I got an e-mail about a looming show down between ML Peterson and other members of the Ventura County Board of Education over the issue of hiring lobbyists to represent their policy goals.
Read the e-mail for the perspective from ML Peterson.
I have not investigated all the competing claims in the story. I look forward to the Star assigning someone to sort out the details and either prove something wrong is happening or clear Audra and Tony of any wrong doing.
At tonight's meeting, [Jan 30] the Republicans on the VCBE will be trying to
restrict my access to conferences and my public comments so that I
will only express publicly the "philosophy" of the Board majority. If
not inconvenient, your presence in witnessing the events of this
meeting would be very appreciated and welcomed.
I have also attached the reasons I had prepared to offer to justify the termination of the
lobbyist contract. We are spending $20,000 per month on two lobbying
firms, both of which donated $1,000.00 each to Tony Strickland for his
race for controller in 2006. It is my firm belief that this money is
targeted to find its way to Republican campaigns. As you know the
California Republican Party are cash-strapped.
Roll Call is following and reporting on this story. I will e-mail you
what they have already written.
Blue Forever,
ML
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VCBE Board Room is located in a new building on ADOLFO Road in Camarillo.
From the 101 Santa Rosa Exit - Turn right from Santa Rosa Road onto Adolfo Road. [3rd light from freeway] The building is
the second block [past the Roxy Theater] and the board room on the left.
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Virginia Firm Dreams Up Earmarks for Clients
January 16, 2008
By By Paul Singer,
Roll Call Staff
Audio
At a July 13, 2007, board meeting, Scott Wilk of Anchor Consulting describes to the Ventura County Office of Education a proposed project that Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) had requested on behalf of the VCOE the day before. (Audio runs approximately 30 minutes.)
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
On July 12, 2007, Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) sent a letter to the chairman and ranking member of the House Education and Labor Committee asking that they insert language into the No Child Left Behind reauthorization bill to fund a project for at-risk youth.
He wrote that the project had been proposed by Grace College, a private evangelical college in his Congressional district, and the Ventura County (Calif.) Office of Education to match up the college’s experience in educating prisoners with the county’s expertise in reaching at-risk youth.
But the project linking two geographically distant entities was really the brainchild of Anchor Consulting, a small lobbying firm that represents both the VCOE and Grace College. The firm pitched the partnership to the clients, wrote the legislative language and drafted the letter for Souder’s signature, according to people involved in the process and documents obtained by Roll Call.
On July 13, the day after Souder’s letter was sent, Scott Wilk, Western regional manager for Virginia-based Anchor Consulting, attended a VCOE board meeting, where he described the project to the board members, several of whom were hearing about it for the first time.
Wilk said it would be a five-year program authorized for $3 million a year, and that while Grace and VCOE would have to figure out later how to distribute the responsibilities and the budget, Ventura County would get a minimum of $1 million a year from the project.
At the time, the board had no staff dedicated to the project. Yet Anchor reported that the proposal already had been endorsed by Souder and that his status as a “swing vote� on the committee made it likely it would be approved.
At the board meeting — a recording of which is available here — Wilk outlined the firm’s approach, which lobbying experts say is probably not unique, though it is rare that the public hears about it. Rather than the client coming to the lobbyist for help in obtaining funding for a project, the lobbyist creates ways to deliver federal money for the client, even for projects the client had no plan to pursue.
Instead of trying to get funding to fix weaknesses, Wilk told the board, “a lot of times what we do is we want to take your strengths, because we can sell that, get you money — and as you know all funds are fungible — and then maybe take some of that money out and go and put it to your other needs.�
He described another client, a California arts school that needed money to replace its outdated air conditioning system. Instead, Wilk said, Anchor conceived a project for the school to partner with the UCLA School of Medicine to produce AIDS-education videos for use inAfrica, and got $12 million in federal money to launch the project. “They came looking for an air conditioner, now they are doing an AIDS program in Africa,� Wilk said.
Harry Henderson, the founder of Anchor Consulting, told Roll Call that Wilk was not suggesting that federal money be diverted from its intended purposes to other needs of the recipient organization. Rather, he said, if an organization is already operating a successful program, “if you can get the federal government to support it, you can take money that you were providing yourself and put it toward other needs.�
Anchor later told the VCOE that the budget for the project with Grace College was expanding to $5 million a year, with Grace taking in about $4 million of that, according to documents obtained by Roll Call. The biggest chunk of the budget would be a new, $8.5 million building on the Grace campus that would be used to host VCOE at-risk youth for four sessions of a two-week summer camp. Grace would continue to use the building throughout the year.
