Open letter from nonprofit re: Heredia trip
By Eric Kurhi
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 at 1:03 pm in Hayward, Schools.
This was left in the comment section by Tara Kini, figured I’d break it out in an new entry:
Dear Members of the Hayward USD School Community,
We are writing to commend HUSD Board Member Maribel Heredia for her passionate advocacy on behalf of all California public school students during the week of February 7-11th in Washington D.C. Since 2007—well before she was elected to the HUSD Board—Ms. Heredia has been a plaintiff in the Renee v. Duncan lawsuit, a suit to enforce the “highly qualified teacher” provisions of No Child Left Behind. She is represented in this suit, free of charge, by the nonprofit civil rights organization Public Advocates.
At the request of Public Advocates, Ms. Heredia joined Public Advocates Managing Attorney John Affeldt in over a dozen meetings over four days with members of Congress and/or their staff and the Obama Administration to discuss the effect of current federal education laws related to the definition of the term “highly qualified teacher,” the equitable distribution of such teachers, and the rights of parents to know the qualifications of their child’s teacher. In meetings with Congressional leaders—including Senator Tom Harkin, Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Congressman George Miller, Ranking Member of the House Education and Labor Committee, Ms. Heredia brought an invaluable perspective as a parent and school board member, contributing in a meaningful way to the national dialogue now taking place around ESEA reauthorization.
Through her advocacy, Ms. Heredia won the deep respect of members of a coalition of over 70 civil rights, disability, parent, student and education organizations who have come together to oppose an amendment passed in December watering down the definition of the term “highly qualified teacher” and to advocate for a fully-prepared and effective for all students as part of the ESEA reauthorization. This coalition includes the NAACP, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, LULAC, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, the Council for Exceptional Children, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, and a number of California-based grassroots parent and student groups. Members of this coalition joined Ms. Heredia and Mr. Affeldt for many of the meetings, and, in the process, learned of the successes and challenges faced by a mid-sized urban school district like Hayward in working to ensure all students are taught by fully-prepared and effective teachers. Throughout, Ms. Heredia represented HUSD in a positive and impressive manner.
We first met Ms. Heredia four years ago in her role as one of the leaders in a campaign to ensure that HUSD students had access to clean, safe, school facilities, sufficient instructional materials, and qualified teachers—rights they are entitled to under the Williams v. California settlement. Ms. Heredia’s advocacy in Washington D.C. this month was a continuation of her passionate leadership on behalf of the rights of all students—and especially the neediest students—to a quality education, as well as the need for all parents to get involved in the struggle to improve our public schools. We understand it was this type of leadership that won her the respect of many members of the HUSD school community and is among the reasons she was elected to the school board.
Thus, it came as a surprise to us that Ms. Heredia has been criticized by some for missing the most recent school board meeting due to her trip to Washington (a trip—to be clear— that was fully funded by Public Advocates; no HUSD funds were used.) While we invited her because she is a plaintiff in the Renee v. Duncan suit, Ms. Heredia was a tireless advocate for the rights of all students to be taught by a fully-prepared and effective teacher, and for the rights of all parents to have full disclosure when their child is being taught by a teacher who is not fully-credentialed. Her advocacy in Washington D.C. will benefit both the students of HUSD as well as students across California and the country.
Thank you, Ms. Heredia.
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February 22nd, 2011 at 1:23 pm
To all:
I believe that it is the right of the public to ask who paid for the trip. It has nothing to do with Ms. Heredia’s advocacy, it is simply asking for disclosure considering the financial bind HUSD find itself in today. I don’t think that the “open letter” in defense of Ms. Heredia was in the least bit necessary, chastising the public for asking for information is a bit much in my estimation. How sad that the public must be “called on the carpet” for expecting transparancy. Kudos to Ms. Heredia for her advocacy in this matter.
February 22nd, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Thanks Eric.
Thanks Ms. Heredia and thanks Mrs. Booth. If more parents made the sacrifice these two parents have made to stand up for our students’s right to an education maybe Hayward wouldn’t be in the situation it is in now.
Personally I think it is about time for a student/parent revolution in Hayward. I am tired of watching the school board nit pick it’s way through meetings while kids are forced to suffer this system or find an education somewhere else.
I am tired of parents going all the way to Washington to be heard and not having a meaningful opportunity to testify right here in Hayward.
This district does not even want to hear from all the board members much less the rest of us. Not unless we agree with them that is.
Ms. Duran came to my neighborhood a year ago telling us about the sad state of HUSD. I gave it some thought and wrote a rather long email to her giving my point of view. I sent copies to the mayor and the city manager who were also present. Both the mayor and the city manager responded to my email. I am still waiting for Ms. Duran’s response. That is the difference between the City and our School District.
We have to wake up now. Everything must be transparent. No more lying and back room deals. Let’s get it out in the open where we can see it and find the clear path to the future.
February 24th, 2011 at 8:18 am
After last night’s school board meeting, I wanted to connect with all the school board members. This morning I started looking for email addresses on the HUSD website. I can’t find any information about contacting them. Am I missing something?
February 24th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Sherry,
I have searched for the emails for the board and have had the same problem. Perhaps you could phone the district offices and they could help you, or you could resort to using “snail mail”. Please let us all know what you find out.
To All:
If you didn’t have the opportunity to watch last night’s board meeting, I suggest you watch the video when it becomes available. Mr. Reynoso presented some very powerful information regarding fees for supplies and other areas that HUSD has been requiring students and parents to purchase; all of which is not permitted by the CA Constitution and Education Codes. You will be surprised at what you were reequired to purchase for your children’s daily education. For some families it amounts to quite a substantial sum of money. If you don’t want to wait for the video go to this website and view the ACLU powerpoint presentation.
http://www.acsa.org/e-ducation then scroll down to the item that is captioned “ACLU powerpoint”.
February 24th, 2011 at 9:34 am
1. Call 784-2600 and ask for Mrs Ruiz. She has all the contact information for the Board, it’s public record, that’s how I got the email addresses.
2. I agree some of HUSD school sites are breaking several laws but if no one calls them on it they continue moving forward.
3.Any Manager speaking up about any injustices observed by them is quickly and swiftly eliminated.
4. The videos of the board meetings seem to be missing, if I am missing something please let me know where I can find them.
February 24th, 2011 at 10:54 am
Since the new website is still under construction, I am not sure that the videos are available. Maybe Ms. Ruiz can answer that question too.
February 24th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Re:program improvement
There is one middle school in Pleasanton that is now a program improvement school. Even though this school has high test scores, they failed in their duty toward their 114 Latino students. Only 41 passed the test which is too low. The Pleasanton school district is in shock. As theses 114 students move up through the system, high schools will also be affected. I remember when this district was held up as a district to emulate for Hayward.
One wonders if Pleasanton which has major resources and money compared to Hayward can’t educate poor students, how is Hayward to do this with 50% of the population in this category?
February 24th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Thanks everyone. I have found all the board members except Maribel and two have already responded to my emails! I used to have an old board watcher friend who lived in the Southgate neighborhood, June Stetson. She used to end conversations like this with “Onward and Upward!”
February 24th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Qodrn;
Want to undedrstand Pleasanton?
Se and hear the first public comment speaker to hear the basic problem. Use the videi replay or pick up the replays on Chamnnel 26 which come on for the benefit of those withiout computers and time to sit in on Channel 15…. best bet… start at 4:00 on the day of the next CITY council meeting.
There is strong reason to believe that a better understanding will soon appear on the opinion page of the Daily Review.
BASICALLY, SINCE PLEASANTON HAS NEVER APPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF LOW INCOME HOUSING; iT REFUSES TO DO WAHT hAYWARD HAS DONE…. MEET abag’S GOALS FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING…. .
February 24th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Hi Qodrn,
Can you please clarify your statement regarding educating poor children? Do you believe poor children can’t be educated?
School District’s across California, Hayward included, should not make excuses about their failure to educate “poor” students. These same school district don’t mind collecting money for these kids year after year. If a district feels like they cannot effectively teach these students, admit it and get some help. School districts can’t, (correction), should not blame the victim.
The big secret to increasing test scores is to kick out underperforming students. You mentioned their 114 Latino students are there any other subgroups with low test scores? 50% of the population, what’s the ethnic breakdown? Look at Hayward, how are the African American students doing. Has any noticed the mass exodus of African American Administrators? Is that how Hayward is going to get out of Program improvement? Alienate all the “poor students?” and the test scores will increase? Help me understand.
February 24th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
AP Polkl;
Pleasanton lost a lewasuit brought ahainsyt it for it’s complete failure to priovide ANT LOW INCOME HOUSING…. NONE THAT’S IT; i SUGGEST YYOU AWAQIT THE OPION PIEVE WHICH i AM ADVISED WILL APPEAR ON THE POLITIICAL OPINION PAGE OF THE rEVIEW IN A DAY OR TWO….
bE AEDVUSED THAT THAT ada DOLLARS REACH THE CLASS ROOMS AT A HITGHER RATE THAN THEY DO AT hAYWARED! wHY….. NO TRUANCTY PROBLEM !
