School Board

Formal Letter to Police: Investigate Possible GPS District Wrongdoing

Anita Christy

The following letter was sent by Ms. Susan Hicks to the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board Members and interim Superintendent Dr. Jim Rice, following the March 11, 2014 board meeting.  The letter to which Ms. Hicks refers can be read HERE.  

Dear School Board Members and Dr. Rice,

I want to thank Dr. Rice for filling in for us at the helm of Gilbert Public Schools. You have arrived during the process of Gilbert Public Schools creating excellence in education as we take the beginning steps of restoring values, integrity, transparency, and accountability to our school system. Forgive our "construction messes." Thank you for being here.

I would like to address some issues that were brought up at last night’s meeting and Mrs. Humphery’s list of 10 questions or concerns. Mrs. Humpherys, I appreciate your input and questions. There were items on your list that caused me to wonder what your priorities would be for our school district.  A major concern for me was that you questioned what this letter, this investigation, has to do with educating our children. I would like to answer that.  Every governing, and/or administrative body has the fiduciary responsibility to see that the highest standards of integrity and accountability are achieved. Integrity and accountability should be the cornerstone of excellence in education.

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Gilbert’s Conservative School Board: WAR is the Price of Neglect

Anita Christy

Whenever conservatives begin to gain a little power, you can expect the entrenched collectivist forces, aided and abetted by the “mainstream” media to start a War against us.  Why are you surprised by the media’s sudden interest in the Gilbert school board’s decisions?  Nothing like blood in the waters to attract the media sharks to go in for the kill. 

The truth is that Media bias is so well established in America that it is measured by how much the American people distrust it.  The mainstream media provides shoddy, glitzy, Leftist, junk journalism, yet people who think they know how to think still get hypnotized.   

The mainstream media despises conservatives and every principle we stand for. 

They sneer the words “TEA Party.”  The only “governance” they promote is centralized, not self governance.

Look with your own eyes at what they report and what they ignore

Check your local and national news and see how they report on issues relating to Climate change, Darwinism, Medicaid expansion, the Unions, Obamacare, Religion/Christian Persecution, Racism, Abortion “Rights,” Gay Marriage, Private property rights, Wind Farms, Solar, “Undocumented” migrants, not to mention their total lack of reporting on the avalanche of opposition to Common Core (aka Arizona College and Career Ready Standards). 

To the mainstream, government is the solution to every problem that government created in the first place.  With a little investigation, they could offer unbiased journalism.  But they are not unbiased.  They are Leftist Progressives.   (See Who is the Leftist?  Who is the Liberal?)        

Their most recent junk hit pieces would have you believe that GPS administrators have left in disgust over the actions of an imbecilic, TEA party (gasp) board, not due to a long standing system of destructive good old boy protectionism within the GPS hierarchy.  Western Connections has been reporting on this for a few years.  In fact "Westie" has reported on the abuses of the Good Old Boys so many times that the term has been shortened to GOB’s.  (Here’s a sample:  Gilbert Public Schools Admins:  Still Stirring up Trouble.) These truths don’t fit the "mainstream’s" Leftist world view, so they make up what does:  See Parents question Changes at Gilbert Public Schools

 Here is the lie stated in another truly disgusting piece of junk journalism by Brahm Resnick:  "Gilbert Town Councilwoman Jenn Daniels says her community must rally around its historically strong public schools, as turmoil at the School Board sends many educators out the door."  If you watched this hit piece, he even pounded his fist on the table trying to get Council Member Daniels to throw "TEA Party"conservatives under the bus.   She didn’t take the bait.  (See Gilbert leaders plead for unity amid School Turmoil.)   

The reason some of those administrators are resigning is very plain to most people who consult the space between their ears:  Those administrators know their contracts won’t be renewed.  Resignations are a graceful way out.  

Never let the Truth get in the way of a good story, especially if it’s a hit piece against conservatives, right Brahm? 

This one’s for you, you little squint:  The Rita Skeeter Interview:  Harry Potter

The Previous Board:  Dereliction of Duty

Prior to the election of Ms. Staci Burk and Mr. Shane Stapley in November 2010,  the Gilbert School Board had been voting in lockstep, approving virtually every recommendation spoon fed to them by Administration.  Look up the Minutes of those “peaceful” meetings (if they haven’t been scrubbed).  For years, the previous Gilbert School board had neglected one of their most important responsibilities:  to be the community’s accountability mechanism, ensuring that school officials wisely and responsibly spend taxpayer dollars.    

