Sunday, June 26, 2005
Monrovia School Link Preview ~ Number 128 ~ June 26, 2005
Well, we lost Joel Shawn to Arcadia. Sad day. There's what will probably be an interesting presentation coming up this Wednesday morning about charter schools (Clare's interested in exploring them). In this issue there's a report on confidential medical releases for students, some parents are concerned about losing transportation to get their kids to school, and, of course, the health aides issue. Thanks to Maritza Diaz for this write-up. She's a co-worker of mine who has agreed to do some writing for the newsletter. By the way, I was thinking of telling you there's a great new restaurant, called the Peach Cafe, about a block east of Myrtle on Colorado, but I decided that isn't really about education, so I'm not going to tell you.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
By Maritza Diaz
Never let it be said that school board meetings are boring. Not in Monrovia, anyway. Not anymore. By the end of the night a new budget was approved, a beloved administrator's resignation was accepted and parents spoke out against budget cuts.
AND THE AWARD GOES TO...~ Four Monrovia Unified School District employees were honored for outstanding service. Some of them brought a cheering section, taking up half the room, and all that support was nice to see. The winners were: Fred Saiz - Warehouse Delivery Driver, District Office; Karen Meza - Playground Aide, Plymouth Elementary School; Shannon Varner - Receptionist, Plymouth Elementary School; Tamara Morrison - Site Coordinator, Village After School Program. Congratulations Everyone!
THE PUBLIC VOICE ~ The public had a lot to say tonight and I mean a lot. The HOT items that drove people to the podium were cutting school transportation, cutting health care workers and the Attorney General's legal opinion that the district must release students from school for "confidential medical reasons."
Six or seven members of the Latino community attended to ask the board not to cut transportation in the budget. All the parents delivered the same message: their children need the bus to get to get to school. Many said they wouldn't be able to provide other transportation because they lacked cars, licenses or money.
Also, many parents feared that cutting health workers from schools would prevent children from getting proper care from trained and licensed professionals. The other health issue dealt with Attorney General Bill Lockyer's opinion about letting kids out for "confidential medical" reasons without their parents' consent. Some parents worried about children's safety once they left school, and wondered what legal liability the district might face as a result.
The pleas and concerns of the parents turned out to be pretty emotional and the audience seemed moved.
CHARTER SCHOOLS ~ Under the Board Member Reports item, Clare Chesley said that on June 29 at 7:30 (that's a.m. this Wednesday) there will be a meeting with a USC expert on Charter Schools to discuss opportunities for Monrovia.
PATHETIC ~ Bruce Carter said he enjoyed the graduations he attended and is gratified many graduates are college bound. He also said that the board doesn't want to cut services but is forced into it because of the "pathetic" level of funding California provides. He said they have no choice but to provide a balanced budget. As long as California and the voters continue to treat education badly they are forced to make do, he said. Maybe the new Mega Million lottery will send more money to education because the regular lottery sure isn't providing enough.
LESS HEALTH ~ Diane Jackson, district health coordinator, presented the new health service plan. It looks like there will be one coordinator and four licensed nurses on staff for the district. Students with special medical needs will be encouraged to transfer to Mayflower School, which will have a full-time licensed nurse. With a limited number of nurses most of them may be rotated throughout the district, working some hours here and some there. Some medications, such as insulin injections, will only be administered by a licensed professional or by a parent who has to come to the school.
As far as regular screenings go (scoliosis, hearing, etc) a parent suggested that student nurses could do them to save money. The district saves some bucks and the student nurses get some practice.
THE BUDGET - Money, money, money. There's never enough. According to Chief Business Officer Linda Dempsey "the only good thing about it is that it's on time and it's balanced (over 3 years)." In order to get this done, the board made about $900,000 of cuts including:
- Reducing teaching staff by 9 for next year
- Reducing transportation to handle only special education students, which is required.
- Reducing health services
Dempsey also said that there still is no State budget and she doesn't hold out hope that the $3.2 billion that the state owes to education will be paid.
Before the vote Sandford said that in years past she has always said "cut transportation," but hearing all the parents tell their stories about needing transportation she was concerned how that was going to be handled. But that didn't stop her from voting "yes."
Dr.Taylor said the district is still concerned about transportation and will continue to address the issue. She said the district sent out surveys to parents and 25% were returned. Eighty families said they would pay for transportation. When they ran the numbers, she said it turns out they needed 300 families that would be willing to pay for transportation to keep it. Dempsey also said they are working with Foothill Transit to cover a route. Diaz said if anyone had any ideas to help deal with the issues to contact them.
DECLINING ENROLLMENT ~ Board Member Clare Chesley expressed concerns about declining enrollment and its effects on funding, then Carter added that judging by what he sees on television, sales of Viagra seem to be up a lot and that could be a long term solution for declining enrollment. Uh huh, I'm not touching that.
MEDICAL CONFIDENTIAL ~ Item 9.2 dealt with the students getting out of school for confidential medical reasons without consent of their parents. It seems that if the district complies with the Attorney General's opinion the district might get sued. If it doesn't comply, it might get sued. So what is there to do? Dr. Taylor said they have devoted a great deal of time and research to this issue and that these are conflicts that haven't been resolved. She said the issue must be sent to the state level and dealt with in the legislature. Her recommendation at this time is to follow status quo practice and encourage students to get parents involved.
Donna MacLeod, Senior Director of Pupil Personnel Services, then presented a brief background on the subject and what other school districts are doing. She said that schools probably thought this was not obligatory but that changed in 2004. She said two law firms have told the district that the Attorney General's opinion should be considered law. They said the district would not be held liable for students once they left the school grounds. Out of sight, out of responsibility.
She said the district has gotten support and opposition from parents on this matter.
MacLeod said Roseville Union High School District did not accept the Attorney General's opinion and is being sued. She said other districts didn't know what they were talking about, others didn't call back. Arcadia does not allow confidential absences (She actually said in the meeting that Arcadia does allow them, but contacted us later for a correction). Glendale and El Monte do not require parent consent.
So what's the final word? The issue needs more research and will be brought back in the fall and see what people say.
BON VOYAGE ~ The board unanimously voted to accept the resignation of Dr. Joel Shawn, who will now be working next door in the Arcadia School District. President Diaz even joked that they should vote not to accept his resignation. But that wouldn't be nice, besides, I'm sure he'll visit. [Oh. Sad, sad. I've always blabbered about what an excellent administrator I consider Joel Shawn to be. Maybe I shoulda kept my mouth shut. - Brad]
NEW BOOK ~ A new health textbook titled "Glencoe Health" is up for public review. So stop by, check it out and see if you like it.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:36. Considering all that was going on, that seemed pretty early.
Until Next Time - The next gatherings of the board will be July 24 and August 24, 2005. See you then.
HALF-RETRACTION ~ Well, I guess I really need to take back about half the nasty things I've been saying about the lazyness of the local media. When brought to its attention, the Star-News not only ran a story about Monrovia parents objecting to the proposed policy of letting students out of school for "medical" reasons without their parents' knowledge (a measure prompted by Attorney General Lockyer's parents-be-damned interpretation of the law), but it also ran an editorial that - quite properly - blasted the AG, calling his opinion "outrageous," among other things. It's well worth reading. Here's a link to it to it. [Brad]
LETTERS: NO ANONYMOUS POSTINGS ~ I like the opinion-style of this newsletter. I know I don't agree with many of the opinions - but they are just that - opinions. I do *hate* the anonymous postings - people so passionate about a topic, they are too afraid to have their name printed next to it. If you feel so passionately about something or someone, at least have the courage to stand up and say "This is me and this is what I believe". Everyone that subscribes to your newsletters knows this isn't an objective, factual newsletter. That it conveys a lot of the facts and events - but there are plenty of personal opinions sprinkled throughout. If I want something dry and solely fact-based, I'll read the minutes. It also gives you something you don't usually get - the actual way someone views a topic. People try so hard to be "PC" and watch what they say in public, when in private they hold a completely different view. For example, I like knowing what Clare thinks about the children in our lower socio-economic classes and children whose parents don't speak English and how she views accountability as a one-way street (away from the district and lying solely with parents and teachers) - these are good things to know about someone claiming to be an advocate for all children that are served by our school system. And while I admire her courage for saying exactly what she feels on all these topics - I couldn't disagree more with virtually every one of her statements.
I do agree that parents are not held up to the same standards our parents were, for fear of litigation. And of course there are teachers that are below-standard and wouldn't we all like to have a Mrs. Proctor or Ms. Graber. But where is the outrage that the State of California and public school district administrators are not held accountable for the spending on our schools? Where is the outrage that when a budget crunch is upon us the first thing to go is the arts/music and education funding? Accountability must be some new fancy way to say "blame". Who can we blame next?
Everyone is accountable - even our School Board. There's enough blame for everyone.
But how about instead of placing blame on children and the ill-equipped parents that are trying to raise them or the few (and in my years in the district - I have maybe seen 2) teachers that have lost their passion for the profession, why not offer some solutions on how to make this a better District? What is your plan? Expel students that come to school dirty or underfed? Eliminate all bi-lingual translations on all school related documents to make them feel so unwelcome they leave our district? Bust the teacher's union and hope that we can find teachers that are willing to work in a district that doesn't provide some sort of professional protection and allow them to have a voice in their livelihoods? Really, I want to know. Nobody wants the government to raise anyone's child. The government can barely get me my driver's license, let alone raise a child. But not every child is growing up in some of the nurturing, healthy, loving homes that we are raising our children.
It was a tough year - and as I saw it bring out the best in some people, I saw it bring out the absolute worst in others - parents and teachers alike. But, if we all want to move forward and move past all of this - everyone has to be willing to believe this can be a better district and should be looking for solutions and not looking to blame.
SIGNED!
Alex Zucco
[Alex later sent some Emerson quotes to tack on the end. She writes: "If Clare wants to quote Emerson - let's see the whole view of his beliefs, not just the one that serves her agenda."]
"The only way to have a friend is to be one."
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not been discovered."
"Let us treat men and women well; treat them as if they were real. Perhaps they are."
"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship."
And my very favorite by Emerson: "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
GOODBYE SHAWN ~ [A note from Board Member Clare Chesley she sent me before the meeting] I am sorry to tell you and all that Dr. Joel Shawn has accepted another position (Deputy Superintendent in Arcadia) and therefore given us his resignation. Please know that there is nothing nefarious or conspiratorial about his leaving. Very simply, he got an offer which included a promotion in position and a significant pay increase. I am very sorry to see him go. Although we differ in our political ideology, Joel and I share the educational vision which focuses on academic rigor and high expectations for all students. Not only did Joel make this vision his mantra, he pushed for it in his daily work, i.e., "he walks his talk". I really appreciate Joel's mastery of education curriculum, his sharp mind (like a hot knife thru butter) and his clear and easy to understand reports. He makes statistics fun! He brought incredible depth and breadth of knowledge to principals, teachers and staff. He taught me so much about the complexities of education, especially the funding of education, and I really regret that I will lose his wisdom and insight. He helped stubborn me see different sides to issues and was never afraid to tell me exactly how he felt about a topic even if he differed from me - how refreshing! I thoroughly enjoyed debating political and educational issues with him such as the topic of subgroup identification. I will mostly miss, however, his wry sense of humor. Joel and I share a common love of the absurd and we really laughed hard, mostly at ourselves. I have no idea how we will replace him...
LETTER: PLAIN LUDICROUS ~ The problem with the account of the June 8th school board meeting is very simple - it is yet another example (with all respect to the writer, who obviously took a lot of her personal time) of how ill informed as a public we (all) are.
Reality is there is only so much power that rests with our local school board. Much of the money is tied by the federal government, the state government, the unions, and the courts (i.e. insurance premiums).
There was a response letter that mentioned turning to newspapers for facts. What newspapers? The newspapers and TV I see all focus on national and international issues, no wonder we've allowed so much control to head back East and up North - that's the only politics anyone is watching. Then when it comes time for us to get hit in our hometown we run to the local school board and ask them to do something.
"The core values of an organization are the promises its members make to each other. The budget is the most comprehensive and detailed description of what the organization has promised to do in expressing those values. What makes budgeting so difficult for a future-oriented leader is that the budget is mostly about history, about keeping promises that have already been made. If the promises were made wisely, they will have created a good set of present opportunities, attracting great people, secured a strong position in the market with a positive image, and allowed for increasing net revenues.
"The need for growth is a product of the fundamental paradox in each budget. Driven mostly by the promises of history, the budget must also make promises to secure a future. The most brilliant plans for the most glowing future mean nothing until the budget lets them happen. The budget - mundane and arcane - is the ultimate leadership forum. It deserves whatever leadership attention is required to make is serve all its purposes well, and it deserves continuous prayer." - Richard Kreigbaum
I would add that it mostly deserves to be in the hands of our local officials. It is easy to sit in Washington and Sacramento and make the painless decisions to restrict dollars to various popular programs and simply send the remaining (unrestricted) crumbs to Monrovia to take the heat over.
To my thinking, that's just plain ludicrous.
- Anonymous [Sorry, Alex]
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
(0) comments
Well, we lost Joel Shawn to Arcadia. Sad day. There's what will probably be an interesting presentation coming up this Wednesday morning about charter schools (Clare's interested in exploring them). In this issue there's a report on confidential medical releases for students, some parents are concerned about losing transportation to get their kids to school, and, of course, the health aides issue. Thanks to Maritza Diaz for this write-up. She's a co-worker of mine who has agreed to do some writing for the newsletter. By the way, I was thinking of telling you there's a great new restaurant, called the Peach Cafe, about a block east of Myrtle on Colorado, but I decided that isn't really about education, so I'm not going to tell you.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
By Maritza Diaz
Never let it be said that school board meetings are boring. Not in Monrovia, anyway. Not anymore. By the end of the night a new budget was approved, a beloved administrator's resignation was accepted and parents spoke out against budget cuts.
AND THE AWARD GOES TO...~ Four Monrovia Unified School District employees were honored for outstanding service. Some of them brought a cheering section, taking up half the room, and all that support was nice to see. The winners were: Fred Saiz - Warehouse Delivery Driver, District Office; Karen Meza - Playground Aide, Plymouth Elementary School; Shannon Varner - Receptionist, Plymouth Elementary School; Tamara Morrison - Site Coordinator, Village After School Program. Congratulations Everyone!