February 24th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Thanks John
I will keep my eyes open for the article and comment.
February 24th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
I hate to burst anybodys bubble, but here goes….
School districts, HUSD included, make money off of low performing students and schools. That is where the federal money is spent, that is where grant money is spent..There are big bucks in “failure”. HUSD would lose enormous amounts of federal and state money and specialized grant money. Why would HUSD want to raise test scores and get rid of their cash cow?????
February 24th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Kathi, you are completely correct in your assessment of HUSD and, virtually all other school districts. This will get better when the district adopts a more rigid system of student progression. Failure to educate a student should result in change in administration and teachers. The present system will not work now and will not work going forward. Eventually the state will step in and clean house. Until then there is no real hope of transformation.
February 24th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Michael,
Unfortunately, state take over does not guarantee student success and academic progress. Just look at the Katy Murphy Blog and see what poor shape Oakland Unified is in after many years of state management. The community there is tired and angry about the lack of raising test scores for children district wide. They, just like HUSD, have individual schools that are succeeding, but by and large it is no different. The money continues to pore in, consultants are hired to fix things, programs are axed, new ones are adopted, and still there is no change for students..but the money is there for administration and all the trappings that come with “fixing” the systemic problem…remember money in failure=cash cows for districts.
The mentality of the superintendents and other administrative contract people must change and it will not until boards of education and the community demand it in massive demonstrations, calling notice to the lack of vision willingness to let go of the “good ole boys” system in favor of children.
February 24th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Kathi, I think you make terrific points. I know that Oakland did particularly well initially after the receivership started. Lots of healthy change.
That being said I think the model that schools are operated under is wrong. Your call for massive demonstrations is on point and correct. I will be happy to support and stand with you in this. The measure of success is the success of the student, nothing else matters.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Certainly I don’t poor students can’t be educated, since (1) I am poor (2)my kids have been honoroll students. Sometimes I don’t write enough.
Pleasanton’s excuse was that the kids were poor, not mine. I don’t know, maybe I am too old, but it seems to me if you know the subject, it doesn’t matter what kind of test they give you. Clearly, Pleasanton should have been aware they had students who were not going to perform. My guess is they figured there other scores were so high (high 800′s) they didn’t need to bother improving these kids.
Then I look at Hayward with such a high precentage of kids with low test results and realize they have perhaps an impossible job with so many kids to improve.
I have little doubt there will not be success until the whole school atmosphere is changed. Public schools often seem okay with low achieving students. C’s are not okay in every subject.
February 24th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
I apologize for my spelling of late. I will stop using words I can’t spell.
If you apply for a job at the HSUD you use something called Governmentjobs.com and NEOGOV. Am I wrong in assuming this is some kind of paid by HUSD HD source?
February 25th, 2011 at 6:51 am
The most recent video is not up yet, but you can find the other ones after clicking on the “Board of Trustees” link on the new HUSD webpage.
I caught some of Mr. Reynoso’s presentation, and I feel conflicted about it. I mean, of course nobody should be REQUIRED to pay for any of the supplies he mentioned and nobody should be DENIED educational services if they can’t or don’t pay. That part should be clear to all. Kudos to him for raising the issue so we can have a public discussion about it.
The teacher part of me says “Right on!” since I work in a low-income school and came to education from community advocacy work. Actually, at my school we don’t have the practice of passing out a school supply list, although teachers do ask for small donations sometimes in the course of the year (sandwich bags, hand sanitizer, etc.) Our school is a Title I school, and provides the construction paper, binder paper, scissors, pencils, etc. We hold classroom fundraisers and teachers are allowed to use that money for supplies (notebooks, folders, etc.), although most actually use it for field trips and special programs for the kids and pay for said supplies OUT OF POCKET. The teachers I know spend hundreds of $$$ each year on books and supplies for their students, without asking for a cent back from the school or the community. I wonder if it is common practice for people in other professions to provide their own copy paper, desk supplies and other items necessary to do their job?
My son, on the other hand, does not attend a Title 1 school, and the school site’s budget is pretty tight.
the PTA does set up a fund for each teacher for field trips and supplies. The “Mama” part of me realizes that if the district is to pay for all those school supplies (crayons, markers, glue, etc.) then our students will just get the bare minimum. Some kids will bring in extra stuff, which will cause problems in class. I feel like my son is already only getting a basic education by being in HUSD, so I’m happy to contribute in any way I can. If the parents are able to enrich their kids’ education and that’s what they want to do, then why not? I’m tired of all the limits to his potential and education. If some construction paper from me means the teacher will lead the kids in an art project, yippee!
The absolutely most fabulous thing that has happened for kids in HUSD since I started teaching were those “K to College” bags chock full of supplies. All the kids in my school got one, and it has completely broadened the scope of what we can do as a class. First of all, I no longer have to provide binder paper for kids to do their homework. A huge time and money saver. Second, I can assign more engaging and creative family involvement projects for homework (like making a poster about a story we read or a concept we studied in science, create a character puppet, etc.) because I know students have the supplies to complete them. Finally, parents have told me they are using those mini-whiteboards to help their children with their math. Hey, any help doing my job is certainly welcome! Of course the students and I wrote thank you letters to the organization, but when I saw the CEO at the board meeting a few weeks ago, I wanted to kiss him right there and then. Luckily I was watching from home
February 25th, 2011 at 7:30 am
Qodrn
Thank you for clarifying that for me. When I don’t know, I ask questions.
February 25th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Booth und Moore:
At #13, #14 #15 & #16 above, you both ‘go off’ on a line tangent to both earth and moon… somewhere in space, God only knows where you are really headed.
At #13 Ms Booth prattles…”There are big bucks in failure” school districts “make money off of low performing students” as “that is where Federal money is spent” and “that is where grant money is spent“….. “there are big bucks in failure’ —- “ why would HUSD want to raise test scores and get rid if their cash cow.”
In his extreme display of sycophancy, Mr. Moore jumps in at # 14 with “Kathi (Kathy ?) ..“you are completely correct in your assessment of HUSD and, ( , comma after the conjunction word ?) virtually all other school districts.”
Obviously flattered by Moore‘s attention Ms. Booth, at #15 then ‘piles on another load’, ( as that expression is used and heard on dairy farms,).
What both of those folks ignore, purposely in Booth’s case, is the simple fact that Pleasanton succeeds with it’s educational efforts
through the collaboration of it’s City Council, in it’s practice of denying compliance with ABAG’s levy of low income housing.
Find proof of that statement in the SF Chronicle article found in it’s March 17, 2010 story about Pleasanton’s loss in court when Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch found that prosperous City of 68,000, at fault for the voter approved cap on housing…. all as a means of avoiding the annoyance of compliance with ABAG’s attempts at introduction of low income housing quotas/
I had raised a point in HUSD’s problem with truancy and transience when questioning the April 5, 2010 article, published in all of the ANG Newsgroup’s newspapers. That story, published on April 5, 2010 and authored by Paul Burgarino, dealt with the count of parolees living in Alameda County. It seems that Oakland and Hayward bear the brunt of problems, associated with the presence of parolees, in disproportionate numbers when compared with other cities. Did you know that Pleasanton has suffered through the period of time occurring in 2009 when the count of parollees in that City totaled 15! We are not to worry their count in 2010 was reduced to 5. Yes, just 5 in 2010 compared to Hayward’s 514 down from 582 reported in Burgarino’s story of April 5, 2010
Hayward’s zip code # 94541, in 2010 enjoyed a count of parolees of just 215, down 10.04% from the previous year of 239.… I am sure that will be a shock to Ms. Booth who lives in that zip code area just as I do! Zip code AREA 94542 suffered an increase in 2010 and now suffers the presence of 20, (probably white collar types since, it is believed, that the ordinary ruffian would not be permitted, in the Highlands area particularly. ( especially since the latter ‘type’ in many cases returns to flatland Hayward where low income housing is more readily available snd where those with wife and kids can be assumed presently located.
94544 is down to just 139..a 26.06% drop from the previous year while 94545 sees presence of 140 parolees, up 25% from the previous year.
Well, you add ‘em up and compare it with the number found in the April 2010 article by Paul Bergamino of the ANG staff. In his article Oakland prospered with the presence of just 2,229. Gee…. My count after pouring through the tallies prepared by Urban strategies council’s extensive list of the many zip codes in Oakland, suggests that Oakland’s share of parollees has slumped considerably. I count just 2,037 in the report dated April 6, 2010 produced by the “Urban Stategies Council” report dated May 7 2010.
The presence of parolees has an affect upon test scores.. Keep in mind that a typical release of guys on parole finds 40 % back in the slammer within 12 months of release….and at end of 3rd year the count rises to a number to just 52%…..
