Friday, June 10, 2005

RE: Wanted Poster

Students, Parents, Faculty and staff, apparently some people have been reading this blog because an inflammatory flyer was handed out today at VAPAC, and the administration, in their heavy handed attitude toward student and parents' rights, questioned and threatened students in violation of their first amendment rights. The administration claims defamation of character; we know differently. Let's break this down:

Without consuming a lot of space, teachers and principals and other figures are considered public. Ergo, they are free to be criticized w/o repercussion. Additionally, the wanted posters that appeared are clearly satire and a protected part of free speech. However, since the administration has raised the issue, let's discuss the allegations and their veracity (truth):

#1 In our previous post we outlined the salary discrepancy and Title 1 issues that plague the school. In short, The Son makes far more than his experience would allow; he also makes more that his accomplishments would recommend -- he has secured little or zero funding for the school. In a review of his performance, a raise would be out of the question. However, who reviews performance of administrators on site -- His MOTHER. Or her hand-picked Executive Board. Lets not mention The Director's $40,000 over her stated salary in terms of the district's pay scale.

#2 The Son's salary constitutes a fraud against the taxpayers of this state because he neither has the experience nor the accomplishments to merit the salary he makes. And yet, for securing $o in grants and having NO successful grant writing experience, he receives $129,000 a year. Oh yeah, he also has no experience in educational finances or education.

#3 A clear Civil Right Violation would be The Administration's persecution of students in possession of the "Wanted" flyer. However, let's recall Ari, Vince, and several other students that the administration has crucified while clear violators of sexual harassment policy and drug policy remain on campus. Remember Free Speech is a protected right -- Student discourse, either written or verbal, is also protected since The Director and Her Son constitute public figures. Additionally, school policy has never been instituted w/o input of knowledge of the constituency (public). Since this claim is ambiguous, the law allows for the ambiguity of the statement.

#4 The Director has not attended all of the IEP meetings for Special Education students. Neither has she claimed a designee to stand in for her. She and The Son have also violated confidentiality disclosures regarding Special Education students. There are several complaints filed against her at the district office. Because of disclosure laws, we cannot state the specifics, but if any parents wish to stand up, we would be glad to hear from them.

#5 Parents and students, do you have a general purpose computer lab? Do you have a library? Do you have adequate resources in the classroom? Do you feel that the Director and her Son have secured your future in a manner appropriate to a school that receives public money? This claim is also ambiguous and falls outside the scope of the law -- jeopardizing Children's futures make a non-specific claim.

Basically, opinion is free from the burden of defamation. And most of these allegations, while provable within the letter of the law, constitute opinion.

People, you should not allow the administration's tactics to prevent you from telling the truth. In fact, you should complain to the school board, the press, the county office of education and any other entity that will listen.

YOU ARE BEING BULLIED AND RIPPED OFF. THEIR TREATMENT OF YOU CONSTITUTES HARRASSMENT.

So sorry that their fragile feelings got hurt...

Parents, if your student got caught in this witch hunt, please PLEASE read the following:
http://www.nlg-la.org/student_rights.pdf#search=

29 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

i dont really care what the rest of you think, if the dlc's had to leave, vapac wouldnt exist, doesnt matter if you like them or not. so before you go bashing them, understand that the good the have done for the school drastically outweighs the bad

11/6/05 19:17  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

VAPAC has been in existence for 22 years, and it will continue long after the DLC's are gone. Don't confuse them with the program and don't use rationalizations to justify their actions. Many parents, students, faculty and staff have invested just as much sweat and economy into this program. The DLC's have only managed to bring it to the brink of failure. And they have resorted to unethical and immoral means to do this. Andrew, the end never justifies the means.

11/6/05 20:16  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Andrew, severe lapses in morals and ethics to preserve your tenuous grip on power is never acceptable. By token of your logic, Germany's economic renewal under Hitler should be enough to pardon his crimes against humanity.

