Comments on: Mt. Diablo school district does about-face on new drinking water requirement

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:47:25 +0000

After reading my story, a Central San employee asked me to forward this low-cost drinking fountain suggestion to the district: http://www.flexidrinkingfountain.com/.
I forwarded it to Jeff McDaniel, Pete Pedersen and Greg Rolen.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:32:49 +0000

@Sue, Gary has NOT delivered on his promises — in fact he intentionally has withdrawn most of what he promised — neither in 100 days nor three years. Not all of the backup material for Board meetings is provided. Names of prospective appointments are only provided to Board members, not to the public. Minutes are not up to date on the District website. Gary pulled down his blog, including prior Board meeting recordings. The Board meetings are no longer broadcast. The Grand Jury in April 2011 blasted Gary and the Board for the Gang of Five reorganization — and other things — and the board has not publicly discussed the response to the Grand Jury which is now due with no meeting scheduled until August 9. Lawrence hasn’t issued his twice monthly newsletter since May. You should check in more often.

By: Sue Berg

Sue Berg — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 21:02:13 +0000

Here is part of a comment I posted to another article on Theresa’s blog. It relates to the MDUSD website:

“On another note, the district never had a designated ‘webmaster.’ Rather, an employee handled the task as an extra duty, responding to requests (from me and staff in district departments to post info) and performing cleanup duties. In the year before my Communications Specialist position was cut I led a team that redesigned and upgraded the website and trained staff to make it easier to navigate and update. I’ve been disappointed to see the website not being used to the potential created for it more than two years ago. I assume no one has been given the responsibility nor the time to oversee it.”

I would add that the inattention to the website is noteworthy because of Gary Eberhart’s comments following his re-election in 2008: “Here is some of what we expect to accomplish during our first 100 days . . . ” [Item 4 of 8:]
“Make information more available to our community, including a fundamental overhaul of the district website, providing our full agendas (including dockets and backup material) online for the community to access, and ultimately a system to permanently broadcast Board meetings .” (Note: Board agendas with dockets and backup materials were available on the website at that time; the electronic system brought on under Gary’s leadership is more easily accessible.)

By: Charter new course

Charter new course — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:15:46 +0000

That is a nice feature. It should be at the TOP of the page. Along with photos of school sites, students, and even graduating classes like the other districts have prominently and proudly displayed on their web pages. And don’t forget a Facilities Support Services page with links to all the information!

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:54:00 +0000

MDUSD’s website also have a translation feature, but it’s not prominent. It’s in the lower left-hand corner and includes about 30 languages: http://www.mdusd.org/Pages/default.aspx
At the MDUSD meeting where the board approved the first Norm Gold contract, Trustee Lynne Dennler suggested that district staff should find out what other districts are doing to help English learners. Just by comparing district websites, it’s easy to see differences in outreach and available information.

By: Charter new course

Charter new course — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:51:39 +0000

LUHSD also has a “War On Failure” http://libertyunion.schoolwires.net/libertyunion/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=301451, and “English Learners Program Success!!!”

By: Charter new course

Charter new course — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:47:58 +0000

Liberty Union High School District (in nearby Brentwood) at the top of its web page has “Translate this page from…” and choice of 11 languages! http://libertyunion.schoolwires.net/libertyunion/site/default.asp

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:36:33 +0000

I just posted on another thread that the Hayward USD website lists its English Learner Master Plan and recent Latino recognition ceremony prominently: http://www.husd.k12.ca.us/. In addition, there is a link to a Spanish translation of the superintendent’s message on the home page.
In MDUSD, I heard many people say that parents who didn’t speak English were largely unaware of the school closure process.

By: Charter new course

Charter new course — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:31:09 +0000

These dribs and drabs of information are Stone Age! The point was to create good PR in the community by informing neighbors how their bond money is being spent. There are inexpensive ways to do this in addition to signs. Last year one of the blogs linked to Costa Mesa high school which was combined 7-12 with Costa Mesa middle school, and the web site showed a video of campus improvements set to the music of “Mustang Sally.” Now CMHS has a construction web camera so the community can witness current pool improvements. And as an aside, CMHS is a Title I school which celebrates a “Parents Graduating Wisely” program on its web page. http://cmhs.nmusd.us

Most informative is that Newport-Mesa district’s excellent web site has a comprehensive page for “Facilities Support Services” including a 7-page “At Your Service” newsletter 3 times per year! http://web.nmusd.us/facilities. On the Facilities page is: a WeTip School Safety Program, District Energy Policy, Recycling Program, Use of School Facilities, Emergency Preparedness, conceptual drawings, and much more. And the district has posted a Master Plan for English Learners, the English Learner Advisory Committee with monthly meeting dates, and more.

No wonder CMHS and other Newport-Mesa schools are highly rated.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:38:30 +0000

In looking though the bound 2010 Measure C document I referenced earlier, here’s the description of the security system: “Upgrade/replace existing security system to digital/web based system including terminal devices, wiring, conduit, control panels, software, keypads.”
Regarding signs, I have no way to know whether they were in process or not. I just know they haven’t shown up at Northgate yet.
Here’s the description of parking lot repairs: “Demotion and installation of 2″ AC overlay, slurry seal, restriping, wheelstops and signage. Allowance of 5 percent asphalt sf included for sawcutting, removal and patchback.” The district is planning to spend nearly $460,000 on this districtwide.
On another note: I noticed the multiuse room at Bancroft Elementary is being repaired. The exterior is ripped off in several areas, with interior beams exposed and insulation piled in front. Some of the wood looks either rotted or burned. Not sure what that’s all about.