Our State Dept of Corrections does not follow or track parolees after their third year! They are then free from supervision! The Corrections Dept did a study of those released in year 2005 reflects only 39% after the first year which rises only 49.06% at conclusion of the second year of release! At conclusion of third year the number is just 51.9 %. Well by golly you better believe it because that is all that you get from Dept of Corrections which produced a majot, magazine of high quality production in color in yar 2009. It went on endlessly with photos of the newer prison facilities, pictures of the leadership etc… a costly bit of printing. Available on the internet but I advise against printing it out due to the loss of colored ink… at you ‘wealthy taxpayers’ expense.
I suspect they dared publish that magazine as an attempt to refute the Public interest group of Southern California which=h seems to maintaine the foggy idea that recidivism after five years
Howebver, folks involved with a study performed by a Southern California group claims that they Have data demonstrating recidivism rates between 65% and 70%. After five (5) years.
Booth, a heavy contributor of nonsense since her first appearance on the blog in Aigist 2010, told me, in more than one instance that I was on the wrong track in my belief that parolees do have children
and that recidivism plays a significant role in HUSD’s truancy and ADA problem.
Ms. Booth, you have little appreciation of that problem; do some real research for a needed appreciation of the nonsense in the aforementioned contributions numbed 13, 14, 15 etc
February 25th, 2011 at 9:54 am
Teachermama,
I understand your conflicted feelings regarding the entire fees issue. The very reason that supply budgets have been cut to the bare bones is because the district, through its unsuspecting teachers, has guilted the parents into providing the items for them. The law is clear, parents may purchase/provide for their students, or donate, anything they wish, however schools cannot state for example; “to complete this assignment you will need to use a calculator at home” or “pe clothes must have the school logo, you may purchase them from our pe department, or request a used set from your teacher, without the proper pe attire you will receive a dress cut”…or “for my math class you will need a scientific calculator”..or “for my class you will need a 3 ring binder, dividers, colored pencils and highlighters”.
Student grades/progress cannot be tied in any way to their ability to supply those. Teachers can still send out wish lists, parents and community members can still donate…HUSD cannot balance its budget on the backs of teachers and families.
Finally, teachers must not believe the administration when they say “needy students may apply for waivers or scholarships to cover costs”…A student’s financial need is private and, except in the case of free and reduced lunch, NO SCHOOL OFFICIAL may require a student to reveal the financial status of their family.
This has been settled law since 1984 under the Hartzel decision…and it is now supported by the recent ACLU case.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Just for clarification for others who read this blog. When I have commented on the idea of parolees being the direct cause of truancy it was specifically to answer a claim by another blogger that as soon as parolees are released into a community, the truancy rate jumps. I simply opined that I thought that children of those who were incarcerated were in the community during the parent’s prison time, and therefore wondered how a parole would suddenly equal a rise in truancy from their childred. I “tongue in cheek” asked did the blogger think that these children were some how locked up too and not released into the school community until the adult in there life was paroled.
Thakn you for the opportunity to clear this up.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Booth;
Balderdash! You never went on in your coomets as you stated above!If so give me the date of that submission! Be accurate I have no time to wade through the trash you posted when going on about certain candidates to HUSD Board of trustees.
You do save that trash in your word processor, do you not ?
February 25th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
I don’t believe that I addressed my posting to any one individual. Nor do I believe that I have to do as I am told to do by one individual.
February 25th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Booth;
Then you loose just as you did with # 13 above…. your irrisponsibility is not defended by your response to my critaue at # 21 above.\
How do you like the stats at zip code 94541 ?
Now just for the pleasure of it, be reminded that I did not say that truanxcy problems start and end with the day that dad came home nor on the day he was picked up as nother number in the recidivism column.
February 25th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Mr. Kyle, you seem to be the only one who makes no effort to avoid personal attacks on this blog. I don’t understand what is going on with you. You seem to have some information to share and then you alienate the people you are sharing it with. What do you hope to accomplish that way? How’s it working for you?
February 25th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Blair:
SCroll back to # 13 and tell me why you would defend that diatribe. iF YOU FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT OFFENDS ASELL AS DO HARM THE WHOLE COMMUNITY…..THEN PERHAPS YOU OUGHT SEEKJ COUNCELING ALSO.
February 25th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
bLAIR ASELL???? TRY READING IT ‘AS WELL …’
February 25th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Mr. Kyle:
Have you noticed how pretty much everybody who is contributing to this blog refers to the other porters either by their first name, their “handle, or as Mr. So and so, or Mrs. Whatever.
Your postings, addressed to “Blair”, or “Booth” , or “Moore” come across as quite condescending, and the over use of capitals makes it seem like you are yelling at folks.
Why can’t you make your contributions, valuable and informative as they are, without at the same time talking down to, yelling at, and just plain being rude to others and their opinions on this blog?
I think your ideas would be better received…
February 25th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Kathi, thank you for your comments in no. 22. That sounds entirely reasonable.
February 25th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
Teachermama and any one else who may care:
The law in essence is so simple, yet somehow explaining what has happened in the effort to circumvent it is extremely difficult. We have all been working under the collective thought that it was our responsibility to provide supplies for our children to succeed/progress academically, or pay for them to have positive extra curricular experiences.
Here is something else that we must be aware of regarding fees for extra-curricular school sponsored events and how they have become exclusionary…
The Jr. Prom and Sr. Ball and Grad Nite are now held off site and the cost to attend is very high, even when families try to economize. For those of us who can pay the costs, though it may be hard, our children attend and have that experience…for those who do not have the financial wear-with-all their students just don’t even consider making it a part of their high school life; the just opt out. The CA Constitution and Ed Code, as proved by the ACLU lawsuit, prohibits these costs to individual students. It is either all go or none go. No waivers, no scholarships requiring students to reveal their family’s financial state may be used. Students and families cannot be required to provide such information.
I am sure this is hard for all to believe, but once again it is part of the collective thought/belief that we have lived under for years…We, who can, just do it and think little about all those who cannot participate. If we do stop to think, we most often conclude that it must be because they don’t want to go.
As we all begin to process this very important issue I am sure that there are other areas where students are required to pay or disclose financial hardship.
I have personally been fighting this fight for 3 decades now and I am hoping that there will be others, many others, who will stop and think and demand that HUSD and all districts stop supporting a two tiered educational system for our children.
February 25th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
All,
None of you have disected the thoughts of Ms. Kathy Booth… as she expressed them in her blog submissio0n at # 13 above.
Why is that?
I did not at ant time state that p[arolees increase the truancy factor from the moment of their arrival in Oakland or Hayward. They are however a factor in the truancy and transience problem; note that Pleasanton has historicall avoided ccreation of low income housing wiythin it’s boundataries oc City and school District.
I seriousl suggest that you all watch the HUSD website recoprding of the meeting of Februarey 23w, 20011. Notethat I was the first of the ‘public comment speakers’ and I delivered a monolg=ue relating to my expeirience whemn watching a grandchild’s graduation at the Amphitheater in ASlameda County Fairgroaunds when the Supt./ got up to address the graduates as well as the audience of parennts and relatives attending… The amphitheater is large and was ‘packed’ even to the point that folks were seated on the stairs and standing at the access paths and fence line enclosing the facility.
He went to the microphone, stood for a moment, then raising his extended arm amd fingers, pointing to the west and stated…. “are you not glad that your children did not attend that school district on the other side of those hills?”… a moment of silence ensued while the dim wits coped with the expression of disdain the man delivered against Hayward and it’s school district… then, for almost two minutes the crowd yelled, whistled, clapped, stomped their feet in total appreciation of whhat the man had said…
A terrible indictment of Pleasanton folk.. supported by their open contempt for low income housing etc….
I put kathy Booths comment at item 13 on thesame level of contempt as I diid for that Superintenden of Schools in Pleasanton…..
If blog readers see me as a thorn in the community… so be it! That is their problem,. not mine! I think it to be righteous indignation, raised up by inappropriate expression of contempt for the HUSD Trustees, teachers,administrartors as well as the folks who elected the trustees.
If you do not like my scribbles and attitude… do not read what I write! I hold no gun to your head!
February 26th, 2011 at 12:42 am
Kathi et All:
Sorry for the long post.
I’m still trying to make sense of what is going on regarding fees and what teachers are supposed to do to do their job.
My wife teaches at a HUSD title one school and I know she personally finances both supplies and field trip fees to the tune of many hundreds (if not over a thousand) of dollars every year for her students. Without her contributions her class would simply not get to go on field trips, and many class projects would just not happen.
I have a teaching background as well. I have taught at CSUH, Diablo Valley College and Chabot College and I’m currently assisting in teaching a sculpture class at Chabot. We are having to deal with the same issues. Back in the old days the students paid a fee to cover their materials and other costs of producing their work.
Under the new laws (or newly enforced law) we can’t charge a fee to participate in the class, but the college will not give us a budget to finance the materials for the class.
In my particular case I’m in working with about 10 students learning to sculpt with bronze. The range of their expenses for being in the class could range from $150-$600 (if they take advantage of buying their materials in bulk, but that is another can of worms from the organizational point of view….)
If we can’t charge the students for the materials they need to practice with as per the law, and the state or federal government will not pay for these supplies…
Who is supposed to pay for this?
