Board meeting agenda for Tues, February 8th

The board agenda is now available online. Among the items, of course, is item 13.4 School Closures. It explains the process they will use on Tuesday and under what conditions they may vote for an option. It seems if another viable option is brought to them, the board may instruct staff to investigate to be brought back at a later date.

So I guess it should make for an interesting evening. They may vote on ne of the options currently on the table, or they may wish to investigate another option(s).

Here is the agenda.

The meeting begins at 7:30 pm Tuesday, at the Mt. Diablo High School gymnasium.

Do you want to meet the MDUSD Board candidates?

I posted a poll to the right over there ------------> , as I wanted to get an idea as to whether people were interested in having an informal Q & A session with the MDUSD board candidates.  In 2008 we held a few of these, at homes, at Rocco's and at Skips in Clayton.  We had dozens turn out for the various meetings and at Rocco's it was often packed.  Yes, there was more controversy then - but now?

Would YOU attend an informal forum?  I have contacted the candidates that have posted here (Brian Lawrence, Cheryl Hansen and Jeff Adams) and Linda Mayo, as I readily know how to contact them, I have not yet heard from Lynne Dennler, Roy Larkin or Jan Trezise.  I am unsure how to reach these people.   Jan Trezise, I'm actually not sure if she's still in the race, during the candidate forum with the Times, she apparantly made a rash decision not to run, then retracted afterwards.  Anyway, googling any of their names did not yield a website or any contact information.

By the way, so far I've only heard back from one, Brian Lawrence, who says he's happy to attend a forum if one occurs.

Soooo, having said all that, what are your thoughts so far?  What do you think about the fact MDEA has not endorsed any candidates?  In 2008, MDEA was a strong force with much money behind the Eberhart-Whitmarsh run for board seats. Compared to 2008, it sure feels pretty apathetic out there so far.  Does anyone care?

Links of interest:

Smart Voter site

Times Vorderbrueggen recap on forum

Replay of the Times candidate forum

Theresa Harrington:  No teachers' union endorsement in MDUSD Trustee Race

Message from the MDUSD campaign trail - Cheryl Hansen

Dear MDUSD Parents,


Whew! Our new school year is truly up and running, and my hope is that your students are already experiencing success.

As I’m hitting the School Board campaign trail and trying to get my message out, I am proud that dedicated MDUSD parents, classified and certificated staff, and district and site administrators have given me their support and endorsement. Your confidence in my integrity, competence, and leadership matters. Things are busy for me at the Contra Costa County Office of Education where I am Coordinator of Instructional Leadership.

Just to fill you in on a little of my background: I began my career in education as an MDUSD teacher and administrator where I served for 24 years at schools throughout our district: Oak Grove Middle, Olympic High, Northgate High, Ygnacio Valley High, and College Park High. I then moved on to Martinez USD as an Assistant Principal at Alhambra High.

And then I had the chance of a lifetime in administration: I was hired as the founding Principal of Rodriguez High School in Fairfield-Suisun USD and successfully opened the district’s third high school. Being able to build and develop a school curriculum, staff, culture, and community from the ground up was an amazingly rewarding experience and one that lives on as Rodriguez High became a California Distinguished School.

At CCCOE, I now apply my experience and knowledge to improve instruction and increase learning in schools and districts. Here are some of my current projects:

• I’m collaborating with Contra Costa SELPA (special education) to provide training in standards-based instruction and IEPs to beginning teachers who want to obtain credentialing as special educators. Our focus is on helping these new teachers understand content standards, goal setting, high expectations, and increased access to grade-level curriculum for special education students.

• Next week, I begin our fall session of leadership training for new and experienced principals, vice principals, and district administrators. Training administrators is one of the most critical parts of my job. I have many trainings scheduled throughout the year for administrators who wish to become more knowledgeable about school improvement or who need to complete Tier II for their administrative credential. (Visit our web site at www.ab430region4.org to learn more about the program.)

• I’m continuing work that began this summer with a group of elementary principals on standards-based instruction and leadership.

• My work also continues with a middle school staff on understanding the content standards, raising the rigor of assignments, and applying research-based instructional strategies to improve student learning.

• I’m also out visiting schools in MDUSD and other districts in our county as part of California’s Williams lawsuit settlement which requires that all 1-3 decile schools provide adequate instructional materials for students, qualified teachers, and a safe, healthy facility. The good news is that MDUSD staff has worked hard to meet the legal requirements, although we still have work to do to improve student learning for all students so that none of our schools is in the bottom three deciles.

