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Sweetwater Interim Superintendent Ed Brand Resigns
Not sure if any of you attended the Education Summitt. I was actually impressed with two of their cabinet members, the Interim Chief Financial Officer Richard Knott and Chief Facilities Officer Tom Calhoun. Both have a wealth of experience and impressive backgrounds. Mr. Knott sure seems like a substantial improvement over Ms. Russo. I believe this district can run without a superintendent for 6 to 8 months while a national search is conducted for a new Superintendent. These two men as cabinet members can certainly help lead this district forward. I have worked directly with Mr. Calhoun on the CBOC and its clear he is a top notch leader. Lets contact our trustees and let them know!— September 22, 2012 11:49 a.m.
Chula Vista East Side's Mello-Roos Mess
Ok gang be prepared, word on the street is that Ed Brand is making outrageous contract demands. He will be asking for a large raise, much more than he makes now, in addition to all the supplemental stuff that you can imagine. He does not care about students, teachers, staff, parents, taxpayers or anyone else in our community. I just cant fathom why Ricasa, Cartmill and McCann cant see this. Many people are suffering in our community with job losses, foreclosures, cuts in services at the district, teachers making contract concessions, etc., yet this fatcat has the audicity to ask for more, more, and more! Reminds me of the robber barons of the industrial age!! Incredible!!!— September 19, 2012 9:29 p.m.
Chula Vista West Side's No-Mello Divide
Actually Surfpuppy thats a photo of the man made Eastlake in the Eastlake I community.— September 19, 2012 3:23 p.m.
10News and Sweetwater's John McCann, True Patriots?
Eastlaker - no the BOC does not have jurisdiction over how the bonds are packaged and sold. The district, trustees, their attys and the bond underwriters do this. Yes, this BOC will oversee the entire Prop O program as long as it lives. The members serve two two year terms, so since they are appointed positions approved by the trustees, its important the community stay engaged and involved in the Prop O program as the district will try to slip their chosen ones on the BOC and you know what that means. The BOC does not oversee the Mello Roos fund, only the Prop O and state matching funds. The BOC has the right to question and oversee any bond restructuring but has no authority to approve or deny it. The district and trustees cannot get rid of any BOC members without cause; Prop 39 requires a BOC so the district cannot get a bond without one. Rest assured this BOC has evolved over the last year into a group that is acutely aware of the inner goings on at the Senior leadership level of the district. They are applying an inordinate amount of pressure for rhe district to be more transparent and will continue do so. They have exposed and questioned the district on numerous issues, and Ed Brand is certainly no fan of this BOC. The BOC will continue to tighten the noose and will continue to flush out issues. Stay tuned!— September 19, 2012 7:04 a.m.
10News and Sweetwater's John McCann, True Patriots?
I attended the meeting, am NOT a member of Occupy Swwetwater, spoke to the Trustees, and was outraged by the 10News story. I emailed the reporter, and posted on their website on the lazy reporting done by Mr Little. As my email and post stated, the other news organizations present - one of which had a camera crew there - did not even deem it newsworthy! It is unfortunate that our community gets such a lack of respect by 10News. I am an Eastlake resident, and many of us are concerned with the actions or inactions of a majority of the trustees. We know a few of you live out here and your children attend the schools out here; its unfortunate you don't respect us and don't realize we are smart, organized and very frustrated. That is not a good combination for your base of support to feel! And this feeling is spreading like a wildfire out here based on your actions and inactions!!! Don't call us anymore to explain your actions or inactions! Do the right thing and your actions will speak for themselves! But start soon because its probably too late!!!— September 13, 2012 8:22 p.m.
Sweetwater Schools Board Aborts Meeting Agenda, Not Brand
What about the fact that two of the most respected educators in the history of the South Bay - Stan Canaris and Jaime Mercado - admonished the Trustees and Ed Brand!! Too bad Ed Brand was not there to see and hear the frustration of these two respected men who helped build this District. If the Trustees did not hear and see it (which it does not appear they did) then its clearly time to replace them!— September 12, 2012 11:18 p.m.