Oh yeah, could you clarify the "good" that they have done? Seriously, what action was singlehandedly theirs? Writing the charter? Tell that to the teachers, students, parents, and community members that put their reputations on the line. Starting this school? Tell that to the district and the taxpayers who loaned them the money. Also, tell that to the teachers, staff, and parents who came on the strength of the program not the efforts of the DLC's alone.

They are figureheads, immoral and unethical figureheads who are wasting taxpayer dollars on their salaries and frittering away our childrens' futures.

11/6/05 21:16  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So now, because somebody else has different views than you, you criticize them, and essentially call them a nazi.

And now, because I choose to defend somebody, I get personally attacked, and now have to defend myself.

Well, it appears as if we all have something in common. We are all hopelessly stubborn. You are hopelessly committed to your beleifs, and will not change your views, the same can be said of me. Lets not spend our time trying to convince eachother otherwise, we all know it's true. The only difference between us is that you choose to ignore the good, and focus on the bad, and I choose to ignore the bad, and focus on the good.

-Andrew (And at least i have the guts to use my name, and, in public, stand up for what i believe is right, instead of hiding my identity out of pure cowardice and standing up for what i beleive is right)

12/6/05 21:06  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A few things:

#1 Andrew, nobody called anybody a Nazi. It was an analogy comparing documentable and verifiable, criminality versus supposedly good acts. There was no accusation directed at anyone only the comparison between the situations. Unfortunately, I am of the apparently mistaken belief, as are the other commentators, that lapses in ethics and morality as well as illegal activities should be dealt with instead of ignored because of supposed past good deeds.

#2 Your reasoning amounts to -- they created the school so we should forgive them for any illicit and illegal acts. Remember, they didn't create the school, it has been in existence for over 20 years. As for your comment that if they had to leave the school wouldn't exist, it seems to me that Mr. Hall runs things just fine if not better on the days that he is there.

#3 It has also been well documented at School Board Meetings as well as the district office that the DLC's play favorites and grant privelege to the chosen few. If you don't believe this, attend a board meeting or inquire at the district office or better yet, just ask your classmates which ones have parents that have actually had a call or question answered by the DLC's and which one's they have repeatedly refused to see. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

But you should also consider: which students are able to perform in violation of the school's GPA policy? Which students are allowed to cut classes and still participate in after school activities? Which students violate the dress policy and get dragged to the office and which don't? If they institute the dress policy next year, which students will be overlooked when they wear their favorite clothes and jackets and who do you think will get in trouble?

#4 The only personal attack on this board is from you calling people cowards for not using their name. If you don't know who Ari or Vince are, ask your classmates. If you do know then you can see why your classmates are scared to use their names. But if you still don't understand your classmates fear, look at what happened to people in possession of this stupid flyer on Friday. Several were told that they would be arrested or sued. People who don't defend the DLC's quickly become targets, and many are your friends and classmates.

However, since you insist, I will use my name. The DLC's know who I am.

James -- parent of a VAPAC student.

12/6/05 21:44  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe you are confusing the Visual And Performing Arts Charter School with the Visual And Performing Arts Center. VAPAC, as it is today, has been in existance for two years. And I appologize for calling you cowards, that wasn't called for, and i appologize.

And no, according to my logic, Germany's economic renewal under Hitler was not justified, I clearly said that, and i quote, "drastically outweighs the bad".

13/6/05 09:15  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have called the district and asked why there was an immediate reponse to the DLC's about the 'wanted poster'. This came as a surprise to the person I talked to who is in charge of charter oversight.

As to libel and slander, the DLC's should be very careful bringing this subject up since they have slandered myself and others on a regular basis. I have ignored their slanders in the past, but I will be consulting with my legal advisor on Wednesday to see about filing a lawsuit against the DLC's for slander. If they are going to make this kinds of threat, I see no reason to hold back.

13/6/05 09:26  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Okay, so I've been here at VAPAC since the begining. You all know me and I know almost everyone at this school. I gave this school a chance, and I loved it in the begining. But now... now it's gotten so bad that I REALLY want to leave. I liked high school when I went to Sac High and was in the VAPAC program and when my parents decided to put me in West Campus half way through the year because we thought VAPAC wasn't going to keep on going, I was devastated. I missed my friends, my teachers, and all of the subjects I took.

