Is it ethical for school board candidates to squeeze money out of school district managers/administrators and other employees? Or to put the squeeze on district vendors? That is exactly what SAUSD Trustees Rob Richardson and Jose Hernandez did last year.
Take a look at the graphic above and the one below. Those are SAUSD employees on the list of folks that Rob Richardson squeezed for money last year. I am told that there are reports that indicate that SAUSD Superintendent Jane Russo also gave him and Hernandez campaign donations. That stinks all the way around!
And the SAUSD employees were not the only ones who were connived into backing Richardson and Hernandez. The SAUSD vendors were targeted too. Plenty of them show up in these records – and in the Measure G campaign finance reports.
The question one must ask is why were Richardson and Hernandez so hard up to get reelected – to the board of the worst school district in Orange County? The answer, sadly, is greed. These guys get elected so they can keep funneling money to “their” choice vendors. Then those vendors turn around and give them more campaign donations. It is just plain sick.
Speaking of sick, why would a guy as ill as Richardson keep running for office in the first place? The guy pulls down a six figure salary at the County of Orange. Please don’t tell me he is doing this for the kids. He doesn’t have any. If I was that sick the last thing I would do is run for office!
It is simply maddening to see such corruption continuing in Santa Ana, unabated. Get ready to see more of this next year when Richardson’s ally, Audrey Noji, runs for reelection.
The SAUSD has the worst graduation rates in the county. And the highest dropout rates. Now the SAUSD administrators are trying to force a bizarre grading system through that will dump the A-F grading system.
Would any of this happen elsewhere in Orange County? I don’t think so…
The Superintendent’s job is only secure with Richardson, Hernandez and Noji on the board – a fact she knows all to well.
Even though I am not a fan of the managers or administrators, they are forced to donate and attend fundraisers if they expect to have a job. No one will come forward because they have always feared for their job. They are forced to support Russo’s candidates. Isn’t that extortion or blackmail?
Noji almost lost her last bid and may not fair in her next attempt. Expect her to continue pandering to the union in public and stab us in the back privately. She is not our friend.
My question is…has any of the SAUSD board members ever taught a day of school in their lives? (besides Audrey)
What do they know about education (any of them)? I challenge any of them to come to my classroom and try it for a FULL day and then make decisions. (that’s all I ask)
I get VERY tired of hearing from one member on the board (John) how teaching 35-40 would not be that difficult. He learned in a classroom with those high numbers. Well, Mr. Palacio (when was that?) 30 years ago when kids still respected adults. They don’t now…that’s for sure and we can do very little to discipline kids.
John Palacio: A good teacher should be able to teach 35-40 kids. Yes, they can, but it’s mostly just management when a teacher has high numbers and there’s less quality teaching going on. I used to be a fan of yours, Mr. Palacio and then I started to check out your voting record as well. You continue to vote YES on all of the consulting (wastes of money). I also believe you would rather have 35-40 in the classroom to save classified positions. Yes, we love classified employees as well, but what do kids need the most?
Question for everyone out there…what 2 things do you think of when you think of school? Answer: students and teachers PERIOD
The answers…classified, counselors, music teachers, admin, nurses, summer school, waste of programs…DO NOT come up. My point is this…kids need TEACHERS!
I think it’s TIME that we get all new people in there. Out with all of them and let’s put Red Vixen in there.
I think it’s TIME that we get all new people in there. Out with all of them and let’s put Red Vixen in there.
Cripes! I have not even filled out all the other applications that keep flooding in for City Managers! On top of that, I am seriously considering changing my name to Irene Ibarra!
😉
No offense Jill, but when I have a child who I believe may be under the influence of drugs, vomits in the classroom or appears to be rumning a fever – I need the nurse or a health clerk.
When I have students fighting in my classroom, I need an admimistrator or district safety officer.
When my clasroom soars t0 80 deg., I need a custodian.
When I have students crying or acting out because of something happening outside my classroom, I need a counselor.
When my computer malfunctions and I am aunable to take attendance online, I need someone to resolve the problem.
