From San Diego Education Report Blog:
Chula Vista Elementary isn't the only secrective school board
Chuck Wheeler writes, at Dissent the Blog:
Ah, but infamy is fleeting. It looks like the Capo school district’s board are the new paragons of arrogance, incompetence, and secrecy. Check out this morning's LA Times: "Capistrano Unified secret meetings criticized":
"Capistrano Unified School District trustees routinely violated the state's open-meetings law, discussing in secret topics such as construction contracts, how to silence a district critic and ways to prepare parents for bad news about schools, all of which should have been debated in public, according to a report released by the Orange County district attorney's office Tuesday.
"Trustees tried to keep the community from participating in district decision-making and to manipulate public opinion, the report said.
"'That such discussions are undertaken in secret by a body charged with the community's most important obligation, to adequately educate its young, is nothing short of disturbing,' said the report by Assistant Dist. Atty. William J. Feccia.
"The 58-page report is the latest blow to the beleaguered southern Orange County district, which this year saw its former superintendent and another top administrator indicted on felony charges of using public funds to influence an election and create an enemies list. Although the alleged violations of the state's open-meeting law do not meet the bar for criminal prosecution, if the district disputes the findings, prosecutors could file a lawsuit to prove the violations occurred, the report said.
"…Though most of the district's 56 schools are well-regarded, its trustees and administrators have been mired in conflicts in recent years. Critics have loudly protested the location of a new high school, opposed attendance boundary changes and fought construction of a $35-million administration complex while hundreds of classes were being held in aging portables…."
http://dissenttheblog.blogspot.com/
The full Los Angeles Times article is at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-capo10oct10,1,3975985.story?coll=la-editions-orange&ctrack=1&cset=true
Thursday, October 18, 2007
CVE's Peggie Myers takes care of #1
From San Diego Education Report Blog:
For CVE President Peggie Myers, it's all about what's best for #1
Anyone who has listened to Chula Vista teacher Peggie Myers rant regularly about uncooperative students must have been shocked to learn that Ms. Myers didn't think her daughter should have to attend class when a standardized test was being given.
Logical consistency is apparently not something Ms. Myers strives for.
Myers' behavior, particularly the behavior that earned her a place among the "Castle Park Five," indicates that she thinks her students should obey her, but she shouldn't have to take direction from any principal.
In May 2005, the San Diego Union Tribune reported:
"Parent Peggie Myers said her daughter, also a junior, was afraid she'd be unable to get the letters of recommendation she needed for her application to Columbia University's summer school program, which she was in the process of applying for last week. "The pressure these kids are under is ridiculous. It's out of control," Myers said. "Something has to give, and it can't be the emotional health of our children." "So no, I didn't want her taking the standardized tests," Myers said. "It's not going to get her into a better college."" (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040505/news_6m5tests.html)
Ms. Myers was outraged when the CVESD superintendent called her in and told her she was being transferred in August 2004 in order to improve the educational program. She claimed it was a violation of the contract that she not be given a more specific reason.
But it didn't bother her one bit that another teacher was transferred without any meeting with the superintendent, and absolutely no reason given. In fact, the transfer was done to aid the cover-up of illegal actions by members of the Castle Park Five. In that matter, Myers was represented by Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz.
Sadly, Myers has climbed her way to the top of Chula Vista Educators, thanks to assistance from Jim Groth. (She is president; he preceded her in that position.) The two of them have repeatedly shown themselves willing to discard the contract and the law in order to achieve power for themselves.
For CVE President Peggie Myers, it's all about what's best for #1
Anyone who has listened to Chula Vista teacher Peggie Myers rant regularly about uncooperative students must have been shocked to learn that Ms. Myers didn't think her daughter should have to attend class when a standardized test was being given.
Logical consistency is apparently not something Ms. Myers strives for.
Myers' behavior, particularly the behavior that earned her a place among the "Castle Park Five," indicates that she thinks her students should obey her, but she shouldn't have to take direction from any principal.
In May 2005, the San Diego Union Tribune reported:
"Parent Peggie Myers said her daughter, also a junior, was afraid she'd be unable to get the letters of recommendation she needed for her application to Columbia University's summer school program, which she was in the process of applying for last week. "The pressure these kids are under is ridiculous. It's out of control," Myers said. "Something has to give, and it can't be the emotional health of our children." "So no, I didn't want her taking the standardized tests," Myers said. "It's not going to get her into a better college."" (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040505/news_6m5tests.html)
Ms. Myers was outraged when the CVESD superintendent called her in and told her she was being transferred in August 2004 in order to improve the educational program. She claimed it was a violation of the contract that she not be given a more specific reason.
