Once again we have had to set up a new SAUSD corruption thread as the last one started to run slow with all the comments on it.
Our schools are in crisis today – not just here in Santa Ana but all over the state. The only thing we know for sure is that we are going to take more budget hits.
I am amazed that the SAUSD hired back all their laid off administrators. How crazy is that? Class sizes are growing, good teachers are laid off, and the union, as usual, is asleep at the wheel.
We will continue to reason through all this here at the Orange Juice blog! We can but hope for the best…
Just a quick “heads up” for those of you who never check your paystub (hey, I know there are a lot of us since we have to access it via a website and most of our checks are automatically deposited). The district has screwed up royally on changes to the health plans. If you dropped something last year, it is highly likely (almost certain) that you are still being charged for it. Apparently, the whole mess is supposed to be straightened out this month, but check your stubs and see if you were charged in error and call to make sure they are reimbursing you this month AND stopping the charge (this applies to both classified and certificated personnel according the the benefits person I talked to). It would also be good to check at the same time that your years of service match your pay and that the district has the same number of years that you think you have. I am just now receiving back pay for the extra year they forgot about and the next year they seem to have forgot about too. I know that was really stupid on my part, but sometimes you just teach and forget about the pay, I guess that’s why we’re all not MBA’s going for the big bucks.
tmare,
Yes, it’s stupid on your part not to check your pay stub. That responsibility rests solely with you. And, your excuse for not tending to this matter is reprehensible. In fact, as a parent, I am very concerned that for someone allegedly smart, you’re good at playing stupid. And this is the caliber of people we entrust our children to for six hours a day?
Too many times I’ve heard these excuses. Man up. Be accountable like the MBA’s you take a swipe at.
Wow, I wasn’t in any way taking a swipe at MBA’s, I respect them. I am merely saying that many times we become very caught up in teaching our classes and our daily lives and we forget to check the details. Let’s face it, many of us didn’t enter the teaching field because we wanted to make a lot of money or spend our time chasing down money. Many of us just want to know that our bills are paid and we can focus on our jobs, our jobs that aren’t about making money. I was just pointing out the fact that this district is extremely poor at labeling costs and pay on our paystubs, it is actually very easy to not notice many things when it comes to our pay. To top that off, every inquiry I have made over the past month has been greeted with a machine and no phone call back. It has taken up to 5 phone calls before actually getting any of this straightened out. I don’t know about you, but time to call the district during the hours that someone is actually there is just not something I have much of. I am just telling people that it would be a good idea to check your medical costs and your years of service with your stub, yes, it’s pretty simple, but I truly see no reason for that type of attack. I really don’t mind trusting my children to people who don’t have the time to play phone tag with the district when they are supposed to be teaching.
Ease up anonymous! MBA’s should get the big bucks, if not, then maybe you are not worth your salt. Teachers literally most days do not have a spare moment. Many of our children need constant help, we have no instructional assistants, and the adademic levels in our classes are all over the place. I fully expect to gain weight when I retire because I will not be running to and fro in a room all day dealing with education, bloody noses, stomach aches, toothaches, children with siblings in the hospital, not returned homework, etc. Seriously, that is just a part of what I had to take care of today plus teach to the standards. Before you attack me, I love my job, but I definitely did not seek out teaching to earn a big salary. I’d have to be pretty stupid to do that.
Thanks Tmare for that heads up.
LOL @ #603 !! I often wonder if posters like yourself have any idea how idiotic you appear. Probably not!
At least I got a good laugh out of it!
Wow,#603 what happens when your spouse or loved one makes a mistake or oversight?? Sheesh, you need massage therapy.
no I agree with 603…I believe this to be the behavior of most teachers for SA and it happens daily not once in awhile.
I agree with you j. The district does screw up frequently and the teachers do have to deal and fix their mistakes daily!
j,
Just curious. Is “j” just a nickname for Jackass? Or is it Jerk? Possibly Jaded. Go away – you are hysterical, but nevertheless, unwanted.
SA Teacher – and the residents of Santa Ana get a good laugh when our school district is belittled and berated and posts one of the highest drop out rates in the county.
No, the taxpayers are not laughing when the rest of the county is laughing at SAUSD.
Love reading your idiotic posts too.
Anonymous
Just wondering if you think teachers should have to spend their time at school fixing the district’s mistakes. I thought we were supposed to teach. Thanks everyone else for the comments.
tmare #612~ I was being sarcastic. Of course it isn’t the teachers job to fix the district’s mistakes.
