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Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
bbq - You know I have great respect for you and your opinions - I mean after all great minds tend to think alike, haha Regarding Dr. Alt, are you aware that he has been terminated? According to District insiders he was let go Monday morning after coming back from paternity leave. Why? Well according to District sources, because he was honest and we all have our opinions about how honest people are treated by Ed Brand. You notice I did not include the Board in my commentary. Again 'sources' (geesh I feel like a freakin' reporter) are saying the Board played no part in his firing. At last months Board meeting Jim Cartmill authorized Maty Adato to meet with Dr. Alt - oh, if you could have only seen Brand's face when that went down - he was NOT a happy camper. It is being said that while Alt was gone Dianne Russo surfaced, she was seen using the employees entrance - hmmmm, wonder what would happen if I attempted to use that door. For the record I was not in favor of Dr. Alt coming on board. I was of the opinion that Brand hired Alt because he thought Alt would play Brand ball. I WAS WRONG! Since his hiring I have watched while several community members have spoken accolades about Alt's desire to be transparent. I have listened while he answered questions from the Board and the public - simple answers that all can understand. Taxpayers concerned about Mello too seem to show confidence in the truthfulness of his answers. So,,,, the 64 thousand dollar question is why now? What devious plan does Ed Brand have that Dr. Alt might have challenged based on good economic sense? What don't we know? What is the truth that Brand is trying to keep from us about the financials of SUHSD? Channel 10 reported on the firing last night, they also mentioned an IRS audit - hmmmm - I am thinking there is financial trouble in the horizon. If what sources say are true and if the Board was not aware of the firing the Board would be well served by reversing this termination - perhaps, they might instead FIRE BRAND. Might I remind all that Brand wants that building in the East side, is it possible, that our books are being cooked, as I type - all in an effort to once engage in a land deal. Do the words L STREET ring a bell? Folks I smell fish and we are not having a red tide. I am told that 'The READER' stories are on the SUHSD's best reading list - WTFEd, you are correct, District personnel are very upset about the firing - Dr. Alt, if you are reading this I would recommend that you contact Vince Giaime - hopefully you were smart enough to CYA by documenting 'the goods'— December 4, 2013 7:56 a.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
livetoknit1 - I attend all board meetings and have not seen this item agendized. Having said that, as far as the board knowing - hmmm, not sure about that. If the Board is smart they will advise Brand and Bleisch to cease and desist - no doubt the authorities will be driving up any time now launching a full fledged investigation. The documents named in this story are kin to a felony indictment, not that I am a legal mind. Can anyone say lawsuit? The Castle Park community, in my opinion has been used by IMPOSTERS, wolves in sheep clothing. They wanted to be heralded, wanted to write books, wanted to impress. I am thinking someone, some entity will step in and offer to represent these students and parents. How dare their personal info be shared. The documentation alleged seems to indicate that a FEDERAL LAW was broken. OH MY!— December 3, 2013 10:40 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
Ms. Luzzaro - I am thinking it is more like 'Ed Brand wants Castle Park Middle to become a charter school'. It is worth sharing that I do not believe the Board had ANY knowledge of the truth regarding the shenanigans that surrounded the Arnie Duncan visit - now that they do one can only hope that they DEMAND answers. I am thinking it is time for the board to contact legal counsel to have Ed Brand removed from his position. This story is not reporting a scandal it is reporting ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. Do Board Members currently involved in other legal matters really want to add this to their list of stresses - I am thinking NO. The majority of Our Board members find themselves in the legal fight of their lives - Ed Brand was brought back allegedly to 'right the ship' and in doing so take any added pressure off their shoulders. Yet in truth Ed Brand has done the exact opposite - one scandal after another he has laid at their footsteps - claiming it was all the CAVE PEOPLE'S fault - now ALL OF THE BOARD HAVE PROOF POSITIVE with this story that Ed Brand will go to any lengths. CAVE PEOPLE - the latest label Ed Brand has given those community members who dare to show up and speak up at Board meetings. (Citizens Against Virtually. Everything = CAVE). Hmmmmm I am wondering if anniej is one of those CAVE PEOPLE? Anyone taking bets? Board members, I am recommending that you reread this story - the 'data' presented, no longer speculation, but actual written DOCUMENTED PROOF? You now know the truth - all eyes will be watching to see your response. Will you aid and abed? Or will you stop this?— December 3, 2013 9:37 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
Under the leadership of Ed Brand not much is what it should be. The information turned over to South Bay Community Services is illegal. Why would a Superintendent authorize this? The community has, for months been questioning the many hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to South Bay Comm Services, as has Pearl Quinones and Bertha Lopez. I would hope all future monies will be stopped. Mr. Calhoun should also be questioned, no doubt he was simply following the orders of Ed Brand - it does not always pay to be a yes man when you are being paid with taxpayers dollars. Hopefully a legal investigation will be forthcoming - a national spotlight needs to be directed to SUHSD to show what happens when all power is turned over to a Superintendent who will go to any lengths to silence those he perceives are critics, including calling community members employers who dare to speak at a board meeting. Bobby Bleisch, Ed Brand, Tom Calhoun need to be visited by the authorities and put under oath - then and only then will THEY be WILLING to TELL THE TRUTH! THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. It is time for Ed Brand to GO!!!!!!!!— December 3, 2013 5:57 p.m.
Sweetwater teachers may strike over district policies
Shirleyberan - HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS. I am of the opinion that Ed Brand has tended to forget where he came from - but, that is just my opinion. His focus appears to be SELF, nothing or noone(s) else seem to matter. Hopefully this time next year he will be gone - and the legacy he will leave behind at SUHSD will long stand as to what should never occur again.— November 30, 2013 6:48 p.m.
Sweetwater teachers may strike over district policies
My opinion only - To the average taxpaying homeowner who values educating our youth - the Union appears weak. It is clear Brand is doing what he believes he can get away with. Why not ask for help from the Teamsters? *for the record I am not, nor have ever been a member of a union, but I do believe in them - why? Well, take a look at Ed Brand - - he is the Wikipedia definition of why unions are necessary.— November 30, 2013 3:26 p.m.
Sweetwater teachers may strike over district policies
Lois With all due respect - when a District, such as ours, SWEETWATER, spends more time negotiating real estate land/building deals than they do our educators/employees contract - HOUSTON, WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM!!!!!! Please join me next November in voting OUT the three board members who will be up for reelection. Help me replace them with three persons of integrity - one of which is NOT Burt Grossman (my opinion). Once that task is completed - first major change Ed Brand is outta here!— November 30, 2013 3:13 p.m.
Chula Vista school admin moves forward with Common Core Standards
And when this fails, WHAT THEN???????? Not to worry, there is always the taxpayers wallets! Truth be told we have been working so hard on cleaning out the corruption at Sweetwater Union High School District, Common Core kind of slipped up on us. I would highly recommend that all parents in the South Bay listen to the audio of Monday nights meeting on the Common Core agenda item. Pay close attention to where the majority of the money is being spent - RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need MORE parents at the Board meetings - you see Ed Brand and the majority of the board seem to think the majority of taxpaying parents are absolutely fine with what they are doing - NOT!!!!!!!— November 21, 2013 2:30 p.m.
Former Chula Vista city manager not on the move
Add yet another name to the South Bay wall of shame.— November 11, 2013 8:45 a.m.
Will documentary whack SeaWorld stock?
I must say watching the documentary was both informative and heart breaking. "When you know better, you do better" - now we know - time to set ALL Backfish Free!!— November 11, 2013 8:42 a.m.