The at-risk youth partnership is not the first project Souder has pursued for Grace. In the omnibus appropriations bill passed by Congress in December, Souder is credited with a $195,000 earmark for “technology upgrades� on the Grace campus. With Indiana Sens. Dick Lugar (R) and Evan Bayh (D), Souder shared credit in the bill for a $1.1 million earmark for Grace College to develop an emergency services training center for the county.
While it is not unusual for religious institutions to get earmarks, Grace states on its Web site that the college “is for the evangelical Christian student for whom faith and spiritual maturity is a priority. This is why Grace is one of the few Christian colleges that requires a faith statement and spiritual life reference as a normal part of the application process.�
The freshman application to Grace College asks the applicant to “describe your relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Describe how and when that relationship began and the influences that are contributing to your spiritual development.�
Souder told Roll Call that while he recognizes that there is a political debate about providing taxpayer money to an evangelical college, there is no legal barrier to giving earmarks to Grace. While there would be more restrictions on providing such funding to a faith-based high school, Souder said, “we had a bipartisan agreement a number of years ago [that] at a college level it doesn’t apply.�
John Boal, chief advancement officer for Grace College, said the school is careful to follow the guidelines for faith-based organizations to ensure they are not violating any restrictions included with receipt of federal funding. “We are an institution of higher education,� Boal said, and the government is not funding religious activity at Grace.
Boal declined to discuss details of the project with Ventura County, saying “right now it is just in discussion.� But he acknowledged that Anchor Consulting came up with the idea for the project. “I wouldn’t have any trouble saying this was their idea,� he said. But Boal had previously worked in Ventura County, so he was familiar with the schools there.
He later added that since hiring Anchor in the fall of 2006, Grace has been looking for ways to expand its successful prison education program and to identify federal funding opportunities. He also said he was in discussions with the VCOE as early as May 2007.
Souder said he has worked closely with Grace in the past and knew that the college was looking for ways to expand its prison education program even before they hired Anchor. “The fact is that we had discussed this before Anchor Consulting,� he said.
Dean Kunicki, a member of the VCOE board, acknowledged that Anchor introduced Ventura County to Grace, and said the idea for a partnership grew out of a lunch between himself, Wilk and Boal.
Kunicki said he was a member of a subcommittee that had been authorized to find a lobbyist and work toward projects that might bring in federal funding. Kunicki said while it is true that the July 13 meeting was the first time other members of the board had heard of the project, that is because he had authorized Anchor to move as quickly as necessary to get the idea before Congress.
At that point, “there was no agreement between us and Grace and Anchor about the details,� Kunicki said. “We told them to go ahead and get started, if that is what they needed to do.�
Souder said his understanding was that Grace and Ventura County had been working on the proposal for several months by the time he made his request. It would not have made sense to have designed more detail for the project prior to gauging Congressional interest in moving forward, he said.
If the VCOE members who were working with Grace “got their cart before the horse� by failing to brief other members of the board, “that’s their issue,� he said.
Henderson and Wilk both defended their approach of helping clients seek funding sources they had not previously considered.
“We work with our clients to see what they are capable of doing,� Henderson said. “We like looking with our clients to find ways that they can do things that are exciting working with the federal government.�
The firm may have generated the idea for a partnership between two clients, but it would have resulted from the analysis of the interests of the individual clients, Henderson said. “We don’t come with a preconceived notion of ‘this is a project we want to do, let’s have Organization X do it,’� Henderson said.
He said the firm has regular monthly contracts with its clients and does not accept payments contingent on securing federal money.
Anchor Consulting is a 2-year-old firm, with most of the staff having experience working for Members of Congress from Indiana andCalifornia.
The Ventura County Office of Education has a board meeting scheduled for Jan. 28 to discuss a proposal to terminate the $10,000-per- month contract with Anchor Consulting, at the request of the one Democratic member of the five-person board. Kunicki said he is very happy with Anchor’s work, and he expects the county to complete the two-year contract it signed with the firm.
It is not clear when — or whether — Congress will take up the NCLB bill this year.
I wish I'd heard about this sooner than just now or I'd be there for you, ML! All I can say is that I'd like to stand up at that meeting and say..."ARE YOU ALL F-CKING CRAZY!!" This plan is so wrong on so many levels it boggles the mind and there should be a grand jury convened ASAP to see who should stand trial.
Isn't Vanessa Wilk Scott Wilk's wife?
Doesn't Vanessa Wilk work for
Santa Clarita Republican Victory Headquarters
Santa Clarita Republican Victory Headquarters
24267 San Fernando Road
Newhall 91321
Vanessa Wilk
(661) 212-1636
HQ Phone: (661) 253-3206
Why are the tax payers paying to fufill Dean Kunicki's fantasies of being a big shot political player?