Me?
One interesting spin on this whole situation is that the students I deal with are both retirees who are fully capable of financing their own artistic retirement, as well as young folks who really couldn’t afford to learn the craft…
How do you determine who really needs help and doesn’t if you can’t ask for details of their financial situation?
My daughters are now attending a new public charter school in Hayward (Golden Oak Montessori) and the school is currently having fund raisers that will help out those who need financial aid to cover field trip expenses, that way nobody is excluded…
Unfortunately not all public schools have the fund raising prowess to do this.
Kathi- I would be curious to hear your thoughts about this…
At which point do we as a society stop or keep subsidizing the learning of our youth, young adults, and retirees?
How do we as a society draw the line without asking questions?
February 26th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Fernando,
I believe that at the Community College level and at the Adult School level, fees, particularly those for projects that will be kept by the students are entirely permissible. I believe that is also the case for K-12 students who fabricate projects and then take them home. The very sad part of this is that we all know that many students residing in our school districts are living in homes where finances are stretched beyond imaginable limits. However, these students have every right to participate in all aspects of the K-12 education, regardless of their ability to pay, and certainly without ever having to disclose their inability to pay.
School districts must find the way to fund supplies, instead of placing the responsibility on the backs of teachers and parents, who by the way already fund public education through their taxes.
I have no magical answers; it will take the work of many minds, dedicated to solving this issue. Fundraising, corporate partnerships, community donations, reducing administrative costs in district offices are all ways to consider. Getting kids back in their seats so that we may regain lost ADA wouldn’t hurt either. It truly is time for the greater community here in Hayward to see that a two tiered system of education based upon the ability to pay is wrong. It is just another form of “separate but equal”. It may be happening a more subtle way, but never the less it is discriminatory.
Having represented students from financially stressed families, I know first hand what it is like for the student who can’t afford the mandatory PE attire to be forced to wear used ones from the box in the locker room, after they have been made to disclose their financial need. I know what it is like for the student who would never dream of going to DC for the Close-up trip. Knowing they could not pull together enough money to pay their own way and too proud to have to admit their family was “poor”, these students just don’t bother.
Finally, while I understand the true concern and dismay in the last line of your entry…I am concerned with children, K-12 students, who should NEVER be made to feel “less than”; asked to explain family finances; required to bring a note from their parents explaining family need; or in any other way treated differently due to circumstances over which THEY absolutely have no control.
February 26th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Mr. Hernandez;
What I herewith suggest is not thought by me to be applicable to the activity in which you are presently engaged. AIt does seem to me that there are opportunities for application for high school students liovihng life in low incomew status but capable of success at college level who might, under their presentt circumstances are probably shut out.
There is presently existing a spreading example which was started in Chicago in 1994 andat last report in lastreport provided me had spread to a total of 24 locations about four of which are located in California.
May I suggest that you use the internet to find the Home page of “Cristo Rey Schools, Chicago Illinois. Google will carry you thedre.
Ar Cristo Rey schopols, those attending are purposely drawn from low income areas where public school asttendence isd sporadic to say the least.
I will not provide all details but by using Google to reach ” Cristo Rey Schools, Chicago Illimois, the home page will soon appear. The last time I looked the quick insight is found in the links at center of page near the end of the fitrst column. You will be looking for “60 minutes” program video of about 12 minutes duration as a means of gaing a quick insight.
Started by a Jesuit in a very p[opore neighborhood… kids go to school just four days per week…. on an extended day period of time. on the fifth day they report to a job location for whivch they are paid…….I’ll let you exp;ore that opportunity and if you thonk it has vali=ue persue the idea……any way you can!
Do not approach the CATHOLIC DIOCESE FORE AIS AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME. dIOCES STARTED BUILDING A cATHEDRAL AND WAS CAUGHT IN THAT MOMENT OF TIME WHEN INCREDIBLE INCREASE IN BUILDING MATERAILAS OCCURRED WHEN cHINA CAME TO us FOR SUPPLY OF pORTANDCEMENT ETC….. oUR LOCAL AGGREGATE QUARRIES HAD BEEN GIVIN OUT AND NOW AGGREGATE COMES FROM KING cITY AREA, OR SO i AM TOLD. ( fOLKS IN sUNOL APPARENTLY AVOIDED THAT AREA BEING USED FOR AGGERGATE….SALT FREE AS WELL AS SILT FREE IS SCARCE ALSO AND i AM TOLD MUCH OF WHAT WE USE IS BARGED FROM bRITISH cOLOUMBIA… THUS DID EXPENSE OF cATHEDRAL GET OUT OF HAND ONCE THE STRUCTURE WAS STARTED…. SI dIOCESE WHICH MIGHT AT ONE TIME HAVE BECOME INVOLVED NOW COJMPETES WITH OTHER GOOD CAUSES FOR DONO=RS AND WLL APPARENTLY NOY TURN TO cRISTO rEY cONCEPT AS MEANS OF PROVIODING EDUCATION TO LOW INCOME CHILDREN IN cRISTO rET FASHION
MY PRESENT THOUGHT IS TO CHALLENGE THE NON-CATHOLIC COMMUNITY TO PICK UP ON THE IDEA… IT IS NOT COPYRIGHTED AND SURELY PERSONS OF FAITH OTHER THAN THE cATHOLIC fAITH WILLSEE THE BENEFIT OF ADVANCED EDUCATION FORE KIDS WHO LACK THE OPPORTUNITY…
WHY WAIT FOR CATHOLICS….???? cARRY THE BALL INTO THE EDUICATIONAL ARENA AND CHALLENGE OTHER FAITH GROUPS?
AS A STARTER TURN TO GOOGLE TO ‘WIRE IN’ TO A GREAT IDEA!
February 26th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Hi Mrs. Booth,
I too have much concern for all of the children in HUSD. I can imagine the hurt children may experience because they can’t afford to attended important school sponsored events like the senior ball. What might be a solution for a problem like that? Fund raising on that level seems impossible.
P.S. I heard the Mt. Eden choir has been invited to the Vatican to perform at a music festival in 2012. It’s unlikely they will go because of the cost. That’s really unfortunate, what an experience that would be.
February 26th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Observer — It’s true about the choir, we had a story about it in January: http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17102097
February 26th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Dear Observer,
This issue is not one that is easy to comprehend or to deal with, but it is vital.
This predicament was created by HUSD many years ago when, they decided to approve and support holding these “rights of passage” at off-site and distant destinations. Had the administration and the board denied the first request and any that followed,the idea that 15-18 year olds NEED the experience of a hotel in San Francisco; a buffet filled with food that most don’t really enjoy; at a cost that is prohibitive would have been moot.
What needs to happen now is the community, the city leaders, the chamber of commerce, local philanthropists-all of whom say they care about ALL students in Hayward, need to put their money and their action where their mouths are; instead of sitting back in judgement and complaining about the sad state of our youth. THE EXPRESSION “WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY” IS TRUE…
As for the Mt. Eden Choir, I feel bad that the students will not have the opportunity to travel to Italy to perform. However, there are ways that perhaps funding can become available. Why not appeal to the greater music community, to the greater performing arts community, to philanthropic organizations?
It does not make me happy that school districts, and in our case HUSD administrators, have created the mess that we now find ourselves in. But, I am not willing to just throw my hands up and give up, and I am certain most of the people in our community aren’t either.
February 26th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Silent Observer;
There was a proposal to have a ‘Town Hall Meeting’ at which voluinteers might have come forward to express ideas about fund raiosing. However, some elemnets in the community riculed that idea.
One of it’s goals was to et5sablish a group which would have built on the idea of ooster Club enlargement.
Some semi-professional nay sayers put the ‘kibosh’ on thge idea through this here BLOG.
The same types ALSO WAIL ABOUT THE POOR KIDS WHO ARE UNABKLE TO EXPERIUENCE A ‘PROM’ HERE IN hAYWARD….. “GAY PROM” WORKED FO A WHILE BUT THAT DIED FOR LACK OF NTEREST ALSO!
iN MY DAY WE ‘SAVEWD UP’ FOR MONYHS AGEAD OF THE DAY… SOME WENT TO THE MAUSELEUM AT CEMETARY AND BORRIED A CORSWAGE OFF THE WALLS.
February 26th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Mr. Kyle, in anser to you question in #28 about Ms Booth’s posting on #13, I don’t feel I have to defend Ms. Booth, nor do I think she should have be verbally abused for stating her opinion whether we agree or not.
I agree with you that some may find what she said to be offensive, but she did not direct her comments at any one person. You on the other hand address personal insults to people. You telling me that if I disagree with you I should seek counseling is just such an insult. Surely you don’t believe you are the measure of my sanity.
Again, please control your emotional need to abuse people who are trying to have a conversation on this blog. You are better than that.
February 26th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Bl;air;
I consider item # 13 as slander ! If you defend it…. are you not open to critcism also?
February 26th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
I really appreciate the interest shown here about the free school issue. The more we talk about it truthfully and transparently the better. That’s how consciousness gets raised and compassion is increased.
