Detention

"A pupil shall not be required to remain in school during the intermission
at noon or during any recess." - California Code of
Regulations, Chapter 5 Section 352

"Students will be assigned to detention for a period of time commensurate
with the seriousness of the problem." -FUSD BP5114.2, #3

That means all those lunch recesses the schools freely give are not allowed! Thornton practices noon detentions, without parental approval (which is required if they want to break the regulation). How many parents know their kid's rights regarding detention? Practically none, as the schools don't even do it right. One of my son's teacher's argued with me that she can indeed give lunch detention if she wants! WRONG. How many other teachers/schools do the same thing? Does yours?

What about detention time commensurate with the problem? That means time served needs to be equal to the severity of what got the detention in the first place. Who decides what is equal? The teacher, and that makes it all very subjective. My kid got an hour for not turning in a progress report on an assignment that isn't due until February. It's not even the real assignment, just a report on how much progress has been made on it. That's like a boss taking an hour's pay from you, or keeping you in for overtime because you failed to update her on a presentation that isn't due until next month. Guess some bosses wouldn't mind doing that, but I sure wouldn't want to work for her.

Oh, the school/teacher is also supposed to notify the parent, in advance, of any detention given. Why is it common practice to give such notices to the student to give to the parent? How many kids will give it to their parents? How many won't? Everything else is mailed home. The teacher giving the detention should contact the parent via mail or phone, and not rely on the kid to hand it over.

So, I did some research and discovered that detention isn't well regulated at all. Each school in FUSD gets to make their own rules regarding when they use it, why they use it and apparently how they use it as well. I checked various school websites, in and out of FUSD, and discovered a variety of reasons why detention might be given, but missing homework was NOT one of them. Some reasons were:

1. Excessive tardies
2. Unexcused absence
3. Classroom disruption
4. Arguing
5. Breaking class/school rules (gum chewing, littering, etc.)
6. Behavioral issues, such as being rude, loud or class clown stuff
7. Refusal to do CLASS work
8. Profanity/vulgarity
9. Threatening/bullying (no weapon or injury)

Not one school site I visited admitted to giving detention for missing homework. Missing homework already has a consequence, does it not? It's called an "F".

It irks me that this teacher is giving detention for missing homework assignments when she doesn't accept any late assignments anyway. So, what is her point in giving detention then? Punishment, plain and simple. Guess giving an F isn't good enough for her. It may not be so bad if she sent the kids to detention to do the missing assignment and then gives them partial credit for it at least. Nope, not how she does things. I am convinced she thinks all the kids need is more discipline, and she's just the one to give it! So wrong. I'm considering easing up on my discipline just to give the kid a break. Most teachers really do want their kids to succeed, and I can only hope she does too, but she needs to learn more effective ways to get these kids to succeed. Riding their back and never giving them a break is not the way.

So, what do you know about detention at your kids' school/s?

What Changes?

Oh, I guess things haven't changed as much as I had hoped they would when we got a new superintendent...

In the last month, I have heard from a couple of parents who are dealing with stuff I had to deal with when the last superintendent was in charge. I wanted to believe that the difficulties I had were due to his leadership, but what's the reason these new families are having to face similar issues?

The first contact I had was from a mom who's child was hit and degraded, on more than one occasion, and it was witnessed by school staff - the child is five. Is the teacher fired, or prevented from teaching unsupervised? Was the child's needs considered first? No. Teacher gets to stay in her class, no apparent consequences (oh, I know, personnel issues are confidential - but come on, we parents need to know something is being done about our tax-paid public workers). And what happens to the kid? Uprooted, away from the friends he has come to know - sure it's better for the kid to be away from an abusive teacher, but why should he be the one who had to go? What'd he do wrong? Meanwhile, all of the other students are subjected to the abusive teacher, they learn that it's okay for teachers to treat kids that way, and they maybe are scared to make her mad. And the hurt child? Maybe he thinks it's all his fault, after all, he was the one taken away. Something is seriously wrong, still, when our district handles such situations worrying more about the teacher's contract than what is best for our kids.

