Grand Jury Finds Safety at Vallejo High is a Joke

But absolutely NOBODY is LAUGHING

5/15/13 -- 1:50 PM -- A scathing report just released by the Solano County Grand Jury is highly critical of safety practices and the Vallejo High School administration. The final comment at the end of the report summarizes succinctly:

The Grand Jury is aware there are socio/economic issues within the City of Vallejo which impact
the District's ability to provide a safe environment within its schools. However, the actions of the
Vallejo City School Board, Vallejo City Unified School District and Vallejo High School
Administration have exacerbated the challenges in effectively managing teacher and student
safety within Vallejo High School.

 

Read the full report HERE

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Shizue Balzarine  - Vallejo Independent Bulletin - Grand Jury Finds sa     |September.15.2013 Am I able to use some of the the pic of your blog on my acupressure blog? I would of course link back to the original post.

Ashlyn Burnaugh  - Vallejo Independent Bulletin - Grand Jury Finds sa     |September.12.2013 I heard bio-oil is terrific with scars, dark spots, and stretch-marks. how often do I need to-use it and how long will it take to see results. also please include any homemade skin care recipes that you have tried and know work well. thank you. also can anyone tell me how many times a day to work with the neutragina bar a day.

No Rules, No Values   |May.24.2013 Welcome to the Wonderful Utopian World of Obama the Magnificent. No Rules, No Accountability and No Moral Values....... Perverted Prank: Photo of Naked Sixth-Grader Passed Around At School http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/perverted-prank-photo-of-naked-sixth-grader-passed-around-at-school/

Anon&maus   |May.24.2013 Ahhhhh...so not stealth. And I assume Dr. B will be happy to see her go? Of whom does our ladyship approve? The schools would be fine, just fine, if only all those pesky teachers would leave?

Anonymous   |May.23.2013 It's an amazement. A people so bent on self destruction that they chase away the very individuals that bring salvation to their suffering children. Savages.

concerned teacher   |May.23.2013 anon&maus, this teacher is one of many who've been told she doesn't understand the culture of her students to her face. Its sad because she was born and raised in vallejo and chose to come back and teacher at the school she graduated from. next Wed there's a special school board meeting at VHS starting at 5. Teachers expect the usual finger pointing. We don't set the policies.

anon&maus   |May.22.2013 I notice one of the jewels of VHS, an alumna, a tireless worker who never complains and who shows up frequently at governing board meetings to say positive things about what she and her kids are doing at the school, is jumping ship to go to Fairfield. Will this be a wake up call for the royalty at the Taj Mahal? Or was she a stealth member of the 10% all along and Dr. B will be over there helping her pack?

Anonymous   |May.21.2013 Just curious wharf rat: why do you write with double commas? e.g. x ,, x

Angela   |May.21.2013 The thing that bothers me is that the people in power keep saying that the fact that teachers do not live in town makes it impossible for them to understand the kids. I have worked in Vallejo for 22 years. I have gone to basketball games, birthday and graduation parties, I have tutored kids after school and had kids come back and thank me for inspiring them to go to college. But because I do not LIVE in Vallejo, I am compelling other students to smoke weed at school and beat each other up? I think the people in charge need to really think through their message because it really sounds like they are saying that our kids are less capable of good behavior than, say, a child of a school superintendent who lives elsewhere and commutes to Vallejo. It makes it sound as though a teacher's right to teach and the students' right to learn does not apply in Vallejo because of "socio-economic" reasons. It sounds like she is saying "shut up and deal with is--I do not care what is going on in schools." In the T-H article she said she was aware of some of the issues raised, but many were new to her. I believe this, but it is not acceptable. When VHS teachers came to her in 2011 to express these concerns, she told them "you know what you signed up for when you came here." I do not know what she thought she signed up for, but you cannot improve a system by alienating, insulting and denigrating the people who will be doing the actual work

