Santa Barbara District’s Special-Ed Director Resigns Amid Criticism
Anissa McNeil's abrupt announcement comes just three days after a contentious school board meeting.
The Santa Barbara School District’s special-education director resigned late last week amid mounting criticism from dissatisfied parents, becoming the seventh leader to leave the troubled department in about as many years. She had been at the district for less than six months.
Anissa McNeil’s abrupt announcement came Friday, just three days after a contentious school board meeting in which she attempted to tout the department’s success during a 45-minute presentation. The report before the board included testaments of praise for her and the department from a special-education teacher, an elementary school principal and an attorney who represents the district.
It did little to quell the frustration of a growing group of parents, who — for the third meeting in a month — showed up in force at the meeting Nov. 18. The group has repeatedly complained about a shortage of trained instructional aides for their children with special needs, a failure to follow through on legally mandated education plans created for their children by educators and, above all, a lack of responsiveness from the district about their concerns.
“Parents of kids in special education are sometimes seen as crazies or loose cannons because we often stand alone,” said Jennifer Griffin, co-chairwoman of a local group called Parents of Special Education, which in October posted bulletins in local media outlets advising frustrated special-education parents to contact her. “Most of us are too tired to fight. But tonight we’re standing here united asking to be heard.”
McNeil’s last official day will be Nov. 30.
Her supervisor, Associate Superintendent of Education Robin Sawaske, said she couldn’t comment on the circumstances surrounding McNeil’s resignation, citing personnel confidentiality laws.
Speaking to the high turnover in Santa Barbara, Sawaske said, “It’s a tough position.”
“The staff is huge,” she said. “It’s a big job.”
McNeil made about $118,000 a year at the position, for which the salary schedule ranges from $108,000 to a little more than $120,000.
At each of the three meetings, the parents have come from different schools. On Oct. 14, most came from Washington Elementary; on Oct. 28, most came from the K-8 Open Alternative School; on Nov. 18, they came from Peabody Elementary, Monroe Elementary and Goleta Valley Junior High.
Cherise Dunham, a parent from Goleta Valley Junior High, said her son suffers from a rare disorder, called Prader-Willi Syndrome, in which he can’t stop eating because his brain doesn’t register satiation.
“If Hunter was left unmonitored, he could literally eat himself to death — I’m not exaggerating,” she said.
Dunham said there was an occasion last year in which her son was left unmonitored; for a half-hour, nobody at the school knew where he was. She added that she requested a meeting with educators for his legally required education plan in September, but still has not heard back from the district.
“I appreciate Anissa’s efforts to restructure the special-education program, but I think maybe a feedback census form to every single parent in the district would be good,” she said. Then, turning to McNeil, she added, “You are not including us.”
Carmen Esquivel, a parent at Monroe Elementary, said her daughter who has Down syndrome was not paired with an appropriately trained aide. She said she faxed McNeil a letter, but never heard back.
Paul Kuhn, a parent at Washington Elementary, said a highly skilled and popular special-education teacher was transferred against her will from the school this year, two days before the first day, without notification to parents. In addition, he said his son’s instructional aide was called around the same time and asked not to show up on the first day.
“My wife sent Miss McNeil an e-mail asking about this, and the e-mail was never responded to,” he said.
Not all of the parent criticism was aimed solely at McNeil. Dunham, for instance, said the problems predate the beginning of her short tenure. And Goleta Valley parent Colleen Lynch criticized the responsiveness of the top officials, saying that of the e-mails she sent out, only Superintendent Brian Sarvis and one of five board members — Nancy Harter — responded.
“You ask what you can do to help — respond back,” she said. “Give people a call.”
At one point in the meeting, McNeil got up to defend herself. She said she hired a behavioral specialist and an autism specialist to serve Peabody Elementary as soon as she learned of a shortage. She added that she already has held two training sessions for aides — one for children with behavior issues, the other for children with autism — and said two more are in the works.
