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Thursday, July 31, 2008
Election MUSICAL CHAIRS: WINAT PULLS PAPERS FOR RANCHO SANTIAGO
eLECTION Watch 2008
an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series
Election MUSICAL CHAIRS:
WINAT PULLS PAPERS FOR RANCHO SANTIAGO
Candidates in Orange Unified Trustee Area Three seem to be like musical chair players as they shift with the political winds. Jerry Winant, a potential candidate who pulled papers for the OUSD Area Three seat has now pulled papers for the Rancho Santiago College Trustee Area 3 currently held by Trustee Lisa Woolery who has also pulled papers to be re-elected.
Answering an email from ONN, Winant confirmed he will run in the Rancho Santiago race and throw his support behind Florice Hoffman in the OUSD race. Winant stated:
“I had the opportunity to attend a couple of political functions this past weekend; one sponsored by Republicans and one sponsored by Democrats… I also had the opportunity to speak with a couple of prospective candidates for the open Board seat on the OUSD Board of Education.
I discovered that one of these candidates, Florice Hoffman, shares many of the same philosophies, strengths, and concerns that I do. I was quite impressed by how much time she has spent during the past year in preparing for this election and a seat on the OUSD Board of Education. I believe she could be a tremendous asset to that Board. Likewise, I also feel I would be a tremendous asset for Orange Unified but there is only one seat available. Since I believe I also have the background and qualities to be a strong contributing Board member on the Rancho Santiago Community College Board, I have chosen to switch to this race. I support Florice in her efforts to be elected to the OUSD Board of Education.”
Winant has called on OUSD Trustee Area 1 Lissa Smith to resign her Area 1 seat before running in OUSD Area 3 (held by her until 2010) where the Nichols Redistricting placed Smith’s house.
Others pulling papers for the Rancho Santiago seat are Rudolph Diaz and Autro Jose Lomeli .
Star Wars : Orange Juice Blog vs. Florice Hoffman
Meanwhile, Greater Orange Communities activist Florice Hoffman filed her papers to run for the Orange Unified School Board Trustee Area 3 on July 30th. Then, in a blog not too far away...on July 31st the influential Orange Juice Blog writer Art Pedroza attacked Hoffman with a unflattering PhotoShoped picture of Hoffman as evil Star Wars character Jabba the Hut and describing Hoffman as a “Unctious labor lawyer” (see link below).
Florice Hoffman running Orange Juice Blog LINK:
ORANGE JUICE
Greater Orange November 2008 Election Filing Update
City of Orange Mayor
Carolyn Cavecche
Pulled papers and filed them
City of Orange Council Seat (2 open)
Stuart Campbell
Pulled papers
Robert Douglas
Pulled papers
Jon Dumitru (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Michael Farrel
Pulled papers
Tita Smith (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Adolfo Perez
Pulled papers
Orange City Clerk
Mary E. Murphy (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Orange City Treasurer
Helen Walker (Incumbent)
Pulled papers and filed them
Orange Unified Trustee Area 2
John Ortega (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Orange Unified Trustee Area 3
Florice Hoffman
Pulled papers and filed them
Melissa “Lissa” Smith (Incumbent Trustee Area 1 until 2010)
Pulled papers
Jerry Winant
Pulled papers
Orange Unified Trustee Area 6
Arianna Barrios
Pulled papers and filed them
Villa Park City Council (2 seats)
Rich Ulmer (Incumbent)
Pulled papers and filed them
Willard “Bill” Mac Aloney
Pulled papers
Silverado-Modjeska, Recreation and Park Dist
Mike Colgan
Pulled papers
Orange County Water District, DIV 2
Denis Bilodeau (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
eLECTION Watch 2008
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
“Independent Local Insight”
Orange PD to host National Nite Out
Metro TALK ______________
a community service of the Greater Orange Communities Organization
Orange will participate in the 25th Annual National Night Out
Tuesday August 25th the Orange Police Department will host the local celebration of National Night Out at the Orange Target parking lot. This years’ event will mark the 25th national anniversary of the annual event with the stated purpose to “strengthen our neighborhoods and enhance police-community partnerships”. The event highlights crime and drug prevention awareness and offers information on local anti-crime program and allows the community to get to better know the police officers who serve them. The event also serves as gathering place for community members to visit with fun family-oriented activities.
This year’s event will again feature police and fire equipment; children finger printing; free photographs with Mc Gruff the crime fighting mascot; and refreshments. The Hidden Tigers martial arts group will also be giving a free martial arts demonstration.
National Night Out
Tuesday, August 5th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Orange Target parking lot at 2191 N. Tustin Street.
FREE for the whole family
Orange Library needs volunteers to ROAR at children
As part of a new program to promote early literacy and the joys of reading, the Orange Public Library is looking for volunteers to ROAR (Reach Out And Read) to children. In the ROAR Program, library volunteers will be trained to conduct “storytimes” and assist with children’s programs. Scheduling for volunteer hours will be flexible to accommodate all hours of library operation.
Volunteers are needed at all three of Orange’s public libraries – the Orange Public Library & History Center (Main Library) and the El Modena and Taft branch libraries. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and able to donate a minimum of 30 hours’ service over a one-year span. Each volunteer must fill out an application and must be fingerprinted and drug tested. This process takes a minimum of two weeks, and it is done at no cost to the potential volunteer.
Community organizations may also want to consider ROAR as a great service opportunity to encourage children in their education and enjoyment of reading.
Training will take place at the Orange Public Library & History Center, the short training sessions are scheduled for the following dates at the Main Library:
Reach Out And Read Training
Friday, August 15, 10:30 am
Saturday, August 23, 2:00 pm
For more information, please call the Children’s Services Division at the Orange Public Library & History Center, (714) 288-2420.
Metro TALK is a community service of the Greater Orange Communities Organization
Friday, July 25, 2008
FLORICE HOFFMAN PULLS PAPERS FOR OUSD TRUSTEE AREA 3
eLECTION Watch 2008
an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series
FLORICE HOFFMAN PULLS PAPERS FOR
OUSD TRUSTEE AREA 3
Community Activist Florice Hoffman pulled papers to run for the Orange Unified School Board Trustee Area 3. Hoffman’s entry into the OUSD November election is no surprise since she has been fundraising since announcing her intention to run against OUSD Trustee Steve Rocco over a year ago.
Orange Unified Trustee Area Three is shaping up to be the local election battleground. This week OUSD Trustee Area Three incumbent Wes Poutsma announced he would not seek re-election and OUSD Trustee Area One representative Melissa “Lissa” Smith pulled papers to enter the Trustee Area Three race. Smith’s house was moved from Trustee Area One to Area Three in the Nichols Realignment of the OUSD Trustee Areas. Smith was elected twice in Area 1 and her current term in Trustee Area One runs through 2010. Jerry Winant, a potential rival who also pulled papers for the Area Three seat, has criticized Smith’s move to run in Area Three without resigning in Area One as ethically challenged. Winant’s concerns include the potential cost to taxpayers to fill Smith’s seat in Area One if she wins in Area Three and baring an Special Election, the OUSD Board Majority could appoint an unelected representative for the Trustee Area.
For more information on Florice Hoffman CLICK ON: HOFFMAN
For more information on Jerry Winant’s views on Lissa Smith CLICK ON: Metro VIEWS
Greater Orange November 2008 Election Filing Update
City of Orange Mayor
Carolyn Cavecche
Pulled papers
City of Orange Council Seat (2 open)
Stuart Campbell
Pulled papers
Robert Douglas
Pulled papers
Jon Dumitru (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Michael Farrel
Pulled papers
Tita Smith (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Adolfo Perez
Pulled papers
Orange City Clerk
Mary E. Murphy (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Orange City Treasurer
Helen Walker (Incumbent)
Pulled papers and filed them
Orange Unified Trustee Area 2
John Ortega (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Orange Unified Trustee Area 3
Florice Hoffman
Pulled papers
Melissa “Lissa” Smith (Incumbent Trustee Area 1 until 2010)
Pulled papers
Jerry Winant
pulled papers
Orange Unified Trustee Area 6
Arianna Barrios
pulled papers and filed them
Villa Park City Council (2 seats)
Rich Ulmer (Incumbent)
pulled papers
Bill Mac Aloney
pulled papers
eLECTION Watch 2008
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
Thursday, July 24, 2008
WES POUTSMA will not seek re-election
eLECTION Watch 2008 an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series
WES POUTSMA will not seek re-election
A spokesperson for Orange Unified School Board President Wes Poutsma has released a statement that Poutsma will not seek re-election in order to: “spend quality time with and give his undivided attention to his wife and family” Poutsma’s statement said that the decision not to run had been made weeks ago. His spokesperson added that Poutsma’s decision was in no way prompted by OUSD Area 1 Trustee Melissa Smith’s unanticipated move to pull papers in OUSD Trustee Area 3 currently represented by Poutsma.
