Like most people, I’ve never taken much notice when the governor releases a proposed budget. However, because of fears that our school district may soon be facing tough financial decisions, I decided to take a look at Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget.
It’s a thought-provoking read. The proposed budget states that, “In an effort to protect classroom funding, the governor is proposing a reduction of approximately 10 percent in funding for administration, overhead and other non-instruction-related spending by school districts. [The governor proposes a] reduction of $1.2 billion targeted to school district central administration. This proposal will protect classroom spending, including spending for teachers and principals, from further reductions.”
So, while the governor proposes that school districts cut back on administrative spending during these tough economic times, the four members of the St. Helena school board who are the subject of a recall election have decided that administrators should be awarded handsome salaries and generous supplemental early retirement packages. Instead of taking a position similar to the governor’s that we need to decrease spending on administration in order to protect classroom spending, these four board members have supported and defended the view that our district needs a lot of administrators and we need to pay them substantially more than other school districts in the state.
This is not only a frivolous approach to school finance, it’s also a very short-sighted one. It’s well known that we have a well-funded school district. However, the director of the Department of Finance for California stated that our state now faces a projected budget deficit of $19.9 billion. How long will it be before the state starts taking a hard look at wealthy districts such as ours to make up for shortfalls in educational funding elsewhere? If that happens, how do these board members think our district will handle severe cuts in our funding? Will they try to take back the large retirement packages or cut back on bloated administrative salaries? Judging from their actions so far, that seems unlikely. This is one of the many reasons why the recall is so necessary.
Kathy Zelazny / St. Helena
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A Note of Thanks
We are truly grateful for the continued support from the community. Our supporter list grows daily and we have ordered more signs since there is a great deal of demand for them! Please email us if we can deliver a sign to you. Again, thank you your support!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Cadidate's Personal Statement: Jeanne DeVincenzi
My husband and I have lived in St. Helena for 11 years and have three daughters in the school district. I am actively involved in our schools as the President of the Elementary School Site Council, a member of the RLS Site Council, a director of the St. Helena Public Schools Foundation Endowment Trust, a member of the Elementary and Primary Schools Parent Teacher Group, and a member of the District's Strategic Planning Committee.
I am a business attorney and have practiced for 14 years. In my line of work, I help clients identify their priorities and determine practical ways to reach their goals within the boundaries of the law. I help them resolve disputes and understand complex issues.
I will use my professional skills and my experience with our schools to do the following:
· Support our teachers and students;
· Improve communication with parents and the community;
· Oversee legal and financial issues;
· Suggest innovative solutions;
· Provide insight into the unique issues facing our school sites; and
· Track legislative action that impacts our district.
I will act with respect, integrity and honesty.
I will work hard to make sure that we provide the opportunities and resources so that ALL students can reach their full potential.
I am a business attorney and have practiced for 14 years. In my line of work, I help clients identify their priorities and determine practical ways to reach their goals within the boundaries of the law. I help them resolve disputes and understand complex issues.
I will use my professional skills and my experience with our schools to do the following:
· Support our teachers and students;
· Improve communication with parents and the community;
· Oversee legal and financial issues;
· Suggest innovative solutions;
· Provide insight into the unique issues facing our school sites; and
· Track legislative action that impacts our district.
I will act with respect, integrity and honesty.
I will work hard to make sure that we provide the opportunities and resources so that ALL students can reach their full potential.
Candidate's Personal Statement: Sean Maher
My family came to St. Helena more than 34 years ago, and my wife and I now have two children in the school district. I proudly serve our community and kids as past President and continuing Board Member of the St. Helena Boys and Girls Club. As President, I led the fundraising and community relations campaign to build our new clubhouse/gym at the St. Helena Elementary School, working collaboratively with community leaders to make it happen. I am also a regular youth sports volunteer, coaching soccer, basketball, and baseball each year. For the older kids, my family recently completed an extensive renovation of the city-owned Teen Center.
For 15 years I have managed my own business in town, building strong community and client relationships. I look forward to building equally strong and collaborative relationships as a member of the School Board. I commit to an unwavering focus on the success of our students and their teachers. I commit to being fair and honest, soliciting perspective from parents, community members, and the administration. Finally, I commit to an ongoing critical review of the district’s finances and other complex challenges, and to seeking respectful paths towards solutions.
For 15 years I have managed my own business in town, building strong community and client relationships. I look forward to building equally strong and collaborative relationships as a member of the School Board. I commit to an unwavering focus on the success of our students and their teachers. I commit to being fair and honest, soliciting perspective from parents, community members, and the administration. Finally, I commit to an ongoing critical review of the district’s finances and other complex challenges, and to seeking respectful paths towards solutions.
Candidate's Personal Statement: Jeff Conwell
From 1971 – 1978, I was a student in Saint Helena Elementary and RLS. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, I was a pilot for 12 years in the United States Navy. In 1998, I was hired by United Airlines and moved back to Saint Helena.
Our three children attend public schools – RLS, Elementary and Primary. Over the past twelve years, I was on the Primary School Site Council, Napa County Grand Jury and coached multiple sports. I currently led Cub Scout Pack 199, am involved in American Legion Post 199 and on the board for the Napa Valley State Park Association.
This is a wonderful community to raise children, but we can clearly improve the fiscal accountability and openness of our Public School System. As a board member, I will listen to the concerns of the community and openly discuss those inputs prior to making decisions. The Napa County Grand Jury taught me to do through research, ask questions, and hold administrators accountable to the public. We must challenge and demand the administration to provide excellent teachers, facilities, and environment to produce the best students.
The time is right for a change. We need new insightful members on the school board.
Our three children attend public schools – RLS, Elementary and Primary. Over the past twelve years, I was on the Primary School Site Council, Napa County Grand Jury and coached multiple sports. I currently led Cub Scout Pack 199, am involved in American Legion Post 199 and on the board for the Napa Valley State Park Association.
This is a wonderful community to raise children, but we can clearly improve the fiscal accountability and openness of our Public School System. As a board member, I will listen to the concerns of the community and openly discuss those inputs prior to making decisions. The Napa County Grand Jury taught me to do through research, ask questions, and hold administrators accountable to the public. We must challenge and demand the administration to provide excellent teachers, facilities, and environment to produce the best students.
The time is right for a change. We need new insightful members on the school board.
Candidate's Personal Statement: Jeannie Kerr
I believe in public education and that it is the responsibility of the school board, administration, teachers, and parents to ensure that every student receives the opportunities and resources necessary to obtain an excellent education.
I have two children in the public schools. I have served the school community in many different capacities over the last eight years, including Parent Teacher Group President, mini-grants committee member of the St. Helena Public Schools Foundation, member of the District Strategic Planning Team, and committee chair of the Just Imagine Auction. My extensive hands-on school experience enables me to bring a unique prospective of oversight and financial management to school budgeting, ensuring funds are effectively allocated to programs and resources that will benefit all students.
Through my dedication to the schools and community, I have earned the respect of the district’s administration, teachers and parents. I believe that through respectful and thoughtful communication, I can bring these groups and the broader community together so that we can truly focus on supporting our schools, teachers and students during this time of shrinking financial resources.
I would be honored to serve as a member of the St. Helena Unified School District Board of Trustees.
I have two children in the public schools. I have served the school community in many different capacities over the last eight years, including Parent Teacher Group President, mini-grants committee member of the St. Helena Public Schools Foundation, member of the District Strategic Planning Team, and committee chair of the Just Imagine Auction. My extensive hands-on school experience enables me to bring a unique prospective of oversight and financial management to school budgeting, ensuring funds are effectively allocated to programs and resources that will benefit all students.
Through my dedication to the schools and community, I have earned the respect of the district’s administration, teachers and parents. I believe that through respectful and thoughtful communication, I can bring these groups and the broader community together so that we can truly focus on supporting our schools, teachers and students during this time of shrinking financial resources.
I would be honored to serve as a member of the St. Helena Unified School District Board of Trustees.
CANDIDATE PROFILE: Jeff Conwell
By Jesse Duarte
STAFF WRITER
Friday, December 25, 2009
As a member of the Napa County Grand Jury in 2003-2004, Jeff Conwell learned he had a knack for keeping tabs on public officials.
Now he wants a seat on the St. Helena School Board so he can bring that oversight to bear on the local school district.
Conwell is running for Trustee Cindy Warren’s seat in the Feb. 23 recall election. But he stressed that “I don’t view this election as me versus Cindy Warren.”
“This is Cindy Warren running on her past as a boardmember,” he said. “If people vote ‘yes’ on the recall, then I want people to think I’m a worthy replacement who could fill her term.”
Conwell leads a local Cub Scout pack, is involved in the American Legion and serves on the board of the Napa Valley State Parks Association. He spent one year on the Primary School Site Council.
He described himself as “approachable and willing to listen to all points of view.” He said he’d bring a positive attitude to the school board.
The district has strained relationships with some members of the community and a few local agencies, but he would “improve our district’s image by offering a fresh change of perspective and outlook,” he said.
He said that as a trustee he’d draw on his grand jury experience, which taught him to “do the research and read the information so I can ask the questions that need to be asked.”
He also has three children attending St. Helena schools, “so as an active parent I’m very interested in making sure them and their classmates get the best education possible,” he said.
