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Yeparoo May 20, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Got to give Gov. Brown credit for recognizing that the surplus is a "one off" situation.…Read More I wouldn't be surprised if the planned budget will be smaller in FYI 14-15 than it is 13-14. The analysts that answered questions about why next year is anticipated to be lower were hilarious. Japan, workers working less hours, China, North Korea (seriously). It will be lower next year because companies and people were taking profits, accelerating dividend and cap gains and delaying deductions to avoid the 2013 FEDERAL tax increase. With his hands tied with Props 98/111 and needing to spend those funds on ED, CC does make some sense. I can't speak to the strategy and timing of how the the money is being spent. I would have preferred that districts been allowed to retire as much debt as possible to reduce cash flow to debt servicing, and increasing the amount of cash flow that could be spent on ED.
fact checker May 17, 2013 at 05:52 pm
I am not aware that CTA must approve any curriculum implemented in CA. Please cite your source.…Read More
As for attacking teachers, please read your posts on just this one thread. Here's just one direct quote:
"I don't see anything so radical in it that would require our already (presumed) expert teachers to need a billion dollars worth of training."
As has been pointed out the billion dollars is targeted for EVERY part of implementation, not just teacher training. You really have trouble seeing past your dislike for teachers to see what this article is really saying. This is often the case.
Capo mom May 17, 2013 at 05:40 pm
fact checker, as you are certainly aware, CTA must approve any curriculum that is implemented in the…Read More state of California. That being said, there is no requirement that this be done using categorical funds. This was done to direct money as CTA desired. It offers no benefit students in CUSD.
LaAna, please be accurate. I don't attack teachers.
LeAna Bui May 14, 2013 at 06:02 pm
Dawn:
From what I can see of what you post, you lay the root of all problems at the foot of CUSD's…Read More door. I do not. Short of spoon feeding this information to voters, how do you propose CUSD "educate" the public??
As Shelly noted, this has been an issued discussed in CUSD for YEARS. In my first one-on-one meeting Jim Fleming (in 1992! before kids!!), he pointed out this disparity then and referred me to the PTA people who were taking the lead then in case I was interested in lending my voice. In my PTA days, the representatives in Sacramento always commented the large and vocal contingent that visited Sacramento from 4th district. As parents and voters, we were trying and CUSD supported our efforts.
At some point, voters must take some responsibility for their lack of knowledge and insight and quit pointing at others.
shelly May 14, 2013 at 03:43 pm
Dawn,
This issue has been discussed in our district for years!!!!! I remember writing postcards to…Read More Sacramento about this issue when my oldest son was in 1st grade! The budget discussions are open to the public. The board meeting agendas are open to the public. Is it always someone else's fault?
Aliso Viejo Parents April 25, 2013 at 08:02 pm
Actually, we've had multiple parents leave Journey because of the time/cost of travel (some students…Read More travel over an hour one-way!). They try a local school in their area, only to come back within a few months. They love the school, as do we. We work hard as a community to make it the school we wish it to be, we don't put our efforts in a blog outlining what's wrong (without offering to help make it better). We show our children that only action can help change the world - not just loud voices.
Aliso Viejo Parents April 25, 2013 at 07:53 pm
Our kids have learned so much about botany, biology, the environment, cause and effect, building and…Read More architecture (the children built many of the structures on the property themselves!), community, responsibility, and citizenship all based on the eco-themed subjects they teach at Journey. Many of the local schools have 'gardening', but Journey took a holistic approach to the subject so that students had real hands-on learning experiences on all aspects of our eco-system and our impact on it. Our two boys, in 6th and 4th grade, are excited about learning again after years at another local, public school. And they don't just stop learning once the bell rings - kids are looking up more information on their own that can contribute to the conversation, and learning, of eco-literacy. It's *this excitement* that has helped with their other subjects, such as math, English, and other traditional subjects.
I heard that Journey had a few rough years, and I'm very happy to see the huge improvement with the new leadership, administration, staff and involved parents. We are focused on our children's future, not just test scores.
The kids are very excited about their hard-earned Green Ribbon Award, as are we!
Thank you, Journey!
applesnkids April 25, 2013 at 03:55 pm
What an accomplishment! As parents of current Journey students, we whole-heartedly recommend the…Read More school to prospective parents.
Interesting that the negative poster is a "former" Waldorf parent who promotes his own blog...I wouldn't quite say his opinion is truth. By promoting his own blog and choosing to post only negative comments (comments that were made by only a couple parents posting as others multiple times) hardly makes his blog unbiased. Do the research. Families tend to stay at Journey and it is a fantastic school.
