School Board Campaign Cost

Characterizing Culver City politics:
Selfishness – Ignorance – Greed – Stupidity.

Now I fully understand Culver City politics. Took me awhile. Politicians control the Culver City print newspapers. See no evil, hear no evil, write no evil.

Culver City politics is similar to that in most other communities, consisting of selfishness ignorance and greed. But Culver City adds another element to the mix, stupidity. Before I get accused of calling anyone stupid, “Stupid is as stupid does.”

C.C. basically has two power player families. Mr. “Z“ coined them the “MACHINE.” Not quite on par with the Mafia, but wield considerable ($$$$$) influence on who is selected in local elections.

Only about 10 percent of the population votes, these two families control about 55-60 percent of those votes. Power shifts between each family. If you look at last City Council and School Board selections, you will note that difference between the two top vote getters were close (exclude incumbents).

Newsprint papers are “MACHINE” controlled. All those ads. Hey! Gotta get paid.

http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-7998/CoughCoughEvaluatingAhemtheStateofNewspapersinCulverCity

Challenge My Fellow Candidates

Gary Abrams-Laura Chardiet-Nancy Goldberg-Scott Zeidman-Robert Zirgulis (Mr. “Z”)

It’s amazing how one can come with an idea and think that is so novel. Back in my 2009 stroll for Board, came up with almost exact same concept that someone thought of 6 years earlier. My youngest son’s best friend’s mom e-mailed me the Original article:
2003 election Stewart M. Stew Bubar http://tinyurl.com/yzeoo43

Revised rendition-

“Elections in Culver City have gotten out of control. We need to bring them back down to earth.”

Last Board election in Culver City; have seen expenditures reach into $10-20,000 range.
Have seen lawn signs and fancy brochures proliferate though city. Is this really what citizens want in Culver City elections?
Pledged, and challenge fellow candidates to do the same, plant no signs, raise and spend less than $2,500, and spend time in the neighborhoods communicating and taking advantage of the “INTERNET blogging to people about our “District.” Except for endorsements that come from some of the forums, seeking no individual endorsements or contributions. Only real endorsements are votes received in November.

All active CCUSD Board candidates have an free opportunity to posted campaign info at
SmartVoter.org, the League of Women Voters website that gives “FREE” web space to candidates in state and local elections. Check it out at-

http://www.smartvoter.org/voter/currentelec.html

thefrontpageonline.com “OFFICAL” news outlet for “BOARD” campaign.

http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-6363/GettingAcquaintedWithaNewContenderfortheSchoolBoard

Conversely, when Board President attorney Scott Zeidman, up for re-election, ran the first time four years ago, he reported spending $3,000.

Candidate Nancy Goldberg’s campaign co-chair Stephen Schwartz pegged $20,000 as their fund-raising goal in the three months leading up to Election Day.

http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/articles1-9601/20000AGoldbergCampaignGoal

(Mr. Schwartz mentioned that when he ran for office 37 years ago, spent a modest $2,500).

Attorney Steve Gourley says, “But the point is,” MONEY.” Need money to run a race. Not a heckuva lot of money. Every person who walks part of a precinct and has a lawn sign is in the upper 1/10th of 1 percent of all voters in Culver City because people don’t vote. They don’t pay attention to candidates and don’t put up lawn signs.

Last School Board election 2009, winning contenders approached that $20,000 figure.

-Karlo Silbiger topping $19,000+. Contributions received.
Votes 3,064 (26.51%) cost $6.20 each
$ 1,000. Karen Bass (included)

Expenses: (partial)
$ 700. Filing Fee
$ 1,451. Lawn signs/stickers.
$ 657. Flyers/brochures
$ 379. Voter rosters
$ 366. Rental on C.C.USD fundraiser location
$ 101. Insurance for fundraiser
$ 1,225. Akasha Restaurant fundraising event
Total: $ 4,879.

