Anna wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:50 AM:Linda Mood Bell is an awesome program! I wish all the schools offered it. Our school scores would be higher if Linda Mood Bell was taught to all students. Please dont' mess with the mioney for this program.

lucki wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:43 PM:Lindamood-Bell is a great program. I have seen it's successes first hand. But when teachers, parents, and staff have no say in the way the schools are run there is a BIG problem.
The district and Dr. Bales should not have that kind of control.
My thoughts go out to the staff at Casita. I am sorry that you have lost this case. I am sure you all have the kids' best interests at heart. It has to hard when it seems like your district doesn't care what you think.

To Anna wrote on Aug 15, 2008 5:41 PM:It may be true that the scores would increase if LMB was taught to all students, but the jury is still out on the success of LMB. Did you know that it costs $84 per hour per student to provide this training? How in the world, in this climate of budget crises, could this District possibly provide such costly training to every student? 24,000 x $84/hr? Did you also know that the teaching ratio of LMB is at the most 5 students to 1 teacher? With that ratio (as opposed to 38:1) it is highly likely that you would have 100% success.

another response to Anna wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:41 PM:Anna, most VUSD elementary teachers have received some training in use of Lindamood Bell techniques, and would agree that they can be very effective teaching tools. However, they are MOST effective when used in small groups (as they do in the Lindamood Bell clinics.) In order to provide intense, direct instruction to small groups many school sites hired credentialed teachers on a part-time hourly basis to assist the classroom teacher with small group instruction. In other words, the classroom teacher might teach 2 groups and the literacy support teacher would teach 2. Now we are being told that we cannot use site money to hire these teachers, putting the burden of all small group instruction on the teacher. This means that the children will have less time spent in intense instruction that targets their specific needs. So to me the issue is not so much that teachers object to using Lindamood Bell, but rather that our ability to break down the class into teachable groups and to deliver this instruction in a timely manner has been severely compromised.

To To Anna wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:58 PM:The answer to your question, "How in the world, in this climate of budget crises, could this District possibly provide such costly training to every student?" is called Title I. You see, the federal government pays the district these funds to provide instructional aid for low performing schools. The whole reason why No Child Left Behind was introduced is because Senator Ted Kennedy (who was part of the original Title I bill) realized that Title I had no teeth and that schools were actually trying to qualify to get their Title I funds, and then using them for everything BUT working to improve the quality of education. You see, the problem with title I was that if you improved you would lose your Title I funds, and the schools had become dependent upon these moneys (it's kind of like a patient in the hospital who is given a lot of pain medicine and nobody does anything to wean them off, they end up "needing" the drugs just to function, yet these very same drugs make functioning less productive). So, there had to be some incentive to improve test scores and that was NCLB. So, schools must now show that the money they are getting from Title I is actually doing something to improve the education, or face losing the funds! You must realize that NONE of the funds spent to date on LMB have come from the General Fund (although technically speaking there is nothing against the law or even wrong if it were, since general fund money is required to be used to provide education, and the goal of education is to see continued improvement in a child's development). All in all the Board is ultimately responsible for seeing that the taxpayers' money is spent according to the law, and that the children are getting the best education that money can provide. Since VUSD had nearly 1/3 of all the federally sanctioned schools in San Diego County, yet less than 1/3 of the total population, and according to demographic data is about average to slightly above average for family income/wealth, there is obviously not enough being done to provide a quality education. And, since these School Site Councils have been goin every which way in their utilization of the funds they have previously controlled, without seeing any significant improvement, it is about time the Board take back control of these funds and take full responsibility to see that the children get what the public is paying for!

To To Anna wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:15 PM:24,000? The latest numbers how VUSD much closer to 22,000. 38:1? Again an outright misstatement of the facts, as the average ratio in VUSD is around 28:1. Finally, LMB is only really needed for those students who are below grade level (though other can benefit as well), and so the application of the calculation you stated would imply that all 24,000 (or is it 22,230) are currently below grade level in reading. If in fact this is the case, then we owe it to every child to take every dollar we have and apply it to bringing their reading up to grade level. For, without the ability to read, all other learning will be negatively impacted.

