ENDORSED BY SUNOL VOTERS!

Thank you to all the voters who supported us and to the enthusiastic and dedicated campaign committee.  You were a true grass roots movement and we are proud to have you as constituents, neighbors and friends.

A "note'' from Mrs. Rad...

    I have been a public school teacher for thirty-five years. My tenure spans the careers of eight different superintendent/principals, multiple school boards, thousands of students, and hundreds of families and colleagues.  After a thirty-five year career in public education, Teacher of the Year under 5 principal/superintendents, and Alameda County Teacher of the Year under Diane Everett, I think I am qualified to share a few thoughts. First off, teaching children is my passion and has been central to my life.  It is with them in mind and my passion for the profession that I share the following thoughts.

    On November 2, the Sunol community is being asked to vote for the two candidates for school board that they feel will best represent the school community and the Sunol community. Without question I feel these two candidates are Diane Everett and Gerry Beemiller.  I feel I can endorse them with authority because I have worked closely with both – Diane for 16 years and Gerry for 8 years.

    Under Diane’s leadership, I was one of the negotiators for the teachers. Although we may not have always agreed on matters, the budget was always an open book.  Diane was knowledgeable and very transparent in every aspect of the budget.  We knew where the money was going and what, if any, was available for raises. She was also very honest and forth giving where her salary was concerned.  If the staff didn’t get a raise, Diane didn’t take a raise.  In fact, there were times that the staff got a raise and Diane did not.  As Gerry Beemiller has stated, when he was on the Board he learned that the practice was to keep the superintendent/principal’s salary closely aligned with that of a principal of an elementary school in surrounding districts. Sunol is one school with 260 students, 11 classroom teachers, a part-time resource specialist, and a part-time music teacher. The classified staff consists of a full-time administrative assistant, a secretary/clerk, a part-time fiscal manager, a maintenance manager, a custodian, and a few classroom aides.

    Neil Davies states in his mailer that to compensate for State cuts to education, Sunol Glen had to increase enrollment in order to balance the budget. I’m wondering if the Board had kept the new superintendent/principal’s salary more in line with a principal of surrounding districts, the budget could have been balanced without increasing enrollment wherein some middle school classes are well over 30. Last year’s 5^th grade class had 36 students. Five girls from Weible School were enrolled two weeks before Star Testing to an already full class of 31. Why?  Mr. Mumford and I had already announced our retirements, a savings of up to $40K each per year.

    Guin Van Dyke states that $80K was raised from generous community members and parents to retain art and music.  Why then are 4^th-8^th grade students still being charged for art and music, with band requiring even more additional funds from parents?

    Don Ball states in one of his mailers that there have been no cuts to music or art in the last two years.  Why then are upper grade students receiving less music time than last year?  Why isn’t there a strings program as there has been in all of my 34 years at the school?  

    The Walkathon, a successful fundraiser started by Paulette Beemiller, was held during the school day this year.  This leaves out the community and the alumni who have always enjoyed coming back to participate as volunteers.  FAME, also started by Paulette Beemiller, is now chaired by a teacher.  Are we short on parent volunteers?  In my 34 years we have never been short on parent volunteers or Community Club members.  Both have been the strength of Sunol’s parent support system.

     In his mailer Neil Davies lists a myriad of “Current Programs”, but fails to mention that most are offered after school and for a fee. Some that are offered during the school day also come with a fee. Foreign language, Spanish, and French, were middle school electives taught by middle school teachers. Spanish and American Sign Language are now after school fee based programs. United Streaming, a web-based library, was brought to our attention under Diane’s leadership.  The District covered the cost.  Study Island is new and is a web-based program for the middle grades much like ST Math (JiJi) is for K-5.  ST Math was purchased under Diane’s leadership and is paid for by the District. Why then must parents pay for Study Island?

    In reviewing the budget report for 2010/2011, a 4% increase is noted for the Certificated Administrator, and a 4.5% increase is noted for the Classified Administrative Assistant.  Could these have been tabled in order to pay for programs for kids?  If we are putting kids first, shouldn’t our Board be questioning salary increases on the tail of a

Community Pledge Drive

to save art and music?