THE PUBLIC VOICE ~ The public had a lot to say tonight and I mean a lot. The HOT items that drove people to the podium were cutting school transportation, cutting health care workers and the Attorney General's legal opinion that the district must release students from school for "confidential medical reasons."
Six or seven members of the Latino community attended to ask the board not to cut transportation in the budget. All the parents delivered the same message: their children need the bus to get to get to school. Many said they wouldn't be able to provide other transportation because they lacked cars, licenses or money.
Also, many parents feared that cutting health workers from schools would prevent children from getting proper care from trained and licensed professionals. The other health issue dealt with Attorney General Bill Lockyer's opinion about letting kids out for "confidential medical" reasons without their parents' consent. Some parents worried about children's safety once they left school, and wondered what legal liability the district might face as a result.
The pleas and concerns of the parents turned out to be pretty emotional and the audience seemed moved.
CHARTER SCHOOLS ~ Under the Board Member Reports item, Clare Chesley said that on June 29 at 7:30 (that's a.m. this Wednesday) there will be a meeting with a USC expert on Charter Schools to discuss opportunities for Monrovia.
PATHETIC ~ Bruce Carter said he enjoyed the graduations he attended and is gratified many graduates are college bound. He also said that the board doesn't want to cut services but is forced into it because of the "pathetic" level of funding California provides. He said they have no choice but to provide a balanced budget. As long as California and the voters continue to treat education badly they are forced to make do, he said. Maybe the new Mega Million lottery will send more money to education because the regular lottery sure isn't providing enough.
LESS HEALTH ~ Diane Jackson, district health coordinator, presented the new health service plan. It looks like there will be one coordinator and four licensed nurses on staff for the district. Students with special medical needs will be encouraged to transfer to Mayflower School, which will have a full-time licensed nurse. With a limited number of nurses most of them may be rotated throughout the district, working some hours here and some there. Some medications, such as insulin injections, will only be administered by a licensed professional or by a parent who has to come to the school.
As far as regular screenings go (scoliosis, hearing, etc) a parent suggested that student nurses could do them to save money. The district saves some bucks and the student nurses get some practice.
THE BUDGET - Money, money, money. There's never enough. According to Chief Business Officer Linda Dempsey "the only good thing about it is that it's on time and it's balanced (over 3 years)." In order to get this done, the board made about $900,000 of cuts including:
- Reducing teaching staff by 9 for next year
- Reducing transportation to handle only special education students, which is required.
- Reducing health services
Dempsey also said that there still is no State budget and she doesn't hold out hope that the $3.2 billion that the state owes to education will be paid.
Before the vote Sandford said that in years past she has always said "cut transportation," but hearing all the parents tell their stories about needing transportation she was concerned how that was going to be handled. But that didn't stop her from voting "yes."
Dr.Taylor said the district is still concerned about transportation and will continue to address the issue. She said the district sent out surveys to parents and 25% were returned. Eighty families said they would pay for transportation. When they ran the numbers, she said it turns out they needed 300 families that would be willing to pay for transportation to keep it. Dempsey also said they are working with Foothill Transit to cover a route. Diaz said if anyone had any ideas to help deal with the issues to contact them.
DECLINING ENROLLMENT ~ Board Member Clare Chesley expressed concerns about declining enrollment and its effects on funding, then Carter added that judging by what he sees on television, sales of Viagra seem to be up a lot and that could be a long term solution for declining enrollment. Uh huh, I'm not touching that.
MEDICAL CONFIDENTIAL ~ Item 9.2 dealt with the students getting out of school for confidential medical reasons without consent of their parents. It seems that if the district complies with the Attorney General's opinion the district might get sued. If it doesn't comply, it might get sued. So what is there to do? Dr. Taylor said they have devoted a great deal of time and research to this issue and that these are conflicts that haven't been resolved. She said the issue must be sent to the state level and dealt with in the legislature. Her recommendation at this time is to follow status quo practice and encourage students to get parents involved.
Donna MacLeod, Senior Director of Pupil Personnel Services, then presented a brief background on the subject and what other school districts are doing. She said that schools probably thought this was not obligatory but that changed in 2004. She said two law firms have told the district that the Attorney General's opinion should be considered law. They said the district would not be held liable for students once they left the school grounds. Out of sight, out of responsibility.
She said the district has gotten support and opposition from parents on this matter.
MacLeod said Roseville Union High School District did not accept the Attorney General's opinion and is being sued. She said other districts didn't know what they were talking about, others didn't call back. Arcadia does not allow confidential absences (She actually said in the meeting that Arcadia does allow them, but contacted us later for a correction). Glendale and El Monte do not require parent consent.
So what's the final word? The issue needs more research and will be brought back in the fall and see what people say.
BON VOYAGE ~ The board unanimously voted to accept the resignation of Dr. Joel Shawn, who will now be working next door in the Arcadia School District. President Diaz even joked that they should vote not to accept his resignation. But that wouldn't be nice, besides, I'm sure he'll visit. [Oh. Sad, sad. I've always blabbered about what an excellent administrator I consider Joel Shawn to be. Maybe I shoulda kept my mouth shut. - Brad]
NEW BOOK ~ A new health textbook titled "Glencoe Health" is up for public review. So stop by, check it out and see if you like it.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:36. Considering all that was going on, that seemed pretty early.
Until Next Time - The next gatherings of the board will be July 24 and August 24, 2005. See you then.
HALF-RETRACTION ~ Well, I guess I really need to take back about half the nasty things I've been saying about the lazyness of the local media. When brought to its attention, the Star-News not only ran a story about Monrovia parents objecting to the proposed policy of letting students out of school for "medical" reasons without their parents' knowledge (a measure prompted by Attorney General Lockyer's parents-be-damned interpretation of the law), but it also ran an editorial that - quite properly - blasted the AG, calling his opinion "outrageous," among other things. It's well worth reading. Here's a link to it to it. [Brad]
LETTERS: NO ANONYMOUS POSTINGS ~ I like the opinion-style of this newsletter. I know I don't agree with many of the opinions - but they are just that - opinions. I do *hate* the anonymous postings - people so passionate about a topic, they are too afraid to have their name printed next to it. If you feel so passionately about something or someone, at least have the courage to stand up and say "This is me and this is what I believe". Everyone that subscribes to your newsletters knows this isn't an objective, factual newsletter. That it conveys a lot of the facts and events - but there are plenty of personal opinions sprinkled throughout. If I want something dry and solely fact-based, I'll read the minutes. It also gives you something you don't usually get - the actual way someone views a topic. People try so hard to be "PC" and watch what they say in public, when in private they hold a completely different view. For example, I like knowing what Clare thinks about the children in our lower socio-economic classes and children whose parents don't speak English and how she views accountability as a one-way street (away from the district and lying solely with parents and teachers) - these are good things to know about someone claiming to be an advocate for all children that are served by our school system. And while I admire her courage for saying exactly what she feels on all these topics - I couldn't disagree more with virtually every one of her statements.
I do agree that parents are not held up to the same standards our parents were, for fear of litigation. And of course there are teachers that are below-standard and wouldn't we all like to have a Mrs. Proctor or Ms. Graber. But where is the outrage that the State of California and public school district administrators are not held accountable for the spending on our schools? Where is the outrage that when a budget crunch is upon us the first thing to go is the arts/music and education funding? Accountability must be some new fancy way to say "blame". Who can we blame next?
Everyone is accountable - even our School Board. There's enough blame for everyone.
But how about instead of placing blame on children and the ill-equipped parents that are trying to raise them or the few (and in my years in the district - I have maybe seen 2) teachers that have lost their passion for the profession, why not offer some solutions on how to make this a better District? What is your plan? Expel students that come to school dirty or underfed? Eliminate all bi-lingual translations on all school related documents to make them feel so unwelcome they leave our district? Bust the teacher's union and hope that we can find teachers that are willing to work in a district that doesn't provide some sort of professional protection and allow them to have a voice in their livelihoods? Really, I want to know. Nobody wants the government to raise anyone's child. The government can barely get me my driver's license, let alone raise a child. But not every child is growing up in some of the nurturing, healthy, loving homes that we are raising our children.
It was a tough year - and as I saw it bring out the best in some people, I saw it bring out the absolute worst in others - parents and teachers alike. But, if we all want to move forward and move past all of this - everyone has to be willing to believe this can be a better district and should be looking for solutions and not looking to blame.
SIGNED!
Alex Zucco
[Alex later sent some Emerson quotes to tack on the end. She writes: "If Clare wants to quote Emerson - let's see the whole view of his beliefs, not just the one that serves her agenda."]
"The only way to have a friend is to be one."
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not been discovered."
"Let us treat men and women well; treat them as if they were real. Perhaps they are."
"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship."
And my very favorite by Emerson: "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
GOODBYE SHAWN ~ [A note from Board Member Clare Chesley she sent me before the meeting] I am sorry to tell you and all that Dr. Joel Shawn has accepted another position (Deputy Superintendent in Arcadia) and therefore given us his resignation. Please know that there is nothing nefarious or conspiratorial about his leaving. Very simply, he got an offer which included a promotion in position and a significant pay increase. I am very sorry to see him go. Although we differ in our political ideology, Joel and I share the educational vision which focuses on academic rigor and high expectations for all students. Not only did Joel make this vision his mantra, he pushed for it in his daily work, i.e., "he walks his talk". I really appreciate Joel's mastery of education curriculum, his sharp mind (like a hot knife thru butter) and his clear and easy to understand reports. He makes statistics fun! He brought incredible depth and breadth of knowledge to principals, teachers and staff. He taught me so much about the complexities of education, especially the funding of education, and I really regret that I will lose his wisdom and insight. He helped stubborn me see different sides to issues and was never afraid to tell me exactly how he felt about a topic even if he differed from me - how refreshing! I thoroughly enjoyed debating political and educational issues with him such as the topic of subgroup identification. I will mostly miss, however, his wry sense of humor. Joel and I share a common love of the absurd and we really laughed hard, mostly at ourselves. I have no idea how we will replace him...
LETTER: PLAIN LUDICROUS ~ The problem with the account of the June 8th school board meeting is very simple - it is yet another example (with all respect to the writer, who obviously took a lot of her personal time) of how ill informed as a public we (all) are.
Reality is there is only so much power that rests with our local school board. Much of the money is tied by the federal government, the state government, the unions, and the courts (i.e. insurance premiums).
There was a response letter that mentioned turning to newspapers for facts. What newspapers? The newspapers and TV I see all focus on national and international issues, no wonder we've allowed so much control to head back East and up North - that's the only politics anyone is watching. Then when it comes time for us to get hit in our hometown we run to the local school board and ask them to do something.
"The core values of an organization are the promises its members make to each other. The budget is the most comprehensive and detailed description of what the organization has promised to do in expressing those values. What makes budgeting so difficult for a future-oriented leader is that the budget is mostly about history, about keeping promises that have already been made. If the promises were made wisely, they will have created a good set of present opportunities, attracting great people, secured a strong position in the market with a positive image, and allowed for increasing net revenues.
"The need for growth is a product of the fundamental paradox in each budget. Driven mostly by the promises of history, the budget must also make promises to secure a future. The most brilliant plans for the most glowing future mean nothing until the budget lets them happen. The budget - mundane and arcane - is the ultimate leadership forum. It deserves whatever leadership attention is required to make is serve all its purposes well, and it deserves continuous prayer." - Richard Kreigbaum
I would add that it mostly deserves to be in the hands of our local officials. It is easy to sit in Washington and Sacramento and make the painless decisions to restrict dollars to various popular programs and simply send the remaining (unrestricted) crumbs to Monrovia to take the heat over.
To my thinking, that's just plain ludicrous.
- Anonymous [Sorry, Alex]
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Monrovia School Link Preview ~ Number 127 ~ June 19, 2005
It appears the board is dealing with some hot potato items at this Wednesday's meeting. Health aides, budget, something about the "layoff of classified employees," and an update on the attorney general's opinion that schools should let students out of school for confidential medical reasons. Also, some reaction to my question about how open a forum this newsletter should be.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
Closed session at 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, June 22, regarding a possible expulsion and something about "Appointment / Employment / Assignment - Associate Superintendent Curriculum & Instruction." (That sounds like Joel Shawn. Please keep him, board.) Also, the regular open session is at 7 p.m.
Here are some items (there are more) that strike me as interesting:
~ Item 4.1: The board and Monrovia Chamber of Commerce will recognize four district employees for outstanding service: Fred Saiz, Warehouse Delivery Driver; Karen Meza, Playground Aide at Plymouth Elementary; Shannon Varner, Receptionist at Plymouth; and Tamara Morrison, Site Coordinator for the Village After School Program.
~ Item 4.2: Public Comment for items not on the Agenda. (Open forum. Say what you want.)
~ Item 6.9: Unveil for public review a possible new health textbook, Glencoe Health, 9th Edition, Glencoe/McGraw Hill.
~ Item 7.7: "Receive an update regarding the District's plans for providing health services for students, including site assignments of Health Assistants and procedures for school site personnel as related to medical issues."
~ Item 7.8: Vote to adopt a budget for 2005-06.
~ Item 8.3: Vote on "a Resolution for layoff of classified employees."
~ Item 8.4: Vote on a collective bargaining agreement with the districts various unions.
~ Item 9.2: "Receive an update on information and legal advice relating to the Attorney General Opinion on the release of students for confidential medical reasons."
LETTER: KEEP IT OPEN ~ Please keep it an open forum. One of the problems in our community (world for that matter) is that people are unable to listen to another point of view without taking it personally. We tell our children that everyone has their own point of view, but it's the adults that have the biggest problem with that. Besides, everyone is supposed to know that this newsletter is composed of notes taken by various community members, and the comments are their own opinions.
As for Mrs. Chesley's rebuttal, I applaud her for having the courage to put herself in the spotlight, but some of her beliefs are a little worrisome. I, too, come from a family who was very poor. Although my parents both started out with nothing, they worked very hard to have a modest home and a comfortable lifestyle. I was raised to be Republican/Conservative and still am. I feel everyone on welfare/food stamps, etc. should have to do some type of job for the county to earn them. However, if a parent is lazy, unmotivated, uneducated, or what have you, I don't blame the child. An education is the answer for these children, but if they aren't encouraged by their parents, a lot of them will not seek it. Clare had the good fortune of having parents who got it together and encouraged her to do the same. Sure, there are kids out there who are just born with the spark that drives them to push beyond their limitations. Most are not, though. Should we forget about these kids, because they don't have that spark?