So, what do you have against those who are attempting to help children to attain their potential where reading is concerned? Do you really have that much disdain for those receiving the benefit of LMB?

Options wrote on Aug 16, 2008 12:20 AM:Homeschool if y'all don't like what's happening in your school (district).

Private schooling is available, too.

two sides to a story wrote on Aug 16, 2008 8:53 AM:another response to Anna- Have you ever heard of the words, "volunteers?"
I home school on various grades and various ages. I am not a licensed teacher and I am able to do it. I have also volunteered at various schools where I have taken groups out and taught them. So if VUSD is not using parent volunteers effectively that is another issue. In fact the only parent volunteers that I witnessed were the ones distracting the teacher and gossiping with the teachers when they were supposed to be instructing students.
So to all of the parent slackers gossipers and distracters either volunteer to teach the student or get out!

To To Anna pm wrote on Aug 16, 2008 9:24 AM:No, I don't have anything against the few (2%) who benefit from this program. Not at all. But during financial downturns you have to make tough decisions of how to benefit ALL students, not just 2%. This is a very costly program. There needs to be an independent analysis of the success of this program, not just data from LMB.

And as far as classroom size goes, 4 out of my 5 classes last year had 36 - 38 students (juniors and seniors). When you get a District average of 28:1, that includes all credentialed teachers - including librarians and other certificated staff who do not have regularly scheduled classes.

Another Option wrote on Aug 16, 2008 9:27 AM:Or you can choose a charter school. Seems they're all doing so well these days....

Time for Change wrote on Aug 16, 2008 9:27 AM:It's too bad that VUSD is so deeply invested in Lindamood Bell that it is now in a financial quandary that is further compromised by California's billion dollar deficits.

Considering that VUSD now has to extort School Site Council funds to pay for Lindamood Bell, it sure doesn’t look good for the VUSD school board and Joyce Bales, who now have a program, LMB, they implemented without the proper funding.

School Site Councils are one of the most important ways for schools to earn funding for “site specific” goals and programs. It involves the parents, teachers and staffs to research the individual site needs and find ways to fund those needs with programs for our children. It empowers all of the school stakeholders to work together for the benefit of that particular site and gives everyone a sense of buy-in.

Now that VUSD has won a court ruling and can take any amount of the site council funds they choose, it begs the question, “Why would any parent group want to raise funds and then be told the district was going to take it away?”

It looks like Dr. Joyce Bales and the current school board is more interested in winning their battles at any expense. However, when you disenfranchise an entire school community for the sake of small school populations that LMB addresses, it begs the question "Is it time for a regime change in Vista?"

Exactly wrote on Aug 16, 2008 9:44 AM:Why have a school site council at all? I'm currently on an SSC and in addition to parents, teachers and staff, there are also students on this committee.

We are guided by the annual goals set by the Board and apply those goals to the needs of the students. That's how we've made our decisions on what to do with the money that comes from the State.

If the Board is going to decide what to do with money after the hard work (and it is an exhaustive and thankless job) that goes into the decision-making at the SSC level, why have it at all? I believe SSC's are mandates from the State, are they not?

To To Anna wrote on Aug 16, 2008 9:54 AM:This is not about "disdain for those receiving the benefit of LMB" . . . Everyone wants growth for our children. It is about fair distribution of funding for "all" students, not just a select few (2%). Would you please address that?

to two sides to a story wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:00 AM:I love having parent volunteers in my classroom....when I can get them. However, when I am the person held accountable for the academic progress of my students, I am not going to entrust the responsibility of teaching them to read to a parent, especially when many of the parents at my school have only a high school diploma, and quite a few not even that. There are many other ways parents can assist the children in the classroom. I thinks it's wonderful that you have the skills to help at your child's school, but that is not necessarily the norm at many school sites. As far as the above comment that only Title I funds pay for Lindamood Bell....whereas individual school sites used to have some say over how all their Title I money was to be spent, the district now controls it entirely. Our literacy support teachers used to be paid out of this fund, but that money has been taken out of our control to pay for Lindamood Bell.

