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Sweetwater district corruption trial postponed
With all that John McCann has NOT done for the students and taxpayers of the SUSD one would think he would be hanging his name in shame vs. attempting self promotion. When and if Mr. McCann runs he can be assured that his poor record of leadership and his voting record as a school board member will be highlighted. Can't wait for the first public forum - I have my examples all written down. Wonder if he is going to have his two page bio read over the intercom - those poor students! ******* McCann was quoted as saying he wanted an election to fill the seat because he did not want the three remaining indicted board members choosing. This is most curious as Mr. McCann has consistently voted in the three board block - Jim Cartmill, Arlie Ricasa and himself. AND allow me to remind you John McCann was the board president who allegedly failed to share a legal response with the other board members which stated 'the gandara' could be fired for cause - instead he allowed 'the gandara' to walk away with a termination date that allowed him to receive retirement - and then there is the legal representation that 'the gandara's' sweet contract gave him. John McCann for City Council - YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!— January 28, 2014 9:20 a.m.
Sweetwater district corruption trial postponed
My fellow community voters - PAY ATTENTION TO THIS CAST OF CHARACTERS - If, when, ANY of them run for office or seek to be reelected to their positions remember the roles they played in the 'largest corruption case in San Diego history'. Time for us to draw a line in the sand and say 'we are not going to take this any longer'! I, for one, am sick of the perceived infiltration of political agendas into our justice system. I encourage all to vet the candidate and NOT simply go along with the party. The SUHSD issue has brought to light the following: party label does not make the person.— January 27, 2014 9:37 a.m.
Sweetwater district corruption trial postponed
erupting - surely Ms. Quinones has learned her lesson about Ed Brand and has heard the rumors of intentions to use with promises of -------. While there is no doubt she and I would never be BFF's the thought of her being used des not settle well with me. Hopefully she is playing 'them' vs. the other way around - we shall see - the truth will be found in the vote regarding who will take Ricasa's seat. It is a shame that Judge Espana did not hold firm and deny the requests for a delay. She was elected to serve the community, not alleged felons and their attorneys. How long are we as the South Bay community expected to wait for justice? Is there no hope that the judicial system works for the common folk? Has the political arena spiraled so out of control that it has left many wondering 'what has happened to America'? Regardless of what Brand says - the South Bay is akin to the typical family and we all know THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SECRET(S) IN THIS FAMILY.— January 25, 2014 7:59 p.m.
Sweetwater district corruption trial postponed
These attorneys have had MORE than enough time to prepare and to calendar the trial. We the taxpaying community would like to have our day in court before we are too old to remember what the charges are. Deals, deals and more deals. Isn't that what got the defendants into this mess to begin with - deals? As we watch our neighbors to the south deal with the potential of a takeover due to insolvency we wonder if fate holds the same for our future, We have a $10 million deficit yet Ed Brand and Tom Calhoun are wanting to purchase a new District office. Unfriending on Facebook - the plot thickens. Secrets told that are being divulged. Steps allegedly being taken to secure that third vote. Pretenders enter carefully, your cover has been blown.— January 25, 2014 6:04 p.m.
Picket at Sweetwater trustee Cartmill's home
I am at a loss, what oldchulares posted above is true. Two bus loads of persons from the District office climbed onto yellow buses, with the word 'school' and the red lights covered over (buses that our tax dollars, schools, parents, and the ASB fund). They (persons whose paychecks are funded by our tax dollars) were 'toured' over to the 'proposed' new District office building. You know, the one our $10 million dollar deficit can not afford to buy. What I want to know is WHY and HOW is this possible in a District that practices fiduciary responsibility? We have not purchased the building, or have we? In truth do we really know what Tom Calhoun and Ed Brand are doing behind our backs with our tax dollars, remember these are not their tax dollars, as they do not live or pay property taxes here. To all of the District employees that Brand and Calhoun just might decide to rile up over my comments. While I value you and believe you deserve a good working environment I value our students educational environments MORE. Some of our students are having to wake up each morning and go to rat infested campuses and walk into delapidated classrooms, on campuses that mirror a third world country, this is wrong. Ed Brand, Tom Calhoun, Mr. Cartmill ( Board President) this is unacceptable. I would recommend that you all get into your nice cars and use your OWN gas and take a tour of Bonita High School - then tell me a new District office takes precidence over our students campuses. Mr. Cartmill, Mr. McCann, Ms. Quinines and Ms. Lopez how do you justify a new Istrict office when you have a $10 million deficit and are borrowing from the Mello Roos fund each and every month? * while I used Bonita High as an example, there are other campuses in need i.e. Eastlake High— January 25, 2014 12:16 p.m.
