Sweetwater Union HS District Board Meeting Skips Public Comment

http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa/Publications/N… Here's another link to an article that talks about states that have disbanded school boards. Do we have a friendly legislator on our team? More homework to do.
— June 14, 2012 1:43 p.m.

Sweetwater Union HS District Board Meeting Skips Public Comment

Are you aware that Dr. Brand received death threats during labor negotiations several years ago? He's not likely to forget that very easily. So my advice to all is to do your homework, file the Brown Act complaints, learn the ins and outs of the Mello-Roos law, find out exactly who controls the district purse strings, and keep asking questions. And Dr. Brand, if you are following these comments, then please try to remember that you and your wife were once teachers who taught in the Sweetwater District. Try walking in those shoes again. How would the young Ed Brand feel about the actions of this current board and administration after he received a pink slip? Would he not also question the right of Indicted board members to continue serving on the board? Wouldn't he question the generous contracts being made with Diane Russo and Ed Brand and associates? And I cannot possibly imagine that he would think its okay to play the STRS system by drawing a full pension, along with contractual "fees".
— June 14, 2012 8:27 a.m.

Sweetwater Union HS District Board Meeting Skips Public Comment

Use registered mail next time.
— June 14, 2012 8:08 a.m.

Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?

It's an issue now Susan, if we want it to be. The question lingering in my mind is this: When the district repays these $50 million loans, who exactly are they repaying? Are they repaying the SDCOE or some sort of private entity that specializes in the management of funds derived from these sorts of bonds?
— June 13, 2012 11:15 p.m.

Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?

Well that is the problem. The contributions are legal and a matter of public record. The recent contributions are posted on the Registrar's website. Older contributions might still be posted on the web. Or if you are really curious I think the Occupy Sweetwater people might have a breakdown of who has contributed, and to which campaign. If this board were to adopt some sort of camping contribution rule, they should definitely include district employees on the taboo list.
— June 13, 2012 11 p.m.

Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?

Oh, that is a good thought! I was being much more creative--money laundering and so forth. But the interest rate idea is more in line with the sort of "fund raising" that we know has taken place in the past.
— June 13, 2012 10:21 p.m.

Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?

http://www.orrick.com/fileupload/1180.pdf Just found this link on Mello Roos funds. Let's all do some reading and report back. It seems to me that the district should not need to borrow funds to run day to day business. What is that money being used for? Who holds the proverbial purse strings? Is it the county or is there some sort of intermediary agency?
— June 13, 2012 5:07 p.m.

Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?

I think the cafeteria scandal might be something worth looking into more deeply, along with those ancillary administrators who worked at the site and district office. Why haven't felony charges been filed in this case? I may not have the most recent facts on this one. Perhaps the district has followed through with their promise to fully investigate. But given what I know about Ed Brand and his "best friends" as he once referred to them--well let us just say he is wishing this most recent cafeteria incident will be brushed under the carpet and stay there. Do I have any proof? No. But I know what's been done in the past when the boys behave badly. As regards an eligible candidate: there are some excellent candidates out there, and I suspect I know who you are talking about. But, would this board hire any of those people?
— June 13, 2012 9:43 a.m.

Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?

A grand jury could question, but they need to know which questions to ask.
— June 12, 2012 7:51 p.m.

Sweetwater Union High School District Borrowing on Bond Funds?

Dr. Brand, thank you for joining the conversation. After reading all of these comments, and reflecting on my own experience as a Sweetwater employee, I am reminded of the advice I received from a district administrator regarding my rejected application for an administration position. This person advised me to be patient because those in power had a lot of favors that they needed to repay. Could a few of those people be principals who are key campaign contributors to one of the indicted board members? What about those administrators who have contributed so many times to so many board member campaigns, that one would think they were tithing to a church? I could continue, but that would be a digression. The point is that this board is financially beholden to the very people it purports to supervise. These very same district administrators run our district, write your reports, and until very recently offered legal advice. There are other recent questionable promotions which have the same flavor. Who are you protecting Dr. Brand, or who are you rewarding for their loyalty and silence? I have absolutely no faith in the ability of this school board to do anything other than protect their own pocket books, floundering political aspirations, and diminishing reputations. Sadly, I have observed that those who would question you do not have the background needed to fully and effectively challenge you. I can only hope that the press will keep reporting, that the recall will be successful, and that two of our board members will go to prison. If we do not clean house, I doubt that there is a single eligible superintendent candidate who will apply for the job.
— June 12, 2012 7:16 p.m.