Clarke Johnston   |May.21.2013 Writer "Craig" makes a solid point. The group incident of beating up the city equipment operator a couple of years ago was not only disturbing, it was very revealing. The city was slow to comment, reticent to actually take a stand. When Mayor Davis did quite belatedly meet with the press, he looked pained, reluctant. The district was equally silent on the matter, despite the attacking "gangs" near total composition of VHS school students. Parents kept quiet as well, not encouraging kids to do the right thing by stepping up. Instilling the same message within the kids themselves. The "No-Snitch" ethic was firmly in place, rotting out responsibility and civic oduty from the core. In respects, the non-response from all parties: City, School Administration, Parents who knew . . all displayed cowardice, lack of respect for the rights of others, a total unwillingness to do the right thing. This core societal rot is on full display on our streets, no surprise that it's polluting our schools as well. And please, don't even start with the "poor" or "economic" aspects our community as justification for such behavior. Many poor people would never consider acting in such a fashion. This new "normal" is a product of entitlement mentality, lax punishment both at home and at school, and other considerations. It's no wonder, then, that Vallejo parents go to great lengths to move their kids away from this toxic stew. Unlike many parents, they care, and want their kids educated. Entirely too many in this town, simply view school as day-long daycare, and don't set standards for their kids. Conservative columnist William Sowell, in 2004, correctly notes that LBJ's "Great Society" initiated problems for Black America: "The black family, which had survived centuries of slavery and discrimination, began rapidly disintegrating in the liberal welfare state that subsidized unwed pregnancy and changed welfare from an emergency rescue to a way of life." * * * Oh, wait, I just touched the electrified third rail here in Vallejo, and now will be pilloried by those slinging about words like "racist". Shouted down like a recent City Council meeting. One can't, really, even enter these conversations, without expectation of insult, and, curiously from liberal-minded folks, out-right intolerance of opposing views.

Break Up   |May.20.2013 How about break it up into two and the students decide themselves: 1. "I want to learn" school 2. "I do not want to learn" School "I want to learn" school has it own set of rules, If a student pick #1, he has to follow the rules. So anyone of any race, if he wants to learn, can learn. As the says goes, " you can lead the horse to water, but you can not make it drink." If a student does not want to learn there is no reason to destory the learning environment of the other students.

Break it up!   |May.20.2013 Break up the high school into 15 satelite high schools, each area of Vallejo would have it's own high school. You can keep the kids of similar social economic back grounds together. Vallejo High School is located in one of the nicest areas of Vallejo, surrounded by Vallejo Highlands, Haans ranch, the Vista and the Fleming districts. There are no kids from any of these adjacent areas attending VHS, their parents send them to private school or charter school because the school is so terrible. So you end up with a lot of low class, low functioning kids whose parents dont care and are happy there is a daytime baby sitter. Hell, I say everyone including the teacher at VHS should roll and smoke a big doobie just to get through the day, perhaps that could be a "joint activity" held after the mornin prayer and just before the salute to the flag... Keep all the kids in their perspective home based neighboorhoods via small satelite high schools, stop busing and ruining all the school with the transfer of scum across the entire city, there is no need to ruin an entire school system, let some of the students actually have a chance.... It would be interesting to know what parts of the city the 60 juvenile criminals live, and good grief, do you think parents know there are 60 juvenile criminals loose on the VHS campus? Many may even come to school with their leg monitors on... Why are they not in juvenile detentin hall somewhere else and not at VHS???? Opps, if there are any decent parents of kids at VHS there may be a mass exodus of kids into charter schools... Hey, just wrap the fence around the entire campus, we can call it "year long school..."

wharf rat   |May.19.2013 the Numbers Speak louder than does the Rehtoric !! We have Experienced an Exodous of functional Students from this System .. The Economics of this flight have a major impact on Our Local Economy as well as a Major impact on our Socioeconomic and future Evolution as a Functional Community .... We have found Ourselves in the trap that Many low income Communities find themselves in with low incomes and low returns due to the lack of cyclical income .. We have devolved to a Community that Rewards out of Town interests with Guarenteed profits if they play the game ....If this is not known by City Hall , then it is time for a personal Overhaul ... The Reality of this failed Business plan cries out for "out-sourcing" Just pool the input from all the "Small" Businesses in Vallejo .... They Live or die due to their savvy ...............

concerned citizen   |May.19.2013 Ask how many people Bishop has brought in connected to the same sorority that she, Hazel Wilson and the wife of Mr. Isidore belong to. Don't think its a coincidence.

silasbarnabe   |May.19.2013 @Firebug, Hazel Wilson is a disgrace and those that have repeatedly voted for her are beyond disgraceful.