The district benefits from a generous community, skilled teachers and dedicated parents, and reasonably good facilities, notwithstanding some outdated buildings at RLS Middle School, he said.
The main thing that’s holding the district back from greatness is the board, said Conwell.
He cited board by-laws which call for the district to be “responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of the community.”
Instead, trustees have a “cozy relationship” with each other and with the administration, and they do business in a way that lacks transparency, he said.
“Everything seemed closed-off, and that’s what ignited the recall,” he said.
The classic example was when the board hired then-Assistant Superintendent Robert Haley to replace the retiring Allan Gordon without conducting an open search for other candidates, said Conwell.
“When they announced this at the board meeting and the board did open high-fives in celebration, it really set off this group that charged ahead and asked, ‘What can we do to change this?’” he said.
The recall campaign gathered steam when parents realized that the board had given Gordon and former high school Principal Jim Zoll generous retirement packages, said Conwell.
He said that if he’s elected, he’d push for the board to take a close look at the budget and reconsider the district’s fiscal priorities.
“We’re spending a lot on legal costs, and that’s all money that’s not going into the classroom,” he said.
Conwell, a pilot for United Airlines, is a union member, so he understands employment contracts, he said. Right now the district’s contracts with its employees don’t address what would happen if the district loses its Basic Aid status and faces a steep decline in revenue, he said.
The board needs to make sure that if times get tough, the district’s employees take a fair cut, he said.
Conwell also wants to make sure administrators’ salaries aren’t tied to teachers’ contracts.
“Right now, if the teachers get a big raise, consequently the superintendent does too,” he said. “It doesn’t seem right that the superintendent is negotiating something that they receive a return on.”
Conwell said he likes the International Baccalaureate program overall, particularly the training teachers have undergone. But he’s concerned about “a few hiccups,” such as problems with prerequisite classes at the high school.
“We’ve jumped with both feet into this program and we’re trying to do it on a very aggressive timeline,” he said. “Not everything has worked. We won’t know how successful the IB diploma program is until we’ve had a few graduating classes.”
Conwell said that if he loses this time, he’d “definitely run again."
STAFF WRITER
Friday, December 25, 2009
As a member of the Napa County Grand Jury in 2003-2004, Jeff Conwell learned he had a knack for keeping tabs on public officials.
Now he wants a seat on the St. Helena School Board so he can bring that oversight to bear on the local school district.
Conwell is running for Trustee Cindy Warren’s seat in the Feb. 23 recall election. But he stressed that “I don’t view this election as me versus Cindy Warren.”
“This is Cindy Warren running on her past as a boardmember,” he said. “If people vote ‘yes’ on the recall, then I want people to think I’m a worthy replacement who could fill her term.”
Conwell leads a local Cub Scout pack, is involved in the American Legion and serves on the board of the Napa Valley State Parks Association. He spent one year on the Primary School Site Council.
He described himself as “approachable and willing to listen to all points of view.” He said he’d bring a positive attitude to the school board.
The district has strained relationships with some members of the community and a few local agencies, but he would “improve our district’s image by offering a fresh change of perspective and outlook,” he said.
He said that as a trustee he’d draw on his grand jury experience, which taught him to “do the research and read the information so I can ask the questions that need to be asked.”
He also has three children attending St. Helena schools, “so as an active parent I’m very interested in making sure them and their classmates get the best education possible,” he said.
The district benefits from a generous community, skilled teachers and dedicated parents, and reasonably good facilities, notwithstanding some outdated buildings at RLS Middle School, he said.
The main thing that’s holding the district back from greatness is the board, said Conwell.
He cited board by-laws which call for the district to be “responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of the community.”
Instead, trustees have a “cozy relationship” with each other and with the administration, and they do business in a way that lacks transparency, he said.
“Everything seemed closed-off, and that’s what ignited the recall,” he said.
The classic example was when the board hired then-Assistant Superintendent Robert Haley to replace the retiring Allan Gordon without conducting an open search for other candidates, said Conwell.
“When they announced this at the board meeting and the board did open high-fives in celebration, it really set off this group that charged ahead and asked, ‘What can we do to change this?’” he said.
The recall campaign gathered steam when parents realized that the board had given Gordon and former high school Principal Jim Zoll generous retirement packages, said Conwell.
He said that if he’s elected, he’d push for the board to take a close look at the budget and reconsider the district’s fiscal priorities.
“We’re spending a lot on legal costs, and that’s all money that’s not going into the classroom,” he said.
Conwell, a pilot for United Airlines, is a union member, so he understands employment contracts, he said. Right now the district’s contracts with its employees don’t address what would happen if the district loses its Basic Aid status and faces a steep decline in revenue, he said.
The board needs to make sure that if times get tough, the district’s employees take a fair cut, he said.
Conwell also wants to make sure administrators’ salaries aren’t tied to teachers’ contracts.
“Right now, if the teachers get a big raise, consequently the superintendent does too,” he said. “It doesn’t seem right that the superintendent is negotiating something that they receive a return on.”
Conwell said he likes the International Baccalaureate program overall, particularly the training teachers have undergone. But he’s concerned about “a few hiccups,” such as problems with prerequisite classes at the high school.
“We’ve jumped with both feet into this program and we’re trying to do it on a very aggressive timeline,” he said. “Not everything has worked. We won’t know how successful the IB diploma program is until we’ve had a few graduating classes.”
Conwell said that if he loses this time, he’d “definitely run again."
CANDIDATE PROFILE: Jeanne DeVincenzi
By Jesse Duarte
STAFF WRITER
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Jeanne DeVincenzi said that as a school boardmember she would work to make sure every St. Helena student gets the same high-quality education her three daughters are enjoying.
“I’m all about positive change,” said DeVincenzi, who’s seeking Trustee Carolyn Martini’s seat in the Feb. 23 recall election.
DeVincenzi, a business attorney, is president of the St. Helena Elementary School Site Council. She serves on the RLS Middle School Site Council and on the board of the St. Helena Public Schools Foundation Endowment Trust. She was previously a member of the Parent Teacher Group for the primary and elementary schools.
DeVincenzi said that while her three daughters are thriving in St. Helena’s public schools system, “it’s heartbreaking to me when I see the children who aren’t.”
She said she’s afraid special education students aren’t getting the education they deserve — not because of a lack of talented teachers, but because of high-level program decisions the district has made.
Students who aren’t college-bound also need more support, she said. The district needs to find a way to keep the International Baccalaureate program in place and still give those kids the tools they need to succeed, she said.
DeVincenzi is worried that at-risk students aren’t being served as well as they were when the Madrone continuation school operated on the high school campus.
She also wants to make sure English language learners are provided with enough resources.
“We need to reach out to the Hispanic community and see what their concerns are,” she said.
DeVincenzi said that in addition to her keen interest in education, her legal knowledge could come in handy when the board deals with contracts and litigation.
“I could read the legal briefs and have a dialogue with the district’s attorneys,” she said.
More communication
A lot of the district’s problems are due to lack of communication, said DeVincenzi.
“When the recall succeeds, I think you will see much better communication,” she said. “The public will be encouraged to speak more, and their comments will be answered.”
Communication will also be more effective because the recall candidates are “incredibly engaged in our schools,” and understand the important issues, said DeVincenzi.
Right now some parents, students and teachers fear retaliation if they speak their minds, she said.
“That culture has to stop, 100 percent,” said DeVincenzi. “We see that problem, acknowledge it, and want to change it.”
“We also need a board that will direct the district rather than allow the superintendent to direct it,” said DeVincenzi. “Superintendents are in charge of day-to-day operations, but they need some direction.”
More oversight
Given the possibility that the state will take away St. Helena’s Basic Aid status — it’s already done away with the name in favor of the ominous term “excess revenue” — the board needs to come up with a plan to do more with less.
That means looking at the district’s financial priorities, said DeVincenzi.
“I’m concerned that there are some programs that are not being funded and there are some segments of our student population that are not being served as well as they could be,” she said. “We need to ask some tough questions about where our dollars should be spent.”
DeVincenzi believes the recall was sparked in April when the board appointed Robert Haley as superintendent, instead of hiring him on an interim basis and conducting an outside search for other candidates.
“That caused a lot of parents and community members to start talking,” said DeVincenzi. “People shared the experiences and concerns that they had, and it seemed that a lot of those stories weren’t isolated experiences — they were part of a pattern.”
The recall could have been avoided if trustees had taken the community’s advice on the Haley appointment, drafted his contract differently, or even explained their position more effectively, said DeVincenzi.
“Time and time again, instead of listening to people’s questions and comments and keeping an open mind, the board has dug in and continued on its path,” she said.
DeVincenzi said that if she doesn’t win Martini’s seat, she would run for one of the three seats that are available in November 2010.
STAFF WRITER
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Jeanne DeVincenzi said that as a school boardmember she would work to make sure every St. Helena student gets the same high-quality education her three daughters are enjoying.
“I’m all about positive change,” said DeVincenzi, who’s seeking Trustee Carolyn Martini’s seat in the Feb. 23 recall election.
DeVincenzi, a business attorney, is president of the St. Helena Elementary School Site Council. She serves on the RLS Middle School Site Council and on the board of the St. Helena Public Schools Foundation Endowment Trust. She was previously a member of the Parent Teacher Group for the primary and elementary schools.
