Rita Writes Back & Jim Jots a Few Lines, Too.

Local letters: South Edition

2:00 a.m. May 9, 2009 

Sweetwater responds on hiring issues

Regarding the letters to editor on May 2 (“Gender equality in Sweetwater District?”)

As the assistant superintendent for human resources for the Sweetwater Union High School District, I can attest to the outcomes of the district's process for hiring and promoting management employees. Since Jesus Gandara joined the Sweetwater district as superintendent in September, 2006 there have been 55 people hired or promoted to management positions by the Board of Trustees.

 The ethnic breakdown has been evenly distributed among those of Anglo descent and those who are of other ethnicities: 27 people are of Anglo descent and 28 people are of other ethnicities.

 The number of management employees promoted within the district also is evenly distributed by gender: 18 women and 17 men.

 Finally, the superintendent has made an effort to infuse new ideas and practices by hiring qualified personnel from other districts. Again, that number is fairly equitable: eight women and 12 men.

Selecting and hiring management employees are among the most important duties the Board of Trustees and a superintendent have. These employees are those entrusted with the leadership to provide a world-class education for our students. The facts show it has been an equitable process.

RITA SIERRA BEYERS  Chula Vista

• NotGonnaTakeIt05/12/2009 10:13 AM
  Ms. RITA SIERRA BEYERS is in Gandara's back pocket. What choice does she have? Her job has been on the line since El Diablo arrived in his tricycle a few years ago. If she and all the other administrators don’t do his exact bidding, bow and cower, they find themselves demoted or fired before they knew what hit them. Of course, this has been almost entirely white, intelligent women. He consistently removes intelligence from his inner circle and replaces them with moronic puppets that stand ready to support him without question. What he has single handedly done to this district in such a short amount of time is a crime. This man has no intention of giving our children a quality education. His narcissistic, egotistical needs are to further his political career and nothing else. This man, who claims to be a Christian, speaks out of both sides of his mouth. He and his Board of Trustees are all in bed together with the same agenda. Why doesn’t Chris Moran talk to an insider instead of listening to the political hot air bags that spew lies and cover-up the travesties of justice going on at Sweetwater each and every day?

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  ibsage05/09/2009 01:00 PM
  "27 people are of Anglo descent and 28 people are of other ethnicities. "
  
  and ms beyers, of the 27 anglos, what is the breakdown between male and female?
  
  you feminazis are good at statistically hiding truth.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/09/mz1sz9lets223712-local-letters/

LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

By Jim Cartmill

2:00 a.m. May 9, 2009

As a community, these tough economic times have been extraordinarily difficult. Uncertainty in the economy and budget cuts at the Sweetwater Union High School District and school districts throughout California have impacted us all.

As school board members, we are accustomed to having people attend meetings to express their concerns. It can be one of the most rewarding aspects of our jobs because it allows us the opportunity to be part of a solution that satisfies the greatest number of people.

On the flip side, we can be just as frustrated as those sitting in our audience when there are issues presented to us over which we have no control. The economy is a prime example. We didn't create this economic situation, yet we have had to find ways to balance our budget – with funding that is determined by the state. Complicating matters was the state Education Code requirement to notify our teachers and counselors by March 15 if there was a possibility they might lose their jobs at the end of this school year.

In one of the most difficult votes during my tenure as a school board member, we recently issued 109 layoff notices to counselors and teachers in the following academic areas: art, English, physical education, social science and Spanish. It was our intention to continue looking for ways to save money and to save jobs.

One month later we have done just that. I am pleased and gratified to report that we have rescinded 72 layoff notices to teachers and counselors – leaving us with 37 we still hope to rescind. This is the result of many people working together to find cost savings at a time when we know we will have to trim $11.6 million from our budget for the 2009-10 school year.

I want to take this opportunity to compliment staff, Superintendent Dr. Jesus Gandara, Chief Financial Officer Dianne Russo, the district financial team and others in district administration who have been doing their utmost to help us as board members uphold our promise to employees.

This is a momentous occasion for the employees in the Sweetwater Union High School District. Although some fellow educators have criticized our decision, saying that rescinding notices is premature, we couldn't disagree more. We have put in place several initiatives that allow us to preserve jobs and make the deep budget cuts. One initiative responsible for layoff rescission is the Early Retirement Incentive we offered to employees. This had a direct impact on the number of jobs we were able to preserve.

We still hope we will find additional savings within our budget to rescind the remaining 37 layoff notices. That will take the cooperation of all our district stakeholders. We have several proposals on the negotiation table with our bargaining units – including pay reductions – that we hope union leadership will seriously consider. Other school district employees and public entities already have agreed to pay cuts. We know these are difficult decisions to make, but no more difficult than having to lose some of our best and brightest employees.

If we can preserve jobs, we preserve our educational program. If we can find ways to close the budget gap without more layoffs, we create our own stimulus package in the South Bay. If we can hold on to all our employees, we create stability within our district.

On behalf of my fellow board members, Arlie N. Ricasa, Bertha J. Lopez, Pearl Quinones and Greg R. Sandoval, please know that we think of our students and staff in every decision we make.

Cartmill is the president of the Board of Trustees for the Sweetwater Union High School District.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/09/mz1mc9words011615/

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