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    June 28, 2008

    California Kamasutra: Ask Tina

    I love challenges. Linguistic challenges such as one letter L in American language and double L in U.K. English. Or, "when do I double the consonant preceding the -ed ending of a verb?"

    Today, I take upon the unusual challenge of going through a series of commonly known but rarely practiced sexual positions. No photos or pictures. Just words in a Q & A format. Having lived in California gave me all this  wisdom.

    --Tina, what is a missionary position?

    --A missionary position is that one in which a man/woman puts himself/herself on his knees while offering a 10 K piece of jewelry to his/her significant other. The offering had better come in the colorful acqua bag from Tiffany, or else.

    --Tina, what is the position "I go on top?"

    --This is a very intriguing question. If a woman rides on top that means she is quite busy on the phone, at the beauty salon, shopping on Rodeo Drive, chatting with friends on line or at a café while the significant other is slaving his life away at some stupid cheap corporation, such as GE or our government's NSA.

    If it's a man on top, that means he "works on-line" all day long, surfs the Net, has a ton of virtual friends and excuses for taking calls from total strangers (to his significant other) and takes a siesta from all this hard work while the partner works in and outside the house, supporting the leech.

    --Tina, what is a sideways position ?

    --Ah, ha! Wonders never cease. In the days baby-boomers were younger, this position meant the opposite of its meaning today to both boomers and surviving parents. Sideways means the couple sleeps with ear-plugs on, their derrières barely touching while they snore their night away.

    --Tina, what does a 69 mean?

    --How fascinating! I got this question in my mail box just yesterday. A 69, or a soixante-neuf, or billandmonica, isn't what people talk about or imagine. For one partner, it's the ingestion of proteins; for the other, a jetstream release of unnecessary stress. Some partners like to yell, "Flegma, shmegma!" And those do not ingest the liquid proteins.

    --Tina, what is phone sex?

    --Phone sex is a practice among boys and girls of all ages. If they don't have friends, they just pick United or any big company and pretend a business interest. Depending on their luck, they will achieve their goals. In United's case, remember to say loud and clear, "Agent!" if you get the robot. Maybe you are into cybersex, but robots are still not fully ready, linguistically speaking. Also keep in mind United's hubs are Chicago, Denver, Miami... Chicago is a great phone hub.

    And that's all, folks! More soon, insatiable guys and gals?


    Tina California Dreamin' Easter  1971 courtesy William Salvador©

    Post Republished from 9/2006 Anarchic_Universe®.
    Tina2a2

     

    June 25, 2008

    Who Remembers Mary Kay Letourneau?

    In lieu of speaking about the crapola going on at SMMUSD, where sh*tsky don't ever stink, bad administrators are moved to the Pupil-Free Day Offices, where everyday is a pupil-free day, let's take a look on an old case of student-teacher lust affair. Do you remember Mary Kay Letourneau? She was a mother of four, a daughter of a reactionary Orange County politician, when she had relations with her husband-to-be, age twelve, at the time. They had sex, she got pregnant, was sentenced, was freed, had sex with him again, got pregnant again, they married. The boy was quite big for his age; he's Samoan. My Daddy O'Google shows teacher-student sex is on the rise; more so than priests' molestation and children.

    Was Sting prescient when singing "Don't Stand So Close"
    or was the attraction between teacher and student an existent situation just suppressed from public analysis curiosity and public view? I remember having the hots for my math teacher in sixth grade. He somewhat resembled
    Rock Hudson, the co-star of Doris Day films.

    So, admirers of nymphs beware. The Brazilan government has decided to include in its latest attempt to discipline the Net users penalties for those who display photos of underage kids. I am glad Lucas Cruishank is overage. Lucas who? Don't feel sorry now. Just click. Don't be sorry for having clicked, either.

    June 18, 2008

    Wow! I'm Not Worthy, I'm Not Worthy!

    I just got out of my mail garbage bin a mailer signed by Diane Talarico, the super who is leaving because our Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is so great, as you guys must have suspected by now.

    Does she know I was a teacher for ten years at this district? That I know so many stories about it they wouldn't fit here? My husband just got home. I'l leave you 
    a  link, just click right here. My favorite 80s band performs "Kiss Off"-- Just click for the Violent Femmes.

    June 17, 2008

    The Prolongued Death of an Old Dinosaur

    The cards are on the table, for those who want to see them. SAMOHI is dying. From board members to parents hopeful to get a spot in the new small school, all are eager to  smack one more nail in SAMO's coffin. As a parent relishes on the 25 kids to one teacher ratio, another likes the smallness of a taxpayer-funded boutique school.

