Update 3/5/08: This post now has 2,003 comments! However, it has exceeded the capacities of our server and has been truncated recently at about 1,529 posts. But one of our readers has stepped up to the plate and painstakingly copied all of the comments into three NEW posts:
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2008 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2007 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2006 Comments
We have also started a NEW open SAUSD thread, which I hope our readers will post to regarding new SAUSD news and views.
You can also go to our home page and go to the right column. Click on “SAUSD Posts” and you can get links to ALL of our past SAUSD articles.
I must say, I am amazed at the stories that have been posted on this blog in the wake of Al Mijares’ exit from the Santa Ana Unified School District. I am posting this item merely to give SAUSD bloggers a place to post their comments. Post away my friends – we have an opportunity now to finally do away with the corruption left over from the Mijares regime. Change is at hand, but we must remain resolute.
I noted that someone affiliated with the SAUSD administration recently posted a threat on this site – alleging possible legal action against SAUSD employees who post anonymously on this site. That is despicable and a form of terrorism. Do not let fear restrain any of you from revealing the truth.
The final challenge we face in Santa Ana is to replace Mijares with someone competent. We won’t have another opportunity like this anytime soon. This process must be open and focused and whatever else happens we must keep Audrey Noji out of the Superintendent’s position. As a member of the Cerritos College faculty and a member of the teacher’s union at that campus I opposed her when she tried to get a job at our campus. If she goes after the SAUSD superintendent post I will do so again. I know we can do better!
All of my children are in the SAUSD system. For their sake and that of all schoolchildren in the district, I urge those who are rebelling against the last vestiges of Mijares’ broken empire to keep the information flowing and to do whatever it takes to ensure that our next superintendent will be up to the task. Mijares certainly was over his head throughout his doomed tenure.
Being the hyperactive skeptic that I am I found it some what ironic to read posts 1825 and 1826 back to back.
1825 is a grandioso PR statement by the district about how the employees are reaching out to the community and children for the Holiday. They seem to have left out the part about firing, cutting, reducing hours of these same dedicated employees. I wonder how many employees are feeling so dedicated this holiday season.
1826 reports the ongoing saga of the cat crises which left me wondering a couple of more things. Since the district is one of the biggest hypocrites in Santa Ana, second only to the city government, what makes you think anything told to you by one of the districts biggest contractors is going to be an honest response. Someone at Lloyds said they were taking care of the cats apparently. And what makes you think one of the pest control employees, or even a district employee would not remove the cats as a “side job”? It would not be the first time some of the building services division did favors for district administrators.
If a check was cut by Risk Management for cat removal, it should be easy enough to find and to whom it was made out to.
I guess we will know after winter recess and see if the cats are gone!
I certainly hope what is left of the dedicated SAUSD employees involved with CENA were able to provide the misfortunate children of Santa Ana a great Christmas event at the SouthWest Senior Center Monday. It would be a shame for these children to suffer for the misdeeds of the SAUSD board this year.
According to OC Reporter, SAUSD Kool-Aid drinker Fermin “Feelgood” Leal the event went off very well. The article provides a quote from board member Yamagata-Noji who leaves her million dollar home and supposedly volunteers each year.
This article is so spun that it also provides a 2005 year picture of Santa played by disgraced former police chief Rick Lopez of not one but two LA county cities. The best he can now do is work as a patrol officer for the SAUSD school police and play Santa. Those who read this blog remember Lopez was also accused of working the truant center using verbal abuse, humiliating overweight truants, and forcing them to do pushups.
Did Lopez play Santa this year too? Who knows. Fermin “Feelgood” Leal couldn’t even provide a newer picture than 2005 and didn’t provide much by the way of details.
I just hope the kids were not shorted by the wheeling and dealing of SAUSD board members this year.
#1831
Not to worry about the CENA story. The online OC Register dumped it the next day and didn’t even leave it in the recent story links.
But Leal now has another ‘feel good’ story about SAUSD. This one reports board member Hernandez being appointed as new board president. It may as well have been a press release from SAUSD.