Cash Equivalents/Outstanding Debts: $-0-
Ending cash balance $6,627.06

- Attorney Kathy Paspalis $17,400+.Contributions received.
Votes 2,979 (25.77%) cost $5.84each
$ 1,000. CTA
$ 575. Alan B. Colin

Expenses: (partial)
$ 2,746. Trish Duchene?
$ 699. FedEx-Kinkos
$ 384. Sandra Levin
$ 631. Marshall Arts Creative Services
$ 142. Political Data
$ 1,400. Rush St. Restaurant
$ 200. Transamerican Mailing
$ 1,155. US Postmaster
Total: $ 7,357.
Cash Equivalents/Outstanding Debts: $-0-
Ending cash balance: $4,195.06

-Prof. Patricia Siever $13,500+. Contributions received.
Votes 1,809 (15.65%) cost $7.46 each
$ 9,000. Loans

Expenses: (partial)
$ 480. Culver City News
$ 385. Culver City Observer
$ 5,079. Walker Communication Group
Total: $ 5,944.

Cash Equivalents/Outstanding Debts: $10,015.25
Ending cash balance: $1,180.59

Any thoughts?

PARCEL TAX Measure EE Is it the best solution? How does a BOND compare?

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http://yesonee.com/

-Maintain advanced math, science technology and college-prep programs
-Preserve small class sizes
-Retain quality teachers
-Provide up-to-date instructional materials
-Keep school libraries
-Protect art and  music education programs
-Keep school facilities clean, safe  and well maintained
-Retain superior, qualified and experienced teachers, while training new teachers and
-Protect property values
=========================================================

BOND MEASURE the ALTERNATE TAX

Federal government’s new Build America Bonds plan. The program provides for the U.S. Treasury to pick up 35% of the interest cost on the securities, as a way to help state and local governments fund job-creating public works projects.

School Bond Measure Gets Key Support in Culver City
LA TIMES October 31, 1996
C.B. Smith never had any children to send to public schools, but he may hold key to passage of a $40-million Culver City bond measure designed to rescue school district’s deteriorating buildings.
Smith, 83, is president of  Culver City Senior Citizens Assn., a major seniors citizens group supporting Measure T to the delight of school bond boosters. By gaining vote of many senior citizens, backers of  school bond have won over those most likely to defeat measure, which needs a two-thirds vote to pass. With fixed incomes and no school-age children, senior citizens traditionally vote against school bonds.
What won over them over in Culver City?
“All you’ve got to do is look at [ schools],” Smith said. “I don’t know how they go on. When a kid is sitting with water dripping down through the roof on him, it’s hard to inspire him.”
Measure T supporters hope that Culver City homeowners will be willing to pay an average of $40 a year to help renovate and repair aging campuses, most of which were built in the early 1950s.

latimesblogs.latimes.com/municipal_bonds/
Money and Company Tracking the market and economic trends that shape your finances.
Category: Municipal bonds
For many, bonds vs. stocks is no contest
Bond funds (government, corporate and municipal) took in a net $12.7 billion in new cash in the week ended Sept. 16, the largest weekly inflow this year, according to ICI data. That followed inflows of $8.2 billion in the previous week and $12.1 billion in the week before that.
After last year’s stock market meltdown many investors began tilting  their portfolios more toward bonds. They know that bonds are, in general, safer than stocks. The income bonds pay provides a cushion even if the value of the securities declines.
And bonds can rise in value — generating capital gains – if market interest rates fall, because sliding rates boost the appeal of older bonds that pay higher fixed rates.

WHEN TIME OUTS and COUNSELING DO NOT WORK – DO WE MEDICATE?

