The Op-Ed by Jim Provenza and Tim Taylor largely focused on the positive steps that the current school board has enacted in Davis to put the district on sound financial footing.
Their article focused on the hiring of Bruce Colby as their deputy superintendent for business services, more transparency; realistic and understandable budgets, prioritizing critical needs and requirements.
One of the key indicators of success they show was the ability to recoup the $4.5 million for the construction of Montgomery Elementary School:
“We believe the changes we are putting in place are already showing results. In August, the State Allocation Board awarded the district $4.5 million in matching funds for construction of Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School — funds denied to the district in prior years. In making its decision, the State Allocation Board members noted that changes in management practices were a key factor in its decision.”
At the time, this seemed like a relatively non-controversial column, designed most likely to create the perception in the community of fiscal responsibility ahead of a key vote in the community on Measure Q.
However, former school board members Marty West and Joan Sallee, apparently are digging up past grievances that divided them on the past board.
They write:
“Now that renewal of the parcel tax is behind us, however, we would like to respond to the many accusations the 2006 and 2007 school board majority has made about financial mismanagement of the Davis Joint Unified School District. We are responding specifically to the op-ed article Jim Provenza and Tim Taylor published on Oct. 7 in The Davis Enterprise.
We did not reply at the time because we did not want to generate more negative publicity about the schools while Measure Q was pending. The board majority’s false allegations and insinuations of past financial mismanagement have become so numerous and frequent, however, that the community is in danger of actually believing them. It is time to set the record straight.”
While one can respect the fact that they did not want to cause a stir during the election, the question does arise why that article necessitated any kind of response at any point in time. There is no election at this time. Why dig up the past? Was there really a compelling need to respond at all?
West and Sallee make several charges of mismanagement aimed at the current school board:
“Any financial mismanagement that has occurred has been on the 2006 and 2007 school board’s watch. In early 2006, the board majority rescinded the $5.5 million contract we had signed to sell the Grande Avenue site, thus jeopardizing funding for building a student commons at the high school and modernizing Emerson Junior High School.”
At the time the new board was elected there were a number of concerns about the property, the sale price, the openness of the previous process, and the exchange property. Of course, at this point in time, one could argue that the $5.5 million contract does not look so bad. In fact, even at the time, Keltie Jones the holdover from the majority on the Sallee and West board, disagreed that the board could get more money for the property. Nevertheless, the Grande Property issue figures to be one of the big controversies for the new board and indeed the city of Davis itself as it lies at the very core of development policies and disputes over growth.
There are two key points of contention that I believe need to be addressed although speaking to some of the board members they pretty much disagreed with the entire editorial.
Marty West and Joan Sallee write:
“Much has been made of the district’s ultimate success in August 2007 in obtaining $4.5 million from the state for the 2001-02 construction costs of Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School. We are also delighted at this successful result of many years of work by many people. When we learned in 2003 that a new regulation jeopardized our application for state construction funds, we supported the superintendent in his immediate efforts to secure the funds. More than 70 other school districts had run afoul of the same obscure regulation.
Eventually, the state allowed Davis and the 70 other districts to reapply, but the state then denied Davis’ application because student enrollment had declined during the intervening period. Davis appealed this decision over the state staff’s objection. It was only with the strong and effective intervention of Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, Supervisor Helen Thomson and state Sen. Mike Machado that the political members of the State Allocation Board overruled its staff and granted Davis’ appeal on its merits.”
In August of 2007, the district was able to recoup the $4.5 million from Montgomery Elementary.
At the time Assemblywoman Lois Wolk argued before the State Allocation Board citing fiscal responsibility and acknowledging mistakes in the past:
“Wolk told the State Allocation Board that since January, “the district has a new superintendent, and a new business officer. … Heads have rolled, indeed.”
“I ask you not to penalize the children who are not responsible for the mistakes” made by the district in the past, Wolk said, describing the $4.5 million sought by the district as “critical” to the district’s future construction plans.
Thomson likewise mentioned that “many changes had been made” in the district. She apologized for “the high-handed and arrogant manner” in which earlier appeals had been argued.
The bottom line, Thomson said, is “the school district does need money for this school.””
West and Sallee are correct that other districts ran afoul with the regulations. However, that does not put the district beyond blame here.
“State Sen. Bob Margett, R-Altadena, expressed less sympathy. ” ‘Intent’ language doesn’t cut it with me …,” he said. “I’m concerned there was not attention paid to the regulations that were in place” at the time Montgomery Elementary was built.”
According to a 2007 Davis Enterprise article something along the lines of 60 school districts did not meet the state’s paperwork requirements, however the school district missed a deadline for even applying for the matching funds. Some have charged that this deadline was missed due to Deputy Superintendent Tahir Ahad and his involvement with the Fairfield-based educational consulting company, Total School Solutions.
Of course, Joan Sallee was a strong supporter of Ahad praising him as she left office as “the best school district business officer in California.” According to Jeff Hudson’s 2006 article, Marty West also heavily praised him.
The other point of contention that Joan Sallee and Marty West raise involves the termination of Superintendent David Murphy.
“They ended Superintendent Murphy’s contract prematurely, costing the district another $200,000.”
Both Sallee and West were strong supporters of Superintendent Murphy during his tenure, they were part of a 4-1 vote to extend his contract another three years.
It was Joan Sallee who largely let the cat out of the bag back in April that David Murphy was not merely retiring, but rather being fired.
She told Jeff Hudson of the Davis Enterprise at the time:
“I was deeply saddened to hear of Murphy’s retirement. … I am very sorry that the current school board did not see fit to retain his services. The district has suffered a grievous loss, at a time when we can least afford it.”
Again the severance package makes for an inviting target for critics of the school district, but the bottom line is that first it is one-time money. And second, the school board felt impelled to put the district on more sound financial ground. To the district, the severance package must have seemed like chump change compared to the amount of money that the fiscal mismanagement by the former Superintendent cost.
Apparently the feuds of the past are not over. Neither Joan Sallee nor Marty West seem content to let this go.
However it is interesting to note the second sentence from their Op-Ed:
“We congratulate Susan Lovenburg and Richard Harris on joining the school board and look forward to working with them on the difficult issues facing the district.”
The suggestion here is that Sallee and West are supporters of the new board members, which means nothing in and of itself. However, one wonders how many of these issues we might see revisited in the coming months.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
Wow!
Wow!
Wow!
Wow!
Tahir is a part owner of Total school solutions. Tahir paid himself counsulting fees from DJUSD piggy banks. While doing this he did not find the time to fill out the paper work for matching funds from the state for the school.
So We were paying him twice, while he cost the us 4.5 million. And David murphy allowed this.
I think the current school board made the right choice in making sure both are not wasting more of our students funds.
Tahir is a part owner of Total school solutions. Tahir paid himself counsulting fees from DJUSD piggy banks. While doing this he did not find the time to fill out the paper work for matching funds from the state for the school.
So We were paying him twice, while he cost the us 4.5 million. And David murphy allowed this.
I think the current school board made the right choice in making sure both are not wasting more of our students funds.
Tahir is a part owner of Total school solutions. Tahir paid himself counsulting fees from DJUSD piggy banks. While doing this he did not find the time to fill out the paper work for matching funds from the state for the school.
So We were paying him twice, while he cost the us 4.5 million. And David murphy allowed this.
I think the current school board made the right choice in making sure both are not wasting more of our students funds.
Tahir is a part owner of Total school solutions. Tahir paid himself counsulting fees from DJUSD piggy banks. While doing this he did not find the time to fill out the paper work for matching funds from the state for the school.