    Tell me folks. Very recently the School District was crying the blues to the city of Santa Monica, which is how the investigation on Tim Walker started. I would love for my kid to go to a small school. Moreover, I would love SAMOHI not to have to run fund-raising for materials, music or whatever else. Our taxes seem to be doomed to go to this small school; a school like a private one, for only a few kids,whose parents may not be willing to pay for private schools.

    SAMOHI in Extiction

    Continue reading "The Prolongued Death of an Old Dinosaur" »

    June 16, 2008

    A Chi-Chi High School Smack By SAMOHI? O-Noes

    samohipals@samohipals.org writes:
    SMDP: New high school proposed for district
    June 9, 2008
    Campus would have environmental theme
    Proposed high school may feature alternative instruction curriculum

    BY MELODY HANATANI      
    melodyh@smdp.com
    Daily Press Staff Writer
    SMMUSD HDQTRS District officials are considering
    establishing an intimately-sized high school that would cater to the ecologically-savvy student populations of Santa Monica and Malibu, the secondary institution
    a possible natural transition for pupils of the popular Santa Monica Alternative School House (SMASH).
    A task force that spent the past half-year studying various small school options presented its recommendation to the Board of Education on Thursday, a proposal to form a high school that would have a Global Environmental Science Sustainability and Technology theme.
    The secondary school, which would be
    constructed, would start with only 100 students in the freshman class, adding 100 students every year, staffed by four teachers, several advisers and a principal.
    The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is also home to SMASH, a K-8 school that focuses on alternative methods of learning.
    "Who doesn't want another alternative school in this city," Small Schools Task Force member Anthony Fuller asked the board. "What other city in California can really do it.
    Who is in a better position to do it than us?"

    Continue reading "A Chi-Chi High School Smack By SAMOHI? O-Noes" »

    Thanks, Pals!

    It's harder for parents who can't go to school to gain visibility or administrative favors. I would like to thank the parents of SAMOHI, who I am sure are the people visiting the one post I sent to SAMOHI Pals. At the time of our son's re-hazing nobody published my complaints. Whoever decided to publish my link this time counts with my gratitude.

    Think about it. If initiation or hazing were so great, wouldn't the Malibu crowd want it for their kids? C'mon. Think about it.

    We had a good Father's Day. Organic  food, mostly vegetarian, no visitors, a beautiful day and some coaching our son and friend for a chem presentation tomorrow with the toughest and bestest teacher at SAMOHI. Dr. Mayoral was a chem teacher. Who knows the patience necessary to cull results makes these people so kewl?

    Nite, nite!

    Gabi_n_2



    June 14, 2008

    Liar, Liar, SAMOHI Folks' Pants on Fire

    I am utterly disgusted at Dr. Pedroza and at Mr. Sakow. Pedroza claims not knowing about what happened to my son during the Labor Day weekend of his sophomore year, when he was "re-hazed" at midnight, by six kids, with volunteer mothers who drove the kids. I have my phone bill to prove my calls were made to his office. One on the day before school started at SAMOHI.

    As for Mr. Sakow, the leade of the band, to claim there are many versions of what happened, what a sack of prunes. We didn't call him because his phone number had changed from the one I had.

    I find  it hard to believe the School Board never heard anything about this incident. It went all the way to Laurel Schmidt so that the cowardly kids would be punished.

    This is a shame to SMMUSD, again, and it only goes to show this School District needs educators credentialed to administrate the mess it is now. Really, who can trust this School District?

    When one lies one should have a good memory. Mark Twain says so.

    Source of disgust: http://smdp.com   At any newstand near you. Free. Pages 11 and 12.061207_1336

    June 10, 2008

    Help Choose Interin Super at SMMUSD

    Dear Samohi Parents:

    The Board of Education is hosting public input sessions on Thursday,
    June 12th at 3:30pm and again 6:00pm in the SAMOHI library and also
    the Malibu HS library so members of both communities can attend.
    The
    purpose of the sessions is for the Board of Education and the
    Leadership Associates advisors to receive feedback regarding the
    qualities and characteristics employees and community members are
    seeking in an Interim Superintendent. This is short notice but
    please consider attending.

    SMMUSD Hosting Community Input Sessions Regarding Interim Superintendent
    Leadership Associates Executive Search Advisors Jim Brown and Larry
    Aceves were selected by the SMMUSD Board of Education to conduct the recruitment and comprehensive search process in the selection of an Interim Superintendent. As part of the recruitment process, Leadership Associates and the district will be hosting community input sessions to receive feedback from
    employees and members of the community regarding the qualities and
    characteristics they are seeking in an Interim Superintendent.

