Sure thing Stacy wrote on Nov 5, 2008 6:32 PM:Guffanti conservative? Yeah right Stacy. Your articles are so biased they ought to be on the editorial page. What is conservative about nastiness? What is conservative about delaying school construction and costing our district millions?

Guffanti was rude and mean to EVERY single group in VUSD--parents, teachers and voters. He got what he deserved. Too bad he was ever elected in the first place.

A union is nothing if the membership is not motivated and we were very motivated thanks to Guffanti and his venom spewing emails and his nutty, even paranoid, and always fact-free opinion pieces that he was allowed (encouraged?) to publish time and time again in your newspaper. His rants (and the quotes we took from them) were among the best ammunition the normal nice and good folks of our district had in our fight to get him off the board.

“The union this,” “the union that,” what is with you, Stacy? Did you notice the hundreds and hundreds of PARENTS involved in the Jaka/Chunka victory? Did you wonder why? Maybe because Jaka and Chunka came to more VUSD campuses and spoke with more parents and children in ONE WEEK then Guffanti did in the last EIGHT YEARS.

Guffanti never gave a darn about parents in our district. The fool did not even show up for the most important forum of the campaign--a forum sponsored by THE PTA and conducted by the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. Talk about DISRESPECT for parents!

Good bye and good riddance Guffanti!

Going back to old days wrote on Nov 5, 2008 6:40 PM:I don't know of anyone that trusted Guffanti. On the other hand he is mild to what we have coming in. Judging by the blogs and the comments made at the VUSD BOD meeting I am concerned for my kids.

I think I will look into the add bellow this online article and called the private school advertised.

Good Grief wrote on Nov 5, 2008 6:45 PM:North County Times why are you posting blogs saying Guffanti was rude and mean to EVERY single group?

These are not the facts, the only mean an nasty people were on the VTA side. I don't like Guffanti but stick to the facts and stop posting blogs that are so slanderous and divisive.

Why do you post nast blogs on Guffanti and not on the other three stooges?

So stop the slander or post ALL SLANDER!!!!

VUSD parent wrote on Nov 5, 2008 6:56 PM:Finally, maybe the VUSD will be able to get something accomplished in a civil manner. It was always difficult to attend board meetings and listen to some of the outrageous and inappropriate comments made by Dr. G. By not attending the forum sponsored by PTA, Dr. G and the other two candidates aligned with him killed their chances at winning. Maybe he was tired of calling in to "attend" the meetings after all?

vusd mom wrote on Nov 5, 2008 7:50 PM:As a parent, I'm delighted to have board members that want input from parents. I'm looking forward to board members that know my name and pronounce correctly at the meetings. I"m looking forward to board members that want better working conditions for my kids teachers and staff. I'm delighted to have a board that is concerned about all kids, not just a few kids.

Congratulations Elizabeth, Angela, and Steve.

Good By to Guffanti -- I'm delighted your not interested in future local politics. Because of your decisions not to support a new high school, 2 of my 3 daughters will graduate from overcrowded schools. But at least my youngest daughter has a chance of seeing the new high school open.

RIP wrote on Nov 5, 2008 8:03 PM:Guffy dug his own political grave one school board meeting at a time. He was a defiantly mediocre appendage to education in North County. And so the doctor was amputated at the ballot box.

Mike wrote on Nov 5, 2008 9:47 PM:Well voters, beware. You just elected a bunch of "yes men" for the union. I hope you like your teachers because your child will be stuck with them. You will never-ever be able to have your child's schedule changed because of teacher incompetence. It was bad before at VHS with Larry White. Now with the puppet school board to match puppet White, it will be nearly impossible. Lawsuits will be the only option. Not a big supporter for Dr Guffanti, but definitely NOT a Lilly-Chunka-Jaka supporter.

George wrote on Nov 6, 2008 2:46 AM:Mike I agree with you, I never really trusted Guffanti myself and I am afraid we elected some real RUBBER STAMPERS. We will be going back to the days when former superintendent Cowles rubber-stamped outrageous salaries for the teacher. All along the teachers kept telling the parents that they were underpaid and starving.

We will be going back to the days when Title I money was used to cover these outrageous salaries and pensions. I wonder if the SDCOE will be stepping in early this time or will they be Johnny come lately like the Pro. O money.

I wonder if the North County Times can do an expose on what ever happened to the Pro. O money and just exactly where it went?

Weren’t some of these new elected VUSD board members of the Bond Oversight Committee? I wonder if they know what happened to the Pro. O money?

