http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196 PUBLISHED 6-1-2007 Appointing one or two Kern High School District board members to sit in on job interviews for district administrative positions is a bad idea. Chad Vegas, KHSD trustee, is proposing the board appoint members to observe interviews for principal and associate/assistant superintendent level hirings. Superintendent Don Carter now conducts the interviews and makes hiring recommendations to the board. If Vegas&rsquo; proposal is adopted, it will set bad policy and threaten the district&rsquo;s efficient management. &ldquo;When the board begins to get involved in the selection process, there are a lot of conceivable consequences that could occur that I don&rsquo;t think are healthy,&rdquo; Carter told trustees recently. For example, Carter said involving trustees in the selection process might raise some issues when it comes to employees who appeal disciplinary actions to the board. Carter also explained that hiring decisions involve more than interviews. The purpose of the KHSD board is to set policy, not to assume the district&rsquo;s day-to-day management responsibilities, such as conducting hiring interviews. Trustees are responsible for recruiting, hiring and overseeing the performance of the district&rsquo;s superintendent. His performance is dependent on the decisions he makes, including hiring decisions, and the results his decisions achieve &mdash; the efficient management of the district and the quality of education students receive. District trustees, such as Vegas, derive their authority acting as a five-member board, not from acting as individuals. Policy decisions require a majority vote of the board. &nbsp; One or two trustees sitting in on personnel matters, such as hiring interviews, confuse the chain of command and the proper way to address grievances. The present system requires these personnel matters to be handled administratively, with trustees considering appeals. One or two trustees assigned to sit in on job interviews&nbsp; creates a backdoor for job applicants and others pleading their cases. Vegas&rsquo; proposal would also bring some district hiring interviews under the requirements of the state&rsquo;s open meeting law, the Ralph M. Brown Act. The board&rsquo;s appointment of trustees to sit in on interviews would constitute the creation of a board committee that is covered by the state&rsquo;s open meeting act. When trustees participate in interviews, the meetings will have to be publicly noticed. Vegas contends trustees should observe interviews in order to evaluate how Carter is doing his job. There are plenty of good ways for trustees to observe Carter&rsquo;s performance. Sitting in on employment interviews is not one of them. Three of the trustees questioned the proposed policy. They were right to question something that will open the board to public skepticism about members&rsquo; conduct and motives. PUBLISHED 6-1-2007 Appointing one or two Kern High School District board members to sit in on job interviews for district administrative positions is a bad idea. Chad Vegas, KHSD trustee, is proposing the board appoint members to observe interviews for principal and associate/assistant superintendent level hirings. Superintendent Don Carter now conducts the interviews and makes hiring recommendations to the board. If Vegas&rsquo; proposal is adopted, it will set bad policy and threaten the district&rsquo;s efficient management. &ldquo;When the board begins to get involved in the selection process, there are a lot of conceivable consequences that could occur that I don&rsquo;t think are healthy,&rdquo; Carter told trustees recently. For example, Carter said involving trustees in the selection process might raise some issues when it comes to employees who appeal disciplinary actions to the board. Carter also explained that hiring decisions involve more than interviews. The purpose of the KHSD board is to set policy, not to assume the district&rsquo;s day-to-day management responsibilities, such as conducting hiring interviews. Trustees are responsible for recruiting, hiring and overseeing the performance of the district&rsquo;s superintendent. His performance is dependent on the decisions he makes, including hiring decisions, and the results his decisions achieve &mdash; the efficient management of the district and the quality of education students receive. District trustees, such as Vegas, derive their authority acting as a five-member board, not from acting as individuals. Policy decisions require a majority vote of the board. &nbsp; One or two trustees sitting in on personnel matters, such as hiring interviews, confuse the chain of command and the proper way to address grievances. The present system requires these personnel matters to be handled administratively, with trustees considering appeals. One or two trustees assigned to sit in on job interviews&nbsp; creates a backdoor for job applicants and others pleading their cases. Vegas&rsquo; proposal would also bring some district hiring interviews under the requirements of the state&rsquo;s open meeting law, the Ralph M. Brown Act. The board&rsquo;s appointment of trustees to sit in on interviews would constitute the creation of a board committee that is covered by the state&rsquo;s open meeting act. When trustees participate in interviews, the meetings will have to be publicly noticed. Vegas contends trustees should observe interviews in order to evaluate how Carter is doing his job. There are plenty of good ways for trustees to observe Carter&rsquo;s performance. Sitting in on employment interviews is not one of them. Three of the trustees questioned the proposed policy. They were right to question something that will open the board to public skepticism about members&rsquo; conduct and motives. en-us Sounds like Vegas wanted to &quot;pull a Monica&quot; and assure that only good Christians get hired... http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_99614 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_99614 Sounds like Vegas wanted to &quot;pull a Monica&quot; and assure that only good Christians get hired... If Vegas is <strong>for</strong> it, it <u>cannot</u> be a good idea, and <u>no</u> good will come of it if adopted. