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Sweetwater school board questions funds for investigators
DONNA FRYE attended the board meeting and spoke. She offered to have one of the organizations she works with come down to SUHSD and help them with Brown Act issues - but,,,,, also reminded them that there were attorneys who worked with this group as well. Government of the people, by the people and for the people - why would the SUHSD. Board and Ed Brand need to be reminded of what this country is all about. Why would John McCann and Jim Cartmill need to be reminded of the importance of following the laws of the Brown Act? Ed Brand is completely out of control, but did he just get this way? Let us not forget this is the same man who allegedly locked the head of Categorical out of her office - when she and a student found that there was some alleged funny business going on with these funds. Her attorney at the time reported he had his windows shot out.— September 25, 2013 8:19 a.m.
Sweetwater school board questions funds for investigators
shirleyberan - many calls have gone out to other districts asking how much they pay Private Investigators - one response I believe says it all - "when you consider the fact that SUHSD is involved in an upcoming case of allegations of corruption I find it absurd that your superintendent Ed Brand is spying on community members". Cheers' name is mentioned in the corruption case as a community member who spoke to the DA and FBI asking for help. In any event the question that needs to be answered is this 'why, when Brand alleged that he is using a company that has the ability to access emails and cell phones, a totally illegal act did the board sit there and say NOTHING, not one word of admonishment'. Do you think ESI knows that Brand alleged that?, bet they do now. But what the hey, those $10,000.00 fines, our tax dollars will pay for them, Maybe Brand could get the money out of the account that has the alleged missing ASB monies from Bounce Back. My South Bay neighbors I hope you are understanding the seriousness of this issue. Close to 200k spent for a Private I. As O'Neill stated that kind of investigation is for the DA and police officials - that is what our 'other' tax dollars pay for. Our superintendent is painting a portrait of our board members that is less than flattering. Now for the icing on the cake, Tom Hassey, part time teacher and good old boy friend of Brand was there - and had the nerve to compare the Compact for Success to Alliant - he, failed to compare the most important difference other than cost - the GPA requirement for the Compact was 3.5, now is 3.0 - Alliant, I believe is a 2.0 or is it a 2.5. Seems like a teacher would/should know that fact. What Brand has failed to acknowledge is this, those persons in the community that he and certain board members have placed on SUHSD MOST WANTED POSTERS were the ones who told Brand what was going on in the Food Services Dept., and Castle Park missing ASB funds, and the massaged numbers, and, and, and - but here he sits acting like HE SAVED THE DAY - no wonder he is paranoid!!!!!!!— September 24, 2013 9:53 p.m.
Chula Vista parents protest switch to Common Core State Standards
echosierra - Students at Otay Ranch have to do 'pretend' chemistry labs because of a lack of resources. Not to worry, they have a new track. The board members who sat there last evening and listened to the educational needs of those Chemistry students - did they have a clue? That would be a NO! Try blaming that on the teachers!— September 24, 2013 7:57 a.m.
Chula Vista parents protest switch to Common Core State Standards
Item K1 pages 2 & 3 of this month board meeting to be held this coming Monday. Ed Brand wants $100,000.00 MORE for a private investigator. Now, this is on top of the approximate $55,000.00 he has already spent on ? this year and the approximate $65,000.00 that he owes the PI because the first $55,000.00 was not enough. Now, last month when this agenda item was discussed the HR department clearly stated they did not know why he needed yet another $100,000.00; the CFO could not answer the question either. Ed Brand, well he could NOT be asked as he had LEFT the board meeting to go to the National City Planning Dept to LOOSE his bid for allowing Alliant U to be housed at the Natl City Adult building for FREE. So why, why would ANY school district need to spend this kind of money for a PI? Want to know what and who $100,000.00 worth of your tax dollars are being spent on? anniej recommends you attend Monday nights meeting - it will be made perfectly clear. You will NEVER look at your tax bill quite the same way.— September 20, 2013 6:36 p.m.