No Confidence Petition for Sweetwater's Ed Brand
Thanks to all for your comments, all are on point. Surfpuppy, i respectfully disagree with your assessment of how great teaching in the district is now. In talking to the teachers, times have definately become much worse. We all know how bad leadership can poison an organization. In Sweetwaters case, too many years of poor leadership has impacted the teachers in spirit, working conditions, etc. still a decent gig, but very difficult. As far as the best district in the county? How is that with 14 of 25 schools in Program Improvement? The overall districts success is based on a few schools carrying the district test scores, but with open boundaries those schools are so impacted that i guarantee their scores will go down. On the special meeting, Pearl obtained a legal opinion to make sure the meeting is legal, and received instruction by council on what can and cannot be discussed. Also, word has it that Jim Cartmill has awoken from his slumber. He is calling various parents that have emailed the board, and is visiting local establishments to get a pulse from the community. Hopefully he and the other trustees are listening and realize that Ed Brand is not what this district needs.— September 9, 2012 11:27 a.m.
No Confidence Petition for Sweetwater's Ed Brand
Justateacher, thank you so much for your post! All we hear from Ed Brand is that all is ok and the issues our community have been raising are not happening. He told me in a phone conversation that he was at Eastlake High and all was fine and he could not understand what we are talking about. Two of the Trustees whose kids go to eastlake are saying the same thing. Please keep us in the loop. The community values you and your peers and we appreciate your work through these trying times!— September 8, 2012 4:25 p.m.
No Confidence Vote For SUHSD Superintendent Ed Brand Being Circulated
You can sign the petition, the publics vote of no confidence at: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/noconfidenc…— September 3, 2012 1:36 p.m.
Community Meeting with Dr. Ed Brand Superintendent Temporarily Suspended - Stay Tuned!!
The public meeting with other concerned citizens, neighbors and taxpayers (no Superintendent) is set for Thursday, August 30 at 7:00pm in the Otay Ranch Mall Food Court. Topics: Mello-Roos, Open Boundaries/Overcrowding/impacts Hello Concerned Parents and neighbors/taxpayers, As of this morning, our SUHSD Superintendent, Dr. Ed Brand, will not be attending the Public Meeting. Unfortunately, the Performing Arts Center cannot to be used for our meeting. So, we are hoping that you will come and speak with us at the Otay Ranch Mall Food Court (same time Thursday 7pm) so that we can begin documenting impacts from this Open Boundaries policy change and concerns over the use of our Mello-Roos funds. If you cannot make this meeting, please send Wanda an email with your name, email address, phone number, neighborhood school and a few sentences about the impact that you have experienced from the Open Boundary Policy and/or your concerns about how your Mello-Roos is used in this district. We BELIEVE these issues are affecting the students across the district and we would like to present specific points. The board and superintendent don’t believe there are any issues resulting from their recent policy decisions. Let’s give them the true story and document the impacts. Dr. Brand has agreed to a community meeting in the second week of September. Once we have a firm date, time, location and agenda we will advise you. He has also agreed to allow small groups of parents to tour our respective schools so we can see firsthand his perspective that there are no issues. Your child must attend the school to tour it, so let us know if you are interested. The schools are Eastlake Middle and High, Bonita Middle and High, Otay Ranch High and Rancho Del Rey Middle. If your child attends one of these schools and you would like to tour it during the school day, let us know immediately. **If you would like to be listed as a concerned parent, please ADD your name and school to our list at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmMq… If you are unable to add your name there, please respond with your name to me and we will add your names** Check out the issues on Facebook SAFEGUARDING EDUCATION IN CHULA VISTA at https://www.facebook.com/SafeguardingEducationInC… Check out Twitter: William Richter @wrichter00— August 30, 2012 7:10 a.m.