UPDATE: Comments on this thread are now closed. The new 2009 thread is available at this link.
I wrote a post on July 16, 2006, entitled “SAUSD corruption coming out with Mijares gone,” and it blew up to over 2,000 posts. However, it 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 four NEW posts:
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2008 Comments
- SAUSD-Temporary Thread (Migration 5/16/2008) Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2007 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2006 Comments
Also, don’t forget you can go to the right sidebar of any page page and search for “SAUSD” to get links to ALL of our past SAUSD stories.
I have been honored that this blog has allowed so many people to vent their frustrations with the SAUSD administration and school board. We will continue to shed light on these issues and I hope that our readers will continue to use this blog to communicate about the corruption at SAUSD.
SAUSD does not belong to the administrators or to the school board. It belongs to us. We will have an opportunity this fall to take back the school board, with three seats opening up. I pray that good candidates will emerge so we will be able to do exactly that. Until then, please keep the comments coming! But post them here, to this new thread. Thank you.
Anonyms,
I can only guess based on past perpormance but if the classified have finally got steamed up enough the outcome should be interesting. If they want to make a difference, not be herded like sheep or used like slave labor then this is their chance.
SAHS Teacher –
Don’t get me started. Noji personally recruited Russo to replace Mijares just like she recruited her neighbor Jose Hernandez to fill Tinajero’s vacated school board seat. Both have been busts.
When Mijares was interviewing for the job he was introduced to the community – Russo was not. The clan of cronyism must cease.
And I’m not too pleased with SAEA. They’ve poured money and time into re-electing Noji and then they spent more $$ and handed SAUSD residents a new tax increase with Measure G. Newsflash .. stick to teaching the students. We ‘re
still paying for Measure C and we still have portables.
anon from 2:46pm:
If my memory serves me, SAEA did not endorse Noji last go around, so it is highly unlikely they poured a cent into her last campaign. Measure G was for safe buildings and was passed by the community.
Re: stick to teaching the students, do you limit your opinions to your profession only? Your post states otherwise. Teachers also have the freedom to work politically for what they think is right.
Anon Teach –
SAEA has endorsed Noji for what four elections? C’mon stop parsing your words. Measure G was passed by the community and SAEA sunk money and time to ensure the passage of this tax increase. You’re entitled to exercise your political sway as you choose, but SAEA’s meddlesome tactics merely feed into the corrupt mayor’s agenda for Santa Ana. You do not fully understand the spectrum of Santa Ana politics.
Safe buildings? Hogwash. I recall when the school was attempting to pass Measure C and they hauled us – community members – to Franklin Elementary school and said this is why we need Measure C. Well, it’s been a long time and Franklin did not reap any real benefits from Measure C and more than likely they won’t get much from Measure G. They have lost students to leukemia and district admins came down hard on parents blaming them for the illnesses of their children.
You do not live in this community – you drive in and out every day.
Thanks for the tax increase.
Anon Teach
The promise of Measure C was to remove all portables. The promise of Measure G is remove the portables that Measure C promised to remove.
Furthermore, Measure C promised the “voters” to alleviate overcrowded schools. Santa Ana HS, Saddleback and Century High Schools remain overcrowded.
Here’s a thought: perhaps the voters are tired of being misled and lied to and that doesn’t touch on the district’s mismanagement of public funds.
If you want to help the community, join forces with community leaders and educate parents on how to take back their schools by arming them with the tools to so. SAUSD has fine tuned the art of creating and massaging numerous parent groups that engage in tangling with eachother.
Lesson for the day teach: Conquer and divide.
Anon/ 10-3 @4:23pm
Ouch!
Mijares’ wake lingers and Mayor Pulido’s stranglehold on the district is a significant contributor to the demise of SAUSD.
That’s why Richardson and Hernandez must NOT be re-elected to the school board on 11/4.
Here! Here! I agree Hernandez and Richardson must NOT be back on school board!
It is “hear, hear!”
“Here, here!” is what you say to your spaniel.
Sorry, it’s just like the twentieth time I hear someone spell that wrong on this blog.
Hey Vern you run out of anti Palin and McCain posts? You have your opinions but that’s why I stay Here…here where I don’t have to read them.
Here, Here, Anonplus!! 🙂
Vern –
You hear people spelling incorrectly on this site?
It’s easy to slip up, isn’t it?
yeah anon, I try not to be a snobby prick, but when I hear (or read or see) something like “Here, here!” on this blog (and the Liberal OC and Red County) for the twentieth time, I feel it’s incumbent on me to make a stand.
It seems like I stopped everybody from calling each other “shrills” instead of “shills” with this particular obnoxious post (at least it stopped precisely at that time)
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/04/cant-we-all-just-get-along/
DAMMIT! C-Span is on and some Democrat from Alabama, one Representative “Artur Davis,” just said “There’s no STATUE of limitations.” Must I sail to Europe?
