Check Out Our Newest Feature

http://scusdwatch.proboards100.com/

In order to add a bit of democratization to this group, we have created a very crude attempt at a message board. While we will continue to post regularly at this site, further topics for discussion can be created and commented upon on the message board. Hopefully this feature will allow different ideas to flow and create a much more open forum for dialogue.

A link will be placed in the “links” section of this forum.

Is a School Without a Librarian Still a School?

In an interesting turn, the district, facing a budget shortfall, has surplussed, laid–off, or released (pick your euphemism) what remained of the district librarians. Middle school counselors also got whacked. Class size reduction at the elementary grade is next in the district’s line of sight. Of course, according to the numbers, 4 administrators were also let go; however those $90,00 a dollar School Improvement Facilitators (SIF) were free from the budget axe. Close the libraries but keep the administrative pork. The situation is ridiculous and unacceptable.

The heart of the problem seems to be a battle between the SCTA and the SCUSD over the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) that the district received for its teachers. Apparently the district sees the money as a great way to balance its budget. By letting the librarians go, the district has positioned itself to negotiate the return of the librarians for the teachers’ COLA. In other words, the district seems poised to sacrifice our children’s education for their petty political gain. Even better, they can point to a selfish teachers’ union that refused to give up its COLA to fund libraries.

Now how’s that for “Success for Every Student By Name”?

And to add insult to injury, check out this screen shot sent to us from the district’s intranet homepage…

(For a clearer image, click to enlarge)



























On a final note, we've started a message board at:

http://scusdwatch.proboards100.com/

We're not completely up and running and not really sure how this will work, but we think this feature will allow more flexibility in posting and discussing topics.

"Hundreds of thousands of dollars in checks haven't been deposited." ...Umm...Where's the money???

Interestingly, we’ll let the Bee’s editorial state what this site and its many contributors have been writing about for several months.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/14230399p-15053204c.html

Of course there is so much to say, so much that’s already been said, and so much more to be discussed, but the heart of this matter uncovers the ambiguities of charter school law and administration, the districts failure to adequately weigh the consequences of closing Sacramento High School, and a severe lack of educational leadership at the district level. Amongst other things.

Check out the VAPAC Charter revisions or Private School/Public Money

http://myschoolonline.com/folder/0,1872,1618-210300-1-125812,00.html

We still haven’t talked about the Kit Carson/ NEW Sacramento High plan…

“… de la Cuesta downplayed the allegations. He said he wasn’t sure about the uncashed check.”

THIS JUST IN:

JUDGE RULES THE SON GETS TO STAY FOR NOW:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/14226906p-15050799c.html

Feel free to comment below...


For the most recent news coverage...

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/14226711p-15050677c.html

UPDATE: From VAPAC Parents

"The hearing is at 1:30 on Tuesday, March 7, in Department 20. I believe that seating is first come first served. There are probably other cases that are scheduled for the afternoon session, so this one may not be the first one to be heard. "

"The hearing will be in Sacramento Superior Court. The address is 720 9th St.."


So the district has finally narrowed the charges that they have leveled at the DLC’s to:

Financial malfeasance

Mandatory reporting of attendance

Student safety and behavior

Of course there is the minor point that the DLCs are not adhering to the charter as it was written and approved, and that the charter gives oversight to the district, allowing them to oversee the program and its employees, and that the DLCs and the teachers are all employees of the SCUSD who, that being said, have the right to hire, fire, remove and reassign as they see fit. But it’s a wonderful thing to see the Son’s response to allegations of financial impropriety, most notable a district payment that wasn’t cashed:

“… de la Cuesta downplayed the allegations. He said he wasn’t sure about the uncashed check.”

Of course, one could also bring up that the district allowed the Mother to give her unqualified Son, who has no experience in school finances or education, an outrageously compensated position. One could also bring up the circumstances leading to that outrageously compensated position. As for the reporting of attendance and operating budgets – it’s been well known that the district has asked for these documents many times in the past and was met with defiance, unanswered phone calls, and missed deadlines. How long is the school going to use the “technical difficulties” excuse when questioned on student records and reporting?

Teachers and students have commented since the school’s start that security was lax. Many parents have pulled their children for just that problem. There have never been campus monitors, and last year’s security detail was a band-aid to assuage the Fire Marshall. Last year alone one student was sent to Juvenile Hall for dealing drugs at school; another was sent for brandishing a weapon and threatening another student. There is also the vandalism that has occurred on campus, and the rampant rumors about sex in bathrooms and in the Bay. Let’s not mention drug use and violence that go un-reported. The Son pointing to the number of behavior hearings as a testament to how smoothly things are running is disingenuous and he knows it. The DLCs have made it clear from the start that:

Students = Money
Expulsion = -(Money)
-(Expulsions) = Money

Case in point: The students who were sent to the hall last year were never sent for an expulsion hearing. We should also mention that one of the student’s had a mother who sat on the PTSA at the time and was a close ally of the DLCs. Apparently the DLCs only refer for expulsion students who exercise their right to free speech – pink hair and WANTED Posters.