When Ms. Burk and Mr. Stapley took office in January 2011, the voting changed from a consistent, lockstep, no questions asked 5-0, to 3-2, and sometimes 4-1.  Ms. Burk and Mr. Stapley began doing the unthinkable:  They questioned Administration’s recommendations.  They also began  holding Administration accountable for their decisions. 

Open Disrespect Toward Conservative Board Members Begins

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The Accomplishments of the Gilbert Schools Governing Board

Anita Christy

Not only has the current conservative majority Gilbert School Board brought the schools from a "B" to an "A" rating per the Arizona Auditor General’s report, but they have also been responsible for many other positive changes.  Some of these were initiated by current Board President Staci Burk when she first joined the board in 2011.  Others were accomplished by the conservative majority, when Ms. Burk was joined by Board members Julie Smith and Daryl Colvin in 2013.  

Here are several items initiated by the conservatives that Gilbert Watch found:

1.   Began livestreaming meetings.

2.   Ms. Burk pushed for zero based budgeting.  

3.   Ms. Burk voted against Springboard curriculum (which was highly recommended by previous Director of Curriculum Barb VeNard), based on its poor quality and inappropriate material not consistent with the culture of the Gilbert community.  As a private citizen Ms. Julie Smith spoke out against Springboard.

4.   Saved the District several hundred thousand by insisting that the attorneys take the Crosspointe litigation on a contingency.

5.   Implemented a true teacher pay for performance program.

6.   Discontinued the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Gilbert Education Assn (aka "the union").

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Gilbert Schools Governing Board Sets a Standard of Excellence

Anita Christy

In Gilbert, three members of the local school board take their responsibilities very seriously.  They have set academic and policy goals for the district, and they have acted as the community’s accountability mechanism, ensuring that school officials use locally generated resources wisely and responsibly.  They have also provided parents and members of the community with a voice into the education of their children.

It has been amazing to watch the quality of the Gilbert Public Schools increase since Ms. Staci Burk, the current board president, joined the Board in 2011.  

When Ms. Burk joined the Board, Gilbert was a "B" rated District.  In 2012, under the leadership of Ms. Burk, and joined by Board members Ms. Julie Smith, and Mr. Daryl Colvin, Gilbert earned an A rating with the State.

These leaders have repeatedly put the best interests of Gilbert’s students, parents, and the community first.  They also deeply appreciate excellent teachers and the staff members who support those teachers. Truly, parents with many children know that teachers can affect eternity.

According to the newly released Auditor General report, GPS has once again raised the bar and improved academic quality to an even stronger "A" rating with 24 schools earning an "A" designation. 

GPS ranked first in "classroom dollar percentage" for FY13 at 60.7%. Chandler was second at 60.6%.  Higley, at 55.9%, ranked third place in a group of smaller districts. 

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Gilbert School Board Meeting: Tuesday, March 4. Greet the new Superintendent!

Anita Christy

Please attend the March 4 board meeting and offer your support for both the board and the new Superintendent, Dr. Christina DeJesus Kishimoto.  This is the time for kindness, warmth,and respect.  Remember that Dr. Kishimoto’s previous position was Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools.  Hartford is less than a 50-minute drive from Newtown, Connecticut.  This was the site of one of the most brutal, senseless shootings of young children in the history of America.    

We all wish Dr. Kishimoto the very best, and even though there is still a Moment of Silence until the Invocation takes its place, please take that time to ask the Lord to bless her and guide her.  She is a competent and talented young woman who wants to do the best job possible for Gilbert’s children.  Please offer words of support for her, and for the Gilbert School board.        

Governing Board Room, 7:00 p.m.
Gilbert Public Schools
Building B
140 S. Gilbert Road
Gilbert, AZ 85296

HERE is the link to the agenda.

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Thomas Jefferson’s Prayer

Anita Christy

Why have we allowed the Leftists to convince us that it was the consensus of the Founders of America that there should be a wall of separation from church and state? Nothing could be further from the Truth. The Truth is that the Founders identified Five Basic Tenets that they believed were so important in providing ‘good government and the happiness of mankind’ that they wanted them taught in the public schools along with morality and knowledge.