Oh, you’re welcome.
Oh wow, Vern, oh wow! I just read your “Can’t we get along” blog ref’d above. Man, you can tickle the poisoned-tongued toxic keyboard like you do Bach on the ivory keyboard.
“And this is the menagerie of fat bastards, androgynous homunculi, and strident self-obsessed skanks with whom I’ve been condemned to share air.”
Over the top! Geezuz, what I’d pay to watch a William Buckley, George Will, Vern Nelson 3-way insult smack down.
But, Dude, whateryadoin on the SAUSD blog. Go pick on kids your own size.
Sorry, just attempting to make a gentle correction. I’ll be on my way now. Carry on!
Perhaps we can get back “on topic”?
FAILURE IS UNACCEPTABLE! SUCCESS IS THE STANDARD…IT’S UP TO US ALL!
The SAUSD mantra is a JOKE.
Whoever “US ALL” is has failed again and again in SAUSD.
Why didn’t “US ALL” use the three months of summer to:
1) repair the playground irrigation, reseed the grass, and replace play equipment (students haven’t had use of the playground since the start of school…that’s over four weeks…these kids are amazing for putting up with “crowded-life on the hardtop”)
2) replace carpeting in classrooms (whole classrooms are disrupted/moved while workers take even more playground space away with their trucks during school hours, I’m sure the latent fumes won’t help the kids when they return to their classroom).
And, we just finished the 29th day of school…that’s 16% of the school year gone…and we still don’t have all the new Math curriculum materials… only student texts and T.E.s…no support materials/manipulatives. SAUSD expects teachers to attend a week of instruction (indoctrination) about this “wonderful, new and improved” math curriculum, then doesn’t provide all the promised materials. Teachers get to work harder to support/supplement. Students in SAUSD are provided with less than their peers in neighboring districts. Yet, SAUSD continues to believe in its disingenuous mantra.
I want success for SAUSD students. It’s sad when teachers aren’t allowed to make the decisions that will help prevent failure. Too many decisions are up to the “US ALL” at District.
Check
How about sending a crew out to re-stripe with paint the quad area DURING school? This is the place where students buy their food for lunch and remain during both nutrition and lunch. Our school is stamped with red and yellow footmarks now instead of stripes. In addition to that, our new roving maintenance crew who are only supposed to show up on one specified day of the week, seem to show up to disrupt our classes on just about any day of the week. We were at least supposed to know when we were going to be disrupted by noise so loud that students couldn’t hear either the teachers or each other, but now it can happen anytime. We have meetings for parents that start before school, but no office staff to open up the office, so parents show up for a meeting and are greeted with a locked door. All of this due to our new “more efficient” (translation “skeleton crew”) classified staff.
Fight for the truth..I admire people who are not afraid to stand up and fight what they believe is for the common good.
Vanna,
I agree with you 100%. Speaking of fighting, does anyone know if CSEA employees approved or rejected the contract? It hasn’t been posted here and the results will be telling.
CSEA contract was approved. Over 150 voted against it, though. The results were already posted on this blog.
Anon 8:57pm
Thanks. I don’t see the previous post you mention but I appreciate you taking the time to put the information up “again’.
I was told by our CSEA rep that the district is going to re-hire many people at 4 hours and it should happen by November but he said not to hold your breath.
The CSEA contract means nothing if it doesn’t stand up in court. Why do I say that? Because they starve you out before you can ever get to court. Being represented by the finest lawyers in OC, improves a victim’s lot from what it would have been, but it doesn’t make you whole again, replacing what you have lost.
The only thing that will help all employees of the school district is if the Union can make the illegal employer actions of the SAUSD hierarchy stop in a timely manner.
Why are corrupt school districts like SAUSD continually rewarded? Why hasn’t a takeover by the state occured? Oh….I figured it out, there’s even more corruption in Sacramento and they worked out a deal.
One last question? Did they really use Franklin as an example of why they should raise taxes? I know for certain that parents of students attending MacArthur and Segerstrom wanted to improve their children’s lot and they did mostly vote for the increases in taxes. But I never heard about Frankin as the poster child for dilapidated schools.
As a teacher and resident of Santa Ana, I did not vote for Measure M. Unfortunately, it passed and now I am paying more taxes for who knows what. The SAUSD motto should be “MORE STUFF, LESS PEOPLE”. Year after year, we have more money to buy crap and less money for the people who actually affect change in students’ lives. Personally, I am sick of it.
Although I teach in Santa Ana, I do not live there. It hurt to see our Union “get-in-bed” with the District by supplying MONEY (MINE! which I DID NOT SUPPORT!) and rhetoric to Measure M = MO MONEY. I would NEVER support any bond/tax on the hard-working citizens of Santa Ana. I give 100% every day to every one of my students and the families I serve, but over and over again my best efforts are thwarted by the District’s “who-cares-’bout-the-kids” status-quo.
