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Sweetwater Schools Board Aborts Meeting Agenda, Not Brand
I for one feel it is time for everyone to email the Board of Trustees and letting them know that THEY drive the train, not Brand, and if he refuses to come to work, the buck stops here, no more pay checks, vacation or health benefits. He basically has abandoned his job as a CONSULTANT, and therefore, the Sweetwater blood that runs in his body is only if he gets his own way. It also indicates what the future will bring if he is hired. This will cost a lot of money, and could have been stopped. Trustees, now is the time to let the community know you will NOT be put in a stranglehold and that NO ONE and I mean NO ONE should be backing you into a corner. No one likes conflict, and it is time to put an end to an agonizing chapter at Sweetwater. Take Jaime Mercado up on his offer. It won't cost anything, he has credibility, and the Board needs to work together whether they like each other or not. This is about our kids, pretty simple.— September 11, 2012 2:56 p.m.
No Confidence Petition for Sweetwater's Ed Brand
WOW, Savesweetwater is so correct...the hiring of Ed brand is wrong on so many levels. How does the Board look the public in the face and say "the hiring and money we are spending on Ed Brand is the right thing to do for education." The game playing needs to stop, and the highway robbery of the taxpayer needs to stop. The Board needs to bring the trust back into trustee. Come on show the taxpayer, students and staff that this is about doing the right thing,, not hiring back someone you have already gotten rid of.— September 9, 2012 9:39 a.m.
Sweetwater Interim Superintendent Ed Brand to Get Contract?
Ed Brand came back to the SUHSD because Sweetwater was in his blood. While I think that his intensions were good, his year is more than up and he has failed to be what folks had hoped he would be. The Board of Trustees needs to take a step back and look at what they may be getting ready to do. The fact of the matter is the Board needs to look for someone with fresh eyes that has the ability to get everyone one in the same direction. There is a reason the Board let Ed Brand go previously. They need to be collaborative and get community and staff input as to what the expectations are. They need to not go to the same "superintendent search company" as it seems this group seems to get regurgitated superintendents, freshen up their resumes and poof, we have another castoff. The Board has a unique opportunity to start fresh, get all stakeholders involved and begin the healing process for everyone. Let's see if this decision will not be based on taking care of someone who "we like"' but rather on doing the right thing. The staff and community deserve this much. Come on folks we need a fresh start.— September 2, 2012 6:30 p.m.
Security Guard at Sweetwater Union HS District Meeting Had Cancelled Gun Permit
Jmbrickley, more like Blazing Saddles.— May 9, 2012 9:20 p.m.
Sweetwater Boardmember John McCann Calls Cops on Recall Activist
Wait a minute!! Didn't we hear at last years graduations that McCann is a Iraq/Afghan War Veteran??? Doesn't the government train the military to defend themselves? Now he is scared of Stewart Payne in a parking lot with security hired to protect him with our tax dollar? COMBAT TRAINING COURSE ONE 1. Force yourself into someone's personal space, and continue to back them up When they tell you they will not shake your hand. 2. Cry "wolf" that a mean guy (Payne) had a difference of opinion. 3. Lie about the incident and become the victim. To all the military folks out there, this guy is not one of you. Wonder what this years commencement speech from him will be??? I have a good idea...just have someone there to serve him recall papers, we won't have to listen, he'll be doing his rendition of "feet don't fail me now".— April 20, 2012 4:54 p.m.
Sweetwater Boardmember John McCann Calls Cops on Recall Activist
OH WAIT!!!!! I just had a thought.....MAYBE Mr. Payne didn't want to shake McCann's hand because he didn't have any $$$$$ to put in it!— April 19, 2012 7:07 p.m.
New Southwestern Affidavits Released
Ahhhhhhh, well let me attempt to sum them up....wasn't it Dominguez (driving miss daisy) who retired in June, 2011, took the handshake offered by the District, with a "wink wink" from the gander to bring him back as a "consultant" ? Wasn't this the same Board that protected the gander when they let him go? Wasn't this the same Board that listened to Bonnie Garcia on how to craft a settlement agreement with the gander? And yes sireee folks, this is the same Board that ate on the ganders credit card they issued to him so he could do "community outreach"' and the same Board that led the good life with the management companies and contractors. With the exception of Bertha Lopez, they all should be arrested. Their greed and arrogance is unbelievable. John McCann needs to grow up and be a man Instead of wanting to be the "main attraction" his bizarre antics at Board meetings should be a wake up call to every voter in the South Bay.— March 31, 2012 8:03 p.m.
New Southwestern Affidavits Released
Susan you are right, Mr. Amigable's attorney is trying to do a good job of putting lipstick on the pig. The trouble with this spin is.....prior to the bid opening, officials at SWC and SUHSD were pandered to the maximum. The way the company could recoup their monies is in the bid pricing, which they won. They added their "entertaining" to their bid pricing, which was also padded for future "entertaining". Knowing how lustful their clients were, they were well aware of the $$$'s they needed to recoup. Now it affects the taxpayer, who is paying for the bond monies, which in turns pays the management companies and construction contracts, AND.....all the players, employees and board members.— March 31, 2012 7:30 p.m.
New Southwestern Affidavits Released
Oh my my, let's see if I can put the puzzle pieces together..... SWC - Dominguez is Raj Chopra's boss Raj Chopra is Sandoval's boss SUHSD - Sandoval is Gandara's boss Gandara is Dominguez's boss Ok, so much for that, now Dominguez is "driving Miss Daisy" (Gandara) and instead of chatting in the carriage about student achievement and how to support staff, I wonder if their conversations drifted to, oh let me guess, who can show them the most love via the $$$$$. Along comes Henry, Paul and Jeff to the rescue to pander to the greedy, and abracadabra, guess who gets the jobs, all the while the taxpayer, students and staff are the only victims in this whole scheme of greed. This just continues to get worse and worse, and the fact that everything is in writing only shows that they thought they were untouchable.— March 31, 2012 11:19 a.m.
More Corruption Charges in South Bay
I admire people who have the courage to stand up for their friends in the face of wrongdoing or embarrassment. Paul Bunton is very lucky to have a friend like you. I for one do not know him, however, if you court alley cats, your gonna get fleas, and his courting of SWC cats is very apparent. I feel sorry for folks who can't say "NO", especially if they feel their meal ticket could be compromised. So for $500 bucks he gave to John McCann'z debt payoff. Isn't it a shame Paul will not be remembered for what he accomplished, but for the games he played to pimp the beautiful politicians and former administrators of SWC to garner the $$$. But worse than that, isn't a shame the taxpayers of the South Bay will pay for this for a long time. He is not a beautiful person as he sings like a canary to the DA. There is nothing complex about this, he knew what he was doing was wrong, and now let's not call him a victim. Arrogance and greed makes an ugly cocktail.— March 29, 2012 4:01 p.m.