To Time for Change wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:09 AM:1. If the funds being spent by these councils was doing so much good for these individual schools, then why are so many VUSD schools still failing?
2. The only funds being taken away from the school sites councils are those granted from the District to the councils and NOT those being raised by individuals and donated to the school directly
(Though there is an interesting legal issue there too, as the District is the only entity that may legally accept a donation, and thus has the legal authority to spend it as they determine best fits the needs of the District. If you were to donate for a specific purpose you could place that in a legal document associated with the donation, and then if the District were to spend it otherwise you could file suit to have the funds returned. But... do you really want to go that route?)
3. What do you have against this "small school population that LMB addresses?" And considering the latest data from the state, around 50% reading below grade level in VUSD (remember VUSD has a school population of around 22,000 - so 50% would be around 11,000), I would not call that a small population!

Obviously you don't like it when the District Administration starts applying the law equally to ALL students within their charge, as opposed to playing favorites with only a few children of those parents who spend so much time whining and complaining.

To Exactly wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:20 AM:Yes, SSCs are covered in the Ed. Code. But, so are the responsibilities of the Board to be responsible for the budget and expenditures of the District. Also, the Board is held legally responsible for ensuring quality education. Finally, these funds from the state are actually funds from the Federal Government under Title I. The intent of Title I is to supply additional funds to those school that are below standard. The state decided to add to that by creating SSCs with the idea that a local group at the school would have a better idea of exactly how best to apply these funds to address the specific internal issues causing the failure of the school.
BUT, with so many schools in VUSD failing, and these funds needed for improving the basic education required by law, especially reading, the District (who are the only ones to legally have the decision making authority with regard to public funds) has been forced to redirect these funds toward that which they believe will do the most good for the greatest number of students: LEARNING TO READ!
School Site Councils and Committees have for the past 14 years done little or nothing to improve the quality of education in VUSD: Just look at the test scores over the past 14 years: down, Down, DOWN -and stagnation!

To Anna wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:29 AM:Fair Distribution of funds to those needing it and for whom it was intended! These funds are Title I funds that are intended for those students who are performing below grade level. And, if you know anything about group performance you know that when you have a few lagging behind it holds back the whole group. So, aiding a few lagging students to catch up will have the result of aiding the whole group to excel. Do you realize how much time a teacher must spend with a student (or group of students) who can't read at grade level? Do you realize how much more that teacher could do for your child if all the students were reading at grade level?
Now, it is your turn to define "Fair" as it applies to access to, and the receipt of, a quality education!

To to two sides to a story wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:38 AM:Last I checked LMB was a literacy program and the big issue was the cost of the LMB support people. So, now the District has chosen to apply the Title I funds on a singular approach to addressing the serious literacy problems at VUSD. Since it is ultimately the District's responsibility and since the law is clear on the point that SSCs may only advise, whereas the Board directs, a unified approach to addressing an obvious District Wide problem of literacy is the best approach. But, so long as the rank and file (and certain parents) continue to fight back against the unified approach, there will be nothing but continued failure. So, is it that you don't want the district as a whole to improve, or are you simply disliking the loss of power you once felt you had?

Anna wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:38 AM:Think outside the box everyone. Lets think of our schools as a business. Lets think of the schools as an opportunity for training and development. Lets sit down and propose deals with Linda Mood Bell. Lets propose we train interns to learn the program and they can intern at the schools and earn credits at the same time. Lets act as a non profit and sit with Linda Mood Bell and ask for their help. Lets ask them how they can offer their programs at a much better price. Linda Mood bell prides itself on teaching kids and helping out community lets sit at a table together to get this program in the hands of more children. These children are the leaders of our future and all you want to discuss is politics. I work for a training and development company and I see many non profits getting programs at prices they can afford. Why can't we try this approach?

Time to move past the Hubbard Cowles culture wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:52 AM:Time for Change-this article is about the complaint that was filed by Casita Elementary School Site Counsel to the state against VUSD.
By the way did you read the answer to the complaint from CDE? why don’t you ask the reporter to post a link to the PDF file? The answer by CDE is very clear, “YOUR COMPLAINT IS DENIED, DENIED, DENIED!!!!!”
So what part of DENIED don’t the complainers understand? What part of TITLE I don’t the complainers understand? it makes no difference when VUSD, CDE and everyone else tries to explain this most VTA, PTA entrenched stanched supporters understand?

based on the VUSD comments by SSC members it is apparent that some claim to be sitting on SSC committees for over NINE YEARS!!!! Isn’t something fundamentally wrong when someone sits on a committee for NINE YEARS and doesn’t even understand the basic function of school district by laws, financing, grants and categorical programs?

