Public officials taking advantage of an uncaring public

What a pisser. Especially, when read alongside your other article about lack of science education in the public elementary schools.

Remember folks, to drive by Graham Middle School this summer and see what 1/2 million of your tax bucks will buy....new parking lots, to replace ones that had nary a pothole!

Forget pupils and programs, it's all about paving and political consultants.

Mountain View Voice, Friday, July 01, 2005

Despite his years of experience as an educator, in the late 1990s Ghysels took a break from schools. He moved to New York City to work as a vice president of Citibank for five years, then returned to the Bay Area to work as the chief learning officer of a consulting company for a year.

When Ghysels, who will earn $165,000 a year, officially begins his four-year contract July 25, the first item on his agenda will be to introduce himself to the community and reassure its members that he will stay longer than his predecessors.

[In return he will get a $5,000 a year raise while the teachers and staff get nothing... yep that's fair and that's progress. No need for alarm. Save that for when he renegotiates his next contract... get ready for Citi-type tactics for increased compensation.]

Ghysels hails from one of the ultimate CEO fiascos--Citibank--where he did a few years. Is that where he became accustomed to a nice fat salary? Isn't it amazing now when Citi is partially owned by taxpayers and while our own superintendent, along with the current CEOs and executive officers of Citi keep trying to argue for more compensation? If I remember correctly, he also was a CEO of an educational firm out in Pleasanton which he also helped run aground. So yes, the CEO comparison is apt. And we should just keep shelling out more taxpayer money to them. Oh yes, they'll find a way to spin a profit or make something positive of it all, but in the end the taxpayers will be left on the street and their children without adequate supplies in and well-paid and motivated teachers in the classroom.

And let's not forget his side job as a consultant while on the taxpayers dime as well.
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Check out the other thread on this topic for more insight. Get mad, go to school board meetings, demand an end to this, and vote the board out if you have to!

The public should always be aware of waste and abuse in the public sector, and this may very well be another case of it.

I just saw that new $500,000 parking lot. What a waste. What kind of people approve of such things in this type of economy? It's just unbelievable until you drive by and take a look at it for yourself.

I am told that the Graham parking lot ONLY cost $340,000.

The school district board and administrators are NOT going to reply to any posts on this board. They just lie low and wait for it to blow over. And continue to spend public funds as they like, regardless of public comment.