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We don’t want the stinkin’ charter expansion
Is there a way to find out what the real numbers are for the charter schools? How many students are enrolled, whether numbers are steady, or going up or down? Because as it is clear now that Ed Brand lied when he said that the charter schools were not costing the district anything. If this is just one more hair-brained Brand scheme, shouldn't we be able to say, announce that it did not work out, and work with parents and students to find an appropriate school? Why aren't we getting real numbers? At least for the past year, or however long the charters have been up and running. Dismantling all the Brand Jobs for Friends programs may take some effort. I am sure there are more consultants out there who were given a job out of loyalty. What about the grand Sweetwater Athletic Hall of Fame? Taking up floor space somewhere, giving at least a couple of people jobs...why does that continue to exist when school children are told they need to walk to school over 2 miles in the dark, carrying iPADS? Talk about your easy targets. Dr. Glover, we need you to take a very careful look at what Ed Brand has left behind. There needs to be a shift from what benefits Ed's friends to what benefits the students.— July 18, 2014 6:57 p.m.
We don’t want the stinkin’ charter expansion
Presto Change-o Charter Schools as brought to you by the wan specter of the Lone Trustee! "We will take over what we declare underused, because that's how we can get away with it." Does it really matter that those rooms were planned for the Special Ed students, who now no longer have access? Does our Lone Trustee (far more hat than cattle) even recognize what a public display of disrespect this is? Probably not, for the Lone Trustee is not able to have empathy, as he suffers from 'ego-driven neuropathy'--if it isn't about him, it doesn't matter to him. So, how does one manage the Lone Trustee? This usually works: do something good, and then he will make an effort to take credit for it, even if he was vehemently opposed to it previously. The Lone Trustee, rewriter of history, stealer of limelight, definitely not the hero of the hour.— July 18, 2014 1:13 a.m.
Cartmill for Sweetwater board — get real
Well, Jim might be thinking that running for school board again beats shipping out on a tramp steamer, especially since there aren't many of those anymore. Other options...reality TV show, "The Real Crooks of Sweetwater"...? Write a novel in the confessional style, making sure all the names have been changed? Cash out and move to Arizona? So, really, Jim, you are telling us that you think you should have at all our tax and bond monies again? Why--it didn't go all that well the last time. Has something changed?— July 18, 2014 12:13 a.m.
We don’t want the stinkin’ charter expansion
Yes, who can say what is going on with Bonnie at this point. Her blunders are public knowledge, and she is not looking like she will try to make amends. More dysfunction for San Diego, unfortunately.— July 17, 2014 2:07 p.m.
We don’t want the stinkin’ charter expansion
Yes, it was funny (in a very sad and pathetic way) to see McCann stick like glue to Mr. Glover's side last night, as Mr. Glover left to take his son to the airport. My conclusion while watching that is that McCann will do what he needs to do to stay on the side where the power is. McCann was actually scampering to keep up as Mr. Glover walked out. What's in McCann's mind? "Me, me, me, me!!"— July 17, 2014 2:05 p.m.
We don’t want the stinkin’ charter expansion
Now that Ed Brand is gone (although we are still paying him, and apparently will be paying for his mistakes for far too long...), does his agreement with the U-T still hold?? That is, to downplay all the problems, and to arrange the information that is given to the public to show as little as possible of all the graft, corruption and abuse of public monies? I ask the question here, in this venue just to see what people think--any guesses, any opinions? Is Sweetwater still being protected by news media? Are people still trying to keep a lid on the stinking cauldron? Well, unless all this nonsense comes to a screeching halt, that stinking cauldron may toppled over. Right into the fire. We have been fed up so long--- Those who are now in charge of the district need to realize that we, the taxpaying public, will be satisfied with nothing less than FULL DISCLOSURE of all financial situations, bank accounts, deals, real estate ventures, charter schools and any other hooha that Ed Brand and his many friends have dreamed up. Remember that old saying, "The Buck Stops Here!" That was President Harry Truman acknowledging that he had to answer for everything. We demand nothing less from Tim Glover--I am sure people are still trying to keep secrets from him, because Ed Brand's truths are just so very unpleasant. But, we need Tim Glover to say, "The Buck Stops Here! There will be no more slimy, secret deals to benefit persons known and/or unknown." The inter-district warfare for students--between Chula Vista Elementary School District and Sweetwater--needs to come to an end. We do not need to manufacture ways to spend public monies--putting far too much into the pockets of friends of the departed Ed Brand.— July 17, 2014 12:22 p.m.
SDSU’s self-report draws a blank
That's one reason why self-cross-examinations never really became a significant part of our justice system.— July 16, 2014 2:30 p.m.
Water hogs' lament
Will all the HOAs continue holding people to maintaining green lawns?— July 16, 2014 2:26 p.m.
Who’s minding the jewels?
If I may hazard a guess, campaign contributions and potential campaign contributions enter into the fray...politicians do not want to offend supporters or potential supporters--many of whom have real estate and development connections. Of course, citizens in Sweetwater have made multiple attempts at campaign reform, and the board, including John McCann, always did their best to ignore the requests, then vote them down, then enact a regulation stating that once something had been voted down by the board, it could not be brought forward for vote for another calendar year--just to keep the issue of campaign reform at bay. Yes, we need real political leadership. Wouldn't it be great if some of these people who have been voted into office would actually work to make things better, instead of making their own situation more and more comfortable?— July 16, 2014 1:10 p.m.
La Jolla Music outraises San Diego Opera over 10-1
What you write is so very true. Many in the 'upper echelon' of the Ian Campbell days must have been part of the group so they could dress up, go to the parties and mix with other well-off people--not because they enjoyed opera! That would account for some of the rapid fall-off. In general, when charismatic-types are running organizations, that is when the checks and balances need to be the strongest. Charm and ethics often do not occupy common territory, sad to say.— July 16, 2014 11:20 a.m.