Concerned Teacher   |May.19.2013 If you're a teacher then you receive "California Educator". There is a great article this month about CTA members working toward problem solving this difficult and challenging issue. The article is worth a look.

GC'er   |May.19.2013 @ Vallejo Mom There will always be people who try to press their opinion on others, but ultimately you are the one responsible for your child

Yes mom   |May.19.2013 The attempt to stigmatize acts of love (and desperation) is merely low-level class warefare. Thank the creator for free association!

vallejo mom   |May.18.2013 GCer, the one who does not have school age children and never did, and shames parents for pulling the kids out for safety is the one misguided. I was pointing my finger at all without children. Just some certain individual. She does not have to go to work and worry everyday if their child is being punched or kicked again, or being sexually assaulted. This individual insists parents are ruining their children by sending them to "white washed" Benicia. Um,, gee I know of many non white families who have transferred their kids to Benicia.

Anonymous   |May.18.2013 re: "Vote them out and that means voting out progressive democrats" As long as NOBODY in Vallejo that is registered as Republican, Green, Libertarian, Constitutional, or any other regitered party in California, doesn't step up and run for Council, School Board and Supervisor, NOTHING is going to change in Vallejo. It''s that simple.

Firebug   |May.18.2013 You are correct GC'er, we continue to elect and reelect corrupt, inept, or self serving politicians. With the GG report it is embarrassing that Hazel Wilson would be elected again and again after she admitted that her election in 2001 was to be a watch dog of finances. now 12 years later, one bankruptcy into the future she is still on the school board. The same argument could be made for the COV, Hermie Sunga, Ozz Davis, Erin Hannigan, and others still enjoy office despite their failures.

Anonymous   |May.18.2013 The problem is systemic due to an over population of the regions poor. Take aim at the Representatives, Senators and Council members that talk nonsense. Watch them pull the race card and dance around the problem. Vote them out and that means voting out progressive democrats; they are crooks! How much more evidence do you need for heavens sakes? No more welfare for having babies you cannot raise properly. Cut off the money wagon to these ignoramuses.

funny thing   |May.18.2013 teachers have always blamed parents and the administration. What is new? Starting to get annoyed at being called racist?

Anonymous   |May.18.2013 the elected school board is the problem. they hire, direct and support the superintendent. the superintendent is destroying whatever good there was left in the district. they allow that to happen.

Anonymous   |May.18.2013 re:The elected school board can not let this pass. Is the school board part of the problem? How can they be so blind to see what is going on?

craig   |May.18.2013 A shocking but not surprising GRAND JURY REPORT. I am a 18 year Vallejo resident, recently retired from 13 years teaching at Vacaville High School and, previously, 9 years at Kennedy High School in Richmond. The ARIES computer system allows one to know that he/she is not the only teacher having trouble with a student and to know what, if any, discipline has been given. It also satisfies the state requirement that teachers be informed of criminal elements in their classrooms. Teachers cannot write to it, only administrators. The only reason I can guess for 'turning it off' is to isolate teachers from one another. The beating of one of our city equipment operators several years ago by Vallejo High students, apparently without consequence, was a screaming warning that something was very bad. I wrote several letters to our Superintendent offering community tutoring and mentoring resources from the local Amateur Radio Club. All we asked is the support of a science teacher at any middle or high school (or any other interested teacher). She offered 4 days/weekly monitoring the after school disciplinary detainees at Mare Island Academy. We declined. A GRAND JURY REPORT is a very serious thing. I've never seen one aimed at a single school. The elected school board can not let this pass.

