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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Metro TALK: It’s….OKTOBERFEST Time
Metro TALK
A community service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
It’s….OKTOBERFEST Time
The Anaheim Hills Rotary Club presents OKTOBERFEST III 2009 Saturday October 3rd from 12 Noon to 5:00 pm at the Oak Canyon Nature Center. This year’s annual October Party in the Hills features live bands (of course Oompah!) lots of food including German favorites like-bratwurst, sauerkraut and soft pretzels. Beer, wine and a talent show full of local residents will be just part of the fun activities for the entire family are scheduled throughout the day. Plus every want-a-be German’s favorite- THE CHICKEN DANCE! All this and admission is FREE!
Oktoberfest III 2009
Oak Canyon Nature Center
6700 Walnut Canyon
Anaheim Hills
MAP AT:OKTOBERFEST
IRVINE RAILROAD PUMPKIN PATCH OPENS FOR FALL
The always fun Irvine Park Railroad has opened it’s Pumpkin Patch until November 1st seven days a week (weather permitting) from 10 am- 5 pm weekdays 10-6 pm on weekends). The Pumpkin Patch is located behind the Irvine Park Railroad Station and entrance is free with the normal park entry fee and prices of pumpkins vary with size. The Pumpkin Patch has a farm house feel and is decorated with Halloween décor perfect for holiday pictures
Other family fun ticket attractions included the 12 min. Irvine Railroad ride, a tractor hayride, a Pumpkin Patch Photo Booth ($7.00 for 1st photo $5 additional ones-cash only), a John Deer Tractor Races (age 4-7), a Halloween Bounce Jumper and Halloween carnival booths. But that’s not all- free attractions include a spooky Haunted House, a Hay Maze, and always memorable Picture Stands (you know you stick your head in a hole and your whole face is on another body and Dad takes your goofy picture). Plus, for those with email addresses a guess the Pumpkin Weight Contest-yes the winner gets the Giant Pumpkin as the prize (notified by email). Food for purchase or covered picnic areas for picnics are also available. All this is in addition to the regular Irvine Park attractions like the paddle boats, the pony rides (closed Mondays) and the Orange County Zoo.
Discount Tickets are Available here: IRVINE COUPONS
Metro TALK is a community service of
ORANGE NET NEWS /O/N/N/
Produced by the
Orange Communication System /OCS/
A community service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
It’s….OKTOBERFEST Time
The Anaheim Hills Rotary Club presents OKTOBERFEST III 2009 Saturday October 3rd from 12 Noon to 5:00 pm at the Oak Canyon Nature Center. This year’s annual October Party in the Hills features live bands (of course Oompah!) lots of food including German favorites like-bratwurst, sauerkraut and soft pretzels. Beer, wine and a talent show full of local residents will be just part of the fun activities for the entire family are scheduled throughout the day. Plus every want-a-be German’s favorite- THE CHICKEN DANCE! All this and admission is FREE!
Oktoberfest III 2009
Oak Canyon Nature Center
6700 Walnut Canyon
Anaheim Hills
MAP AT:OKTOBERFEST
IRVINE RAILROAD PUMPKIN PATCH OPENS FOR FALLThe always fun Irvine Park Railroad has opened it’s Pumpkin Patch until November 1st seven days a week (weather permitting) from 10 am- 5 pm weekdays 10-6 pm on weekends). The Pumpkin Patch is located behind the Irvine Park Railroad Station and entrance is free with the normal park entry fee and prices of pumpkins vary with size. The Pumpkin Patch has a farm house feel and is decorated with Halloween décor perfect for holiday pictures
Other family fun ticket attractions included the 12 min. Irvine Railroad ride, a tractor hayride, a Pumpkin Patch Photo Booth ($7.00 for 1st photo $5 additional ones-cash only), a John Deer Tractor Races (age 4-7), a Halloween Bounce Jumper and Halloween carnival booths. But that’s not all- free attractions include a spooky Haunted House, a Hay Maze, and always memorable Picture Stands (you know you stick your head in a hole and your whole face is on another body and Dad takes your goofy picture). Plus, for those with email addresses a guess the Pumpkin Weight Contest-yes the winner gets the Giant Pumpkin as the prize (notified by email). Food for purchase or covered picnic areas for picnics are also available. All this is in addition to the regular Irvine Park attractions like the paddle boats, the pony rides (closed Mondays) and the Orange County Zoo.
Discount Tickets are Available here: IRVINE COUPONS
Metro TALK is a community service of
ORANGE NET NEWS /O/N/N/
Produced by the
Orange Communication System /OCS/
Monday, September 21, 2009
State tests results make OUSD a Program Improvement district
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
New AYP scores mean
State designates Orange Unified a Program Improvement District
The Greater Orange Communities 55 Freeway Divide became more apparent in the latest release of the state Accountability Progress Reporting (APR) figures last week (September 15, 2009). The reports show that while Orange Unified’s state Academic Performance Index (API) scores grew 11 points (California as a whole saw a 14 point statewide increase in scores) the bad news far outweighs the good news for OUSD and other districts with similar socio-economic factors that exist in the sprawling district west of the 55 Freeway Divide that everyone familiar with Greater Orange knows, but rarely mentions. However, reading the September 21, 2009 Press Release from OUSD Administrative Director of Communications Larry Hausner and you would imagine everything in OUSD-land is as squeaky clean as the Magic Kingdom. While the success in OUSD should be acknowledged, to ignore or gloss over the problems does not meet OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier's “knowledge is power” mantra.
The state tests show that OUSD failed to meet 8 of the 40 federal criteria for the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) mandates under No Child Left Behind student subgroups and is now officially designated as a first year Program Improvement district for the first time since California started assigning designation to underperforming districts. In addition three new schools also joined the district’s nine other Program Improvement designated schools ranks- Orange High School, Cambridge E.S. and Jordan E.S.- bringing the district total of Program Improvement schools to an all time high of 12. Schools failing to meet the AYP requirements two years in a row are designated as Program Improvement. The new designations mean more work for overworked staff at both the district and school levels and possible eventual state takeovers. None of this news was in the Hausner’s Press Release.