“So I do hear you,” she said. “I’m not in isolation of parents. I’m at school sites every day.”
Also speaking on the side of the parents was a district employee, David Gilbertson, a school psychologist at Harding Elementary and La Cumbre Junior High schools.
“You may consider me a whistle-blower; I’m not going to use that term,” he said. “I’m a citizen who cares, I’m a professional who cares, and I’m here tonight to speak for the children who cannot speak for themselves — both special-education children and children who have been disenfranchised by this community because of their poverty, and their lack of opportunity, and the color of their skin.”
Gilbertson said that special-education teachers share many of the parents’ concerns, and they aired them at a recent teachers union meeting. He asked for the board to comply with state education laws.
Discussion among school board members was limited, but McNeil’s presentation did draw a rebuke from trustee Bob Noel, who referred to it as an “infomercial,” and who seemed to pin the blame on Sarvis.
Noel said he had asked Sarvis for a thorough review of the special-education department after the Oct. 28 board meeting, which also had witnessed testimony from a group of upset special-education parents.
“I didn’t hear any review of the issues those parents raised,” he said. “Instead I heard an … infomercial promoting the great job that special education does.”
At this, Sarvis tried to respond, and the two talked over each other. After the testy exchange died down, Sarvis said: “To have sufficient number of aides — that’s our problem. To have trained aides — that’s our problem. To have speech and language specialists — that’s our problem. I agree with you: These are our problems.”
As for McNeil’s 45-minute presentation, it gave a sweeping outline of the special-education department and touted the considerable academic gains made in the past year by Santa Barbara’s special-education students. McNeil also highlighted some of the department’s new programs, such as one that helps students acquire good study skills in junior high school, and another that helps improve the process of screening and locating students in need of special-education services.
Among those who spoke favorably of McNeil during the presentation was Emilio Handall, principal at McKinley Elementary School, which serves one of the most disadvantaged student populations in the district.
Handall said the school lately has been experiencing more success in getting special-education students to achieve the goals established for them in their education plans.
“I want to thank her publicly, because without her support, I would be at McKinley with a lot more headaches than I have already,” he said.
The board took no action, but that night trustee Nancy Harter asked Sarvis, Sawaske and McNeil to report back as a team to address the concerns raised at the meeting.
Write to .
» wrote on 11/24/08 @ 11:17 PM
It was interesting to hear Ms. McNeill’s summation of all she has done for this district at the board meeting that was to be her last hurrah. While her efforts to create a forum for training and unifying staff was a step in the right direction, her complete lack of personal skills, her refusal to get input from teachers (whom she referred to as the district’s ‘experts’ upon her arrival), her way of answering relevant questions and concerns by repeating her tired catch phrases and jargon and her lack of actual ‘collaboration’ despite using the term more than Sara Palin said ‘maverick’ is an insult to the entire community. I would be relieved to see her go if not for the fact that some of the damages suffered by her reign for staff and students will take an immense amount of time and effort to undo. Telling teachers to provide Specialized Academic Instruction and then failing to address/comment on any of the barriers that have been hindering this “new” aim in the first place is a token, not a solution. Solving understaffing problems by carelessly shuffling Instructional Assistants without input from anyone ‘in the know’ and angering and displacing staff working in an already underpaid, under appreciated position is absurd and defies the very idea of meeting students’ “Individual” needs. Failing to return phone calls and e-mails regarding concerns, changing her story to accommodate her purpose at the time, intimidating personnel, and using her knowledge of law to manipulate others are all concerns I have heard voiced by the ‘experts’ who continue to work for the district with little to no ACTUAL or PRACTICAL support from Special Education’s upper-level management (unless, of course, a lawyer is already involved). They also speak to a lack of integrity in a line of work that is supposed to be about collaborating to serve children and young adults. I appreciate that her position was a very difficult one and I realize that she walked into a multitude of problems that she was responsible for fixing, but my hope is that the next person to step up to the bat will do so with more humility and respect for the hard work this community has been doing prior to their arrival, someone with integrity and a drive to USE best practice instead of just the WORDS ‘best practice,’ and perhaps someone with some real, lengthy experience as a Special Education teacher who understands the enormity of the task and the passion most teachers feel for giving their students what they need and deserve.
