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Security Guard at Sweetwater Union HS District Meeting Had Cancelled Gun Permit
So, the Sweetwater District hires a company without doing due diligence , and pays to bring in someone who doesn't follow the law and tells different (diametrically opposite even) stories to different people.... does anyone see a pattern here? This is how everything happens in Sweetwater. The leadership in the district has lost control and is NOT looking out for the best interests of the district staff and students. This community, any community, deserves better. ps - wonder if someone in district leadership has a friend who works at JDS?— May 9, 2012 11:19 a.m.
Security Guard at Sweetwater Union HS District Meeting Had Cancelled Gun Permit
I agree. Great reporting, well written article. I used to think the Reader was just about food and entertainment. Now, I am so impressed by the reporting I read it regularly for the news.— May 9, 2012 11:09 a.m.
Security Guard at Sweetwater Union HS District Meeting Had Cancelled Gun Permit
LOL! Love it! What a great parallel... I know it really isn't funny - it is actually very sad, but sometimes you just have to laugh.....— May 9, 2012 11:05 a.m.
Anger and Police at Sweetwater Union HS District Meeting
You are right on with this article Susan. The big story is the major divide between district leadership, and the community and personnel they are supposed to be leading. But they can't lead when no one trusts or respects them. What a mess. The only thing keeping an outright revolt from happening is the fear of retaliation by the Superintendent and Board. Despite all the fancy speeches about how hard it was to make the decision to lay off teachers, the Board member's actions speak louder than their "campaign speak" words. They voted to lay off teachers, but voted to fund a new charter school (approx $450,000), voted to buy iPads (at least $500,000 of the 4 million dollars used for the iPads was funding that could have been used for teachers), and have funded a wide variety of consultants to come in and do work district staff could have done. No matter what the end results are (I am still hoping some deal can be reached so teachers and classified staff can be rehired) the Board's priorities are obvious from their actions. They continue to disappoint.— May 8, 2012 11:59 a.m.
Sweetwater Union HS District Rescinds 19 Layoffs, but at What Cost?
Just more evidence to demonstrate that everyone needs to SIGN THE RECALL PETITIONS!! Sweetwater needs change - ethical board members would be a great start.— April 30, 2012 4:52 p.m.
Is Sweetwater Climbing Out of the Muck and Mire?
Southwestern College has taken proactive steps to change the pay-to-play culture there, and has approved limits on campaign contributions. San Diego City Schools Board Members are also looking at ways to ensure the same issues that have ruined Sweetwater's reputation can not occur there. Yet Sweetwater continues with business as usual. **The arrogance of the Board and district leadership, and their disrespect for the public they are supposed to be working for and representing is obvious.** That district will not ever be able to recapture the positive reputation they used to have as long as the same Board and leadership are in place. **Voters in South Bay - take note and take action!** Sweetwater is an embarrassment to our community.— April 12, 2012 12:46 p.m.
Money for Sweetwater Union HS District Board Members Under Microscope
I think it comes down to the signs being held in the gym that night. They demonstrated a lack of trust in district leadership. By definition you can't lead if others aren't following. Although there is still a culture of fear and intimidation in the district, I hope that will start to fade as employees realize that they have the power. If they can't stand up to the leadership they can ask their neighbors to speak for them. If the community can keep the pressure on they will be able to bring about change. RESIGN OR RECALL!!!— February 1, 2012 2 p.m.
Attorney Found Passed Out in Car, Convicted of DUI
As a taxpayer I don't want to pay for any of the Sweetwater 5's attorney's fees. But I REALLY don't want to pay this slime ball anything. And can we get some follow up on this: "suggested that a female companion whom Bloom had been seen with earlier had been driving the car before she wandered away into the desert." Really? What happened to her? Is she still wandering around in the desert? Which seat in the car was Bloom in? This all has the makings of a great mystery novel...— January 26, 2012 8:05 a.m.
Sweetwater's Funds for Education
Perhaps this article explains why Brand doesn't believe the "pay to play" philosophy is pervasive in Sweetwater. He obviously doesn't understand what is wrong with demanding donations to approve, or improve, contracts. Just more evidence that Brand needs to go, along with his indicted Board members. As far as Brand being hired to clean-up the district - I have to question that. I think he was hired to provide the perception of cleaning up the district. He dealt only with already well publicized problems, no further or in-depth investigations occurred. Looking back on the "problems" in the district it is hard to see how Brand has cleaned-up: the Food Services Director who was ordering supplies from her own companies was allowed to retire, the worst thing that happened is that she will have to find other schools to buy her products to make up for the lost income; the principal and AP who were found to have cheated on grades and ASB accounts were PAID to leave the district; the principal who forged another administrator's signature is still a high school principal; the results of the investigation into the PR company paid through the district's legal firm has not been released to the public; and on and on. Make no mistake - Brand was brought in by this school board because they thought they could continue their unethical behavior under his "leadership".— January 11, 2012 11:46 a.m.
Sweetwater Union High School District Board Refuses to Consider Campaign Cash Cap
The Board is more interested in financing their future campaigns than in promoting ethical democracy. Why does it take so much more to run for election in Sweetwater than other cities and districts? The current board likes that scenario because it gives them an advantage. They have already lined up lots of district vendors to contribute to their next election. Potential new candidates don't have that ability. Where does the current superintendent stand on this issue? We need change at all levels so that the district leadership actually models the ethics we expect of our students. Whatever my feelings may be about the selection of Ed Brand as new district superintendent, my full condemnation is reserved for the Board members. They have absolutely no respect for the community they supposedly serve. The Brown Act is regularly ignored and community input is included only at the most superficial of levels. People of South Bay - this Board needs to be replaced by Board members who are actually interested in improving the education of the students in our district. Look at the agenda from last night - what items directly related to instruction in our 7-12 district. Not much. The Board is sooooo busy playing politics that they have forgotten what their job really is. THIS BOARD CONTINUES TO BE A SHAMEFUL EMBARRASSMENT TO THE COMMUNITIES OF THE SOUTH BAY. VOTE THEM OUT!— December 13, 2011 7:04 p.m.