Is It the Work of the Kool-Aid Brigade??
Two of the most recent posts:
Anonymous said...
I recieved a meeting notice yesterday to be held in the VAPAC theatre at 6:30pm on Wed. Oct. 19th. SCUSC Board of Ed. president Roy Grimes will be meeting with parents to discuss parents experiences at VAPAC.
18/10/05 07:02
VAPAC parent said...
Once again this meeting seems to be by invitation only. Please inform anyone you know about this meeting. I just spoke to Roy Grimes and comfirmed that it is going to happen. I t was arranged after the last SCUSD board meeting. Mr. Grimes said the meeting is for parents only, no VAPAC administration or VAPAC board members or he will walk out. Hope you can make it.
18/10/05 12:51
We don't really know what to make of this bit of information. Seems that the Son and the Brigade probably finagled something since it's taking place on their turf. No doubt the sychophants will be out in force. Parents, this is your chance. Hopefully, the mismanagement is enough to remove the DLC's from their positions; however, everybody needs to come out in force and add help to spread the truth and dismantle the lies.
And just because we like it so much... Feel free to print one out and take it with you!!!
Anonymous said...
I recieved a meeting notice yesterday to be held in the VAPAC theatre at 6:30pm on Wed. Oct. 19th. SCUSC Board of Ed. president Roy Grimes will be meeting with parents to discuss parents experiences at VAPAC.
18/10/05 07:02
VAPAC parent said...
Once again this meeting seems to be by invitation only. Please inform anyone you know about this meeting. I just spoke to Roy Grimes and comfirmed that it is going to happen. I t was arranged after the last SCUSD board meeting. Mr. Grimes said the meeting is for parents only, no VAPAC administration or VAPAC board members or he will walk out. Hope you can make it.
18/10/05 12:51
We don't really know what to make of this bit of information. Seems that the Son and the Brigade probably finagled something since it's taking place on their turf. No doubt the sychophants will be out in force. Parents, this is your chance. Hopefully, the mismanagement is enough to remove the DLC's from their positions; however, everybody needs to come out in force and add help to spread the truth and dismantle the lies.
And just because we like it so much... Feel free to print one out and take it with you!!!
posted by All of Us at
4:50 PM
79 Comments:
I think the notice just went to parents suspected of supporting the DLC's. So far I haven't been able to find a DLC critic/parent that has been invited. This is similar to what happened at the last 'parent' meeting about two weeks ago.
I plan on going and will ask who was invited.
For your information, the above mentioned meeting notice was sent through the U.S. mail to EVERY parent of the VAPAC student body.
I received a letter today, Tuesday, barely 24 hours before the meeting. I wonder how many parents will be able to come on such short notice. Obviously some parents received their letter at least a day earlier than other parents. So far I haven't heard of anyone not getting a letter, except the parents who have already taken their child out of VAPAC. Those are the parents to whom I would really like to speak.
I do want to correct my impression that this was an invitation only meeting. I got my letter yesterday afternoon. However since this was scheduled with Mr. Grimes after the last SCUSD board meeting and letters weren't sent out until Sat., the late notice will prevent some parents from being able to attend.
I also object to the revisionst history of the school presented in the letter. Joanna and Arbatel weren't the only people involved in starting the school. How about giving some credit to the teachers and the parents of Sac High who also worked hard to get the school started.
Could someone post the contents of the letter? Can current and former teachers attend? Who sent the letter -- the district or the school?
the letter was sent out by VAPAC, specifically signed Karen Ryan at the bottom. Here's a transcript, be warned it's lengthy:
1st paragraph general meet times already mentioned.
Introduction
As you may be aware, the SCUSC has place Joanna DLC on administrative leave. This action has raised a number of questions regarding the role of the district in regards to VAPAC and the authority of the District has under the charter to act in this capacity. Ultimately, the Board of Ed. for the SCUSD in collaboration with the Board of Directors for the Visual & Performing Arts Corporation must clarify the role & relationship the VAPAC has with SCUSD. It is VAPAC's desire to work amicably with the Board of Ed. to resolve these questions.
History
The Visual & Performing Arts Charter School was founded by Mr. & Ms. DLC & modeled after the Visual & Performing Arts Centre magnet program at the former Sc. High School. It ws designed to operate as an independent non-profit corporation with authority to set policy, procedure, budget, and employee selection; however, in its formation, Mr. & Ms. DLC with District support elected to retain all employees as employees of the District in order to protect the return rights & life time helth benefits that some teachers enjoyed. Although this unusual arrangement was beneficial for some of the faculty, due to the fact that the charter school was bound by the collective bargaining agreements between the District and the unions, it created a number of significant impediments to the development of the charter school; as a result, VAPAC informed the district in 2004 of its intention to submit a modification to the charter that woud allow all employees to be employees of the corporation.
At Issue
District is asserting that is has the authority to remove Joanna DLC from her position as Director at the VAPAC charter school based on the sharter school's current employee relationship with the District. However, under the current charter provisions the Board of Directors for the Visual & Performing Arts corporation is charged with evaluating the Director, Joanna DLC, and has expressed both its support for the Director & its intention to retain the Director in her current position.
It is very important that the District & Board of Ed. gain first hand knowledge of the experiences & opinions that parents have of the school & administration. Your participation in this meeting is critical to assist VAPAC's efforts to resolve these matters. Thank you for your continued support of VAPAC.
Karen Ryan
VAPAC Parent Link Coordinator
Lapdog needs to have her own ethics examined! Mentally ill people do seem to stick together.
It should be pointed out that:
(a) The charter says that she and the son are district employees
(b) the "sham" vote of confidence held last year did not garner the DLC the 60% required to keep her in her position. Also, her refusal to recuse herself from the vote calls into question the legitimacy of the vote as well.
Karen Ryan's letter (if indeed she wrote that letter; I think Arbatel did) angered me. Who is she anyway and what does she know? By the way, how was the "Board of Directors for the Visual and Performing Art Corporation" formed? Even an idiot can tell Joanna and her son were behind this.
As a parent, you should know whether your children are receiving a good education: are they in classes with more than 35 students, with different levels and different subjects? are there enough books, learning materials, computer lab, science lab, library? does the director attend parent conferences, especially when your children are not performing well? does she put your children's education first, or her own hidden agenda, which is to become rich and famous, first?