As valuable as all of my work is, I’m still excited about and committed to being able to serve on the Mt. Diablo School Board. Again, thank you to the dedicated MDUSD parents, staff, and administrators who have endorsed me. You are the foundation of our district. Your trust and support keeps me focused on my priorities: 1) Student learning that prepares students for college and career, 2) responsible budgeting, 3) competent leadership, and 4) improved trust, respect, communication, and morale.

I look forward to serving on the School Board and to hearing from you about your interests, needs, and concerns. Email me atmailto:cherylhansenmdusd@yahoo.com or visit my website at http://www.cherylhansenmdusd.com/ for more information.

Thank you for this chance to post!

Cheryl Hansen

MDUSD Board Meeting - New Principals /Administrators

You can watch the board meeting in its entirety by viewing the recording at http://www.mdusd.net/ .

Consent agenda.

Items 4.5 and 4.6. Motion made, seconded and approved these items. Motion carried 5-0-0

_______________________________

Item 4.2 Question about which positions are expected to be filled during the summer. (this is the item about allowing the Superintendent to appoint positions during the summer)

There will 4 elementary school principal positions open, and maybe filled, this summer (after the vote on 4.3 tonight), plus 2 middle school principals and some others; AP openings, special ed, etc.

Gary Eberhart requested the board not take action on this item. The suggestion was that they do call another meeting in July and feels it is a key responsibility of the board to approve the candidates. Dick Allen added that in the past there have been issues with candidates that needed to be explored more fully. He seemed to have concern that no names were presented to the board prior to the meeting. The board agreed to table this item.

______________________________________________________________

Item 4.3

5 candidates recommended by Superintendent:

-Linda Pete - Administrator at Diablo Community Day School (currently at YV)

-Dr. Christopher Nugent - appointed Mt. Diablo ElementaryPrincipal (comes with experience from Tennessee and California. Has elementary and middle school Principal experience. Is a co-administrator in Elk Grove currently.) (update 7/5/10, Dr. Nugent has resigned)

-Vicki Eversole - appointed Highlands Elementary Principal (currently a Program Specialist in the district)

-Rachel Buckner - Olympic / Alliance (currently a counselor in another district)

-Danielle Beachum (not sure on last name spelling) - Program Specialist - district wide

All were confirmed and approved by the board, some were in the audience and stood to say a few words.

____________________________________________________________

Meeting adjourned approximately 6:25pm with thoughts to Kathy Wells, former teacher at Sequoia who passed away last week.

Another meeting in late July will likely be called to appoint any new administrators.

More Principals to be appointed tonight at MDUSD Board Meeting

A new meeting had been called for tonight. You can view the agenda here.

Theresa Harrington has a comprehensive blog about the subject here.

It is a light agenda in terms of items, but should be interesting as it seems they will be appointing several new school site administrators. Will you be watching or listening in tonight? Remember you can watch live at www.mdusd.net.

Agenda item 4.3:
Interviews have been conducted and candidates have been selected to fill School Site Administrator positions.

The recommended action on this item is to approved the positions as recommended. Certainly will be interesting to see who else will be shuffled, as I heard there may be other schools losing their principal that had not previously been announced. Of course there are several schools still hoping for a "good one." District administrators have held meetings at some school sites to receive input, and now, those schools may learn their new Principals.

In addition to the above item, there is another item. Agenda item 4.2 would allow the Superintendent to appoint Administrators throughout the summer, while the Board of Education is on recess. They would be confirmed in August when the Board reconvenes, but this item would give the Superintendent the authority to appoint those Administrators as needed.

Agenda item 4.2
In order to assure there is adequate staffing for the opening of school, the Superintendent requests authority to appoint candidates to positions, including administrative positions, during the summer months when there are no Board meetings. Any such appointments will be brought to the Board in August.

Special MDUSD Board Meeting - Ballooning Budget Cuts

Special School Board Meeting

As a result of the Governor’s budget proposal, the projected deficit in the school district ending balance as of June 2012 has grown from $17 million to $35 million. In consequence, we will need to make additional reductions to our expenditure budget.

The Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting on Wednesday, January 20, at 7pm at the Dent Education Center, 1936 Carlotta Drive in Concord.

The purpose of the meeting is to solicit public input on the additional cuts that will need to be made. Staff will present a brief review of the budget, but the majority of the meeting will be spent listening to parents and community members regarding budget reductions.

This is a very important meeting, and I hope you will be able to attend.

Dick Nicoll
Interim Superintendent

Final pink slips considered plus test scores on transcripts?

On Tuesday's board meeting the trustees will be faced with sending final lay off notices to over 413 teachers and librarians, 10 Vice Principals and 2 psychologists. The Contra Costa Times has written an article about this.