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 06:32 AM
Another one bites the dust....
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 07:47 AM
Anissa McNeil marched into Santa Barbara with a breathtaking lack of sensitivity. She shuffled the deck and moved special education teachers all around the distruct with no rhyme nor reason other than to establish her own right to do so. She showed no respect whatsoever to any parents or longstanding school cultures, and when questioned became angry, defensive and downright abusive to parents. It was clear immediately that she was a terrible fit for the many needs this district has, and now the competence and decision-making ability of those who hired her must seriously come into question. The news of her resignation was a logical outcome, but a very expensive and damaging episode in this school district’s sad story. Much damage was done during her tenure, and it will not be undone simply by her leaving. Who will get to the root of this systemic problem and fix it once and for all? I for one have no confidence in this group at all.
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 08:41 AM
Why does this district have a revolving door in it’s leadership? Perhaps because leadership is lacking! Yet tonight the Board will consider extending Dr. Sarvis’ contract through 2012. Soon we will be told that we just need to pay more money to the top and things will become better at the bottom.
Why not cut all top administrators pay 10% and use the money to pay those who are doing thankless jobs for very little money?
This district is long on lip service and short on performence.
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 09:08 AM
It is time for Dr. Sarvis to weigh in as to what he is going to change the Special Ed Department in the district. Ms. McNeill was a bad fit from the get go. The damage she caused was unbelievable, however there are others in the DO who are poison to the system. It is time for a complete overhaul.
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 10:27 AM
1. Why in the world would they extend Sarvis’ contract? This just means an already poor district would have to buy him out when it’s time for him to go.
2. Why doesn’t La Cuesta have a special education component? La Cuesta’s Special Ed. kids must go to the more restrictive and harsher SBCEO El Puente School. WHY?
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 11:00 AM
Why is the Board considering Sarvis’ contract now? Shouldn’t the new Board we just elected weigh in on that matter?
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 12:07 PM
Anissa McNeil was recommended for hire to the Board of Education by Brian Sarvis, Superintendent and Robin Sawaske, Associate Superintendent.
Was our School Board informed that Ms. McNeil was in trouble with law, specifically the State Board of Consumer Affairs? Did Brian Sarvis and Robin Sawaske tell our School Board that Ms. McNeil had been recently convicted for “professional incompetence” after she failed to adequately diagnose disabled children? That Ms. McNeil failed to report speech aides to the State Board, and that she failed to provide supervision to them as required by law. Did the Board know about Ms. McNeil’s background and do nothing, allowing her to cause such pain and havoc in our district?
Ms. McNeil just completed three years of professional probation on January 15, 2008, the same day she applied for the position of Director with our district. Did Kris Robertson, Personnel Director, do a background check? Was the information withheld from the interview panel?
Ms. McNeil recent history includes a conviction by the State Board of Consumer Affairs for legal violations related to her license as a speech-language therapist. This is a base service credential McNeil must hold to become a school district administrator.
Why would Superintendent Sarvis and Associate Superintendent Sawaske recommend Ms. McNeil be hired, given her background and apparent incompetence in her base credential? Their recommendation resulted in harm to our children, staff and parents. Does Brian Sarvis care? Apparently not. Does Robin Sawaske care? Apparently not. Does the Board of Education care? We’ll see. Will Mr. Sarvis and Ms. Sawaske be held accountable? We’ll see. Citizens are watching.
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 02:51 PM
The damage that Anissa McNeil did to this district cannot be overestimated. The damage will not be repaired for years. I’ve been a special ed teacher for over 15 years, and I’ve never seen anyone like her; she was simultaneously imperious and incompetent. She would make proclamations about new programs, then not show up to the meeting where the new program was to be discussed. She would change say one thing to one employee, then another to another, to the point that we could never tell what was a fact and what was a lie. She would intimidate anyone who dared challenge her by approaching the person alone and without witnesses around.