What tops this whole thing is that these people who have been sitting on the SSC committees for OVER NINE YEARS have the nerve to run for VUSD Board of Trustees.

I am so feed up with all this garbage that I am going to make sure I correct the misinformation when I hear this garbage circulating.

By the way the SSC is not a way for schools to earn funding if school want to earn funding than get some fundraisers going that is why you have the PTA!!!!

I do agree on one thing now that Hubbard will be leaving it is time to elect board members that are separate and distinct from the VTA and have the best interests of students at heart.

Time to leave the legacy of the HUBBARD COWLES illiterate generations behind.

Got pseudonym wrote on Aug 16, 2008 3:39 PM:To the district administrators who, surreptitiously love to use pseudonyms in their blogs . . . Consider the following: Everyone loves positive growth for our children and we are truly going in the same direction in our search for excellence, just taking different paths.

But, how can similar N. County school districts with similar student populations, achieve similar growth and test results as Vista without spending millions of extra dollars on a proprietary programs such as Lindamood Bell for a small population? Would you answer that, please?

Secondly, why have you taken such an agressive path defending questionable spending while bullying staff and intimidating parents all over the school district? Isn't "tact" taught in the grad programs? Do you know there are parents afraid to speak out in fear of perceived retribution?

Third, why were the dozens of teachers and principals who left Vista, many critical of LMB in the last two years, labeled by Jim Gibson in the paper as poor teachers and staff, quickly hired by San Marcos, Encinitas, Carlsbad,San Diequito, etc.? Maybe those districts, who are also successful, aren't owned by a narrow, our way only, compromised path to excellence.

Lastly, the comments that School Site Councils have "done little or nothing to improve the quality of education in VUSD" is humorous. Their charge is to support the local school and have site specific input and decision making ability. Maybe you should just tell them they are doing a terrible job and do away with them altogether and just take the funding for LMB.

SSCs and Title I wrote on Aug 16, 2008 3:50 PM:A little more History and Irony:
The state created the concept of SSCs as a means to obtain local input from failing school sites with regard to the expenditures of the Title I funds. The idea here was that these local SSCs would have a better understanding of the specific needs of the school site. However, although the state did require the SSCs be formed of Teachers, Parents, and School Staff, they did NOT ensure that parents of those children for whom the Title I funding was intended were represented. You have to look at the Title I laws to realize that these funds were intended for those Children, not schools, who were in need of assistance to bring them up to par with their peers.
So, VUSDs SSC have consisted of parents of children who would not otherwise qualify for these funds, but these parents have done what they could to have these funds spent on things that would directly benefit their children. Now, I can't blame the parents for trying to manipulate the system to their own children's advantage. They are simply doing as any good parent will do: whatever it takes to provide a quality education to their child. However, they have effectively been taking candy from needy children and giving it to their own children. And THAT is something I can NEVER forgive! So, in other blogs I read that some of these parents are now trying to run for school board and their supporters are attacking other candidates because those other candidates have been either homeschooling or private schooling their children. Well, these two candidates that have been on the committees for so long have been hurting the very children for whom these funds were intended, and now ask the citizens to place them on the board so that they can have the power and authority to go right back and do it some more!
Change horses in midstream because the horse you're riding is dragging you under? You better check and see why your horse is being dragged under before you simply abandon it for something unknown. You never know, it might well be the horse you are changing to could be the cause of your current horse's problems!