You people seriously need to get your facts straight- I for one know Mrs. Ryan, and she's not mental nor is she a bad person. I know her as a friend, and you people are stupid for calling names when you don't REALLY know what's going on! All you're doing is making up crap and saying whatever the fuck you want just to get innocent people into trouble, or make a situation worse by giving into the rumors. If you don't like the school, why do you fight it? Why not just make it so much easier for all of us and just LEAVE?! You wanna know the truth? I'll tell you what's going on in classes- the children are out of control, (a group of seniors mostly) who make it impossible to work, who talk throughout entire classes and ignore all warnings and discipline given to them. They act like they can do whatever the hell they wanna do, and they do it too- throwing books across a room, getting up and walking out, being highly disruptive and incredibly annoying to the point of virtual insanity on the part of those of us who care enough to pay attention in class. I'm not the only one who's complained about this, in fact, several people including Mrs. Ryan's daughter, have complained about them. You people need to get off your high horses and actually pay attention to the real problems that are going on, not the false made up things or things that have been blown wildly out of reality. I feel that it isn't always a teachers fault if they simply cannot control a group of people, since I've seen actions being done to make them stop, only for them to be ignored. I do not understand the mentality of students like these- one goes to school to learn, not to drive everyone else nuts. Thank-you for your time, please be more respectful to people. Name calling is so juvenile, and highly immature.
Humm, if there were a counselor there they could give you a list of community resources for theraputic assistance.
Lady, you really only give our complaints that much more creedence. The chaos reflected in the student body reflects the chaos in the administration and the cronyism that the DLC's have displayed leads to a general lack of respect from both parents and students. If the DLC's were more equitable and even-handed, the student body might react differently; however, the long and short of it is that they play favorites, and the students are rebelling against that. A competant administration would have the ability to control their student body.
Unfortunately, while VAPAC has the most potential of any program in the SCUSD, the people running it and the parents supporting them are uninformed. And generally, the parents who support them are the ones who curry the most favor. Lady, "if you don't like it just leave" is not a mature response to the situation at VAPAC. Besides as a taxpayer, I have a right to send my child there, and he has a right to a quality education. It is not their school; it is not your school; it is not my school; it is OUR school.
However, since you seem to be a supporter, please justify the outrageous salary that has other district administrators joking that perhaps they should apply there?
Could you also please justify how an administration whose student body is out of control (as you reort) is not responsible for creating that situation>
Also, please tell me how, now that those "bad teachers" have left, the same problems persist?
I eagerly await your responses. As to the the criticism of Ms. Ryan, I have seen the complaint she wrote about the "bad teachers" last year, and we have all seen her put her own interests before that of the general student body. We are frustrated, and if she, or you, cannot handle the criticism, then perhaps you and she should rethink your position on the situation or stay out of the fray.
That was well stated, thank you!
Lets see, was that a bi-polar experience or what!!! Ya HOOOOO
Shut the fuck up you coward, Mrs. Ryan's doing all this for us, and what do you have to say to it? Is that all you could think of? Or maybe it is you who is in denial? I know for a fact these things she says are true- since I'm also a friend of her daughter, whom I often see so tired from staying up at VAPAC for hours on end after the rest of the students have gone home that she can hardly focus. But she does it to make the rest of the school better. She even has to deal with people teasing her, and saying things like 'she can do anything because she's Mrs. Ryan’s kid' and so on. I honestly think she should be left alone; she hasn't done anything to anyone, and is one of the nicest people I've met this year. I know she doesn't have a lot of friends, but does that mean we have to treat her like she's got some disease? You guys seriously need to read what Mrs. Ryan said. It says a lot about the truth, and I defiantly support everything she says. I stay anonymous because I'd rather not get the same treatment of teasing. Quite frankly, I'm not as brave as Mrs. Ryan’s kid. Thank-You for your time once again, and as before, take a look at yourselves. rethink what you're doing. and about those kids behaving baddly because of the problems? Uh. No. They act that way because they don't simply don't care.
Isn't copying someone else's paper word for word plagerism? Your daughter should have flunked that course. Ms. Seigert is actually a really sincere person who really loves what she does. That's why she is a very good teacher. As with Melchor, he's talented as well. Your information about him seems misinformed and opinionated. I have never witnessed Melchor doing the above mentioned actions in his classroom. If you knew him Ms. Ryan, then you would realize he is really intelligent and would never mention anything political/personal about JoJo and Arbie in front of the student and especially your daughters. You do work hard for the school but it seems like you are very underappreciated by not only the "big bad" old staff but by the DLC's themselves. I thought you could have used a little more praise while I was a student there. My only dissatisfaction is that accusations about quality teachers are being made. The DLC's actions warrented the district to put JOJO on administrative leave. They wouldn't have gone forward with that action unless they were swayed by real facts. To the young man or women who keeps swearing on this board, you make me ashamed of being a VAPAC grad. Please use more choice words when expressing your anger. Adults aren't the only ones reading these blogs.
Thank You,
Milo
Mrs. Ryan.
It amazes me how you resemble the DLC’s, especially Joanna.
Don’t you get it? VAPAC will never succeed as long as it’s under the administration of the DLC’s. That’s why a whole bunch of teachers and students left last year. That’s why Joanna was placed on administrative leave. That’s why things got to where they are today.
In regards to the things that you mentioned you did at VAPAC, they were also done by the other parents and teachers. The difference? These people don’t brag. As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t have written that; because a lot of what you did were not allowed to be done by someone who’s not a school employee. The fact that you got to do these things indicates how badly the DCL’s were running the school.
The district makes mistakes here and there. But I believe they made a good decision putting Joanna on administrative leave and spending time to investigate the matters.
How can you help make things better for VAPAC? Stop lying and have some integrity. You know if your daughter had happened to have problems with the DLC’s, you wouldn’t be so supportive of them now and the complaints you would have for them would be a lot more bitter.
Did anyone here attend the meeting last night, and could you give a summery of what took place, I was unable to attend due to other prior commitments.
Karen,
I'm one of those parents that have worked at the school. By my estimate I put in over 400 hours the first two years of VAPAC, along with attending many performances even those that my child wasn't in. I drove the shuttle bus the first year of school among other things. Last year I spent the first month of the school year trying to keep track of all the scheduling changes. Most days I worked 8-10 hours with no lunch unless my daughter brought me a sandwich from the cafeteria, most days the line was too long for her to get me something before her next class. Going to the bathroom was usually the only break I got most days. And the work didn't end when I went home. I took class changes home with me that I couldn't get to. To prepare the class rosters for the teachers it took me 4-5 hours. I didn't have to do them everynight, but I remember several nights working until about 2 in the morning and then getting up and being back at school by 7 a.m.
So you could say that I worked closely with the DLC's and as you know I am one of their biggest critics with written complaints supported by evidence to the district. Many teachers, parents and students talked to me about their problems with the DLC's. The pattern was similar, someone would voice a concern and there would be no response from the DLC's. If you persisted, you would then be targeted for retribution. This is totally unprofessional. And this is the reason several teachers and students left this last summer.