DeVincenzi said that while her three daughters are thriving in St. Helena’s public schools system, “it’s heartbreaking to me when I see the children who aren’t.”
She said she’s afraid special education students aren’t getting the education they deserve — not because of a lack of talented teachers, but because of high-level program decisions the district has made.
Students who aren’t college-bound also need more support, she said. The district needs to find a way to keep the International Baccalaureate program in place and still give those kids the tools they need to succeed, she said.
DeVincenzi is worried that at-risk students aren’t being served as well as they were when the Madrone continuation school operated on the high school campus.
She also wants to make sure English language learners are provided with enough resources.
“We need to reach out to the Hispanic community and see what their concerns are,” she said.
DeVincenzi said that in addition to her keen interest in education, her legal knowledge could come in handy when the board deals with contracts and litigation.
“I could read the legal briefs and have a dialogue with the district’s attorneys,” she said.
More communication
A lot of the district’s problems are due to lack of communication, said DeVincenzi.
“When the recall succeeds, I think you will see much better communication,” she said. “The public will be encouraged to speak more, and their comments will be answered.”
Communication will also be more effective because the recall candidates are “incredibly engaged in our schools,” and understand the important issues, said DeVincenzi.
Right now some parents, students and teachers fear retaliation if they speak their minds, she said.
“That culture has to stop, 100 percent,” said DeVincenzi. “We see that problem, acknowledge it, and want to change it.”
“We also need a board that will direct the district rather than allow the superintendent to direct it,” said DeVincenzi. “Superintendents are in charge of day-to-day operations, but they need some direction.”
More oversight
Given the possibility that the state will take away St. Helena’s Basic Aid status — it’s already done away with the name in favor of the ominous term “excess revenue” — the board needs to come up with a plan to do more with less.
That means looking at the district’s financial priorities, said DeVincenzi.
“I’m concerned that there are some programs that are not being funded and there are some segments of our student population that are not being served as well as they could be,” she said. “We need to ask some tough questions about where our dollars should be spent.”
DeVincenzi believes the recall was sparked in April when the board appointed Robert Haley as superintendent, instead of hiring him on an interim basis and conducting an outside search for other candidates.
“That caused a lot of parents and community members to start talking,” said DeVincenzi. “People shared the experiences and concerns that they had, and it seemed that a lot of those stories weren’t isolated experiences — they were part of a pattern.”
The recall could have been avoided if trustees had taken the community’s advice on the Haley appointment, drafted his contract differently, or even explained their position more effectively, said DeVincenzi.
“Time and time again, instead of listening to people’s questions and comments and keeping an open mind, the board has dug in and continued on its path,” she said.
DeVincenzi said that if she doesn’t win Martini’s seat, she would run for one of the three seats that are available in November 2010.
CANDIDATE PROFILE: Jeannie Kerr
By Jesse Duarte
STAFF WRITER
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Jeannie Kerr, one of four challengers running in the Feb. 23 school board recall election, says “respectful communication” is the key to restoring faith in the St. Helena School Board.
Kerr is running for the seat held by Trustee Cynthia Lane. But Kerr says she doesn’t think of the election as a contest between her and Lane.
“This is about bad choices the board has made that took money out of the hands of our students,” said Kerr. “The community has lost trust in our board members. We don’t have time to wait for the November election. We need to make positive changes now.”
Kerr has been involved with the parent groups for the primary/elementary and middle schools and the St. Helena Public Schools Foundation. She has children attending St. Helena Elementary School and RLS Middle School.
She also serves on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission. In 2003 she spearheaded the renovation of a playground at Crane Park, leading the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce to name her “Citizen of the Year.”
Kerr said the recall can be traced back to April 9, when the board invited Assistant Superintendent Robert Haley to succeed the retiring Superintendent Allan Gordon instead of conducting an open search, as some parents urged.
“There were many, many engaged parents in that room who were very upset and frustrated with that decision,” said Kerr. “We felt that there should have been some kind of open search, and our district was at a point where we could have used new leadership.”
Kerr said the movement that would grow into the recall campaign gained momentum in May when the board, in spite of numerous public comments, letters to the editor and e-mails to trustees endorsing an open search, approved a two-year contract with Haley.
If the board had slowed down the process, hired Haley on an interim basis and conducted an open search for candidates outside the district, the recall could have been avoided, said Kerr.
Spending questioned
Instead, she said, parents’ outrage only grew when they became aware of the lucrative retirement packages offered to Gordon and retiring high school principal Jim Zoll, said Kerr.
“It saddened many of us to think that they could offer something like that and at the same time take away programs for our students,” she said.
Kerr, who has helped organize the Harvest Festival, Holiday Home Tour and Just Imagine! fundraisers, said she was particularly shocked “because I know how much time — hundreds of hours — it takes for parents to raise that kind of money for our students. To see that money go out the door without any thought was astonishing to all of us.”
Communication urged
During the entire saga, “we were trying to communicate with the board, and our voices were not being heard,” said Kerr.
That will change if the recall succeeds, she said. She said she and her fellow challengers would bring “respectful and thoughtful communication, positive leadership, and more fiscal responsibility and transparency.”
The new board would be more open-minded and do a better job listening to their constituents, said Kerr.
“I’d be able to bring people together,” she said. “I could bring our major stakeholders — administrators, principals, teachers, parents — together and provide a forum where we could openly communicate and move forward in a positive way.”
Focus on students
As far as the district’s financial situation, “anything could happen,” said Kerr. But it seems likely that the district’s budget will shrink, not grow, in future years, she said.
To prepare, the board should take a hard look at its fiscal priorities, she said.
“Right now too much of our budget is going to administrative salaries and not into our students’ hands,” said Kerr. “We need to look for ways to budget so that more financial resources are going to our students.”
The impact of the current board’s decisions about retirement incentives and administrative salares is being felt in the classroom through discontinued programs, fewer teacher’s aides and fewer books and supplies available in the classrooms and libraries, said Kerr.
In addition, parent groups are being asked to fund things the district should be handling, she said.
The district’s teachers and support staff are excellent, but Kerr is concerned that some groups of students, such as at-risk, special education and English language learners, aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
“I feel very strongly that every single child in our district should get the resources they deserve,” she said.
If Lane is recalled and replaced by Kerr, Kerr would serve out the remainder of Lane’s term, which expires in November 2012.
If Kerr isn’t elected to Lane’s seat, she said she’d seriously consider running again.
STAFF WRITER
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Jeannie Kerr, one of four challengers running in the Feb. 23 school board recall election, says “respectful communication” is the key to restoring faith in the St. Helena School Board.
Kerr is running for the seat held by Trustee Cynthia Lane. But Kerr says she doesn’t think of the election as a contest between her and Lane.
“This is about bad choices the board has made that took money out of the hands of our students,” said Kerr. “The community has lost trust in our board members. We don’t have time to wait for the November election. We need to make positive changes now.”
Kerr has been involved with the parent groups for the primary/elementary and middle schools and the St. Helena Public Schools Foundation. She has children attending St. Helena Elementary School and RLS Middle School.
She also serves on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission. In 2003 she spearheaded the renovation of a playground at Crane Park, leading the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce to name her “Citizen of the Year.”
Kerr said the recall can be traced back to April 9, when the board invited Assistant Superintendent Robert Haley to succeed the retiring Superintendent Allan Gordon instead of conducting an open search, as some parents urged.
“There were many, many engaged parents in that room who were very upset and frustrated with that decision,” said Kerr. “We felt that there should have been some kind of open search, and our district was at a point where we could have used new leadership.”
Kerr said the movement that would grow into the recall campaign gained momentum in May when the board, in spite of numerous public comments, letters to the editor and e-mails to trustees endorsing an open search, approved a two-year contract with Haley.
If the board had slowed down the process, hired Haley on an interim basis and conducted an open search for candidates outside the district, the recall could have been avoided, said Kerr.
Spending questioned
Instead, she said, parents’ outrage only grew when they became aware of the lucrative retirement packages offered to Gordon and retiring high school principal Jim Zoll, said Kerr.
“It saddened many of us to think that they could offer something like that and at the same time take away programs for our students,” she said.
Kerr, who has helped organize the Harvest Festival, Holiday Home Tour and Just Imagine! fundraisers, said she was particularly shocked “because I know how much time — hundreds of hours — it takes for parents to raise that kind of money for our students. To see that money go out the door without any thought was astonishing to all of us.”
Communication urged
During the entire saga, “we were trying to communicate with the board, and our voices were not being heard,” said Kerr.
That will change if the recall succeeds, she said. She said she and her fellow challengers would bring “respectful and thoughtful communication, positive leadership, and more fiscal responsibility and transparency.”
The new board would be more open-minded and do a better job listening to their constituents, said Kerr.
“I’d be able to bring people together,” she said. “I could bring our major stakeholders — administrators, principals, teachers, parents — together and provide a forum where we could openly communicate and move forward in a positive way.”
Focus on students
As far as the district’s financial situation, “anything could happen,” said Kerr. But it seems likely that the district’s budget will shrink, not grow, in future years, she said.
To prepare, the board should take a hard look at its fiscal priorities, she said.
