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Sweetwater trustee Arlie Ricasa to resign
eastlaker - as usual, your thoughts and comments - right on target, in my opinion. I have no doubt Brand, Cartmill and McCann will be distancing themselves from Quinones and Lopez. Will be interesting if comments on UT play out and more plea deals are made this coming week. The decision regarding new board member(s) may very well end up in the hands of the County Board of Ed. I urge ALL to write Randy Ward and our representative Ms. Lyn Neylon - while your fingers are at work, can you ask for a full audit by the STATE. Surely Ward and others at the County are aware of the questions we taxpayers in the South Bay have about how our monies are being spent. I doubt if they want any ownership in the predicted financial collapse of our District. What a freakin mess. Hard to believe we are talking about a school district. Grand Jury transcripts read more like old style Chicago gangs with all of the deals and favors, included, our very own 'Bugsy'.— December 20, 2013 7:40 a.m.
Sweetwater trustee Arlie Ricasa to resign
Eastlaker - Bonny Garcia was being sued by one of his partners. Google indicates that he had lost some clients due to his charges. He is GONE - hey, that makes 3 gone, Thank You for the reminder. Where are some of Brands friends? A check of Board Docs indicates HE has hired them as Consultants. One of his fav 5 is rumored to be 'back' - Dianne Russo. Guess Dr. Alt wasn't playing by Brands rule of 'hide the bacon'. You know folks if we weren't living this nightmare it would be hard to make anyone believe this is our reality. And Jim Cartmill, John McCann, Arlie Ricasa keep approving EVERYTHING Brand wants. Oops, I forgot Ms. Ricasa has resigned as of today. Lets see, who is Brand wishing for when he breaks that turkey wishbone? I can think of two for sure. Who would be his nightmare, who could not be bought? I am thinking one such person might be Maty Adato - integrity, trust, fiscally responsible now that might just up the old bp a bit.— December 19, 2013 3:49 p.m.
Sweetwater trustee Arlie Ricasa to resign
bbq - I always look forward to your posts. All of this and more and Brand wonders why we are looking to have him replaced NOW, as in yesterday! This community will no longer tolerate the actions of the past, they are determined to rid the District of all alleged corruption and will expose all who find it acceptable. Fact check - which Board members consistently voted in line with Ms. Ricasa - that would be John McCann and Jim Cartmill. This dynamic did include Ms. Quinines up until RECENTLY - it appears Quinones got the 411 she was not really ever a part of the three (3) Muskateers trio. Now, it is rumored that Ms. Ricasa will be giving the real 411 on the alleged corruption. Thinking out loud here - do I need to continue to use alleged? Oops that is right, of course I do, Brand is still here, can't forget those THOUSANDS he spent hiring a PI, prior to Board approval.— December 19, 2013 11:42 a.m.
Sweetwater trustee Arlie Ricasa to resign
Sjtorres - you fail to remember ALL of this with the contractors donating, it began when Brand was here the FIRST TIME. And when did he leave? Ah that would be on the tail of the a Grand Jury investigation. Audits that are being touted as normal/regular - not what we are being told. Hold on folks this roller coaster ride is going to get real bumpy for some. Lets see when were these folks indicted? And what about the votes since then? Brand was hired when? Brand has got to go! We need a leader that the students, taxpayers, teachers, ALL Administrators and ALL employees trust. Ed Brand is not that man. Oh and those consultants he brought in something tells me under quality leadership some of them are outta here!— December 19, 2013 10:06 a.m.
Sweetwater trustee Arlie Ricasa to resign
Sjtorres - Quitting and then holding our District hostage Questionable spending of THOUSANDS for food, RV work and more - discovered by a Bonita High Student Calling employers of community members who dare to speak during open comment Approving District monies to be spent by a Board member who filed a frivolous lawsuit Firing of good quality employees like Nancy Stubbs Alleged Brown Act violations up the kazoo Eliminating the boundaries resulting in east side schools bursting at the seams Purchasing IPADS when we do not have the capability of handling End Of Course testing - have you heard about the problems this week? District monies being spent on Charter Schools 10 million dollar deficit - L street Transportation fees being added to financial burden of schools and ASB's Federally Protected info being handed over to Promise neighborhoods These and soooooo many more are why Brand has to go! Criminal acts you ask, we shall see.— December 19, 2013 9:56 a.m.