Teachermamma, I too sympathize with the front line teachers. I hope you will have these conversations at your school with other staff members and parents. How many times parents have stood with teachers. My own children and I walked the picket lines with teachers here in Hayward years ago. Will the teachers be with the children on this one? Will anyone dare to tell the high school students the truth?
I have watched the state fight with cities and counties over funds. Everyone is looking out for themselves. Where is the conversation about best use of limited funds?
When the city needed money, it didn’t hesitate to ask the people to raise their taxes to pay for fire fighters and police. And we the people gave them what they needed!
Now the city is afraid of losing redevelopment funds. I don’t hear them being concerned about the schools and social services that might need those funds more than they do.
The district has been neglecting its fiscal responsibility for providing equal opportunity in the schools. It seems it’s perfectly all right if those students who are supported by parents get to do all they want without sacrifice, but those who’s parents don’t support them, whether they have money or not, are destined to be pushed out and left behind. Is that what we want for future generations?
All this is happening at a time when the economy is so bad that families are losing jobs and being thrown out of their homes.
Our community does not lack in compassion. Many people try to help, teachers contribute, the Ed Fund helps, the k-college program helps. But if the district keeps saying there is no problem, how can we expect people to rise to the challenge?
What we need is a community wide effort to collect the funds that are necessary – like Castro Valley has been doing.(Not that they aren’t also charging illegal fees – they are.)Instead, our mayor talks about how bad the schools are and how it is affecting property values.
Where is our leadership? If people knew the truth about this issue, if the district hadn’t lied to so many people about how it isn’t a problem, Hayward would solve the problem!
We would do it like a family does it. How many of us belonged to families that had a hard time at least once in our lives? Did our families say they were going to leave us behind? No, when times are tough, families share the resources and work to set good priorities.
We can do it…if we chose to open our eyes and hearts.
Oh and one more thing. I haven’t kept current on Title I, but it was meant to be to help schools with low income students. It was well intentioned, but the way they distributed the funds caused a lot of problems setting schools and students against each other in a competitive system where there are winners and losers. We need a system where all the students are winners.We need to meet the real needs of individual students.
February 26th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
Mr. Kyle,
Who has #13 slandered?
February 27th, 2011 at 6:26 am
Ms. Blair;
In Reply to #44….
Try examining these thoughts…
Those who come to mind are the Trustees, The enployess in administration of the District and the electorate who rule over the choices for a seat on Board of Trustees, whom Ms. Booth apparentloy despises.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Number 13 is true and clear to all, although not limited to HUSD. Mr. Reynoso is always talking about the industry of failure – how many jobs for consultants, “service providers” (tutors) and others are created and subsidized by students’ low performance on the CSTs? Let’s be real, these people are not going to work themselves out of a job and actually raise student performance. If I understand it correctly, the district has to divert some of its Title I money to these educational vultures, so then I guess the district needs the fancy “underperforming” grants to make up for it and more. It makes me sick the way the tutoring companies bribe kids and parents with food, trinkets, etc. to get them to sign up, since they make $ per head. And the consultants are just opportunists cashing in.
Number 13 did make me think, though, that if there is not a collective commitment to raise student performance, then it is beyond ironic that policymakers and media outlets are calling for test scores to make up part of teacher evaluations and are being used for public shaming a la the LA Times. This must be part of a larger effort to de-unionize and reduce educational costs or advance the privatization agenda. Thanks for helping me make that connection. I love this blog!
February 27th, 2011 at 9:37 am
Mr. Kyle, again without even getting into whether or not I agree with Ms. Booth which is irrelevant to this discussion,I do not think the statements in #13 were slanerous. I think that one must be very careful in accusing people who are exercising their right to free speech. If you were successful in this attempt, it would have a chilling effect on all of us. We are Americans and we get to speak out when we believe the government is wrong or oppressive.
My point throughout this discussion is that your use of personal attacks against members of this group is unacceptable. You may disagree with us, but your attacks are unwarranted and unwanted by anyone else on this blog. I am not going to keep debating this issue with you forever. Please try to understand what I am saying. We teach this early in the elementary schools. I know you can get it if you will try.
February 27th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Mrs. Booth,
On #13 you are absolutely right! I heard the grant lady at the district said that we have the “perfect formula” of student/diversity/low performance/SES to bring grants to Hayward.
Do we have transparency regarding these grants? I have not heard of a Board Study Session for YEP, Americorp.
I hope the new board members come on board with Mr. Reynoso about this.
Title I money? Ha! Only 15 percent is suppose to be for Adm. The rest belongs in the classroom. We need a Board study session on this too!
Where is the transparency on Title I and other federal categorical funds? Parents, teachers and students along with the board of education must ask for complete disclosure, including positions, placements,and salaries. Me may not have to cut anything if we become a transparent district.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Lucy’s Mom,
That is exactly what I was trying to say in my posting about money in failure. Do any of us as parents or teachers want our students to continue to underperform? Of course not..but it does seem to be a way for administration at the DO to keep and justify their jobs.
I truly hope that the newly elected board members begin to demand information, not in “education speak” but in clear understandable language, regarding all of the programs, grants and funding sources.
Years ago the parents of Longwood School filed a formal complaint regarding misuse of Title I money. They did their homework, collected documentation and evidence and WON their complaint. It was a long hard battle, filled with retribution and intimidations on the part of HUSD, but the school administration and DO was found to be supplanting money. It takes determination and parents who want laws to be followed, children to come first, and transparancy to make changes. And then it requires those very same parents to continue to monitor HUSD, because if they don’t the “bad stuff” just returns to harm another generation of children.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Mrs. Blair;
You owe it to yourself to review some basic matters which have appeared in # 43.
Start by improving your understanding of redevelopment funds. If those funds appear to have been directly employed in the redevelopment of the Burbank school… that is an appearance but not a fact. The redevelopment money was used in redevelopment of the Hunt’s Cannery land parcel; redevelopment money was used to provide funds for the site of low income residential property at the Corner of Grand and C Street. There are those additional enhancements to the City, to be considered in the vacated portion of the old Burbank school playground upon which the developer is awaiting a more favorable market. Some of the Redevelopment money was invested in the new HARD Park, which came as result of abandonment of a portion of City Streets, as an enhancement of value and sales appeal for the housing units currently being built on the former Hunt’s site and the street relocation…that land was sold to developers in whole or in part as that construction continues… recall the curved part of the roadbed which aided truck access to Hunts from A Street
You need to understand that the City did not, could not, spend redevelopment money in direct construction of the new Burbank school. Redevelopment money is spent to improve housing supply as well as enhancement of commercial business conditions.
As a retired real estate appraiser working in major Banks who loaned money for construction of businesses I Have seen and witnessed some pretty involved real estate transactions, but Armas’ triumph staggered my mind! The man is intelligent and the best thing to happen to HUSD in a long time.
Here is a challenge for you… when did you hear the school district say …” There is no problem !” ? I recall being involved with the first edition if Fitag back in the late 1990’s, during the period when a good Supt. was under fire, during the mid point of his four year contract, because he had not solved the low test score problem within those two initial years of his contract..,. when truancy as well as transience was part of a continuing problem. He was also fired as was his predecessor and the two individuals who followed him into that job.
That you as a parent, with others, appear to be suffering some incredible conditions is not a new problem. It has been going on for years! Is it solvable? I think we had a shot at it but the basic problem within the land area for which ’district’ HUSD is concerned, is that portions of the City of Hayward are found in the Union City School District and other portions, Ashland and Fairview, are in the County areas, beyond City limits. It is not legally possible to spend City monies outside the City‘s boundaries. And the ‘ladies of Fairway Park‘, Hayward neighborhood within City limits are actually not within Hayward School District but instead are involved with New Haven School District. So a direct cash investment of City money to HUSD would cause an uproar in Fairway Park and money from City to schools serving the County areas not within the city’s concerns would find some other Hayward residents also upset!
It was for the above concerns that I find myself an ardent admirer of Jesus Armas our school board trustee who, when employed by the City, did a hell of a dance through the maze of laws and regulations in order to achieve the new redevelopment of the Hunt’s Cannery area and creation of a new HARD park and Burbank school.
You state: ‘What we need is a community with efforts to collect the funds— Well now lady, just what do you think I was trying to accomplish with the “Town \Hall Meeting” idea? Booth had not a whisper of thought in her mind when she took a negative position on that idea….. Then the Chamber of Commerce, equally without a clue was too busy to involving itself in organizing a Christmas time Cocktail ‘,mixer party’ while the Chairman of the Board of C of C, took the position, without answering my phone call that FITAG was the cure for all problems! I guess the man did not recognize that FITAG is on it’s second time around ‘the circuit’! I was an invited participant when that idea was first introduced some 15 years ago. Controlled largely by HEA and AOTE as well as SEIU, bargaining units, it failed us in the earlier experience and I fail to see why it will succeed on this occasion.
