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Sweetwater board votes to cut occupational programs
My point is that the board majority may have set it up so that the board need NOT take action in closed session; insted, maybe they just merely submit their bills to their 'patron' Ed who will see that they get paid, thanks to the generous spending allocation he has been given that does not require board approval. The only way to get the info about who is paid with public funds, and how much and for what, is through public records requests.— April 12, 2013 3:54 p.m.
Sweetwater board votes to cut occupational programs
Eureka! It now occurs to me that the ongoing and upcoming legal bills for the defendent's defense attorneys may be the primary reason the board majority gave Ed Brand so much spending latitude. That way, they do not have to take official action as he quietly pays their attorneys with our money. They do not have to 'approve' a contract. It may also be why they continue to be so deferential to Ed. The only two defendants to get public defenders are not SUHSD defendants...they are Southwestern defendants. Perhaps the SUHSD defendants believe they don't have to worry about their bills and can 'pass' on the public defenders and keep their pricey defense lawyers!— April 12, 2013 2:06 p.m.
Sweetwater board votes to cut occupational programs
BBQ, I share your disappointment but am not surprised about the length of time until the trials. You know what they say about the 'wheels of justice'. I do not expect any of them to take a high road and resign...they would not know where to look for a high road! I would not be surprised if the defendants use every legal trick in the book to delay even further. We shall see. I also suspect that Ricasa et al are so deferential to Brand because they may believe that he will somehow help pay their legal bills with the district's money, plus whatever else he might have on them that might come out at trial. It is a tangled web indeed. In the meantime (between now and February) we must continue to hold their feet to the proverbial fire and not let up on the pressure points. Toward that end, I suggest that we ask for/demand written copies of whatever information is presented at the upcoming 'fiscal' town hall meetings --- at a bare minimum, hard copies of any power point presentations and other supporting data. Otherwise, it will be 'lost' in cyberspace and subject to subsequent 'tweaking' as Ed might find useful down the road. If hard copies are not forcoming, I suggest the seesions be video recorded and transcribed. We should not have to do this work, but it is sad but true that we do.— April 12, 2013 12:44 p.m.
Latest plans for ill-fated L Street land deal
Good for you and us, BBQ, and thanks for your leadership. As BBQ points out, we may need to step up (again) and participate in a process proposed and orchestrated by the District. Although we may be cynical and discouraged, it is important to keep their feet to the fire and keep repeating the questions and demand solid, detailed answers to how Brand and Co are spending OUR money. If we don't participate, the District can easily say 'no one wanted to participate in the process' and go their merry way. We may be disappointed (again, but we do need to make the effort to get answers to our legitimate questions and not let them off the hook. Thanks BBQ!— April 10, 2013 2:20 p.m.
Latest plans for ill-fated L Street land deal
Ricasa got it partly right: it is the board's responsibility to HIRE the CEO. However, it is also the board's responsibility to FIRE the CEO when that becomes necessary, and in between the two actions, to set policy for the CEO to implement. Seems she is only one for three. Also, she should be reminded that it is the public's money that pays Ed and CO, not the board's.— April 10, 2013 11:59 a.m.
Latest plans for ill-fated L Street land deal
I'm not sure the actual trials are that imminent. I recall that the in January/February, the new judge postponed the arraignments until April so she could have time to more fully understand the issues. I believe there were some motions from the defendants that needed to be dealt with prior to arraignment. I think the arraingments are on the docket next. In any event, it is my understanding that the judge will (one can hope) set actual trial dates for the defendants, who are guaranteed a right to a speedy trial --- but we are not! Speed is in the patience of the beholders. The item about McCann is on the Star-News site. He can now brag about going to Korea to protect all of us from harm doing his job in the Naval Reserve. No doubt we can expect some new 'hero' stuff in speeches at upcoming graduations.— April 9, 2013 3:48 p.m.