“Right now too much of our budget is going to administrative salaries and not into our students’ hands,” said Kerr. “We need to look for ways to budget so that more financial resources are going to our students.”
The impact of the current board’s decisions about retirement incentives and administrative salares is being felt in the classroom through discontinued programs, fewer teacher’s aides and fewer books and supplies available in the classrooms and libraries, said Kerr.
In addition, parent groups are being asked to fund things the district should be handling, she said.
The district’s teachers and support staff are excellent, but Kerr is concerned that some groups of students, such as at-risk, special education and English language learners, aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
“I feel very strongly that every single child in our district should get the resources they deserve,” she said.
If Lane is recalled and replaced by Kerr, Kerr would serve out the remainder of Lane’s term, which expires in November 2012.
If Kerr isn’t elected to Lane’s seat, she said she’d seriously consider running again.
CANDIDATE PROFILE: Sean Maher
By Jesse Duarte
STAFF WRITER
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Sean Maher helped raise more than $7 million for the Boys & Girls Club’s Tainter Street facility, so he’s pretty sure he can help the St. Helena School Board keep track of its finances.
As board president from 2004 to 2006, Maher along with Andy Beckstoffer led the capital campaign that financed the Boys & Girls Club’s Tainter Street facility, which today serves 800 kids.
Following a roughly five-year exploratory phase and a two-year fundraising drive, Maher and the rest of the Boys & Girls Club board reduce the size of the proposed building in response to neighbors’ concerns.
Maher, who’s seeking the school board seat held by Trustee Ines DeLuna in the Feb. 23 recall election, said he would apply that same spirit of listening and cooperation to the school board.
If the recall succeeds, people can expect the board to be more receptive to input “and listen to the parents, who we work for,” said Maher.
As a founding partner with Maher and Associates, Maher assists wine-related businesses with long-term planning and asset management. He’s also coached youth baseball, basketball and soccer, and still sits on the Boys & Girls Club board.
Maher’s family moved to St. Helena in the mid-1970s. He moved away to attend college, but came back to raise a family.
“We live in a very special part of the world, and I want to make sure it stays that way,” he said. “I’m committed to doing anything I can to improve it.”
Maher’s two children attend St. Helena primary and elementary schools. “I’d like to make sure that my kids, and all kids, have every opportunity to do their best,” he said.
This year Maher managed the school board campaign of Kevin Alfaro, a pro-recall candidate who won two-thirds of the vote and took over Jim Haslip’s old seat.
Maher said the recall was mounted because of the board’s lack of communication, particularly when they hired then-Assistant Superintendent Robert Haley to replace the retiring Superintendent Allan Gordon over the objections of many parents.
“Like a lot of people, I feel that process was flawed,” said Maher, adding there’s “a reasonable chance” the recall could have been avoided if the board had hired Haley on an interim basis and conducted a search for other candidates.
Maher also questions the board’s fiscal priorities. As the state’s financial situation deteriorates, the district could face tough times, especially if it loses its Basic Aid status, said Maher.
“In future budgets we’re going to have to look hard at expenses and having an appropriate reserve,” he said. “I see some tough years ahead of us, and we need to be sure we’re spending money in the right places.”
Giving expensive retirement packages to Gordon and former high school Principal Jim Zoll was an example of poor financial decision-making, said Maher.
“I have no problem paying for experience and talent,” he said. “But I question giving out excessive packages when you hear about the need for more elementary school aides and after-school tutoring.”
As far as curriculum is concerned, Maher is worried about the district’s special education students. Several lawsuits are pending, at substantial cost to the district, and “that whole situation needs to be reviewed,” he said.
“I’m concerned that there might be a culture of threats and lawsuits,” said Maher, referring specifically to a now-resolved dispute with neighboring school districts involving special ed funding.
“I’m not sure it was prudent to spend all that to get money that it appears to me we would have gotten eventually anyway — and we probably would have gotten it quicker,” he said.
Maher said that if he doesn’t win DeLuna’s seat, he’d run again in a future election.
STAFF WRITER
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Sean Maher helped raise more than $7 million for the Boys & Girls Club’s Tainter Street facility, so he’s pretty sure he can help the St. Helena School Board keep track of its finances.
As board president from 2004 to 2006, Maher along with Andy Beckstoffer led the capital campaign that financed the Boys & Girls Club’s Tainter Street facility, which today serves 800 kids.
Following a roughly five-year exploratory phase and a two-year fundraising drive, Maher and the rest of the Boys & Girls Club board reduce the size of the proposed building in response to neighbors’ concerns.
Maher, who’s seeking the school board seat held by Trustee Ines DeLuna in the Feb. 23 recall election, said he would apply that same spirit of listening and cooperation to the school board.
If the recall succeeds, people can expect the board to be more receptive to input “and listen to the parents, who we work for,” said Maher.
As a founding partner with Maher and Associates, Maher assists wine-related businesses with long-term planning and asset management. He’s also coached youth baseball, basketball and soccer, and still sits on the Boys & Girls Club board.
Maher’s family moved to St. Helena in the mid-1970s. He moved away to attend college, but came back to raise a family.
“We live in a very special part of the world, and I want to make sure it stays that way,” he said. “I’m committed to doing anything I can to improve it.”
Maher’s two children attend St. Helena primary and elementary schools. “I’d like to make sure that my kids, and all kids, have every opportunity to do their best,” he said.
This year Maher managed the school board campaign of Kevin Alfaro, a pro-recall candidate who won two-thirds of the vote and took over Jim Haslip’s old seat.
Maher said the recall was mounted because of the board’s lack of communication, particularly when they hired then-Assistant Superintendent Robert Haley to replace the retiring Superintendent Allan Gordon over the objections of many parents.
“Like a lot of people, I feel that process was flawed,” said Maher, adding there’s “a reasonable chance” the recall could have been avoided if the board had hired Haley on an interim basis and conducted a search for other candidates.
Maher also questions the board’s fiscal priorities. As the state’s financial situation deteriorates, the district could face tough times, especially if it loses its Basic Aid status, said Maher.
“In future budgets we’re going to have to look hard at expenses and having an appropriate reserve,” he said. “I see some tough years ahead of us, and we need to be sure we’re spending money in the right places.”
Giving expensive retirement packages to Gordon and former high school Principal Jim Zoll was an example of poor financial decision-making, said Maher.
“I have no problem paying for experience and talent,” he said. “But I question giving out excessive packages when you hear about the need for more elementary school aides and after-school tutoring.”
As far as curriculum is concerned, Maher is worried about the district’s special education students. Several lawsuits are pending, at substantial cost to the district, and “that whole situation needs to be reviewed,” he said.
“I’m concerned that there might be a culture of threats and lawsuits,” said Maher, referring specifically to a now-resolved dispute with neighboring school districts involving special ed funding.
“I’m not sure it was prudent to spend all that to get money that it appears to me we would have gotten eventually anyway — and we probably would have gotten it quicker,” he said.
Maher said that if he doesn’t win DeLuna’s seat, he’d run again in a future election.
Parent Feedback on Special Education Audit
The article in last week’s Star, "Audit Praises Special Ed Programs at SHUSD", said in reference to moderate to severely disabled students at the high school: “…mainstreaming of special ed students at St Helena High School has angered some parents.” That is incorrect. Indeed, the special ed students at the high school have always been included in classes appropriate for them with proper material and staff support. What “angered” me about the new program was that my son was in classes that were not appropriate for his level of learning, the district did not supply materials to adapt the curriculum, and he frequently attended class without the required aide. That is not mainstreaming.
In her full report, Dr Parker gives kudos to the new special ed staff who are building a great program at the high school. I am happy they are restoring a solid program this school year, because the first year of the new program was a complete failure. But I want to point out that much of what they are doing now is similar to the old program that they dismantled in 2008-09. For instance, this year the staff has forged a relationship with the Napa Unified Transition Program in order to develop their own (for moderate/severely disabled students aged 18-22). The Napa program is similar to the former St Helena program before 2008-09. Since Dr Parker was not able to observe the former program, there is no way she can compare the two and conclude that the new program is better.
But the real problem lies in how the administration handled this change and the board’s reaction to parents’ concerns. The district did not inform parents the former program was being dropped. We were ignored, criticized, and often met with hostility. When concerned parents approached the board in August 2008, we were shocked at their lack of response. And, our concerns at the time about the new program were realized -- it was nothing short of a disaster. So, the crux of the problem is not special ed per se. It is that the district is capable of making decisions detrimental to students’ education and treating parents with disrespect, and the board (excluding new trustee Alfaro) blindly supports those decisions.
Kelly Rios
St. Helena, CA
In her full report, Dr Parker gives kudos to the new special ed staff who are building a great program at the high school. I am happy they are restoring a solid program this school year, because the first year of the new program was a complete failure. But I want to point out that much of what they are doing now is similar to the old program that they dismantled in 2008-09. For instance, this year the staff has forged a relationship with the Napa Unified Transition Program in order to develop their own (for moderate/severely disabled students aged 18-22). The Napa program is similar to the former St Helena program before 2008-09. Since Dr Parker was not able to observe the former program, there is no way she can compare the two and conclude that the new program is better.