The losses due to truancy are simply too great! Consider the facts as Mr. Kurhi reported in a recent story. In that story was reveled the fact that at one High School alone, $4,500 per day was lost due to truancy. $4,500 per day x 5 days = $22,500 per week! Do your own math when it comes to losses in spending power for supplies!
In your number #43 you have stated:…’if the District had not lied to so many people about how it isn’t a problem, Hayward would solve the problem.’ Explain that, especially about details of the lie!
If you engage in periodic examination of conscience… you have much in the way of explanation to undertake in duty to yourself!
Good luck with your own children!
February 27th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Kyle,
Not that Ms. Blair needs defending…but you have once again missed what I believe to be the point. I believe she was addressing the Impermissible Fees issue that now faces HUSD. In addition to opining that she felt there were other areas and issues that HUSD has not been less than truthful and transparant about…
You are a one trick pony Mr. Kyle, TRUANCY TRUANCY TRUANCY…PAROLEES PAROLEES PAROLEES…ARMAS THE SAVIOR ARMAS THE SAVIOR…MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY IS YOUR MANTRA.
TOODLES, TTFN, SEE YA BYE MR. KYLE.
February 27th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Mrs Katherine Boot5g;
I nolonger give a ‘tinkers’ damn what you think! Let Ms. Blair speak for herself you darn busybody!
February 27th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Kathi is right, I have been speaking in favor of our community uniting to support our children in free schools and against a system that discriminates against children and suppresses public debate on the issue.
I am sorry people didn’t rise to your suggestions for a town hall meeting. I thought your idea was rather well worked out myself, it just didn’t make me feel very hopeful. You’ll have to ask the others why they didn’t jump on board.
My children are not your business, although I can say that they successfully left HUSD long ago and I am very proud of them all. I am still concerned about all the other children who might learn from our present system that it is all right to be separate and selfish, competing and not cooperating, caring only for themselves.
I am not worried about the district’s losses of money due to truancy. Without the children they are irrelevant. I am worried about what happened to the children both before and after they became truants.
My conscience is also none of your business, but I can assure you that I am guided by my conscience all the time. How about you?
February 27th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Kyle if you are going to refer to me by first and last name why don’t you try to get it right???Or should I change the spelling that has been with me for 60+years because your way is the only right way?
My given name is and was Kathleen…would you like to contact my dead mother and tell her that you have decided that it is Katherine????
It has been a long time since I took you on and now I am sorry that I did. you are a self-centered, self-righteous individual who sucks the air out of every spot you go.
Once again others on this blog..forgive me for getting into the tit-for-tat. Sorry I fell off the ignore him wagon.
February 28th, 2011 at 8:51 am
I’ll bet that felt good, Kathi. You are a master of sarcasm! I’m so glad I’m your friend.
But what is your motive? Is it just about you feeling good? Is it true that you are really sorry about it? Or is that more sarcasm? Is it about revenge? What does it accomplish? As a matter of fact in all the back and forth between you and John Kyle, what good has been accomplished?
I admit it is difficult for me to converse with Mr. Kyle. But I believe he is as human as we are and should be treated with the same respect we expect from him.
I don’t subscribe to the “ignore him” and he’ll go away method. I think that is the cruelest thing a group can do to a person, akin to shunning. It alienates and isolates and is dehumanizing. It certainly doesn’t make people go away.I for one think that is what happened to Joseph A. Stack, the guy who flew into the government building in Austin. It’s what the majority on the old board of education did to Luis fReynoso.
When I first came to this group, I thought Mr. Kyle was so disruptive he should be removed from the group. If you remember, I encouraged Eric to do just that. The Daily Review encouraged Eric to do that too. Yet he has not. Then I tried leaving the group.
Now, I see that I was wrong on both counts. John Kyle and I can communicate. We have been communicating. We have not reached agreement, but that isn’t necessary. I am even getting a feeling for him as a person with stories of his own experiences with reality. They aren’t the same as mine, but they are as valid. Furthermore, the more I listen, the more he calms down and the more clearly he expresses himself.(I’m sorry to talk about you, instead of to you, Mr.Kyle, but it’s the only way I know to do this.)
In a way, I am getting over my fear of even beginning a relationship with him. When I first saw the way he treated you,Kathi, I thought I didn’t even want to be on his radar for fear I too would become a target. I am not so fearful now. I think I could hold my own in my own way. That is bringing me peace with this situation and self confidence in my ability to come to peace in similar situations that my come up in my life.
I would be interested in what others think about this too. Do others see their part in this? Can we as a group find a resolution? And if we can do it here, can we not make peace throughout Hayward?
February 28th, 2011 at 10:16 am
Through with the b log for a while..nothing more to contribute.
February 28th, 2011 at 10:42 am
Sherry, I applaud your fence mending and inclusiveness. That HayWord has not exercised its perogative is telling.
I was tempted to respond in kind to the more venomous posts and have chosen not to. It is not of value to anyone.
I wish that this blog was more inclusive of the things that happen in the community. I have posted on points but evinced no response. I believe that anyone should be able to post.
I believe that HayWord should either retract its blog rules or enforce them. I will continue to read the blog.
February 28th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Thank you Michael. I realize that I don’t always pay attention to what interests other people on this blog. I do know it doesn’t feel good to be totally ignored. I’ll try to be a better “listener” in the future.
March 1st, 2011 at 5:23 am
My apologies to AP Polk and others. The only Board Meeting video currently on the website is Feb. 9.
March 1st, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Thanks for the comment, Sherry! I appreciate your positive attitude. One thing: Where did you hear that the Daily Review was telling me to ban Kyle from the HayWord? Since I never heard that myself, I don’t believe it’s very accurate information.
Michael: I’ve previously said that I’m not averse to posting reader submissions, if they are pertinent to the greater community. But as far as everyone being able to post, well, it’s still a company blog, and I don’t think that’s in the cards.
There’s always another option. Click here to find out more, and I apologize in advance for the smart-assedness.
March 1st, 2011 at 3:37 pm
I didn’t mean to imply that John Kyle had been mentioned by name. What I remember is that you sought advice on the subject of uncivil discourse and were told that you could restrict people who didn’t want to follow your rules. Maybe you could look up your post on that. I think others thought the same thing because the language improved for awhile and people joked about it.
I do appreciate the opportunity your blog offers us. Personally, I do have a blog but it has not attracted much interest. I also created a Facebook page for the People of Hayward, but that didn’t attract interest either.
March 1st, 2011 at 6:51 pm
All: I have a blog as well and it has not generated much response. I have been actively blogging since 2006 and have yet to derive much of a following, about 50.
Eric: It is good for you to post how to do it. That is not the hard part. Getting readers is part of the issue. Please post on how many HayWord has.
We talked at City Hall the other night. It was good, and I mentioned ClayCord as an example of a blog. You indicated then that you thought that ClayCord was about crime. It is not. What it is is a three to five topic a day blog about their community. Obviously HayWord is not that. It is a shame. HayWord could be famous. Look at the San Leandro and San Lorenzo Patch for an example of activity.
I think tolerating the crazies is ok. Deleting access is not.
March 1st, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Is city hall still trying to hit up us citizens with energy saving expenses? Good idea, but wrong time. Wait a little; the equipment will improve and the cost may be less.
Did you know the Chevy Volt retails for $50,000? And you still need gas. Sometimes I think we should just go back to stick shifts.
March 1st, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Qodrn, you have to see “Who Killed the Electric Car?” Great film!
March 2nd, 2011 at 7:50 am
Sherry, Michael — Re: blogs. Give us some addresses so we can see whatcha got!
Re: Restricting people. Back during all that hubbub some months ago, I met with the online folk to discuss HayWord comments. Was decided that behavior didn’t warrant a user block. Remember, online folk deal with a lot of discourse on a lot of blogs, and apparently the HayWord comments don’t compare with the vitriolic and mindless spewings of certain rabid sports fans.
So that’s why I more recently decided to approach it on more of a individual comment level. With the caveat that I’m not going to review comments as they are posted, or even guarantee I’ll get to reading them all every day — don’t always have time for that. I did delete one comment last Friday because it didn’t have any value but to provoke a rise and I thought I might be nipping something in the bud. But the comments blew up over the weekend anyway.
March 2nd, 2011 at 9:04 am
In response to Qodrn, Greg Jones sent a letter that pretty much says what I think. It can be found along with the agenda for the sustainability meeting tonight.
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:31 am
All;
In today’s issue of the Daily Review find my contribution to the ‘Opinion Page’ under “My Word”. This is the third contribution by myself, involving HUSD, to appear in the last 15 months.
I am not boastful but confident of correctness in mind and spirit when I invite comparison of my effort with the vacuous submission which I now refer to as the ‘infamous # 13’ ! ( See it under Mr. Kurhi’s topic entitled….”Open letter from non-profit” etc… )
From about 1987, or about three years prior to voluntary retirement in February 1991, I have been involved, rather deeply, with a number exceeding 25 such ad hoc and/or task force related groups, associated with those two separate administrative entities which use the name Hayward in their descriptive names.
