Update: Joey Airdo (yeah!) from the Scottsdale Independent is reporting that Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office has selected Virgel Cain to fulfill the remaining governing board term created by the resignation of Marvin Christensen.
We have had two different sources confirm to us that two board members resigned from the Cave Creek Unified Governing Board. President Stephanie Reese and Member Gladys Styles-Johnston delivered their resignations today, which we believe means that they sent them before Tuesday's meeting.
According to Maricopa County, President Reese's term expires in 12/31/2010 and Member Styles-Johnston's term expires 12/31/2008, but her seat was to disappear, along with Member Perkins and Member Cervino. The board was to return to a five member board beginning 1/1/2009. So it looks like four seats (all except Member Clancy's) will be up for election this fall, up one from the three originally planned for this fall.
With an eight member board and three seats empty, the board will still have a quorum (majority needed) for meetings assuming all attend.
Our final thought this evening:
Godspeed Dr. Burdick. Godspeed.
If there are four seats up for election this November then the community and the CCUSDWatch will get exactly what they want -- an opportunity to have a fairly clean slate (minus Member Clancy who isn't up for re-election). This new board can clean up the "mess" of the former board and start fresh. I can't wait to see if they will prevail or if there will be more of the same. They will have the opportunity to hire a new superintendent for the district etc. etc. From what I have heard, being on the board is a major time commitment splattered with many frustrations that nothing ever is seen to completion.
ReplyDeleteSince CCUSD Watch has "confirmation" that Member Reese and Member Johnson have resigned (probably from a board member), I think this is very unfortunate.
Now how do we get rid of Dr. No?
ReplyDeletehoneymom
Who is Dr. No? Dr. Burdick?
ReplyDeleteHM, are you referring to Member Clancy? If so, then recalling is the only way and I think you need signatures for that route, though I don't know how many.
ReplyDeleteDear District Apologists -- like me!
ReplyDeleteI use the term that CCUSD watch throws at anyone who truly believes we have excellent and committed teachers, principals (have in the past, can only hope good hires will continue the trend) and staff...because that is me!
Here is what I think can help fix the district.
1.) Build a strong team with your pricipals and administrators who likewise should be building strong teams with their teachers and parents.
A. Ask for, and actually listen to, their recommendations when issues such as budget cuts, curriculum development, etc. come up. These are highly qualified, committed folks and they KNOW how the schools run and what programs will work and won't work.
B. Stand up to the board (other boad members) when they try to micormanage or undermine those teams. Support your superintendent. Afterall, you hired him/her. Unless you made a huge mistake you should believe in what he/she is trying to accomplish.
C. Principals, as team members, need to be encouraged to take greater responsibility for educating their parents about district issues and their stance on those issues (if the team is strong there should be consensus on the issues that can then be advocatd equally across the district).
2.) Stick to the mission...many debates on issues can come to a much quicker close when held up against "Students first, people always". Is the recommendation really in the best interest of the students in this district or is it cowtowing to a special interest group? Has the effect of the program/suggestion on others been well evaulated?
3.) Listening to the community does not mean caving in to every issue that 1-100 people come and complain about. If what those people are asking for is NOT in the best interest of the students (other than those in that special interest group), TELL THEM SO! The community's needs are best met by providing the highest quality education you can provide thus drawing more students to the district, increasing property values, etc. etc.
Action Steps
1.) Decide whether K-6 is an academic issue, personal issue or school enrollment/facilities issue.
If it is an academic issue, then share academic/curricular reasons why that option is best for the students. Does it fulfill the mission?
If it is a personal issue (i.e. I don't want my precious 6th grader to mingle with the evil 7th & 8th graders), then I would argue the issue is moot. If, however, the personal issue has a strong enough contingent of support it could be studied against "Students first, people always" to see if it really meets that standard. Survey parents to see how many ACTUALLY want K-6 or K-8 or how many are happy with the way things are. I, for one, refused to sign the petition as did many of my friends. Maybe the survey would tell you you can drop the issue.
If it is a numbers issue and it is not any more beneficial academically to do K-6 or K-8, then be honest and take on the ugly task of redistricting to redistribute students. You are going to have to do this ANYWAY even if you switch to k-6 or K-8.
New High School -- I personally supported the one large high school for a myriad of reasons (that align with the "students first" mission of the district) that I will not reiterate here. I was part of LRPC so I had all the information that many in the public did not choose to access (most is on the CCUSD website) or were uniformed about. However, if parents insist they want two schools. Give it to them, give them one, half high school down south. Then maybe on the next election they might actually vote.
4.) Curriculum...To be honest, I do not have huge concerns here. Curriculum is always being evaluated and from what I can see at the schools my children attend, the teachers/principals are consistently reviewing best practices and curricular alignment and work hard to ensure students are receiving the best education possible. This is not about one person's view of one program or another they have read about that fits the current educational "trend" and jumping from program to program because it is touted as the "cure all" for what ails education. Quality education comes down to the child, in the classroom and the individual teacher. Highly qualified, committed teachers can make any curriculum a success. . .Focus on encouraging constant growth among your teachers as professionals. Encourage them to come up with solutions to any stagnation or backsliding in terms of test scores/student success measures.
If you are interested in running for school board and you ascribe to the above platform, several folks would like to hear from you.
Make your voice heard here or contact your local PTOs and let them know who you are. We need you!!! We need 3-4 of you!
Congratulations CCUSD Watch! You got what you wanted...now what?
ReplyDeleteI would argue those people who view themselves as advocates for change (as critics of the district) are at fault most of all for what is happening and I would also argue they have no positive solutions to solve the problems, only complaints, personal agenda and continuous derailing of positive district efforts.
Congratulations!!! Now what?
Since I haven't been too involved until someone mentioned this website to me and as a parent in the district, I have a question for CCUSDWatch or whoever wants to answer: are all the board members that awful, micromanaging, have their own personal agenda, etc. etc. or is it just a select few of them? I guess where I'm going with this is: would it better to get a complete new board or encourage some or one of the current ones to run again for one of the four seats?
