Another Letter to the Editor in Local Newspaper

     Soon to be available on this blog is an extremely well-worded letter to the editor on our topic in the latest edition (March 28) of the STAR-NEWS. The Star-News, with all its associated publications, provides coverage of the South County. 30,000 copies are published every Friday and distributed throughout Chula Vista, National City, Bonita and EastLake. The Star-News is an officially adjudicated newspaper with general circulation for the cities of Chula Vista and National City. 

Thank you for supporting your local paper and its advertisers. Thank you for fighting for justice through education. Learning the facts and discussing them with our neighbors down here in south bay is the only way these dark deeds can be undone.  

Education is power. 

Leer es poder. 

Happy Birthday y Feliz Cumpleaños 

César Chávez

 March 31, 1927

Personnel Changes Roil School District: South County Union Tribune Letter to Editor March 21

The article “Administrators moved around to new schools” (March 12) contains points that need to be clarified.

The termination of the contracts of Karen Janney and Dianna Carberry, assistant superintendents, were not part of the Sweetwater district office reorganization chart (the vehicle for cutting the district level budget). The chart clearly still shows the two assistant superintendent positions.

Although the superintendent has implied that these moves are due to budgetary reasons, an examination of the consequences of the move does not bear that out. The two assistant superintendents will continue to receive their salaries, per contract. The principal leaving Montgomery will continue to receive his salary while doing “special projects” at the district. The principal moving to Montgomery will be receiving a pay raise. So where is the savings?

Meanwhile, schools and the district office have been thrown into turmoil and shock with the sudden changes of leadership. No plans were in place for a smooth transition. In fact, the assistant superintendents were not even informed of their demotion until two hours before the board meeting.

This disruption of services comes at a critical time. The district and six schools are striving to exit Program Improvement. A common calendar, which is a project Karen Janney had been leading, is being implemented. Twelve high schools are going through WASC Accreditation. In fact, the accreditation team at a high school affected by the principal changes had, just two weeks earlier, recommended more administrative stability at the school.

It is time to put students above politics. The school board was elected to represent their constituents in district decisions. We hope the board will reconsider recent decisions in light of new information and the rising levels of dissatisfaction within the district.

NANCY STUBBS
Chula Vista

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Thank you.

FAX this FAST English/Spanish

Date: __________________

Dear Board Member _____________________,

I am a parent and/or voter in the Sweetwater Union High School District. I am writing to you to communicate my severe disappointment in your recent actions:

• Your vote to lay-off 109 highly qualified educators,
• Your vote to cut teacher pay and raise class sizes that lowers the quality of education for my child,
• Your lack of honesty with the community by negotiating through us rather than with your employee bargaining groups,
• Your creation of a district-wide atmosphere of anxiety and distrust, and
• Your vote to demote well-respected, district and community leaders Karen Janney and Diana Carberry,

Your decisions are demeaning to the professionals of your district and the people of this community. But most of all, you are putting our children’s education in jeopardy and placing it as your lowest priority.

I demand that you immediately rescind your recent decisions and that you re-engage with teachers and classified staff with a fair, respectful and appropriate contract offer.

Respectfully,

My Signature:_______________

My Printed Name:____________

________________
My Address
***************************************
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FAX TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS:

Parents and Community Members,

Thank you for your concern for our schools and your willingness to speak out. Please date and sign the letter on the other side and fax a copy to each of the board members (total of 5 letters from you).

Your school board members are:

Jim Cartmill

Pearl Quiñones

Greg Sandoval

Arlie Ricasa

Bertha Lopez

Their fax number is: 

(619) 407-4980. 

Please send your fax 

NO LATER THAN THURSDAY APRIL 16TH.

Thank you again for your participation. The teachers and students of the Sweetwater Union High School District are grateful!

SEA Bargaining Support Team – 196 Landis Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91910 CTA/NEA/SEA
----------------------------------------------
INSTRUCCIONES PARA ENVIAR FAXES A LOS MIEMBROS DEL COMITÉ ESCOLAR (SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS):

Padres de familia y miembros de la comunidad:

Gracias por preocuparse por nuestras escuelas y por estar dispuestos a denunciar. Sírvanse fechar y firmar la carta al otro lado y enviar una copia por fax a cada uno de los miembros del Comité Escolar de SUHSD (un total de cinco cartas).

Los miembros del Comité Escolar son:

Jim Cartmill

Pearl Quiñones

Greg Sandoval

Arlie Ricasa

Bertha Lopez

Su número de fax es: 

(619) 407-4980. 

Favor de mandar su fax ANTES DE JUEVES 16 ABRIL.