The released state reports show that 24, or 63% of OUSD’s schools met or exceeded their “growth targets” or the number of targeted points for “growth” in student scores on standardized tests given at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. Nearly a quarter (24%) of OUSD schools scores stayed the same or had declines in the targeted growth. The scores are greatly influenced by Language Arts and Math standardized testing scores.
OUSD Graduation rates fall 3.1%
Another item missing from the Hausner Press Release was that graduation rates also fell in OUSD last year from the 2008 graduation rate by 3.1% (from 93.5% in 2008 to 90.4% in 2009). El Modena H.S. showed the largest decline in graduation rates posting a 6.5% decline (from 98.3% to 91.8%). Orange H.S. posted a 2.2% drop; Villa Park H.S. a 1.4% drop and Canyon H.S. a .03% drop.
Villa Park H.S. falls below magic 800 with 26 point API score drop
Nine OUSD schools posted declining API scores from a -2 point drop at Palmyra E.S. to a -29 point drop at Lampson E.S. At the secondary level, Santiago Charter and Yorba M.S. had scores drop, while Cerro Villa M.S., El Rancho M.S. and Portola M.S. saw scores increase. Portola M.S.( in its fifth year as a Program Improvement school) apparently reaped huge benefits from funding for small class sizes. The school posted a 38 point increase, the highest of any OUSD secondary school.
At the district’s high schools, only Villa Park H.S. posted declining API scores with a -26 point drop. That drop brings Villa Park H.S. below the magic 800 score that the state expects all schools to rise above. Villa Park H.S. API score is now at 776. This is the second time Villa Park has risen above the sought after 800 mark and then fallen back below. In addition, Villa Park H.S. was one of 11 OUSD schools to fail to meet the federal AYP criteria. If Villa Park fails a second year to meet the AYP criteria, it will become the second OUSD high school to become a Program Improvement school. Any Program Improvement school in Villa Park, let alone the tight-knit community’s name-sake high school would be a bitter pill for the politically active community to deal with.
On the other hand, 19 OUSD schools surpassed the magic 800 state number. The Hausner Press Release lead off reporting that 6 schools climbing over the 900 score, three for the first time. The six schools ( all east of the 55 Divide) are Anaheim Hills E.S. (first time-902); Chapman Hills E.S. (930); Nohl Canyon E.S. (930); Panorama E.S. (927); Serrano E.S. (first time-914); Villa Park E.S. (first time 908). Also in the Hausner Press Release was a list of the highest API increases led by Canyon Hills at 83 points. The Hausner Press Release also failed to mention that Canyon Hills 90 students are students who have moderate to severe disabilities and do not take the state standardized tests. Those students take the California Alternative Performance Assessment (CAPA) Test. The test is administered by on site teachers who interpret the student answers and write them down in the test.
To see a sample of a CAPA test question and how a teacher is suppose to score
CLICK ON: CAPA TEST
Handy E.S. increases 25 points- 13 points below 2008 level
In 2008, Handy E.S. increased testing scores by 38 points. On July 24th 2008, despite a California fiscal emergency, the Orange Unified School Board Trustees approved spending $10,000 of educational tax dollars to hire consultant Dr. Dennis Parker from the Orange County Department of Education to conduct workshops at Handy E.S. in a program called the Strategic Schooling Initiative. The Orange County Department of Education website promised that the Strategic Schooling Initiative will increase a schools API score by 30-40 points. The web-link to that claim was publicized by Orange Net News and has since been removed.
That said, the year before hiring the $10,000 consultant Handy had a 38 point increase. So logically based on the OCDE website claims, this year the school’s scores should be increasing by an unprecedented 78 points with the Dr. Dennis Parker’s $10,000 “Magic Pill” consultant program (the 38 points the school did without the program last year, plus 30 points promised by the consultant program). Of course when the district can least afford to spend money on another snake-oil consultant, they did. You know the rest of the story, not only did Handy not significantly raise scores above what they did before the consultant- they actually failed to match their pervious year’s scores by 13 points. And yes for the sake of argument-even failed to reach a 30 point improvement by 5 points. Another Consultant Fable bites the dust with what edu-cats like to point to: “data”.
To view the Hausner Press Release CLICK ON: Hausner Press Release
Inside the September 10, 2009 OUSD Board Agenda
The OUSD Trustees voted to adopt the 2008/09 Unaudited Actuals and of Revised Budget 2009/10. Staff reported that Sacramento lawmakers had lowered the required reserves from 3% of the budget to 1.7% freeing up extra money for school districts. However, the fix (as with most fixes from Sacramento) is temporary and district staff warned that more cuts may be needed in the December revisiting of the budget and they are compiling options for further proposed cuts.
Also at the September 10 meeting, Trustee Mark Wayland continued his digging for answers in the Consent Item. Not content to just be a rubber stamp. Wayland refuses to vote on items he needs more clarification on- believe it or not…an elected official who continues to carry out campaign promises!
Former OUSD Superintendent Dr. Godley front page news
In a front page article on Sunday September 20, 2009 Biggest Pensions Tax State Fund, the Orange County Register‘s OC Watchdog writes about the 3,000 plus retired educators who make over $100,000 a year in retirement from the State Teacher’s Retirement Fund (STRS). Former OUSD Superintendent Dr. Godley’s retirement pay is $210,211 a year according to records cited by the article. The article does not mention the Retirement Bonus Godley received from OUSD after only 5 years as Superintendent. Even a motion by long-time Godley supporter Trustee Kathy Moffat who made a motion to amend the retirement buy-out plan to remove Godley from the Retirement Bonus would not convince the other OUSD Trustees.
