Celebrate the DAY OF THE TEACHER by fighting for our kids

View and Sign the online petition for change at MDUSD!

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REMINDER of an event taking place this Wednesday, May 14th at Civic Park in Walnut Creek starting at 4pm (its suggested to arrive by 3:30pm):

MDEA's Mike Noce sent the following:

"Celebrate the DAY OF THE TEACHER by fighting for our kids"

"There will be a press conference /rally at the gazebo in Civic Park located in downtown Walnut Creek. The park is located next to where the old library was .We have Sen. Torlakson, Assemblymember DeSaulnier, Joe Ovick and others speaking. The focus is making our communities aware of the devastating budget cut proposals and their affect on Public Education. We are hoping to motivate our community to contact their local legislators to protect school funding and take a balanced approach to solving the budget problems. We are hoping for a large turnout. We welcome bringing signs to the event. We will also be collecting signatures on a petition and handing out bandaids to symbolize that cuts hurt."

Click on the flyer below (2 pages) for more information as well as suggestions of the kinds of signs you might want to make, creativity is welcome.

Breaking News: PETITION now online

I was just sent the link for the petition to oust Supertintendent McHenry, it is now ONLINE:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/MDUSD/

Check it out. It looks like it keeps all the personal information entered private and not on the internet, so I guess folks should feel safe to sign and pass the link around.

If you're out getting written signatures, feel free to post any stories here.

Getting Signatures ?

Posted per request:

"If you are a parent working to get signatures, where will you be? Post here if you like and let people know where they can sign a petition. Also, are you interested in helping to get signatures at other school sites? Or getting signatures off campus at off hour events? Some teachers have said they want to help get signatures, but not at their own school sites, so email the coordinators, and they'll help you find area events to attend.

Email: mdusdparents@gmail.com and let them know where you'll be and the online blogs can help get the word out to get as many signatures as possible.

P.S. If your school has an event coming up and you'd like to see an off campus petition effort there, email the above email address."

Contra Costa Times Coverage on Petition Drive to Oust McHenry

Click on the article above to get into the Times site to see the entire article.

Petition to Remove MDUSD Superintendent McHenry

I had heard it was in the makings, it is now here. A petition to remove Superintendent Gary McHenry. You'll see the Petition reads as follows:

"We the undersigned, demand that the Board of Trustees of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District remove Mr. Gary McHenry, the current District Superintendent, from his position. Under his management the District continues to be impacted by, among other things, errors in budgeting, inability to settle employee contracts, lack of long range strategic planning, historically low employee morale, poor communications, poor customer service, and lack of community trust. Superintendent Gary McHenry cannot correct the problems of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and cannot win back the employee spirit and community trust. Superintendent Gary McHenry must be replaced immediately."

(Mr. Writer has posted the petition on his site - YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE PETITION HERE), or it can be emailed to you directly if you have an interest in printing the petition and circulating it. You can see the petition and/or print it by clicking on the thumbnail above too. Or email the address below to have it emailed to you.

Also, I hear that within the next day or so this petition will be available online so that it may be circulated and signed electronically - so as soon as I get that link too, I'll post it.

E-Mail when you have completed petitions, we'll help you arrange to get them back to the appropriate organizers: MDUSDParents@gmail.com

Meeting REMINDER Tonight 7pm

Don't forget the MDUSD Community Meeting at Mt. Diablo High School tonight at 7pm for the Mt. Diablo High School feeder pattern schools.

We hear teachers are being asked to make signs and attend the meeting to highlight the fabulous things our teachers do on their own time - for free! Since this is Teacher Appreciation Week at many of our schools please think of the the extras our teachers do outside of school hours (lesson plans, copying, correcting, special events, carnivals, book fairs, fund raisers, communication, report cards, progress reports, phone calls, emails, classroom prep, tutoring before and after school, school site/district meetings, attending PFC/PTA meetings and much much more!) I know at my school sites teachers have (on their own time) helped start gardens, helped weed and beautify the campus, install playground equipment, helped coordinate art and science fairs and even have to sometimes take their lunches or after school time to help some kids serve detention!) Thank a teacher this week, even if it isn't your own....

Thank you for all you do for our kids! Your efforts are appreciated every day.

Wow, its been a BUSY last couple of months

In case you haven't noticed, there is a lot going on in our school district, and I thought I'd use this opportunity to do some recapping and referencing some timely posts on the topic of our district and its future.

We had previously recapped the coverage on these important budget issues on a post entitled "The Coverage is Everywhere on this . . . ".

Since then the Times has covered a recent teacher ". . . march against budget cuts and contract."
Today the Times has a story about the blogging of school issues and a push toward change. Thanks Shirley!

We told you that Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier responded to a recent letter protesting the state budget cuts, and about a petition you can download to Say No to an All Cuts Budget.

So, we started the month of April with a meeting on April 12th at Rocco's with Paul Strange and Gary Eberhart (School Board members): Meeting Recap is here

On April 14th, we had a letter writing campaign organized by Mt. Diablo Parents for Progress: Letter Writing at Monte Gardens

We then had a another meeting on April 26th with April Treece (Board of Education President) and Dick Allen (Board of Education Vice President) at Rocco's: Meeting Recap is here

To recap some of the blog posts of late, I've posted below some of the most commented, controversial, or informational:

First, a post that garnered over 50 comments over at the MDUSD blog authored by Board of Education members Paul Strange and Gary Eberhart. This one was all about our District's budget and some insight into how we got to where we are now: Budget, Budget, Budget - Who's in charge of the budget? These board members have also started to podcast the board meetings, and you can see how to do that here: Board Meeting Podcasts Now Available!