Sad day to be sure.

Also, to be considered at this meeting is item 9.11 on the agenda , "Request to place California Standards Test (CST) Results on High School Transcripts." There is a discussion going on over at Paul Strange and Gary Eberhart's blog www.MDUSD.net - join in there. This item is up for "discussion only" Tuesday night, but if you have strong feelings please attend and speak during public comment.

Measure D is on the May 19th, vote YES!

.

Devastating cuts coming March 3rd

This is the meeting where the all important cuts to library, elementary music, athletics, custodial, VPs and more will be discussed and potentially reduced that night.

Its not going to be pretty.

What can you do? Support our local parcel tax. It may be the only way to restore some of the upcoming cuts.

Visit: http://www.protectourlocalschools.org/. Get involved. Support with financial help. Support with your time. Anything you can do, will help. Most especially vote YES on MAY 19.

Right now the March 3rd board agenda does not note which specific cuts may be considered, but the board can consider them all. Just look at the reduction list available with the agenda, everything is up for grabs. Check at http://www.mdusd.net/ for more specifics of the programs on the discussion list for Tuesday.

.

MDUSD: Cuts add to strained relations

The latest from the Contra Costa Times tonight, read it here:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/teens/ci_11601323


.

Next Round Budget Cuts at MDUSD Board Meeting tonight

MDUSD School Board Meeting Tonight 7:30pm.

Do you know what is on the cut list tonight?

You can read tonight's agenda at : http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mdusd/board_of_education/agendas/currentagenda.pdf

(its only 282 pages!)

The agenda (on page 6) lists all cuts due to be approved tonight, but remember they can vote for ANYTHING on the cut list, even if not on the agenda, and rumors are swirling that the remaining 2 elementary VP's will be cut (which leaves just Meadow Homes with a VP) and most VPs for Middle Schools.

11a is on the agenda, but they may vote for 11b and/or c instead.

11b will cut Highlands Elementary and Mt. Diablo Elementary VPs.
11c will cut Glenbrook, Oak Grove, Pine Hollow and Valley View VPs.

Mt. Diablo Elementary is an elementary school of over 850 children. Does it seem to make good safety sense to cut an administrator at a school of this size? What about your school if its on the list, how will you do with one less administrator on campus each day?

Tuesday's Important MDUSD Board Meeting 12/16

From Gary McHenry's Monday Memo:

For more than a month the Board of Education has been discussing and hearing comments about and suggestions for budget reductions. At a special meeting on Tuesday, December 16, the Board may consider not only some initial recommendations for budget cuts but also a proposal for a major revenue enhancement: a parcel tax initiative to be placed on the June 2009 ballot. The meeting will be held in the Little Theater at Northgate High beginning at 7 p.m. The most up-to-date list of proposed budget reductions can be viewed on the District web site, www.mdusd.k12.ca.us, at two locations accessible from the home page 1) by clicking on "Board of Education" and then "Current Agenda" (see Item 5.4) or 2) by clicking on "MDUSD Budget Reductions in the box titled "Budget Reduction Info" and then on the pdf file "MDUSD Budget Reduction List."

If you are concerned with the budget cuts and how they will impact your students and your school(s) - it will be important to attend. If you are interested in learning more about the upcoming initiative to place a parcel tax on June 2009's ballot - its important to attend.

NOTE the location is different. This meeting will be held at Northgate High School's Little Theater and begins at 7pm. Don't forget to check www.mdusd.net for a live broadcast of this special board meeting if you are not able to attend.

Also note you can find the most recent list of possible cuts on the district site: www.mdusd.12.ca.us. For the list updated 12/16/08. You can get the agenda for the meeting at: http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mdusd/board_of_education/agendas/0809/12-16-08.pdf

Please note they are voting to approve some of the reductions at this meeting. Please note item 5.4 on the agenda at the link above. They include such items as:

21. Reduce contributions to summer school.
24. Reduce budget for Student Information System by $420,00 one time
27. Eliminate one vacant occupational therapy assistant
29a. Shift the cost of the Administrative Secretary's position . . . (read more at budget)
33. Shift funding for one FTE senior account clerk . . . (read more at budget)
58. Reduce one FTE staffing assigned to Mt. Diablo High School
70. Implement a "just in time" delivery program for ordering core items (read more at budget)

Updated MDUSD Meeting List

On the right sidebar are some important dates to know. Board Meetings, Advisory Council Meetings, Budget Committee Meetings and Public Hearings - all coming in the next month.

The December 9th Board Meeting is the meeting that starts our new board and when Gary Eberhart and Sherry Whitmarsh begin their new terms as MDUSD Board Members.