Yes, “anon techer”, I am sick of IT too!
“Just a Nobody” is in Risk Management. This was pointed out a long time ago.
The wonderful Police dog was brought in for the Cat Eradication Project.
Poor innocent dogs, cats, students, employees, and taxpayers.
Anon 2:28
I’m confused. I don’t recall Just a Nobody being claimed as part of Risk Management. Actually I assumed that person was part of the police department since he/she knew so much about it. The dog was here long before the cat removal project so I fail to see a nexus between the two. As for the rest of your comment. It speaks for itself.
Oh no! Another Willard tragedy. AP Marianne Bola is leaving to take a job at the district office. Rumors are going around that Principal Bishop mistreated her so badly, that he forced her to complain to the district about his oppressive “leadership” style. It’s too bad. She brought so much positive energy to Willard. Willard is going to be going downhill fast without her. Who’s running the show at the district office to allow this kind of stupidity to continue? Must be someone who doesn’t care about education.
Just for anybody that really cares…SAUSD got rid of the dog today 10/16/2008. Only a few administrators knew about it….
Anon 12:13
No kidding? I heard the dog was given to another officer for another stint as a show piece. If you are right I hope he got a good home.
Santa Ana Teacher. What the hell is up with Willard and the district? This is almost the 3rd year of trouble posted here with that principal? Ya gotta think somebody would catch on. Maybe it takes news coverage as with Jones at SBH before something will change.
If you liked Measure M, the recent tax increase, then you’ll love Rob Richardson and Jose Hernandez. These two clowns are dragging down this district. It’s time for a CHANGE. It’s time to bust up Noji’s treacherous trifecta.
We are not better off since Noji took office nearly 20 years ago.
Vote for CHANGE.
Gloria Alvarado will not get my vote because i found out, that she covered up for a very, very closed friend of hers who was fired from te city for stealing public funds. Is this true Gloria?
I don’t think it’s Gloria’s fault that her bff is a thief. Next time she (bff) knocks on your door asking for Gloria’s vote “ladies” hide your purses.
Does anyone see anything wrong with this whole “classified back at 4hrs?” so who picks up the slack here? It it the skeleton crew that we already have? Gee.. a nurse assistant for 4 hours.. that will fix it all..I’m sorry but I don’t know any of the people who have been let go who want to come back to their “old Job” at 4 hours! The “old Job” was 8 hours.. I am not talking about Instructional Assistants.. I am talking about the office crew.. Nurse, Office Assistants, etc.. Once again.. our office manager is at the phone/nurse/attendance.. I asked our Admin and I got no answer. Am I wrong to ask these questions? If I am I will keep quiet
chs are you smoking the same shit she was? say what you really want to say dont be afraid…………………..let it all out…………….lets take turns……………
“classaified back at 8:42 pm” Who’s the skeleton crew? and if you get fired of course you CAN’T go back DAH! Retard. Who’s the admin. you talked too? By all means don’t keep quit. let’s keep talking.
GO GLORIA, SI SE PUEDE! let go of your flaca between us she’s not good for campaign the truth will come out. eventually “que no?” No importa you have my vote esa.
CHS
I think you are on target.
1234. Obviously you graduated from SAUSD since you can’t count further. What administrator do you work for, or are?
To quote Kelsey Grammer in Down periscope, “Let’s kick this pig” and find out what the hell is going on. Staff, teachers and parents lets rock. !!!!
“1234” I do not know where you are coming from.. and no I’m not “smoking any S…t!” So without using the same smart words you are tell me this-Are you telling me you are happy with the few office staff that your school has to get the job done? Maybe you don’t have to worry about this at your job. Who said anything about “getting fired”?? These people were LAID OFF! Big difference here!! YES.. they are offering a small amount of the jobs back that they were LAID OFF from. Back at 4 hours a day! So you tell me where that benefits the school, these people or this school district. I hear this is going on at a lot of other schools also. YES.. I did ask one of our adminstrators at my school! The answer I got back was “The District is not telling us” So what is it that you know?
Hey Anonplus and CHS! You guys are right on the money!
1234 I have to ask you the same question! Where are you coming from? ? What was the point of your comments? Sounds like you are a administrator or someone who has the wrong idea of classified! Our school is also missing alot of our classified staff! No one has answers to anything!
CLASSYfied staff rules!
Every hour (all FOUR+) that they are on site makes my job easier/efficient.
District “high” levels do not have a clue. They have not done any real work for a whole week in decades. BUT, they do enjoy “walk-throughs” to point out all the inadequacies of their underlings. What a bunch of pretentious autocrats!
I support, applaud, and admire ALL the many ways that the CLASSYfied staff work to ensure our school sites function smoothly. Maybe someday the District will get out of the way and let the TRUE WORKERS ply their craft.