WHEN TIME OUTS and COUNSELING DO NOT WORK – DO WE MEDICATE?
I am a candidate for Culver City Unified School District School Board.  Never been interested before, because as everyone knows it’s all about the “MONEY.” Well, my feelings have not changed, but now I have to be interested in politics, because our kids and our country’s future depend upon it.  The “SCHOOL BOARD” the most important elected position, even more than the President’s.
Actions and Policies made by this small but powerful group has a life long affect on our kids. School is their first experience in the community outside the comforts of home, where they now have to deal with people that may not always have their best interest at heart. It is here that they may first be exposed to “life is not fair sometimes” syndrome. Just because they are small, do not think for one minute that they do not notice things, these “little people,” I call them are fascinating to watch grow. Smarter than you think, and they mostly tell you the truth. They speak from the heart; there is no question where you stand with them.
If you ever have an opportunity to volunteer in classroom you will understand the struggles of kids and teachers. How frustrating it must be for teachers having to deal with the undisciplined child frequently disrupting classroom.
A day in the life of a kindergarten teacher- Kids on rug listening to teacher read Three Little Bears.
“David hit me,” David move your space, sit here. “David kicked me.” Timeout David (15mins) face wall (Golly gee this is more fun than listening to that stupid story).
What else can a teacher do? She now has 22 (budget cuts) other kindergarten kids she is trying to educate mostly by herself; her aide (lucky to have ) is split between her and three other kinder classes (budget cuts). Think she does not appreciate me, let’s me know it every day. Donated a couple cases of books the other day; she now has 23 kids (budget cuts). Time-in. Sit over here. 20 mins later “David pulled my hair.” Okay, this time you are going to the office. Mr. Abrams can you accompany him. At the office, several other kids, some older, just sitting in a line not doing any thing particular. Ask some of them, why are you here.  “Bad” was the common theme.
On my way back to  K- class, reflecting back at time when I was a kid. You did not want to go throuh “office” door # 1. Many bold souls went there with a “smirk” came back with tears streaming down and looking like they had just seen a ghost.  Never heard of any second requests, and nor was curious enough to find out what was behind door number one. Rumor had it was the “Board of Education.”
David came back to K-class after a half-hour time-out. This was scenario throughout entire school year. In beginning I would tell the mom or dad when they would pick up David after school. Something like he is disrupting class too much. Missing a lot of class work. David was advanced; he could already write his name and read. They would reply, we have tried, we will talk to him.
Occasionally other kids would act up and get a time out. Would go back and sit with him and instruct him to write a note to his parents. When  parent would come to pick him up, encouraged him to give his parent the note. After a couple times, some kids became model citizens.
Fast-forward second grade – David returns. ( David was not in my son’s first grade class, would see him frequently, but  did not monitor his activities). First day, David was placed on time out half- of  school day. After 3rd day teacher finally caught on. She said, something like sit over here, because you like it back there. When David was in Kinder I thought that  he was just immature. But this is second grade. I thought Miss T would be able to handle him, because I knew her, she taught my older son, eight years ago.
(What a difference eight years make. G.W. Bush had just taken office). Now she has twenty three (up from 20 budget cuts) 6 and 7 year olds including David. Not that this is bad enough, but she has to be stressed out about reduced salaries, pink slips, over crowding, unfair District Office, etc (budget cuts). Every morning her class along with the other kids has to navigate crossing a small river of water on the upstairs walkway. It comes from the poorly planned construction of this building made possible by a $40 million dollar bond approved by voters in 1996, after the citizens toured the schools and had seen the deplorable conditions of the building which had been built in the 1950-60’s. Five years earlier voters rejected a $92 parcel tax similar to Measure EE on the Nov. 3 ballot. Water comes from condensation accumulated on the metal roof tops each day and drains from the gutters right onto the walkway. Walkway has started to develop cracks in pavement,  protective cover has long since been worn off, leaving exposed pavement. Sitting water will find a way to travel down into a structure (ever heard of water damage?).  Simple maintenance job (budget cuts?), turns into a major restoration. Rusted support beams, hey who knows  how long this has been going on? About a year ago one of the classrooms sprung a leak in that same building flooding the place. Class had to be relocated else where.
Second week of school, A/C unit running (individual unit in each class room cheaper than central air ?), what’s the electric bill like? Guess I could find it some where in the District’s Administration 180 page Budget book, if some one would just give me the code.
Teacher has a student turn A/C off, too noisy could not hear roll call. After 5 mins I asked Ms. T if I could turn it back on. As I push the on button, notice a change filter warning light glowing. Well that’s maintenance job, so mind your business. Found out maintenance is Mr. A, he wears many hats, custodian, etc….. I remember last year I used to help him set up and take down the stages clean up the cafeteria (which doubles as the auditorium) after lunch because there was a program after school being held there. One guy expected to do all this. (Say to myself no way I would do all of this)  (Budget cuts). It is rumored that they were going to asked all the teachers to rotate the job, so that they could save that money. I think the union resisted that one, so far. You never know, I am surprised at the stuff they have accepted already.
David starts early, sit over here Ms. T instructs. Already starting, she is probably starting to get annoyed. I collect the home work and proceed to correct them. Once I get to David’s paper, I freak out! What happened? Answers were incomplete and on some were written “I forgot how to do it.” His hand writing looked like it did in Kindergarten. How could this be? He was so advanced back then. Now I realize, District we have a problem. I see his mom quite a bit, so when I saw her at the area where we pick up the kids, approached her and told her about how David was still acting up. She informed me that they were in counseling and that they were considering “medication.” I was shocked, medication!  Asked her, does David get spankings? She said that she could not and it was obvious, because she has health issues. Earlier this year my son  was invited to a party for David, which had several physically capable relatives including grandparents. Made her promise not to go that medication route. David just needed some one to spank him. The next day I saw David, I asked did he ever get, spankings. He replied yes when he little, by the baby sitter, she was meeaannn!
That reminded me of the time my oldest son was at another school (private Catholic) and one of his 1st grade classmates did normal things liked move when bored. He just appeared to be bored more than most of the kids (must have been all that religion). We’ll call him “D.” I volunteered there also. When the parents were called in you could see the distress on their face. They confided to me that they were faced with having to medicate their son or leave the school. (I remembered when my daughter (38 now) was in Catholic School they would not only tap you with a ruler, I heard they would wash your mouth out with soap). They asked my opinion. A couple years later I saw them at a soccer match between our sons and they thanked me, thought they were going to kiss my hand. Over the years I have run across them and they keep me abreast of his progress at the other school (honors, stuff like that). About a year later I left that school, just before my term as PTO (organization) president was to begin. Outta there. Change is scary for a lot of people. Keep it the same. Hated that I disappointed my supporters, Gave them so much hope. Never got actively involved with PTA again. Concentrate my time in the classroom.

