Vista Watchdog wrote on Aug 2, 2008 8:31 PM:Over the past 50 years many things have changed in Vista and VUSD. In recent years the Union candidates are typically not to be trusted as they routinely put teachers before education and children. When they took over VUSD it went from #1 in the County to DEAD last. But then again, Guffanti has been a rather flippant and unpredictable member of the board who tends to hold some very elitist views, often sticking his nose where it does not belong. Aligning one's self with Guffanti could be troublesome.

That said, I will have to wait and see who all ends up running before I give my support. I'm also quite curious as to whom Vista Teacher will support this year. He/She seems to have the inside track on what is going on at VUSD and I rather liked the new comer he supported last election. Wonder if she is running again, or did the dirty politics of VUSD chase her out of town?

Is Patty Anderson running wrote on Aug 3, 2008 7:46 AM:Vista Watchdog- I liked Patty Anderson I was hoping she ran again too. I think this year would be a good year for her.

I hope she decides to enter the race we sure need a balance in the board.

Guffanti Cares wrote on Aug 3, 2008 11:04 AM:From what I've seen, he truly cares about the quality of education, the children, and their parents. If I had a problem with my child that the administration wouldn't resolve, he's the person I would ask for help. Controversial? Of course. If, as Vista Watchdog says, the Union puts teachers before education, how could he NOT be controversial, when his priority is education?

Vista Teacher wrote on Aug 3, 2008 11:24 AM:Been on vacation and will need to take a long look at the landscape before I make a choice... Yes, Dirty Politics is a good description of VUSD!

EUSD needs change wrote on Aug 3, 2008 3:58 PM:A call for limited terms! No one should be able to sit on a school Board for more than 2 terms! Everyone has been on this Board for 10 years or more.

Skiljan should spend time with her family too. It's time retire and let some progressive thinkers move EUSD into the 21st Century! We need people who can think for themselves and work for the greater good of our children in our diverse community! We need peace and happiness back again.

Wheres Bonsall wrote on Aug 3, 2008 4:14 PM:you covered the temecula schools in the paper today. Are the incumbents from Bonsall running? The paper seems to maintain its ignorance of North County people who live in the Fallbrook and Bonsall districts....we read your paper too!!!

Guffanti needs to take his charter school and go away wrote on Aug 3, 2008 6:19 PM:I think Guffanti is more controversial and a loose cannon than any in the current VUSD Board. I am not sure he makes sense at all. ...

Backwards wrote on Aug 3, 2008 6:21 PM:Bonsall is back in the dark ages. Do they still have their red dragon?

Vista Watchdog wrote on Aug 3, 2008 9:02 PM:To Guffanti Cares - I never said Guffanti was "controversial." I said "Guffanti has been a rather flippant and unpredictable member of the board who tends to hold some very elitist views, often sticking his nose where it does not belong." Now some would say that defines controversial, but others would simply see that as addressing his own view of reality as opposed to doing what is truly best for Education and Students.

However, the UNION is far worse routinely putting their own agendas concerning their chosen "favorite" teachers over the needs of real Educators and the education of children. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not against Teachers, I'm against a Union that refuses to police its own and clean house of the deadwood at the expense of students. I'm against a Union that constantly moves for programs that only bolster the Union Membership (and thereby Union dues) while delivering little or nothing of significance to the children. And I'm against a Union that protects teachers who really should be removed from the classroom at the expense of the reputation of other teachers who are breaking their backs to provide a real education to the students they so love! VTA Leadership needs to be replaced and I have yet to find a VTA supported candidate I can trust. Things could change, but VTA will need to earn the respect of the people by backing candidates who represent the community and the needs of students, while recognizing they have a serious PR problem resulting from their own failure to achieve quality results. Blaming the Government for all your failures when you are in control does nothing more than show your incompetence to take charge and LEAD!

to eusd needs change wrote on Aug 4, 2008 4:54 AM:Thank you accented miss! Have you packed yet? The charter train is moving the station! By the way, your old buddies are starting a school in san marcos! of course you have to pay this time and stop riding a free ride on Encinitas tax payers.

Means Well.... wrote on Aug 4, 2008 9:48 AM:Dr. Guffanti and Bales both mean well but their managerial methods detract from their ability to lead others to the collective educational goals. I support Vista Watchdogs view on Dr Guffanti. It is also apparent that Patty Anderson's alignment with Dr. Guffanti did prove troublesome in the last election. I believe she would have been successful I she ran a more independent campaign.. The current two candidates that are running "aligned with Dr. Guffanti" will lose their political identity and be looked at as "another Guffanti". That will no doubt lose them votes... They need to step out away from the incumbents and establish their own political identities. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds... I do not feel that any incumbent deserves to be reelected based on the existing political atmosphere at VUSD... I also do not believe Dr. Bales has done much to improve the situation despite her responsibility to do so… It really is time for a change at VUSD.. The existing leadership has failed to unite both the community and the organization.

