Poway Unified School District
Poway loses
Donovan case;
court says it
should have
protected gay
students
Donovan case;
court says it
should have
protected gay
students
Poway's Special Ed
Program Dumping
Ground For Kids?
Parents Say Program
Deserves Failing Grade
10 News San Diego
July 17, 2006
Westview High School is a
relatively new and shinning
star in the Poway Unified
School District, which is known
for its high standards and
excellent record of educating
kids.
"We've got fantastic kids here,
wonderfully dedicated
teachers. It's a system that I
think works," associate
superintendent Dr. Kevin
Skelly said.
This year, the California
Department of Education
rated Westview High School
and 31 other schools in the
district as excellent.
It also gave the district's
special education program
high grades.But some parents
told 10News that Poway's
special education program is a
wasteland where kids are
dumped. They said it
deserves a failing grade,
according to 10News.
Parents and students said the
district doesn't know what to
do about kids who are not
mentally disabled, but who
cannot learn in a regular
classroom setting.
Jason Stewart is one of those
kids who said they've been left
in the dark to fend for
themselves.
"They didn't teach me
anything. They didn't help me
out," he said.
A senior at Westview, Stewart
should be graduating this
week with his friends, but he
won't be.
"I see my friends going to
college, and I can't even
graduate from high school. It's
horrible," he said.
"Poway is finding in his 12th
year (of education) that my
son has severe vision
processing deficits that they
were responsible for finding
way back in the first grade,"
Jason's mother, Lindsey
Stewart, said.
Jason wants to learn, but his
mind has trouble grasping
what he sees. Instead, his
brain scrambles to process
every sound he hears, making
it difficult to focus in the
classroom...
But over the past 11 years
Stewart has been shuffled
around from regular classes to
special education classes. He
said it's made him even more
confused and depressed...
At Black Mountain Middle
School Stewart became
suicidal.
"I would just give up
sometimes and feel like this is
pointless," he said.
And while the state gave
PUSD rave reviews for special
education, the district has
been suing students
whose parents don't want
their children in the special
education program.
Lindsey Stewart took the
fight all the way to the ninth
circuit court of appeals.
"There's actually three major
law firms that are fighting me,"
she said.
PUSD is fighting her with a
vengeance by racking up
more than $400,000 in legal
bills in the Stewart case.But
the legal battles don't end with
Stewart.
Evalyn Smith's children and
dozens of other students have
been sued or threatened with
lawsuits by the district,
according to 10News.
"It blows my mind how they
could sue a student to force
them into a special education
class," Smith said.
Smith said the district has to
stop lumping all students
together in a "one-size-fits-all"
special education program.
A total of 25 kids with "learning
differences" are involved in
lawsuits with the district,
10News reported.
According to Skelly, that's not
a lot. "To have 25 unhappy
parents out of 3,000 -- that we
have not been able to resolve
with -- I think is very good,"
Skelly said.
Parents and students said
more people are afraid to
come forward because the
district has a record of
retaliation.
"In my opinion we are
retaliated against," Smith said.
Retaliation like lawsuits,
orders to gavel down parents
at school board meetings to
quiet them, and security
personnel following parents on
campus.
District officials won't talk
about any of the cases, but
said the problem stems from a
lack of funding, not a lack of
caring.
"The federal government and
the state government do not
give us enough money to
meet the needs of specialized
students," Skelly said.
Some parents said they are
turning to alternative private
schools and getting better
results.
Program Dumping
Ground For Kids?
Parents Say Program
Deserves Failing Grade
10 News San Diego
July 17, 2006
Westview High School is a
relatively new and shinning
star in the Poway Unified
School District, which is known
for its high standards and
excellent record of educating
kids.
"We've got fantastic kids here,
wonderfully dedicated
teachers. It's a system that I
think works," associate
superintendent Dr. Kevin
Skelly said.
This year, the California
Department of Education
rated Westview High School
and 31 other schools in the
district as excellent.
It also gave the district's
special education program
high grades.But some parents
told 10News that Poway's
special education program is a
wasteland where kids are
dumped. They said it
deserves a failing grade,
according to 10News.
Parents and students said the
district doesn't know what to
do about kids who are not
mentally disabled, but who
cannot learn in a regular
classroom setting.
Jason Stewart is one of those
kids who said they've been left
in the dark to fend for
themselves.
"They didn't teach me
anything. They didn't help me
out," he said.
A senior at Westview, Stewart
should be graduating this
week with his friends, but he
won't be.
"I see my friends going to
college, and I can't even
graduate from high school. It's
horrible," he said.
"Poway is finding in his 12th
year (of education) that my
son has severe vision
processing deficits that they
were responsible for finding
way back in the first grade,"
Jason's mother, Lindsey
Stewart, said.
Jason wants to learn, but his
mind has trouble grasping
what he sees. Instead, his
brain scrambles to process
every sound he hears, making
it difficult to focus in the
classroom...
But over the past 11 years
Stewart has been shuffled
around from regular classes to
special education classes. He
said it's made him even more
confused and depressed...
At Black Mountain Middle
School Stewart became
suicidal.
"I would just give up
sometimes and feel like this is
pointless," he said.
And while the state gave
PUSD rave reviews for special
education, the district has
been suing students
whose parents don't want
their children in the special
education program.
Lindsey Stewart took the
fight all the way to the ninth
circuit court of appeals.
"There's actually three major
law firms that are fighting me,"
she said.
