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Former South Bay schools officials have day in court
Wish I knew how to galvanize the public...too bad there seems to be a bizarrely complicitous rendering of the judicial process. I guess "the right people" must be happy with stealing from all the students, who aren't in a position to fight for themselves. While I had hoped for better, and am still hoping, I am wondering just what it will take to get to the bottom of all the sickening corruption. Why did the Al Alt firing story completely disappear? Is Brand paying him off to remain silent? I did think that it was a calculated move on the part of Brand to hire Mr. Alt, as he had a history of some irregularities. My guess is that Brand thought Alt would do exactly as he was told, just in order to keep a job, as Alt has a young family to support. So if Alt decided he couldn't put up with Brand's schemes/double set of books/real estate fraud/outright stealing from Mello-Roos/name your poisonous and nefarious activity, and Brand therefore fired him, wouldn't it make sense to find out what Mr. Alt has to say? The fact that the former mayor of Chula Vista has a very fat salary that comes out of the funds for the children's programs so lauded by Arne Duncan...and that her actual day to day contribution to the children has been questioned, yet no answers have been forthcoming...leads me to think that both the south bay Democrats and Republicans are happy with the status quo. So if all the politicians really like the way things are going, with up to 100 million gone missing from Mello-Roos and the Teachers' Retirement Fund (borrowed 10 some years ago and never repaid--and sort of quietly dropped from all the books, as I have been told), it makes me almost physically ill to think that they would do this to a constituency that is hard-working and trying to build a better future for their families. Way to show dominance! No wonder these behind the scenes 'geniuses' are trying to promote John McCann--because he will never give them a moment's pause before doing exactly what he is told. This Christmas, all I want is some truth, some honesty, some legal process that doesn't actually bring waves of nausea--because the stink from Sweetwater's administration and board is getting close to all-pervasive.— December 8, 2013 12:08 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
Well said.— December 7, 2013 4:09 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
There is a word out that Arlie Ricasa and Pearl Quinones had a hearing yesterday (12/6). They have a week to decide if they will take a plea deal or go to trial...so the word goes. From all indications, things look very serious for them, so my question is--will this affect their votes and the positions they take at the upcoming board meeting? Will this in essence "free" them, and will they vote as responsible individuals, or will they kowtow to Brand and his apparent control of everything? If I were in that position, I would certainly NOT want to continue protecting anyone else. Especially when that someone always views others as expendable.— December 7, 2013 4:06 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
When something is rotten, a dog and pony show--even if it features a cabinet member--cannot make the problems go away. Sweetwater UHSD has deep and broad problems, which the administrations have tried to hide from the taxpaying public for years. We are completely fed up with the lies, the attempts at distraction, all the unnecessary (and possibly not 100% legal) real estate deals, all the convenient jobs found for friends of superintendents...this list is nearly endless. And we are tired of it. Here is a link to the most recent article regarding San Ysidro School District's situation: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/dec/06/tp-san…— December 7, 2013 12:48 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
Thanks, I was thinking that it would be valuable to see the extended list. Perhaps as a sidebar/link to other stories, and done in a way that it could be updated...because I don't think we are done with the problems list yet. Regarding asking Ms. Luzzaro to make this list, I guess I was merely thinking that she has the records online of all the "events". Maybe there is an intern at the Reader who wouldn't mind the assignment??— December 6, 2013 3:57 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
Now that San Ysidro's bonds have been downgraded, I am wondering what will happen to Sweetwater's bonds?— December 5, 2013 8:22 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
Used and abused.— December 5, 2013 7:32 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
The last I heard, we, the public, were still trying to determine if John McCann was 100%. He had seemed rather quiet and out of it at at least one board meeting, and left early. But then, he had an attorney send some sort of vaguely threatening letter--was it to the Star-News?--saying McCann was just fine. Yet there was the planted news story about his recovery and therapy being on-going. So you tell me--is he capable? Is he impaired? Does his eagerness for further office make any sense at all under the circumstances? And why is Sweetwater UHSD still left to limp along with 4 indicted board members and one who denies he is impaired, but who can't seem to get the job--any job--done???— December 4, 2013 6:27 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
Cannot help but reply, "You may speak weekly on the importance of truth, but Jim Cartmill only speaks weakly..."— December 4, 2013 4:26 p.m.
Sweetwater district spent big for Arne Duncan visit
anniej, do you have a link for the channel 10 report, because I couldn't find anything on their website. In fact, I can't find much of anything on the Alt firing...— December 4, 2013 3:46 p.m.