ReplyDeleteIn my humble opinion...the best ones have resigned.
ReplyDeleteAt least one of the others is rumored to be running again, but hasn't pulled packet yet.
The one that I view as most obstructionist for reasons I cannot really fathom other than seemingly a mouthpiece of "the paper that shall not be named" is, unfortunately, remaining on the board and has another 2-2.5 years left on her term.
So now we need to find at least four NEW, qualified, supportive people to run.
Any suggestions?
It appears that you are quickly running out of people to blog about. Well, except the kids...
ReplyDeleteLet's start talking about how all of this upheaval impacts our children. They are who matter, right? You lambasted the board and cabinet for losing sight of the kids. Are you now doing the same?
Will one kid who sits in a classroom 30 days from now know anything has changed? I doubt it.
Why? CCUSD teachers continue to do their jobs well. Every year, through every principal change, every superintendent change, every board change, every curriculum change, every testing change, every contract that shows no salary increase, in spite of press that would have many believe excelling to be a bad thing ~ teachers keep teaching and improving while kids keep learning and improving.
Some have clearly kept the best interests of the kids in focus. Too bad you don't value honoring/rewarding those folks.
Just had one of those really ugly thoughts go through my head.
ReplyDeleteHow do we as concerned parents prevent Susan Clancy (and thus the Sonoran News) from becoming the next Board President? After all she is the only one continuing on the Board. If that bunch is in charge we will really go down the 'ol cr@pper!
I hope those guys read these posts and know just how much we don't like what they are spewing
Remember,
ReplyDeleteThere are still four board members (four with the new replacement for Marv Chrstenses) who will be on the board until January ... not sure if they'll add another to fill Reese and Johnson's slots.
Those members are Javier Ledesma, Lisa Doche, Susan Clancy, Petra Cervino & Casey Perkins (Christopher Verde members) and Susan Clancy.
My sense is that Cervino and Perkins are most likely to hold to my personal expectations of board members (i.e. non micromanaging, etc.) however, might not be the strongest voices on the board.
I'm going to guess that Lisa Doche would be the next board president over Ms. Clancy. I think member Clancy has frustrated fellow board members as well as many of us in the public. So we do not have to worry about her being president, I don't think. What we do have to worry about is who is coming on next term.
Mr. Ledesma and Ms. Doche's terms are up. The Christopher Verde slots are not being refilled separately (it is expected that the election will draw potential candidates from ALL parts of the district that now include the Rio Verde/Troon areas).
So there will be, in the end, a 5 person board again.
Mr. Christensen's term was due to be up in January so his term is currently being temporarily filled.
It is unclear what will happen with Ms. Reese's position. She had another 2 or 2.5 years left on her term. Not sure whether the process is to appoint a replacement for that time period or to put that position up for a shorter-term re-election.
Either way...there will be 4 board positions available in November and the ONLY current board member with time remaining on her term is Susan Clancy.
8:28 a.m.: The best ones have left? Are you kidding me? Didn't you see that Member Christensen was only focused on the high school level and constantly publicly humiliated the high school principal for some unknown reason? Rumor has it this board member was a HS principal for a long time. Perhaps no one could do it as well as him?? Then Member Reese resigns. She's a really nice lady but not a strong president and let's people walk on her. She was very supportive of the Superintendent and her staff so much so that she supported them all the time and rarely questioned their decisions. Lastly, Dr. Johnson, appeared to have a strong educational background and made alot of sense when she spoke at the board meetings.
ReplyDeleteI am a parent who lives in the former Christopher Verde area. 9:22 a.m., after attending several board meetings, I agree with you. Member Cervino and Member Perkins probably are what a board member should be like (and Dr. Styles-Johnston before she resigned). But from what I have seen and heard, it can't be easy joining this board not knowing all the "dynamics" and having a huge learning curve about the district, community issues and administration. How could they have a strong voice when they are being dismissed by the other board members as not being real board members because they were appointed instead of elected?
ReplyDelete9:27,
ReplyDeleteI was not referring to Mr. Christensen, I'm sorry I was not clear in that. I was only referring to the recent exodus. I think Mr. Christensen needed to leave. I'm not too familiar with the rumored replacement, but hopefully he will be good.
We only disagree on member Reese. I see NO PROBLEM with supporting the administration -- especially if what they are proposing is positive.
I do not see why one would sit on the board only to second guess, vote against, undermine, be cynical of and micromanage the administration. How is that effective leadership? It does not bring success but rather breeds what we are seeing right now.
We can all sit and condemn, but do we really think this is the worst district ever? I know I don't. I have my frustration with certain board members at times and their behaviour, but I feel very strongly that our schools have great teachers and many incredible, strong programs (or maybe it's just the one where my children gon). I am not willing to say this is a terrible district because it isn't.
Only until our board and superintendent start working together and supporting our administrators, teachers and staff in supporting our students will we truly grow and move forward in a positive way
9:36,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely on the Christopher Verde members. I did not mean to imply they were not strong voices because they were incapable of being. I'm sure the dynamics of this community/board were overwhelming. Heck, I'm a native and they overwhelm and frustrate me at times.
I'm hoping that this change will help them see they need to have a voice and that I, for one, will support them when they share it!
7:23A - No
ReplyDelete7:55A - Yes
8:08A - Apologists is a favorite Bill O'Reilly term. Just to clarify to people that it is not something new or clever. I must be one of them, too, because I agree with EVERYTHING that you have said.
9:01A - Dr. No may be in violation of her oath of duty. It is not something that we should rule out. As to the rag, "advertiser boycott". We can't get them to stop bulk mailing that trash to us (which then allows them to quote higher circulation rates and charge advertisers more). But, we can organize and let their advertisers know how unhappy we are with their tactics. I am thinking of starting a group called P.O.P. or Pissed Off Parents for just this purpose. It is time to end the reign of terror.
hm
Other than Mark Warren (who has commented and made his presence known on this board) who else has pulled paperwork to run for the Board?
