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Where will future Chula Vistans go to school?
Visduh I have to disagree with your analysis. Barbara does a great job of outlining projected growth in CV, one of the most affordable remaining parts of SD County. Having been in Eastlake since 1997, and having my final child in Eastlake Schools (11th grade), I have seen the growth in east side CV schools and it's accompanying issues first hand. We are in crises mode. The cities you mention do not have near the rapid growth as CV does. In addition we have a city council beholden to developers who have consistently changed land use from commercial to residential without regard for whether infrastructure is there or not.— September 15, 2017 7:32 p.m.
Where will future Chula Vistans go to school?
Barbara thank you for writing this story, and please keep the pressure on the district. Portables are not the answer. They keep adding portables to accommodate more students, but the land the school sits on has not changed! For example, my daughter goes to Eastlake High, a school built for 2400 students. They now have about 3100. Yea, they might add portables, but the campus is packed! Traffic and parking is a mess, the bathrooms and classrooms are wearing out rapidly, some books they give students are old and ripped, lunch lines are too long. Go on campus during lunch and see how the students are packed in like sardines. The fraud and incompetence of prior boards and administrators has put our district in this position. Now, they don't have the money for new schools as they continue to borrow from the Mello Roos fund to pay operating expenses. This situation will get worse as the population continues to grow. We need to keep the pressure on this board and administration to work towards a solution!!— September 11, 2017 1:23 p.m.
Susan Luzzaro
What a terrible loss. Susan was a voice for many of us parents and community members in the South Bay on education issues. She provided awareness, and gave us a forum to discuss what was happening. It feels like she was responsible for creating this community where we were able to hold our elected school board officials accountable. She will be missed. RIP Susan.— May 10, 2017 5:54 a.m.
Sweetwater Athletics Hall of Fame scrutinized
Don't forget another inconsistency in Grossman's statement that he is no friend of Brand - he is Brand's choice on the recent committee established to review district properties and what to do with them. Great choice, considering Grossman is a real estate expert! Of course Brand chose him for his expertise and not because of a friendly relationship they might have!— November 8, 2013 7:30 a.m.
Sweetwater Athletics Hall of Fame scrutinized
Bbq, thanks for reminding us that most of our elected officials have failed to take a public position FOR our students and against the current superintendent and board. I have not heard of any CV Council members or the Mayor either publicly or privately doing anything. Same with elected officals in the other cities that SUHSD serves. The County Board of Education refuses to provide any form of oversight. The only public committees or groups that have taken a position against the superintendent and board are the SUHSD Bond Oversight Committee and the National City Planning Commission. I personally attended a community meeting held by State Senator Ben Hueso and asked if he would at least ask the State Board of Ed to investigate, and he said no. I have personally spoken to State Assemblymember Shirley Weber twice about the fiasco that is our district. I know she sent a staffer to one board meeting, but has done nothing more. Lorena Gonzalez has supported term limits for Trustees, and has sent staffers to the board meetings. One was kicked out with the rest of us at Octobers meeting. I have faith that her office will take a public position aoon as she is very outspoken about wrongs done in her district. Folks, we are on our own to make change in our district! We cant rely on our elected representatives or the courts. We need to identify and recruit new leaders, and support and elect them as Trustees. Then district leadership can be cleaned out.— November 6, 2013 10:47 a.m.
Sweetwater Athletics Hall of Fame scrutinized
This is another example of the mismanagement, lies, deceit and outright fraud being perpetuated by Ed Brand. His inconsistencies in his email to me about whether $500 or $5000 were spent is an example of his deceit. A knowledgeable member of our community with extensive construction background saw the hall and thought each door alone cost approximately $1000. Bill McGloughlin is an active participant in this deceit as was evidenced by his responses to Susan's questions. I find it hard to believe that a superintendent that hires a private investigator to bully community members, calls the bosses of community members, asks employees to log into the district website from their personal computers so he can monitor their usage, and who bully's and tries to intimidate teachers, had no idea of this hall of fame. Ed Brand has no credibility with all of the past lies he has told and the embarrassments he has caused the district. I doubt that any coaches, teachers or community members would want his name associated with any sort of athletic hall of fame. What has he done for district athletics, other than try to create a separate sports section as he does not believe we can compete, increase bus charges to schools for extra curricular activities, and embarrass the district with his actions. I would say a more deserving person to name the hall after would be someone like Gail Devers - a respected, accomplished graduate of our district who has achieved incredible things, not a buffoon like Ed Brand!! http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/n…— November 4, 2013 7:01 p.m.
Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
Bbq, welcome to the American justice system, where dumbed down sentences and compromises are the norm. As bad as the indictments are, quite frankly as long as the sitting trustees are barred from office, i will be happy! That will be the easier of the two ways to get them out of office, seeing as how our electorate in the South Bay has proven to be either uncaring, indifferent or ignorant to the corruption in our school district.— October 30, 2013 7:34 a.m.
Cops kick out public from Sweetwater board meeting
I am not a teacher, just a parent, resident and taxpayer. I was appalled on how the entire scene played out. First of all, Board President Jim Cartmill should have held the meeting in a larger venue like a school gym. He knew the teachers were coming out in full force, and his lack of moving the venue was a total sign of disrespect towards everyone who was present, not just teachers, but parents and community members as well. The large crowd was being unruly and disruptive, and it was difficult to hear the business being conducted by the board. What prompted everything was when Tom Calhoun blocked the door. This is where everything fell apart. Jim had no choice at that point but to call the meeting. His decision to just let a few people in was also a mistake. He should have allowed the entire board room to be filled with those that had filled out speaker cards, not one by one as he did. He would not allow general public comment, just comment on items he and Brand felt were urgent. There were only a handful of people allowed in to hear them conduct their business. Finally, it was cowardly of Jim to reconvene closed session at 9pm so they could decide to buy the eastlake property for new district HQ. He got what he was hoping for, a smaller crowd to report out to, as opposed to reporting out closed session items at the beginning of the regular board meeting at 6pm when the crowd was larger. As far as the purchase of the new district office, I'm not sure what Jim, John and Arlie Ricasa are thinking. They are leading this district down the path of financial destruction as all financial indicators are they should not be buying anything at this time! Once again, a disappointing show by our elected leaders. Many of us who have supported Jim, John and Arlie have completely lost respect for them. They have complete disregard for the community they serve. If they are not run from office due to their criminal actions, they will be voted out of office. Good riddance!! As far as Ed Brand is concerned, he has absolutely no respect for teachers, parents of his students, and ultimately the students themselves. I saw him walk up to two community members and show a total lack of respect towards them. I was appalled to hear his tone with them; I can only imagine what he is like with his employees. A man who is clearly an egomaniac who feels he is better than all. I cannot wait to see him gone so we have a leader who cares about the student, community and teachers. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/o…— October 22, 2013 1:02 p.m.
Donna Frye asks Sweetwater school board to make information available to the public
Sorry here is the building. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/o…— October 21, 2013 6:15 a.m.
Donna Frye asks Sweetwater school board to make information available to the public
For those of you following, here is the proposed new building Ed Brand wants to buy in Eastlake. This while cutting teachers' health benefits. Its clear his philosophy is buildings over beings (human). Now is not the time for a new building for district offices! We have too many needs and not enough money! I think Ed's eyes are bigger than his stomach!! He just cant say no to a real estate deal when he sees one. That would be great if he were a real estate mogul or investor, but he is not. He is a school superintendent!! Ed, don't do it!— October 21, 2013 6:13 a.m.