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Is the Sweetwater Union High School District Buying Property in Eastlake?
Glad to see this purchase was not approved. Beware though as Ed Brand will try to push this purchase through at another meeting!— March 13, 2013 2 p.m.
Sweetwater school district cuts program and teachers
It is unfortunate that Jim, John, Arlie and Ed Brand do not value the work of this department, especially given the demographics of our district. This is such a valuable program that helps alot of people in our community. Although Arlie abstained, she knew what the outcome would be. It was the cowards way out for her. Its amazing that Ed Brand can find money for his pet projects, ie charters, land deals, etc., but he cant find it for such a good program. All that Bond money spent at numerous schools to support this program now going to waste. Another example of poor planning, forecasting and a general lack of vision and leadership by Ed Brand! To think he had the audicity to propose the purchase of new property at the same time he is cutting out a valuable program in this district! We as a community need to keep the pressure on these trustees and hold them accountable for their choice of Brand. I know our opposition to the Faivre and Boswell St purchases is what prompted that to not pass. Had we the community not spoken up, the Trustees would have voted it through and another Brand shennaigan would have passed! Its also unfortunate that we cant trust a majority of the board to take care of business for the community. Lets make sure we continue to review agendas, ask for information, reach out to trustees, and attend meetings and express ourselves!!— March 13, 2013 1:57 p.m.
Don't call these kids at University City High vocational students
This is an excellent program for the large percentage of kids that wont go on to college. It provides training to ready these kids for a specific career. Unfortunately, not all school districts value this program. Sweetwater Union High District Trustees voted to issue pink slips to teachers in this program, thereby relegating it to possible elimination. This after the Districts Bond Program (prop o) spent tens of millions of dollars building classes specific to this education at numerous high schools. Lack of vision, mis spending and ultimately lack of leadership will drastically impact kids in this program. Thank goodness the San Diego Unified district still sees value in it.— March 12, 2013 2:37 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District & Realty Co.
Its very frustrating that Jim, John, Pearl, Arlie and Bertha dont hear the community. You are going to let Ed Brand look at buying property in Eastlake, yet his track record of buying land is horrendous. You are even considering buying when L St and 3rd Ave have dark clouds over them and are losing the district money! You are thinking of buying when you are going to give out pink slips to teachers! You are thinking of buying when Pearls baby, the CTE Program, which was touted in 2012 Community Forum at Sweetwater High School, is cutting classes and laying off teachers! You have given Ed Brand too much control, yet you do nothing to provide oversight or control. You dont discuss anything in the open, you dont demand details. You dont engage the community to get feedback or ideas. Jim, John, Arlie, Pearl and Bertha you are ultimately responsible for what you have allowed to occur in this district! For there to be an Agenda item in closed session to discuss more land purchases is disgusting! You need to nip this in the bud, and definately dont consider the use of Mello Roos money to study, drive by, hire experts, or engage in any activities in the purchase of an office building in Eastlake. Your core business is education. Heres an idea - once the schools' facilities are improved accross the district, and the schools are off Program Improvement, then you can think of looking for a new district headquarters. As far as the use of our Mello Roos money, John and Jim, you should know better. You live in Eastlake and undestand how that money should be spent. How about making sure the toilets work, the HVAC is functioning, the infrastructure, flooring, windows, gym, lockers, etc of Eastlake High get taken care of. How about making sure we have decent student to teacher ratios so World History classes dont have 47 students, Biology 44, PE 78. How about making sure there is enough money for the sports programs so we dont get asked as parents to pay $150 for our children to participate on a sports team!! Cmon Trustees, lets get the community back, have open dialogue, have open office hours a few weeks a month. A few of you at the District offices, a few of you in the Eastlake/Otay Ranch area. How do you know or get the community's pulse if you dont listen to the community? And no your close friends dont count! And no those of us bloggers are not the minority. Only then will you realize the frustration we are feeling, and then maybe you will rethink the carte blanche you have given Ed Brand to make decisions!— March 10, 2013 12:58 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District & Realty Co.
Wtfed, i can vouch for anniej. She is legit! I have had the pleasure of speaking with anniej on many occassions.— March 9, 2013 7:30 a.m.
New Sweetwater Union financial officer has controversial past
Bbq, agree wholeheartedly. Great analogy to GM. Competition should make The district better. That includes improving the current quality, but also needs to involve new ideas. The elementary charters and privates not only offer quality core education, but they offer 'gimmicks like ipads, academies(stem and vapa), etc. the reality is this district, like GM and Ford, must not only improve the core product but also keep up with the changing pace of education in the 21st century!— February 13, 2013 6:46 a.m.
Sweetwater school district’s weird, failed real estate deals
Anniej, reality is that money drives results. Regardless of who is in leadership, that is the new reality. I agree focus on education, the core business of the district. But they dont have a monopoly on educating middle school aged kids any longer, As kids continue to leave the district for k-8 charters, ada will go down, which means less money for those kids in the district. That means larger class sizes, less teachers, and less services. At some point some enterprising k-8 schools will offer k-12 in the cvesd. They have them from kinder, so relationships with the families are established. The district is financially sound, well run and an excellent option. Again, choice and competition!— February 12, 2013 10:16 p.m.
Sweetwater school district’s weird, failed real estate deals
Cmon anniej, you know better. I don't and wont drink the Brand koolaid. Just a different point of view to consider.— February 12, 2013 9:58 p.m.
Sweetwater school district’s weird, failed real estate deals
Keepibghetto, you are right, and you know what? The education in that 3rd world country might be better than some of the schools in our district!— February 12, 2013 9:56 p.m.
Sweetwater school district’s weird, failed real estate deals
Folks, I am on the Board of Directors of a charter in the CVESD, and let me tell you they smell blood! They are likely going to start accepting 7th and 8th graders next school year. They recognize the weakness in the high school district, and parents want and deserve better! Im telling you, education now includes competition and choice, and Sweetwater will lose on both of those fronts. The CVESD charters recognize this - 18% of students in our community attend k-8 elementary charters. This number is likely to increase as Sweetwater continues its downward spiral and elementary charters continue to offer parents better quality!! This will lead to reduced revenue at Sweetwater as ada continues to decline.— February 12, 2013 9:46 p.m.