Costly Program wrote on Aug 16, 2008 5:28 PM:Can someone explain why it costs $84/hr per student for the LMB program? Credentialed teachers in this district who have worked 30+ years earn less than $59/hr (which of course is misleading because the $59 per hour would be based on a 7.5 hour day, which in actuality is closer to 10 hours per day, and 10 or more hours during the weekend - which makes the figure closer to $35/hr). Just curious. I might add that most teachers spend a considerable amount of time working during the summer sans compensation, further reducing that hourly rate.

vista parent wrote on Aug 16, 2008 5:42 PM:Here is my big complaint. My child is not a second language learner, is well above her reading level, doesn't come from an economically challenged backround and doesn't have any special needs. I am a US citizen, homeowner and taxpayer. What program is there for my child???? Why do all the poor, uneducated parents and thier kids get all the attention? Maybe if these parents would get off thier lazy butts and read to thier kids, help them with thier homework, support the school etc, the rest of us wouldn't have to keep paying out our hard earned money for them.

John wrote on Aug 16, 2008 5:45 PM:Time for Change- VUSD did not win a court ruling a uniformed complaint is not a court ruling. It is an administrative ruling.

To Vista parent wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:47 AM:It sounds like your child is already benefitting from taxpayer dollars and doing quite well. And may well head off to college and become a well rounded contributing memeber of society. Unless of course, you continue to play into the "society owes me" mentality. In other words, it is time for you as a parent to grow up and take some responsibility and show your child how good they have it, and that there is far greater reward in giving to those who have less than in receiving more when you already have plenty! Be glad that you have such a wonderful child and wonderful life and stop complaining about what others are getting.

If you really want to get all these things you can alway quit your job, let your house go into foreclosure, stop providing encourgement to your child, and then get your child into these special programs. But, if you do that you will face the possibility that CPS will get envolved and you will loose your child.

To John wrote on Aug 17, 2008 12:26 PM:Though correct that this was not court ruling, it is that which would be used in a court as a basis for a court ruling. In other words, if someone were to actually file a suit against VUSD with regard to this issue the court would revisit the administrative ruling by the Department of Education and look to see if the DOE was applying the law accordingly. The problem with this is that whereas it is not uncommon for a local district to misread and mis-apply the law, it is very rare that a court will find that the Department overseeing the law has misruled in a case such as this. That is because the law typically reads that the Department of Education is to set the administrative measures by which the law is to be applied, and thus if the DOE rules that a District has done correctly per the direction of the DOE, then the court will usually agree with the DOE and the District. Only if you (or the group filing the case) can clearly show that the letter, or clear intent, of the law was violated would you have any hope of obtaining a court ruling that overturned the DOE ruling. And, in a case wherein the expenditures of funds allocated by the government is concerned you will find that the District's Board has full and legal control of those funds, and cannot abrogate that authority to a non-elected body known as a School Site Council.

to Vista Parent wrote on Aug 17, 2008 12:33 PM:the program for your child is called Public School, funded by all the rest of us taxpayers who don't have any children!!!! GET OVER IT!!!!

To Costly Program wrote on Aug 17, 2008 3:18 PM:If you want to compare apples to apples you need to realize the total price/hour of the LMB program is the total for the LMB operation including the pay for the individual supplying the instruction/training, their benefits, transportation, materials, the administration and operations of the LMB corporation, LMB corporate facilities costs, and finally the profit margin. So, if you wish to compare that to teachers' salaries we would need to take the $200 Million annual budget at VUSD plus the Title I funds received from the Federal Government, calculate and add to that figure the Bond costs and other differed funds supplied from the state and other sources in support of the building, utilities, transportation, etc., divide it by the number of students at VUSD (approx 22,230) and then divide that by the total hours authorized/required by law for k-12 school. I'd be willing to bet that number is close to that charged by LMB. Of course, you LMB figure does not account for the declining cost per student that results from having teachers trained as LMB trainers and these trainers then training other teachers (train the trainer). So, over time the cost per student of LMB has and will continue to decline.
you must realize that your attempt to claim teachers are paid less than they really are based on the total number of hours they put into the job is meaningless to the many others out there who receive a flat salary but routinely put in 50 to 80 hour weeks 10 to 12 months a year. I really wish I could take off as much time as my wife gets in her teaching job! We could take so many more vacations!

To Vista Parent wrote on Aug 17, 2008 3:24 PM:Be glad your child does not need any special programs. And stop complaining so much about what others are getting. Your child appears to be doing quite well and you should be proud of that and continue to show her the value of giving to those who have less as opposed to what your comments above show: "society owes me!" We all pay for public education even though many of us do not directly benefit from it. Your attitude is exactly that which ultimately results in fomenting the tensions that keep our society from unifying. And is something an adult and parent should know better than to take.

