Comments on: Welcome to Oakland Unified, Dr. Smith

By: lisa

lisa — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:53:33 +0000

Michelle Rhee’s salary seems even sweeter for the D.C. schools, which are also in unremarkable condition…

From Washington Post:
Acting D.C. schools chancellor Michelle A. Rhee will be paid $275,000 annually and will receive a $41,250 signing bonus if she is confirmed, making her the highest-paid school leader in the immediate metropolitan area.

According to a contract Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) submitted to the D.C. Council yesterday, Rhee is also eligible for a $27,500 annual bonus if she meets certain performance goals identified by Fenty that include “student academic achievement” and “communications with community and families.” The mayor and Rhee together will agree to the terms on which she will be evaluated.

By: Gordon Danning

Gordon Danning — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:36:55 +0000

Skyline Mom and Baffled by the Drama: To be fair to Ms. Klaffky, she did not “flee” Oakland High, since she interviewed for the Oakland High job, but the panel chose someone else. Rumor has it, however, that she is not going to be Skyline’s principal. I dont know for sure whether the rumor is true.

PS to Baffled: I think you overstate the division at OHS re: Ms. Scott, but maybe you talk to very different people than I do. Perhaps a meeting to clear the air is in order.

By: The other big salary in Oakland Unified - The Education Report - Reporter Katy Murphy’s blog on Oakland schools

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:16:19 +0000

[...] was much debate the other week over the $265,000 salary (plus roughly $23,000 in benefits) that Oakland’s new [...]

By: Baffled by the drama

Baffled by the drama — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:34:52 +0000

Skyline Mom, you’ll be delighted with Lauren Klaffky. She’s a very capable, level-headed administrator, and there’s going to be a lot of disappointment when the Oakland High community returns this fall to find her gone.

But the OHS faculty is bitterly divided over the Principal Scott debacle, and those bad feelings won’t be healing any time soon. Can’t blame Ms. K for wanting to flee that hornet’s nest.

Our loss is absolutely your gain. Klaffky’s a gem, as was Scott. Ain’t it a shame when “adult” egos get in the way of what’s best for the CHILDREN???

By: Marsha

Marsha — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:59:52 +0000

Sue,

You confirmed my point. Chaconas was in charge and it was his show, however, you and he want to blame the computer system. Did it ever occure to him or his team to review the district’s bank statements?

How can you blame the former superintendants for the fact that Chaconas spent more money during his leadership than he had comming into OUSD?

By: oak261

oak261 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:50:37 +0000

Its difficult to comprehend the upward mobility of former board members on whose watch the bankruptcy of OUSD occurred. Some have moved to higher, arguably more responsible positions. (For example, Ms Quan, working the city council purse strings). Why do people vote this way? I guess its the sort of expertise the people want. Alternatively, whatever happened to accepting responsibility and figuratively, falling on the sword??

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:44:13 +0000

Marsha, just a couple of facts omitted from your description:

Chaconas contracted with FCMAT to review all the finances of the district when he started the superintendant’s job. One of FCMAT’s recommendations was to replace an antiquated and inadequate finance-and-budget computer system. When he followed that recommendation, the new system revealed the on-going budget problems he’d inherited from the series of temporary superintendants who had preceeded him.

By: Marsha

Marsha — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:49:18 +0000

Michael Siegel,

Do you recall it was your dad (Dan Siegel) and Dennis Chaconas who were in charge of OUSD that resulted in the state take-over and a hundred million dollar bail out? Do you recall the financial package of Mr. Chaconas with his sports car that your dad voted to approve?

By: It pays to be a superintendent - The Education Report - Reporter Katy Murphy’s blog on Oakland schools

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:21:53 +0000

[...] Welcome to Oakland Unified, Dr. Smith [...]

By: aly

aly — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:53:10 +0000

born and raised: many of us are teachers whose salaries and salary negotiations are quite public. it is not very encouraging for the foot soldiers of ousd to be pink slipped, laid off and take a 3% CUT when our new leader is playing for more. i’m not sure smith cares too much about the welcome he gets; it oughtn’t be a surprise when he’s asking for more in a time where everyone has less.

he should take a cue from the select group of state senators who opted to take a pay cut in light of the financial difficulties our state faces right now.

i agree with plans like turner’s. raises will come with results.