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_99633 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_99633 If Vegas is <strong>for</strong> it, it <u>cannot</u> be a good idea, and <u>no</u> good will come of it if adopted. <p>Do Local Judges Want School Shootings?</p> <p>They won't tell me exactly what happened, and regardless of that I would do the same again if it happens again. Was watching Montel on TV Thursday May 31st, talking about the Columbine shooting. Had a couple of people who were receiving flack for having reported that this or that person had threatened to harm others. I believe the conclusion was that responsible citizens would alert authorities if they suspected that &quot;john doe&quot; has plans to injure others.</p> <p>So when I was asked by a school assistant teacher to record something to play at her funeral &quot;just in case something happens&quot;, my conscience bothered me. In school a friend always wanted to be a cop to rob drug dealers, or overdose on heroin. He OD'd, but it became a regular thing to listen to him talk of his plans. Years later another buddy threatened to kill his girl if she didn't stop doing this or that. You got tired of listening to him complain about her. Watched the news one day and his picture is there, with the story about how he shotgunned her to death.</p> <p>So now another associate asks me to record this message for her funeral, and to insure that everyone hears it. Not her husband, daughter, son or other relatives, but me. I put it onto my website and later am hauled into court for a restraining order against me for it. Listening to Montel and the others who had problems for having done what may have seemed right to them, makes me feel that the particular judge is out of step with the rest of America. </p> <p>My opinion is, we have the right to defend ourselves. We need to know if someone is planning something, or just talking. Putting the speech onto my website, cleared my conscience about bringing the info to the press &quot;if something major happened&quot;. How would the press treat me if something happened and I had a taped message to be delivered after it happened? So for the judge to have issued a restraining order against me, I think he needs to reconsider. Besides, if someone at her job heard it and laid her off after hearing it, maybe they also took her serious. </p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_99694 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_99694 <p>Do Local Judges Want School Shootings?</p> <p>They won't tell me exactly what happened, and regardless of that I would do the same again if it happens again. Was watching Montel on TV Thursday May 31st, talking about the Columbine shooting. Had a couple of people who were receiving flack for having reported that this or that person had threatened to harm others. I believe the conclusion was that responsible citizens would alert authorities if they suspected that &quot;john doe&quot; has plans to injure others.</p> <p>So when I was asked by a school assistant teacher to record something to play at her funeral &quot;just in case something happens&quot;, my conscience bothered me. In school a friend always wanted to be a cop to rob drug dealers, or overdose on heroin. He OD'd, but it became a regular thing to listen to him talk of his plans. Years later another buddy threatened to kill his girl if she didn't stop doing this or that. You got tired of listening to him complain about her. Watched the news one day and his picture is there, with the story about how he shotgunned her to death.</p> <p>So now another associate asks me to record this message for her funeral, and to insure that everyone hears it. Not her husband, daughter, son or other relatives, but me. I put it onto my website and later am hauled into court for a restraining order against me for it. Listening to Montel and the others who had problems for having done what may have seemed right to them, makes me feel that the particular judge is out of step with the rest of America. </p> <p>My opinion is, we have the right to defend ourselves. We need to know if someone is planning something, or just talking. Putting the speech onto my website, cleared my conscience about bringing the info to the press &quot;if something major happened&quot;. How would the press treat me if something happened and I had a taped message to be delivered after it happened? So for the judge to have issued a restraining order against me, I think he needs to reconsider. Besides, if someone at her job heard it and laid her off after hearing it, maybe they also took her serious. </p> <font size="4"><strong>Chad Vegas and his religious influence is, and will continue to be, a problem for Kern County.  It's as if the people of Bakersfield elected a person who doesn't know about the seperation of church and state.</strong></font> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_99942 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_99942 <font size="4"><strong>Chad Vegas and his religious influence is, and will continue to be, a problem for Kern County.  It's as if the people of Bakersfield elected a person who doesn't know about the seperation of church and state.