tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post8200952996175466849..comments2023-05-01T03:29:03.793-07:00Comments on MDUSD Parents: Get Involved for change NOW!: MDUSD Catastrophic News, Board Meeting Recap (Sherry Whitmarsh)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-60060196641726344792010-01-15T08:43:49.945-08:002010-01-15T08:43:49.945-08:00I recently discovered that several years ago, the ...I recently discovered that several years ago, the district did outsource some of its payroll which did not work well and resulted in fines and litigation. It is actually more economical for MDUSD to use their own payroll than CCCOE. Larger districts such as San Ramon have their own payroll for that reason.<br /><br />The board did NOT vote on the Martinez Jr. High issue. There is still discussion going on. If the board does pass this, our school district will receive the funds from the state for these children.<br /><br />For funding from the state, high school only districts receive more funding, then unified, then elementary. Those districts defined as basic aid receive the most. There was a proposal to set up a committee to review how schools get funded by the state but it was vetoed by the Governor.<br /><br />For non teachers union we do pay 100% of the Kaiser rate. I don't know about the co-payment.<br /><br />At the last board meeting, the board did eliminate bussing for all general education with the exception of Pittsburg and Bay Point.<br /><br />Meg Whitman is a supporter of charter schools. MDUSD does not receive the funding for the student attending a charter school; it goes directly to that school. MDUSD still has to maintain associated expense such as payroll, federal and state reporting for the school but we do not receive funds to do this for charter schools.Sherry Whitmarshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11107787983037538243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-8201074022502268712010-01-14T20:57:54.278-08:002010-01-14T20:57:54.278-08:00The new Superintendent sure has his work cut out f...The new Superintendent sure has his work cut out for him! I look forward to welcoming him and hope for some strong leadership. Cuts at the school site don't have to be feared if they are handled appropriately. Take a moment to watch this new commercial that is now airing. If we only cut administrative, maintenance etc... without restructuring our learning environments, we will fail. We should be thinking about ground breaking changes not just cuts. <br /> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e50YBu14j3UAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-8486290916154392922010-01-14T20:17:23.758-08:002010-01-14T20:17:23.758-08:00Please keep these cuts away from our schools and k...Please keep these cuts away from our schools and kids!! Administrative costs should be made over more cuts to our schools. Some ideas - how about eliminating the payroll dept. and/or maintenance. Using an outside service would be a huge cost savings to the district. Another idea would be to completely eliminate our bus services. San Ramon Dist. has NO buses, and is working fine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-37060496426091173722010-01-14T15:40:13.190-08:002010-01-14T15:40:13.190-08:00I will take a serious look into all home school op...I will take a serious look into all home school options including K-8 accredited online learning communities. I was college educated in the 80's and find that my education level is more than sufficient to teach through 10th grade. I have worked with my 11th grade child on SAT preparation and find that my knowledge is equivalent or better. That said, I am confident that I can educate my kids at home and will be turning to other like minded parents if this budget situation is not remedied soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-86309753500620171372010-01-14T15:18:10.982-08:002010-01-14T15:18:10.982-08:00I feel for the teachers, but I feel for my kids ev...I feel for the teachers, but I feel for my kids even more. Why would I want them to go to a public school where there are so many cuts being made, class size is 30, and they speak English but preference is to non english speaking? What are they learning? The teachers must be out of their minds!! <br />I guess if everyone just home schooled thier kids from now on maybe Arnie might get it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-16515026662920955732010-01-14T12:22:49.956-08:002010-01-14T12:22:49.956-08:00If you want your child to go to a different school...If you want your child to go to a different school because of NCLB, drive them there yourself! I did a lot of research prior to our last move, to make sure our home school was a good one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-69239577952370573382010-01-14T11:59:36.155-08:002010-01-14T11:59:36.155-08:00Wonder how many people on here voted for Arnold ba...Wonder how many people on here voted for Arnold back in 03 and are wishing they had their votes back? No experience, but he looks good on TV, let's vote for him. So sad. And Whitman, c'mon, Arnold in the female form.