GC'er   |May.18.2013 @Vallejo Mom I support your decision and the efforts you make to give your child a great start in life. That you even have to take those steps that will ensure your child will receive a basic education and do so by going next door to a different District or into a private institution of superior learning is regretable, it should not have to happen! However, if you believe that those of us who do not have children or have successfully raised a new generation, (including the efforts and sacrifices I/we made to give them what you seek now), then my dear Lady, you are misguided! All I have to do is look over my yearly tax bill. I continue to pay for the education children are supposed to receive here in Vallejo and by that simple fact I should have a say so about what happens with the funds collected, because the majority of it is not going towards the Constitutional Right to receive an education, K-12. Since I never had a child in Vallejo's school system I do not know why and how a former semi functioning district (was it truly ever functioning well???) was allowed to degenerate to the level it is today. Is it the non-leadership at the helm that is making more excuses and a greater effort at enabling the disruptive element than the thirsty for knowledge one? It appears that is one reason we even have to read a scathing Grand Jury Report. ...and it no longer matters what Vallejo had in the past. Obviously those that did receive a good basic education and stayed on their home turf did not pass on that good fortune to their offspring. Were you asleep when you elected those that did and continue to shape the future of your now uneducated and disruptive?

Christal Watts   |May.18.2013 For those who don't know, VEA is the union that represents the approximately 750 certificated teachers and educators of the Vallejo schools. For two years, we have been pushing the District to stop the blame game and start working with those of us in the classrooms and on our campuses to make changes. What came out in the report has come as no surprise to anyone currently working at our schools in Vallejo. Many good teachers are actively looking for employment in other districts, especially now that economy seems to be getting better and lay-offs are slowing down. VHS will most likely look drastically different in the next couple of years if things do not change. People will go where they feel supported, respected and appreciated, instead being attacked and blamed. We have had the administrators at VHS outright refuse to call the police when a teacher has been physically assaulted. Of course, it doesn't help when these same teachers have tried to make a report to the Vallejo PD and have been told they can't file a report. The superintendent is responsible for setting the tone and the tone that has been set is one of fear and intimidation.

Anonymous   |May.18.2013 First Lady laments that many blacks have lost 'hunger' to learn http://www.breitbart.com/system/wire/DA6B75SG0

vallejo mom   |May.18.2013 Having transferred my kids to Benicia, one of your vib regular contributors said this "you are doing your kids a disservice but sending them to Benicia, they are "wonder bread" and clones" and went on about how Vallejo is so diverse and has artisits and blah, blah blah. Her viewpoint of Benicia is ignorant, pure blatant ignorance. Benicia is diverse these days yet SAFE. Yeah, Benicia has artists, musicians. But I guess she advocates putting children in harm's way by sending them to school with drug dealers. Someone who doesn't have kids has no business telling parents what to do.

wharf ra/Al dente   |May.18.2013 You harp upon the Drain-eges of Old England ,, yet You Do not define the reason for the Evolution of the Common Lands ...to the Ability of the Common Folk to hunt and forage for twigs or even small stuff to cook their meager gruel with .. My people are of this Community And did relish their Violation of the rules imposed by the Lords who reined over the Landscape ... Yes the most Tasty fare was that was obtained By the breaking of the rules ..such was the Soul food of the day .. Remarkable as it might seem ... the Poor folks had a Cusine far beyond the Rich Folks !!! A real Tasty Fare ... It encompaseed a variety of ethnic and beyond Traditional tastes .. Including Roast Beef and Yourcture Pudding .... The Traditional Go to for Us ex-paits of British heratige ... However well performed and well executed ,, with great lift and general loft ... Brussel sprouts are awsome when cooked accordiningly ...

can't tell   |May.17.2013 If you're retarded, drunk or a computer algorithm...

