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Sweetwater school district cuts program and teachers
I quite agree with eastlaker. Any 'lecture' on civility by the District's own legal counsel (who we pay, by the way) should have been directed at those on the dais...those who are elected to serve the public, but who instead have been indicted with self-serving. Shinoff's lecture should have included legal advice to the board about their resonsbility to abide by the letter and spirit of Brown Act requirements, and about their duties as elected PUBLIC officials to acknowledge legal public input --- now that would have been instructive. Shinoff knows better. He should have declined Brand's directive to lecture the public on civility with a cavalier attempt to dismiss our own very real legal interests in the public process. He knows who has legal 'standing' in these matters and that includes each and every member of the community. Further, elected public officials are held to a higher standard of behavior and are therefore expected to be civil and obey the law while upholding their duties to SERVE the members of the public who have elected them to office and the youth of our community who must depend on the public schools for the basic right to education. SHAME on the board members for allowing such a sham, directing legal counsel to intimidate by attempting to turn the tables and silence a vocal electorate. My guess is that it didn't work and was a huge waste of taxpayer money. Rome is burning while "Nero"Brand fiddles. That is the civil and plain unvarnished truth.— March 13, 2013 1:53 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District & Realty Co.
I suggest that everyone pay close attention to what is reported out after closed session. If the board took ANY action, they are obligated to report that action. Then, it can become the subject of public comment. If they decline to report any action from closed session, but had importnat and substantial items on the closed session agenda, we can ask why they took no action on imporant matters and when the public might expect a report from closed session actions as required by the Brown Act. Keep their feet to the fire. The 'presentation' on civility is an indication that they are feeling a bit toasty and are trying to intimidate us from exercising our right to public comment.— March 10, 2013 5:15 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District & Realty Co.
The public has a right to know what public officials are doing with their money and other resources. The public has a right to know what decisions the public officials are making on their behalf. The ONLY items that the Brown Act allow in closed session are personnel matters, directions for collective bargaining, and legal conversations that if made public AT THAT TIME would jeopardize the agency's position. The Brown Act specifies that the public has a right to make official comment on the items on the board's agenda and other matters related to the agency that might not be on the agenda. The Board may not squelch public comment, even if it considers it 'uncivil', and especially if it is not what the Board may wish to hear. The Board cannot make us like them, or their actions. They should get over that expectation, just as I have gotten over any expectation that they will suddenly 'get it' and do right by us. Ain't gonna happen until the law shuts them down, and there is a more responsive and focused board majority in place.— March 10, 2013 1:59 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District & Realty Co.
Well, eastlaker, there is civil disobedience to consider. What would happen if legions of SUHSD taxpayers withheld their annual property tax payment portions that deal with MelloRoos and Bond payments? They are broken out on the tax bill. Put the money into a separate escrow account as a 'statement' of civil disobedience in protest of the possible illegal uses to which the District is putting them. It takes awhile for the county to bring foreclosure...the worst you might suffer would be fines and penalties on the amounts withheld. Just a thought.— March 9, 2013 6:02 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District & Realty Co.
The Brown Act requires that the public be given the opportunity to address the elected board on matters pertinent to the public agency in general and specifically on matters that appear on the agency's agenda. The agency has the right to limit the time individuals may have to address the agency officials, and that can become a way for the board to limit the discussion, especially if it is critical. The board may also limit the total amount of time given to any one topic, regardless of the number of people who wish to address the board on that topic. Our individual First Amendment Rights under the constitution are somewhat different. A newspaper or electronic medium such as TV is protected by the First Amendment, but is not obligated to give its space to any and all who would wish to be heard in that forum. Unfortunately, the media's obligation to 'fair and balanced' reporting is now not taken too seriously by local press. It is their call on what they cover and how, they report the 'news'. As individuals, we have the First Amendment right to say and/or print whatever we wish in whatever forums we can access. If we own a newspaper, for example, we can print our opinions. Of course, if what we print or say is not truthful, we may be subject to prosecution for libel or slander if another's reputation is damaged in the process.— March 8, 2013 4:37 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District & Realty Co.