It's a very tough situation. Maybe Clare's right, though. Maybe it's time that our government, school board included, started giving less for nothing. Maybe we shouldn't provide translation so readily. Then these kids won't keep growing up seeing how easy it is to live in mediocrity. When and where do we draw the line? - Anonymous
LETTER: KEEP THEM SEPARATE ~ I love your newletter, but I feel that the writer should report on the board meeting itself and if they have comments they should write a letter to express them. - Anonymous
LETTER: IT'S BETTER NOW ~ I started teaching in 1965 and retired last year from MUSD. I was active in MTA for many years. We had two strikes. We had many employees that were let go every year, including teachers, and then rehired the next year if we got funding. We worked hard to keep the union (AFL-CIO) out of MUSD and keep CTA. We went door to door to get parents elected to the school board. Our pay was at the bottom or next to the bottom for years. We fought to get the right to show up at a board meeting and speak. Parents or teachers were not allowed to speak unless they were on the agenda ahead of time. There was no public comment time at a board meeting.
Things are so much better now. These are not our best days at MUSD, and things do not look good, but we are allowed to express ourselves.
I have not always agreed with what is in this newsletter but I have been getting it for two or three years. I got the minutes of the meeting at school and they gave me the facts. I wanted opinion and enjoyed the different points of view. Even with Ann's letter she gave the facts but also expressed her feelings. I'm glad Ann did not sign it anonymous. If we want a professional writer we can read the newspaper. I once went to the board meeting to speak after receiving a letter inviting me to speak. (The only way to speak to the board then.)
The way I was treated by the president made me so upset I ended up yelling at him as he kept smoking his cigarettes and looking at the ceiling. My picture was in the paper the next day.
I am glad things are better now. - Bob Gollihug
LETTER: DON'T EDIT ~ I, for one, don't want to see you edit material coming in. Yes, some people get very passionate and involved, but I think that's a good sign. and, if they do get too extreme, then they should be ready for rebuttals from the audience, which is us, or a board member....
We have a school board that has one prominent fighter on it, and for all the good reasons. she is violating all rules of political "safe zone" advice and standing up for what she believes -- to be in the best interest of OUR CHILDREN, and that's quite simply going to be controversial. Elected officials "should not" say such opinionated things... Well, thank God someone finally is. But that leads to the next reality: When you take a very vocal, open and opinionated stand, some people are outright not going to "like you" anymore. As for me, I'll take a strong-spine politician over a wet noodle any day... Believe me, I don't always agree with her, but I always know where she stands.
Right now parents are horrified, and rightly so, to see that schools can release our children for a myriad of confidential services without telling us. How I wish people were as passionate about Monrovia's curfew, where police also can detain and question and ticket students and never tell the parent. Anyway, the reality is this: many parents and teachers are waking up and getting involved and not just sitting back in their barcaloungers and letting five people make decisions about our children without our input. and that, I believe, speaks so strongly for the best kind of change a community can see: parents are getting involved...and only good can come of that. - Rosemary Harrahill
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
(0) comments
It appears the board is dealing with some hot potato items at this Wednesday's meeting. Health aides, budget, something about the "layoff of classified employees," and an update on the attorney general's opinion that schools should let students out of school for confidential medical reasons. Also, some reaction to my question about how open a forum this newsletter should be.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
Closed session at 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, June 22, regarding a possible expulsion and something about "Appointment / Employment / Assignment - Associate Superintendent Curriculum & Instruction." (That sounds like Joel Shawn. Please keep him, board.) Also, the regular open session is at 7 p.m.
Here are some items (there are more) that strike me as interesting:
~ Item 4.1: The board and Monrovia Chamber of Commerce will recognize four district employees for outstanding service: Fred Saiz, Warehouse Delivery Driver; Karen Meza, Playground Aide at Plymouth Elementary; Shannon Varner, Receptionist at Plymouth; and Tamara Morrison, Site Coordinator for the Village After School Program.
~ Item 4.2: Public Comment for items not on the Agenda. (Open forum. Say what you want.)
~ Item 6.9: Unveil for public review a possible new health textbook, Glencoe Health, 9th Edition, Glencoe/McGraw Hill.
~ Item 7.7: "Receive an update regarding the District's plans for providing health services for students, including site assignments of Health Assistants and procedures for school site personnel as related to medical issues."
~ Item 7.8: Vote to adopt a budget for 2005-06.
~ Item 8.3: Vote on "a Resolution for layoff of classified employees."
~ Item 8.4: Vote on a collective bargaining agreement with the districts various unions.
~ Item 9.2: "Receive an update on information and legal advice relating to the Attorney General Opinion on the release of students for confidential medical reasons."
LETTER: KEEP IT OPEN ~ Please keep it an open forum. One of the problems in our community (world for that matter) is that people are unable to listen to another point of view without taking it personally. We tell our children that everyone has their own point of view, but it's the adults that have the biggest problem with that. Besides, everyone is supposed to know that this newsletter is composed of notes taken by various community members, and the comments are their own opinions.
As for Mrs. Chesley's rebuttal, I applaud her for having the courage to put herself in the spotlight, but some of her beliefs are a little worrisome. I, too, come from a family who was very poor. Although my parents both started out with nothing, they worked very hard to have a modest home and a comfortable lifestyle. I was raised to be Republican/Conservative and still am. I feel everyone on welfare/food stamps, etc. should have to do some type of job for the county to earn them. However, if a parent is lazy, unmotivated, uneducated, or what have you, I don't blame the child. An education is the answer for these children, but if they aren't encouraged by their parents, a lot of them will not seek it. Clare had the good fortune of having parents who got it together and encouraged her to do the same. Sure, there are kids out there who are just born with the spark that drives them to push beyond their limitations. Most are not, though. Should we forget about these kids, because they don't have that spark?
It's a very tough situation. Maybe Clare's right, though. Maybe it's time that our government, school board included, started giving less for nothing. Maybe we shouldn't provide translation so readily. Then these kids won't keep growing up seeing how easy it is to live in mediocrity. When and where do we draw the line? - Anonymous
LETTER: KEEP THEM SEPARATE ~ I love your newletter, but I feel that the writer should report on the board meeting itself and if they have comments they should write a letter to express them. - Anonymous
LETTER: IT'S BETTER NOW ~ I started teaching in 1965 and retired last year from MUSD. I was active in MTA for many years. We had two strikes. We had many employees that were let go every year, including teachers, and then rehired the next year if we got funding. We worked hard to keep the union (AFL-CIO) out of MUSD and keep CTA. We went door to door to get parents elected to the school board. Our pay was at the bottom or next to the bottom for years. We fought to get the right to show up at a board meeting and speak. Parents or teachers were not allowed to speak unless they were on the agenda ahead of time. There was no public comment time at a board meeting.
Things are so much better now. These are not our best days at MUSD, and things do not look good, but we are allowed to express ourselves.
I have not always agreed with what is in this newsletter but I have been getting it for two or three years. I got the minutes of the meeting at school and they gave me the facts. I wanted opinion and enjoyed the different points of view. Even with Ann's letter she gave the facts but also expressed her feelings. I'm glad Ann did not sign it anonymous. If we want a professional writer we can read the newspaper. I once went to the board meeting to speak after receiving a letter inviting me to speak. (The only way to speak to the board then.)
The way I was treated by the president made me so upset I ended up yelling at him as he kept smoking his cigarettes and looking at the ceiling. My picture was in the paper the next day.
I am glad things are better now. - Bob Gollihug
LETTER: DON'T EDIT ~ I, for one, don't want to see you edit material coming in. Yes, some people get very passionate and involved, but I think that's a good sign. and, if they do get too extreme, then they should be ready for rebuttals from the audience, which is us, or a board member....
We have a school board that has one prominent fighter on it, and for all the good reasons. she is violating all rules of political "safe zone" advice and standing up for what she believes -- to be in the best interest of OUR CHILDREN, and that's quite simply going to be controversial. Elected officials "should not" say such opinionated things... Well, thank God someone finally is. But that leads to the next reality: When you take a very vocal, open and opinionated stand, some people are outright not going to "like you" anymore. As for me, I'll take a strong-spine politician over a wet noodle any day... Believe me, I don't always agree with her, but I always know where she stands.
Right now parents are horrified, and rightly so, to see that schools can release our children for a myriad of confidential services without telling us. How I wish people were as passionate about Monrovia's curfew, where police also can detain and question and ticket students and never tell the parent. Anyway, the reality is this: many parents and teachers are waking up and getting involved and not just sitting back in their barcaloungers and letting five people make decisions about our children without our input. and that, I believe, speaks so strongly for the best kind of change a community can see: parents are getting involved...and only good can come of that. - Rosemary Harrahill
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Monrovia School Link ~ Number 126 ~ June 15, 2005
Two more letters. One from a person who wishes to remain anonymous, and a rebutal by Board Member Clare Chesley. I want to keep this an open forum, as I've said, but I wonder if the first correspondent has a point, and that I should chop out parts of items people write that seem to go too far. I'd sure appreciate everybody's thoughts on that since I'm genuinely unsure what to do. I know from experience that some people think some of the best parts are parts that I think go too far, and I wonder if I start chopping if some people will feel I'm stifling them. Thoughts? Also, a big thank you to Clare Chesley. Public officials, in general, seem reluctant to get down with their fellow citizens and debate. I'm glad Clare isn't like that.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
LETTER: A HIGHER LEVEL ~ I, too, was upset by the last newsletter. The point is not that the forum has to be pure news and free from commentary, just that the commentary should maintain a certain level of decorum, a feature that was sorely lacking in Ms. Freeman's report. When the commentary takes such a decidedly derogatory and nasty turn and is so blatantly unbalanced and misinformed, I believe that you, as moderator, should exercise some editorial discretion. There is a difference between advocating and attacking; you should not promulgate the latter. I'm sure you know how easy it is to be hurtful from the shelter of a keyboard, and how quickly an unmoderated forum can turn into a flame war. I, and I'm sure many others, won't hang around if the newsletter degenerates into a place where everything gets published, no matter how snide. It would be disappointing to see the Monrovia School Link go that direction. Please keep the discourse at a higher level. - Anonymous
LETTER: TO REBUT OR NOT ~ A letter from MUSD School Board member Clare Chesley
To rebut or not rebut, that is the question I have been asking myself these past several months. Blame it on the cumulative effect of the unfair criticisms, but I've decided to respond to the ignorant and outrageous (more colorful adjectives are shared with only close friends and family) assertions made about me specifically and the board in general. I've been counseled by many not to respond because it will only make it worse. But I feel like the guy who is about to get stoned at the beginning of "The Life of Brian" and the Roman guard says, You're only making it worse. The guy ignores him anyway and jumps up and down inciting the crowd because really - it can't get any worse.
After this last newsletter, I was asked by a city council member, "If you knew what you know now when you decided to run for school board, would you still run?" And I was asked by my husband, "Are you going to run again?" These two questions have caused me to review my personal goals as a school board member.
I think it's important to go back to why I ran for school board in the first place. My dad taught me that before you criticize someone you should be prepared to walk a mile in their shoes. I had a lot of criticism for the previous board, and so, I decided to walk a mile in their shoes. I invested $3,000 of my own money in my campaign, spent countless hours campaigning and have devoted many more hours away from my law practice and family in various school related activities, including very long board meetings.
I strongly encourage all the folks who are so critical of us to do put their money and time where their mouths are, and I'm being very sincere. I firmly believe in competition and I would LOVE to see another very competitive school board election. That's for you, Meg Walker. I think parental and community involvement in our school district is the best way to improve our schools.
I also firmly believe in the power of education. Education was the ticket for both my parents to escape poverty, (for my mother - extreme poverty). I want to help to continue providing the educational ticket to personal success for all Monrovian students. Having said that, my philosophy about education is very Emersonian, which means that the students and their parents gotta be willing to pull themselves up by their own boot straps.
Many of our problems in the schools stem from the fact that we try to do too much. At our last school board meeting, Ms. Freeman spoke of kids who arrive at school unfed and unclean. She directed her venom at us for cutting health aides who help clean and feed these children. To me, her wrath should be directed at the lazy and indifferent parents. Too often in our society, we expect institutions to fix problems created by individual lassitude. Our job is to provide kids with an education. Just as we should be held accountable for our responsibility, I believe the parents need to be held responsible. And don't give me the excuse that they are too poor to feed and clean their kids, because I know many low income folks who properly care for their children. It's an issue of personal responsibility - see Emerson on self-reliance.
Another big problem for public schools is lack of competition. Why excellent teachers feel the need for the protection of unions and the Holy Trinity are two of life's great mysteries for me. Unions have destroyed or are destroying all of the industries they touch. Just look at the airlines. The ones about to declare bankruptcy and the ones which continuously get bailed out by the Federal Government - all have unions. The profitable ones like Southwest - don't have unions.
If we could pay good teachers well and get rid of the poor teachers (i.e., ax tenure) we could improve our schools dramatically without spending more money on education. It's that simple. But there's little political will for that solution in California. Thus, we see the stand off at "OK Corral" between the unions and the Governor.
The budget crisis in education is largely created by the economic inefficiencies inherent in organizations controlled by unions. Charter schools produce better results at 80% of the cost of traditional public schools. That's why I'm pushing to bring a charter school to Monrovia. It would also offer an alternative for some of our families who are not served by traditional public schools. BTW, I am also a big supporter of school vouchers - not so with most educators in California.
Also, school budgets are a sorry mess because we have little to no local control. Again, Ms. Freeman criticized us for appropriating monies for capital improvements while cutting health aides. That was bond money and we have to spend it on capital improvements unless we want to go to jail. Most of the school district money comes prepackaged and predirected by the state and federal government. That's why I'm supporting a bill by Assemblywoman Lyn Daucher of Orange that would provide more local control. It's called the Home Rule bill and essentially it would allow the citizens of Monrovia, in a local election, to be a "home rule" district giving the school board much more discretion over how money is spent. However, some people don't want that responsibility and others don't want to give it. But to me, I think it's much better to allow local school districts who know their schools best to allocate money vs. central control in Sacramento.