Mofatt’s amendment failed by a 4-3 vote as Trustees Wes Poutsma, Kim Nichols, Melissa Smith and John Ortega on record voting against the Moffat Amendment to exclude the superintendent from the buyout with Moffat, Rick Ledesma and Steve Rocco voting to exclude Godley.
The OC Register article begins its section on Godley with:
“Another member of the "100,000-plus" club, former Orange Unified School District Superintendent Thomas Godley collects $210,211 a year. He was the budget chief for Newport-Mesa Unified when a finance worker siphoned $3.7 million to buy such things as full-length fur coats in 1992”.
To read the full OC Register article CLICK ON:GODLEY
To read about Kathy Moffat’s attempt to exclude Godley
CLICK ON:GODLEY AMENDMENT
INSIDE the September 24th OUSD Board Agenda
Canyons want to secede – Charter School wants approval
Having failed in its bid to get OUSD to keep Silverado E.S. open, the newest plan is to leave OUSD and join Saddleback Valley Unified School District. The Inter-Canyon League will be presenting Information Item 13 B (Agenda page 36). If the Board lets the Canyons go will Anaheim Hills be far behind?
An unknown entity called Global Tides Inc. has petitioned OUSD to open a charter school. Agenda Item 13 C (Agenda page 37) the Board will hear about a report from the staff on the fiscal impact of the proposal and decide to hold a public hearing on the charter proposal on October 29, 2009.
For more information on the Inter-Canyon League
CLICK ON: Inter-Canyon League
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2009:
Total $1,041,000
2009 Attorney Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Parker & Covert (for 1/09 -6/09) $ 200,000
3/12/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (Sp. Ed) $ 50,000
3/12/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 98,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (09-10) $ 400,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 200,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (property) $ 55,000
6/18/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (property)$ 35,000
Total $1,038,000
2009 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
01/24/09 Leadership Associates Consultants $ 3,000
2009 TOTAL $1,041,000
Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008):
$15,730.00*
* 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 calculated here at $1210 a month since 8/08. 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 2008: $901,200
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:
11/13/08 Subs for SDCDE (Reading First) $24,000
11/13/08 SDCDE (Reading First) $30,000
10/30/08 Dr. Willard Daggett (ICLE) $ 4,500
10/16/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 4,200
9/25/08 Visual Ink for Sadler Consultant <$ 6,600> CANCELED in 2009
9/25/08 Bob Sadler Consultant Fee $ 8,500
9/25/08 Candace Simpson-Sadler Helper $ 5,500
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
Consultant Total $ 101, 200
2008 TOTAL $ 901,200
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00**
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 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:
Next OUSD Board Meeting Thursday September 24, 2009 -OUSD BOARD ROOM
For AGENDA-CLICK ON: SEPT 24 AGENDA
CLOSED SESSION- 6:00 pm
OUSD Regular Session: 7:00 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/
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
New AYP scores mean
State designates Orange Unified a Program Improvement District
The Greater Orange Communities 55 Freeway Divide became more apparent in the latest release of the state Accountability Progress Reporting (APR) figures last week (September 15, 2009). The reports show that while Orange Unified’s state Academic Performance Index (API) scores grew 11 points (California as a whole saw a 14 point statewide increase in scores) the bad news far outweighs the good news for OUSD and other districts with similar socio-economic factors that exist in the sprawling district west of the 55 Freeway Divide that everyone familiar with Greater Orange knows, but rarely mentions. However, reading the September 21, 2009 Press Release from OUSD Administrative Director of Communications Larry Hausner and you would imagine everything in OUSD-land is as squeaky clean as the Magic Kingdom. While the success in OUSD should be acknowledged, to ignore or gloss over the problems does not meet OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier's “knowledge is power” mantra.
The state tests show that OUSD failed to meet 8 of the 40 federal criteria for the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) mandates under No Child Left Behind student subgroups and is now officially designated as a first year Program Improvement district for the first time since California started assigning designation to underperforming districts. In addition three new schools also joined the district’s nine other Program Improvement designated schools ranks- Orange High School, Cambridge E.S. and Jordan E.S.- bringing the district total of Program Improvement schools to an all time high of 12. Schools failing to meet the AYP requirements two years in a row are designated as Program Improvement. The new designations mean more work for overworked staff at both the district and school levels and possible eventual state takeovers. None of this news was in the Hausner’s Press Release.
The released state reports show that 24, or 63% of OUSD’s schools met or exceeded their “growth targets” or the number of targeted points for “growth” in student scores on standardized tests given at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. Nearly a quarter (24%) of OUSD schools scores stayed the same or had declines in the targeted growth. The scores are greatly influenced by Language Arts and Math standardized testing scores.
OUSD Graduation rates fall 3.1%
Another item missing from the Hausner Press Release was that graduation rates also fell in OUSD last year from the 2008 graduation rate by 3.1% (from 93.5% in 2008 to 90.4% in 2009). El Modena H.S. showed the largest decline in graduation rates posting a 6.5% decline (from 98.3% to 91.8%). Orange H.S. posted a 2.2% drop; Villa Park H.S. a 1.4% drop and Canyon H.S. a .03% drop.
Villa Park H.S. falls below magic 800 with 26 point API score drop
Nine OUSD schools posted declining API scores from a -2 point drop at Palmyra E.S. to a -29 point drop at Lampson E.S. At the secondary level, Santiago Charter and Yorba M.S. had scores drop, while Cerro Villa M.S., El Rancho M.S. and Portola M.S. saw scores increase. Portola M.S.( in its fifth year as a Program Improvement school) apparently reaped huge benefits from funding for small class sizes. The school posted a 38 point increase, the highest of any OUSD secondary school.