Gracias una vez más por participar. ¡Los maestros y alumnos de este distrito escolar Sweetwater Union se lo agradecen!

SEA Bargaining Support Team – 196 Landis Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91910 CTA/NEA/SEA
******************************************
Fecha: __________________


Apreciable miembro del Comité Escolar de SUHSD ______________________,
Soy padre de familia y/o elector del distrito escolar Sweetwater Union High School District. Le escribo para comunicarle mi gran decepción por sus recientes actos:
• Su voto en favor del despido de 109 maestros altamente calificados,
• Su voto en favor del recorte salarial de los maestros y el aumento del tamaño de los grupos. Lo que afectará negativamente la calidad de la educación que reciba mi hijo,
• Su voto en favor de bajar de categoría a las respetadas lideresas del distrito y la comunidad Karen Janney y Diana Carberry,
• Su total falta de honestidad ante la comunidad. Al negociar a través de nosotros en vez de hacerlo con las instancias que negocian la contratación colectiva de sus empleados y trabajadores,
• El que haya creado un ambiente de ansiedad y desconfianza en todo el distrito.
Sus decisiones degradan a los profesionales de su distrito y la gente de esta comunidad. Pero más que nada, está poniendo la educación de nuestros hijos en peligro y dejándola como su más baja prioridad.
Exijo que revoque inmediatamente sus recientes decisiones y vuelva a colaborar con maestros y personal clasificado para lograr una oferta de contrato justa, respetuosa y apropiada.
Atentamente,

Mi firma: __________________  

Mi nombre en letra de 

molde:____________________
Mi domicilio: ________________

"Sample" letter to the board

March 13, 2009

Dear Board of Trustees:

Monday, March 9, 2009 was a sad day in education. A day that five people whose role is to maintain the educational integrity made a decision that truly stunned a district and the members of this community. A decision to remove a person who is, by all definitions, the epitome of an innovative, effective educational leader. I know you know whom I am referring to because you very rarely come across a person with the caliber as Karen Janney.

The “Golden Rule” in my classroom is, “To be and do your best, always…even when no one is watching.” What a concept, don’t you think? So how does that play out, when behind closed doors, out of the earshot of everyone who would ultimately feel the rippling effect of such a decision, a conversation about the quality of Karen Janney comes up? I am trying to get my mind around it. Frankly, I cannot begin to imagine what could have possibly been said that would warrant anything of the like. Could it have been how Karen has been in this district since 1978 positively influencing everyone she comes into contact with – educators, students, parents, and community members alike?

Could it be the genuine thought, planning, and time she put into our district’s strategic plan or the success of the common calendar after years of others’ attempts to do the same. Wait, maybe you didn’t realize her role in that. Not surprising, because that’s Karen. She is not boastful; she does not stand up and demand credit, even when it is due. No, she is willing to do great work, hard work, with heart and soul, and stand back and let someone like Dr. Gandara take all the credit.

While I was in disbelief when I heard Dr. Gandara brought this to the board, I still had faith. I truly believed that there was no way on earth this could ever go through. Could I have been so wrong? My heart sank at the news and the first and foremost thought in my mind was, “I have lost hope for humanity. This is a very sad day in education.” He must have been so empowered as you fulfilled his wishes.

I am disappointed with Arlie Ricasa, a board member who stood in up front of an auditorium full of educators my first year here and spoke about her commitment to this district, and how she had a personal investment as she is a mother of five children who attend school in this district. She was convincing, I believed her. She should know better.

I am disappointed in Jim Cartmill, a Bonita graduate who has known Karen since he was in high school, who has been witness to her character and her accomplishments at every level. He should know better.

I am disappointed in Bertha Lopez, a newly elected board member, who obviously did not do her homework about this district and who the steadfast forces are who have gotten it to where it is.

This may have been Dr. Gandara’s “moment” of glory, but that is exactly what it was, a moment. People who care about this district are not going to roll over and play dead. They are willing to write, to march, to say enough is enough, and to stand up for themselves and others they see as victims to such decisions that you had on the table and within your power to do what was right, and you did not. You have created an enduring legacy for yourselves…not one to be proud of.

Sincerely,
Teacher

Petition --add your own lines to sign and fill in.

We, the undersigned, believe the Board of Trustees acted without complete and/or accurate information when making decisions at the Board meeting on March 9, 2009. We further believe that the public should have had the opportunity for input into those decisions, and that the actions taken by the Board were not educationally sound or in the best interest of students.