Vista will continue to move backwards as long as we have an undereducated community. Most of the people that I talked to voted by the number of signs they saw on the road.

I have never seen so many political signs.

This election wrote on Nov 6, 2008 5:01 AM:was decided by the parents of this community. Voting teachers in this district are just a fraction of how many voting parents there are. You disrespect or disregard parents, you say goodbye to the opportunity to serve them on this Board. I'm sure Dr. Guffanti had some dedicated followers - I happen to know some and have to scratch my head over it - but clearly not the majority. ...

The bottom line here is that Chunka, Lilly, and Jaka are the choice of the PARENTS to represent them on this Board. Congratulations to them!

Mike - what the heck are you talking about???? To those parents who think this new leadership will result in an inferior education for your child, by all means, take them out and put them in private school. I've a feeling, though, that this new era of decorum will usher in what we all want - a better education for every child in the VUSD.

Laura wrote on Nov 6, 2008 5:36 AM:The defeat of Guffanti and his no-nothing slate shows how the Vista community is maturing. No longer can sitting School Board members try to torpedo the construction of a much-needed new high school and get away with it. ... Thank God he is finally gone.

union rule wrote on Nov 6, 2008 6:16 AM:wow, this is great. now we can spread our marxist agenda and no one can stop us. the doors wide open

Weezie wrote on Nov 6, 2008 6:31 AM:I agree with mike 9:47 p.m. post. The Jaka-Chunka-Lily Clan will be puppets on a string. The teachers with tenure will rule the schools!!! I bet we will be looking at teachers asking for pay raises soon! That $40,000 they spend on the campaign could have been better spend in OUR SCHOOLS rather than on a bunch of signs littering our community!Obviously someone must have liked Guffanti, as he was on the board for 12 years. I bet Jaka and Chunka don't even make it through their term.

Sad wrote on Nov 6, 2008 6:49 AM:Another sad day for the children of VUSD. The union has pulled the wool over the voters eyes.

Vista Parent wrote on Nov 6, 2008 7:30 AM:First to: Sure thing Stacy. Saying Dr. Guffanti never gave a "darn" about the Vista parents couldn't be further from the truth!!! Guffanti was NOT rude to every single group of parents at VUSD. I know this for a fact, because I was in one of those groups and he was ALWAYS gracious and MORE than helpful and this was at a time when not one person on the board would listen, much less help us parents with our problems. No one on the board would return calls or e-mails, except for Dr. Guffanti. He ALWAYS made time for us parents. I can assure you that I wouldn't be in this district anymore if it wasn't for Dr. Guffanti's assistance. Your bitter accusations are dead wrong!!!

Mike and George have it right. Now with a bunch of "yes men" in office we will be reverting back to the days of Cowels. I shudder at those dreadful memories. My only solice is that my children don't have much longer in this district. Then again, there is always homeschooling.

Vista Mom wrote on Nov 6, 2008 8:00 AM:No one needs to be bashing Dr. Guffanti. He's gone so be thankful and move on. NCT, I'm pretty irritated that you keep calling "Jaka, Lilly and Chunka" "union-backed candidates." They were more than that. Maybe us parents didn't cough up the big dollars, but we contributed what we could which was mostly many hours of campaigning for them. To parents, students and teachers....we've elected them so now is not the time to sit back and lose interest. Stay involved in your kids and your schools. This is our chance to turn our district around, both in reputation and in integrity.

John wrote on Nov 6, 2008 8:28 AM:One down - one to go. Gibson needs to start thinking about his next job. ... As for the Marxist agenda bleated by the bloggers on this page - how can you even say that with a straight face after what Bush has done to the markets? You all look like a bunch of confused travelers that just missed the bus. The country is already leaning towards socialism because the free market has failed us. I'm a small business owner, non-union, and I still believe in capitalism but it must serve society - not the other way around. Guffanti and Gibson are part of the losing old guard that values individuals to the point that they are anti-social. If they understood evolution, they would realize their brand is endangered and may be extinct one day. Power to the people.

To Weezie and George wrote on Nov 6, 2008 8:52 AM:How convenient it is to stay uninformed. For starters, if you have ever actually talked with Elizabeth Jaka or Angela Chunka, you'd know they are pro-children and pro-learning. They are well informed and have strong opinions about education and are the antithesis of being a "puppet" as you say. They will not be bullied by anyone. The only surprising puppet has turned out to be Dr. Lilly.