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On May 7, 2007, Mr. Kunicki, Dr. Weis and senior staff, met with Scott Wilk, Anchor Consulting, LLC, for the purpose of developing a Targeted Capabilities Report.
Mr. Kunicki will present information on this meeting, as well as other activities of the lobbyists since the issuance of their contracts effective April 1, 2007.
----------------------------------------------------
This lobbying group seems to only listen to Dean Kunicki? These are just toys to fulfill Dean's fantasy to be a big shot political player using our money.
Am I just being fiscally conservative or has the VCBE just been bamboozled into wasting $240K for a chance to join some Indiana group in a bizarre scheme to possibly defraud the US Taxpayer out of millions of dollars?
I'm betting that during the next month or so some ultra conservative patron steps in to bail out the Board & their lobbyists...before the matter goes too far.
How coincidental is it that the Board of Education decides to make a big deal out of ML travels to DC? I don't want to see an article on ML going to Washington, I want to see an article on why we are spending money on lobbyists when half the board prides themselves on their connections to our legislatures. Nice try on diverting the taxpayers attention.
I heard a story that ML was escorted out of her teaching job in hand cuffs.
As crazy as she's starting to act it looks like that may be the way she finishes up on the board.
The biggest chunk of the budget would be a new, $8.5 million building on the Grace campus that would be used to host VCOE at-risk youth for four sessions of a two-week summer camp. Grace would continue to use the building throughout the year.
Here we go again, elect a developer to serve as a School Board Trustee and his only concept to educate is building a building and outsourcing the education to another entity.
Grace College will get a new $8.5 million building on it's campus and VCOE at riisk youth will be shipped off to Indiana for two weeks of camp. Meanwhile the capital expenditure remains in Indiana. Why would we send our youth to Indiana, that's messed up.
I wonder who the developer that is building the Grace building is...
Kunicki campaigned on the premise that while he was on the VCBOE they built a $19 million conference center, that they will "rent out" and supposedly not cost the taxpayers a dime.
Wake up people, you get what you pay for and developers paid for Kunicki to be in office. Developers funneled money through the VCRCC and paid for Kunicki's campaign with membership communications.
A memo from Anchor Consulting dated June 5 states the firm was continuing to monitor activity related to appropriations requests by the county board, which Kunicki said he spent scores of hours working on.
Anchor Consulting reported that it had "reconfirmed" with Rep. Elton Gallegly's office that it had submitted a request for money to fund an At-Risk Youth Educational Development and Intervention Program.
The chances of that earmark going through is unknown, but Kunicki said Thursday that Anchor Consulting has something else in the works, as well, which could bring a lot of money to the county. He declined to discuss any details, however, because nothing had been finalized.
In Sacramento, Kunicki said, lobbyists would work to get support for a bill that Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark, had introduced this year and that he hoped would bring in more money for vocational education in Ventura County. AB911, introduced on behalf of the Ventura County Office of Education, would have equalized the amount of money counties receive for students in Regional Occupational Programs.
Ventura County officials have criticized the way ROP funds are allocated to counties, saying they don't get their fair share because of a limit on the number of students Ventura can serve. The county does, however, get more money per student than some others — the part AB911 proposed to change.
"I guess that was misinterpreted," Weis said. "It would have taken money away from us."
Kunicki said that was his mistake, but the bill is being reworked and likely will come up next year for action. That gives the lobbying firm time to garner support, he said
Do you think NCLB funding should be used for Grace College, private, Evangelical Christian College? Do you think VCOE should be in partnership with Grace College? Check out their website. Here is what is required to be admitted:
"Spiritual Life Reference"
"All Grace College applicants must submit a spiritual life reference. Complete the top portion of the Spiritual Life Reference Form and forward it to your pastor, youth pastor, or another spiritual mentor who is not a relative. This person will complete the remainder of the form and return it directly to the Grace College Admissions Office."
"Lifestyle Information"
"Please describe your relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Describe how and when that relationship began and the influences that are contributing to your spiritual development."
Are taxpayer dollars being used to develop a relationship with a private religious school? If so, end of story. Resignations for all involved.
ML,
What is the program at the summer camp like? Who will be the at-risk youth that will be sent to Indiana for these summer sessions? Do we already have programs in CA at non-public school's like Casa Pacifica, Phoenix School, Jameson, Action.
Why can't these youth be served by Therapeutic Behavior Services (TBS). Students have a right to an education in the least restrictive environment, that is why there is TBS for students to receive therapeutic interventions in their own home with direct support and training for the parents to avoid placement outside of the homes.
Why can't the County develop a Summer session-camp, intervention program in the new conference center the VCBOE built?