But it didn't bother her one bit that another teacher was transferred without any meeting with the superintendent, and absolutely no reason given. In fact, the transfer was done to aid the cover-up of illegal actions by members of the Castle Park Five. In that matter, Myers was represented by Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz.
Sadly, Myers has climbed her way to the top of Chula Vista Educators, thanks to assistance from Jim Groth. (She is president; he preceded her in that position.) The two of them have repeatedly shown themselves willing to discard the contract and the law in order to achieve power for themselves.
CVESD's own Jim Groth tells it like it is--sort of
From San Diego Education Report Blog:
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Jim Groth's October report to San Diego teachers
Jim Groth of the California Teachers Association Board of Directors (and Chula Vista Elementary School District) likes to explain how things work at CTA--leaving out some important facts. Here are some snippets from his October 2007 report entitled, appropriately enough, "Power and Resources."
1) Jim says:
"Legal Services is 3.6% of CTA dues. Legal Services provides CTA members and Chapters with comprehensive legal protection."
What Jim doesn't say:
"The 'comprehensive legal protection' only applies to teachers who are in favor with Beverly Tucker, the CTA chief counsel. These include child molesters like Albert Truitt, and probationary teachers who flunk exams, but not victims of crimes committed by me and my friends, such as the crimes committed at Castle Park Elementary School in CVESD. People like me and Robin Donlan and Peggie Myers are the ones who get the comprehensive protection, not competent, innocent teachers."
2) Jim says:
"Governance is 4.3% of CTA dues. Governance includes all direct membership involvement in the control, operation and direction of CTA."
What Jim doesn't say:
"The salaries of us folks who run the union are none of your business. But someone who will reliably parrot what Beverly Tucker and Carolyn Doggett dictate, and never disturb our board meetings with complaints about illegal actions and actions that harm children, can conceivably become president and live in luxury in Burlingame with a very comfortable income."
3) Jim says:
"The CTA budget is broad and far-reaching. It provides the financial resources so that we can exercise our power..."
What Jim doesn't say:
In this case, I've got to give Jim credit. He said it all.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Jim Groth's October report to San Diego teachers
Jim Groth of the California Teachers Association Board of Directors (and Chula Vista Elementary School District) likes to explain how things work at CTA--leaving out some important facts. Here are some snippets from his October 2007 report entitled, appropriately enough, "Power and Resources."
1) Jim says:
"Legal Services is 3.6% of CTA dues. Legal Services provides CTA members and Chapters with comprehensive legal protection."
What Jim doesn't say:
"The 'comprehensive legal protection' only applies to teachers who are in favor with Beverly Tucker, the CTA chief counsel. These include child molesters like Albert Truitt, and probationary teachers who flunk exams, but not victims of crimes committed by me and my friends, such as the crimes committed at Castle Park Elementary School in CVESD. People like me and Robin Donlan and Peggie Myers are the ones who get the comprehensive protection, not competent, innocent teachers."
2) Jim says:
"Governance is 4.3% of CTA dues. Governance includes all direct membership involvement in the control, operation and direction of CTA."
What Jim doesn't say:
"The salaries of us folks who run the union are none of your business. But someone who will reliably parrot what Beverly Tucker and Carolyn Doggett dictate, and never disturb our board meetings with complaints about illegal actions and actions that harm children, can conceivably become president and live in luxury in Burlingame with a very comfortable income."
3) Jim says:
"The CTA budget is broad and far-reaching. It provides the financial resources so that we can exercise our power..."
What Jim doesn't say:
In this case, I've got to give Jim credit. He said it all.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Libia Gil prevailed at CVESD
Former Superintendent Libia Gil remade the district in her own image, and it has remained the same even though she herself was pushed out in March 2002.
Gil beat the union by co-opting and corrupting its leaders, specifically Jim Groth (currently on the CTA board of directors),Virginia (Gina) Boyd, Tim O'Neill and the board of directors.
They became like her, and achieved her goals instead of the goals they once had. It's no surprise that the Chula Vista Educators union endorsed in Chula Vista's 2006 elections the very same incumbents that it had fought for so many years.
Gil beat the union by co-opting and corrupting its leaders, specifically Jim Groth (currently on the CTA board of directors),Virginia (Gina) Boyd, Tim O'Neill and the board of directors.