But the real problem lies in how the administration handled this change and the board’s reaction to parents’ concerns. The district did not inform parents the former program was being dropped. We were ignored, criticized, and often met with hostility. When concerned parents approached the board in August 2008, we were shocked at their lack of response. And, our concerns at the time about the new program were realized -- it was nothing short of a disaster. So, the crux of the problem is not special ed per se. It is that the district is capable of making decisions detrimental to students’ education and treating parents with disrespect, and the board (excluding new trustee Alfaro) blindly supports those decisions.
Kelly Rios
St. Helena, CA
Monday, December 28, 2009
Dear Friends,
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have supported the campaign to recall Cindy Warren, Cynthia Lane, Ines DeLuna and Carolyn Martini as members of the St. Helena Unified School District Board of Trustees. We were tremendously successful this summer in collecting petition signatures, and now the recall election is set for February 23, 2010. The voters now have the opportunity to decide whether change is needed with respect to how our school district is operated and managed. While we have accomplished so much already, there is still a lot of work to be done until the election, and there are many ways in which you can help, including:
· Speaking with friends, neighbors and acquaintances about the recall and encouraging them to vote yes on the recall when ballots are mailed out;
· Writing a letter to the St. Helena Star and/or Napa Register in support of the recall;
· Encouraging others to join our published supporter list;
· Donating money to help fund lawn signs, flyers, ads, etc. Donations may be mailed to: Citizens for Quality Education, 1241 Adams St. #1010, St. Helena, CA, 94574 ;
· Agreeing to place a Yes On Recall sign in your yard or at your business; and
· Volunteering to hand out flyers and/or make phone calls to voters encouraging them to vote yes on the recall.
If you are interested in doing any of the above, please contact Citizens for Quality Education at Citizens4qualityed@gmail.com. Again, we sincerely thank you and look forward to your continued support.
Sincerely,
Citizens For Quality Education
1241 Adams St. #1010
St Helena, CA 94574
Email: Citizens4qualityed@gmail.com
Website: http://citizensforqualityed.blogspot.com/
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have supported the campaign to recall Cindy Warren, Cynthia Lane, Ines DeLuna and Carolyn Martini as members of the St. Helena Unified School District Board of Trustees. We were tremendously successful this summer in collecting petition signatures, and now the recall election is set for February 23, 2010. The voters now have the opportunity to decide whether change is needed with respect to how our school district is operated and managed. While we have accomplished so much already, there is still a lot of work to be done until the election, and there are many ways in which you can help, including:
· Speaking with friends, neighbors and acquaintances about the recall and encouraging them to vote yes on the recall when ballots are mailed out;
· Writing a letter to the St. Helena Star and/or Napa Register in support of the recall;
· Encouraging others to join our published supporter list;
· Donating money to help fund lawn signs, flyers, ads, etc. Donations may be mailed to: Citizens for Quality Education, 1241 Adams St. #1010, St. Helena, CA, 94574 ;
· Agreeing to place a Yes On Recall sign in your yard or at your business; and
· Volunteering to hand out flyers and/or make phone calls to voters encouraging them to vote yes on the recall.
If you are interested in doing any of the above, please contact Citizens for Quality Education at Citizens4qualityed@gmail.com. Again, we sincerely thank you and look forward to your continued support.
Sincerely,
Citizens For Quality Education
1241 Adams St. #1010
St Helena, CA 94574
Email: Citizens4qualityed@gmail.com
Website: http://citizensforqualityed.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
What The Recall Is Really About
By Jim Haslip
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The “recallers” and I have been misrepresented by recent commentaries and letters. Forty registered voters wrote the following charges that were printed on the petition to recall the board:
• “you demonstrated a complete lack of fiscal responsibility, as evidenced by your approval of exorbitant salaries to administrative personnel and the perpetuation of unnecessary administrative positions while funds for instructional materials to be used for our schools are being cut due to the current economic crisis;
• “ you failed to act with transparency and failed to provide the public with clear and accurate information and you, in some instances, misled the public with respect to financial, academic, and administrative matters;
• “you failed to work with the public as your administrative policies require and you completely disregarded all of the input that the public has provided to you;
• “you failed to adequately and properly supervise administrative staff, including, but not limited to, the Superintendent;
• “you allowed the administration to grossly mismanage fundamental school programs, such as special education and vocational programs...”
The exorbitant salaries are well-documented. The highest superintendent salary for a district of our size or smaller was cited by district supporters as $160,000 in Kentfield (other districts cited are up to three times larger than ours). Gordon retired at $264,000. Haley is making $205,000 base salary. (The district claims he makes $189,000, an exorbitant amount for someone who was subject to an extremely rare “vote of no confidence” at his last district, but they fail to disclose another $16,000 that he receives “on payroll” for “expenses.”)
I estimate that if (former Superintendent Allan) Gordon had been paid at the same rate as the Kentfield superintendent, without his retirement gift (however “legal” it may be), the children of St. Helena would have had access to over $650,000 for supplies, materials, and programs that have been cut. This is what “exorbitant salaries” means. This is what “misleading the public” implies.
Research by many sources, including former trustee Bill Swanson, shows that we overspend on administration by no less that $900,000 year in and year out when compared to other districts of similar size and income. A former superintendent here publicly stated that when he was superintendent (and we had more students), he had four people in the district office and now there are many, many more. This is what “the perpetuation of unnecessary administrative positions” means.
Research shows that 14 programs have been reduced or eliminated in recent years. The last teacher with a Vocational Education credential was two years ago. I am happy that agricultural studies is doing well but what about all those other students that are not going to college? This is what “mismanagement of vocational education” means.
The district had spent under $30,000 a year on legal fees. It is over $700,000 over the last 3 years. Meanwhile, we continue to sue the County rather than cooperate with them on special education, vocational programs, group purchasing, and staff development. This is what “lack of fiscal responsibility” means. We blame this on the County and on a few special education parents when competent administrators have demonstrated elsewhere that cooperation is more fiscally responsible that confrontation.
The recall is not about my term on the board or a few “recallers.” It is about our children and how your tax dollars are spent. I did not leave the Board to run away. Rather I have chosen the side of our children. When the Recall vote is taken in February, please join us.
(Jim Haslip is a former trustee of the St. Helena Unified School District. He lives in St. Helena.)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The “recallers” and I have been misrepresented by recent commentaries and letters. Forty registered voters wrote the following charges that were printed on the petition to recall the board:
• “you demonstrated a complete lack of fiscal responsibility, as evidenced by your approval of exorbitant salaries to administrative personnel and the perpetuation of unnecessary administrative positions while funds for instructional materials to be used for our schools are being cut due to the current economic crisis;
• “ you failed to act with transparency and failed to provide the public with clear and accurate information and you, in some instances, misled the public with respect to financial, academic, and administrative matters;
• “you failed to work with the public as your administrative policies require and you completely disregarded all of the input that the public has provided to you;
• “you failed to adequately and properly supervise administrative staff, including, but not limited to, the Superintendent;
• “you allowed the administration to grossly mismanage fundamental school programs, such as special education and vocational programs...”
The exorbitant salaries are well-documented. The highest superintendent salary for a district of our size or smaller was cited by district supporters as $160,000 in Kentfield (other districts cited are up to three times larger than ours). Gordon retired at $264,000. Haley is making $205,000 base salary. (The district claims he makes $189,000, an exorbitant amount for someone who was subject to an extremely rare “vote of no confidence” at his last district, but they fail to disclose another $16,000 that he receives “on payroll” for “expenses.”)
I estimate that if (former Superintendent Allan) Gordon had been paid at the same rate as the Kentfield superintendent, without his retirement gift (however “legal” it may be), the children of St. Helena would have had access to over $650,000 for supplies, materials, and programs that have been cut. This is what “exorbitant salaries” means. This is what “misleading the public” implies.
Research by many sources, including former trustee Bill Swanson, shows that we overspend on administration by no less that $900,000 year in and year out when compared to other districts of similar size and income. A former superintendent here publicly stated that when he was superintendent (and we had more students), he had four people in the district office and now there are many, many more. This is what “the perpetuation of unnecessary administrative positions” means.
Research shows that 14 programs have been reduced or eliminated in recent years. The last teacher with a Vocational Education credential was two years ago. I am happy that agricultural studies is doing well but what about all those other students that are not going to college? This is what “mismanagement of vocational education” means.
The district had spent under $30,000 a year on legal fees. It is over $700,000 over the last 3 years. Meanwhile, we continue to sue the County rather than cooperate with them on special education, vocational programs, group purchasing, and staff development. This is what “lack of fiscal responsibility” means. We blame this on the County and on a few special education parents when competent administrators have demonstrated elsewhere that cooperation is more fiscally responsible that confrontation.
The recall is not about my term on the board or a few “recallers.” It is about our children and how your tax dollars are spent. I did not leave the Board to run away. Rather I have chosen the side of our children. When the Recall vote is taken in February, please join us.
(Jim Haslip is a former trustee of the St. Helena Unified School District. He lives in St. Helena.)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Kevin Alfaro Wins School Board Election
By Jesse Duarte
STAFF WRITER
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Election results show that Kevin Alfaro has defeated Roger Adams for a seat on the St. Helena School Board by a 2-1 margin.
Alfaro has received 1,463 votes — 67.6 percent — compared with 696 votes — 33.2 percent — for Adams, according to preliminary results released Tuesday night by the Napa County Elections Department.