611~ I believe SA teacher was just telling it like it is. The real shame is that the residents allow this to continue. Don’t they have the voting power to fix the problem? Why is this allowed to happen? Why are the residents watching their school district have one of the highest drop out rates in the county? If the taxpayers are not laughing, then what are they doing to change the situation?
http://newsantaana.com/2009/10/20/santa-ana-high-school-chemistry-teacher-speaks-out-again-about-dangerous-overcrowding/
Anonymous,
Do you have a “split personality” (post # 613)? Try to stay off this blog when the other personality appears (post #611). Thank you.
Juan Lopez wouldn’t know how to follow the law if it reached out and bit him. He believes he is above it all. To use the law as an excuse to ignore safety is not surprising.
For Dr. Reynolds, a chemistry teacher, to bring a safety issue to the board more than once only to be told by Lopez they were within the law, is about as non-caring a statement as one made by a former district administrator a few years ago about students being ‘revenue’.
Dr. Reynolds simply asked for a lab safety expert from one of the surrounding colleges review the current science lab situation at SAHS. Is that really too much to ask? Reynolds rightly pointed out Lopez is no expert nor was the person the insurance people (Risk management?) provided.
Meanwhile rumor around the district is that some classified are being advised by their supervisors that new rounds of cuts are pending with additional furlough days and possibly even a pay cut. Yet back on Chestnut a few mid level supervisors are quietly being promoted to managers.
Since SAEA unearthed millions of available dollars why are any cuts even being discussed and what are the union(s) doing about what looks to be an ‘in your face’ policy on Chestnut St.?
I think its because the tax payers of Santa Ana are few and if they pays taxes no many of them go to Santa Ana Schools…most of ‘our’ kids parents I think are illegal and are either to scared to speak up or just don’t know how or don’t care to…as they see it their kids are getting a better education than they would have had in Mexico.
j,
Claro.
CSEA is going to need to get organized and angry, like it seems that SAEA has finally. They need to focus on the fact that the district is stashing away millions of dollars and we are losing our best classified staff members because they are taking jobs that actually pay for more than gas. They need to focus on the loss that the students have incurred in their absense. SAEA is focusing on restoring the 1.5% pay cut for members as well as rehiring the still RIF’d teachers. SAEA did a e-mail blast last week which resulted in supplies actually being released to teachers, as well as categorical funds finally being given to the school sites. A union is supposed to fight for it’s members, I really haven’t seen CSEA do that in recent years. If there ever was a time, it is now.
We are still waiting for the two unions ( teachers and classified ) to file lawsuit against Santa Ana Unified School District. This is the only way the district will stop their backroom deals and increasing their salaries at the top. What a waste of money to hire special teachers on assignments who will be doing the principals and vice- principals jobs. Do you really think that the district is going to hire back the reminder of Riffed teacher? Until hell freezes over and give back your teachers back buy days. Again, I doubt it and again until hell freezes over. I do not believe that Susan Mercer, president, SAEA, has what it takes to pursue a lawsuit against the district. Why did it take her so long one year to discover the district was lying about the 93 million dollars? You all thought your union was on top of it.
I guess we’ll need to wait and see how effective the union will be on these issues. I’m really just saying that they seem to be getting organized and developing a plan. On the other hand, it never seems as though CSEA attempts to use their power in any way. If they really wanted to, they truly could bring the district to it’s knees, after all, they are the ones running the school for the most part.
tmare/ 621 The time has come to quit talking and quit playing paper tag unions/ district. Talk is cheap and legal action is the only solution. Your membership is tired of paying hard earned due dollars and no action only hot air from the district and unions. The layoffs and budget cuts will continue to happen unless strong action is taken now not months from now.
#613 anon –
For many years SAEA has backed Noji & Richardson with campaign contributions and walking precints. Thanks to your persistance we’ve been saddled with inept school board members for nearly 3 decades!
Your comment is a bit baffling about SAUSD voters, since I would’ve thought you were more in “touch” with the parents of the students you teach. A good majority are not registered to vote. And, your post totally ignores the city machinery at work.
Furthermore, the SAEA took a very proactive stand in pushing Measure G down the throats of SAUSD homeowners. Thank you very much!
And, you choose to ignore how the district uses the parents to their benefit and continues to go to the same parents when they want to push their agenda.
Until there is ONE cohesive parent organization, nothing will happen.
For being smart, you’re good at dumb.
I am so sick of calling CSEA..They have done nothing. They put the same stupid information out and here we are again..The office staff is at a bare minimum..I for one am sick and tired of doing all of these jobs..I am looking for a new one..everyday. If I can get out I am.
