January 2008 Archives

This isn't exactly education-related news: Schools reporter Caroline An now sports a stylish pair of glasses. Personally, I think the glasses give her a serious, focused look.

Here's the education tie-in: Sight for Students is a charity group that provides free vision exams and glasses to low-income, uninsured children. Most, if not all, of our area school districts are partners.

Expanding on the show of global unity between Edwin Diaz and Bill Bogaard - on full display at Rose Parade - the PUSD board on Tuesday is going to consider approving a resolution supporting Measure D.
The original resolution read: urges voters to support...: (Cue the red flags from the critics along with letter mailed to the DA's office.)

Staff quickly revised the resolution on Monday with more general and non-education code violating "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Pasadena Unified Board of Education supports the passage of Measure D to continue the funding of these vital programs that help families and children, which will allow Pasadena to maintain existing services, including those that directly affect our schools, with no new taxes."

My story should have run in today's paper, but it didn't. I have no idea why.

Here's a version that my editor just re-worked so my long hours tracking down the superintendent, school board members along with a election-law expert weren't for nothing! Thanks Hector!

_____________________

By Caroline An
Staff Writer
PASADENA — Prompted by questions over whether it violated state law, a resolution putting the Pasadena Unified School District on record in support of a city utility tax measure has been re-worded.
The reworked resolution, which the district’s school board was expected to adopt at its Tuesday night meeting, eliminated wording saying that the district “urges voters” to support Measure D.
It now states that the “Pasadena Unified Board of Education supports the passage of Measure D to continue the funding of these vital programs that help families and children, which will allow Pasadena to maintain existing services, including those that directly affect our schools, with no new taxes.”
Under Section 7954 of the state Education Code, public school districts are forbidden from using funds to urge the support or defeat of any ballot measure or candidate.
Long-time district critic Rene Amy lodged a formal complaint against the original resolution with the Public Integrity Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He asked the office to look into whether the resolution violated any part of the code.
“You are not allowed to urge people,” Amy said. “What did somebody do, read the law and figure out how to break it?”
Superintendent Edwin Diaz said board member Ed Honowitz developed the original resolution.
Board President Esteban Lizardo said, after reviewing the resolution and state guidelines, he ordered staffers to revise the wording. Diaz said the district’s legal counsel then reviewed the revisions to ensure that “it is safe and in no violation of the education code.”
“Any language in which we urge people to go out and vote is not allowed in resolutions,” Lizardo said.
School boards can support a measure, but it is different from saying “please go out and vote for it,” Lizardo added.
Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, a watch-dog group, said the district might have received bad advice when drafting the original resolution.
“I would have advised them not to take a formal position on this. It looks like the government is telling you what do,” he said.
caroline.an@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4494
www.insidesocal.com/hallwaymonitor

Hey All,

My story on the PUSD chief of staff hiring did not make it into the paper today. That sucks.

However, for you lucky blog readers, it's posted below! Take a minute to read it!

By Caroline An

Staff Writer

PASADENA — Pasadena Unified School District’s newly created chief of staff position was filled Wednesday, three months after the superintendent requested the post.

Stephen Brinkman, 59, who was a colleague of PUSD Superintendent Edwin Diaz when Diaz worked for the Gilroy Unified School District, will serve in the new job, beginning Feb. 4.

Brinkman’s appointment comes as the PUSD attempts to implement an array of recommendations from two 2007 audits and those contained in Diaz’s “Approach to Excellence” blueprint, his list of district priorities.

Brinkman, 59, is currently assistant superintendent of administrative services for the Gilroy district, overseeing its operations, accounting and finance divisions.

At Gilroy, he helped the district eliminate a $4.5 million budget deficit and oversaw a $200 million campus improvements plan.

Prior to coming to Gilroy Unified, he was chief financial officer, secretary and executive vice president for the Monterey Pasta Co. for six year.

The chief of staff job is a temporary position that comes with a $150,000 salary, which is being funded by the Helen and Will Webster Foundation, an Altadena-based foundation.

The PUSD board approved the position in September.
It was the second time Brinkman interviewed for a job at PUSD. Last year, he was considered for the job of interim assistant superintendent for business services.

Regarding his new role, which will be similar to an internal auditor, Brinkman acknowledged that in the upcoming months the district will be undergoing a major overhaul.

“It is a big challenge,” he said. “When you’re excited and anxious, it stimulates you to be creative and gets things done.”

Diaz said he is thrilled to have Brinkman part of his staff. His strengths, Diaz noted, are his hard-working nature and his high level of integrity.
“I expect he would move quickly and aggressively,” in making changes, Diaz said.
Esteban Lizardo, PUSD board president, said he was pleased that the job was filled by someone with a background in education and operations.

Along with making structural changes in staffing and school facilities, officials hope to make the district more responsive to parents and students, Lizardo said.

Brinkman said his first priority will be getting to know the staff and discussing where they feel improvements need to be made.
“We need to develop a positive culture within the district,” he said. “Anytime you have a transition, you need to develop a brand new team.”
[TAG1]caroline.an@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4494
www.insidesocal.com/hallwaymonitor

Edwin Diaz gets his wing-man...three months after the PUSD board approved the position.
Stephen Brinkman received the nod Wednesday - along with a $150,000 salary - and will start his year-long stint as the district's internal auditor on Feb. 4.

It's a tough job though - he acknowledged this in a phone interview with me today. His priorities include implementing changes from personnel to facilities based on three audits; two from Gibson Consulting and the third from Diaz himself.

Brinkman's background includes stints as a chief financial officer for the Monterey Pasta Company and his current position as Gilroy Unified's assistant superintendent. Edwin went with who he knew best - the same man who used to report to him when he was Gilroy superintendent.

Check for the story tomorrow.

I don't get the two weeks that students get off for break, but I'm not at work today (I know - I'm blogging so I guess I'm still in work mode). However, writing this entry from my parents house where the laundry is free and the food is good, is more fun.

This lovely work-free day came courtesy of Todd Ruiz, who decided to schedule a lot of activities last Saturday and didn't realize he had to work the weekly Saturday shift. It was not the most fun Saturday shift (writing a follow-up on stabbing doesn't translate to an easy, breezy 8-hour day).

Covering the Rose Parade yesterday was a lot of fun - especially sitting in seats on Orange Grove Blvd. Since I grew up in the area, joining the masses to see the parade is a yearly tradition. However, my friends and I usually get to the spot a tad late and I'm short so I usually get elbowed/knocked over by some tall meanie.

I hope everyone had a lovely New Year's and don't forget, school's back in session Jan. 7.