Well, we are in a New Year and we need to close up our 2008 SAUSD corruption thread before it becomes overwhelmed with comments. Consider this to be our new 2009 SAUSD corruption thread.
Click here to read our 2008 thread. And here are links to all our previous SAUSD corruption threads:
- 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
The results of last year’s SAUSD School Board elections were disappointing. The incumbents were re-elected. Shame on the teacher’s union for supporting them! And the one new Trustee, Roman Reyna, is not likely to make a difference.
The SAUSD budget is a mess and our Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, appears primed to make it worse. So this is going to be a very tough year. As always, this forum will be here to allow you to vent about what is going on at the SAUSD!
Al Mijares is long gone, but the corruption at the SAUSD continues unabated…
It was the Bakersfield decision that saved Robert Chavez’s job this year. I’m sure that won’t change under his watch.
2 Newsflash 651
Why don’t you stop and think before you write.
There are many of us whose jobs are on the line. And the fault lies not with another colleague. The faults lies with the District and their mismanagement of the budget. The fault lies with the District’s opportunistic actions: packing 36 students in a classroom and removing teachers left to right using the economy as an excuse. Stop trying to turn teachers against each other. We need to, and will, stick together now more than ever. We need strong leadership like Chavez and O’Neil. If Chavez was saved by Bakersfield this year, then at least he understands the pain a Riff’d teacher feels! Unlike the leadership of the Union now, whose reality is so far removed from the reality of those of us at the bottom of the totem pole, perhaps Chavez would most likely fight harder. If that is the case, than I am glad Chavez has experienced this alienation and pain, because we need individuals who are willing to represent even the weakest link. Look, if your very own job was saved by Bakersfield too, well, good for you! Why are you trying to bring shame to a situation none of us have cause and/or effect of. What I care about now, is that those that are staying around will organize and protest 36+:1. If more of you did this and united with Classified and the parents, instead of attacking the new wave of leaders, we would stand a chance at keeping our jobs!
It’s time for a change.
Vote for
Patricia O’Neil
for
SAEA President
I will be your President providing you with:
In-depth ongoing analysis of the District’s budget in preparation for negotiations
Negotiations and organizing to protect our jobs and
benefits and improve salary
Honest communication at all times, including during contract ratification
Secure contract ratifications and elections
Extensive member input into contract proposals
Timely processing of grievances and regular
communication at each stage
Rigorous CTA member representation
Empowerment of our School Site Councils
I have the professional experience:
Extensive CTA/NEA training in school finance and
member representation
Served as SAEA Treasurer, Elementary Segment Director,
CTA State Council, NEA, and Site Representative
Twenty-five years as a classroom teacher in the SAUSD
I will be honored to have your vote for SAEA President.
Update 649-
Teachers are NOT placed by grade level 1-12, but rather by credential. Anyone with a multiple subject can teach k-8, and single subjects can teach the single subjects 7-12. It is important for teachers to look at the type of credential they have in order to determine the likelihood of being rehired.
#652 – in the past your union helped get Noji and Richardson get elected to the board, thereby advancing the agenda of Miguel Pulido. And cowering to Pulido’s agenda has been disasterous to the community and SAUSD.
Noji & Richardson’s combined service on the BoE is close to 4 decades. What have they done to make SAUSD better? And it was your union that gave SAUSD homeowners a “tax increase” by putting your money & resources to passing the latest bond measure. And we still have portables throughout the district; one school site was used to build the district warehouse when the bond was “explicit” in its language … alleviate school overcrowding.
SAEA continues to ignore SAUSD residents and push forward with their agenda. You’ve slept with the enemy for too long and crying wolf when you’re backed in the corner is ironic.
The state should takeover SAUSD and take measures to eliminate the current BoE, superintendent, cabinet and scrape any union commitments. And make the teachers interview for rehire.
@652 You pretty much made a point that I was going to say. I sit here reading teachers lashing back and forth like a bunch of teenagers. The real enemy is downtown. Lets stop the spatting for a second and put our thinking caps on. Let me ask this question? Why do other districts don’t have it as bad as we do?