    These 60- to 90-minute sessions will be held on Thursday, June 12th at
    3:30pm and again at 6:00pm to accommodate various schedules.
    No appointment or RSVP is necessary to attend these sessions, which will be held concurrently at both the Santa Monica High School library (601
    Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA) and the Malibu High School library
    (30215 Morning View Dr.,
    Malibu, CA).

    If you are unable to attend either the 3:30pm or 6:00pm session, you
    may email Mr. Brown and Mr. Aceves at Leadership Associates with your response to the prompts (see below) at leadershipassociates@cox.net.

    Considering the Board of Education's goal to have an Interim
    Superintendent hired by July 1, 2008, public input should be emailed
    no later than June 18, 2008.


    During the input sessions, employees and community members will be
    asked to provide feedback regarding two primary questions:
    • What are the desirable qualities, characteristics, background, and
    experiences (professional and personal) for the Interim Superintendent of SMMUSD?
    • What do you see as the strengths of the district and the major
    challenges facing the district in the months ahead?

    The Leadership Associates advisors will compile a report of comments
    received during the community input sessions and will share these comments with the Board of Education and ultimately with the new Interim Superintendent when hired. The comments will also be used to
    guide the development of the recruitment brochure, the recruitment process, and reference checking.

    Thank you in advance for helping the district through this most important process. We value your input.

    Dr. Hugo A. Pedroza, CEO/Principal
    Santa Monica High School

    -------- End of Communiqué------- End of Communiqué------- End of Communiqué----End ofCommuniqué------

    My bets? Dr.Hugo Pedroza or Dr. Michael Jason. Thanks, SAMOH-Pals for the printout above; bolds are mine.

    June 06, 2008

    Project: Ban the Bomb- SAMOHI

    It is late or early, depending on your perspective. I love to work in the wee hours, but I must change my schedule around for my health's sake. In a few hours there is a lot of noise in the house. The boys get ready, I must have my breakfast, and resume my routine.
    Today was a red-letter day at UCLA Medical Center. Although it took the Big Kahuna the whole morning-afternoon, from 10-3 to readjust my liquid level in my brain, we got it done. How great science can be! All he needed was to combine the magnet in my brain( in the shunt) with a little magnetic toy in his hand. Unfortunately, the toy didn't gauge my liquid pressure correctly. In the end, after several visits to the X-Ray guys, we settled as satisfactory 140, when he aimed at 170. I could have an aneurysm, great Nirvana song, but that is a very remote chance. My movements have improved and so has my mood.

    Yesterday, was it? We spent the night putting together this "Ban the Bomb" posterboard. GHR learned how to visit Image Google, blow up images and  text and put together his resources. The result is below. Believe me: it was a lot of work. Anything is worth doing to better prepare my darling for a college career. Photo below, courtesy of Flickr.com. Comments? Here to your Anarchic_Universe, the best hidden secret in the USA Blogsville.

    Was it just an impression the films with Samuel L. Jackson on HBO were just a coincidence? More on Barack Obama later today, when I should resume my routine. Take care, B-have, and BDa_bomb_4-good. Click to enlarge. C-ya!

    May 23, 2008

    Congratulations SAMOHI!

    SAMOHI-Pals always in the know. SAMOHI made it into the top 200 out of 1,000 high schools. Those dirty bathrooms must have been part of unknown techniques to boost morale.

    Click here for the whole news. Then, please come back here to your Anarchic_Universe® ! After all, you know Barbara Lewis and I, Baby I'm Yours!
    Click for the song, please.