At the district’s high schools, only Villa Park H.S. posted declining API scores with a -26 point drop. That drop brings Villa Park H.S. below the magic 800 score that the state expects all schools to rise above. Villa Park H.S. API score is now at 776. This is the second time Villa Park has risen above the sought after 800 mark and then fallen back below. In addition, Villa Park H.S. was one of 11 OUSD schools to fail to meet the federal AYP criteria. If Villa Park fails a second year to meet the AYP criteria, it will become the second OUSD high school to become a Program Improvement school. Any Program Improvement school in Villa Park, let alone the tight-knit community’s name-sake high school would be a bitter pill for the politically active community to deal with.
On the other hand, 19 OUSD schools surpassed the magic 800 state number. The Hausner Press Release lead off reporting that 6 schools climbing over the 900 score, three for the first time. The six schools ( all east of the 55 Divide) are Anaheim Hills E.S. (first time-902); Chapman Hills E.S. (930); Nohl Canyon E.S. (930); Panorama E.S. (927); Serrano E.S. (first time-914); Villa Park E.S. (first time 908). Also in the Hausner Press Release was a list of the highest API increases led by Canyon Hills at 83 points. The Hausner Press Release also failed to mention that Canyon Hills 90 students are students who have moderate to severe disabilities and do not take the state standardized tests. Those students take the California Alternative Performance Assessment (CAPA) Test. The test is administered by on site teachers who interpret the student answers and write them down in the test.
To see a sample of a CAPA test question and how a teacher is suppose to score
CLICK ON: CAPA TEST
Handy E.S. increases 25 points- 13 points below 2008 level
In 2008, Handy E.S. increased testing scores by 38 points. On July 24th 2008, despite a California fiscal emergency, the Orange Unified School Board Trustees approved spending $10,000 of educational tax dollars to hire consultant Dr. Dennis Parker from the Orange County Department of Education to conduct workshops at Handy E.S. in a program called the Strategic Schooling Initiative. The Orange County Department of Education website promised that the Strategic Schooling Initiative will increase a schools API score by 30-40 points. The web-link to that claim was publicized by Orange Net News and has since been removed.
That said, the year before hiring the $10,000 consultant Handy had a 38 point increase. So logically based on the OCDE website claims, this year the school’s scores should be increasing by an unprecedented 78 points with the Dr. Dennis Parker’s $10,000 “Magic Pill” consultant program (the 38 points the school did without the program last year, plus 30 points promised by the consultant program). Of course when the district can least afford to spend money on another snake-oil consultant, they did. You know the rest of the story, not only did Handy not significantly raise scores above what they did before the consultant- they actually failed to match their pervious year’s scores by 13 points. And yes for the sake of argument-even failed to reach a 30 point improvement by 5 points. Another Consultant Fable bites the dust with what edu-cats like to point to: “data”.
To view the Hausner Press Release CLICK ON: Hausner Press Release
Inside the September 10, 2009 OUSD Board Agenda
The OUSD Trustees voted to adopt the 2008/09 Unaudited Actuals and of Revised Budget 2009/10. Staff reported that Sacramento lawmakers had lowered the required reserves from 3% of the budget to 1.7% freeing up extra money for school districts. However, the fix (as with most fixes from Sacramento) is temporary and district staff warned that more cuts may be needed in the December revisiting of the budget and they are compiling options for further proposed cuts.
Also at the September 10 meeting, Trustee Mark Wayland continued his digging for answers in the Consent Item. Not content to just be a rubber stamp. Wayland refuses to vote on items he needs more clarification on- believe it or not…an elected official who continues to carry out campaign promises!
Former OUSD Superintendent Dr. Godley front page news
In a front page article on Sunday September 20, 2009 Biggest Pensions Tax State Fund, the Orange County Register‘s OC Watchdog writes about the 3,000 plus retired educators who make over $100,000 a year in retirement from the State Teacher’s Retirement Fund (STRS). Former OUSD Superintendent Dr. Godley’s retirement pay is $210,211 a year according to records cited by the article. The article does not mention the Retirement Bonus Godley received from OUSD after only 5 years as Superintendent. Even a motion by long-time Godley supporter Trustee Kathy Moffat who made a motion to amend the retirement buy-out plan to remove Godley from the Retirement Bonus would not convince the other OUSD Trustees.
Mofatt’s amendment failed by a 4-3 vote as Trustees Wes Poutsma, Kim Nichols, Melissa Smith and John Ortega on record voting against the Moffat Amendment to exclude the superintendent from the buyout with Moffat, Rick Ledesma and Steve Rocco voting to exclude Godley.
The OC Register article begins its section on Godley with:
“Another member of the "100,000-plus" club, former Orange Unified School District Superintendent Thomas Godley collects $210,211 a year. He was the budget chief for Newport-Mesa Unified when a finance worker siphoned $3.7 million to buy such things as full-length fur coats in 1992”.
To read the full OC Register article CLICK ON:GODLEY
To read about Kathy Moffat’s attempt to exclude Godley
CLICK ON:GODLEY AMENDMENT
INSIDE the September 24th OUSD Board Agenda
Canyons want to secede – Charter School wants approval
Having failed in its bid to get OUSD to keep Silverado E.S. open, the newest plan is to leave OUSD and join Saddleback Valley Unified School District. The Inter-Canyon League will be presenting Information Item 13 B (Agenda page 36). If the Board lets the Canyons go will Anaheim Hills be far behind?
An unknown entity called Global Tides Inc. has petitioned OUSD to open a charter school. Agenda Item 13 C (Agenda page 37) the Board will hear about a report from the staff on the fiscal impact of the proposal and decide to hold a public hearing on the charter proposal on October 29, 2009.