Finally, I'm really tired of people who don't understand the way schools are run, who's in charge and how we get money or don't get money. People have told me, You need to educate the electorate. Why?!? That's not my job. When I moved here 5 years ago, I made it a point to find out who was the mayor, fire chief, police chief, superintendent, and who was on the city council and school board, etc. because I wanted to know who was in charge. It's not hard to do. People have just gotten lazy and I'm not going to enable them. People need to get off their couches and find out who is in charge of their kids and how decisions are made that directly impact their kids.
And since I'm on my soapbox, don't give me the "some people don't speak English" excuse. Before moving to Monrovia, We lived in Italy with our two young children (solo - not knowing anyone) with no support from a foreign national corporation or military organization. I taught myself Italian and how to summon the police (not that it would have done much good) and how to pay bills, drive without traffic signals, etc. So, people who don't speak English need to learn it.
My campaign message was and still is that I encourage everyone to get involved and share their views. I fully expect to be held accountable for my decisions and I accept criticism when it's founded in facts. But when folks spew vitriolic personal attacks and misinformation, then I stop listening.
And, Ms. Freeman, if you would have been impressed by me performing some silly symbolic gesture such as standing up the board meeting to prove I care about kids, I can only say that you will be easily fooled by people who prefer putting up Potemkin Villages instead of standing up for substantive and measurable improvements in our schools.
Clare Chesley, MUSD board member
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
(0) comments
Two more letters. One from a person who wishes to remain anonymous, and a rebutal by Board Member Clare Chesley. I want to keep this an open forum, as I've said, but I wonder if the first correspondent has a point, and that I should chop out parts of items people write that seem to go too far. I'd sure appreciate everybody's thoughts on that since I'm genuinely unsure what to do. I know from experience that some people think some of the best parts are parts that I think go too far, and I wonder if I start chopping if some people will feel I'm stifling them. Thoughts? Also, a big thank you to Clare Chesley. Public officials, in general, seem reluctant to get down with their fellow citizens and debate. I'm glad Clare isn't like that.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
LETTER: A HIGHER LEVEL ~ I, too, was upset by the last newsletter. The point is not that the forum has to be pure news and free from commentary, just that the commentary should maintain a certain level of decorum, a feature that was sorely lacking in Ms. Freeman's report. When the commentary takes such a decidedly derogatory and nasty turn and is so blatantly unbalanced and misinformed, I believe that you, as moderator, should exercise some editorial discretion. There is a difference between advocating and attacking; you should not promulgate the latter. I'm sure you know how easy it is to be hurtful from the shelter of a keyboard, and how quickly an unmoderated forum can turn into a flame war. I, and I'm sure many others, won't hang around if the newsletter degenerates into a place where everything gets published, no matter how snide. It would be disappointing to see the Monrovia School Link go that direction. Please keep the discourse at a higher level. - Anonymous
LETTER: TO REBUT OR NOT ~ A letter from MUSD School Board member Clare Chesley
To rebut or not rebut, that is the question I have been asking myself these past several months. Blame it on the cumulative effect of the unfair criticisms, but I've decided to respond to the ignorant and outrageous (more colorful adjectives are shared with only close friends and family) assertions made about me specifically and the board in general. I've been counseled by many not to respond because it will only make it worse. But I feel like the guy who is about to get stoned at the beginning of "The Life of Brian" and the Roman guard says, You're only making it worse. The guy ignores him anyway and jumps up and down inciting the crowd because really - it can't get any worse.
After this last newsletter, I was asked by a city council member, "If you knew what you know now when you decided to run for school board, would you still run?" And I was asked by my husband, "Are you going to run again?" These two questions have caused me to review my personal goals as a school board member.
I think it's important to go back to why I ran for school board in the first place. My dad taught me that before you criticize someone you should be prepared to walk a mile in their shoes. I had a lot of criticism for the previous board, and so, I decided to walk a mile in their shoes. I invested $3,000 of my own money in my campaign, spent countless hours campaigning and have devoted many more hours away from my law practice and family in various school related activities, including very long board meetings.
I strongly encourage all the folks who are so critical of us to do put their money and time where their mouths are, and I'm being very sincere. I firmly believe in competition and I would LOVE to see another very competitive school board election. That's for you, Meg Walker. I think parental and community involvement in our school district is the best way to improve our schools.
I also firmly believe in the power of education. Education was the ticket for both my parents to escape poverty, (for my mother - extreme poverty). I want to help to continue providing the educational ticket to personal success for all Monrovian students. Having said that, my philosophy about education is very Emersonian, which means that the students and their parents gotta be willing to pull themselves up by their own boot straps.
Many of our problems in the schools stem from the fact that we try to do too much. At our last school board meeting, Ms. Freeman spoke of kids who arrive at school unfed and unclean. She directed her venom at us for cutting health aides who help clean and feed these children. To me, her wrath should be directed at the lazy and indifferent parents. Too often in our society, we expect institutions to fix problems created by individual lassitude. Our job is to provide kids with an education. Just as we should be held accountable for our responsibility, I believe the parents need to be held responsible. And don't give me the excuse that they are too poor to feed and clean their kids, because I know many low income folks who properly care for their children. It's an issue of personal responsibility - see Emerson on self-reliance.
Another big problem for public schools is lack of competition. Why excellent teachers feel the need for the protection of unions and the Holy Trinity are two of life's great mysteries for me. Unions have destroyed or are destroying all of the industries they touch. Just look at the airlines. The ones about to declare bankruptcy and the ones which continuously get bailed out by the Federal Government - all have unions. The profitable ones like Southwest - don't have unions.
If we could pay good teachers well and get rid of the poor teachers (i.e., ax tenure) we could improve our schools dramatically without spending more money on education. It's that simple. But there's little political will for that solution in California. Thus, we see the stand off at "OK Corral" between the unions and the Governor.
The budget crisis in education is largely created by the economic inefficiencies inherent in organizations controlled by unions. Charter schools produce better results at 80% of the cost of traditional public schools. That's why I'm pushing to bring a charter school to Monrovia. It would also offer an alternative for some of our families who are not served by traditional public schools. BTW, I am also a big supporter of school vouchers - not so with most educators in California.
Also, school budgets are a sorry mess because we have little to no local control. Again, Ms. Freeman criticized us for appropriating monies for capital improvements while cutting health aides. That was bond money and we have to spend it on capital improvements unless we want to go to jail. Most of the school district money comes prepackaged and predirected by the state and federal government. That's why I'm supporting a bill by Assemblywoman Lyn Daucher of Orange that would provide more local control. It's called the Home Rule bill and essentially it would allow the citizens of Monrovia, in a local election, to be a "home rule" district giving the school board much more discretion over how money is spent. However, some people don't want that responsibility and others don't want to give it. But to me, I think it's much better to allow local school districts who know their schools best to allocate money vs. central control in Sacramento.
Finally, I'm really tired of people who don't understand the way schools are run, who's in charge and how we get money or don't get money. People have told me, You need to educate the electorate. Why?!? That's not my job. When I moved here 5 years ago, I made it a point to find out who was the mayor, fire chief, police chief, superintendent, and who was on the city council and school board, etc. because I wanted to know who was in charge. It's not hard to do. People have just gotten lazy and I'm not going to enable them. People need to get off their couches and find out who is in charge of their kids and how decisions are made that directly impact their kids.
And since I'm on my soapbox, don't give me the "some people don't speak English" excuse. Before moving to Monrovia, We lived in Italy with our two young children (solo - not knowing anyone) with no support from a foreign national corporation or military organization. I taught myself Italian and how to summon the police (not that it would have done much good) and how to pay bills, drive without traffic signals, etc. So, people who don't speak English need to learn it.
My campaign message was and still is that I encourage everyone to get involved and share their views. I fully expect to be held accountable for my decisions and I accept criticism when it's founded in facts. But when folks spew vitriolic personal attacks and misinformation, then I stop listening.
And, Ms. Freeman, if you would have been impressed by me performing some silly symbolic gesture such as standing up the board meeting to prove I care about kids, I can only say that you will be easily fooled by people who prefer putting up Potemkin Villages instead of standing up for substantive and measurable improvements in our schools.
Clare Chesley, MUSD board member
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Monrovia School Link ~ Number 125 ~ June 14, 2005
I just got a letter from a city official with whom I got into an email argument (see below). He softened his opinions a bit and said his main point is that, "so many of our civic discourses now have deteriorated into emotions and distrust." I won't argue that, but - as I'm sure he'd agree - emotional discourse is better than no discourse, and there are sometimes nuggets of truth in the midst of emotional comments that I'd like to catch. And also, I fear that if I were to stiffle emotional and distrustful discourse in this newsletter (or "soapbox" - you'll understand the reference shortly) it would tend to stifle all discourse. Consequently, this newsletter is at times emotional and distrustful, with accusations. (I'm guilty myself.) Nor are all comments fair. Maybe I'm too idealistic, but I hope that out of all the sometimes painful hashing out of topics by many minds, some good will result. In this issue, just thoughts about last issue.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
MY ARGUMENT ~ I had an interesting email conversation with a city official who has since asked to remain anonymous. Through a misdirected email we got in a discussion in which he let me know that he feels this newsletter - at least the last issue - is slanted and ill-informed.
Let me quote a few bits from our back-and-forth.
From him - "I have real issues with letting people with axes to grind and no training whatsoever in reporting write articles that folks are going to take as authoritative. This last one ... is probably the most egregious of all."
From me - "I think you are aware, since you read the newsletter, that I consider it a forum of news and opinion, and I don't always agree with all the opinions that are expressed in it. But as a forum that includes opinion, you kinda gotta expect that maybe sometimes people will express opinions. If it doesn't meet high journalistic standards that is because it is more of a soapbox than a newspaper. You are blaming an orange for not being an apple." [Getting a bit hot, Brad? Yes.]
From him - "I guess my beef is presenting a newsletter that is 'a forum of news and opinion' without differentiating between the two. When that happens, one has to assume that what one is reading is opinion, not news - if one is even aware of the difference. A whole lot of people just assume that because it's written down, it's news...
"If it's a soapbox, then maybe you shouldn't call it a newsletter. So let me ask you - is it an orange or an apple?
"And again, I think there's certainly an important place in the community for your soapbox/newsletter. I'd just like to see a clearer representation of exactly what it is."
From me - "I feel I've made it abundantly clear that this is both news and opinion. You object to those two being mixed, but it's been mixed since the day I started it, and you said not a word.... It's been mixed in the same way that news and opinion have been mixed in The New Republic, National Review, The Progressive and dozens of other publications, on-line and off-line, for decades."
So, that was from our conversation. Once again, with emphasis, this newsletter - or soapbox, if you prefer - is a forum for people to tell what happened at the school board meeting, and to give their feelings about it. And yes, those opinions are often mixed in with the news, as they always have been.
Also, I don't agree with everything that is published here - and if you don't agree with something, then write me a letter for Pete's sake! I publish virtually every comment I get. [Who is Pete, by the way?]
And finally, about the health workers, the topic of the last newsletter. I don't believe the district leaders are being malicious. I simply believe they are in a tough spot. The district is low on money and it appears that something has to be cut. A couple people, below, suggest getting grant money. If it's available, absolutely! And if the district hasn't looked into that, it should. But if cuts have to be made, the question is what to cut. And what that should be, I don't know, but I suspect somebody is going to be hurt. If it isn't the health staff, it'll be somebody else. I wish I had a solution.
LETTER: UNBELIEVABLE ~ The last few months have been nothing short of unbelievable in regard to the way our district runs. I hope that when the next election comes around in the fall, everyone remembers what we have been having to put up with. We have got to get SOMEONE on that board (and more importantly as our Superintendent) who actually does have our children's best interest at heart! This is sickening! - Meg Walker
LETTER: NEW NCLB ~ The Monrovia Unified School Board is planning to proceed with a plan to cut 6 out of 9 Nurses/Health Clerks in the Monrovia Unified School District beginning next year. How does a school district in one of the fastest growing economically diverse areas come to such a decision? How can a school district which has been tooting its own horn for many years and insisting that their policy is one of "putting the children first" explain this latest cost cutting measure? No Child Left Behind (NCLB) now translates into No Child Left Healthy. There is a statewide mandate which clearly states that we must provide certain basic tests for each student at every grade level including eye and hearing screenings, color blind, and head lice checks for the children. Who is going to put their hands on the children's heads to check for head lice? Who will be qualified to tell if a child has Chicken Pox, Measles or some contagious rash like Poison Oak and needs to be sent home, vs. the child who has a bad case of eczema? What about the children with severe food/medicine allergies?! What about our students who suffer from severe asthma or diabetes or other conditions which call for the use of regular medication? What effect will this new policy have on public health?
Given this new proposal the ADA (average daily attendance), which is so important to every school districts budget, will surely go down because of increased absences. Absences caused by epidemics of flu/chicken pox and other highly contagious diseases that are misdiagnosed by the office staff.
The office managers and clerks at all the schools will be called in to replace highly qualified medical personnel. Who will train, these managers and clerks with their limited medical education to administer life saving shots and deal with serious medical conditions? This new policy means that 2/3 of the time that our children are in school, they will not have access to proper emergency medical care.
The office manager and clerks with their many duties; will have to stop their own important work in order to assist a child with a medical complaint. Who will then cover their current duties, i.e.: answering the phones, registering new students, answering questions, taking attendance and dealing with the myriad duties of daily school routine? Who will spend time with our young children who come in for a daily dose of TLC (that's Tender Loving Care - for those of you who are unfamiliar with this acronym), because they are in pain, scared, upset, have a chronic medical condition or just don't get the attention they deserve at home. What happens to these precious children?
What becomes of our 504 plan students who meet the requirements for regular medical intervention and need the services of a fully qualified nurse or health clerk in order to assist them on a weekly or monthly basis during the school hours? What about the student who has made it all the way to high school without a single serious medical complaint and by accident finds out that he has an undiagnosed heart or lung condition or a serious allergy to a bee sting and needs emergency medical diagnosis and treatment?
What of the unforeseen allergic reaction? What becomes of the child who could not control their blood sugar level and no-one was watching them? Where is our NCLB policy now?