PUSD is fighting her with a
vengeance by racking up
more than $400,000 in legal
bills in the Stewart case.But
the legal battles don't end with
Stewart.
Evalyn Smith's children and
dozens of other students have
been sued or threatened with
lawsuits by the district,
according to 10News.
"It blows my mind how they
could sue a student to force
them into a special education
class," Smith said.
Smith said the district has to
stop lumping all students
together in a "one-size-fits-all"
special education program.
A total of 25 kids with "learning
differences" are involved in
lawsuits with the district,
10News reported.
According to Skelly, that's not
a lot. "To have 25 unhappy
parents out of 3,000 -- that we
have not been able to resolve
with -- I think is very good,"
Skelly said.
Parents and students said
more people are afraid to
come forward because the
district has a record of
retaliation.
"In my opinion we are
retaliated against," Smith said.
Retaliation like lawsuits,
orders to gavel down parents
at school board meetings to
quiet them, and security
personnel following parents on
campus.
District officials won't talk
about any of the cases, but
said the problem stems from a
lack of funding, not a lack of
caring.
"The federal government and
the state government do not
give us enough money to
meet the needs of specialized
students," Skelly said.
Some parents said they are
turning to alternative private
schools and getting better
results.
Hazing in PUSD
Poway settlement in
locker-room rape totals
$675,000
San Diego Union-Tribune
August 4, 1998
by Anna Cearley
In March 1997, a
15-year-old freshman
baseball player was the
victim of a locker-room
broomstick rape at
Bernardo High School
by three teammates.
The three
were sentenced to a
minimum of thirty days
in Juvenile Hall,
weekend work projects
and a one year
suspension of driving
privileges.
The victim sued the
Poway Unified
School District, arguing
officials knew
about the hazing
"tradition", where
varsity team members
would intimidate
freshman by
threatening to rape
them and simulating
rape. After months of
mediation, the claim
settled for $675,000.
Doe et al. v.PUSD.
Confidential Report for
Attorneys.
No. 9833 (no formal
complaint filed,
settlement September
1997).
History of High School
Hazing:
http://www.hanknuwer.com/hs2
1997
Rancho Bernardo High
School (California,
Poway School District)
Physical hazing and
sexual assault
Junior varsity baseball
player
After a rookie baseball
player was sodomized
with an object in the
locker
room, he settled for
$675,000 with the
district, according to
the San Diego
Union-Tribune which
went to uncommon
lengths to get the
school district to reveal
any details at all. Court
records showed that
the attack was
part of
a six-year pattern
of assault in
several sports and
was deeply
entrenched in
school athletics,
according to the
newspaper.
Poway settlement in
locker-room rape totals
$675,000
San Diego Union-Tribune
August 4, 1998
by Anna Cearley
In March 1997, a
15-year-old freshman
baseball player was the
victim of a locker-room
broomstick rape at
Bernardo High School
by three teammates.
The three
were sentenced to a
minimum of thirty days
in Juvenile Hall,
weekend work projects
and a one year
suspension of driving
privileges.
The victim sued the
Poway Unified
School District, arguing
officials knew
about the hazing
"tradition", where
varsity team members
would intimidate
freshman by
threatening to rape
them and simulating
rape. After months of
mediation, the claim
settled for $675,000.
Doe et al. v.PUSD.
Confidential Report for
Attorneys.
No. 9833 (no formal
complaint filed,
settlement September
1997).
History of High School
Hazing:
http://www.hanknuwer.com/hs2
1997
Rancho Bernardo High
School (California,
Poway School District)
Physical hazing and
sexual assault
Junior varsity baseball
player
After a rookie baseball
player was sodomized
with an object in the
locker
room, he settled for
$675,000 with the
district, according to
the San Diego
Union-Tribune which
went to uncommon
lengths to get the
school district to reveal
any details at all. Court
records showed that
the attack was
part of
a six-year pattern
of assault in
several sports and
was deeply
entrenched in
school athletics,
according to the
newspaper.
Violent teacher defended
by PUSD
LeBlanc v. PUSD
Web page re LeBlanc v.
PUSD is hacked (blog post)
by PUSD
LeBlanc v. PUSD
Web page re LeBlanc v.
PUSD is hacked (blog post)
Stutz Artiano Shinoff
& Holtz v. Maura
Larkins defamation
SDCOE
CVESD
Castle Park
Elementary School
Law Enforcement
CTA
CVE
Stutz Artiano Shinoff
& Holtz
Silence is Golden
Schools and Violence
Office Admin Hearings
Larkins OAH Hearing
& Holtz v. Maura
Larkins defamation
SDCOE
CVESD
Castle Park
Elementary School
Law Enforcement
CTA
CVE
Stutz Artiano Shinoff
& Holtz
Silence is Golden
Schools and Violence
Office Admin Hearings
Larkins OAH Hearing
| San Diego Education Report |
| SDER |
San Diego
Education Report
Education Report
| SDER |
| SDER |
| SDER |
Andy Patapow, Candidate for
Poway Unified School
District Board of Education
September 5, 2012
Name: Andrew Micheal Patapow Jr
Age: 77
College: San Diego State
Degree: BA MA Ind. Arts
Year of graduation: 1963
Grad school
University: San Diego State
Degree: Ind. Arts / Education
Year of graduation: 1965
Military service
Rank: Corporal
Date when discharged from duty: 01 November 1965
Employment Information
Job titles held: Teacher/Vice-Prin./Principal
Employers: S.D.County/ Mt. Empire /PUSD
Political Information
Party affiliation: Republican
Running for a: Local office
Running for position: PUSD Board of Education
Chamber/district: Poway Unified School District
Incumbent: Yes
First elected: 06 November 1996
Poway Unified School
District Board of Education
September 5, 2012
Name: Andrew Micheal Patapow Jr
Age: 77
College: San Diego State
Degree: BA MA Ind. Arts
Year of graduation: 1963
Grad school
University: San Diego State
Degree: Ind. Arts / Education
Year of graduation: 1965
Military service
Rank: Corporal
Date when discharged from duty: 01 November 1965
Employment Information
Job titles held: Teacher/Vice-Prin./Principal
Employers: S.D.County/ Mt. Empire /PUSD
Political Information
Party affiliation: Republican
Running for a: Local office
Running for position: PUSD Board of Education
Chamber/district: Poway Unified School District
Incumbent: Yes
First elected: 06 November 1996
Board Member; Poway Unified School
District (3 Elected)
November 2, 2010 Election
Full Term.