Why do I think that Joanna needs to be replaced? She isn't up to the job, not only that she has no ability to listen to those that disagree, even slightly, with her. So she isn't going to get better. I know that you and others think that my animosity toward the administration began with the Ari and the dress code issue, but that is not the case. It actually started earlier when I saw some of Joanna's interaction with students which I thought was very unprofessional. Not to mention that while the dress code situation was going on there were many classes that had over 40 students in them, some with over 50 and we aren't talking about P.E. classes. Teachers were stressed out and some had problems with control. What were the DLC's doing about the overcrowding? Well they handed that problem off to Ms. Nish. So instead of concentrating on teaching, she was trying to fix an administrative problem during her off hours. Several parents last night talked about the situation where more than one subject is being tought in a classroom which I know Ms. Nish does to try and make sure that students get their required classes. But what is the impact on the students ability to learn subjects in such an environment?
The dress code showed me that there was no process being followed. I offered several suggestions as to how to handle the situation without losing face, but they were rejected. Not only that but Joanna with you present started to reveal personal information about Ari and her mother to me. This was totally inappropriate, not to mention unprofessional. In this same meeting I was told that VAPAC was now a college prep school. When I objected that as a parent who had sent their child to VAPAC as a Performing Arts school hadn't been notified of such a change there was no reply. It was also mentioned that this change in the dress code was due to younger students being afraid with no supporting evidence provided. It also turned out that the new dress code was put in place without the teachers approving and without a vote by the PTSA. An announcement was made at an assembly the first day of school but no notice provided to the parents until almost the end of September. How come you as the parents representative on the VAPAC Board didn't call a meeting of parents? In fact until Joanna was put on leave you never called for a parents meeting which is part of you duties as called for in the charter.
I tried for several months to find out what the VAPAC process was for handling complaints or appealing administration decisions with NO results. Yes, I kept my mouth shut and tried working with the VAPAC Administration. When the farcial Vote of Confidence meeting occurred with Joanna voting for herself and you and the VAPAC Board remaining silent, I realized that it made no sense to keep working with the DLC's and you. Do you remember me having to explain why it was a conflict of interest for Joanna to vote? You had never even read the VAPAC Charter or MOU at that point! I doubt that any members of the VAPAC Board at that point had read them other than the DLC's. Have you read it yet? After the February 15 meeting, I wrote up a complaint and filed it with the district.
I have been prodding the district and the SCUSD Board for months to remedy the situation at VAPAC. They have been very careful about building a case but they have been hampered by VAPAC Administration delaying tactics (IMO).
Spending a lot of time at the school doesn't mean that someone is working hard, or knows what to do. Misplaced priorities seem to be a hallmark of the VAPAC Administration. It hasn't gone unnoticed that the DLC's responded immediately to the "Wanted Poster" and accussed some of slander. How many times was I and others slandered by the DLC's? That is their M.O.! Talk about unprofessional behavior, look at the witch hunt of students that then went on about the Wanted Poster. How about the testimony of Mrs. Lennox last night when she mentioned that her son was threatened with expulsion this school year because of who he is friends with? Was Mr. Scratton trying to tell us what was coming with his selection of the "Crucible" as last year's play? Or is it just accidently ironic?
As I mentioned last night, I got calls from parents this week wanting to talk about their VAPAC experience but were afraid of the retribution that their children would then suffer. Like Mrs. Lennox, the Rogers, the McLean-Haas family and myself who did speak, those that didn't speak were very active at VAPAC. Why should concerned parents be active at VAPAC if they are going to be shunned or slandered and their children suffer retribution? I will say for the record that my child didn't suffer retribution, so I do appreciate that.
Frankly you should resign from the VAPAC Board along with the rest of the Board and call for elections for a new Board. Let the teachers, students, parents and staff vote for their own representatives.
Since it has been brought up, I do think that your daughter should be left alone and hope that students would not bother her. I do think it would be wise on your part not to bring up her 'learning difiiculties' in public forums which you have on several occasions. Nor is it a good idea to bring up her 'copying' another students assignment. Did you put her up to it? What was the purpose? Your slanderous remarks about Ms. Siegert and other teachers at public meetings has been very inappropriate and wins you no support, but it does show how you and the DLC's respond to those that are concerned about how the school is run.
If you and the DLC's don't like parents, teachers, staff and students bringing up their concerns start a private school. VAPAC is a public school and we have a right to participate in how it is run as well as helping out at the school.
Ken Adams AKA "Black47"
I have asked someone that attended last night's meeting to post their notes at this site. Hopefully they will have time to do so.
Let me tell you guys something. Like Ronald Reagan which by the way is the greatest president of all time, Joanna is just as effective. How dare you make these accusations against this great american. Ken, I'm ashamed of you and your evil liberal ways. Stop posting my name.
Sincerely,
Karen Ryan
Karen, YOU NEED SOME HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! Put some psychotropics in your water and chill! You have made a complete fool out of yourself.
Sara, You are are great person. This is not about you. You are a good person. Your mom is just not making good choices for herself in the public or educational eye. You are ok.
Yea Sara, This is not at all about you. Just about your mom not being able to make good choices. I wish you were at my school, everybody would love you. You are unique.
Karen,
Thanks for proving my point with your response. You answered none of my questions and decided to call me 'evil' because I don't agree with you.
Sorry, no notes were taken because Mrs. Ryan asked that the meeting not be recorded.
Basically what happened was that speakers were given 2-3 minutes to express their feelings and observations about VAPAC. The comments were mixed in their support or concern about VAPAC. I think everyone that spoke was in favor of keeping VAPAC going. Mr. Grimes responded to some of the comments and explained that he was there as a courtesy. He did go into some of the history of how VAPAC came into being.
He could not go into detail about Joanna de la Cuesta's leave because it is a personel issue. He did say that he supported the VAPAC program but that there are legal requirements mandated by state law that have not been fulfilled by VAPAC which if not remedied would result in the revoking of the VAPAC charter.
Mr. Grimes was rather emphatic about the fact that the VAPAC Administration did not follow up with an agreement he had with them before the school opened. There was some discussion that part of the school is not Field Act compliant and that he and other SCUSD Board members were not willing to be personally responsible for this situation which is why VAPAC became an independent charter rather than a dependent charter.
I know that these comments are totally inadequate to cover a two hour meeting, but it is the best I can do for now.
Mr. Grimes did mention that district staff is trying to set up a meeting at VAPAC about the situation and hopefully you will be given enough notice to attend that meeting which should be informative.
You DO realize that wasn't Karen right? She doesn't post on here as anonymos, and besides that, she wasn't near a computer at the time that was posted. Honestly eople, use your heads.