May I suggest that a better policy would be to look for other ways to save money. Perhaps the school board could put together a group of people who can write grants and get the money that is so badly needed for our school district. I can think of three people off the top of my head who are excellent grant writers and I know there are more people out there in all of our Monrovia schools who would not only be willing but very effective grant writers. Our children are our future and we cannot let a severe state budget problem take away the basic necessities of every day nursing care on site. Even if you feel that some of the examples I have pointed out are very rare this is still a very bad policy.
I realize that one argument in favor of this policy is that there are many other school districts in California that do not have on-site nurses/health clerks on a daily basis. I know this is true, but my goal is to "raise the bar," not sink to the level of mediocrity that some Administrators feel is an acceptable solution to their fiscal problems.
This new medical proposal appears to come from someone who has no understanding of the medical needs of school age children. The risks involved both to the school district from a legal stand point and the students from a medical stand point are just too high. I strongly urge the school board and the school superintendent to re-think this policy before it is put into practice.
Sincerely,
Kim Larsen
Mayflower Parent
LETTER: FROM A SCHOOL NURSE ~ I am a recent reader of the Monrovia School Link, and a first time commentator:
Needless to say I live in Monrovia. I work as nurse,a school nurse in a local district. I am the only nurse for the district of approx. 3200 pre K-8 students (5 sites, 4 elem., 1 grade 7-8 Middle School). I am an itinerant nurse for the 5 schools with one full time health aide (unlicensed aide, not even an LVN). My training is 30 years of nursing (13 of these in this school district) . Did I fully understand and I realize what responsibility I was taking on 13 years ago? No. Is it safe? No. But the harsh reality was set over 25 years ago by a previous board and administration that was caught in equally tough economic times of the mid-late 70's. Not ideal. Barely survivable. But the precedent was sent then...and hard to change, since it is educators and lay people who are involved in health service support staffing decisions, and know not what it takes, without taking the time to look at the whole picture of the needs of a dynamic school.
The goal from my entry into the job was to offer the best care and support I could give as one person to all levels of the district...the students, families and staff. The challenge seems great. Routine some days, very non-routine the next. Lost in papers documenting the care given, meet the mandated health needs, and non-mandated needs of regular and special education students, along with trying to upgrade the level of care and skills of myself and others involved in the health care of students in the schools. Along the way I equally met the demanding needs of going back to school to educate myself in the unique world of school nursing by obtaining a Health Service Credential and Masters in Nursing.
Did MUSD research other choices available other than cutting health staff? Did they confer with their district nurse and others directly effected by the cuts (not only staff but families) and discuss alternative plans BEFORE making the cuts. Will we ever know as parents the REAL story? Now the office staff of each school will have to be willing to fill in the gaps, and be trained to do a job they may or may not be good or safe following through with this additional job responsibility. The teachers and administrators will have to be willing to consider the health needs that we are obligated to deal with because of mandatory education and equity of not denying a child with medical issues a school experience.
Be ready for a bumpy road MUSD. Will MUSD reconsider this cut? I advise it, but doubt it, unless we parents truly rise up and let the administration and board help the health services team demonstrate and document their worthiness, and cost effectivness. The District Nurse and the crew of health aides (apparently licensed as RN's, and LVN's and unlicensed) are the best insurance policy the district can have when dealing with the health issues and concerns of a diverse population of not only children, but parents and staff. Cutting it to bare bones...not smart. A better way would be to first assess the true aspects of their jobs, and compare the cost of employing them over the top heavy district administration.
It is an ongoing issue within school nursing nationwide, and statewide, to fund this aspect that is so integral to the educational environment of our present day schools. More and more is asked of schools to pick up as far as responsibility outside of education alone. Yet...no, or minimal funding is tied to these mandates that are placed from the federal or state level.
See a recent KCET "Life and Times" edition (during National Nurses Week) about health care issues... I believe broadcast 5/11 or 5/12. It spotlighted school nursing in one segment. Very well done. I will gladly share this with anyone, or call the TV station to obtain a copy.
The point is that most educators, and most of those in education and making decisions in education, do not know what district nurses really do, and why they, as well as their health aides, are so important. Look to creative ideas to fund these positions, but the bottom line is that the Board and the administration needs to believe that this is critical and should not be touched. Cut some high end salaries by a small amount, and be creative with hours, and at the district level reorganize some responsibilities and maybe the district can keep all or part of the health team being released. But even more importantly, do just rely exclusively on creative grant writing to fund needed positions. It should be written into the general education budget to fund these positions, these are not "fluff" positions!
I am truly saddened to see that MUSD is choosing to go the easier route, to cut, instead of create ways to improve MUSD in tight fiscal times. The local districts large and small have one to two district nurses, and usually a full or part-time aide at all or most school sites. My own employer cut to the bare bones years ago, without the long term foresight. This major budget cut occurred when the then newly Federal mandated IDEA/ADA laws, tied with the major medical advances which allowed more medically fragile children to attend schools, were beginning to happen and effect schools dramatically. Here school districts are 30 years later, still not able to fully realize what they really need to have in their expanded school plans: Comprehensive support and education of the child and family in the school environment. The mandate is greater than just being there to educate the child. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND will leave many behind, because of no funding and integration of the ideal into the reality.
I walked into my school nurse position by choice, and do the best I can...and always trying to do better. But once cut, there is that sad possibility that the district will never fund it again. At what cost? Time will sadly tell.
Some additional thoughts:
When I moved to this community 6 years ago I saw hope and promise... for my son's future in the community school and mine as a single mom in a wonderful, vibrant diverse, suburban city. I feel we have both been cheated. He struggled for 3 years in the MUSD with staff and teachers (except one wonderful teacher) that chose not to assist and help or search for answers for why his school experience was below par, academically and socially. He was slipping slowly down into the cracks. Not qualifying for special programs, slipping in grades and self-esteem. The answer was drastic. I agreed, with his dad, to pull him out of school and have him home schooled... A big challenge for all emotionally, academically and economically. MUSD lost. They lost a vibrant active young student with much to offer that just needed to be understood and motivated. He lost a social environment in the school, but gained a new and more positive one in support activities tied into his academics. And he began to succeed. MUSD lost. Lost big time.
Am I only one, or one of many, who are facing this very tough decision when a child isn't doing well in school socially and/or academically, but the school district lacks support? Does MUSD even realize that one of the reasons their student population (and thus ADA money) is dropping, is not only certain population demographics, but dissatisfied parents who are withdrawing their children from the district to find a better education, a safer more friendly educational environment... or for what ever reason. It is a loss for both sides in many ways, especially if resolution was sought time and time again.
MUSD needs to take a poll of ALL families in the area, not just parents who participate in the public school system here, to learn about ALL their actual and potential student/family needs and concerns. MUSD seems to be taking the slippery slope downward with the choices made of the recent past and present. Really seek to excel no matter at what cost, and stick to some very basic, important community and educational values and "they will come." Don't placate the parents and students, but really work with them, communicate with them, value the community in the truest sense and GOOD things can happen. Good examples in local districts (that I am sure have some issues, but nothing like here...) is San Gabriel USD (a newly USD over the past 10-12 years that really took the bull by the horns and reformulated itself in many ways...and Alhambra City School District. Both are hard hit by the economics, and yet both have set high standards and live by them.
'nough said, 'nough rambling...
I want and will gladly be a part of the change needed here in MUSD, if the leadership would just decide to LEAD and MENTOR, not lead and maybe wander...
N. Wilcox
A concerned MUSD parent (even if my child is no longer in the district), and dedicated nurse (school nurse striving for the best one can do for my children and families)
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
(0) comments
I just got a letter from a city official with whom I got into an email argument (see below). He softened his opinions a bit and said his main point is that, "so many of our civic discourses now have deteriorated into emotions and distrust." I won't argue that, but - as I'm sure he'd agree - emotional discourse is better than no discourse, and there are sometimes nuggets of truth in the midst of emotional comments that I'd like to catch. And also, I fear that if I were to stiffle emotional and distrustful discourse in this newsletter (or "soapbox" - you'll understand the reference shortly) it would tend to stifle all discourse. Consequently, this newsletter is at times emotional and distrustful, with accusations. (I'm guilty myself.) Nor are all comments fair. Maybe I'm too idealistic, but I hope that out of all the sometimes painful hashing out of topics by many minds, some good will result. In this issue, just thoughts about last issue.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
MY ARGUMENT ~ I had an interesting email conversation with a city official who has since asked to remain anonymous. Through a misdirected email we got in a discussion in which he let me know that he feels this newsletter - at least the last issue - is slanted and ill-informed.
Let me quote a few bits from our back-and-forth.
From him - "I have real issues with letting people with axes to grind and no training whatsoever in reporting write articles that folks are going to take as authoritative. This last one ... is probably the most egregious of all."
From me - "I think you are aware, since you read the newsletter, that I consider it a forum of news and opinion, and I don't always agree with all the opinions that are expressed in it. But as a forum that includes opinion, you kinda gotta expect that maybe sometimes people will express opinions. If it doesn't meet high journalistic standards that is because it is more of a soapbox than a newspaper. You are blaming an orange for not being an apple." [Getting a bit hot, Brad? Yes.]
From him - "I guess my beef is presenting a newsletter that is 'a forum of news and opinion' without differentiating between the two. When that happens, one has to assume that what one is reading is opinion, not news - if one is even aware of the difference. A whole lot of people just assume that because it's written down, it's news...
"If it's a soapbox, then maybe you shouldn't call it a newsletter. So let me ask you - is it an orange or an apple?
"And again, I think there's certainly an important place in the community for your soapbox/newsletter. I'd just like to see a clearer representation of exactly what it is."
From me - "I feel I've made it abundantly clear that this is both news and opinion. You object to those two being mixed, but it's been mixed since the day I started it, and you said not a word.... It's been mixed in the same way that news and opinion have been mixed in The New Republic, National Review, The Progressive and dozens of other publications, on-line and off-line, for decades."
So, that was from our conversation. Once again, with emphasis, this newsletter - or soapbox, if you prefer - is a forum for people to tell what happened at the school board meeting, and to give their feelings about it. And yes, those opinions are often mixed in with the news, as they always have been.
Also, I don't agree with everything that is published here - and if you don't agree with something, then write me a letter for Pete's sake! I publish virtually every comment I get. [Who is Pete, by the way?]
And finally, about the health workers, the topic of the last newsletter. I don't believe the district leaders are being malicious. I simply believe they are in a tough spot. The district is low on money and it appears that something has to be cut. A couple people, below, suggest getting grant money. If it's available, absolutely! And if the district hasn't looked into that, it should. But if cuts have to be made, the question is what to cut. And what that should be, I don't know, but I suspect somebody is going to be hurt. If it isn't the health staff, it'll be somebody else. I wish I had a solution.
LETTER: UNBELIEVABLE ~ The last few months have been nothing short of unbelievable in regard to the way our district runs. I hope that when the next election comes around in the fall, everyone remembers what we have been having to put up with. We have got to get SOMEONE on that board (and more importantly as our Superintendent) who actually does have our children's best interest at heart! This is sickening! - Meg Walker
LETTER: NEW NCLB ~ The Monrovia Unified School Board is planning to proceed with a plan to cut 6 out of 9 Nurses/Health Clerks in the Monrovia Unified School District beginning next year. How does a school district in one of the fastest growing economically diverse areas come to such a decision? How can a school district which has been tooting its own horn for many years and insisting that their policy is one of "putting the children first" explain this latest cost cutting measure? No Child Left Behind (NCLB) now translates into No Child Left Healthy. There is a statewide mandate which clearly states that we must provide certain basic tests for each student at every grade level including eye and hearing screenings, color blind, and head lice checks for the children. Who is going to put their hands on the children's heads to check for head lice? Who will be qualified to tell if a child has Chicken Pox, Measles or some contagious rash like Poison Oak and needs to be sent home, vs. the child who has a bad case of eczema? What about the children with severe food/medicine allergies?! What about our students who suffer from severe asthma or diabetes or other conditions which call for the use of regular medication? What effect will this new policy have on public health?
Given this new proposal the ADA (average daily attendance), which is so important to every school districts budget, will surely go down because of increased absences. Absences caused by epidemics of flu/chicken pox and other highly contagious diseases that are misdiagnosed by the office staff.
The office managers and clerks at all the schools will be called in to replace highly qualified medical personnel. Who will train, these managers and clerks with their limited medical education to administer life saving shots and deal with serious medical conditions? This new policy means that 2/3 of the time that our children are in school, they will not have access to proper emergency medical care.
The office manager and clerks with their many duties; will have to stop their own important work in order to assist a child with a medical complaint. Who will then cover their current duties, i.e.: answering the phones, registering new students, answering questions, taking attendance and dealing with the myriad duties of daily school routine? Who will spend time with our young children who come in for a daily dose of TLC (that's Tender Loving Care - for those of you who are unfamiliar with this acronym), because they are in pain, scared, upset, have a chronic medical condition or just don't get the attention they deserve at home. What happens to these precious children?
What becomes of our 504 plan students who meet the requirements for regular medical intervention and need the services of a fully qualified nurse or health clerk in order to assist them on a weekly or monthly basis during the school hours? What about the student who has made it all the way to high school without a single serious medical complaint and by accident finds out that he has an undiagnosed heart or lung condition or a serious allergy to a bee sting and needs emergency medical diagnosis and treatment?
What of the unforeseen allergic reaction? What becomes of the child who could not control their blood sugar level and no-one was watching them? Where is our NCLB policy now?
May I suggest that a better policy would be to look for other ways to save money. Perhaps the school board could put together a group of people who can write grants and get the money that is so badly needed for our school district. I can think of three people off the top of my head who are excellent grant writers and I know there are more people out there in all of our Monrovia schools who would not only be willing but very effective grant writers. Our children are our future and we cannot let a severe state budget problem take away the basic necessities of every day nursing care on site. Even if you feel that some of the examples I have pointed out are very rare this is still a very bad policy.
I realize that one argument in favor of this policy is that there are many other school districts in California that do not have on-site nurses/health clerks on a daily basis. I know this is true, but my goal is to "raise the bar," not sink to the level of mediocrity that some Administrators feel is an acceptable solution to their fiscal problems.
This new medical proposal appears to come from someone who has no understanding of the medical needs of school age children. The risks involved both to the school district from a legal stand point and the students from a medical stand point are just too high. I strongly urge the school board and the school superintendent to re-think this policy before it is put into practice.