Capo Parent May 2, 2013 at 07:34 pm
Hopefully, this is the beginning of a period of honesty and transparency by CUSD. It has told so…Read More many lies about the Taj Mahal that it was hard to discern the lies from the truth.
Mission Viejo Mom May 8, 2013 at 08:14 pm
Of the nation’s 26,000 high schools, about 2,000 sent data, and of those, 1,000 were named to…Read More the list, meaning any school with a little gumption has a 50 percent chance of being a best.
Mission Viejo Mom May 8, 2013 at 08:10 pm
This article really tells the truth about those best high school lists.…Read More
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/04/education/in-best-high-schools-lists-numbers-dont-tell-all.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
fact checker May 8, 2013 at 01:17 pm
I'm sure the local Patch will be posting an article similar to that in Newport.…Read More
http://newportbeach.patch.com/articles/newsweeks-ranks-newport-high-schools-among-america-s-best
fact checker April 26, 2013 at 07:58 pm
William, I think your kids might thank you more for teaching them the value of every human being,…Read More whether they speak English or not.
William April 26, 2013 at 07:50 pm
Dawn... you forgot to mention the cost involved to teach English-Learners (illegal-alien children).…Read More But that's OK with CUSD. Do your kids a favor and place them in a private school where they will receive a quality education... where lousy teachers are fired and no teacher union exists. Your kids will thank you some day.
Kara May 12, 2013 at 02:11 am
Fingertip length dresses, thick straps on tank tops, and longer shorts are simply not the style…Read More nowadays. It's unrealistic to expect girls to be able to find this type of clothing - I have yet to see a single store that sells longer shorts for girls as longer clothing is an outdated style. If the weather is warm out, what's wrong with wearing clothing that allows you to be cool and comfortable as long as it isn't hurting anyone else? If a teacher or a male student is "distracted" by the extra four inches of leg or exposed shoulders (both of which are body parts that are completely neutral), perhaps they should reconsider why they feel the need to deem the worth of another person by the amount of skin they're showing. Instead of teaching girls that the solution to being oversexualized by their peers is to cover up and avoid the problem perhaps everyone (teachers, students, and parents of any gender) should be taught to view everyone with respect regardless of what they are wearing.
Dan Avery May 11, 2013 at 06:53 pm
My point, em, which by the way is a screen and not your real name, is that clearly we are focusing…Read More on the wrong things. Her comment was far too general for a high school comment and it points to the reason that I had to spend my time teaching how to write a clear thesis in the highest level composition class offered at UCI.
California bounces between ranking 46th and 48th nationally when it comes to education. I was educated in Minnesota, which always ranks somewhere in the top five for education. So before you question my high school essays you need to know that. Far from trolling I am pointing to a very serious national problem. California is a very populated state and its people are ill-educated. Were they not, you might have read more into my comment and realized the intent behind it.
Michael Huntley March 29, 2013 at 08:07 pm
I played for Coach Bucher at Aliso. Great coach and great man. Excited for him.
Capo Parent April 1, 2013 at 04:22 pm
Robert
The issue with Mello Roos is not just how the Mello Roos funds are spent, but how the Mello…Read More Roos are interprested, how they are collected, how they are extended, and how they are terminated/allowed to expire (if at all). Take for example CFD 87-1. It is my understanding that CUSD has collected enough monies to pay off the bond for this CFD and retire the CFD. Instead, CUSD has continued 87-1 until 2017. It appears that for a number of years, if not from the inception, CUSD has collected roughly $2.3 million more than it needed to service the bond.
Capo Parent April 1, 2013 at 04:11 pm
RC
Try doing some fact finding before making general statements. First off, you assume the written…Read More disclosure provided to homeowners for a Mello Roos aka CFD matches what is contained in the origination documents for the Mello Roos. Second, CUSD can manipulate how the Mello Roos will be collected and extended. For example, CUSD could charge the full amount for one Mello Roos from the inception before any bonds are sold, but not do the samething for another Mello Roos. This would be an example of "unfair taxation."
What has changed is that the dirty secrets of Mello Roos and how Mello Roos are manipulated are now coming to light.
Robert Reidel March 29, 2013 at 03:19 am
It appears to me that nobody is contesting the paying of Mello-Roos fees. Rather, I think the issue…Read More is how the CUSD has/does allocate the funds it receives from those various communities. When one looks at the Table, in raw numbers, it certainly does appear to clearly lack equity.