The next incident I was contacted about involves an expellable offense. I think we can all agree, even the district will publicly say, that each student/case needs to considered on an individual basis. Merit, intent and what is best for the student needs to be identified before removing a child from his homeschool. Here we are talking about a high-school student who's been in the same attendance area since kindergarten, his past teachers and record attest to his success and good behavior. He received a weapon, didn't use it, had it stolen and then it was used by someone else. He now is being expelled. The student who gave it to him received a simple suspension. Make sense? This was the first time he's ever been in trouble, deeply regrets that he didn't turn the weapon in, and would likely never do anything so stupid again. Let's remember, he never used or supported the use of it. Why can't this boy be suspended for five days on a first offense in which he personally didn't hurt anyone? He's not the one who first brought it on campus. Again, the best interest of the child is not being considered. Expulsions are to be used as a last resort, not the first action taken against a kid who has a history of good behavior. So, now he gets sent to a continuation school that has kids with a record of being in trouble - how does this help him?

I hate seeing our kids being treated without regard as to what is best for them. Our Board needs to review how disciplinary issues continue to be handled against our students as well as teachers and other staff members. The new superintendent needs to consider that pupil services may be out of control and operating on the dictates of the former sup't. Maybe, just maybe. From here, things don't look much different...

Moving On

Okay, we have a new Superintendent now. Maybe now our district can mend and focus on our kids...

I'm still waiting to have my complaints addressed, and I'm getting real tired of pushing it all. The Governing Board hasn't changed, and they have the power to address my issues, so new Superintendent or not, the Board still falls short in my eyes.

Also, the problem with pupil services leadership still remains - they need a new boss in that office, becuase the one that is there has no compassion, diplomacy or understanding. Watch out, it seems she sees all of our kids as juvenile delinquents; she's made comments that make it sound like she's convinced our parenting skills are inadequate. I know of several parents who've had such exchanges with her, it's not just me.

So, do I move on? Of course, but resolution is still needed, and I'm not done keeping a watchful eye...

New Evidence

A FUSD district official, the pupil services director, has publicly admitted that only one “Administrative Placement” was made during the 04/05 school year; that would mean my son was the only student displaced in such a manner. The superintendent told me in March that it was a commonly practiced action done throughout the district. I can assume he told Board members the same thing, because they repeated to me that it was commonly practiced. Yet, at July’s Board meeting, the superintendent said merely ten such placements were made – which is far from a common practice when you consider how many students are in Fremont, and how many disciplinary actions must have been taken throughout the year.

The admittance that only one such action was taken is evidence of its unprecedented and arbitrary nature, and that validates what I have been saying all along. Nothing will prove that the administrative placement of my son was an act of retaliation, but this comes pretty close, doesn’t it? It also shows the corrupt leadership of the current administration. It is not acceptable that a public institution make rules up when they want, to suit their own agendas, yet that is exactly what happened with my son’s displacement.

I have come to know our superintendent to be a very competitive man who sees challenges in everything that occurs within the district, and once he perceives a challenge, it’s a matter of win or lose for him, and he refuses to lose; he is willing to go to any length to win. Perhaps not a bad trait to have if your job is to do corporate takeovers, but in the setting of public education it gets in the way of what is in the best interest of our kids. When he, the superintendent, is willing to sacrifice a kid’s well-being or a dedicated employee’s service, all for the sake of his ego, our entire district has a serious problem.

Hopefully, this latest bit of information (only one administrative placement all year), will show our elected governing Board that there is indeed a problem with the management; contradictory information regarding other issues has already been discovered, so this is just one more piece to the ugly picture of our current “leader”.

Unfortunately, the superintendent’s current contract runs through April ’07, so either the governing Board reigns him in (which they seem incapable of doing), or his contract gets bought out. Public input is mandatory in order for either to happen. The alternative is that we continue to watch an out-of-towner destroy the morale and foundation of our schools, teachers, students and parents. We are the community, and we need to protect what is ours.

