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Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
I think it is not Susan's job to make a list of the offenses so far...she is a reporter who earns her living with the stories she writes for the Reader. Don't make her part of the story because she is more valuable to the cause by reporting it.. Someone else needs to compile the list of egregious events to date. That list will be needed when election times rolls around.— December 4, 2013 8:02 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
Oldchulares - it should be so easy for the Board to do. Again, what does Fast Eddy hold over them, have on them, how is he blackmailing them into silence? There are really no other possible conclusions as to why the continue to stand for such outrageous behavior. One guess is that he is finding a way to secretly funnel money to pay their legal fees for the upcoming trials, and therein lies the stranglehold he has over them.— December 4, 2013 12:46 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
Nearly a quarter MILLION dollars to SBCommunity Services in contracts on last month's Suhsd Board agenda alone! They are raking in the dough to pay their CEO nearly $200k per year, and nearly as much for Shirley Horton in a position for which she has no training....a former realtor? Take a look at FERPA regulations. That is the FEDERAL law (which may be Fast Eddy's downfall) that clearly specifies that student record data is private and may NOT be released by the district without the express consent of the parents. So who asked the parents for permission to 'share' their students' record data.....address, telephone number, etc. etc. Fast Eddy has been caught in so many lies...lies, lies, damned lies....Ruthie Chapman was right. (If Ed Brand's lips are moving, he is lying.) What an unholy mess.— December 3, 2013 6:36 p.m.
Sweetwater teachers may strike over district policies
Agreed. Nevertheless, it is evident that the Board and Fast Eddy are goading the SEA into public displays of unhappiness to demonstrate their frustration with treatment that is less than honorable. I am suggesting that SEA take the high road in this instance to avoid becoming the perceptual goat in these matters, when the real perps are the board and ceo. SEA can take the high road, as I have suggested, and let their PERB protected processes proceed to enforce the contract they negotiated in good faith. Threats of strikes will be counter-productive in the long run, and that is what the corrupt ones are hoping for. As a side note, I am wondering if the board and Fast Eddy are expected to pay more into their insurance coverage as they are asking the teachers to do?— November 27, 2013 6:24 p.m.
Sweetwater teachers may strike over district policies
I think that leadership should be modeled at the very top. So look to the board and Fast Eddy ---- do you see leaders who model behavior becoming to public officials? They are role models only for self-dealing and corruption. We who are advocates for restoring Sweetwater to honest leadership and practice understand that the corrupt ones are threatened by anyone who challenges their decisions and deals. We also need to understand that public perception is a critical element to what happens in the next elections for board members. We need to be strategic in how we position the issues. I would suggest that the most strategic process to avoid lumping union issues with the issues of corruption at the top is for the union to press their case for contract enforcement through process channels available to them. As has been noted, there are legal steps the union can take to resolve contractual issues, which include negotiation and arbitration --- these steps take awhile, of course. Visduh has pointed out that there are those, such as 'timtim' who would try to control the message and deflect criticism aimed at the board by casting any agitation as the work of the devil union. I suggest it is important for the union to avoid threats of strikes until the process has worked its way through --- otherwise, union agitation will only generate criticism and ire of many of those whose votes will be essential when it is time to vote the bums at the top out of office.— November 27, 2013 10:23 a.m.
Sweetwater teachers may strike over district policies
The Brown Act is described in CA Code 54950. It states that all meetings of government bodies must be fully open and accessible to the public. A civil lawsuit may be filed to enforce compliance. Board actions not in compliance can be voided by court action if it is a result of wrongful intent to deprive the public of information. The Brown Act is for the benefit of the pubic that board members represent. Who will go forward with such a challenge? If no individual member of the public brings suit, it is left to the District Attorney to enforce.— November 25, 2013 2:51 p.m.
Sweetwater teachers may strike over district policies
This corrupt board and Fast Eddy have piddled away millions on nefarious real estate schemes and other wild project.....they now cry 'poverty' in order to take it out of the teachers' hides. Another shell game, brought to you by Fast Eddy and Co. Tick tock, tick tock... mid-February is now just two and a half months away.— November 25, 2013 1:38 p.m.
Sweetwater teachers may strike over district policies
I think the board majority, along with the superintendent (fast Eddy) have deliberately kept pushing, and taking, from the teachers in order to incite them to strike....then they can claim that all the criticism of the board and Fast Eddy is coming from those 'evil' unions -- pointing fingers in order to sway public opinion away from the real issue....the corruption at the top. It is a diabolical plot, but not surprising, given the stakes here. Even if the board remains intact after the trials, which I think is unlikely, three seats --- the majority--- will be up for election---- the balance of power on the board. If Cartmill et al. had one ounce of ethics, he/they would arrange for board meeting venues large enough to accommodate those who wish to exercise their rights of assembly and speech, as well as public comment under the Brown Act. Instead, Cartmill and Fast Eddy sets up the Board meeting to constrict and restrict public comment by those who are affected by the Board's punitive moves. This is a political chess game with the public's money.— November 25, 2013 10:32 a.m.
Sweetwater Athletics Hall of Fame scrutinized
I agree with Wabbitsd. A total of $247,000 this agenda alone....a quarter of a million dollars in addition to the sums previously contracted with SBCS. Check their tax filings that are posted on their own website...the CEO and Assistant each make sky high salaries, at or near $200,000. Former Mayor Shirley Horton came in about $122,000 alone. You bet it is a cozy situation between Fast Eddy, the Board, and the SBCS board of directors. Don't forget, SBSC also receives money from the Cities of Chula Vista and National City as part of the community development block grant process. In addition, I am guessing that the SUHSD and the cities also each purchase sponsorships that include one or more tables at the annual 'Change their Lives' gala where the so-called trustees attend and rub elbows at no personal cost. I think it is time for Fast Eddy and the district to provide an annual chart of the contracts with SBSC, the total cost and scope and purpose of each. Additionally, how are the services evaluated? Do the contracts automatically renew each year? Lots of questions here.— November 18, 2013 4:47 p.m.
Sweetwater Athletics Hall of Fame scrutinized
In re: next Monday's agenda --- contracts totaling $247,000 MORE to be awarded to South Bay Community Services? The total is divided into 7 individual contracts ranging from $11,000 - $90,000. No indication what services SBSC is to provide for these princely sums.— November 15, 2013 9:36 a.m.