Alan Bersin, new California Education Secretary

[realFedUp]

a little background...I don't vouch for this website
or commentary...just fyi.

http://www.laprensa-sandiego.org/archieve/october11-02/grassroots.htm

October 11, 2002
Commentary

A “Grassroots” Report Card for Alan Bersin
By Mike MacCarthy

Because the city school board voted (3-2) in September to evaluate Mr. Bersin’s performance for a possible $25,000 bonus, before the election in November, I decided to prepare my own evaluation.

1. Superintendent Ignores Community Input: June 1999. Despite overwhelming community requests Mr. Bersin and his three-vote majority fired 13 principals, two vice-principals, and 600 teachers aides, without due process because he “had to.” Earned Grade: F

2. Teacher’s Union Votes 93% No-confidence in Bersin. June 2001. 94% also voted no confidence in the school board majority of Sue Braun, Ed Lopez and Ron Ottinger. Earned Grade: F

3. Inaccurate “steady progress” flier sent to parents by SDCS August 2001 concerning SAT9 test score results for school year 2001. Test scores on the SAT9 were flat or declining, compared to the previous year despite diverting $100 million in Title I funds for Blueprint. Earned Grade: F

4. SDCS “Diverts” Grant Money for Sherman Elementary September 2001. SDCS admits a “legal mistake” by appropriating funds from one of three grants totaling $1.3 million awarded to Sherman. The 21st Century Grant worth $195,000 per year for three years was promised to Sherman by SDCS within a few days. SDCS then broke that promise. Earned Grade: C-

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