Comments on: Ernie DeTrinidad announces his candidacy for MDUSD board

By: Susan JunFish

Susan JunFish — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 02:06:30 +0000

This is a message for Ernie De Trinidad:

Hi Ernie, I’ve been searching for your e-mail address on behalf of the Lamorinda Democratic Club so that we can invite you to fill out a questionnaire to be considered for endorsement by LDC.

After over 30 mins on the internet, I finally found this site where at least I may be able to contact you. Another volunteer and I contacted you by phone in the past 2 days. I just wanted to make sure we give every registered Democrat an opportunity to be endorsed by LDC. You can contact me at junfish@gmail.com The short form is due next Friday.

Thank you Theresa for giving candidates an opportunity to discuss issues in this forum.
Theresa, I met you at the LDC meeting where you presented a few months ago. You had said that a parent in San Ramon or Danville had contacted you about concerns over pesticide spraying in her area and you mentioned that you may be able to locate her contact info for me.

By: Ernie DeTrinidad

Ernie DeTrinidad — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:51:10 +0000

This current Board,by their actions,just told the resident voters that they do not have confidence on the voters choices for the Board, if there are new members elected. That the new members,if any, would not know how to deal with current staff, all current staff, on their performance and results and therefore how to award or reward or not.This really is a shame. No public servant should display such disregard for the residents it serves.

By: Ernie DeTrinidad

Ernie DeTrinidad — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:47:57 +0000

Board member Linda Mayo,and I’am sure she is not alone on this way of thinking and acting, was way off base with her comment on new Board members not knowing enough about our Superintendent and top staff or the complicated workings of a District to make hard but appropiate decisions. I’am confident that at the very least the new Board would seek public and professional input not just allow for the continuation of a failing system. Her patronizing and wanting to protect the new members from making decisions that they may in fact want to make borders on dictorial.As a candidate I’am insulted. I do not need her to make presumptions on my ability to make decisions for the residents that support me,thank you anyway. I would like very much to show her how I can make decisions.

By: Wait a minute

Wait a minute — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:20:51 +0000

It is certainly patronizing but more then that it is extremely arrogant to insist that you know better and its obvious that these people suffer from narcissistic personality disorder even if it was not for the underhanded corruption and dealing going on.

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:17:50 +0000

TH # 12. The funny part of that is voters are obviously not smart enough. Look who we elected. Gary and Sherry Linda ……

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:06:24 +0000

I spoke to a classified union rep last night who said she felt it was also patronizing toward voters. It was her impression that the board didn’t trust voters to elect someone who was smart enough to do what was best for students.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:04:36 +0000

@TH#9 Don’t forget there is “School Board Member Training” both by reading the California School Board Association website and by attending their classes. I believe Linda Mayo is the only one on the current Board that completed the courses. http://www.csba.org And even though you didn’t ask, that statement by Linda Mayo is patronizing. You could make the same ridiculous statement about being US President, California Governor, or any elected office.

By: Brian Lawrence

Brian Lawrence — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:33:37 +0000

You become a board member the day you are inaugurated- there is no grace period. I’ll take my chances on making the hard decisions immediately if I am elected.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:25:09 +0000

Ernie and Brian: What do you think of the comment made by Trustee Linda Mayo, that new board members would not know enough about the superintendent and top administrators — or about the complicated workings of school districts — to be able to make such an important decision as contract extensions right after being elected?

By: Ernie DeTrinidad

Ernie DeTrinidad — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:21:22 +0000

Theresa, thank you for the info. Well at least thats something, only one year. I don’t understand the Boards insistence in extending the contracts at all to begin with,there are many options out there as evident from Sacramento’s experience, but if the possible new Board decides on a different direction it won’t be too difficult to manage. Performance and compensation usually go hand in hand, for some reason not here in MDUSD. I did not stay till end, left after 11pm, again appreciate those that did.