UPDATE: Comments on this thread are now closed. The new 2009 thread is available at this link.
I wrote a post on July 16, 2006, entitled “SAUSD corruption coming out with Mijares gone,” and it blew up to over 2,000 posts. However, it 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 four NEW posts:
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2008 Comments
- SAUSD-Temporary Thread (Migration 5/16/2008) Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2007 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2006 Comments
Also, don’t forget you can go to the right sidebar of any page page and search for “SAUSD” to get links to ALL of our past SAUSD stories.
I have been honored that this blog has allowed so many people to vent their frustrations with the SAUSD administration and school board. We will continue to shed light on these issues and I hope that our readers will continue to use this blog to communicate about the corruption at SAUSD.
SAUSD does not belong to the administrators or to the school board. It belongs to us. We will have an opportunity this fall to take back the school board, with three seats opening up. I pray that good candidates will emerge so we will be able to do exactly that. Until then, please keep the comments coming! But post them here, to this new thread. Thank you.
You can read David Barton’s May 28 message at this link.
http://www.sateach.org/May%2028,%202008%20president's%20letter.html
It seems as though the union did come through for a number of teachers and also is addressing the districts abuse of personal days vs sick days. Apparently Valley’s Fast Freddy was just part of the game. I don’t have a lot of positive things to say about unions but at least SAEA has done more than CSEA has done for its people.
Oops. My link didn’t work so just use Anons link to get to the page and find the letter link there.
In an expected development because Art has never lied to me despite the fact we agree on almost nothing I have been assured this thread will be provided a direct link from the front page of the OJ blog. Like most of us I am just a reader and commenter.
I have a special place in my heart for SAUSD after nearly 2 decades. Not as a teacher but as an employee. Just one of those blue shirt guys nobody ever notices much. Not as a Hispanic either. Just someone that feels rights are for all people. I have worked for 3 districts in my career and by far SAUSD is the most corrupt, immoral and disengenous district I have ever had the sad fortune to work for. When honesty, transparency, and simple fairness is brought back into SAUSD I will no longer need to be here. But until that time comes, I will watch, read and comment on what I see this district claims to be as “Failure is not an option”.
I apologize to SMS for having to ask she do more work but SAUSD just cannot stand as the model it presently is. I ask Thomas Gordon to continue his investigations into these corrupt and intertwined practices between city and school government and I hope his writings continue to out the underbelly of what appears to be a strange twisted concept of the elite first and the children and citizens last. Thank you Art and as always I take you at your word.
Thanks Sarah and Art. This is a good move to keep this thread on the front of the blog and easy to access.
I think David Barton’s current message is worth reposting:
http://tinyurl.com/4q85g9
May 28, 2008
May President’s Letter
RIFs and Rallies. 373 of our colleagues went through the Reduction in Force (RIF) Hearing on May 15. An unnecessary delay on the part of the District regarding the “Bakersfield Decision” meant that nearly 200 positions were rescinded at the last minute, resulting in confusion and consternation for many. When the District first presented its RIF list in March, SAEA informed the District that it was not taking into consideration the court’s ruling and that the District was playing fast and loose with the lives of its teachers. While few of us are happy with the impact of the “Bakersfield Decision,” it was unclear from the start if the District would abide by it. As it turned out, Santa Ana Unified made an abrupt change in direction days before the hearing. Despite all of this, the RIF’d teachers showed restraint and professionalism throughout the process. I am especially grateful to the six CTA Executive Directors from surrounding Associations who came to the hearing to field questions, to Gladys Hall-Kessler and the entire SAEA Board of Directors who did everything from directing traffic to feeding the hungry, and to SAEA Treasurer, Susan Mercer, for spending three days on the RIF hotline answering questions and calming nerves. While it is impossible to predict the future, I expect a few more RIF’d teachers to be rescinded between now and late August, but it is impossible to know how many. The State budget crisis continues, and there is no immediate solution in sight.
On Tuesday, May 13, well over a hundred teachers showed up at the Board of Education to call attention to the unfairness of the RIF process, the District’s unacceptable bargaining proposals and the State financial crisis. This event was combined with several dozen mini-protests at sites ranging from Segerstrom to Fremont.
After the RIF hearing on May 15th, many of us went to the Education Coalition rally held in the Santa Ana Civic Center plaza. Thousands of teachers, CSEA members, local Board of Education members, State legislators, business leaders and Superintendents demonstrated their concern with the ongoing crisis in education funding.