When I have any of the above problems and call the office for help, I need someone to answer the phone.
Yes, when we think of learning we think of teacher. But it is a team approach and the support staff is a vital component of the team that enables me to teach.
I don’t trust any of them. Rob does appear to have a hidden agenda (not sure what that is) maybe a run for something else. He also dates a teacher who works in the SAUSD. tsk tsk
Yet another Count Chocula sighting. Count Chocula was driving a school bus full of children headed south on Main Street in Santa Ana. His flapping cape was taped to the rear of the bus.
Art, or Anyone reading this,
You might want to ask for the code of ethics that was adopted and placed in force right after the Nativo Lopez recall. It was one of the few bright spots from wacky Rosie Avila. As I remember, she authored it. It was passed by unanimous consent and it prohibited Trustees from taking money from vendors (I don’t remember if it covered administrators). You could use this as a fly strip to catch the ditry little buggers.
#7 the alleged code of ethics – a backhanded swipe at nativo lopez – stipulated that any SAUSD employee could not even accept a cup of coffee from a vendor. it appears Richardson has veered very far from the spirit of the board adopted ethics code. Or, he has no ethics. there’s a reason he’s been slapped with the monikor … eddie haskell.
So let me get this straight, Non-spanish speaking, Childless man, repeatedly runs for reelection to an underperforming School District.
Gee I wonder why?
This guys a ripoff.
Get a Mom or Dad WITH A CHILD on the board, with no ties to Realtors or Textbook printers.
Educator in Santa Ana
No offense, but who pays for all of that? Everyone is valuable and it is a team effort (of course), but when the money is slim and none, you don’t keep (non-mandated programs and jobs) was my point.
You do the minimum first, then add “the extras”. I am not even saying “keep me” as a Kinder teacher (not mandated).
Everyone deserves to be working, but teachers should never have a class over 30 ever. I feel for those high school and middle school teachers and students.
This is not “about me” by the way.
#8, There was no “backhanded swipe” at anyone!
Everyone knew what Nativo Lopez, John Palacio, Audrey Noji and (I forget her name at the moment – the loopy lawyer who got elected on her dad’s name) had done to the District in making it “Pay to Play.”
The Code of Ethics was long overdue and I remember Roise Avila trying to get it passed for the longest time and always losing 4 to 1. So, even though I’m no fan of Rob Richardson either, the reality is there are two foxes that have been in that hen house (Palacio and Noji) for far longer and have done far greater damages than Richardson ever could. Those two should be in jail along with Nativo Lopez for the crap they pulled at the expense of our children and the school district!
Why does Eddie Haskell continue to run for School Board? Because of the benefits. Where else can he get a “free” car payment plus other perks?
What do school board members make ($$$) at the SAUSD? Does anyone know? What perks do they actually get? benefits? Just curious. I don’t know any of them, but I do know that I would love for anyone who makes decisions that affect the lives of kids’ and employees’ to know what they are doing before they make these decisions. I want them to try teaching 35 kids for a FULL day before making a decision on what is best for the kids. That is the ONLY thing that I can ask of them + to fund mandated programs before non-mandated. I am NOT saying that people are not valuable (everyone is), but mandated FIRST!
Jose Alfredo is planning to run for the Ward 6 seat on the Santa Ana City Council just like me. Follow all the latest news about me and my campaign at: http://twitter.com/ElGordoBot
Jill do you have kids in the SAUSD?
No, I don’t have any kids in the SAUSD, but I’m a teacher there until the end of June. I’ve been with the district since 2002, but have been teaching for 20 years. I was fired due to my seniority # with the SAUSD and the decision that was made to keep the music teachers and the counselors instead.
Hey Jill,
on another thread you posted that Superintendent Jane Russo was personally writing you email. That seems extremely high-touch to me. Thanks for the summary of your question/answer exchange.
Fly on the Wall –
You’ve got it wrong. Richardson & Noji have served longer than Palacio. And I am uncertain why you think Noji and Palacio belong in jail with Nativo Lopez? Have these folks been indicted? Or are you engaging in malicious mudslinging?