Collusion Beatty & Sellers Style

The acts of two individuals, acting in secret cooperation, can have a profound affect on the actions of others. The plotting and collaboration of two scheming individuals who develop a secret understanding is collusion. Like the actions of the B-S Duo, Beatty and Sellers. Follow along if you will.....

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

kbeatty@powayusd.com

Charles Sellers

cseller@powayusd.com 

Beatty and Sellers Dirty Politics

Just when you think you have seen and heard it all, along comes Kimberly Beatty and Charles Sellers. The duo, now being referred to as the "B-S Duo" in some circles, have stooped to another low, in their quest to "Have it their way". Some of you may have caught the January 29, 2016, Union Tribune article by Pat Maio, "Poway's school president takes tough job". In the article, Beatty is quoted as saying Michelle O'Connor-Ratcliff is betraying the Democratic cause by siding with Mr. Patapow and Mr. Zane on issues. Beatty said, "We are all scratching our heads on that one. That's the million dollar question. It feels like a betrayal to the Democratic cause". 

Today, I learned it did not stop with the comments in the article. I learned, through some of my political contacts (I do have friends in both parties, some would say "low places"), Beatty and Sellers made a complaint, in an attempt to discredit Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff, with the Democratic North Area Caucus. Beatty and Sellers alleged Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff was going against the Democratic Party's principles.

Beatty and Sellers were able to set in motion a "Vote of No Confidence" meeting that was held Saturday, February 6th. Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff was given three days notice of this meeting. At the meeting, Sellers presented to the caucus that he had a list of twenty-three (23) instances where Michelle didn't live up to Democratic values. Oops, he forgot the list and could not provide further details. Beatty provided testimony that Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff cut off a parent during a board meeting who wanted to speak and that she (Beatty) had to hold the sobbing mother in her arms. (Baloney)

I have not talked to Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff about this meeting, so do not have any insight into her thoughts. I can only imagine the frustrations and anger for having to go through something like this, as well as it being generated by a fellow board member. The meeting and information presented, is all public record information, so anyone who wishes to explore deeper into this, may want to contact a member of the North Area Democratic Caucus.

Delaine Eastin wrote a letter in support of Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff; (Click letter to view)

Darshana Patel wrote a letter in support of Ms. O'Connor-Racliff: (Click letter to view)

Candy Smiley wrote a letter in support of Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff; (Click letter to view)

Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff handled herself with poise. She articulated clearly her support for the values and ethos of the Democratic Party. She provided concrete examples of her support and allegiance to the progressive values of a Democrat. Her voting record as a Board member speaks for itself. Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff called this attempt by Beatty and Sellers for what it is; a mean spirited attempt to discredit her for not voting in lockstep with them. (Click letter below to view)

The long and the short of it, the "B-S Duo" were not successful in their attempts to discredit Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff.

This gives one cause to wonder about the germination of the article penned by Maio. How did a story of this nature come about? It is after all an election year and politics seem to be the focus of the news. I call BS on the B-S Duo's attempt to discredit Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff.

Dirty Politics is used most often by people who lack ethics and morals. Fortunately, the Democratic North Caucus saw this attempt for what it was and refused to play. This is yet another example to what lengths the B-S Duo will go to in an attempt to "get their way". Watch the B-S Duo throw road block after road block up in an attempt to stall and impede any action Ms. O'Connor-Ratcliff proposes.  

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