I began after disassociating myself from over 25 years of active parental involvement at parochial schools, at which my children attended. Prior to retirement, personal interest in the problem of noise and persistent low level of arrival and departure flights over Longwood school soon found me involved with the City’s Hayward Airport Noise ordinance committee involved with revisions to the then existent but ineffective noise ordinance. It soon became evident that a certain neighbor was abusive in his opinions and demands to the point that the young assistant to the Airport Manager was obviously distressed by the abusive tones of speech thrown his way by a retired HUSD Teacher
I complained to the Airport Manager as well as the then Chairperson of City Council’s airport committee. She in her turn, saw to it that Airport director with the concurrence of those attending as appointed members of the group, held an election for purposes of selecting a chair for the duration of the group’s appointed purposes. Thus did I begin involvement with a list of task force and / or ad hoc groups which now number over 25 opportunities, which saw my involvement in service to Hayward, over the next 10 to 12 years. Task force or ad hoc groups served the City as well as the schools. At one point, after my involvement with the City’s Longwood/Winton Grove Task force, I began a volunteer effort at maintaining the Longwood School grounds. 20 hours per week for a period of about 18 months until a kidney stone problem knocked me off my feet for awhile. During that absence the soccer league failed to hold up it’s end of our agreement. I had HUSD evict them when I discovered, subsequent to their failure, that it was a semi-pro league and that some participants were being paid as much as $150. per game.
When Hayword Blog was first introduced, I was personally offended by demonstrated poor understanding of contributors who knew nothing of the efforts made by those selected to serve us, through free exercise of the vote privilege.
One wonders why those folks who, having been reticent to serve at anything without pay, as evidenced by failed recognition achieved by reference to specific areas of service, when casting vituperative remarks, fail in the logic which might have been gained by insight at volunteer service opportunities.
Hayward blog has provided nothing towards solution of local educational or civic problems. It ought be abandoned so to provide Mr. Kurhi greater opportunity to do a bit of in depth investigative reporting if he is to succeed at his chosen career. Using the ‘police blotter’ to enable squibs of negativity to Review readers, does nothing for those who use the name of Hayward in their daily endeavors.
Incidentally, I find nothing in the phone book or on real property ownership records, as those appear on the City’s web site, which suggest that Mr. Michael Moore lives or makes contributions of time or his living in Hayward. Does anyone know of his volunteer effort contributions in this locale?
March 4th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Mr. Kurhi;
abot 30 hours have passed since my latest contribution to the blog.
Are you blocking any real response? #6 hours without a Contribution ….from amyone?/
Fold it up and spend your time a bit more usefully!
March 5th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
I am guessing Mr. K. took some time off since someone else covered the robbery of TacoBell/KFC and the person who holed himself up in the appartments. I could be wrong though.
Interesting comments on truancy. Go John!
March 5th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Q0drn’;
Mr. Kothi seems streched with his apparent assignment yoo ‘cover’ Castro Valoley, San Leandro and Hayward… so stretched that he does Hayward, sopecifically Hayward and in advertent but great diservice, most probablt with aithout recognition of the fact.
\
Those constant supplied, short ‘squibs’ seen in the Review which alert all readers to trhe fact that robberies, druig busts, physical assauklts, ateempted mitders… all; with less than 100 words are a constant indicationb that Hayward is not a fit plaxce to live and raise chuildren.
I recently suggested to the man that he spend a half hour with me for the purpose of touring an area of Hayward which would provide him with some interesting reporting material from which he could fashion a highly helpful, proactivestory. No response……..too bad!
So, it looks as though he is so busy with the other stuff to the extent that he is unabkle to find time for a story that might aid his career.
March 6th, 2011 at 1:27 am
You know what? You guys are just being jerks right about now and not even telling the truth. I covered the Taco Bell-KFC robbery and the minor thing about the hole-up guy, Qodrn! Why do you say someone else did?
John, if I read your post correctly, you accuse me of only writing police briefs. I do write police briefs. I write other stories, too. Do you only read the briefs? They’re important. If you were beaten up or shot or stabbed and no one wrote about it, how would you feel? You will also find other stories about Hayward that I have written if you look for them.
Frustrating end to the night. I had a really nice day, plan on having another really nice day tomorrow. Thanks for reading, and take care.
-E.
March 6th, 2011 at 6:20 am
Eric;
I did not accyuse you of ONLT writing stuff from the police blotter.
However, the freequwncy of those ‘squibs’ of informATION IS PRETTY CONSTANT. a CASUAL READER SUCH AS A HIOUSE HUNTING COUPLE, WOULD BE ASSUMED TO NOTICE AND POSSIBLY TURNED AWAY FROM A HOUSE HUNTING SEARCH IHN hAYWARD. tHER ARE DAYS WHEN YOU PUBKLISH AS MANY AS THREE IN THE SAME ISSUE……
nO, I WOUL;D NOT CARE TO HAVE SUCH A STORY PUBLISHED IF i WERE MUGGED ON THE STREET…. LOFEW IN AN INNER cITY CAN BE SOMEWAHT PERILOUS AND AND STREET WISE FOLK AVOID PROVIDING OR BECOMING AN EWASY ‘MARK’.
wHEN i WAS SUPERVISI9NG YOUNG FEMALE APPRAUISERS, IT WAS OFTEN NECESSARY TO MAKE ASSIGNMENTS IN AREAS WHERE CAUTION WAS NECSEESARY…… IN ONE INSTANCE A YOUNG HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE WOMAN INSISTED THAT i PROVIDE ASSIGNBMENTS IN AREAS WHICH i KNEW TO BE RISKY…. i NEVER LET HER KEEP AN APPOINYT,MENT FOR A HOPME AQPPRAISERE IN AFTERNOONS OR EARLY EVENINGS… MUCH TO HER ANNOYANCE… THOSE WERE CATEGORIZED AS APPOINTMENTS TO APPREAISE A HGOME LATER THAN 10:00 AM… IF THAT WAS INCONVENIENT TO THE CLIENT… THE ASSIGNMENT WENT TO A MALE or, SHE HAD To HAVE ONE OF THE FELLAS ACCOMPANY HER UBTIK THE ‘FIELD WORK’ Was done. No id ands or buts !
I gtrew up in Oakland and prior to being transfereed intio the Bank’s appraisal Dept., I was opften ‘sent’ as a substitute into Araes experiencing high crijme rates (to assure full staffuig at a Branch such as West Oakland at corner of 7th and Union (before redeveklopment)… You know what, folks of all color and race etc woukld be held uop shortly after leaving the Branch at conclusion of their business…. one elderly lADY, DETERMINED TO BUY NMEW TIRES INSIDTED ON TAKING CASK TO THE STORE… RETURNED WITHIN AN HOUR AFTER JHER FIRST DEPARTUREE TO WITH DRAW THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE SAME PURPOSE… STOICLY, THAT LITTE,OLD AFRO-ANERICAN GRANDMOTHER STATED…,… ‘IT AINT SAFE FOR US EITHER, HONEY!’
tHERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN LIVING IN A GHETTO AND YOUR ‘SQUIBS’ SEEM TO DEMONSTRATE THAT hAYWARD IS BECOMING A GHETTO!
had you acceptted my invitation for a quick 30 minute tour, you might have found something nor constructive, which possibly would reduce the number of your squibs taken from ythe police boltters.
Tou can write well and constructively….
My recent “My word piece” came on too harsh due to the lead written by tyhe editor of that page. Thedre was substance in the parrt I wrote, the lewqad caught everyone’s eye but SB 1317 is like a wet noodle in the war on truancy since the tools for correct use are not yet in place.
You di a piece on the truancy problem which was excellaent in the fact that the $4m500 daily loss at a single HS due to truancy was $4,500 PER DAY; one hell of a ‘wake’ up call that John Q. Public has missed.
That sort of detail is sorely needed! The press is the single greatest tool available to tyhe sdchool district especially since, in my view, the budget problen is unslovable until the City ansd School District wake up to the pact that low ttest scires are not the resuly of a money problem but should be seenas apolitical problem not as a money problem!
City as well as school district ought combine their efforts to assure a better way to distribute the available ADA money.
Listen to my ‘public comment at the last scgeduled ‘regular’ meeting of HUSD and hear of my experiece while attending graduation of a grandchild from a Pleasanton High School event then combine that with the story aqppearing IN sAN fRANCISCO cHRONICLE ON DATE OF mARCH 17, 2010 WHEN THE jUDGE IN sAN fRANCISCO DECIDED AGAINST pLEWSANTON AND REBUKED THEN FOR DENIAL OF ANY CONSTRUCTION OF LOW INCOME HOUSING WITHIN THAT cITY.
YOU MIGHT FOR STARTERS, REQUEST An interview with Lisa Brunner and hear her explanation of the rationale which prevents bringing suit against parents of a constant Truant.
