The Taxpayer-Subsidized Racing Boat?

The City Council would like to give Sunny Hills High School $2,500 and sponsor the school’s participation in the annual Solar Cup Race.

Interestingly, the race is being put on by our water supplier, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. 

The idea behind the race, according to the City of Fullerton staff report, is for the high school students to build and race solar powered boats. 

And what are the benefits to the taxpayers?  According to the same staff report, the benefits to MWD and its member agencies include:

• Promote stewardship of natural resources, water quality and recreation
• Increase understanding of water conservation and many issues, perspectives, and science of water
• Greater ties to secondary education audience (high schools) in our service area
• Legislative outreach opportunities both locally and regionally
• Intense collaborative effort between MWD and sponsoring agencies
• Community outreach opportunities to service groups retirees or organizations – Lions, Elks Clubs
• Increase awareness to paths into water industry careers

And where will the $2,500 come from?  The Water Fund.  This is the same fund that, just a few short months ago, city staff were crying was underfunded and that they just had to raise our water rates.  They said they wanted to sell tens of millions of dollars in bonds to fund replacement of the City's ancient water system.

How is it we went from “Captain, Captain, the ship is sinking!” to floating a $2,500 sponsorship fee (made payable to a public agency – MWD) for a high school outreach program? 

What could have changed?  Did ending the decades-long franchise tax on the Water Fund result in more cash on hand for “outreach” efforts like this?  Was there a sudden revenue spike in Water Fund revenue resulting in a massive surplus?

Is this water education allocation a good use of public funds at a time when we are being asked to pay nearly double on water rates?  Does the Water Fund’s “water education” allocation need some scrutiny?

If any of these questions have raised the hair on the back of your neck, you might want to ask your City Council to justify this $2,500 expenditure.  In 2009, the City Council voted to support the Sunny Hills Team for the 2011 race in name only and not give them any funding.  That was responsible.

So what changed since 2009?  Our City Council voted to approve a two-year budget with a $8-million deficit and passed a $29-million tax bond that will cost Fullerton taxpayers $45.5-million!  Oh, and in 2010, the City Council voted to resume sponsorship of the team.  Now we’re broke!

Time and again, we see Fullerton’s failed leadership implement meaningless policies with little benefit to the taxpayer who makes it all possible. 

Waste at any level is waste and when we have a massive deficit coupled with out of control spending, it's time to stop the party bus. 

I know some of the teachers involved in the Solar Cup Race at Sunny Hills.  These are truly some of the brightest minds our high school district has to offer.  My opposition is to the City's use of our funds for the sponsorship and not extracurricular activities that help students learn.

I suggest the Sunny Hills team have fundraisers like the other clubs and athletic teams.  They should start soliciting donations from the District’s Board Members and Superintendent. 

The team should contact all of the City's, as well as the District's, employee unions and ask for donations.  Come election season they always seem to be flush with cash for campaign signs and glossy mailers - surely their members would like to contribute to such a worthy cause.

They can even call me, I'd love to chip in.  When the City said no in 2009, Marty Burbank jumped in and donated.  (MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU, MARTY!!)  But please don’t ask for money from City Hall until we can pay off the mounting debt and balance the budget. 

Save Susan Souza!!

Save who?!?!

Remember back in high school that one teacher you had that inspired you to learn?  They engaged you in the learning process and helped you channel that teen-age energy into something positive.

For me it was Mrs. Greenwood, my junior-year English teacher at Fullerton High School (c1989) who got me interested in reading.  She changed my life forever. 

For many students at Sunny Hills High School, Susan Souza is their inspiring teacher.  As a part-time college instructor and full-time licensed professional land surveyor I get to meet a lot of interesting and amazing people throughout California who influence the minds of many through classroom interaction and instruction.  Mrs. Souza is at the top of that list. 

She has worked diligently over the last several years to bring an acclaimed engineering program to Fullerton High School District students that has garnered the attention and respect of educators throughout California. 

So why is she being fired?

Mrs. Souza is not a Fullerton Joint High School District employee but rather a ROP instructor (that will be an important distinction in a minute).  She has a long resume of industry experience, degrees and certifications in manufacturing engineering which makes her a great fit for the high school’s computer drafting and engineering classes. 

Working closely with the math and physics teachers, she helps find ways to make seemingly abstract concepts come to life through the creation and use of models, robotics, and hands-on learning in her classroom.

Students who express interest in continuing in engineering go to Mrs. Souza who helps them find internships in the industry.  She also helps them navigate through the university system to find the right program.

So why fire Mrs. Susan Souza?

Part of Mrs. Souza’s method of instruction includes finding guest speakers who can engage the students to share with them opportunities within technical fields and educational resources. 

Mrs. Souza has done made a remarkable effort to introduce students to technical college programs through field trips.  Often, these field trips are tied to competitions.  Sunny Hills High School students have won many of these competitions including the National Trig Star Competition.  The student won several thousand dollars and an all expenses-paid trip to receive his award at an annual conference hosted by the National Society of Professional Surveyors.  She has had other students win competitions as well, including one in computer aided drafting (CAD).

Her students were able to take a field trip to the Port of Long Beach to learn about the operations and maintenance of one of the world’s largest and busiest ports. 

So why fire Mrs. Susan Souza?

Mrs. Souza has worked tirelessly for the last 5 years to inspire students and help each of them achieve their goal. 

She chose to obtain her teaching credential though none is needed for her job.  Unlike her unionized counterparts, she will not receive any compensated for her endeavor because ROP instructors do not have a bargaining unit.  Each instructor works under a contract.  Enforcing the contract means each ROP teacher take up their own law suit to recover any damages as a result of a breach of contract.

So why fire Mrs. Susan Souza?

Mrs. Susan Souza works on the Sunny Hills High School campus as an invited guest of the principal, Ms. Judy Fancher.  That means that at any time and without cause Ms. Fancher may stop Mrs. Souza from teaching (and inspiring) her students. 

Just a few weeks ago Ms. Fancher decided to allow Mrs. Souza to finish up the school year but did NOT invite her back next year.  So what gives? Why fire Mrs. Susan Souza?

I emailed Ms. Fancher on April 14th but she has not replied.  I figured she would at least send me some vague reference to this being a personnel issue and that she is not authorized to discuss it.  Unfortunately, my email inbox sits quiet, patiently waiting for her response. You can try emailing her at ajfancher@fjuhsd.net but don't expect her to get back to you anytime soon.

Mrs. Souza has repeatedly asked Ms. Fancher as well as ROP administrators WHY.  Why is she being fired?  What has she done wrong?  To date, there has never been any complaint from any student or parent about Mrs. Souza.  In fact the contrary has occurred. 

Mrs. Souza’s current and former students, their parents, and those in industry (such as land surveying and engineering) served by her program have come together and support Mrs. Souza’s request to know why she is being fired.

Most of us are willing to acknowledge that the principal has the authority to do this; that isn't the issue.  We want to know what Mrs. Souza has done or failed to do that prompted Ms. Judy Fancher to fire this excellent teacher. 

Making the issue even more frustrating are the countless stories from the teachers themselves of the few really bad apples who have been disciplined or reprimanded numerous times by Ms. Fancher but are protected by the teachers’ union. 

Again I ask, why fire Mrs. Susan Souza?