Goings on...

Just some quick notes...

Many of you are joining in the discussion, and we appreciate the dialogue. I think that this group is right on in saying that the parents are going to have to be the ones to push the district to fix the situation at VAPAC... Read the comments...

Black 47 reports that the district has said that they are going to be "doing something soon." However, we also share his suspicion that whatever the district devises might be too little too late...

At last count, Siegert, Spillman, Melcher and Kapp are all leaving the school to work elsewhere. Stratton has applied at Rosemont and other schools as well, but drama positions are in short supply in the district. Several other teachers are currently in the interview/application process with other schools and districts. It also looks as if some other key teachers/assistants in the drama department will be departing as well...

We, at this sight, maintain that the current administration has not only violated several key elements in their own charter, such as their claims to salary and the controversial vote of confidence in February, but has also obliterated any public trust with regard to the spending of public money and the well-being of this community's children.

On the salary situation, note the peculiar wording in the charter:

There will not be any changes in status for any of the certificated non-management and classified staff working at VAPAC Charter. Each person is currently a district employee and will remain a district employee under direct funding. There will not be any change in the district process for paying salary and benefits to either the general education staff or the Special Education staff. Our certificated non-management and classified staff will use the same salary and benefit schedule as their colleagues else ware in the district. The Board of Directors will determine the duties and compensation of unrepresentative staff members. Existing salary schedules will be used. At the expiration of the charter, unrepresentative staff members will assume their pre-charter school status, provided that there are vacancies in that classification. If none exist, the unrepresentative staff member will be assigned to an appropriate district position for which he/she is qualified. (p.36)

Last October, a parent wrote to the district with his concerns about this unusual arrangement. Here is what he wrote:

The district approved a charter where the VAPAC administration maintains their status as employees of the district but is allowed to create their own job descriptions and set their own salary.

Here is Joan Butt's (then district CFO) response:

VAPAC uses SCUSD employees and reimburses the district for the cost of their salaries and benefits. VAPAC employees work in accordance with SCUSD job descriptions and salary schedules.

Interesting response considering that the VAPAC administration not only refuses to acknowledge that they are SCUSD employees, but the district CFO surely knew about the exorbitant pay raises that they granted themselves.

To read the exchange, click the following links:

http://www.geocities.com/scusdwatch/jbuttresponse.htm

http://www.geocities.com/scusdwatch/originalletter.htm

Nevertheless, since the district maintains that the relationship between them and the VAPAC administration is employee/employer, we ask that the district, in keeping with this arrangement, fulfill their responsibility and hold their employees accountable for the failings of the school, the violations of the charter, and the numerous parent complaints.

Additionally, it looks bad for the district to allow one of its charter schools to continually violate the terms of its charter with impunity. And the district continues to ask the community to give them the privilege to grant more charters when they have shown that they cannot or will not police effectively when serious problems arise.

Just what is the school board's responsibility? We hope that they move swiftly and decisively to restore a modicum of respectability to their office and a bit of faith with the public...