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Jack Weir April 29, 2013 at 08:39 pm
The termination of the superintendent and general counsel was not a knee-jerk action. Over the past…Read More several years both have exhibited an arrogant attitude toward public participation, and have engaged in "under the table" actions that have wasted tens of millions of tax dollars, brought discredit to the district and caused low morale.
Although I'm not privy to the board's specific intentions, based on conversations during and since the election campaign I believe the main thrust will be:
>Shifting the district's focus from Dent Center bureaucracy to positive programs at local school sites;
>Making clear the board's expectation that all district employees will work with high personal integrity and professionalism;
>Ensuring that district resources are spent with a priority on the classroom, and
>Insisting that the public is treated with respect and that the district's public records are made available as required by law.
Mary Gray April 29, 2013 at 04:58 pm
Mr. Weir,
Since you appear to know something, perhaps you can clue us in as to what the MDUSD…Read More Board's game plan is? To my knowledge, they have not articulated any plan other than to get rid of Messrs. Rolen and Lawrence. Perhaps you and Mr. Shuey, who endorsed the efforts of CVCHS to drain approximately $1.7 million or more from our kids in the MDUSD can now go have a beer and celebrate, but this turmoil cannot be good for PH kids or schools...
Annette April 29, 2013 at 06:31 am
@gregargoyle
I, too, recall the days of McHenry and company, and without any particular fondness.…Read More I was not impressed that he was replaced so much for the sake of change as it was necessity - and long overdue at that. And why did we have McHenry for so long, when he made stupid mistakes that cost the District time and again (while driving his District-leased Mercedes)? Because the Board did not have the either the conviction or the courage to do what was necessary in a timely manner. Fortunately, there appear to be some on this Board who do not suffer that problem.
There are far too many instances where dead wood is kept afloat simply because it requires less energy than addressing the mounting consequence. It may yet be borne out that nipping things in the proverbial bud may be the best thing that could happen here. It will be up to the Board to search, scrutinize, and thoroughly evaluate the potential problems in the past history of the candidate before extending an offer to a new prospective superintendent.
Lawrence Risner March 13, 2013 at 12:51 pm
I don't think the blame falls on any one group be it kids or adults. But I do think it does start at…Read More an early age - just look at the competition starting in kindergarden - who's can read the best - who's can add & subtract - who's can be the winner of an event (by the way, if there's a winner doesn't that make everyone else a loser?) . Why not start the kids off in schools with group socializing programs? Forget the competion at early ages and teach them to get along amongst themselves first. Parents and teachers both should maybe consider that children don't yet have the life experience to be able to handle in a sensible manner losing or feeling like they aren't as good as the rest. There has to be an influence of compassion for others at very early stages of social living. "Civility" is not inborn - it has to be taught and practiced - if it isn't you are left with human animals by default which is what is happening today and it's not entirely their doing because they just don't know better.
Linda Meza March 13, 2013 at 09:59 am
From the Challenge Day website:
http://www.challengeday.org/challenge-day-program.php
Our programs…Read More go beyond traditional anti-bullying efforts, building empathy and igniting a movement of compassion and positive change.
Challenge Day's mission is to provide youth and their communities with experiential workshops and programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth and full expression.
Our 6 1/2-hour Challenge Day program is designed for 100 students. Our program is created to build connection and empathy, and to fulfill our vision that every child lives in a world where they feel safe, loved, and celebrated. Challenge Day is more than a one-day program. Our programs go beyond traditional anti-bullying efforts, building empathy and igniting a movement of compassion and positive change, known as the Be the Change movement.