Vista Watchdog wrote on Aug 4, 2008 9:13 PM:Leadership in a School District is an interesting thing: The Board and Superintendent both need to be on the same page and supportive of one another for there to be success. With a split board, even a strong Superintendant will fail. It really is not that different than a strong president of a Company that has a split board badmouthing everything the president puts in place. The employees are not sure which way to fall, and fall they end up doing (away from the turmoil found within the company). We have seen this at VUSD, where both good and bad Administrator have left the District during this time of turmoil. Enter a United Board, who backs the Superintendant and you will see rapid change for the better. Therefore, for the sake of our children, and the future of this Great Nation, we need a strong and United Board who supports real education in the basics: Math, Science, English, and History. No more social engineering and playing of games with our kids! They deserve better and we need to be mature enough to provide it!

smart cookie wrote on Aug 4, 2008 11:13 PM:Means Well....this is a school elections don't try to stick Guffanti in with Dr. Bales. I happen to support Dr. Bales and I oppose Guffanti. Dr. Bales is doing a fabulous job. I think she is the only true leader VUSD has had. I hope Dr. Bales finally cleans VUSD of the decades of filth!

A divided community wrote on Aug 5, 2008 7:26 AM:I think the split on the Board is reflective of the community of Vista. It has been divided since the early 1990s - when cars had either a "fish" or "Darwin" on their car. It's unfortunate that there are two separate camps in this community because the kids are the ones who lose the most.

To a divided community wrote on Aug 5, 2008 5:44 PM:If you truly know teh insider history of that little event then you know that those recalled where only asking to put the item on the agenda for discussion and NOT attempting to actually implement it. Furthermore, they were only doing so at the "STRONG" urging of a set of vocal parents. Of course, the insiders know that the instigators who worked these parents into requesting this were actually closely associated witht hose who ultimately moved for the recall. Can we say "Setup"?

In other words, there never really was a true divide, only a desire by a certain organization to find a way to gain control. And they did! The rest is history (another subject that seems to be lacking in the schools these days!)

What wrote on Aug 5, 2008 8:22 PM:Your message is difficult to understand.

Are you saying there was no division in this community back in the early 90s - only some angry people that wanted a recall? Surely you gest. I remember it very well. My children were in 1st and 2nd grade at the time and I was very concerned that the curriculum was going to be changed - at the behest of this Board majority - to something that violated the Constitution (separation of church and state).

If you want to learn about creationism in school, then go to a religious school that will teach it. It is illegal to teach it in a school funded by taxpayer dollars.

History Teacher wrote on Aug 5, 2008 8:24 PM:To the comment about "history is something lacking in school these days." I teach 11th and 12th grade history and at year's end my students often know more than their parents do about history. Touch.

To Cookie Crumbles wrote on Aug 5, 2008 9:43 PM:"Dr. Bales is doing a fabulous job."??? You need to work on your definition of "fabulous". To those that have worked with her professionally on many levels she is not the "leader" she appears to be publically. I am gald you are pleased with her performance... Many people are not... She is indeed a hard worker but not a good leader...

Skiljan must go wrote on Aug 5, 2008 11:35 PM:It's time for a change. She needs to retire.

To What wrote on Aug 6, 2008 5:47 AM:There was NEVER any CHANGE to the curriculum proposed by the Board. Rather, as I stated there were some vocal parents that asked the Board to consider Creationism in addition to Darwinism as part of the curriculum. The Board then considered putting it on the Agenda as a "Discussion" item to determine if there were enough of a call to add this to the curriculum and to see if it could be legally added in some way. But, due to the significant outpouring of the public and media the discussion item was pulled. It never even reached the "discussion" phase, and thus never was considered as a change to the curriculum. The question for you is this, "shouldn't a Board be allowed to place an item on the Agenda for discussion as the request of parents?" If your answer is "NO" then you advocate total control of your child's education by the Government as opposed to having a say in their Education (i.e. the removal of our Representative Democratic system). Please also not here that Religion is already taught as part of the CA curriculum (including the Muslim religion). Also, there is NO law forbidding the teaching of Creationism. Rather, there has been a very strong and Vocal group of individuals who are obviously intimidated by Creationism who have done what they can to stifle its discussion in the classroom. Here again I should ask you this question, "During the teaching of California History should the Creation Myths of the various Native American Tribes be removed because they are the Teaching of Religion?" For that matter, should the teaching of the Religious beliefs of the Pilgrims be removed from the text books? What about the religious convictions of our Founding Fathers? Removal of these things from our Education removes the motivating factors that helped formulate all the currently IS the United States of America.

So, no I was not trying to say there was no division in VUSD before the recall, I was simply pointing out the True History of what took place and the motivation behind it!

To History Teacher: Not hard to believe your comment considering the level of education that many of the Parents of your current students received. But still, History is seriously lacking these days in our Public Schools! Touché!

To To Cookie Crumbles wrote on Aug 6, 2008 5:53 AM:Read Vista Watchdog's comments on Leadership. The question for you, if you have really worked with her professionally, is this, "are you working with her or against her? And Why?"

Even General Patton had to slap a soldier from time to time. Was he a great leader or a poor leader? Those who worked with him on a professional level know the truth about Gen. Patton! By the way, he was both a creationist and a reincarnationist! Can we teach that in a Public School, or is that teaching religion?

Leadership.... wrote on Aug 6, 2008 4:39 PM:Vista Watchdogs comments on leadership are excellent. When Joyce Bales came to the district EVERYONE that worked there embraced her and was looking for her leadership in moving the district forward. All she had to do was give direction. After just over two years of her "leadership" five out of six district cabinet members left the district. Over 70 percent of the district's leadership team has left and countless teachers. I do not believe a leader is one that creates such an environment. Her "Bull in a China Shop" management style does not work. I like many others was working with her up until we saw who she was really. Also like others I no longer work there because I could no longer support her methods. (By the way I'm in a better place)