Update on State Budget Crisis. According to Ben Bernenke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, “the current financial crisis in the US is likely to be judged in retrospect as the most wrenching since the end of the Second World War.” I am sure you don’t need to hear any more bad news though I do need to point out that California is in very very poor shape; it’s credit rating according to the three most widely used rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s) is second to last. Only Louisiana is lower.
The Governor’s May revised budget is not much better than the earlier version, and though called dead-on-arrival by both parties, it is currently the only budget out there. In it the Governor has backed away from suspending Prop 98 funding, but has increased the unfunded (negative) COLA to 5.66%. That means the State recognizes that it is getting harder for employees to make ends meet, but it does not have the money to fund raises. In addition, categorical programs remain with no COLA, no growth funding, and an additional 6.5% cut.
The Governor’s proposals include borrowing from the lottery or a sales tax increase, but both proposals have been widely rejected. The crisis is likely to continue into the summer, and there is no indication that it will get any better until after 2010.
Retirees. Over 140 teachers have accepted the District’s retirement incentive program.
This is good news for them, and may take some pressure off the RIF process as well. For many teachers this was a hard decision. We wish all of the retirees the very best, and know that no one can ever fully thank them for what they have done to educate thousands and thousands of our students.
Sick Days. Mysteriously, over the past few days, the District has been changing Personal Necessity days to Sick Days and charging teachers who are out of days their daily rate. We are disturbed by this arbitrary change and are working hard to correct the District’s actions. If you have had any problems in this area, please let Gladys Hall-Kessler know so that we can get the situation resolved quickly.
Voting for Site Reps. Every year at this time we remind you that sites should hold an election to pick Site Reps for the next school year. If you have any questions about the process or how many reps your site is entitled to have, please call Paul in our office. There is so much happening these days that you want to make sure that your site gets the best and latest information each month.
DAIT. The District and the County met to begin the oversight process mandated by the District’s test scores. I am pleased at the Superintendent’s invitation to include SAEA in the process. The DAIT team will be looking at seven areas of concern : Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; Professional Development; Human Resources; Data Analysis; Parent and Community Involvement; Fiscal Operations and Governance and Leadership.
Contacts for Summer. We hope (and fear) that the State will finally take action on a budget later rather than sooner. In order to keep you updated on changing circumstances, I want to remind you to visit the SAEA website (sateach.org) frequently during the summer and make sure your Site Rep as given us your home e-mail. We will do our best to get you the latest and best information.
David Barton
President, SAEA
http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/2008/05/28/a-cool-ceremony-poolside/
A cool ceremony … poolside
May 28th, 2008, 11:49 am · Post a Comment · posted by dalbano
Santa Ana Valley’s spectacular, new 50-meter swimming pool will play host to a pool ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony will include Santa Ana Unified School District and Superintendent Jane Russo.
That’s neat. Valley gets a new pool while Century never got one. They have a big dirt square where it was supposed to be but it was never put in.
Not too long ago on this thread I recall a notice that Segerstrom was going to have a pool installed. Does anyone know if that is still on the drawing board?
If a canvas topped lunch structure at Carr costs $230k, I wonder what a pool costs?
David Barton & SAEA support tax increase despite economic hard time
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/05/david-barton-saea-support-tax-increase-despite-economic-hard-time/#comment-57428
Orange Juice story and comments.
The thread # 257 refers to is indeed very interesting. Those of us who work at SAUSD have seen the waste, corruption, mismanagement of money and just plain simple incompetence.
Some of you that actually live in Santa Ana may be tempted to vote for measure G in hopes it will either save your job or get it reinstated. It won’t. Teachers being riffed are losing those jobs not because of a lack of space, but because of declining enrollment. Enrollment is declining because parents are being taxed out of the city.
If measure G passes the enrollment in the schools will continue to drop and even more of you will lose your jobs in the future.
I’m told the average turnaround cycle for student enrollment is anywhere from 5-10 years. Some districts never fully recover because they are in cities the poor can not afford to live in. Why raise your child in a city with gangs running wild shooting each other when you can move to a nearby city, into the inland empire, or even out of state where taxes are considerably lower?