    Don Ball states in his mailer that there have been no layoffs.  That isn’t exactly so. The Fiscal Manager, a Sunol resident, has not had her full-time status returned.

    I retired four years early to help save the District money and to help retain the last three teachers hired by the District. Due to job sharing for twelve years I had to buy 1.84 years to reach the magic “30 yr. vestment”. The District helped by adding longevity steps and for that I am very thankful.  Does it equal what my retirement would have been in four years hitting the maximum 32 years vestment? Of course not.  Am I angry and bitter, as I am being labeled? Absolutely not! I worked very closely with two of these teachers and the third attended an elementary school where my husband was principal. Unfortunately one I worked closely with returned to Pleasanton for this school year knowing she will be laid off in the spring. Sunol Glen could have been home and security to this single parent mom.  Angry?  No, I am sad. I am sad that the culture of our school was not enough to keep this bright, experienced, and talented mentor teacher.

    You see, when I was awarded Alameda County Teacher of the Year, I too, could have gone to Pleasanton.  The difference in pay for me was $20K per year.  That was ten years ago.  Do the math.  Was it worth it to stay?  Absolutely!  I cannot put a price tag on what Sunol Glen has given me over the years.      

    Graham Barnes states in his letter to the Community that “It was Board policy to balance the budget by creating a Magnet-type environment of excellence  . . . a policy resulting in filling the school to capacity, creating a waiting list, and restricting inter-District intake to students with good performance, behavior . . .”.  We have had waiting lists for the last ten years. What we have not had was a system of “picking and choosing”.  Enrollment was based on a system used by every public school in California, date of registration. Selecting students based on behavior and performance has been done, but in a different light. 

    Case in point:  My last eighth grade class was in 1986/87. Principal/Superintendent Dr. Wakeling came to me with a request to place a student in my class.  He had been expelled from our neighboring District, Pleasanton.  He said that it was up to me and I could say no.  I asked him what he would do. I will never forget his answer:  He said that he believed all kids deserved a second chance.  He said some kids can’t function in large school settings or in larger classes. He said my class of 13 might just be his ticket in life. I’ve never regretted the decision to add this boy to our class and to our school.  Running into him many years later as a young adult at Club Sport, Pleasanton, he swooped me into his arms and thanked me for saving his life. He was just one of many to follow. API 909?  No contest!  Let’s get back to really putting ALL kids first, not just the ones who make it easy for us to look good.

    I recently received a letter from an out of district parent who feels that by supporting Gerry Beemiller and Diane Everett I do not have the best interest of the children in mind as she feels they want to dismantle the school.  In my opinion, the school was dismantled three years ago when 6 out of 13 teachers and 2 support staff left the school after this administrator’s first year. There were no retirements. The seventh teacher left in December the following school year, an early, unplanned retirement. These teachers were the heart of the school.  They are bright, talented, caring people with character and integrity.  They would have been great role models and mentors for the bright and talented young teachers on staff now. Retirements would have taken place in a timely manner.

    In closing I ask that on November 2 you vote for the candidates that will not only tell it like it is, but will give unconditional support to the good things that are happening at Sunol and an ear to the things that need improvement.

Vote Diane Everett and Gerry Beemiller for School Board.

Respectfully,

Rebecca Radulovich (Mrs. Rad.)

At what point does WELL-compensated become OVERcompensated?

“Van Dyke said Barnes was hired during good economic times and that her pay was lower

than other area superintendents.” Valley Times, Oct.6

1. The district filed a ‘qualified budget’, possibly the first time ever, the year Barnes was

hired. ---“Good economic times?”

2. Over half the districts in the county were filing qualified budgets after they gave huge

salary increases during the last period of “economic good times (2000?).” A good board

member should be able to learn something from that and not make the same mistake.

3. The board made it clear to a more qualified candidate that the salary offer was nonnegotiable

(more closely aligned with Mrs. Everett’s exit salary after 15+ years).

She’s not a Superintendent, she’s a Principal/Superintendent! Let’s talk facts.

1. Compared to EVERY elementary principal in Alameda County, she has the highest salary.

2. Compared to EVERY middle school principal in Alameda County, she has the highest salary.

3. Compared to EVERY high school principal in Alameda County (except for 1 or 2

districts), she has the highest salary.