So We were paying him twice, while he cost the us 4.5 million. And David murphy allowed this.
I think the current school board made the right choice in making sure both are not wasting more of our students funds.
I was more than unimpressed by Marty and Joan’s OpEd when I read it. There was no constructive purpose for it. A huge supporter of both women in the past, after reading their whining excuses and explanations of total lack of responsibility, I am glad that both are no longer on the Board. The current Board had help to get the $4.5 million, but who do you think rounded up and organized that help? The Marty & Joan are trying to take away this success of the current Board for some personal or political reason, even though they failed in their own attempts and left the District in financial trouble.
I can’t believe that Joan allowed herself to be part of this article. However, I am positive that Marty will work hard against Jim Provenza in his upcoming bid for County Supervisor. Be sure that this is prompted by hatred of Jim and not true support for the other candidate. Because of this, I find that Marty has lost credibility in judging what is best for the community.
I was more than unimpressed by Marty and Joan’s OpEd when I read it. There was no constructive purpose for it. A huge supporter of both women in the past, after reading their whining excuses and explanations of total lack of responsibility, I am glad that both are no longer on the Board. The current Board had help to get the $4.5 million, but who do you think rounded up and organized that help? The Marty & Joan are trying to take away this success of the current Board for some personal or political reason, even though they failed in their own attempts and left the District in financial trouble.
I can’t believe that Joan allowed herself to be part of this article. However, I am positive that Marty will work hard against Jim Provenza in his upcoming bid for County Supervisor. Be sure that this is prompted by hatred of Jim and not true support for the other candidate. Because of this, I find that Marty has lost credibility in judging what is best for the community.
I was more than unimpressed by Marty and Joan’s OpEd when I read it. There was no constructive purpose for it. A huge supporter of both women in the past, after reading their whining excuses and explanations of total lack of responsibility, I am glad that both are no longer on the Board. The current Board had help to get the $4.5 million, but who do you think rounded up and organized that help? The Marty & Joan are trying to take away this success of the current Board for some personal or political reason, even though they failed in their own attempts and left the District in financial trouble.
I can’t believe that Joan allowed herself to be part of this article. However, I am positive that Marty will work hard against Jim Provenza in his upcoming bid for County Supervisor. Be sure that this is prompted by hatred of Jim and not true support for the other candidate. Because of this, I find that Marty has lost credibility in judging what is best for the community.
I was more than unimpressed by Marty and Joan’s OpEd when I read it. There was no constructive purpose for it. A huge supporter of both women in the past, after reading their whining excuses and explanations of total lack of responsibility, I am glad that both are no longer on the Board. The current Board had help to get the $4.5 million, but who do you think rounded up and organized that help? The Marty & Joan are trying to take away this success of the current Board for some personal or political reason, even though they failed in their own attempts and left the District in financial trouble.
I can’t believe that Joan allowed herself to be part of this article. However, I am positive that Marty will work hard against Jim Provenza in his upcoming bid for County Supervisor. Be sure that this is prompted by hatred of Jim and not true support for the other candidate. Because of this, I find that Marty has lost credibility in judging what is best for the community.
The current school board did the right thing.
Tahir and David Murphy had to go. Their mismanagement of funds had to be dealt with.
It does not surprise me that Joan Salee and Marty West wrote this Op Ed at all. Think about what big election is up next; the county board of supervisors. Both are supporters of Ferrera.
The briefly in the Enterprise reads:
“…Ferrera has received the endorsements of Supervisor Helen Thomson, Mayor Pro Tem Ruth Asmundson, City Councilman Stephen Souza, state Sen. Mike Machado, former county Supervisor Betsy Marchand and former Davis Board of Education member Marty West.”
Follow the money…
Also, it’s called “revenge” time for West and Salee. That’s what the Oped piece was about…
The current school board did the right thing.
Tahir and David Murphy had to go. Their mismanagement of funds had to be dealt with.
It does not surprise me that Joan Salee and Marty West wrote this Op Ed at all. Think about what big election is up next; the county board of supervisors. Both are supporters of Ferrera.
The briefly in the Enterprise reads:
“…Ferrera has received the endorsements of Supervisor Helen Thomson, Mayor Pro Tem Ruth Asmundson, City Councilman Stephen Souza, state Sen. Mike Machado, former county Supervisor Betsy Marchand and former Davis Board of Education member Marty West.”
Follow the money…
Also, it’s called “revenge” time for West and Salee. That’s what the Oped piece was about…
The current school board did the right thing.
Tahir and David Murphy had to go. Their mismanagement of funds had to be dealt with.
It does not surprise me that Joan Salee and Marty West wrote this Op Ed at all. Think about what big election is up next; the county board of supervisors. Both are supporters of Ferrera.
The briefly in the Enterprise reads:
“…Ferrera has received the endorsements of Supervisor Helen Thomson, Mayor Pro Tem Ruth Asmundson, City Councilman Stephen Souza, state Sen. Mike Machado, former county Supervisor Betsy Marchand and former Davis Board of Education member Marty West.”
Follow the money…
Also, it’s called “revenge” time for West and Salee. That’s what the Oped piece was about…
The current school board did the right thing.
Tahir and David Murphy had to go. Their mismanagement of funds had to be dealt with.
It does not surprise me that Joan Salee and Marty West wrote this Op Ed at all. Think about what big election is up next; the county board of supervisors. Both are supporters of Ferrera.
The briefly in the Enterprise reads:
“…Ferrera has received the endorsements of Supervisor Helen Thomson, Mayor Pro Tem Ruth Asmundson, City Councilman Stephen Souza, state Sen. Mike Machado, former county Supervisor Betsy Marchand and former Davis Board of Education member Marty West.”
Follow the money…
Also, it’s called “revenge” time for West and Salee. That’s what the Oped piece was about…
Isn’t Marty doing some work for or with Tahir now?
She has lost a lot of credibility.
Isn’t Marty doing some work for or with Tahir now?
She has lost a lot of credibility.
Isn’t Marty doing some work for or with Tahir now?
She has lost a lot of credibility.
Isn’t Marty doing some work for or with Tahir now?
She has lost a lot of credibility.
Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.
Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.
Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.
Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.
“The current school board did the right thing.”
Perhaps it would have been more expensive — due to rapacious legal expenses — but it seemed to me at the time that if the board wanted to fire David Murphy for just cause — that is, they believed he was incompetent — then they should have just fired him and not given him green-mail to go away.
While the $4.5 million figure is important in understanding the competency questions, it would have been recouped whether they fired Murphy or not. What seems a shame is that the present board decided they had to pay him another $200,000 to leave without a lawsuit. That money can never be recovered. And while David Greenwald is correct to say it’s “a one-time expense,” it’s a one-time expense which could have, for example, bought 5,000 schoolbooks at $40 each. (Why the hell a schoolbook costs $40 is another story of ripping off the taxpayers.)
“The current school board did the right thing.”
Perhaps it would have been more expensive — due to rapacious legal expenses — but it seemed to me at the time that if the board wanted to fire David Murphy for just cause — that is, they believed he was incompetent — then they should have just fired him and not given him green-mail to go away.
While the $4.5 million figure is important in understanding the competency questions, it would have been recouped whether they fired Murphy or not. What seems a shame is that the present board decided they had to pay him another $200,000 to leave without a lawsuit. That money can never be recovered. And while David Greenwald is correct to say it’s “a one-time expense,” it’s a one-time expense which could have, for example, bought 5,000 schoolbooks at $40 each. (Why the hell a schoolbook costs $40 is another story of ripping off the taxpayers.)
“The current school board did the right thing.”
