Comment Worth Considering from Valdes's Opponent

Steve Gorham has sent back his candidate query below. I think everybody will like the answers.

I have appended the pile of abuse that I have taken for not condemning Mr. Shultz or whatever his name is. He is not Beelzebub, and his wife is not Vampira--although I recall her now that someone said she ran against Susan or April and must opine that hers is not the face that launched a thousand ships and burnt the topless towers of Ilium.

I claim the right to say a kind word about Hitler if I want to if the mood strikes me. Eva Braun kicked Blondie, Hitler's dog, when Hitler wasn't looking, but Hitler was kind to Blondie. And gave her a cyanide pill before he shot his brains out. That was thoughtful. I claim the right to find that slipping poor Blondie a cyanide pill so that she would die with her master an ok thing to do in a bunker right before you put a gun to your head.

There will be unfeeling louts who will defy me, but they won't change my mind.

These thugs who are beating up on an elderly, feeble, shy granny of ten should be ashamed of themselves.

Steve gorham's answers to the candidate query:

Would you oppose nepotism-buddy hirings like that just announced of Linda Kipley’s husband who has no experience in the field?

1. 
   

I would oppose any hiring practice that is not above board. We need to ensure that we are hiring the most qualified person in every instance. I am not a proponent of nepotism or “buddy” hiring.

2. If you oppose violating the equal-opportunity hirings of buddies, relatives, and hangers-on that goes on routinely in this school system, what would you do to stop it?

As stated above I would oppose any hiring practice that is not above board. We need to ensure that we are hiring the most qualified person in every instance. I am not a proponent of nepotism or “buddy” hiring. I would demand that hiring policies are in place and followed to prevent this from happening. I would aggressively investigate any accusation and if substantiated ensure appropriate discipline is administered.

3. In the name of open government, would you insist that the hirings recommended on the consent agenda administration appear with the job’s description and the applications of the candidates online?

I would consider this but would need to look at the hiring process in detail before making a decision.

4. There is a woman applicant in the pool for the above job handed to Mr. Kipley whose national origin is Egyptian and who uses a walker. She has an accounting degree and years of experience in accounting with a major company.

All applicants should be reviewed and selected based on their qualifications and experience relevant to the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the job they are competing for.

5. Are you ready to defend against an EEOC charge and an Americans with Disabilities charge if select an unqualified relative of an administrator and not a qualified woman By hiring Ms. Kipley’s husband who has no degree and no accounting experience?

All applicants should be reviewed and selected based on their qualifications and experience relevant to the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the job they are competing for.

6. Would you insist that administrative jobs get advertising and not go automatically to the superintendent’s buddies?

I believe all job openings should be comprehensively advertised.

7. Would you insist that administrative jobs have degrees in relevant fields?

I believe that having a degree in a relevant field is definitely a plus but it should not be the only criterion that is looked at when evaluating a potential candidate. Experience and portable skill sets should also weigh in on the decision.

8. Would you consider an early-childhood terminal degree as adequate for chief-facilities officer?

I believe that having a degree in a relevant field is definitely a plus but it should not be the only criterion that is looked at when evaluating a potential candidate. Experience and portable skill sets should also weigh in on the decision.

9. Would you think getting the Chief Government Relations officer should go to a kindergarten –degreed young woman whose chief credential was that she was protégée of an elderly male administrator concupiscent for the quietetide of retirement?

All applicants should be reviewed and selected based on their qualifications and experience relevant to the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the job they are competing for.

10. Would you think one of the three administrators Jack Davis who mistreated Doug Erwin before Mr. Erwin won his court case against the school board for harassing him as whistle-blower should get the head of technology department when he has not one credit in technology but an early-childhood degree?

All applicants should be reviewed and selected based on their qualifications and experience relevant to the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the job they are competing for.

11. Would you visit the schools and schedule meetings with teachers at intervals? If so, how often?

Absolutely, I would also schedule meetings with support staff. I understand that it is a team effort to educate our children and everyone plays a vital part. A school member should give attention to all of the hardworking professionals in our district who dedicate their careers to our children.

12. Would you revisit the superintendent’s bloated salary and bring it in line with the teachers’ salaries so that the superintendent makes no more than four times the lowest teacher’s salary?

I would first compare her compensation level to that of her peers in other like size district before addressing her base salary. These results will provide us with the empirical evidence to make adjustments as required. I believe we should look at restructuring her bonus structure, life insurance, and retirement clauses in her contract immediately.