The votes already tallied represent 36 percent of the 6,039 registered voters in the school district boundaries. Between 175 and 275 ballots received after Saturday, Oct. 31 still haven’t been counted, said Registrar of Voters John Tuteur.
The remaining ballots will be included in a final certified count, which will be released Monday, said Tuteur. He said he hopes to deliver the certified canvass to the school board at their next meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 at Vintage Hall.
Superintendent Robert Haley said that after the district receives the election certification, the elected boardmember will be sworn in at the next regular meeting. Right now the district is anticipating getting the certification before the meeting and swearing in Alfaro on Nov. 12, said Haley.
Alfaro thanked his family and everyone who worked on his campaign, helped hand out flyers and wrote letters to the editor on his behalf.
He credited Sean Maher, Jeanne DeVincenzi, Nell Hungerford, Diane Beltrami, Kelly Rios, Kathy Zelazny, Maria Stel, Pavi Lawson, Lisa Pelosi, Molly Morales, and Alexandra and Jim Haslip, whose resignation created a vacancy on the board in May.
The campaign has benefited the community by raising important issues and getting people more engaged, said Alfaro.
“It’s neat to see how the community has embraced school district issues and really started paying attention and asking good questions,” he said. “That’s already affected how the board interacts with the community — they’ve changed how they run the meetings a little and more information is getting out.”
When contacted Wednesday morning, Adams said, “I just wish him well.”
Alfaro said his strategy during the first few school board meetings will be to “listen and learn.”
“I need to get up to speed on how the board interacts, how it handles information and how it works with the administration,” he said. “The first few months will be a learning process for me.”
“I’m so proud that Kevin not only complains about what needs be changed, but he also rolls up his sleeves and gets involved to make the change,” added Sallie Alfaro, Kevin’s wife. “It takes an engaged parent and community member to put their money where their mouth is. He questions and he looks for the right answers.”
STAFF WRITER
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Election results show that Kevin Alfaro has defeated Roger Adams for a seat on the St. Helena School Board by a 2-1 margin.
Alfaro has received 1,463 votes — 67.6 percent — compared with 696 votes — 33.2 percent — for Adams, according to preliminary results released Tuesday night by the Napa County Elections Department.
The votes already tallied represent 36 percent of the 6,039 registered voters in the school district boundaries. Between 175 and 275 ballots received after Saturday, Oct. 31 still haven’t been counted, said Registrar of Voters John Tuteur.
The remaining ballots will be included in a final certified count, which will be released Monday, said Tuteur. He said he hopes to deliver the certified canvass to the school board at their next meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 at Vintage Hall.
Superintendent Robert Haley said that after the district receives the election certification, the elected boardmember will be sworn in at the next regular meeting. Right now the district is anticipating getting the certification before the meeting and swearing in Alfaro on Nov. 12, said Haley.
Alfaro thanked his family and everyone who worked on his campaign, helped hand out flyers and wrote letters to the editor on his behalf.
He credited Sean Maher, Jeanne DeVincenzi, Nell Hungerford, Diane Beltrami, Kelly Rios, Kathy Zelazny, Maria Stel, Pavi Lawson, Lisa Pelosi, Molly Morales, and Alexandra and Jim Haslip, whose resignation created a vacancy on the board in May.
The campaign has benefited the community by raising important issues and getting people more engaged, said Alfaro.
“It’s neat to see how the community has embraced school district issues and really started paying attention and asking good questions,” he said. “That’s already affected how the board interacts with the community — they’ve changed how they run the meetings a little and more information is getting out.”
When contacted Wednesday morning, Adams said, “I just wish him well.”
Alfaro said his strategy during the first few school board meetings will be to “listen and learn.”
“I need to get up to speed on how the board interacts, how it handles information and how it works with the administration,” he said. “The first few months will be a learning process for me.”
“I’m so proud that Kevin not only complains about what needs be changed, but he also rolls up his sleeves and gets involved to make the change,” added Sallie Alfaro, Kevin’s wife. “It takes an engaged parent and community member to put their money where their mouth is. He questions and he looks for the right answers.”
Monday, October 19, 2009
Kevin Alfaro Speaks Out On Legal Issues With SHUSD
KEVIN ALFARO FOR SCHOOL BOARD
If elected to as a School Board Member in the St. Helena Unified School District, I will work tirelessly to make our schools the best that they can be for all of the children in our community. This is a long term commitment for me.
Recently, false statements have been made about my on going legal problems with the District. I feel compelled to set the record straight. 1) The District began legal proceedings against my family first. We were forced to hire an attorney to respond and protect our rights. 2) The District refused to mediate (they have admitted this in paperwork they filed with the court). 3) The District made a written settlement offer to us which we signed and promptly returned. The District then withdrew the offer and forced us all to participate in a long and expensive 10 day hearing. All we have ever wanted from the District is a fair and appropriate education for our children.
Being involved in litigation with the District has been very difficult for my entire family and we desperately want it to end. In fact, I continue to make overtures to the District to try to resolve things OUT of the court room WITHOUT lawyers, but the District refuses to do so.
Despite my problems with the District, be assured that my intentions for being on the School Board are not self-serving but are motivated by a desire to bring positive changes to our District.
If elected to as a School Board Member in the St. Helena Unified School District, I will work tirelessly to make our schools the best that they can be for all of the children in our community. This is a long term commitment for me.
Recently, false statements have been made about my on going legal problems with the District. I feel compelled to set the record straight. 1) The District began legal proceedings against my family first. We were forced to hire an attorney to respond and protect our rights. 2) The District refused to mediate (they have admitted this in paperwork they filed with the court). 3) The District made a written settlement offer to us which we signed and promptly returned. The District then withdrew the offer and forced us all to participate in a long and expensive 10 day hearing. All we have ever wanted from the District is a fair and appropriate education for our children.
Being involved in litigation with the District has been very difficult for my entire family and we desperately want it to end. In fact, I continue to make overtures to the District to try to resolve things OUT of the court room WITHOUT lawyers, but the District refuses to do so.
Despite my problems with the District, be assured that my intentions for being on the School Board are not self-serving but are motivated by a desire to bring positive changes to our District.
Why Recall Is Justified
WHY RECALL IS JUSTIFIED
Monday, October 19, 2009
Editor: Recent letter writers have stated that, since the District Attorney determined that former superintendent Allan Gordon didn’t break the law by planning his own early retirement package, our school board must be doing a good job.
Is this how far the bar has been lowered for school board members? As long as no one has committed a crime under their watch then they’ve upheld their responsibilities?
Putting aside the fact that Mr. Gordon signed the document that awarded him almost $200,000 in early retirement benefits three months later, what seems to have been forgotten in these letters are the many other issues that started and reinforced the recall movement, which began long before the conflict of interest issue regarding Mr. Gordon came to light.
In April, community members spoke out against the board’s insistence on summarily offering Dr. Rob Haley the superintendent position. Ignoring pleas from the community to perform a search and offer Haley an interim contract, the board immediately appointed Haley and awarded him a contract with an automatic renewal provision that gives him virtually perpetual employment.
Subsequently, many in the community were alarmed to hear of the high salaries paid to Mr. Gordon (approximately $264,000/year) and our current superintendent (approximately $205,000/year), while teachers were told to be extremely conservative in ordering instructional materials for the 2009-2010 school year.
Then came the realization that our district, with approximately 1,300 students, greatly increased the number of administrative positions (coupled with lucrative salaries) to unnecessary levels.
Meanwhile, the district cut or severely limited valuable school programs, such as vocational and special education programs, and had to cancel the after-school tutoring program due to lack of funding. All the while, the district asked our community to donate money to our schools to pay for school field trips, teacher supplies, library books, computers, etc.
Instead of addressing these issues, the board took a “we know better than you” approach, dismissing community concerns.
These are the reasons that the recall is justified, regardless of whether anyone believes that Mr. Gordon committed a crime.
Tim Stel
Leslie Ellis
Kelly Rios
Kathy Zelazny
Gene & Denise Armstead
Tiny Boak
Molly Morales
Dan & Diane Beltrami
Joanne Yates
Alexandra Haslip
Gayle Davies
Lisa Pelosi
Cherie Melka
Pavi Lawson
Monday, October 19, 2009
Editor: Recent letter writers have stated that, since the District Attorney determined that former superintendent Allan Gordon didn’t break the law by planning his own early retirement package, our school board must be doing a good job.
Is this how far the bar has been lowered for school board members? As long as no one has committed a crime under their watch then they’ve upheld their responsibilities?
Putting aside the fact that Mr. Gordon signed the document that awarded him almost $200,000 in early retirement benefits three months later, what seems to have been forgotten in these letters are the many other issues that started and reinforced the recall movement, which began long before the conflict of interest issue regarding Mr. Gordon came to light.
In April, community members spoke out against the board’s insistence on summarily offering Dr. Rob Haley the superintendent position. Ignoring pleas from the community to perform a search and offer Haley an interim contract, the board immediately appointed Haley and awarded him a contract with an automatic renewal provision that gives him virtually perpetual employment.
Subsequently, many in the community were alarmed to hear of the high salaries paid to Mr. Gordon (approximately $264,000/year) and our current superintendent (approximately $205,000/year), while teachers were told to be extremely conservative in ordering instructional materials for the 2009-2010 school year.