ML,
I provided a link regarding EPSDT Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment. When I was on the mental health board I was able to identify this federal funding stream that developed $1.5 million dollars in programs for at-risk youth in the first year we received the funding. My understanding is it has brought more than $15 million in programs over the last seven years.
EPSDT includes rehabilitative and mental health services and interventions such as Therapeutic Behavior Services (TBS). EPSDT funding is also available for youth that need to be placed outside of the home, this is an underutilized federal funding stream.
VCBH already has this in place and can work in collaboration with the VCOE for at risk youth.
ML, give Elizabeth Hill, CA Legislative Analyst a call and she can have someone talk to you to see if the County can develop programs for your youth in prison (who are eligible for Medi-Cal) with EPSDT.
I don't have all the particulars of this issue at hand, but what I can do, as a longtime friend, is vouch for ML's character. She is dedicated, hard-working, brilliant and courageous. If she thinks there is something amiss here, I believe her.
Everything we do with taxpayer dollars should be held up to the highest scrutiny. Shining a light on the lobbyist issue is certainly worthwhile.
Elizabeth Hill
(916) 445-4656
Liz.Hill@lao.ca.gov
Expertise (Assignment Details)
Intergovernmental issues
Overall state budget
Public finance
First, these views are my own and do not represent the views of VCBE. Any statements made on this blog are not "public statements in the name of the Board."
I agree with you, Donna. I think it would be much more cost-effective to develop programs in our own county.
Our offices have developed strong collaborative relationships with county agencies, school districts, and local universities/colleges. Through the P-16 Council, Dr. Weis is already working closely with these organizations; our assistant superintendents have developed "Live from the Channel Islands" and other innovative programs.
Instead of spending $4 - $5 million per year for students to fly to Indiana once a year and get some mentoring, a program developed locally would allow at-risk youth more access to mentors and programs throughout the year. There is great value for at-risk youth to work with mentors out of their usual environments so that negative self-image and behaviors are not triggered and healthier ones can be developed; however, that can happen on our beautiful, local campuses. More important, even if, and that is a BIG IF,
we receive the earmark, Grace College gets a $8.5 million building (a dormitory) built at taxpayer expense, and we get to look for funding to continue the program after the earmark expires.
Philosophically, I also have a problem. As I research and continue to consider this proposal, I increasingly question the ethics of this project: should NCLB be funding this project when so many other crucial programs are underfunded? Should a private college have access to these public funds?
I will continue to ask my colleagues on the Board to develop short-, mid-, and long-term planning with local school districts and agencies so we can prioritize and build upon what is already successfully and create innovative programs that are locally-based and have the best possibility of sustainability, INSTEAD of the "shot gun" approach advocated by Mr. Kunicki.
I invite questions about my expenditures as outlined in today's Star article or any other actions I have taken on the VCBE.
Donna,
Sacramento County Offices of Education has created an innovative apprenticeship program in collaboration with their county's probation department and local building trade unions. I am in the process of gathering information of how they were able to put it all together.
So the Republicans in charge in Ventura County colluded to suck millions of tax dollars out of the Federal treasury. That's just great.
And didn't Weis smell a rat?
""Wilk told the board, “a lot of times what we do is we want to take your strengths, because we can sell that, get you money — and as you know all funds are fungible — and then maybe take some of that money out and go and put it to your other needs.�""
When it comes to applying to the Feds for "need-based" funding, wouldn't the sort of scheme described by Anchor & the Indiana Congressman above be considered fraud? It sounds the same as applying for Food Stamps so that you can use the cash saved to make payments on a welfare Mercedes Benz.
Perhaps Kunicki & Anchor should lay their cards on the table immediately and NOT wait until plans are finalized on their upcoming schemes...or the Board members may find themselves too deeply involved in something like 7-10 years.
I don't understand why Kunicki can not develop a program in his own district and rather outsources to INDIANA!
There is only one program at the Sanata Susana High School in Kunicki's District and it is hanging on by a thin thread. I volunteer in the ROP Video Production class weekly and have brought in a local fim Director and Producer to help the program out and mentor students.
All of Moorpark, Royal High School, Simi Valley High School and Apollo Continuation have no County Vocational Programs. The other four districts have many more opportunities for their students.
Our students are forced to drive to Camarillo to pursue Vocational programs.
Now Kunicki's proposal is to send our troubled youth to Indiana.
The headline says it all. Some try to "dennert"grate any one who makes the association of Kunicki and others to the Stricklands. They cry foul when there is a connection from the VRCC to the Assembly person. And mostly they justify the actions as, although morally reprehensible, legal.