Following is the full statement released on behalf of Poutsma:
" For the past year Wes Poutsma has given great thought to seeking another term as a member of the OUSD Board of Education. After careful consideration, he decided a few weeks ago, not to seek re-election as an OUSD Board of Trustee. While he has dedicated his life to children and education (having been a school janitor, a teacher, a principal, an assistant Superintendent, and ultimately a member of the Board of Education), he now feels that it is time to devote his full attention traveling with his wife and his family. By not seeking re-election, Wes will be able to spend quality time with, and give his undivided attention to his wife and family, Wes is proud of the district and its many accomplishments and he values the friendships and relationships that he has developed and will continue to maintain."
Greater Orange November 2008 Election Filing Update
City of Orange Mayor
Carolyn Cavecche
Pulled papers
City of Orange Council Seat (2 open)
Stuart Campbell
Pulled papers
Robert Douglas
Pulled papers
Jon Dumitru (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Michael Farrel
Pulled papers
Tita Smith (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Adolfo Perez
Pulled papers
Orange City Clerk
Mary E. Murphy (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Orange City Treasurer
Helen Walker (Incumbent)
Pulled papers and returned them
Orange Unified Trustee Area 3
Melissa “Lissa” Smith (Incumbent Trustee Area 1 until 2010)
Pulled papers
Jerry Winant
pulled papers
Orange Unified Trustee Area 6
Arianna Barrios
pulled papers and returned them
Villa Park City Council (2 seats)
Rich Ulmer (Incumbent)
pulled papers
Bill Mac Aloney
pulled papers
eLECTION Watch 2008
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
Metro VIEWS: Is this a cost the taxpayers should have to bear?
Metro VIEWS _
A community service of the
Greater Orange Communities Organization
Giving voice to the Greater Orange Communities
Is this a cost the taxpayers should have to bear?
A viewpoint of Jerry Winant*
If it is truly legal for OUSD Trustee Melissa Smith to run for one Board seat without giving up the other, is it ethical? If Ms. Smith wins, without first giving up her seat in Area 1, then won't OUSD or Orange County have to pay for a special election to replace Ms. Smith?
Is this a cost the taxpayers should have to bear?
Certainly, this would seem fiscally irresponsible of Ms. Smith to want to place this financial burden on the school district or the county, just so she can maintain a seat in a trustee area.
In waiting for a replacement to be elected (should Ms. Smith win the seat in Trustee area 3 in November), won't the district APPOINT someone of their own choosing to represent Area 1 until a new election could be held? This may or may not be someone who would truly represent the voters of that area but would likely be 'friendly' to the administration and might not be an 'independent thinker'. I think the Orange Unified District deserves better than this.
Ms. Smith now lives in Area 3. I believe she should resign her seat in Area 1 so someone who truly lives there can run in this election in November. I welcome her running in Area 3 where she belongs (and where I intend to run, as well). It seems like the right thing to do and would be a good example of fairness for the young people in this District who should look up to and respect the Board members for their integrity, honesty and fairness.
Another note of interest is the fact that the school board would hire a new superintendent for a three year term at a raise of $75,000 a year from her previous job with what appears to be less than glowing success at improving test scores in her previous district.
I wonder how the teachers and classified staff in OUSD must feel about the large raise, while the whole statewide community of education in California is tightening their belts and trying to cut wherever they can to meet the governor's proposed budget. Certainly it is a raise they will never see.
Was this a wise move?
Was it also wise to encumber the District for three years with this new Superintendent, knowing that there will be an election in a few months, thus encumbering the new Board with a hefty, multi-year contract for this new unproven leader? Teachers are offered one year contracts and are under constant pressure to show improvement in their students. New teachers can be released after one year if their performance is unsatisfactory.
Shouldn't the new OUSD Superintendent have been hired with these same expectations?
* Jerry Winant lives in Orange and has pulled papers for the OUSD Trustee Area 3 seat. He currently teaches Home Education for students in Grades K-12 in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District at Gordon Kiefer School, is an administrator designee and is the online education coordinator for students in grades 5-12,
Opinions expressed in Metro VIEWS
are not necessarily the opinion of the networks that post it.
Metro VIEWS is a community service of the
Greater Orange Communities Organization
Ecast on the
INTERNET COMMUNITY GROUP i/))) cg
A community service of the
Greater Orange Communities Organization
Giving voice to the Greater Orange Communities
Is this a cost the taxpayers should have to bear?
A viewpoint of Jerry Winant*
If it is truly legal for OUSD Trustee Melissa Smith to run for one Board seat without giving up the other, is it ethical? If Ms. Smith wins, without first giving up her seat in Area 1, then won't OUSD or Orange County have to pay for a special election to replace Ms. Smith?
Is this a cost the taxpayers should have to bear?
Certainly, this would seem fiscally irresponsible of Ms. Smith to want to place this financial burden on the school district or the county, just so she can maintain a seat in a trustee area.
In waiting for a replacement to be elected (should Ms. Smith win the seat in Trustee area 3 in November), won't the district APPOINT someone of their own choosing to represent Area 1 until a new election could be held? This may or may not be someone who would truly represent the voters of that area but would likely be 'friendly' to the administration and might not be an 'independent thinker'. I think the Orange Unified District deserves better than this.
Ms. Smith now lives in Area 3. I believe she should resign her seat in Area 1 so someone who truly lives there can run in this election in November. I welcome her running in Area 3 where she belongs (and where I intend to run, as well). It seems like the right thing to do and would be a good example of fairness for the young people in this District who should look up to and respect the Board members for their integrity, honesty and fairness.
Another note of interest is the fact that the school board would hire a new superintendent for a three year term at a raise of $75,000 a year from her previous job with what appears to be less than glowing success at improving test scores in her previous district.
I wonder how the teachers and classified staff in OUSD must feel about the large raise, while the whole statewide community of education in California is tightening their belts and trying to cut wherever they can to meet the governor's proposed budget. Certainly it is a raise they will never see.
Was this a wise move?
Was it also wise to encumber the District for three years with this new Superintendent, knowing that there will be an election in a few months, thus encumbering the new Board with a hefty, multi-year contract for this new unproven leader? Teachers are offered one year contracts and are under constant pressure to show improvement in their students. New teachers can be released after one year if their performance is unsatisfactory.
Shouldn't the new OUSD Superintendent have been hired with these same expectations?
* Jerry Winant lives in Orange and has pulled papers for the OUSD Trustee Area 3 seat. He currently teaches Home Education for students in Grades K-12 in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District at Gordon Kiefer School, is an administrator designee and is the online education coordinator for students in grades 5-12,
Opinions expressed in Metro VIEWS
are not necessarily the opinion of the networks that post it.
Metro VIEWS is a community service of the
Greater Orange Communities Organization
Ecast on the
INTERNET COMMUNITY GROUP i/))) cg
Superintendent's husband will remain in Colorado
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
Dreier’s husband will remain in Colorado
The Greeley Tribune is reporting that new Orange Unified Superintendent Dr. Renae Drier’s husband, Dr. Fred Dreier, will remain in Colorado as his wife moves to California. Dr. Fred Dreier is principal of Loveland High School, close to Greeley in the Thompson School District.
The Greeley Tribune reported that Dr. Renae Dreier had finally submitted her resignation on July 22nd in a hand written note to the Greeley School Board. The note read:
"As you know, I have been the finalist in a California superintendent search since mid-June. The process has now been completed and this letter is to let you now that July 31, 2008, will be my last day with the district.
"While I am very excited about this new position, please be assured that I will miss District 6 and the Greeley community. I appreciate the support I have received from the entire district community. Our successes of the past three years would not have been possible without a great team effort!
"Thank you for your support over the past three years and for your personal support of me over the past weeks as I have pursued my personal/professional goals in California.
"Best wishes to a district on the path to success."
Big Apple pay for Orange Superintendent
Dreier’s beginning $750,000 three year contract has raised eyebrows across Southern California. The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday July 24th in their California Section that Drier’s OUSD contract matches what New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein makes for leading the Big Apples school system. Dreier’s predecessor Dr. Thomas Godley, with his controversial retirement package (that the OUSD Board voted to let him keep), leaves OUSD slightly ahead of Dreier in overall salary.
Dreier, who reportedly has not returned any reporters telephone calls, will return to Greeley for a reception next Tuesday night. That is the same day that Colorado releases its state testing scores for last school year.
Next OUSD Board Meeting July 24, 2008. For more information
CLICK ON: AGENDA
OUSD CLOSED SESSION STARTS 6:30 PM, Regular Session: 7:30 pm
For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040
For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
OUSD's Lissa Smith moves to run in Wes Poutsma's Trustee Area
SPECIAL REPORT
eLECTION Watch 2008
an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series
OUSD TRUSTEE LISSA SMITH
MOVES TO RUN FOR WES POUSTMA’S SEAT
Orange Unified Trustee Melissa “Lissa” Smith pulled papers to run in OUSD Trustee Area Three, currently occupied by OUSD Board Chairman Wes Poutsma. Smith was re-elected two years ago to a four year OUSD Trustee term in OUSD Trustee Area One. Her current term runs until 2010. However in the recent Nichols Realignment of the OUSD Trustee Areas, Smiths’ house was moved from Trustee Area 1 to Trustee Area 3 currently represented by Wes Poutsma. The controversial realignment of the OUSD Trustee Areas was more famous for removing OUSD Trustee Steve Rocco’s house from OUSD Trustee Area 6 to OUSD Trustee Rick Ledesma’s Area 7, thus effectively blocking Rocco from a re-election bid this year as an incumbent. The Nichols Realignment was instigated by OUSD Trustee Kim Nichols and came on the heels of an unsuccessful recall attempt against Rocco. Nichols, her family members, and close friends were intimately involved in the failed Rocco Recall Committee effort.