Candidates (Vote for 3)
Marc Davis 23,915 votes 18.6%
Occupation: Businessman/Financial Advisor
Bachelor of Arts in Economics (BYU 1990)
Certified Financial Planner certificant (1993)
Owner - Davis & Seiley Wealth Management
(1994)
Vice President - San Diego County
Metropolitan Advisory Board - Salvation Army
Stake President/Church Leader - The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints (1995-04)
Married 22 years (Karen). Father of 7
children (1 boy, 6 girls - ages 5-20)
Priorities:
Resolve the long term school funding
problems and restore pay cuts taken
by PUSD employees...
Help PUSD open new ways of
teaching and learning while
continuing our focus of "Character
Counts" citizenship development.
Penny Ranftle 21,772 votes 17.0%
Occupation: Incumbent
Sixteen Years Experience as Board
Member
Vice-President, Poway Unified Board
of Education
Occupation: Director, BizTown, Junior
Achievement of San Diego's 5th
Grade Experiential Learning Program
President, San Diego County School
Boards Association
Delegate, California School Boards
Association
Member, Poway Chamber of
Commerce
Priorities:
Maintain High Academic and
Discipline Standards While Working
to Ensure Each Student Reaches
Their Potential
Ensure Budget Cuts Remain as Far
Away from the Classroom as Possible
Continue to Work to Eliminate the
Achievement Gap
Todd Gutschow 19,989 votes 15.6%
Occupation: Incumbent
President, Poway Unified School
Board
Board President, AVID Center
Board Member, Classroom of the
Future Foundation
Boardmember & Former Chairperson,
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San
Diego
Founder, HNC Software Inc. (grew
company from 2 employees to 1400
employees)
BA in Physics from Harvard University
Priorities:
Ensure students are prepared for
college and career success in the
21st century
Manage district finances to
encourage new revenue sources and
keep cuts away from students
Increase use of technology in our
classrooms to engage students and
improve learning
Kimberley Beatty 18,353 votes 14.3%
Occupation: PTA Board Member
Former DEA Special Agent
J.D., University of Maryland Law
School
B.A., University of Virginia
Legislation Chair, Multiple PTA Boards
Former Member, Sabre Springs
Planning Board
2010 Boston Marathon Finisher
Priorities:
Support student-centered quality
education.
Fight for adequate funding for our
schools.
Expand innovative college prep
programs.
Tom Giles 16,458 votes 12.8%
Occupation: Business Owner, CEO
SDSU Bachelor of Science in Applied
Arts and Sciences Business Admin.
Management
Member of the School Site Council
Member PTA
Father of three children in Poway
School District
Elected Member of the Rancho
Bernardo Recreation Council
PTA and was voted as one of the
2009 PUSD School Site Volunteers of
the Year
Priorities:
Improving Education- It's time to Fix
Our Schools First
This is the time to change the way
Sacramento funds our schools
Zero tolerance of violence for the
safety of our children
Stan Rodkin 10,683 votes 8.3%
Occupation: Retired Mechanical
Engineer
Thirteen years' service as a Board of
Education member in the Poway
Unified
School District in years past
BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering
Priorities:
Restoration of vocational courses so
graduates will find jobs
Improvement of academic rigor
Conservation of energy to put more
dollars in the classroom.
John Gunderson 9,097 votes 7.1%
Occupation: District Attorney
Investigator
Frederick W. Pierce 8,105 votes 6.3%
Occupation: Student Housing
Executive
Trustee Emeritus, California State
University
Past President, SDSU Alumni
Association
Past President, CSU Alumni Council
CEO, Pierce Education Properties
Former Executive, Price Waterhouse
Vice Chair, SDSU College of Business
Priorities:
Equal Admissions Access for PUSD
Graduates to SDSU
Increased Private Financial Support
Stonger Legislative Advocacy in
Sacramento
District (3 Elected)
November 2, 2010 Election
Full Term.
Candidates (Vote for 3)
Marc Davis 23,915 votes 18.6%
Occupation: Businessman/Financial Advisor
Bachelor of Arts in Economics (BYU 1990)
Certified Financial Planner certificant (1993)
Owner - Davis & Seiley Wealth Management
(1994)
Vice President - San Diego County
Metropolitan Advisory Board - Salvation Army
Stake President/Church Leader - The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints (1995-04)
Married 22 years (Karen). Father of 7
children (1 boy, 6 girls - ages 5-20)
Priorities:
Resolve the long term school funding
problems and restore pay cuts taken
by PUSD employees...