SAUSD had its chance once, called measure C. They took the money and instead of being fiscally responsible putting every dime into building schools, refurbishing others, and replacing faulty equipment; they decided to bloat the administration, buy cars for many of these administrators and refurbish administrative and district offices. Oh they did build a few schools and they even refurbished quite a few of the schools that really needed it. But that is not all they did.
They bought land up in the north, formally the Farmers insurance building site, to build a school. That didn’t work out too well because the neighborhood didn’t want the school or congestion that went with it. After a year long fight that site was sold off.
They bought the famous strawberry field, known as Otsuka, at Fairview and Civic Center. They also took by force the transmission business next door causing a multi-million dollar legal battle that took several years. Today the new warehouse is there along with something that resembles something close to a school.
They built another school on Civic center across from the city hall and police department. I’m told that school has remained vacant since finished except for use by teachers for training but will be occupied this summer.
They took land and built a couple of other schools too, but according to the promises of the measure C ballot, all that they did fell far short to what was promised.
The best answer SAUSD could provide was “oops”. The real answer is they just bungled the whole mess. These are not the kind of people I would give a second chance to especially at the tax cost to the citizens of the city.
The ‘buzz’ word for the year has been transparency. The real word for SAUSD should be “onion” because the more layers you peel off, the stronger the smell gets.
For those of you measure G supporters that wonder why we are against it, I would suggest you read the article in the Register in todays SA Local section about the city discussion to raise just about every fee they have in town. It starts with the water and goes clear down to over due books.
If this link doesn’t work, just go to the SA section of the Register. I’m sure Art or one of the bloggers will catch this story and post it anyway…
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-budget-water-2056266-services-year
#259
I’m not sure what your point is. But the OJ moved onto an entire new server and moved all those posts to this thread. With the help of a very dedicated blogger known as SMS the front page of this blog now is a link to the latest 200 plus posts about SAUSD corruption. At the top are links to go back over the past several years of posts archived. Tell your friends. It is all right here and you can pick up and talk SAUSD just as before.
#259
Sorry I was typing too fast. This new blog has a link on the front page on the right border in the form of a SAUSD logo. That will take you to the corruption threads even though it is not labeled now as such. Sorry getting senile.
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-sabond31-2008may31,0,5547615.story
Santa Ana district pushes $200-million school bond measure
Measure G money would be used to ease overcrowding and repair or upgrade campuses. Two school board members voted against the measure, citing fiscal concerns and less costly alternatives.
By Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 31, 2008
For the second time in a decade, the cash-strapped Santa Ana Unified School District is asking voters to approve a construction bond to fund improvements to its school buildings.
The $200-million bond, Measure G on Tuesday’s ballot, would make the district eligible for up to $120 million in state matching funds to ease overcrowding.
Officials say they would use the sum to replace portable classrooms with permanent buildings at 14 schools and fund repairs and upgrades at most of the district’s 63 schools.
The measure received widespread support from local politicians, but because two of five school board members voted against placing it on the ballot — citing concerns over fiscal responsibility — two-thirds of voters must approve for the bond to pass.
The district offered the bond as a last-minute way to overhaul its schools in a year when a severe statewide budget crunch threatens school funding. The district is anticipating a $31-million budget cut for the coming school year and has sent layoff notices to hundreds of teachers. The district must have its construction plans filed with the state by August to qualify for state matching funds.
After years of growth, Orange County’s largest school district saw its enrollment decline by more than 7,000 over the last five years, causing a steady loss of state funds that are based on average daily attendance. And although the 55,000-student district built three high schools and two elementary schools in the last nine years, more than two dozen of its schools remain overcrowded.
The bond money would not be used to build new schools or pay for teaching or operating expenses.
Although the situation is less than ideal, board president Jose Alfredo Hernandez said, “it would be foolish for us to turn away any money that can come into the district just because it’s is not addressing our No. 1 need, which is teachers.”
Critics point out that the amount of state money is not guaranteed, even if the bond passes, because some of the money is awarded competitively. They also question the district’s management of a $145-million bond voters approved in 1999, when officials promised to build 13 new schools. After spending $450 million, including matching funds, the district built only five schools.
“No one is arguing whether we need the money or not. The real question is, is there a plan to spend it efficiently and effectively?” asked board member John Palacio, who voted against placing Measure G on the ballot. “If somebody misspent your money, would you go back to them and ask them to spend it again?”