Cheryll March 13, 2013 at 02:03 am
I havent heard of Challenge.I agree that bad parenting can also make kids act out in any number of…Read More ways, but even great parents can have kids that seek opportunities to bully-or do anything bad if they think they can get away with it. There is a pack mentality that is very popular now days, and it can happen with poor or rich kids, girls or boys. Now days its all about who's tuffer. Not unlike when I went to school, only x ten. My mom was a teacher at the Jr.high for 20 yrs and I know of several kids who have gone through school bullying, even that which got so bad, and the school refused to do anything about it, so the child was removed and had to go to another school.We would like to think that teachers aren't the only role models in some of these kids' lives but unfortunately to many -they are.And while we certainly don't pay teachers enough to be surrogate parents, these teachers see the kids for more hrs a day than their parents do.If you're a single parent of a teenage boy, the school may have more ability to teach and control the child than the mom who is working 2 jobs and never home. In those cases we have to acknowledge that we can't just go case to case and wait for the next problem, we need to instill the programs and policies that make changes. The "village" approach because we dont know WHAT goes on behind those closed doors. Families are stretched to the bare wire, financially, stress wise, finances crumbling, on and on. The kids are going to show it too.
Emily Henry (Editor) March 7, 2013 at 11:58 pm
Thank you for commenting. Could you tell us why you think this?
Anonymous March 7, 2013 at 07:28 pm
As a student at College Park, I do not believe they care about parent or student opinions at all.
Tambre Bryant February 8, 2013 at 01:21 pm
Tried to get classes for a year now. Not available or filled with continuing students. Gave up and…Read More went back to school on line with no grant. :(
lovelafayette February 25, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Cal swim coach Kristen Cunnane will share her inspiring tale of surviving child sex abuse in the…Read More Moraga school district in an hour-long show on the Oprah Winfrey Network on Tuesday. She will be featured on "Our America with Lisa Ling" at 10 p.m. Pacific time on Tuesday on OWN.
OWN can be found on Comcast channel 220; DIRECTV 279; DISH Network 189 or 885; and AT&T U-verse 170 or 1170.
Casey February 1, 2013 at 02:21 am
I am horrified by this fiscal irresponsbility. There's got to be a better way. I'd rather have the…Read More schools go without and build savings and investments (like anyone else). That would really teach our kids something and not saddle them with debt in their future. We think we're doing something good for the "low wealth kids" when in fact we are just postponing their discomfort, to put it mildly.
Jack Enright January 31, 2013 at 09:07 pm
This "relevation" really shouldn't be a surprise to any informed person. Borrowed money…Read More is paid back with interest. Deferring initial payments significantly increases that interest. I think that many people vote "yes" on bond issues without understanding the potential long-term cost and that the useful life of whatever was purchased or constructed is long obsolete or needs replacement before the bond(s) are retired.
Spread Theword April 10, 2013 at 11:25 pm
innocent until proven guilty, last time i checked. i hate the govt snooping! he didn't produce,…Read More was collecting. be anonymous on the internet and use the torbrowser from torproject.org. then search for hidden wiki and be safe!
Kayleen Parks January 28, 2013 at 11:43 am
When our family was exposed to lice I learned the hard way that you need two combing techniques. For…Read More live critters (apparently fast buggers) you need a fairly random pattern - if you start on one side and move to the other they often just move. For nits you need an organized side to side approach. Also, dipping your comb in vinegar helps breakdown the material that is used when nits are attached the the hair follicles.
Susan Bigham January 27, 2013 at 02:14 pm
Our school district's nurse says that outbreaks in schools almost always coincide with the arrival…Read More of winter clothes in stores and with the start of the Halloween season. It makes sense... lots of kids/people trying on warm winter hats and Halloween costumes that include hats, wigs, or other headgear.
Thanks for the article. I am going to provide a link to it for the parents at our school.
Dive Turn Work January 25, 2013 at 01:36 pm
I believe these locks allow the teachers to lock the doors from the inside - whereas, if I correctly…Read More understood the interview with Brill, that's not currently an option.
WC-Independent January 23, 2013 at 06:26 pm
Awesome, great ideas for creating some fantastic future adults.
Jill Buschini January 23, 2013 at 03:59 pm
I am very proud of the students at Las Lomas who began their page last fall!
Pleasant Hill Education Center Pool Reopened After Heater…
0 Recommend Emily Henry (Editor)