It has to stop. There are minions planted throughout west county including Valenzano, Kunicki and in PVSD Berg. These individuals believe that they alone can make decisions and speak for a elected body. They mis-use their position for ego boosting and the perception that they are important. All this fed through the puppet masters in Moorpark.
Its time to call these people home. ML, although I dis-agree with her on some educational issues and our politics are different, is the one county board member who understands education and her role as a trustee.
Follow the money . . .
If it were only a matter of "ego boosting" I wouldn't be too concerned. By accident or by design, however, there's the appearance of a pattern of conduct that should be looked at very closely.
Why does Dean Kunicki want to rendition children to Indiana?
It sounds like how Bush renditions people to third world countries to be tortured. What I have heard about Dean Kunicki the camp is probably run by Mark Foley, Larry Craig, with Bible class taught by Ted Haggart.
Dean Kunicki is living out a fantasy and it's turning into a tax payer nightmare. How long before Dean Kunicki's stupidity or greed costs us a huge lawsuit?
I don't understand exactly why this board is paying a lobbyist to lobby the state legislature on Audra Strickland's behalf. Isn't that her job? If she can't do it why did they endorse her?
If we are building a retreat center in Indiana, why not build one here?
Is Dean Kunicki friends with Ron Bamieh (the Ventura County Stars attorney)? Click on my name for a picture of the two together.
http://www.bad.org/BAD/pia/images/pia2004_winners.jpg
That might explain the smear tactics against those who oppose Dean Kunicki.
Nobody-
Your missing the point. Why are Deans' actions not transparent? There's some secret mission he and the lobbyists are doing with our tax dollars. The preceeding discussion was not about him but how he and ohers operate in some skull andbones type society. Maybe we can call it the Stricts and Stones.
Its the pattern that has become recognizable to those that pay attention. The relationships and connections that all stem from the mother ship. No one is saying he is any worse than those he hangs with, They are all questionable characters.
THey are all very good at playing the game. I prefer people that are of clear intent. Perception is usually reality.
That picture of Dean K and Ron B was taken at a BAD Fundraiser several years ago, They just happen to be in the same picture because of Pepper Davis. I was also at the Fundraiser, and my picture could have been in the same snpashot...so lets not go hunting for things that aren't really there....
You're not helping...
Was the fundraiser called "Baseball Against Drugs"? ...hehe...
I sure hope those kids can help the ball players get off drugs. I heard baseball is having quite a problem.
In light of this interesting story, I went back to a blog topic from July, 07. Do local school districts really need county school lobbyists and bureaucracy to meet the citizens' needs?
How much have these lobbying funds gotten SVUSD? It's been six months or so, do we have numbers?
The more I learn about the county schools system in this light, the more I seem to favor good ole fashioned local control.
"ML:
How did the neighborhood council concept go over with your county ed peers? We blogged about that a couple months ago, but wasn't sure what happened with it or if I missed your follow up.
I have to admit sometimes I feel like the county board of ed is redundant and absorbs money that could be used at the local level by local decision-makers.
Out of the 33 million in federal funds spent last year by the county board how much went directly into local districts' classrooms and saved direct general fund dollars for our local districts?
Could these districts just have done it themselves?
As part of the mission, the County Board of Ed says it reduces costs on districts, but I don't believe I've seen a hard number on how much it's saving Simi Valley Unified or any other district.
How much has the county board saved Simi Valley Unified in real dollars?
In fact, how do I know county schools isn't directly competing with Simi Unified for federal and state dollars and reducing our chances of getting those funds directly into Simi schools?
Wouldn't it be more efficient to allow single or multiple local school districts the ability to enter into cost sharing arrangements around local concerns rather then allow this all to go through a county bureaucracy?
Posted by: Scott Blough at July 5, 2007 08:13 PM"
Scott:
Re: Neighborhood Councils
I will visiting our Court/Community
Site Council February 12th. I think
we discussed site councils. I will look
at the thread you mentioned. As I
remember you had mentioned NCs
in terms of what the city is doing, and I shared
with you Ventura has those in place.
Regional Districts:
The report cited has been scrutinized pretty extensively. Schwarznegger's own team realized that they were recommending what County Offices of Education are already doing.
Our offices do work with local school districts in the way you describe. When local school districts can do programs cheaper they do. Our offices o
develop programs that are asked for. There are some Career & Technical Ed courses that have countywide appeal that would be cost prohibitive to duplicate in every district.
We seek funds at the request of disticts or that relate exclusively to programs our office administer.
I share your views re: the benefit of local control and local oversight. That is a continuing conversation that would benefit from including more participants.
ML:
How much have your county-hired lobbyists delivered to Simi schools?