We had Andre Gensburger (aka Mr. Writer) pose a very important question at the last community meeting (April 29th) at Pine Hollow Middle school "What is being done to resolve the split within the board over the issue of the superintendent in order for there to be an effective direction for the board as a whole? " You can listen and read of the (non)results here: April Treece responds

You can also read of Mr. Writer's recently posted strong viewpoint: Somebody Tell Me What is Going on?

Then, some very important questions are still being asked by some Northgate parents. These questions were originally asked of April Treece and Dick Allen (Board of Education President and Vice President), and never answered. To date, only Paul Strange has offered up his answer. Check the Northgate Blog for this one: Still No Answers, We're Not That Patient and Mr. Strange's follow up answer: Board Member Reply

We also had the Northgate High School Blog call for Superintendent McHenry's resignation in their blog post: No Accountability! Then No Confidence!

So parents, if you're reading this now... its not too late to jump right in and get involved. Ask questions, keep reading the blogs and get informed. We will do our best to keep you advised of events and activities you can get involved in and we welcome your voices. Importantly, the following events are coming:

Tuesday, May 6th: Community Meeting at Mt. Diablo High School
Thursday, May 8th: Town Hall Meeting with Tom Torlakson at Las Lomas
Tuesday, May 13th: MDUSD Board of Education Meeting
Wednesday, May 14: Rally at Civic Park in Walnut Creek (details coming!)

Tom Torlakson at Education Town Hall Meeting

From Tom Torlakson's office:

EVENT DETAILS
Education Town Hall Meeting in Walnut Creek

5/8/2008 6:30:00 PM Las Lomas HS, 1460 South Main St., Walnut Creek

On Thursday, May 8, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., I will be hosting an Education Town Hall meeting at Las Lomas High School, 1460 South Main Street in Walnut Creek.

At this town hall, I will discuss the state budget crisis and the proposed education budget cuts. I encourage you to attend to share your thoughts and perspectives about the proposed budget cuts and how they may be impacting your children, your school, and your community.

As I have argued since the Governor released his budget plan in January, these proposed cuts to education--if enacted--would have a disastrous impact on our schools and our children. These cuts would not last just for a year or two. They will impact our children for a lifetime. These cuts would not heal!

I believe California schools are already woefully under-funded. I believe we should be investing more money in our schools, not less. Are we going to invest in our schools, or are we going to retreat? (See Tom explain at San Ramon Valley's recent Flunk the Budget event why he believes we should be investing more money in our schools, not less: CLICK HERE FOR FLUNK THE BUDGET, NOT OUR CHILDREN)

What do you think? I hope you will join me at Las Lomas High School on May 8 to discuss this extremely important issue.

Contact: Tom Torlakson Phone: 925-682-9998 Email: tom@tomtorlakson.com


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Say "No" to an "all cuts" budget!

As a result of the recent effort by Mt. Diablo Parents for Progress, many of us visited Monte Gardens Elementary and wrote to our California legislators, and the Governor, in protest of California budget cuts which will impact our state's schools, and our children's education . Like probably many of you, I received today, a letter from Assembly Member, Eleventh District, Mark DeSaulnier. He makes some points in his letter that warrant highlighting, and repeating:

• California already ranks 46th of 50 states in per pupil spending.


• California ranks dead last in the number of counselors, librarians and other support staff.


• These proposed cuts will erode our ability to provide a quality education for our children.

This letter goes on to note some action items, things YOU, your friends and neighbors can do NOW to Say "No" to an "all cuts" budget!

Visit the Assembly Democrat's Budget website: http://adc.asm.ca.gov/issues/budget. At this site you'll find ways you can CALL, EMAIL, FAX or petition your support of a budget that does not take away from California Children.

You can download a petition here: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/issues/budget/pdf/Budget

Have your friends, family, neighbors and community sign the petition. It reads, "We, the undersigned, oppose an "all cuts" solution to California's fiscal emergency. An "all cuts" approach will do irreparable harm to California's education system, state parks, veterans programs and other vital services."

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Also, stay tuned for a LOCAL event taking place in Walnut Creek on May 14th where your voice can be heard. Join community members, legislators, teachers and others to protest these state budget cuts now, before its too late. More information coming - but mark your calendars now.

CCTimes Reports: Teachers March Against Budget Cuts and Contract

Some of our MDUSD teachers marched from Mt. Diablo High School to Todos Santos Park today to protest state budget cuts (and comment about the lack of a contract or benefits).

From the Times:

CONCORD — After the last school bell of the day rang, Mt. Diablo High School English teacher Steve McCoy walked to the front office and tied a black armband around his right bicep. With help from his fellow teachers, he hoisted a banner and marched down Grant Street toward Todos Santos Plaza.

"The governor's budget is virtually an attack on education. In our local district, we've been bargaining in good faith for a year and still have no contract or health benefits," said McCoy, his sleeves rolled up. "We're being squeezed from all sides."

He joined dozens of the school's teachers who marched in downtown Concord on Thursday afternoon to protest state budget cuts and an unsettled contract that has left 1,900 Mt. Diablo district teachers without paid medical benefits or raises.
Mt. Diablo school district spokeswoman Sue Berg said that the district shared the frustration of teachers worried about their contract and their jobs.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_9125613

Hopefully Shirley Dang from the Times is still working on a larger story about the MDUSD issues . . .