Smith has been a long-time vocal advocate of trying to pass a Facilities Bond in OUSD and could not hide her joy at a recent OUSD Board meeting when fiscal conservative members of the Villa Park community joined in the call for a Facilities Bond if it would also save the oldest historical buildings in Villa Park at Villa Park Elementary School. Smith’s move to run in Area 3 in November seems to confirm rumors that the third attempt at a Facilities Bond (which must be approved at the OUSD August 2008 meeting for the November ballot) is a no go. Unconfirmed reports have the story played out that bad numbers on recent polling by Lewis Consulting shows weak community support during the current economic turn down, however the only poll that counts maybe the one on the OUSD Board that has some longtime community Board watchers saying support on the Board may be coming up too short for a Facilities Bond to go to the voters. Whatever the real story behind a bond not making it on the November Ballot, local OUSD political annalists see it unlikely that Smith would have made a move for an unneeded election run during a Facilities Bond campaign.
Smith, who has two years left on her current trustee term has little to lose in the attempt to be elected in Poutsma’s area. If she lost, she remains on the OUSD Board for two more years. If she wins, she extends her term on the OUSD Board until 2012. Rumors have been circulating that Poutsma had decided not to run for another term. As of July 23rd when Smith pulled papers, Poutsma still had not pulled papers to run. Another often mentioned candidate for the Area Three is Alexia Deligianni. A member of the Educational Alliance, Deligianni has made one unsuccessful election try in OUSD in 2006.
OUSD Trustees must live in the Trustee Area they represent, but are elected district wide.
SPECIAL REPORT
eLECTION Watch 2008
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
“Independent Local Insight”
Ecast on the
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
$750,000 contract for new OUSD Superintendent Dr. Dreier
SPECIAL REPORT
A news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Let them eat cake…
Orange Unified Trustees approve a $750,000 three year contract for new OUSD Superintendent
In a Special Session Meeting on July 22nd, the Orange Unified School District Trustees voted to approve a three year $750,000 contract for Dr. Renae Dreier from Greeley, Colorado to be the next OUSD Superintendent. In the short 10 minute meeting the OUSD Trustees voted 5-0 to approve the three year contract. Trustee Steve Rocco and Board President Wes Poutsma were absent (Poutsma faces a reelection challenge in November).
The only Trustee to make any comments was Trustee Kathy Moffat who took time to defend the so called Dreier Junket that she and Trustees Kim Nichols and Wes Poutsma made three weeks after outgoing Superintendent Dr. Thomas Godley announced that Dreier would be hired in a Special Meeting on July 22nd.
That trip Moffat stated was part of the public process to hire Dreier. Moffat defended the trip stating that the Trustees had met with 50-75 community members in Greeley, Colorado who provided valuable insight. Moffat stated that on the trip they learned of Dreier’s experience with a Strategic Plan similar to what OUSD had. Moffat however failed to explain the timing of the trip and her explanation of learning about the Dreier’s Greeley Strategic plan only by going to Greeley (the plan was reported on by Orange Net News with a link and presumably discussed in the interview process with Dreier).
Dreier in unprepared remarks said she was "honored", "excited" and “committed” to the Orange community. Dreier also took time to address the controversial Dreier Junket. Dreier stated that the trip by Moffat, Nichols, Poutsma showed the Greeley community that the OUSD Board members were “committed to their community”. Following the short remarks, the meeting was adjourned for refreshments and entertainment.
The Special Meeting had a hand full of community leaders attending, but was full of OUSD Administrators who had received OUSD emailed reminders that they were expected to attend the meeting to welcome the new Superintendent. Following the brief ten minute meeting a small OUSD student musical ensemble played while a cake with “Welcome to OUSD” and refreshments were served.
The controversial Dreier Junket trip to Colorado comes on the heels of continued economic turmoil across the nation and in California that still does not have a state budget for next year. In these times of economic uncertainties, the OUSD Trustees next month are planning a vote to place a third OUSD Facilities Bond on the November 2008 ballot.
Dreier, who had yet to publicly give notice she was leaving her old community, was paid $175,000 a year salary in Greeley, Colorado. She becomes the second women superintendent to lead OUSD and was apparently willing to except thousands of dollars less in salary than what her male predecessor Dr. Godley made despite the long established educational practice that a new Superintendent starts at the previous superintendent’s last salary.
Greeley Tribune story on Dreier taking OUSD position: DREIER
SPECIAL REPORT
A news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Ecast on the
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OUSD FACILITIES BOND POLLING
EXTRA: Greeley Tribune: Dreier to goes to OUSD for $250,000 a year
CLICK ON: DREIER
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
OUSD FACILITIES BOND POLLING UNDERWAY
On July 24th, two days after a Special Meeting to hire the new OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier for a salary of $250,000 a year, the OUSD School Board will meet in a scheduled regular session meeting. The July 24th OUSD Agenda includes Action Item C, a resolution to designate an underwriter and Bond Counsel for 2003 Certificates of Participation and “finance additional school facilities” . The OUSD Agenda also includes Item 13 D the Fourth Quarter Status Report on the OUSD Three Year Strategic Plan. That plan on page 23 outlines the Facilities #1 Strategy to “Promote passing of a facilities bond”. The report outlines the progress as “Conducting a survey poll to assess the feasibility of a bond election of November 2008”.
That poll is reportedly being conducted by Orange County’s Lewis Consulting Group. That same consulting group ran the second failed Measure A Bond election. The polling for that second failed measure was done by Orange County Pollster Arnie Steinberg. That poll found a 56% support rate for Measure A plus or minus 5% (the spread therefore was up to 61% pass or 51% fail). Lewis Consulting contract was for a reported $90,000, win or loose, for the second Measure A. The first Measure A campaign was conducted by bond service company GK Baum on a contract that reportedly only paid if the first Measure A passed. The failure of the first Measure A reportedly cost GK Baum an unconfirmed $200,000 plus for the campaign.
Magic Pill Consultant only costs taxpayers $10,000
The July 24th OUSD Consent Agenda (page 80) includes a $10,000 payment to Orange County Department of Education consultant Dr. Dennis Parker to conduct workshops for teachers at Handy Elementary School . Handy is a California designated Program Improvement School. The schools ranked as a 2-2 Academic Performance Index (API) school, Handy had a 2007 base API score of 674 (800 is the statewide target score for all schools). When the API scores are released for this year the Handy growth target is 6 points, or over 680. However, have no fear, Dr. Parker the $10,000 consultant will be here!
Dr. Parker’s $10,000 workshops teach the Strategic Schooling Initiative. Never heard of it? Well this is apparently the magic educational pill we have all been waiting for. For a mere $10,000 in educational tax dollars the Orange County Department of Education states that the Strategic Schooling Initiative will increase the schools API by 30-40 points (see link below).
That’s right, only about $1000 educational tax dollars for every increase of 10 API points. That should put Handy in the state mandated 800 point range within three years! What a find our OUSD Educrats Anne Truex and Rachel Morga have brought to OUSD. Of course ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE is planning to keep you informed over the entire next three years on how Handy’s $10,000 educational tax investment performs with the Truex-Morga Strategic Schooling Initiative 40 point Consultant. Hopefully for the Greater Orange Communities Dr. Parker is not a snake oil salesman because at $10,000 per school for a 30-40 API point increase and OUSD can easily go from Good to Great at all of its schools for only $400,000! That’s cheaper than one year of OUSD’s Focus on Results consultant program failure that taxpayers footed the bill for over four years. Stay tuned, we will.
Handy Elementary API Statistics; CLICK ON: HANDY API
For information on Dr. Parker and the Orange County Department of Education Strategic Schooling Initiative 30-40 point score guarantee: CLICK ON: OCDE/PARKER
INSIDE the OUSD Agenda
Agenda Item 13 A (page 11)- Legislative Coalition Report
Agenda Item 13 B (page 12)- Student School Year Calendars 2009-2012
Agenda Item 13 C (page 16) – 7/11 Committee Report on OUSD Surplus Property
Community Donations
Orange H.S. ASB- $13,312 AP Exams; Canyon Rim PTA- $8,239 Computer lease; El Modena Baseball Boosters- $6,300 Salary Stipends; Anaheim Hills PTS- $15,006 –Smart Boards; Linda Vista PTA-$1,685 – Walkie Talkies.
For a complete list of the $125,000 in Community Donations see OUSD Agenda page 27.
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
“We’re a $220 million dollar business; we’re going to spend the money somewhere.”