For more information on the Inter-Canyon League
CLICK ON: Inter-Canyon League
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2009:
Total $1,041,000
2009 Attorney Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Parker & Covert (for 1/09 -6/09) $ 200,000
3/12/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (Sp. Ed) $ 50,000
3/12/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 98,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (09-10) $ 400,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 200,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (property) $ 55,000
6/18/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (property)$ 35,000
Total $1,038,000
2009 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
01/24/09 Leadership Associates Consultants $ 3,000
2009 TOTAL $1,041,000
Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008):
$15,730.00*
* 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 calculated here at $1210 a month since 8/08. 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 2008: $901,200
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:
11/13/08 Subs for SDCDE (Reading First) $24,000
11/13/08 SDCDE (Reading First) $30,000
10/30/08 Dr. Willard Daggett (ICLE) $ 4,500
10/16/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 4,200
9/25/08 Visual Ink for Sadler Consultant <$ 6,600> CANCELED in 2009
9/25/08 Bob Sadler Consultant Fee $ 8,500
9/25/08 Candace Simpson-Sadler Helper $ 5,500
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
Consultant Total $ 101, 200
2008 TOTAL $ 901,200
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00**
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 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:
Next OUSD Board Meeting Thursday September 24, 2009 -OUSD BOARD ROOM
For AGENDA-CLICK ON: SEPT 24 AGENDA
CLOSED SESSION- 6:00 pm
OUSD Regular Session: 7:00 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/
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
News from the Real OC- A Blog Star is Born!
Metro TALK a community service of the
Greater Orange Communities Organization
News from the Real OC-
A Blog Star is Born!
Orange resident, mural artist, and mom-about-town Kim Harman’s blog is our newest favorite local blog. Far removed from the constant deluge of daily reality from Washington or Sacramento, and far removed from the reality world of the many spoiled “Housewives” given their own cable shows, Harman’s blog is remarkably down-to-earth and fun. Called “Notes from the Real OC”, the blogs information mast declares:
“Though you might not know it from TV, OC is more than beaches, blonds and Botox. The Real OC is made of people of all incomes, ethnicities, interests, and political persuasions. The Real OC is a great place to live. Lots of remarkable things happen here and some of them happen to me. That's what this blog is about. Life in the Real OC, from the perspective of a not-quite-young-definitely-not-old mom/wife/friend/writer. Check it out--Notes from the Real OC.”
From running marathons, to parenting and school, houseplants and growing old (gracefully!!!) the Harman’s blog is what it promises “Lots of remarkable things happen here and some of them happen to me”. Move over Julia and Julie, Greater Orange has its own blog star!
Check it out with the link below and the link on the Greater Orange News Service main page. For Harman's Blog-Notes from the Real OC-CLICK ON:
Notes from the Real OC
All Canyons Clean-up September 19, 2009
The All Canyon Clean-up of Silverado, Modjeska, and Williams Canyon will take place in conjunction with the 13th Annual Inter-coastal Watershed Clean-up Day will take place this Saturday September 19, 2009 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Large bins and a chipper will be available for canyon residents at Santiago Canyon Road and Modjeska Canyon Road. Residents are urged to use the day to remove brush to create a defensible fire safe perimeter around homes. No haz-mat or electronic waste will be accepted.
Volunteers are needed to help with the clean-up of the canyons. For more information call Phil at 949-463-4592.
Orange Park Acres Western Fall BBQ and Dance
Orange Park Acres Western Fall BBQ and Dance will be held Saturday September 19, 2009 at the Davidson’s OPA residence, 6122 Santiago Canyon Drive. Live music and dancing, live and silent actions, raffles and of course-Barbeque! The fun starts at 5:30. The $30 per person tickets are available at the Hitch ‘n Post Feed and Tack 4921 E Chapman in Orange. Have a raffle or auction prize? Contact Sandy Forkert at 714-997-9135.
OUSD Technology and budget woes stress-out district
While Orange Unified Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier made a splash with her first day of school podcast, she maybe remembered more for her cuts to the OUSD Technology Department this year after citing that those jobs cut were basically people who turn computers off and on. Strapped with a nasty virus, the OUSD website had been a mess for the first month of school as frustrated students and teachers find the technology useless for most of the day. The overworked and significantly smaller OUSD Technology Department is outgunned and working on a shoestring. All this while a number of schools have idle technology needed for classes. Reading programs, math programs and computer classes are unable to function. At least one school has no functioning computer lab, while students sit in “computer classes” with nothing to do for a month.
Meanwhile, OUSD principals across the district have told staff that supplies will be running out soon. Scantrons, copying paper, testing pencils and so forth are expected at many school sites to be gone before the Winter Break. While some parent groups in the well-off schools have been tapped for help, students in less affluent areas (i.e. Program Improvement Schools) are more vulnerable. Without access to supplies and school based technology, next-year’s state testing scores at these high profile schools may take a big hit. Dr. Dreier's podcast on next year’s scores should be interesting-if anyone can turn on a computer to view it!
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Friday, September 11, 2009
We Remember
Monday, September 07, 2009
OUSD Board fails to pass own pay cut again
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
OUSD Board fails to pass own pay cut again
After quickly and without debate voting to decrease all Orange Unified Administrators pay by 2%, then again voting without comment or debate to amend the OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier's contract to cut her pay by 2%, the OUSD Board then failed to vote to cut their own monthly stipend (pay) by 2% or $15.00 at their August 20, 2009 Meeting. This is the second time the OUSD Board had failed to cut their pay, but this time the votes were reversed in the voting blocks.
In May the OUSD Board defeated a proposal to take a $75 cut (10%) to their $750 per month stipend. That May proposal failed in a tie 3-3 vote with the OUSD Trustees voting with their political allied blocks. Trustees Melissa Smith, Kim Nichols and Kathy Moffat voted for the 10% reduction which was proposed to show what the trio called “leadership” on the issue of asking employees to take a pay cut due to the current state fiscal crisis. The 10% also represented a symbolic “cut” of an OUSD Trustees $750 per month stipend for a year spread over the seven trustees to show solidarity with the staff jobs that the district was forced to eliminate. Voting against the reduction was Ledesma Coalition allies -Trustees Rick Ledesma, John Ortega, and Alexia Deligianni. Trustee Mark Wayland was absent from the meeting. Board President Rick Ledesma at the May vote had called the proposal “political hay” which Trustee Melissa Smith publicly took offense to causing a terse exchange of words between her and Board President Rick Ledesma.