Sincerely,
Kim Larsen
Mayflower Parent
LETTER: FROM A SCHOOL NURSE ~ I am a recent reader of the Monrovia School Link, and a first time commentator:
Needless to say I live in Monrovia. I work as nurse,a school nurse in a local district. I am the only nurse for the district of approx. 3200 pre K-8 students (5 sites, 4 elem., 1 grade 7-8 Middle School). I am an itinerant nurse for the 5 schools with one full time health aide (unlicensed aide, not even an LVN). My training is 30 years of nursing (13 of these in this school district) . Did I fully understand and I realize what responsibility I was taking on 13 years ago? No. Is it safe? No. But the harsh reality was set over 25 years ago by a previous board and administration that was caught in equally tough economic times of the mid-late 70's. Not ideal. Barely survivable. But the precedent was sent then...and hard to change, since it is educators and lay people who are involved in health service support staffing decisions, and know not what it takes, without taking the time to look at the whole picture of the needs of a dynamic school.
The goal from my entry into the job was to offer the best care and support I could give as one person to all levels of the district...the students, families and staff. The challenge seems great. Routine some days, very non-routine the next. Lost in papers documenting the care given, meet the mandated health needs, and non-mandated needs of regular and special education students, along with trying to upgrade the level of care and skills of myself and others involved in the health care of students in the schools. Along the way I equally met the demanding needs of going back to school to educate myself in the unique world of school nursing by obtaining a Health Service Credential and Masters in Nursing.
Did MUSD research other choices available other than cutting health staff? Did they confer with their district nurse and others directly effected by the cuts (not only staff but families) and discuss alternative plans BEFORE making the cuts. Will we ever know as parents the REAL story? Now the office staff of each school will have to be willing to fill in the gaps, and be trained to do a job they may or may not be good or safe following through with this additional job responsibility. The teachers and administrators will have to be willing to consider the health needs that we are obligated to deal with because of mandatory education and equity of not denying a child with medical issues a school experience.
Be ready for a bumpy road MUSD. Will MUSD reconsider this cut? I advise it, but doubt it, unless we parents truly rise up and let the administration and board help the health services team demonstrate and document their worthiness, and cost effectivness. The District Nurse and the crew of health aides (apparently licensed as RN's, and LVN's and unlicensed) are the best insurance policy the district can have when dealing with the health issues and concerns of a diverse population of not only children, but parents and staff. Cutting it to bare bones...not smart. A better way would be to first assess the true aspects of their jobs, and compare the cost of employing them over the top heavy district administration.
It is an ongoing issue within school nursing nationwide, and statewide, to fund this aspect that is so integral to the educational environment of our present day schools. More and more is asked of schools to pick up as far as responsibility outside of education alone. Yet...no, or minimal funding is tied to these mandates that are placed from the federal or state level.
See a recent KCET "Life and Times" edition (during National Nurses Week) about health care issues... I believe broadcast 5/11 or 5/12. It spotlighted school nursing in one segment. Very well done. I will gladly share this with anyone, or call the TV station to obtain a copy.
The point is that most educators, and most of those in education and making decisions in education, do not know what district nurses really do, and why they, as well as their health aides, are so important. Look to creative ideas to fund these positions, but the bottom line is that the Board and the administration needs to believe that this is critical and should not be touched. Cut some high end salaries by a small amount, and be creative with hours, and at the district level reorganize some responsibilities and maybe the district can keep all or part of the health team being released. But even more importantly, do just rely exclusively on creative grant writing to fund needed positions. It should be written into the general education budget to fund these positions, these are not "fluff" positions!
I am truly saddened to see that MUSD is choosing to go the easier route, to cut, instead of create ways to improve MUSD in tight fiscal times. The local districts large and small have one to two district nurses, and usually a full or part-time aide at all or most school sites. My own employer cut to the bare bones years ago, without the long term foresight. This major budget cut occurred when the then newly Federal mandated IDEA/ADA laws, tied with the major medical advances which allowed more medically fragile children to attend schools, were beginning to happen and effect schools dramatically. Here school districts are 30 years later, still not able to fully realize what they really need to have in their expanded school plans: Comprehensive support and education of the child and family in the school environment. The mandate is greater than just being there to educate the child. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND will leave many behind, because of no funding and integration of the ideal into the reality.
I walked into my school nurse position by choice, and do the best I can...and always trying to do better. But once cut, there is that sad possibility that the district will never fund it again. At what cost? Time will sadly tell.
Some additional thoughts:
When I moved to this community 6 years ago I saw hope and promise... for my son's future in the community school and mine as a single mom in a wonderful, vibrant diverse, suburban city. I feel we have both been cheated. He struggled for 3 years in the MUSD with staff and teachers (except one wonderful teacher) that chose not to assist and help or search for answers for why his school experience was below par, academically and socially. He was slipping slowly down into the cracks. Not qualifying for special programs, slipping in grades and self-esteem. The answer was drastic. I agreed, with his dad, to pull him out of school and have him home schooled... A big challenge for all emotionally, academically and economically. MUSD lost. They lost a vibrant active young student with much to offer that just needed to be understood and motivated. He lost a social environment in the school, but gained a new and more positive one in support activities tied into his academics. And he began to succeed. MUSD lost. Lost big time.
Am I only one, or one of many, who are facing this very tough decision when a child isn't doing well in school socially and/or academically, but the school district lacks support? Does MUSD even realize that one of the reasons their student population (and thus ADA money) is dropping, is not only certain population demographics, but dissatisfied parents who are withdrawing their children from the district to find a better education, a safer more friendly educational environment... or for what ever reason. It is a loss for both sides in many ways, especially if resolution was sought time and time again.
MUSD needs to take a poll of ALL families in the area, not just parents who participate in the public school system here, to learn about ALL their actual and potential student/family needs and concerns. MUSD seems to be taking the slippery slope downward with the choices made of the recent past and present. Really seek to excel no matter at what cost, and stick to some very basic, important community and educational values and "they will come." Don't placate the parents and students, but really work with them, communicate with them, value the community in the truest sense and GOOD things can happen. Good examples in local districts (that I am sure have some issues, but nothing like here...) is San Gabriel USD (a newly USD over the past 10-12 years that really took the bull by the horns and reformulated itself in many ways...and Alhambra City School District. Both are hard hit by the economics, and yet both have set high standards and live by them.
'nough said, 'nough rambling...
I want and will gladly be a part of the change needed here in MUSD, if the leadership would just decide to LEAD and MENTOR, not lead and maybe wander...
N. Wilcox
A concerned MUSD parent (even if my child is no longer in the district), and dedicated nurse (school nurse striving for the best one can do for my children and families)
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Monrovia School Link ~ Number 124 ~ June 12, 2005
Thanks to Ann Freeman for this report. It appears there was quite a lively public comment period at this meeting, with the main topics being about 1) allowing students to leave campus for medical reasons without their parents knowledge or permission, and 2) the elimination of health aides for budgetary reasons.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
By Ann Freeman
The Board of Education Meeting began unpromptly at 7:19 p.m. on June 8, 2005 and managed to end 5 minutes before June 9, 2005. A Parking Lot Discussion took some of us into the new day.
I was prepared to take notes for a "newsletter," but feel I should have prepared for a "mini novel" packed with out purpose, plot, or prose as we might define these terms. When I agreed to take notes and report I was reasonably neutral, but after attending a staff meeting at my site and a CSEA meeting a few days later, I no longer feel objective. I have been appalled with all that is happening and projected to happen in our District. I know now why School Board meetings are held at night - they like to keep us in the dark and then coolly spring surprises our way, hoping our eyes, ears and minds are dim.
Here goes FIVE hours worth of notes as concise and coherent as I get:
All Board members were present except for Betty Sanford.
No action was taken in the closed session concerning negotiations with MTA.
EVERY ITEM to be voted upon tonight was 4-O approved. (I was hoping for at least one or more to abstain.)
Awards Galore:
Outstanding Service from the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce: Rodney Bonwell, Martha Nunez, Erin Avedissian, and Jennifer Sumulong.
Monrovia High Youth In Government day in Sacramento: Delfon Baron, Shayla Dardon, Ashley Dunn, Kristen Hayford, Diana Huerta, Shanice Lockhart, Shannon Mallory, Hilary Mark, Jackie Mena, Vanessa Paniagua, Brittany Rykert, Patty Soberanis.
Each student presented their assigned mock governmental position. (I like student representation.)
Longevity Recognitions for 25-35 years were presented to 18 staff members - 8 were in attendance (I learned the next day that one of those not present was at "The Happiest Place On Earth" and that definitely was not at this meeting).
Retirement Recognitions went to 15 individuals - 5 were present.
A Surprise Recognition went to Ryann Blackshere, the Student rep on the Board. She will be attending Stanford.
After the exit of many, the tone of the meeting changed as public comments were expressed. Because my emotional well-being was being "tested" and the apathy of the Board was evident during most of these presentations (including mine), I will try to summarize as best as possible. Also, many names eluded me because I neither saw them in print, nor heard them clearly - forgive me. My format is weak at this point, too.
4.3 NURSING STAFF CHANGES ("OUCH")
Dennis Jones: Why the need for a second elementary principal at Mayflower?
Answer: To provide leadership for transitional time.
DJ: The public needs to be informed before items are put on the "consent agenda." (My internal question: Were parents informed about the elimination of bus transportation for their children? If so, how were they informed and were there public hearings where options and alternatives could be discussed? Were parents informed about the elimination of health aides for their children? How? When? Discussion Meetings?) I just found out via a phone call from Ann that parents were informed about the bus situation in their Wednesday Green folders - not much time to gather and react for the evening!?!
Michelle Orozco: Expressed concerns about the issue of the District having a policy of not informing PARENTS when their child is taken off campus for "medical" reasons. Who is financing these medical "needs"? Where is the line drawn as to who and why? Who determines the need? How is the student's absence recorded? (How can a parent respond when it is assumed a child is in school and then gets an absence report?) It might be necessary for schools to help some of those in need. Will a WAIVER be provided to help parental peace of mind? " I have entrusted you with our most precious gift - my children".
Laura Wildes (sp.?): Regarding the Confidential Medical Policy: Parents are feeling the impact deeply. Severe cases might require confidentiality; however, in a crisis situation the child might need a parent or the police need to be called. This proposed law is ambiguous and in need of clarification. Parents WANT to be notified about anything that concerns their child.
David Duesberg (sp.?): Regarding the Confidential Medical Policy: The District is opening itself to major lawsuits and declining enrollment. Due to "secrecy", our children might become depressed and suicidal. Issues are swept under the rug and not dealt with openly.
Someone: Sickened at the possibility that our schools will allow our children from that ages of 12-18 to leave campus without parental knowledge or consent. This gives the child the message that there are no consequences and that lies and deceit are acceptable.
Ann Freeman: I stated that I stood on behalf of the many children in our district who would be without the services of a health aide when needed. I held a plaque that had been awarded to Carol Flores, Wild Rose Health Aide for "Sincere Appreciation" for 30 years of dedicated service to our children and staff. I told the Board that Don Montgomery had asked Margie Snowden to become a health aide 27 years ago when the District could not afford LVNs. Now the District can afford LVNs, but they cannot afford to keep the women who have tended to these little children so lovingly for all these years? I asked members of the Board and Panel to stand if they were there on behalf of the children. Not one stood and I and others had our answer. My trust in these people to do what is in the best interest of our children and our community is badly shaken, if not destroyed. If a "balanced budget" is more important than the lives and well being of others, then the "balancers" should reconfigure or be forced to do so. Perhaps an outside agency is not a bad idea. The District (at our expense) can afford highly paid consultants and lawyers to defend their causes, but do the employees and those whose services have been denied by the Board have equal access or rights? No!
Karla McGlone: No longer feels like being an advocate for Monrovia School District. Parents have been misinformed. So many cuts on services and supplies for the children that now the parents have to supply. She sees few cuts on a district office level and would like real solutions - not empty words. Many parents are considering putting their children in private schools. A story goes - In Africa the question asked is, "And how are the children?" This is because the children are valued in spite of poverty. The proper response one gives is, "The children are well"! (Are our children a priority and valued enough in this District so that their health and safety going to and from school and while they are at school is insured? I think the decisions made at the district are potentially putting the children in harms way on a daily basis).
Irma Walling: Her daughter, standing by her side tonight, has Type 1 Diabetes and will be losing her valued nurse at Mayflower. This poses a major concern - who is going to be trained to help her daughter? Are all the teachers going to be trained? Wants to be assured by the district that all the children who need special care or immediate care will be safe and have their medical needs attended to be someone who knows and understands their medical needs and conditions.
Tina DelRegno: Children are our priorities - they need stability in their lives. People they know and can trust provide this for them. Our health aides have approximately 30 or more visits by students a day. Health aides dispense medication, provide documentation of visits and illnesses, provide TLC to those who have disruptive home lives, whenever a child is found to have a communicable disease (such as head lice), notices are sent home to parents, all siblings have to be checked at our school and other schools. Hundreds of students are given vision and hearing tests each year, immunization records are checked and updated for all students, each students entering the school has to have a validated physical, the health aide is responsible for importing and exporting school records, and child with a report of abuse has to be understood, listened to, and reported about in an appropriate manner to the appropriate authority. A healthy child has a greater ability to learn and will produce higher test scores. The health aides are here for the children and to lose them will be a tremendous hardship on everyone.
Clare Chesley stated the concerns were acknowledged - in others word, time was up for that part and the Board needed to move on. (I think they removed earplugs at this time - but saved them for future.)
Bruce Carter reported that he attended a Sacramento Legislative Action Conference. If Prop 98 were funded, we would not have to face cuts. California is #44 in funding per child and heading for the bottom (I think we are 50 for academic performance and not much bottom left). By law, we have to have a balanced budget in MUSD. (Is this to match the State and U.S. Government in balancing theirs? Again, at whose expense is this budget being balanced?) California has the highest number of students per teacher and the fewest Librarians.
Bryan Wong thanked participation from the audience (Is the thanks mandatory, polite, or automatic?)
Monina Diaz stated she would write letters to State Legislators stating the Policy regarding Confidential Medical Release forces the District to take part in deceptions to families. (This was the most positive, intelligent, and proactive statement from any board member this evening. It appeared that Monina had listened to the concerns AND understood AND was willing to challenge/change a most destructive and dangerous proposal.) Monina was impressed with the work of Mary Ann Barry and her French National Honor Society at the High School. They are planning a 2006 trip to France.