After the last bond passed, construction costs soared and the district found it needed fewer new schools than planned because enrollment went down, said Assistant Supt. Joe Dixon, who is in charge of district facilities. He said nine audits showed that funds were spent appropriately.
District officials said they are forming a bond oversight committee even though the state does not require it, as a sign they will be held accountable on spending.
Although there is no organized opposition to the bond, its supporters have raised more than $200,000 in campaign donations, mostly from contractors doing business with the district.
Board member Rosie Avila said she opposed the bond because it would burden property owners with higher taxes during a housing market crisis and could lead to rent hikes in Santa Ana.
“These are hard times and this is just adding more debt,” she said, suggesting that the district readjust each school’s attendance boundaries and distribute students among schools more evenly to alleviate overcrowding.
The 25-year bond would cost an average homeowner $1,875, or about $75 a year, said Mark McLoughlin, co-chairman of Santa Ana K.I.D.S. 2008, the pro-bond group.
“That’s a very small investment for people to have quality schools,” he said.
Supporters of the bond have been sending mailers, posting signs, making phone calls and walking neighborhoods to promote the measure; they planned to hold a final rally today at a local bookstore.
“We’re just trying to get our fair share of statewide taxes into the community,” McLoughlin said.
tony.barboza@latimes.com
Thread started by Art Pedroza:
Is Measure G doomed?
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/05/is-measure-g-doomed/
Measure G discussions:
Measure G doomed to lose??? By Thomas Gordon
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/05/measure-g-doomed-to-lose/
SAUSD Measure G consultant gave $2,300 to McCain’s campaign By Thomas Gordon
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/05/sausd-measure-g-consultant-gave-2300-to-mccains-campaign/
The OC Register is reporting the ranking of the 63 comprehensive High Schools in Orange County based on a number of different criterias, but boy do I feel better now because here is how SAUSD did.
#54 Santa Ana High School
#61 Saddleback High School
#62 Santa Ana Valley High
#63 Century High
You can’t do much worse than that!. But on an up note the two High Schools NOT absolutely under SAUSD control did much better.
College Middle High School was # 4
Santa Ana school of the Arts was # 6
Anyone care to try and figure this out or is it as obvious as it seems.
Anony –
Where does Willard post on OC’s worst intermediate schools? I believe the #6 position belongs to Orange County High School of the Arts.
Thanks for this timely update.
I don’t know where Willard comes in but I sure could hazzard a guess. This was a story only about High Schools, not intermediate schools. I assume they left Segerstrom and Godinez High out because they are not yet 4 year fully set up schools. Isn’t it pleasent to know that out of 63 schools our district hit rock bottom with 3 schools. I know it made me feel proud.
Don’t thank me. I just got it from the Register.
#267
As a footnote I’m told that “Orange county School of the arts” is considered part of the SAUSD district. Don’t ask me why because I don’t know. It sure as hell doesn’t meet the criteria because it actually has “Failure is not an option”
Anony-
Segerstrom’a first graduating class walks this year. There should be some data.
I was extremely disappointed that the Register’s comprehensive tick list did not include stats on CASHEE. CAHSEE is state mandated and is important. Too bad the newspaper failed to recognize the significance of CASHEE.
I know Miguel Pulido refused to send his eldest child to Willard. That’s why he opted to send him to an intermediate school in OUSD. Reminds me of Dr. Noji’s decision to take her son out of the SAUSD school system and send him to Univeristy High in Irvine.
Starling that these two decades old politicans refuse to demand the best for all SAUSD students. Pulido and Noji have the means to remove their children from the slugglish SAUSD schools, but most parents do not. And they call themselves democrats.
VOTE NO ON MEASURE G
DO NOT RE ELECT MIGUEL PULIDO & AUDREY NOJI
SAUSD Trustee says a lack of teachers is the district’s #1 problem
Other school districts are reducing teacher layoffs, why isn’t the SAUSD?
Anon #270
I have read the criteria the Register used on this list and yes they did omit CASHEE but otherwise they seem to have done a pretty fair job of reviewing the overall qualities of the 63 schools. Segerstrom may have a grad class this year but it still doesn’t have a full 4 year enrollment. I suspect that was why both it and Godinez were not included. That could be a blessing in disguise.
