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Homeless in Chula Vista
More contracts flow into South Bay Community Services....a total of more than $128,000 in 2012-2013 alone. I wonder the extent of outreach done by SBCS to let the homeless know that there are services available and how to access them? Surely Shirley Horton (highly-paid SBCS staffer whose title includes community relations and development is not going to wander among the homeless herself (wouldn't be a bad idea...remember when former SD Mayor Maureen O'Connor did just that, spending the nights on skid row to experience and learn the plight of the homeless?). SBCS CEO Kathy Lembo has fingers in many funding pies.— January 6, 2014 5:37 p.m.
Homeless in Chula Vista
Sorry for the double post.— January 6, 2014 5:35 p.m.
Few details on Sweetwater district's student-data-sharing deal
The County Board of Education is an embarrassment, as they at a minimum ought to be embarrassed by Sweetwater shenanigans. Instead, they are do-less, sitting on their dais pretending all is just peachy keen with the largest secondary school district in the state! The law asserts that the CBOE is charged with fiduciary oversight of the school districts in their jurisdiction. They can deny it all they want, but they are just as responsible for the Sweetwater mess as any other officials because they have allowed it to happen.— January 5, 2014 2:02 p.m.
Few details on Sweetwater district's student-data-sharing deal
The District's policy on Conflict of interest is #9270. It appears that someone in Grossman's situation with a spouse employed in the District would be subject to removing himself from any vote that applied to the spouse individually, but not to a class of employees to which she belongs. However, it seems to me, that in this instance, the Board should be aware of the perception (let alone the remaining indictments) of Conflict of Interest that hovers over this Board and take the high road and avoid any possible appearance of conflict in the appointment they choose to make. It is easier to make a 'clean' appointment than to make one that is tainted from the outset.— January 2, 2014 6:05 p.m.
Few details on Sweetwater district's student-data-sharing deal
I think the appointment could be challenged and a case could be made that the appointment was not valid if the board's own bylaw process is not followed.— January 2, 2014 1:53 p.m.
Few details on Sweetwater district's student-data-sharing deal
The Board's own bylaws (9223 - filling vacancies) stipulate just how a provisional appointment is to be made. The bylaw requires that the position "be advertised in local media to solicit applications and nominations....the board shall interview at a public meeting and accept oral or written input....select with a majority vote." This is a great opportunity for those of the taxpaying public who are seeking an end to corruption to apply for the appointment. Even if not selected, it is a good experience and will clearly demonstrate if the remaining board members are interested in fairness and opportunity. Let's watch is very, very closely.— January 2, 2014 11:54 a.m.
Few details on Sweetwater district's student-data-sharing deal
I certainly hope so. SBCS may not be bound by FERPA, and I never suggested that they are. However, the DISRICT is bound by FERPA and may not give student record data to SBCS, or any other entity, without permission of each and every parent. My point is that if this 'data sharing' includes individual student record information, the District is in violation of FERPA rules and its own board policy. It also occurs to me that SBCS might WANT to abide by FERPA (and may have to do so if they collect student record data on individuals as part of their activities under contract with SUHSD --- that would have to be determined by lawyers and/or the feds ) because it would be the right thing to do.— December 31, 2013 3:26 p.m.
Few details on Sweetwater district's student-data-sharing deal
SUHSD's own board policy BP5022 is Student and Family Privacy. Administrative regulations are listed in AR 5022. It would seem to me that if students are directed to attend such an afterschool assistance program, it would have to be at the direction and supervision of school personnel and not some contract agency such as SBCS. If a student's achievement record on a test is used as a determining factor in the requirement to participate in some outside activity, the district is indicating that the particular student has scored less than 70 percent on the test and thereby revealing personal private information about that student. I don't think the district can just turn over such records to SBCS without obtaining permission from every student's parent/guardian.— December 31, 2013 2:29 p.m.
Few details on Sweetwater district's student-data-sharing deal
It is NOT OK to share data unless the data are aggregated, and if there is no release of individual student record information that could be linked to any specific student. Per the Federal Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA), telephone numbers, grades, etc. of individual students are restricted and may NOT be released by the school to any party ( EXCEPT law enforcement with subpoena power) without express parental permission.— December 31, 2013 1:48 p.m.
Few details on Sweetwater district's student-data-sharing deal
Lembo admits in the interview that the data now in the possession of the SBCS was provided by the District, and that it includes attendance records. She also admits that SBCS staff called 11th and 12th grade student homes in an effort to promote interest in Alliant University. One must assume that the District provided the names and telephone numbers of the students so contacted. She also stated that the students who were called in the Alliant marketing project were called 'based on grade point averages'..... Student record data include: address, telephone number, grades, other individual information except honors and degrees received. The rules differ for students in K-12, and those who are over 18 enrolled in higher education. Students over 18 control their own student record data, not their parents. It is my understanding that information about student athletes is not restricted in either case but am not sure of the details. So, by Lembo's own admissions, private student record data (that is how the FERPA law refers to student data maintained by educational institutions) from students enrolled in the Sweetwater District (specifically Castle Park) were compromised by being released without parental permission to SBCS.— December 29, 2013 10:48 a.m.