    May 22, 2008

    SAMOHI Pals - My Net Went Off - Sra. Talarico Went Bye-Bye

    It was one A.M. exactly when an e-mail entered my box from SAMOHI-Pals. It couldn't possibly be kudos about a private tutor or an inquiry about one. I opened it and voilà!  Are we rich or are we rich? Our Superintendent is leaving us for another district like the one she worked for: small and unknown, in northern California. There, she used to work in Special Education. Nooo! Yes, and hold on to your breathing salts.
    According to  links to The Surf: here, also here, and finally here, so that's three links, click on each one of them and come back, please to my favorite beef. Wondering what''s for dinner tonight? Reservations. ;P))
    How often did I ask here at Anarchic_Universe where our taxpaying money was going to? Nonetheless, our wanna be  bo-bo (bohemian-bourgeois) taxpaying crowd wants to put cash into SMMUSD's pockets. Now we pay 200K for Tim Walker to walk away, we'll be paying for some higher than thou administrator to help choose a new superintendent, and we voted -- take me out of this we -- for more money into SMMUSD's pockets.
    In the meantime, Dr. Pedroza, the C.E.O. of SAMOHI, was nowhere to be seen when a few stoners were spotted still at school after the bell, today, hiding to toke. Da police sent four cars, one blocked the sidewalk on Pico, in front of a sleazebag hotel.
    I'm against all this hoopla about marijuana. Really. I would vote  for cleaner bathrooms, instead. More dynamic classes. However, as part of a plan for safer sex at SAMOHI, bathrooms will stay filthy, stoners will be stoners, and there'll be more entries on the Net abou Dr. Pedroza the musician than the school marm.

    Good night, now! Below, my old plum tree and the climbing Don Juan roses in back.

    old plum tree; climbing Don Juan roses

    May 20, 2008

    College Is a Waste of Time

    Meu filho, meu tesouro

    There are two subjects somewhat intertwined I want to address here. One is self-complacency in our society of former rebels and aging boomers  now. The other is arrested development.(Great band)

    I left a link here for you to open and read. The young author who wrote it is certainly closer in age to the kids getting in college or not. The link below is a live link. This means you click on it and leave Anarchic_Universe to the very prestigious blog New Critics. Ready to click? Go and click below:

    http://newcritics.com/blog1/2008/05/15/college-is-a-waste-of-time-101/

    The reason I picked it was how it struck us, Nic and me, like a bolt of lightening, like an epiphany, like a truth we knew of but wouldn't accept. My husband is a Ph.D. in computer science. Above is the apple of our eyes, GHR2009 on Flickr.
    (CONTINUE)
     

    Continue reading "College Is a Waste of Time" »

    May 17, 2008

    When Your Child Isn't Ready for College 1

    We should have realized our child wouldn't be ready for college by the end of twelfth grade. A post in newcritics , click to read it, inspired me to follow suite. No, it's not his intelligence. His IQ is higher than that of 99.9% of his peers. He just isn't ready.

    I suspected he had ADD since his second grade. The testing showed he didn't qualify for Special Ed. services. When you have a Halloween baby, maybe it's best to keep the child one year behind. The year s/he gained at the primary K-5 levels becomes an unattainable spot in the horizon at high school graduation time.

    The work at SMMUSD's Special Ed.  is questionable, to say the least. Just go a few posts below and you will find the article from the Santa Monica Daily Press on parents whose silence was bought in
    exchange for services of Special Ed. Click, please to read article.

    I am very tired, which is natural, after having had a hydrocephalus surgery for the insertion  of a shunt. To make matters worse, some Brazilian bloggers are intent on a flame war against me. I'm signing off here, with a photo from Flickr of what we call a Sperm Light. I'll be back. Fer sher.               

    Sperm Light.  Thanks Holbrook and City Council!

    May 11, 2008

    Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

    Tomorrow I have brain surgery. We must live for today. Please, SMMUSD Mothers, get a grip and let justice take its course. Teachers have union representation. Administrators failed you, not unions.

    A spiteful group ganged up on me in 1994. A process which started with seventeen letters, which I saw at Dr. Quarles office, on Saint Anthony's day,  June 13,  grew to  seventy letters on June 30. The same people I had aided, whose kids I taught computers skills, some kids whose gifted status I spotted, were there seething in rage. That was the little gift the psycho former principal, who changed last name three times in the course of the school year, who  couldn't have children, who got one of these administrative credentionals targeted at ethnic minorities, although she is Cuban by Accident, Gallego by roots, like calling a cat born in the oven  would be a cookie, who was forced into resignation by scandals over the teaching of sex education to second graders, led by four teachers.
    This process ended as the California Teachers Association rep. told these people either they'd take what one impartial parent gave as a negotiation document. It was the year of O.J. Edison Language Academy wanted its own soap, on a daily basis. I was Teacher of the Year, what a joke.

    After that year, I worked under extreme stress, seeking perfection at all cost. My math club teams won but didn't move on to the county competition. In 1999, I had fibromyalgia, in 2001, breast cancer, 2002, bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction, asthma, peripheral neuropathy in my left hand, hypercalcemia,  diabetes, and finally a diagnosis of NPH. Tomorrow I hope to have my surgery and have my shunt.