Help PUSD open new ways of
teaching and learning while
continuing our focus of "Character
Counts" citizenship development.
Penny Ranftle 21,772 votes 17.0%
Occupation: Incumbent
Sixteen Years Experience as Board
Member
Vice-President, Poway Unified Board
of Education
Occupation: Director, BizTown, Junior
Achievement of San Diego's 5th
Grade Experiential Learning Program
President, San Diego County School
Boards Association
Delegate, California School Boards
Association
Member, Poway Chamber of
Commerce
Priorities:
Maintain High Academic and
Discipline Standards While Working
to Ensure Each Student Reaches
Their Potential
Ensure Budget Cuts Remain as Far
Away from the Classroom as Possible
Continue to Work to Eliminate the
Achievement Gap
Todd Gutschow 19,989 votes 15.6%
Occupation: Incumbent
President, Poway Unified School
Board
Board President, AVID Center
Board Member, Classroom of the
Future Foundation
Boardmember & Former Chairperson,
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San
Diego
Founder, HNC Software Inc. (grew
company from 2 employees to 1400
employees)
BA in Physics from Harvard University
Priorities:
Ensure students are prepared for
college and career success in the
21st century
Manage district finances to
encourage new revenue sources and
keep cuts away from students
Increase use of technology in our
classrooms to engage students and
improve learning
Kimberley Beatty 18,353 votes 14.3%
Occupation: PTA Board Member
Former DEA Special Agent
J.D., University of Maryland Law
School
B.A., University of Virginia
Legislation Chair, Multiple PTA Boards
Former Member, Sabre Springs
Planning Board
2010 Boston Marathon Finisher
Priorities:
Support student-centered quality
education.
Fight for adequate funding for our
schools.
Expand innovative college prep
programs.
Tom Giles 16,458 votes 12.8%
Occupation: Business Owner, CEO
SDSU Bachelor of Science in Applied
Arts and Sciences Business Admin.
Management
Member of the School Site Council
Member PTA
Father of three children in Poway
School District
Elected Member of the Rancho
Bernardo Recreation Council
PTA and was voted as one of the
2009 PUSD School Site Volunteers of
the Year
Priorities:
Improving Education- It's time to Fix
Our Schools First
This is the time to change the way
Sacramento funds our schools
Zero tolerance of violence for the
safety of our children
Stan Rodkin 10,683 votes 8.3%
Occupation: Retired Mechanical
Engineer
Thirteen years' service as a Board of
Education member in the Poway
Unified
School District in years past
BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering
Priorities:
Restoration of vocational courses so
graduates will find jobs
Improvement of academic rigor
Conservation of energy to put more
dollars in the classroom.
John Gunderson 9,097 votes 7.1%
Occupation: District Attorney
Investigator
Frederick W. Pierce 8,105 votes 6.3%
Occupation: Student Housing
Executive
Trustee Emeritus, California State
University
Past President, SDSU Alumni
Association
Past President, CSU Alumni Council
CEO, Pierce Education Properties
Former Executive, Price Waterhouse
Vice Chair, SDSU College of Business
Priorities:
Equal Admissions Access for PUSD
Graduates to SDSU
Increased Private Financial Support
Stonger Legislative Advocacy in
Sacramento
November 6, 2012 Election
Board Member; Poway Unified School District
Full Term.
Candidates (Vote for 2)
Kimberley Beatty
27,140 votes 38.6%
Occupation: PTA Board Member
[Endorsed by Democratic Party]
Andy Patapow
22,604 votes 32.1%
Occupation: Member, Poway Unified School
District
Linda Vanderveen
20,572 votes 29.3%
Occupation: Incumbent/President
Key Endorsements
Former San diego City Councilman Brian
Maienschein
Poway Mayor Don Higginson
Poway City Councilmembers Jim Cunningham and
John Mullin
Board Member; Poway Unified School District
Full Term.
Candidates (Vote for 2)
Kimberley Beatty
27,140 votes 38.6%
Occupation: PTA Board Member
[Endorsed by Democratic Party]
Andy Patapow
22,604 votes 32.1%
Occupation: Member, Poway Unified School
District
Linda Vanderveen
20,572 votes 29.3%
Occupation: Incumbent/President
Key Endorsements
Former San diego City Councilman Brian
Maienschein
Poway Mayor Don Higginson
Poway City Councilmembers Jim Cunningham and
John Mullin
Board members involved in
2012 CAP bond scam:
endorsements and party
affiliations
Penny Ranftle --endorsed by
Republicans Assemblyman Nathan
Fletcher and Mayor Don Higginson
in 2010
Linda Vanderveen --Republican
Andy Patapow --Republican
Marc Davis --endorsed by
Republican Party and Poway
Federation of Teachers
Todd Gutschow--endorsed by
Republican Assemblyman Nathan
Fletcher and Don Higginson, Mayor,
City of Poway in 2010 and
Poway Federation of Teachers
2012 CAP bond scam:
endorsements and party
affiliations
Penny Ranftle --endorsed by
Republicans Assemblyman Nathan
Fletcher and Mayor Don Higginson
in 2010
Linda Vanderveen --Republican
Andy Patapow --Republican
Marc Davis --endorsed by
Republican Party and Poway
Federation of Teachers
Todd Gutschow--endorsed by
Republican Assemblyman Nathan
Fletcher and Don Higginson, Mayor,
City of Poway in 2010 and
Poway Federation of Teachers
Linda Ann Vanderveen, Candidate for Poway
Unified School District Board of Education
Vanderveen is seeking another term on the
Board of Education.