ReplyDeleteHoneymom
ReplyDeleteWhen you start your boycott please let everyone know. There are a LOT of parents and readers of that paper who are tired of their viewpoint. I would love to support a local newspaper if it wasn't them. Over the years we have had other papers try to make it as an alternative to that "thing" (not even worthy to wrap old fish in or to line our bird cages). Unfortunately they were not financially supported well enough to successfully compete.
Now is the time for all the people who complain so much about our district to put up or shut up. I am so tired of people complaining about our district but not doing anything about it. If you want change, run for school board, volunteer for committees or show your SUPPORT in some other way. This reminds me of the power line fight. Everyone was so up in arms about the movement of the power lines and threatening to pull thier kids etc. yet one very vocal community memeber's wife works at Sonoran Trails and another one moved out of the district but moved back because the other schools were not as good as Cave Creek. These people did a lot of damage to our community and to people but can't stand by their word. I find this situation much the same. Stand by your word and do something positive!!
ReplyDelete11:07, How about the N. Scottsdale Independent? That paper arrives on our driveways and is the best local paper. The reporter writes objectively and does quite a bit of coverage of CCUSD.
ReplyDelete11:07 - It will only work if many parents support it. I think I know of some empty nesters who would also support it (they throw it directly in the trash without reading it). There will need to be a widespread support movement for it to work.
ReplyDeleteI am not into squelching free speech. But, I think that mixing opinion in with news and not labeling it as such and some of their other tactics are an abuse of their position in the community. I'm not going to sit back while they wreck my kids education.
hm
11:48A - I posted simultaneously as you. I think that the NS Independent is quite good. I don't think it is being delivered in Cave Creek yet, but I just signed up online for their free email subscription. Maybe they would consider expanding their circulation with enough support.
ReplyDeletehm
For those of you not getting the Scottsdale Indpendent they have offered our readers e-subscriptions here...
ReplyDeleteAn Offer for CCUSD Watch Readers...
Looks like Mr. Cain was a particpant on the Long Range Facilities Committee, has no children in the district, and is current President of the Tatum Ranch HOA.
ReplyDeleteI have not found Mr. Cain to be one of the obstructionists on committees on which I have served wiht him. He makes an effort to listen ... I just hope he does not have micromanagement tendencies of the one he is replacing. That has yet to be seen.
ReplyDeletePulling papers...it's not posted on the county site. I apologize, but I'm not sure, other than that, how to find out who actually has pulled papers (besides Mark Warren).
As for the Sonoran News, I thought under editor Jason Stone the Foothills Focus was trying to make a run at them, but Jason is gone already and I have no idea what their goals are.
North Valley Independent sure has made strides...I've tried to ask that the S'News not get delivered to me, but the post office cannot cancel just their delivery on an individual basis...though, perhaps if enough of us went and said we did not want to get the paper they would figure something out.
Up in the Carefree/Cave Creek areas (north of The Summit) where we really need an alternative voice the Independent is not distributed. We can all subscribe, that's true...Maybe our PTO will start recommending that to parents.
On another note. I would love to see other folks chime in as to what they would like to see in terms of board members. Maybe we can come to a strong concensus and look for candidates behind whom we can all throw our support.
HM
ReplyDeleteWhy not...start a separate blog...CCUSD SOLUTIONS where we actually provide real questions and answers and solutions. Where we look at the issues from both sides and work toward finding positive solutions instead of just complaining from othe sidelines.
Perhaps bloggers can each agree to sit on a district committee or one or two attend board meetings so real information in real time can get posted and folks can really know what is going on. Perhaps then they would see that there are not a group of evil, self absorbed people sitting on these committees who want to do nothing but spend other people's money. They'll see that these are focused, committed, caring folk who want to make this district a better place for everyone (at least the majority of people on the committees are).
I am going to try to sit on the new superintendent committee if and when one is started.
ReplyDeleteI think I have met Mr. Cain. Watch, are you saying that he is running? I don't know what his positions are, but he seems knowledgeable.
honeymom
Oh, duh - I didn't notice the addition to your blog. I'll have to google him now and see if he is who I think he is.
ReplyDeletehm
So now we have Cain, Clancy, Doche, Ledesma, Cervino and Perkins, Don't know how Cain will interact with others. I figure that Doche, Ledesma and Clancy will be fighting it out over the Board president's seat. I don't personally see Clancy as having a chance. Unfortunately, we only have Ledesma and Doche? That's not much of a choice?
ReplyDeleteSo far it appears that there are a few people running for the Board..same group of Ledesma and Warren (so more of the same). Don't know about Cain...we will have to see how he interacts. I don't think any of the appointed Christopher Verde board members are running. We really need some new blood on the board. It's up to all of you? Watch, don't you think to better know who we are dealing with for the next 6 months and who is running, that we should take a look at what they have done for education and schools. I would think we want people who are passionate about the kids and will do what it takes to try to get what is needed for this district to educate them.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Virgil Cain. I think he has some passion.
ReplyDeletehm
To the poster who said...
ReplyDelete"Why not...start a separate blog...CCUSD SOLUTIONS where we actually provide real questions and answers and solutions. Where we look at the issues from both sides and work toward finding positive solutions instead of just complaining from othe sidelines."
Please review some older posts where we have offered solutions and suggestions. You will see an Archive button on the home page.
That said, we have bigger plans for this blog which will include opening it up to any and all to either blog themselves or offer their own discussions on things. Stayed tuned this is coming soon.
Honeymom - count me in on the boycott - What a GREAT idea -
ReplyDeleteJuly 10, 7:55 a.m. Where can I go to learn about "recalling" a board member. She needs to go.