Scott:
Sadly, there has been no progress on any front. That is why I am asking VCBE to terminate the contracts ASAP. It is scheduled for our next meeting. On 9/28/06, Mr. Valenzano, a former legislative aide for Tony Strickland and recruited by Marty Bates, VCBE Trustee, recommended to our Board at a priority setting brainstorming meeting that VCBE hire lobbyists. It received a majority vote. In October, Tony Strickland received from the principal of Capital Venture and Anchor Consulting donations from t of a $1,000 each. In March - April, Dean Kunicki recommends CV and AC, citing they were the best he interviewed.
Marty Bates and Dean Kunicki negotiate a contract that pays each $10,000 .00 per month. The contract has already been signed and comes to our Board as an information item. If you do the research you will find that most school districts pay about $6,700.00 per month. Cal Arts, an Anchor Consulting client, paid that amount. Why are we paying $10,000 per month whose expertise is not education? CV 's area of specialty is not education, either. Please attend our next VCBE meeting and decide for yourself if there is or will be any benefit to Ventura County Education.
ML, When is the next meeting? Also, what happened to the replacement for ROn Matthews?
ML, how was the process of choosing these two consultants any different from the typical way of doing so? It would seem that Kumicki was given great latitude in finding these firms and acting as go-between inre the Board but maybe that's the usual way it's handled
gs,
I agree. I have been requesting for a competitive bidding process.
Katie,
We will be doing the interviews for the appointment on March 24, 2008. I do not have the dates for the entire process with me right now, but as soon as I get back to Ventura, I will post it here.
Dean Kunicki is awesome!!!
How do we know the person will not be tied to any political machine? Have you checked out the applicants?
THE CITY OF OAKLAND LOBBYIST REGISTRATION ACT
3.20.040 Registration With The Public Ethics Commission
A. No person shall act as local governmental lobbyist before registering as a local governmental lobbyist with the City Clerk.
3B. At the time of registering, the local governmental lobbyist shall file with the City Clerk, in writing, his or her name, business and residence addresses.
C. The lobbyist shall reregister annually during the month of January and at that timeshall resubmit the required information.
COMMENT:Under existing Section 3.20.040(C), lobbyists must "reregister annually within the month preceding the annual registration date and at that time resubmit the required information." The purpose of this annual "re-registration" is to maintain current information on lobbyists and their clients. The problem is that the annual registration date is based on the lobbyist's initial filing date, which can occur anytime during the year. Because there are now approximately 27 registered lobbyists in the City, Commission staff must actively track and occasionally follow-up on 27separate annual registration deadlines. The above proposed language would ease this administrative burden by establishing a single annual registration period for all lobbyists. The language would require all registered lobbyists to submit their annual registration in January of each year, rather than by the one-year anniversary of their initial registrations. Commission staff will continue its current practice of providing lobbyists with a completed annual registration form together with a request that they make any changes necessary to bring the information up-to-date as a way of encouraging compliance.
The Star had an interesting article about this issue. However, the most interesting part was that ML has spent more money on junkets than the other Board members combined. In fact for the last two years she has been the worst abuser of the Board's travel budget.
So much for responsible financial management. Seems ML wants to grind her ax against her enemies but doesn't want to do it staying at home.
I mean, come on, the Asian-Pacific Islanders conference? What's that got to do with Ventura schools?
ML's on a vendetta, she doesn't care about our money.
How dare a school board trustee actually use approved expenses to expand her knowledge of education!! What is this County coming to when our elected representatives stop their weaseling for re-election dollars and their diverting of taxpayer money to real estate schemes. I am shocked!
Nice try, hypocite. You almost turned our attentions away from what may be a major scandal.
On my spending:
The Asian-Pacific Islander School Board Association conference was spearheaded by
Michael Honda (CA - 15). He is on both the House Appropriations Committee and the Labor, Health, Human Services, Education Subcomittee. We had a roundtable discussion with Mazie Hirono (HI -2) and David Wu (OR - 1) on the kinds of changes our organization would like changed in NCLB. In our delegation, we had university researchers and a member of California's P - 16 Council. Additionally, we testified on NCLB with the chief Education Legislative Aides of the Senators on the Senate Heath, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
The California school board members at the conference also had private meeting with Senator Feinstein's chief Education Legislative aide. We spoke about the need for increasing funding so that California can implement a strong data system to document the growth model we are using.
There are particular API issues and issues that goes across the board re: closing the achievement gap we spoke to at this conference.
Most of my expenses relate to two statewide committees and CSBA Delegate Assembly: Because I am the CCBE Region 11 Director, I am on CCBE's Board of Directors and a Region 11 Delegate for our Assembly (we discuss and vote on legal, legislative, policy, funding, and community outreach issues). I also serve on the CCBE legislative subcommittee (2nd term appointment).
