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…
All of you are teacher’s or admin’s. No wonder your responses back to me are so nasty!!
I can’t wait to stand infront of your School board and go over some of your most colourful post’s to a citizen who is asking the question of “WHY ARE WE AS THE PUBLIC PAYING FOR SUCH AWFUL TEACHING AND SCHOOLS THAT ARE MORE LIKE JAILS???????
Per # 952
Not all schools will have to do this! Did your school stand up before the board and disavow this information?
Those schools with a cohesive body, that stand up and say no thank you will be dismissed from this. The district never spoke to the board about this and it a sore point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpfdgwexkxY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auNN7t-_f5M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_dT6Xg0yns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWtgYdqdwpI
Sorry to throw this in teachers..but classified is being taken down. CSEA is not doing anything but.. “fax us your lay off notices” “we are working on it”, “fax us your info”, “we should know more later” Hey I am sick of this. Every year we go through this and every year we are the ones taking a hit. Did you notice how many of your office staff will be gone come next school year? Do you see how your office manager will be taking the bulk of all the work? At Intermediate schools it’s the office assistants,Registrars.(try to geth through with out those-do you really think a AP will be doing that job?) High schools I hear it’s the Activities clerks, the athletic classified staff(secretary, equipment managers) do you really think the coaches and athltic director’s are going to do their work? More nurses will get limited time at all the schools..Of course everyone will be complaining on how all the ordering is not being done, no one is answering the phones in a timely manner.. Hey I would love to stick around but I am applying elsewhere. 22 years I have been here. My letter says I get bumping rights..well gee..I can’t wait to go back and be a file clerk. I worked hard to get ahead but now I get to go back..with a cut in pay. Gee, I’m sure I will be a poster child to all the students. Thanks for nothing SAUSD.
Classified Dude 811,
No need to apologize for talking about classified. We’re all in this together, in my opinion. While you’re free to express your opinion, of course, I don’t think it’s helpful to disrespect some members of the certificated bargaining unit. It just contributes to the divisions among employee groups, divisions which those wanting to make the cuts benefit from.
I can’t even explain how upset I am with the Classified situation. I don’t think there has ever been a year in my 20 years where there hasn’t been layoffs for the Classified staff. Now, however, it has become 10x worse. Believe me, every time I see administrators mopping up vomit, serving as crossing guards, typing up suspensions, picking up trash, or making copies for staff I realize how bad it is and why I am glad I never used my administrative credential. I don’t know what the answer is because in this situation everyone is screwed and they end up fighting for their own survival. Extremely tough times ahead.
Willard would be lucky to get rid of their office manager! The rest of their staff would be sorely missed as they do the bulk of the work!!!
Jill, those were pretty nice video’s you put up there. That rock band were teachers from Hayward schools, up there in the San Francisco East Bay area. They went on strike for 2 weeks a couple years ago after the district gave its administrators a 16% raise and the teachers nada. The bay area is not a cheap place to live.
I liked the “Won’t back down” song. I’m wondering how much backbone our remaining employees will show when we’re badgered next year to shoulder impossible workloads with little support. I do hope you’re in a position next year to laugh and pity us.
I agree with Classified Dude! I am disgusted at the way SAUSD Board takes advantage of classified. Once again everyone else left over willl be doing the work. They think these positions are not needed? Come first day of school they will see the mess! Good luck
Hi Michelle Quinn!
You should go to the union meeting today at 4 and then the board meeting following.
The union will give you dinner while you quiz them on why Needstoknow has been attacking you and your free speeech. That will be a hoot! You can watch those cowardly bullies run forcover HaHa!
Now, that the elections are over, let’s make sure that we hold SAEA executive officers accountable. They must serve the interest of the membership, not the district, not their personal interest. How many people voted?
Human Resources Director – Juan Lopez
Director of Certificated – Chad Hammitt
Director of Classified – unfilled due to the dearture of Amelia Amaya. This is the position that they’re in the process of filling
When is the next meeting?? 🙂
I have been following the Santa Ana teacher’s/union posts and my God what a bunch of over stuffed porkers!!
We need to cut this Union fat of the teachers and let them do their job without constant nagging of the union hacks.
You can do it Santa Ana school teachers with 1 thing in mind “failure within your class room means your not doing your job”, you rule your class room not the union hacks!! Poor parents does not equal bad parents and districts don’t give a crap about the success of any student because for some unknown reason your system is setup to reward failure with money!!