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-73658215323588109332010-01-14T11:20:05.857-08:002010-01-14T11:20:05.857-08:00Martinez has no other district jr. high, so they a...Martinez has no other district jr. high, so they actually are mandated to make an agreement with a neighboring district to accept their students. Martinez chose to approach MDUSD and we agreed http://esb.mdusd.k12.ca.us/attachments/2df5e713-2dd7-42c1-9d3c-932b71f69f9b.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-21427138558816036642010-01-14T11:17:10.371-08:002010-01-14T11:17:10.371-08:0010:54.. as far as I know program improvement schoo...10:54.. as far as I know program improvement schools have the choice to go to other district schools. Acalanes is a different district. Martinez, is a different district. I'm not sure your point?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-74381522175689217242010-01-14T11:02:16.358-08:002010-01-14T11:02:16.358-08:00Why our we paying an independent 'coach' $...Why our we paying an independent 'coach' $1,000/day at Ygnacio Valley Elementary to train staff? http://esb.mdusd.k12.ca.us/attachments/c2c5d59c-cc76-494f-a353-4301a6020310.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-75794064680349861892010-01-14T10:54:55.060-08:002010-01-14T10:54:55.060-08:00If we let our schools go into program improvement ...If we let our schools go into program improvement status, we can send our kids to neighboring district schools, right? Let College Park fail and the kids can go to Acalanes? At the last meeting, we approved a motion to accept students from Martinez Jr. High into Valley View and PHMS - cost to be assumed by our district.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-40833781701565029322010-01-14T10:40:04.217-08:002010-01-14T10:40:04.217-08:00Just remember to vote for Meg Whitman next year. ...Just remember to vote for Meg Whitman next year. Get the Govenator out of there and this will be avoided.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-9847688643685409242010-01-14T10:36:42.444-08:002010-01-14T10:36:42.444-08:00Am I just being ridiculous here?? Isn't this a...Am I just being ridiculous here?? Isn't this a "no brainer?" We cut fromthe top down, and I can't speak for others but If I have to pay more taxes to ensure my children have quality education.. So be it!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-91810416844063998492010-01-14T09:55:17.902-08:002010-01-14T09:55:17.902-08:00Instead of cutting teacher salaries and getting ri...Instead of cutting teacher salaries and getting rid of important extra curricular activties, why can't we rezone the district? Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek all have their own districts. Shouldn't the schools in their cities belong to their districts? It was said at a meeting last year that MDUSD is the lowest paid per student because we have too many elementary schools. So, aside from consolidating some of the smaller elementary schools, isn't changing district lines even a remote possiblility? Does it make sense from a finincal stand point?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-16411373484118217992010-01-14T09:22:39.044-08:002010-01-14T09:22:39.044-08:00I keep hearing that MDUSD receives less funding (i...I keep hearing that MDUSD receives less funding (is that per student?) than other districts in the area. If this is true, why and what is being done to fix this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-39311600943737716142010-01-14T08:39:41.667-08:002010-01-14T08:39:41.667-08:00Do any of the non teaching employees contribute to...Do any of the non teaching employees contribute to their health care premiums, or is covered at 100% ? What do they pay as co-pays, or deductibles?<br />Just curious?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-14177251007952832782010-01-14T05:18:53.171-08:002010-01-14T05:18:53.171-08:00Keep the teachers. Don't cut their salaries. ...Keep the teachers. Don't cut their salaries. Keep the bare minimum at Dent (I think it's pretty much like that already). Get rid of everything else: music, art, library, sports, any classroom assistant that is not required by an IEP. Close more schools than just 2 (I'm assuming it's 2)...so many schools are old, beat up, and small, and are half full.<br /><br />It has to be all about streamlining. Keep the required stuff, and pay the teachers and staff that remain well....get rid of everything else.