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Sweetwater district meeting marked by chaos

Susan, Just to not be accused of never criticizing your normally factual articles, the amount for the consultant was only $20,000. Please do not take that wrong, the fact we already have the Counselors who do that job everyday, it's another fabulous waste but what's another $20 Grand of Taxpayers money to Ed and the Board. On another note, as I reviewed the February Financials (Item K5 Back-up) I found a couple of very interesting things: From May of 2013 The district has been borrowing up to $48 Million at a time from Fund 49 (MelloRoos, CFD). When reviewing this I found a couple of very disturbing things 1. We are currently receiving **0.0779%** interest – Ms. Michel says that is the rate the County Board of Education would lend the district money. 2. Repayment and reborrowing: for example **repayments totaling $18 M on 8/27/13 & A new Loan of $25M on 8/28/13**, question is this to bilk the mello fund out of the meager interest it’s due? 3. Total interest paid to the mello fund for various amounts over 7 months was **$43,108**. **By my simple math $48M at 1% interest for 7 months in a Bank would have earned $280,000 (vs. $43,108 paid by district)** Again **Dr. Brand, & Ms. Russo** have been telling us this is **Free/Cheap money** available for use by the district at its disgression. **I counter that that each bond issue the mello funds should be paying off are sitting at 3-5% interest.** This makes **every dollar** not reinvested back into paying off the Mello Debts or reinvested back into CFD Infrastructure **really costing us the Taxpayer, 4-6% annually.** (To float the district) This translates back to **$1.92M - 2.88M per year of costs or lost income to the Mello Funds.** A second issue arises in The Planning and Facilities Budget (Item M1 Back/up). Not to mention the mistakes in math etc. in the Plan, which I told the board about. **Review Page 2, Prop O active projects, note the number of prop O projects that have CFD listed under Other Funding,** **Bonita Vista High ( a non-CFD Facility) 25%** of the HVAC & Track upgrades, an unknown Percentage of other upgrades. **63% of the Technology upgrades are going against CFD Funds**, $2.6M of $4.1M, I thought the CFD Schools had the highest level of Tech available? **If the District wants to play percentages by enrollment shouldn’t general funds or Prop O dollars pay the 30% plus of the general upkeep, expansion and wear/tear on CFD Schools by non-CFD Students.** Just a couple of observations for the districts own documentation. By the way, I brought this to the attention of the two ladies on the Board and Ms. Quniones said "What am I supposed to do about it?" I answered her, "It's your job to protect the financials of the District as a Trustee, do your job!" Best to all, BBQ, CAVE
— February 19, 2014 1:49 p.m.

Castle Park Middle School principal punches back!!

John Brinkley, I am also a proud member of CAVE in both it's acronyms and welcome you to the real CAVE, Citizens Active for Value in Education! In many ways it is no different than the original CAVE in asking for the District to move away from the single-sighted "College Prep, Test Scores, Lowest common denominator" circulumn of the present SUHSD. If the Board, Adminstrators and Visionaries (so called) of the District could once, just once show the "value" verses the "costs" of a program before announcing it's a done deal ie Allient, Grand Canyon, Hawking Charter, CPM Charter. If they used the public to gauge the direction of the district, ie the purchasing of a new Adminstration Building, priority of repairs, getting schools off of program improvement, Adult School Classes . If they were up front about their failures and mistakes, H st, 3rd Ave, Dirt pile at Southwest HS, I-Pads. We might be able to celebrate successes or at least understand what we learned or achieved from these things. All of the name calling is for naught, we have a seriously damaged Sweetwater UHSD, due to a very weak Board of Trustees, (Indicted or not), a stong willed Superintendent, that has taken advantage of the weak board, an uninformed public and self-serving employees. Time to join forces and correct the issues, A New Strong Board is the place to start. It needs to consist of; intelligent, open minded, a-political, community oriented citizens, who are not afraid to be leaders and decision makers. Dialog is good, BBQ, CAVE Citizens Active for Value in Education.
— February 6, 2014 12:15 p.m.

Castle Park Middle School principal punches back!!

Wow, this is the first time I've ever been called an extremist, as a moderate republican, midwesterner I might have to give up my middle-class card.... Mr. Bliesch your record of teacher and site adminstration transfers, ASB Monies, self-promotion does not give one the confidence that your not just being self-serving in this Charter School Transformation process. My sources say you and Ed are cut from the same cloth ... You both are bullies, surround yourselves with yes men, bad mouth or try to silence the opposition and have never come out to explain to the public why all of these "Great" things... **"...very positive district initiatives: Alliant, Promise Neighborhoods (Arne Duncan’s visit in September), Partnership with SBCS, Hawkin [sic] Charter and the potential move to charter by CPM.”..."** are "Great" and continue to be completed in the Vacuum of SUHSD Adminstration with little or no public input or discussion, many without Board approval? The Board, if you can call it that, is at least as culpable in the lack of information coming to the public, completely at fault for allowing the Superintendant and staff to run without guidance or limits and finally rubber stamping agenda items without proper vetting. This series of cover up, I'm smarter than the world, bad mouthing e-mail tracks again do not give a great representation of youself or your program. If you cannot stand up and explain the purpose, plans and need for CPM to become Charter, why should anyone support it?. A great leader leads people into "new" uncharted territory with vision, agreement and guidence, not bullying, coersion and name-calling. Open discussion is a great thing and you may find there is more agreement and assistance by being open and accepting. Even from some of the **" white elite negative extremists** from Chula Vista! As Socrites (I Think) said " A wise man knows what he doesn't know" and thus seeks out others to assist him. Peace to you, BBQ. CAVE, Citizens Active for Value in Education
— February 6, 2014 8:22 a.m.

Sweetwater Union and Chula Vista Elementary districts to merge?

Well I guess it's the early start to election season, all of the incumbants and political wanabes need to start getting their names out in front of the public, McCann with his one man Facilities Inspection and now Ms. Salas with the "Unification" discussion. My first thought is where have you been over the last 4-5 Years? But really longer than that 10 years, during which many of our elected officials sat back and watched Sweetwater Union High School District fall apart? From the original L st, 3rd ave Zoning/Land swap debates, to deficit budgets, and Alleged Criminal behavior, not a peep. Now an idea to Unify a very good elementary district with a poorly run, weak High School District? Where were the demands for an accounting of the SUHSD operations, Prop O, Mello Roos, all things that lower the value and strength of our cities and the rest of the south bay area? These things are and were the City Councils and other elected officials (County Board of Education, Sweetwater Trustees?) responsibilities.... The only value I see in the Unification talks is it will open up a dialog amongst the public and the public will see the shambles this adminstration and board have left the SUHSD and the communities of the South Bay. To our sitting Politicos ... finally you are getting it, but the timing and motive are suspect... This should never have been a reelection or promotion stunt to get your name out there. SUHSD was the job you all should have been on top of to protect the reputation and once strength of our community. See you at the discussions. BBQ CAVE, Citizens Active for Value in Education
— January 31, 2014 6:05 a.m.

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