When the news was released (at 12:59 on Friday the 21st) spontaneously celebrations broke out at every school in the district. My phone rang off the hook with people wanting to be the first to inform me of the joyous news. People roamed the hallways looking for people to hug, like it was VE Day. One administrator was yelling at me in the hallway with such enthusiasm that a regular ed teacher looked outside to see if everything was alright.
The only problem now is that we have to pick up the pieces of her wreckage. The fact that she left without a successor being named shows how desperate the district was to remove her from doing any more damage. But once again special ed is rudderless.
And this is YET ANOTHER example of Dr. J. Brian Sarvis’ mismanagement of the district. This follows on the heels of the financial mess, the inproductive tenure of Jan Zettel, and the continuing employment (years after he was kicked upstairs) of Michael Gonzalez. (How does Mr. Gonzalez still have a job? Why wasn’t he given a specific amount of time to find a new job like Ferguson and Stuart were when they were kicked upstairs?) Dr. Sarvis record of mismanagement and poor relations with the teachers speaks for itself.
The board of trustees needs to take some responsibility for the Anissa McNeil debacle as well. They would be well served to start by terminating Dr. Sarvis employment. He has served longer than most superintendents, and has outlived his usefullness. I hope the new trustees initiate a very thorough scrutiny of the tenure of Dr. Sarvis, lest they want to continue to be embarassed by his incompetence.
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 03:02 PM
NO CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR SARVIS!!
RE-OPEN SARVIS’ PERFORMANCE REVIEW!!
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 03:13 PM
The root of the districts problems were not McNeil. McNeil’s performance was symptomatic of the districts larger problems, notably its top level leadership from whom she took orders. The parents and the community now see that as the issue. If the lame duck board cannot, at least there are two new members coming in. They would best align themselves with Noel, who is the only voice of reason, so far. Clearly Noel is concerned about the children being hurt by Sarvis’s leadership or lack there of. Luckily there is a process for the rest of the board. It is called RECALL. It may be time to start seriously looking into it and with what is brewing in this community of dedicated parents, I think it is a real possibility. Sarvis needs to go. To think that tonight they are possibly going to extend his contract, is appalling. It is time for a change. A competent superintendent would not hire an incompetent director.
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 07:13 PM
Folks are getting it!
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 07:15 PM
Is there anyone in the country that has a lower approval rating that Dr. Sarvis and yet remains employed? The easy answer is President Bush, but he is still somewhere like 30-35%. I DO NOT think that Sarvis could possibly be that high.
The special education department needs some real money thrown at it in very difficult times. Their pay is very low and demands astronomical (considering the SBCEO/Goleta SPED admin) amounts of effort. Two districts- elementary and secondary, with VERY SERIOUS political machines involved. There SHOULD be 2-3 people at the McNeil level. Candidates are going to be thin for this type of employment. I know that front line people should be getting some of the $$$, but the reality is the upper positions in SPED are vitally important in many areas (saving lawsuit dollars being the first!).
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 07:28 PM
Like SB Don at another site all but 2 of over 16 teachers, nothing but glee when the word was out that McNeil had resigned. At a community meeting this week before the resignation “hear she is the worst yet”. What is Sarvis going to do about the communitys’ veiw of the the District? Some else needs go as well.....
» wrote on 11/25/08 @ 10:07 PM
Ms. McNeil’s resignation is welcomed due to her abrasive management style and lack of consideration of her staff and community. It does not however change anything about the state of special education in this school district. There has been no cohesive and comprehensive special education philosophy that is aligned with the current federal law for many years. The issues of how to provide a free and appropriate and inclusive education for children with a wide variety of disahilities has never been adequately decided. Best practices from around the country are not followed or considered. Staffing decisions are made on what seems to be a purely fiscal basis and not to the maximum benefit to the children. Teachers and service providers are asked to do duties for which they do not have adequate training or providers are only available on a part time basis leaving the opportunity for injury wide open. Injury to both the physical and mental well being of both employees and students. Let this be a call for a new day. Let the community say Yes we Can effect change.
