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Sweetwater teachers criticize too many tests
The fact that Ms. Castilleja agrees with NCLB is reflective of just how 'out of touch' she is. I am amazed that ANY Administrator, let alone one employed in one the Nations Largest School Districts, would make such a statement. Many in the District have long believed that a NEW Director of Curriculum is needed before any progress can be made. Her constant bragging of test results does not seem to reflect the truth of the matter - if the District is doing so well then why are we still under the States Program Improvement, year 3 at that?— September 21, 2011 7:47 p.m.
Sweetwater teachers criticize too many tests
I disagree with Ms. Castilleja. One of the primary reasons for more students attending San Diego State is due to Compact for Success. Thank you Dr. Brand for that! Unfortunately the previous Superintendent was so focused on test scores and proving that he was 'turning things around' that it ended up resulting in the exact opposite - we are now involved in State Program Improvement Year """""3"""""". I am interested in this test that Sweetwater devised. Based on all the Community has learned recently about what was really going in, I do NOT believe that Ms. Castilleja, who I assume (apologize if I am wrong) came up with said test; or ANYONE ELSE AT SWEETWATER needs to be preparing ANY additional tests for our students. Our District pays thousands, upon thousands, upon thousands yearly for 'consultants', these dollars are coming out of the very budgets that would be better served by hiring more teachers thereby lowering class size. Sweetwater, does NOT get it. It is apparent that those in charge of curriculum at the District level have failed and therefore should be replaced. Our students are not being served well by this District. Our Teachers are struggling with large class size, lack of recognition, and misused tax dollars. Our students are deserving of much more. We are in debt up to our eye balls and yet the District fails to acknowledge the Program Improvement issue, fails to deal with the large drop out rate, and has yet to deal with the struggling African American students. We are being consistently hit with justifiable investigations i.e. recent Special Ed issue (State found us noncompliant) which takes the focus off of the task at hand. Rather than simply commenting here, it would serve the Community as well if all reading this article would attend the Board Meetings. Currently we have only ONE Board Member who appears to focus her interests and efforts on the students and fiscal responsibility of the tax payers dollars - Ms. Bertha Lopez. Try to attend and then make up your own minds on how we can improve. As a side note, the South Bay community owes Ms. Susan Luzzaro for her continued interest in the students - they are after all our hope for the future. Ms. Luzzaro has long been a source of information for us all. Thank You Ms. Luzzaro!— September 21, 2011 7:38 p.m.
Does Sweetwater’s Hiring of Greg Vega Constitute Conflict?
feel the need to share something with the south bay residents/taxpayers. this alleged 'INDEPENDENT' investigation ----- now the word 'INDEPENDENT' to me says that the entity is free of influence and unbiased. would you all not agree? so how is it then that vega has been on the district payroll since the grand jury investigation. i am hoping someone investigates the investigators - the south bay is deserving of the truth, the whole truth, and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH so says sissy— May 27, 2011 9:05 a.m.
Does Sweetwater’s Hiring of Greg Vega Constitute Conflict?
wondering just what in the heck the REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THINKING? do they not realize the damage this idiot is doing to the party? MCCANN could hurt the party no worse even if he wore a shirt: I AM A REPUBLICAN THIEF— May 26, 2011 4:27 p.m.
Citizens Denied Attendance to Sweetwater Union High Meeting
i SOOOOOOOO applaud The Reader for taking this on as a legitimate news story. It is comforting to know that legitimate new sources other than the Major news paper are committed to truth. I would like to ask that all of you reading this go to the Union Tribune Watchdog articles and read 'new' comments posted by some one called anniej -. I agree with this person and would ask that any and all of you demand the same thing of John McCann that this person is asking for.— May 22, 2011 2:43 p.m.
Citizens Denied Attendance to Sweetwater Union High Meeting
Ms. Leopold and Maria C. follow so closely behind Mr. Gandara it is a fact that if he tripped they would follow over each other. I wonder what they are going to do when he is gone? Who is going to write his press releases then? Who is going to write speeches then? Oh, but that is right he is not going to need any speeches where he is going. He will be joining the rest of the Gandara clan down in Socorro Texas - have any of you Googled Jesus Gandara, Socorro, Texas? Have any of you Googled Bonifacio aka Bonny Garcia, - there it is folks. That is not who but WHAT is running our District.— May 21, 2011 2:56 p.m.
Citizens Denied Attendance to Sweetwater Union High Meeting
As a community member i want to state very, very clearly here - you are not telling the truth. There were many, many, many seats when the doors were closed and the public was prohibited from entering. Those of us inside the board room witnessed the entire attempt at manipulating the Police Dept. The two retired teachers in the middle of this mess are persons who Mr. Gandara and Mr Garcia despise. This was a blatant attempt to have them barred from future board meetings. Simple thug tactics. You Ms Leopold speak with forked tongue, I know, trying to hold onto your job as PR. But I thought that was what Mr. Garcia hired Mr. Alvey to do - PR and all. All of your days are coming - I hope you all have a back up plan for future employment. Did you happen to take the 'retirement' package that was offered - probably not, you are one of the dummies who believes that this is going to all blow over. It will not, of that you can be assured. The public is always orderly, which the same can not be said for Mr. McCann, I remember a few meetings ago when he turned off the microphone of Ms. Lopez; and when she continued to speak he stomped back into the room and turned off everyones microphone.— May 21, 2011 2:50 p.m.
Sweetwater Union HS District Candidate Jim Cartmill Worth Millions? Involved with Kurt Donsbach?
I am not quite sure what it is going to take to wake up the citizens of the South Bay. It is as though the majority of them are asleep at the wheel. I mean what else could be the reason that these same people continue to be voted in? I mean the State of California is investigating Ms. Ricasa for goodness sakes. We have a Superintendent who is making 300 hundred thousand dollars a year - and that does NOT include other perks. WHY, WHY, WHY is the State of California not looking into what is going on with the Prop O monies? Contractors pouring tons of money into Cartmill and Ricasa's campaigns. Under Prop N Ms. Ricasa attempted to have her husband serve on the Bond Oversite Committee. Ms. Ricasa was slapped on the hand in previous campaigns for using District resources and even District students for her campaign - but there she sits. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE?????????? WHERE IS THE TEA PARTY WHEN YOU REALLY NEED THEM?????????????????— October 26, 2010 7:13 p.m.