School's Back in Session

Well, it will be tomorrow, anyway. Break's over...

That means the district will have to conduct their business under a more watchful eye: the community. We're back from vacation and ready to commit to another year for our kids. Some will be volunteering in the classroom (as I used to). Some will be taking positions in PTA (as I used to). Others will offer their services during workdays or events (as I used to). Me, I will commit myself to attending Board meetings and researching issues that come before the Board. I'll spread any information I get to as many people as I can.

Am I going to make difference? Well, in some ways I already have, and I hope to continue. I have a renewed sense of energy now too since a district official publicly admitted that only ONE administrative placement occured in the last school year...more on that later. Anyway, FUSD's superintendent and elected Board members may have thought I'd get tired of fighting and go away, especially after June. HELLO, I'm still here!

Summer Break

So, I've been using summer as an excuse for a reprieve from writing, but truth is that it has been hard to stay hopeful and motivated to keep it all up - it's easy to believe that none of this makes much of a difference, especially after the recent community input meetings.

However, if I give in to the sense of hopelessness that comes from dealing with FUSD's administration, then I admit that it's impossible for people to make a difference for the better, and I am not quite ready to do that. The fact that a small community group has formed since all of this has started is evidence in itself.

So, it's just a break. It's not over yet. Everybody needs a break now and then...

Community Input

FUSD hosted community input meetings regarding the disciplinary process - in the summer, when many families are on vacation.

Why did they do it that way?

The meetings weren't even announced until after school let out, which means they couldn't make use of the school newsletters to get the word out. It seems they chose this summer time specifically because it was likely that few people would show up, and that's why they liked it - the less parents and community members, the less they are questioned or challenged.

There wasn't much of an opportunity to prepare for those who were able to attend; sure, there was a notice of the meetings on the district website, and mention in the papers, but the material (paperwork) to be covered was not made available, it wasn't even mentioned in any of the press releases; the only way a person could get any advance material to study was to request it (but how many knew there was anything to request in the first place?).

There were several packets , one of them 30 pages, of disciplinary policy and regulation to cover; how can the administration expect to get any sincere input if they don't prepare us in advance? The district allowed an hour and a half for the meeting, although it ended up lasting three hours. I had spent hours studying the packets that I requested a week in advance, and I felt prepared to offer informed input, but most of the other parents there were seeing it for the first time. I just don't see how the superintendent or pupil services director could expect to get much out of the meeting when others hadn't had a chance to review the material in advance. It's a suspiciously convenient way for them to get their updates and revisions through if you ask me.

Think about it...They have some revisions they need to make and some they want to make. They know what they want it to look like, but they also know they need to appease the Board by involving the community. Well, what easier way to push the revisions through than plan summer meetings, don't give any info and just rush through a power point presentation in an hour and half? That way they can show the Board, "Oh, we involved the community." Yeah, right.

This next Board meeting will have the first reading of the proposed changes, and very little will be challenged, then the next Board meeting they can already get it approved and adopted. Voila! Passed the revisions through before the families even return from their vacations! How do you like that for efficiency?

That's why everyone needs to show up to the July 20th Board meeting - get there early so you can read up on the changes, then speak up about them (you have to fill out a yellow card at the beginning of the meeting). At least, show up.

Also, don't forget to show up at this coming week's community input meeting regarding the complaints process. Wed. July 13th, 7pm at the District Board room.

Important Meetings

There are upcoming district meetings that are important to attend:

July 6th is the community/parent input meeting on the disciplinary process and it's proposed changes, which we should be concerned about - under the revisions, violations punishable by suspension or expulsion are intentionally vague, leaving the discretion to the officials. For example, vandalism is an expellable offense; that may sound reasonable, but the lines are not drawn between vandalizing a classroom on the weekend or drawing on a desk during class. We'd all like to believe that common sense prevails and the student who gets caught writing on his desk is never expelled, but the reality is that it is a possibilty, especially if it's a troublesome student the administrator or district leadership doesn't like. We all should be concerned about any revisions that make it easier for them to punish our kids. Please show up July 6th, 7pm at the district Board room.