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 06:52 AM
So what happened at the School Board meeting last night?
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 09:34 AM
God Bless America! Happy Thanksgiving! (Margaritas, anyone?)
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 09:35 AM
Dear Santa Barbara:
We demand accountability!
BRIAN SARVIS MUST RESIGN IMMEDIATELY!!! The Board MUST ACT NOW!! If the Board refuses to act, then the community will protest and the streets will be filled with Truth and Light.
Sarvis has HURT our children. He has INTIMIDATED and RETALIATED against his staff. He has INSULTED his parents and LIED to his community.
1. Sarvis recommended McNeil be hired even though she was convicted by the State Board of Consumer Affairs for “Professional Incompetence” and broke laws and ethical standards of professional practice. She was on probation by the State Board for being “incompetent” and Sarvis still recommended she be hired!! Sarvis knew she had ethical and legal violations. SIMPLY, HE DIDN’T CARE.
2. Sarvis intentionally concealed this information from the Board and brought McNeil in to illegally reduce special ed costs at the expense of hurting innocent children and disregarding pleas for help from parents and staff.
3. SARVIS gave McNeil free reign and “blessings” to refuse legally required aide services, to refuse speech services, and to dismantle essential services needed to benefit children with disabilities.
4. SARVIS allowed McNeil to illegally misassign teachers so they were less effective and children were hurt.
5. SARVIS surrounded himself with people who dared not question him and would do anything for a dollar. Bureaucratic Hos! They are the mirror of his dark selfish lies.
6. SARVIS tried to cover-up the fact that a county employee intentionally beat up a young disabled Hispanic student. Todos las personas de La Raza, es el tiempo para ayudar! Ahora, es el tiempo para La Luz!
SARVIS is the ring-leader of his own squad of gangsters who hurt children and cover it up! He works for BILL CIRONE, the self-appointed Godfather and Master of Darkness. Mr. Cirone, we are coming.
7. SARVIS was found guilty of multiple violations of state and federal law due to this child’s injury and the district’s dismal failure to provide required services. More secrets and lies SARVIS doesn’t want to talk about!! We wonder why? SARVIS tried to shuffle this poor student into the court system because the student had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and couldn’t come to school because he was so traumatized!! How dare you SARVIS! And you really think you’re a leader?
8. Sarvis ignored parent and staff pleas for help while driving around town in his Lexus and BMW bought with our tax dollars! Maybe he really works for GM. I wonder if there’s a corporate jet somewhere?
We implore the Board of Education to act in an immediate and expedient manner. If the Board does not remove SARVIS, then the community will initiate a RECALL of the responsible members.
We want Dr. Robert NOEL as Board President. He will ensure truth and justice in our community. We demand NO MORE LIES! NO MORE INJURIES! NO MORE! NO MORE!
BOARD MEMBERS WORK FOR US!! REMOVE SARVIS NOW!
REMOVE SARVIS NOW!!
REMOVE SARVIS NOW!!
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 10:40 AM
Until the Santa Barbara School District becomes student-focused instead of $money$ focused, they will keep scaring away talent for positions like Special Education Director or lose good staff in these positions.
The silent policy to keep special education under-funded is coming from the top administrators. The silent policy to move all special ed. gang related students to El Puente saves the District hundreds of thousands of dollars. Poor parent don’t advocate for their children’s needs and their children don’t get the one-on-one aides they deserve. As a teacher, once you see this pattern long enough, you either have to get out or battle bad administrators.
I admire all the parents and special-ed. teachers who continue to fight the current system. Thank you, and good luck.
