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Two month delay for alleged South Bay corruption cases
WTFEd can not sleep..check out the time. My focus these many years has been on education of students. I thought this was our core mission. Now that my head has cleared from the fog, I hate to say this, of Ed Brand's Spin on everything. I do know his good side. His ego has caught him up in power and control over a quest to be an innovator and thinking out of the box. Because he has not spent sufficient time on District cores issues that we find this mess. He is a brilliant man...brilliant men or women of course can let their quest for power and recognition and yes money cloud the business of Education. You know there are no do overs in Education. These young people will live with what Education the Sweetwater School District gives them. Some will get great Educations as there are great teachers and people that make up this organization. It would have crumbled earlier if it were not for the dedication of our employees. But this cloud and pall of corruption both political and YES bureacratic limits our ability to say to every student you got the best Education possible. My eyes were opened up by the "L" Street, Knott revelations and Alt selections. In the case of "L" this is a poster child of Ed Brand's let's make a deal attitude. The District spending more money than it takes in..per Knott's presentation. This is not Greece!!! The selection of Alt totally defied logic. I don't care if he goes to Church and Temple the same week now. Why would you choose somebody with that baggage when there certaintly there are others who are just or probably more techincally qualified? This stuff bugs me and the delayed arraignment just continues the paralysis of Leadership at this District. This Board needs to come together and reach the same conclusion. It needs a Superintendent that ALL Board members can agree would be the best for our kids. A government that is not united is just not efficient. Just look at our Federal Government and our elected officials. It is time for this Distrct to Unite. For those who have thought just give Ed Brand a chance one more time I say no. If we have to eat this contract so be it. He duped three people into somehow things would be different now..or worse maybe I will take care of you. They are vulnerable after all they face some time incarceration perhaps most likely in some type of work release IF convicted. Remember we have not really heard their side. For instance did Jesus Gandara mislead them into what was permitted. Who knows? Frankly I will let the judicial process deal with the Board members. My point is this crescendo of financial concerns under Ed Brand, the cloud of what exposure does the District really have with "L" Street, and the selection of Mr. Alt yes again under Ed Brand's watch has sealed the deal...it is time he go away. Hopefully we can recoup any payout f. How does he live with himself?— February 16, 2013 3:22 a.m.
Sweetwater school district’s weird, failed real estate deals
After a few days hiatus and sitting back and seeing whether the two District issues of “L” Street and the new CFO would die down it clearly has not much to my chagrin. This is very discouraging. I still feel there are many good things this District does and it ok to think out of the box like Ed Brand has done to a point. However there is a difference between innovative and reckless. I now fear the worst. The hallway chatter is not good. We all have to be careful of what we say but you know in the long run one does have to consider personal values and morals. I know it is easy to take pot shots from the outside on District matters. However I can read the tea leaves. We are in a much more serious situation that I realized. I have to be careful. I could lose my job. Indictments, a reckless real estate investment, and now a CFO who has extreme controversy. What will it be next? You know when I started commenting on this blog I wanted given my intimate knowledge of District matters a different yet humorous perspective. I have seen the good side of Ed. However it has become clearer to me now that I have observed recent events that I may have been fooled by the very person I trusted. You know smart people can be persuasive. He must have also got a PHD in Spin!!! I think we are in a very serious situation. Mr. Knott, if you read between the lines, warned us by saying we are spending more than we receive in recent years. Four Board members under indictment and a real estate investment that could hurt our kids. Internal processes that did not or refused to uncover a virtual blemish free CFO. Where is the next shoe to drop? I have put my heart and soul into this District and tried to believe we were on the right track. I was sick of the negativity and naysayers. While I do not like their hurtful words the real take away from all this rancor over the last few years is that they were probably right. For that I now must say I am sorry to them. I am definitely in the cover my ass mode. More to follow. I must once again go off again to do District work and keep my nose to the grindstone and do my job. I hope the Board and Administration read this and realize your District friend is very disillusioned. We are in serious trouble.— February 14, 2013 5:55 a.m.
New Sweetwater Union financial officer has controversial past
All I can say is wow on the latest story on Mr. Alt in the UT. This has been a double wammy for me with this and the “L” Street issue. "L" Street was a tipping point on my attitude about this District. I just do not know what to think other than I have to do my job and keep an open mind I guess on Mr. Alt though it is pretty hard to believe that Ms. Luzzaro and the UT would make this stuff up. I guess this adds now to my increasing distrust with what is going on in the District right under my nose. It is going to be awkward dealing with my collegues at the District. How does a District like this with millions of dollars at stake conduct business like this without fully vetting a person before selecting a CFO for the such a large responsibility. I would have thought that our kids deserved a no controversy CFO like Mr. Knott who could steady the public perception that something is wrong. Frankly I am devastated by this. I have put my heart and soul into doing my part and then this second revelation. At first I thought it was another cry wolf...now I know it may not be so. Let me get more information and comment back as I have to head out the door on District matters.— February 11, 2013 6:03 a.m.