To make it more funny the last paragraph has an obvious mistake which reads as follows:
School board member Rob Richardson, the former board president, was chosen to serve as president.
Even as a mistake truer words were never written.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/school-board-hernandez-1948938-president-santa
The Santa Ana Unified School Board unanimously recently selected Jose Alfredo Hernandez as its new president.
Hernandez, 34, was appointed to the school board in January after the departure of board member Sal Tinajero.
Hernandez, a graduate of Century High School and longtime resident of Santa Ana, attended Lathrop Intermediate School and Madison Elementary School.
He worked as a substitute teacher in the district and has two children in Santa Ana Unified schools.
Hernandez received his bachelor’s degree from UCLA and his law degree from Whittier Law School.
School board member Rob Richardson, the former board president, was chosen to serve as president.
#1833
It is a good thing you copied and pasted the original press release of the new SAUSD board president “written” by kool-aid drinker OC Register reporter “Feelgood” Leal.
By this afternoon some sharp as a ball editor caught the mistake and added the word “vice” president in front of Richardsons name in that last paragraph. The truth is Richardson is still president and they didn’t need to change it.
How long will the Register keep Leal on the SAUSD beat? Anyone can write a press release. Maybe the district PIO will offer him a job.
***FYI, WHOMEVER HAS NOT HEARD ABOUT THE RECENT PURCHASES INVOLVING THE SCHOOL POLICE LIEUTENANT RECIEVING A DISTICT GRANT FOR “SEGWAYS”, PASS IT ON.
IT WAS REPORTED THAT 12 SEGWAYS WERE PURCHASED AND THEY WILL BE USED BY THE SCHOOL RESOURCE POLICE OFFICERS AND SOME OF THE DSO’S. THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE MARCH 2008 AND THEY WILL BE PUT INTO SERVICE AND THE SCHOOL POLICE LIEUTENANT WILL BE ABLE TO REMOVE 6PATROL CARS AND 6 GOLF CARTS TO SAVE MONEY.
THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL AND WITHOUT CONSULTNG THE UNION.
#1835
Not knowing what a “segway” was I had to google it and learn. I’m sure I am missing your point.
These gadgets go at a zooming 12.5 miles an hour for 10-14 miles. That might put a crimp on a school cop catching a speeder or wandering off campus to write tickets and impound cars but hey with a district grant they were free! Look at the bright side. If equipped right they come with a cute little red light and siren.
You might get a little wet in the rain or cold but hey they were free.
Clearing it with the board or union? Why bother? The union wanted the cops cut completely. Now the cops are just going to have their wings clipped slightly.
The board? Yeah right. Did you see any police department cuts?
The fact is these are unworkable for police designed to patrol the exterior and parking lots to write tickets and impound cars. As soon as that money comes up short do not be surprised at how fast some new cars are bought for the cops. The DSO’s will get these new scooters. Can you sleep standing up?
Wow, someone snuck around the board and union and got free money??? Gosh, a police lieutenant got creative and actually got some new technology? For free?
Thanks for the laughs #1835
#1835
This is a very entertaining situation you are reporting. Actually I do not see what is the problem. These scooters seem to be working for mall security and with police using community based policing.
I am sure the board or someone authorized must have approved the grant. What would the union have to do with it anyway? From all appearances these scooters improve the outlined duties of both guards and school cops working on a campus. Personally I think these are a great idea and they are free!
The cat story and Camille Boden got my attention because I know of a number of staff with workers compensation issues that Camille has failed to resolve for very lengthy periods of time. The fact that she could pull several thousand dollars out of her sleeve is a side of her that has not been seen.
Here is a story of LAPD and their new use of feral cats to keep away rodents. Apparently the cat urine is the main deterrent for rats and mice. This feral cat program has been an enormous success and has the backing of the police organization.
Contrast it with one selfish woman’s pet project to eliminate cats from the district office premises. One has to wonder, what would Camille Boden be doing if she wasn’t so busy NOT doing her job. One of the ways to find out whose job can be axed next is when the employee is busy doing alternative projects that have nothing whatsoever to do with their regular job description.
