SUSD agenda: new deputy supe and biz chief? (UPDATED)

Here’s Tuesday’s agenda. New board member David Midura is scheduled to be sworn in, but there probably will be other additions, too.

According to pages 43-44 of the link, the district may hire a deputy superintendent for the first time in years. The candidate, the agenda says, is Sheree Audet. Who is she? Who knows? The Google doesn’t even know. Perhaps like many old-time pro wrestlers she is from “parts unknown.”  When I find out, I’ll update this post.

Additionally, Michele Huntoon (left) is in line to become the district’s new chief business officer, replacing the soon-to-retire Wayne Martin.

UPDATE: I can now confirm Audet (previously Sheree Jederberg) is an educational researcher/consultant who has worked for San Bernardino Unified as a director and also held a job last year in … wait for it … Shanghai. This is from Superintendent Steve Lowder.

Enjoy your long weekend.

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SUSD Live — What Larry Hernandez said, and responses from Ross and Ahmed

So here is what Larry Hernandez, husband of the late Sara Cazares, said during public comment tonight. And at the end, there are responses from the two unsuccessful board candidates tonight, Bill Ross and Naveed Ahmed.

Hernandez:

“I am here tonight to remind you of the memory and legacy of my wife. Sara Cazares was a Harvard graduate who returned to Stockton and served this school district with intelligence, distinction, integrity and dedication. But she is no longer here with us. In honor of her, though, I am also here tonight out of concern regarding two of the applicants for the vacant trustee seat. In particular, I am speaking specifically of Bill Ross and Naveed Ahmed. These two applicants make a mockery of my wife’s legacy.

“In 2010, voters in Area 6 spoke loud and clear when they rejected Bill Ross during the election. My wife slaughtered Ross by a 15-percent margin, thus invalidating the second-place finisher appointment argument. Voters soundly rejected his controversial term regarding his lack of intelligent approach and behavior as a board member, bullying antics, name calling, and his lack of professionalism at school sites and during board meetings. Oh, yes, did we forget his racist comment to former board Trustee Colleen Boardman when he stated that there were already too many Mexicans on the school board. And when he was running for school board back in 2006, he lied when he told our neighbors he lived across the street from Rio Calaveras. The reality is that he lives next to August School. Do we really want a return to this kind of legacy? His letters of recommendation forget to mention he created and fostered turbulence during his term and brought no intelligent approach to student achievement, an issue he claims to care so much about. In his own neighborhood, August Elementary was totally neglected. After my wife was elected, she went out to August School and came to notice that the school had repeated break-ins, had no library nor a computer lab. Now there are no more break-ins. She helped to get their library reopened and donated books for it, but she also helped to get them laptops for a much-needed computer lab. I can only guess that Ross was too busy being the district watchdog.

“Regarding Naveed Ahmed, he claims he is applying for the board position as a tribute to my wife. Really? He never gave me the courtesy to ask if he could do this as a tribute to her. Maybe he knew what the answer would be: Absolutely no. That’s because the last conversation Sara had with him, he told her he was helping on (Anthony) Silva’s (mayoral) campaign. She reminded him of Silva’s controversial term as a board member that was marred with investigation on him and people he allied with. Naveed rejected her argument. So she told Naveed she didn’t want anything to do with him. So Naveed chooses to align himself with Silva, the same Silva who can’t even work with the City Council but who sure wants to control the SUSD board. But more importantly, Naveed does not have a history of responsible behavior. Two years ago I heard that his supervisor was notified of his inappropriate comments toward STEP-UP staff women while subbing as a STEP-UP assistant. It also appears he likes to make inappropriate male-chauvinist comments about women’s bodies. Is this the kind of individual we want to unleash onto our school campuses?

“For these reasons, I am asking you as the board to reject these two controversial applicants. Board Trustees Allen, Ramirez, Varela and Garcia: You told me after my wife passed away to not hesitate to ask you for anything. Well, I’m here to ask you to honor my wife’s legacy and memory by rejecting Ross and Ahmed, and to instead narrow your selection to the other … (applicant). Thank you.”

Ross said, “I feel very deeply saddened by his loss, but he doesn’t know me. He’s never spent any time with me and if he did, he would know none of those things are true.”

Ahmed denied the allegation of sexual harassment. He said Silva’s campaign is just one of those he has worked on and added, “I wish the best for Larry Hernandez. He’ll still be a role model and mentor to me.”

Businessman David Midura was chosen on a 5-1 vote. The only vote against him was from Sal Ramirez. Midura’s service will begin at Tuesday night’s board meeting.

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SUSD Live — David Midura chosen as new board member

The decision actually came about 15 minutes ago. After a brief Q&A session, the board voted 5-1 for Midura, a local businessman. The no vote came from Sal Ramirez. David Varela made the motion that led to the vote.

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SUSD Live — Cazares’ husband blasts Ross, Ahmed

Larry Hernandez was one of two speakers during public comment during the meeting to replace his late wife, Sara Cazares. He utterly torched two candidates, Bill Ross and Naveed Ahmed. He was furious. He and son Ricardo are seated in the front row. Will post comments later but right now, the meeting is in full swing with candidates answering questions. A fourth candidate, a Weston Ranch High teacher, dropped out of the process before the meeting. The other participating candidate is David Midura, a businessman.

The other speaker during comment was Marilyn Brown of CSEA who asked the board to look at who the supporters of the candidates are. Ross’ supporters include former Mayor Ann Johnston. Ahmed was a supporter of Mayor Anthony Silva during last year’s campaign against Johnston.

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Chocolate’s complete letter of support for Ross

Tonight is the night SUSD’s board picks a replacement for the late Sara Cazares, assuming one of the four candidates can muster four votes.

Included in the board packet sent out by the district Tuesday was the first page of a letter of support for Bill Ross from former Stagg Principal Jessica Anderson. A sharp-eyed reader noticed that the second page of the letter was missing from the district’s packet. Here’s Anderson’s entire letter. 

Anderson explains in her letter how she came to be identified as “Chocolate” during the chaotic 14-month reign of Superintendent Tony Amato in 2008-09. Here’s a little more for SUSD nostalgia buffs.

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SUSD Area 6 replacement: Ross, three others apply

The agenda and numerous letters of support for former board member Bill Ross can be found here.  His supporters include former Mayor Ann Johnston and former Superintendent Carl Toliver.

The public meeting to choose a replacement for the late Sara Cazares is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the district office.

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SUSD: VAPA showcase tonight, young authors faire — yes, faire, with an e at the end — on Saturday

Stockton Arena hosts tonight’s visual and performing arts event, which is free to the public.

Saturday’s “faire” is at Barnes & Noble.

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Kings (and pawns, bishops and knights) coming to King Elementary

Details here.

The event is tomorrow (May 17) so if you’re interested, sign up your young Boris Spassky.

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SUSD Live — Plowing through the agenda

Here’s the agenda. Everything was approved. The Merlo kids are heading to Kansas City and a bunch of other field trips were approved. I’m now heading off on a field trip to my sofa. Good night at 8:30 p.m.

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SUSD Live — Affordable Care Act; board comments

Risk manager Bill Shook said full implementation of “Obamacare,” once it occurs, will be costly for the district. He said, “Don’t shoot the messenger.” Steve Smith asked for a “ballpark figure” of the cost to SUSD. Shook said providing such a number is complicated and did not provide a guess.

As for board comments:

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