Did Calexico Unified School District Need a Lawyer and a Lobbyist?

So, the one trustee who takes HIS job seriously (rather than abdicate all of the board's power to consultants, lawyers, and attorneys) is holding his own open meeting, where the entire public is welcome to come and speak. By the way, recently the Calexico Unified School District ceased the practice of including parent concerns in the minutes of their board meetings. If a parent speaks at a meeting, only their name is recorded - ZERO content. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-board-membe… Board member to hear community Email print Share0 Joong Kim Calexico Unified School District board trustee Joong Kim will have an open meeting at 6 p.m. today in Camarena Memorial Library. (CHELCEY ADAMI FILE PHOTO) By CHELCEY ADAMI Staff Writer 11:53 p.m. PST, February 20, 2012 CALEXICO — Calexico Unified School District board member Joong Kim will hold a meeting tonight to hear thoughts and field questions from the community. The open meeting at the Camarena Memorial Library targets Calexico Unified parents and concerned residents. “They want to talk, so I want to listen to them,” Kim said. “It’s not a political move. I want to listen to those who support me. It’s an open meeting, open book.” It is the first time for him to hold a meeting like this. Kim said many people in the community have expressed concerns to him that they couldn’t speak freely at district meetings. “I want people to ask me what is going on, because we have lots of issues and can have a chance to talk,” he said. “The people who support me, they are my boss. … I want to listen to what they want.” Kim underscored that anyone can attend the meeting and he expects a large turnout. There has been some controversy surrounding Kim in recent weeks. Calexico Unified School board members voted to censure Kim in January based on what was described as “inappropriate” and “disruptive” behavior, which Kim said was a “distraction from the real work.” Kim has also expressed disagreement about not being able to attend a district committee in recent weeks since he is not one of the board representatives appointed to it. However, Kim said that the meeting tonight was unrelated. “I’m not calling a secret meeting. I’m calling an open meeting. … I want to hear from the people,” he said. “I’m not the district, just Joong Kim wanting to listen to them and their concerns for the district’s benefit.” Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or [email protected] If you go What Open meeting with Joong Kim Where Camarena Memorial Library in Calexico When 6 p.m. today
— February 21, 2012 6:44 a.m.

Did Calexico Unified School District Need a Lawyer and a Lobbyist?

Calexico Unified is on a tailspin in trying to "outdo" Sweetwater. The latest? Hold a meeting for the purpose of informing the public, but then restrict its attendees to a had selected group of "movers and shakers." When ten teachers show up to hear the meeting's proceedings... They are asked to leave: (abridged due to space - see link for the full story) http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-calexico-un… Calexico Unified solvency committee to look at budget from 'zero up' By CHELCEY ADAMI Staff Writer 1:08 a.m. PST, February 17, 2012 Some committee members brought up specific questions such as a breakdown of attorney and consultant fees or what the potential closing of a school would do, and they were provided with specifics by district staff. Calexico Unified Superintendent Richard Fragale encouraged committee members to e-mail the district with more specific questions for next time and it will provide a breakdown of all attorney fees over the last 10 years before the next meeting. The committee is made up of two school board members, the superintendent and some staff to answer questions, two members of each union, two city council members, three levels of principals, school site representatives, parents and community members. The committee meetings are not considered open to the public. The meeting got off to a slightly rocky start when Calexico Unified board member Joong Kim came to the meeting and was asked to leave since there were already the two appointed board members there. This also occurred at the first meeting. When the committee was formed, Calexico Unified Board President Ruth Duarte appointed board member Norma Aguilar and herself to be the two board representatives. Having more than two board members at the meeting violates law. While Councilman Bill Hodge was in attendance with Romero and Councilwoman Maritza Hurtado, the city attorney said if the three didn’t sit together and discuss city business, it would be permissible. A handful of Associated Calexico Teachers members also tried to come but were also asked to leave. Duarte said the committee was designed “not to lopside to any one area.” The committee will meet again Feb. 27. Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or [email protected].
— February 21, 2012 6:41 a.m.

Calexico Unified School District's Similarities with Sweetwater

Calexico's last election was in November, 2010. Calderon didn't show up until January 2011. Calderon is now snooping around for more work in Imperial County; I understand that he is handling the redistricting efforts for Imperial Valley College. Two seats are up for election in November, 2012. It will be interesting to review disclosure statements.
— January 17, 2012 11:16 p.m.

Calexico Unified School District's Similarities with Sweetwater

Here is a connection between San Ysidro and Calexico. Calexico Unified's disgraced former supt., David Alvarez, was THAT close to being San Ysidro's supt., but some web-savvy constituents stopped it (and San Ysidro's board listened, unlike Calexico Unified's): http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070816/… Zenaida Rosario, a teacher at La Mirada Elementary School who was the state's teacher of the year in 2004, has written to the San Ysidro board that the accounts of Alvarez's itinerant career she has read on Internet blogs worry her. “San Ysidro deserves better. I am tired of reading all the negative press about the superintendents that come and go and who gets cheated? Our children,” Rosario wrote in an e-mail to the board. Randolph said he received “multiple” letters from teachers concerning Alvarez's candidacy, all of them raising concerns. ----- Alvarez didn't get the job... HOWEVER, he did get a job with "Total Schools Solutions" - a company that had done $$$$$$ work with Calexico Unified while Alvarez was at its head.
— January 16, 2012 11:37 p.m.

Calexico Unified School District's Similarities with Sweetwater

Here is another disturbing fact. As reported in the July 1, 2011 San Diego Union-Tribune. Calderon used to be general counsel to Southwestern Community College District. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/01/southw…
— January 16, 2012 10:26 p.m.