The California School Employees Association Davis Chapter #572 announced Tuesday that the organization has endorsed Tom Adams and Barbara Archer for the four-year seats on the Davis Joint Unified Board of Education. The organization also endorsed Alan Fernandes who is running unopposed for the two-year seat.
“We chose to endorse Tom, Barbara and Alan because we felt that they showed the best knowledge of all aspects of our schools sites including the jobs that our members perform and how that fits into the structure of the district.” said Jim Herrington, the chapter’s president.
CSEA represents school district employees, such as special education paraeducators, reading and math paraeducators, library technicians, behavioral and occupational education specialists, site and department secretaries, district office secretaries, business office employees, computer instructional technology specialists, student nutrition services employees (kitchen manager, food prep and drivers), maintenance and operations staff, custodians, journeymen, grounds maintenance crews, interpreters and some athletics coaches.
Seven candidates are running for three open four-year seats and Alan Fernandes is running unopposed for the two-year seat.
The Vanguard also learned that Schools Superintendent Tom Torlakson had endorsed Barbara Archer, Tom Adams, Mike Nolan and Madhavi Sunder (four candidates for the three seats). The Vanguard had previously reported that Madhavi Sunder listed Mr. Torlakson as a supporter but was unaware he had endorsed four.
Last week we reported that the Yolo County Democratic Party had endorsed Barbara Archer, Mike Nolan and Madhavi Sunder for the three open four-year seats. It has endorsed Alan Fernandes for the two-year seat.
“After a rigorous interview process, the Yolo County Democratic Party endorsed candidates who best reflected Democratic Party values and the party’s platform issues,” said Bob Schelen, chair, Yolo County Democratic Party. “We believe these candidates possess excellent qualities to serve in public office.”
The Davis Teachers Association in June endorsed the same group of candidates as endorsed by the Yolo County Democratic Party.
The Davis Teachers Association “is excited to announce that it has endorsed a slate of candidates for the DJSUD School Board election in November 2014. Barbara Archer, Mike Nolan, and Madhavi Sunder have been endorsed for the three, four-year term seats, and Alan Fernandes for the one, two-year seat. “
“Each of the candidates brings particular strengths, experiences and qualities that will serve the students and community of the DJUSD superbly,” Blair Howard, DTA President said in June. “The candidates also understand and value the deep connection between the educators of the district and the students they serve.”
The Vanguard’s DJUSD School Board Candidates Forum will be a week from tomorrow (Wednesday, September 17) at 6:30 PM at the Fellowship Hall at Davis Community Church, and is co-sponsored by Davis Media Access, who will be recording and replaying the forum over and over again.
Make sure to join us next Wednesday at the candidates forum and find out more about all of the candidates.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
leaves the question – why only two and why not madhavi sunder?
Because I think Sunder didn’t respond to requests by CSEA to show up for the interview for an endorsement.
Do you have evidence that the CSEA reached out to Sunder, Poppenga, etc and invited them to participate in an endorsement process and that they declined?
My information suggests no.
Do you have evidence that the CSEA reached out to Sunder, Poppenga, etc and invited them to participate in an endorsement process and that they declined?
My information suggests no.
May 1, 2014 School Board meeting, at roughly minute 12:30, Jim Herrington, CSEA president, gave an announcement. This was also the very same meeting that all candidates showed up for presentations to the board for the position that eventually was given to Alan Fernandes. Sunder spoke at about 41:30. I think there were other school board meetings around this time when a similar announcement was given.
You’re relying on 10 seconds in a 3 hour 38 minute board meeting on May 1 as notice?
Those candidates with websites (Archer, Poppenga, and Sunder, as far as I know)–are particularly easy to contact to let them know there is an endorsement process.
Otherwise, this make politics an insider’s game.
You’re relying on 10 seconds in a 3 hour 38 minute board meeting on May 1 as notice?
Those candidates with websites (Archer, Poppenga, and Sunder, as far as I know)–are particularly easy to contact to let them know there is an endorsement process.
…or one can pay attention to what’s going on at school board meetings to learn what’s going on, which is a good trait to have if one plans to run for school board trustee.
It would be very useful to know more about the interview process, what kind of questions were asked, and who is involved in these deliberations.
Jim Herrington’s district e-mail is probably jherrington( at )djusd.net. He can probably answer any questions out there.
Am struck by the similarities/differences(?) between this thread and today’s on the Firefighters’ influence on CC/CM… seems it’s no problem if the district employee unions endorse/support school board candidates, but scandalous if the FF’s do. Gotta assume the former are only interested in supporting the best qualified candidates, with no thought as to how it might benefit their contracts, where the latter are just greedy and self-serving.
Excellent question hpierce.
One significant difference may be that the firefighters are being paid well over $100,000 per year and the people represented by CSEA are not. Just a guess.
Also, the firefighters union was perceived as actively engineering the ouster of the previous city manager. Neither the DTA nor the Davis chapter of CSEA is perceived as attempting to oust the superintendent or any other top administrator.
In other school districts, that accusation has occurred. It also happened in Davis in the 1970’s.
You’re misstating the objection to the firefighters activities.
For clarity, then, David… the DTA & CSEA endorsements are just that, endorsement, w/o financial contributions? Do you know if either school groups will be providing volunteers for the campaigns, as a group?
I seem to recall that a few years ago senior DTA reps were active behind the scenes to convince the Board to rid themselves of particular Superintendents. Think Eva Long was one of those, and heard DTA was involved in David Murphy’s as well. Recall that both supers got “severance” goodies.