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A Series of Unfortunate Events, a Disturbing Pattern of Behavior: A History of the Way Dr. Zendejas Does BusinessSometimes change is positive, and in the first year of a new superintendent, it’s expected. People retire, others move into district positions, and attempts are made to resolve long-standing problems at certain school sites. However, recent administrative changes at Piedmont Hills, Yerba Buena, and Oak Grove, as well as previous changes at Silver Creek, Andrew Hill, and Mt. Pleasant, have not only infuriated employees, parents and students, they raise serious concerns about the competence of ESUHSD leadership.
Blueprint for Success, Recipe for Disaster: Epilogue to Last Month's Cautionary TaleThe Unruly Advocate’s readership is growing by leaps and bounds. We now average 25 hits a day to the site, and more correspondents are joining our team.
We Don't Swim in your Toilet, Please don't Pee in our Job PoolMany qualified teachers in the district possess administrative credentials, but the eleven interviewed by the Unruly Advocate say they are not submitting their resumes to Human Resources chief Bob Nunez. All echo the same sentiment: they are unhappy with the current state of East Side leadership, nor do they see moving into administration as an inviting prospect.
Zendejas' Supply Budget Cuts and the Herrera Money Settlement: An Unruly ObservationLast year, the ESUHSD Board of Trustees, on the advice of Dr. Zendejas, claimed they would have to suspend class size limits due to “extraordinary circumstances.” This ambiguous phrase buried within the Collective Bargaining Agreement became the center of a grievance controversy that the district readily lost.
Did you know the San Francisco Unified School Board voted to give their superintendent a 12% raise? The San Francisco teachers union responded by demanding a 12% raise of their own in this new bargaining year. Did you know that Dr. Zendejas was originally hired at a 175k salary? After three months of living in Silicon Valley, Dr. Zendejas asked the board for a 50k increase to offset the high cost of living. The board approved the raise. Did you know that is a 28% increase? Did you know that 20% of East Side’s employees live at least 75 miles outside of the district because of the high cost of living in Santa Clara County? We thought you’d like to know that! |
ESUHSD, Inc.: A Property Management Firm?It’s one thing to charge an organization unaffiliated with the school district to use a facility; it’s another to charge your own teachers rent to run programs that are part of the school’s, and therefore the district’s, course offerings.
Does Craig Mann Wear an Orange Bracelet? If so, is it time for a RECALL?Trustees are supposed to serve all of the constituencies within East Side’s boundaries. It is unethical for a trustee to put the needs of one group ahead of another; they are entrusted with the stewardship of the entire district. A Fait Accompli: A Divided 3-2 ESUHSD Board Approves Mid-Year Budget CutsAt the heart-wrenching January Board meeting, the ESUHSD Board of Trustees approved a list of mid-year budget cuts prepared by Dr. Zendejas. Zendejas is responsible for the hiring of Chief Financial Officer Jack Mahrt, who right before the crucial vote announced that a decimal point error nearly doubled the severity of the district’s budget crisis.
Media Blackout at YB Lunch Assembly -- District Sets Up Blockade, Fears Bad PressDan Moser is one of the most respected site administrators in the ESUHSD. A man known for personal integrity and dedication, finding Moser hard at work on a Sunday afternoon is not an uncommon sight. In his role as Yerba Buena’s principal, he earned the respect of teachers, parents, and most importantly, students. YB began showing strong signs of success under his leadership, and they had the growth in test scores to prove it. So why did Dr. Esperanza Zendejas move him to Piedmont Hills?
Administrator Profile
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Some kids dream of being a cowboy one day. Growing up in a competitive family with five brothers, Esperanza Zendejas actually became one.
OTHER ISSUES |
| October 2007 |
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| December 2006 |
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| December 2005 - January 2006 |
| October 2005 |
| August-September 2005 |
| June-July 2005 |
| May 2005 |
| April 2005 |
| March 2005 |
March Preview
The Unruly Advocate’s March edition should hit the web by March 10. Read a detailed analysis of the charter uprising, find out about the battle between Roach and Shirakawa, and get a perspective on why the Information Minister has been awfully quiet in recent weeks. All that and more from Team Unruly and The Unruly Advocate. We appreciate all the letters and support you’ve offered. Keep them coming! We’d like to do a special feature on district morale. Send us your tales of woe and despair—we’ll automatically protect your anonymity unless you request otherwise.