Keep Camille out of the cat controversy. Make her do her job and get all those Work Comp claims off the docket. Quit wasting our school district money, Camille, by your continued over reliance on legal “assistance” to do the job YOU are supposed to be doing: RISK MANAGEMENT. Those hundreds and hundreds of hours of paid lawyers fees for the district are on your head. An audit needs to be done to see what a huge waste of district resources your office is responsible for. Some EMPLOYEE could have used that $3,500 to settle a long standing work injury claim, instead of you squandering the money on cats.
And after you read the story about what feral cats actually accomplish, you’ve got to wonder what kinds of “unintended consequences” Camille Boden is setting the district up for. My bet is that our precious district monies will be earmarked for rodent removal in a few months down the road. Way to execute a plan Camille.
Here is the cat story:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-feralcats29dec29,1,4944054.story?coll=la-headlines-california
The felines have been introduced, to great effect, at several stations with rodent problems. Parker Center may get them too.
Six feral cats were recently installed as ratters in the parking lot of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southeast Division, and another group will be housed at the Central Division early in the new year.
Their reputation as furtive and successful exterminators grew after feral cats were introduced to the parking lot of the Wilshire Division nearly six years ago. Rats had been burrowing into the equipment bags that bicycle officers stored in outside cages; inside the facility, mice were sometimes scurrying across people’s desks.
“Once we got the cats, problem solved,” said Cmdr. Kirk Albanese, a captain at the Wilshire station at the time. “I was almost an immediate believer.”
After Albanese moved to the Foothill Division in the northern San Fernando Valley, he introduced feral cats to the building’s mice-infested basement in 2004.
“I think it’s a very humane way to deal with a very stubborn problem,” said Albanese, now assistant to the director in the office of operations at Parker Center, which has its own rat problem.
The cats don’t generally solve the rodent problem by killing rats and mice — although the cats are game for doing so if they catch them. Rather, the cats simply leave their scent. Once rodents get a whiff of feline presence, like gangsters under a gang injunction, they move on.
“It’s the smell of the cat and the cat urine,” said animal rescuer Jane Garrison, a member of Voice for the Animals’ board, who selected the half dozen feral cats for the Southeast station.
Less grisly than glue traps — and usually more effective — the cats go about their “work” naturally: “They prowl, they eat, they sit in the sun,” said Melya Kaplan, founder and director of Voice for the Animals, who was responsible for putting cats in the flower markets.
Sometimes they rest under police cars or on top of the warm car hoods. When the cats are new to an area — as they are at Southeast — they spend much of their time hiding from view.
Garrison said the Working Cats program can be used anywhere. “We are willing to put cats in any safe area — businesses, hotels, industrial parks, even residences — and we will do that for free.”
Fermin “feelgood” Leal strikes again for SAUSD with another press release. Can this guy write anything or ask any questions? Apparently not.
In this latest offering “feelgood” reports SAUSD is providing parent review of K-5 science books and materials for board input.
Do the Parents of children of K-5 students speak or read English? Maybe “Feelgood” should have asked if these materials were provided in Spanish as well as English.
Do the parents have the time or even ability to trek on down to the district office to review this material? Why didn’t “feelgood” ask if any other method to provide this review by parents was being made available?
This is another kool-aid story by “feelgood” Leal and personally I’m sick of this guy. If the district wanted parent input from the poorest community in OC by e-mail no less, it would have made this material available on line or in a manner that parents could easily access it without taking a bus or time off work to view it. Leal should have asked the questions about language and other options to view it instead of just rewriting whatever release he was given. It’s a short piece as obviously that is “feelgood” Leal’s strength. Short and devoid of information. Provided below.
By FERMIN LEAL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Comments 0| Recommend 0
SANTA ANA Parents in Santa Ana Unified School District have a chance to review proposed textbooks and other study materials before the school board considers adopting the items.
The district is seeking public input on the kindergarten through grade 5 MacMillan/McGraw-Hill science materials.
The texta and supplemental guides are on display for review from Jan. 7-18, outside of district’s Visual and Performing Arts Department at 1601 E. Chestnut Ave.