Perhaps it would have been more expensive — due to rapacious legal expenses — but it seemed to me at the time that if the board wanted to fire David Murphy for just cause — that is, they believed he was incompetent — then they should have just fired him and not given him green-mail to go away.
While the $4.5 million figure is important in understanding the competency questions, it would have been recouped whether they fired Murphy or not. What seems a shame is that the present board decided they had to pay him another $200,000 to leave without a lawsuit. That money can never be recovered. And while David Greenwald is correct to say it’s “a one-time expense,” it’s a one-time expense which could have, for example, bought 5,000 schoolbooks at $40 each. (Why the hell a schoolbook costs $40 is another story of ripping off the taxpayers.)
“The current school board did the right thing.”
Perhaps it would have been more expensive — due to rapacious legal expenses — but it seemed to me at the time that if the board wanted to fire David Murphy for just cause — that is, they believed he was incompetent — then they should have just fired him and not given him green-mail to go away.
While the $4.5 million figure is important in understanding the competency questions, it would have been recouped whether they fired Murphy or not. What seems a shame is that the present board decided they had to pay him another $200,000 to leave without a lawsuit. That money can never be recovered. And while David Greenwald is correct to say it’s “a one-time expense,” it’s a one-time expense which could have, for example, bought 5,000 schoolbooks at $40 each. (Why the hell a schoolbook costs $40 is another story of ripping off the taxpayers.)
While I understand your point Rich, I think it was better and cleaner to do it the way they did, bite the bullet on one budget and then be done with it.
While I understand your point Rich, I think it was better and cleaner to do it the way they did, bite the bullet on one budget and then be done with it.
While I understand your point Rich, I think it was better and cleaner to do it the way they did, bite the bullet on one budget and then be done with it.
While I understand your point Rich, I think it was better and cleaner to do it the way they did, bite the bullet on one budget and then be done with it.
If it is true that Total School Solutions received consulting fees from DJUSD while Tahir was working for the District–and if it is true that Tahir was part-owner of Total School Solutions during this same time frame–this is a classic instance of conflict of interest. Public officials such as Tahir have to submit annual “Conflict of Interest” forms as a condition of holding office. These forms are public record. It would be most interesting to ask the School District to produce these COI forms and see if Tahir listed TSS as an organization with whom he held financial interest. Non-disclosure would be a violation of state conflict of interest laws.
If it is true that Total School Solutions received consulting fees from DJUSD while Tahir was working for the District–and if it is true that Tahir was part-owner of Total School Solutions during this same time frame–this is a classic instance of conflict of interest. Public officials such as Tahir have to submit annual “Conflict of Interest” forms as a condition of holding office. These forms are public record. It would be most interesting to ask the School District to produce these COI forms and see if Tahir listed TSS as an organization with whom he held financial interest. Non-disclosure would be a violation of state conflict of interest laws.
If it is true that Total School Solutions received consulting fees from DJUSD while Tahir was working for the District–and if it is true that Tahir was part-owner of Total School Solutions during this same time frame–this is a classic instance of conflict of interest. Public officials such as Tahir have to submit annual “Conflict of Interest” forms as a condition of holding office. These forms are public record. It would be most interesting to ask the School District to produce these COI forms and see if Tahir listed TSS as an organization with whom he held financial interest. Non-disclosure would be a violation of state conflict of interest laws.
If it is true that Total School Solutions received consulting fees from DJUSD while Tahir was working for the District–and if it is true that Tahir was part-owner of Total School Solutions during this same time frame–this is a classic instance of conflict of interest. Public officials such as Tahir have to submit annual “Conflict of Interest” forms as a condition of holding office. These forms are public record. It would be most interesting to ask the School District to produce these COI forms and see if Tahir listed TSS as an organization with whom he held financial interest. Non-disclosure would be a violation of state conflict of interest laws.
My personal experience (as a parent) with both Tahir and David is that they were arrogant, heavy-handed and outright dishonest at times. These two are responsible for even more financial debacles that discussed here.
They did do a good job of finessing their board members, however, which may explain why two intelligent people like Marty and Joan could stay loyal to them. I have no doubt that board members had a different experience of these executives that did the average parent. They were both adept at painting themselves as hard-working guileless Joes just trying to keep up with all these crazy unreasonable Davis parents.
Jim Provenza has frustrated me with his trying to please all the people all the time, but I will be forever grateful to him for getting rid of David Murphy.
My personal experience (as a parent) with both Tahir and David is that they were arrogant, heavy-handed and outright dishonest at times. These two are responsible for even more financial debacles that discussed here.
They did do a good job of finessing their board members, however, which may explain why two intelligent people like Marty and Joan could stay loyal to them. I have no doubt that board members had a different experience of these executives that did the average parent. They were both adept at painting themselves as hard-working guileless Joes just trying to keep up with all these crazy unreasonable Davis parents.
Jim Provenza has frustrated me with his trying to please all the people all the time, but I will be forever grateful to him for getting rid of David Murphy.
My personal experience (as a parent) with both Tahir and David is that they were arrogant, heavy-handed and outright dishonest at times. These two are responsible for even more financial debacles that discussed here.
They did do a good job of finessing their board members, however, which may explain why two intelligent people like Marty and Joan could stay loyal to them. I have no doubt that board members had a different experience of these executives that did the average parent. They were both adept at painting themselves as hard-working guileless Joes just trying to keep up with all these crazy unreasonable Davis parents.
Jim Provenza has frustrated me with his trying to please all the people all the time, but I will be forever grateful to him for getting rid of David Murphy.
My personal experience (as a parent) with both Tahir and David is that they were arrogant, heavy-handed and outright dishonest at times. These two are responsible for even more financial debacles that discussed here.
They did do a good job of finessing their board members, however, which may explain why two intelligent people like Marty and Joan could stay loyal to them. I have no doubt that board members had a different experience of these executives that did the average parent. They were both adept at painting themselves as hard-working guileless Joes just trying to keep up with all these crazy unreasonable Davis parents.
Jim Provenza has frustrated me with his trying to please all the people all the time, but I will be forever grateful to him for getting rid of David Murphy.
Doug Paul Davis said…
Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.
11/20/07 9:47 AM
If true, it is embarassing, and the Enterprise let it happen, possibly unknowingly.
Perhaps, the Enterprise will run a clarification on the editorial page sometime soon? It reminds me of when Henry Kissinger used to get op-eds published without having to acknowledge that he was advocating on behalf of his clients at Kissinger and Associates, at least, until, I think, the LA Times caught on to it.
I understand that, maybe, Debbie Davis didn’t know about this relationship, I’m not engaging in one of my favorite pastimes, bash the Enterprise, but, now, I think that the paper has an obligation to communicate it to the public.
Of course, that shouldn’t stop DPD from digging further into this, if he is so inclined.
–Richard Estes
Doug Paul Davis said…
Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.
11/20/07 9:47 AM
If true, it is embarassing, and the Enterprise let it happen, possibly unknowingly.
Perhaps, the Enterprise will run a clarification on the editorial page sometime soon? It reminds me of when Henry Kissinger used to get op-eds published without having to acknowledge that he was advocating on behalf of his clients at Kissinger and Associates, at least, until, I think, the LA Times caught on to it.
I understand that, maybe, Debbie Davis didn’t know about this relationship, I’m not engaging in one of my favorite pastimes, bash the Enterprise, but, now, I think that the paper has an obligation to communicate it to the public.
Of course, that shouldn’t stop DPD from digging further into this, if he is so inclined.
–Richard Estes
Doug Paul Davis said…
Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.
