George Laase
Was Anyone Looking, Agency, When You Made Bad Policy?
I really get excited when a politician at any level of governance accidentally slips and ventures into the realm of honesty. Vice Mayor Alan Corlin gave us such an insight recently when he said, “More people are going to be moving into Culver City. I don’t vote for projects just to get more tax revenue. We are going to have projects that are bigger than what people are used to.” Well, hooray for Mr. Corlin. Finally, a Redevelopment Agency member who acknowledges he is actually voting on projects to increase Culver City’s tax base.
Mr. Corlin acknowledges that the city will receive more tax revenues if the proposed projects are completed. It makes me wonder, though. Is Mr. Corlin more worried about taking care of newcomers who have not yet moved into our city or about the annual deficits the city keeps running up year after year?
How the School Board Put a Little Sweetener in Dr. Lauras...
After making a request of the School District, I recently received a copy of the contract for the now-retired District Supt. Dr. Laura McGaughey. Having read on the internet how other school districts around the nation wrote contracts for their superintendents in hard-to-understand legalese, I was ready to delve into a technical document. To my surprise and relief, Dr. McGaugheys contract was straight forward, easy to understand. Back in May 2005, the School Board approved a 2-year extension to the Dr. McGaugheys contract. At the time, this seemed inconsequential. Only later when she announced her retirement and when her salary subsequently was raised retroactively (from $123K to $154K), did all the pieces begin to fall in place.
Heres 100 Bucks for Every Day
Shhh, School Board at Play
A Refresher Course
The Retirement of Benefits
Therefore, the agency has adopted a policy requiring disclosure and expensing of retiree benefits on an accrual basis, that is, as the employees earn their benefits.
Blacks Unwelcome Is That the Message?
Houston, We Have a Problem
The Selling of the Fear Factor
Half the truth is often a great lie — Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, inventor (1706-1790)
I cannot get over the feeling that a major, unspoken but agreed-upon reason exists for the School Board's staunch opposition to the proposed transfer of students living in Ladera Heights.
The Board does not seem to be giving the community all of the facts involved with the transfer, just the negative aspects. The reasons that have been given sound like excuses for continuing the status quo.
A Peek at School Boards Ladera Resolution
Culver City Students Less Fit?
Are Culver City students in the middle grades as healthy and fit as the boys and girls in neighboring communities?
When a comparison is drawn between students from the School District and students from the South Bay who took the California Fitness Test, most South Bay schools fared better.
In results taken from the Web site of the California Dept. of Education, Culver City finished down the line.