If you missed the PUSD Board of Education meeting February 9, 2016, you missed a raw performance by the B-S Duo. It all started at 1:56:30 into the meeting with Item D-601, Ratification of the Associate Superintendent Contracts. Since late last year, the B-S Duo have stalled approval of the Associate Superintendent's contracts. They purposefully (they will deny this) avoided attending a meeting called to finalize these contracts in January. Then last night, they worked together to stall approval again.
If you missed the meeting, you missed the first "Road Block" thrown up by the B-S Duo. I commented at the end of my last post, to watch for the B-S Duo to start throwing road blocks up in an attempt to stall or impede actions Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff or others bring before the board. I had no idea it would happen so quickly.
You really have to view the video to understand the actions of Beatty and Sellers. I could give a blow by blow and articulate what is going on, but you really need to experience it to appreciate it. Start viewing the video at 1:56:30. The agenda item is called by President O'Connor-Ratcliff. At 1:57:03, Sellers grabs his microphone and said, "I would like to move we send these contracts back to counsel for further revision." You REALLY need to watch the video to see what happens next. Sellers completes his motion and looks to Beatty, then leans in as if to say "wake up, your turn". You can see by her reaction, she didn't think Sellers would be finished so quickly. Beatty clearly flinches, grabs her microphone and quickly seconds the motion.
Before I get into what transpired next and Sellers' "explanation", I want to comment on the appropriateness and timing of Beatty and Seller' words and actions. The Associate Superintendent's Contracts have been a subject of conversation for many months. Sellers has openly refused to discuss or participate in these discussions because of his disdain for Dr. Collins. Sellers has been an impediment to resolution of these contracts. The "concerns" voiced by Sellers during his "explanation" were nothing more than a smoke screen to further impede the ratification of these contracts. ALL of the issues raised should have been brought forward and discussed PRIOR to the ratification meeting. The board members (Sellers and Beatty) had the documents in hand with sufficient time to voice concerns, allow for necessary changes to be made and allow for the vote to be taken to ratify these contracts. Beatty and Sellers chose a different path, one that in my opinion was plotted by two scheming individuals, in secret, with the goal of stalling ratification and trying to upstage Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff and make the others on the Board look bad.
The end game, for which they actually lost, was to have the board ratify the contracts, after Beatty and Sellers gave the appearance the contracts were flawed and in some way illegal. The contacts were not ratified. They will be reviewed again and discussed and again presented for ratification.
Some will say the B-S Duo are watching out for voters/taxpayers with their close scrutiny of these contracts. Reality is, their actions are nothing short of reckless and disruptive. The resulting actions have taken their toll on administrators and others. Associate Superintendent Tracy Hogarth announced her retirement and it has also been said Associate Superintendent of Business Support Services, Malliga Tholandi announced her retirement the day after the board meeting.Both will be leaving on June 30, 2016. Also leaving is Wendy Anderson, the Executive Assistant to the Board, who has accepted a position in San Diego Unified as the Superintendents secretary, leaving March 1, 2016.
That is not the end of what is to come, as a result of the actions of these two. There are a number of Director's who are retirement eligible and contemplating their futures. There are also six (6), count them, SIX open superintendents positions open in San Diego County and the likely retirement of Dr. Collins in the near future. All of this together, does not bode well for Poway Unified.
The continued actions of the B-S Duo show a total and utter lack of respect for the employees of the district. Their actions speak volumes, to every level of employee, when the Board cannot ratify the contract of the three Associate Superintendents. People concerned with these actions need to get involved. Express your concern by contacting Beatty and Sellers and letting them know your concerns. Hold them accountable. Tell them you are watching and aware. Tell them their actions are not acceptable. The B-S Duo both believe they have a mandate to do whatever they chose to do.
It is time they hear from the silent, concerned and involved parent, voter, taxpayer. Call, text, e-mail and write them with your concerns. Below is their contact information.
Kimberley Beatty
Charles Sellers
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