Of course unwanted behavior occurs on all campuses. VAPAC should not be expected to be an exception. However, proper security prevents and deters. While VAPAC students are probably less inclined towards illicit activities, with no security, it is only a matter of time before somebody gets hurt.

We can only scratch our heads and wonder at some of this mess. We do find it amusing that the DLCs are screaming for a “dispute resolution process” when similar requests made of them were met with hostility and alienation. I wonder how it feels for them to be subject to their own type of aggressive management? We shouldn’t wonder for too long, people without a conscious are usually too immature to learn anything from this type of lesson.

Your Turn...

At first we tended to doubt the veracity of a Bee reporter willing to speak with us about the VAPAC situation. However, we did receive an email from Ms. Rosenhall:

Hi,
Thanks for sending the link. I am going to be writing about the VAPAC situation when I get back to work tomorrow (Monday). I'm looking for parents, teachers, or others who are involved with the school to talk to me about what's going on.
If you are interested in speaking with me for my article, please call me at 321-1083 or email a number where I can call you. If you do not want to talk, but know others who do, please send them my number or email and ask them to get in touch.
Thank you,
Laurel Rosenhall staff writer, The Sacramento Bee

This is your chance. Please feel free to get a hold of her and tell others as well. To all the people who have consistently supplied this site with information and feedback, keep up the good work and tell your story.

We have received word that a few of "those" teachers will be sharing their information. We only hope that some of the other players in this drama are willing to speak up.

Please, let us know...

Let the Spin Begin

Check out the Sacramento Bee article about the VAPAC situation:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/breakingnews/story/14225506p-15049812c.html

Our only comments on this story are:

(1) For more information on the serious issues regarding student safety and security, quality of education, and financial matters, please read our previous postings and comments.

(2) The creation myth regarding the DLC's and the labor needed to build the school does a disservice to Larry Fox, Efren Flores, Gloria Beck, Ken Adams and the dedicated service of dozens of other parents, students, faculty, and staff who actually did raise a hammer, lift a paintbrush, devote their time, and open their wallets without receiving any compensation or being secure in the knowledge that they could manipulate astronomical pay raises for themselves from their self-appointed board of directors.

Interesting story. Clearly the Bee got spun with the DLC's acting like innocent victims only concerned for the welafare of their students. Where was that "concern" when dealing with special ed. students; where was that "concern" when they pushed several excellent teachers out the door for daring to disagree with the DLC; where was that "concern" when dealing with the Ambrose situation; where was that "concern" when publically referring to students as "little freaks," berating a 16 year old girl and bringing her to tears... Suffice it to say many feel that the school would be better served by a competent administration who can handle dissent and constructive criticism instead of the personality cult with whom the the DLC's have surrounded themselves.

This site contacted the SCUSD School Board, and the only response that we received was from Board Member Houseman who replied:

"The bottom line is we want the school open and well managed. It is in the hands of the hearing judge now."

Because of litigation, the board, of course cannot comment on the status of district personnel on site. However, we are relieved to see that the district obviously has the concerns of the students in mind with their desire to see the school remain open and managed well. Unfortunately, we at this site feel that we have consistently raised credible concerns over the governance and structure of this school. Had the board acted more swiftly, perhaps this standoff could have been avoided. We do find it interesting, nevertheless, that it is the Son and not the Mother who refuses to "go gently into that good night." Transitioning her out of power was evidently seamless, and the school and its board made few waves in complying with that directive from the district. Now that their stranglehold on the school has all but vanished, we appear to be watching the last desperate acts of dethroned despots, grasping furiously to maintain control over their crumbling kingdom.

And We Trust These People with the Welfare of our Children

The latest word to arise from the VAPAC situation is that the DLC and his office manager are refusing to step down from their positions, have instructed security guards to deny entrance to anybody but students, faculty, and sycophants and have essentially barricaded themselves in the building. Students, parents and faculty report the DLC maintains that the district has no authority to remove him or his mother from their employment. Interestingly, however, they will take the district’s pay and benefits.

Apparently the district has an affinity for administrators with a flare for exiting in a dramatic fashion. Seems that the previous principal of Fern Bacon Middle School, Gloria Nogales-Talley, who was removed from her position there under curious circumstances, pulled a similar stunt during her tenure with the Santa Ana Unified School District. We can’t do the story justice, so for more information we encourage you to find out for yourselves:

http://www.ocweekly.com/the-news/news/notes-from-the-banana-republic_2003-12-18.html

(By the way, Ms. Talley is now an interim administrator with Rosemont High School.)

As for the VAPAC situation we’re not sure what the ramifications of the DLC’s actions may be for the school, the faculty, or the students. Additionally we’re not entirely sure what the district’s next move will be. We only hypothesize that it is the intentions of the DLC to tie this thing up in lawsuits until they can find an educational entity to grant them their charter revisions.

On a final note, just as they did with “those teachers” from last year, the DLC’s are attempting to impugn the reputation of Allen Young by dragging his name through the mud. As far as our research has shown, no complaints or grievances have ever been filed against him, and he has never been asked to step down from a position or resign under suspicious circumstances.
…And he’s never blockaded himself in his office instead of leaving with dignity.