First we have three board members that put out their agendas that effect our students. During summer last year noji, richardson, and hernandez approved classified lay offs last year. By doing this they effectively crippled schools. They continue to allow mismanagement of money. Why must we have outside consultants? How many deputy superintendents do we have? Why did juan lopez get a 20,000 dollar raise and new position? Now they have to hire his position and pay for it. They continue to remodel the district office and hire positions. They have people working 12 months at the district office and they fire the people at the sites! So how can they say they put our students first? Thats just some of the things that we know of course. Oh yeah I hope that Mercedes convertible with the sausd logo on it is property russo paid for with her overpaid salary.
Second is this ta. I’m really sorry for what happened to everybody. Please believe me when I say this. This ta has effectively turned our teachers against each other. Instead of uniting and fighting the district you fight with each other. Your allowing the district to continue with business as usual because your to busy pointing fingers at the wrong people. If we all had done this when the poop hit the fan we wouldn’t have to deal with these ridiculous agreements. All they do in the long run is take away more things leaving us grateful that we have a job. I for one am tired of all this trash!
Speaking trash I just wanted to point out that your union backed up hernandez and richardson. Mark my words…..this will back fire. Coming this summer….. More money will disappear and lets not forget Classified layoffs!
P.S. russo, you were a former teacher in this district. SHAME ON YOU! You sure sold out.
I thought this quote might relate to our predicament. I apologize if this offends anybody.
“First They came for the Communists, I did not speak up because I was not a Communist.
Then They came for the Trade Unionists, I did not speak up because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, I did not speak up because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”
The way I see it in our case is like this:
First the district came after the instructional assistants, I did not speak up because I was not an instructional assistant.
Then the district came after Certificated, I did not speak up because I was not Certificated.
Then the district came after Classified, I did not speak up because I was not Classified.
Then the district came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.
Chilling words but it has a lesson for us all. No matter what they will eventually come after you.
One Response to “SAUSD Superintendent Jane Russo is too cheap to appreciate her teachers!”
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2009/05/sausd-superintendent-jane-russo-is-too-cheap-to-appreciate-her-teachers/
The current regime (Russo, Lopez, Olsky) is responsible for hiring site administrators. Since they have been in the district, they have failed miserably. How so you say?
1 – Hired Dr. Tracy Brennan to be Principal at Saddleback HS. Googling Dr. Brennan instantly revealed her dismal stint in Anaheim complete with a lawsuit which she lost. And we came along and scooped her up. And now the litigation is beginning again as she was removed a couple of months ago from Saddleback.
2 – Hired Freddy Gomeztrejo (soccer coach for daughter of Juan Lopez) to be Principal at Valley HS. Googling Mr. Gomeztrejo instantly revealed that he had been removed from 2 previous school districts due to a myriad of problem. And we came along and scooped him up. And now he is being removed at Valley HS as he was pink slipped along with the teachers.
3 – Hired Julie Infante to be Principal at Santa Ana HS. Googling Ms. Infante instantly revealed that she had been removed from her previous stint in Baldwin Park. And we came along and scooped her up. She is completing her first year and the staff and students have never been as miserable as they are this year. As much as everyone disliked Mr. Salcedo, two months into her tenure students began wearing signs on their backs demanding the return of Mr. Salcedo.
There is clearly a problem with the powers that be when hiring administrators. Why were these three individuals selected when there were highly qualified administrators in this district applying for the positions? The politics involved in Human Resources along with Olsky and Russo (and probably Noji) is staggering. All three schools continue to struggle academically and the district continues to hire, remove and then incur financial litigation and settlements as a result of a very flawed hiring process. Where is the outrage? Do you think this pattern of gross incompetence would continue in a south county district? I think not. But in Santa Ana – anything goes.
Ms. Russo, change your mantra. It’s not what you say, it’s what you do. Therefore, according to your actions along with your cohorts Lopez and Olsky, “FAILURE IS ACCEPTABLE! SUCCESS IS NOT THE STANDARD…”
Is this really true? Is the district unable to buy anymore copy paper for the sites due to no money? That’s what I heard. Was told that sites get 10 cases a month and each teacher gets 1 ream a month. Please tell me this is not true.
And, if it is true, who downtown is responsible for this fiasco? Has anybody told Jane?