Should Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo really be funding the overwhelming lions share of the district office, that the entire CUSD community benefits from? The significance of hammering the funds obtained from some communities so heavily for the administration building, is that then those funds are unavailable for facility improvements to schools in those communities. Conversely, by the district not applying funds (or negligibly) from some of the funds, those communities retain those funds for dedicated use on their community schools. The district has the legal latitude to do this, however, it is good for the communities whose funds are onerously tapped for the funds to be aware of why there are no funds available to be spent on maintenance/improvement of their schools.
With the passage of measure M by the voters, the stage is better set to pit area against area, and leave the constituents in a given area with little recourse. Also, recall that the district office was pitched to the CUSD constituents under the auspice that the funds to pay for it could be used on nothing else, and that no funds would be diverted from schools. So much for that assurance.
Lawrence (Larry) McCook March 12, 2013 at 12:29 pm
IMO, Children under 16 should not be any farther than the front of their house at night without…Read More parental supervision excepting for being transported to movies, chaperoned parties, etc. Though it is not always easy, parents have a job responsibility in raising children.
Dawn Smith March 9, 2013 at 02:08 pm
Awesome and congrats. Thankful for the impact you had on Kyle and the other boys in small group.…Read More Your influence both in and outside the classroom speaks volumes. Thanks you. The Smith Family
fact checker March 4, 2013 at 08:11 pm
There is no evidence that private schools offer a better education than public schools in general.
CUSD Parents Are Selfish @55h0|35 March 4, 2013 at 07:10 pm
@Penny Quotation marks can also be made in the air with your fingers, but just like your comment…Read More it's neither here nor there.
Come on people, let's stay on topic.
fact checker March 4, 2013 at 06:34 pm
Yes, but the start quotation mark before "Big education... has no end quotation mark. It…Read More looks like she started to quote someone without a citation.
Pam Ragland March 4, 2013 at 08:43 pm
Several issues here.
1) The schools SHOULD take responsibility for helping ID issues with kids,…Read More which parents are otherwise not trained to ID or understand. It sounds like someone knew that with Saddleback's policy--yet was it followed?
2) Schools are woefully inept at ID'ing issues with kids. It took YEARS to ID my son as Autistic, after a major trauma brought on symptoms. Since I've become an expert, developed an innovative & effective new treatment to help Autistic kids be more normal. Yet I've offered to TRAIN OUR SCHOOL FREE & they haven't done it. Schools need to be open to help to solve issues, not ignore them.
3) Few parents realize how dangerous video games are. They are literally conditioning the child's habits to automatically repeat what is in the "game". Parents think because other kids do it & it's called a game, it's safe. Instead it has become a coping mechanism to help kids get through life. (Next stop, drugs.)
Gameboy supressed a study that showed video games damage the emotional center of a child's brain, causing a lack of empathy. It was released in Germany & I learned about it from a child development professor at Stanford & verified it.
The issue is complex. Blaming the boy only means we'll repeat it, as we have not solved the real problems.
Panglonymous February 28, 2013 at 05:14 pm
What's the use of being boss if you can't declare yourself the winner?
Peter Schelden (Editor) February 28, 2013 at 03:03 pm
It's an interesting idea, Pan. ;-) But then, I'm sure I couldn't give the prize to myself, could I?
Paula Mchaels February 18, 2013 at 07:34 am
My son attended journey are all of his years great until he graduated from there he is wonderful…Read More high school student now and I have to say because the journey individual teaching that he got from all those wonderful teachers and the way they teach & mold their students, not just. On impowering their brain, but on refocusing the. Way to see beyond. A text book. & learning to see that life through hand's on learning & actually living. Out what they have been tought, from this very unique & personbal group of teachers. & enviomental searen place of beauty. & students &teachers together build to make it their own. All doing this with a few good. Old-fashioned ways through, what's important. In. Life. To be successful. With. Music, Dance. , Art and most important. A lot of Love. And a sense of community. Aliso. Viejo a real Family! Get Involved & watch. Us grow, Be proactive in you're lives today for out future. And our future. Leaders tomorrow. ( todays children
your children) Go Green, & plant the seeds! God bless the children. & the. World, Thank you. Ms.Paula Albert Rosenbloom ><)))))*>
Parents United February 22, 2013 at 01:50 am
This is exactly the point I am making. When I see politicians who only use public safety as a…Read More political chess piece, it makes me sick. If our representatives cared, or showed any concern beyond the ballot box, they would not only show up, but participate and engage with the community.