July 13th is the community/parent input meeting on the complaints process. Again, this effects us all, and we should be concerned. Currently, the process is inconsistent and difficult to understand; it does not address all complaints a parent/student may have and it is not equitable. Please attend this meeting also, July 13th, 7pm, district Board room.

July 20th is the next Board meeting (in Council chambers) where it is likely there will be a discussion of those policy revisions, and this will be an opportunity for us to let the Board know what direction we want them to take.

I know, it sounds like a lot of meetings to attend. The district is counting on you to NOT show up - they are fairly certain they will be able to push their revisions through without any problem, because hardly anyone will care enough to show up - let's show them otherwise!

Disciplinary Issues

The district will be hosting two opportunities for the community to provide input on the disciplinary process. The policies will be revised over the summer. The guidelines have not been announced, so I question what exactly the district is hoping to attain. In my experience with the disciplinary process, nobody at the district level was willing to admit that there is anything wrong with the process - which makes me wonder why then they would host not one, but two meetings regarding it.

Could it be that there are more problems and complaints than they're willing to admit to? I also question if these meetings were requested by the Board. I can't imagine it being the idea of district administration, as the current head of pupil services seems to heartily believe in her form of strict & harsh discipline, and the superintendent backs her up.

While I agree that the policies and procedures need review, I fear that the intent behind the meetings are to give district officials an opportunity to revise the disipline policy to reflect the current administration's harsh views and practices, so that parents like me can't find Board policies and administrative regualtions that contradict their actions.

Like some of the other community & parents input opportunities, these meetings will mostly serve the purpose of showing the Governing Board that parents were included, while the reality will likely be closer to our input going in one ear and out the other. Our current administration hasn't yet shown a sincere regard for community or parental input - let's hope this is the beginning of changing that. We have to make it so.

Today is the first of the two meetings; the focus today will be on issues specific to students with disabilities, and who have an IED or 504. It's in the district Board room at 7pm. The next meeting, focused on all other students, is July 6th, same time, same place. I encourage you to show up, if one date is better than the other go ahead and attend that one. Go ahead and attend both, just for information. Here is the link to the district's info regarding these meetings: Discipline Meetings

Go here to post your own topics of concern: Community Concerns Message Board

Another Letter

Today, I received the following in a letter, it's dated June 14th. Not sure what prompted it, as the only concerns I have raised recently are actually complaints See Complaints, and this comes nowhere near addressing them.

This letter was signed (sincerely) by the superintendent, but he used his title of Secretary to the Board of Education. I question the intent behind this meaningless letter that only served to once again defend that they can do (get away with) what they've done, but no explanation as to why they feel it was appropriate (to ruin a child's final year of elementary school and take away his joy and respect for school). My comments are interspersed throughout...

Mrs. Frazier, [no form of address]

As secretary of the Board of Education, I have been asked to respond to your concern regarding the administrative transfer of your son, Joey, to Ardenwood from Patterson Elementary for the remainder of the 2004-05 school year.

The Board of Education gave the superintendent the authority to act on the incident involving your son's possession of weapons [don't you love how they make him sound like a little criminal/terrorist? See the post, What Really Happened
for the real story] on the Patterson Elementary campus. Under the superintendent's direction, the Director of Pupil Personnel Services processes infractions in conjuction with [more like overriding] the sites and under the authority of the Education Code. The Education Code is permissive [read: they can do whatever the Board let's them get away with] and the actions taken by the superintendent [at least he admits he did it] and his staff are consistent with the intent [You like how he interprets Ed Code? Oh, and I thought it was the Board who decided policy...] of the Education Code.