A Once Patriot ,,, Child of th   |May.17.2013 The Component of a failed Education System has broad Impacts ,, both Systemic and System wide .. @ Salt Can Comment on this Whole failed evolution ... And the Possible Recovery from this Less than Evolved Community Involved and greening of Local gardens and Local Allotments .. The People Reap what they sow .... Public land is Conditioned too just what They soww ..... This goes back to the Drainages of Old England ..When The Peaseants were Conditioned to live a life of Subersevericivence And Total Obeidenicence .. So Screw you Folks !! A new Day has dawned ...

anon   |May.17.2013 Just consider the overall cost of a failed School district in real terms ... It must be in the multi millions ... Perhaps over 100,000 ,000 Dollars or even beyond .... How the hell can We continue to Support a failed system ... When the Teachers, Collectively Contribute The Real Solutions and the operative solutions to solve Our Problems ..Wich also Contribute to Our REAL ESTATE Market .. as in Our Property Prices .. If Your Block has a population of Pants draggers , and Criminal Ellements .. then ,, SO be it ..... We are Condemmed to a Generational Prison ... One that We will not Condone .. then Exempt the Elders from this Prison of Incomptence ..

wharf rat   |May.17.2013 We once had a strong Principal system , District supported the Principals and they supported the Teachers and Families . bad conduct was not tolerated ! the Students and their Families were well informed as to what was expected from them . This model had good synergy and worked well for the majority of the Student body and Faculty . Management torpedoed this time proven system this began the exodus of many great Teachers and Families from Our District and the eventual financial collapse of it .. If we outsourced Management We would never be stuck in this hole again . A poor performing Administrator could be replaced instantly before damaging Our system while a high performing one could be rewarded/retained We must learn from the mistakes of the past .

anon   |May.17.2013 The Napa County School district is functional and well run . It is not City based yet local Communities have input and active PTA's . Their District is of the quality that it attracts Families to move there and retains them . In AMCan the High school maintains a resource Officer (Napa Sherif) who also covers the Middle School He has good relations with the Students and often serves as a life coach for Students with issues . This is happening right in our backyard what are they doing that We are not ? the Principal at Am Can high loves Kids He eats lunch with them and has an open door policy "it is next door but worlds apart"

Bishop Should Go   |May.17.2013 The teachers are not happy, the parents are not happy, the students who are willing to learn do not get the education they deserve, minority students get short changed and are not expected to behave properly... So who benefit from this mess? Bishop should go!

Firebug   |May.17.2013 If one goes to data quest http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/SearchName.asp?rbTimeFrame=oneyear&rYear=2012-13&cName=vallejo&Topic=Enrollment&Level=District&submit1=Submit Look at Vallejos enrollment numbers in 1999 there was over 20,000 students and now there are 15,000. You can find many of those students in Napa, Benicia and Fairfield schools.

cannon in D   |May.17.2013 It took a grand jury to find this out? Lol! We knew this as students 25 years ago. No doubt it far worse now. I live a block away and can vouch for that. Ill tell you this also... no way in hell will my son go above fith grade in this city.

Anonymous   |May.17.2013 It is truly racism to demand that one group gets special priviledges with lowered expectations because of their color. It gives them a false sense of how the world works. One of the saddest things I ever saw was a group of cute, well scrubbed AA kids proudly wearing sweatshirts that said "Oakland Collegeate Academy" with the key misspelled word. It may work for George Bush, but not in corp America.

Equal Expectation   |May.17.2013 re: "The report alluded to tensions between the teachers union and the superintendent over Bishop's criticism that teachers who COMPLAIN about disciplinary problems cannot relate to economically disadvantaged kids. " The biggest racist act is to have a lower expectation of a group of students. The lower expectation/standards do the most harm. We do not see civic leaders screaming discrimination. I have seen one article by Kenneth Brooks "Bullying by the Superintendent" https://ibvallejo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1628 and it is not clear for me from this article of his position. People like Bishop probably are celebrating her VICTORY for using dual behavior standards. What a twisted world!