They became like her, and achieved her goals instead of the goals they once had. It's no surprise that the Chula Vista Educators union endorsed in Chula Vista's 2006 elections the very same incumbents that it had fought for so many years.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Hearing transcript from CVESD proves perjury
Former Assistant Superintendent Richard Werlin had a little trouble sticking to his script at the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Castle Park Elementary teacher Linda Watson swore under oath that she was not one of the two teachers who called Richard Werlin at his home on Saturday night February 10, 2001 and claimed Maura Larkins might kill them. She and current Chula Vista Educators president Jim Groth filed a grievance to prevent Werlin from revealing the truth to Linda Watson's victim.
Werlin agreed to hide Watson's involvement. But a story becomes complicated once you start lying.
Under oath, Werlin revealed that Linda Watson was deeply involved at a very early time in the illegal actions against Maura Larkins.
On page 59 line 14 through page 60 line 5, of the January 6, 2003 Office of Administrative Hearings transcript, Werlin was asked:
Question: And after this [Feb. 12, 2001] meeting with Maura Larkins and others, subsequent to the phone call that you received, did you follow up conducting addition inquiry or investigation at Castle Park?
Answer: Yes.
Question: And can you describe generally what you did?
Answer: We had numerous conversations with the principal where we had an opportunity to ask her about her perception of the relationship that Maura had with Mrs. Hamilton. We also had a chance to speak with Ms. Hamilton again who continued to be very concerned for her welfare, very concerned for her safety, and several other teachers had come up and talked with me wile I was at the site about similar concerns.
Question: Do you recall who some of those teachers were?
Answer: Linda Watson, Rick Denmon, librarian Ms. Scharmach.
Castle Park Elementary teacher Linda Watson swore under oath that she was not one of the two teachers who called Richard Werlin at his home on Saturday night February 10, 2001 and claimed Maura Larkins might kill them. She and current Chula Vista Educators president Jim Groth filed a grievance to prevent Werlin from revealing the truth to Linda Watson's victim.
Werlin agreed to hide Watson's involvement. But a story becomes complicated once you start lying.
Under oath, Werlin revealed that Linda Watson was deeply involved at a very early time in the illegal actions against Maura Larkins.
On page 59 line 14 through page 60 line 5, of the January 6, 2003 Office of Administrative Hearings transcript, Werlin was asked:
Question: And after this [Feb. 12, 2001] meeting with Maura Larkins and others, subsequent to the phone call that you received, did you follow up conducting addition inquiry or investigation at Castle Park?
Answer: Yes.
Question: And can you describe generally what you did?
Answer: We had numerous conversations with the principal where we had an opportunity to ask her about her perception of the relationship that Maura had with Mrs. Hamilton. We also had a chance to speak with Ms. Hamilton again who continued to be very concerned for her welfare, very concerned for her safety, and several other teachers had come up and talked with me wile I was at the site about similar concerns.
Question: Do you recall who some of those teachers were?
Answer: Linda Watson, Rick Denmon, librarian Ms. Scharmach.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
More news from Mountain Empire and Patrick Judd
Link: 2008 election results for Patrick Judd
From Jane Swanson's California Teachers Blog:
Pat Judd, superintendent of Mountain Empire School District, has made it clear that hazing of students will not be tolerated. On October 30, 2006, twenty freshman football players were led into a locker room, and had their heads dunked into a toilet while it was flushing.
Eight perpetrators were suspended for three days, and placed on social probation for 30 days. This cost the school some athletic trophies and concession income from football games.
Judd was right. Schools do NOT have to win trophies, but they DO have to teach respect for other human beings. And they DO have to keep students safe.
So why does Judd cover up hazing of teachers by teachers? This type of abuse does tremendous harm to the education system. Abusive teachers rule the roost, and excellent teachers are forced out of schools. Kids see it, and learn from it. Judd was a leader in the cover-up of Castle Park Elementary School criminal hazing in 2001. He used hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to hire lawyers to cover up wrongdoing.
What's the difference between the two cases? Judd couldn't cover up the toilet dunking. He thought he could cover up the teacher hazing.
From Jane Swanson's California Teachers Blog:
Pat Judd, superintendent of Mountain Empire School District, has made it clear that hazing of students will not be tolerated. On October 30, 2006, twenty freshman football players were led into a locker room, and had their heads dunked into a toilet while it was flushing.