    I may be heavy today. Looking at several photos in my iPhoto library, I realize my weight gain started when Mommy had breast cancer in 2003. Unlike me, she was very stoic; without a complaint. I have Dr. Ph.D. and Mini-Me. Two Brazilian bloggers are conducting yet another defamation campaign against me. This is sad, inhumane, and disgusting.

    Unlike my Hillary Mac, unlike my candidate, I shall overcome. Justice prevails despite some horrible humans in this world. 'Tis my gift to last minute people. Print the rose and give it to Mommy.  A big hug, really tight, to recent mommy Dr. Daniela Mann, in Portugal, author of Amar-Ela.

    Rosas para mamãe 1

    May 10, 2008

    Hello There, Santa Monica! "Call Me Cinammon"

    Good day t'all. Seemingly back to normal, SAMOHI PTSA announces a grand meeting with the architect in charge of the ch-ch-ch-changes. Two buildings will be demolished and rebuilt; there'll be underground parking built. Ah! Sex in he bathrooms will be cleaner. Click for UCLA report. They're already installing waterless urinals. However, wash your hands, boys and girls! Click for Anarchic_Universe report. I'll be opening our network's del.icio.us links.
    I'll leave here a video sent to me thru YouTube. It's a psychedelic take on snakes. I know,I know, click for Craig and Ewan McGreggor, made with the use of fractals. Later, for real, and fer shure, click for Moon Unit Zappa. I'll be back later.

    May 09, 2008

    All Vultures Have Been Fed - Now to "My Restau"

    The commotion generated by the death of little girl Isabella in São Paulo was colossal. I can imagine when "O Globo" and its TV arm recicled the  news about  Isabella Nardoni non-stop. Brazil is big, São Paulo is very big and Globo network is on day and night, as you saw in Bye-Bye Brazil. Click, please.

    Here in Santa Monica, the wagging tongues were restless over ESL teacher Beltrán's alleged molestation of one girl, then another and yet others. SMMUSD had mummed on this teacher's previous incident. Da police knew about it. It seems the teacher videoed himself and the girls in lewd acts. Whatever nevermind.  I have a series of posts ready for when I'lll be away. I'm going under on Monday, my first Mother's Day without Mommy.

    Brain surgery is scary. Living with NPH is a lot worse. Click. Tonight I want to write about our home away from home. It's Robert and Teresa Bourget's restaurant/bistro, Le Petit Café. Click. They are like family. The restaurant is close to our house, its ambience cozy. There's a limitation on the available dishes; the kitchen is tiny. I like to start from cold to warmer dishes. For example: an ahi-ahi seared tuna salad, followed by a soup. I recommend the soupe d'onion next. It's your basic onion soup, with pieces of French bread diced, and Gruyère cheese melted on top. Boiling hot. HeeeeeZefabday04y!

    There's only one soupe d'onion I know  that somewhat resembled Robert's; it was in  forgettable French restaurant for afterhours on Broadway. After the soupe, I recommend the salmon with dill sauce; the crab cakes; the filet mignon au poivre, soft like buttah, and the white fish with capers. All come with rice or mashed potatoes; cooked carrots and string beans. If it's a day for le beef Bourgignon, take it.

    Photo: Oscar Night, 2004, Zefa's birthday. Teresa and Robert chez nous.

    (continue tomorrow) Don't forget to check out our del.icio.us anarchic_universe network links!

    May 07, 2008

    Sex Scandals - LAUSD, SMMUSD, Lincoln M.S.

    This is just my opinion. According to the local paper, here and also here, it's obvious there is a disconnect among what former SMMUSD 's Sup Dr. Deasy used to refer to as clients: children and families, whom were served by school officials.

    As for LAUSD' s Admiral, don't  confuse him with savvy blogger Admiral Nelson, click. At LAUSD there's always been a disconnect. All I can suggest is this school district be split into smaller ones. Steve Lopez says: click here.

    Just a thought: Hillary declared just the other day parents had to choose what mattered, referring to Bill's second inauguration, for which Chelsea showed up wearing a long coat and a mini-mini outfit. I pick that battle as a very important one in our school systems. Chelsea was protected by FBI agents and went to private schools. What my son has described as the usual outfit for girls at SMMUSD is inappropriate, to say the least. The affluent wear taco-pussy shorts, like those worn by Juno's boyfriend. The hefty Latinas wear stretch jeans; if they rip, the jeans will. As for tops, they wear these horizontaly-cut tops, with breasts teasing the rest of the brats.