Red,
Well, that is interesting. Former SHS instructional assistant Alonso Gonzales is still in the court system for getting arrested for crimes against a female student. Next hearing is May 15th . Ironically, a teacher who is a SAEA site rep and who works with the special education kids at Saddleback High School has been running around telling people that this whole lewd conduct thing is just overblown and that Alonso has gotten out of trouble and will be coming back to work with students soon. Is he still employed? Is he on paid administrative leave? She even tells people that she doubts that Alonso would ever do anything to that “dirty smelly girl in the wheelchair”. She even names the student victim to people! How unprofessional! It is like she is accusing the poor helpless student victim of organizing an arrest. Jennifer is the name of the SAEA union site rep and teacher disparaging the student and trying to cover up for Alonso. Jennifer has plenty to cover up for herself. She was on the way to being fired for abusing students at Willard because of so many parent complaints and written charges about physical and emotional mistreatment by Jennifer. Her own staff at Willard turned her in. Lucky for her that Esther Jones and VP Evelyn Carrigg saved her so that Jennifer could back up Alonso who was being reported for his outrageous behaviors from staff at Saddleback at that time. She covered for him while other staff continued to keep an eye on Alonso so that he would not be left alone with the students. Evelyn Carrigg continued to cover for Alonso, too. He was her assistant when she was teaching at Lathrop. He was moved to Saddleback and Carrigg continued to ignore complaints about Alonso secreting away students to the staff lounge when it was vacant, among other places that were reported to her. She left him in charge of those poor students knowing what a threat he had been from reports of other staff. She should be in court right now, right beside that guy. She’s just as guilty of abusing the students. Evelyn Carrigg has also been covering for instructional assistant Leo Ramirez who was actually arrested on the SHS campus in front of a whole lot of staff several years back. The charges against him were sexual assault against another employee. He was removed. Esther Jones pulled some strings with the school police and then let him come back onto campus once things cooled off. He’s still there. Evelyn knows about all this. How many more people who should not be working with students are still left in place by this kind of cruel enabling at Saddleback? How sad that decent, competent employees have been Riff’ed when others who should have been fired a long time ago still remain. It’s just plain sneaky to let the new principal at SHS take the rap for any future incidents by known problematic staff left over from Jones’ tenure.
Mega- Fedup
Thank you for your continual support and I will represent all association members. Your message is very powerful.
NewsFlash
I will represent you if indeed you are an SAEA association member, if I am elected president of our Santa Ana Educators’ Association.
Finally, I personally passed out my flyers to the majority of our schools sites expect for Garfield, Gordinez ( my supporters passed them out there on my behalf ), Harvey and Heroes I will visit your sites tomorrow. Granted I went after school because I do not receive paid release time. If I am elected I will make site visits to listen to your concerns just as I passed out my flyers to almost all our school.
Remember voting does not end tomorrow or at the end of the week as some people would make you believe. Voting ends May 17th, May 18th or May 21st if you hand deliver your own ballot by 4:00 pm. I appreciate your vote and continual support. Robert C. Chavez
@659 Ironic that SAUSD says failure is unacceptable yet we scoop up losers.
Russo at one time was an SAUSD area administrator but was relieved of her duties. Hmmm.
Then Audrey Noji negotiated a deal to bring back Russo as superintendent. The Superintendent doesn’t even have a Ph.D. in education and her annual salary nears $250K.
#661
Are you sure you are talking about the right Jennifer? The only Jennifer I can remember at Willard that fits that behavioral description no longer works for SAUSD.
Hi, Robert
Thank you for coming to Garfield’s, I was not sure if you were the same person I met the past year at NEA-RA. But, after receiving your flyer, and seeing your photograph, I remembered you. You got my vote, for President! You have a great ability to persuade people to support new business items, and that it’s not easy at all. I was one of the 9,000 members sitting down, in the other hand, you were always proactively fighting for our issues. Thank you, especially for working in favor of the ELL students, and their teachers. I will vote for Robert Chavez. Are you participating this year in San Diego? We sure need you there!
Having seen these endless posts about Bakersfield and no accurate response from anyone, and certainly not from wannabe lawyer number 300 whatever, I offer you the following.