Reviewers are invited to submit feedback to the Elementary Educational Services Department via email at Rosa.Bernal@sausd.usor by filling out the form located in the display area.
Contact the writer: 714-445-6687 or fleal@ocregister.com
Fermin “Feelgood” Leal must not only draw a check from the OC Register, he must have a desk at the SAUSD PIO’s office.
Today’s latest offering is SAUSD’s latest policy about giving students three weeks off for the Winter Holiday instead of two.
For a change “Feelgood” did actually flesh out his report and explain that the district had to do this because too many students visiting family in Mexico needed more time than just the two weeks most other districts have traditionally provided. He even admitted the district did this because it was losing ADA money with the children failing to return to school on time.
In justification “Feelgood” refers to another district that gives students a week off because they are reknown (along with staff) to take the time off to go ski in the snow season.
Well “Feelgood” two wrongs do not make a right. The fact is this little ploy actually began a number of years ago during year round schedules. When it was realized that Carr Intermediate and several other school’s students were not returning on time, the Christmas holiday season was adjusted just for them. Instead of enforcing the mandatory attendance codes the district bent over for the all mighty dollar. Now it has spread district wide.
In years past district employees, both teachers and some classified, had to take this time off using vacation, compensation, or even sick time. Are they now forced to take an additional week of time off with or without pay? Did you even bother to ask? I guess not.
You also failed to mention that the other district providing that ‘ski week’ off was not the lowest scoring district in the entire county. SAUSD sadly is. When last I checked you don’t reward incompetence with time off.
“Feelgood” does say that the district adds days both at the beginning and end of the school year. Has anyone ever been around the schools the last week of school? The seniors get half days and the last couple of days off altogether. Lower classes just ditch entirely.
Just once “Feelgood”, you should quit writing ‘puff’ pieces and actually look into what the hell is going on within SAUSD or transfer to another beat. Maybe the sanitation district would be good for you. You serve enough BS.
#1841
The three weeks for “dia de los reyes” to allow more time for families to visit and celebrate with relatives (whether here or in Mexico) is a great idea.
I’m not supporting Mr. Leal’s reporting, I’m supporting whatever programs afford students the best educational experience possible.
SAUSD’s year-round schedule was a major reason why I decided to come here to be a teacher. The year-round schedule should be adopted everywhere. The long summer break does just that…break the ongoing learning experience for students. It is TOO LONG a time for students to stop learning. The year-round schedule allows for a few weeks off after every dozen or so of school and is far better for ongoing learning. SAUSD (and all of USA) would be well-advised to use the year-round schedule system.
SAUSD teacher
# 1842
Since I’m not a teacher and you are, I appreciate your comment on the long holiday and year round preference.
I would be interested in your thoughts now that the district has returned to the traditional year format. Do you plan to stay or find another district using the year round program?
I would also be interested on your thought as to why SAUSD went back to the traditional schedule if the year round was productive. Since SAUSD has the lowest scores in the county this seems to be a paradox.
I’m not arguing with you, but I am curious. I went to traditional school and felt I had a pretty good education. When I returned after summer it took me about a week or so to get back into it. Perhaps back then the teachers started the year with a review of the previous year. I don’t recall. So I just thought I’d ask.
How’s Willard doing these days? Haven’t heard or read much lately, so am I to take it that it’s doing better over there?
#1843
I believe Year Round Education is superior to traditional, but I
#1844 – Willard is as bad as ever. Nobody seems to listen downtown. You know it’s bad when some of the new teachers are already talking about leaving.
#1843
Thank you for providing me with the link to that YR study. I must admit I walked away from it scratching my head because if anything it seems to be generally inconclusive in a lot of areas.
What I took from it was that if a district is over crowded, is lower scoring and has attendance problems the year round approach seems to be a more positive answer. Upper level students perform better, and attend more regularly as do teachers. Classes are smaller providing a better teaching environment.
The flip side seemed to be parents had problems planning vacation time especially if they had multiple children on different tracks. The teachers had problems with self improvement instructional time and the administrators had burn out issues.