FYI...the following is from McCann's website when he ran for the SUHSD seat he now occupies: "After college John McCann worked in the Banking Industry for almost three years. As a Banker, John learned how to serve his community’s financial needs and worked closely with individuals and small businesses. During this time, John finished his Master’s Degree in Economics, attending classes at night. John McCann then changed his career focus and moved into the technology industry. John served in several supervisory and management positions for technology companies and continues to work as a businessman in the technology field."— March 8, 2013 3:46 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District & Realty Co.
Not so much self-made as the son-in-law or so it has been said, of someone now behind bars for concocting dubious supplements and peddling them as something beneficial and making tons of money in the process. He has also morphed his former 'Campus for Christ" affiliation into a motivational speaking career. McCann's literature describes himself as a type of technology 'consultant' and am not so sure he is actually an employee. Have never heard the name of an actual employer. In both cases, make sure their hands are above the table at all times and not in your pocket. In both cases, they deal in snake oil.— March 8, 2013 3:23 p.m.
Southwestern College trustee resigns in protest
It also occurs to me that any discussion about the future of any program of study is a proper function of the program review process. That process is also part of the accreditation requirements. Did the consultant go 'lone ranger' and attempt to predict future course programming absent input from program review findings?— March 7, 2013 1:14 p.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District & Realty Co.
Anyone know who owned the Third Ave parcel before? That is in the same neighborhood as David (yep, the one and only) Malcolm's old SunCoast offices.— March 6, 2013 2:17 p.m.
Southwestern College trustee resigns in protest
FYI, Here's what SWC VP Tyner wrote to the Reader in July 2012 about the RFP process for the Master and Facilities plans: " ktyner July 15, 2012 @ 2:27 p.m. Response to July 11, 2012 San Diego Reader article, “Questionable Contract for Southwestern College,’ written by Susan Luzzaro Dear Reader: I am writing in response to the July 11, 2012 San Diego Reader article, “Questionable Contract for Southwestern College,” written by Susan Luzzaro, and wish to provide information about the process that Southwestern Community College (SWC) followed with regard to Request for Proposals (RFP) 134: Educational and Facilities Master Plans, since this information was not included in the San Diego Reader article. The details about the RFP 134 process are contained in an addendum to the publicly posted July 11, 2012 Governing Board agenda. (http://bit.ly/NkkdeA) In the interest of due diligence, encouraging fair competition, and transparency, the District followed an RFP process to identify the proposal that best fit the needs of the District and to procure the best value contract. The process was rigorous, fair, and conducted in compliance with the law (Government Code 53060 and Public Contracts Code 20111 – 20651). Thirty-one firms were sent the RFP, seven firms attended the pre-proposal meeting, and four firms submitted proposals. As the co-lead of this RFP process, I can attest to the thoughtful manner in which all proposals were evaluated. An extensive review process was conducted using pre-established criteria provided in the RFP. Teams from three contracting firms were invited to interview with the RFP 134 Interview Committee. RFP 134 Interview Committee was responsible for selection of the contracting firm to be recommended to Dr. Melinda Nish, SWC Superintendent / President, for submission to the SWC Governing Board. This Committee was composed of six members including administrators as well as two faculty representatives of the Academic Senate. Superintendent/President Nish was NOT part of the RFP 134 Interview Committee. The the final selection of a contracting firm by the RFP 134 Interview Committee was a unanimous decision. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify the facts about the process used for SWC’s RFP 134: Educational and Facilities Master Plan. We look forward to the development of an exceptional plan that will guide SWC into the future. Sincerely, Kathy Tyner, M.S. Vice President for Academic Affairs Southwestern College" So, has anyone seen the RFP and did it outline the minimum specifics and scope of work the consultants were supposed to perform? If so, how did we end up with so-called plans that are apparently so far off the mark?— March 6, 2013 1:22 p.m.