Discipline in the Home-schools-

New wave or old school southern style.

Time Out vs. Corporal Punishment Level I – II – III or over Sedate (medicate)

There are several types of kids all of them fall into one of these categories:
1. Observant – usually aware of surrounding. Lecturing effective .

2.  Conforming – follows directions easily.

3. Knows it all already – challenging. Find and over come pain threshold.

4. Really have a problem-you will know it when you see it. Nothing works but sedation.

Passive -Time out: must be repeated-effect short lived-  pain free

Level I -   Corporal: Quick swat, pinch, slight to moderate pain -may repeat x 1 with increased intensity. Used on small kids, may be used to on older kids as   an attention getter.

Level II-  Corporal: Belt usually (as one parent say’s so eloquently “where it lands it lands”). After each series of whops you access effectiveness. Adjust stroke as needed to get the desired effect. Tears and fears.                                  Board of education (paddle) (Old School) Used mainly in schools administered by the Principal in “room one.”

Level III Executioner: SWITCH- legendary -pick your own-branch from tree, skin off leaves.  Alternative -do not let me pick one. Usually applied to legs. Offense-lying, repeated violations-stealing-being alone with a boy, bullying. Got any others?

Level IV- I ‘ve heard of ironing cords (to many marks not recommended), but time and amount of strokes is definitely decreased. One or two strokes is sufficient enough to make even a grown man confess. Usually executed with victim fully clothed. (Doesn’t matter though it cut’s right through).

Level V- I’ve heard of flogged-public lashing usually 20 -30 lashes. Saudi Arabia-Thailand.