Therefor it appears that despite all the potential positives for the kids, because families have vacation trouble and administrators have burn out issues, the district dumped the whole program.
Smarter and better educated people than I may understand the contradictions. I admit I do not.
Are there other Orange County school districts using the tradtional system that give three weeks off at holiday break?
#1848
That is a good question. According to the Register report Laguna and Saddleback Valley give their kids a few extra days off on Presidents day so they can go ski but the report does not say anything about any other district anywhere that gives the kids and teachers an extra week off during the Christmas holidays.
Of course with Register reporter Fermin Leal, it is not what he reports but what he does not report since he is in so deep with the SAUSD district.
#1846
How is Willard you ask? Well, gee let
Well I guess we’ll just keep accomodating santa ana kids and parents until we become a third world country.
The main reason sausd went to a tradtional schedule, was because attendence suffered dramatically during December.
(Three week holiday, because gosh, two weeks isn’t long enough to party and visit relatives).
#1850
I hope you are be facitious in what you write. No dicipline office? Students being allowed to carry knives with impunity? The guards being forced to work on foot?
What happened to the district policy of no tolerance for drugs and weapons? If what you wrote is true the teachers have a major complaint just for safety reasons alone.
Question of the day: Cats or No Cats?
#1850 is factious because she relishes causing internal conflict or she is attempting to be facetious as her comments could have been intended to be humorous but are often silly or inappropriate. What she is not is fact-based as she is not interested in truth but rather promoting conflict.
1850 said: “How is Willard you ask? Well, gee let
Register reporter and part time PIO for SAUSD released this puff piece this morning regarding the SAUSD board meeting tonight. I can see why it was placed on the education page instead of the Santa Ana page. After just cutting the hell out of teachers, staff and some administrators this little item is the construction agenda expenditures for completion of Heroes School, and get this, the building of a pool and running track at Segerstrom High School.
The last time I looked Segerstrom already had a running track. They need a new one already?
Does Segerstrom need a pool too? Century High, built 20 years ago and was then called “state of the art” is still waiting for its swimming pool. The big dirt square behind the gym and locker rooms is now occupied with bungalow classrooms and equipment stored or left lying around there.
Perhaps the fact that Segerstrom is located about 5 blocks from 2 of the board member’s residence’s has something to do with the high priority. Maybe their was a reason it wasn’t put online until after parents and employees had left for work. The Fermin “feelgood” Leal press release is short and copied below before they edit something into or out of it.
SAUSD construction updates
The school board will receive updates on school construction projects tonight.
By FERMIN LEAL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Comments | Recommend
SANTA ANA Santa Ana Unified School District officials will provide update to the school board on current school construction projects during tonight’s school board meeting.
Projects officials will discuss include plans for a new Olympic-size swimming pool and track at Segerstrom High, and the completion of Heroes Elementary School.
Tonight’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. at district headquarters, 1601 E. Chestnut Ave.
Have the kitties been removed?
Camille, does the cat have your tongue?
Why can’t you answer the questions about Santa Ana’s Great Cat Crisis?
From what I understand you are being very passive aggressive.
If you can’t intimidate a person you are just going to ignore the questions?
Is this really about the cats or the unfortunate person at the district office you are trying to bully?
So, if an employee has an issue that is really related to the Risk Management Department but you don’t want to deal with the problem do you ignore the questions?
Just answer the questions!
Is SAUSD planning to rid the district office property of the cats that currently live there?
What are the district’s actual concerns about cats?
Why is this suddenly an issue?
Who is making the final decision?
If SAUSD does plan to rid district office property of the cats, what is the district’s plan of action and what is the timeline?
Have any alternative solutions been discussed, like trapping, neutering, and returning the cats to their current home?
Do the people making these decisions have any knowledge or experience with feral cats?
Do the people making these decisions understand that removing the current cats will simply make the territory available for other cats to move in?
Does the district plan to remove cats from the district office grounds on a continuous basis?
oh please people, all this posturing over cats. I wish we spent this amount of time on saving kids and jobs.