Picket at Sweetwater trustee Cartmill's home
LightSaber - NO, I do not underestimate Mr. Cartmill's intelligence. But I do question his allegiance to the students and taxpayers. For the majority of my involvement in the mess of what now defines SUHSD I have believed Mr. Cartmill would do the right thing. Even when I discovered that Ed Brand and Tom Hassey had lent him money for his bankruptcy I continued to hope. It appears I WAS WRONG. Words can not define the depth of my disappointment. Fliers, small business cards, signs community wide, especially on the ease side - it is time for this community to get an education about what is REALLY going on. Pool small contributions and lets get them printed - time to shine the light on Mr. Cartmill and Mr. McCann. Why hasn't Mr. Cartmill called for a special meeting to discuss the vacant Board seat? Ms. Quinones is back, so what is he waiting for - marching orders from Ed Brand, it appears so. Any of you following what is happening at San Ysidro? Teachers, those educators (San Ysidro) will be you if you don't get organized, put some verbs into the verbal minutia and get the word out to the community. Tax dollars being used for a new District office when we have a $10million deficit. All factions need to come together and bring about long lasting change! If we do not act and act now we will become the second District to face a takeover by the State. Civil lawsuits against those board members whose votes spiraled are spiraling us into insolvency. There is a precedent. That on top of legal fees, OH MY! If the board members are not prepared to show up, speak up and stand up as our elected representatives, Then have the decency to RESIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just my opinion— January 24, 2014 11:40 a.m.
Final competition of Chula Vista robotics league
I would like to THANK Ms. Salazar, Ms. Hill and ALL of the SUHSD teachers who have and continue to inspire the students of the SUHSD. Please know that ALL of you are respected and appreciated - we, the parents,grandparents, and community members 'GET IT' - YOU SO MATTER. A, ONE, THAT SPECIAL educator can make a difference - you all do it every day. When I was a teenager the football coach at Hilltop High accepted my invitation to be my 'father stand in' at a father daughter chili night. My father had reinlisted and had been sent over to Vietnam - he was a corpsman and, in truth, I lived in fear every day that he I would never see him again. This coach lived in Del Mar yet took time out of his personal life and away from his family to take me. That one night meant more to me than words can explain, for one night I was able to laugh and live in the moment, I am now 64, yet this one act, by an educator (geography teacher and football coach) I have never forgotten. How many SUHSD educators are doing the same, making a difference in their students lives? MOST I AM SURE— January 24, 2014 11:10 a.m.
Picket at Sweetwater trustee Cartmill's home
I would encourage Mr. Cartmill to use the remaining 10 months in SERVING the community vs. Ed Brand.— January 23, 2014 7:15 p.m.
Chula Vista park trail stuck in bureaucratic muck
I am wondering where all of these conservation efforts were when the OLD Imperial Beach Pier parking lot was being hauled to then dumped into the river bed.— January 20, 2014 3:26 p.m.
Picket at Sweetwater trustee Cartmill's home
miagd - as I read your post above I could feel your deep frustration, then I read PencilPokinVelma's words and I sat here shaking my head. Is this what it has come down to? Successful businesses - and trust me this IS a business - are so, and remain so, when all parties are working towards a common goal. In our case we have but one goal - educating students. Our superintendent Ed Brand is failing at that and miserably so. Additionally he has failed at unifying ALL members of the SUHSD family. I TOTALLY support your peaceful walk in front of Cartmill's house and would recommend more innovative actions. In my opinion the purpose being served is drawing attention to the Issues at SUHSD? Why not walk at the corners of busy intersections in Eastlake, Bonita, Plaza Bonita, down at the foot of H street, at the Plaza shopping center in National City, at the Pier in IB, Main Street central in San Ysidro and Third Avenue in Chula Vista. I do however respectfully question why the union has not done more. YOU, the teachers and your union are being painted as selfish and greedy to the voting public. The community is not being educated. Take for example - the peaceful walk - where was the TV coverage? - where was the unions response to Mr. McCann's call for a special election. SUHSD can afford an election but we can not afford to negotiate with our teachers? Something is wrong. We can afford to expend $18million on a new district office but we can not afford to negotiate fair employment benefits? In truth there is NO SUHSD family, we have become splintered factions. WE, the VOTERS, WE the PARENTS have allowed this to spiral out of control. We were foolish enough to believe that simply because someone refers to himself as a minister that he is righteous, we fell for the titles of ------ of the Year, we trusted based on words. - WE FAILED TO DEMAND THE ACTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE PUT VERBS IN THE CAMPAIGN PROMISE SENTENCES.— January 20, 2014 8:04 a.m.