Chula Vista parents protest switch to Common Core State Standards
VigilantinCV - your words equate to simple yet intelligent truth. If we were to believe the jargon that is being spewed it would it would have us wondering how, using rote learning, have so many accomplished so much? Might it be that the following have negatively impacted student learning: Teaching to the test Dwindling respect of authority by youth Lack of parental involvement in their child's education Substantial larger amounts of monies being spent on Administrators Failure for all participants to be seen and respected as stakeholders, working towards a common goal Teachers becoming disenfranchised Administrators so focused on job security that they fail to offer their opinions choosing instead to kiss booty Unions so focused on job protection that they fail to discipline those that need it Paranoia district wide, not being able to trust anyone - this environment encouraged by the current t super Alleged new and improved expensive curriculum YEARLY— September 20, 2013 12:06 p.m.
Chula Vista parents protest switch to Common Core State Standards
David Rice - you are not alone, many of us must be your neighbors under that rock. SUHSD announced they were going to CC at a board meeting and voted on it. I have been waiting for an in depth interactive meeting to explain, but alas none to date. Regarding the 'selling of CC material' - now at SUHSD that should be interesting. You see we have gone to IPADS, that was SUPPOSE to be the saving grace. The only problem, a couple of weeks ago the entire IT system crashed when the IPAD students took a test. Did the community warn of such things, that would be a yes; did Ed Brand listen, that would be a no. When a parent and IT expert offered her professional opinion regarding our lack of ban width and other options that might be investigated our Superintendent called her boss and allegedly insinuated she had broken some employer rule. Ah yes, that is our reality in the South Bay under the reign of Stalin, I mean Ed Brand. No doubt Brand will come up with some new idea, some new scheme that he will try and sell as education - in my opinion, I agree with those throughout the city and county who are of the opinion, that he is nothing more than a charlatan. 'We need it for CC he will say'. Wonder how much it will cost us? To add to the conversation many have accused the district of placing our non English speakers in special Ed. How will this demographic be taught? The students of SUHSD who have been taught the traditional way, the very students who will be expected to change mid stream. What of the testing scores they need to gain entry into College? How will that be addressed, since, as reported, there is an expectation that scores will drop as dramatically as the balances in SUHSD accounts have since Brand then 'the gandara' and now back to Brand again. In closing, I see major problems on the horizon - I see massive amounts of monies for CC being spent, I see the trials, I see a new board, I see Brand being shown the door, and then what?— September 20, 2013 9:09 a.m.
Chula Vista parents protest switch to Common Core State Standards
Stores - are you saying that you believe CC will dummy down our students? I am interested in your opinion. It is obvious there are problems - while we have discussed everything from Student to Teacher responsibility, I am of the opinion Parental involvement/responsibility needs improvement as well. Last, but not least in Sweetwaters case it appears that our hard earned tax dollars are being spent in areas that will not effect the quality of education. More money with the implementation of CC?— September 19, 2013 1:46 p.m.
Chula Vista parents protest switch to Common Core State Standards
How ironic that on this very day the SUHSD board chose to hold a SPECIAL BOARD MEETING at 5:00 to discuss CORE curriculum and the materials needed. Why the special board meeting? With the CORE curricum being a major move, one would think that our board would have wanted parent input. HOWEVER, this is yet another indication of just how LOCKED OUT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS. Can you see that light at the end of the tunnel? The light of hope are the trials in the LARGEST CORRUPTION CASE in San Diego County - and the elections of 2014! Why wasn't Mr. McCann at the District office for the meeting, why did he teleconference? HE was at the Duncan rara siskoomba celebration. Ms. Phatak raises some very good questions. Hopefully, at some point, the community will be INCLUDED in the discussion and the concerns raised will be addressed. ALL parties should be included in the conversation and see themselves as stakeholders vs. observers.— September 19, 2013 8:53 a.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
bbq - and rightfully so! We, the taxpayers, continue to be shut out - the answer is WHY???? It's not as if we are paying the bills - oh, that is right, we are!!!!— September 16, 2013 3:49 p.m.
Sweetwater school district backs off on Alliant International University plan
Oskidoll - might I recommend that you post your interesting information on the Star News article regarding CPM. All taxpayers, not just South Bay folks, need to be educated regarding how our tax dollars are being spent.— September 16, 2013 1:20 p.m.