What is sad is that Middle college school with only 288 students (I believe that was the last count) came in at # 4 and SAUSD takes credit for it! The same could be said about the Performing Arts School. The district deserves zip, zero, nadda credit for these schools high performance because if they knew the key to success of these two schools they would apply it to the rest of their high schools.
As I recall, the Performing Arts school is housed in an old building downtown and College Middle is a bungalow school. Hmmm. Ya really think the buildings make the difference?..Vote no on measure G!
Art put up a story about a budget meeting that quickly was pushed down the main page due to all the political postings this weekend. It’s worth reading if you are a resident or employee of the district since this meeting doesn’t appear to be announced on the District website. The link is the following , but if it doesn’t work just scroll down the main page until you get to it.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/other-school-districts-are-reducing-teacher-layoffs-why-isnt-the-sausd/#comment-57626
#271
Thanks for bringing to the forefront the status of the buildings OCHSA and Middle College are housed in. BTW … the Measure C folks – Bond Oversight Committee – – caused a five star ruckus about Measure C funds being used to purchase the portables Middle College occupies on the SACollege campus.
I say the purchase of portables for Middle College was money well spent. The return on this investment is what I expect as a taxpayer.
Measure G propaganda promises the oversight of the bond …. don’t be fooled by their lofty promises.
VOTE NO ON MEASURE G, Tues., June 3.
Here are some additional threads related to SAUSD on the Orange Juice!:
SAUSD Corruption: Not Exactly New – No On G. Sarah Michelle Spinosa. Video interview about the phantom rosters that occured under Jane Russo.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/sausd-corruption-not-exactly-new/
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Other school districts are reducing teacher layoffs, why isn’t the SAUSD? Art Pedroza. A reader sent Art an email put out by John Palacio encouraging staff, parents, students and community members to attend the upcoming Board of Education Meeting. John Palacio encourages any interested parties to call him directly with concerns. That’s leadership for you:
714-542-0589
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/other-school-districts-are-reducing-teacher-layoffs-why-isnt-the-sausd/
———————–
SAUSD Trustee says a lack of teachers is the district’s #1 problem. Art Pedroza. Board of Education President, Jose Alfredo Hernandez , weighs in on the Measure G Bond for voters. Pedroza takes him to task and posters speculate what role this man has on the SAUSD board and why he appears detached from the real issues facing the district:
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/05/sausd-trustee-says-a-lack-of-teachers-is-the-districts-1-problem/
———————–
Red,
Nice recap. I hope the word gets out this thread is alive and well and where it is.
Dave Barton and his union cabal should focus on giving Richardson and Hernandez the boot this Nov.
Barton’s efforts to levy a tax increase on the residents of Santa Ana stinks.
i’ve heard that sausd is giving the after school program to an outside agency. something was approved by the board last week. Can you start getting info on that? ALso, what are the rules on putting a consultant contract to bid? Is there a certain dollar amount that cannot be exceeded? Why has the district been so hush hush about this?
Stephanie,
I assume you are talking about the before/after school safety programs as outlined under Ed Code 8482 et sec. Not knowing more about what was done or not done leaves me only to try and have some insiders find out.
The afterschool/safety program is a grant program and possibly under current budget cut backs, it took a hit. I don’t know. The law on this is long and tedious. There are provisions for city and private sector partnerships but I don’t read anything that allows total privatization of the program. However I just skimmed the law and their might be such provisions.
The fact it is ‘hush-hush’ sounds familiar for SAUSD. I would think this would have to be in board minutes and other documents.
Pat Machado is the director of this program, and to be honest after screwing up as principal at Lathrop, then Century, they booted her upstairs to the district then put her in charge of this and other programs. My first impression is something isn’t right, but I don’t have enough information to know for sure. Nothing surprises me with this batch.
Below is the SAUSD link for the after school program in case you want to call and ask them what is going on. I will look into it as best I can and hopefully someone may have more information..
http://www.sausd.us/14431028114830100/site/default.asp
#276 Thanks!
Here’s a clarification for Measure G: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-a2-correx3-2008jun03,0,891242.story
For the record
June 3, 2008
Construction bond: An article in some editions of Saturday’s California section about Measure G, a proposed Santa Ana Unified School District construction bond on today’s ballot, said there was no organized opposition to it. The Orange County Federation of Labor opposes the measure.