Administrative transfers [no longer being called administrative placements, hmm] are permitted under the Education Code [Nope. It is never mentioned. Notice no Ed Code number is given. Involuntary transfers are mentioned though, and those have RULES] as an alternative to expulsion. The Board supports the administrative transfer of your son, Joey [shame on them] for the remainder of this school year [remember this came in the mail today, the last day of the school year]. After promoting from Ardenwood later this month [promotion was today], Joey will begin his Junior High experience at Thornton Junior High in August when school returns.

END

Making a Difference

I'd like to think one person can make a difference, and a group of people can have an even greater impact. Unfortunately, the Governing Board and district seem to be immune to anything.

So, I wonder, what will it take to make a difference in FUSD? There needs to be enough people who believe a change needs to happen, and they need to be willing to step forward to demand it. I understand there is much fear of retaliation, and it's a reasonable fear considering who the superintendent is and his apparent control of the Board. However, fear can't be allowed to rule. Living in fear is not living true to one's self. Sometimes standing up for what you believe in means taking risks.

I'd encourage others to pay close attention to the workings of FUSD, and let the Board and superintendent know you are watching them and are not willing to accept anything less than exemplary leadership. Write to them, here are their email addresses:

Board President Herndon: pherndonfusd@aol.com
Board Clerk Sweeney: larry4sb@aol.com
Board Trustee Moore: nmoore@earthlink.net
Board Trustee Wu: ivy826wu@yahoo.com
Board Trustee Emanuele: guka@comcast.net
Superintendent Rieckewald: jrieckewald@fremont.k12.ca.us

Speak to them during Board meetings - anyone is allowed to speak during the oral communication part of the agenda. Let them know we expect them to put our kids first!

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FUSD Legal Counsel

The more I think about it, the more bothered I get...

The Governing Board and district staff have used legal counsel to address me - the first time the superintendent signed the letter legal counsel drafted, and the second time Board president Herndon signed it. Both times there were four pages defending the district's actions. Neither letter ever answered or addressed issues, concerns & complaints I posed.

The lawyers draft imposing letters, but they have still failed to explain the reasons why they should act as they do, instead focusing on their subjective interpretations of ed code, particularly an obscure clause - ec 48900 (u) , that supports only that they could do what they are doing - all the while failing to explain why they ignore FUSD's own board policies and administrative regulations. I see a distinct difference in doing something because it's something that is right and it should be done, and doing something simply because you find a loophole that allows it. The lawyers were succesful in finding that loophole. Worse, the lawyers even defended the fact that the district has taken action against a child that is not defined anywhere. Since when is it okay for the district to make up the rules as they go? Why, since they started relying on legal counsel to answer for them, that's when - which seems to coincide with the arrival of new leadership.

If someone wants to see the letters, email me and I'll send them. I am not posting them because I don't know if there could be any legal issues if I do (since no lawyer is counseling me). I don't have anything to hide - I've laid it all out here. (I know that the superintendent and his lackey in pupil services have both stated that I am not telling the whole story - BULL)

What really disturbs me is the fact that they resorted to legal counsel at all. Consider first the fact that every moment legal counsel spends drafting me their dismissive, inaccurate and and incomplete responses - it is costing us; the lawyers are not district employees, but instead are used on an as needed basis. Who decided they needed them for me, a parent? If their actions are in accordance with ed code, board policy and administrative regualtion, why the need for lawyers? Furthermore, and even more reason to question their use of legal counsel, is the fact that I am simply a parent. I have no legal representation. I have, however, done a lot of research and have found ed codes, board policies and administrative regualtions that conflict with the district's actions and support my arguments. My arguments and research support my concerns, complaints and issues very clearly.

I expected the issues I raised to be addressed by those I elected and those who work for us, through taxpayer dollars. What happened to open communiciation? Only on their terms, that's what I see. For a clearer picture on what I am talking about, see my post from May 4th http://communityconcerns.blogspot.com/2005/05/complaints-complaints-more-complaints.html .

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