Eight perpetrators were suspended for three days, and placed on social probation for 30 days. This cost the school some athletic trophies and concession income from football games.
Judd was right. Schools do NOT have to win trophies, but they DO have to teach respect for other human beings. And they DO have to keep students safe.
So why does Judd cover up hazing of teachers by teachers? This type of abuse does tremendous harm to the education system. Abusive teachers rule the roost, and excellent teachers are forced out of schools. Kids see it, and learn from it. Judd was a leader in the cover-up of Castle Park Elementary School criminal hazing in 2001. He used hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to hire lawyers to cover up wrongdoing.
What's the difference between the two cases? Judd couldn't cover up the toilet dunking. He thought he could cover up the teacher hazing.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Beverly Tucker has moved far beyond her pals at the ACLU
Here's an interesting post from CALIFORNIA TEACHERS BLOG by Jane Swanson:
I figured that California Teachers Association and its head counsel Beverly Tucker were just a run-of-the-mill union and run-of-the-mill lawyer: dishonest and abusive to members for two simple reasons: (1) it was in their personal interest; and (2) they knew they could get away with it.
Today I noticed something interesting on the Internet. Beverly Tucker was chosen multiple times to sit on the Board of Directors of the Northern California ACLU.
After some digging, I found that this is the same Beverly Tucker who refused to defend a teacher who was dismissed for filing grievances and a lawsuit!
I am in shock. Was it all an act, Beverly, pretending to be interested in constitutional rights? Was the ACLU a stepping stone for you? Was it all a publicity stunt for CTA?
I figured that California Teachers Association and its head counsel Beverly Tucker were just a run-of-the-mill union and run-of-the-mill lawyer: dishonest and abusive to members for two simple reasons: (1) it was in their personal interest; and (2) they knew they could get away with it.
Today I noticed something interesting on the Internet. Beverly Tucker was chosen multiple times to sit on the Board of Directors of the Northern California ACLU.
After some digging, I found that this is the same Beverly Tucker who refused to defend a teacher who was dismissed for filing grievances and a lawsuit!
I am in shock. Was it all an act, Beverly, pretending to be interested in constitutional rights? Was the ACLU a stepping stone for you? Was it all a publicity stunt for CTA?
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
It's long past time for CVESD and CVE to get out of Castle Park Elementary
Castle Park Elementary has gone from bad to worse over the years.
Teachers interested more in personal power than in the education of children became so bold that they committed crimes and got the teachers union and the district to cover up those crimes at a cost to taxpayers of several $100,000's.
Then these same teachers carried on like innocent victims when five of them were transferred. In the press, they badmouthed the best principal they ever had.
They demonstrated with the help of Chula Vista Educators Presidents Jim Groth, Gina Boyd, and a PTA President who embezzled $20,000. Now, there is no PTA, after two (2!) separate embezzlements.
The school has prevented the English Learner parents from giving their lawfully required input since Ollie Matos left.
Time for a housecleaning, folks.
Why not let Edison Schools come in and put this school in order?
Teachers interested more in personal power than in the education of children became so bold that they committed crimes and got the teachers union and the district to cover up those crimes at a cost to taxpayers of several $100,000's.
Then these same teachers carried on like innocent victims when five of them were transferred. In the press, they badmouthed the best principal they ever had.
They demonstrated with the help of Chula Vista Educators Presidents Jim Groth, Gina Boyd, and a PTA President who embezzled $20,000. Now, there is no PTA, after two (2!) separate embezzlements.
The school has prevented the English Learner parents from giving their lawfully required input since Ollie Matos left.
Time for a housecleaning, folks.
Why not let Edison Schools come in and put this school in order?
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Lawsuit against CTA head counsel Beverly Tucker for spoliatation of documents and perjury
Looking at the evidence presented in Maura Larkins' May 2007 lawusuit against Beverly Tucker and Michael D. Hersh, California Teachers Association lawyers, it appears that these lawyers suborned perjury and destruction of documents to undermine the defamation case of a member of CTA!
I sure hope all unions aren't this unethical. The scary thing is that this union is one of the most powerful in California, right after the prison guards union. They seem to have the same wall of secrecy that prison guards have. I sure would like to see teachers and prison guards working on separate planes. We want different things for our kids and our prisoners.
This case is related to the Robin Donlan/Michael Carlson/Linda Watson Castle Park Elementary case. Tucker and Hersh represented Chula Vista Educators President Gina Boyd, who was a personal friend of Robin Donlan.