When I heard that VAPAC was becoming it's OWN charter, I was EXTATIC! I couldn't have been happier. I'd get to take the best computer animation classes, watch the best plays, listen to the best singers, and not to mention watch the coolest dancers perform. I'd get to be back with all of my friends again. Well, last year, I loved high school again. Last year was wonderful. There were a few kinks, but everyone respected each other and understood that there would be some rough times.

This year everything changed. The Administration isn't as great as it needs to be, the classes aren't as fun or informative anymore, everyone's afraid they're going to get suspended or expelled. Now I'm even in jepordy of suspension, here, at the end of the school year. Because I spoke my mind and I said something I felt. Well... gee, it sounds like violation of Student Rights here. I didn't make a threat or say anything incriminating, just something I felt.

Mrs. DLC talks down to her students, assuming all of them have the intelligence of the third-graders she once taught. I myself have found that very demeaning and degrading. She doesn't even know who all of her very few seniors are. I am a junior here and she believes that I am a senior. She still believes it even after having been informed of her mistake. It's a patern there... even after being informed of her many mistakes, she does nothing to fix them or change her approach.

I have nothing against Mr. DLC, except for his inexperience, but he is trying. And I don't blame him for wanting to leave. Except I believe that if he does leave, this school might fall apart fast. This school has wonderful potential, but the admistration NEEDS to change. Either change their ways, or get an entirely NEW administration.

I just hope that the students and teachers that remain here don't go down with the fast-failing administration.

The JoEy

13/6/05 09:37  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Andrew, they use the same acronym, claim the same heritage, receive the same money from the district, have hired the same teachers, use the same letterhead,etc. But if you want to insist that this is a new school, that's fine with me.

Additionally, nobody claimed that you said Germany's economic renewal under Hitler was justified; however, by token of your logic, one could ignore Hitler's sins by claiming that "the good outweighs the bad." But without beating a dead horse, never, to my knowledge have crimes been pardonable because the individual has done good deeds in the past.

But since you insist on contributing to this board, and I for one appreciate the exchange, why don't you answer the allegations upon which this post is premised instead of making blanket statements. There are 5 specific items to be addressed, if you can, help to refute those charges with specific information. After all, that's what this blog is all about -- geting the information out there.

And thanks for the apology to the other commentators...

Michael -- Current VAPAC parent and parent of VAPAC students from Sac High.

13/6/05 09:40  
Blogger -chuck- said...

The person was caught. What a shame.

13/6/05 20:08  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Andrew,
In my opinion VAPAC is going to fail with the DLC's in charge. They do not listen to anyone, they think they have to answer to no one and they feel they have the right to do anything they want. This is a certain recipe for disaster.

I also think that the science program at VAPAC is very weak. That good teachers will not want to hang around VAPAC for long with the administration acting as control freaks. Rosemont HS will within two years have all, or almost all, of the best teachers at VAPAC. Do you think it is easy to replace teachers? Especially good ones?

The DLC's have proposed a new 'draft' uniform dress code. Of course they got very upset with someone that had provided others with copies of the 'draft'. Last fall when some of us questioned the new dress code, they had told us that the dress code would be reviewed in the spring, now they say over the summer. When are they officially going to announce it. The first week of school again?

Students, teachers and parents will be allowed 'input' (if we are notified), but will not be allowed to vote on a new dress code, or uniform. Oh, they claim that you can have a waiver, if you go beg to the administration.

Ms. de la Cuesta needs to be removed immediately and reassigned to another position outside of VAPAC, as she has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she cannot work with others. Then a REAL principal needs to be chosen.

If the DLC's remain in place I would be very much surprised if the school remained open for the entire school year next year.

13/6/05 23:49  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kudos to the individual(s) that distributed the Wanted Posters in the Mid-Town area. They have even reached the Dept of Ed. Also I saw them circulating at the Tower Cafe. There are several healthy stacks of them here and there. Good job!!!