Heads up. Rumor is that SAUSD might need to cut an additional $8 million dollars from the budget, as state revenues fall short.
It’s not about the cats.
This is a classic case of management creating a hostile work environment.
When management has been exposed for mismanaging they retaliate. The whistle
blower is harassed and attempts are made to discredit the person. Management
creates problems for the employee by unjustified attacks on the person’s
performance and by hitting anywhere the person is vulnerable.
In this situation management is deliberately creating a hostile work environment
for an employee who has exposed issues that make SAUSD look bad.
Management needs to understand that these tactics are inappropriate bordering on
fraudulent. Instead of trying to push out an employee for actually doing their
job management needs to clean up their own act.
Russo, stop pussyfooting around. Do the right thing and stop allowing Boden to
punish an employee who tells it like it is.
#1859
I know this will be a tough concept but try to read #1861’s post grasp the meaning. It’s not about cats.
It’s about total incompetance! Camille Boden has cost this district hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees fighting claims she consistantly looses.
People get hurt at work and sometimes disabled. She drags these cases out for years and looses. The fact she even has time to worry about cats should explain it all!
Next read # 1860 and realize Arnold just tightened the screws on the budget. According to one report the only two districts in the OC part of the 98 failed districts in no child left behind are SAUSD and the county department of education.
You won’t find that notation from reporter Fermin Leal because he is too busy reporting that Heroes school is finished but for reasons he fails to explain it won’t be used as a school for the next six months! He also did not mention why Segerstrom needs a new track and pool either. Another “feelgood” story.
Look beyond the obvious and try to grasp the concept.
http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/VolunteerOpportunity/128349-29
Background on the School Readiness Nurse Expansion Project:
The Children and Families Commission of Orange County has partnered with the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) serving the elementary population to provide a School Readiness Nurse. The intent of the program is to ensure that children have access to early developmental assessments and health screenings so that all chronic and disabling conditions are identified, assessed and managed.
Service Opportunity Overview:
SAUSD was identified as one of the school districts having the highest level of need based on the poverty level. This project is to enhance pediatric health access, education and utilization of services through the School Nursing Expansion Program. The intent of the program is to ensure that children have access to early developmental assessments and health screenings so that all chronic and disabling conditions are identified, assessed, and managed. The goal of this VISTA member will be to develop and expand collaborative relationships with health care providers that serve the needs of the community.
VISTA Specific Responsibilities and Duties:
-Develop and expand collaborative relationships with community clinics, pediatricians, and other health providers that serve the health needs of the community;
-Develop outreach materials and distribute to families to assist in linking them to additional health services available in their communities;
-Conduct follow up with families that have children screened by that School Readiness Nurse to identify and assist with combating barriers.
-Recruit and train volunteers.
Necessary Skills:
-Maturity and experience in successfully working in the community and/or within community-based organization(s)
-Excellent communication and organizational skills
-Must have excellent writing and analytical skills
-Experience working with culturally diverse communities and families, with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate; Strong interpersonal skills
-Must have excellent computer experience with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, and Outlook)
Minimum Qualifications for Position:
-Must be U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident, and a least 18 years of age
-Must have reliable transportation with valid driver
http://www.ocregister.com/news/school-heroes-construction-1956608-officials-santa
Heroes Elementary construction complete
The new campus opens for students in August.
By FERMIN LEAL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Comments 0| Recommend 0
SANTA ANA The construction of Heroes Elementary School is complete, but the school won’t officially open for students until August, Santa Ana Unified officials said Tuesday.
Heroes Elementary, named after all law-enforcement heroes, is the last school built with funds from Measure C, voter-approved construction bond.
The school, at 1111 Civic Center Drive, will serve mainly as a training facility until the start of the 2008-09 school year. The school will then open for about 600 students in grades kindergarten through 5.
The Santa Ana Unified school board delayed the official opening of the Heroes in December as part of a series of budget cuts.
In 1999, voters approved Measure C, a $145 million construction bond. Officials at the time promised voters the construction of 13 schools and renovations at 11 campuses.
