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Land sakes, Sweetwater, get it together
It does appear the lunatics are running the asylum! How can such major decisions be made without the board knowing? How can an executive make a decision that appears to be contrary to the boards wishes? Maybe the board was not clear in their instruction that all these property deals need to stop until they can review everything. Or, they have ok'd moving forward. Or, Calhoun and Glover are moving forward regardless of the boards instruction. Either way it's continued bad news for Sweetwater.— February 4, 2015 6:42 a.m.
Chargers stadium task force "packed"
Don my apologies for not being clear. San Diego is the 5th largest County by population in the US. Even if we are the 17th largest media market as another reader pointed out above, out of hundreds of media markets it puts SD in the top 5%. Again, we are not a small market. Small minded yes , but certainly not small by population.— February 3, 2015 7:39 a.m.
Chargers stadium task force "packed"
Don as usual great story. However, i take exception to you and others always referring to San Diego as a small market. We are not a small market. The definition of market includes, in part, a geographic area. The area of San Diego County is the 5th largest in the USA. If you include the areas of South Orange County, South Riverside County, and northern portions of Baja CA, which are areas the Chargers draw from, you actually have a substantially large market. We are a small minded market, this is true. But a small market we are not.— February 1, 2015 11:06 a.m.
Papa Doug is hiring — in Texas
Visduh $5k per month with Only an AA is not bad. Most that graduate with a BA don't even earn that. And in Austin with its low cost of living Id say not a bad deal to be a lackey/gofer for Manchester!!— January 25, 2015 1:50 p.m.
Condition: bleak
Susan excellent story and great investigative work! This is really an implication on Ed Brand, his Executive Council and the prior trustees. Too bad there is no legal recourse by parents or taxpayers. This really is an example of the lack of accountability and consequences against administrators and elected officials. They cost a district, students, teachers and community millions of dollars and no recourse. I would love to file suit against Brand and others involved in this mess if I could. Calhoun should be fired immediately! He has proven time and again he can't be trusted, does not tell the truth, and is a spin doctor. The fire alarm issue is an example. This is another example. Kudos to the new board for trying to unravel this disaster and in wanting to keep district offices in West CV.— January 17, 2015 9:23 a.m.
Ed's gone, but this Sweetwater shenanigan isn't
It is so good that McCann is gone from the Sweetwater board. Let's hope he does not win the CV City Council race. This type of irrational behalf he displayed in this video is the norm for him. Whether it be calling the PD during a board meeting to report the theft of his lawn sign, filing a restraining order against a parent, video taping the public during a board meeting, having an attorney send threatening cease and desist letters to parents that speak out against him, filing complaints with the employer of a parent who speaks out, now this. Those that voted for him or know and support him, how do you justify it? He was a very ineffective trustee as proven by the above actions and his voting record and siding with Brand. His prior record as City Councilman was also marred by controversy. I only hope our new trustees aren't as hungry for attention as McCann is. He seems to think any publicity is good publicity.— November 22, 2014 12:39 p.m.
iPads are great for porn and video games
Many of us parents lobbied Ed Brand and the Trustees against this. When I was the Bond Oversight Committee Chair, EdBrand called me and asked me to publicly support using bond money for this purchase. I refused. He then send me 4 legal opinions stating it was legal, and I still refused. Not only did I not believe bond money could or should be used, i knew the district was not prepared for this. They did not have the infrastructure nor a plan in place. Many of us knew that the Ipads, along with open boundaries, was Ed Brands response to Chula Vista Elementary Charters pulling students away from Sweetwater Middle Schools. Maty, Kathleen, Stuart, Wanda, Fran, Kevin and other parents, community members, and some teachers, lobbied hard against this. But as usual, Ed Brand would not listen, and as the board was in his back pocket, they acquiesced. I agree, this is a fiasco and the district needs to cut its losses on this. Otherwise, they will continue to throw good money after bad money. Hopefully, this is one area the new trustees will review. Ipads and technology can be awesome if used right. Feaster Charter in the CVESD uses them for all k-8 students. They have a great technology plan, teachers are trained, there are parameters on how they can be used, and use is tied into plans and results. I know its easier here because its a small sample size, but templates for good use are out there. Its just that Ed Brand and the prior Trustees felt they knew better, or had ill intentions in mind. As far as student use and abuse of the Ipads, lets place blame where it belongs - on the parents of those students!! My 8th grader has one, and yes she can access whatever she wants whenever she wants. But we monitor, review and hold her accountable to using it appropriately. Its too easy to blame teachers, the district and others for one thing the parents are responsible for - their kids! Cmon parents!!— November 5, 2014 5:57 p.m.
Enough nepotism and cronyism
And side 2 http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/o…— October 23, 2014 6:51 a.m.
Enough nepotism and cronyism
How about this mailer received on Jim Cartmill...side 1 http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/o…— October 23, 2014 6:50 a.m.
Enough nepotism and cronyism
Excellent comments above! Ultimately, we as citizens and voters have to be engaged and involved. I am glad Sweetwater has area representation. I believe it will result in greater accountability. I know there is fear of influence peddling, but that is always the case. Please know there are hardworking citizens who want to hold electeds accountable. The many who have fought Sweetwater corruption for years, those that continue to question and dig, those that call out politicians like John McCann, who seems to forget the damage he has caused. On that note, those of you in Area 3 of the Sweetwater Union High School District, there will be a candidates forum tomorrow night. My understanding is that Areas 2&4 held a forum at the CV Public Library and only 20 or so people showed up. We need to do better than that! The candidates need to see and hear that the community at large is watching and paying attention! If they see our involvement before they are elected, they will know of our involvement after being elected. Please spread the word and let Area 3 residents know this is our chance to be seen and heard!! http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/o…— October 22, 2014 12:44 p.m.