ReplyDeleteStart at the Maricopa County BOE and perhaps the Arizona BOE. Also, be sure to look up oath of office, ethics, go through the CCUSD Policy Manual at the district website to see if there is anything that she might be in violation of. I've only had a chance to look in a cursory manner. If she passed confidential info to the media (not if she passed something that was already in the public domain), that might be just cause. I am not sure if her allegience to her constituency is a violation of her oath - have not gotten that far.
ReplyDeletehoneymom
CCUSD Watch,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but I did not see your posted solutions as particularly effective, but rather personal To be hoest, I did not agree with a lot of them. I am looking for solutions that really are thoughtful, born of true representation of all parents and teachers/administrators (or at least a majority) and most beneficial to our students.
Some statements in regard to solutions such as "don't tell me SFB money can't be spent on this or we can't get a bond passed just do what is right (sorry if I didn't quote exactly right here, but this is what it seemed the gist of the statement was)" really are not positive solutions because the fact is those issues effect what the district does and the success of its efforts. You cannot just ignore state and federal regulations or funding requirements.
So what I was suggesting was a forum where people would thoughtfully consider both sides of issues such as K-6, etc. and discuss with open minds the solutions offered without assuming that their own personal feelings or assumptions were the only true solutions...People have got to start putting the right answers first...the answers that are right for this district.
In regard to recalling member Clancy.... I think there are bigger issues that need to be addressed here. If quality, effective, board members are found, Member Clancy will be neutralized as there will, hopefully, be at least three (four if Cain becomes the board member I expect him to) who will outnumber her.
ReplyDelete"So what I was suggesting was a forum where people would thoughtfully consider both sides of issues such as K-6, etc. and discuss with open minds the solutions offered without assuming that their own personal feelings or assumptions were the only true solutions"
ReplyDeleteWe hope to be providing that forum shortly.
Dear 7:24P,
ReplyDeleteIf Dr. No were in violation of the boe's code of ethics, would you feel differently. I understand that there is some benefit to moving on (i.e. the Nixon pardon), but I don't like to condone ethics violations. Specifically, I am looking at:
"Avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using their Board position for personal or partisan gain"
I am not sure what the partisan gain of an unpaid volunteer position is, but the reading of the minutes during her tenure definitely speaks of her protection of her "constituency."
"Take no private action that will compromise the Board or administration, and respect the confidentiality of information that is privileged under applicable law; and"
There has been mention that Dr. No has been slipping boe information to the local rag. I have no idea if that is true. I also have no idea if the info that she is providing is already considered part of the public record or confidential. It is just an area that needs to be explored.
"Remember always that a Board member's first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of the students attending the public schools."
It is quite clear from the minutes that Dr. No's first and greatest concern is her constituency.
I will try to contact the Maricopa County BOE and ask if they have any formal review/penalty process for ethics violations or where to go for such a process. I imagine that somewhere in this state, there is a mechanism for reviewing the minutes of boe meetings if called upon in regards to such violations.
hm
HM,
ReplyDeleteI do see your points...I do believe she must be feeding information to SN as was pointed out earlier on this blog (a few weeks ago) when Ms. Bentley wrote about Mr. Baily's resignation letter in an article about a board meeting she (Ms. Bentley) did not attend. As that letter was not provided at the board meeting AND as, from what I understand, Ms. Bentley never made a formal request for the document through an official public document request; I have no choice but to wonder if that information were not, in fact, provided to Ms. Bentley by someone on the board. If so, I would most likely believe that person to be Member Clancy due to her unabashed continual repeating of phraseology heard in that publication and the strong support that publication gave her in her candidacy.
Ms. Bentley provided no attributable quotes in that article either to show she had, in fact, talked with someone to get the information that was printed. Most reading the article would have had no choice but assume she was writing it from actual meeting attendance.
I can see your point about expecting the strictest of ethics from our schoolboard members and the importance of holding folks accountable.
I would not discourage you from your quest and would support you any way I could; however, I will be focusing my greatest energy on finding qualified candidates to run for the four now open positions -- especially since they have to pull packets by August 5 if interested. That isn't much time...
Maybe both can be accomplished. Maybe we'll find four or five qualified candidates be able to elect four of them and then replace Ms. Clancy with the fifth one.
And then I awoke from my dream...
7:24 p.m. I suggest either try the Maricopa County School Superintendent's office or the M. Cty. Election Dept. -- sorry I don't know the process
ReplyDeleteFor informational purposes, here is the process for a recall from the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools website...
ReplyDeleteSchool Elections Special Elections Recall Elections
Does anyone think that Sandy Krestan would run? She is our new hero.
ReplyDeleteCCUSD Watch,
ReplyDeleteNot sure Ms. Krestan would necessarily be thrilled to be your hero...and I believe she has said "no".
Thanks Watch for the recall information. A direct link. Let the process begin.
ReplyDeleteAmidst the chaos, let us not lose sight of the importance of passing the k-3 override.
ReplyDeleteFYI - Recall will take nearly 3,000 signatures. That is more than we receive on yes votes for the district's initiatives so obviously a daunting task.
honeymom
GO for the 3000 votes to recall her. Maybe once the existing board members are all off the board, including the recall candidate,we will finally have a chance.
ReplyDeleteI just say too bad the recall wasn't started several months ago before she ran off the good board members she did.
ReplyDeleteA note to CV board members remaining...my apologies for how you have been treated...please feel free to speak up as the voices (though outnumbered -- or maybe tied with Virgil Cain coming on) of reason.
Also, if you do not wish to run again and I can't say I blame you...can you help find quality, student-focused, educator-supporting, non micro-managing representatives from your area. If there is not strong CV representation that will also undermine the future board's credibility.