</strong></font> I have to agree...As much as it pains me. As bad as the KHSD is, religious extremist like Vegas have no place making decisions for schools. He wasted enough time with his "Christmas/ Easter" break campain. He's a typical loone that thinks he is saving everyone from themselves. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_100087 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_100087 I have to agree...As much as it pains me. As bad as the KHSD is, religious extremist like Vegas have no place making decisions for schools. He wasted enough time with his "Christmas/ Easter" break campain. He's a typical loone that thinks he is saving everyone from themselves. <p>In more and more legislative districts, when you vote Republican, this is what you're getting.</p> <p>I sure miss the Barry Goldwater days.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_100089 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_100089 <p>In more and more legislative districts, when you vote Republican, this is what you're getting.</p> <p>I sure miss the Barry Goldwater days.</p> &quot;Trustees are responsible for recruiting, hiring and overseeing the performance of the district&rsquo;s superintendent.&quot;<br /> <br /> ... &quot;Vegas contends trustees should observe interviews in order to evaluate how Carter is doing his job.&quot;<br /> <br /> -nough said, unfortunate though that the writer of this editorial column, choose to place the last quote, Vegas point of view, at the end of the story. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_100104 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_100104 &quot;Trustees are responsible for recruiting, hiring and overseeing the performance of the district&rsquo;s superintendent.&quot;<br /> <br /> ... &quot;Vegas contends trustees should observe interviews in order to evaluate how Carter is doing his job.&quot;<br /> <br /> -nough said, unfortunate though that the writer of this editorial column, choose to place the last quote, Vegas point of view, at the end of the story. <p>Regardless of what Chad Vegas does, Diane Hardisty and the editorial board will have&nbsp;it in for Chad (they don't like his stance on the Hillside Ordinance and The Bluest Eye so he is blacklisted).&nbsp; What else is new.&nbsp; As it pertains to the Kern High School District, the issue isn't trustees running the school district.&nbsp; The Californian Editorial Board is notorius for saying fix the schools, yet when&nbsp;the trustee is Vegas or Mettler proposing the reform, they oppose it like sheep coming from the mouth of Moorehouse and Hardisty.&nbsp; The issue is open government and making sure that our kids and their parents are served with the best high ranking administrators possible.&nbsp; How can Chad or any trustee know who is best for the job unless they are able to observe the interviews for themselves?&nbsp; Knowing ones philosophy and intervention strategies is important.&nbsp; How can one say that prospective principals, asst. superintendents, and superintendents will answer different with board members present?&nbsp; What do they have to hide?&nbsp; When I interviewed for my first admininstrative job in Delano, Frank Herrera Sr. and Chio Gonzales were on the panel.&nbsp; Guess what?&nbsp; I answered the same way whether they were there or not.&nbsp; The argument of double talk with trustees present is non-sense.</p> <p>Jim Fillbrandt's replacement was hired the same night his resignation was accepted.&nbsp; Only Don Carter got to interview the people involved and&nbsp;hear their answers.&nbsp; The board had to take Carter at his word.&nbsp; Not allowing trustees to be better informed on these candidates is not fair.&nbsp; Everyone knew that either Mr. Jones from Ridgeview or Mr. Shaffer from North were going to be promoted, yet their high schools perform worse than the ones in Delano.&nbsp; The best from around the state are not allowed to apply.&nbsp; The adminstrative hiring system is a bunch of cronyism.&nbsp; Even Dr. Wildman who is apart of the administrative credential program at Cal-State Bakersfield calls the Kern High School District administrative hiring process &quot;inbreeding.&quot;&nbsp; I'm sure Bob Hampton wouldn't want Pete Carroll to just recruit players from only LA Unified.&nbsp; Why should our students not have access to the best available around the country period?</p> <p>For the last ten years Carter has been either the Ast. Superintendent for Instruction or the Superintendent.&nbsp; The district is not in good shape academically and bold actions&nbsp;are needed.&nbsp; Dr. Carter, you're a nice man, but you are partly responsible for this problem and you need to fix it.&nbsp; You are making some strides to deal with it but not enough.</p> <p>For example, why has it taken so long for the high school district to hold the feeder K-8 districts more accountable for the product they send them?&nbsp; Ken Mettler and Chad Vegas fought for that and I'm glad the other trustees concured.&nbsp; Now some K-8 feeder districts are feeling the heat and they should be regardless of their secret actions at superintendent's advisory meetings not to comply with a 5-0 vote from the Kern High board.</p> <p>The voters hold all trustees accountable.&nbsp; You can't hold a trustee accountable in a fair manner if they are not apart of the process for the hiring of the top administrators other than &quot;Don's word.&quot;&nbsp; If the API rankings were 5 or higher at all district schools then there wouldn't be a need for such a reform.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_101582 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_101582 <p>Regardless of what Chad Vegas does, Diane Hardisty and the editorial board will have&nbsp;it in for Chad (they don't like his stance on the Hillside Ordinance and The Bluest Eye so he is blacklisted).