Home Antioch Letter: Mary Rocha Encourages AUSD School Board to Bring Back Charter Petition for Re-vote

Letter: Mary Rocha Encourages AUSD School Board to Bring Back Charter Petition for Re-vote

by ECT

Dear Editor:

At the Antioch Unified School Board of Education meeting held on May 9th, against the advice of staff and legal counsel, AUSD Board Members Crystal Sawyer-White, Debra Vinson, and Walter Ruehlig voted to approve East Bay Tech High School Charter (EBTHS) and East Bay Tech Middle School Charter (EBTMS) with the following conditions: “Delegate the Superintendent to negotiate the MOU that addresses the Findings of Facts included in Resolution No. 2017-18-9, including the revised budget, SPED and operations, by June 18th”.  Despite legal counsel concerns and Board Member Gibson-Gray pointing out that there was nothing in the motion to deny the charter if they did not meet the conditions the approval still stands, the motion was passed 3-2, with Hack/Gibson-Gray voting against it.

The EBTHS and EBTMS Charters are based on the Clayton Valley Charter High School (CVCHS) which has recently made headlines, “Contra Costa County Office of Education To Conduct Forensic Financial Audit of Clayton Charter High School After Sudden Departure of Administrators” (Claycord May 17, 2018).

One of the lead petitioners, Megan Moilanen, is currently on staff of CVCHS and during the May 9th meeting spoke glowingly about the successes at CVCHS and they would be bringing that success model to the Antioch Charters.  This is very concerning and until the investigation is completed, Antioch Unified School District needs to put a stop to both charters.

Unfortunately, only AUSD Board Members who voted to approve the charters may request that the item be brought back to the board for discussion or a revote. For the sake of our students and community, I feel that action needs to be taken quickly.

Please contact the AUSD Board Members below to encourage them to reconsider their vote while the Contra Costa County Office of Education conducts a Forensic Financial Audit of CVCHS and the actions of their Administrators and Board Members.

[email protected].ca.us
[email protected]
[email protected]

Thank you.

Mary Helen Rocha
Past AUSD Trustee, Antioch Mayor and City Council Member

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18 comments

Julio May 23, 2018 - 9:31 am

Poor looser and one of the worst trustees we have ever had.

me May 23, 2018 - 11:59 am

I’m with Mary. At a minimum AUSD board needs to put the Antioch charters on hold, and at max, rescind them.

Fernando Navarro May 23, 2018 - 11:15 pm

Hmm there seems to be a pattern here. be it on a national level or a local school board level…when liberals steal, crowbar, pressure or get a vote…no one better dare question, challenge or even question the validity of that vote…..BUT WHOA HORSIE…..If they lose a vote…look out Bettsie!
Time to challenge, lie…throw anything and everything against the wall to UNDO SAID LEGAL VOTE!

Lets grow up people! the kids are looking.

Lydia Vicknair May 24, 2018 - 12:23 pm

Yes, let’s, Mr. Navarro. All generalizations are false.

Fernando Navarro May 24, 2018 - 9:08 pm

Forget generalizations, you dont need to go further then the last 3-4 video recorded board meetings. IT IS EMBARRASSING! The level of DESPERATION and fearmongering perpetrated by union members under the guise of ‘teachers’ to keep the pension money …YES I SAID IT! pension money from slipping away from their fingers.

THE AUSD ANNUAL BUDGET IS $750MILLION (3/4 of a BILLION!)

They just recieved another $2million in UNION raises…
you got through curruption and deciept, prop 55….and STILL ITS NOT ENOUGH MONEY…

LAWS OF ECONOMICS….CREATE A BETTER MOUSE TRAP OR GO THE WAY OF THE DODO.

The days of subsidized mediocrity are a thing of the past. And UNSUSTAINABLE!

Concerned Citizen May 25, 2018 - 1:50 pm

Mr. Navarro can you support your claim about the district budget being $750 million with evidence? As a previous board trustee, you should be familiar with the budget as you would have received multiple reports from staff. I am not sure which document you are seeing the 750 million of revenue. The district realizes approximately $200+ Million annually. There is no document that shows the value you state.

Instead of blaming the issues on whatever group you feel is the issue. Why don’t you spend some time having a constructive dialogue with the district instead of spreading false claims and confusing the public?

Those individuals at the board meetings have a right to fight for their job and their students just as you do, whether you agree with their motives or not. At least they show up and participate in the dialogue.

When would you like to join and provide input since you have fulfilled your term on the board? Would you like to participate in an LCAP meeting to help guide staff on what they should be doing and directing money? These are all excellent ways to excercise your right as a community member to have a voice. You have only shown up to speak about charter schools noting how the systems is failing and provide no substantive suggestions to help. That gives the district a great opportunity to make change. They never had a chance. If you use these methods and you find your voice still not being heard then vote for your charter schools. At least give them a chance. People listen more when you identify a problem and suggest a solution in a constructive way.

Whether I agree or disagree with your platform, I do appreciate your service on the board. Not many people want to put themselves in the public eye and be put under a microscope. That takes guts and people deserve respect for that. Part of being a public official is being grounded, a positive leader, and a supporter of the community. This all comes when you base your statements in fact and keep and open mind to both sides of the story. Please do the community a service by not spreading false claims and channel your passion for the community into positive change for the city of Antioch and the school district that is the best way to make Antioch move forward.