Rumor has it that a person from CV plans to run. His name is Hugo DiGiulio, one of the plaintiffs from the lawsuit that sued the state and Dr. Dowling to have CV area (Troon & Rio Verde) recreated and pulled out of CCUSD. They lost the lawsuit at the beginning of May. If they had won, it would have greatly harmed CCUSD. The valuation of our area would have been removed from your tax base and everyone's taxes in CCUSD would have gone up significantly. Is this the type of person we want on our board? Someone who only looks out for the cheapest taxes and not the best interest of our students? I saw him and his friend talking to Member Clancy at Tuesday's bd. meeting. Really makes me wonder.....
ReplyDelete7:19A - If what you are saying is true, we cannot allow it. We will need to carefully vet this person or any person running for the board. Hopefully, we are riled up enough now to better organize and endorse the candidates that will best serve the children.
ReplyDeletehoneymom
People...step away from your computers. Think...breathe...think again.
ReplyDeleteDo you realize you've just begun a movement to recall a board member in a time where our district already looks to be in disarray?
Sonoran News didn't lead this push, CCUSD Watch didn't lead it....parents are calling for it.
Like I said before, there will ALWAYS be those who are critical. They may even land on the board.
Picking off those people one by one doesn't solve the greater problem of parents who should be invested in the schools yet aren't. Why aren't they? That needs to be answered.
3000 signatures for recall? Wouldn't you rather have 3000 confirmed votes for a k-3 override. Focusing your passion in this manner would truly help the schools.
Having an informed electorate, invested in their schools, would reduce problems upfront.
7:19, I heard the same thing. I looked into it at the Maricopa County Elections Department and it's called Citizens for DiGiulio. Ironically, his chairperson is Patrick Flynn, same person who was also a plaintiff in the same lawsuit. If these two are meeting with Member Clancy like you said then I have my concerns. I'm sure Member Cervino and Member Perkins know alot about these two since they are from the CV area. I would like to hear their perspective.
ReplyDeleteA Rio Verde Mom
Dear 7:25A,
ReplyDeleteDo not worry - priority one in my mind is the k-3 override. But, I will also do my part to make sure the best candidates are elected this fall and that all elected officials are held accountable. Let's get the boe away from the special interest groups around here and clean this mess up once and for all. Then we can focus on what we really care about, the education of the children.
honeymom
To work against a potentially ill-intentioned candidate will take exactly the upfront effort I mentioned earlier.
ReplyDeleteUnless enough people refuse to sign his petitions (only 112 signatures needed), he WILL appear on the ballot.
At which point you are at the mercy of the voters. Voters who will likely turn out in greater numbers than normal due to the fact it's also a presidential election year.
Voters who need to hear loud and clear the good news about this district.
Recall doesn't sound like good news to me.
Do you really think the k-3 override will pass now? Clancy is already out protesting it and said she will not support it? The others supported it...Don't know where Cain is on this, but hopefully he would be helpful. If this override is going to pass, someone better get out there and get the word out...or again, it will fail because the electorate will not understand why it is needed. If DiGuillo wins a seat, you can kiss any hope of any overrides or bonds good-bye since he and his group don't support education....he needs to be stopped. If he is the best that we can get for board members to run in November, then we have a real problem. We need some people, like you, HM, to run...people who care and want to do what is right for education and our community.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Mark Warren can weigh in, but I believe that CCSOS will have literature at New Year's Eve night. I think that they will be making efforts in earnest at the start of the new school year.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, the group will also help mobilize parents (like me) who are not district employees and who are not encumbered from supporting k-3. I'm ready to do my part to get the word out and get the vote out, too (think presentations, rather than phone banks).
Sorry, I really wish that I could run for boe right now, but I have a child (on an IEP and dealing with some issues right now) who is my priority. I will do what I can though to get k-3 through, help elect the right boe members, and hold current members accountable.
hm
If all of you don't want more of the same then why are you having Mark Warren weigh in?
ReplyDeleteGiven all of the fighting and lack of support for the schools, kids and adminstration that has gone on with primarly Clancy, Ledesma and Doche, who ought to be the new board president? If we want to stop the downward spiral that these three have significantly contributed to over the past several years, having one of them as the Board President would be determental. Also, Ledesma was the BP last year and did nothing...ineffective? Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteFact or Fiction?:
ReplyDeleteDoes the Political Committee "Take Back Control of Our Schools" (Marti Marino) run CCUSD Watch blogsite?
Dear 10:54A,
ReplyDeleteI am not a member of CCUSD Watch. I am a parent in the district. I post on here with my own opinions and to bring back some objectivity to the blog. I do not even know who runs CCUSD Watch.
I am making my own decisions regarding Mark Warren and have not ruled him in or out as a candidate. Whatever decision I make, will be based on which of the candidates will be the best for the kids. So far, he seems to be caring and rational and not just in this to lower his taxes and those are good things.
I asked for Mark to chime in because as far as I know, he is still the head of the CCSOS which is the group that is helping to get k-3 passed.
honeymom
Maybe so, still more of the same - you won't see real change until we get new people on board. Mr. Warren has been on the board before and I believe didn't Clancy beat him out in the last election? You don't seriously think the override is going to pass with Clancy going publicly against it and her backing of the Sonoran News as well as her support from the group up in the Troon and Rio Verde areas that sued the State to keep from being part of CCUSD? They too will be trying to kill the override. Someone needs to get out and start talking about why this district needs the override or we will have the same results as last November.
ReplyDeleteMore parents will be at the polls because it is a general election this time. We need to make sure that we do everything to have their support. We also need to go into areas, like Troon, and make sure that they get our messages to counterbalance the negative messages that they will surely hear.
ReplyDeleteGiving up hope and resigning k-3 to failure is not an option.
hm
HM,
ReplyDeleteI like your optimism...but we do need to make sure that everyone is fully informed of why we need the override to pass and any thoughts on how to overcome the SN and Clancy factor?