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 10:48 AM
I’M SO GLAD SHE’S GONE!! IT TOOK LONG ENOUGH THOUGH! I hope the next person to fill this position will have been through Special Education; an aide,a 1:1 aide, a teacher, a parent, and so on… Not that people who haven’t been in all those positions can’t do the job, but they really would have a better understanding of what staff and parents go through. I also think Sarvis should get the boot. Oh and why do these people make so much money? Shouldn’t most of their salary be spent on schools, or paying people like me more and getting more trainings? By the way, those of you who don’t know; we aren’t trained upon or before hire, the only requirement ( if you speak English as your 1st lang.) is that you have worked in SpEd for at least 6 mos. The sites all say you also must take some test which I never had to. Only my ESL friends had to. It also says either the 6 mos. experience or 1 year of college level work. Wow! That means any moron can get hired, and boy have I seen my share!
So not only is the application deceiving but so are all the people that back it!
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 11:22 AM
Is tis a school district or a child care facility? With all these distractions and costs, no wonder education suffers. Hire the parent to care for their children in the classroom (if there is a shortage of aides), if that child needs to be there. From everyone’s comments, it appears that these aides simply don’t exist as the requirements are impossible to meet. Home schooling?
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 11:50 AM
Special Education Instructional Assistants should be awarded an immediate pay raise considering the variety of duties they perform. These include: teaching one-on-one, teaching small groups, file work, supervisory duties, etc. They are now required to have at least two years of college level courses. Very often applicants have a four year degree coupled with experience! Most Special Ed. assistants make less than $22,000 yearly. Most positions are six hour or less daily. If the district wants to hire and keep assistants, they should immediately offer a higher salary to all! The belief that people should not move to this area unless they can afford it has become a tiresome bore. Our problems in the school system can be directly linked to sub standard pay for many jobs within the area of education in Santa Barbara. People need to be able to pay their bills! Go to the top and clean house........
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 11:51 AM
I think these problems have more to do with lack of qualified aides. Secondly, no one can afford to live here in Santa Barbara. If you live in this district you just have to accept this fact.
People expect too much from government and need to learn to do things for themselves. I say stop acting like victims and take responsibility for where you have chosen to live and in what circumstances. You life is your responsibility.
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 06:56 PM
To Chris:
Please try being a parent of a disabled kid with a superintendent and hired administrative thugs who don’t care. Or, be an instructional aide for one of these kids after they hit you, run away, pee on playground, and spit on you for $9/hour. Then talk to me. What world do you live “silver spoon.” Wake up and help those who need.
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 07:17 PM
SB Citizens for Social Responsibility: Special Board Meeting for Sarvis Evaluation for Contract Renewal (Closed Session), December 2, 5:00 pm. Please attend and make Public Comments.
(He just negotiated a raise and three year contract for $205,000 per year six-months ago; what’s going on?
The plan was for Bill Cirone to retire one year early and have the co-opted County Board of Education appoint Sarvis, who would then run as an incombent.
» wrote on 11/26/08 @ 09:54 PM
Have we accidently gone off topic? Oh well, Chris made a good point in that SOME aides are not qualified. Thoughtful, if you are only getting paid 9/hour then you are not a SPED aide. Good aides are hard to come by. The pay is good if you also have another job and love what you do. I would like to suggest better pay for aides but only if they qualify through experience and performance based evaluations. Experience does not mean being an aide for many years, it means being a successful aide. If any District employees are reading this, how about hiring some aides hourly? Specifically college students. A pool of aides could be utilized just like substitutes. Of course they would need to be trained, but this could work.
» wrote on 11/27/08 @ 07:15 AM
The next Board meeting listed on the SBSD website shows:
Tuesday, December 9, 2008, annual organizational meeting and regular board meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Is Dec. 5th a newly added meeting?
» wrote on 11/27/08 @ 07:37 AM
The next Board meeting listed on the SBSD website shows:
Tuesday, December 9, 2008, annual organizational meeting and regular board meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Is Dec. 5th a newly added meeting?
