Top 11 Reasons for Recall - Short Version

(email us for the full version)

Top Eleven Recall Reasons: Fact Sheet – April/May 2009
Ballots will be mailed the week of April 20. THIS IS AN ALL-MAIL ELECTION.

1. “No Confidence” vote in the Board and Superintendent by Big Oak Flat-Groveland Teachers Association. Source: Wynette Hilton and Emily Hanchett, BOFG TA
2. BOFG Classified Staff voted to support the recall. Source: BOFG Classified Staff
3. Public support: approximately 1200 signatures were obtained to recall each Board member. Source: County Clerk, Debi Russell
4. Controversial renewal of the Superintendent’s contract for 3 years by board members facing a recall election. Source: Feb. 11 Board meeting video
5. Taxpayers foot the bill for excessive District legal fees (see #5 and #6). District budget increased to cover. Source: Tonya Midget, Chief Business Official, BOFGUSD.
6. Legal Action Example #1: Tioga HS Principal’s pay was lowered to “part-time Principal” when she volunteered to teach a few classes in addition to full-time Principal duties to save the District money. However, Superintendent Brabbin’s salary was not lowered to part-time Superintendent duties as Principal at DPHS. Source: Mrs. Bradley, records
7. Litigation Example #2: Ryan Dutton Case: The only charge made against Ryan Dutton was unequivocally rejected and he is fully exonerated by Cal State Fresno. Brabbin and the Board refuse to reinstate him. Mariposa County approved Mr. Dutton for the classroom. Source: Head Credential Analyst, Cal State Fresno; FSU hearing
8. Critical classes and other programs cut at Tioga and Tenaya. Source: Principals
9. Contrary to promises to voters, overspending of 1 to 2 million dollars of Measure M at Don Pedro, resulting in cut projects at Tioga and Tenaya. Source: Measure M Oversight Committee, Caldwell Flores Winter report deleted from BOFGUSD web site; Vavrinek, Trine and Day &Co. LLP report sent Feb. 3, 2009.
10. Hundreds of thousands of dollars lost for 71 interdistrict transfers due to a missed deadline for application to a program. Source: School of Choice rules
11. 38% of eligible Don Pedro High School students not tested on required California test. 100% of eligible Tioga students and 99% in County overall were tested. Source: California Department of Education

View the always interesting, sometimes shocking, Board meeting videos

Thanks to Frog for posting on youtube

View the board's hasty renewal of Superintendent's contract even though they had 3 months to do so, and the entire board is undergoing a recall election in May. Listen to the end when the board chairman is asked "for how long?" [the contract term].
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym2Vu_bjBJs&feature=channel_page

Watch Mrs. Berger, the wife of a Board member, lambast Ryan Dutton, and demonstrate a complete misunderstanding of how credentialing works in California. Too bad she didn't check her facts first before raking the guy's reputation over the coals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUp7GrzJp9k&feature=channel

School Board refuses to set Recall on a date potentially less expensive to the district

Image: Students for a Better School District, Tioga High School, Groveland, CA

On January 23, 2009 the Big Oak Flat Groveland Unified School District Board held a Special Board Meeting to set a date for the Recall Election. The Tuolumne County Auditor, a professional in the election process, provided a very informative briefing, as to whether the Recall Election should be held on May 5, 2009 or May 28, 2009. It became very obvious that the most feasible date for the Recall Election and the best possibility for the least expensive election is May 5, 2009. However, immediately subsequent to the presentation, obviously with little or no consideration for the facts presented by the Auditor, the School Board voted to hold the Recall Election on May 28, 2009. The Board did completely the opposite of what was the most logical and potentially the most cost effective. This decision by the School Board to select May 28, 2009, instead of May 5, 2009, was certainly not in the best interest of the School District, or, especially, the taxpayers of the Big Oak Flat Groveland Unified School District. It is unknown if the selection of May 28, 2009, instead of May 5, 2009, has anything to do with the Superintendent's contract being up for renewal in 2009.