11/20/07 9:47 AM
If true, it is embarassing, and the Enterprise let it happen, possibly unknowingly.
Perhaps, the Enterprise will run a clarification on the editorial page sometime soon? It reminds me of when Henry Kissinger used to get op-eds published without having to acknowledge that he was advocating on behalf of his clients at Kissinger and Associates, at least, until, I think, the LA Times caught on to it.
I understand that, maybe, Debbie Davis didn’t know about this relationship, I’m not engaging in one of my favorite pastimes, bash the Enterprise, but, now, I think that the paper has an obligation to communicate it to the public.
Of course, that shouldn’t stop DPD from digging further into this, if he is so inclined.
–Richard Estes
Doug Paul Davis said…
Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.
11/20/07 9:47 AM
If true, it is embarassing, and the Enterprise let it happen, possibly unknowingly.
Perhaps, the Enterprise will run a clarification on the editorial page sometime soon? It reminds me of when Henry Kissinger used to get op-eds published without having to acknowledge that he was advocating on behalf of his clients at Kissinger and Associates, at least, until, I think, the LA Times caught on to it.
I understand that, maybe, Debbie Davis didn’t know about this relationship, I’m not engaging in one of my favorite pastimes, bash the Enterprise, but, now, I think that the paper has an obligation to communicate it to the public.
Of course, that shouldn’t stop DPD from digging further into this, if he is so inclined.
–Richard Estes
“So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.”
In the op/ed by West and Sallee, there is no mention at all of Tahir Ahad or Total School Solutions or the later board’s disquiet over Mr. Ahad’s dual positions.
Nonetheless, it would have served Enterprise readers to know that West now works with Ahad, who was a subordinate to Murphy, when she is publicly defending Mr. Murphy.
“So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.”
In the op/ed by West and Sallee, there is no mention at all of Tahir Ahad or Total School Solutions or the later board’s disquiet over Mr. Ahad’s dual positions.
Nonetheless, it would have served Enterprise readers to know that West now works with Ahad, who was a subordinate to Murphy, when she is publicly defending Mr. Murphy.
“So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.”
In the op/ed by West and Sallee, there is no mention at all of Tahir Ahad or Total School Solutions or the later board’s disquiet over Mr. Ahad’s dual positions.
Nonetheless, it would have served Enterprise readers to know that West now works with Ahad, who was a subordinate to Murphy, when she is publicly defending Mr. Murphy.
“So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.”
In the op/ed by West and Sallee, there is no mention at all of Tahir Ahad or Total School Solutions or the later board’s disquiet over Mr. Ahad’s dual positions.
Nonetheless, it would have served Enterprise readers to know that West now works with Ahad, who was a subordinate to Murphy, when she is publicly defending Mr. Murphy.
Rich:
The Montgomery deal was Tahir, when they defend the Montgomery deal they are defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.
Rich:
The Montgomery deal was Tahir, when they defend the Montgomery deal they are defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.
Rich:
The Montgomery deal was Tahir, when they defend the Montgomery deal they are defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.
Rich:
The Montgomery deal was Tahir, when they defend the Montgomery deal they are defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.
From what I understand Marty was a great prof at UCD. She should have stuck with that. It’s hard to believe that she would make such an unwise move.
Provenza is always and has always been a fence sitter trying to please everyone all the time, but at least he has some integrity. Backbone? None. Integrity? Yes.
From what I understand Marty was a great prof at UCD. She should have stuck with that. It’s hard to believe that she would make such an unwise move.
Provenza is always and has always been a fence sitter trying to please everyone all the time, but at least he has some integrity. Backbone? None. Integrity? Yes.
From what I understand Marty was a great prof at UCD. She should have stuck with that. It’s hard to believe that she would make such an unwise move.
Provenza is always and has always been a fence sitter trying to please everyone all the time, but at least he has some integrity. Backbone? None. Integrity? Yes.
From what I understand Marty was a great prof at UCD. She should have stuck with that. It’s hard to believe that she would make such an unwise move.
Provenza is always and has always been a fence sitter trying to please everyone all the time, but at least he has some integrity. Backbone? None. Integrity? Yes.
“The Montgomery deal was Tahir, when they defend the Montgomery deal they are defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.”
Fair enough.
However, they don’t blame DJUSD personnel at all for the original mistake. They don’t imply that Murphy or any of his subordinates did anything wrong. They don’t even say that others think that Murphy and/or Tahad made a mistake. Rather, they seem to place the blame on “a new regulation.”
“When we learned in 2003 that a new regulation jeopardized our application for state construction funds, we supported the superintendent in his immediate efforts to secure the funds.”
In saying that, they cast Murphy as a savior, not a goat. And by never suggesting that staff did anything wrong, or mentioning that others believe that Murphy’s aide did anything wrong, it’s a leap to say they are “defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.”
“The Montgomery deal was Tahir, when they defend the Montgomery deal they are defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.”
Fair enough.
However, they don’t blame DJUSD personnel at all for the original mistake. They don’t imply that Murphy or any of his subordinates did anything wrong. They don’t even say that others think that Murphy and/or Tahad made a mistake. Rather, they seem to place the blame on “a new regulation.”
“When we learned in 2003 that a new regulation jeopardized our application for state construction funds, we supported the superintendent in his immediate efforts to secure the funds.”
In saying that, they cast Murphy as a savior, not a goat. And by never suggesting that staff did anything wrong, or mentioning that others believe that Murphy’s aide did anything wrong, it’s a leap to say they are “defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.”
“The Montgomery deal was Tahir, when they defend the Montgomery deal they are defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.”
Fair enough.
However, they don’t blame DJUSD personnel at all for the original mistake. They don’t imply that Murphy or any of his subordinates did anything wrong. They don’t even say that others think that Murphy and/or Tahad made a mistake. Rather, they seem to place the blame on “a new regulation.”
“When we learned in 2003 that a new regulation jeopardized our application for state construction funds, we supported the superintendent in his immediate efforts to secure the funds.”
In saying that, they cast Murphy as a savior, not a goat. And by never suggesting that staff did anything wrong, or mentioning that others believe that Murphy’s aide did anything wrong, it’s a leap to say they are “defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.”
“The Montgomery deal was Tahir, when they defend the Montgomery deal they are defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.”
Fair enough.
However, they don’t blame DJUSD personnel at all for the original mistake. They don’t imply that Murphy or any of his subordinates did anything wrong. They don’t even say that others think that Murphy and/or Tahad made a mistake. Rather, they seem to place the blame on “a new regulation.”
“When we learned in 2003 that a new regulation jeopardized our application for state construction funds, we supported the superintendent in his immediate efforts to secure the funds.”
In saying that, they cast Murphy as a savior, not a goat. And by never suggesting that staff did anything wrong, or mentioning that others believe that Murphy’s aide did anything wrong, it’s a leap to say they are “defending Tahir without mentioning him by name.”
Rich:
That is because you are not recognizing the context of that discussion. The blame has been placed on Tahir by others for this arrangement. They are claiming that it was actually the regulation that created the problems. Others have contended that Tahir’s work for Total School Solutions and his lack of full attention on the job contributed to the missed deadline. Thus in that context, they are in fact defending Tahir without citing him by name.
Rich:
That is because you are not recognizing the context of that discussion. The blame has been placed on Tahir by others for this arrangement. They are claiming that it was actually the regulation that created the problems. Others have contended that Tahir’s work for Total School Solutions and his lack of full attention on the job contributed to the missed deadline. Thus in that context, they are in fact defending Tahir without citing him by name.