<br /><br />This is sick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-9092779330209694212010-01-13T23:48:12.111-08:002010-01-13T23:48:12.111-08:006:35 they can't just cut employee benefits. Th...6:35 they can't just cut employee benefits. The employees are protected by their unions and cutting benefits would have to be negotiated and why would anyone vote to give up their medical benefits in this economy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-91039045093124913502010-01-13T22:41:52.645-08:002010-01-13T22:41:52.645-08:00Add up all of the extracurriculars. If possible c...Add up all of the extracurriculars. If possible cut PE, music, clubs, etc. I'd like to see high school athletics remain, but if we've got to prioritize, there are things that can go even if some want them. Most kids get plenty of activity outside of school through sports such as swimming and soccer. <br /><br />I campaigned, supported, and voted for Measure D, but right now we've got to confront these problems and make some tough decisions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-7491904428916476002010-01-13T22:11:42.426-08:002010-01-13T22:11:42.426-08:00WOW - it is not Sherri's fault here people...s...WOW - it is not Sherri's fault here people...she stepped up and ran to be on the School Board to HELP. Give her respect. Would you want her job? Yes, the budget cuts are awful, yes, I have considered leaving town too but...really, how about spending time doing something with your kids rather than spending time blaming the Board. The entire state is in turmoil - by running and leaving and bashing others, what are you teaching your own kids? Maybe some positive support and suggestions may be a better route here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-21632084369038030922010-01-13T20:09:28.314-08:002010-01-13T20:09:28.314-08:00Thank you very much MDUSD and the State of Califor...Thank you very much MDUSD and the State of California. You have just helped my husband and I to finally get off the fence about leaving the Bay Area and to make the decision to get the hell out of Dodge. This makes me sick. You are messing with our children, their well being and their futures. Honest to God, I just don't have words to express my disgust.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-57914975759388199552010-01-13T19:52:37.839-08:002010-01-13T19:52:37.839-08:00Sherri,
In light of this, do you still defend giv...Sherri,<br /><br />In light of this, do you still defend giving the attorney a $40K raise recently? If so, why? If not, why dont we start by clawing back some of these outrageous bonuses and perks all you administrators love to hand to each other all the time.<br /><br />If you answer that you still defend it, are you serious? Even with the massive PR hit it burdens any future parcel tax initiative with?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-23644028090734866702010-01-13T19:29:19.269-08:002010-01-13T19:29:19.269-08:00In reviewing the list of proposed cuts, I noticed ...In reviewing the list of proposed cuts, I noticed item N8 is to eliminate one P.E. prep team. Why only one? I fully realize this cut would need to be negotiated, but why not eliminate ALL P.E. prep teams? Elementary class sizes are all similar in size, the P.E. prep is no longer necessary. (In fact, many elementary teachers would be happy to see this cut take place.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-89733981016204604482010-01-13T18:35:50.422-08:002010-01-13T18:35:50.422-08:00Before you implement a furlough program which is ...Before you implement a furlough program which is a direct cut that negatively affects our students cut the health benefits of all other employees (including the new superintendant) in the district..if it's "good" enough for the teachers than it's good enough for the administrators, secretaries and janitors. This is insane.....students and teachers have given more than enough....our kids deserve better and so do our teachersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458983694008388961.post-21353577108890852632010-01-13T17:13:51.591-08:002010-01-13T17:13:51.591-08:00anon 4:33
The Governor promised to protect educati...anon 4:33<br />The Governor promised to protect education, he did not promise to exempt it from cuts. He plan is to reduce the cost of living allowance (COLA) by making it negative. He believes districts should cut administration. He did not define administration. In MDUSD we already cut administration. Our last cuts were 35% on administrative position reductions.<br /><br />anon 3:30<br />We did eliminate one superintendent's cabinet position in the last round. If you have specific examples, please send them to me.Sherry Whitmarshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11107787983037538243noreply@blogger.com