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Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
I was told today the Administrators were given the choice of a pay raise. Ot no increases to benefit costs? Which is it and why?— October 27, 2013 8:31 p.m.
Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
Late call tonight - hold onto your wallets folks - it is rumored that Mr. Calhoun is going around telling everyone that they are going to attempt to float a 500 million dollar bond next year. How much is this costing us? Now tell me, how many of you are going to vote for it? This community is not going to vote in one more red cent until and unless this group, including Calhoun is OUTTA HERE! Did any of you hear an announcement at the board meeting from Calhoun that there were fire watches at any of our schools? Did not think so, he was far too busy barring the door per Brands mandate. Get the word out NO MORE TAXES, tell everyone you know!!!!!!!— October 24, 2013 9:55 p.m.
Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
Channel 10 on line is reporting that Tom Calhoun, person in charge of facilities appears to have spoken an untruth when he accused 10 News of yellow journalism on their fire alarm story. Calhoun advised BOC members that IF there was problem with the SUHSD fire alarms that the fire department would have called for fire watches. Several of the BOC team chose to take Calhoun at his word. WELLLLLLLLL, it appears that channel 10 has received documentation that the Natl City Fire Dept. did in fact mandate fire watches and mandated that those persons hired for the fire watches would be doing nothing else but monitoring for fires. Now keep in mind this is the same individual Brand has put in charge of buying the new 10 million dollar property, really?????? If, as a person educated in facilities management, he has chosen to partake in what appears to be a coverup which has put our children in potential risk, then what is he capable of in an area that deals with this, OUR communities, NOT his tax dollars. Monday nights meeting said it all, Ed Brand pointed to Calhoun and then pointed to the door - in other words GET IT DONE!!!!! Block an exit, against fire dept. rules no problem, Ed told him to do it. Is Brand calling the shots on the alleged fire alarm cover up? Please forward the channel 10 story to all you know, this community needs to know— October 23, 2013 8:04 p.m.
Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
aardvark - next week all defendants are to be in court. Some charges have been dropped but there are enough to hold these alleged -- -accountable. Testimonies will expose the truth - the deals, the monies, the dinners, the gifts, the votes and the contracts.something tells me a certain someone will stop singing the song "I merely asked for a favor for a charity". Trials do begin in February. cvres - yes, why is a school board allowed to spend millions when they are under indictment. It is important to point out that Lopez and Quinones have consistently voted NO on more property. Quinones has long questioned past real estate deals - new district office on L street - the mortgage for the 20+ million dollar property yet we do not own the title. That would be a Brand, Jim Cartmill and Arlie Ricasa deal back in 2005. We then traded the city of Chula for yet another new district office on Third Avenue, that property vacant to this day. Then 'the gandara' came along and Jim Cartmill and Arlie Ricasa paid thousands for yet another prospective new district office site on The Mile of Cars - ever heard of a fly over appraisal. So,,,,, here we sit - L street is worth about 12 million and a balloon payment is due, yet Ed Brand, Cartmill, McCann, and Ricasa once again go to the till for more money. The drawer is empty, no problem there is always Mello and employee/teachers benefits. What the hey, none of the four will be here this time next year. Regarding last night - a competent board president and an ethical superintendent would have NOT chosen last night for two long presentations and would not have announced they were cutting the meeting short to discuss a property deal in Closed Session. Why pray tell was that property deal being discussed in Closed Session? I could have sworn the money they are spending is ours. gobigal - right is right and the teachers/employees are right. Mob is not an adjective I would use to describe them. Continued attendance is needed. If we all join together, reach out to more parents with the facts WE WILL BRING ABOUT CHANGE SOON!!!!!— October 22, 2013 6:19 p.m.
Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
shirleyberan - no need to apologize, we know you care about what is best for students and the taxpaying public.— October 22, 2013 1:50 p.m.
Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
Those who were attended could not be described as a mob. The meeting started at 6. It was announced that at 9 the board would again go into closed session. Since the meetings are ended at 10, that left about three hours - HOWEVER! There were two presentations, the first took 1 hour. With 2 hours left and another presentation still to come it was clearly evident Brand had no intention on listening to the concerns of the taxpayers, teachers or other employees. Yes, when blocked they did take gain entry, and yes we were boisterous, but mob - no never! Community, students, teachers/employees SEE YOU NEXT MONTH RIGHT?— October 22, 2013 12:59 p.m.
Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
timtim speaks of the wallets of the teachers, and what of ours, the taxpayers. Where was his concern when he voted to spend 10 million on a building in Eastlake that we can not afford? Where was his financial concern when he failed to demand why Brand spent the money on a Hall of Champions and why Brand spent our money naming it after himself? Finally why did he not question Brand as to how Brand was able to hire a PI firm when the board has yet to approve the expense. Why did John McCann fail to ask any questions regarding this small reserves and the district operating in a deficit for years - but then I am assuming McCann knows how to read a budget. Silly me, he is too busy out promoting his bid for next years election. He has thrown his responsibility as a board member to the wolf, Ed Brand - McCann has failed the students, and failed the taxpayers. Share the news with all you see John McCann, Jim Cartmill and Arlie Ricasa are spending this district into insolvency.— October 22, 2013 12:42 p.m.
Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
Ed Brand is out of control and for some unknown reason board president Jim Cartmill, John McCann and Arlie Ricasa refuse to stop him. It was stated last evening that our District is operating with 3% reserves and has been operating in a deficit for a few years. Yet after hearing this, John McCann (alleged conservative), Jim Cartmill and Arlie Ricasa voted to spend over 10 million dollars to purchase property in Eastlake for a new District office. Millions were spent last evening yet only 53k is to be used IN THE CLASSROOM, FOR STUDENTS. What does that tell you? You want further proof of how selfish Brand is, it was reported last evening that he has spent many thousands of dollars on a Hall of Champions at L street. Where on L? Well, you follow L down and just after you pass Broadway look for the ugly, dilapidated building on the left - be careful when you pull into the parking lot, some of those pot holes are big enough to swallow your car. Oh, but here is the best part, Ed Brand had the nerve to name it after himself. Now, here is the 64 thousand dollar question, where on Board Docs can one find the agenda item procuring the money to be spent, where can one find the agenda item naming it after Brand. Do not bother looking, it is NOT THERE. Ed Brand spent our money WITHOUT BOARD approval. As I sat there watching the faces of the board members it was clear, they, like Schultz, 'knew nothing'. Now tell me how many of you are going to travel to L street to view this Hall? Well, if any, you had better hurry as the property will either be foreclosed on, sold, or torn down SOON! Yes Brand spent the money in the past 6 months and now we can just kiss it good-bye!!!!!!!! WE MUST STOP THIS OUT OF CONTROL SPENDING!!!!!!!!!— October 22, 2013 12:33 p.m.
Donna Frye asks Sweetwater school board to make information available to the public
With so many important issues coming before the board tomorrow I just realized that Brands evaluation seems to have NOT made it on the docket. I believe it first came before the board in closed session in July, it was there last month as well, nothing was 'reported out'. One would have thought it would be completed this month - Why doesn't the board just save some time. - and FIRE BRAND! Thereby allowing a greater in depth discussion on where to spend our monies IN THE CLASSROOM. Honor the benefit rates previously agreed upon. John McCann all eyes will be on you tomorrow night. Each person you will see looking back at you no doubt represents a families vote. That family has family and friends and so on and so on - this is a very tight knit community, many of the teachers, Administrators and employees live in the South Bay and have family and friends in the South Bay - their kids play on sports teams. Just this week I sat next to a Dr. at a high school basketball game who resides in Eastlake, she ASKED ME my views on SUHSD - last evening I emailed her a few READER articles - she emailed me back 'a great deal to think on'. This morning when I opened my email there was a follow up email. She wanted to know "what are Jim and John's positions on these issues"? My response "I would prefer for you to see how they vote in person - see you Monday". (Why spoil her perception for the two based on my opinion, actions speak so much louder than words).— October 20, 2013 10:17 a.m.
Teachers for Sweetwater district face insurance cost hike
bvagency - could you post this on the new SUHSD story, lets let the students parents and taxpayers see what Jim Cartmill really values - it sure as heck isn't tax dollars being spent in the classroom for students.— October 19, 2013 8:24 p.m.