-OUSD Trustee Wes Poutsma 9/22/05 explaining his vote for Focus on Results
Former Superintendent Godley’s total “golden handshake” bonus (beginning 8/2008): $00.00*
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2008:
$774,500 Total
2008 Attorney Fee Tally:
6/19/08 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
6/05/08 Miller, Brown & Dannis $ 40,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $150,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $200,000
2/07/08 Parker & Covert $100,000
11/15/07 Parker & Covert (for 1/08 to 6/08) $200,000
$750,000
2008 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
7/24/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 10,000
4/17/08 Dr. Kenneth Stichter Speaker Fee $ 6,500
3/7/08 Dr. Kathleen Weigel Speaker Fee $ 8,000
$ 24,500
2008 TOTAL $774,500
* The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using a 6% lifetime formula. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the taxpayer costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00
2007 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
4/30/07 Debra Ford Speaker Fee $ 4,090
4/30/07 Danny Brassell Speaker Fee $ 3,500
3/8/07 Dr. Daggett Speaker Fee $ 9,000
9/27/07 Dr.Daggett Speaker Fee $ 35,000
11/15/07 OCDE High Priority Consultants $115,000
Total $166,590
2007 Attorney Fee Tally:
1/18/07 Parker & Covert (1/07 to 6/07) $175,000
(6/07-12/07) $200,000
2/08/07 Miller, Brown, and Dannis $ 7, 500
2/22/07 Parker & Covert $ 45,000
5/10/07 Miller, Brown and Dannis $ 50,000
7/19/07 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
Total $537,500
2007 Administrative Conference/Travel: hidden since 6/8/06**
**JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to APPROVE Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
2006 Consultant Fee Tally: Total $176,400
2006 Attorney Fee Tally: Total Approved $655,000
2006 Administrative Conference/Travel: Total $ 18,317 *
* JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to
APPROVE OUSD Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00:
Total 2005 Conference Administrator/Board Fees: $ 7,500.00
2005 Attorney Fee Tally: $730,600.00
Total Watched 2005 OUSD Consultant spending: $ 270,200.00
Next OUSD Board Meeting July 24, 2008. For more information
CLICK ON: BOARD AGENDA
OUSD CLOSED SESSION STARTS 6:30 PM, Regular Session: 7:30 pm
For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040
For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
CLICK ON: DREIER
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
OUSD FACILITIES BOND POLLING UNDERWAY
On July 24th, two days after a Special Meeting to hire the new OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier for a salary of $250,000 a year, the OUSD School Board will meet in a scheduled regular session meeting. The July 24th OUSD Agenda includes Action Item C, a resolution to designate an underwriter and Bond Counsel for 2003 Certificates of Participation and “finance additional school facilities” . The OUSD Agenda also includes Item 13 D the Fourth Quarter Status Report on the OUSD Three Year Strategic Plan. That plan on page 23 outlines the Facilities #1 Strategy to “Promote passing of a facilities bond”. The report outlines the progress as “Conducting a survey poll to assess the feasibility of a bond election of November 2008”.
That poll is reportedly being conducted by Orange County’s Lewis Consulting Group. That same consulting group ran the second failed Measure A Bond election. The polling for that second failed measure was done by Orange County Pollster Arnie Steinberg. That poll found a 56% support rate for Measure A plus or minus 5% (the spread therefore was up to 61% pass or 51% fail). Lewis Consulting contract was for a reported $90,000, win or loose, for the second Measure A. The first Measure A campaign was conducted by bond service company GK Baum on a contract that reportedly only paid if the first Measure A passed. The failure of the first Measure A reportedly cost GK Baum an unconfirmed $200,000 plus for the campaign.
Magic Pill Consultant only costs taxpayers $10,000
The July 24th OUSD Consent Agenda (page 80) includes a $10,000 payment to Orange County Department of Education consultant Dr. Dennis Parker to conduct workshops for teachers at Handy Elementary School . Handy is a California designated Program Improvement School. The schools ranked as a 2-2 Academic Performance Index (API) school, Handy had a 2007 base API score of 674 (800 is the statewide target score for all schools). When the API scores are released for this year the Handy growth target is 6 points, or over 680. However, have no fear, Dr. Parker the $10,000 consultant will be here!
Dr. Parker’s $10,000 workshops teach the Strategic Schooling Initiative. Never heard of it? Well this is apparently the magic educational pill we have all been waiting for. For a mere $10,000 in educational tax dollars the Orange County Department of Education states that the Strategic Schooling Initiative will increase the schools API by 30-40 points (see link below).
That’s right, only about $1000 educational tax dollars for every increase of 10 API points. That should put Handy in the state mandated 800 point range within three years! What a find our OUSD Educrats Anne Truex and Rachel Morga have brought to OUSD. Of course ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE is planning to keep you informed over the entire next three years on how Handy’s $10,000 educational tax investment performs with the Truex-Morga Strategic Schooling Initiative 40 point Consultant. Hopefully for the Greater Orange Communities Dr. Parker is not a snake oil salesman because at $10,000 per school for a 30-40 API point increase and OUSD can easily go from Good to Great at all of its schools for only $400,000! That’s cheaper than one year of OUSD’s Focus on Results consultant program failure that taxpayers footed the bill for over four years. Stay tuned, we will.
Handy Elementary API Statistics; CLICK ON: HANDY API
For information on Dr. Parker and the Orange County Department of Education Strategic Schooling Initiative 30-40 point score guarantee: CLICK ON: OCDE/PARKER
INSIDE the OUSD Agenda
Agenda Item 13 A (page 11)- Legislative Coalition Report
Agenda Item 13 B (page 12)- Student School Year Calendars 2009-2012
Agenda Item 13 C (page 16) – 7/11 Committee Report on OUSD Surplus Property
Community Donations
Orange H.S. ASB- $13,312 AP Exams; Canyon Rim PTA- $8,239 Computer lease; El Modena Baseball Boosters- $6,300 Salary Stipends; Anaheim Hills PTS- $15,006 –Smart Boards; Linda Vista PTA-$1,685 – Walkie Talkies.
For a complete list of the $125,000 in Community Donations see OUSD Agenda page 27.
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
“We’re a $220 million dollar business; we’re going to spend the money somewhere.”
-OUSD Trustee Wes Poutsma 9/22/05 explaining his vote for Focus on Results
Former Superintendent Godley’s total “golden handshake” bonus (beginning 8/2008): $00.00*
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2008:
$774,500 Total
2008 Attorney Fee Tally:
6/19/08 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
6/05/08 Miller, Brown & Dannis $ 40,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $150,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $200,000
2/07/08 Parker & Covert $100,000
11/15/07 Parker & Covert (for 1/08 to 6/08) $200,000
$750,000
2008 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
7/24/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 10,000
4/17/08 Dr. Kenneth Stichter Speaker Fee $ 6,500
3/7/08 Dr. Kathleen Weigel Speaker Fee $ 8,000
$ 24,500
2008 TOTAL $774,500
* The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using a 6% lifetime formula. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the taxpayer costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00
2007 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
4/30/07 Debra Ford Speaker Fee $ 4,090
4/30/07 Danny Brassell Speaker Fee $ 3,500
3/8/07 Dr. Daggett Speaker Fee $ 9,000
9/27/07 Dr.Daggett Speaker Fee $ 35,000
11/15/07 OCDE High Priority Consultants $115,000
Total $166,590
2007 Attorney Fee Tally:
1/18/07 Parker & Covert (1/07 to 6/07) $175,000
(6/07-12/07) $200,000
2/08/07 Miller, Brown, and Dannis $ 7, 500
2/22/07 Parker & Covert $ 45,000
5/10/07 Miller, Brown and Dannis $ 50,000
7/19/07 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
Total $537,500
2007 Administrative Conference/Travel: hidden since 6/8/06**
**JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to APPROVE Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
2006 Consultant Fee Tally: Total $176,400
2006 Attorney Fee Tally: Total Approved $655,000
2006 Administrative Conference/Travel: Total $ 18,317 *
* JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to
APPROVE OUSD Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00:
Total 2005 Conference Administrator/Board Fees: $ 7,500.00
2005 Attorney Fee Tally: $730,600.00
Total Watched 2005 OUSD Consultant spending: $ 270,200.00
Next OUSD Board Meeting July 24, 2008. For more information
CLICK ON: BOARD AGENDA
OUSD CLOSED SESSION STARTS 6:30 PM, Regular Session: 7:30 pm
For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040
For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
Monday, July 21, 2008
City of Orange Elected Incumbents want to keep their positions
eLECTION Watch 2008
an Orange Net News Special News Series
City of Orange Elected Incumbents
want to keep their positions
Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche wants to keep her job. Apparently so do Orange Councilpersons Jon Dumitri and Tita Smith, Orange City Clerk Mary E. Murphy and Orange City Treasurer Helen Walker. All of these incumbents have wasted no time in pulling papers to run for re-election. So far four potential challengers for the two contested Orange City Council seats have taken out papers, Stuart Campbell, Robert Douglas, Mike Farrell and Adolfo Perez.
