Hello Everyone – In this update I would like to provide you the following:
- A recap of June 4th meeting. A district in crisis! Link to full recording here.
- The departure of Assistant Superintendent Patrick Sanchez to the Live Oak School District in Santa Cruz, despite a $35K pay cut, serves as a stark testament to the chaotic state, adding to the mass exodus and toxic culture within MHUSD.
- While I appreciate Pat Sanchez’s departure, it’s crucial to consider his past. I conducted a thorough investigation into this matter here.
- MHUSD Approval Poll is closed. Results here.
- Over the course of one month, our community actively participated in a widely shared poll. The results are unequivocal: the community overwhelmingly expresses disapproval of MHUSD’s leadership and direction.
- Upcoming important dates
- Friday June 14, 11am-1pm – Special Budget Review Meeting. This meeting will be a public meeting. Mark your calendar. The agenda and Zoom link are not available yet, but I’ll update you as soon as they are posted
- Tuesday June 18, 6pm - General board meeting at the DO. Budget approval should be on the agenda. I will post its agenda and Zoom when available.
1 ) A recap of June 4th meeting:
On June 4th (last Tuesday) the MHUSD board held a general meeting along with several hefty topics and public hearings below:
- Phonics Curriculum Adoption – Haggerty Bridge to Reading
- 2024-2025 to 2026-2027 LCAP
- 2024-2025 Budget & Multiyear Projections through 2026-2027
During the recent public comments session, Superintendent Garcia received an award from The California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA). Simultaneously, community members and parents voiced their concerns about our district’s state, lack of leadership accountability, the dire financial crisis, and the toxic culture that has taken root. This juxtaposition is both intriguing and concerning.
1- Managing Image Amid Crisis:
Dr. Garcia’s engagement with a PR group called Voler Strategies, a $96K annual contract, raises eyebrows. The purpose? To carefully manage her image during times of crisis. While this move may be strategic, it also highlights a disconnect between perception management and the real challenges faced by our community.
The award bestowed upon her aligns neatly with promoting a positive narrative around Dr. Garcia. However, it occurs against the backdrop of a deeply divided community, widespread concern, and a district still grappling with crisis.
2- Leadership Approach:
A true leader would prioritize community cohesion. Rather than focusing solely on image, they would actively seek input from stakeholders, address challenges head-on, and work collaboratively to find solutions.
Unfortunately, Dr. Garcia’s approach seems to prioritize optics over substance. By emphasizing her image, she risks alienating those who seek genuine engagement and problem-solving.
3- Agenda Order and Engagement:
On June 4th, Dr. Garcia strategically positioned significant public hearing items—such as the LCAP and budget—at the end of the agenda, close to 11:30 pm. This timing minimized scrutiny and community engagement.
In fact, the budget discussion didn’t even occur by the scheduled time. It has now been pushed to June 14th from 11 am to 1 pm (with the Zoom link pending).
Such tactics hinder transparency and meaningful participation, leaving community members feeling unheard.
4 - Dismissing Opposing Views:
Dr. Garcia’s tendency to label opposing views as “lies” or “uninformed opinions” fosters division and polarization. Collaborative leadership requires respectful dialogue, not dismissal.
Her recent non-satisfactory votes from the board (3 out of 7) on May 31st underscore the need for critical evaluation. Notably, three of the four board members who voted in her favor face re-election this November.
In summary, our district faces serious challenges that demand collaborative, community-driven solutions. And our community consists of parents, teachers and staff. It’s time for leadership that transcends image management and prioritizes genuine engagement.
I encourage you to watch the board meeting in its entirety with emphasis on the public comments starting here. And comments by MHFT president here. Public comments on ES presentation here, public comments on LCAP here, public comments on Budget here.