It was Smith at the August 20th who brought up Ledesma’s May “political hay” comment by commenting that now she would be making “political hay” by pointing out that she and others on the Board had already taking the 10% cut they had supported in May and any other Board members were welcome to voluntarily take a pay cut. After the vote in May, Kim Nichols directed the Superintendent to supply her with the needed paper work to take the cut on her own (Nichols stated at the August 20th meeting she has made those arrangements). In June Trustee Kathy Moffat began donating $75.00 representing the 10% a month back to the district, while OUSD Trustee Smith donated 10% back for a whole year in one $900 lump sum. One-by-one at the August meeting, Smith, Moffat, and Nichols cited those 10% give-back donations as their reasons for voting against the now proposed 2% cut promoted by Ledesma Coalition ally Trustee Alexia Deligianni. In the end, with Trustee John Ortega absent this time, the Deligianni proposal also ended up defeated in a 3-3 tie with the Ledesma Coalition voting for the 2% cut without comment (Ledesma, Deligianni and Mark Wayland-Yes) and Nichols, Moffat and Smith voting No after noting they are already donating 10% back to the district.
Davis Demographics Report:
“District may need to consolidate some of its smaller schools”
At its August 20, 2009 meeting, the OUSD Board heard a report from its demographic firm Davis Demographics about the continued district-wide declining enrollment and the impact on the district. Citing numerous trends from the economic (foreclosures and housing start projects put on hold) to birthrates and population mobility, the firm projected elementary school rates declining for at least 7 years. The report had been in district hands since March of this year.
The report cited 8 elementary school attendance areas with populations of less than 450 students and 6 of those school attendance areas below 400 students. Citing a continued decline for the next 7 years at Imperial, Panorama, Riverdale, Serrano, Olive and Nohl Canyon elementary schools, the report stated the “District may need to consolidate some of its smaller schools”. In response to the current fiscal crisis, the OUSD Board had closed its smallest school, Silverado Elementary amid fierce opposition from the small school’s canyon community. Some of the Trustees noted the difficulty of consolidating schools for communities. Kathy Moffat noted that the district’s smaller schools performed better (Editors’ Note: state demographic data attributes those achievements to racial and economic factors beyond school size). Trustee Melissa Smith noted that no one likes closing schools, but that as a Board they had to look at the good of all the district’s students.
OUSD Staff stated that the district would be starting a small study group to start conversations on “consolidation opportunities”. Those conversations would be with school principals, school staffs and PTA’s seeking input. Former OUSD Assistant Superintendent Jon Archibald had recommended that OUSD consider closing several schools in response to the current fiscal crisis. Only Silverado Elementary was ultimately closed. Class-size increases, program cuts and eliminations, reduction of high school counselors, across the board pay-cuts, and staff reductions were all used to off-set the financial crisis this year. However, the financial crisis is far from over and projected to continue to hamper OUSD’s budget for at least three more years.
OUSD Board discusses Surplus Property options
OUSD Staff also presented a report on OUSD’s surplus property options. Reporting that only two of the properties were producing income and that some inquires into purchasing some of the properties had been received, the staff looked for direction from Board on how to proceed. The OUSD Board appeared to want to hold onto the properties in case they were needed in the future, noting that while the demographic report showed declining enrollment for the next several years, but that the current schools are maxed out should more space ever be needed in the future and no more land is readily available. Leasing options to make some money off the land while retaining ownership seemed to be an option most preferred among the Trustees commenting on the report.
Drier continues to live up to her Knowledge is Power mantra
Far removed from the From Good to Great empty buzzwords of the former Godley Administration, OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier continued to show she lives by her mantra Knowledge is Power. Facing a meeting full of retired teachers and administrators in the audience concerned over district proposals in health care negotiations, Drier addressed the elephant in the room and tried to calm fears by reporting during her Superintendent’s Report at the beginning of the August 20th Board meeting that an agreement on next year’s district health benefits had been reached and that a letter with the information was being prepared for mailing at that very moment. Then in addition to her reporting on receiving the room at Santiago Canyon College for the OUSD Administrative retreat for free ( the college is an educational partner of OUSD), Dreier reported she sent out the district’s first official “podcast” ever to all staff on the first day of school. The Superintendent also admitting that up until 6 months ago she did not even know what a podcast was, while reviews are that the popular Superintendent clearly shined on the first ever opening day school podcast that catapulted OUSD’s communication into the 21st Century using what Dreier described as capabilities the district already possessed. Perhaps this may be the beginning of a new career for the Superintendent who appeared every bit as telegenic as any professional broadcaster.
The Superintendent also reported that she had visited schools early in the day including welcoming former Silverado Elementary students and parents to Chapman Hills, visiting the newly remodeled Sycamore Elementary School, and visiting the now demolished and portable housed Yorba Middle School as they start their remodel project.
To view OUSD’s first Superintendent PODCAST CLICK ON: Dreier PODCAST.
Deligianni and Wayland question expenditures on Consent Items
Trustees Mark Wayland and Dr. Alexia Deligianni continued to use their power to pull items from the Consent Item instead of voting blindly to approve expenditures. Wayland pulled the $120,000 August 20th Consent Item agenda contract for BrainX tutorial program, while Deligianni pulled for more information the district’s fees for membership in the California School Boards Association. Staff answered questions regarding the expenditures and then the OUSD voted to approve both.
