It's nice to have an independent mind on the board who doesn't simply nods at whatever the Superintendent proposes. Unfortunately, this one is too crazy to be effective.

Yawn! I'm so tired of hearing about this. Sounds to me more like a low-class reality show on MTV then a respected group of adults working together to better our school district.

Everyone needs to grow up or grow a pair. Nelson needs to quit or be fired, or the others need to put up with him, fire him or ask him to resign.

Let's get back to being grown-ups shall we?

I'm also getting tired of this. It seems like the Voice is just bent on making hay out of nothing.

So Goldman is upset because Nelson was asking about his inflated salary? Does he mean the one that keeps going up while teacher salaries are flat?

I'm still trying to find what the real, heavy issues are here. So Nelson said the S-word. So what? It seems appropriate if he notices the superintendent's salary going through the roof while the school district is always complaining there's no money with its hand always out to parents asking for donations! From my reading here, it also would appear that Goldman threw out the first punch by accusing Nelson of not caring about the children. That would get the S-word from me too!

Let's remember, Nelson doesn't get paid for any of this. All the whining public employees do. So what if they can't take a little criticism. They should try working in the private sector. They wouldn't last a day. A $200,000 plus salary demands you put up with a lot and deal with it and solve the problem, not go whining for some one to cry foul

So Goldman said something inappropriate to Nelson and then Nelson said something inappropriate back? And that's the worst case here? It sounds like they think that Goldman can say anything he wants and it's OK but Nelson can't do the same.

Nelson's personal style is unfortunate and apparently unproductive, but his point that the board needs to challenge the administration more is absolutely correct. For many years, superintendents have basically done what they want with what amounts to rubber stamps by whatever board was in office at the time. Each superintendent has sponsored their own sweeping initiative, which was then superseded by the next superintendent's grand vision (the current one is EDI). Of course, each change of course brings new consultants, materials, training, etc. Meanwhile, fundamental issues go unaddressed. For example, what is the administration doing to monitor the performance of its principals and address problems where they occur? You can have all the initiatives you want, but a school without a good principal has a big problem--and that problem definitely occurs in the MV-Whisman school district.

Before you draw conclusions and make judgments based on a single article, I suggest you attend several board meetings yourself and draw your own conclusions.

Its a single article based on an entire history of offending behavior. Yah, don't judge him on how he's behaved all the way up until now, judge him while he's on his good behavior.

Nope. Sorry, time to take responsibility for your actions Mr. Nelson. A great lesson for our kids I should think.

Some people don't it. Disruption like this is not progress, its stagnation. Simply banging a pot and screaming at people because you disagree shuts things down entirely. Nelson is simply another sick part of the sick board that needs fixing. There's no good that comes from his crybaby theater/no self control antics.

I second what Andrew says. Nelson is standing up to a dysfunctional bureaucracy designed first and foremost to perpetuate itself. I mean, when was the last time an administrator or principal resigned because their school wasn't progressing? They'd rather blame it on the teachers they are failing to support. It's no wonder. Many administrators in this district haven't been in front of a classroom for years, some for decades or more, yet they are the self-proclaimed experts on how to teach. In fact, most wouldn't last a day in the classroom they are so out-dated. Most can only spew the party line and are out-dated in their practice with limited depth of knowledge in the field. By comparison if they had to compete in Silicon Valley high tech industry with such an out-dated skill-set they would quickly be passed over. And then there's EDI, a joke designed only to push up test scores. We need innovation in the district, not more gimmicks rammed down the throats of teachers by the dinosaurs in charge. I say continue to shake things up Mr. Nelson. You've obviously stirred the hornet's nest.

I second the suggestion by "Whatever". Try going to a meeting or two...try working with him. You can say what you want about Superintendents, but Mr. Nelson is acting a bit like Congress. The Board can not get things done (FOR THE STUDENTS) because of his interruptions, false allegations, talking over other Board members, etc.

@ReallyTiredOfThis: They are actually handling it like adults. Adults don't just quit when things get hard, adults don't just fire someone when they don't like their attitude. They try to make it work. Firing/Quitting is the last step for adults.

San Francisco had its Chris Daly. Mountain View has its Steven Nelson.

There is no reason the public has to deal with these losers. Dump him, and let him go deal with his problems on his own time.

The message the district is trying to send Mr. Nelson is the exact same mesage I have to deliver to my 5 year old at times: No matter what your point is, no matter how valid and correct you might be, you cannot speak to people in such disrespectful tones, and you can't throw a temper tantrum when you get frustrated and thing don't go your way.
My 5 year old has really begun to show progress in this area...did I mention she's 5 years old?!

The message to Mr Nelson is clear, its the same message we try to teach our children: Got a grown up idea? Present it in a grown up fashion. If something doesn't go your way, that's life, deal with it with dignity, take away any lessons for the future and focus on the next goal.

Nobody is telling Mr. Nelson to "Shut up" What they're trying to tell him is GROW UP!

And lost in all this conversation are the cuts, yes CUTS, to programs for our students.

For the first time in recent MVWSD history, 5th graders have to Choose either art OR music, not both.

5th grade science camp used to be a full week, it's now 4 days.

And our kids still go to school for only 4-1/2 days per week!

But we have money to give Goldman a pay raise. And we have money to train teachers in "explicit direct instruction" which is a fancy name for what every good teacher learned during their teacher training. And plans for scraping and rebuilding the district office may not be at the top of the list, but they are certainly on the list of construction projects.

So, what was the outcome at last night's meeting?

Unproductive is a rather harsh indictment of a politician, who ran on some particular platform points. We have had only two meetings that went to near 11 PM, and both of those had to do with $50 million in public spending on the middle schools. I haven't timed with a stopwatch, but I only spoke about 1/4 of the time at each of those.
Nov 2012 Ballot statement "Issues: First - formal community involvement to the standards of our City! ... Trustee subcommittees on Compensation and Facilities." The majority of the Board eventually saw the need for a new Board Facilities Committee- and 11 community volunteers thought this new idea was likely to be worth their time! It should start meeting next month. It includes the two candidates for Board who were not elected.
- Now - how to proceed with less rudeness on my part.

How about proceeding with NO rudeness on your part, not just less? Your behavior is also abusive and insulting. I see no mention of that in your comment. Are you going to work on that, too?

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