Rich:
That is because you are not recognizing the context of that discussion. The blame has been placed on Tahir by others for this arrangement. They are claiming that it was actually the regulation that created the problems. Others have contended that Tahir’s work for Total School Solutions and his lack of full attention on the job contributed to the missed deadline. Thus in that context, they are in fact defending Tahir without citing him by name.
Rich:
That is because you are not recognizing the context of that discussion. The blame has been placed on Tahir by others for this arrangement. They are claiming that it was actually the regulation that created the problems. Others have contended that Tahir’s work for Total School Solutions and his lack of full attention on the job contributed to the missed deadline. Thus in that context, they are in fact defending Tahir without citing him by name.
When did honesty and integrity leave public office? I would guess when lawyers took over.
When did honesty and integrity leave public office? I would guess when lawyers took over.
When did honesty and integrity leave public office? I would guess when lawyers took over.
When did honesty and integrity leave public office? I would guess when lawyers took over.
“Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.”
Good work DPD!!! This is the kind of reporting we need. I am so glad you took a look at this Op-Ed piece – it was positively shameful and so full of misrepresentations. The commentary from readers has also been very enlightening. My recollections were vague about the Tahir connection, but good grief, it is even worse than I thought.
As I have said before, the interconnections between politicians is an insidious cancer. I am thrilled that the will of the people just may override the horrible decision to close Valley Oak – in my opinion a decision made for all the wrong reasons.
Now I am going to pose some real interesting questions. When the School Board recently insisted it had a $600,000 “shortfall” (as the need to pass Measure Q), are you convinced of a “shortfall” in the true sense of the word? Or does the school board just need more money to cover its blunders, past and present (think the King High debacle). Are you so sure about the claim of “declining enrollment” to be the real reason Valley Oak was slated for closure? Or was Valley Oak slated for closure to make way for the construction of Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School in the district of Richard Harris?
People need to keep digging for information, because the more we shovel, the more horse manure keeps rising to the top! I feel as if we still don’t have the full picture. The more research done, the unholier the connections get! Yikes!!!
“Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.”
Good work DPD!!! This is the kind of reporting we need. I am so glad you took a look at this Op-Ed piece – it was positively shameful and so full of misrepresentations. The commentary from readers has also been very enlightening. My recollections were vague about the Tahir connection, but good grief, it is even worse than I thought.
As I have said before, the interconnections between politicians is an insidious cancer. I am thrilled that the will of the people just may override the horrible decision to close Valley Oak – in my opinion a decision made for all the wrong reasons.
Now I am going to pose some real interesting questions. When the School Board recently insisted it had a $600,000 “shortfall” (as the need to pass Measure Q), are you convinced of a “shortfall” in the true sense of the word? Or does the school board just need more money to cover its blunders, past and present (think the King High debacle). Are you so sure about the claim of “declining enrollment” to be the real reason Valley Oak was slated for closure? Or was Valley Oak slated for closure to make way for the construction of Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School in the district of Richard Harris?
People need to keep digging for information, because the more we shovel, the more horse manure keeps rising to the top! I feel as if we still don’t have the full picture. The more research done, the unholier the connections get! Yikes!!!
“Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.”
Good work DPD!!! This is the kind of reporting we need. I am so glad you took a look at this Op-Ed piece – it was positively shameful and so full of misrepresentations. The commentary from readers has also been very enlightening. My recollections were vague about the Tahir connection, but good grief, it is even worse than I thought.
As I have said before, the interconnections between politicians is an insidious cancer. I am thrilled that the will of the people just may override the horrible decision to close Valley Oak – in my opinion a decision made for all the wrong reasons.
Now I am going to pose some real interesting questions. When the School Board recently insisted it had a $600,000 “shortfall” (as the need to pass Measure Q), are you convinced of a “shortfall” in the true sense of the word? Or does the school board just need more money to cover its blunders, past and present (think the King High debacle). Are you so sure about the claim of “declining enrollment” to be the real reason Valley Oak was slated for closure? Or was Valley Oak slated for closure to make way for the construction of Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School in the district of Richard Harris?
People need to keep digging for information, because the more we shovel, the more horse manure keeps rising to the top! I feel as if we still don’t have the full picture. The more research done, the unholier the connections get! Yikes!!!
“Wow it’s worse than I thought:
http://www.totalschoolsolutions.net/directors.html
West is a consultant to them.
So she is basically writing an editorial that defends her boss’ conduct on the school board while failing to disclose her relationship.”
Good work DPD!!! This is the kind of reporting we need. I am so glad you took a look at this Op-Ed piece – it was positively shameful and so full of misrepresentations. The commentary from readers has also been very enlightening. My recollections were vague about the Tahir connection, but good grief, it is even worse than I thought.
As I have said before, the interconnections between politicians is an insidious cancer. I am thrilled that the will of the people just may override the horrible decision to close Valley Oak – in my opinion a decision made for all the wrong reasons.
Now I am going to pose some real interesting questions. When the School Board recently insisted it had a $600,000 “shortfall” (as the need to pass Measure Q), are you convinced of a “shortfall” in the true sense of the word? Or does the school board just need more money to cover its blunders, past and present (think the King High debacle). Are you so sure about the claim of “declining enrollment” to be the real reason Valley Oak was slated for closure? Or was Valley Oak slated for closure to make way for the construction of Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School in the district of Richard Harris?
People need to keep digging for information, because the more we shovel, the more horse manure keeps rising to the top! I feel as if we still don’t have the full picture. The more research done, the unholier the connections get! Yikes!!!
Marty’s op-ed covered many things and there are certain elements that can be challenged such as why the outgoing trustees gave Murphy a three year deal? It is also curious that she praises Harris who claimed during the campaign that the word in Sacramento was that Murphy had to go to get the 4.5 million. Still Marty makes two really good points; that renegotiating the Grande deal was stupid and that the current Trustees spent the budget without first settling the teachers contract leaving the price to be paid for declining enrollment to be balanced on the backs of the teachers.
While some seem to think that past board members should ride off into the sunset and not criticize those that came after them as if they had retired from the presidency I find it refreshing that West and Sallee are willing to keep engaging in the debate.
Ron Glick
Marty’s op-ed covered many things and there are certain elements that can be challenged such as why the outgoing trustees gave Murphy a three year deal? It is also curious that she praises Harris who claimed during the campaign that the word in Sacramento was that Murphy had to go to get the 4.5 million. Still Marty makes two really good points; that renegotiating the Grande deal was stupid and that the current Trustees spent the budget without first settling the teachers contract leaving the price to be paid for declining enrollment to be balanced on the backs of the teachers.
While some seem to think that past board members should ride off into the sunset and not criticize those that came after them as if they had retired from the presidency I find it refreshing that West and Sallee are willing to keep engaging in the debate.
Ron Glick
Marty’s op-ed covered many things and there are certain elements that can be challenged such as why the outgoing trustees gave Murphy a three year deal? It is also curious that she praises Harris who claimed during the campaign that the word in Sacramento was that Murphy had to go to get the 4.5 million. Still Marty makes two really good points; that renegotiating the Grande deal was stupid and that the current Trustees spent the budget without first settling the teachers contract leaving the price to be paid for declining enrollment to be balanced on the backs of the teachers.
While some seem to think that past board members should ride off into the sunset and not criticize those that came after them as if they had retired from the presidency I find it refreshing that West and Sallee are willing to keep engaging in the debate.
Ron Glick
Marty’s op-ed covered many things and there are certain elements that can be challenged such as why the outgoing trustees gave Murphy a three year deal? It is also curious that she praises Harris who claimed during the campaign that the word in Sacramento was that Murphy had to go to get the 4.5 million. Still Marty makes two really good points; that renegotiating the Grande deal was stupid and that the current Trustees spent the budget without first settling the teachers contract leaving the price to be paid for declining enrollment to be balanced on the backs of the teachers.