You may have also read in the Times that the NAACP plans to attend this December 9th meeting to make their position known on some of the proposed cuts, as some of the people occupying the top level positions on the lists are African American.

I also noticed that Sue Berg's position is on the list (she's the Senior Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Communications Specialist for the District). There are many positions on these lists. There are many programs too. How did race even become an issue? The Times says:

CONCORD — The addition of three black Mt. Diablo school district administrators to a list of cuts trustees are considering as they try to reduce their 2009-10 budget by $6.6 million has sparked racial controversy in the community.

Several speakers at the school board's Tuesday night meeting questioned the inclusion of Associate Superintendent Alan Young, Assistant Superintendent Mildred Browne and Director of Classified Personnel Dorothy Eppstein on the list of cuts, noting that the administrators are all African American. Joseph Adebayo, president-elect of the East Bay chapter of the NAACP, said his organization plans to announce a position about the proposed cuts at the board's Dec. 9 meeting.

Does anyone know the opinion of the three mentioned in the Times article clip above?

Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council Meeting tonight (Weds)

First, a big congratulations are in order for Gary Eberhart and Sherry Whitmarsh for their huge wins for MDUSD School board.

Secondly, in the "business as usual" category, there is a Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meeting tonight at the Dent Center 7-9pm. Remember, even if you're not the "assigned rep" for your school site, you are welcome at these meetings.

Success! Supporters flood to the streets for Gary and Sherry!

Being at Ygnacio and Oak Grove was exciting today! We had an endless stream of teachers, parents, kids and community! We had people stopping to talk, cars honking and lots of hollering support out their windows (or convertibles!) We even had guest appearances by Board Members Paul Strange, Gary Eberhart and candidate, Sherry Whitmarsh.

Personally, I've never seen such a show of support for school board candidates -ever. It shows how important we all know this election is!

Signs we saw included:

Save our Schools!
Save our Teachers!
Save our District!
Elect Gary and Sherry!
Gary and Sherry for Change!
Honk for Change!
No more IRS FINES!

We even had some signs written in spanish - Por Favor!

It was impossible to get a photo of the huge line of people stretching more than a couple of blocks and on each corner of Oak Grove and Ygnacio - but it was impressive!

Hope you were there and remember to VOTE on November 4th for Gary and Sherry!

The time is NOW! The surge of support is here Tuesday!

For candidate information: http://www.changemdusd.com/

.

For a parent's "guest editorial" in the Times:

"The Times Got it Half Right . . . "

For a flyer to download and distribute about this event: CLICK HERE

We need 300 people on October 28 for one of TWO shifts:

(2) 150 people from 4-5pm
(3) 150 people from 5-6 pm

We will be covering one of THREE areas:
(1) Corner of Ygnacio and Oak Grove
(2) Corner of Clayton Rd and Treat/Denkinger
(3) Willow Pass across the bridge by El Torito leading to Sun Valley Mall (near Elephant Bar)

Bring a sign or we will have BLANK SIGNS and MARKERS. Just write a message like the ones below and hold them for cars to see. If we LINE UP THIRTY OR FORTY IN A LINE cars take a long time to pass – IT LOOKS IMPRESSIVE, far better than a cluster of people.

If you WANT CHANGE, then please get involved THIS ONE TIME! The time is NOW!

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU NOW:

PLEASE COMMIT to one or more of those times.
CONFIRM by emailing andre@misterwriter.com with a TIME(S) and LOCATION CHOICE that you will do. If you have friends to join in, please include their name as well. If they do not want to give their name, just tell me HOW MANY and you be their contact.

Download a flyer to distribute, and join your fellow parents, teachers and community members to inform the public now in these final days before the election that the situation is dire and requires their VOTE for Gary and Sherry!

Surge of Support for Eberhart and Whitmarsh

For candidate information: http://www.changemdusd.com/

For a flyer to download and distribute about this event: CLICK HERE

We need 300 people on October 28 for one of THREE shifts:

(1) 100 people from 3-4pm
(2) 100 people from 4-5pm
(3) 100 people from 5-6 pm

We will be covering one of THREE areas:

(1) Corner of Ygnacio and Oak Grove
(2) Corner of Clayton Rd and Treat/Denkinger
(3) Willow Pass across the bridge by El Torito leading to Sun Valley Mall

We will have BLANK SIGNS and MARKERS. Just write a message like the ones above and hold them for cars to see. If we LINE UP THIRTY OR FORTY IN A LINE cars take a long time to pass – IT LOOKS IMPRESSIVE, far better than a cluster of people.