Furthermore, Arbatel is the most handsome man in the universe. I'm trying to get dave to look just like him. Leave us good looking people alone.
OK, that's a rather sick perspective of things.
My dearest Karen Ryan,
I can see from the laundry list of good deeds you posted that you're really hurting for a pat on the back-- and you totally deserve it. What you need to realize is that the average, hard-working, God-fearing, meat-and-potatoes American parent does not have time to do inhuman amounts of charity work for their kid's school-- most people have jobs. These parents, although obviously inferior to yourself, have the very same right to an opinion about VAPAC and the dlC's (and take action based on those opinions), they have the right to be angry when their children's academic needs are not being met, and most importantly, they have an inalienable right to protect their children (meaning from the dlCs). The fact that these parents are blogging on this site proves that they care about VAPAC and their children's education.
Take it from somebody who knows: Joanna de la Cuesta is not a safe person for children to be around. While I am not credentialed to attest to her mental health, I can say from experience that she does not give the impression of being completly stable. Sane people do not pull children from their classrooms to yell at them and reduce them to tears. Sane people do not fixate on one (honor)student with an unruly hair color, while hundreds of others don't have text books. Sane people do not make enemies of (perfectly lovely)15-year-old girls.
As for your comments about Ms. Siegert, Ms. Spilman, and Mr. Melchor, I really don't think you are in any position to cry slander regarding the dlCs. I've never heard of this Ms. Pacman thing (i would love to hear more about it as i am confident it is an outstanding piece of literature), but i have complete faith in Ms. Siegert's judgement, and I'm willing to bet it was completely appropriate for her students (who i will remind you are not children, but rather young people on the cusp of adulthood). And I've never heard of a parent being so indignant because her child was not given a good grade on a plagerized paper. I really don't know Melchor or Spilman that well, but I do know that they (along with Siegert and Fox) were favored among students because they were fair, honest, and genuinely cared about their students.
And lastly, I do not agree with you in saying that people who choose to blog anonymously are cowards-- they are concerned for the welfare of their children,whoare at the mercy of the dlC's 5 days a week.This fear is not unfounded- the dlCs are fond of scaring children.
I wish i could say more but i really must go--
sincerly yours,
--Ari (the girl with the pink hair).
P.S. Contrary to popular belief, i was not expelled from VAPAC for my hair color-- I chose to leave. I then decided i wanted to get out of high school all together, so I took the CHSPE. I am now very happy at my new school-- Sacramento City College, where I can have whatever hair color i please.
Dear Ari,
Good luck with your pink hair and your attempt at higher education. However, move on and leave VAPAC alone. Word of advise, even intelligent people make dumb decisions. Stop wasting your time on this issue. You must have better things to do. Arbatel and Joanna are great people who gave you a chance of a wonderful education. Just because you couldn't reform into a model student and represent VAPAC in a professional manner doesn't mean that you have to say those awful things about our wonderful school. Why couldn't you be a good student like Vince? Anyways, good luck!
So am I the one who made a dumb decision? I certainly don't consider defiance of an unjust authority to be a dumb decision. I don't think my refusal to bend and alter myself to fit into someone else's ideal of what good little boys and girls should look like to be a dumb decision. I stood up for what I felt (and still feel) was right. I got crucified. It sucked. Even so, it was the smartest decision I ever made. That's why I'm still "wasting" my time with this whole thing. When I left VAPAC, I did so with my tail between my legs. I thought that the dlCs had won, and there was nothing I could do about it. I felt so beaten and broken. But this web site proves that I wasn't martyred for nothing. I won. Ha ha ha, in your face, Ms. de la Cuesta.
As for the comment about my not being able to reform and become a model student, I am curious as to what your definition of a "model student" is. Good grades, I would think, would be one component. I had a 3.85 GPA at the end of my 9th grade year. I was in a.p. English in 10th grade. Obvously "toublemakers" would not fit the criteria. I had one detention in my 9th grade year. No suspensions, no referrals. I had no problems until Ms. dlC decided to wage her war on honor students.
I have more to say, but I need to get to class.
smell you later,
--ari
However, Ari it seems that you are disturbed and infactuated with the demise of the school? Why? You didn't win, while your washing dishes because you failed at Sac City, we will be our own little school. Successful without the melchors and whoevers that want this school to fall apart. Ari and Company, get real and get a life.
Smell you later,
ouch!
I would like to point out to you that you are spending just as much (if not more) time and energy on this issue as I am. I'll get a life when you do.
As for the ridiculous claim that the "melchors" and I want to see VAPAC fall apart-- well, that just makes no sense at all. If we wanted to school to fail, we would have simply left the dlCs alone. I would not have fought so hard to stay if I didn't like it there. Melchor, Siegert, and all the others would have simply relocated to begin with, they would not have fought along with me (and after I left). We did what we did because we want to see VAPAC succeed. I for one would love for there to be a school in which students are truly free to express themselves and be who they are... an art charter school seems like a logical place to do so. But it doesn't really work when that school's own administration is trying it's best to stifle and control it's students-- and blacklist anyone who steps outside the status quo. This type of behavior seems counter-productive at best-- what kind of artist would stand for it?
Lots of love,
--Ari
P.S. I am currently enrolled in college level English and Anthropology classes and I am doing spectacularly-- what were you doing when you were 16?
It doesn't really seem that those "bad" teachers wanted to or contributed to any attempt to ruin the school. I believe that person was removed by the district and placed on leave. None of the information used to remove her from her position was fabricated or falsified. People can try to spin the situation however they wish but the fact of the matter is who's still standing and who's at home? Who is still making excuses? If you want to defend the DLC speak to the specific charges that got her removed from her position: The salary bloat, the budget concerns, the parent complaints and the inevitable dept. of ed investigation.
Those "bad" teachers, if I am correct, are still teaching -- most of them for this district.
Where is your messiah now?
Stop Blogging and get your homework done. No matter where you are currently attending there must be school work to complete, languages to learn, great American novels to write, music to play, etc.
Trust me I know. Adults will work this out not Blogger kids-even if well meaning. So get of the computer and open those texts.
I graduated from VAPAC when it actually meant something, I worked with many of the folks you are talking about. Life moves on...wipe the tears from your eyes and get moving in some sort of positive direction.
VAPAC failed because several years ago the people who founded the popular magnet program moved on and others took over.
Now we are left with only memories. Sac High is in the rear view mirror as are many of our beloved teachers. Parents need to make their decisions regarding where to send their kids.
GET OVER IT. OBEY!
OBEY? Is that you Mr. Young? Save us!
Anonymous said...
Furthermore, Arbatel is the most handsome man in the universe. I'm trying to get dave to look just like him. Leave us good looking people alone.