HM, I like your objectivity and enthusiasm as well. As for the Rio Verde and Troon area, Hugo DiGiullio and Patrick Flynn are also grouped together with Bob Vairo (President of the Coalition of Pinnalce Peak) who also was one of the plaintiffs in that lawsuit that was mentioned in this blog. Do you now see the bigger picture who CCUSD is up against and are dealing with? Can you just imagine all the behind the scene manipulating that is going to take place prior to the election?
ReplyDeleteRio Verde Mom
Mark Warren has only ONE agenda and that is what is best for our kids!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasant suprise! I'm thrilled to see CCUSD Watch change into a place for genuine dialogue between concerned citizens instead of just criticizing any and all action that does not agree with already preconceived notions. Than you honeymom for your thoughtful comments and persistence in trying to open up a community conversation and thank yuou CCUSD Watch for listening and being receptive to other ideas. It has been a depressing last few months watching what is happening in our district. I have long felt that until the majority stakeholders (teachers, parents and the community at large) decide it is time to be heard, the negative minority will continue to override our wishes.
ReplyDeleteI for one choose to focus on the positives. Sure there are things that can and should change, but overall we have a great district. Looking at test scores (although that should never be the only criteria of what makes a great school) CCUSD schools are consistently in the top 10% of schools in the state. Not bad, in my opinion. The teachers are awesome. The district office seems to genuinely care about the students and tries to focus on ways to improve learning and provide a strong support system for teachers, and every school in the district has some very incredible parents working hard behind the scenes to make sure the schools have everything they need to be successful.
I do have one comment for CCSD Watch. I wish you would change your byline to something more positive than "It's the curriculum, stupid." Not only is it demeaning but it implies that anyone who does not agree with you is stupid. It is my opinion that a great school is always more than the curriculum. Great teachers can take any curriculum and the students will learn. What is important is creating a community committed to excellence - teachers and administration, students and parents. Think of it as a three legged stool, all three legs are required to keep it stable. Together we can achieve greatness.
I agree with other posters on the blog. Students all learn differently so it makes sense to provide options for students. Some students thrive in a more traditional environment while others will chafe at the lack of creative stimulation. My own children for example, spent their first few years of school at a "traditional" magnet school but I found that as they got older the "traditional" drill and kill method was not enough for them and it was stifling their higher level thinking skills and not encouraging them to be problem solvers. What little I know of Core Knowledge sounds intriguing. It will be interesting to see how it develops at DSES. My point is that in order to provide the best education for each and every student some diversity is needed, although I agree there also needs to be some consistency regarding what the students are expected to know at the end of each school year.
Finally, what can we collectively do to lessen the impact of the SN coverage, especially for those community members who do not have children in the district and therefore are unaware of the great things going on in the schools. I am thinking that honeymom's POP group is a wonderful idea. Count me in! Without neutralizing SN I fear that we will always be at the mercy of people who rely on SN for their information without getting the facts.
Well, I'm off to tell others about this site. The more others weigh in the more likely our voices will be heard.
Together we can
Perhaps that is true but is this not a stepping stone for bigger and better things down at the legislature too?
ReplyDeleteI am sure that Bob Vairo and group have heard a lot about our district's supposed fiscal irresponsibility. While Vairo is certainly vocal on development and tax issues there do seem to be some groups that make progress with him. I think that CCSOS needs to start a dialogue with him. We will need to prove to these people that k-3 is a necessity not born out of fiscal irresponsibility.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the Creative Women of Pinnacle Peak should be approached for help. Let's reach out to women, to mothers, to grandmothers who still have a sense of decency and a sense of pride about the importance of education.
I think that more letter writing to SN needs to happen as a start. Instead of turning the other cheek as we have been, we need to have a voice and let them hear it. Even if they don't publish it, they will get the message. Otherwise, we start writing to their advertisers directly. They are easily identifiable since we get stuck getting this publication every week. And, I am sure that with the economy the way it is, many will be looking to cut marketing expenditures anyway.
As to Clancy, let us remind her of the district's ethics standards and make sure that she upholds them. While k-3 is certainly the priority leading up to the election, I have no problem sitting outside of a polling place and mobilizing others to do the same to collect the 3,000 signatures needed for a recall election if that is what necessary.
I am not saying that any of this will be easy or that we will succeed. But, we will try and we can be as strong and as vocal as the opponents.
hm
Dear 12:50p,
ReplyDeleteI would be supportive of any effort with the legislature. I think that is an excellent idea and the place most responsible for the funding of our schools.
hm
"I do have one comment for CCSD Watch. I wish you would change your byline to something more positive than "It's the curriculum, stupid.""
ReplyDeleteOur tag line reflects our disappointment with the fact that we believe that CCUSD under performs neighboring schools yet the district seems to shout from the top of its lungs 'Excelling' as if there is nothing to improve on. Of course the tag line is a play on the 'Its the Economy, Stupid'. We are not calling anyone stupid, we just want to see some focus from the administration and board on improving the curriculum.
For example, we are now going into the seventh year of Everyday Math with only stagnant SAT/Terra Nova test scores to show. There are no signs of an evaluation of the performance of EM and when you bring this up to a principal, they say 'Excelling'. Why wasn't there a 6 year review of EM last year? Why does CCUSD underperform neighboring schools with similar or even worse demographics? Why did we just send the curriculum director of only one year back to a principal position? Won't this transition set us back? The new director of elementary curriculum remains un-hired. All this does not bode well for improving academic achievement.
There are small signs. Ellie Gaines is a great win. For now, Core Knowledge at DSES seems like all show with no substance behind it (we will give it a chance). Until we see some real focus on the curriculum, this will remain our primary focus.
We posted these scores a while back but here they are again. If there is a school you'd like to see let us know. To see the district 7 year trend on math scores go to Math Test Scores Trend in Cave Creek Unified Schools.