13. The Professional Standards office has a reputation of sadism in punishment, of telling untruths, and of cooking up cases against teachers who criticize the administration. Would you have an overhaul of that office with a committee that has teachers and citizens on it?

I would not tolerate any department in our school district operating in this manner and would actively investigate any information indicating such behavior. In the spirit of sunshine and community involvement I would support having a committee of teachers, support staff, and citizens oversee such an investigation.

11. Attorney Tom Gonzalez promised a citizen and a media specialist that he would produce a pamphlet for teachers who must go to Professional Standards outlining their rights and obligations in that situation. He has not done so. Would you insist that he fulfill that promise?

I would insist that any member of our district who promises something fulfill that promise.

12. Would you have programs to minister to gifted students such as those in Oregon for foreign-language study sponsored by the federal government in such languages as Arabic and Chinese—the two growing populations that will increasingly demand our country’s political and economic attention?

I support expanding our language offerings to not only gifted students but to all our students. We live in a global economy and when our children leave our halls they should have the skills necessary to compete in a global world.

13. Have you read the files of the Doug Erwin case (available in Public Affairs Office)?

No, but time permitting I will try to read up on it.

14. Did you live in Hillsborough County when the Erwin case was tried? Who do you think was the most guilty for the circumstances that Erwin observed in the schools: theft, rigging bids, accepting below-standards buildings that leaked, buckled, and suffered ubiquitous water damage and ac breakdowns in two years of ac’s that should have lasted twenty years?

I believe that I was serving in the military during this timeframe. As a school board member I will not tolerate any of the above stated behavior. I will ensure that all credible accusations are investigated and guilty parties disciplined appropriately.

15. Would you agree for the taxpayers to pay negligent contractors first-class prices for 3^rd-class work and materials?

No. We need to ensure that we are getting the highest quality work for the best price. Our children’s safety is dependent upon competent contractors and as a board member I will fight to ensure that we pay the best price possible for first-class work and materials.

16. Would you have fired Dr. Lennard, Mr. Davis, and Dr. Hamilton for their concerted retaliation against Mr. Erwin for repeatedly bringing these problems to their attention but which they ignored and, instead, plotted to make him quit is job?

I am not familiar with the situation nor was I around at the time that this occurred. Therefore I cannot in clear conscience cast judgment. However I will never tolerate retaliation against any employee of this district.

17. Would you have the courage to be the only board member to oppose something you think is wrong and speak up to say why you think it is wrong?

Absolutely, I am a man who stands by his convictions.

I am willing to believe that Schmidt is not on the up and up. But who is?

I supported both April and Susan when they ran for office. They were going to clean up ROSSAC. Instead, they have fallen in with the go-along-to-get-along creed that all board members seem to succumb to. They walk through the door to ROSSAC and morph into androids.

Susan is too gutless to utter a murmur on the podium; ditto April. April asked for the no-bid contracts to be open for bids. Kurdell and Olson jumped onto her for being "disloyal to the staff," and that quelled her enthusiasm for reform. She has been silent since. She can't take even a little cuffing around and get back up to fight.

I suggested that April have a blog. She opened one, and at first left some messages that got some protests from teachers and requests for further discussions. This stopped April's putting anything on the blog that educated the teachers or opened up controversial issues for discussion. I note she now puts a monthly message praising some teacher for winning an award or some such piffle.

I asked them both to put a teacher-student spot on the board agenda to welcome the most important part of the education community to feel free to come comment. They neither bothered to answer my request. So much for their concern for teachers and students. April distinguished herself by suggesting that there be a workshop on Spring after Ms. Elia had signed the contract for it. If she had been solicitous of teachers' having input into the adoption of a program that they will have to implement and that will give Ms. Elia another venue for "bonus" money, she would not have let Elia's purchase of the Spring slide by on the agenda and make the idiotic suggestion for a teacher workshop after Elia had already bought it with no teacher input and apparently no board input either.

I know Schmidt would be R2D2 for Ms. Elia. But I can't see much more activity for the good of the schools than he would do from April and Susan. They are too scared to do anything but sit on the dais and approve the agenda without bringing up one thing for discussion. How is that different from what Schmidt would do?

The Tribune held its nose and endorsed Susan against Schmidt. I don't see how it could have done anything else. The bottom of the barrel of the political class in the Bay Area runs for the school board. And the behavior of those who get elected to the board is egregiously bad.

Susan does nothing significant for the schools that I can detect. If a person has no courage, he or she is not likely to acquire any. I am afraid that describes Susan. I see nothing to prevent Susan from becoming another Carol Kurdell--mired on the board year after year and not doing diddly to improve the schools.