Sweetwater school district board seeks to silence opposition
JoePublic: Of course we are all frustrated and have become cynical as we continue to seek straight information and fair dealing from our public officials. It is easy to become jaundiced, that's for sure. Thanks to BBQ, it seems the District is now 'inviting' him to submit and frame topics for discussion at some yet-unscheduled 'fiscal town hall' meetings. If we do not respond to the 'invitation' to suggest topics for discussion, we will surely deserve what we will get --, (which will likely be pablum unless we keep their feet to the fire.) By providing the framework for the questions we hope the District will answer in a straightforword manner, at least we can set the terms of the conversation with polite, yet definitive and specific expectations. If the District 'blows us off' with glittering generalities and no specific data, we will have at least demonstrated the extent of our interest and they will have demonstrated again, their distain for responsible and transparent management of our resources. This is Ed and co's opportunity to come to the table and act like the professional stewards of our public District to which we taxpayers and parents are minimally entitled.Although we should not have to frame the questions for them, I applaud BBQ for leadership to get a dialogue going.— March 30, 2013 2:20 p.m.
Sweetwater school district board seeks to silence opposition
Thank you BBQ! Here are my earlier topics reframed for discussion in a financial context: 1) What is the real cost for each school in program improvement status? Include expenses and costs to address each PI issue for each school, as well as ADA loss for each student who elects to attend a different school. 2) What is the real cost to accommodate each student who elects to attend a different SUHSD school when he/she leaves a Program Improvement school? Please include all expenditures for each 'receiving' site by name, and include items such as staff training, extra campus security, additional supplies, supervision, etc. 3) What is the Adult Education/CTE budget? How does it compare to each year in past three years? How many students are served each year? How many will be served in 13-14 fiscal year? If there is a difference, please explain. 4) Real estate projects: For each District-owned property not currently in use as a school site or District operational site, explain current and proposed use(s). Provide terms, date and cost of purchase., debt service, utilities, taxes (if any) and contractual relationships with non-District parties. Explain plans for future use, anticipated revenue, and projected cost/benefit analyses. 5) Status of each bond project, current projects, costs, outcomes, projected completion (including IPAD expenses) 6) Itemize all Special Projects (such as charters) with cost/benefit analysis 7) Grand Canyon University - timeline, goals for participation, anticipated numbers to be served, etc. Include costs of accommodating GCU personnel on District-owned site(s), and 'promotion' or marketing of GCU to SUHSD personnel, parents, and students. 8) Provide detail of legal costs of Shinoff's presentation on 'civility'... inlcude hours billable for research preparation, and presentation and travel. 9) Provide a list of all consultants, including costs, terms, scope of work, length of contract, etc. Thank you. It is my understanding that the public agency is accountable for its expenditure of public funds. All of this informaiton should be provided as a routine part of the Distirct's business. Perhaps once the answers are provided this time, plans can be made for monthly or quarterly reports.— March 28, 2013 3:12 p.m.
Sweetwater school district board seeks to silence opposition
BBQ - Again, thanks for your efforts to communicate our dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs to the SUHSD administration. The Compact for Success, Education Summits, etc., are really OLD news. We have NEW problems that have been iterated above and which you have commincated to Ed. Seems he would rather sweep the NEW problems under the rug and fill the room with smoke and rest on a few laurels that others won.. Again, a competent superintendent would present the public with a factual analysis of each issue, with strategies to address the problems and specific progress reports. And, as you point out, WE don't have anything to be blamed for, unless Brand considers exercising our right to speak publicly and to expect top-notch performance from those receiving top-notch salaries to be blameworthy. There is more than enough blame to go around, and WE are not the culprits. Let's see if Brand and Co can produce legitimate and specific information about the 'state of the district' as uncomfortable as the true facts might make them all.— March 25, 2013 1:21 p.m.
Sweetwater school district board seeks to silence opposition
Thanks for your efforts. I believe it is entirely reasonable to ask and expect answers of those who spend the public's money as a matter of routine 'best practice'. Thanks again.— March 19, 2013 10:43 a.m.