In the coming years the VUSD board of trustees they will reign in spending in Vista as well as take a serious look at expensive programs like LindaMood Bell during a challenging time in education.

Dr. Joyce Bales has seen fit to spend millions on LindaMood Bell at great compromise to many other programs that have been reduced/eliminated. Are you happy with that? Do you really understand LindaMood Bell and it's effect? Probably not.

When you refer to the union . . . it is laughable! What have they actually done? They have one of the lowest pay scales in the county and there will be no money from the state over the next four years to change that. If you've ever met with any of the union people, they are just a bunch of classroom teachers. . . so the union label you throw on them is humorous.

Why don't we hear of all of the board election/union issues in other N.County school districts? It's because no other school districts had trustees with a personal agenda like Gibson and Guffanti. The hate, accusations and blame that has spewed out of their mouths for years are the source of their demise.

It is clear from this election that the VUSD parents are sick of it and were the ones who made a difference in electing Jaka, Chunka and Lilly. When Stephen Guffanti chose to shine the PTA's candidate forum, he dealt his own campaign and that of Anderson a death blow and the PTA will tell you that.

The caustic rants will now give way to thoughtful, rational solutions to new high schools and reasonable learning for all children.

Hang-on John wrote on Nov 6, 2008 9:31 AM:you look like someone who was just thrown under the bus. Bush had nothing to do with the markets it was started long ago with Carter . I'm a small business owner also non-union so hang on cause we're in for a ride

Good bye Guffanti wrote on Nov 6, 2008 9:32 AM:Hey Guffanti; that grandstanding by you and your cohort Oceanside council looser Gibson has consequences. How do you like it?

Lisa wrote on Nov 6, 2008 10:19 AM:To Sad Day... go to a few of the schools and see how "sad" everyone is that "G" is gone. Oh Happy Day!!

John wrote on Nov 6, 2008 11:02 AM:Give me a break dude! Are really you digging back to Carter to cast blame for the current financial crisis and socialist bailout? OMG!!! The buck stops with Bush and the trickle down republicans. Go back to school and learn your recent history from a qualified VUSD union teacher - not Guffanti U.

Value vs cheap wrote on Nov 6, 2008 11:10 AM:By replacing Guffanti parents and members of our community have shown that they value teachers over cheap shot, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-education, anti-intellectualist, anti-union, stuffed suits on the school board. Hey wait a minute... anti, Guff-anti - there's a similarity here.

Re Vista Parent wrote on Nov 6, 2008 12:34 PM:I too always got a support response from Dr. Guffanti. The rest of the board sat on their butts and did nothing. Now, if what you want is not in the union's best interest, you will get nothing. Check the records. Guffanti was not in favor of hiring Bales because of her extremely high salary.
Mike

Sad wrote on Nov 6, 2008 1:14 PM:It will be just as interesting to see what these new board members will do for our district just as interesting as what our new president will do for our country. My bet is I will be moving out of the district....maybe even out of the country. To think that in the same day I would feel like their was a death in my family!!

Trish wrote on Nov 6, 2008 2:36 PM:To Sad:

Please, If you are so unhappy, move out of the country!

New Blood wrote on Nov 6, 2008 2:58 PM:Everybody needs to relax! A little new blood and fresh ideas never hurt anyone.Give the new people a chance,they might surprise you.

Lisa wrote on Nov 6, 2008 4:51 PM:"Sad"?
Sad was the 2 "G's" undermining the comprehensive high school.
Sad were the days when Dr "G" told voters NOT to pass the bond.
Sad was the day Dr "G" was part of the lawsuit to stop the new high school.
Sad was the day he resorted to yelling and losing control at board meetings.
Sad was the day he refused to show up at the PTA forum.
Sad was the day he denounced parents and students.
Are we Sad? Not a bit.

Cheryl wrote on Nov 6, 2008 5:09 PM:I didn't agree with everything Guffanti said, however he was always polite. Three times I emailed the Board members with a question (I didn't send a long email but kept it short to get an answer). The only one who EVER replied was Guffanti. Our District is almost the worst rated in the County because of our english learners. Lindenmood Bell works. If you destroy this path the District WILL get sanctioned and YOUR kids will be left with the mess because those of us who care about the district as a whole will have left. And you can say, go ahead and leave. Fine, by the time we find other ootions it will leave the district with just 15% english speakers and 85% english learners. Have fun with that.