-----------
2007 Math TerraNova Grades 2 through 6 Average Percentile Rank
---------------------------
Scottsdale Unified District Cheyenne Traditional Elementary School 87.4
Scottsdale Unified District Cochise Elementary School 85.5
Scottsdale Unified District Cherokee Elementary School 83.25
Paradise Valley Unified District Grayhawk Elementary School 82
Scottsdale Unified District Desert Canyon Elementary 81.75
Scottsdale Unified District Sequoya Elementary School 81.75
Scottsdale Unified District Copper Ridge Elementary School 80.75
Paradise Valley Unified District Sonoran Sky Elementary School 80.2
Scottsdale Unified District Anasazi Elementary 79.75
Scottsdale Unified District Hopi Elementary School 79.25
Scottsdale Unified District Kiva Elementary School 79
Paradise Valley Unified District Pinnacle Peak Elementary 78.2
Paradise Valley Unified District Copper Canyon Elementary School 77.8
Deer Valley Unified District Legend Springs Elementary 77.4
Deer Valley Unified District Greenbrier Elementary School 77
Paradise Valley Unified District Desert Springs Elementary School 77
Cave Creek Unified District Lone Mountain Elementary School 76.75
Scottsdale Unified District Laguna Elementary School 76.75
Paradise Valley Unified District Sandpiper Elementary School 75.6
Paradise Valley Unified District Wildfire Elementary School 75.4
Cave Creek Unified District Desert Willow Elementary School 74.75
Scottsdale Unified District Pima Elementary School 74.6
Paradise Valley Unified District Desert Trails Elementary School 73.8
Paradise Valley Unified District Liberty Elementary School 73.8
Paradise Valley Unified District Desert Shadows Elementary School 73.6
Deer Valley Unified District Sierra Verde Elementary 73.6
Cave Creek Unified District Desert Sun Elementary School 73.25
Scottsdale Unified District Zuni Elementary School 73.25
Deer Valley Unified District Arrowhead Elementary School 73
Deer Valley Unified District West Wing Elementary 73
Deer Valley Unified District Gavilan Peak Elementary 72.8
Deer Valley Unified District Diamond Canyon Elementary 72.6
Paradise Valley Unified District Quail Run Elementary School 72.4
Cave Creek Unified District Black Mountain Elementary School 72.25
Paradise Valley Unified District North Ranch Elementary School 72
Deer Valley Unified District Copper Creek Elementary 71.6
Paradise Valley Unified District Mercury Mine Elementary School 71.4
Deer Valley Unified District Stetson Hills Elementary 71.2
Cave Creek Unified District Horseshoe Trails Elementary School 70.75
HM,
ReplyDeleteDo you know Vairo? He does not support education...who do you think was the ring leader in the lawsuit against the State trying to prevent Troon and Rio Verde from becoming part of CCUSD. He and his group, if they had won the lawsuit, would have put CCUSD into possible receivership by pulling out Christopher Verde after it had been factored in. I am sure that he has helped the community in some ways, but education is not one of them....Sorry, but true.
I do not know Vairo. You may be right. But, he doesn't seem to support development and just spoke positively of a development whose developer worked with him.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it is one thing to fight being a part of a district. It is another thing to determine how you move forward in that district. They may very well be taking the tactic of "kill the district." But, until somebody speaks with them and finds out what they want, nobody will know and if there is any middle ground, nobody will know.
I always believe in trying diplomacy wherever possible. It doesn't always work, but at least it lets you know what you are up against.
hm
There are two people who you might want to talk with that know these people and have fought for a number of years to get the Christopher Verde area into a school district. I know that Members Perkins and Cervino were two of the people who worked hard to pull that area into a school district. I am sure they would know about Vairo and his group. Just a thought?
ReplyDeleteSo who should be the Board President? If you recall, the big fight in January was between Doche, Ledesma, and Christensen and it was ugly. Those three were telling President Reese she was illegimate and unfairly elected. This position will be key to either making something happen or the same old mess...Clancy..for sure no, Ledesma - not effective and blows with the wind...he will say one thing and do another. Doche is unpredictable because she sometimes can be untruthful and has a tendency to be a bull in a china closet. Don't know about the CV people - either would probably be better than the other three...couldn't be worse. Nevertheless, we need to make our voices heard and wishes known or it will be a disaster..again. Dr. Burdick needs someone who will support her, her staff and teachers...not someone who has an questionable motives. I think I will be calling Dr. Burdick and letting her know who I want to see in that position. Doche is already the clerk...so lets leave her there. I think I would gamble on the CV people. If you read their board bios they are qualified and have been very active in PTO board positions such as President, Treasurer, Board President for Christopher Verde, etc. Bigger issue is who will we elect come November? Lots of decisions to be made and we all should be the ones making them!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 4:46. Additionally, the next board president should not be driven by their own agenda. I was on the original high school committee and Mr. Christenson basically told us we must go for the mega school in the south part of the district. Ms. Doche tried to ram an equestrian program down our throats (as if that would serve a large number of kids). And Mr. Ledesma isn't sure what he wants half the time. Perhaps Ms. Perkins would be good for president. At least she can be trusted more than Clancy, Doche and Ledesma.
ReplyDeleteI hope that someone organizes a group of people to help elect the best board member candidates in November. And I hope they also organize a oommittee to pass the K-3 override.
WATCH...Is there a way to connect the anonymous contributors with one another so they can get together to act on these important items?
If people post anonymously to a blog then it should remain that way. I work for the district and DO NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED! If I or others are ever identified for our comments we could be terminated. That would be a VERY BAD MOVE on CCUSD Watch's part!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous
I agree with 6:50 pm...some one better get some other good candidates are we will be stuck with Hugo and believe me, you don't want someone who does not support kids and will do everything possible to be an obstructionist....scary thought!
ReplyDeleteI think Members Cervino and Perkins ought to consider running for the board. With a new board, I believe these two will get a lot of positive things done. With the candidates running and some I wish would run, I believe the best board for CCUSD would be Cain, Warren, Perkins, Cervino - there 4 slots. This is would an extremely positive and productive board. Need to get Cervino and Perkins to run. With this group, they can drown out Clancy's negetivity...there is strength in numbers...and all are very politically savvy....what do you all think?