You alone can bring out the best in your kids, you choose this job and this disrict and as hard as it may be the educational quality reflects on you!!
Needtoknow or what ever your post name is “how’s my spelling doing”!!:)
Michelle, I won’t even “try” to sway your opinion when it comes to teachers. I will say that you are hilarious and you make me chuckle when I read your posts. That’s a compliment by the way. I guess you won’t be campaigning anytime soon for “Need to Know”?
Question:
Do you know any info. regarding “Teach for America”? Do we have any of these teachers working for SAUSD?
Jill,
I know i am being hard on teacher’s
As a nurse the quality of nursing care, makes in some cases the differnce between life or death!
I believe this concept relates to teaching!
I am glad i make you laugh, i’m a wee bit of a devil when it comes to putting the bullies in their place:)
If she is campaigning for a transfer to victorville “SHE GOT MY VOTE”,:) just kidding GOD WATCHING, I MEAN NEEDTOKNOW:)
Like i said jill. Our little Needtoknow is abit of a sneeky little union girl!! badddddddddddd needtoknow!!
Cut her, and the rest of the Fat chops and you teachers will be freeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
And they say Public school is not a business, yeah sell me a skinny chicken!!!
Word has it Willard’s staff got their first look at their new principal this modified Wednesday. Too bad the same can’t be said of Cole: half of that staff won’t be there next year.
#972 anom,
Your staff and site deserve a positive break. You old timers are going to have to circle the wagons and do what you can do in the coming school year. Hopefully you’ll have a helpful and healing principal that you guys need so bad.
Best Wishes!
I have to reiterate RV’s wishes for Willard. I am actually quite distraught over what has happened to that school. I’m curious about the attitude of the teachers who are staying regarding the new principal. Are the current AP’s staying and what kind of changes are you expecting? I am hoping for a major turnaround at that site, maybe too much to hope for, but I’ll keep hoping. There is a charter school (El Sol) very close to Willard, has this school had any effect on Willard’s population because their scores and API are very high? Just curious.
Get the sympathy cards ready for poor Sierra.
Yes, and I’m curious about the attitude at Sierra right now also. Both of these schools deserve a principal who is competent and up to the challenge.
#976
If competent is what you want for Sierra, they aren’t going to get it. Micromanaged, illegally mismanaged (let’s talk what financed the fitness rooms at Willard) and bullied, yes. Competent, no.
Let’s hope Willard fares better for a change; after Storm and Bishop they deserve it.
Competent administrators are to be found in SAUSD!
Mr. Norris Perez (first year) is a very focused, proactive, supportive principal. Mrs. Virginia Morales (AP, now at home on maternity leave) is equally capable and collegial. Wilson staff is happy to finally have administrators who care. Perhaps soon all sites in SAUSD will too.
#978 Bragger! 😉
Really, congratulations on your admirable administration. How long have you had them?
I have heard good things about Mark Bello who is fairly new at Mitchell Child Development Center.
In the news today:
Bomb threat at Santa Ana High prompts evacuation
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/santa-authorities-possible-2431840-bomb-school?orderby=TimeStampDescending&showRecommendedOnly=0&oncommentsPage=1#slComments
SANTA ANA – Reports of a bomb in a restroom at Santa Ana High School turned out to be false after search teams canvassed the campus and came up empty handed.
About 1 p.m., school dispatch and the school district each got a call regarding a small package in a boys restroom at the campus at 520 West Walnut Street, near Flower Street, authorities said.
School police evacuated about 3,300 students and staff.
“We made a decision that I would like to play it safe,” said Santa Ana High School Principal Julie Infante, adding that students waited out the bomb scare at the athletic fields.
The Orange County Sherriff’s Bomb Squad was called in and search teams went through the school and searched more than 30 boys, girls and staff restrooms, said Angela Burrell, a district spokeswoman.
The campus was cleared shortly before 2:45 p.m. after the search of the campus was completed.
Students were allowed to return to campus to pick up their belongings and were released from school at 2:49 p.m.
Walnut was closed at Flower during the nearly two-hour investigation, but has been reopened.
979 – Mark Bello is an awesome administrator. He has been bounced around a bit and when he has been bounced everyone at the school he has lefty is sad. I think the district has been trying to put him in a spot that fully utilizes all his talents. Any school having Mark Bellow should consider themselves lucky.