VUSD DAD wrote on Nov 6, 2008 5:11 PM:VUSD lost a good maan Stephen Guffati was the only board member to meet with a teacher in person about there concerns. When a parent called or e-mail the board members about a problem he would answer, and try to help the group or individual. He only went on to the board because he truly cares about children, and wants our kids to have the opportunity to get the best education possible. And yes, I have seen him loose his temper at a board meeting. But if I had Jan O'Riley attact me the way she did him over something that did not have anything to do with the education of the schools.

I also know of 2 of the three people you voted on to the board.
Lilly has and will tell you what you want to hear, and then do what he wants. This is not hear say this is what he did to me and the group I was with.
As for Jaka, dont thing of seeing HIGHER education in the VUSD. On the middle school honors committee she voted against the honors program, and beleave that one level of education is good for all sutdents and that high achiving students do not need to be challenged.
The 4 VTA board members will now do what is best for Jan O'Riley, which SHOULD NOT be confused with whats best for the Vista Teachers.
The VUSD lost a good man.

to John wrote on Nov 6, 2008 5:17 PM:I,ve done my homework,you sound bitter
maybe you should go back to school....
..don't forget your backpack

Guffanti wrote on Nov 6, 2008 6:17 PM:To Sad: Why are you so unhappy? Change isn't always for the worst . . . unless you listen to Rush or Hannity.

For many years, Guffanti had a great chance to bring the entire school district together and foster unity and collaboration. Instead he chose to alienate 2000 employees of VUSD.

Now new board members will take over in the role of "trustees" for VUSD.

Give them a chance to help mend the negative energy in the district and all work together for our children.

vusd mom wrote on Nov 6, 2008 6:25 PM:To VUSD Dad,

Yes Guffanti answered with lies, slander, and vemon. I did not like being called a poor sobbing mom years ago when we were questioning his opposition to a third high school. I did not appreciate him using the arts festival or trick or treating as campaign spots. I was insulted that he was unwilling to work with the PTA and stood up the parents / students at the PTA forum.

On the other hand Jan O'Riley and many other teachers make huge sacrifices for our students. How much of your salary have you spent on classrooms this year?

You sound like a bitter person unwilling to support anything and anyone that does not fit your narrow view.

Lisa Trish wrote on Nov 6, 2008 6:49 PM:You two are so blind! Dr. Guffanti is the one board member that did care! He was the only one to say so if he disagreed with the VTA Pres. Your Jaka Chunka Lilly are bought and paid for by VTA and you better hope they dont ever disagree with Jan O'Reilly or they will be gone too! That women is awful!!!

The Divider wrote on Nov 6, 2008 7:14 PM:Unfortunately, I think Dr. G used the opportunity to respond to inquiring parents in the community to criticize teachers, code: VTA. What Karl Rove was to this country between 2000-2008, is what Dr. G was to this District between 2000-2008: A Divider. And in both cases the motivation was to push forward a personal agenda, as well as establish and maintain a majority to ensure that vision.

The public has finally caught on - which is why Barack Obama won (an election with the most votes ever cast for a single presidential candidate) and why this community selected Jaka, Lilly and Chunka as its leaders.

The 8-year long nightmare both locally and nationally is finally over. And that is something to be thankful for.

VUSD DAD wrote on Nov 6, 2008 7:17 PM:You people that fell for the O'Riley union rhetoric, lies, and deceit.
Well you got rid of the person that kept the other 3 union board puppets in check. Now you voted a open check book, and to make sure that the O'Riley union gets what they want. Please do not confuse that with the VTA.

VUSD DAD wrote on Nov 6, 2008 7:26 PM:I know what your porblem is. You think Guffanti was the problem And the truth is that it has been Lilly, Hubbard, and Hurerra. Guffanti was on the board minority, the other 3 were the ones the had the power. It's to bad they don't use that power to do what's best for the district and the community

Fallbrook Mom wrote on Nov 6, 2008 7:32 PM:To all of you who just voted in a block of a candidates into your school board.... better hope these candidates don't get it into their heads to try to buy your superintendent out of her contract like they did up here.... you will be completely broke and guess who our block of three school board candidates were backed by? The teachers' union.... sound familiar?

He was the problem wrote on Nov 6, 2008 8:00 PM:Guffanti was the problem because he started and perpetuated the division in this community. He pitted one group of people against another group. That is NOT the role of a good Trustee.