    Listen up, guys: you are not supposed to be your kids' friends. You are their parents. Exert some restraint and discipline. Talk to them. Neither you or your kids will be sorry. Trust me.

    Our judicial system will take care of alleged molester at Blue Ribbon Lincoln Middle School. Just mind your business and it all will be alright.

    Good day to all, from Santa Monica, Tina OIticica Harris E-mail me at:
    tinovska@mac.com. With you, from blog owner Denise Arcoverde, Caetano Veloso in Talk to Her. It's Almodóvar's great film Hable con ella.Gabitinavenicebeach

    May 06, 2008

    On the Former Director of the Band

    For the inquiring minds who want to know, go to

    http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/

    Click on the link and scroll to the bottom of the blog, on the left, where you'll find the archives. You do want to know. Or do you?

    Type Samohi band. The entry on August 25, 2004 explains what happened.

    May 05, 2008

    How About Searching for Alleged Child Molester at SMMUSD?

    Tim Walker, whose severance pay is 200K, for May and June, literally screwed so many Special Ed. families at SMMUSD.
    The teacher at Lincoln Middle School is an alleged molester, accused by one child, in the heat of Tim Walker's taking the money and running.  See more below. Or protest and ask for your money back.

    Obladi-Oblada SAMOHI Band Director And Sex - Long Time Ago

    I know how these things happen. When children make accusations, wagging tongues hyperactivally salivate, adding more gory details to a pre-judgment. One day I will get to my own Inquisition, in the  summer after I had been elected "Teacher of the Year."

    "If kids claim so, it must be true. Kids don't lie."

    "Or do they?"
    Would ask Craig Ferguson's psychic.

    There is no voice of reason to stand by the alleged child molester, abuser, irresponsible teacher, any other adult accused of hurting children. Very rarely the truth surfaces. This is an old story at SAMOHI, before girls wore taco-pussy shorts on campus and spaghetti strips tops; the chunky one jeans so tight passing wind will open a tear in those jeans.

    The school band director was accused by two girls, one thirteen and the other fifteen, of molestation. He resigned before the rumor mill started.

    That was smart. The present director, Hush! Mr. Sakow, only condones in the usual practice of hazing, even if the kid to receive the treatment is no longer a freshmen. Hush! It's just a rumor the parents in the band that year were driving the two cars to this cul-de-sac.

    As for Tim Walker, he's getting nearly 200 K for coercing parents in special ed. to cut deals with the District. That is more than ten years of all of my yearly PERS retirement as a teacher after tax.



    May 04, 2008

    Molestation Alleged SMMUSD - More of the Same

    Molestation Alleged: Santa Monica-Malibu U.S.D. Click


    On Saturday, May 3, 2008, Lincoln Middle School teacher Tom Beltran was taken into custody by the Santa Monica Police Department for alleged child molestation. Superintendent Dianne Talarico and district staff are working closely with the police in this ongoing investigation.

    “Our highest priority is to ensure the safety of our children and our entire Lincoln Middle School community,”

    states Superintendent Dianne Talarico. 


    “We will make every effort to ensure that our students, staff, families and community are supported during this difficult time.”


    After a meeting this afternoon with district staff, Lincoln Middle School administration, staff and PTA, it has been determined that school will be open tomorrow, Monday, May 5 and testing will take place as planned. In addition, Counselors will available at the school throughout the week and District senior staff will be available on campus to assist and support staff and students.

    For more information, please call the Superintendent’s Office at 310-450-8338 extension 241 or 220


    (I guess this shows how we got to be another school district of excellence.)
     

    Why Tim Walker Got Hired -- And Fired SMMUSD

    Our son, the apple of our eyes, couldn't read in second and barely do so in third grade. His writing was illegible. In fourth grade he got a curvaceous young teacher, who promised to do this and that and more. I was skeptical. Rarely do teachers get to the end of the 400+ pages books. These are designed by region, no by state. It's mandatory to spend your taxpayer money to ditch perfectly fit books in order to adopt new ones. Each one of these books costs US taxpayers thru the District of Excellent baloney about seventy dollars.

    Gabriel has grown to be sixteen, with an IQ too high for his own good, and services of Specail Ed. denied, not once but twice. SAMOHI's psychologist thanked us for giving her something to do. You see, the Special Ed federal law changed under Wise Guy, L'Imbecile. It excludes executive disorders, and A.D.D. is one of them.
    So, in 2005 the School District hired Tim Walker out of Glendale for him to refuse service to special ed. kids. We almost hired a law firm, A to Z, in the Palisades. When the sent us their draft, with our child's name written Antoine,  we ditched them and nearly had to re-invent The Sopranos in order to collect part of our one-grand retainer.

