers, students and staff is unacceptable.
The homeowners who live near Godinez are not happy. The district has never met with them to discuss the move of Valley to Godinez. The impact of 3,000 students swarming their neighborhoods is creating problems.
Poster 313
There are no “entrance admittance standards” at Segerstrom. The school lets ALL students within its boundaries enroll and then opens the enrollment to ALL students in the district. All students and parents have to do is complete an enrollment packet and turn it in before the deadline. Once all the spots are filled by lottery, students go on a waiting list. The school does not “select” its students.
Since Segerstrom has no senior class, no students will be leaving next year. If all the spots are filled with freshman and sophomores from Godinez this year, Segerstrom will have no room for incoming freshman in Fall 2007.
In addition, not all students want to go to Segerstrom due to the fundamental system which demands accountability from students, parents, and staff. Most of the students who leave Segerstrom choose to do so for their own personal reasons (homework cards/dress code, etc.). Interestingly enough, Godinez/Valley West still seems to be accepting these transfers for personal reasons even when they are overcrowded. Why is that?