VUSD DAD wrote on Nov 6, 2008 8:21 PM:To VUSD mom

Boy you sound like some one that will be very happy with the new union board.
With Jaka up there, I know the buget will run rampent.
I now understand why Guffanti didn't want to show up at PTA forum, with a room full of lying, venomous people such as you in the room I wouldn't show up either.

another parent wrote on Nov 6, 2008 9:20 PM:VUSD Dad,
Don't get yourself worked up into a lather, if you are so worried about our newly elected board there are plenty of other schools for you children to attend, I would suggest you check them out.

bitter people wrote on Nov 6, 2008 9:40 PM:Sounds like the VUSD is divided and where is the division most evident? Right here in these blogs! Shame on you. Put this in the past and try working together and compromising with each other. You all sound like a bunch of bitter, inflexible, know it alls.

TOW wrote on Nov 6, 2008 10:41 PM:I would like you all to go back and read "To Weezie and George". S/he hit the nail on the head in every respect. Jaka and Chunka are very much pro-children and will not be "pansies" for anyone, including Dr. Bales. They will listen to parents and think for themselves. I also want to defend Carol Herrera, who is the only other person on the board who has a mind of her own and the strength of character to do what is right. Furthermore, as a former teacher who used to be at odds with the union when they put teachers before kids, I must say that under Jan O'Reilly's leadership, the union has been very student-centered in the last few years. I see much better days ahead for VUSD.

Cracking up laughing wrote on Nov 7, 2008 6:36 AM:It is amazing that someone can post a comment (maybe even a fake one!) and people feel they have to attack or defend themselves back.(as if the people that made the comment care. People need to get a life, stop feeling the need to show their intelligence (or lack of)by writing dribble. Have a nice day!

disgusted wrote on Nov 7, 2008 8:01 AM:another parent- you say

"if you are so worried about our newly elected board there are plenty of other schools for you children to attend, I would suggest you check them out."

Do you know what a school district is?
How many schools does a school district have under its umbrella?

As I suspect you are most assuredly the typical voter in VUSD.

Let me enlighten you: This election was for a SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD" not for a PTA position, bake sale, or a SSC commette.

I have very serious questions when we elect someone who has been sitting on a school site counsel committee for 9-12 years and does not know anything about bylaws, budgets or procedures.

I agree wrote on Nov 7, 2008 9:04 AM:Too many people get so angry at the comments that other people post need to take a chill. First of all, you probably won't be able to sway a person one way or the other by the comments that you make. Second, trying to "enlighten" someone will not happen through comments posted. Third, I think that people have too much time on their hands to not only make a comment, but that to check back to see if someone has responded to their comments, so they can respond back. If you all want to have a debate maybe you should find a place to meet and hash it out there.

I agree too wrote on Nov 7, 2008 12:02 PM:I agree ~if TOO MANY PEOPLE have TOO MUCH TIME on their hands I wonder if your comment also includes teaches?

You know the ones that claim they are working waaay to hard and waaaay to much and are waaaay under paid?

I think it does or it should!!!

One thing for sure if you have an emergency no need to dial-911 just go the North County Times blogs you will find plenty of OPD cops here.

Same goes with teachers only difference is you won't get help with your homework here on the NCT blogs. You will get a lesson on reverse psychology. If you tell the same story enough times it becomes true.

Wow wrote on Nov 8, 2008 7:47 AM:Lots of bitter losers on this blog..... instead of being so angry and nasty, why don't you put that energy into something positive. When you spew venom, it comes back to you in spades. No wonder you're all so angry. At the end of the day, you are still stuck living with yourself and your venom.

Unvarnished opinions wrote on Nov 8, 2008 11:12 AM:What I like about the blogs is that we get a look at what the community feels. Not the whole community - but the ones that would be ranting on a street corner if they didn't have a blog valve to let off steam (count me among them). Left right, right wrong, up down and in the middle. My 2 cents on this topic - So long Goofy. Hasta la vista baby.

John wrote on Nov 8, 2008 11:16 AM:To poster at 11/6 5:17 Just checked my backpack. Carter didn't create this current financial crisis. It was actually Hoover.

Some bullies never grow up wrote on Nov 8, 2008 8:45 PM:I agree the loosers are the kids because there a lot of nasty people who like to degrade and bully people. Unfortunately VUSD has too many of these working with kids.

too many bicker chicks on these blogs.

Bicker chicks wrote on Nov 9, 2008 8:20 AM:Do you mean "biker chicks" or "bitter chicks"? There are definitely bitter people on this blog.. but they are NOT the people who are working with kids. They are the people whose candidates did not win.