14/6/05 07:39  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Does anyone have a .jpg of the poster? I missed out on the fun =(




-Sandra
Former VAPAC Sac Student

16/6/05 21:39  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a former Sac High/VAPAC student, I find it insulting that the De la Cuestas are piggybacking on the success of an incredible program when neither one had much to do with it. Does anyone realize that Mrs. De la Cuesta wasn't an administrator at Sac? She was a director of a program, but didn't have to deal with discipline, money, etc. Plus, she was only there for 2-3 years as the director, which is not even when the program was at its best when Mr. Tafoya, Mr. Peckham, etc. essentially ran the program. And most of the time, if you needed to talk to her, she wasn't even there, or she showed up to school when the day was half over. If VAPAC (under her direction) was doing so well at Sac, why did only a small handful of "VAPAC" teachers move to the new charter? Some of its best teachers chose to find work elsewhere because they didn't believe that Mrs. dela Cuesta could successfully run a school. Sadly, it appears that many others should have left as well. Though I applaud her efforts, it's obvious that she's in way over her head, and hopefully, the district will come in to help.

As far as Andrew's comments are concerned, it's clear that he is passionate about what he believes, which is good to an extent. My guess is that he's never been the target of their wrath, and after reading these comments, reading the ones from myspace and talking with some of my friends who are this year's juniors (next year seniors), it's clear that if you speak your mind, but disagree with the principal, you can expect to be singled out. Andrew is obviously very young, and chooses not to realize that while people may be "good people", they can still do illegal and immoral things. Until he gets stabbed in the back, he'll continue to ignore the fact that these people he obviously respects hurt others.

I'm sad that Sac High closed, but I'm even more sad to hear that the real VAPAC died with it. I hoped that it would continue, but all I know is that in the VAPAC I knew, you could have whatever color hair you wanted, you could speak your mind without revenge, and you could wear jeans. What happened?

17/6/05 15:33  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As the parent of a VAPAC/Sac High student I have many concerns as well as problems with the DLC's. So many infact that my child will be changing schools for her senior year!! I have had various problems with the administration from my child being delt with different because she is a resource student, and not in a good way. With the exception of Mr. Hall who has made it bearable to finish out the year at VAPAC. oannas way of dealing with a parent who calls her on the carpet is to kick them off campus. I have been to the school many times during different periods of the day and found kids roaming the halls with no supervision. I know alot of the things that have gone on at VAPAC because there are several students that I speak to. Some students are given preferential treatment while others are threatened with expulsion and more for the same act. Those of you that were at school on "Poster Friday" might remember seeing or hearing about a student that hit or kicked another student and then went outside and tossed over a picnic table, what might you think would happen to him? He was sent back to class!!! YET the people that were in the bathroom when the posters came out were threatened with lawsuits, expulsion, not only from VAPAC, but the district and told that the police were going to be called!! AND all of this without calling any of the parents! I was not happy when Sac High was closed, but I will be thrilled if and when the DLC's are out of VAPAC!! I would like to see Mr. Hall take over the running of the daily activities of the school, he does a good job. I am sure the district has manby qualified people to do the job and do it honestly!