24/10/05 09:59
----^
oh, that was real smart ...who posted this crap? to cowardly to come out in the open?...I laugh at you.
I find it extremely interesting that the only instances of swearing in these blogs come from those in support of Mrs. Ryan and the DLCs. Are these the mouthpieces that they really want? Are these the well-adjusted, non-colored-hair, model students that Mrs. Ryan believes are at VAPAC? How sad. Also sad is the fact that Mrs. Ryan uses her daughter (who has learning difficulties?) as a guinea pig for plagiarism tests and as a poster child for the learning disabled. As someone who was a part of Vapac LONG before Mrs. de la Cuesta (and where did her son come from anyway? Does he even have a background in education?), it is sad to see what she, her son, and Mrs. Ryan have demolished. What are Mr. Stratton's thoughts on all of this? He seems to be the only name I still recognize! I learned of this website through a Sacramento High graduate, and he told me I wouldn't believe what I would read. He was right! I can't believe that someone who supposedly cares about the school as much as Mrs. Ryan would be so rude and libelous towards others who just didn't see things her way. Vapac died in 2003; let it rest in peace.
so you're defending the people who pose as Mrs Ryan now? honestly I think that those against vapac nit pic everything. U.u' it's very sad the way y'all look at things. Mrs. Ryan didn't use her kid, and wasn't it said before to leave her out of this?
Vapac isn't dead. far from. those of us who care about it are the ones keeping it alive. Vapac will only die when the last person quits trying. Phoenixes are hard to kill, as they say ;3.*not meant to be rude, jus' how I talk.
maybe mrs. ryan feels guilty cause she didnt protect her kid years ago and now she wants to make up for it but doesnt realy know how to
:\ actually, if you knew my story, you'd know my mom was behind me every step of the way. I suggest you look into things before saying things like that. just a thought. She's protected all long as I can remember. I've been through hell and back. you insult my mom you insult me. just knock it off please....:\...its not becoming of you.
this is ridiculous. I have avoided posting here for fear of being called the "DLC's" spy at school again. but this has all gone too far, the purpose of this website, as I have read, was too talk about the problems in the Sacramento City Unified School District, and later on, just this blogs "one and only topic" vapac, and to do something about it. Ok, so Mrs. De la Cuesta is gone, and probably wont be coming back, fine, vapac will survive.
I ask but one thing, please leave the people that try to do a lot for this school, by actually going around and trying to get it done physically. Please leave Mrs. Ryan out of this, and please leave my mom out of this. Mrs. Ryan finally said something because things were being spread about her and her daughter, and some of you took that, twisted her words, and even posed as her. My mom said her mind and twisted that around into, how you wished she would care about other peoples kids and not just her own.
I don’t think I’m asking a lot, feel free to continue what it is you're doing, just stop posting negatively about people.
Loosers can't be choosers as they say...
I only ask why people are picking on Mrs Ryan and related. Surely, as stated before, you all have something better to do right?
You up there saying you're taking college level classes, well shut up, and get to em. I know that college students don't have as much time as you seem to.
As far as the bashing to the board here, I want you all to google some other school districts and locate SAC, vs. others...because...none of you have any idea, how lucky you are.
Tata
I agree with one of the above anonymous posters. Pheonixes ARE very hard to kill, and VAPAC will ONLY die when the last parson gives up. I believe that BECAUSE of people, such as Mrs. Ryan and The DLC's, that VAPAC is even still going. If it wasn't for them, you would not have a the school your kids are going to. VAPAC is a charter school, you do not have to send your kids there. There are other schooling choices for them to go to. So there is no reason for you to keep them attending VAPAC if you do not like it yourself. If you do not see the school as a good enviornment for your kid, don't send them there. Also I agree with Senaru. You do not know what went on in their past, and you have no right to judge anyone because of it. If you do not TRUELY know these people personally do not talk about them as if you do. I know that Mrs. Ryan did not 'USE' her daughter. And you do not have any right to send out such accusations. I do believe that a lot of the people against VAPAC, or the adminestration, have been misinofrmed on many things. Rumors travel quickly, and they change with every person. Do not believe everything you hear. Many people truely care about VAPAC, and strangly believe that it will succeed, and with these people on board for the ride, VAPAC will live on. And I do not think that anyone has the right to try to stop that.
Also a lot of the people posting, are posting as anonymous, I would like to know WHY. A few REAL reasons you have. Mostly these people are AGAINST the DLC's, and Mrs. Ryan. If you TRUELY feel this way, and what you are posting is FACT, you should show your names.
And as for you people who are posting pretending top be people who you are not. It is not flattering, we are not falling for it, it does not persuade us to change are position on things, and it makes it look like the only way you can get by with this, is by slandering so just stop.
And please remember, as said before, VAPAC will ONLY dies when and if the LAST person truely gives up.
Sincerely,
Katherine ( Kat ) Holder
I completly agree with the above. If everyone else gives up, I know one person who will refuse to ever truly let go. in fact, she told me what she plans to do if Vapac goes down. she said, 'like the phoenix we clain to be, I will start the program anew. far away from people who do these things to us. I will never let Vapac die, because I believe in it to the last shred, in the very fiber of my being.'
anyone who knows her personally knows who said this. she only told a few, and she is, if you havn't already guessed, Senaru. (since thats what all her friends call her, if they respect her like I do. She's one of the most dedicated people Involved with this, and no matter what happens, she will never give up. therefore, VAPAC will never die.
I agree with the one above me, I am not completely sure who you are, but if you wouldm email me at My_smile_is_your_sorrow@yahoo.com And for the people who might not like me for believeing in VAPAC, send me all the hate mail, or what ever you wish to call it, you like. I will read it, and respond. But I would like to talk to those of you who still believe in VAPAC. I wish more people had enough faith in VAPAC then just a select few. I know that VAPAC will live on. I am looking forward to watching it grow for the years that I get to enjoy attending it.
Sincerely,
Katherine ( Kat ) Holder
I would like to appologize for all my typos in my previous and future posts.
Sincerely,
Katherine ( kat ) Holder
to anonymous, R.E. "stop blogging and get your homework done!"
I don't appriciate your condecending attitude toward the teenage bloggers on this site. The issues discussed here first and foremost concern the students who attend VAPAC, and I for one think that their opinions matter most, since it is their school and future that is on the line. As for myself, while I no longer attend VAPAC, I still have a personal investment in the issues at hand (for reasons I should hope all of you are aware of), and I will continue to concern myself with this as long as it interests me, thank you very much.
My advice to you, anonymous: stpo blogging and go back to work.
p.s. to the other anonymous who told us all to shut up: I have posted what, like 5 messages on this site? Since when do college students not have any spare time at all? Shouldn't you be hitting the books right about now, too? As for telling people to shut up because you don't agree with what they're saying, it's called free speech, honey.
