Comments on: MDUSD is accepting input on draft strategic plan tonight

By: Flippin' Tired

Flippin' Tired — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 01:53:44 +0000

Theresa @41, I don’t think so, or we’d have air conditioning in every school by now, and CHS would definitely have a pool. Someone at district is feeding false information, or the site admins are fabricating. Do you really think Mt. Diablo High asked for their pool, which they never use, to be renovated? If so, why isn’t even the right dimensions for water polo? What a colossal waste of money.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:57:34 +0000

Trustee Cheryl Hansen put forth a brilliant proposal for the SP to be considered at the Oct 8 Board meeting: all school stite councils vote on the priorities of the SP and the SP not be adopted until the December meeting, taking it completely out of the political process. Sherry Whitmarsh immediately dissed that proposal by falsely claiming — with no supporting documentation — that the “Board direction” at the Feb workshop — was to proceed by waiting in silence for 7 months and then rush to judgment before the election. She also falsely claimed that the PAC at the May meeting considered the priorities of the the SP — not on their agenda, and thus a Brown Act violation — and bootstrapping the Supt’s sudden “dot sticking” plan as part of the undiscussed plan. Steven Lawrence didn’t even publicize it sufficiently to get more than a handful of people to particiapate, and then half of them his “inner staff” who I am sure did it under “direction”. Such despseration by Lawrence and by Whitmarsh.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 23:29:27 +0000

Speaking of which, I see that SunPower is running ads promising to donate up to $500 to MDUSD on behalf of homeowners who purchase or lease SunPower home solar systems, based on project size.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 23:01:01 +0000

@TH#43, That’s not news; its advertising.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:41:44 +0000

Here’s another interesting news tidbit featuring Trustee Gary Eberhart talking about the district’s solar projects: http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/episode-75-gary-eberhart-discusses-sol-56318/

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:54:18 +0000

I hear Claycord has the district’s new “Good News” newsletter http://claycord.com/2012/09/23/mdusds-september-good-news-letter

I wonder about the district’s distribution because my copy is lost in transit

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 04:42:25 +0000

Each school gets to choose how it wants to spend its Measure C money.

By: Flippin' Tired

Flippin' Tired — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 04:05:59 +0000

Then YV, Concord and CVCHS had better get pools too.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 02:44:37 +0000

Apparently, Lawrence is still collecting data regarding the cluster model. Lawrence said it’s possible the district could wait until next school year to implement it.
Yes, Lawrence and Rolen report to the board. But, Trustee Linda Mayo said that there is no policy governing the current special education transportation practices. So, she didn’t seem to think the board needed to approve a new policy. Still, if the board objected to implementing the FCMAT recommendations, it could direct staff not to.
Regarding air conditioning, you raise a good question. I know other schools have said the same thing. For some unknown reason, the leaky roofs and windows – that Measure C mailers insisted were desperately needed – were a lower priority than solar and air conditioning.
Also, today I received a call from someone questioning the use of Measure C funds for the Northgate Aquatics Center. He said that was never disclosed with ballot materials. But, the district’s bond counsel has said it’s okay to add items that could be categorized generally as school improvements, since the project list was very vague to begin with.

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 02:15:17 +0000

So I thought that Lawrence was backing off of the cluster model? Also doesn’t Lawrence and Rolen report to the board? How are they able to make these changes without board approval?

Another question, why did the district use measure c money to replace working newer air conditioning units that pfc and local business groups paid for? Shouldn’t the money be spent on things that are really needed.