The incumbents and challengers in the wings have until August 8th to file the election paperwork. So far only City Treasurer Helen Walker has completed her filing.
In the two Orange Unified Trustee positions open, Wes Poutsma the only incumbent has not pulled his papers yet. Two people who have pulled papers for the OUSD races, Jerry Winant and Arianna Barrios. Barrios has filed her papers.
City of Orange Mayor
Carolyn Cavecche
Pulled papers
City of Orange Council Seat (2 open)
Stuart Campbell
Pulled papers
Robert Douglas
Pulled papers
Jon Dumitru (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Micheal Farrel
Pulled papers
Tita Smith (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Adolfo Perez
Pulled papers
Orange City Clerk
Mary E. Murphy (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Orange City Treasurer
Helen Walker (Incumbent)
Pulled papers and returned them
Orange Unified Trustee Area 3
Jerry Winant
pulled papers
Orange Unified Trustee Area 6
Arianna Barrios
pulled papers and returned them
eLECTION Watch 2008
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
“Independent Local Insight”
an Orange Net News Special News Series
City of Orange Elected Incumbents
want to keep their positions
Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche wants to keep her job. Apparently so do Orange Councilpersons Jon Dumitri and Tita Smith, Orange City Clerk Mary E. Murphy and Orange City Treasurer Helen Walker. All of these incumbents have wasted no time in pulling papers to run for re-election. So far four potential challengers for the two contested Orange City Council seats have taken out papers, Stuart Campbell, Robert Douglas, Mike Farrell and Adolfo Perez.
The incumbents and challengers in the wings have until August 8th to file the election paperwork. So far only City Treasurer Helen Walker has completed her filing.
In the two Orange Unified Trustee positions open, Wes Poutsma the only incumbent has not pulled his papers yet. Two people who have pulled papers for the OUSD races, Jerry Winant and Arianna Barrios. Barrios has filed her papers.
City of Orange Mayor
Carolyn Cavecche
Pulled papers
City of Orange Council Seat (2 open)
Stuart Campbell
Pulled papers
Robert Douglas
Pulled papers
Jon Dumitru (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Micheal Farrel
Pulled papers
Tita Smith (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Adolfo Perez
Pulled papers
Orange City Clerk
Mary E. Murphy (Incumbent)
Pulled papers
Orange City Treasurer
Helen Walker (Incumbent)
Pulled papers and returned them
Orange Unified Trustee Area 3
Jerry Winant
pulled papers
Orange Unified Trustee Area 6
Arianna Barrios
pulled papers and returned them
eLECTION Watch 2008
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
“Independent Local Insight”
Saturday, July 19, 2008
OUSD July 22nd Meeting to hire Dreier as Superintendent
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
Agenda for July 22 Meeting to hire Dreier
At the June 19th, 2008 Orange Unified School Board meeting, outgoing OUSD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Godley announced that a Special OUSD Meeting would take place on July 22nd to hire Dr. Renae Dreier from Greeley, Colorado District 6 School District. The Agenda for that July 22nd meeting has now officially been posted and Dreier will officially be the new OUSD Superintendent. Despite Godley’s de facto announcement of the hiring of Dreier, a three panel OUSD Board Committee, Wes Poutsma, Kathy Moffat and Kim Nichols, scheduled a trip to Greeley, Colorado to “interview” the community on their de facto choice a couple of weeks later. The necessity of that trip (duped the Dreier Junket by local tax watchers) coming in the mists of a statewide financial crisis was questioned at the June 19th meeting by OUSD Trustee Steve Rocco. Rocco questioned who was going and who was paying for the trip. Poutsma rattled off the committee members and added that “the district” (a.ka. local taxpayers) were paying for the trip. Rocco suggested it would be more cost effective to hire a new superintendent on an “interim” basis.
Meanwhile, Dreier’s school district Board in Colorado is scheduled to meet the morning of July 23rd to appoint her already named successor, even though Dreier has not announced she is officially leaving Greeley. The apparent “contract ballet” between OUSD, Dreier, and the Greeley Board is being played out behind the scenes even as everyone knows the outcome in a process that has a strange backroom-dealing, make-believe, emperors new clothes and fairytale quality not seen since the old Recalled Board was ousted. Not the high point for open government that this Recall Replacement Board was originally elected to institute.
July 22nd Meeting: OUSD CLOSED SESSION STARTS 5:30 PM, Regular Session: 6:00 pm
June 19th OUSD Meeting Recap
A “better place” gives a “Good not Great” Farewell to Godley
OUSD President Wes Poutsma read a resolution of appreciation for outgoing Superintendent Dr. Godley that recapped his 40 year career and called Godley one of the “elite educators in the State of California”. Godley then in a short speech looked back on his 40 years in education stating that he hoped he’d be remembered for making OUSD “a better place”. Godley’s modest farewell of leaving OUSD “a better place” than when he came is a far cry from Godley’s much trumpeted Good to Great private sector scheme. Based on the Jim Collins book of the same name, Godley’s goal was to use the private sector model to take OUSD from “Good to Great”. Some community critics contend that the only success Godley had in moving anything in OUSD from Good to Great was moving his salary from “Good to Great”.
The short farewell exchange at the OUSD Board meeting was in stark contrast to both times popular former OUSD Superintendent Dr. Robert French (Godley’s predecessor) departed OUSD. French, a familiar fixture at campuses across OUSD made a grand farewell tour of every classroom in OUSD when he retired and received countless kudos’ from the Board, staff and community. In contrast the less personable educrat Godley, rarely visited schools and his disconnect from the Greater Orange Community on almost all levels was evident in the farewell. The brief farewell ceremony lacked any heartfelt kudos from the Trustees or community as Poutsma highlighted Godley’s career of 40 years with a bureaucratic style resolution. Glaringly absent was any farewell kudos from other Board members, especially the so-called Godley Majority that routinely had dumped numerous kudos’ and accolades on Godley over the years as they continued to increase his pay literally right up until the final weeks before his retirement announcement. Finally, as if to dramatically summarize the Godley Years at OUSD, at the end of Godley’s short goodbye speech the outgoing superintendent’s OUSD Board nemesis Trustee Steve Rocco shouted out, “There is one person on this Board that won’t forget about you anytime soon!” Perhaps, in a strange way, it was fitting that this was the only emotion at an otherwise uneventful almost Soviet-style proper bureaucratic good-bye for the 40 year career educrat as OUSD Board President Wes Poutsma dutifully ignored Rocco’s ceremony ending comment and moved on to the next agenda item. And so the Godley Good to Great Years ended and OUSD moves on to the Dreier Era.
Villa Park community leaders publicly commit to new Bond Measure
The June 19th OUSD Board meeting also had a scene that Hollywood just weeks ago would have categorized as “science fiction” , as fiscal conservative Villa Park Councilmember Rich Ulmer read a letter to the OUSD Board from fellow fiscal conservative Villa Park Mayor Brad Reese supporting the placement of a Facilities Bond on the November 2008 Ballot. That Bond measure would include monies for the restoration of the Villa Park Elementary School historical buildings as well as monies to upgrade schools across Orange Unified.
The public endorsement letter, sought by the OUSD Trustees, was a huge policy shift for Villa Park community leaders. The Villa Park community had voted overwhelmingly against the twin OUSD Measure A Bond proposals which helped insure the measures defeat. In the Reese letter, the Mayor stated it was his wish for Villa Park to be a “true partner in the improvement of all the district’s facilities” and pledged his support for the “mutual endeavor” of a facilities bond. The public endorsement sought by OUSD Board members who had been burned twice at the polls with Bond measures seemed to be the final piece of the puzzle in placing a new OUSD Facilities Bond measure on the November 2008 ballot and a dramatic 12th-hour reprieve for Villa Park’s oldest historic buildings that OUSD Staff had sought to demolish and a new Bond measure would now save in a real-life Hollywood-ending fashion.
The next Villa Park City Council meeting will be July 22nd, 2008 at 6:30. Villa Park officials will be formally saying good-bye to former Mayor and City Councilmember Rich Freschi. Termed out after being elected to his second term, Freschi resigned after being elected as a Director to Serrano Water District Division 1.
Sentry writer questions $30,000 Consent Agenda item
Also at the June 19th meeting, former Villa Park Councilmember and Foothills Sentry writer Bob Fauteux questioned a $30,000 Consent Agenda 14 C Item to pay the political lobbyist firm School Innovations Advocacy. After Fauteux's three minute Blue Card presentation, fiscal watchdog OUSD Trustee Rick Ledesma pulled the item for discussion. OUSD Staff reported that the firm helps the district in attendance related issues including trying to expand the California Average Daily Attendance language to be more inclusive of computer offered courses. After the discussion the Board approved the lobbying contract by a 6-1 vote (Rocco voted No).
For more Insight into School Innovations Advocacy, CLICK ON:
SCHOOL ADVOCACY
INSIDE the STATE of EDUCATION
The federal and state educrats are again screwing up kids. How about making kids hate math! Algebra I for all California 8th graders is one of those pie-in-the-sky programs bound to cost millions of tax dollars and screw up a generation of California kids. What Whole Language was to reading, requiring Algebra 1 to unprepared middle school students could be to math. Three cheers for the EDUCRATS!