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Former Gilbert Schools Board Member tells Police Officer: Don’t Wear your Uniform and Scary Gun when Picking up Your Daughter from School

Anita Christy

Have you ever noticed that, whenever these Educrats get caught red-handed being heavy handed, they always say, "I’m sorry that Mr. So and So ‘took it the wrong way.’"  He got it right, Helen.  You didn’t need much "pressure" from a Leftist parent with whom you agree.  You were glad to side with your Administrator who told  this police officer, "Don’t wear your uniform, and especially don’t sport your gun on my campus!"  Helen Hollands was one of the previous Gilbert School Board members who consistently rubber stamped whatever Administration told her.  
 

 
For the full article, see The Unbelievable Reason this Police Officer Dad was Told Not to Visit his Daughter’s School While in Uniform.

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Gov. Brewer: “That Money is not Yours to Give” by Julie Smith

Anita Christy

November 24, 2013
Dear Governor Brewer,
Greetings.  I am a governing board member of the Gilbert Public Schools District and wish to share constituent input I recently received when a vote of a letter of no objection was before me for a foreign trade zone approval in the City of Mesa. 
I object to the idea of our government allowing tax breaks, incentives and/or subsidies to companies as a means of attracting business.  I believe it is wrong for government to pick winners and losers- that is for the free market to decide with a level playing field.  I spoke with parents, grandparents, and members of the business community about the vote before me and the idea of our state and City of Mesa allowing tax breaks to lure a company into the community.  Every person I spoke with believed this is not a fair situation and that all businesses should be treated the same including the tax rate.    Every individual was opposed to the favoritism being shown to the company in question.    This practice is contrary to the Arizona Republican Platform.  In Section 1 ‘Taxes, Jobs and the Economy’, parts 1-4 which states:  

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Gilbert Schools Board Member Julie Smith: “Statement Regarding My Nov. 12 Vote”

Anita Christy

I would like to thank my fellow board members for agreeing on November 12 to table the vote on a letter of no objection in support of the establishment of a subzone of foreign trade zone.  It is unfortunate that the vote was delayed due to a failure on the part of administration to provide all necessary information.  I am greatly disappointed with the handling of this situation.  Our citizens deserve better. 
In the document provided to the board, the statement that concerned me the most was under ‘Property Tax Benefit’ which states, “The reclassification may result in a 75%-80% reduction in real and personal property taxes.”   This statement seemed to contradict the spreadsheet provided by Administration relating to the “projected” tax revenue.  Questions that came to my mind were, “Will this deal that provides a tax benefit to the applicant result in a larger tax burden to all the other GPS taxpayers?  Could this deal be a potential harm to them?” 
Since the delay in the vote, I have had the opportunity to obtain significantly more information and facts necessary to make an informed decision that is in the best interests of Gilbert Public Schools and all GPS taxpayers.  I take my responsibility on the board seriously and am looking forward to casting my vote on Monday, November 18. 
I want to extend my gratitude to the Gilbert Town Council and State Legislators of Legislative District 12 who were of great assistance in helping me obtain information that was lacking.   The collaborative effort among our three levels of government is outstanding.   I am leaning towards supporting this project and believe it can be a great asset to our community.  However, if additional information is forthcoming that causes me concern, I reserve the right to change my vote. 
I would like to thank all who have contacted me and shared their opinions. 
Sincerely,
Julie Smith
Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board Member
Gilbert Watch Note: 

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Gilbert Watch Responds to GPS Board Member Daryl Colvin

Anita Christy

Some time ago, Gilbert Public Schools board member Daryl Colvin posted the following on Gilbert Watch’s Facebook page.  After giving the points he made some thought, I responded.  
Here is Mr. Colvin’s post:
 
"In the midst of some frankly rather predictable commentary no one has yet to address the points I raise in my letter head on….so I’m posting it here for the benefit of those who haven’t read it yet.
Dear Mr. (Name Redacted)

Thank you for taking the time to write to me and provide the opportunity to answer your concerns. This issue does require some rather laborious explanation.

As a candidate I was quite vocal in my opposition to the continuation of the 10% override, and personally voted accordingly. I also stated that as conservatives we would do our best to bring much greater transparency and carefully examine the districts’ spending patterns with an eye toward accountability and efficiency. I also plainly stated at the time that if after having done those things it still appeared that such a thing was needed we would come back to the voters with numbers that we could all trust, and for likely a reduced amount.
 

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