While some seem to think that past board members should ride off into the sunset and not criticize those that came after them as if they had retired from the presidency I find it refreshing that West and Sallee are willing to keep engaging in the debate.
Ron Glick
“Provenza is and has always been a fence sitter trying to please everyone all the time, but at least he has some integrity. Backbone? None. Integrity? Yes.”
It is clear that the person who wrote the above comment is ill informed about the dynamic on the school board. I agree, Provenza does have integrity, and a great deal of backbone as well. He was often the only ‘no vote’, or joined with BJ Kline when the prior board rubber stamped the decisions of David Murphy and Tahir Ahad. For example, Provenza and Kline strongly opposed giving permission to Ahad to operate a private business with district employees when he should have been focusing on his important job as financial manager of the district. Does anyone doubt that Ahad and his employees could have avoided blowing the funding deadline for Montgomery if they hadn’t been so focused on making money for their private business?
Don’t confuse diplomacy and the ability to be polite to those who disagree, with a lack of backbone.
“Provenza is and has always been a fence sitter trying to please everyone all the time, but at least he has some integrity. Backbone? None. Integrity? Yes.”
It is clear that the person who wrote the above comment is ill informed about the dynamic on the school board. I agree, Provenza does have integrity, and a great deal of backbone as well. He was often the only ‘no vote’, or joined with BJ Kline when the prior board rubber stamped the decisions of David Murphy and Tahir Ahad. For example, Provenza and Kline strongly opposed giving permission to Ahad to operate a private business with district employees when he should have been focusing on his important job as financial manager of the district. Does anyone doubt that Ahad and his employees could have avoided blowing the funding deadline for Montgomery if they hadn’t been so focused on making money for their private business?
Don’t confuse diplomacy and the ability to be polite to those who disagree, with a lack of backbone.
“Provenza is and has always been a fence sitter trying to please everyone all the time, but at least he has some integrity. Backbone? None. Integrity? Yes.”
It is clear that the person who wrote the above comment is ill informed about the dynamic on the school board. I agree, Provenza does have integrity, and a great deal of backbone as well. He was often the only ‘no vote’, or joined with BJ Kline when the prior board rubber stamped the decisions of David Murphy and Tahir Ahad. For example, Provenza and Kline strongly opposed giving permission to Ahad to operate a private business with district employees when he should have been focusing on his important job as financial manager of the district. Does anyone doubt that Ahad and his employees could have avoided blowing the funding deadline for Montgomery if they hadn’t been so focused on making money for their private business?
Don’t confuse diplomacy and the ability to be polite to those who disagree, with a lack of backbone.
“Provenza is and has always been a fence sitter trying to please everyone all the time, but at least he has some integrity. Backbone? None. Integrity? Yes.”
It is clear that the person who wrote the above comment is ill informed about the dynamic on the school board. I agree, Provenza does have integrity, and a great deal of backbone as well. He was often the only ‘no vote’, or joined with BJ Kline when the prior board rubber stamped the decisions of David Murphy and Tahir Ahad. For example, Provenza and Kline strongly opposed giving permission to Ahad to operate a private business with district employees when he should have been focusing on his important job as financial manager of the district. Does anyone doubt that Ahad and his employees could have avoided blowing the funding deadline for Montgomery if they hadn’t been so focused on making money for their private business?
Don’t confuse diplomacy and the ability to be polite to those who disagree, with a lack of backbone.
“Still Marty makes two really good points…”
You’re stretching it here, Ron. “Stupid?” It was a reasonable assumption that the Grande property(not requiring a Measure J approval) was worth a lot more after the Measure J rejection of the Covell Village project.. who predicted the subprime mortgage meltdown? There can be legitimate arguments as to whether the teacher’s contract should have been first in line for District monies. Your support of your fellow-teachers’ interests is noted.
“Still Marty makes two really good points…”
You’re stretching it here, Ron. “Stupid?” It was a reasonable assumption that the Grande property(not requiring a Measure J approval) was worth a lot more after the Measure J rejection of the Covell Village project.. who predicted the subprime mortgage meltdown? There can be legitimate arguments as to whether the teacher’s contract should have been first in line for District monies. Your support of your fellow-teachers’ interests is noted.
“Still Marty makes two really good points…”
You’re stretching it here, Ron. “Stupid?” It was a reasonable assumption that the Grande property(not requiring a Measure J approval) was worth a lot more after the Measure J rejection of the Covell Village project.. who predicted the subprime mortgage meltdown? There can be legitimate arguments as to whether the teacher’s contract should have been first in line for District monies. Your support of your fellow-teachers’ interests is noted.
“Still Marty makes two really good points…”
You’re stretching it here, Ron. “Stupid?” It was a reasonable assumption that the Grande property(not requiring a Measure J approval) was worth a lot more after the Measure J rejection of the Covell Village project.. who predicted the subprime mortgage meltdown? There can be legitimate arguments as to whether the teacher’s contract should have been first in line for District monies. Your support of your fellow-teachers’ interests is noted.
“While one can respect the fact that they did not want to cause a stir during the election”
I responded to this earlier, but I meant to put it in this comments section instead of the other one. oops! Again, I congratulate you on your reporting and analysis, Doug. Well done!
I would just like to make another comment. We know now there was gross fiscal mismanagement at some level, and I think it was during West/Sallee. My question to you Doug would be, do you think it is okay to keep voters in the dark about mismanagement of their money to pass a tax hike: ie. measure Q?
“While one can respect the fact that they did not want to cause a stir during the election”
I responded to this earlier, but I meant to put it in this comments section instead of the other one. oops! Again, I congratulate you on your reporting and analysis, Doug. Well done!
I would just like to make another comment. We know now there was gross fiscal mismanagement at some level, and I think it was during West/Sallee. My question to you Doug would be, do you think it is okay to keep voters in the dark about mismanagement of their money to pass a tax hike: ie. measure Q?
“While one can respect the fact that they did not want to cause a stir during the election”
I responded to this earlier, but I meant to put it in this comments section instead of the other one. oops! Again, I congratulate you on your reporting and analysis, Doug. Well done!
I would just like to make another comment. We know now there was gross fiscal mismanagement at some level, and I think it was during West/Sallee. My question to you Doug would be, do you think it is okay to keep voters in the dark about mismanagement of their money to pass a tax hike: ie. measure Q?
“While one can respect the fact that they did not want to cause a stir during the election”
I responded to this earlier, but I meant to put it in this comments section instead of the other one. oops! Again, I congratulate you on your reporting and analysis, Doug. Well done!
I would just like to make another comment. We know now there was gross fiscal mismanagement at some level, and I think it was during West/Sallee. My question to you Doug would be, do you think it is okay to keep voters in the dark about mismanagement of their money to pass a tax hike: ie. measure Q?
I think the current school board has made a good effort to put the district finances in order. The article that Provenza/ Taylor wrote was a good summary of their efforts to date. I don’t think they tried to hide the problems with prior boards so much as tried to emphasize positive steps taken to correct them.
I’m not certain that’s exactly what you are trying to ask. I guess the bottom line for me is that if Marty West and Joan Sallee felt that this was something that shouldn’t be aired during the Measure Q election, perhaps its something that didn’t need to be aired at all.
I think the current school board has made a good effort to put the district finances in order. The article that Provenza/ Taylor wrote was a good summary of their efforts to date. I don’t think they tried to hide the problems with prior boards so much as tried to emphasize positive steps taken to correct them.