I first met Mark Bello when he was with the technology dept. He is an amazing man. I told him then, and I stand by it now, that he should be running this (or some other) district! Yes, he has been “bounced”. He had the humiliation of servitude under Herr Anguiano here at Wilson some years ago (someone should count the dozens of APs that demagogue burned out) before moving on to “the fire” of Willard.
SAUSD should stop running him around and move him quickly up the administrative ladder before he jumps to a better district.
I don’t think he has a doctorate yet either, but I’m sure he’d do a better job than Russo or any of the other district deadbeats. He actually cares about the students and educational professionalism.
Kudos to Mark Bello, I hope he reads this or someone tells him how much he is respected. I have only met him once and in one short conversation followed by immediate action on his part, he proved to me that he is a competent and caring administrator who knows how to get things done quickly.
Mr. Bello has gone about as high as can in this district. He’s a competent, caring, compassionate administrator. He would stick out like a sore thumb at DO. Can you imagine how threatened Lopez, Hammitt, Ayala, Olsky and Russo would be having to deal with someone of his caliber?
A couple of years ago there were some complimentary posts about Mark Bello. I can’t remember exactly what they were all about, but one of them mentioned that along with all his other qualities he was very cute! When these posts were brought to his attention, he grinned from ear to ear and seemed somewhat embarrassed. I still remember the smile on his face when he read them.
Yes, he’s handsome and I’m sure his wife is most appreciative.
Yes, he’d be a “sore thumb” at DO.
Thumbs up if you agree!
Very interesting change of topic. Anyway, believe it or not, saying nice things about this person Bello ( it’s unfair even his last name is Bello, beautiful) will not help him. it might really hurt him, administrators do not like having competition either. So, no more about SAE politics?
I’m pretty sure that 20 to 1 has to stay in order to get QEIA money. And, if the District sets class size at 20:1 at some sites (1st-3rd), don’t they have to at all the sites?
Only at QEIA sites. Just ask those of us teaching classes of 40 while our colleagues at other schools are teaching 20. QEIA is totally separate from CSR. QEIA will stay (relatively sure) while CSR in it’s modified version will keep classes at 30 and the district will still get some money.
Yes, tmare is right. The district is keeping CSR, but going 24-30 calling it CSR and receiving 70% of the funds, so yes, it won’t stop QEIA. We were just waiting to hear if it will continue by (CSEA).
http://orangejuiceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/csr1231.jpg <--chart http://orangejuiceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/budget1994to20101.pdf <--the CA Budget (summary) K-12 that I have been working on that compares the years (note the $$$ means MILLIONS not thousands)
You can bet the classes will be 30 and you won’t be able to find one that is 24.
The budget presentation to the Board last week that is posted on the district web site addresses the QEIA issue. I don’t know exactly how to interpret it, but it seems that the district is considering the possibility of keeping QEIA at some school sites under some possible scenario. I don’t think it has been decided one way or the other, and don’t know when it will be.
The issue of whether 20:1 has to stay for QEIA money is also addressed, and at least according to the budget presentation, class sizes could increase beyond 20:1 even if QEIA is present in some form. Again, I don’t understand the budget presentation perfectly. There also seems to be some issue as to whether the district legally could drastically increase class sizes in non-QEIA schools and still legally maintain QEIA in other schools. It was one of those things where it would have been better to be there, hear it live, and and be able to ask questions. Where was SAEA, by the way, to ask those questions?
All in all, because the same budget presentation that addresses the possibility of keeping QEIA also considers the need for additional teacher layoffs in August, I don’t think there is a whole lot of cause for optimism here.
One silver lining that I think I do understand is this. All of the district’s budgeting to date is based on zero stimulus money. The district claims that notwithstanding reports in the Register to the contrary, it has received no stimulus money. It further claims that the Orange County Department of Education will not allow the district to include any stimulus money in its budget projections until that money is in hand. How the district intends to use stimulus money when it is received, as it probably will be, is something I wonder about. I wish SAEA were there to ask the questions, hold the district accountable, and keep a flow of reliable information coming to the riffed teachers.
#989 (Patricia): In one of my previous posts, I also stated that questions need to be asked to the school board with respect to the budget. In rereading that post, I want to be clear that I did not mean to imply that it is your responsibility to ask the questions. I meant that SAEA should be there, as the L.A. and Pomona unions have been. I appreciate the fact that you have at least pointed out some of the questions that should be asked.