Then came the realization that our district, with approximately 1,300 students, greatly increased the number of administrative positions (coupled with lucrative salaries) to unnecessary levels.
Meanwhile, the district cut or severely limited valuable school programs, such as vocational and special education programs, and had to cancel the after-school tutoring program due to lack of funding. All the while, the district asked our community to donate money to our schools to pay for school field trips, teacher supplies, library books, computers, etc.
Instead of addressing these issues, the board took a “we know better than you” approach, dismissing community concerns.
These are the reasons that the recall is justified, regardless of whether anyone believes that Mr. Gordon committed a crime.
Tim Stel
Leslie Ellis
Kelly Rios
Kathy Zelazny
Gene & Denise Armstead
Tiny Boak
Molly Morales
Dan & Diane Beltrami
Joanne Yates
Alexandra Haslip
Gayle Davies
Lisa Pelosi
Cherie Melka
Pavi Lawson
Reasons For Recall Are Offered
Four reasons for recall are offered
By Jeanne DeVincenzi
Monday, October 19, 2009
There has been talk recently by school board members and their supporters regarding the Napa County District Attorney’s press release addressing former Superintendent Allan Gordon’s actions with respect to the early retirement plan he put into place, and from which he shortly thereafter benefited.
These same individuals state that, if Mr. Gordon didn’t act illegally, then the recall is baseless, and the school board members have adequately lived up to their responsibilities to the district and the community.
What the board members and their supporters are ignoring is the fact that the recall movement is based on so many more issues than Mr. Gordon’s conflict of interest regarding the retirement plan. Whether you support the recall or not, it’s important to understand the goals of the recall and why more than one-third of the registered voters in our district signed petitions based on the belief that a recall election is necessary.
Fiscal responsibility
One of those goals is to bring more fiscal responsibility to the school district. Curbing the current excessive administrative spending in our district could free up hundreds of thousands of dollars that could be allocated to programs that develop all levels of education for all the students in our community.
Cutting back on unnecessary administrative positions, excessive administrative salaries, unnecessary legal fees and unwarranted early retirement benefits for select administrators would allow our district to fund the valuable programs that have been cut or curtailed in recent years by the district, and perhaps additional programs could be funded to provide our students with more tools that they will need to achieve their goals.
With the current economic situation, it is more important than ever to bring more fiscal responsibility to our district so that not a penny is wasted on unnecessary expenses. By making the right financial decisions now, we can ensure that our students will be able to participate in and enjoy valuable programs for many years to come.
More accountability
Another goal of the recall is to introduce more accountability and transparency to the school board. While closed session meetings of the board are important to maintain confidentiality with respect to school personnel, students and other private matters, discussions regarding issues that do not fall within those areas should take place out in the open.
The community needs a heads-up as to decisions the board intends to make. The public has the right to be timely and properly informed of all of the issues that the board will address at a meeting. Public trust is lost when board members call special meetings to correct their failure to properly inform the community of an issue that was discussed and decided at a previous meeting. The board members should also be able to adequately explain the reasoning behind their decisions.
Better relationships
Many people who support the recall do so with an objective of building a more collaborative relationship between the district and the community. An open dialogue between the board and parents, teachers, staff and other community members is crucial to building a culture of trust and respect in our schools and community.
It is important to have a school board that is willing to listen to, and take in, all points of view before making decisions. Eliminating any fear of retaliation for bringing concerns before the board and the administration is another critical step toward promoting trust and integrity in our district.
Independent thinking
Finally, recall supporters have advocated for a board that thinks and operates independently from the administration. Our school district deserves board members who are willing to dig deeper into issues and administrative recommendations instead of accepting them at face value.
Section 9000 of the board’s bylaws states that the board is “elected by the community to provide leadership and citizen oversight to the district.” How can a school board provide oversight if it doesn’t question proposals and information provided to it by the administration?
The recall effort started and has remained strong because the current SHUSD school board has failed to provide fiscal responsibility, accountability, transparency, open communication and independence to this district. Recall supporters believe that these goals shouldn’t be a wish list for our district, they should be a given.
This is why so many in this community have come together to bring a positive change to our school district. This is why the recall became and still is necessary.
(Jeanne DeVincenzi is an attorney who has lived and practiced law in St. Helena for 11 years. She is the president of the Elementary School Site Council, a member of the RLS School Site Council, on the board of directors of the St. Helena Public Schools Endowment Trust, and the immediate past Vice-President of the St. Helena Primary and Elementary Schools Parent Teacher Group.
Ms. DeVincenzi and her husband have three children who attend the schools in the SHUSD.)
By Jeanne DeVincenzi
Monday, October 19, 2009
There has been talk recently by school board members and their supporters regarding the Napa County District Attorney’s press release addressing former Superintendent Allan Gordon’s actions with respect to the early retirement plan he put into place, and from which he shortly thereafter benefited.
These same individuals state that, if Mr. Gordon didn’t act illegally, then the recall is baseless, and the school board members have adequately lived up to their responsibilities to the district and the community.
What the board members and their supporters are ignoring is the fact that the recall movement is based on so many more issues than Mr. Gordon’s conflict of interest regarding the retirement plan. Whether you support the recall or not, it’s important to understand the goals of the recall and why more than one-third of the registered voters in our district signed petitions based on the belief that a recall election is necessary.
Fiscal responsibility
One of those goals is to bring more fiscal responsibility to the school district. Curbing the current excessive administrative spending in our district could free up hundreds of thousands of dollars that could be allocated to programs that develop all levels of education for all the students in our community.
Cutting back on unnecessary administrative positions, excessive administrative salaries, unnecessary legal fees and unwarranted early retirement benefits for select administrators would allow our district to fund the valuable programs that have been cut or curtailed in recent years by the district, and perhaps additional programs could be funded to provide our students with more tools that they will need to achieve their goals.
With the current economic situation, it is more important than ever to bring more fiscal responsibility to our district so that not a penny is wasted on unnecessary expenses. By making the right financial decisions now, we can ensure that our students will be able to participate in and enjoy valuable programs for many years to come.
More accountability
Another goal of the recall is to introduce more accountability and transparency to the school board. While closed session meetings of the board are important to maintain confidentiality with respect to school personnel, students and other private matters, discussions regarding issues that do not fall within those areas should take place out in the open.
The community needs a heads-up as to decisions the board intends to make. The public has the right to be timely and properly informed of all of the issues that the board will address at a meeting. Public trust is lost when board members call special meetings to correct their failure to properly inform the community of an issue that was discussed and decided at a previous meeting. The board members should also be able to adequately explain the reasoning behind their decisions.
Better relationships
Many people who support the recall do so with an objective of building a more collaborative relationship between the district and the community. An open dialogue between the board and parents, teachers, staff and other community members is crucial to building a culture of trust and respect in our schools and community.
It is important to have a school board that is willing to listen to, and take in, all points of view before making decisions. Eliminating any fear of retaliation for bringing concerns before the board and the administration is another critical step toward promoting trust and integrity in our district.
Independent thinking
Finally, recall supporters have advocated for a board that thinks and operates independently from the administration. Our school district deserves board members who are willing to dig deeper into issues and administrative recommendations instead of accepting them at face value.
Section 9000 of the board’s bylaws states that the board is “elected by the community to provide leadership and citizen oversight to the district.” How can a school board provide oversight if it doesn’t question proposals and information provided to it by the administration?
The recall effort started and has remained strong because the current SHUSD school board has failed to provide fiscal responsibility, accountability, transparency, open communication and independence to this district. Recall supporters believe that these goals shouldn’t be a wish list for our district, they should be a given.
This is why so many in this community have come together to bring a positive change to our school district. This is why the recall became and still is necessary.
(Jeanne DeVincenzi is an attorney who has lived and practiced law in St. Helena for 11 years. She is the president of the Elementary School Site Council, a member of the RLS School Site Council, on the board of directors of the St. Helena Public Schools Endowment Trust, and the immediate past Vice-President of the St. Helena Primary and Elementary Schools Parent Teacher Group.
Ms. DeVincenzi and her husband have three children who attend the schools in the SHUSD.)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Ballots Have Been Mailed!
All registered voters within the St. Helena Unified School District should have received your mail- in ballot for the open seat for the St. Helena School Board.
We encourage you to vote early! As you know C4QE endorses Kevin Alfaro for this seat.
All ballots should be deposited in the mail by October 30th. Also, please be sure to sign the outside of the envelope too!
If you have not registered to vote you can still do so- the deadline is Monday, October 19th by 5pm.
Thank You for your support and for participating in the voting process.
We encourage you to vote early! As you know C4QE endorses Kevin Alfaro for this seat.
All ballots should be deposited in the mail by October 30th. Also, please be sure to sign the outside of the envelope too!
If you have not registered to vote you can still do so- the deadline is Monday, October 19th by 5pm.
Thank You for your support and for participating in the voting process.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
St. Helena Star's Editorial Board: Elect Kevin Alfaro
ELECT KEVIN ALFARO
Thursday, October 01, 2009
The Star’s editorial board interviewed school board candidates Roger Adams and Kevin Alfaro this week seeking the candidate who can best serve children, parents and other taxpayers who expect their trustees to oversee a top-notch education for all students, at the best cost, while keeping the teachers, administrators and support staff working in harmony.