July 30, 2012
Name: Ms. Linda Ann Vanderveen
Age : 62
Place of residence : Poway
Education
College
Attended college : Yes
College : Bronson Hospital School of Nursing
Degree : Registered Nurse, Diploma Graduate
Year of graduation : 1971
Employment Information
Job titles held : Registered Nurse (ICU, OR);
Surgical Assistant
Employers : Bronson Hospital, Medical
University of South Carolina, Dr. Gary Nobel
Political Information
Party affiliation : Republican
Running for a: Local office
Running for position: Board of Education
Chamber/district: Poway Unified School District
Incumbent: Yes
First elected: November 2000
Previous elective offices : PTA presidencies
(Chaparral Elementary, Palomar Council,
Poway High School) Vice President
(Communication, Legislation, 9th District PTA)
Numerous other elected leadership roles in
PTAs, voluteer leadership positions in the
community
Unified School District Board of Education
Vanderveen is seeking another term on the
Board of Education.
July 30, 2012
Name: Ms. Linda Ann Vanderveen
Age : 62
Place of residence : Poway
Education
College
Attended college : Yes
College : Bronson Hospital School of Nursing
Degree : Registered Nurse, Diploma Graduate
Year of graduation : 1971
Employment Information
Job titles held : Registered Nurse (ICU, OR);
Surgical Assistant
Employers : Bronson Hospital, Medical
University of South Carolina, Dr. Gary Nobel
Political Information
Party affiliation : Republican
Running for a: Local office
Running for position: Board of Education
Chamber/district: Poway Unified School District
Incumbent: Yes
First elected: November 2000
Previous elective offices : PTA presidencies
(Chaparral Elementary, Palomar Council,
Poway High School) Vice President
(Communication, Legislation, 9th District PTA)
Numerous other elected leadership roles in
PTAs, voluteer leadership positions in the
community
November 2, 2010 Election
Penny Ranftle
Candidate for
Board Member; Poway Unified School District
The information on this page is provided by the
candidate.
The LWV neither supports nor opposes any political
party or candidate.
Website
Biographical Highlights
Occupation: Incumbent
Sixteen Years Experience as Board Member
Vice-President, Poway Unified Board of Education
Occupation: Director, BizTown, Junior Achievement of
San Diego's 5th Grade Experiential Learning Program
President, San Diego County School Boards
Association
Delegate, California School Boards Association
Member, Poway Chamber of Commerce
Top Priorities if Elected
Maintain High Academic and Discipline Standards
While Working to Ensure Each Student Reaches Their
Potential
Ensure Budget Cuts Remain as Far Away from the
Classroom as Possible
Continue to Work to Eliminate the Achievement Gap
Key Endorsements
California State Assemblyman Nathan
Fletcher
Mayor Higginson and Council Members
Boyack, Kruse, Mullin and Cunningham
Poway Federation of Teachers
Prime Poway Woman No. 2:
Penny Ranftle
Leading one of the most praised school
districts in the country is just one of Ranftle's
many roles in the region.
March 2, 2011
Most people know Penny Ranftle as a board
member of the Poway Unified School District,
and this school year as board president.
But Ranftle, who has lived in Poway for 25
years, is much more.
Ranftle is also the president of the San Diego
County School Boards Association, a delegate
to the California School Boards Association and
a member of the Poway Chamber of
Commerce. While maintaining her involvement
in those groups, the Prime Poway Woman is
also the director of the JA Finance Park, a
project for eighth-grade students that teaches
them how to handle finances under the
nonprofit group Junior Achievement of San
Diego and Imperial Counties.
Ranftle, who has inspired many and says she is
inspired by former state Sen. Dede Alpert, said
she is most proud of her involvement in bond
campaigns that ultimately raised awareness for
the need to fund public schools and create
"equal facilities for all of our students."
PUSD President Says Brown's Budget Proposal
Isn't Good Enough
School Board President Penny Ranftle said
Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal is lacking
after the district has been forced to cut $27
million for the current school year and more
than $50 million over the past several years.
By Shauntel Lowe
January 14, 2011
Poway school district officials say they won't have to
make cuts next year if Gov. Jerry Brown's budget plan
passes, but a number of issues—including an
unresolved employee contract—leave the future
uncertain.
"We are keeping the budget as we had for this year
with no additional cuts to '11-'12 ... but it depends on
what happens on the June ballot," said Malliga
Tholandi, associate superintendent of business
support services for the Poway Unified School District.
"All the low-hanging fruit has been cut already,"
Tholandi said.
Board President Penny Ranftle said the plan, even with
limited cuts to education isn't good enough.
"I'm tired of begging the state to give us the money
they're supposed to give us," she said.
Brown's plan, which was released Monday, calls for
relatively unchanged education funding in the 2011-12
fiscal year as long as four expiring taxes are extended
for five years by voters in a June special election.
"Now with my program—including the extension of the
taxes—schools will be held even at $49 billion," Brown
said Monday during the budget plan announcement.
"Since they've taken the bulk of the cuts, that makes
sense to me."
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom
Torlakson said education funding has been cut by $18
billion over the past three years.