Fernando Navarro May 29, 2018 - 10:42 pm

and to help you understand the “books”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbBN1j5XtPE

forward to 14min 30 second
to 48mins

Concerned Citizen May 25, 2018 - 2:00 pm

Mr. Navarro can you support your claim about the district budget being $750 million with evidence? As a previous board trustee, you should be familiar with the budget as you would have received multiple reports from staff. I am not sure which document you are seeing the 750 million of revenue. The district realizes approximately $200+ Million annually. There is no document that shows the value you state.

Instead of blaming the issues on whatever group you feel is the issue. Why don’t you spend some time having a constructive dialogue with the district instead of spreading false claims and confusing the public?

Those individuals at the board meetings have a right to fight for their job and their students just as you do, whether you agree with their motives or not. At least they show up and participate in the dialogue.

When would you like to join and provide input since you have fulfilled your term on the board? Would you like to participate in an LCAP meeting to help guide staff on what they should be doing and directing money? These are all excellent ways to excercise your right as a community member to have a voice. You have only shown up to speak about charter schools noting how the systems is failing and provide no substantive suggestions to help. That gives the district a great opportunity to make change. They never had a chance. If you use these methods and you find your voice still not being heard then vote for your charter schools. At least give them a chance. People listen more when you identify a problem and suggest a solution in a constructive way.

Whether I agree or disagree with your platform, I do appreciate your service on the board. Not many people want to put themselves in the public eye and be put under a microscope. That takes guts and people deserve respect for that. Part of being a public official is being grounded, a positive leader, and a supporter of the community. This all comes when you base your statements in fact and keep and open mind to both sides of the story. Please do the community a service by not spreading false claims and channel that into positive change for the city of Antioch and the school district.

Concearned Citezen May 26, 2018 - 5:49 am

Mr. Navarro,

With respect, quoting a video viewed 75,000 times on a website, freedomtaker.com, that also speaks about the “Secrets of the Slave State”, “You Can No Longer Trust Your Banker” and “Escaping the Trap of Corporate Imposter Government” is hardly a valid and reputable source to explain your knowledge of the process. Especially since you are using it to explain a process that school districts do not participate in.

First, school districts follow the law set forth in the Educational Code. They provide many reports of the budget. This comes in the initial budget which gets adopted by the board, a first interim budget, a second interim budget, unaudited actuals, and the audited actuals. In reference to AUSD, none of these state the amount you claim the district gets and are developed so the public can few the finances of the district. The district gets audited annually.

Also reading your last statement, you are implying that the district is falsifying the accounting records and these documents to the public. Without supporting evidence, making a claim like that is irresponsible and appalling.

You can find every audit done as required by law by an independent body on the districts website. Find one that supports your claim. The public is still waiting for the evidence from you that states the district has a 750 million dollar budget which you still have yet to provide.

Finally, I have to say again, you make a lot of claims without any evidence to support them. This is not doing a service to the public and just continues to spread falsehoods about the district. People will take your statements more seriously when they are supported by fact and rooted in common sense.

Fernando Navarro May 26, 2018 - 10:41 pm

My fellow tax payer, please ignore the distraction behind the curtain. I am not here to do your homework, but point you in the right direction. here’s a more detailed explanation of the C.A.F.R. WE MUST DEMAND from our public servants!
This updated video helps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2aif0Wk9E0
They are the public SERVANTS,
WE ..ARE..THE SOURCE OF WEALTH and the BENEFACTORS!

ECT May 25, 2018 - 6:45 pm
Concearned Citizen May 25, 2018 - 7:19 pm

Thanks ECT for providing the documents for reference. I would like to correct my comment earlier that the district realizes approximately $130+ million annually not the $200 million I stated earlier.

Fernando Navarro May 25, 2018 - 10:38 pm

Since I was prevy of the “books” I know what I am talking about. nobody is talking about the polished “for public consumption” budget.
I am talking about the districts C.A.F.R. REPORTS.

HERE IS AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT A C.A.F.R LOOKS LIKE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pRPBKJQnyU&t=5s

Fernando Navarro May 29, 2018 - 10:43 pm

Common guys…doe some real investigative reporting!

here you go:

http://www.govwiki.info/pdfs/School%20District/CA%20Antioch%20Unified%20School%20District%202017.pdf

and to help you understand the “books”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbBN1j5XtPE

forward to 14min 30 second
to 48mins

Fernando Navarro May 25, 2018 - 6:46 am

Boy….thats a whopper of a false generalizations.

Smoke and mirrors May 25, 2018 - 5:18 am

This lady is one of the biggest frauds in the County, dont let her innocent old lady look fool you!

Thomas McNell May 26, 2018 - 10:07 am

https://i.imgur.com/BImUEHR.jpg

A picture is worth a thousand words. The Teachers Union and their supporters never argue on student performance numbers because the facts are indisputable. Except for following the proven successful teaching model, East Bay Tech Academies will be separate from Clayton Valley Charter. It is sad to see money and control being touted as more important than giving children the best opportunity to get a great education.

Parents and Students are unhappy with the status quo.

Thank you AUSD Board members for voting to give our community choices.

Comments are closed.