I know that the Riffed teachers are stressed, and I can only imagine how the greater economic weaknesses must add to that. With that being said, I don’t really understand the confussion/denial over this whole Bakersfield Decision. If you don’t know I guess it is easy to be confused. Well an easy solution is to get “educated”. How could one do that? Well the County of Orange has a law library that you as a member of the public can use. How do you contact them? 515 North Flower Street Santa Ana, CA 92703 ¨ Phone (714) 834-3397. If you decide to contact them you can simply ask them to research what is known as the “Bakersfield Decision”. If you do this, you will find out when it was a Superior Court Case in Kern County, it was case # 250895. When it was appealed to the Court of Appeals for the State of California in the Fifth Appellate District it became case #F048665. Now if one were to take these simple steps to do a modest amount of work and educate themselves what would they find? The Bakersfield City School District had improperly held teachers (of all different classes, long term subs, emergency credentialed, interns, preliminary credentialed, etc) in temporary status permanently, which was a violation of the Education Code, hereafter known as the “Law”. The Bakersfield District did not like that answer and appealed to the above mentioned Court of Appeals Fifth District. Well people guess what? The Court of Appeal also found that the “Law” had to be followed. In state as it is in federal court lower courts must follow the rulings of higher courts. In California the only way anyone in the state can disregard an Appellate ruling is if the Supreme Court of the State of California issues a ruling that overturns the lower courts ruling. The good folks at the Bakersfield City School District did what comes naturally to any district administrator and decided to spend more money pursuing a very dubious case. They appealed to the Supreme Court of the State of California. That court denied their appeal. Which very plainly means, the Bakersfield Decision is the “Law” in California. Now last year the Counsel for the SAUSD proved one of two things when he ignored a case that had been decided in 2006 and was known as the “Law”. One, he is ignorant of the law which I would assume indicates malpractice. Or two, he purposefully ignored it because he knew that it would create dissent within the ranks of the teachers. Something to think about folks. Blaming the group of volunteers who do the crappy thankless jobs that you are to selfish to do yourself. Or blame the District. By the way there is a new charter opening in town, I believe they are hiring. Starting wages 35,000.00. You will be free of the terrible union. Any takers?
Robert and O’Neil, will you go to Roosevelt and vicinity?
Russo’s salary is bad enoughm chek out her secretaries’ salaries…
Sojournertruth, yes I am the one of nineteen local delegates from SAEA, who will be attending the National Education Association Assemby in San Diego along with 9,000 plus other association members from across our country ( June 28 until July 6th this year. In the past NEA RA’s I have worked very hard (2000- until the present) from 6:30 am until 5:00 pm (later )and the last day until our business is done sometimes very late in to the night. There I have lobbied and spoken before our assemby to protect not only our association members rights ( aganist merit pay and repeal of the social- security offset to name a few ) and to protect our students rights specifically our English Language Learners. Visit nea.org for more information about the Representative Assemby and a wealth of information. I have the contacts with our NEA in Washington, DC to make us stronger for the betterment of all our association members.
The same drive and determination I am known for at the RA I will bring as President of our association should the membership vote me in as your President. I will not rest until all our members have a voice and are respected. We must reclaim our association and give it back to our membership.
Mega- Fed Up, Yes call me tomorrow at Greenville at 10:10 -10:20, 12:00-12:30.
Robert C. Chavez (#662) While I take issue with your entire ‘holier than thou’ attitude in general, I really take issue in this case with your implied martyrdom. How dare you state, ‘Granted I went after school because I do not receive paid release time. ‘ Get over yourself, Robert, the rest of us have.
You’re not the only one that had to figure out a creative way to distribute campaign materials and not violate the election rules, so stop making it seem that others delivered their campaign fliers using paid release time. No one at SAEA used release time to deliver campaign fliers. No one at SAEA used district mail to deliver campaign fliers.
This is so typical of you – a perfect example of the lies you tell that sound so innocent. It’s not the first time you’ve tried to use this tactic to bully your way into position. You promised to not wage a dirty campaign -and it didn’t take you long to break that promise.
And please don’t try and deny that you have an agenda – your comments make it clear that you have an agenda. Your agenda is pure self-promotion. Those of you that have seen Robert in action, know exactly what I’m talking about – and those that haven’t, well, just consider yourself lucky that you haven’t.
