Comments on: MDUSD Bay Point mystery meeting explained

By: g

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 17:34:52 +0000

Jack Weir: You echo the sentiments I have been dogging for two years! Pete Pedersen is no longer a District employee.

He is a “Contracted” individual who should have NO input or financial access on any matter other than for that which the contract was written–Project Manager for those items listed on the ballot for 2010 Measure C–PERIOD.

We were sold a bill of goods that said if we let him run Measure C, he would save millions over what we paid the previous outside company to manage 2002 Measure C.

He now heads a veritable “company” of “managers”, most drawn from within the district. With the exception of one or two secretaries, each person he has put on his “team” now draws Manager Salary and district benefits, and use of district vehicles without a breakdown of cost accounting.

How do we know the cost of “replacing” those individuals at M&O? How do we know what percentage of their work is for Measure C versus normal/daily district work? Said another way; how do we know how much normal district work is actually being charged to Measure C?

Measure C accounting is broken out to individual sites and projects making it nearly impossible to compile stats on exactly what his “company” is really costing.

And HOW in the world did this “contract” for Measure 2010 C put him in charge of all expenditures for 2002 C, AND Prop 55, AND give him access to spend Measure A for his “company’s” little ‘extra’ needs.

And, don’t get me started again on his “fox in the hen house” absolute monarchy over the so-called “Independent” Oversight Committee!

By: Jack Weir

Jack Weir — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 16:37:01 +0000

The “mystery” meeting in Bay Point, which was not publicly noticed, continues the policy of behind-the-scenes activity typical of the current district board. With the notable exception of Trustee Cheryl Hansen, they persistently prefer to operate at all levels without public input and scrutiny.
Pete Pedersen, who retired as Assistant Superintendent of Facilities to become the in-house bond project manager (the proverbial “fox in the henhouse”) has no business representing the district in master planning matters. He continues to do the dirty work Eberhardt, Whitmarsh and Mayo prefer not to be associated with.

By: District Teacher

District Teacher — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 02:07:29 +0000

Dr. J, the best line in the Huff Post article is: “Parent Lori Yuan argues that ‘parents who believe that a charter is going to magically make their kids score higher, be smarter and achieve success’ will be disappointed.” 100% of the school’s students are eligible or free or reduced price lunch. And those parents are going to run the school? I can understand why the trigger was pulled at CVHS, where many parents are deeply involved in the school and are serious about deciding how to improve it. But this school takeover is a bad idea whose time will come. I wish them well, should they have their charter, but unless they cede total control to an outside concern, it will likely be a disaster.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:36:57 +0000

Board will receive a report on SIGS: http://esbpublic.mdusd.k12.ca.us/com/print_item.aspx?itemId=5975

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:09:13 +0000

I just got the email. Agenda is posted: http://esbpublic.mdusd.k12.ca.us/public_agendaview.aspx?mtgId=351

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:07:11 +0000

The superintendent’s secretary usually sends me an email when it’s posted. For the last three meetings, the emails were sent between 5:17 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. So, it looks like it’s business as usual.

By: Anon

Anon — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:04:39 +0000

The Agenda still hasn’t posted. Must be some last minute shenanigans going on over in Dent.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:51:01 +0000

@16 — It ain’t over ’til it’s over. The Adelanto district can oppose the charter operator’s proposal, and then we are on new legal ground, because Parent Trigger has not yet been tested that way. I suspect that the district is out “judge shopping”, trying to find a legal angle that can be contested in a jurisdiction with judges who are more favorable to the local monopoly. I wish the parents luck, but this law was almost designed to invite legal delays.

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 21:25:41 +0000

Parent Trigger is alive and well. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/17/parent-trigger-at-desert-_n_1973747.html

By: Doctor J

Doctor J — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:55:19 +0000

Remember that Steven Lawrence formed his secret boundary change committee over a year ago, and it fizzled when exposed to sunlight. Instead he has found it more effective to adjust the FTE’s of teachers behind closed doors, and cause de facto boundary changes. He abhores public accountability. And when there is public accountability, he doesn’t stick around for long.