As a parent of two former students of VAPAC you children who are posting are only afraid of VAPAC closing and you having to go to another school like Hiram Johnson where you will not survive. I worked at VAPAC last year for FREE too (BIG DEAL)!!! I saw with my own two eyes what was going on and then took my children OUT of VAPAC!!! The school is not safe if the dlc's are there. My child was assaulted at the school and Ms dlc did not care. I waited 3 hours in the office to speak to her and she wanted me wait longer so she could show the school off to some money people. She does not care what happens to the students only that she can bring in MONEY to put into her and her sons pockets. By the way, I never saw Mrs. Ryan at lunch time doing anything!!! That is when I was there and I didn't even see the dlc's or Mrs. Ryan at lunch. Our kids were given crummy Subway sandwiches and Mr. dlc usually did not order enough so some of the students went hungry. So where were you really Mrs. Ryan, oh yeah, maybe in the dlc's office chit chatting. But you were not outside watching the kids or cleaning the school grounds!!! I know that for a FACT!!!!!The classrooms are still over crowded and the students are not safe. More teachers need to be hired to cut down class sizes. Mrs. Ryan, WHY???? with all the money the dlc's were getting paid did they not hire a janitor to clean the boys and girls bathrooms??? They drove around in BMW's. Who really wrote Mrs. Ryan's post???? or was it pre-written for her post????
My children are now honor students at their schools and their behavior is MUCHHHHHH better. Ari I remember seeing you in the office all the time, you go girlfriend.....You will be successful in your life now that you are not being ridiculed by Mrs. dlc because of your hair color. I am proud you posted and told your side of the story.... I have been away from VAPAC for a year, just finally got my childs CASHEE scores. She would of had to retake them because Ms. dlc never mailed them to me. Thanks to Amari Watkins I now have them. For you other parents who don't have the scores... Call the SERNA center and speak to Amari Watkins, she helped me!!!! I am so glad Ms. dlc is gone and now maybe the district office can get some order to the school. The students at VAPAC will finally LEARN something positive and they might have a future.
Mrs. Ryan was always in the lunchroom, in the kitchen helping serve stuff out. this year she took over wensdays for a while, and also is a big help with a lot of different things during lunch! don't open your mouth unless you have a good idea of what you're challenging. I'm sure a lot of the VAPAC supporters would back me up on the fact that Mrs. Ryan really does everything she says she does. Who are you to say she does nothing? were you ever there to help out? did you ever stay after school for hours on end helping out with a clean-up from some event? if you had, you'dve run into Mrs. Ryan quite a bit m'dear.
other than that, there's a reason they called a group of people 'VAPAC Fairys' because they did work and no one saw them.
Dear Ari,
Never said shut up. I have my masters degree and I am currently an educator. I applaud this site and its paticipants. Worth, the creator of this blog,was one of my students.Simply put, I feel that the time has passed-the folks that created VAPAC endorsed what St. HOPE got started.
You may debated this, but it is fact. St. HOPE will fall away soon enough and Sac City will get Sac High back. Maybe then a new VAPAC as well as Sac High will be born or is that reinvented?
Take care Ari-long may you run...
Folks,
Ms. Ryan and others are not the problem. In fact their efforts only distract us from the real situation. It's not important what Ms. Ryan or anybody did; what's important is that the SCUSD found enough solid evidence with our complaints to remove Joanna from her position. For supporters of the DLC's, and as previous posts suggest, stop trying to pin everybody else with trying to get the school closed down and concentrate on the very real issues that got the mother removed:
Salary
Budget Concerns
Parent Complaints
Special Ed. Complaints
Yes the DLC's and others have attempted to hurt the reputations of certain people by insisting that they had some role in trying to close the school; however, we should all focus on the facts. Joanna's activities got her removed. In public education, complaints are a dime a dozen, but only those with just cause will force a district to take the action that it did. That so many people had to step in and assume some type of leadership role or extra duty (both parents and teachers) is only indicative of a school that is floundering, disastrously run, and doomed to failure under its current leadership.
Joanna may have had good intentions. But we all know the saying. She made some bad decisions, and when called on them, instead of working with parents and her colleagues to remedy the situations, she dug in her heels, became entrenched, labeled anybody with advice as dangerous dissenters, and declared VAPAC "her school." Joanna led to her own downfall. Her ego and pride were her undoing.
So here we stand. A lot of people have positive energy about keeping the school open -- both supporters and detractors of the DLC's -- and both side are going to have to work to keep this thing going and headed in the right direction. The important thing for both sides to remember is that everybody wants to see this thing work, and no one person's contribution in this endeavor will be any greater than the next.
Hopefully, what people understand is that most of the credentialed staff that left are the folks who alerted the district and dept of ed that there was trouble in river city, along with parents and students who had been treated unfairly in a public educational setting by a leadership company that was and will always be unethical and discriminatory in their own values. The issues with sped had only to do with the lack of compliance on the admins part and continued malpratice of educational ethics . The sped staff( teacher and aides) called attention to issues and turned over to the State Depart of Ed and the scusd DO, situations that occured relating to confidentiality and mistreatment of RSP students. The budget issues were filed with both the dept of ed and the do by staff and parents. My child and myself have met with a number of dept of ed people in regard to questions about budget, report card issues, transcripts and the overall lack of adhesion to ed code.
All of the issues that have fallen on vapac are the result of an Incompetent admin. That's all. The folks (students, parents and staff) that left were the whistle blowers. They all saw the writing on the walls. They have gotten on with their careers and lives very successfully. If they were the problem..they would be on admin leave not "the mother".
But then.. the denial of the facts by the kool-aide brigade will always keep us abreast that there are lots of unhealthy people in the world. Sick minded folks do flock together...that is the continued saga of vapac. That too is why whistle blowers are protected, as is the freedom of speech (thank you Ari.).
Just another whistle blowing parent.
"The students at VAPAC will finally LEARN something positive and they might have a future."
Excuse me, but learn your facts before you post. For the first time in my educational career, I have wanted to learn. VAPAC, and its administration, office staff, and teachers, have worked for me, as a student, to reach my potential to learn. I have never actually wanted to wake up in the morning to go to school, ever since VAPAC, I hate the weekends, and can't wait to get back to school. The De la Cuesta's, Mr. Stratton, Mrs. Ryan, and many others have worked hard to help me to succeed, nobody has ever done that for me before. I have learned a great deal, and will continue to learn as I have been for the first time in my school life at VAPAC. My future is bright, and I feel for the first time, I have the ability to succeed, and THAT is thanks to VAPAC
I feel for the first time, I have the ability to succeed, and THAT is thanks to VAPAC, it's administration, and wonderfuly helpful teachers.