While being charged is not the same as being convicted, it is a sad state of affairs when two SAUSD school police officers are both in OC courts at the same time. The Sgt charged last year for child porn is still fighting his case in court and now this.
Monday, June 2, 2008
School police officer facing battery charges
Ten-year Santa Ana school veteran accused of beating up girlfriend during Mother’s Day campout.
By KIMBERLY EDDS
The Orange County Register
Comments 11| Recommend 0
SANTA ANA – A 10-year police officer with the Santa Ana Unified School District is facing charges he beat up his girlfriend during a weekend camping trip at Doheny State Beach with their baby, and then telling the woman not to tell anything to authorities who questioned her about the attack.
Anthony Carl Maes, 51, Whittier, is expected to be arraigned Tuesday morning on one misdemeanor count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one misdemeanor count of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime. He faces up to two years in jail if convicted on all charges.
Maes and his girlfriend were camping at Doheny State Beach the night of May 10 when the couple got into an argument about 11 p.m.
Prosecutors accuse Maes of hitting his girlfriend in the face three or four times, leaving scratches and bruises. Park Rangers who showed up at Maes’ motorhome to deal with a loud generator noticed the girlfriend was visibly upset and spoke to her. But, according to prosecutors, Maes told her in Spanish not to tell them anything.
The Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department oversees the district’s schools and is not affiliated with the Santa Ana Police Department.
714-796-7829 or kedds@ocregister.com
Well folks at this point of the night it looks like you got your measure G bucks. As your enrollment continues to dwindle and your administrations grow along with luxury items let us know how unhappy you are about it.
Those believing jobs will be saved and end up fired feel free to opine your disbelief. Those who can’t believe the crime rate has jumped in the next months feel free to complain. But don’t be surprised when I said I told you so. Also feel free to tell me I was wrong.
Property taxes going up in Santa Ana as Measure G wins. Art Pedroza
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/property-taxes-going-up-in-santa-ana-as-measure-g-wins/
Orange County Federation of Labor opposes SAUSD Measure G tax increase. Art Pedroza
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/orange-county-federation-of-labor-opposes-sausd-measure-g-tax-increase/
Santa Ana school cop arrested for beating his girlfriend. Art Pedroza
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/santa-ana-school-cop-arrested-for-beating-his-girlfriend/
Measure G wants white voters’s money but not their votes. Art Pedroza
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/measure-g-wants-white-voterss-money-but-not-their-votes/
Recent SAUSD related threads:
Measure G wants white voters’s money but not their votes. Art Pedroza.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/measure-g-wants-white-voterss-money-but-not-their-votes/
—————
Santa Ana school cop arrested for beating his girlfriend. Art Pedroza.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/santa-ana-school-cop-arrested-for-beating-his-girlfriend/
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Orange County Federation of Labor opposes SAUSD Measure G tax increase. Art Pedroza.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/orange-county-federation-of-labor-opposes-sausd-measure-g-tax-increase/
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Property taxes going up in Santa Ana as Measure G wins. Art Pedroza.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/property-taxes-going-up-in-santa-ana-as-measure-g-wins/
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Red
Another good recap of stories, but obviously no one read them and the election was yesterday. When the rent or house payment goes up maybe the good citizens will wake up. When parking tickets go up, when overdue library book fines go up, when the water bill goes up..AGAIN, maybe they will wake up. When the numerous other fees go up that were listed at the city council meeting on Monday, maybe the good citizens will wake up. Too late! Go back to sleep.
Anony,
There really is nothing demanded of the school district or the city in the way of actual performance, planning or fiscal accountability. And those organizations are rewarded with bonds and fee increases by a seemingly unaware public.
Until the city’s citizens really have had enough of all this and get really angry and figure out how to band together and make change, I think you can expect the same for years and years to come.
Art and Thomas should make up little slips of paper and distribute them at city council meetings and to Board of Ed meetings to audience members that at least give this website. If people are not even aware of the issues and at least discussing the issues, there can be no corrective measures taken.
There has to be some way to get the word out.
Red,
I doubt the powers in charge would let anyone hand out the blog address for the OJ, but it’s a good thought. This original thread spread through the district by word of mouth. Even parents started writing on it until it went into overload. Lots of good stuff in those archives above. Lots of bickering too, but it outed that the district was totally screwed up. Hopefully this thread will pick up again when people begin to find it.