Dr. wrote on Aug 17, 2008 4:12 PM:I sense some very strong comments here that only make things worse on those children who are already suffering from their family and social position. Why are their people in America who believe they should be the only ones to benefit from the taxes that ALL Americans must pay? No, I'm not saying we should support the whole world (even though we are the only country to spend so much helping other countries in their times of need). Rather, I'm simply saying that children should not be used as pawns by adults and parents. If you want more for your child than the Public can afford, then get out there and work for it! My parents did and as a result I had the opportunity to chase my dreams of higher education. True, I too had to sacrifice of myself to achieve that goal. But, as an American I had that right and freedom to "pursue" my "Happiness." All those complaining that there are people who are getting special treatment need to look at themselves and see what they have and then decide if they'd be willing to change places with those they are impugning. If you are not willing to do so, then you need to be grateful for what you have and where you are today. Show those less fortunate than you why they too should strive for what you've achieved, and provide them the encouragement they need. Sometimes that is all it takes. Too often the parents of these less fortunate children are too busy trying to survive, or simply too ignorant of American culture to know what is possible. Stand and deliver, or get out of the way. If you can't be a part of the solution, then at least don't be part of the problem!

To Vista Parent wrote on Aug 17, 2008 6:55 PM:vista parent- the program for yourself and your children is called, "PAY UP." You pay or you get uncle Sam coming after you.

It is an easy to understand program you hand your hard earned money over the the IRS so that they can pay for all foreigners and if and only if there is anything left over the government will give you a stimulus check for $ 600.00 once every ten years so you can go shopping :)

Just the truth please wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:08 PM:Wow, wow!!! I see an elephant in this blogs does anyone else see it?

Yes that parts that burns the most is that millions of dollars that are spent every year on the education of illegal aliens. This is the only country in the world that freely gives the most rights and services to foreigners. Even when the citizens of this country are doing without and are victims of deprivation of rights.

To all of you out there, the truth is that VUSD parents are all in the same boat. If one group had more financially than the LMB group they wouldn't be in PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Heck you have to be out of your mind to put your kid in a PUBLIC SCHOOL, unless you financially have no option.

Dr. Cholo wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:10 PM:Why do you take may name out of the title? Do you have something against it? As the name is assumed and not my real name, as to reveal that would place my career in jeopardy, I don't see how it violates any of you policies. But, your removal of my name does tend to indicate your bias against my race: Hispanic. And therefore I must ask that you either correct the title, or provide an apology for your obvious racial bias! By the way, Cholo is the street language that many here in So, California believe to be Spanish. It is NOT, and I should know as I have been well schooled in proper Spanish all my life!

Cartoonist wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:04 PM:Cholo is gangster not real glamorous.
maybe next time you can blog under scarface, Godfather, KKK, Grand Dragon or what ever suits your style.

What does that have to do with SSC, VUSD and CDE amigo?

Lets not get huffy and sue the North County Times over a blog. Worst yet call the NCT headquarters and get someone fired because one does not always get their way.

LMB Pree school for all and you got PTA rolling thier eyes wrote on Aug 18, 2008 9:57 AM:Add the preschool program to the LMB and you get double whammy!!!

The answer is to wait until the market changes and move out of Vista.

To Cartoonist wrote on Aug 19, 2008 9:13 PM:I was merely pointing out that they had removed Cholo from my previous blog that is simply titled Dr. That blog was very much about the SSCs, VUSD, and CDE. As I have been blogging for quite some time with the name Dr. Cholo it appeared as though they were now choosing to sensor my name because of some possible racial bias. Please note, I am Hispanic, and I am a Doctor, and I do speak Spanish and English. Finally, I don't like what i continue to see in the many Hispanic students I meet daily who have been "educated?" by VUSD. There is a serious mistreatment of these children by the organization known as Public School. But, it is not that much different than the mistreatment the rest are receiving. We owe it to our children and the future of our Great Nation to provide these children the best education, in ENGLISH, possible! I have yet to see anything of significance come from any of the SSCs I have viewed over the years, as NONE contained representation from those for whom the funds were intended. The law is clear that the SSCs are required to be representative of the student population. And therefore none of them had, or have, any legal standing should a complaint be filed against the way they are recommending the funds be spent. So, if the Board desires to step in and spend these funds differently so be it! By the way, I'm no gangster, but VUSD has produced far too many!