We therefore petition the Board to take the following actions:
1. Board President Cartmill to put items on the agenda for the next Board meeting to allow discussion and action on the reorganization chart and the termination of Assistant Superintendents Janney and Carberry
2. All Board members to vote to rescind approval of the new organizational chart, to rescind the termination of Assistant Superintendents Janney and Carberry, and to not approve the provisional placement of Janney and Carberry as school principals, or the reassignment of Mary Lawlor.

Print Name Sign Name Check One
Staff Parent / Community Student

Background Information for the Petition

Background Information for the Petition

Termination of Assistant Superintendents Carberry and Janney
We believe this action to be arbitrary and capricious, based on politics not job performance. These two ladies have not ever had a negative evaluation. Dr. Gandara never indicated any dissatisfaction with their work prior to late afternoon on the day of the Board meeting. Dr. Carberry and Ms. Janney are extremely well respected by peers, staff and community. They are highly involved in all activities related to school improvement and student achievement. By removing the highly effective Assistant Superintendents in charge of the schools and Educational Services in the district, the district is left with a huge gap in knowledge and expertise. This is occurring during a time when state testing is just around the corner, the district is striving to exit Program Improvement, the Common Calendar is being implemented, and the High Schools are going through WASC. This will be very disruptive to the on-going business of the district.
The termination of the Assistant Superintendents will not save money for the district since they will continue to be paid their salary.


The Transfer of Dr. Lawlor
We believe this action to be politically motivated. Also, it occurred less than three weeks after the WASC accreditation team at Eastlake High left a recommendation in the exit report stating:

Key issues for Organization: Vision and Purpose, Governance, Leadership and Staff, and Resources (if any) that need to be addressed to ensure quality education for all students.

Eastlake High School would benefit from less turnover in its administrative team.

Dr. Gandara was probably not aware of that recommendation since he has downplayed the importance of accreditation and has not attended any of the accreditation meetings at the high schools this year. However, it should be obvious to Dr. Gandara and the board that three different principals in less than a year would be disruptive to any school.


The Reorganization Chart
We believe that :
Ø The reorganization chart was not prepared with enough input from staff, violated the principles of the district’s Strategic Plan, and many of the moves were decided for political reasons, not educational or budgetary.
o for example - a Program Manager was moved out of the Categorical office at the direction of the superintendent. This move will cause that person’s salary to be transferred into the general fund, where the district is facing a huge deficit, instead of continuing to be funded out of categorical dollars (Title 1 and SCE) that will be fully funded next year. In order to find a position for this employee a current art teacher in the district may get bumped. The Program Manager is doing an excellent job in their current position and has been employed by the district for approximately 20 years.
o Movement and release of classified staff should have waited until the district determined how much money the district will get from the federal stimulus package.
Ø The changes in position on the reorganization chart were gender and age biased. All the women in management who were moved were close to 50 or over and experienced a drop in position or pay. All the men who were moved stayed at the same level or moved up.

Strategies & Petition Drive---1000 signatures

Subject: petition drive

1. Inundate the Board members with emails, letters, phone calls and FAXes. Some Board members are not reading their emails but the suggestion is : start with emails to keep track of who is reading them and who isn't. Then send the same letter as a FAX or in regular mail. Send it individually to each Board member. -It is OK to send the email from your First Class account as long as you don't do it during the work day and don't mind if they know who sent it. Keep the emails professional so we don't make the Board defensive.
The goal is 1,000 signatures. That is really very doable. This isn't for an election so it can be signed by anyone who lives, works or goes to school in the Sweetwater District. Remember not to pass the petition during school hours, and do not use any undue pressure to get anyone, especially students, to sign it. Each person should only sign one petition.- Again - act quickly. When you have completed petition pages contact organizers. Several people have volunteered to drive around and pick them up.
3. Publicity - The media will be contacted and with efforts to get them interested. Letters to the editor are also good. Any of you who are knowledgeable with technology could pass the word through blogs, myspace, or anything else you can think of.
Again - thank you all for your help and support. WE CAN DO THIS!

summary

Summary of Issue

On March 9, 2009 the Board of Trustees of the Sweetwater District voted to terminate the contracts of Karen Janney and Dianna Carberry, Assistant Superintendents. Both were assigned, provisionally, to principal positions in the district, a demotion and (eventual) reduction in pay.