Ballots will be mailed to all district voters beginning Monday.
Although the two candidates have opposing views on this winter’s pending recall election — Adams is against the recall while Alfaro helped organize it — the editorial board focused instead on this special election, called to fill the seat vacated by Jim Haslip’s May resignation.
The board was looking for a candidate who can analyze budgets, improve communication between the district and the community, act diplomatically, lead the administration rather than follow, visualize school improvements despite fewer dollars, and make a commitment to stick around.
Although both candidates share a sincere interest in improving the school district, their approach to the job differs greatly.
Aside from tweaking the public comments policy at board meetings, Adams seems pleased with the district as it is.
While Adams said he would not seek re-election, basically becoming a lame duck upon his election, Alfaro said he would seek re-election in November 2010. He said he was planning to run next year even before Haslip resigned.
Although Adams offers years of experience as a former superintendent, principal and teacher, he lacks specific knowledge about St. Helena’s school district. Alfaro — a parent with three kids in the school system, seven years of experience as treasurer of the Boys and Girls Club and currently a member of the RLS Parent Group — has first-hand knowledge of the district’s workings.
Adams should be applauded for his willingness to serve the community in a time of turmoil, and he is sincere about wanting to do a good job for the children, teachers and principals of the district, but he admitted he lacks understanding of the International Baccalaureate program, the district’s administrative overhead or how to use computers.
Asked what he knows about the IB program, Adams replied, “I don’t have a good concept of that.” Asked about his use of computers, Adams said he doesn’t use e-mail because he prefers “face-to-face” discussions. Asked his assessment of district spending on administrators, Adams didn’t directly answer the question, but rather spoke about the need to preserve its television/audio-visual department.
Alfaro, on the other hand, had specific ideas about how to reduce spending in the event of further funding cuts. He said he would think twice before offering early-retirement payments to retirees. He said he would use his experience as a certified public accountant to help the board understand financial options. He said he would ask the board to take a hard look at reducing the administrative staff inside Vintage Hall.
Also, Alfaro said that, while Superintendent Rob Haley is a skilled administrator, he needs to work on improving communication, developing people skills and getting more involved in the St. Helena community.
“I’d rather be judged on my skill sets and merits — I know finance, I’m a parent and I’m open-minded,” Alfaro told the editorial board.
Alfaro demonstrates clear qualifications for this position. Despite his leadership in the recall and his involvement in litigation over special education, the editorial board was assured, based on Alfaro’s calm demeanor and diplomatic nature, that he will work to smooth relations between the school board and the community.
As he intends to seek re-election in November 2010, Alfaro should use his first year as a trustee to prove he has the temperament to play peacemaker and work to help the board focus on the business of running the district.
We recommend Kevin Alfaro to school district voters.
(Editor’s note: St. Helena native Tom Giugni participated in the Star editorial board interview with candidates Alfaro and Adams. Giugni, a former school superintendent who currently advises school districts throughout the state, served on the Star editorial board from 2006-2008.)
Thursday, October 01, 2009
The Star’s editorial board interviewed school board candidates Roger Adams and Kevin Alfaro this week seeking the candidate who can best serve children, parents and other taxpayers who expect their trustees to oversee a top-notch education for all students, at the best cost, while keeping the teachers, administrators and support staff working in harmony.
Ballots will be mailed to all district voters beginning Monday.
Although the two candidates have opposing views on this winter’s pending recall election — Adams is against the recall while Alfaro helped organize it — the editorial board focused instead on this special election, called to fill the seat vacated by Jim Haslip’s May resignation.
The board was looking for a candidate who can analyze budgets, improve communication between the district and the community, act diplomatically, lead the administration rather than follow, visualize school improvements despite fewer dollars, and make a commitment to stick around.
Although both candidates share a sincere interest in improving the school district, their approach to the job differs greatly.
Aside from tweaking the public comments policy at board meetings, Adams seems pleased with the district as it is.
While Adams said he would not seek re-election, basically becoming a lame duck upon his election, Alfaro said he would seek re-election in November 2010. He said he was planning to run next year even before Haslip resigned.
Although Adams offers years of experience as a former superintendent, principal and teacher, he lacks specific knowledge about St. Helena’s school district. Alfaro — a parent with three kids in the school system, seven years of experience as treasurer of the Boys and Girls Club and currently a member of the RLS Parent Group — has first-hand knowledge of the district’s workings.
Adams should be applauded for his willingness to serve the community in a time of turmoil, and he is sincere about wanting to do a good job for the children, teachers and principals of the district, but he admitted he lacks understanding of the International Baccalaureate program, the district’s administrative overhead or how to use computers.
Asked what he knows about the IB program, Adams replied, “I don’t have a good concept of that.” Asked about his use of computers, Adams said he doesn’t use e-mail because he prefers “face-to-face” discussions. Asked his assessment of district spending on administrators, Adams didn’t directly answer the question, but rather spoke about the need to preserve its television/audio-visual department.
Alfaro, on the other hand, had specific ideas about how to reduce spending in the event of further funding cuts. He said he would think twice before offering early-retirement payments to retirees. He said he would use his experience as a certified public accountant to help the board understand financial options. He said he would ask the board to take a hard look at reducing the administrative staff inside Vintage Hall.
Also, Alfaro said that, while Superintendent Rob Haley is a skilled administrator, he needs to work on improving communication, developing people skills and getting more involved in the St. Helena community.
“I’d rather be judged on my skill sets and merits — I know finance, I’m a parent and I’m open-minded,” Alfaro told the editorial board.
Alfaro demonstrates clear qualifications for this position. Despite his leadership in the recall and his involvement in litigation over special education, the editorial board was assured, based on Alfaro’s calm demeanor and diplomatic nature, that he will work to smooth relations between the school board and the community.
As he intends to seek re-election in November 2010, Alfaro should use his first year as a trustee to prove he has the temperament to play peacemaker and work to help the board focus on the business of running the district.
We recommend Kevin Alfaro to school district voters.
(Editor’s note: St. Helena native Tom Giugni participated in the Star editorial board interview with candidates Alfaro and Adams. Giugni, a former school superintendent who currently advises school districts throughout the state, served on the Star editorial board from 2006-2008.)
C4QE Back Kevin Alfaro
RECALLERS BACK ALFARO
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Editor: The Citizens for Quality Education would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters and to clarify the next steps related to the upcoming school board elections.
First, although we weren’t able to speak with all of the St. Helena Unified School District registered voters, we were able to meet with over a third of our district’s constituents. We thank you for giving us the time to present our reasons for the petitions, regardless of whether you signed or not, and we look forward to speaking to more of you in the coming months.
Those voters we did speak with understand that the recall is not meant as a personal attack against any board member. They know that our issues with the Board are related to fiscal accountability, transparency, trust and respect.
Secondly, within the next few weeks, you will be receiving a mail-in ballot to vote for a new school board member. This is NOT the recall election, but rather an election to fill the position left vacant when former board member Jim Haslip resigned.
Citizens for Quality Education endorses Kevin Alfaro for this election.
In January or February, the recall election will be held and voters can choose to either recall and select replacements, or to retain sitting members. There will be many opportunities to learn more about the new candidates later this year. Please visit our blog for upcoming events and news. (www.citizensforqualityed.blogspot.com.)
Finally, we sincerely appreciate the support we have received as we strive to continue to improve our schools, and in particular, their governance. We look forward to a time in the near future when the School Board will be truly responsive to all of us, the parents and citizens of the St. Helena Unified School District.
Denise and Gene Armstead
Dan and Diane Beltrami
Tiny Boak
Jeanne DeVincenzi
Alexandra and Jim Haslip
Molly Morales
Kelly Rios
Maria Stel
Joanne Yates
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Editor: The Citizens for Quality Education would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters and to clarify the next steps related to the upcoming school board elections.
First, although we weren’t able to speak with all of the St. Helena Unified School District registered voters, we were able to meet with over a third of our district’s constituents. We thank you for giving us the time to present our reasons for the petitions, regardless of whether you signed or not, and we look forward to speaking to more of you in the coming months.
Those voters we did speak with understand that the recall is not meant as a personal attack against any board member. They know that our issues with the Board are related to fiscal accountability, transparency, trust and respect.
Secondly, within the next few weeks, you will be receiving a mail-in ballot to vote for a new school board member. This is NOT the recall election, but rather an election to fill the position left vacant when former board member Jim Haslip resigned.
Citizens for Quality Education endorses Kevin Alfaro for this election.
In January or February, the recall election will be held and voters can choose to either recall and select replacements, or to retain sitting members. There will be many opportunities to learn more about the new candidates later this year. Please visit our blog for upcoming events and news. (www.citizensforqualityed.blogspot.com.)
Finally, we sincerely appreciate the support we have received as we strive to continue to improve our schools, and in particular, their governance. We look forward to a time in the near future when the School Board will be truly responsive to all of us, the parents and citizens of the St. Helena Unified School District.
Denise and Gene Armstead
Dan and Diane Beltrami
Tiny Boak
Jeanne DeVincenzi
Alexandra and Jim Haslip
Molly Morales
Kelly Rios
Maria Stel
Joanne Yates
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