The expenditures listed is somewhat incomplete: the expenses listed for Mr. Kunicki, Mr. Bates, and Mr. Valenzano reflect their travel and meals to Sacramento to meet with our $10,000 per month Sacramento lobbyists.
Studies have shown that large organizations, especially those that represent large VOTING constituents, lobbying elected offices have more influence than paid lobbyists.
On the "vendetta" claim: I have worked for more than two years to find common ground with my fellow board members. I have learned that a narrow political agenda is the focus of our board majority. During the discussions about the lobbyists, I worked to have the Board do some planning and to limit costs. Both Mr. Valenzano and Mr. Kunicki are vying for higher elected office.
To want our Board to focus on education issues in the interest of PUBLIC education and providing high quality education for all children and work toward passing legislation that helps and to use our funds most effectively to sustain and improve quality programs and that I am willing to ruffle some feathers may be a bit self-righteous and arrogant, it is NOT out of a desire for a "vendetta." "Vendetta" is a term that Mr. Bates likes to throw around. Please, this is not a blood feud.
This has to do with policy and keeping our focus on real education solutions, not using an office for personal or a particular groups' advancement.
I invite you to pay close attention to Board actions and hold us accountable.
Hypocrite - You say, "I mean, come on, the Asian-Pacific Islanders conference? What's that got to do with Ventura schools?"
What an ignorant comment! Have you no knowledge of the ethnic background of students in Ventura County? Look around! We are a fabulously diverse community that includes a large, and growing Asian population.
Well Leslie you've thrown around some serious word salad, but neither you nor ML has shown any value to our students for her continuing junkets. A round table discussion can easily be carried on by internet conference and can provide the same value without the trip expense. And gs, nice try yourself, in your attempt to turn this from what the article is about, or doesn't waste in government concern you when it's generated by your pal ML.
And ML as far as vendetta is concerned have you noticed the title of this blog and your continued carping?
How have you changed the Ventura County Board of Education with your new Asian American issues knowledge?
If it is about other schools isn't that not what your office is set up to do?
Re: Asian Pacific Islander Conference
First, I didn't make the arrangements re: how the API issues were going to have a hearing with our representatives on the changes we need for NCLB. With an audience of about 80 - 100 aides and Senators and Congress members coming in and out for a few minutes, we were heard and notes were taken and on-going conversations went on between meetings. I think that kind of interaction was the intent of the 1 day conference. Face-to-face can be very powerful when followed up with continued communications.
I do participate in teleconferencing. CCBE has cut costs dramatically by having these. The costs would have been greater in terms of the legislative subcommittee if we did not do that. In addition to these, I have other meetings locally that I do not request reimbursements for traveling and other expenses. I also attend conferences held by the Public Policy Institute and the California Budget Project that cover studies/reports that affect education funding and economic issues that affect education. Those I attend at my own expense.
At this conference, we are covering the following issues:
1. Improving NCLB : Incorporating the provisions contained in the NSBA
sponsored H.R. 648
2. Federal Funding for Education: Title I and Special Education (within IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
3. School-Based Medicaid Reimbursement - health services provided to children with disabilities who may need diagnostic, preventive, and rehabilitative services; speech, physical and occupational therapies; and transportation for such services.
4. School Vouchers: Bush's proposal and Buck McKeon's H.R. 1486
5. Increasing the competitiveness of our math, science, and technology education for the global economy.
Also, that title ML v. . . . is Brian's take on the situation, not mine. I am concerned by the effects of the relationship between the Stricklands and my colleagues on the VCBE.
I think that is legitimate.
With respect to you ML I am curious why we need to pay to send you yo race specific conferences when you are on THE COUNTY BOARD. The county board does not oversee or command local schools. You aren't their supervisors. The county office runs ROP, Gateway schools, and the like.
What more knowledge did you need to share about Asians in Gateway schools?
How did your conference attendance change one way the county does a thing different?
When people are "WORKING" they have expenses. Dean Kunicki doesn't work. He hires people.
When Dean Kunicki hires "LOBBYISTS" it's because he is incompetent. Lobbyists should only be used in certain circumstances and hired because the Lobbyist group has expertise in that particular issue.
Dean Kunicki's lobbyists are for his particular needs not the needs of the County. It was proven when Dean Kunicki's lobbyists were lobbying for something that would hurt our Counties educational goals.
To my knowledge Dean Kunicki's lobbyists did not register with the County Clerk and their agreement with the board; in my opinion, is void.
I wonder if the quick exit of VCBE member Ron Mathews had anything to do with the lobbyist issue or the recent Michael Dunn (Conejo Valley School Board) flap? He threw a fit but the timing was way off.