But soaring costs and other issues prompted officials to scale down the scope of the work. The district could only afford five new schools, and more than a dozen projects were put on hold.
Contact the writer: 714-445-6687 or fleal@ocregister.com
Heroes Elementary School
Students: 600, K-5
Location: 1111 Civic Center Drive
Construction start date: May 25, 2006
Finish date: January 2008
Project cost: $22,289,163
Original contract price: $14,120,000
Project Description
The Heroes Elementary School project consists of two buildings. One building will house the administration, kitchen, eating area and the media center. The classroom wing will be two stories and have 26 classrooms. There is approximately 46,000 square feet of instructional space. The grounds have separate play areas for kindergarten and upper grade students. There will be designated student drop-off areas for buses and parents.
Features
Multipurpose building
Kitchen
Estimate 46,000 square foot program areas
Four kindergarten classrooms
Eight first-grade classrooms
Fourteen second- and third-grade classrooms
Administrative building
Soccer field
Kindergarten play areas
Upper level play area
Parent and bus dropoff
Comparisons of salary for Superintendents in California:
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=5878767
Hanson oversees 85-thousand students and is paid 259-thousand dollars including benefits.
Long Beach Unified has 91-thousand students and its superintendent earns 227-thousand dollars a year.
The superintendent at Santa Ana Unified is responsible for 55-thousand kids and is paid 256-thousand a year.
# 1864
I am not sure what your point is by reproducing the story of Heroes school. As was previously posted the school is complete but won’t be used as a school for the next six months. Fermin Leals story only says the delay are budget cuts but fails to explain why these cuts would exclude the school from being used as a school instead of a teacher training center. I believe the district office has been renovated a number of times for that purpose and sixty other schools in the district already have facilities that can be used for teacher training.
For the next nine months, including summer recess, this school will sit there while 600 children are jammed into schools elsewhere?
For nine months the air conditioning, heating, lighting and other utilities will be paid for to provide teacher comforts while 600 students could be using the school? Makes sense to me. Not!
#1865
Although your cut and paste failed to identify that Hanson is the superintendent of Fresno Unified, your point was not lost. Russo is over payed by comparison for an under performing district. Another point you may or not have intended to make is the process used to set these pay scales.
In an article by the OC Register in 2005 it was pointed out that OC school superintendents were paid significantly higher than counterparts in even more populated districts. Back then Mijares took a 10% paycut along with other employees leaving him a salary of $205k a year. (plus car, gas, insurance and other perks). Since then, despite an ongoing decline in performance Russo now enjoys a salary over $250k, plus all those other perks. The question is why?
The answer is a curious process used by districts. They pick and choose at least 3 other districts of like size to compare salaries and through some voodoo formula come up with a number to pay their own top administrator.
In years past these formulas were based from neighboring districts to keep the comparison reasonable within the local pay scales. Now it appears districts reach out anywhere within the state to skew the numbers. I can think of no other logical answer. Otherwise why would the superintendent of Long Beach make less than both Fresno and especially SAUSD where only 20 of the 60 schools actually met ‘no child left behind’ requirements? It is a mystery and probably one reason the state budget is out of whack.
This 2005 article compares CEO’s to superintendents where performance counts. The genesis by former superintendents was that you can not compare superintendents to CEO’s. Wasn’t it Asst. superintendent Trigg of SAUSD that made some comment that it was all about the money and has had to run quickly for retirement? Interesting.
Teachers have lost their cost of living increase. Jane gets 250 thousand dollars a school year. Schools are facing administrative cuts before the school is out and then more July 1. Jane has a gas and car allowance. Schools are looking to lose all support staff like DSO’s and school police…
Jane has…?
We need to find the balance of power in this district.
High School Inc.: Anaheim
#1869
Let us review. A program ONLY in it’s first semester with no proven results is considered innovative and worth copying by another school district. Why does the word premature come to mind?
Is the program innovative because it raised almost a half million dollars? That sounds like SAUSD. Is it innovative because according to executive director Jack Oakes “The kids are off the chart”?
What chart is Mr. Oakes talking about? The district income chart? The chart where kids who should be getting an education are simply learning vocational skills they may luckily be able to apply at entry level positions?