Andrew Lemons
andrew,
you only succeed because your parents come up with excuses on why you can't do your school work. They complain to JOJO and Arbie and they go with your parents plans. I hope you become a better actor than a student or you are in for a rude awakening!
The bottom line is that the school district has much better things to do than investigate school administation that has not done anything wrong.
Teachers who quit their jobs and get better ones at other schools= good; administrators who are put on leave and suspected of (gross) misconduct= bad
It's as simple as that.
Judging from the times, it appears that some of the students are posting from school. If they're at school. Nevertheless, kids, I'm glad that you are succeeding at this school and I hope that you continue to do so. However, the sad fact of the matter is that the DLC's have done some questionable things which is why the mother has been removed. That is a fact. Unfortunately, the DLC's and others are not above telling untruths to confuse the situation or refocus the attention. Kids, ask yourselves: why isn't the mother here? You know what she's been accused of doing; you know that many parents and students have filed complaints and spoke with the Ed. Department. Connect the dots and figure ot the truth. Maybe it sucks, but the woman was not the saint that many people are attempting to portray her as. I believe that her current situation bears that out.
I agree with Andrew- Before coming to this school, I honestly wasn't doing well. since coming here, I've actually made friends, something I've never truly had. I've succeded in my classes and gotten better grades. Learning has become fun, as well as something to look forward to. Here at VAPAC, my life dream was realized, and I have become a better artist now. This school is an awsome place, and given time it will become greater still.
Nobody's arguing the point Sara. And with the DLC gone (and hopefully not returning)the school will become greater and greater still.
Dear Anonoymous,
I WAS at VAPAC during the lunches last year!!! I am sure a lot of the children would remember me because I was the parent with the infant in the stroller working in the lunch room!!!!!! Soooo I do know what I am talking about!!!!I never saw Mrs. Ryan at lunch time EVER!!!! When I took my children OUT of the Hell hole school I quit helping and my children are now finally learning..... So don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about... You on the other hand are talking C--P. I was one of the parent volunteers at the dances (when Ms. dlc didn't take the dances away) I helped clean the school, cleaned after dances and I don't want a pat on the back for being concerned that my children were safe and were doing what they should. If you know soooo much then you saw me in the lunch room trying to keep the students in order so everyone had a chance to get a subway sandwich, with my infant grandchild. So now what do you have to say to me?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Those of you students that are saying you've done better because of VAPAC and "its administration", think again. Yes, you've done better. But how many of you are there? 3? 4? And how many students and parents are there that have been mistreated by the DLC's? A lot, if not most!
If you're so smart, then you should think about this too: if not for the fact that your parents are "friends" of the DLC's, you wouldn't be feeling so "successful" now.
once again, dont assume, please, I succeeded at VAPAC even in the first year I was there, when my parents were not as involved, and not friends of the De la Cuestas, and half way in to the second year, when my parents were still not friends of the De la Cuestas.
I do not make assumptions about your life, don't make any about mine.
Oh wait, I can't, you don't post your name
Define success Andrew. Is it sleeping in class and passing with a d or c? Vapac is a great school but it has a lot of changes that need to be implied. Discipline, no accountability with student behavior. A young man named shawn stole a $5000 dollar laptop from a student, was involved inappropriate activities in the bathroom with another student and was caught by the DLC's and was caught smoking pot in the band room! His penalty was dentention! What kind of message does that send to the student body? Dentention was a joke, Arbies system was pathetic. There was like 1000+ unserved dententions at the end of the school year. What about letting students(andrew) with bad grades perform in the plays because they were part of stratton's class and it was part of their grade? Any other school in the world would never consider that action. I mean there are so many things wrong at Vapac that it needs to be shut down and fixed before reopening. Students like Andrew are being enabled by the school. I hope for the best for everyone there. However, the best action is for the school to close and then reopen once all the wounds have healed. Karen Ryan has done absolutely nothing for the school but walk around and look important. She spent $1000's on herself buying a computer and fancy desk and refridgerator not the school. In the end, maybe the DLC's have learned a valuable lesson in life?
Actually, the desk I use was purchased by me. The computer was donated by the UPS store as was another one. The refridgerator that the teachers use was purchased brand new by Dave and I and donated to the school. Get your facts straight.
Actually, you probably used the school money to purchase those things?
Ken,Thank-you for speaking with me the other night. As I said, I value the work you have done for the school and you as an individual. I still find it interesting, as i said to you, (and this is for the people on here, not directed as a slam at you, as you did work very hard,that these folks would point out that my cleaning a bathroom was a school employees job, but makes no mention of the fact that as parent helping out, just like me, the work you did was also a school employees job. If people clearly understood what a Charter school is, they would find out that that Charter schools make it due to parental help.) Although we may not always agree on things, it is nice to be able to have a civil conversation. Again, I thank-you for your time and interest. As I said to you, for the record, I would post on here to clear up the issue of my daughter coping those papers. She did not know how to prove me wrong when I said her teacher would not single her out. She AND the student who gave her the papers to copy, agreed that it would prove their point.
Ari, I am not in indignant about grades given on papers that you think were plagerized and in fact the papers were not plagerized at all. If you look the word up in the dictionary it will say,"To STEAL and use (the ideas and writings of another) as one's own". The other student and my daughter AGREED TOGETHER, this would prove the point. I did not set her up to do this, nor did I condon it when I found out what they done. Ari, as to the slander, I was not speaking of the de la Cuestas, I was speaking of and for myself. Please re-read the posts. You seemed to have missed the points here.
To the Grandmother in the lunchroom. As I recall, I spoke with you on many occassions in the lunchroom and even played with your grandchild in the stroller and made sure you and the other mother helping you were given VAPAC T-Shirts to say Thank-you for your help. (to keep the record straight-yes Anna purchased T-shirts for her own children). I did lunchroom sweeps all last year, but was more specifically speaking of this year of which you have no knowledge.
To the person who posted as if you were me, how pathetic can one get.
To the person who made the childish post of Mr. de la Cuesta and Dave, even more pathetic.
For those of you who think some students only get good grades because their parents are friends of the de la Cuestas, well then you don't have any faith in the teachers at the school as these teachers are the ones who decide on the grades, including those teachers who have left the school.
How foolish of you to post your comment about the school's money. Anticipating that is how some of you would think, due to last years show of intellengence on how school monies are spent, I have all records and receipts of these purchases.
I don't really care what Karen or Ken or any other parents did. Once again, it just clouds the issues at hand:
How can one support and justify what the DLC's have done vis a vis her removal from her position? How can one continue to be an apologist for the lack of discipline, academic structure, and educational equity? How can one justify their inflated salaries when the school lacks vital resources to help achieve student success?