4. She does have a lower salary than most of the full time Superintendents, but on a per site

basis, she has by far the highest Superintendent’s salary in the county when you factor in

how many sites she has to administer.

But the above comparisons are just as unfair as stating that her salary is lower than other area

Superintendents. She’s not a principal, she’s not a superintendent, she has an entirely different

job description…. She’s a principal/superintendent and a salary should be fairly determined

accordingly. What is reasonable? Her salary seems to increase at a much higher percentage rate

than the other employees. At what point does WELL-compensated become OVERcompensated?

On the exodus of teachers-

“Van Dyke, who noted that many of the school’s teachers had reached retirement age...” Valley

Times, Oct.6

I’m the only one who definitely, without question, was going to retire in June of 2010. Ms. Rad

left 4 years before her optimum retirement date.

Ms. Owen left mid-year, also before her optimum retirement date.

Ms. Chiprich left over a disagreement with the new P/S.

Ms. McCrary was ready to retire.

Ms. Pappas, Ms. Brazil, Ms. Dennis, Ms. Scotto, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Carpenter, Ms. Lum, and

Ms. MacDonald left for better paying districts.

Ms. Summa, Ms. Maier, Ms. Sawicki left because they were moving.

Ms. Butcher and Ms. Jowe were bullied and harassed into leaving.

Mr. Rice and Mr. Imler were not rehired.

Among others.

I wouldn’t characterize 2 out of 20 as “many.”

Again, there is nothing I can do to improve your school. I can’t change any of the above.

BUT YOU CAN! I strongly recommend Diane Everett and Gerry Beemiller for

the Sunol Glen School Board.

Phil Mumford, Sunol Glen Teacher 1978-2010

"....keep things going the way they are, or back to the way things used to be...

“Do you want to keep things going the way they are, or do you want to go back to the

way things used to be?”

Good question from Don Ball as quoted in the Valley Times (Oct. 6).

1. Opportunities for the public to speak at board meetings has decreased. I would

support a board that encourages dialogue and open exchange of ideas rather than

one that discourages it.---- “go back to the way things used to be.”

2. Board minutes do not reflect what is said at the meetings. I would support a

board that looks at the minutes and corrects glaring inaccuracies and omissions.---

“go back to the way things used to be.”

3. Details of the Principal/superintendent’s contract and salary are not reported out

from closed session. Attempts were made to even hide the P/S’s salary in the

budget by reporting it piecemeal in several different places. I would support a

board that is not ashamed of or afraid to report out decisions about the P/S’s terms

of employment.--- “go back to the way things used to be.”

4. Board passes (unanimously) motions that they know nothing about. The most

damaging was the administrative item (April 2008) that irrevocably changed the

character of the district. Not one board member could explain it to the

community members in attendance. I would support a board that knows what

they are voting on before they vote on it, and maybe have some discussion before

the vote.--- “go back to the way things used to be.”

As far as the School Board goes, I think the answer is obvious… “go back to the way

things used to be.”

Things have been improving at SGS every year from way before this board took their

seats, including public support for the school, the bond issue, and the building program.

Having great test scores is nothing new for SGS over the past few decades. But if Mr.

Ball really wants an answer to his question, then “go back to the way things used to be.”

Student enrollment goals-

4,5,6,7,8th grades at 25/per grade (target average set by the board) = 125 students

3 K/first’s and 3 second/thirds at 20/grade (class size reduction limit)= 120 students

Small class sizes used to be considered a big plus for SGS. Unless the district hopes to

increase class size averages or build some additional classrooms, it looks like the

maximum enrollment should be about 245. More students means more dollars, but there

is some point of diminishing returns as far as education goes.

There is nothing I can do to improve your school. I can’t change any of the above. BUT

YOU CAN! I strongly recommend Diane Everett and Gerry Beemiller for the Sunol

Glen School Board.