SPEAKING OF JOBS AT SAUSD……..HERE’S SOME YOU MIGHT WANT TO APPLY FOR………..
Director of Classified Personnel (214 days, 12 Months)
Posted: 4/30/2009 – Deadline: 5/13/2009 4:30 PM PST
Certificated Staff 4/30/2009 Santa Ana Unified, Santa Ana
Orange County
Level 52 $110,232.00-$123,432.00 per year with Bachelor’s Degree Level 54 $112,824.00-$125,832.00 per year with Master’s Degree Level 55 $114,096.00-$127,428.00 per year with Doctorate Degree
********************************************
Head Start Assistant Coordinator:Education/Disability ( 214 Days, 12 Months)
Posted: 4/29/2009 – Deadline: 5/13/2009 4:30 PM PST
Certificated Staff 4/29/2009 Santa Ana Unified, Santa Ana
Orange County
As Listed on the Managers Salary Schedule Level 8 $51, 912.00 – $65,232.00 per year with Bachelor’s Degree Level 10 $54,516.00 – $67,812.00 per year with Master’s Degree Level 11 $55,944.00 – $69,168.00 per year with Doctorate Degree
*********************************************
Associate Superintendent-Business Services (214 duty days, 12 month)
Posted: 4/15/2009 – Deadline: 5/26/2009 4:30 PM PST
Certificated Staff 4/15/2009 Santa Ana Unified, Santa Ana
Orange County
$184,629.00 per year
#661 and #667 here you (again) defending your inner circle because YOU are on Jennifer’s list to be voted IN to their little group. Naturally you will defend the corruption because YOU have never been RIF(ed) and you continue to be the biggest *** kisser to the principal (and we all KNOW who you are). No, we aren’t impressed with your knowledge because we have watched you in action as a rep for many years. People wouldn’t go to you for advice because they KNEW you were the biggest tattletale and “run to the office” teacher on the staff. You hide behind your moniker name on here, but all the RIF(ed) peoeple KNOW you are running for office. We hope you don’t win. You are the most judgmental person who has never been RIF(ed) and we all see you as someone who has very little compassion for those who are losing their jobs. You have something personal against Robert for whatever reason (most likely because he is a threat to your pal, Susan). The 2 of you are 2 peas in a pod…cold as ice. Yes, that is my opinion and you can go back to your little corner of know it all land now. Robert, people will vote for you because they can’t stand those 2.
Two school districts in the same county – but worlds apart. All districts knew ahead of time that their riffed teachers’ names were going to be printed in The Register because it is public info. Anaheim Union High School District’s Superintendent personally notified all his teachers that this was going to happen. He said he was not comfortable with putting their names in the newspaper but it was public info. So they all received a heads up from him. SAUSD – nothing!
Where is Jane and what does she do?
“Are you sure you are talking about the right Jennifer? The only Jennifer I can remember at Willard that fits that behavioral description no longer works for SAUSD.”
She attends union meetings as Saddleback’s Representative. She left in a huff for a year but came back.
I cannot imagine what kind of help she could ever give another teacher.
I am requesting that #561 be removed. I find it unconscionable that someone at Saddleback would print such unsubstantiated rumors. There are avenues to address concerns that do not invade a person’s rights.
676,
I assume you mean #661 (some kind of numbering glitch). What’s the problem? Unsubstantiated rumors and comments are on every blog regardless if they are true or not. Why not demand #659 be removed too? Are those 3 administrators allowed to be bad mouthed but not anyone else? Hey Alonzo’s arrest is public record. SBHS has been a den of misdeeds for a long time. Everyone here recognizes that comment #661 is just a comment and nothing more..well maybe more true than not, but still unsubstantiated. BTW if there were workable avenues to address concerns at SBHS or SAUSD no one would have to put anything on this blog.
BlahBlahBlah (#673) Goodness, you were up early this morning…posting @ 4AM?
I don’t have a clue who the people are that you are complainging about in #661 and #667, but the FACTS are what the FACTS are. You seem to not be willing to take into consideration all of the teachers that were ‘saved’ by Bakersfield and how unfairly the beleived they had been treated before SAUSD was forced to comply with the State Law. Don’t get me wrong, the teachers that were negatively effected and RIFd have a right to be angry, but their anger needs to be focused on SAUSD. Unfortunately, there is no easy or correct answer.