Sweetwater trustee Arlie Ricasa to resign
Who amongst us really knows the whys of the plea deals? While it is rumored that Brand is out there politicking on all sides, claiming to be in the know - unless Ms. Dumanis and Judge Espana consider him a BFF I doubt he knows a darn thing. Brand is a wann b, but we all know that. What of the students? The forgotten ones - the innocents who have for over 4 years watched this nightmare unravel. The young learners, what have they been taught by Judge Espana, who had to agree and who held the most power? I shudder to think. They live and go to school in what is now referenced as one of the most alleged corrupt school districts in the nation. Allow me to ask the question WHAT MESSAGE HAS BEEN SENT? WHERE IS JUDGE JUDY WHEN YOU NEED HER?— December 18, 2013 8:55 p.m.
Sweetwater trustee Arlie Ricasa to resign
Eastlaker- ah yes the replacement for Ms. Ricasa. The old rumor mill is a buzzing - commenters to this board who have GONE AFTER Lopez with a vengeance? Commenters whose identity is known. Oh my! Family favors to allegedly repay or Might this be counterpart to 'friends, here is a benefit'? Mr. Randy Ward, County Board of Ed are you finally understanding that this community is fed up?? We are on a mission and will NOT be stopped - that Sir you can take to the bank!!!!!!!!!!!— December 18, 2013 6:29 p.m.
Sweetwater trustee Arlie Ricasa to resign
Well folks 'the gandara'. Check Arlie Ricasa. Check Two down. This is a win, she is GONE!!!!!! Let us not forget Ms. Ricasa actually cried the night 'the gandara' walked down that center isle at Southwest High - driven out by a community that had had enough! No more alleged deals, no more alleged gifts she has ADMITTED to being guilty. Reread what SPECIFICALLY she pleaded to - HOWEVER, allow me to remind you all of the Board vote earlier this month regarding the finances, the 10 million dollar deficit and the NEW District office. What Board members would cast such a vote - that would be Arlie Ricasa, Jim Cartmill and John McCann. Now the question remains WHY??????????????? What of the Castle Park Middle School FEDERALLY PROTECTED INFORMATION that was reportedly given out to Promise Neighborhoods? Why did the Board ignored this? Why was Dr. Alt fired? When you know better you are suppose to do better - Remember, Ed Brand has been added to the 'gotta go' list if we want to return SUHSD's good name. Education dollars should be spent IN THE CLASSROOM, not on a new plush office for Brand.— December 18, 2013 6:19 p.m.
Santa and Grinch visit Sweetwater District meeting
anniej is who she is, and she is what she is. Goodness knows it is not like I hide what I think or temper my opinions or thoughts. For the record I have never called Mr. Grossman a big mouth. I have however erroneously referred to his self authored book as Big Mouth - Mr. Grossman sent word I was in error and I stood corrected (UT post). FACT CHECK: if you do an Internet search of 'Burt Grossman big mouth' you will find that Google has its own dedicated entry - Burt Grossman followed by a slew of pictures. READER 2 - EASTLAKER --------- voices of reason. Thank You— December 17, 2013 8:58 a.m.
Santa and Grinch visit Sweetwater District meeting
theycallmeacoach - guess there are worse things you could be called. Mr. Grossman and I have a bit of a spit fire relationship. While I welcome you to the comment board I would like to recommend that you NEVER ever share anything site specific to your school. There are those who monitor these boards and allegedly report back to Brand I am told. For the record, COACHES have played a very integral part of the majority of my children's lives. Sorta like unsung heroes, teaching student athletes life skills - respecting rules, fair play, respect for fellow and opposing players, importance of balancing education time and playing time. To you and all of your colleagues I say Thank You. Goodness knows you don't do what you do for the money.— December 17, 2013 8:43 a.m.