Our children are our future. You can’t really argue that away; it is what it is. So the question is what are we willing to do to save our future? If the current education cuts happen, this future is severally hampered. In the past a district or two has been affected but not effecting too much. But now, when there are multiple districts impacted, the question has to be what’s the government going to do about this. It has been too long a policy to cut education to where it bleeds at the classroom level. In Santa Ana this has already happened. Future cuts are only going to impact it further. There are no more band aides available. Yet upper echelons of government are getting rich off of our future: our children. I think it all comes from a basic disrespect of education and teachers. Everyone will talk but how about putting your talk where your walk is? Come to school again; come shadow your child. Come sit in their classes (you will learn again despite yourselves!) You’ll see a few things: how little your teacher has to work with. Not all schools have elmos and projectors for every classroom. You’ll see how the tax dollar, which started plump at the top of the district (with auto expenditures and assistants) has dwindled into next to nothing for your child to work with, (no copy paper, no markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.) As a teacher I can say how much money of my own I put into my classroom. There is a federal tax waiver for $300.00 each year. Easily I put $3000.00 into my room by way of technology, books, supplies, paper (our district is down to a ream, a month) equipment (cameras, printers and other supporting gear). My kids are lucky; I feel really badly for those kids whose teachers don’t have that resource and they are with nothing. And they are talking about a cut in salary? The school can’t provide them with anything and they can’t either: either way the student is left wanting. In a country that boasts providing the best for all, this district is providing the least resources for the most. And the least deserving; Russo, Lopez, etc, are taking the most!
http://orangejuiceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/sausdpischools1.pdf
I made another chart. I have to see things visually and I like to see the big picture of things. More coming …:) stay tuned
rif rif,
I ask questions because I believe they need to be answered. Regardless of the outcome of the recent election, I will continue to ask the questions that I believe need to be asked. If SAEA asks and shares the information, so much the better. If not, I will ask. As I stated in an earlier message (#899), I am doubtful that SAEA’s current leadership is committed to, or even interested in, saving Class Size Reduction.
After studying the District’s budget, it is my position that there are adequate resources to avert massive lay-offs and am preparing a report to that effect, detailing precisely (in the District’s budget) how lay-offs can be avoided. I don’t mean to suggest that, as an individual, I will be able to make a difference, but I feel I need to at least do what I can.
At the last Board meeting, when Mr. Palacio asked how much CSR costs, he was told $19+ million dollars. During the public presentations, I commented that this does not take into account the $14+ million the District would get from the state (based on the number of eligible students the District was using).* I am not suggesting that my making this comment to the Board has any impact whatsoever. For example, Board President Hernandez appeared totally uninterested or occupied with something else. (Some of the other Board members seemed more interested, or at least polite.) On the other hand, I cannot sit by and watch class sizes increase with the resulting likely decline in student achievement, especially after years of improvement in our District. Not to mention the loss of all the great teachers that would lose their jobs.
*According to the District’s calculations, they would also get $6.7 million just for “implementing” CSR in name only at 30 to 1. Because of the new flexibility, they could still get $1071 per student in grades 1 to 3 (on the first 20 students in the class). I can see how that would be tempting from a Business Services point-of-view.
Susan Mercer and Robert Chavez also spoke at the Board Meeting. Susan pointed out how large P.E. and other classes would be given the lay-offs currently planned and Robert spoke of the need for transparency regarding the District’s finances. Together, we can make a difference. We all have something to contribute.
Thank you so much, Patricia, for standing up for the laid off teachers and at least asking the questions. I appreciate Robert also. Nobody else is stepping up to help us. I think your report can make a difference, and I hope at least some of the Board members will consider it. They have stated that it is one of their priorities to keep 20:1. Let’s see if their stated priorities are anything other than a bunch of fluff.
I’m sure the handful of riffed P.E. teachers are thankful to Susan. As a riffed elementary teacher, I’ll refrain at this pointing from saying what I think of Susan and the absence of any effort on her part to speak up for the hundreds of riffed elementary teachers.
I think it’s time to find out how the District can expect to spend $12.2 million on “Professional/Consulting Services and Operating Expenses” this year. On the other hand, the original budget called for $17.1 million.
Jill,
Your link shows $11 million in QEIA funding for this year. Interestingly, the District is showing $11 million in QEIA revenue to date, but projecting only $8.3 million for the year. I wonder if there is a reason they would have to give some back? Perhaps, they’re expecting cuts in the May revise.
rif rif,
I hate be the bearer of bad news, but I think you’ll find that, for the last few months, whenever the District has indicated that CSR is “a priority,” 20:1 has not been specified. The State is funding CSR, but reducing the penalties so dramatically that the program can exist in name only. Incredible as it seems, they can have classes at 30:1 and still say they are implementing Class Size Reduction. The priority seems to be to get the money for Class Size Reduction, not to actually continue to reduce class size.