I'll even go so far as to say, I really don't have a beef with the DLC, personally. However, I do object to all that has happened with public money. If she wanted to quit the SCUSD (and lose her health and pension, which is the only reason she wrote the charter so that she can stay a district employee)and open a private school -- go ahead. Then she could be free to make her own rules, set her own agenda, dictate student dress, etc. But if she wants to maintain her employeement with the district so that she can maintain her benefits and retirement, then she has to play by the same sytem administration, faculty and staff at other schools have to.
Interesting how we wouldn't even be having this discussion if she would just quit and open her own private school.
Anonymous said...
Actually, you probably used the school money to purchase those things?
28/10/05 10:19
---------^
actually, no. we didn't use the schools money. -.-...what is wrong with you people? :\ i think what dissapoints me most are stupid posts like that. not to be rude, but those really are kinda stupid to say in my opinion. what my parent do with their money is their desision, not yours. thanks for not caring what I say. :3....
Mrs. Ryan,
NO YOU NEVER PLAYED WITH MY INFANT GRANDSON!!!! YOU ARE SUCH A LIAR!!!!! AND AS FOR THE T-SHIRTS, MR. KAPP GAVE THEM TO ME NOT YOU!!!! SO MAYBE YOU NEED TO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT...... YOU ARE SUCH A LIAR....I only saw you twice in the hallway while you were chatting with Ms. dlc and we spoke about me removing my oldest grandson from VAPAC. You said I should give VAPAC a second try and I did but when I came to the school and saw my oldest grandson running up and down the hallways when he was supposed to be in class I REMOVED HIM ASAP!!!! Now he is a honor roll student at Will C Wood getting straight A's. No thanks to VAPAC!!!!!!!!!! YOU NEED TO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!! I NEVER AND I REPEAT NEVER SAW YOU AT LUNCH TIME DOING ANYTHING WHILE I WAS HELPING AT THE SCHOOL. By the way with someone who is receiving disablility you sure are capable of doing alot of work at VAPAC. So what kind of disability are you on???? Makes me kinda wonder if you aren't doing something illegal!!!!! But of course, I can only wonder!!! You and disability and you are able to do allllll this work at VAPAC????? Must be a miracle!!!!
Dear anonymous,
I personally have watched Mrs. Ryan have to sit down because she hurt, and seen her leave early because she didn't feel well. She is always around with her cane, and many students are ver dedicated to helping her. I myself am one. I do anything I can when I can to help her. She is a wonderfull woman. She bought that desk with her OWN money, not the schools. And DONATED her OWN MONEY for hte refridgerator. Get your facts straight. If you do not know these people personally, then don't talk about them as if you do. I saw Mrs Ryan almost every single day l;ast year either in the cafateria, or somewhere else doing work she did not have to. She does it FOR the school, so do not accuse her for laundering the schools money for her own personal use. And I agree, I used to DREAD getting up in the morning and going to school before VAPAC. Now I can actually enjoy sitting in my seat, listneing to my teachers. VAPAC should NOT be shut down. And for the person who said this also said a few things about andrew, and shaun. The only way you would know this is if you where a teacher. Because it is very confidential information, that not very many people would know. And who ever is posting on here should know better, as an ADULT, to not use a students name. You never have the right to do that, ESPECIALLY when it is something confidential. I know I would not want one of the teachers/faculty/parents/students saying things so personal; about me openly on the internet. AND my parents ARE NOT friends with the DLC's, and I get good grades, feeling QUITE succesful. All weekend, I can not wait for the moment, I get to walk through the school doors into my first period. I am a PROUD student of VAPAC. ANd you people trying to shut it down are rediculous. If you do not like it you have many mor options.
Such as:
Grin and bare it.
Quit.
Send your children to a different school.
Help out more often to fix it.
But do not complain about the school when you are not involved. because if you aren't there EVERY day, adn you aren;t there to see the school in it's best and worst. Then you have NO right to say anything about what goes on.
Thankyou for listening to what I have to say.
A PROUD VAPAC STUDENT
So, does VAPAC have a text book for every student yet (it's the law)? Do they have any English teachers at all? face it people, that school sucks.
Do you think that they care about following the Williams Act or any other law? I wonder what kind of car Karen Ryan really drives?
Criminals don't care about the law!
.....Who cares what kind if car she drives........that was rather random......if you must know, it was kinda obvious the one she drives isn't anything special, infact, it was an old (nissan?) that made quite a racket. also theres the little black car that also doesn't work well, and her (husband?)'s truck. all of which aren't anything new. not sure why it matters, or why you care.........
wait- what criminals? I see no criminals. Also, we do have english teachers. there's Ms.Sosa (eng.7) Mr.smith, and Mrs.Mangles.
BTW- the school doesn't suck. you're just too narrow minded to see the good it is doing. not everyone is perfect, and the school is new- most new schools (especially charter schools) have rough starts but usually smooth out. give the school a chance.
As a former student of VAPAC I just want to say Thank you to Ken Adams and Karen Adams. I saw both of you work hard around campus and I appreciate the help you offered me. Ken, I remember you driving all the students on days when it was pouring outside and your dedicated fixation on working on my schedule when they gave me a schedule that didn't have a single class had I signed up for. Karen, I remember your face at every VAPAC event and your guiding care for me when things really got sticky for me. Your dedication to the school has made sure I have good memories of my last two years of high school. Don't get discourage, either of you. There are people that appreciate you fighting the good fight, no matter what side you are on.
What I am not thankful for is the destruction that I saw dealt at VAPAC. To say that students are targeted and selected for ridicule would be correct. I have seen it happen and I have been one of the targeted. No student should be fearful of going to school because an adult is going to verbally abuse them until they are left in tears feeling as though they are nothing to the school but another money pot. No child should be afraid of going home because they know that they are going to get beat because of what the administration said to them. No child should grow so insane within the walls of a school that they begin cut themselves and punch in walls because they think violent signs are the only signs that anyone listens, and are still unheard. These are three cases that I saw first hand through three completely different students, all in different grades/social groups. None of these students should have been silenced when these issues came, but they were. Furthermore, they were ambushed and ridiculed until they left by the DLC's themselves.
I am not blaming them for all of the problems of VAPAC but there are certain things that they were involved in that made VAPAC wild and unruly. I know that some students are hard to deal with but letting them get away with all the trouble they cause is no way to handle it. I think everyone should just focus on making the school better, step by step. I do believe eliminating all of the unneeded/bad staff is necessary. My sister still attends VAPAC and I wish to make it a better learning experience than I was given the chance to have. I hope that now that Joanna is on leave the school will once again have it's students be the first priority not the budget.
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