18/6/05 22:56  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am so tired of all the DLC'S hinchment talking or writing garbage to our special ed teacher. How dare Mrs. Ryan write a complaint against a wonderful teacher making false acqusations about her. Well, here is a truth about the DLC's that I went through. My child was assaulted by another student last Nov./Dec. I waited for 3 hours with my infant grandson to speak to Ms. DLC. When finally I saw her quickly leaving by the side hallway. I caught up with her (she knew I was waiting to see her) and asked to speak about the incident regarding my child and she said,"CAN THIS WAIT TILL AFTER NOON". Of course I replied "NO"!!!!. I asked her if there was someone other than her to speak to since she did not care. I finally spoke to Mr. Hall, whom I feel would be great person to take over running VAPAC, and he handled the problem ASAP. I am sure the students know who I am because at the beginning of the year I was one of the two parents who helped at lunch time. If you parents have not spent any time at VAPAC you don't have a clue what the DLC's do all day. They walk around giving people tours of the school. I have been called a F--King B--CH by some of the students and the only person who helped me was Mr. Kapp. My child was tested by the RSP teacher and found to have a learning disability. THANK YOU MS. SPILMAN. Since she has been getting the help from her RSP teacher she is a different child. When I have had concerns regarding my children, I find out that Ms. DLC made the comment,"IS THAT GRANDMOTHER ON DRUGS?" Who does she think she is making a comment about any parent/guardian like that. When Ms. DCL doesn't like someone I have found she will make (or have her hinchmen) false statements about them. I have taken both my children out of VAPAC due to the unfair treatment of students, the lack of concern by Ms. DLC for the classes being overcrowded, the false and degrading statements of parents and teachers by MS. DLC. Do you know my child has had 2 IEP meetings and Ms. DLC was not at either of them. She has only butted in when she can benefit from it and IEP meetings are not going to help her so she refuses to attend them. I have so much anger towards Ms. DLC for her uppity attitude and her geniune concern for the children. I wish more parents would just drop in unannounced and you would be surprised what you see. Look everywhere, the arts building, the classrooms,in the bathrooms, everything is a mess. How can our children learn when there is not enough chairs or desks for them. They have to sit on the floor. The teachers are trying to control the classrooms and can't because they have far too many students to take care of. GO SEE FOR YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!

20/6/05 15:54  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mrs. Ryan is a close friend of Mrs. DLC. Mrs. DLC may not have time to see students or tend to important matters, but she has hours to chat with Mrs. Ryan in her office. Yes, come see for yourself.

Mrs. DLC only attends meetings for students whose parents are supportive of her.

20/6/05 21:57  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment probably has nothing to do with this.
but.. i am a student attending VAPAC (or was) and its very sad to hear i will most likely not be attending next year. i attended last school year (in the old building) and loved it very much, as soon as VAPAC moved to the newer building thats when i started hating it more, with the stupid dress code and saying your hair must be a natural color.

is ms. DLC forgeting that most people at the school are KIDS? its ridiculous that we cant be ourselfs, i was hopeing (from comeing from einstein middle school) that i would be able to wear what i wanna wear, dye my hair any color with out being botherd.

it really is a shame that because of VAPAC i have grown to HATE highschool.
mr. and ms. DLC should NOT run the school.
Mr. hall does a really good job, i mean its weird hearing this comeing from me.
I, i guess you could say i could be called a "troublemaker" i have been called to the office atleast 3 times for meetings with my parent and mr.hall . NEVER has ms. DLC ever been to a single one of those meetings, she does NOT care about the students.She only cares about a chosen few. the others she picks on. its not fair.

And yes maybe im a coward to not leave my name, but if i do. whatll happen? me getting in trouble. thats what.

Because thats exactly what ive gotten in trouble for before. for speaking my mind.

Do NOT attend VAPAC.

~RAINBOWHALE

20/6/05 22:53  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

rainbowhale,

I will be a returning teacher to VAPAC and I agree that the DLC's need to go. I have no choice to go somewhere else because I've not been in the District long enough. All I can say is that returning staff will be watching everything very closely - reporting anything that shouldn't be. I believe there will be a change of hands by the coming school year.

I am so sorry the DLC's have destroyed VAPAC. However, it began happening as soon as Joanna stepped into VAPAC at SAC High. It was obvious that she has not a clue how to run a business or how to treat people.

She and the Son need to go - and I mean completely out of the field of education.

24/6/05 19:10  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Karen Ryan is a pawn of the DLC's. She has admitted to many(parents, students and staff) that if the DLC's need her to say anything negative regarding 3 or 4 staff members, she will. She feels that if she does not abide by their wishes, they will retaliate against her daughter. She has made that statement a many times. She has also questioned the DLC's ability to run a school and treat people as humans should.

She seems to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. She is the only one that has to live with her conscience at this point.

24/6/05 20:34  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

While we are on the subject of teachers..... I have to give a round of applause to the teachers that are caught like the last post!!! There are some good teachers at VAPAC, most have left or are leaving, but I know some will still be there next year. For those who have not heard that there are teachers filing complaints with the Department of Education, be assured that they have and will continue. AND I do not think less of anyone who does not use their name on these posts, just keep posting ans getting informed. Who knows, maybe we can help prevent enrollment etc. until the DLC's are gone.