Ranftle said the district has cut more than $50 million
within recent years.
"I'm not satisfied with what we're being told we're going
to receive," Ranftle said. "I understand that we have a
budget crisis. ... At the same time, we can only cut so
much. They need to think outside the box and come up
with creative ways to manage the finances they give us."
Ranftle said she wants the state to remove restrictions
from all three tiers of its categorical funding, which is
designated for certain programs as opposed to money
in the general fund that districts decide how to spend.
"Why not blow up the tiers?" Ranftle said. Currently,
districts have leeway in using Tier III funds which are
for lower-priority programs such as art. The top two
tiers include programs such as child nutrition and
transportation.
But whether Brown's tax extension request will be
granted is unclear as many Republican lawmakers
push back against further taxing Californians.
If none of the taxes—such as a quarter-percentage
point Personal Income Tax surcharge—are extended,
education funding will be cut by $2 billion...
Penny Ranftle
Candidate for
Board Member; Poway Unified School District
The information on this page is provided by the
candidate.
The LWV neither supports nor opposes any political
party or candidate.
Website
Biographical Highlights
Occupation: Incumbent
Sixteen Years Experience as Board Member
Vice-President, Poway Unified Board of Education
Occupation: Director, BizTown, Junior Achievement of
San Diego's 5th Grade Experiential Learning Program
President, San Diego County School Boards
Association
Delegate, California School Boards Association
Member, Poway Chamber of Commerce
Top Priorities if Elected
Maintain High Academic and Discipline Standards
While Working to Ensure Each Student Reaches Their
Potential
Ensure Budget Cuts Remain as Far Away from the
Classroom as Possible
Continue to Work to Eliminate the Achievement Gap
Key Endorsements
California State Assemblyman Nathan
Fletcher
Mayor Higginson and Council Members
Boyack, Kruse, Mullin and Cunningham
Poway Federation of Teachers
Prime Poway Woman No. 2:
Penny Ranftle
Leading one of the most praised school
districts in the country is just one of Ranftle's
many roles in the region.
March 2, 2011
Most people know Penny Ranftle as a board
member of the Poway Unified School District,
and this school year as board president.
But Ranftle, who has lived in Poway for 25
years, is much more.
Ranftle is also the president of the San Diego
County School Boards Association, a delegate
to the California School Boards Association and
a member of the Poway Chamber of
Commerce. While maintaining her involvement
in those groups, the Prime Poway Woman is
also the director of the JA Finance Park, a
project for eighth-grade students that teaches
them how to handle finances under the
nonprofit group Junior Achievement of San
Diego and Imperial Counties.
Ranftle, who has inspired many and says she is
inspired by former state Sen. Dede Alpert, said
she is most proud of her involvement in bond
campaigns that ultimately raised awareness for
the need to fund public schools and create
"equal facilities for all of our students."
PUSD President Says Brown's Budget Proposal
Isn't Good Enough
School Board President Penny Ranftle said
Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal is lacking
after the district has been forced to cut $27
million for the current school year and more
than $50 million over the past several years.
By Shauntel Lowe
January 14, 2011
Poway school district officials say they won't have to
make cuts next year if Gov. Jerry Brown's budget plan
passes, but a number of issues—including an
unresolved employee contract—leave the future
uncertain.
"We are keeping the budget as we had for this year
with no additional cuts to '11-'12 ... but it depends on
what happens on the June ballot," said Malliga
Tholandi, associate superintendent of business
support services for the Poway Unified School District.
"All the low-hanging fruit has been cut already,"
Tholandi said.
Board President Penny Ranftle said the plan, even with
limited cuts to education isn't good enough.
"I'm tired of begging the state to give us the money
they're supposed to give us," she said.
Brown's plan, which was released Monday, calls for
relatively unchanged education funding in the 2011-12
fiscal year as long as four expiring taxes are extended
for five years by voters in a June special election.
"Now with my program—including the extension of the
taxes—schools will be held even at $49 billion," Brown
said Monday during the budget plan announcement.
"Since they've taken the bulk of the cuts, that makes
sense to me."
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom
Torlakson said education funding has been cut by $18
billion over the past three years.
Ranftle said the district has cut more than $50 million
within recent years.
"I'm not satisfied with what we're being told we're going
to receive," Ranftle said. "I understand that we have a
budget crisis. ... At the same time, we can only cut so
much. They need to think outside the box and come up
with creative ways to manage the finances they give us."
Ranftle said she wants the state to remove restrictions
from all three tiers of its categorical funding, which is
designated for certain programs as opposed to money
in the general fund that districts decide how to spend.
"Why not blow up the tiers?" Ranftle said. Currently,
districts have leeway in using Tier III funds which are
for lower-priority programs such as art. The top two
tiers include programs such as child nutrition and
transportation.
But whether Brown's tax extension request will be
granted is unclear as many Republican lawmakers
push back against further taxing Californians.
If none of the taxes—such as a quarter-percentage
point Personal Income Tax surcharge—are extended,
education funding will be cut by $2 billion...
Virtual Town Hall Questions for Marc Davis,
School Board Candidate
Davis: "I will always be fair, always listen
respectfully, always try to find common
solutions and always do what I believe is
right."
By Hoa Quách Email the author October 14,
2010
...As a local community, we have banded
together and taxed ourselves specifically for
the purpose of educating our children.
School board members are "Trustees" of
these tax dollars— meaning that they must
act in the best interest of someone else.