Sweetwater school district’s weird, failed real estate deals
For those who have followed me I have attempted to interject humor with the very serious business of educating the students. I have seen the good side of this District and what it is trying to do…the Compact for Success for example. I know Dr. Brand knows education and for that I trusted his out of the box innovation that is attempting to get this District moving forward in the 21st Century. I did not want to see what I thought was a few malcontents at Board meetings and Union activists dominate the landscape and public discourse to the detriment of the District. I have been close to the District and its management by Dr. Brand for years. This article and the “L” Street has caused me “extreme pause”. The facts stated in the article and I have no reason to believe that this kind of stuff would be made up are very concerning to me. I had no idea this was going on…or the deal was this bad for our kids as it relates to the financial condition of the District. Frankly there is a difference between innovation and recklessness. I now wonder whether the other so called “out of the box” innovations could also have this element of a “cowboy entrepenuer”. Frankly I am now thinking I may be wrong in my past accusations. Those malcontents may in fact be the right ones…and I may have been fooled. This really disturbed me after I read it. I now have serious doubts about everything. Have I been fooled or did I not want to believe? Just for curiosity sake I checked out the last 990 Form for the California Trust for Public Schools. I noticed Mr. Litchman put down that he works 40 hours a week for this Trust. I hope he does work full time for that salary...I hope too that Mr. Litchman when he signs under penalty of perjury the 990 Form that he does not have other jobs and endeavors that do not interfere with the education of our kids. I hope Mr. IRS is reading this. More to follow from me. Frankly I am devastated by this article. I knew this District owned L but I had no idea that its financial risk was this bad. I wish I could use some of my past humor to lighten this conversation up but it would be inappropriate. Perhaps more info from the District may help. But for now I offer a qualified apology to those I have attacked. Just as I have preached tolerance and understanding of things like the meeting time…..I have now realized I may have been wrong. This is very troubling and has put a damper on me doing the District’s business when I show up on Monday. I guess I should be more observant and realize that some bad things may be going on right under my nose. This story has put a pall on the whole weekend. Rest assured if my understanding of the District has been all wrong I will be there with those calling for reform and report misdeeds. It is not about Ed Brand or any one Board member. It is about the kids. That is where the ultimate loyalty should reside.— February 9, 2013 1:45 p.m.
New Sweetwater Union financial officer has controversial past
Well what did Yogi Berra say...this is Deja Vu all over again...same type of negativity and claims against somebody who is not here to defend himself. It is easy to say these mean and hurtful things against a person who went through a process of selection that was fair and objective from what I know and have seen by the District. My god if Ed Brand solved world hunger these malcontents would still complain about something...Ed gave us bad food or Ed's burritos are not as good as Chipotle or something. Who knows. You want to know what the problem here is folks..like it or not these Board of Trustees were elected by a vote of the people. These elections were certified by the Registrar of Voters. These elected officials chose Superintendent Brand to do a job....as they say deal with it. This is the way Democracy works. Look I know first hand from my many years of experience with this District that it has got a bum wrap. Yet a vocal few make it seem like the District Administration is bad..perhaps those teachers who don't like it need to find another line of work. We need to get qualified teachers and not those who sit around and find things wrong..think a little more about the kids and less about telling the Administration how to manage. You teach..they manage... again deal with it. As far as Yuba College...My guess is your a closet Trust Baby and have the time to dig up dirt on people...and for those of you who think I am some nut right wing tea party or commie..I am non of that. I am a moderate and listen to both sides. I believe Obama was born in the U.S. Some of these comments they are so hurtful. Can you imagine if Mr. Alt or his relatives/kids should read this stuff? It is shameful. Look Ed is being villified because every District needs a boogyman. Some of these Susan Luzzaro bloggers should do something productive like become a member of the Flat Earth Society or something. Signing off until tomorrow when once again I do the District's bidding and proud of it.— February 5, 2013 10:17 p.m.