Read MORE AT:HARD TO SOLVE
and… Math Alert
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
“We’re a $220 million dollar business; we’re going to spend the money somewhere.”
-OUSD Trustee Wes Poutsma 9/22/05
Former Superintendent Godley’s total “golden handshake” bonus (beginning 8/2008): $00.00*
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2008:
$764,500 Total
2008 Attorney Fee Tally:
6/19/08 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
6/05/08 Miller, Brown & Dannis $ 40,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $150,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $200,000
2/07/08 Parker & Covert $100,000
11/15/07 Parker & Covert (for 1/08 to 6/08) $200,000
TOTAL $750,000
2008 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
3/7/08 Dr. Kathleen Weigel Speaker Fee $ 8,000
4/17/08 Dr. Kenneth Stichter Speaker Fee $ 6,500
TOTAL $ 14,500
2008 TOTAL $764,500
* The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using the 6% lifetime formula. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00
2007 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
4/30/07 Debra Ford Speaker Fee $ 4,090
4/30/07 Danny Brassell Speaker Fee $ 3,500
3/8/07 Dr. Daggett Speaker Fee $ 9,000
9/27/07 Dr.Daggett Speaker Fee $ 35,000
11/15/07 OCDE High Priority Consultants $115,000
Total $166,590
2007 Attorney Fee Tally:
1/18/07 Parker & Covert (1/07 to 6/07) $175,000
(6/07-12/07) $200,000
2/08/07 Miller, Brown, and Dannis $ 7, 500
2/22/07 Parker & Covert $ 45,000
5/10/07 Miller, Brown and Dannis $ 50,000
7/19/07 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
Total $537,500
2007 Administrative Conference/Travel: hidden since 6/8/06**
**JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to APPROVE Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
2006 Consultant Fee Tally: Total $176,400
2006 Attorney Fee Tally: Total Approved $655,000
2006 Administrative Conference/Travel: Total $ 18,317 *
* JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to
APPROVE OUSD Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00:
Total 2005 Conference Administrator/Board Fees: $ 7,500.00
2005 Attorney Fee Tally: $730,600.00
Total Watched 2005 OUSD Consultant spending: $ 270,200.00
Next OUSD Board Meeting July 22, 2008. For more information
CLICK ON: AGENDA
OUSD CLOSED SESSION STARTS 5:30 PM, Regular Session: 6:00 pm
For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040
For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
“Independent Local Insight”
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
Agenda for July 22 Meeting to hire Dreier
At the June 19th, 2008 Orange Unified School Board meeting, outgoing OUSD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Godley announced that a Special OUSD Meeting would take place on July 22nd to hire Dr. Renae Dreier from Greeley, Colorado District 6 School District. The Agenda for that July 22nd meeting has now officially been posted and Dreier will officially be the new OUSD Superintendent. Despite Godley’s de facto announcement of the hiring of Dreier, a three panel OUSD Board Committee, Wes Poutsma, Kathy Moffat and Kim Nichols, scheduled a trip to Greeley, Colorado to “interview” the community on their de facto choice a couple of weeks later. The necessity of that trip (duped the Dreier Junket by local tax watchers) coming in the mists of a statewide financial crisis was questioned at the June 19th meeting by OUSD Trustee Steve Rocco. Rocco questioned who was going and who was paying for the trip. Poutsma rattled off the committee members and added that “the district” (a.ka. local taxpayers) were paying for the trip. Rocco suggested it would be more cost effective to hire a new superintendent on an “interim” basis.
Meanwhile, Dreier’s school district Board in Colorado is scheduled to meet the morning of July 23rd to appoint her already named successor, even though Dreier has not announced she is officially leaving Greeley. The apparent “contract ballet” between OUSD, Dreier, and the Greeley Board is being played out behind the scenes even as everyone knows the outcome in a process that has a strange backroom-dealing, make-believe, emperors new clothes and fairytale quality not seen since the old Recalled Board was ousted. Not the high point for open government that this Recall Replacement Board was originally elected to institute.
July 22nd Meeting: OUSD CLOSED SESSION STARTS 5:30 PM, Regular Session: 6:00 pm
June 19th OUSD Meeting Recap
A “better place” gives a “Good not Great” Farewell to Godley
OUSD President Wes Poutsma read a resolution of appreciation for outgoing Superintendent Dr. Godley that recapped his 40 year career and called Godley one of the “elite educators in the State of California”. Godley then in a short speech looked back on his 40 years in education stating that he hoped he’d be remembered for making OUSD “a better place”. Godley’s modest farewell of leaving OUSD “a better place” than when he came is a far cry from Godley’s much trumpeted Good to Great private sector scheme. Based on the Jim Collins book of the same name, Godley’s goal was to use the private sector model to take OUSD from “Good to Great”. Some community critics contend that the only success Godley had in moving anything in OUSD from Good to Great was moving his salary from “Good to Great”.
The short farewell exchange at the OUSD Board meeting was in stark contrast to both times popular former OUSD Superintendent Dr. Robert French (Godley’s predecessor) departed OUSD. French, a familiar fixture at campuses across OUSD made a grand farewell tour of every classroom in OUSD when he retired and received countless kudos’ from the Board, staff and community. In contrast the less personable educrat Godley, rarely visited schools and his disconnect from the Greater Orange Community on almost all levels was evident in the farewell. The brief farewell ceremony lacked any heartfelt kudos from the Trustees or community as Poutsma highlighted Godley’s career of 40 years with a bureaucratic style resolution. Glaringly absent was any farewell kudos from other Board members, especially the so-called Godley Majority that routinely had dumped numerous kudos’ and accolades on Godley over the years as they continued to increase his pay literally right up until the final weeks before his retirement announcement. Finally, as if to dramatically summarize the Godley Years at OUSD, at the end of Godley’s short goodbye speech the outgoing superintendent’s OUSD Board nemesis Trustee Steve Rocco shouted out, “There is one person on this Board that won’t forget about you anytime soon!” Perhaps, in a strange way, it was fitting that this was the only emotion at an otherwise uneventful almost Soviet-style proper bureaucratic good-bye for the 40 year career educrat as OUSD Board President Wes Poutsma dutifully ignored Rocco’s ceremony ending comment and moved on to the next agenda item. And so the Godley Good to Great Years ended and OUSD moves on to the Dreier Era.
Villa Park community leaders publicly commit to new Bond Measure
The June 19th OUSD Board meeting also had a scene that Hollywood just weeks ago would have categorized as “science fiction” , as fiscal conservative Villa Park Councilmember Rich Ulmer read a letter to the OUSD Board from fellow fiscal conservative Villa Park Mayor Brad Reese supporting the placement of a Facilities Bond on the November 2008 Ballot. That Bond measure would include monies for the restoration of the Villa Park Elementary School historical buildings as well as monies to upgrade schools across Orange Unified.
The public endorsement letter, sought by the OUSD Trustees, was a huge policy shift for Villa Park community leaders. The Villa Park community had voted overwhelmingly against the twin OUSD Measure A Bond proposals which helped insure the measures defeat. In the Reese letter, the Mayor stated it was his wish for Villa Park to be a “true partner in the improvement of all the district’s facilities” and pledged his support for the “mutual endeavor” of a facilities bond. The public endorsement sought by OUSD Board members who had been burned twice at the polls with Bond measures seemed to be the final piece of the puzzle in placing a new OUSD Facilities Bond measure on the November 2008 ballot and a dramatic 12th-hour reprieve for Villa Park’s oldest historic buildings that OUSD Staff had sought to demolish and a new Bond measure would now save in a real-life Hollywood-ending fashion.
The next Villa Park City Council meeting will be July 22nd, 2008 at 6:30. Villa Park officials will be formally saying good-bye to former Mayor and City Councilmember Rich Freschi. Termed out after being elected to his second term, Freschi resigned after being elected as a Director to Serrano Water District Division 1.
Sentry writer questions $30,000 Consent Agenda item
Also at the June 19th meeting, former Villa Park Councilmember and Foothills Sentry writer Bob Fauteux questioned a $30,000 Consent Agenda 14 C Item to pay the political lobbyist firm School Innovations Advocacy. After Fauteux's three minute Blue Card presentation, fiscal watchdog OUSD Trustee Rick Ledesma pulled the item for discussion. OUSD Staff reported that the firm helps the district in attendance related issues including trying to expand the California Average Daily Attendance language to be more inclusive of computer offered courses. After the discussion the Board approved the lobbying contract by a 6-1 vote (Rocco voted No).
For more Insight into School Innovations Advocacy, CLICK ON:
SCHOOL ADVOCACY
INSIDE the STATE of EDUCATION
The federal and state educrats are again screwing up kids. How about making kids hate math! Algebra I for all California 8th graders is one of those pie-in-the-sky programs bound to cost millions of tax dollars and screw up a generation of California kids. What Whole Language was to reading, requiring Algebra 1 to unprepared middle school students could be to math. Three cheers for the EDUCRATS!