Marianne   |May.16.2013 http://reportcards.edtrustwest.org/district-data?county=Solano&district=Vallejo+City+Unified&report_year=2012 This is a report on college readiness and graduation rates for children of color in Vallejo. Comparison--this is Inglewood. Higher rate of poverty, but look at their results. This is Pomona http://reportcards.edtrustwest.org/district-data?county=Los+Angeles&district=Pomona+Unified&report_year=2012 Baldwin Park-again, more poverty, far better results http://reportcards.edtrustwest.org/district-data?county=Los+Angeles&district=Baldwin+Park+Unified&report_year=2012

Retired_IBEW   |May.16.2013 thx for the links Firebug. I thought that Nic had killed the reserve program but then someone posted here that they still had reserves which left me somewhat confused about the whole issue. I'm appalled by the GJ report, if I had a kid in that school I would be making so much noise that it couldn't be ignored

Anonymous   |May.16.2013 When we still had WWII vets teaching in the Vallejo schools, discipline was under control pretty much. Once we lost all those men to retirement from the teaching ranks things went down hill. Couple that with the hair brained ideas that came out of UC Berkeley and the other big ED schools in the 70's and 80's and we took a turn downward. Now we have black liberation theology and social justice at play and we are in the toilet. It is so ironic that a black administration is driving the black students further down the educational ladder by not getting tough with them on discipline. These poor kids are doomed to a life of poverty and crime and the good kids are having their education severely limited due to bad policy.

Duh   |May.16.2013 You don't seem to recognize Vallejo has been like this for a long time. Always an excuse for some... This is why the commons are BS. No respect from those getting a free ride.

Anonymous   |May.16.2013 Sounds as if the VEA has been pushing this rock up a steep hill with the current administration, superintendent and school board about the tolerance of bad conduct. Teachers being blamed for not being "tolerant" or "understanding" kids from families who are on the lower end of the economic field in the US? Come on... when did it become OK to tolerate and push aside assaults, bullying, yelling, and over all bad conduct by a kid because that kid comes from either (1) an urban family and/or (2) a lower economic earning family. I came from a family that did not make much money, but my parents stressed education and NEVER would have tolerated bad conduct. They NEVER used their lower income earning levels as an excuse or reason for bad behavior. The opposite... work harder, educate better so next generations would be better off. This is pathetic if this is the policy of this administration, school board and the superintendent.... tolerate and excuse and push aside bad behaviour -including bullying, assaults, threat to other students and the teachers because their family has lower earning capacity? THIS IS WRONG, Vallejo.

Firebug   |May.16.2013 Site Safety Supervisor pay http://vcusd-ca.schoolloop.com/file/1310009047858/1312697376474/8479030158822282738.pdf http://www.edjoin.org/JobDescriptions/879/Site%20Safety%20Supervisor-20111114150633.pdf

Firebug   |May.16.2013 @Retired_IBEW, Up until 1999 VPD did use Reserves at Vallejo schools, but the change in laws about volunteering and the willingness of Chief Nic to make all VPD help sworn the district split the cost of Resource Officers with the COV until 2004 when they went bankrupt.

VEA info please   |May.16.2013 Numbers don't tell the whole story http://www.myvea.org/numbers-dont-tell-the-whole-story/ I think it might be easier for us with adult children and no kids in the district to be more involved than people with kids in the district.

VEA info please   |May.16.2013 @Christal Watts Thank you for your group's effort. I have not heard about VEA - Vallejo Education Association before. If you can tell us a bit more about VEA, what other similar groups are there and the relation of VEA to other groups and VCUSD, that will be helpful. I went to your web site and found some interesting articles: VCUSD lowers standards on acceptable behavior http://www.myvea.org/vcusd-lowers-standards-on-acceptable-behavior/ Numbers don

Salty Dog   |May.16.2013 @ Crystal Watts, VEA President: Now that this damning report (by non-educators) is out, perhaps it is time for the VEA to step up to the plate and call for a sweeping new Strategic Plan that is inclusive of all who are hurting which includes students, teachers, administrators,parents, the community and my property values. Nothing short of turning the system on its head, with full participation and a desire for collective change is going to ease the District's wallowing in triage strategies. Yes teachers have it rough but educational leadership in District is needed and you, along with the current Board, are positioned to display your respective qualities. Make it so.

Me   |May.16.2013 The conditions were pretty bad in 1996 too... Nothing will happen but more flight

Mr :)   |May.15.2013 Could the problem be public school salary, benefits and pensions? Wharf rat is very observant.