Perhaps it is vocational skills. After all Mr. Oakes having been removed from mainline education a decade ago has administrated the Regional Occupational Program (R.O.P.) where kids go when they have failed elsewhere.
Anaheim might want to quit looking at all the dollars they can con out of local business and wait and see what the results actually are from this ‘innovative’ program at SAUSD. One semester is hardly a yard stick to judge from. Maybe waiting until after placement results are in when some of these kids complete the program would be a wiser move.
A new twist on ROP to grab some private sector money is clever but is it proven? Not yet. Anaheim can not be that stupid unless they are just looking at the money and not the children.
Stay tuned….the other really big shoe is about to drop……SAUSD management has been kept in the dark up until now…..when they have their district wide meeting next Friday…….well, lets just wait….it’s going to be very interesting……Oh, by the way….enjoy your trip to Sacramento tomorrow Jane!
The CATastrophe has been avoided. An all tails up approval has been given by Ms. Risk Management herself. A volunteer run program to trap, neuter, and return the cats to their familiar stomping grounds at the district office has been given the purr of approval. The cost to SAUSD is $0.00. Of course, none of the cat folk have ever asked the district for money to care for the cats. But let’s not unnecessarily bring up a hair ball now.
Congratulations to all involved!
One last thing, did you know that the angels paint each and every kitten? I don’t think the angels would have been smiling for long if they had to watch their masterpieces being destroyed.
#1872
Maybe that will free up Camille and RM to actually evaluate what is going on with the nutball administrators at Saddleback. VP Carrigg is STILL screaming at parents and office staff and who knows who else on the QT! Does someone need to shame the district with a YouTube video and audio of that character in all of her unprofessional glory? Santa Ana deserves better representation than that woman. Each paycheck month that woman gets away with money that should not be spent on her disasterous conduct.
# 1873
In case you have not noticed the only way to get any results from this district is to shame them into action. Only after Jone’s memo went public did the district begin to take the complaints seriously. Only after the above posted “CATastrosphe” was publicized here did they come up with a ZERO cost alternative both acceptable to the cat lovers and the district. Only after Washington School teachers went public about attendance fraud was action taken to stop it. Do you begin to see the pattern?
If Carrigg is like the proverbial leapord that can not change her spots, then a U tube or audio made public is also going to be the only way the district will get the message. Some one is going to have to do it and then we will see how long the problem continues.
What no illegal activities uncovered in SAUSD in what seems like months? Or is something brewing?
Anyone know why Juan Lopez is MIA since early December?
http://www.ocregister.com/news/simon-students-high-1962584-says-santa
Turning adversity into opportunity
A wealthy businessman tries to create a new kind of scholarship for Santa Ana teens.
By SAM MILLER
The Orange County Register
There are multimillionaires in this banquet room, and there are assembly line workers. There are philanthropists, civic leaders, businessmen
#1876
That is a very nice story about Mr. Simon and all he is trying to do for the kids at SAUSD, but read the top of this blog. “Corruption coming out at SAUSD”. I’m not sure if you were trying to break the flow of the topic or you truly believed this story was somehow appropriate on this blog.
In keeping with the topic of this blog your story does help to remind me of all the kids at SAUSD that need help because the district has failed to provide it. I’m reminded of all the lost money SAUSD has managed to burn on fraud, waste, bad management and the continued practice of trying to conceal these issues rather than fix them.
If Mr. Simon really wants to put some of his money to good use maybe he can drop a couple hundred thousand for a completely independant audit of the management at the district office.
#1875
Something is brewing. More about Juan Lopez’s conspicious absence.
#1871,1875,1878
I hate epesodic television’s “to be continued”. If you have something to say, say it. #71 If a shoe fell last Friday, I missed it. #75 and #78 if Juan Lopez is MIA for a good reason spit it out. Otherwise wait until you can. This blog is tough enough to navigate through with all the worthless district PR posted to divert attention from the corruption. One line teasers don’t help much. I’m looking for the juice not the peelings when I come here.