Trustee are hired by the citizens that live in
the Poway Unified School District (PUSD)
boundaries to see that these tax dollars are
spent wisely. PUSD schools, buildings and
other assets are valued at more than $1
billion. Additionally, our annual operating
budget is $227 million. Because of this, it is
critically important that any school board
member have at least the two following traits:
#1, financial expertise (in managing money,
handling budgets, understanding taxation,
employee compensation, etc.); #2, a history
of honesty and integrity. There are many
other important traits, but these two are
essential. I am a financial expert and have
managed millions of dollars for my clients for
almost 20 years. I've held many previous
positions of trust and have a record of
honesty and integrity.
School Board Candidate
Davis: "I will always be fair, always listen
respectfully, always try to find common
solutions and always do what I believe is
right."
By Hoa Quách Email the author October 14,
2010
...As a local community, we have banded
together and taxed ourselves specifically for
the purpose of educating our children.
School board members are "Trustees" of
these tax dollars— meaning that they must
act in the best interest of someone else.
Trustee are hired by the citizens that live in
the Poway Unified School District (PUSD)
boundaries to see that these tax dollars are
spent wisely. PUSD schools, buildings and
other assets are valued at more than $1
billion. Additionally, our annual operating
budget is $227 million. Because of this, it is
critically important that any school board
member have at least the two following traits:
#1, financial expertise (in managing money,
handling budgets, understanding taxation,
employee compensation, etc.); #2, a history
of honesty and integrity. There are many
other important traits, but these two are
essential. I am a financial expert and have
managed millions of dollars for my clients for
almost 20 years. I've held many previous
positions of trust and have a record of
honesty and integrity.
November 2, 2010 Election
Marc Davis
Candidate for
Board Member; Poway Unified School District
Biographical Highlights
Occupation: Businessman/Financial Advisor
Bachelor of Arts in Economics (BYU 1990)
Certified Financial Planner certificant (1993)
Owner - Davis & Seiley Wealth Management (1994)
Vice President - San Diego County Metropolitan
Advisory Board - Salvation Army
Stake President/Church Leader - The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1995-04)
Married 22 years (Karen). Father of 7 children (1 boy,
6 girls - ages 5-20)
Top Priorities if Elected
Resolve the long term school funding problems and
restore pay cuts taken by PUSD employees.
Continue focus on college readiness by reducing
class size, emphasizing core literacy and increasing
funding for the arts
Help PUSD open new ways of teaching and learning
while continuing our focus of "Character Counts"
citizenship development.
Key Endorsements
Poway Mayor - Don Higginson, Poway
Councilmembers Boyack, Mullin & Kruse
San Diego City Council Member - Carl
DeMaio, PUSD Trustee Jeff Mangum
Poway Federation of Teachers and the
San Diego Republican Party
Marc Davis
Candidate for
Board Member; Poway Unified School District
Biographical Highlights
Occupation: Businessman/Financial Advisor
Bachelor of Arts in Economics (BYU 1990)
Certified Financial Planner certificant (1993)
Owner - Davis & Seiley Wealth Management (1994)
Vice President - San Diego County Metropolitan
Advisory Board - Salvation Army
Stake President/Church Leader - The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1995-04)
Married 22 years (Karen). Father of 7 children (1 boy,
6 girls - ages 5-20)
Top Priorities if Elected
Resolve the long term school funding problems and
restore pay cuts taken by PUSD employees.
Continue focus on college readiness by reducing
class size, emphasizing core literacy and increasing
funding for the arts
Help PUSD open new ways of teaching and learning
while continuing our focus of "Character Counts"
citizenship development.
Key Endorsements
Poway Mayor - Don Higginson, Poway
Councilmembers Boyack, Mullin & Kruse
San Diego City Council Member - Carl
DeMaio, PUSD Trustee Jeff Mangum
Poway Federation of Teachers and the
San Diego Republican Party
November 2, 2010 Election
Todd Gutschow
Candidate for
Board Member; Poway Unified School District
The information on this page is provided by
the candidate.
The LWV neither supports nor opposes any
political party or candidate.
Website
Biographical Highlights
Occupation: Incumbent
President, Poway Unified School Board
Board President, AVID Center
Board Member, Classroom of the Future
Foundation
Boardmember & Former Chairperson, Boys &
Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego
Founder, HNC Software Inc. (grew company
from 2 employees to 1400 employees)
BA in Physics from Harvard University
Top Priorities if Elected
Ensure students are prepared for college and
career success in the 21st century
Manage district finances to encourage new
revenue sources and keep cuts away from
students
Increase use of technology in our classrooms
to engage students and improve learning
Key Endorsements
Nathan Fletcher, Assemblyman, California
75th Assembly District
Poway Federation of Teachers
Don Higginson, Mayor, City of Poway
Todd Gutschow
Candidate for
Board Member; Poway Unified School District
The information on this page is provided by
the candidate.
The LWV neither supports nor opposes any
political party or candidate.