Inside the September 10, 2009 OUSD Board Agenda
Action Item 12 A- (Agenda page 2-10) Adoption of 2008/09 Unaudited Actuals and of Revised Budget 2009/10
Action Item 13 A – (Agenda page 11-15) Proposed Board Policy Revisions covering complaints against employees
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2009:
Total $1,041,000
2009 Attorney Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Parker & Covert (for 1/09 -6/09) $ 200,000
3/12/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (Sp. Ed) $ 50,000
3/12/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 98,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (09-10) $ 400,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 200,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (property) $ 55,000
6/18/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (property)$ 35,000
Total $1,038,000
2009 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
01/24/09 Leadership Associates Consultants $ 3,000
2009 TOTAL $1,041,000
Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008): $15,730.00*
* 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 calculated here at $1210 a month since 8/08. 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 2008: $901,200
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:
11/13/08 Subs for SDCDE (Reading First) $24,000
11/13/08 SDCDE (Reading First) $30,000
10/30/08 Dr. Willard Daggett (ICLE) $ 4,500
10/16/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 4,200
9/25/08 Visual Ink for Sadler Consultant <$ 6,600> CANCELED in 2009
9/25/08 Bob Sadler Consultant Fee $ 8,500
9/25/08 Candace Simpson-Sadler Helper $ 5,500
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
Consultant Total $ 101, 200
2008 TOTAL $ 901,200
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00**
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 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:
Next OUSD Board Meeting Thursday September 10, 2009 -OUSD BOARD ROOM
For AGENDA-CLICK ON: SEPT 10 AGENDA
CLOSED SESSION- 6:00 pm
OUSD Regular Session: 7:00 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/“Independent Local Insight”
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
OUSD Board fails to pass own pay cut again
After quickly and without debate voting to decrease all Orange Unified Administrators pay by 2%, then again voting without comment or debate to amend the OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier's contract to cut her pay by 2%, the OUSD Board then failed to vote to cut their own monthly stipend (pay) by 2% or $15.00 at their August 20, 2009 Meeting. This is the second time the OUSD Board had failed to cut their pay, but this time the votes were reversed in the voting blocks.
In May the OUSD Board defeated a proposal to take a $75 cut (10%) to their $750 per month stipend. That May proposal failed in a tie 3-3 vote with the OUSD Trustees voting with their political allied blocks. Trustees Melissa Smith, Kim Nichols and Kathy Moffat voted for the 10% reduction which was proposed to show what the trio called “leadership” on the issue of asking employees to take a pay cut due to the current state fiscal crisis. The 10% also represented a symbolic “cut” of an OUSD Trustees $750 per month stipend for a year spread over the seven trustees to show solidarity with the staff jobs that the district was forced to eliminate. Voting against the reduction was Ledesma Coalition allies -Trustees Rick Ledesma, John Ortega, and Alexia Deligianni. Trustee Mark Wayland was absent from the meeting. Board President Rick Ledesma at the May vote had called the proposal “political hay” which Trustee Melissa Smith publicly took offense to causing a terse exchange of words between her and Board President Rick Ledesma.
It was Smith at the August 20th who brought up Ledesma’s May “political hay” comment by commenting that now she would be making “political hay” by pointing out that she and others on the Board had already taking the 10% cut they had supported in May and any other Board members were welcome to voluntarily take a pay cut. After the vote in May, Kim Nichols directed the Superintendent to supply her with the needed paper work to take the cut on her own (Nichols stated at the August 20th meeting she has made those arrangements). In June Trustee Kathy Moffat began donating $75.00 representing the 10% a month back to the district, while OUSD Trustee Smith donated 10% back for a whole year in one $900 lump sum. One-by-one at the August meeting, Smith, Moffat, and Nichols cited those 10% give-back donations as their reasons for voting against the now proposed 2% cut promoted by Ledesma Coalition ally Trustee Alexia Deligianni. In the end, with Trustee John Ortega absent this time, the Deligianni proposal also ended up defeated in a 3-3 tie with the Ledesma Coalition voting for the 2% cut without comment (Ledesma, Deligianni and Mark Wayland-Yes) and Nichols, Moffat and Smith voting No after noting they are already donating 10% back to the district.
Davis Demographics Report:
“District may need to consolidate some of its smaller schools”
At its August 20, 2009 meeting, the OUSD Board heard a report from its demographic firm Davis Demographics about the continued district-wide declining enrollment and the impact on the district. Citing numerous trends from the economic (foreclosures and housing start projects put on hold) to birthrates and population mobility, the firm projected elementary school rates declining for at least 7 years. The report had been in district hands since March of this year.
The report cited 8 elementary school attendance areas with populations of less than 450 students and 6 of those school attendance areas below 400 students. Citing a continued decline for the next 7 years at Imperial, Panorama, Riverdale, Serrano, Olive and Nohl Canyon elementary schools, the report stated the “District may need to consolidate some of its smaller schools”. In response to the current fiscal crisis, the OUSD Board had closed its smallest school, Silverado Elementary amid fierce opposition from the small school’s canyon community. Some of the Trustees noted the difficulty of consolidating schools for communities. Kathy Moffat noted that the district’s smaller schools performed better (Editors’ Note: state demographic data attributes those achievements to racial and economic factors beyond school size). Trustee Melissa Smith noted that no one likes closing schools, but that as a Board they had to look at the good of all the district’s students.
OUSD Staff stated that the district would be starting a small study group to start conversations on “consolidation opportunities”. Those conversations would be with school principals, school staffs and PTA’s seeking input. Former OUSD Assistant Superintendent Jon Archibald had recommended that OUSD consider closing several schools in response to the current fiscal crisis. Only Silverado Elementary was ultimately closed. Class-size increases, program cuts and eliminations, reduction of high school counselors, across the board pay-cuts, and staff reductions were all used to off-set the financial crisis this year. However, the financial crisis is far from over and projected to continue to hamper OUSD’s budget for at least three more years.
OUSD Board discusses Surplus Property options
OUSD Staff also presented a report on OUSD’s surplus property options. Reporting that only two of the properties were producing income and that some inquires into purchasing some of the properties had been received, the staff looked for direction from Board on how to proceed. The OUSD Board appeared to want to hold onto the properties in case they were needed in the future, noting that while the demographic report showed declining enrollment for the next several years, but that the current schools are maxed out should more space ever be needed in the future and no more land is readily available. Leasing options to make some money off the land while retaining ownership seemed to be an option most preferred among the Trustees commenting on the report.