If we got back to ‘pre-Bakersfield’, then people that benefited get RIFd (which may or may not be good – depending on the quality of the teacher) and the people that got RIFd would be rescinded and have jobs (which may or may not be good – depending on the quality of the teacher).
Regardless of what happens, both groups signed contracts under a certain set of beliefs and based on information provided by the District – and both sides got screwed.
Is Bakersfield right? Ask the hundred’s if not thousands of teachers that HAVE jobs because of Bakerfield and they’ll say yes, singning the praises of CTA and their local. Ask those that lost their jobs as a result, and they’ll say no and curse the entire world.
There is no easy answer. In a perfect world, with never ending money, we’d keep them all and have 20:1 in every grade and every class – but, unfortunately, the citizens of California have no desire fund public education – they’d prefer to test, test, test until the pencils are are gone and reorganize every district because of failure. We’ve choosen, instead of creating a generation of thinkers, to create a generation of test takers..the World’s Best at bubbling in the little dots with a #2 pencil…
I think posts should stay. It might give Olsky a heads up on who needs some watching and maybe some walking.
I agree with #679, let the posts stay.
#667 — A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I’ll trust the lawyers on the blog who explained the Bakersfield case a lot better than you did. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black: Exactly who is, to use your term, the “wannabe lawyer?” That would be you. Last time I checked, law school took three years. The 15 minute answer you got from a librarian doesn’t cut it. You are not trained or qualified to understand the Bakersfield decision or its meaning. The real lawyers at numbers 307 and 370-372 on this blog have been clear that districts are not bound by it, and I believe them. Also, lawyer friends of mine who have extended me the favor of looking at the posts from the lawyers on this blog tell me that the lawyers on this blog are 100% correct. What agenda do you have that you are so desperate to disagree with these lawyers’ posts? SAEA clearly threatened the district into preparing a Bakersfield list instead of the credential seniority list. That is undeniable. Why are you trying so hard to defend SAEA corruption on this issue? Who are you exactly?
If you were a riffed teacher yourself, you would know that SAEA is WORTHLESS, actually worse than worthless because it gives naive teachers the semblance of a belief that someone is fighting for them, thereby pacifying them and making the district’s job of riffing that much easier. I only wish there was a way to let all of the riffed teachers see the posts from those lawyers so they could rise up against SAEA for the fraud that it is, at least when it comes to rif hearings.
To me, you seem like nothing more than a union HACK, pure and simple. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were Jennifer Isensee, the paradigm of hacks, or maybe Susan Mercer. You know nothing about the law, even after your 15 minutes talking to the librarian. You only know your own agenda. I hope all the riffed teachers turn out and vote for Robert Chavez. It could not be worse for us than it has been under Isensee, Mercer, Barton,and their whole cabal.
Yes, I am at that time because I work a couple of jobs right now saving for being laid off….something YOU wouldn’t know anything about because you have never received a RIF.
I find it interesting that we are not hearing from Susan Mercer on the posts. But, that is a major plus + in my mind.
She is a professional that will not stoop to respond to the accusations and mud slinging that appears on this blog from other candidates that are asking for our “professional” vote.
I am disappointed and would not even consider those candidates that are responding to the “mud” that is being thrown.
I appreciate the candidate responses that state their positions, but I do not want to see the potential candidates stating their opinions against another candidate. This needs to be in a public forum, not on a “blog”. Would I vote for a presidential candidate based on a particular blog that I chose to read? I hope not, it needs to be fair and logical and most of all transparent.
Please vote your conscience for those individuals that you feel will help all SAUSD teachers, not just what you read on this blog. I have concerns about Robert Chavez who continues to personally post. I want an individual that will state his/her position, not only respond to the irrational responses contained on this blog. I am more in favor of those that will not even respond on this blog to these irrational comments/responses. State your position, and then be gone, no more responses needed.
BE PROFESSIONAL…that is what SAUSD teachers need.
I found it refreshing that Susan Mercer posted her position and then spent the time to answer questions. I don’t think there is anything especially undignified by posting honest responses to a blog that interested posters read.