I have always felt the taxpayers were being bamboozled out of a lot of money in the hiring of the lobbyist(s). I knew they were being bamboozled when I saw the board's effort to question ML travel expenses on the front page of the paper.
Stick by your guns ML. I suspect there will be alot of pressure on you in the next few months.
Gunther:
As our Board policies states, we are there to advocate for high quality education for all students in Ventura County in addition to our specific responsibilities to our Court and Community Schools, ROP, and the like.
NCLB affects all schools, including the specific programs cited.
As the governing body that decides on interdistrict transfer appeals and expulsion appeals, VCBE sees first hand the issues that affect attendance at local school districts. That, in turn, affects the wholeness and efficacy of districts.
We need to be engaged in all the issues so that high quality education is available for all students in Ventura County. We want to reduce students in our Court and Community Schools. To be well informed and active in reducing enrollment in Court and Community schools help all our communities.
Working to meet those goals seems worthwhile. Active participation in state and federal policies and funding helps us meet that goal. That participation is less expensive than the $20,000 we pay per month for that work.
ML.Is Tony Strickland one of the paid lobbyists making $10k a month off the backs of kids in VC?
Tony is not a lobbyists, but both Capital Venture through Joe Yocca, the principal lobbyist ( Sacramento) and Anchor Consulting (Washington, D.C.) donated $1,000 each to his campaign for State Controller in October, 2006. VCBE majority voted to hire lobbyists at the September 28, 2006 meeting on the suggestion of Chris Valenzano, VCBE trustee and former Legislative Aide to Tony Strickland when he was in the Assembly.
The lobbyists are scheduled to make presentations at our next Board meeting. I invite you to attend. Please invite your friends, neighbors, community members to attend, also.
ML,When and where is the next meeting?
Our next meeting is FEBRUARY 13, 2008 at 8:00 AM.
LOCATION: Administrative Services Center, 5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo.
A full agenda packet, with explanatory materials, is available for public review at this location. Copies of specific explanatory materials can be requested by contacting the office at 383.1900.
Thanks for asking.
Nit -picking over travel expenses is just an attempt to divert the attention from all the immoral wrong-doing by the Strickland controlled CBOE.
What does Chuck Weis have to say about all this?
These are my personal views:
These are issues Board members have to work through. I don't think he should weigh in on this. He and his offices provide the facts and implement laws and policies, support best practices in research, teaching, and professional development, collect data and distribute/publish them, and work to communicate effectively with the public, among many other responsibilities.
Board members need to set priorities and use public education funds and resources wisely. We are elected to be the public's voice for education. When our priorities and use of funding divert the energy and attention of our staff because our Board did not take the time to plan or to take action carefully and use a "shooting from the hip" approach, then I think we are doing a disservice to our constituents because other more pressing needs might not be addressed as effectively as they might otherwise.
ML,
Thanks for coming on here and taking questions from the public. You should invite other board members to do the same.
Most of us don't have time to attend meetings so we appreciate it.
Thanks again for being accessible to us.
ML. Are the rumors true that Strickland Inc has already picked the replacement for Matthews and ordered their hand puppet Valenzana to make it happen?
Not Tony S:
I have no idea re: a done deal. I recommend that Oxnard constituents pay attention and participate in the process.
Any other recommendations, ML? Like who to vote for in the Ventura City Council elections. Your choices were wonderful last time. The 3 bozos who just cost most of us an additional $100 a year, on average, on our phone bills. Or, $50 per call, if you decide to "opt out of 911." Beautiful, just beautiful...
Wrongo Flamo,
Brian didn't create this blog for you to complain to Education Board Members about your phone bill... Knock it off and stay on topic.
The VC Board of Education meets tomorrow night [March 24] at 6 p.m. in the board room at 5100 Adolfo Road in Camarillo. [one block past the Roxy Theater] Agenda here: http://www.vcss.k12.ca.us/Portals/VcssoPortals/vcboe/agendas/032408a.pdf
The candidates for the District 5 seat [vacated by Ron Matthews] will be interviewed. They are Leon Elder and Edward Vega. Does anyone know them??? What is their agenda??? What happened to Francisco Barba who said he was applying???
Dr. Weis was supposed to get a raise in Oct. 2007 but it was not voted on until the Feb. meeting and the committee of Kuniki and Bates did not think it should be retroactive to last October. ML Peterson made a motion to make it retroactive, which passed.
Are they trying to humiliate Dr. Weis??? Get rid of him???
Please try to attend the meeting and make a comment at the beginning. Nothing fancy - perhaps that you want all of the political contributions of the two lobby firms hired by the board given to Ventura County candidates to be posted on the VCBOE web site.