» wrote on 11/27/08 @ 02:37 PM
The next Board meeting if TUES, NOV 2 AT 5PM. It is a special meeting to consider Brian Sarvis’ job performance. Please come and make comments. He’s busy fabricating test scores in the district and hiring unethical attorneys to fight unsuspecting parents. Just like Bill Cirone. We’re coming Bill. Better start worrying.
» wrote on 11/27/08 @ 08:13 PM
Dear SB Citizens for Social Responsibility: Make that TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2008. Special CLOSED SESSION meeting to evaluate Sarvis. Public Comments at 5:00 pm.
Falsifying test scores is nothing compared to illegal expulsions and CAHSEE waivers, not to mention the hundreds of thousands in legal fees when the district loses a due process and then has to pay PRIVATE, COURT-ORDERED Special Education Services that come out of the General Fund.
The school board is so ignorant, they gaveled me “off topic” and then twice adjourned the meeting when I tried to tell them what was going on. I think they’re finally getting the point.
SOMEBODY HAS TO CHECK SARVIS’ $10,000 (no board approval needed) EXPENSE ACCOUNT. (Dallas School District was caught in a MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CREDIT CARD SCANDAL.) Check out the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)Website---they’re on to school corruption.
Bill Cirone is running a Racketeering-Influenced and Corrupt Organization. (RICO). His personal VISA credit card has been paid for twenty years with SELPA funds---approved by the rubber-stamping JPA (of which he is a permanent member).
Bill Cirone tried to get the superintendents to approve payments for his wife’s medical bills but they refused---some of them have ethics. The Santa Ynez Valley districts pulled out of the SELPA four years ago.
County Supe Bill Cirone calls the school superintendents “His Staff.” Sarvis takes his orders from Cirone. They are Machiavellians and rotten to the core.
Geez Louise.
» wrote on 11/28/08 @ 02:15 PM
I am a teacher in the district and I feel I have to join the chorus of voices calling for Dr. Sarvis’ removal. There have just been too many incompetent people that he has hired in the last few years. These people have caused many problems--remember the five million dollars found, then lost, then found, then ???. His record of relations with teachers is poor, and most of us have little confidence in him as a leader. The Russians have a saying: “A fish rots from the head.” This district is beginning to rot, and the it’s coming from the head.
» wrote on 11/29/08 @ 08:49 PM
By law, special ed gets first dibs on school money. Special ed is expensive and hugely challenging. Our state budget is a mess - and overall there simply isn’t enough money for education. There is really only one solution: increase money available to schools, e.g. repeal Prop 13.
» wrote on 11/30/08 @ 09:29 AM
Dear TEACHER PROGENY:
You are incorrect! All Special Education money goes to the SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area)--- it is nothing more than a bank---but the oversight committee, JPA (Joint Powers Board), is comprised SOLELY of school district superintendents appointed by COE Superintendent Bill Cirone, who is a PERMANENT MEMBER.
There you have the crux of the problem---the fox is guarding the henhouse. Bill Cirone’s diagram for the operation of the entire school system and SELPA is His Empire.
He meets with the entire JPA AND ALL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS on the first Monday of each month, and there he indoctrinates them as to his Machiavellian machinations and mechanisms.
SELPA funds are embezzled and misappropriated. The SELPA lawyer, Sharon WATT, was on a budgeted SALARY of $200,000 per year---litigation expenses were paid by The People on top of that. She would litigate $1,500 assessments and charge the district $50,000 in legal fees.
Bill Cirone scoops hundreds of thousands from the SELPA for his own programs---and some for himself. The SELPA pays Marcia McClish’s and other retiree’s health benefits($6,500 per year per person) and the corruption, misapproriation, and violations of state and federal laws are so unbelievable that NO ONE BELIEVES IT!
Bill Cirone keeps investigators at bay by saying the JPA and SELPA are “school districts” and so are beyond the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors.
There is an unholy alliance between the schools, Juvenile Justice, and 47 non-profits that are feeding at the Public Funding Trough. The school administrators have lost sight of our children.