Ryann Blackshere reported on the upcoming activities for Seniors at MHS.
Louise Taylor said the Board and District take comments to heart, but not personally. They have challenging decisions and the comments help them understand perspectives better. (I think everyone who spoke felt that the decisions were a done deal before they spoke and I, for one, wondered why they were voted on the night they were presented?) Louise encouraged us to send righteous anger to Sacramento. (Now, if we cannot be understood here in Monrovia by people who know us, what chances do we have with people in Sacramento? If nobody cares here, will they care there?)
Oscar Ibarra gave an impressive PowerPoint presentation on his Students to College program and the success of the AVID Program. Even thoughts of introducing the go-to-college concepts at the Elementary level, as was done at Monroe.
There was a lengthy (yep, by now you know length) discussion about what to do with the vacated Canyon Early Learning Center. (Now, what was the cost of establishing this and how long did it last?). No decisions were made and from my perspective, a decision was made that affects many and there was NO PLAN in place to justify or satisfy. I gathered that a CELC advisory committee will be paid to tell us what the Board will eventually decide to tell us. A city representative is required to be on the Advisory Committee.
Dennis Jones asked if teacher salaries were higher than average. Linda Demsey replied that compared with 30 Districts, we were below the third quartile. (What districts are we being compared to?)
Linda Dempsey gave a report on the budget and budget cuts, which amount to reductions in services - the ones that directly affect our students are the health aides and transportation. (except for special needs students).
Some of the parent concerns are:
- What will be the schedules of the roving LVNs?
- What will the individual sites be responsible for?
- What will be the possible cost of potential lawsuits?
- Are the office managers trained to administer medication?
- Who is responsible for maintaining the actual room and providing all the services that were done by the individual site health aides?
Clare Chesley: What kind of medication can be dispensed?
Linda Dempsey: I have no answer.
Bryan Wong: Are we disconnecting to parents? How do we determine the degree of dispensing medication and aid? When do we call 911?
Linda Dempsey: I cannot comment for Diane Jackson.
Clare Chesley: Illness and injury are not "scheduled out". Is a child just going to be left in the nurses office ( I guess she meant until a "qualified" person arrives)? Is another staff member going to be expected to "drop everything" to attend to these children? (and will the other staff member be "qualified" with personal information on that particular child's needs or procedures to follow?)
Monina Diaz: How do the districts who have cut these services function?
No answers from Linda Dempsey to these pertinent questions.
Louise: Could medical students from our adult education school help? (This question brought a moan from the audience)
Dennis Jones:
- Has there been any investigation of revenue enhancements?
- Where do these cuts fit into the preliminary budget from April? Individual sites? District?
- How can you vote to cut health aides when you have no information and when you don't have the entire "picture" or budget?
Maria:
- Wants the School Board to do what is in the best interest for our children. Our kids are the future of the city.
- How can parents who work be assured that our children will be taken care of?
- All we talk about is CUTTING, why can't we talk about finding funding?
- Our schools should worry so much about "cosmetics" - perhaps parents can assist in repairs or transportation problems.
- What happens on a rainy day - some students come from great distances.
- There is danger in the streets. What an injustice to our kids!
- Many parents have other little kids. Many mothers don't drive. Lawsuits are possible when you carpool with other people's children.
Fernanda:
- Shares Maria's worries. The Health Aides and transportation are SO important.
- Many parents work and cannot pick up their children. This is going to prevent many children from getting to school. What, then, are their chance for success?
Marlene Fitzpatrick:
- Her son has diabetes and he can only attend a school that has an RN. He was transferred to Mayflower and the RN will no longer be there. Whenever there is a field trip or event off campus, the RN or the mother has to accompany the boy, because of the severity. How is her son going to function without this assistance?
Joel Mattiesen:
- His son has a serious heart condition requiring more operations. When he returns to school, he will need medications. Who is going to be there to recognize, diagnose, and treat his son and others?
- The liability to the district could be tremendous.
Emily Ganley:
- We decide what is necessary and valuable and then we decide the budget. (Somehow the budget seems to have been thoughtlessly decided, disregarding valuable employees, needs of the students, and impact upon the school community).
- There is personal liability for improper treatment when minutes and seconds matter in life or death situations.
- One lawsuit will outweigh the dismissal of our health personnel.
Francis Williams:
- Our school nurses are NOT a commodity, but a necessity!
Karla McGlone:
- If parents cannot pay for an ambulance, who will pay?
Jana Bridges:
- A student has severe allergic reactions to peanuts. A teacher is not qualified to diagnose and deal with the medical issue of the student. These skills cannot be learned by an office manager in a few hours.
- Our health aides prepare packets for field trips- who will be qualified to do this?
- Will substitute teachers be trained and prepared?
- The health aides work to keep students healthy and in school.
- Let's work together to explore other options.
Bryan Wong
- The Board doesn't have the ability to know the budget before making decisions. (Is this a right hand/left hand situation? Who passes out the blindfolds and ear plugs?)
- Expertise in finding funding is welcome. (I thought the District had hired consultants to assist them when they did not feel qualified to make decisions. Are these funding experts going to be paid out of funds from the health aide account?)
-Perhaps all students needing health care can all go to the same school. (Another moan from the audience in pure disbelief. Some families have several children in various grade levels. How many school sites would one parent have to walk the students to and from at various hours if 1 was in Kindergarten, 1 was in second grade, 1 was special needs, one was in fifth grade, 1 in middle school, 1 in special needs middle school?)
Bruce Carter:
- Creative accounting by Linda Dempsey is not an option. (This is true, but creative options might make for more acceptable accounting?)
- We should not put up with the state funding for our schools. (Bruce goes to Sacramento to represent Monrovia, Does Bruce persuade "Sacramento" to provide funds for us? How can we persuade Bruce to persuade "Sacramento" to provide funds for us?)
Clare Chesley:
- No new information will prevent the cuts. (We sorta knew this from the beginning after having followed the trail of those who have blazed before us and wasted their intelligence, time, and heartfelt concerns upon predetermined atrocities).
- We have no other options. (Say what? You could have poled the audience or other audiences. You have become a majority of 4 or 5 people that affect the lives of thousands).
- This has become a wake-up call to reality. Things have to get bad before people take action. (Whose reality are we talking about? What type of action do people have to take to get the Board to wake-up to reality?
- Monrovia is "tapped-out" when it comes to fund raising. (What is the evidence? Our parents and P.T.A. are continually fundraising. I would venture to say that every P.T.A. not only has a balanced budget, but a surplus. They constantly are providing supplies, events, educational and recreational opportunities for our students and staff. They are thoughtful, considerate, compassionate, and dedicated. Have you noticed a contrast?)
Bruce:
- We have no choice, except we have to have a balanced budget. (Why are we in this predicament? At whose expense are we making irrational decisions?)
Monina:
- What would it mean to not have a balanced budget? (Good question)
Linda Dempsey:
- All funding would be cut off. (I think she said something to the effect that we would become "wards of the state". After the last few months I am beginning to think this might not be a preferable choice).
Monina;
- We would lose the public trust if we don't have a balanced budget. ( Excuse me, what are you losing now? Are the students, parents, and staff not "the public"?)
- We will find a way to make it work. (Make what work?)
- I encourage you to look for donations and matched donations. (For what? I am looking at some BIG RAT HOLES about this time of night)
- Put your energy toward lawmakers. (We put our heartfelt energy toward the District and Board. Are the lawmakers going to be kinder toward us?)
Dennis Jones:
- Can you vote for the reductions without losing the positions?
Joel Shawn:
- There is no way for the district to do it.
Although more and more was said and less and less was done, I was on brain and heart overload after five hours of observing and trying to record the events of this meeting.
Business Service Report for this meeting - Reader can do the math and draw your own conclusions.
Bids and awards of contracts
Fix Painting Co. - 178,000
Interior Painting 7 HM Carpet - 38,600
Current Enterprises - toilet room - 561,490
Cam Painting, Santa Fe - 129,000
Commercial Roofing - $272,460 to $343,860
Harik Construction - $297,000
Personnel Services expenditures:
Consultant - $70.00 hr.
Substitutes - $105-$180 a day
Muralist - not to exceed $1,190
Consultant - not to exceed $3,450
Multitude of summer school teachers - $32-$34.85 hour.
Stipends for athletic coaches - 35,888
Multitudes of other bonuses and changes of status, conferences and travel.
After attending this meeting I am disheartened.
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
(0) comments
Thanks to Ann Freeman for this report. It appears there was quite a lively public comment period at this meeting, with the main topics being about 1) allowing students to leave campus for medical reasons without their parents knowledge or permission, and 2) the elimination of health aides for budgetary reasons.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
By Ann Freeman
The Board of Education Meeting began unpromptly at 7:19 p.m. on June 8, 2005 and managed to end 5 minutes before June 9, 2005. A Parking Lot Discussion took some of us into the new day.
I was prepared to take notes for a "newsletter," but feel I should have prepared for a "mini novel" packed with out purpose, plot, or prose as we might define these terms. When I agreed to take notes and report I was reasonably neutral, but after attending a staff meeting at my site and a CSEA meeting a few days later, I no longer feel objective. I have been appalled with all that is happening and projected to happen in our District. I know now why School Board meetings are held at night - they like to keep us in the dark and then coolly spring surprises our way, hoping our eyes, ears and minds are dim.
Here goes FIVE hours worth of notes as concise and coherent as I get:
All Board members were present except for Betty Sanford.
No action was taken in the closed session concerning negotiations with MTA.
EVERY ITEM to be voted upon tonight was 4-O approved. (I was hoping for at least one or more to abstain.)
Awards Galore:
Outstanding Service from the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce: Rodney Bonwell, Martha Nunez, Erin Avedissian, and Jennifer Sumulong.
Monrovia High Youth In Government day in Sacramento: Delfon Baron, Shayla Dardon, Ashley Dunn, Kristen Hayford, Diana Huerta, Shanice Lockhart, Shannon Mallory, Hilary Mark, Jackie Mena, Vanessa Paniagua, Brittany Rykert, Patty Soberanis.
Each student presented their assigned mock governmental position. (I like student representation.)
Longevity Recognitions for 25-35 years were presented to 18 staff members - 8 were in attendance (I learned the next day that one of those not present was at "The Happiest Place On Earth" and that definitely was not at this meeting).
Retirement Recognitions went to 15 individuals - 5 were present.
A Surprise Recognition went to Ryann Blackshere, the Student rep on the Board. She will be attending Stanford.
After the exit of many, the tone of the meeting changed as public comments were expressed. Because my emotional well-being was being "tested" and the apathy of the Board was evident during most of these presentations (including mine), I will try to summarize as best as possible. Also, many names eluded me because I neither saw them in print, nor heard them clearly - forgive me. My format is weak at this point, too.
4.3 NURSING STAFF CHANGES ("OUCH")
Dennis Jones: Why the need for a second elementary principal at Mayflower?
Answer: To provide leadership for transitional time.
DJ: The public needs to be informed before items are put on the "consent agenda." (My internal question: Were parents informed about the elimination of bus transportation for their children? If so, how were they informed and were there public hearings where options and alternatives could be discussed? Were parents informed about the elimination of health aides for their children? How? When? Discussion Meetings?) I just found out via a phone call from Ann that parents were informed about the bus situation in their Wednesday Green folders - not much time to gather and react for the evening!?!
Michelle Orozco: Expressed concerns about the issue of the District having a policy of not informing PARENTS when their child is taken off campus for "medical" reasons. Who is financing these medical "needs"? Where is the line drawn as to who and why? Who determines the need? How is the student's absence recorded? (How can a parent respond when it is assumed a child is in school and then gets an absence report?) It might be necessary for schools to help some of those in need. Will a WAIVER be provided to help parental peace of mind? " I have entrusted you with our most precious gift - my children".
Laura Wildes (sp.?): Regarding the Confidential Medical Policy: Parents are feeling the impact deeply. Severe cases might require confidentiality; however, in a crisis situation the child might need a parent or the police need to be called. This proposed law is ambiguous and in need of clarification. Parents WANT to be notified about anything that concerns their child.
David Duesberg (sp.?): Regarding the Confidential Medical Policy: The District is opening itself to major lawsuits and declining enrollment. Due to "secrecy", our children might become depressed and suicidal. Issues are swept under the rug and not dealt with openly.
Someone: Sickened at the possibility that our schools will allow our children from that ages of 12-18 to leave campus without parental knowledge or consent. This gives the child the message that there are no consequences and that lies and deceit are acceptable.
Ann Freeman: I stated that I stood on behalf of the many children in our district who would be without the services of a health aide when needed. I held a plaque that had been awarded to Carol Flores, Wild Rose Health Aide for "Sincere Appreciation" for 30 years of dedicated service to our children and staff. I told the Board that Don Montgomery had asked Margie Snowden to become a health aide 27 years ago when the District could not afford LVNs. Now the District can afford LVNs, but they cannot afford to keep the women who have tended to these little children so lovingly for all these years? I asked members of the Board and Panel to stand if they were there on behalf of the children. Not one stood and I and others had our answer. My trust in these people to do what is in the best interest of our children and our community is badly shaken, if not destroyed. If a "balanced budget" is more important than the lives and well being of others, then the "balancers" should reconfigure or be forced to do so. Perhaps an outside agency is not a bad idea. The District (at our expense) can afford highly paid consultants and lawyers to defend their causes, but do the employees and those whose services have been denied by the Board have equal access or rights? No!
Karla McGlone: No longer feels like being an advocate for Monrovia School District. Parents have been misinformed. So many cuts on services and supplies for the children that now the parents have to supply. She sees few cuts on a district office level and would like real solutions - not empty words. Many parents are considering putting their children in private schools. A story goes - In Africa the question asked is, "And how are the children?" This is because the children are valued in spite of poverty. The proper response one gives is, "The children are well"! (Are our children a priority and valued enough in this District so that their health and safety going to and from school and while they are at school is insured? I think the decisions made at the district are potentially putting the children in harms way on a daily basis).
