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Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?
eastlaker... My wife and I were approx. the 25th family to move into Eastlake in the fall of 1986. We bought a modest single story three bedroom. Our Mello-Roos bill was about $1,250,00/year. So, I would say your numbers are well on the low side. Mello-Roos funds are shared by many different entities; city, schools and so on to provide services to the community that pays the tax. CVESD's share was moved into new schools in a very timely fashion. SUHSD likes over-crowded schools. Just saying!— June 14, 2012 7:33 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?
Excellent article Ms. Luzzaro. Excellent response to Dr. Brand's post as well. It is my belief that the SUHSD has moved beyond the casual borrowing from the various Funds to make ends meet on the occasional basis, and has now moved to the borrowing of large sums of money, tens of millions, to run the day to day operations of the District and service the debt for the previously borrowed funds in months past. Even Dr. Brand said this amount was approaching $80,000,000 as early as September, 2011. He also said the only Funds large enough to provide those kinds of numbers were the Bond Funds, and he intended to use them. After all, if we don't then we would have to borrow the money from a bank. We have moved well beyond September 2011, and the need for monies has grown only more desperate. A promise to not raid the Prop. O Funds has only lead to massive borrowing from the State Matching Funds and the Community Facilities Fund (Mello-Roos). These three Funds are the life blood of the construction authorized by the community, first with the passage of the Mello-Roos for infrastructure, with the School District being responsible for the building and upkeep of school facilities WITHIN the Mello-Roos Districts; second with the strict language that was written into Proposition O , that the money was to only be used for modernization of schools buildings and facilities; and thirdly by the State Matching funds that are to be used for the specific purpose stated in the application for the State Funds. Because the administration of SUHSD sees these funds as fair game, there has been a general slow down on construction of the Prop. O projects. Not because there isn't work to be done, but rather because so much money has been borrowed from these funds that there really isn't enough money left to keep construction going. SUHSD administration will tell you that we have plenty of projects going on. The reality is that the few that are still ongoing are mostly watching the paint dry. Last nights Board meeting had an agenda item regarding the Districts budget. One of the supporting documents that described the State Matching Funds balance had this line under expenditures... "Other Outgo - $51,456,564." This money was not spent on supplies, services, administrative expenses, site/facility expenses. It was spent on "OTHER."— June 12, 2012 11:23 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?
Leadership starts at the top. The very top! Four of our current Board members really don't pay much attention to what goes on beneath their station. The rely on reports from the Gandara, and now the Brand as to the well being of the District. If the Sup says it A-OK, they nod their heads and go back to their lives. They don't ask questions, because questions require effort, and effort is something these four do not want to put into this job. It is this very lack of effort that kept some of them from learning about State laws regarding gifts to public officials. It is this same lack of effort that keeps them from asking the hard question of their Superintendent and the mood of their community. It is this very lack of effort that keeps them from even asking those people who know the honest answers, the very necessary questions regarding the day-to-day business of the District. Instead, they continue to take the easy path, the path they have been allowed to take for years, because no one was paying attention. Well, that is no longer going to work. The community is asking some very hard questions regarding the District's budget, it's spending policies, and it's educational goals. No longer are the answers so easily given. The answers today require deep thought, sound logic, and above all, a root in reality. Four of the current Board members almost never ask questions of anybody.— June 3, 2012 7:15 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?
Some of the latest numbers we have received from the State show that the State Matching Fund (County School FF Fund 35) has received approximately $61+ million from the State. Yet, there has been $152 million transferred out of that Fund between Jan. '11 and Feb. "12. There has also been transfers into the Fund of $170 million. If the State has only contributed $61 million, then the rest of the $170 million is because SUHSD is paying back money it has borrowed. That sum looks to be about $110 million. Yes, they are paying it back, but they aren't suppose to be borrowing it in the first place. Looks like money is also continuing to be borrowed from the Prop. O Fund, as well as Mello-Roos Fund. Guess using one credit card to pay the payment on another is alive and well in the South Bay.— June 3, 2012 6:16 p.m.
A Political Scientist’s View on Sweetwater School District’s Turmoil
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead 1901-1978— May 23, 2012 9:32 p.m.