Your price is wrong wrote on Aug 20, 2008 9:14 AM:$84/hour for Lindamood-Bell is what parents pay for the service in one-to-one reading clinics- private ones! That number has absolutely nothing to do with what VUSD pays for LMB. It is appalling that people in this community so quickly throw information into a public forum without even checking to see if that information is correct. We teach children in schools to research, and fact check- it is disheartening to see adults spread misinformation without a second thought.

Further, LMB fudning comes mainly (though not completely) from Title I funds. These are funds that can ONLY go to children struggling. If it isn't LMB, its going to be some other program, that's the way it works. Why not embrace something that has proven (with data) to help children learn to read?

Reply to Price wrote on Aug 20, 2008 3:13 PM:Beacuse those in power realize they lose power when children no longer have special needs. I know that one sounds strange, but you have to realize that the more students below grade level the more funds/programs needed to aid them, and this relates directly to more teachers and more administrators. It is also used as a tool to garner/illicit parental activism: your child has a special need that can only be served if we get these funds.

Yes, in the end it is not about the education, it is about the money and the power!

To Your Price is Wrong wrote on Aug 20, 2008 6:16 PM:Gee ... how do YOU know the $84 per hour per child is wrong? I was personally told that by one of the LMB specialists in a committee discussion when asked what it costs for VUSD. You must be a Board Member. How else would you know? And since you do know, what IS the price?

Reply to Price wrote on Aug 20, 2008 8:53 PM:Sounds like we need to call for an independant audit of the District Funds! Open the Books and let the taxpayer see what their money is being sent on! Otherwise, all we will get is hearsay coming from third parties claiming "I was personally told that by one of the LMB specialists in a committee discussion when asked what it costs for VUSD" and "I was personally told that by one of the LMB specialists in a committee discussion when asked what it costs for VUSD."
Does anybody REALLY know? And the last audit was done internally. So, who is watching the hen house, the fox?

There should be an audit wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:26 AM:Local government owes it to the taxpayers to be transparent - so open up the books. And yes, let's have an independent audit and analysis of the success of LMB. Not analysis done by LMB - wouldn't that be biased?

Vista Watchdog wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:36 PM:Now there is something we all can agree on: open the books and do a full audit on VUSD. Wasn't that something Patty Anderson was calling for during the last election?

By the way, if the audit were only focused on LMB that too would be a bit narrow and therefore potentially biased. Besides, what would you use as your metric, and at what point do you declare LMB a success or failure? What is the comparison? If you want to know how good a particular program is as compared to another you need to spend a lot of money doing lots of research. On the other hand, if students are learning to read, and test scores are rising since the introduction of LMB, then how do we definitively show it is, or is not, due to LMB

Cartoonist wrote on Aug 22, 2008 11:37 PM:Now you are making sense the name cholo is tasteless and frankly offensive. I do agree with you on the racial biases and about the mistreatment of children. A perfect example of mistreatment is also deliberately overlooking and writing articles as to what is happening to the over forty thousand residents who live and Townsite. The city of Vista kicked out the Mexican children from their very own Townsite Park in the barrio. Now did the NCT or the Union Trib. pick up the story? No! Why not? Simply because people who are not white are perceived by the media in general as not credible or not of importance. While stories about white people regardless of the ambiguity make the headlines. What we see in the Hispanic students by the time they reach firth grade is DEFEAT plain and simple. I have to also question the constitutionality of this GATE program. How can you have a program that endorses discrimination and assumption of a child’s self esteem? Color as well as disadvantaged children learn from infancy that the deck I stacked and purely political. Nothing that happens in public schools is about intelligence or ability but rather about political grouping. The more cookies your mommy sells the smarter the kid gets. I have to agree with Vista Teacher VUSD is due for a FORENSIC AUDIT of the past 10 years and drag their charter schools right along. Lets see who ends up wearing stripe clothes in a 10x10 cell first.