Patricia,
I think they could be losing funding because I see more schools are entering PI status and many are STILL not meeting their goal. Look at all of those schools on Year 5 and still not meeting their goals. This district is close to being taken over the state. My pdf shows that the SAUSD is in it’s 3rd year of PI status and it still didn’t meet it’s goal this year as a district. I am uploading some more things about this what is going to eventually happen. Trust me, it WILL happen.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/sausdpischools1.pdf
see NEW schools entering the PI pool *at the bottom
http://orangejuiceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/consequences1.pdf
consequences (must read)
http://orangejuiceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/consequence1.jpg
http://orangejuiceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/pimoney.jpg
This is interesting. Each school receives $150,000 in T1 $100,000 in T2
$50,000 T3
Please put that in your presentation, Patricia 🙂 more coming!
I have a lot more coming….stay tuned. I am organizing it.
I have a few more things to say regarding MUSIC. Granted, I think Music is very important, but right now kids need to be safe at school and there’s not enough staff to do that. Music shouldn’t be a priority becuse it is not mandated (just my opinion). If there’s extra money, after classified are hired (schools MUST HAVE THEM) then yes, hire them.
I was really burned today when I read our daily bulletin at school.
1. Today will be the last day of MUSIC for the school-year. (May 29,2009).
What? I have to teach until June 18th and he does zippo until the end of the year? Also, our library closed for the year as well. That’s 2 of our board’s priorities.
Next, we have a Computer Tech who has helped my class 1 time the entire year. We have 2 computer labs and they are across the hall from each other and she prefers one side over the other. I’ve asked her to help my class numerous times. Do I think that her position is useless? Yes, of course I do. Maybe your school has a terrific techie, but ours doesn’t do squat.
Summary:
Music closed up shop on May 29th
Library closed up shop for the year
Computer Tech Person helped my class 1 time all year and these are the board’s priorities!!!!
I encourage everyone to send (anonymous) photos of lunch mishaps and dangerous playgrounds to RV and maybe we can push the issue of school safety, discipline and smaller classes. The parents took surveys and they have spoken loud and clear…their children are not safe at the SAUSD and at lunch + the playground. Yet, they will lay off classified and more certificated, but keep 9 asst. superintendents. I see a lawsuit on the horizon or should I say ANOTHER one (see their 20 page list of them on this blog)
A better reflection of SAUSD schools in program improvement would be to look at the year a school entered Program Improvement. It takes two years to enter into PI status and two years of improvement to exit. Here is a quick look:
26 out of 38 Elementary schools are in Program Improvement. However, there are two charter schools in this number.
1 school entered PI in 2007-08 (Year 2)
3 schools entered PI in 2006-07 (Year 3)
1 school entered PI in 2005-06 (Year 4)
11 schools entered PI in 2004-05 (Year 5)
6 schools entered PI in 2003-04 (Year 6)
2 schools entered PI in 1999-2000 (Year 10)
2 schools entered PI in 1998-1999 (Year 11)
7 out of 9 Middle schools are in Program Improvement.
1 school entered PI in 2006-2007 (Year 3)
3 schools entered PI in 2003-2004 (Year 6)
3 schools entered PI in 1998-1999 (Year 11)
4 out of 9 High schools are in Program Improvement. However, there are two charter schools in this number.
1 school entered in 2008-2009 (Year 1)
1 school entered in 2007-2008 (Year 2)
2 schools entered in 1998-1999 (Year 11)
Basically, my point was: The SAUSD is ready to be taken over by the state. I don’t think the state is capable either. Poor kids…they have no leadership!
Here’s where I got my info: (they clearly tell what year each school is in)
http://www.qeia.org/frameset_cdefaq.html
They are going to post a new thread today so I will NOT be posting anymore until the NEW thread is made because it is taking way too long. It’s driving me crazy. 🙂
The site you refer to:
http://www.qeia.org/frameset_cdefaq.html
explains many things, but it does not provide you what year each school is in.
Please refer to:
http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/AcntRpt2008/2008APRSchPIReport.aspx?allcds=30666703036456
Using Valley High School for example:
PI Status: In PI
2008-09 PI Placement: Year 5
Prior PI Placement: Year 5
First Year of PI Implementation: 1998-1999
Made 2008 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): No