Tags
Barrera, Cindy Marten, Evans, Foster, Marne Foster, McQuary, San Diego Unified Board of Education, San Diego Unified School District, San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten, SDUSD, SDUSD Trustee Kevin Beiser
The journey through the San Diego Board of Education Meeting on 6/9/15 was an eventful one. We published an Introduction and 5 narratives that broke down what we felt were the most relevant decisions and discussions impacting SDUSD Stakeholders…Parents – Teachers – Students – Administrators – Staff – Community Members.
A large number of “regular” Stakeholders shared their opinion and were ignored, were insulted and were dismissed by both the Board Trustees and Superintendent Marten. The only groups that actually had the attention of the Trustees and Marten were the individuals that the Board reports to…the SDEA Union leadership (not the rank and file and not the other “weaker” Unions), Executives in the business community (like SDG&E) and any group of students, administrators or community that can be used as props for a photo op.
In these cases you could actually see the Board and Marten perk up and show a level of enthusiasm in engaging these “Special” Stakeholders
At various times that the “regular” Stakeholders were speaking with emotion explaining their concerns, the Board Trustees and Superintendent were checking out their Smartphones, reading notes, chatting with each other, or just blankly daydreaming and otherwise ignoring the comments being made.
This insulting behavior by the Board of Education and Superintendent Marten was especially evident during the Public Comments at the beginning of the Meeting…and it is evidence of the bigger issue that permeates the current culture promulgated by the Board Trustees and Marten.
THAT BIGGER ISSUE IS widespread “regular” Stakeholder DISTRUST and the feeling that their PARTICIPATION AND OPINIONS DO NOT MATTER.
Even though they seem to know the terminology of engagement and transparency…and spout that terminology constantly…the Board Trustees and Marten DO NOT FOLLOW the SPIRIT of Stakeholder engagement and transparency.
In other words, the Board Trustees and Marten know the letter of the law but clearly do not have the moral center to practice the SPIRIT of the law.
THEY NEVER ADMIT THEY WERE WRONG!
As you go through the 5 District Deeds Narratives you can read and hear Stakeholders TELL the Board and Superintendent that THEY HAVE BEEN LIED TO BY THE MARTEN ADMINISTRATION…and that THEIR TRUST IN THE SDUSD HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND THEN BEING DISMISSED.
It has been an inspiring journey to review the almost 7 hours of dedicated Stakeholder testimony that would not be denied by any attempts by the Grand Jury Accused Board President Marne Foster to improperly limit their free speech by rude interruptions and intimidation.
We are ashamed of the Stakeholders who allowed the Board and Marten co-opt their free speech and honesty in return for job security or “special access” to the Board and Marten…they have betrayed all Stakeholders and especially the Students who need the most help.
We are sorry for the Stakeholders who feared retribution and demurred form speaking so that they would not be fired or punished by the Board and Marten for exercising their free speech.
And we are PROUD of the Stakeholders who fearlessly spoke from their heart AND RISKED EVERYTHING on behalf of the SDUSD Students despite overwhelming odds!
We hope this exercise in reporting has been helpful in shedding light on what drives SDUSD Board and Superintendent decisions and helps you know that you are not alone when fighting the BILLION DOLLAR SDUSD.
Thank you for reading…and we will be talking again soon!
Here is a list of the full series of posts for the SDUSD Board of Education Meeting on 6/9/15:
DISTRICT DEEDS MEETING DISMEMBERMENT: San Diego BOE Meeting 6/9/15 – PART 3: “SHELL GAMES”
DISTRICT DEEDS MEETING DISMEMBERMENT: San Diego BOE Meeting 6/9/15 – EPILOGUE
District Deeds 