Key Points:
➢ The public was not given an opportunity to have input into this major decision.
➢ No reason for the termination and reassignment was given, to the public or the Assistant Superintendents, and the decision was never discussed with Dianna or Karen, and in fact they were not notified until 4:00 and 4:30 on the afternoon of the Board meeting.
➢ Their previous evaluation was completely positive.
➢ Neither had been given any indication from the Dr. Gandara, either verbally or in writing, that he was dissatisfied with their work.
➢ The termination and reassignment is not connected to the reorganization of the district and is not a cost saving measure. since Karen and Dianna will continue to receive their salaries.
➢ Karen and Dianna are both highly respected by their colleagues and peers throughout the district and the community, as evidenced by the outpouring of support they have received .
➢ The timing of this decision was educationally unsound, causing disruption at 3 school sites just before state testing and the WASC visit at Montgomery High school.
➢ Please note: All management staff reassigned at the last Board meeting were female and close to or over 50 years old. Conversely, several men had position changes that were promotions, or resulted in an increase in salary.
➢ There will be a significant loss of knowledge, expertise and continuity for on-going projects in the district. At this time in the district this is irresponsible and harmful.
➢ The arbitrary, secretive and capricious manner by which this decision was made violates the beliefs and intent of our district Strategic Plan.
➢ Both Dianna and Karen regularly attend community events, and the strong positive relationships they have formed in this capacity have led to increased support for Sweetwater in our community.

While we are sure that Ms. Janney and Dr. Carberry would be excellent principals (Karen was the ACSA California Secondary Principal of the Year), we feel that their talent, expertise and experience will far better serve the district as Assistant Superintendents.
We are asking people to express their displeasure and concerns in a positive, professional manner by emailing, calling or meeting with the members of the Board of Trustees. Please request a reply when emailing. If you are unable to get an appointment, a phone call or if your email is not read, there are further steps that can be taken. In addition, strong support is requested at the next Board meeting, currently scheduled for April 20, 2009.
We are asking the Board of Trustees to think carefully about how they are representing the voters that put them in office. The overwhelming dissatisfaction with the Dr. Gandara, and increasingly with the Board, is indicative of the poor communicaton, secretive decision making, and untrustworthy actions by Dr. Gandara. Is the Board loyal to him, or to the best interests of the students and the district. Consider his motivation and all decisions in light of his recent efforts to leave this district. Is his goal for the good of the district or to promote his own powerbase?

To contact Board members:
Phone – 619 -585-4405 (Sandra Smith, clerk of the board) FAX - 619-407-4980
Email – jim@jimcartmill.com, arlie.ricasa@suhsd.k12.ca.us, pearl.quinones@suhsd.k12.ca.us, greg.sandoval@suhsd.k12.ca.us, bertha.lopez@suhsd.k12.ca.us

See Union Tribune Article March 12 2:00 AM

Administrators moved around to new schools


CHULA VISTA: The Sweetwater Union High School District board authorized more than $2 million in spending cuts by eliminating several high-ranking positions in the headquarters serving 42,000 seventh-through-12th-grade students.
Assistant superintendents Karen Janney and Dianna Carberry have been reassigned as principals. Carberry will lead Eastlake High School. Janney will run National City Middle School.
The list of personnel moves eliminated more than 20 positions that carried six-figure salaries and replaced them with at least 12 positions paying $100,000 or more.
The school board last week approved issuing tentative layoff notices to 109 teachers and counselors in its search for $11.6 million in spending cuts to balance the budget for the year that begins July 1.
With Janney's arrival at National City Middle, Lee Romero has transferred to become principal of Montgomery High School, displacing Sam Montes, who is now a teacher ) on special assignment in the district office. Carberry replaces Mary Lawlor, who will return to Hilltop High School as assistant principal. –C.M.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/12/lz1sz12short225741-short-takes-south-county-news-b/?uniontrib

First news --behind-the-scenes

Overview:

Background:
On March 9, 2009 the Board of Trustees of the Sweetwater District voted to terminate the contracts of Karen Janney and Dianna Carberry, Assistant Superintendents. Both were assigned, provisionally, to principal positions in the district, a demotion and (eventual) reduction in pay.