    We were able to talk to an assistant to Tim Walker a few times, Dr. Michael Jason. In the meantime Tim Walker, no Ph.D. , continued his brilliant career into a promotion of vice-superintendent of ed. services. SMMUSD is so bloated with highly-paid adminstrators that the service which once fit in a trailler, ed. services, was split in two: ed. services and student services. Try calling over there; you'll get voice mail at most hours. And now they're up to firing teachers.

    During his years of excelent service to kids and parents, Tim Walker gave the directives to buy the silence of parents and kids whcut a deal with Excellent-Schmecellent SMMUSD. Our son, in the meantime had all kinds of paid help, which were useless to him. An outside psychologist for 1, 600 dollars to test him; another one Lynn Kilroy, who excused herself from showing up at the crucial meeting at SAMOHI, "My daughter is entering SAMOHI next year."
    And a study skills guy with some doctorate, no money no honey. His psychiatrist, whom I fired. I got to change my address book.

    So, since General Westmoreland claimed, "The secret of liberty is eternal vigilance," we watch our child, we must organize his papers, we must run the show. Some teachers at SAMO, in the name of teaching independence of kids, don't let us know they're failing. I am not a child abuse or a molester. I have never been one of them. By golly, I'll be darned. It all started when I got nominated Teacher of the Year for my school. There was a witch hunt lead by  a  principal who was the superintendent's darling, she was forced to resign, I didn't make a move for her demise. She went by three last names in one year. Demestre, Cudeiro, and Nelson, the Ph.D.'s last name who  helped her get a master's at Harvard, targeted toward minorities. But she is from Spain. Well, tha is a story for some other day.

    "And that is the end of that," as Forrest Gump would say. SAMOHI is two schools in one. The dummy track and the AP track. Think harder next time the district asks for more money, won't you?

    Read SMMUSD 's statement below, after our anarchic_universe delcious links, whose hypocrisy flies back and forth. As Daddy would say, in his lingo, "The wind blew and the s**t  flew."

    May 03, 2008

    Tim Walker Takes the Money and Runs

    SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
    PRESS RELEASE
    CONTACT: Michael Matthews FOR IMMEDIATE
    RELEASE
    310.450.8338, ext. 220 02
    MAY 2008

    Administrative Changes at SMMUSD


    At its May 1, 2008, board meeting in Malibu, the Santa Monica-Malibu
    Unified School District Board of Education approved a mutually agreed
    upon settlement between the District and Deputy Superintendent Tim
    Walker. As a part of that settlement, Mr. Walker submitted a
    resignation effective June 30, 2008. Since Mr. Walker had a three-year
    employment contract with the District, he is entitled to all salary and
    health benefits for the last year remaining on his contract, pursuant to
    Government Code Section 53260.

    Mr.Walker began his tenure in Santa Monica-Malibu in 2005 as the
    Assistant Superintendent of Special Education, and then became the
    Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. Subsequently, Mr.
    Walker was the Interim Superintendent during the search for the
    Superintendent, and finally became the Deputy Superintendent after the
    new Superintendent was hired.

    In his resignation letter, Mr. Walker stated,

    "After over three years of dedicated service to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, I find that it is time for me to pursue other opportunities and part ways with an organization that has been a very important piece of my life."


    He further stated,

    "I value the incredible employees of the District that I have had the pleasure to work with. They are committed to making a difference in the lives of children every day."


    Superintendent Dianne Talarico stated,

    "I thank Tim Walker for his leadership, his compassion, and his commitment to helping the teachers and children of our District."


    The Superintendent is
    developing a new organizational structure and will be announcing that in
    the near future.


    SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
    1651 16THStreet, Santa Monica, CA 90404
    ph:310.450.8338; fax: 310.581.1138
    www.smmusd.org <http://www.smmusd.org>


    April 16, 2008

    SM Daily Press Bill Bauer Reports - Special Ed.