Mr. Schmidt's performance on the board is not likely to be any worse than Susan's. I am sure you are right about his pumping up his pension. But Susan's gouging the travel budget was no more admirable--especially in a county in which thousands of poor children can't participate in class programs because they can't afford to buy supplies. I don't see Susan's doing anything that benefits the schools to any significant degree. I would be happy to be wrong but fear that I am right. lee

From: Anonymous [mailto:noreply-comment@blogger.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 6:20 PM
To: tdecesar@tampabay.rr.com
Subject: [Lee Drury De Cesare's Casting-Room Couch] New comment on Comment Worth Considering from Valdes's Opponent.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Comment Worth Considering from Valdes's Opponent":

Dave Schmidt is so disengenuous. He is obviously a plant by the administration.

In the LoWV debate he accuses Valdes of a conflict of interest then stupidly discloses himself as the real scoundrel.

Per the Tribune endorsement printed on 02 Aug 2008 Dave stated that everything at the school district was running ok and he didn't see the need for much change.

I fear that Schmidt has pulled the wool over your eyes Ms. De Cesare.

As for April. She gave Susan $100 and has NOT endorsed Ms. Valdes. Additionally Mrs. Griffin is not one of seven persons who GIVES Ms. Valdes her job. As a board member Mr. Schmidt WOULD be one of seven persons directly responsible for giving Mr. Elias spouse her job... and don't tell me that Mr. Elias contribution doesn't impact his feelings towards Elia.

Another interesting consideration is this: Mr. Schmidt's wife Janice Torgerson (aka Ms. Administration Hag) ran against Susan in 2004, then Mr. Schmidt ran against April in 2006 and now Dave is running against Susan Valdes. Why does this couple want so badly to infiltrate this board?

You're a very intelligent person, so think about it. Mr. Schmidt is currently making more as a fulltime administrator than he would as a board member. As a board member he would have to quit his "day job" with the district... so he would loose that income. Why would anyone want to move to a job with a lower salary unless they know there is another payoff to be had?

Let me put it together for you. Alot of money is moving around at HCPS for those willing to sell their soul. Add to that a much more advantageous rate of contribution into the board member's retirement account(s) and you have your answer: Mr. Schmidt is just another Lamb or Edgecomb who is out to use the system to beef up his bank account.

Additionally he is clearly of low intelligence. Even if he were in this for the right reasons (Which I am confident that he is not) I don't think he has the intellect to keep himself from being co-opted by the administration.

Publish this comment.

Reject this comment.

Moderate comments for this blog.

Posted by Anonymous to Lee Drury De Cesare's Casting-Room Couch at 3:19 PM

From: dls649@aol.com

Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 7:43 AM

To: tdecesar@tampabay.rr.com

Subject: Re: letter

Mrs. Decesare: I accepted Mr Elia's campaign contribution to counter the campaign contribution from April Griffin to Valdes, as well as Griffin's open endorsement of Valdes. Mr. Elia said he respects my real-time ability to advance student achievement and tightly manage educational finances.

I am not running against his wife, I am running against Valdes. My entire campaign has centered around advancing student achievement, particularly at our Title 1 schools. When elected, I will rail against the superintendent for not properly supporting the district's two "F" schools, or the three others that are threatened to be closed by the state.

I also know that our teachers should never have to spend their own money supporting their classrooms buying supplies. This happens all the time, particularly in Title 1 schools. When elected, I will pound the table and hound the superintendent to better support our instructional staff.

Point is, Mrs. Decesare, my current work with the district is unblemished by ethical issues or those related to fiscal mismanagement. I've managed $17 million in federal grant funds and understand the need for return on investment of our tax-payer dollars. I won't need $50,000 for on-the-job training.

Dave Schmidt


-----Original Message-----
From: lee de cesare
To: dls649@aol.com
Sent: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 10:19 am
Subject: letter

0A

Mr. Schmidt: I received your letter in which you say that you answered my query about your response to the email I posted on my blog from the man who said your relationship with the administration would make y ou an acolyte of Elia if you got elected. I did not get an answer to that comment.

People are concerned that you are a plant by the administration especially since Ms. Elia’s husband made a donation to your campaign.

What people want to know is how you would be objective in your decisions on the board being an administrator yourself and given your implicit ties with the administration and given that Mr. Elia’s donation to your campaign confirms those ties. Her husband would not donate to your campaign, logic says, if she thought you were going to oppose her.

lee

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