Read MORE AT:HARD TO SOLVE
and… Math Alert
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
“We’re a $220 million dollar business; we’re going to spend the money somewhere.”
-OUSD Trustee Wes Poutsma 9/22/05
Former Superintendent Godley’s total “golden handshake” bonus (beginning 8/2008): $00.00*
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2008:
$764,500 Total
2008 Attorney Fee Tally:
6/19/08 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
6/05/08 Miller, Brown & Dannis $ 40,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $150,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $200,000
2/07/08 Parker & Covert $100,000
11/15/07 Parker & Covert (for 1/08 to 6/08) $200,000
TOTAL $750,000
2008 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
3/7/08 Dr. Kathleen Weigel Speaker Fee $ 8,000
4/17/08 Dr. Kenneth Stichter Speaker Fee $ 6,500
TOTAL $ 14,500
2008 TOTAL $764,500
* The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using the 6% lifetime formula. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00
2007 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
4/30/07 Debra Ford Speaker Fee $ 4,090
4/30/07 Danny Brassell Speaker Fee $ 3,500
3/8/07 Dr. Daggett Speaker Fee $ 9,000
9/27/07 Dr.Daggett Speaker Fee $ 35,000
11/15/07 OCDE High Priority Consultants $115,000
Total $166,590
2007 Attorney Fee Tally:
1/18/07 Parker & Covert (1/07 to 6/07) $175,000
(6/07-12/07) $200,000
2/08/07 Miller, Brown, and Dannis $ 7, 500
2/22/07 Parker & Covert $ 45,000
5/10/07 Miller, Brown and Dannis $ 50,000
7/19/07 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
Total $537,500
2007 Administrative Conference/Travel: hidden since 6/8/06**
**JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to APPROVE Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
2006 Consultant Fee Tally: Total $176,400
2006 Attorney Fee Tally: Total Approved $655,000
2006 Administrative Conference/Travel: Total $ 18,317 *
* JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to
APPROVE OUSD Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00:
Total 2005 Conference Administrator/Board Fees: $ 7,500.00
2005 Attorney Fee Tally: $730,600.00
Total Watched 2005 OUSD Consultant spending: $ 270,200.00
Next OUSD Board Meeting July 22, 2008. For more information
CLICK ON: AGENDA
OUSD CLOSED SESSION STARTS 5:30 PM, Regular Session: 6:00 pm
For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040
For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
“Independent Local Insight”
Friday, July 18, 2008
Two File for OUSD Trustee Seats-Rocco pulls papers for Santa Ana Council
eLECTION Watch 2008
an Orange Net News Special News Series
OUSD Candidates for Trustee Area 3 and 6 start to file
The election filing period began July 14th and runs until August 8 for two Orange Unified School Board Trustee Seats. Two candidates have filed Declaration of Candidacy statements for the seats. Inland Empire Teacher/ Administrator Jerry Winant has filed for OUSD Trustee Area 3, currently held by OUSD Board President Wes Poutsma. Winant unsuccessfully challenged Orange County Board of Education Area 3 Trustee Ken Williams in June of this year. In the three-way race (that included perennial Orange candidate Robert Douglas’ first attempt at an education position) Winant garnered 26.8% of the total votes cast (15,594 votes).
OUSD Trustee Area 6 has no current incumbent because the area was wrestled away from the controversial OUSD Trustee Steve Rocco in the Nichols Redistricting (named for OUSD Trustee Kim Nichols who initiated the redistricting). The redistricting placed Rocco’s house into OUSD Trustee Area 7, thus eliminating Rocco from running in Area 6. This week Rocco pulled papers to run for Ward 3 of the Santa Ana City Council. That seat is currently held by Councilperson Carlos Bustamante who also pulled papers for re-election this week.
Community activist Arianna Barrios, daughter of former OUSD Trustee Russell Barrios, is the first to file her Declaration of Candidacy for the open Area 6 seat. Barrios has the backing of major City of Orange leadership players including Mayor Carolyn Caveeche, Mayor Pro Tem Jon Dumitru, Councilperson Tita Smith and OUSD Trustee John Ortega.
While the powerful Barrios endorsements could scare off any other potential candidates, other interested candidates that have already started fundraising and house hunting in the contested Trustee Areas have until August 8th to file for the election.
For more information CLICK ON:
Jerry Winant Website
Winant June Candidate Statement
ONN Barrios Story
Barrios WEBSITE
eLECTION Watch 2008
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
an Orange Net News Special News Series
OUSD Candidates for Trustee Area 3 and 6 start to file
The election filing period began July 14th and runs until August 8 for two Orange Unified School Board Trustee Seats. Two candidates have filed Declaration of Candidacy statements for the seats. Inland Empire Teacher/ Administrator Jerry Winant has filed for OUSD Trustee Area 3, currently held by OUSD Board President Wes Poutsma. Winant unsuccessfully challenged Orange County Board of Education Area 3 Trustee Ken Williams in June of this year. In the three-way race (that included perennial Orange candidate Robert Douglas’ first attempt at an education position) Winant garnered 26.8% of the total votes cast (15,594 votes).
OUSD Trustee Area 6 has no current incumbent because the area was wrestled away from the controversial OUSD Trustee Steve Rocco in the Nichols Redistricting (named for OUSD Trustee Kim Nichols who initiated the redistricting). The redistricting placed Rocco’s house into OUSD Trustee Area 7, thus eliminating Rocco from running in Area 6. This week Rocco pulled papers to run for Ward 3 of the Santa Ana City Council. That seat is currently held by Councilperson Carlos Bustamante who also pulled papers for re-election this week.
Community activist Arianna Barrios, daughter of former OUSD Trustee Russell Barrios, is the first to file her Declaration of Candidacy for the open Area 6 seat. Barrios has the backing of major City of Orange leadership players including Mayor Carolyn Caveeche, Mayor Pro Tem Jon Dumitru, Councilperson Tita Smith and OUSD Trustee John Ortega.
While the powerful Barrios endorsements could scare off any other potential candidates, other interested candidates that have already started fundraising and house hunting in the contested Trustee Areas have until August 8th to file for the election.
For more information CLICK ON:
Jerry Winant Website
Winant June Candidate Statement
ONN Barrios Story
Barrios WEBSITE
eLECTION Watch 2008
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Dropouts New Clothes: California Owns Up as OUSD dropout rate more than doubles
SPECIAL REPORT
The Dropouts New Clothes:
California Owns Up to Real Dropout Rates as OUSD Dropout Rate more than doubles
California took a big step away from its old laughable approach to counting the dropout rate of the state's high school students. The old system allowed students to officially disappear as “transfers” or into other bureaucratic black holes instead of being officially counted as a “drop out” , thus artificially making it look like less children were being left behind. That old system made it look like schools were doing a fairly decent job graduating students. That old data was an obviously joke to in-the-know-educrats as it showed the statewide 4 year dropout rate at 17.3% and Orange County at 5.8%. The new collection data, which gives each student a unique statewide number for educational tracking, now shows how far off the original statistics were. Using the new system for the first time, the statewide 4 year high school dropout rate rate is 24.2% and the Orange County rate as a whole is 12.0%.
Orange Unified’s dropout rate moved from “Good to Great” as it more than doubled from the old official rate of 3.3% to the new 4 year dropout rate of 7.0 %. The bad dropout rate news was not unexpected in educational circles and comes just a week before Dr. Renae Dreier will be signing her contract as the new OUSD Superintendent. Unfortunately for the OUSD Board, Dreier faced a similar dropout dilemma at her district in Colorado, but did little to address it. The Greeley District 6 dropout rate remains one of Dreier’s biggest criticisms of her tenure in Colorado. Dreier’s priorities in Greeley included signing on to the now debunked Bush family Texas endorsed Reading First consultant program.
The newly released state data also gives each high school statistic. Following are the individual high school statistics for Orange Unified:
OUSD’s #1 dropout rate: Orange High School
4 year total dropout rate- 11.3%
Yearly dropout rate: 2.8%
CLICK ON: OHS Statistics
OUSD’s #2 dropout rate: Villa Park High School
4 year total dropout rate: 3.1%
Yearly dropout rate: .8%
CLICK ON: VPHS Statistics
OUSD’s #3 dropout rate: El Modena High School
4 year total dropout rate: 2%
Yearly dropout rate: .5%
CLICK ON:ELMO Statistics
OUSD’s lowest dropout rate: Canyon High School
4 year total dropout rate: .9%
Yearly dropout rate: .2%
CLICK ON: Canyon HS Statistics
RICHLAND CONTINUATION SCHOOL:
4 year total dropout rate-19%
CLICK ON: RICHLAND
All Orange County Unified School Districts 4 year dropout rates in order (highest to lowest):
Santa Ana Unified: 9.1 %
Newport Mesa Unified :8.6%
Garden Grove Unified 7.1%
Orange Unified: 7.0 %
Placentia Yorba Linda: 7.0%
Saddleback Valley: 5.7%
Tustin Unified 5.4%
Brea-Olinda Unified: 3.8%
Los Alamitos Unified: 3.2 %
Capistrano Unified: 3.1%
Irvine Unified: 2.6%
Laguna Beach Unified: 1.2%
The Dropouts New Clothes:
California Owns Up to Real Dropout Rates as OUSD Dropout Rate more than doubles
California took a big step away from its old laughable approach to counting the dropout rate of the state's high school students. The old system allowed students to officially disappear as “transfers” or into other bureaucratic black holes instead of being officially counted as a “drop out” , thus artificially making it look like less children were being left behind. That old system made it look like schools were doing a fairly decent job graduating students. That old data was an obviously joke to in-the-know-educrats as it showed the statewide 4 year dropout rate at 17.3% and Orange County at 5.8%. The new collection data, which gives each student a unique statewide number for educational tracking, now shows how far off the original statistics were. Using the new system for the first time, the statewide 4 year high school dropout rate rate is 24.2% and the Orange County rate as a whole is 12.0%.
