Comments on: Clayton Valley charter organizers dispute district’s financials, board appoints new principal

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Mon, 30 May 2011 01:24:18 +0000

FYI, the district has issued a rebuttal to the CVHS charter statement regarding the financial impact of a charter conversion on the district: http://www.ibabuzz.com/onassignment/2011/05/29/mt-diablo-district-defends-charter-information/

By: g

Fri, 27 May 2011 04:47:08 +0000

Lawrence and Brothers downsized from a high School only district with just 9000 students and 7 total schools to a unified district of only 7000 students with a mix of various K-8 programs and only one high school.

How in the world was it that He looked good enough for the Board to hire him for 36,000 students at 56 schools? Three current board members are on the hook for every single mistake they let him get by with.

Now he moves Brothers along yet again. Has she ever even taught high school or been a principal at a high school?

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Fri, 27 May 2011 01:39:30 +0000

Sounds like Lawrence has a habit of lack of effective communication. I wonder why Sue left to take a huge paycut with 2 plus years left on her contract, and with someone she had worked closely with in both West Sac and Roseville. There is something rotten in Denmark.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:25:38 +0000

G: I agree that it would be wonderful to receive minutes from the Parent Advisory Council meetings. I, too, appreciated getting a synopsis of what was discussed in the past.
Perhaps this will be discussed as part of the strategic plan.
In looking at the Washington USD website, the current superintendent (who ended up replacing Lawrence), noted that communication was a problem there when he arrived.
“Communication can be a significant concern for any organization,” wrote Washington district Superintendent Dayton Gilleland, when he assumed his position in July, 2010. “I have heard that this has been a challenge in our school district as well as a challenge for our school district with the community we serve. While I anticipate a busy schedule on most days, I intend to remain available and approachable.”

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:17:45 +0000

@Billy Bob, Yup, remember Buttercupgate. As J. Edgar Hoover said, “Knowledge is power.”

By: Billy Bob

Billy Bob — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:14:18 +0000

Lawrence must have the goods on the board. Not sure why, but there must be quite a story there.

They let him lead them around like lost little sheep.

By: g

Thu, 26 May 2011 23:24:54 +0000

Thanks for the reminder Ms. Berg. A comment from the “Parents” blog back in Nov. may help refresh some thoughts on the subject of SASS:

“Lawrence is smart enough to count to FIVE. New Trustee Dennler has already expressed opposition to the new Program set up by Lawrence as the Student Achievement Department. Gary expressed his reservations as detailed questions that weren’t supportive of it. Cheryl hasn’t expressed any positive thoughts except that there should be less administration. Sherry gave a less than enthusiastic report on this blog. Surprisingly Linda has not endorsed it. I count 5-0 against this program which Lawrence is betting the farm.
November 25, 2010 10:33 PM”
——

The problem now is; how is SASS being allowed to continue hiring while proof is evident that it is failing the students at the same time? What is the Board doing to keep education dollars first as opposed to Lawrence’s preference for keeping Administration first?

——

I may not have been the best fan of McHenry, but I surely do miss keeping up with things via the minutes from the Supervisor’s Monthly Parents Advisory Council, but then — Lawrence just started hitting the “cancel” button as if the Parents were his own Nintendo game?

By: Susan Berg

Susan Berg — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:52:02 +0000

Anon #9, You seem to imply that Dr. Lawrence is remedying a situation he inherited from the previous administration. It’s been two and a half years since the district leadership changed. At the time of that change the district had a master plan in place for addressing the needs of English Language Learners. It grew out of a years-long state review (Comite) of MDUSD in this area that began just before McHenry was named Superintendent in 1999. In time, with a new plan and program adjustments in place and improvements being made, the district passed the state review.

In the past two and a half years this district’s leaders have essentially dismantled the Education Services Department, which had been overseeing the ELL program and all the other curriculum areas. The Board and Superintendent initially eliminated some positions and reassigned many employees. Eventually they replaced “Curriculum and Instruction” with “Student Achievement and School Support,” changing the district philosophy regarding how best to serve the school sites and staff.

The Board members who assumed the district leadership in 2009 and then hired Dr. Lawrence have set the priorities that have guided MDUSD since then. The credit–or criticism–for how the district is doing belongs to them.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Thu, 26 May 2011 18:49:41 +0000

Anon: Yes, I have requested the plan, but organizers said they don’t want to release it to the public yet, because it is still being finalized.
The Superintendent’s Memo says, the district “has 30 days to hold a general public hearing on the proposal. The district also has 60 days from the date of receipt of the petition to grant or deny the charter petition.”
The plan will become a public document as soon as the district receives it. I don’t believe the charter organizers are compelled by the Brown Act to release it before that.
However, had organizers distributed the plan to the Clayton City Council for its vote on funding, it would have been a public document.

By: Billy Bob

Billy Bob — Thu, 26 May 2011 18:06:41 +0000

MDUSD Mom X4,

You seem to say that I’m name calling. I am not name calling I call things the way I see them. If you don’t like it don’t read my posts. But you know in your heart of hearts that I am on to something here. Maybe you would like to suggest alterante names for the following MDUSD scandals:

1. ChevronGate
2. ButtercupGate
3. NugentGate
4. SolarProjectGate
5. UCBSolarClassGate
6. IllegalMariottMeetingGate
7. SchoolClosureCommitteGate
8. GangofFiveRaisesGate
9. PosiedonGate
10. RetributionGate
11. SBPrincipalGate

The list could go on and on. Do you have alternative names for these?