Drier continues to live up to her Knowledge is Power mantra
Far removed from the From Good to Great empty buzzwords of the former Godley Administration, OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier continued to show she lives by her mantra Knowledge is Power. Facing a meeting full of retired teachers and administrators in the audience concerned over district proposals in health care negotiations, Drier addressed the elephant in the room and tried to calm fears by reporting during her Superintendent’s Report at the beginning of the August 20th Board meeting that an agreement on next year’s district health benefits had been reached and that a letter with the information was being prepared for mailing at that very moment. Then in addition to her reporting on receiving the room at Santiago Canyon College for the OUSD Administrative retreat for free ( the college is an educational partner of OUSD), Dreier reported she sent out the district’s first official “podcast” ever to all staff on the first day of school. The Superintendent also admitting that up until 6 months ago she did not even know what a podcast was, while reviews are that the popular Superintendent clearly shined on the first ever opening day school podcast that catapulted OUSD’s communication into the 21st Century using what Dreier described as capabilities the district already possessed. Perhaps this may be the beginning of a new career for the Superintendent who appeared every bit as telegenic as any professional broadcaster.
The Superintendent also reported that she had visited schools early in the day including welcoming former Silverado Elementary students and parents to Chapman Hills, visiting the newly remodeled Sycamore Elementary School, and visiting the now demolished and portable housed Yorba Middle School as they start their remodel project.
To view OUSD’s first Superintendent PODCAST CLICK ON: Dreier PODCAST.
Deligianni and Wayland question expenditures on Consent Items
Trustees Mark Wayland and Dr. Alexia Deligianni continued to use their power to pull items from the Consent Item instead of voting blindly to approve expenditures. Wayland pulled the $120,000 August 20th Consent Item agenda contract for BrainX tutorial program, while Deligianni pulled for more information the district’s fees for membership in the California School Boards Association. Staff answered questions regarding the expenditures and then the OUSD voted to approve both.
Inside the September 10, 2009 OUSD Board Agenda
Action Item 12 A- (Agenda page 2-10) Adoption of 2008/09 Unaudited Actuals and of Revised Budget 2009/10
Action Item 13 A – (Agenda page 11-15) Proposed Board Policy Revisions covering complaints against employees
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2009:
Total $1,041,000
2009 Attorney Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Parker & Covert (for 1/09 -6/09) $ 200,000
3/12/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (Sp. Ed) $ 50,000
3/12/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 98,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (09-10) $ 400,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 200,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (property) $ 55,000
6/18/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (property)$ 35,000
Total $1,038,000
2009 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
01/24/09 Leadership Associates Consultants $ 3,000
2009 TOTAL $1,041,000
Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008): $15,730.00*
* 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 calculated here at $1210 a month since 8/08. 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 2008: $901,200
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:
11/13/08 Subs for SDCDE (Reading First) $24,000
11/13/08 SDCDE (Reading First) $30,000
10/30/08 Dr. Willard Daggett (ICLE) $ 4,500
10/16/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 4,200
9/25/08 Visual Ink for Sadler Consultant <$ 6,600> CANCELED in 2009
9/25/08 Bob Sadler Consultant Fee $ 8,500
9/25/08 Candace Simpson-Sadler Helper $ 5,500
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
Consultant Total $ 101, 200
2008 TOTAL $ 901,200
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00**
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 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:
Next OUSD Board Meeting Thursday September 10, 2009 -OUSD BOARD ROOM
For AGENDA-CLICK ON: SEPT 10 AGENDA
CLOSED SESSION- 6:00 pm
OUSD Regular Session: 7:00 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/“Independent Local Insight”
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Orange International Street Fair ends Summer 2009
Metro TALK A community service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Summer ends with the
Orange International Street Fair this weekend
The Orange International Street Fair’s 2009 theme is “Music Makes the World Go Round”. The annual end-of–summer Labor Day Weekend (September 4-September 6) bash celebrates its’ 36th year since being the centerpiece of the City of Orange centennial celebration in 1972 as a recreation of a 1910 Orange International Fair. True to this year’s theme, dozen’s of bands will perform on nine stages thought the four block downtown Old Towne Orange Plaza traffic circle center representing music from around the globe. More than 50 community organizations dedicated to serving the Greater Orange Communities rely on the Orange International Street Fair as one of their biggest fundraisers of the year. The event draws half a million visitors over its three days.
Visitors from out-of- town are encouraged to avoid the parking crunch by taking the Metrolink (at reduced weekend rates) to the historic Orange Santa Fe (Metrolink/Amtrak) Depot conveniently located adjacent to the street fair. As always no pets are allowed and wristbands for public alcohol consumption are required. Those wishing to brave the parking drama may try the Chapman University lots.
Hours:
Friday, September 4, 2009 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 5, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 6, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
For more information CLICK ON:
METROLINK
ORANGE TRAIN STATION
ORANGE INTERNATIONAL STREET FAIR
All Canyons Clean-up September 19th , 2009
The All Canyon Clean-up of Silverado, Modjeska, and Williams Canyon will take place in conjunction with the 13th Annual Inter-coastal Watershed Clean-up Day will take place on Saturday September 19, 2009 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Large bins and a chipper will be available for canyon residents at Santiago Canyon Road and Modjeska Canyon Road. Residents are urged to use the day to remove brush to create a defensible fire safe perimeter around homes. No haz-mat or electronic waste will be accepted.
Volunteers are needed to help with the clean-up of the canyons. For more information call Phil at 949-463-4592.
Metro TALK
is a community service of ORANGE NET NEWS /O/N/N/
Produced by the
Orange Communication System /OCS/
Ecast on the
Internet Community Group i/)))cg
A 21st Century Communications System