Christal Watts, VEA President   |May.15.2013 Many teachers have been speaking out for the past two years regarding the worsening conditions not only at Vallejo High School, but on campuses across the school district. The teacher voice has been ignored, but I strongly believe that with community support, we can do something with this report. I went to Vallejo High School back in the early 80's. My son attended Highland Elementary school and Franklin Middle school. I am committed to making things better in Vallejo because I strongly believe in the potential of this community. The teachers and other staff members need your support. I hope we can count on your support. Please feel free to contact me at vjoedassn@comcast.net. Thank you to VIB for highlighting this incredible report.

Retired_IBEW   |May.15.2013 what is a "campus supervisor"? Do they have any kind of law enforcement training? Maybe the school district should dump whoever those people are and see if VPD still has any reserves or cadets around that they can hire. There's only one solution to the problems at that school and that is a police presence.

tough love   |May.15.2013 Regardless of the socio-economics, those kids who aren't disciplined (and those kids whose school days are disrupted) are being failed by the lack of discipline. They aren't going to make it in life!! And, I think this city is upside down. The police union wants all the $, it's the teachers who have the toughest job.

Vallejo mom   |May.15.2013 the whole district is a joke. Now would some of you (who don't any school age children) kindly kept you mouth shut when those of us pull our kids out of the district?? Thank you!!!

wharf rat   |May.15.2013 Imagine the overall effect on Our economy when thousands of Vallejo Families send their Kids to private schools to ensure a safe and productive education for them . All this Family income is leaving Town the overall effects on Our economy must be in the millions .

Salty Dog   |May.15.2013 The GJ appears to be confirming what I have felt about the school Super for some time. She loves catch words, she is ineffectual in her senior administrative role, and there is a sense that any substantive strategies for "positive change" are simply more band-aid reactionary rules and regulations and autocratically inspired from the top.

GC'er   |May.15.2013 From the report: 35 percent Afro-American 30 percent Hispanic 21 percent Asian 10 percent Caucasian 4 percent other. Over 80 percent of the student population is receiving free or reduced lunch reflecting the socio-economic composition of the school's population. Under normal (?) circumstances I would not be interested, in the least, about the racial make-up of the school's population nor that they receive free or reduced lunches, that probably end up in the garbage. All receive the same amount of funds courtesy of the taxpayer and the same opportunity to learn if they would be willing to apply themselves. Does the socio-economic situation not allow for one on one/parent/child interaction at home, i.e. homework etc. ....or is this concept so yesterday, to be involved in the continued education of the child at home that will further ensure they do become productive adults instead of a public nuisance? That VCUSD management is a miserable failure speaks for itself. Yes, we do have rules (for the books) but we are not going to enforce them. We are seing the results of not enforcing but enabling instead in the terrible drop- out rate this city has. As a parent I may entrust my child to a public school educator, because I am contributing funds for that purpose and if this Constitutional Right for that "free" public education, K-12, can not be fullfilled between the District and the parent I will find a private school that educates my child to my standards, even if it means I have to tighten my belt even further and go outside the District.

wharf rat   |May.15.2013 this reads like a review of a prison

AnnoyII   |May.15.2013 The Superintendent and her office do not and will not support the class room teacher on the need for discipline and order in the entire school district. The district is afraid of law suits. They cringe at the possibility of an irate parent yelling and screaming at them. There are no valid alternatives other than "adult school" to handle discipline problems in the class room. In short, the school administration has earned a highly deserved grade of F- in running an urban black board jungle. All any voter can go is start looking at the elected school board members, each and every one of them, who are enablers in this entire miserable system that is close to the bottom of schools in California. This is a real shame. It may indeed be too late to correct the situation. Just about every responsible and financially able parent has found a way for his or her child to obtain an education elsewhere. Really, who can blame them?

GC'er   |May.15.2013 Maybe our problem is that we use two different yardsticks to measure what is acceptable behaviour and what is not due to the socio/economic issues so prevelant in Vallejo.

Equal Expectation   |May.15.2013 re: The Grand Jury is aware there are socio/economic issues within the City of Vallejo which impact the District's ability to provide a safe environment within its schools. Can someone explain for me why should we expect less for certain socio/economic groups re: safe environment?

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