Website
Biographical Highlights
Occupation: Incumbent
President, Poway Unified School Board
Board President, AVID Center
Board Member, Classroom of the Future
Foundation
Boardmember & Former Chairperson, Boys &
Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego
Founder, HNC Software Inc. (grew company
from 2 employees to 1400 employees)
BA in Physics from Harvard University
Top Priorities if Elected
Ensure students are prepared for college and
career success in the 21st century
Manage district finances to encourage new
revenue sources and keep cuts away from
students
Increase use of technology in our classrooms
to engage students and improve learning
Key Endorsements
Nathan Fletcher, Assemblyman, California
75th Assembly District
Poway Federation of Teachers
Don Higginson, Mayor, City of Poway
Don Higginson, Mayor, City of Poway,
endorsed Mitt Romney, Brian Bilbray
and Brian Maienschein
endorsed Mitt Romney, Brian Bilbray
and Brian Maienschein
2 incumbents, 1 challenger vie for 2
school board seats
Michelle Breier
UTSD
Oct. 27, 2012
Kimberley Beatty
Beatty, 45, a stay-at-home mother, has lived in
Sabre Springs for 11 years. She is the legislation
chair for the Palomar Council PTA, which serves
36 Poway PTAs. Beatty’s work on the PTA has
enabled her to interact with district administrators
and board members, she said. Three of Beatty’s
children attend Poway schools, and her oldest
child graduated in May from Mt. Carmel High.
Beatty previously ran for the Poway school board
in 2010 and is making a run again in an effort “to
give back.”...
Beatty said she has researched budget and policy
issues at the state and local levels through her
work on the council PTA. Her training as
a lawyer helps her analyze and understand
complex issues faced by the board, she said...
school board seats
Michelle Breier
UTSD
Oct. 27, 2012
Kimberley Beatty
Beatty, 45, a stay-at-home mother, has lived in
Sabre Springs for 11 years. She is the legislation
chair for the Palomar Council PTA, which serves
36 Poway PTAs. Beatty’s work on the PTA has
enabled her to interact with district administrators
and board members, she said. Three of Beatty’s
children attend Poway schools, and her oldest
child graduated in May from Mt. Carmel High.
Beatty previously ran for the Poway school board
in 2010 and is making a run again in an effort “to
give back.”...
Beatty said she has researched budget and policy
issues at the state and local levels through her
work on the council PTA. Her training as
a lawyer helps her analyze and understand
complex issues faced by the board, she said...
November 2, 2010 Election
Kimberley Beatty
Occupation: PTA Board Member
Former DEA Special Agent
J.D., University of Maryland Law School
B.A., University of Virginia
Legislation Chair, Multiple PTA Boards
Former Member, Sabre Springs Planning Board
2010 Boston Marathon Finisher
Top Priorities if Elected
Support student-centered quality education.
Fight for adequate funding for our schools.
Expand innovative college prep programs.
Key Endorsements
Senator Dede Alpert (ret.)
Poway Federation of Teachers
Lisa Danzer, Principal, Pomerado Elementary
Kimberley Beatty
Occupation: PTA Board Member
Former DEA Special Agent
J.D., University of Maryland Law School
B.A., University of Virginia
Legislation Chair, Multiple PTA Boards
Former Member, Sabre Springs Planning Board
2010 Boston Marathon Finisher
Top Priorities if Elected
Support student-centered quality education.
Fight for adequate funding for our schools.
Expand innovative college prep programs.
Key Endorsements
Senator Dede Alpert (ret.)
Poway Federation of Teachers
Lisa Danzer, Principal, Pomerado Elementary
2014 Jury trial scheduled
05/30/14 09:00AM C-61
Judge Meyer, John S.
Civil Jury Trial
37-2012-00084470-CU-PO-CTL
D)Poway Unified School Dist
Shinoff William B
05/30/14 09:00AM C-61
Judge Meyer, John S.
Civil Jury Trial
37-2012-00084470-CU-PO-CTL
D)Poway Unified School Dist
Shinoff William B
Poway Unified School District
elections (2014)
Three seats on the Poway Unified School
District Board of Education were up for general
election on November 4, 2014. Two at-large
incumbents, Marc Davis and Todd
Gutschow, ran for re-election.
[Maura Larkins' note: Both Davis and
Gutschow voted in the 2011 CAP bond
scam, as did Penny Rantfle, who decided
not to run.]
Davis and Gutschow faced challengers
Charles Sellers, John P. Riley, Katie
Newbanks, Michelle O'Connor-Ratcliff,
T.J. Zane and Jeannie Foulkrod.[2]
Neither incumbent was re-elected as
O'Connor-Ratcliff, Sellers and
Zane won the general election.
The UT-San Diego reports: "The Poway
Federation of Teachers has
endorsed Gutschow, Davis and
T.J. Zane, an executive with the nonprofit
San Diego County Prosperity Institute and
owner of PAC (Political Association and
Corporate) Management and Consulting Inc.
elections (2014)
Three seats on the Poway Unified School
District Board of Education were up for general
election on November 4, 2014. Two at-large
incumbents, Marc Davis and Todd
Gutschow, ran for re-election.
[Maura Larkins' note: Both Davis and
Gutschow voted in the 2011 CAP bond
scam, as did Penny Rantfle, who decided
not to run.]
Davis and Gutschow faced challengers
Charles Sellers, John P. Riley, Katie
Newbanks, Michelle O'Connor-Ratcliff,
T.J. Zane and Jeannie Foulkrod.[2]
Neither incumbent was re-elected as
O'Connor-Ratcliff, Sellers and
Zane won the general election.
The UT-San Diego reports: "The Poway
Federation of Teachers has
endorsed Gutschow, Davis and
T.J. Zane, an executive with the nonprofit
San Diego County Prosperity Institute and
owner of PAC (Political Association and
Corporate) Management and Consulting Inc.