New Sweetwater Union financial officer has controversial past
Here we go again...taking Internet searches as gospel and then perhaps jumping to false conclusions. Let us sit back and get all the information...Somehow you think Dr. Brand is that out of touch that he would appoint somebody like this for such an awesome responsibility? Let's get all the facts first. We must work together rather than find a way to say no. I call on these activists and naysayers to sit down with Dr. Brand...set up a meeting and I bet he would hear your grievances..let hiim at least explain his side of the selection. We teach tolerance in our schools..I would expect nothing but the same from these "concerned citizens and parents". I think the community and teachers who do not speak up realize that Dr. Brand is a good man. I have been told that many of the teachers actually are afraid to speak up because of retribution from the activist union backed teachers. This is what is wrong with our schools..we need to reward those good teachers who quietly do their job and punish those teachers who do not perform..and my guess is they are the malcontents that show up at Board meetings. How shameful when our kids are at stake..think of the kids!!!— February 4, 2013 5:17 a.m.
Sweetwater's gathering storm
Oh my I wake up and check my email before I do District work today and find out that the vitrole continues against Ed Brand and his fine support team. Many would say this us and them my way or the highway attitude by the so called "activists" gets old and is symbolic of the problems with America today. We must find common ground and work together as a nation. Why don't we set an example ourselves in our little School District world. Duct tape and kazzos and disrespectful behavior by these self appointed experts on everything is just getting under my skin. If thise people are so good why don't THEY apply for District jobs and actually make a difference rather than sititng in the audience taking pot shots. Finally this Bond Oversight stuff has gotten out of hand. They are not elected officials and should act accordingly. I have been involved in this District for years and seen the marked improvement under the leadership of Ed Brand. Don't let the vocal minority drown out those in the know who respect Ed Brand. How many of those so called "concerned parents or citizens" have a PHD? Did they have the real brains to get to the top of the Education Mountain. I think they are jealous of somebody who is truly successful unlike themselves.— January 31, 2013 6:02 a.m.
Sweetwater's gathering storm
Well as Ronald Reagan would say..there they go again. Why does everybody just seem no matter what to find a way to attack somebody that frankly has not had a chance since being finally made the Two Year Superintendent. The Admininstration is trying to make things better...I have seen it first hand...yet the negative energy is not good. I have seen that President Cartmill started this positive move forward and the consenus is most of the public was happy with the demeanor at the last Board meeting. We are on the prescipice of something good. Let's not kill it with more bashing...it gets tiresome. I say we give this six months..let us as they say chill out and give Ed a chance. We teach our kids understanding is good. Maybe us parents should teach ourselves at being understanding and wiling to practice what we hopefuly preach. Please reflect and reach inside yourself and say why not lets give him the benefit of the doubt. Trust me you will feel better about yourself.— January 30, 2013 7:56 p.m.
Sweetwater board meeting times may change
Well I sat quietly here and last night watching the scene...I do agree the meeting seemed to be more civil and upbeat. These will have to be baby steps to get us back on track under very difficult times...that is why the Board chose Dr. Brand to lead our kids forward into the 21st Century. Believe it or not he does listen. As you could see last night he has many balls in the air to assist the Board in conducting the meeting, acting as Clerk of Sorts..he is a man who is willing to do the menial work necessary to represent this District and yet lead us in a major initiatives like Compact for Success and Charter Schools. This nation need less vitrole and more working together in a robust manner towards a common goal. We could start right here at Sweetwater and turn over a new leaf this year..new President and an empowered Superintendent who really wants to do things right. I know so first hand. Please let us bury the hatchet and give him a chance. Energy must go to positive steps. That is what our kids deserve. For those of you who believe in a higher power..God Bless you.— January 29, 2013 10:02 p.m.
Sweetwater board meeting times may change
You may not think so but this dialogue is good...it shows our students that adults can actually act civil whether it be in such a Reader Dialogue or hopefully at our Board meetings. We should all remind ourselves that we as citizen's have the responsibility to set good examples for our kids. They are our future. Seeing grown adults hissing and speaking in broad allegations and innuendos at Board meetings serves as bad example for our impressionable youth. I think as we proceed through this year that all "chill out" and give it time for the new agenda time to work. I am sure under the collective bargaining agreement that teachers could be given release time to appear at a meeting. I have seen first hand how the District really does care about its teachers and workers. We can achieve more if we all work together positively rather than looking for conspiracies or some kind of bureacratic skullduggery. Frankly I think we would all be better along if we just trusted the Administration and give them time. Our negative energy needs to now focus on the many postive District Iniatives.— January 27, 2013 7:19 p.m.