Kathleen K February 22, 2013 at 12:19 am
This was a very informative meeting with the Sheriff's department. It's a wonder no one from the…Read More city of Aliso Viejo, such as those responsible for public safety, or even the city council, bothered to attend. I would like to see these entities work together to keep the city safe for our children.
Uncle of Many February 20, 2013 at 04:26 pm
It's comforting to see more awareness around this ever growing and discerning issue called 'Online…Read More Kids Safety'. This is truly an important topic to engage and be apart of. Parents need to get on board and explore the online world with their kids not just for their safety, but so they don't get left behind.
Take a look at this blog posting "5 Online Safety Tips to Teach Your Child" ~ http://goo.gl/YoWri
Silence Dogood February 23, 2013 at 07:18 pm
OMG, OMG, I just figured it out! It's so obvious! The incredibly thin-skinned bully JustUs is…Read More actually the incredibly thin-skinned bully Sarah Palin! Welcome to the Patch Governor!
Black Jesuscom February 24, 2013 at 10:21 pm
The omission of Frederick Douglas is just a
portion of the convenient oversights in this
film. To…Read More get the real truth about Lincoln
and slavery you must listen to noted historian
Lerone Bennett. http://bit.ly/VgwcLN
ms.sc. February 12, 2013 at 06:41 pm
Thanks Patch! Us readers needed this innocent smile-of-the-day! Precious!! :)
Penny Arévalo (Editor) February 12, 2013 at 05:29 pm
BTW, for those interested in the Mandarin immersion program (open to Capo Unified students entering…Read More kindergarten in September), open enrollment is for another two weeks, through Feb 22.
Dusty W Otero February 12, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Lunar new year is not only for Chinese ,, Vietnamese celebrate in Westminster folks,,,I…Read More call it Lunar year ,,for all asians ,,but not Japanese,,,they do not ,,
MayMom February 8, 2013 at 03:49 pm
This has nothing to do with anything other than what is convenient for the parents who are picking…Read More up the kids. Rules don't apply to many of them. I see it at all the school levels. Elementary, Middle and High School. Buses may be part of it but that is where carpooling can help. I'm considering getting my child a pass on the OCTA bus. It'll drop right close to the school.
Johnny Utah February 8, 2013 at 01:44 am
I saw all the teens at Ihop the other night. Looked a little ghetto.
Also, parents need to stop…Read More parking off Wood Canyon where the elementary school is. Clearly there is a no parking sign. It gets crazy when cars are parked because of the crammed little street.
Present Parent February 7, 2013 at 09:34 pm
If the powers that be hadn't cut funding so severely to the district, the kids would be in buses…Read More instead of the 400+ cars and parking would be a non-issue.
Penny Arévalo (Editor) February 5, 2013 at 06:46 pm
Follow-up story here:…Read More http://sanjuancapistrano.patch.com/articles/jserra-cheaters-get-window-of-mercy-if-they-come-forward
Johnny Utah February 5, 2013 at 04:38 pm
I agree. I went to private Catholic school my entire life. A lot of people cheat, they just got…Read More caught.
fact checker February 5, 2013 at 01:27 am
Totally agree math teacher. I'm sure you've seen it many times. Parents who don't let their…Read More children suffer the consequences of their actions are sending the wrong message. The students at J Serra will learn some lessons from their parents, some very valuable life lessons, by observing their reactions to this incident. Kids make bad choices. It's part of growing up. High school students who cheat show little respect for themselves, their parents and their peers as well as their teachers. This lack of respect began years earlier. And it did not begin in the classroom.
Michelle Pike January 29, 2013 at 03:28 pm
Maybe the district could transition the students living in SJC, who were orginally slated to attend…Read More SJH, out of the over-crowded CVHS and even-out the attendance for all three schools.
Purvis Granger January 26, 2013 at 02:42 am
Fortunately they are all more articulate and accomplished than you upon graduation. Ultimately,…Read More unlike you, many will run things.
JustUs January 26, 2013 at 01:12 am
Oh, there will be lots of $12/hr. jobs waiting for them. Good luck with paying off that $70,000…Read More student loan. Kids today are incredibly naive. They must be getting hit hard with propoganda and false statistics. Each college campus should have an 'Office of Propoganda'.
Capo Teacher Negotiations Tackle Class Size, Longer School…
0 Recommend Penny Arévalo (Editor)