I agree with 7:47. One thing, I'll bet you didn't know...who do you think brought the idea forward and worked collaboratively with Dr. Ashby and Burdick to get Core Knowledge into Desert Sun? It was Members Perkins and Cervino. Even though these two are working behind the scenes, they are working apparently well with administrators and bringing new circulumn to the district. Having Elle Gaines will add to this..she will most likely bring it to BM and it is an excellent program.
ReplyDelete"Does the Political Committee "Take Back Control of Our Schools" (Marti Marino) run CCUSD Watch blogsite?"
ReplyDeleteNo it does not.
Dear 7:40,
ReplyDeleteI am not a part of CCUSD Watch. But, I will vouch for them. They will not reveal who you are. They don't want to be revealed either, so it is mutually beneficial.
honeymom
Dear 3:30pm,
ReplyDeleteAre you aware that Bob Vairo is a Democrat who supported Hillary Clinton? I cannot imagine anybody supporting Clinton who is totally anti education. I think that there is more to this than meets the eye. I think that someone needs to talk with this man.
I think it is one thing to fight being in a school district and to fight development of private schools. Don't get me wrong - I am not jumping up with support for this group. But, I want to hear from them what they are up to before making any decisions one way or the other.
hm
Honeymom and all
ReplyDeleteI think I smell a need for a public debate / townhall meeting of the candidates in this election year. I wonder if any of the candidates would show up. I would be interested in hearing what each of them had to say.
Just need to tell Linda Bentley from the Sonoran News that we are meeting someplace else. But then again she seems to know all of the bad things about our district but rarely shows up at the meetings from what I hear through the grapevine. Makes you wonder how she is able to write so much negative crap if she is never there
I agree on a public candidate forum. I wish we had a League of Women Voters up here because they are just the type of organization to do it. Perhaps Kiwanis or one of the other groups?
ReplyDeletehm
There is a League of Women Voters in Tempe according to their website. If they would be willing to moderate a town hall type forum, there would be no question of partisanship. Just a thought.
ReplyDelete@ July 13, 2008 9:43 PM
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Maybe the North Scottsdale Independent will facilitate something for us! Anyone tried calling/e-mailing them about it?
There is currently a group of concerned parents putting a forum together and that group has already received agreement by a couple of candidates to participate.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, they are really interested in finding candidates they can actively support and are not too interested in talking with candidates they are already sure they are not interested in seeing elected.
Mr. Guilio is the one listed as running, is that Mr. Vairo or is there a sense that Mr. Vairo is running or is behind Mr. Guilio. My concern with either is that he has had an extremely strong personal agenda and what this board DOES NOT NEED right now is someone who comes to the board with criticism of the district and an agenda to implement their own agenda. That is what got us here in the first place.
I want to see candidates that understand how amazing this district is and how gifted, educated and committed our teachers and administrators are. Board candidates who want to clean up the mess created by Ms. Clancy and her supporters on the board, and promote, support and further develop the professional, exemplary reputation this district and its students so richly deserve.
Perhaps the forum group will bring all candidates together and trust that parents will see through those who do not really wish to support the dsitrict.
Dear 9:10p,
ReplyDeleteIt would really be in the best interest of the district to allow a neutral third party to run a forum. Are you talking with any groups that can do so? If not, the negative media will have a field day with such a forum being somehow "tainted" in their eyes by bias.
I know that you are upset about di gulio/vairo. But, if they are as powerful as everybody says, an all out war may be futile. I am not saying to give up. I am saying to figure out how to coexist with a boe with such personalities on it and to learn how to talk with them.
hm
The North Scottsdale Independent would actually be a very good choice to host the forum. That paper is very objective and neutral and Joey Airdo's articles always give a solid, in-depth representation of board meetings. Who is contacting Joey about this idea?
ReplyDeleteHM,
ReplyDeleteHow do you think that Rio Verde and Troon came into CCUSD. It was because of there were people who stood up to Vairo, Flynn and Diguillo who did their best to keep the kids from belonging to a school district...when they failed legislatively, they decided to sue to again try to stick it to the kids, and lost in court and NOW, Hugo wants to run for the board...he didn't just have an epiphany....he is up to no good. Believe me, you do not want to be fighting these guys for 4 years on the board. They will do what they can to kill every bond, override and initiative you put forth. Google Pat Flynn, Citizens for a Unified School District and you will see what I mean. Hugo and Pat was the same ones who sat there at a meeting before CV moved into CCUSD and told parents that if the area joined CCUSD, then CCUSD would have to give their permission for their child to attend another school district...clearly a lie....just one of many. They make Clancy look like child's play.
Dear 11:36 -
ReplyDeleteI will be as frustrated as you are to see anybody get on this board who is there because of an anti-tax agenda, and not the kids.
That being said, what are your ideas for stopping them if they have that much support in Troon?
hm
So what are we going to do? It is going to take action. Who will run? We need 3 or 4 strong people.
ReplyDeleteTime is running out! If we don't get at least 1-2 good candidates that truly are for the kids then we are sunk. Because with August 6approaching quickly and only 4 candidates...you do the math...the election is over and we have will have a board in which the balance of power will be problematic (Clancy, Ledesma and DiGuillo). Cain and Warren will be hanging out there by themselves. So this is crunch time....we are at the 11th hour. Are any of the current Christopher Verde board members planning to run, do we know? I haven't heard if Cervino or Perkins plan to run...I think either or both would be an excellent choice. Have a board with Warren, Cain, Perkins and Cervino will allow the district to really move forward. Anyone talked with them?
ReplyDeleteThis blog has moved to
ReplyDeletehttp://ccusdwatch.com
and is now part of
Tatum Central
Please continue the discussion there.