If you WANT CHANGE, then please get involved THIS ONE TIME! The time is NOW!

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU NOW:

PLEASE COMMIT to one or more of those times.

CONFIRM by emailing andre@misterwriter.com with a TIME(S) and LOCATION CHOICE that you will do. If you have friends to join in, please include their name as well. If they do not want to give their name, just tell me HOW MANY and you be their contact.

Email for a flyer and join your fellow parents, teachers and community members to inform the public now in these final days before the election that the situation is dire and requires their VOTE for Gary and Sherry!

(artwork above courtesy of MisterWriter: Signs You May be An Idiot)

CCTimes weighs in: Elect Eberhart on November 4th, SAY NO TO TREECE

Have you seen the latest in a loooong line of endorsements for Gary Eberhart?

Of Eberhart they say:

Three of the four candidates, incumbent Gary Eberhart and challengers Jeff Adams and Sherry Whitmarsh, seeking two seats on the board understand that the district is in deep trouble. They point to financial bungling, frustrated teachers, upset parents and a superintendent who may need to be replaced.

Eberhart's criticisms of the district and McHenry are on target. He understands what needs to be done and deserves re-election.

Conversely, of Treece, they say:

Incumbent April Treece seems far more sanguine about the district and its superintendent, saying schools are making academic progress and that McHenry has been held accountable. We strongly disagree.

Treece's overly bright assessment of the district and unwillingness to hold its superintendent fully accountable are reasons enough for voters to replace her.


So, just say NO to Treece on November 4th!

Read the whole article here: Contra Costa Times Endorses Gary Eberhart

No freedom of speech in the MDUSD

Contra Costa Times has uncovered yet another issue within the MDUSD . Teachers are not allowed to express their political views even off the clock!

Check out the article:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/education/ci_10769276

















And, get this , yet another thing that the San Ramon Valley School District does better:

The San Ramon Valley school district, also governed by the Education Code, does not restrict teachers the same way Mt. Diablo does.


"When it comes to bumper stickers and buttons and things like that," said San Ramon district spokesman Terry Koehne, "it's our belief that it's their right to free speech. "

So what is wrong with MDUSD? Do they really thinks kids will be disturbed by a button on a teacher's lapel?


Click on the article to go direct to the Times.

Expect a call from McHenry?

I found today's letter in the Times very interesting. Perhaps McHenry should spend his valuable time figuring out how to fix the mess vs trying to defend the mess to people who write about it. I guess we see from this letter indicating she received a call in response to her letter in 2006 that things have gone from bad to worse. Would you be surprised if McHenry called you?

Letter to the Editor
Article Launched: 10/17/2008 12:00:00 AM PDT

School board picks
On a Friday in June of 2006, my letter to the editor stated that the superintendent of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District was incompetent.
I received a call from Superintendant Gary McHenry early Saturday morning instructing me to check my facts. I had my facts straight then, and I have them straight now.
Millions of dollars in legal fees spent without board approval, numerous payroll errors, a lack of department oversight, huge penalties payable to the IRS, highly qualified teachers leaving the district, top-down mandates with no employee input or collaboration, and unsuccessful contract negotiations with employees are but a few parts of McHenry's legacy.
"I think there is a tremendous amount of trust between the district and teachers," stated April Treece at the Pleasant Hill Forum for MDUSD candidates. Is she in La La Land? She continues to assert she has held the superintendent accountable for his ineffective management of the district. Who is she trying to fool, the trusting electorate of La La Land?
I am weary of absurd excuses and inane double-speak. Join me and vote for Sherry Whitmarsh and Gary Eberhart. We need MDUSD Board members who are not afraid of hurting McHenry's feelings.
Marilyn Hoffacker
Concord

Treece says let's not "overreact"

Hard not to overreact when the district is now facing IRS fines of over 3/4 of a million dollars ($833,000). Hard not to overreact when, per April Treece's own admission, these are from past years. So who's been watching the store? Certainly we'll need to see when the district found out about this fine, but the problem is, its not the first IRS fine! How is our district being managed appropriately if we're getting fines from the IRS?

The Times released a new story tonight about the IRS fine. As has been usual in recent years, it is Gary Eberhart who brought up concerns:

Eberhart said Monday that McHenry gave the board information showing the district paid three penalties totaling about $105,452 between December 2006 and June 25, 2007.

"So, somehow, this has been happening over and over again," Eberhart said. "The board of education has never approved any of these payments to my knowledge."

So if I read this right, that is 833k plus 105k+. Almost 1 million dollars in IRS fees in the last 2 years? Awe inspiring isn't it? Oh, but let's not overreact . . .