#623- I was only responding to your post about the residents of Santa Ana getting a good laugh at your school district! If the residents are laughing, shouldn’t they instead be doing something about it? Additionally, how could I ignore how the district uses the parents? I see it everyday. Where did you come up with that one? And name calling? Really? I just think that if the district really is a problem for you ( which it appears that it is ) then maybe instead of ranting on this blog, you can begin to form that parent group you say will solve the problem. Just a thought……Good Luck to you.
624 I understand your fustration. I am supposed to be happy I am told that I still have a job. Don’t get me wrong-I am BUT this is not the job I applied for. District people don’t care that you get placed at another location doing a job that you did long ago. Its not problem for them because they can still do the same job they applied for. Me I get to do a job I held years ago. Am I happy no.But who cares right I am supposed to “be happy you have a job” Why aren’t they being touched in upper management? Why are the 12 month people not being touched? why aren’t the “secretaries” at the district office being touched? Heaven forbid the upper people be left without them..
Classified and Also Classified:
Since the teachers have taken a break maybe some of you can add to the forum a bit. My info says some classified were pulled in and given a heads up about future cuts etc. (comment above # 616). I wasn’t, so confirm that if you can.
I also was told the school cops, guards, and just about all the classified at district got their full 12 month pay back, but no one else. Can anyone care to confirm or dispel that?
How about the fact that the district is sitting on millions of dollars over their required reserve and making the classified staff take the brunt of the hits, you know, the jobs that are low paying and part time, yet provide so many benefits to the students. When are the CSEA members going to get mad enough to organize, boycott, strike, do whatever it takes to stand up for themselves and the students? I know plenty of teachers, myself included, who would be right there to stand up for them.
Tmare,
Good luck with that. After almost 30 years all I ever saw from CSEA was the lame excuse that it was up to the local to take proper steps before San Jose could act. Of course San Jose never provided the locals with the training to know how to take those steps and instead provided naysayers telling the local they would be wasting their time. In my day we called that a “Circle jerk”.
Great. ANOTHER Sexual Predator from Saddleback High School: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/perez-district-unlawful-2621163-sexual-victim
Former Saddleback high teacher Naomi Perez is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 26 on charges of having an unlawful sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student and vandalizing his car
SANTA ANA – A former teacher at Saddleback High School is free on $50,000 bail while facing charges of sexual misconduct with a student and vandalizing the boy’s car.
Naomi Perez, 33, of Brea, will be arraigned on Monday on three felony counts of sex-related crimes, including unlawful sex, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. She also faces a misdemeanor charge of vandalism.
She is accused of having an unlawful sexual relationship with the boy that she met while a teacher at Saddleback. The unlawful sexual relationship occurred between June 1 and Aug. 27 of this year and included numerous encounters at Perez’s home in Brea, prosecutors said.
By Aug. 26, the two were no longer having a sexual relationship, prosecutors said. That’s when Perez is accused of scratching and denting the alleged victim’s car while it was parked outside a family member’s home.
The victim, now 18, reported the vandalism – leading to the discovery of the unlawful sex, according to the District Attorney’s office.
Perez was placed on administrative leave by the Santa Ana Unified School District on Aug. 28, said Angela Burrell, a district spokeswoman. Burrell said Perez was later suspended without pay and terminated on Oct. 13.
A woman who identified herself as Perez declined to comment when contacted by telephone.
If convicted, Perez faces up to four years and four months in state prison.
Anyone with information or believes they were a victim is asked to call D.A. Investigator Tim Craig at 714-347-8558.
Contact the writer: 714-704-3704 or efields@ocregister.com
#625
You and other teachers can “rant” and that seems to be acceptable. But when an outsider chimes in, you resort to belittling. Just an observation from a grandma who knows it damn tough fighting the district.
I would sure appreciate it if anonymous and anonymous would use a different name or number themselves as 1 or 2 (to differentiate more easily between the two of you). It would make it a lot easier and quicker to follow this blog. Thanks.
Anyone have details on the stabbing that occured at Saddleback High School? thanks for any info.
Red Vixen,
Why did you post a comment on that which you know nothing about? The reporter, Fields, also got the facts wrong. The 2007 Saddleback graduate is a twenty-year-old making allegations about a former SAUSD teacher. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
#634 which post/comments are you referring to?