Good luck… nothing personal intended in criticsm of those ‘squibs’; I apperciate the fact that a newspaper needs ‘space fillers’ but ther are other bits and pieces laying about for that purpose… Like… how is that young Afro American male doing at Harvard… you know,. the kid who went with his class to magic Mountain rather than appear at HUSD Trustee meetrings to receive the ” well Done Plaque or what ever it was in the way fo recognition for yhis 4. + grade poiny average and an acceptance by about a dozen Universities…. recall that he chose Harvard and the all expenses paid support offered by that University….Heez agrade point average in excess of 4.0 in a study ‘track’ that included ,astery of Calculu!… Time for a folow up to that Haywqard High School success story?
March 6th, 2011 at 9:26 am
Eric,
I believe that you are doing your level best to try to cover the happenings in Hayward…There is no way that you can satisfy all the wants of various readers, nor can you dictate what your superiors want to put into print.
March 6th, 2011 at 9:55 am
Eric, stand fast. You are truly appreciated. Keep up the work. The diversity of your posts and writing are wonderful.
March 6th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Eric,
One thing I must say about the Daily Review; I appreciate the fact that has young reporters as yourself, and in the past Kris Noceda, that grew up in the area and have an opportunity to serve our community. Thank you for all you do.
March 6th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Mrs. Booth and Mr. Moore
Am much surprised that you both failed to take a swing at # 67… particularly last poriuon about Mr. Moore’s abode and civic activity.
March 6th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Mrs. Booth;
With tomorrow’s post I( will mail yopu a single leafe of paper produced by the Urban StARTEGY cOUMNCIL WHICH DISPLAYS THE LOCATION OF TWO GROUPS OF OFFEBDERS;
iST gROUP IS THAT OF ‘pTOBATIONERS’
2ND GER4OUP IS THAT OF THE PAROLEES: iT LISTS THE SEPARATE COUNTS BY ZIP CODE. IT MIGHT PROVE INTERESTING TO COMAPARE THAT WITH THE MOST RECENT cENSUS bUREAU8 DATA TO GAGE WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A TREND, ASSUMING WE HAVE A COPY OF THE CENSUS DATA ON FILE AT CITY CLERK’S OFFICE AND OR tHE COUNTY OFFICESC
PLEASE RESPOND BY BLOG BEFORE 2:00 PM ON MONDAY THE 7TH OF MATCH? YOUR ANSWER MIGHT MEAN SAVING OR EXPENDING COST OF A POSTAGE STANP.
March 6th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Mr. Kyle,
Once again I am reaffirming my request DO NOT SEND ME ANYTHING VIA THE MAIL OR DELIVER ANYTHING TO MY HOUSE. Ihope this is the last time I will have to tell you this.
March 6th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Mrs. Booth;
T Ithought you might be interested in the numbers of ‘Probationers’ as well as parolees’ libving in zip coed area 904541 and then weigh that with the truancy rate test scores of Longwood School etc.
But since you mind is closed to everything but the opportunity for licentious remarks on the blog…. I get the message; So. poor lady. return once again to trivia, as is your demonstrated wont!
March 6th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Regarding Wednesday’s BOE meeting: The agenda is filled with many items concerning “pink slip” notices for employees. One in particular deals with the administrative staff at the district office. It is my hope that Mr. Armas will recuse himself from discussion, deliberation and voting on this item since it directly affects a position held by his spouse. To not do so is constitutes a conflict of interest.
Mr. Armas tread a very fine line at the last meeting when he participated in a discussion of furlough days for district administrators..While his discussion and ultimate suggestion was very well thought out and made a good deal of sense, it could never the less be seen as a conflict of interest, since his spouse’s position was one that would be affected by board action.
Hopefully, Mr. Armas will do the right thing and allow his colleagues to determine the vote without him.
March 6th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Ms. Booth;
It is my hop-e that you will reach into your interior self, then grope around to find the courage to present your self at public comments at the appropiate moment in the discussion on ‘pink slips’ ND RAISE YOUR CONCERN IN mR. aREMAS PRESENCE.
oF cORSE THAT ASSUMES THAT YOU ABANDON THE PRACTICE OF ‘SNIP0ING’ THROUGH THE BL;G OPPORTUNITY.
iT’S A QUESTIO0N OF COURAGE ON YOUR PARET!
March 6th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
bOOTH… SORRY FOR THE MIS=SPEWLLINGS BUT TIRED 80M YEAR OLD EYES ARE A FACTOR!
March 7th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
I agree with all of Eric’s supporters. Keep up the good work, Eric.
I also believe that Kathi has brought up an interesting question about Mr. Armas. Without having done any researcch myself, it does have the appearance of a conflict of interest to me. Further, whether or not it is a legal conflict doesn’t really matter once the people have lost faith in their representatives.
March 7th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Sherry and Kathi, how can you think that just because a husband a wife benefit from the decisions of the husband, and the family is dependent on both salaries, that there could be even a whiff of controversy. Sorry for the sarcasm. You and Kathi are correct, Mr Armas should recuse himself from the complete discussion and vote and refrain from even being present. But my guess is that he will not and the BOE will swing back to what it was last summer and fall: combative, ineffective, opaque, ineffective and the standing joke of the East Bay.
March 7th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
All: Oh my !
The contributors of the last two items above sem to overlook the fact that some unknon cause of antagonism exists between Mr. Armas and Ms. Booth. The lady has been highly critical of Mr Amas from the day when she first started contributing items to the nlog in early August of 2010, about four full months after Arnmas was selected as replace,ment for the departed Sarah Gonzalez.
Perhaps some comflicts occurred between the two when He was City Manager and she a member of City personnel commission. Who knaows, I only speculate for ythe l;ack of any suggestion which would explaine the antagonism by those opposed to Mr. Armas.
I personnaly know the man by his actions such as the masterpiece of political knowledge and personal administrative skills used in aiding of HUSD with the Burbank School redevelopment… a fact which I have discussed earlier in this blog.…. As well as the unsolicited assistance he provided to a project which became the ‘Site Resident’ program at Longwood School which saw majpt suucces in elimination of %50,000 pet year at Longwood alone, mow abandoned by now departed ‘ewcomers to administration’. That which was offered to Longwood School, as repalcemet for the site resident, after gaining posession of the cottage, has been unsuccessful….. and a major pain to my own sense of justice often expressed which involves the area in which Ms. Booth lives.
Armas is tuned into the community…. I unabashedly admire him for his alertness, and willingness to dig in and contribute untold hours for a pittance even at the now abandoned previous prevailing rate of remuneration now about halved, due to complaits from she who wanted revovery of untold sums…from all previous Trustes that we were to nbe able to locate……util reminded that her husband, a single term member of the HUSD Board of Trustees would also have to give back 48 months of overpaid stipend amounting to someting near $15,000.
From that point on we saw nothing more to read about the refund but the antagonism towards the Appointment of Mr Armas, begun in August of 2010 continues…. But now finding support from those whose contributions of well being expressed in deeds, remain refused to City and School District. They seem to remain limited to future ’carping’ about what should be done, or removed from action lists.
March 8th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Mr. Kyle, I do not think Mrs. Booth’s personal relationship with Mr. Armas is a matter for this blog.
None of us is in a position to make those judgments.
I can see that you are an Armas supporter. I do not take issue with that either. I believe we should support the people we elect to serve.
Your enthusiasm goes too far when you feel you must go beyond your feelings and begin to vilify those who don’t agree. Furthermore, it is for Mr. Armas’s own good to get these underlying issues out in the open where they can be settled rather than kept undercover where they fester and undermine the good he would do. I encourage him to raise the issue himself and clear the air for all of us.
March 8th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
mS.;
SO OME WOULD THINK ! tHE PROBLEM IS ONE OF bOOTH’S OWN MAKING FOR IT IS SHE WHO ALMOST FROM THE GIT GO WAS CRITICAL OF MR. ARMAS. IT WAS BOOTH WHO WAS MOST WHO SUPPORTED A VICIOUS ‘NOM DE PLUME’ TYPE USING THE NAME OBAMA NEW AGE WHO ATTACKED armas and who went on to accuse me…. of stralking her daughter and it was booth who suggested to obama new age that she take that complaint to hpd.
ut is booth who ‘dismisses’ Armas for his effort in bringing about the new burbank school and it is booth who raises the ‘slight’ by suggesting that Armas ought be ‘watched’ for possible refusal ti recuse himself from an issue on Wwednseday night’s agenda at husd.
Is it possible that while Booth waS ON CITY’S PERSONNEL; cOMMISSION, THAT SHE TANGLES WITH ARMAS?
HER COMMENTS SEETH WITH INUENDO AHEN THEW NAME ARMNAS IS INTRODUCED.
bE CAREFUL THAT IN YOUR DEFENSE OF BOOTH THAT YOU ARE NOT PAINTED WITH THE SAME TARBRUSH!
March 8th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Kyle,
Rather than speculate why don’t you ask Mr. Armas all of those questions. I am sure he will be more than willing to give you honest answers.
March 8th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
H;
BETTER YET, DO NOT CEITICIZE OR SPECULATE ON IMAGIBED OFFENSES UNTIL AFTER THE OFFENSE !