28/6/05 17:51  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rumor has it that the multi-age program at Bowling Green is going to merge with VAPAC. I think Bowling Green wants them gone. This could be a failing program joining with another failing program. Great, more tax $ at work!

29/6/05 08:09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just feel bad for the teachers who are stuck their. I can think of at least two. One of which I have studied under since Sac High in its last year. It makes me very sad that these great teachers who do their best and more, are forced to take a crappy job in a crappy work invironment. Being an ex-student at VAPAC (now I'm going to be going back to Sac High... now St. Hope High...) I've been all for student rights and complaining for their sake, but I'm also for all of those wonderful teachers who stuck by us, who were their when we needed them, and who assured us that things WILL get better, in our lives and at school.

I have a special thanks to all of those teachers who spent their prep periods talking with me and other students and helping us solve our problems. I'm sorry you had to deal with the administration AND all of the students' problems. THANK YOU!

~*~*~JoEy~*~*~

3/7/05 11:48  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can someone tell me why Mr. Stratton stays at VAPAC? His still will be valued else where. I don't see why he puts up with the DLC's either

17/7/05 18:53  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Stratton gets exactly what he wants. THat's why he stays there. He's just like the dlcs because he only cares about himself and drama not the hole school.

20/7/05 21:37  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As to your teachers lacking the proper credentials, file a complaint with the California Teacher Credentialing. When you file a compaint against staff make sure you mail copies of your complaint to the SCUSD board of education directly to their home addresses. You can get the addresses from the board secretary. Also state in your compaint that you want a copy of your compaint to be placed in the staff members personnel records. Document, document, document....

27/9/05 15:57  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You guys are so freaking halarious, yet at the same time are so freaking out of line.

You say that these DLC's are doing crap to you, but talking behind their back and bitching about it isn't going to help you at all. You're all a bunch of cowards, and I pity the people who called this group a place to express matters of children, when looking through here I see threat twords teachers, students, parents, and what not. You guys sound like communists.

You want a messed up school district? I visited you all for a few days, and you don't have near the issues of places elsewhere, you guys don't even know the face of the matter. There's some school districts where the teachers are abused to the points of mentally breaking down in the district where I am, you heard me, paychecks are cut to a meer 5 to 6% instead of what you're all complaining over.

You should be happy with what you have, and that your district isn't as screwed up as some of the others.

Another note, is 95% of you threatening and the what not, are actually performing a FEDERAL CRIME. You read that right, and anyone who's talking crap behind everyones back is doing something I like to call "pissed and scared shitless", because if all you can do is talk smack about someone, than worry and take care of real issues like CIVILIZED people, you do not belong in American Society.

2/10/05 09:59  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You guys are so freaking halarious, yet at the same time are so freaking out of line.

You say that these DLC's are doing crap to you, but talking behind their back and bitching about it isn't going to help you at all. You're all a bunch of cowards, and I pity the people who called this group a place to express matters of children, when looking through here I see threat twords teachers, students, parents, and what not. You guys sound like communists.

You want a messed up school district? I visited you all for a few days, and you don't have near the issues of places elsewhere, you guys don't even know the face of the matter. There's some school districts where the teachers are abused to the points of mentally breaking down in the district where I am, you heard me, paychecks are cut to a meer 5 to 6% instead of what you're all complaining over.

You should be happy with what you have, and that your district isn't as screwed up as some of the others.

Another note, is 95% of you threatening and the what not, are actually performing a FEDERAL CRIME. You read that right, and anyone who's talking crap behind everyones back is doing something I like to call "pissed and scared shitless", because if all you can do is talk smack about someone, than worry and take care of real issues like CIVILIZED people, you do not belong in American Society.

2/10/05 09:59  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Federal Crime my ASS! If you can read, try reading the Constitution of the United States.

The people breaking the law are the DLC's.

3/10/05 14:50  

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