Comments on: MDUSD Superintendent and Assistant Supt. answer budget questions

By: Wait a Minute

Wait a Minute — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 05:29:14 +0000

Dr J,

So just to prove how broke they are they are want to hire another full-time administrator for the Dent Center!

This is a classic move by a bureaucratic-centered (and highly narcisisstic) organizational “leadership” culture.

Raises and additional positions for the select and priviledged “leadership” and cuts for those who actually do the real work.

What great “leaders” huh! These are NOT student-centered “leaders”.

I see the future in education. As is already happening in the most dysfunctional district in CA (LA Unified).

Individual schools breaking away by converting to independant charters and keeping their ADA in their schools and classrooms. This instead of letting these out of touch and outdated district bureaucracies squander 40% of the money and deliver garbage flawed decisions from their flawed “leadership”.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 17:13:26 +0000

Supt adds ANOTHER new Administrator in SASS despite his promises on May 11 that the new Dept would save both costs and be smaller than C&I — see agenda for March 15, item 14.1.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:06:54 +0000

I just heard MDEA has reached a tentative agreement that saved jobs. Details to follow.

By: Another MDUSD Mom

Another MDUSD Mom — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:38:33 +0000

Thanks for the clarification Theresa.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:28:01 +0000

Not that I can speak for Gary, but I don’t think Gary was trying to restrict driving within district boundaries or to events nearby such as Pleasanton or Fairfield. Even, for example a meeting in Sacramento is a day trip — up and back the same day. However, I think some administrators in the past have made it an overnight. The recent budget meeting is a good example. No need to stay overnight within a 100 miles — get up early.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:04:12 +0000

Yes, you’re probably right. I got the impression he wanted to discontinue overnight stays at hotels, but wasn’t trying to stop people from driving to one-day conferences or meetings.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:01:17 +0000

Theresa, I think he was talking about two kinds of travel: (1) getting on a plane and (2) staying overnight. It is possible to fly down to LA and back in the same day without spending the night. Just as it is possible to catch BART to SF and spend the night at a hotel. I understood Gary to mean both types of travel. I doubt that he meant you had to both fly and stay in a hotel. His first sentence “freeze on all travel in this district.”

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:15:14 +0000

During the budget discussion, Gary Eberhart said: “Board members are asking for items to be placed on this list so the superintendent can look into them and educate us on what we’re asking for.”
Regarding travel, he said: “I would like a freeze on all travel in this district. I realize a lot of that is from grants. We can do this a year at a time. I don’t know how much that amounts to, but I think it sends a message to the community that we’re serious about reductions that we’re making.”
When he was questioned about what type of travel he was referring to, he said: “Travel by getting on a plane and staying overnight somewhere.”
He said that grant money should be spent on “kids in classrooms.”
Dr. J: My story always said that trustees “suggested” cuts. They can’t impose them without a vote: http://www.contracostatimes.com/education/ci_17575213?nclick_check=1
Of course, travel to San Francisco doesn’t involve “getting on a plane,” but it’s unclear whether Eberhart envisioned people would stay overnight in San Francisco. Clearly, it still sends a message about how committed the district is to cutting costs, even if it isn’t a board-adopted policy.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:08:56 +0000

Theresa, I even think your original story acknowledged the new policy — did you modify your story ? If so, why ?

By: Another MDUSD Mom

Another MDUSD Mom — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:04:17 +0000

Theresa,
I understand what you are saying about needing to vote and Gary not being able to dictate policy but I could swear he said no travel effective immediately. Am I wrong?