If it is the NEWS STORY FROM THE REGISTER, the cops are actively looking for other victims. That FORMER teacher was another person hired by the likes of Jones, Carrigg and Juan Lopez. That bunch was notorious for hiring and protecting some of the most iffy staff, EVER. There is one more KNOWN predator on that campus. It’s only a matter of time before HE slips up with some of the young women students. He’s another Jones/Lopez hire that Carrigg has shielded and protected.
And if you happen to have a corrected version of that story, please provide the links. thanks.
#631
I agree with you and when they get upset they go to Art and he blocks your posts. So much for free speech on this blog. I speak my mind and others yell and belittle me and then I’m called a troll.
RED VIXEN,
The truth doesn’t often make it to press, and it doesn’t come with a link. Nice of you to pass judgement on someone who has yet to be tried or convicted of any crime whatsoever.
If you’ve been called a troll – so what? Maybe tighten up your posts a bit, make some sense, and people will appreciate that. How’s that for a suggestion?
OMG # 637 – You Perez’s mom? HOW would YOU know the truth about that story? Unless you have some compelling information or unless there are revisions to the story in the news, the current version stands. I’m sure there were supporters and excusers for that dumbass, Alonso Gonzales, who was caught, arrested, jailed and eventually convicted for abusing students entrusted to his care while he was employed at Saddleback High School. I’d like to see his negligent supervisors doing time, too.
Since you seem to have something at stake here, maybe you can keep us all up to date on how this plays out. She’s got a court date coming up tomorrow, right?
Oh and “NICE” of YOU to try and push the blame of what she’s being accused of off on ME. She’s been ARRESTED for a crime, dummy. She’s being accused of “something” bigger than having an extra cookie after dinner. Really, nice TRY on your part. Said like an enabler.
What happened to O’neills post re the board meeting? It was on here last night and it disappeared…Teachers hear nothing about these meetings except Vermin Leal- the loyal vermin of the district- and Fuhrer Mercer- German Nazi refugee from Argentina, now representing BrownShirt Labor and Whoopee Cartoon Assn. Can’t we even hear an honest voice on a blog?
ocYahoo #639 Thanks for a laugh. You certainly seem to be familiar with the cast of characters!
As to your question: This is exactly how we keep u guys coming back. We post teasers and pull them off. All designed to keep you in the dark and keep you coming back for more! 😉
j/k!
Actually, Patricia requested that it be removed until she can get approval to post it up. Apparently she was representing her school’s site council, yet her comments were reflective of her as an individual. She would like to post up something about the meeting. I hope she does. She has always been professional, respectful and accurate in her missives. Since the board meetings are not posted anywhere on the net (if they are, please supply a link!) the transparency of what goes on is not good. IF the board really wanted to have the district become better and better, they would INSIST that board meetings are stored and accessible so that concerned parties can stay abreast of what is happening in the school district.
RE Mercer: It sounds like she wants to get more people active in union activites. Yet to be seen, but it would be an excellent change. Here’s her email if you want to request information: saeapresident@hotmail.com
I attended the Board meeting last night and, on behalf of the parent, teacher, and classified members of the School Site Council at my school, spoke to the issue of the District spending schools’ site money (i.e., EIA) to pay for Class Size Reduction and other expenses without School Site Council authorization. I am posting the following comments as an individual, although many of the same points were made at the meeting last night.
At our site, about $198,000 in EIA-LEP money was spent by the District for Class Size Reduction in first and second grades. EIA-LEP (Economic Impact Aid for Limited English Proficient students) and EIA-SCE (Economic Impact Aid for State Compensatory Education for “educationally disadvantaged” students), as well as other funds such as Title I, must be allocated to the sites. The use of this money is determined by the School Site Council with input from advisory and stakeholder groups and must be aligned to each site’s Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). The expenditures are approved by the Board when the SPSAs are approved.
The State has granted districts flexibility with a large number of categorical programs. EIA money is not in this category. Although I am not at a Title I school, Title I is federal and would therefore also be excluded from the flexibility provisions. Expenditures of these funds must first be approved by the School Site Council and subsequently by the Board. The School Site Council is not simply advisory.
Besides the fact that the District has spent the sites’ money without the Site Council’s authorization, they have spent it for Class Size Reduction. This is considered supplanting, not supplementing, and is not legal. EIA-LEP and EIA-SCE must be used to support specific groups of students: limited English and “educationally disadvantaged.”
The District receives Class Size Reduction money specifically to reduce class size. Even if it were legal, they don’t need to be raiding the sites’ budgets to implement CSR. Hopefully, filing a Uniform Complaint can be avoided. We look forward to the District acting promptly to return these funds to the sites so that School Site Councils can begin allocating the money in ways that will improve the achievement of those students most in need of academic support.
