Schools need to cut salaries for teachers, no question. And stop raising my business tax.

Boom - there it is. Raises in May. Cuts in June.

Why is the district proposing an entirely new position called, get this, the "Director of Educational Options" in the District Office? What is this and why does the PUSD need this?

Also why is the District paying the Speech Pathology Group, a firm in Walnut Creek, what looks to be around $1 million or more in checks in May to provide speech and language services? One check alone is 3/4 of a million dollars. So during COVID-19, does this during the shutdown, the District's own Speech and Language staff could not Zoom into students' homes and provide the needed services once or twice a week? How much did the District pay out in April and March?

1. Cut district management
2. Cut teachers and increase class size (cause you know they won't take a pay cut)
3. Renegotiate all procurement activities

We told you to not close down the economy.

You all thought you could teach from home while all that real estate went unused?

LOL!!!

Reap what you sow.

Oh I forgot, the union won't lose one dime of their revenues. You can bet on that.

Dan

From the job description of the new Educational Options Director, it sounds like the Superintendent wants to start a virtual online charter school -
"Oversees development of a virtual school/academy in accordance with Education
Code, including; WASC accreditation, UC course approvals, and charter
applications, grant writing, and budgets."

This Virtual School/Academy sounds very familiar. Isn't this what the current Pleasanton District's contracted auditor Ben Leavitt started with the Lennox Virtual Academy in southern California that was in all the Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernadino county newspapers? The Lennox School District was subject to an investigation prior to this scheme being shut down, yes?

Here is one article from the LA Times ---
Web Link

Maybe this is why David Haglund hired Ben Leavitt in the first place as the PUSD auditor perhaps? Ben Leavitt created a firm called School Management Systems to manage the Lennox-created Virtual Academy and enroll students in private parochial schools that were attending Catholic schools into the Lennox Virtual Academy school.

Why is the superintendent proposing an online virtual academy charter school director without first getting buy-in from the community? It sounds like this job description is more like a mandate to create a charter school of online learning that will eliminate a lot of certificated teachers. The one in Lennox didn't even use teachers. It contracted with the Acellus company instead.

It seems like once again the summer is being used to sneak things through the community without adequate notice or transparency. And it looks as though this wee they are hiring this position as well simultaneously with approving the the job description. What a shame.

I just googled "Director of Educational Options" and lo and behold, it looks like David Haglund has basically copied his own previous job description that he had at Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) where he was Director of Educational Options and Principal of Riverside Virtual School in the Riverside Unified School District.

Also on EDJOIN Web Link given the application period just closed on Friday at noon, it sounds like this position is pre-wired for someone already. Come on, can we really believe that all the applicants were called in for interviews somewhere between 12:01 and 5:00 PM on Friday afternoon?

After all, how could they have possibly have been any interviews at all for this position if the Board is set to hire someone this week and it is on the agenda already for hiring?

Sounds like to me this has been in the works for quite a long time....

I suspect that the district anticipates a large number of students who won't choose to return to the classroom in the fall. This will require a robust virtual program and someone to oversee it. I'm ususally quite critical of the D.O., but I'm reserving judgement on this one. This position might be necessary.

"I suspect that the district anticipates a large number of students who won't choose to return to the classroom in the fall."

This sounds about right.

I would add:

1. Cut most electives.
-Electives should be jobs-based and cover trade skills, with the opportunity to earn certification equal to market-based programs. This would only be open to Juniors and Seniors.
-Electives that are not trades skills-based should be pay only and not be required.
2. Streamline the learning process and cover only core classes. Math, English (reading and writing), Science, History.

Number 1 is the key. Imagine a high school that gives kids the necessary skills and certification (HVAC, Electronics, Plumbing, construction technology, auto mechanics...etc.) to go out and work in the trades as soon as they are done with school.

Problem solved.

Dan

Eliminate all school sports. Let the community do that. Then use all the funds and time to do what dan said.
Get these kids educated and working and paying taxes. Protest and poor decisions aren't free. They have a huge debt to pay. I for one just retired and am gonna watch this
As the reps from chi town just said
This s. T. Show go on
Wheres the popcorn?

Here is the Lennox SD agenda when the PUSD auditor's contract (Ben Leavitt) open ended contract for the Virtual Academy was approved
Web Link

Ben Leavitt's location on 4133 Redwood for School Management Solutions in this contract Web Link looks to be some sort of condominium or apartment, doesn't it?

Can someone explain this set up for the "Virtual School" and this open ended contract and can someone explain why PUSD's job posting for the Director of Educational Options position was only posted for 2 days (June 3 - June 5)?

DKHSK,

i never agree with you. that said....

"Number 1 is the key. Imagine a high school that gives kids the necessary skills and certification (HVAC, Electronics, Plumbing, construction technology, auto mechanics...etc.) to go out and work in the trades as soon as they are done with school."


i completely agree! great suggestion.