I’m not certain that’s exactly what you are trying to ask. I guess the bottom line for me is that if Marty West and Joan Sallee felt that this was something that shouldn’t be aired during the Measure Q election, perhaps its something that didn’t need to be aired at all.
I think the current school board has made a good effort to put the district finances in order. The article that Provenza/ Taylor wrote was a good summary of their efforts to date. I don’t think they tried to hide the problems with prior boards so much as tried to emphasize positive steps taken to correct them.
I’m not certain that’s exactly what you are trying to ask. I guess the bottom line for me is that if Marty West and Joan Sallee felt that this was something that shouldn’t be aired during the Measure Q election, perhaps its something that didn’t need to be aired at all.
I think the current school board has made a good effort to put the district finances in order. The article that Provenza/ Taylor wrote was a good summary of their efforts to date. I don’t think they tried to hide the problems with prior boards so much as tried to emphasize positive steps taken to correct them.
I’m not certain that’s exactly what you are trying to ask. I guess the bottom line for me is that if Marty West and Joan Sallee felt that this was something that shouldn’t be aired during the Measure Q election, perhaps its something that didn’t need to be aired at all.
West/Sallee didn’t want to air this because they knew the public would be outraged about how their money was mis-spent, which they admit would be a factor for voting on Q. This is something that must be aired because it is about telling the truth to the voters before an election to allow them to make informed decisions.
West/Sallee didn’t want to air this because they knew the public would be outraged about how their money was mis-spent, which they admit would be a factor for voting on Q. This is something that must be aired because it is about telling the truth to the voters before an election to allow them to make informed decisions.
West/Sallee didn’t want to air this because they knew the public would be outraged about how their money was mis-spent, which they admit would be a factor for voting on Q. This is something that must be aired because it is about telling the truth to the voters before an election to allow them to make informed decisions.
West/Sallee didn’t want to air this because they knew the public would be outraged about how their money was mis-spent, which they admit would be a factor for voting on Q. This is something that must be aired because it is about telling the truth to the voters before an election to allow them to make informed decisions.
I think they didn’t air it because they knew it wasn’t true.
I think they didn’t air it because they knew it wasn’t true.
I think they didn’t air it because they knew it wasn’t true.
I think they didn’t air it because they knew it wasn’t true.
Must everyone speak in such hysterical terms?
Ahad operated Total Schools Solution before he took his position here in Davis. He brought some of the best people to our district to work on contract basis. It isn’t just those people who have left since Murphy and Ahad. (Long term employees like Ann Costello and Sally Ryen to name a few.)
Ahad was on salary, not paying himself consulting fees from district coffers. The people he brought in did fine work for almost ten years.
The district finished a ten year building plan in six years. No teacher layoffs (unlike neighboring districts,) no contract disputes with the teachers’union. I belive the DTA was on the verge of striking before Ahad came in. (Remember Eva Long?)
I believe “gross mismanagement” is an exageration. If it were true, wouldn’t there have been charges filed?
Wouldn’t BJ and Provenza have brought it out in the open at the time and not waited until a new board was in place before making these outrageous accusations?
K. Jones has been morbidly silent on these matters. She’s sat on both boards.
Ahad left the Vallejo school district in perfect order. The Vallejo posted an apology to Ahad on its web site for any implying he had engaged in any financial financial malfeasance. I fact-checked when that rumor by Googling “Ahad” and “Vallejo Unified school board” or something equally simple. This si what I found:
1. VALLEJO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT’s RESPONSE TO
AB139 AUDIT
Mr. White stated that this item was brought forth as a
concern by Mr. Gerda at the May 19th Bond Oversight
Committee meeting, as well as at the May 24th Board
meeting. Mr. Gerda presented to the BOC a partial
quote from a newspaper article regarding Mr. Tahir
Ahad from Total School Solutions. The quote in the
article was damaging to Mr. Ahad and suggested that he
was responsible for the negative financials of the
Vallejo City Unified School District. Mr. White
stated that in order to clarify Mr. Gerda’s concern,
he has provided the Committee with an article written
and signed by the Vallejo City Unified School District
that exonerated Mr. Ahad of any allegations.
Seventy other districts also lost out on matching building funds because of the same obscure regulation the state pulled out of its hat that hadn’t been enforced with the matching funds applications for Patwin, Harper or the improvements at Valley Oak …It wasn’t that Ahad was “too busy to fill out the paper work.”
The lawsuit to recover the $4.5 million was filed long before this current board was even elected. “Rounding up support” by this board wasn’t necessary, it wasn’t even possible.
The King High debacle was more a product of this board’s inablility to hire a financial superintendent to replace Ahad in a timely manner. The district was left financially adrift for nine months before Colby was hired. The board couldn’t, or wouldn’t, work with Murphy. C. Bryant was brand new.
There is a difference between not being able to get the information one needs, and not being told what one wants to hear. The former is grounds for firing; the latter is merely a reason to buy a superintendent out of his contract.
If there really is a budgetary short-fall and this board keeps undoing the cost-cutting measures taken by previous boards and administrations to keep the cuts from entering the classroom, the state will step in.
Examples: two superintendents on the payroll, keeping classes that have as few as six students enrolled at the junior and senior high school level, creating new managerial positions in the facilities and site supervising department.
Regarding The Grande property: there is an inherent conflict of interest when a school board dons the hat of developer.
I can see the suspicions about M. West regarding her connections with TSS, but Sallee? She is smart,credible, has integrity, and co-wrote that op-ed. I think their information bears consideration.
Must everyone speak in such hysterical terms?
Ahad operated Total Schools Solution before he took his position here in Davis. He brought some of the best people to our district to work on contract basis. It isn’t just those people who have left since Murphy and Ahad. (Long term employees like Ann Costello and Sally Ryen to name a few.)
Ahad was on salary, not paying himself consulting fees from district coffers. The people he brought in did fine work for almost ten years.
The district finished a ten year building plan in six years. No teacher layoffs (unlike neighboring districts,) no contract disputes with the teachers’union. I belive the DTA was on the verge of striking before Ahad came in. (Remember Eva Long?)
I believe “gross mismanagement” is an exageration. If it were true, wouldn’t there have been charges filed?
Wouldn’t BJ and Provenza have brought it out in the open at the time and not waited until a new board was in place before making these outrageous accusations?
K. Jones has been morbidly silent on these matters. She’s sat on both boards.
Ahad left the Vallejo school district in perfect order. The Vallejo posted an apology to Ahad on its web site for any implying he had engaged in any financial financial malfeasance. I fact-checked when that rumor by Googling “Ahad” and “Vallejo Unified school board” or something equally simple. This si what I found:
1. VALLEJO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT’s RESPONSE TO
AB139 AUDIT
Mr. White stated that this item was brought forth as a
concern by Mr. Gerda at the May 19th Bond Oversight
Committee meeting, as well as at the May 24th Board
meeting. Mr. Gerda presented to the BOC a partial
quote from a newspaper article regarding Mr. Tahir
Ahad from Total School Solutions. The quote in the
article was damaging to Mr. Ahad and suggested that he
was responsible for the negative financials of the
Vallejo City Unified School District. Mr. White
stated that in order to clarify Mr. Gerda’s concern,
he has provided the Committee with an article written
and signed by the Vallejo City Unified School District
that exonerated Mr. Ahad of any allegations.
Seventy other districts also lost out on matching building funds because of the same obscure regulation the state pulled out of its hat that hadn’t been enforced with the matching funds applications for Patwin, Harper or the improvements at Valley Oak …It wasn’t that Ahad was “too busy to fill out the paper work.”
