How sad a pathetic the PFAA has become. Teachers ridiculing and harassing those with special needs and Executive Director and some teachers SO unbelievably arrogant! They think they can do no wrong, I think the Dept of Education is thinking differently. If you sat through the recent graduation ceremony you know what I mean! This Calero woman who gave the graduation speech had the audience of parents and family/friends shocked by how arrogant she is. So many people were talking smack and criticizing this woman and her speech and how it was all about her. It was kinda of embarrassing how she went on and on about herself, instead of talking about the graduates and their accomplishments and their future prospects, she just yammered on about herself and things she's done (yeah you are a high school teacher, glad you have hobbies but hello, in case no one told you, this is not about you.) Maybe the school should look into getting a professional to come and speak for graduation, you know someone who has accomplished something in the arts that would be inspiring for the students to see and hear. We and the 30 or so other attendees around us couldn't fathom that level of conceit, it was truly sad that this teacher couldn't of made this about the students graduating but instead has some glorified vision of herself she thought she should spew. Sad.
As for the overall school, well it's been better. Lack of communication and planning was a huge factor this year. They talk about all this great equipment they bought thanks to the many required parent hours of fundraising and donations given, but then guess what the students don't even get to use the stuff. This school is supposed to be the best in the area, don't know how they rated so high since they lack in several areas, and nepotism is a problem here and equates to a lack in overall programs. Maybe they score so high in the ratings that are done on area schools because they get bonus points for the number of minutes students are in school since it's like a full work day 815-4pm. Pretty long day and unless you live in Natomas you will be commuting a shit ton to get there out in BFE. Maybe that's it so many extra educational minutes they add on, because they don't have any sports teams, and many of their art programs are lacking compared to other available schools in Sacramento. It's sad that they don't feature all the arts equally, and there are so many obvious biases among staff and teachers. They need better math teachers and cycle through them annually replacing many. Long time teachers that were great and motivating to students, encouraging them and putting students first were removed without so much of any public mention. Why you think that is? Maybe having to do with rumors of mismanaged funds as this school annually makes tens of thousands of dollars in fundraising efforts of parents. Parents are asked to donate an excess amount of cash, gift cards, durable goods, equipment, alcohol (wine for crab feed) and more. There is no outside oversight of these assets and teachers and staff use at their will and whim. They overbuy stuff, and oh guess we'll just take that home to our house. They have piles of supplies in some classrooms and even the school office and bathroom show the excess of goods that have been over donated or purchased, things like cases of bottled water, cases of kleenex, cases of printer paper. The parent meetings are another show of how excess amounts of supplies/donations are being pilfered by the executives, staff and teachers. Things that are intended to help and support students are just taken for granted and used selfishly instead of given to the students or used to purchase items on the students behalf. The school have half assed many opportunities and events or just plain cancelled them instead of doing a good job for the students to enjoy themselves.
They also suck money from the State by requiring students to attend school the day after the Day on the Green event, supposedly the last day of school. Day on the Green is an event for students to celebrate the end of the year. This day students turn in all their textbooks as finals are done and over, and then the rest of that day students get to go buy stuff out on the grass area (green) from food trucks, or do a climbing wall, or other activities to celebrate the end of school Day on the Green. Yet the very next day after that event, after turning in books, finals completed, students are still required to attend one last half day, and told that if they don't show up for that day (even though there is no educational purpose for the students to go to school after Day on the Green)- that their grades will be lowered for non-attendance. So the school administration steal from the State since for every child that shows up that day school gets paid$$$$. Big time scam there too.
Time to look deeper it seems. read more