I sure hope all unions aren't this unethical. The scary thing is that this union is one of the most powerful in California, right after the prison guards union. They seem to have the same wall of secrecy that prison guards have. I sure would like to see teachers and prison guards working on separate planes. We want different things for our kids and our prisoners.
This case is related to the Robin Donlan/Michael Carlson/Linda Watson Castle Park Elementary case. Tucker and Hersh represented Chula Vista Educators President Gina Boyd, who was a personal friend of Robin Donlan.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
“Castle Park Five” teacher Robin Donlan needs our help again!
CVESD teacher Robin Donlan is under investigation by the FBI, SEC, US Justice Department. She needs our help.
Robin Donlan has needed our help many times before:
1. Chula Vista Educators President Gina Boyd was a true friend to Robin Donlan, committing perjury and destroying documents to cover up misdemeanors Donlan committed in 2000 and 2001. Current CVE President Jim Groth helped out with a terrific grievance hoax.
2. Yet again, Gina and Jim proved to be reliable in 2004 when Chula Vista Elementary School District Superintendent Lowell Billings tried to return Castle Park Elementary to normal functioning after the crime wave initiated by Robin. Gina and Jim got the transfer ruled illegal! What a way to help children!
3. Now Robin needs help with a little securities fraud. It seems her husband transferred 700,000 shares of fraudulent stock options to her. Then Robin and Vence Donlan bought the stock and resold it at $7.7 million profit. She’s being investigated by the FBI, SEC, IRS and the Department of Justice. Who will pay Robin’s attorney bills now that her assets are frozen?
4. Cheryl Cox, Pamela Smith, Patrick Judd, Bertha Lopez and Larry Cunningham spent several $100,000's of the public’s money to defend Robin Donlan regarding crimes she committed at CVESD. They are our best hope to save Robin from the claws of justice once again.
5. Also, we hope that Chula Vista Educators will step into the lurch as they have so often before. Monica Sorenson, Joyce Abrams and all the rest of the board of directors have always gone along with instructions from CTA attorney Michael Hersh—and they keep quiet about it, too. There shouldn’t be any problem at all!
6. The Castle Park Family is planning a big rally to raise money for Robin. We hope Bob Filner and Jill Galvez will be there, just like they were for Robin’s 2004 rally.
7. I’m sure former Castle Park PTA presidents Felicia Starr and Kim Simmons won’t miss it. They have nothing to fear now that Bonnie Dumanis has declined to press charges regarding the 2004-2005 embezzlement of $20,000 from the PTA.
Robin Donlan has needed our help many times before:
1. Chula Vista Educators President Gina Boyd was a true friend to Robin Donlan, committing perjury and destroying documents to cover up misdemeanors Donlan committed in 2000 and 2001. Current CVE President Jim Groth helped out with a terrific grievance hoax.
2. Yet again, Gina and Jim proved to be reliable in 2004 when Chula Vista Elementary School District Superintendent Lowell Billings tried to return Castle Park Elementary to normal functioning after the crime wave initiated by Robin. Gina and Jim got the transfer ruled illegal! What a way to help children!
3. Now Robin needs help with a little securities fraud. It seems her husband transferred 700,000 shares of fraudulent stock options to her. Then Robin and Vence Donlan bought the stock and resold it at $7.7 million profit. She’s being investigated by the FBI, SEC, IRS and the Department of Justice. Who will pay Robin’s attorney bills now that her assets are frozen?
4. Cheryl Cox, Pamela Smith, Patrick Judd, Bertha Lopez and Larry Cunningham spent several $100,000's of the public’s money to defend Robin Donlan regarding crimes she committed at CVESD. They are our best hope to save Robin from the claws of justice once again.
5. Also, we hope that Chula Vista Educators will step into the lurch as they have so often before. Monica Sorenson, Joyce Abrams and all the rest of the board of directors have always gone along with instructions from CTA attorney Michael Hersh—and they keep quiet about it, too. There shouldn’t be any problem at all!
6. The Castle Park Family is planning a big rally to raise money for Robin. We hope Bob Filner and Jill Galvez will be there, just like they were for Robin’s 2004 rally.
7. I’m sure former Castle Park PTA presidents Felicia Starr and Kim Simmons won’t miss it. They have nothing to fear now that Bonnie Dumanis has declined to press charges regarding the 2004-2005 embezzlement of $20,000 from the PTA.
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