For over two decades I have watched the citizenry of SA and how they have dealt with SAUSD. They are intimidated, afraid and don’t want to make trouble. I’ve seen parents cry because their kid was failing or in trouble. I’ve watched parents sit passively as a school administrator threatened to kick the kid out of school or have the school police come and arrest the child. It hasn’t changed in over 20 years and I have absolutely no idea how many more years it will take before that change happens.
With the passage of this insane pot of gold called measure G, no doubt SAUSD is feeling untouchable.
I’d gladly help organize an effective campaign if asked. We also need to start selling advertising here on OJ to help pay for it, which I can’t do without my voice (yes, STILL sick, ugh). C’mon, everyone knows a few small business owners right? Maybe some big business owners? 😛
SMS
From the latest John Palacio email:
For your information, if you want to learn about what is happening politically and/or about educational related issues in Santa Ana and/or in Orange County, you might want to check out the Orange Juice E-Newsletter.
After each article click the comment section.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/
For anyone who would like to keep informed of school issues, John Palacio sends out timely emails on the topic. It is a blind copy list and he keeps it confidential, so your email address cannot be used for spam or other noxious reasons.
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SAUSD screws up on teacher layoffs. Art Pedroza
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/sausd-screws-up-on-teacher-layoffs/
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SAUSD special budget meeting tonight. Thomas Anthony Gordon.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/sausd-special-budget-meeting-tonight/
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If Mr. Patrick is so great with his staff, why did he let THINK together take over his after school program ? What did they promise him? A great program? Have any teachers there seen any additional services provided by THINK?
Stephanie,
If Mr. Patrick is like most of the SAUSD employees, he is carrying out orders from the top.
What exactlyis the issue with THINK? I am not familiar with it.
Thanks
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-firm-volunteers-2062069-day-deloitte
Volunteers make over Santa Ana campus
Deloitte accounting firm sent more than 300 volunteers to beautify Lowell Elementary School.
By FERMIN LEAL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Comments 0| Recommend 1
SANTA ANA — More than 300 volunteers from Deloitte accounting firm’s Orange County office spent the day Friday volunteering at Lowell Elementary School making over the campus.
The volunteers, along with many of the school’s 1,000 students, new landscaping, paint buildings, renovated playgrounds and ball fields, and worked on other projects. The event is part of the firm’s national volunteer day. This was the third consecutive year Deloitte has selected a Santa Ana Unified school for a makeover.
Contact the writer: 714-445-6687 or fleal@ocregister.com
Maybe the Deloitte firm missed Tuesdays outcome. Now the district can fix all the problems with their schools on the taxpayers back. Or is Deloitte a registered accunting firm for SAUSD? Then they can just send the district a bill.
Where do i get a nice template like yours?
Who is running for the SAUSD Board of Education?
Has anyone noticed that for the last few years SAUSD has been “reluctant” to identify/qualify students for special education services?
At our site, the process to have a student evaluated/tested for special education services takes YEARS. Teachers are told that administration is very busy so they can only put forward one student for evaluation. Teachers are burdened with copious paperwork/data forms to try to discourage them from enduring the process.
SAUSD is hiding behind the new RTI legislation and expecting that teachers provide all necessary interventions in the classroom for special needs students.
SAUSD hopes that teachers won’t persevere on behalf of their needy students and give up on “the process”.
SAUSD is hoping that the parents are so uninformed of their rights that they won’t demand (sue) the district for the educational needs of their children.
Admittedly it is the “Feds” who are ultimately at fault for passing legislation to meet the needs of special education students without supplying the necessary funding, but, SAUSD should be committed to early identification and remediation of special needs students. SAUSD should treat every child as if that child was their own…sadly, they don’t. They choose to delay/ignore students with special needs to save money.
Here’s some interesting data about truancies from last week’s “Superintendent’s Cabinet Meeting”, when the District superintendent has a meeting with teachers, one from each school site.
On a students third truancy, a “Notification of Truancy” letter is sent to the students home. 6,150 of these have been sent this school year.
The student is consedered a habitual truant after the seventh truancy, and a letter is sent to the home requesting a meeting with parents and student. 2,300 of these letters have been sent this year.
Almost half of my seniors have been out more than 15 days (that’s just for one semester).The District has to belosing tons of money in ADA + do we wonder why crime is up in SA with all the truants on the streets? Where is the DA on this?