The three presidential candidates have shown good intent and have given good responses, imo.
I hope you’re not calling some kind of “silence is golden” is the superior position. Let people get to know the issues. Quit insisting that cowardice is the only tradition befitting a SAEA candidate.
No one gives up freedom of speech just because of union affiliation. That’s a ridiculous stance and a huge disservice to anyone who has something to say. If necessary, post under any old moniker and answer questions that people want to know in a way that is mature and shows that the folks in charge of the union right now know what the issues are, know what they are doing, and are inclusive of all members. That would go a lot further than bashing the fact that folks are asking for some answers.
My two cents.
BlahBlahBlah (#682) My compassion for those that HAVE RIFd comes from my complete and intimate familiarity with being RIFd. But frustration at those that loose sight of the bigger picture.
That you assume that I haven’t been RIFd is absurd and just that, an assumption – the same that I have about you being RIFd.
I have no knowledge of who you are, what your struggles are and what your concerns are – but I do know this – that you are compassionately committed to teaching and doing your best, to making a difference in the lives of your students, and for making this world a better place.
And I know this – that if you’re RIF is nor rescinded, that SAEA, SAUSD and, most importantly, the future students you could have taught, will have lost out.
I am deeply sorry that you, and anyone else in the State, had to be RIFd.
By the way, your characterization of Susan as ‘cold as ice’ simply wrong. It’s unfortunate that you haven’t had or taken to opportunity to really get to know her – your opinion would most definitely change. As for your apparent absolute ‘knowledge’ that someone posting here is a bad candidate, based on personal experience, is interesting. Interesting because the person apparently posted using a ‘moniker’. And interesting because, if its true, its a sad.
Teachers have a tough enough job without having to fight amongst themselves or go about worrying about their ethics and credibility of their co-workers – truly a shame.
I hope your RIF is rescinded…and soon!
Red Vixen (#684) Well said.
fair and logical-
“BE PROFESSIONAL…that is what SAUSD teachers need.”
AMEN.
But I’m not holding my breath 🙁
2 Fair and logical #683
Let’s see… you are saying that those who formulate questions/comments via blog (be careful…including yourself) are not dignified enough to be acknowledged by Mercer?
If this is your position, I strongly disagree!
Actually, I find it very helpful to see how our future representatives will react in an environment that, yes at times, will be extremely hostile. I truly appreciate that the other two candidate have acknowledged my questions. FAIR AND LOGICAL, after your comment, I am beginning to wonder… If Mercer can’t handle answering a simple blog, with questions formulated by her own peers, how is she going to be able to know and defend our position/needs when she faces THE District?
Have you all voted yet? I did! I voted for Robert Chavez, We truly need CHANGE in our local. I am glad, that our colleagues are interested in the campaign this year, I do not remember listening or reading so much about candidates. I know, Robert Chavez, will stand up for everyone, the students, the teachers, counselors, coaches, (P.E, Music.
To MegaFed-up I am sure, Chavez, will not disappoint you, this colleague will be able to defend our position, our needs when he faces the District leadership.
MegaFed-Up (#688) Be careful. Even Red Vixen congratulates Susan for her early responses. I think Susan is wise to withhold comment. Most anything she says, even if it was ‘text-book’ perfect, would be taken out of context by someone or thrashed by someone with a different opinion – so why should she subject herself to it?
As for dealing with SAUSD – it’s a different process. It’s not anonymous. It’s respectful. And it’s professional. And I’m not saying that you are the issue – trust me, that not the case.
There is NO ONE more qualified to lead SAEA than Susan Mercer and a vote for her will not be wasted!
sojourner truth (#689) When I was young, someone once said practice makes perfect. But someone else corrected him and said that perfect practice makes perfect. I’m not saying the Susan is perfect or that she will be perfection to the position or to SAEA – far from it.
But so it is with change. Change is good – but not just for the sake of change. Good change, positive change – those are what the Union needs – and that’s exactly what Susan Mercer brings to the position. Positive changes building upon the great strides that have been made by David Barton. Much will remain the same, but much will change – for the better – with Susan Mercer leading SAEA.
Need To Know said she works down at the district and is endorsing Susan Mercer. Isn’t that interesting? Let me ask you this…”NeedToKnow” What are you getting out of being Susan’s Campaign manager?
