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Southwestern College School Board Calls Special Meeting
Terri Valladolid, has a chance to make a new start here, but it appears to be business as usual. She was was voted back in on the good reputation of her husband's name and saved by the hair of her chinny-chin-chin against new-comer, yet extremely impressive Jesseca Saenz-Gonzalez, but still doesn't seem to get it. She is disillusioned that this President/Superintendent has somehow been good for the college. Of course, it took her 6 years to realize that Zasueta was a crook, so her sizing up skills are not the best. One huge concern is how much damage she and Roesch will join in on letting Salcido and stooge Dominguez do on their way out before the new board is sworn in. Perhaps there were some hanging chads that could be looked at. Jesseca should ask for a recount of the votes in her race against Valladolid. Let's continue to clean house so that the college and the students have a decent chance.— November 10, 2010 4:54 a.m.
Bond Money Figures Big in South Bay Schools’ Elections
Norma Hernandez has had more than 300 people donate to her campaign to raise the money for her campaign, most individuals. SHe is the choice of teachers and staff to bring the focus back to education and reinstating a good accreditation standing. Salcido has had a lot less donate to her campaign, but it is mostly big dollar donations from the very construction companies whose bids she has approved, many only after they have donated to her campaign. It's time to dump these incumbent folks who have put our college at risk of losing its accreditation, are cutting classes in favor of building buildings, and most likely getting their pockets lined with money that comes from our taxes. Think about it, a company like Echo Pacific or Seville donates $10s of thousands to your campaign and are rewarded with a fat juicy contract paid for with your tax dollars. Guess where they make up for the money the donate to the campaign? It comes from the bid they have just won.— October 31, 2010 10:10 a.m.
Haiku - A - Day
From Focuscom fund To go spread Prop. 101 PhoBlogger be done!— October 24, 2010 8:21 p.m.
Public Records Suggest Southwestern College Used Public Funds Frivolously
Re: Truthhurtsright From Focuscom fund To go spread Prop. 101 PhoBlogger be done!— October 24, 2010 10:33 a.m.
Public Records Suggest Southwestern College Used Public Funds Frivolously
truthhurtsright, You have pulled often from chapter one of "Propaganda 101." You feel that if you keep saying it out loud, soon people will start to believe your over used and worn out "horse caca." Let me see, you have used the board mantra of "it's just a few malcontents," the phantom group of the "many, many faculty," the people are intimidated by them, and many more. If you want to make a valid point, come up with something that is real and fresh. Faculty stand up to the "horse caca" because they are the hardest to retaliate against. To borrow from one of the "try this" statements from your textbook, "Many, many administrators, classified staff, and students" are also tired of the "horse caca" that they have had to put up with under the present board and Chopra. Are you feeling vulnerable at your present job?— October 24, 2010 9:33 a.m.
Public Records Suggest Southwestern College Used Public Funds Frivolously
#35 Sorry, but you are wrong about this. My past requests have been sat on by the TruthBender for two weeks or more and then are sent to Kerns - financial or otherwise. They have a system of delay as they hope the person requesting information goes away or they can figure out how to deny the request. Then when you get what you requested, it is much less than one would expect. All that is needed is one whistleblower to step forward and your friends may find themselves in a much different institution.— October 24, 2010 9:05 a.m.
Public Records Suggest Southwestern College Used Public Funds Frivolously
Hey Truthhurstright, Is that you Mr. Alioto? People are not that dense to think that someone who left the college four years ago because the board decided they would play superintendent/president and hire their own VPs is responsible for what happened during the four years since. Much of what the college has been cited for has to do with the present board and the present atmosphere, not the one four years ago. Great! The corner lot is being done - at the expense of present and future potential students' access to education. Yolanda Salcido, Terri Valladolid, and Jorge Dominguez chose to cut 429 class sections last spring in order to maintain a good bond rating. How about maintaining an economy by making sure folks can get their classes so that they can transfer or graduate and get out into the work force? How about maintaining access to education for the Southbay Community instead of telling them that a bond rating is more important than their getting their education? Balanced the budget? The board has taken in millions over the past four years and have amassed a $14 mil. reserve while cutting 40% of classes the past 3 years. Either you are Mr. Alioto and are fearing for your job (I'd be more worried about doing time myself) or you have not been to a board meeting. If you had, you would definitely not want the present board to have anything to do with deciding how your tax dollars are spent. It is more difficult to watch a board meeting at SWC than it was to watch David Hasselhof dance on "Dancing with the Stars."— October 23, 2010 11:50 p.m.
Public Records Suggest Southwestern College Used Public Funds Frivolously
#1 This isn't the only event where folks aren't invited. We have all heard about the Foundation's Gala last spring where a teacher was barred entry. Last week there was a groundbreaking for the corner lot project. It was billed as a college community event where the public was welcome. It was really a campaign stop for incumbent board members. There were no teachers or staff up on stage to welcome the public as part of the college community - only the board members, the superintendent/president, a politician or two, and the "pay-for-play" winners for that project. Plenty of photo ops for the incumbents on the taxpayer's dollar.— October 22, 2010 7:47 a.m.
Public Records Suggest Southwestern College Used Public Funds Frivolously
The Foundation used to post its budget on the college website. Now it is a secret fund used to support events like this, where, by the way, campaigning for two present board members was done by college administrators with the enforcer of the policy on campaigning present - the VP of HR. None of those using these campus resources received a letter in their personnel file like I understand a faculty member recently did. Double standards for the Administration. Keep those extremists isolated and in line while we bilk the taxpayers of their tax dollars.— October 22, 2010 7:19 a.m.
The Blur Between Southwestern College and Foundation
# 31 I attended a forum in which Board President Salcido minimized the GB's duties to passing policies. It is clear that she doesn't understand that once passed, you must also follow them. Amazing that she has been in office for 8 years and still doesn't know her role as a Board member. # 32 I'm not surprised that you have not received what you have requested in a timely fashion. The teacher's union pres asked for public records on Sept. 8. On the 24th he received a note from the VP of HR saying he had just gotten the request from the Truth Bender. I'm not sure if he has received what he requested yet.— October 17, 2010 5:55 p.m.