The lawsuit to recover the $4.5 million was filed long before this current board was even elected. “Rounding up support” by this board wasn’t necessary, it wasn’t even possible.
The King High debacle was more a product of this board’s inablility to hire a financial superintendent to replace Ahad in a timely manner. The district was left financially adrift for nine months before Colby was hired. The board couldn’t, or wouldn’t, work with Murphy. C. Bryant was brand new.
There is a difference between not being able to get the information one needs, and not being told what one wants to hear. The former is grounds for firing; the latter is merely a reason to buy a superintendent out of his contract.
If there really is a budgetary short-fall and this board keeps undoing the cost-cutting measures taken by previous boards and administrations to keep the cuts from entering the classroom, the state will step in.
Examples: two superintendents on the payroll, keeping classes that have as few as six students enrolled at the junior and senior high school level, creating new managerial positions in the facilities and site supervising department.
Regarding The Grande property: there is an inherent conflict of interest when a school board dons the hat of developer.
I can see the suspicions about M. West regarding her connections with TSS, but Sallee? She is smart,credible, has integrity, and co-wrote that op-ed. I think their information bears consideration.
Must everyone speak in such hysterical terms?
Ahad operated Total Schools Solution before he took his position here in Davis. He brought some of the best people to our district to work on contract basis. It isn’t just those people who have left since Murphy and Ahad. (Long term employees like Ann Costello and Sally Ryen to name a few.)
Ahad was on salary, not paying himself consulting fees from district coffers. The people he brought in did fine work for almost ten years.
The district finished a ten year building plan in six years. No teacher layoffs (unlike neighboring districts,) no contract disputes with the teachers’union. I belive the DTA was on the verge of striking before Ahad came in. (Remember Eva Long?)
I believe “gross mismanagement” is an exageration. If it were true, wouldn’t there have been charges filed?
Wouldn’t BJ and Provenza have brought it out in the open at the time and not waited until a new board was in place before making these outrageous accusations?
K. Jones has been morbidly silent on these matters. She’s sat on both boards.
Ahad left the Vallejo school district in perfect order. The Vallejo posted an apology to Ahad on its web site for any implying he had engaged in any financial financial malfeasance. I fact-checked when that rumor by Googling “Ahad” and “Vallejo Unified school board” or something equally simple. This si what I found:
1. VALLEJO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT’s RESPONSE TO
AB139 AUDIT
Mr. White stated that this item was brought forth as a
concern by Mr. Gerda at the May 19th Bond Oversight
Committee meeting, as well as at the May 24th Board
meeting. Mr. Gerda presented to the BOC a partial
quote from a newspaper article regarding Mr. Tahir
Ahad from Total School Solutions. The quote in the
article was damaging to Mr. Ahad and suggested that he
was responsible for the negative financials of the
Vallejo City Unified School District. Mr. White
stated that in order to clarify Mr. Gerda’s concern,
he has provided the Committee with an article written
and signed by the Vallejo City Unified School District
that exonerated Mr. Ahad of any allegations.
Seventy other districts also lost out on matching building funds because of the same obscure regulation the state pulled out of its hat that hadn’t been enforced with the matching funds applications for Patwin, Harper or the improvements at Valley Oak …It wasn’t that Ahad was “too busy to fill out the paper work.”
The lawsuit to recover the $4.5 million was filed long before this current board was even elected. “Rounding up support” by this board wasn’t necessary, it wasn’t even possible.
The King High debacle was more a product of this board’s inablility to hire a financial superintendent to replace Ahad in a timely manner. The district was left financially adrift for nine months before Colby was hired. The board couldn’t, or wouldn’t, work with Murphy. C. Bryant was brand new.
There is a difference between not being able to get the information one needs, and not being told what one wants to hear. The former is grounds for firing; the latter is merely a reason to buy a superintendent out of his contract.
If there really is a budgetary short-fall and this board keeps undoing the cost-cutting measures taken by previous boards and administrations to keep the cuts from entering the classroom, the state will step in.
Examples: two superintendents on the payroll, keeping classes that have as few as six students enrolled at the junior and senior high school level, creating new managerial positions in the facilities and site supervising department.
Regarding The Grande property: there is an inherent conflict of interest when a school board dons the hat of developer.
I can see the suspicions about M. West regarding her connections with TSS, but Sallee? She is smart,credible, has integrity, and co-wrote that op-ed. I think their information bears consideration.
Must everyone speak in such hysterical terms?
Ahad operated Total Schools Solution before he took his position here in Davis. He brought some of the best people to our district to work on contract basis. It isn’t just those people who have left since Murphy and Ahad. (Long term employees like Ann Costello and Sally Ryen to name a few.)
Ahad was on salary, not paying himself consulting fees from district coffers. The people he brought in did fine work for almost ten years.
The district finished a ten year building plan in six years. No teacher layoffs (unlike neighboring districts,) no contract disputes with the teachers’union. I belive the DTA was on the verge of striking before Ahad came in. (Remember Eva Long?)
I believe “gross mismanagement” is an exageration. If it were true, wouldn’t there have been charges filed?
Wouldn’t BJ and Provenza have brought it out in the open at the time and not waited until a new board was in place before making these outrageous accusations?
K. Jones has been morbidly silent on these matters. She’s sat on both boards.
Ahad left the Vallejo school district in perfect order. The Vallejo posted an apology to Ahad on its web site for any implying he had engaged in any financial financial malfeasance. I fact-checked when that rumor by Googling “Ahad” and “Vallejo Unified school board” or something equally simple. This si what I found:
1. VALLEJO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT’s RESPONSE TO
AB139 AUDIT
Mr. White stated that this item was brought forth as a
concern by Mr. Gerda at the May 19th Bond Oversight
Committee meeting, as well as at the May 24th Board
meeting. Mr. Gerda presented to the BOC a partial
quote from a newspaper article regarding Mr. Tahir
Ahad from Total School Solutions. The quote in the
article was damaging to Mr. Ahad and suggested that he
was responsible for the negative financials of the
Vallejo City Unified School District. Mr. White
stated that in order to clarify Mr. Gerda’s concern,
he has provided the Committee with an article written
and signed by the Vallejo City Unified School District
that exonerated Mr. Ahad of any allegations.
Seventy other districts also lost out on matching building funds because of the same obscure regulation the state pulled out of its hat that hadn’t been enforced with the matching funds applications for Patwin, Harper or the improvements at Valley Oak …It wasn’t that Ahad was “too busy to fill out the paper work.”
The lawsuit to recover the $4.5 million was filed long before this current board was even elected. “Rounding up support” by this board wasn’t necessary, it wasn’t even possible.
The King High debacle was more a product of this board’s inablility to hire a financial superintendent to replace Ahad in a timely manner. The district was left financially adrift for nine months before Colby was hired. The board couldn’t, or wouldn’t, work with Murphy. C. Bryant was brand new.
There is a difference between not being able to get the information one needs, and not being told what one wants to hear. The former is grounds for firing; the latter is merely a reason to buy a superintendent out of his contract.
If there really is a budgetary short-fall and this board keeps undoing the cost-cutting measures taken by previous boards and administrations to keep the cuts from entering the classroom, the state will step in.
Examples: two superintendents on the payroll, keeping classes that have as few as six students enrolled at the junior and senior high school level, creating new managerial positions in the facilities and site supervising department.
Regarding The Grande property: there is an inherent conflict of interest when a school board dons the hat of developer.
I can see the suspicions about M. West regarding her connections with TSS, but Sallee? She is smart,credible, has integrity, and co-wrote that op-ed. I think their information bears consideration.