Orange Unified’s dropout rate moved from “Good to Great” as it more than doubled from the old official rate of 3.3% to the new 4 year dropout rate of 7.0 %. The bad dropout rate news was not unexpected in educational circles and comes just a week before Dr. Renae Dreier will be signing her contract as the new OUSD Superintendent. Unfortunately for the OUSD Board, Dreier faced a similar dropout dilemma at her district in Colorado, but did little to address it. The Greeley District 6 dropout rate remains one of Dreier’s biggest criticisms of her tenure in Colorado. Dreier’s priorities in Greeley included signing on to the now debunked Bush family Texas endorsed Reading First consultant program.
The newly released state data also gives each high school statistic. Following are the individual high school statistics for Orange Unified:
OUSD’s #1 dropout rate: Orange High School
4 year total dropout rate- 11.3%
Yearly dropout rate: 2.8%
CLICK ON: OHS Statistics
OUSD’s #2 dropout rate: Villa Park High School
4 year total dropout rate: 3.1%
Yearly dropout rate: .8%
CLICK ON: VPHS Statistics
OUSD’s #3 dropout rate: El Modena High School
4 year total dropout rate: 2%
Yearly dropout rate: .5%
CLICK ON:ELMO Statistics
OUSD’s lowest dropout rate: Canyon High School
4 year total dropout rate: .9%
Yearly dropout rate: .2%
CLICK ON: Canyon HS Statistics
RICHLAND CONTINUATION SCHOOL:
4 year total dropout rate-19%
CLICK ON: RICHLAND
All Orange County Unified School Districts 4 year dropout rates in order (highest to lowest):
Santa Ana Unified: 9.1 %
Newport Mesa Unified :8.6%
Garden Grove Unified 7.1%
Orange Unified: 7.0 %
Placentia Yorba Linda: 7.0%
Saddleback Valley: 5.7%
Tustin Unified 5.4%
Brea-Olinda Unified: 3.8%
Los Alamitos Unified: 3.2 %
Capistrano Unified: 3.1%
Irvine Unified: 2.6%
Laguna Beach Unified: 1.2%
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Dreier, Harleys and the Library
Metro TALK
A community service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Greeley District 6 names Dreier successor…if she leaves for OUSD
As contract negotiations apparently continue between Greeley District 6 Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier and Orange Unified, Dreier’s district in Colorado has named her successor…just in case. With two weeks to go before a Special OUSD Board meeting scheduled for July 22nd to approve the new superintendent’s contract, Dreier still hasn’t announced that she is leaving Greeley. The Greeley District 6 Board however has taken no chances and has named a successor, and will meet on the morning of July 23rd to offer Greeley Deputy Superintendent Ranelle Lang a one year contract to be Greeley District 6 Superintendent.
The cumbersome process of hiring Dreier away from Greeley began with current Superintendent Dr. Godley announcing at the June 19th, 2008 OUSD Board Meeting that Dreier would be installed at a Special OUSD Board Meeting on July 22nd. This was weeks before three OUSD Board Members (Kim Nichols, Kathy Moffat and Wes Poutsma) went to Greeley on the so-called Dreier Junket to “interview” the town’s leaders about Dreier despite the fact that it was more than apparent Dreier had the OUSD job. Since that taxpayer paid junket, the Greeley Tribune published a poll that had 71% of the 876 Greeley responders answering “No” to the poll question:
Do you believe Greeley-Evans School District 6 has improved under Renae Dreier's leadership?
Tribune story on new Greeley District 6 Superintendent:
REPLACEMENT
Tribune Poll results on Dreier leadership in District 6 :
Dreier Poll RESULTS
Bikes, Babes and Brew at the Irvine Lake
Irvine Lake is revving up for its 12th Annual Harley Festival on July 27th from 11 am to 5 pm. With bikes, music, more bikes, beer, bikes and a “hot babes” contest, the 12th Annual should be the best yet…did we mention the bikes?
The music includes three tribute bands: one to the Door’s Jim Morrison; another to the Rolling Stones; and another to Cream. The cost for the all this fun is only $20 per person. For more information call 714 649-9133, or CLICK ON: HARLEY
If Walls Could Talk in Orange, Preserving Photos and Summer Anime
Since the re-opening of the Orange Public Library and History Center, the folks at the “Main Library” just haven’t stopped to rest. This summer besides the on going computer classes and reading clubs, they continue to offer something for just about everybody.
Much like the popular cable show, If Walls Could Talk, the Orange Library is offering the workshop Researching the History of your to help local homeowners uncover the records of their homes past. Another workshop offers tips and advice on how to preserve old family photographs.
If your tastes run more modern, the Orange Library is continuing the popular Japanese Anime series during the summer with animated Anime films and television shows in the library Community Room.
Summer Anime: Wednesday July 16, and Wednesday July 30 4pm to 6 pm
Preserving Photographs: Tuesday July 15th, 6 pm- 7 pm
Research Your House: Tuesday July 22, 6 pm – 7 pm
For more information on these and other Orange Library programs CLICK ON:
ORANGE LIBRARY
Metro TALK is a community service of ORANGE NET NEWS /O/N/N/
A community service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Greeley District 6 names Dreier successor…if she leaves for OUSD
As contract negotiations apparently continue between Greeley District 6 Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier and Orange Unified, Dreier’s district in Colorado has named her successor…just in case. With two weeks to go before a Special OUSD Board meeting scheduled for July 22nd to approve the new superintendent’s contract, Dreier still hasn’t announced that she is leaving Greeley. The Greeley District 6 Board however has taken no chances and has named a successor, and will meet on the morning of July 23rd to offer Greeley Deputy Superintendent Ranelle Lang a one year contract to be Greeley District 6 Superintendent.
The cumbersome process of hiring Dreier away from Greeley began with current Superintendent Dr. Godley announcing at the June 19th, 2008 OUSD Board Meeting that Dreier would be installed at a Special OUSD Board Meeting on July 22nd. This was weeks before three OUSD Board Members (Kim Nichols, Kathy Moffat and Wes Poutsma) went to Greeley on the so-called Dreier Junket to “interview” the town’s leaders about Dreier despite the fact that it was more than apparent Dreier had the OUSD job. Since that taxpayer paid junket, the Greeley Tribune published a poll that had 71% of the 876 Greeley responders answering “No” to the poll question:
Do you believe Greeley-Evans School District 6 has improved under Renae Dreier's leadership?
Tribune story on new Greeley District 6 Superintendent:
REPLACEMENT
Tribune Poll results on Dreier leadership in District 6 :
Dreier Poll RESULTS
Bikes, Babes and Brew at the Irvine Lake
Irvine Lake is revving up for its 12th Annual Harley Festival on July 27th from 11 am to 5 pm. With bikes, music, more bikes, beer, bikes and a “hot babes” contest, the 12th Annual should be the best yet…did we mention the bikes?
The music includes three tribute bands: one to the Door’s Jim Morrison; another to the Rolling Stones; and another to Cream. The cost for the all this fun is only $20 per person. For more information call 714 649-9133, or CLICK ON: HARLEY
If Walls Could Talk in Orange, Preserving Photos and Summer Anime
Since the re-opening of the Orange Public Library and History Center, the folks at the “Main Library” just haven’t stopped to rest. This summer besides the on going computer classes and reading clubs, they continue to offer something for just about everybody.
Much like the popular cable show, If Walls Could Talk, the Orange Library is offering the workshop Researching the History of your to help local homeowners uncover the records of their homes past. Another workshop offers tips and advice on how to preserve old family photographs.
If your tastes run more modern, the Orange Library is continuing the popular Japanese Anime series during the summer with animated Anime films and television shows in the library Community Room.
Summer Anime: Wednesday July 16, and Wednesday July 30 4pm to 6 pm
Preserving Photographs: Tuesday July 15th, 6 pm- 7 pm
Research Your House: Tuesday July 22, 6 pm – 7 pm
For more information on these and other Orange Library programs CLICK ON:
ORANGE LIBRARY
Metro TALK is a community service of ORANGE NET NEWS /O/N/N/