&nbsp; What else is new.&nbsp; As it pertains to the Kern High School District, the issue isn't trustees running the school district.&nbsp; The Californian Editorial Board is notorius for saying fix the schools, yet when&nbsp;the trustee is Vegas or Mettler proposing the reform, they oppose it like sheep coming from the mouth of Moorehouse and Hardisty.&nbsp; The issue is open government and making sure that our kids and their parents are served with the best high ranking administrators possible.&nbsp; How can Chad or any trustee know who is best for the job unless they are able to observe the interviews for themselves?&nbsp; Knowing ones philosophy and intervention strategies is important.&nbsp; How can one say that prospective principals, asst. superintendents, and superintendents will answer different with board members present?&nbsp; What do they have to hide?&nbsp; When I interviewed for my first admininstrative job in Delano, Frank Herrera Sr. and Chio Gonzales were on the panel.&nbsp; Guess what?&nbsp; I answered the same way whether they were there or not.&nbsp; The argument of double talk with trustees present is non-sense.</p> <p>Jim Fillbrandt's replacement was hired the same night his resignation was accepted.&nbsp; Only Don Carter got to interview the people involved and&nbsp;hear their answers.&nbsp; The board had to take Carter at his word.&nbsp; Not allowing trustees to be better informed on these candidates is not fair.&nbsp; Everyone knew that either Mr. Jones from Ridgeview or Mr. Shaffer from North were going to be promoted, yet their high schools perform worse than the ones in Delano.&nbsp; The best from around the state are not allowed to apply.&nbsp; The adminstrative hiring system is a bunch of cronyism.&nbsp; Even Dr. Wildman who is apart of the administrative credential program at Cal-State Bakersfield calls the Kern High School District administrative hiring process &quot;inbreeding.&quot;&nbsp; I'm sure Bob Hampton wouldn't want Pete Carroll to just recruit players from only LA Unified.&nbsp; Why should our students not have access to the best available around the country period?</p> <p>For the last ten years Carter has been either the Ast. Superintendent for Instruction or the Superintendent.&nbsp; The district is not in good shape academically and bold actions&nbsp;are needed.&nbsp; Dr. Carter, you're a nice man, but you are partly responsible for this problem and you need to fix it.&nbsp; You are making some strides to deal with it but not enough.</p> <p>For example, why has it taken so long for the high school district to hold the feeder K-8 districts more accountable for the product they send them?&nbsp; Ken Mettler and Chad Vegas fought for that and I'm glad the other trustees concured.&nbsp; Now some K-8 feeder districts are feeling the heat and they should be regardless of their secret actions at superintendent's advisory meetings not to comply with a 5-0 vote from the Kern High board.</p> <p>The voters hold all trustees accountable.&nbsp; You can't hold a trustee accountable in a fair manner if they are not apart of the process for the hiring of the top administrators other than &quot;Don's word.&quot;&nbsp; If the API rankings were 5 or higher at all district schools then there wouldn't be a need for such a reform.</p> <p><font color="#0000ff">&quot;Regardless of what Chad Vegas does, Diane Hardisty and the editorial board will have&nbsp;it in for Chad (they don't like his stance on the Hillside Ordinance and The Bluest Eye so he is blacklisted).&quot;</font></p> <p>Good.&nbsp; Glad someone in the media is doing her job.</p> <p>Everything, absolutely everything he does or attempts is solely to advance a religious-political goal.&nbsp; Everything.</p> <p>When 100 of&nbsp;his last 100 moves were clearly meant to advance a political agenda, it becomes reasonable to presume that the 101st move&nbsp;will likewise be politically motivated.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_101679 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_101679 <p><font color="#0000ff">&quot;Regardless of what Chad Vegas does, Diane Hardisty and the editorial board will have&nbsp;it in for Chad (they don't like his stance on the Hillside Ordinance and The Bluest Eye so he is blacklisted).&quot;</font></p> <p>Good.&nbsp; Glad someone in the media is doing her job.</p> <p>Everything, absolutely everything he does or attempts is solely to advance a religious-political goal.&nbsp; Everything.</p> <p>When 100 of&nbsp;his last 100 moves were clearly meant to advance a political agenda, it becomes reasonable to presume that the 101st move&nbsp;will likewise be politically motivated.</p> Hardliner4freedom, stop hiding behind a bogus name and indentify yourself. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_102046 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_102046 Hardliner4freedom, stop hiding behind a bogus name and indentify yourself. Paulstine, if he's wrong, you can prove him wrong without his real name.&nbsp; If he's right--and he is--having his real name won't help you. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_102057 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_102057 Paulstine, if he's wrong, you can prove him wrong without his real name.&nbsp; If he's right--and he is--having his real name won't help you. <img alt="" src="http://homepage.mac.com/leperous/.Pictures/schoolboard.jpg" /> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_102478 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/editorials/10196/#c_102478 <img alt="" src="http://homepage.mac.com/leperous/.Pictures/schoolboard.jpg" />