    SM Daily Press Columnist Bill Bauer: "Our School Board Needs To Wake
    Posted by: "t2crane@aol.com" t2crane@aol.com
    Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:16 pm (PDT)

    Santa Monica Daily Press
    Monday, April 14, 2008
    My Write
    Bill Bauer
    send comments to _editor@smdp.com_ (mailto:editor@smdp.com)
    Our School Board needs to wake up

    PARENTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILDREN
    said they had been lied to, attacked, ignored,
    bullied, marginalized, slandered, intimidated,
    mislead and blamed for requesting basic
    educational services for their children’s special
    needs at the Santa Monica/Malibu
    Unified School District Board of Education
    meeting, April 3.
    All the angst was about district policy
    requiring settlement agreements and confidentiality
    clauses when special education
    students receive services — a policy instituted
    four years ago by Deputy superintendent
    Tim Walker under former Superintendent
    John Deasy. Over the last three years 140
    agreements have been established.
    Settlement agreements are initiated when
    there’s an impasse in negotiations with parents
    about their special needs student’s programs.
    Many special education parents said
    they felt coerced to sign agreements “out of
    fear” to get services for their children despite
    not agreeing with terms or nondisclosure
    clauses.
    The “gag orders” became an issue when
    the former district chief business officer,
    Winston Braham, was unable to discuss district
    financial issues and his “resignation” at
    a City Council meeting because of a confidentiality
    agreement similar to those
    required of special ed parents. Angered, the
    council voted to withhold a $530,000
    increase in its $6.7-million SMMUSD
    Master Facilities Use Agreement pending
    the district’s hiring of an independent consultant
    to review its settlement agreements
    and confidentiality practices.
    Fast forward to April 3. Consultant Lou
    Barber and Associates’ report on the district’s
    special education program was presented
    to the board. It was especially critical
    of the agreements. Barber said that although
    legal, they weren’t often used in other school
    districts and weren’t good practice. He told
    the board, “Children are not getting
    the services they should be getting under the
    program.”
    The report suggested that parents, teachers
    and staff work closer together to deliver
    the support and services these students need
    and that everyone be more personally
    involved in the process. Parents and school
    supporters alike concurred that the climate
    of secrecy, fear and distrust resulting
    from years of mishandling parents and special
    needs students was actually inhibiting
    student progress.
    School board members Maria Leon-
    Vazquez, Jose Escarce and Kelly Pye essentially
    responded to the harrowing news by
    deferring to the superintendent to deal with
    it. Ralph Mechur kept asking “what can we
    do to solve problems” but suggested nothing.
    Kathy Wisnicki opined that these were
    issues the board needed to take control of.
    And, Barry Snell questioned Barber’s staff
    about money — especially after finding out
    the settlements that were supposed to
    save money were actually costing the district
    more.
    Only the board president, Oscar de la
    Torre, suggested the district discontinue
    entering into negotiated settlement agreements
    with parents of special ed children.
    Noting that agreements were a failure and
    didn’t reduces costs, he said, “That must
    change.”
    He insisted that a change in the “contentious
    dynamic between school district
    and the community” was essential and that
    parents needed to be empowered. He suggested
    an orientation process for special ed
    parents “so (they) can come together”
    and an impartial district ombudsman to
    work with parents to resolve issues.
    Noting Barber’s report was not ordered
    by the school board but at the insistence of
    the Santa Monica City Council, de la Torre
    took responsibility for “not pressing harder
    when parents came forward with complaints.”
    And, he was angered that the gag
    orders were still being implemented after the
    board unanimously agreed on their moratorium.
    He urged an end to conflict and the
    “lack of respect” for parents and the community.
    It was de la Torre’s finest hour.
    But de la Torre was alone. This is still a
    school board that still fails to recognize, let
    alone provide leadership, and to act on controversial
    policies — and one that has consistently
    failed to properly exercise prudence
    over district finances. Aside from de la
    Torre, is anyone on duty let alone awake?
    Despite ongoing issues about Walker’s
    roll in the agreements, his contract was on
    the school board’s “closed session” agenda
    April 3. This prompted one frustrated school
    supporter to e-mail me, “The story (referring
    to a letter to the editor from Frank
    Patterson in the SMDP, April 2, 2008, Page
    4) about board members trying to extend
    Tim Walker’s contract for four years in a
    secret session just before the special ed
    report appears to be very accurate from all
    the conversations I’ve had. That kind of
    behind the scenes attempt to avoid public
    input and review is really creepy to me given
    what’s at stake in terms of funding.”
    School Superintendent Diane Talarico is
    scheduled to return to the board April 17
    with a preliminary plan of action.
    Meanwhile, perhaps a trip to Oz is in order
    because this dysfunctional school board
    needs to find some courage, heart and
    brains. I’m not holding my breath.

    Bill Bauer can be reached at
    _mr.bilbau@gmail.com_ (mailto:mr.bilbau@gmail.com) .