Comments on: Live blog of MDUSD Jan. 9, 2012 meeting

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:10:42 +0000

Here is a resolution about the bond resale on the consent calendar for Monday: http://esbpublic.mdusd.k12.ca.us/public_itemview.aspx?ItemId=4895&mtgId=336

By: A. J. Fardella

A. J. Fardella — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:24:07 +0000

Thanks Theresa-

What is important for Taxpayers to see is that this refund of Bond proceeds in excess of projections, only puts more dollars long term into the Bond issuers pockets. That money properly used would pay down the principle to escape 50 years of the Montel Williams style Bond structure which has us paying 1.8 Billion dollars for borrowing 350 million.
Since the Board and our Superintendent are in bed with Bond issuers, so goes the action of the District. Of course they sell propaganda to the public as a big boon for the taxpayers…. in the long run, not at all, it just means we’ll pay every penny of this ridiculously conceived bond so the Bond issuers get their money and in the long run Taxpayers are deprived of more of theirs.
Fiducially irresponsible on the part of the Board and Staff, with our kids suffering the Bondage of this atrocity (every pun intended).

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:29:22 +0000

How do you think the board will vote on the accountability list at its next meeting?

Regarding the idea of the public calling staff to get updates, I was quite surprised. Usually, the superintendent does not return my calls for information and many people have complained about their inability to get information about busing from district staff. The superintendent, does however, occasionally respond to my emailed questions.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:24:15 +0000

Fascinating discussion about the “accountability list” with good questions and good points. The example that came to my mind was the Measure C audits; approved months ago, paid for months ago, and where are they ? I almost got the impression that Gary momentarily thought every member of the public could start calling in to get spending updates every month on everyone’s pet projects. Cheryl quickly shot down that balloon. Or I guess we could get the switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree all asking Lawrence where the audits are !! On the count of three . . . one . . . two . . . three . . . DIAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:54:17 +0000

Here is a link to my story about the meeting: http://www.contracostatimes.com/twitter/ci_19714392

Also, I have added an update to this blog post with a link to audio from the meeting.

By: M. Thompson

M. Thompson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:29:08 +0000

I am a CST member who has had over $500 (five furlough days)w/h from my pay this year in anticipation of the nine furlough days that the district hoped we would take. Now I understand there will be no more than 4 furlough days this year. Hope payroll stops the deductions and quickly refunds the fifth day they w/held from me and my coworkers in the district. I want my hours back, too!.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:36:06 +0000

The district was previously telling unions they needed to create large reserves to prepare for midyear cuts that have not materialized. Now that the district is conceding it won’t need to take furlough days this year after all, CST employees want the district to stop taking money for them from their paychecks.

I videotaped the speaker comments and will post links later.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:24:04 +0000

Local One CST believes they were misled because the district accumulated unprecedented reserves over $40 million ? Just remember what Lawrence told you on June 15, 2010 in a press release. “Our classified unions have accused the District of being inflexible because we have not changed our position on benefits and furlough days even though the union has made concessions. We have not artificially inflated our proposal or the deficit and we have proposed only those concessions we need to eliminate the deficit.” Will you ever believe him again on anything ?

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:45:17 +0000

I also take notes separately to write my story, so it’s a bit difficult to juggle the blog, video camera and notes.

I videotaped the bond refunding presentation and will try to post the link later for those of you who can decipher it. Also, Jon Isom promised to give a copy of his PowerPoint Presentation to the district so it could be posted online.

By: A. J. Fardella

A. J. Fardella — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:35:33 +0000

Don’t know why you stopped blogging…

The bond ‘refund’ they gave taxpayers only serves the pocketbooks of Bond issuers.
The additional revenue if managed in a fiduciary fashion should be applied to the Bond Principle it’s the only way to reduce the slavery of the 50 year long payback.

The move proposed at tonights meeting was sold as a big win for the taxpayers. It was not. A win for taxpayers will be to pay the Bond principle off early.

I had to leave as I saw the presentation begin. I went outside to be sick.