Irma Walling: Her daughter, standing by her side tonight, has Type 1 Diabetes and will be losing her valued nurse at Mayflower. This poses a major concern - who is going to be trained to help her daughter? Are all the teachers going to be trained? Wants to be assured by the district that all the children who need special care or immediate care will be safe and have their medical needs attended to be someone who knows and understands their medical needs and conditions.
Tina DelRegno: Children are our priorities - they need stability in their lives. People they know and can trust provide this for them. Our health aides have approximately 30 or more visits by students a day. Health aides dispense medication, provide documentation of visits and illnesses, provide TLC to those who have disruptive home lives, whenever a child is found to have a communicable disease (such as head lice), notices are sent home to parents, all siblings have to be checked at our school and other schools. Hundreds of students are given vision and hearing tests each year, immunization records are checked and updated for all students, each students entering the school has to have a validated physical, the health aide is responsible for importing and exporting school records, and child with a report of abuse has to be understood, listened to, and reported about in an appropriate manner to the appropriate authority. A healthy child has a greater ability to learn and will produce higher test scores. The health aides are here for the children and to lose them will be a tremendous hardship on everyone.
Clare Chesley stated the concerns were acknowledged - in others word, time was up for that part and the Board needed to move on. (I think they removed earplugs at this time - but saved them for future.)
Bruce Carter reported that he attended a Sacramento Legislative Action Conference. If Prop 98 were funded, we would not have to face cuts. California is #44 in funding per child and heading for the bottom (I think we are 50 for academic performance and not much bottom left). By law, we have to have a balanced budget in MUSD. (Is this to match the State and U.S. Government in balancing theirs? Again, at whose expense is this budget being balanced?) California has the highest number of students per teacher and the fewest Librarians.
Bryan Wong thanked participation from the audience (Is the thanks mandatory, polite, or automatic?)
Monina Diaz stated she would write letters to State Legislators stating the Policy regarding Confidential Medical Release forces the District to take part in deceptions to families. (This was the most positive, intelligent, and proactive statement from any board member this evening. It appeared that Monina had listened to the concerns AND understood AND was willing to challenge/change a most destructive and dangerous proposal.) Monina was impressed with the work of Mary Ann Barry and her French National Honor Society at the High School. They are planning a 2006 trip to France.
Ryann Blackshere reported on the upcoming activities for Seniors at MHS.
Louise Taylor said the Board and District take comments to heart, but not personally. They have challenging decisions and the comments help them understand perspectives better. (I think everyone who spoke felt that the decisions were a done deal before they spoke and I, for one, wondered why they were voted on the night they were presented?) Louise encouraged us to send righteous anger to Sacramento. (Now, if we cannot be understood here in Monrovia by people who know us, what chances do we have with people in Sacramento? If nobody cares here, will they care there?)
Oscar Ibarra gave an impressive PowerPoint presentation on his Students to College program and the success of the AVID Program. Even thoughts of introducing the go-to-college concepts at the Elementary level, as was done at Monroe.
There was a lengthy (yep, by now you know length) discussion about what to do with the vacated Canyon Early Learning Center. (Now, what was the cost of establishing this and how long did it last?). No decisions were made and from my perspective, a decision was made that affects many and there was NO PLAN in place to justify or satisfy. I gathered that a CELC advisory committee will be paid to tell us what the Board will eventually decide to tell us. A city representative is required to be on the Advisory Committee.
Dennis Jones asked if teacher salaries were higher than average. Linda Demsey replied that compared with 30 Districts, we were below the third quartile. (What districts are we being compared to?)
Linda Dempsey gave a report on the budget and budget cuts, which amount to reductions in services - the ones that directly affect our students are the health aides and transportation. (except for special needs students).
Some of the parent concerns are:
- What will be the schedules of the roving LVNs?
- What will the individual sites be responsible for?
- What will be the possible cost of potential lawsuits?
- Are the office managers trained to administer medication?
- Who is responsible for maintaining the actual room and providing all the services that were done by the individual site health aides?
Clare Chesley: What kind of medication can be dispensed?
Linda Dempsey: I have no answer.
Bryan Wong: Are we disconnecting to parents? How do we determine the degree of dispensing medication and aid? When do we call 911?
Linda Dempsey: I cannot comment for Diane Jackson.
Clare Chesley: Illness and injury are not "scheduled out". Is a child just going to be left in the nurses office ( I guess she meant until a "qualified" person arrives)? Is another staff member going to be expected to "drop everything" to attend to these children? (and will the other staff member be "qualified" with personal information on that particular child's needs or procedures to follow?)
Monina Diaz: How do the districts who have cut these services function?
No answers from Linda Dempsey to these pertinent questions.
Louise: Could medical students from our adult education school help? (This question brought a moan from the audience)
Dennis Jones:
- Has there been any investigation of revenue enhancements?
- Where do these cuts fit into the preliminary budget from April? Individual sites? District?
- How can you vote to cut health aides when you have no information and when you don't have the entire "picture" or budget?
Maria:
- Wants the School Board to do what is in the best interest for our children. Our kids are the future of the city.
- How can parents who work be assured that our children will be taken care of?
- All we talk about is CUTTING, why can't we talk about finding funding?
- Our schools should worry so much about "cosmetics" - perhaps parents can assist in repairs or transportation problems.
- What happens on a rainy day - some students come from great distances.
- There is danger in the streets. What an injustice to our kids!
- Many parents have other little kids. Many mothers don't drive. Lawsuits are possible when you carpool with other people's children.
Fernanda:
- Shares Maria's worries. The Health Aides and transportation are SO important.
- Many parents work and cannot pick up their children. This is going to prevent many children from getting to school. What, then, are their chance for success?
Marlene Fitzpatrick:
- Her son has diabetes and he can only attend a school that has an RN. He was transferred to Mayflower and the RN will no longer be there. Whenever there is a field trip or event off campus, the RN or the mother has to accompany the boy, because of the severity. How is her son going to function without this assistance?
Joel Mattiesen:
- His son has a serious heart condition requiring more operations. When he returns to school, he will need medications. Who is going to be there to recognize, diagnose, and treat his son and others?
- The liability to the district could be tremendous.
Emily Ganley:
- We decide what is necessary and valuable and then we decide the budget. (Somehow the budget seems to have been thoughtlessly decided, disregarding valuable employees, needs of the students, and impact upon the school community).
- There is personal liability for improper treatment when minutes and seconds matter in life or death situations.
- One lawsuit will outweigh the dismissal of our health personnel.
Francis Williams:
- Our school nurses are NOT a commodity, but a necessity!
Karla McGlone:
- If parents cannot pay for an ambulance, who will pay?
Jana Bridges:
- A student has severe allergic reactions to peanuts. A teacher is not qualified to diagnose and deal with the medical issue of the student. These skills cannot be learned by an office manager in a few hours.
- Our health aides prepare packets for field trips- who will be qualified to do this?
- Will substitute teachers be trained and prepared?
- The health aides work to keep students healthy and in school.
- Let's work together to explore other options.
Bryan Wong
- The Board doesn't have the ability to know the budget before making decisions. (Is this a right hand/left hand situation? Who passes out the blindfolds and ear plugs?)
- Expertise in finding funding is welcome. (I thought the District had hired consultants to assist them when they did not feel qualified to make decisions. Are these funding experts going to be paid out of funds from the health aide account?)
-Perhaps all students needing health care can all go to the same school. (Another moan from the audience in pure disbelief. Some families have several children in various grade levels. How many school sites would one parent have to walk the students to and from at various hours if 1 was in Kindergarten, 1 was in second grade, 1 was special needs, one was in fifth grade, 1 in middle school, 1 in special needs middle school?)
Bruce Carter:
- Creative accounting by Linda Dempsey is not an option. (This is true, but creative options might make for more acceptable accounting?)
- We should not put up with the state funding for our schools. (Bruce goes to Sacramento to represent Monrovia, Does Bruce persuade "Sacramento" to provide funds for us? How can we persuade Bruce to persuade "Sacramento" to provide funds for us?)
Clare Chesley:
- No new information will prevent the cuts. (We sorta knew this from the beginning after having followed the trail of those who have blazed before us and wasted their intelligence, time, and heartfelt concerns upon predetermined atrocities).
- We have no other options. (Say what? You could have poled the audience or other audiences. You have become a majority of 4 or 5 people that affect the lives of thousands).
- This has become a wake-up call to reality. Things have to get bad before people take action. (Whose reality are we talking about? What type of action do people have to take to get the Board to wake-up to reality?
- Monrovia is "tapped-out" when it comes to fund raising. (What is the evidence? Our parents and P.T.A. are continually fundraising. I would venture to say that every P.T.A. not only has a balanced budget, but a surplus. They constantly are providing supplies, events, educational and recreational opportunities for our students and staff. They are thoughtful, considerate, compassionate, and dedicated. Have you noticed a contrast?)
Bruce:
- We have no choice, except we have to have a balanced budget. (Why are we in this predicament? At whose expense are we making irrational decisions?)
Monina:
- What would it mean to not have a balanced budget? (Good question)
Linda Dempsey:
- All funding would be cut off. (I think she said something to the effect that we would become "wards of the state". After the last few months I am beginning to think this might not be a preferable choice).
Monina;
- We would lose the public trust if we don't have a balanced budget. ( Excuse me, what are you losing now? Are the students, parents, and staff not "the public"?)
- We will find a way to make it work. (Make what work?)
- I encourage you to look for donations and matched donations. (For what? I am looking at some BIG RAT HOLES about this time of night)
- Put your energy toward lawmakers. (We put our heartfelt energy toward the District and Board. Are the lawmakers going to be kinder toward us?)
Dennis Jones:
- Can you vote for the reductions without losing the positions?
Joel Shawn:
- There is no way for the district to do it.
Although more and more was said and less and less was done, I was on brain and heart overload after five hours of observing and trying to record the events of this meeting.
Business Service Report for this meeting - Reader can do the math and draw your own conclusions.
Bids and awards of contracts
Fix Painting Co. - 178,000
Interior Painting 7 HM Carpet - 38,600
Current Enterprises - toilet room - 561,490
Cam Painting, Santa Fe - 129,000
Commercial Roofing - $272,460 to $343,860
Harik Construction - $297,000
Personnel Services expenditures:
Consultant - $70.00 hr.
Substitutes - $105-$180 a day
Muralist - not to exceed $1,190
Consultant - not to exceed $3,450
Multitude of summer school teachers - $32-$34.85 hour.
Stipends for athletic coaches - 35,888
Multitudes of other bonuses and changes of status, conferences and travel.
After attending this meeting I am disheartened.
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Monrovia School Link Preview ~ Number 123 ~ June 5, 2005
At this Wednesday's School Board meeting (June 8) the board will vote on budget reductions and what to do with Canyon Early Learning Center, plus hear the latest about the budget, among other things. Also, got another letter, below.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
There'll be a closed session at 6:30 p.m. in the superintendent's office to talk about the contract with the Monrovia Teachers Association. You can't attend, so if you're going you might as well show up for the regular meeting, at 7 p.m.
At the regular meeting, the board is going to honor a bunch of people, including outstanding employees, long-term employees, and Monrovia High students who participated in Youth and Government day in Sacramento. [I hope they escaped from Sacramento untainted.]
The board will also:
- Hear a graduation report for Monrovia High, Mountain Park School and Canyon Oaks High School.
- Try to figure out what to do with Canyon Early Learning Center.
- Hire contractors to do painting and carpeting at Monrovia High, exterior painting at Santa Fe Middle School, and toilet room renovations for Mayflower Elementary School and Santa Fe Middle School.
- Approve budget reduction recommendations.
- Get an update on the budget.
Also, item 4.2. The ever popular "Public Comment for items not on the Agenda." If you want to let the board know what you're thinking, that's the time. Just stand up, go to the podium, and say what you have to say.
LETTER: All Points of View
I just wanted you to tell you again how much I appreciate Monrovia School Link and your willingness to present all points of view. [Thanks! - Brad]
A difference of opinion on issues should create an opportunity for debate, education and growth. It should not be an open invitation for the proliferation of sour grapes. Also, what is considered to be of immense importance to one person (or persons) is not a guarantee that the entire community will feel the same way. We all have different reasons for feeling the way we do about different issues. Presented with viable facts and results of empirical research we all draw our own conclusions on the issues.
Our community should be proud of the fact that there are so many who are willing to take a public stance on certain issues and not throw stones at those who do not agree with those who have the loudest voices.
Thank you again for presenting to us a multi-facited newsletter.
June Richetts
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
(0) comments
At this Wednesday's School Board meeting (June 8) the board will vote on budget reductions and what to do with Canyon Early Learning Center, plus hear the latest about the budget, among other things. Also, got another letter, below.
~ brad@sacklunch.net
There'll be a closed session at 6:30 p.m. in the superintendent's office to talk about the contract with the Monrovia Teachers Association. You can't attend, so if you're going you might as well show up for the regular meeting, at 7 p.m.
At the regular meeting, the board is going to honor a bunch of people, including outstanding employees, long-term employees, and Monrovia High students who participated in Youth and Government day in Sacramento. [I hope they escaped from Sacramento untainted.]
The board will also:
- Hear a graduation report for Monrovia High, Mountain Park School and Canyon Oaks High School.
- Try to figure out what to do with Canyon Early Learning Center.
- Hire contractors to do painting and carpeting at Monrovia High, exterior painting at Santa Fe Middle School, and toilet room renovations for Mayflower Elementary School and Santa Fe Middle School.
- Approve budget reduction recommendations.
- Get an update on the budget.
Also, item 4.2. The ever popular "Public Comment for items not on the Agenda." If you want to let the board know what you're thinking, that's the time. Just stand up, go to the podium, and say what you have to say.
LETTER: All Points of View
I just wanted you to tell you again how much I appreciate Monrovia School Link and your willingness to present all points of view. [Thanks! - Brad]
A difference of opinion on issues should create an opportunity for debate, education and growth. It should not be an open invitation for the proliferation of sour grapes. Also, what is considered to be of immense importance to one person (or persons) is not a guarantee that the entire community will feel the same way. We all have different reasons for feeling the way we do about different issues. Presented with viable facts and results of empirical research we all draw our own conclusions on the issues.
Our community should be proud of the fact that there are so many who are willing to take a public stance on certain issues and not throw stones at those who do not agree with those who have the loudest voices.
Thank you again for presenting to us a multi-facited newsletter.
June Richetts
Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com