Occupy Sweetwater Activist Cleared of Allegations Made by Boardmember
For most people, the events surrounding Sweetwater Union HSD are abstract concepts. Board members who may have committed crimes while in office, contractors who may have gamed the system, administrators who may have bent the rules to their favor. However, there are many for whom these behaviors violate the very core of their beliefs. It is the concept of "fair play," "the Golden Rule," and "Do unto others...," that form some of the most basic of values that a majority of people hold dear. For most people, it is an alien thought that any of our elected officials would use their elected positions as a means for personal gain, a "me first" attitude, or a stepping stone to higher political office. Yet, it is this self-serving attitude that is exactly what is to be found in the leadership of Sweetwater Union High School District. This attitude pervades the Board of Trustees, the senior administration, and the favored few who find themselves as one of the "in people." Too many insiders currying favor with whomever is in charge, board members looking to senior administration to promote themselves in the public's eye. Their concern is more of "What can you do for me," than "What can I do for the school district?" These people personify everything that is wrong with Sweetwater Union High School District. These people's time should be over. Yet, they continue to hold positions that have major influence, not only on the well-being of our community's students, but also on the financial solvency of the District as a whole. There is no real argument as to whether or not these people should be replaced with more responsible citizens. The questions are, and shall remain "How long do we tolerate this behavior until each and every one of us takes personal responsibility to bring about change?" " How long shall we wait until we've seen enough, heard enough, or had enough of what has become an almost daily ritual of scandal, hubris, and denial before we are willing to take action?" There has never been a more critical moment than now for each and every one of us to stand up and speak as one voice that enough is enough, we have had all we will tolerate, and it is time for the current leadership of the Sweetwater Union High School District to leave, resign, or quit. Please join me in voicing this sentiment to the current Board of Trustees at the next meeting of the Sweetwater Union HSD. In unity there is strength. John M. Brickley, SUHSD, Retired— May 10, 2012 9:54 p.m.
Security Guard at Sweetwater Union HS District Meeting Had Cancelled Gun Permit
As long as I'm on the subject of gun totin', the whole situation at Sweetwater is beginning to resemble a B-grade spaghetti western. You know the plot, the outlaw gang controls the town; harasses, intimidates, threatens the townfolk. Then a few good citizens try to take their town back, and the bad guys bring in a few "hired guns."— May 9, 2012 10:07 a.m.
Security Guard at Sweetwater Union HS District Meeting Had Cancelled Gun Permit
meant to say" gun totin' lawbreakers"— May 9, 2012 10:03 a.m.
Security Guard at Sweetwater Union HS District Meeting Had Cancelled Gun Permit
If a student brings any weapon to school, even a 1" blade, that student will be expelled. A BB gun, loaded or not; a pellet gun, loaded or not; it doesn't matter. School safety is paramount. So, here we have an adult without a gun permit, bringing what I believe was either a loaded 9mm automatic pistol, or a loaded .40 S&W automatic pistol, or a loaded .45 APC into a public SUHSD school board meeting and no one is responsible? Dr. Brand hired this guy, to insure safety for the Board members. What about the public? What about the young children present at the meeting? If Dr. Brand isn't responsible for the safety of the board meetings, then who is? The guy had a GUN in his holster. I have pictures of him that night that clearly show the gun. I looked at the gun that night, and this was no plastic replica. There was a magazine in the gun. To assume that it was "unloaded" is ludicrious. Clearly, the President of the Board, Pearl Quinones, has lost control of her own Board room, Clearly, Dr. Brand, the Superintendent has lost control of providing a safe environment for the public. Sweetwater Union High School District school board meetings are no longer safe to attend. If I can't feel safe while I'm exercising my 1st Ammendment rights because there might be unlicenced gun totten lawbreakers in the room, provided by the very leadership of the District to enforce new draconian rules of conduct at the meetings, where will I be able to safely give voice to my concerns?— May 9, 2012 9:59 a.m.
Sweetwater Boardmember John McCann Calls Cops on Recall Activist
Visduh, Fran Brinkman and I went down to the County Admin office well over a year ago to pull copies of the Form 700's for the current Board members at the time. Jim Cartmill's Form 700 was absolutely full of entries of gifts. We knew right away that Jim was making an effort to report his gifts, so it came as no surprise to us that his house was not raided. John McCann was so new to his position as a member that we did not choose to get a copy of his, so I have no comment on him in this matter.— April 22, 2012 10:50 a.m.