Let the spin begin: School district officials throw numbers in the air
You will have to read this to believe it. Click the title of this story to access the Daily Democrat article entitled "District: Recall, report'll cost us - Officials say bill could hit $1.2M, about 1/5 of the Blue Shield building's initial purchase price of $5.43 million." It was written By Lizeth Cazares.
Here are some excerpts from the report:
Woodland Joint Unified School officials said that expenses associated with the Yolo County Grand Jury investigation and possible recall election will cost the district up to $1.2 million.
During Thursday's school board meeting, superintendent Jacki Cottingim presented a list of expenses related to the recall election and grand jury investigated as requested by trustees Elaine Lytle and Bill Beermann.
District's estimate of costs
Consultant/Attorney fees: Miller, Brown & Dannis Attorneys - $68,893.07
Premier Commercial, Inc. - $23,902.50
Gov't. Financial Strategies, Inc. - $3,467.00
Total - $96,195.57
Staff costs of Jan. 24 - April 21, 2008
Jacki Cottingim, superintendent - $16,927.56
As. superintendent of business - $16, 284.68
Admin. assistant of busines - $10,228.80
Director of technology (3 hours) - $196.70
IT specialist (2 hours) - $66.95
Accounting technician (6 hours) - $192.11
Cottingim's executive assistant - $139.85
Total - $44,036.64
If the district does not receive the grand jury report soon, staff will miss the first opportunity to buy the building, which will cost the district at least an extra $520,000.
In all, about $666,229 more will be spent by the district because of the grand jury investigation - money that officials say could be spent to hire 11.7 to 18.7 full time employees, up to 112 extra teaching sections and almost 1.9 percent salary increases for staff.
"I just want to state that asking for information and have it stated publicly can be really perceived as asking staff to do opposition research for something that is a political matter," [Trustee Frank] Glover said.
Posts
19 comments:
Thank you Frank for making a point that needed to be made.
What other reason would they to request the information be announced at a public meeting?
These numbers are patently ridiculous on their face.
If you look at the grand jury report you can see that district officials inflated money numbers all along so can you trust any numbers that the district comes up with???????
I cannot believe the district has the nerve to blame waisted tax dollars on the Grand Jury, a group of dedicated citizens who are watching out for the best interest of this community. It goes to show that they are so out of touch with reality and the concerns of this community and the law that they should not hold public office. Now, all of a sudden they are worried about tax dollars??? Give me a break. If they cared about our tax dollars in the first place they would not be in this situation.
I cannot believe the district has the nerve to blame waisted tax dollars on the Grand Jury, a group of dedicated citizens who are watching out for the best interest of this community. It goes to show that they are so out of touch with reality and the concerns of this community and the law that they should not hold public office. Now, all of a sudden they are worried about tax dollars??? Give me a break. If they cared about our tax dollars in the first place they would not be in this situation.
I guess the story could have read:
The four board members not submitting their resignation is going to cost an additional $512K.
It is all in the spin.
Spin usually serves two strategic, interrelated purposes.
Defensive Spin includes all attempts to recast or redefine an unfavorable set of circumstances to encourage viewing them in a more favorable (or at least more understandable and hence palatable) light.
Offensive Spin involves attacking or the strategic use of anger as a means of either immobilizing opponents who would otherwise be in a position to capitalize on embarrassing circumstance (i.e. ‘the best defense is a good offense’) or, alternatively, to immobilize journalists by raising the costs of pursuing an aggressive line of questioning.
It shouldnt cost the district any money they should just step down from the board. And I cant understand how miss dark holds a position at the county with thinking????????
Where is Matt Rexroad?
Good Question........Why the Silence, Matt??? No Opinion at all ???
He is most likely trying to help defend his longtime friend Carol Souza Cole
No way out of this
Facts are facts even the county counsel reviewed the evidence and the district attorney, Judge Steven Basha (former county counsel)so what are the trustees to do resign would be the right thing.
Also where is mister monroe???????????? he supported I think miss cole?
Any smart political figure will duck and hide this one out. They will keep quite and name out of this mess.
What Matt Rexroad needs to do right now is back up and support the Yolo County Grand Jury Report. As a 3rd District County Supervisor, I feel that it is his duty to support the functions of the jury and respect the outcome. These are volunteers who have committed over 1 year of service to the county. Hard working men and women who are looking out for the best interest of Yolo County citizens; not just a few political heads.
What say you Matt? How about coming out in support of YOUR own county grand jury report!
Yolo County Grand Jury, Great Job!!!
I happen to agree with the last post. "Mr. Opinion about Everything" is suddenly quiet as a mouse. I find that ammusing.
5:23
Key word: Smart
It's clear that many people here are not familiar with the Grand Jury. Grand Juries come and go. Some years they do a good job, in other years they are nothing more than a forum for hacks and folks with an axe to grind. Those of us who pay attention to such things are interested in the results of their discussions but also realize that their findings are frequently flawed and just often factually incorrect. So take it all with a grain of salt.
The problem here is that three other trustees all specified and complained that these incidents were happening.
The paper trail is there to support their complaints. If all seven would have been fooled it is one thing.
If you had watched the meetings, like I have, you will see that the four trustees had no answers at all.
More shoot the messenger talk.
Give us FACTS were this grand jury report is inaccurate. Cite you relevent sources and then you can post that they have presented false information.
Has anyone seen this link? Could this be used in an attempt to reverse the board's action Monday night??
http://www.cfac.org/templates/cureletter.html
Post a Comment