SAUSD Teacher –
Your puffed up comment does not sync with your union’s endorsement of Richardson or Hernandez. Your union has fallen in lock step with the agenda of el loco Miguel Pulido.
Anon, Don’t mistake a union for the board members of a union. SAEA is an association of about 2,600 teachers, counselors, nurses with political opinions that run the full political spectrum from left to right. We are the union, not the relatively few on the board and committees. I’m not certain of the reason, but those who volunteer for the various board positions and committees tend to be on the political left, maybe because CTA itself is an extremely liberal/progressive organization that frequently annoys its members more to the middle and right. But we all do appreciate that our union board and committee people have stepped forward, volunteering to do the union’s primary mission (they get zero pay for this; all but the pres. and grievance chair, must teach full classes during the day), the primary mission being to bargain a contract with reasonable salary schedule, hours and conditions of work, and protect us from the actions of abusive managers. Most teachers that I know do not agree with the political endorsements made by our board and rep council, but we all know our working lives would be very much more difficult, poorly paid, and fearful without our union.
amen
Re: Classified employee cuts
With just eight weeks into the school year, it’s apparent that our district is slowly falling apart because of all the cuts. At my school, children who are sent to the office because they are ill are being sent back to the classroom because there is no one available to treat them. Sometimes the sick student is sent back to the classroom because there is no place to keep the child. Whatever the reason, try teaching a class of third graders how to read when one of them wants to vomit and another has a high temperature. If this kind of negligence is happening at your school, spread the word, let your parents know what is happening to their children. No one else seems to be upset by this.
Could you trust Rob Richardson with the district’s finances? A Santa Ana teacher recognized him at a local ATM this summer. By the time the teacher got to the machine, Rob Richardson was long gone, but Richardson’s ATM card was still in the ATM. The teacher went to a restaurant that Richardson visits frequently with the intention of returning the card to him. The manager of this restaurant told the teacher that Mr. Richardson had been at the restaurant earlier, but was no longer there. In addition, the employees at the restaurant were well aware of Mr. Richardson’s habit of leaving his bank card behind. He leaves it at the restaurant all the time. Again, would you trust Rob Richardson with the district’s finances? (Happy ending—eventually Mr. R and his card were reunited)
Santa Ana Teacher,
I’m surprised it only took 8 weeks. I expected it in under 4. It does not take a math teacher to crunch the numbers. Using round numbers, “Do I keep my $12 an hour job for 4 hours or do I look for an 8 hour job paying $8”? Both jobs now providing the lowest possible health benefits possible.
Wait until 20 weeks when the holiday and tax bills start rolling in. A few bucks an hour less from another district with 8 hours and benefits will start looking better all the time.
SAUSD knew this would happen with the current BOE under the quiet direction of the city fathers. They just didn’t realize the sheep wuold tire of being used. The district was half right since the sheep approved the contract, but that does not mean the sheep intended to continue working for the district. A very predictable outcome. I would have approved the contract too while I put out my resume’s.
I see where the Register and Art have provided stories of additional plaque thefts at Carr, Martin, and Mitchell along with Santa Ana High.
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/10/bronze-plaques-were-stolen-from-four-sausd-schools/
In Art’s comments he not only asks where the school police were, but questions police coordinator Cecilia Aguanaga, and the risk manager’s involvement in this matter All good questions, but partly without merit in some respects.
As we all know school police along with other classified employees were cut back. I’m told night time school police was already at a bare minimum before the cuts. I have been told the interim chief, the former Lt of the school police is an incompetent boob. If that is true no doubt the question of where the school police were may be valid.
Next comes Cecelia. Obviously Art doesn’t understand her job. In fact I’m not sure that anyone does, but I am sure she has nothing to do with coordinating the police officers in the day to day operations.
Finally comes Art’s question about the risk manager Camille Boden. Now there is a topic for serious discussion. Any employee that has ever dealt with Boden knows the answer to that.
#796 –
Richardson is too young to be display signs of “forgetfulness.” I certainly don’t want someone with diminished faculties sitting on the school board or city council. It’s time for Rob to devote time to taking care of his health.
Anon # 799
I don’t think forgetfulness is an absolute indication that Richardson’s personal health issues have impaired him. Nor do I think personal health issues need to be discussed unless they are so obviously disabling as to indicate impairment of judgement. Repeatedly forgetting a credit card does not seem to me to reach a threshold where Richardsons medical problems need to be an item of discussion.
What should be discussed is how the team of Richardson, Noji, and Hernandez have run the district into the ground while at the same time displaying poor judgement in hiring (and financially rewarding) top administrators that are obviously not up to the job.
Between Russo, Olsky, Boden and others running the district I think their is enough proof that the board’s judgement, as a whole is impaired, not just one person.