Phil Mumford, Sunol Glen Teacher 1978-2010

Gerry-Why I am Running for School Board

In my view this election will set the tone for the future direction of the Sunol Glen School.  If you believe that the school should continue to grow (facilities, staff salaries and class sizes) and its main focus is on inter-district transfers, you should vote for the incumbents.  If on the other hand you want to (as much as possible) preserve the small school atmosphere, small class sizes and fair but not exorbitant administration salaries you should vote for Diane and myself.

Sunol Glen should be very proud of this year’s API score of 909 but there’s a danger in reading too much into this.  We are a very small school and just a few very bright or a few below grade level students can make a big difference in the API score.  I believe the API’s are important but it’s not the most important part of a child’s educational experience.  I would also note that there are 48 elementary and middle schools in Alameda County with higher test scores than Sunol.  So boasting that we are number 2 in the county is misleading the community.  See:  http://api.cde.ca.gov/AcntRpt2010/2010GrthAPICo.aspx?cSelect=01,ALAMEDA&c=R

We have 4 intelligent and caring candidates but we have a fundamental difference in philosophy.  In the past (as an 8 year board member) I tried to do what I could to optimize the size of the school.  It’s very challenging to find the balance between small class sizes, staff and teacher salaries, optimal facility use and equipment, books and technology that create a best possible environment for learning.    We have great community school support unlike any other district in the county!  That along with parents who go out of their way to volunteer at the school makes being a part of Sunol Glen unique.

If I’m elected I will do what I can to return the school to an optimal size of 200-220 students.  I will also do everything possible to insure that no class is greater than 25 students.  This will be achieved through attrition so that any inter-district transfer family currently enrolled will be allowed to remain and enroll any younger siblings wanting to come to Sunol Glen.  Additionally I want to do whatever I can to increase the use of technology and the internet in the classroom.  More than ever today’s students need to be computer and internet savvy.

Some of my past accomplishments

1996 to 2004 Trustee, Sunol Glen School.          

Silicon Valley Charity Ball.  Founder and President of this all volunteer organization. 

Raised over $5,000,000 for senior's and children's charities in Silicon Valley.  The most successful

event of it's kind in Northern California.

1989 - American Leadership Forum.  One of twenty executives and community leaders

selected for the Founding class of the Silicon Valley Chapter.  Subsequent classes included several prominent CEO's.

1989 to 1995 -Valley Medical Center Hospital Foundation. Chairperson of the County Hospital Foundation Board.

1996 - Commendations from Santa Clara County and the cities of Santa Clara and San Jose, acknowledging  10 years of exemplary community service.

1991 - Resolution of Commendation, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

1989 - Citizens award from Santa Clara County Medical Association.

1989 - NSFRE "Volunteer Fund-raiser of the Year."

Diane-Why I am Running for the School Board

In every decision that is made there is a moral and ethical component
& consequence.  Each of us has a moral and ethical map by which we
navigate our lives. I must follow mine.  I decided when I retired that I
would stay out of the school’s business and give the new
superintendent/principal advice only if I was asked.  I did this for
3 years.  During that time, I received numerous calls regarding the
school and problems that parents, students, and staff were having. 

My response was always the same: There is a process for problem
solving at the school. The law requires and it is the duty of the
Superintendent/Principal to explain this process at the beginning
of each school year by sending out the complaint form and the
information on the complaint procedure to all parents. There
is also a board policy which explains all of these procedures.

Inconsistent, arbitrary and capricious decisions have been made
concerning following board policy and the special education
processes.  People have become frustrated, they feel that they are
not being listened to and feel that their issues are being dismissed. 
At each board meeting, the law requires the district to notify the
board, the number of complaints the district has received each month.
Each month at every board meeting the answer is always the same;
no complaints have been received this month. Yet there was one
entire board meeting held concerning complaints.  At this

meeting, even one knowledgeable ex-board member, was there to
support the parents and staff concerning their complaints. These
people were mostly Sunol parents.

The people at this meeting were dismissed as trouble makers. This
concerns me greatly.

Special education formal timelines and processes have not been
followed.  For example, I can state from my personal experience:
My family requested formally, via letter, that special education
testing be performed on a child in our immediate family.   This
formal request was ignored and nothing was done.  We moved the
child to another school district, as other Sunolian have done, for
various reasons.  Should this be the  ultimate solution to Sunolian
concerns?