Reasons I am not voting for Ms. Mercer:
1. I do not feel I was represented well during the last 2 RIF hearings.
2. I do not care for the revised contracts (the last 2).
3. I lost my benefits due to Ms. Mercer and Ms. Sobieski’s bargaining techniques with the district.
4. The contract keeps changing for the worse not in favor of those who are RIF(ed) and I feel like we’re just a number when I have gone to the Union for help.
5. I don’t feel that the Union bargained well to keep my job and I feel like they’ve given up on us. Did they do all they could? ex. furlough day?
NeedToKnow needs to post all the time because of a serious mental illness.
Be careful of what advice you follow.
Anon # 694,
That seems a little harsh. NeedToKnow may be full of hot air, a union hack that has slowly revealed who he/she supports, but mentally challenged? I don’t think so.
KTN may be privy to confidential statistics only union board members would have. Numbers obviously being provided for him/her to post that no one can argue with because they are not public knowledge. That doesn’t make KTN mentally challenged either. Just clever.
KTN claims to have gone to law school, claims not to be an SAEA board member, not a district administrator, and states he/she attended school in the 60’s. That makes KTN close to retirement age, yet he/she has little sympathy for the retirees as they provide “zero revenue”.
KTN claims to have reason to travel around to various campuses and has viewed discarded campaign literature. The only people I know who travel around regularly to different campuses are sub teachers, district administrators, campus cops, and other various classified employees.
So while KTN may be a prolific writer, hired gun for one of the union candidates and able to post nearly non-stop all day long, the one thing I won’t say is that KTN is mentally challenged. While I don’t have a dog in this fight, the one thing I would keep in mind is that if I did I wouldn’t vote for anyone that provides a rather clever campaign advocate to spam and try to discredit a blog.
Not to nitpick, but “mentally challenged” does not equal mental illness. Being the crazy auntie at the family picnic is not the same as being Mentally Retarded. Just saying!
This whole series of posts has been pretty interesting imo. A shadow union is in place? The union “leaders” that you would expect to have opinions on legitimate employment and organizational questions are absent, yet there is this Knows-it-all poster who insists on being the mouthpiece, all the while praising silence.
Who is that controlling poster and what is so important to hide? Is SAEA doing things above board or do they participate in all sorts of sneaky endeavors? Sneaky cowards or clueless incompetents at the helm of a multimillion dollar dues-collecting organization? You teachers are definitely not getting anywhere near your money’s worth, yet.
All three presidential candidates have posted to this blog. It will be interesting to see who wins and who will then have to kowtow to the union cabal to keep tradition of stonewalling and silence. I find it ironic that “KTN”, as Anonplus refers to them, is able to post LOTS and slashes at anyone who asks questions or wants board members to speak up on issues.
Teachers need to know that NO ONE is going to give them power. You have to take back your own power every day.
Look what happens when union board members give up their power on even a simple message board. Some self-proclaimed insider tries to become the voice of SAEA. Where is the union spine in these troubled times?
Red,
Nothing gets by you..”KTN” while appearing to be dislexic was a subtle reference for “kneed (as in kneeding bread dough..not edible and hard to swallow) to NO”. (as in no to everyone elses comments)
The only coward here is Red V who has created blogs that accuses SAEA of conducting a corrupt election without any evidence to back it up. No one even knows he she is. She slings mud at people while using a fake name.
SAEA officals and candidates are not only under no obligation to post on this blog. It would be unprofessional of them to do so. SAEA’s candidates campaign for members only. They sent out campaign flyers for members and they spoke at rep council. If I were running for a position on SAEA’s Board of Directors, I would not be campaigning on a blog that has been created by people who are not only not members. They are not even teachers. I would only be campaigning for our members.
Why should the candidates post on a blog that has been created by people who call them union hacks and corrupt?
I have been a rep for quite a few years. I will say here that Susan Mercer and Jennifer Isensee are honorable, honest, and dedicated people who have served SAEA’s members well. I wish them the best in this election!
Hmmm Interesting (#692) Campaign manager? Far from it – I prefer to be a neutral observer – my comments are intended to present an opposite point of view and to try and get people to think and be realistic.