Read “Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline” at naacp.org. The ACLU and Marian Wright Edelman’s Children’s Defense Fund have issued A CALL TO ACTION!
And Santa Barbara Families are answering the call.
We have incredible teachers, parents, and students---we need to overthrow the corrupt administration and return to sanity where our children and education are the focus.
Please attend the Closed Session Secial Meeting on December 2, and speak at Public Comments at 5:00pm. Google “School Corruption” and read about other districts and FBI investigations. (Capistrano SD gets a “Darkness” Award!)
DO NOT LET THE SCHOOL BOARD REPLACE SARVIS WITH A CIRONE CRONY!!! THERE ARE EDUCATORS AND WHISTLEBLOWERS IN TOWN WHO ARE PREPARED TO TAKE OVER THE REINS AND RETURN OUR SCHOOLS TO THE PEOPLE!!!
» wrote on 11/30/08 @ 10:03 AM
Special Education does not get “first dibs” on education money.
When the SELPA loses a due process, the court orders PRIVATE NON-PROFIT SERVICES. These come to the school district and are paid on the Consent Calendar, so no one takes a real look at them. No one notices---no one cares. But I do!
On October 21, 2008, there were two contracts for Behavioral Consultants (over $31,000 for 150+ hours of work) and the request came from the Special Education Director, BUT THE MONEY CAME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
In Public Comments, I stated that these contracts meant that the SBSD had been losing due process proceedings. They said I was “off topic.” Then I asked for the amount of LITIGATION COSTS---LEGAL FEES FOR THE SBSD AND THE PARENT---and they ADJOURNED THE MEETING.
They still haven’t answered my question. “Encroachment"---payment from the general fund for Special Education services that are court-ordered---is just a small part of the fiscal mismanagement and misappropriation of funds. HOW MUCH DID THE LOST DUE PROCESS CASES COST?
In my daughter’s case, the only thing the public saw was the SELPA payment for $4,500 for an assessment done by Behavioral Therapy Institute. (SELPA TOOK ME TO DUE PROCESS OVER THAT!)
But the school district physically, emotionally, and mentally abused my daughter. I took them to task. I paid 1.2 million in legal fees and litigation expenses---the district pays their lawyer, Sharon Watt, a yearly, whopping $200,000., so she was happy to drag that out for five years.
The SBSD vicious attack against me for being an advocate and activist is now back on the front burner---the school administrators are not suppose to retaliate against whistleblowers. SBSD may not lie, cheat and steal. Elected officials and hired superintendents may not abuse the power of their position and collude, conspire, or cover-up wrong-doing.
Oh dear. Oooops. They did it again.
» wrote on 12/02/08 @ 11:53 AM
This commnet section is obviously a chicken’s way to post the opinions of persons who have little to do or think except for the lynching of those who give their blood to the schools in Santa Barbara. One with any brain at all will wonder who these people are and what stake they have in making such comments. Could they perhaps be disgruntled personnel who have themselves been under fire, perhaps teachers with poor records themselves. Such one-sided attitudes also deserve openness from the reading public. Fortunately there are many open minds out there who understand due process and the need for continuity in order for organizations to succeed over time. Be careful for what you wish.
» wrote on 12/04/08 @ 01:55 PM
The SBSD eats up and spits out administrators far too readily. It is not easy to get people to move here due to the cost of living and then when someone does make the move here (often shouldering all the moving costs without reimbursement), they get little support, very little time to implement complex strategies that sometimes need to be phases in (taking time) and get to shoulder all the blame. There is so much finger pointing and buck passing in this district it is sickening.
The problem is systemic, getting worse and the buck stops at the top!
Pretty soon the word will be out - don’t take a position at SBSD as they will only sabotage you in a year or less. Frankly, I wouldn’t mind putting that ad in some of the statewide papers myself.
So how about it, SBSD? Are you ever going to actually support your administrators and give them tools they need to succeed?