Eleven devoted, dedicated, valued, long time employees were either
fired, encouraged to leave, or could not work for this
Superintendent/Principal.  I began to understand the depth of the
problem.  I was told by one ex-board member recently, “Molly made
the hard decisions and I respect her for that.”  Are we saying all of
these hard working 11 veteran employees, who gave their lives, love
and devotion to Sunol Glen for countless years, should be fired or be
encouraged to leave our school?  If names were named you could be
the judge.  Four  of these employees are Sunol residents.  We now only
have 3 Sunol employees left to give a community prospective to
our school.  Gone are the mentors for our great new teachers.

Following process:  I, too, have made my concerns known to
teachers, the Superintendent/Principal, and to  the 2 elected
board members.  I, too, feel, I have been dismissed and labeled
a trouble maker.

I am running for the board not to be the Supt/Principal and not
to run the daily operations of the school.   I am running to see that
board policies and Special Education mandates are consistently
kept, that all legal requirements are met to save the school from
lawsuits and to monitor budgetary issues to keep the school solvent.   
I am running to be a voice on the board for
1) all students included in all:  are special education & gifted students
2) to keep promises made to our community for our community center

3) to enhance and complement the many innovative and great programs
that are going on at Sunol Glen and
4) to support our great staff.

Don’t Forget to Vote !   

Dear Friends,

The upcoming election on November 2 is an important one for Sunol residents.  You are being asked to select two Board members who will help decide the future of Sunol Glen School.  We are asking you to join us in our support of Gerry Beemiller and Diane Everett:

Mike &Toni Amant

Jan White Cornish Barcus

Bill & Kathy Beck

Griffin Beemiller

Whitney Beemiller

Judy Bettencourt
Blea Family

Nancy Brazil

John & Anne Bush
The Canaparo Family

Peggy Carpenter

John & Nancy Chiprich
Mike & Paris Connors

Toni Coplan

Donna Glass Crawford

Laura Dennis

Terry & Teresa Donovan & Family

Rich & Marcia Dupre

Kristine Everett

Liz Figueroa

David & Caren Foster & Family
Jennifer Fletcher

Anita Franco

John Franco

Mike & Roxanne Franco

Frank & Diane Fries
Richard & Suzanne Fujumoto
Nancy Calo Aerni Gilbert

Paul & Lori Griffith

Gerald Hargiss

Tom & Vickie Harland

Harper Family
Hazelton Family

Ethan Hartsell
Kenneth & Janice Hatch

LeAnn Heine

Eric Henderson

          Jason & Sherry Heskett         

Hoxie Family

Joan Hoxie

Liz Jensen

Barry Kaminsky
M. Kimbro

John and Barbara Kline

Hans & Lynn Kruger  

Calvin & Natalie Kruger

Cindy MacDonald
Roshmika Mahawar
Saresh Mahawar
Sumit Mahawar

Jon Marshall

Mike McClay

Virginia McCullough & Family

Mike & Teresa Mitchell
Michael Monohan
Rhonda Mott

Phil Mumford

Nielsen Family

Bob Olaskey

Jim & Pat O’Laughlin

Leslie Owen (Powell)

David Palmer

The Palomino Family

Mary & George Perez

Mike & Suzie Pine
Adam Pine
Meghann Pine

Rich & Marge Quarry

Bill & Becky Radulovich    

Ben and Lori Rego

Richard & Marian Rego

Eric & Robin Replogle

Michelle Vargas Reprince

Shawn & Jennifer Robertson

Cindy Rowland

Vivienne Scheib

Scroggins Family

Sue Seipel

Solveig Shearer
Simonson Family

Tony & Tammy Sousa

Pat Stillman

Caz & Mary Szlendak
Louise Troop

Ernie & Bev Trutner

Jenny Underwood

Stephanie Vargas      

Suzanne Vargas

Tony & Lorri Vargas
Raelene Vieux

Madeliene Ward

Clay & Joanna Westrope

Darlene Wexner

Mike & Miki Whitfield & Family

The Winders Family

Vote November 2, 2010

  Gerry Beemiller and  Diane Everett