Thank you, Patricia! I am assuming that this current post will be a keeper 😉
and FYI to any interested parties:
Naomi Perez http://visionweb.occourts.org/Vision_Public/DisplayCaseInfo.do
Case Number: 09CF2632
1 0 06/01/2007 261.5(c) PC F Unlawful sexual intercourse
2 0 06/01/2007 288a(b)(1) PC F Oral copulation of person under 18 years
3 0 06/01/2007 289(h) PC F Sexual penetration by foreign object; victim under 18
4 0 08/26/2009 594(a)/(b)(2)(A) PC M Vandalism-less than $400 in damages
Out on Bond: $50,000 Bail Date 10/28/2009
One hearing found.1 Date Time Hearing Type- Reason Courtroom
11/03/2009 08:30 AM Arraignment – C57
Sorry for the confusion, RV. I thought it unwise to post the text of my comments to the Board since those remarks were made on behalf of the School Site Council (parent, teacher, and classified members) and, while I was authorized to make a presentation to the Board, I did not have the School Site Council’s authority to post it here. I therefore asked to have the earlier post removed and re-posted the above comments as an individual. Thank you.
Your blog readers will find out that the accuser is twenty years old and a 2007 Saddleback Alumni in court on November 3rd without any help from me. Fields went with eighteen because is sensationalizes the story. Fields knows the truth; it just wasn’t sensational enough to print.
I hope everyone is clear about the impact of the funds that Patricia speaks of. These are the funds that are used at many school sites to actually bring up the achievement of the lowest students at our sites. The result of this hoarding of funds that rightfully belong to the schools is a reduction or elimination of many extra programs that provided tutoring to students. For many years now, some schools have been forced to use these funds to pay for teachers who teach on their prep periods, these are regular ed classes formed only to keep the class sizes at about 40. It is truly not just this year that these funds have been used inappropriately in our district. This has been going on for a long time. It is only now that it has come to light because the district so overtly stole those funds from the sites.
Patricia, no need to apologize. Your post regarding the board meeting was in demand. You have consistently given good insight into school district issues, and I think there are many that appreciate that. Thank you.
OMG- I got those charges directly off the court website. I guess the cops got the victim’s age wrong too? The incidents were said to have happened 6/1/2007. It appears that you are having problems with the student’s AGE and not the fact that Perez had inappropriate sexual relations with a student – in essence, showing a gross lack of personal/professional judgment and abusing her role of authority over high school students.
Also, they are charging her with vandalizing an auto. Is that a sensationalized charge, too?
This is my prediction: She will never teach again. In fact I will bet you that Juan Lopez has already started the process to get her teaching credential revoked. That’s one of his specialties – notifying the California credentialing about teachers he is able to suspend with/without pay for periods of 15 days or more. If he does that to any of your teachers, heads up, because he’s created a paperwork nightmare designed to ensnare you and ruin your career by putting your credential in peril. Perez’s case is much more simple for him – she’s been arrested, forced to take bond and is soon to be arraigned. She’s going to be a busy girl in the court system for a while longer. When the dust clears and whether she is aquitted or not, her teaching credential will be well on its way to the permanent waste basket of life.
Tmare – The most disturbing part of this story is that there is nowhere to turn and no entity in place that provides oversight and CONSEQUENCES for this terribly-run administration and board of education. WHO can you call when there are such egregious errors and fraud committed by school district leaders who steal from the very mission they are entrusted to administer?
One other question for anyone who was at the board meeting: Was that poor chemistry teacher (Reynolds/SAHS) back before the board again asking for relief from the dangerous classroom conditions imposed upon him and his science class? I believe this would be the 4th time he would have had to address the issue before the board.
Site monies have been misappropriated for years in SAUSD. Too many principals have set their own “cronies” on the council and then used the funds for their personal plans [usually including paying for underling “administrators” to do their work].
RV, if the District doesn’t correct its “mistake” regarding the School Site Council allocations in the near future, a Uniform Complaint will be filed with the State. If that step becomes necessary, I expect it to result in the funds being properly redistributed to the school sites.
Hopefully, other school sites will follow Patricia’s lead. The more school sites that file, the better chances of success. The district knows its illegal, they just want to know if they can get away with it. If so, is there any reason why it won’t be standard operation procedure from here on end.
648 – Totally true, unfortunately. If computed, the collective amount would be staggering.
Nothing will change. I will believe it when I see it. File complaints all you want to. Call me a cynic. They always find a way around everything.