Key Points:
➢ This action was taken in closed session, on a closed session agenda that did not specify that action would be taken on these positions.
➢ The closed session agenda specified action on 1 principal position only,
➢ Due to the lack of information in the closed session agenda (either the posted agenda or backup information on Board Docs) the public was not given an opportunity to have input into this major decision.
➢ No reason for the termination and reassignment was given, to the public or the Assistant Superintendents, except for “a lack of confidence” in them.
o This decision was never discussed with Dianna or Karen, and in fact they were not notified until 4:00 and 4:30 on the afternoon of the Board meeting.
o Each Assistant Superintendent had only 1 completed evaluation in the last three years – a violation of their contract which called on Dr. Gandara to do annual evaluations.
o The one evaluation that was done was completely positive
o Neither had been given any indication from the Dr. Gandara, either verbally or in writing, that he was dissatisfied with their work. No assistance plan was given, therefore they no opportunity to rectify any concerns Dr. Gandara may have had.
o This all seems to be in direct contrast to Dr. Gandara’s frequently used phrase – “if an employee does not succeed the first time, your superintendent will pick them up, dust them off and put them back on the their feet to try again”.
o If the superintendent had a lack of confidence in Karen and Dianna why did he assign Karen the task of exploring and getting agreement from the community on a Common Calendar for our district and our feeder districts to be presented to the Board– one of the his goals, and why did he assign Dianna to be his duty officer in his absence up until Jan 09?
➢ The termination and reassignment is not connected to the reorganization of the district and is not a cost saving measure. The two positions remain on the recently approved reorganization chart. Although the Dr. Gandara stated that the positions would not be filled until the budget is resolved, the savings is all smoke and mirrors since Karen and Dianna will continue to receive their salaries.
➢ Karen and Dianna are both highly respected by their colleagues and peers throughout the district and the community, as evidenced by the outpouring of support they have received since Monday night.
➢ The timing of this decision was educationally unsound, causing disruption at 3 school sites just before state testing and the WASC visit at Montgomery High school. At the district level the disruption comes as we are going through district wide WASC and District Program Improvement mandates.
o This lack of concern for critical district requirements reflects a statement Dr. Gandara made at a principals meeting that WASC (accreditation) and activities related to the district program improvement process should be treated as minimally important and not disrupt what the schools were already doing.
➢ Please note: All management staff reassigned at the last Board meeting were female and close to or over 50 years old. Conversely, several men had position changes that were promotions, or resulted in an increase in salary.
➢ There will be a significant loss in historical knowledge at the district level, and a loss of knowledge, expertise and continuity for on-going projects in the district. At this time in the district (WASC, Program Improvement, etc…) this is irresponsible and harmful.
o Dr. Carberry is the Principal Investigator or contact on several projects the district is involved in with UCSD, including the BioBridge project. Her loss could jeopardize funding on these, or future, projects there.
o Both Dianna and Karen have been working with SWC to coordinate Summer School programs and other services, giving additional opportunities to SUHSD students
o Karen Janney is been coordinating the implementation of the Common Calendar
o Karen Janney is one of the Internal Facilitators for the Strategic Plan and has been coordinating the implementation of, and updates to, the plan. Both Karen and Dianna are responsible for implementation of many action plan strategies.
o Both Dianna and Karen have been the lead contacts with the external entities / facilitators from SDCOE for District Program Improvement, School Program Improvement, SAIT and QEIA. All these programs have legal timeline and requirements that must be met.
o Karen Janney oversees the Academic Support Teams and other district support measures for our Program Improvement schools. Her efforts and guidance were part of the team approach that propelled Sweetwater High out of Program Improvement.
➢ The arbitrary, secretive and capricious manner by which this decision was made violates the beliefs and intent of our district Strategic Plan. In fact, recent decisions and actions by the Board and Dr. Gandara have reduced the strategic plan to a joke throughout the district and completely negated it’s potential to truly drive reform leading to educational excellence in the district
➢ Both Dianna and Karen have attended a large number of community events, and represent Sweetwater at many SDCOE functions. Frequently they have been asked by Dr. Gandara to fill in and represent him in his absence. The strong positive relationships they have formed in this capacity have led to increased support for Sweetwater in our community.

Therefore…
While we are sure that Ms. Janney and Dr. Carberry would be excellent principals (Karen was the ACSACalifornia Secondary Principal of the Year and nominee for National Principal of the Year), we feel that their talent, expertise and experience will far better serve the district as Assistant Superintendents.

Because of all the above, we are asking people to express their displeasure and concerns in a positive, professional manner by emailing, calling or meeting with the members of the Board of Trustees. Please request a reply when emailing. If you are unable to get an appointment, a phone call or if your email is not read, there are further steps that can be taken. In addition, strong support is requested at the next Board meeting, currently scheduled for April 20, 2009.

(Add contact information for Board members)

We are asking the Board of Trustees to think carefully about how they are representing the voters that put them in office. The overwhelming dissatisfaction with the Dr. Gandara, and increasingly with the Board, is indicative of the poor communicaton, secretive decision making, and untrustworthy actions by Dr. Gandara. As a Board are you loyal to him, or to the best interests of the students and the district. Consider his motivation and all decisions in light of his recent efforts to leave this district. Is his goal for the good of the district or to promote his own powerbase?