Of all the issues to be uptight over, it shouldn't be whether a columnist is interested in the work of Fresno Unified's facilities committee. It's such a boring topic that the district should be happy someone wants to write about it.
On Tuesday morning, I was doing some background reporting for a Sunday column on the growing maintenance problems at district schools, and thought I should see some of the facilities for myself. I started with the Fresno High swimming pool, which has been the subject of much public debate because of its poor condition.
This was not a big deal. I just wanted to see the pool before I wrote about it. It's Journalism 101. I called the school notifying Principal Bob Reyes that I wanted to see the pool. I also called Dan Fitzpatrick, who chairs the district's facilities committee. Dan and I checked in at the office and then Reyes escorted us to the pool. Simple, or so I thought.
I learned later that my request to see the pool set off a panic at the district office. Emails and phone calls were buzzing around the school system. There was a call from the principal to the district's communications office. Then emails to the superintendent notifying him that I was -- gasp -- looking at the swimming pool. Then school board members were notified just in case they wanted to micro-manage this crisis.
I know. You're wondering why there aren't more important things for them to do than to go to Def-Con 4 because I wanted to see the Fresno High pool. But apparently they have a lot of idle hands in Fresno Unified.
By the way, I also have an appointment to see the Bullard High pool and track on Wednesday morning. I figure this blog posting will save the district from emailing that information to the downtown office and board members.
As an added treat for Opinion Talk readers, I'm posting the district's email about my trip to Fresno High. You won't read this anywhere else -- unless you are part of the district's super-secret crisis management team. Here's the top secret email:
From: Susan L. BediSubject: Fresno High
Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:11:55 +0000
** High Priority **
The Superintendent requested the following be shared:
Fresno High Principal Bob Reyes called me to check if the Communication's Office had approved Jim Boren and Dan Fitzpatrick to come to Fresno High to see their pool.
I explained that Dan was on the Adhoc committee for Facilities and that we did not know that he was coming to Fresno High with Jim Boren. Recommendation for Bob was to take them to the pool and answer their questions, but not to enter into a conversation as to why Fresno High deserves a pool over anyone else.
Jim Boren asked Bob how old the pool was, and if there is anything else Fresno High needs in regards to facilities. Bob responded most of the schools with older pools would want a new pool, talked about a 2nd gym, athletic facilities upgrades, etc. Jim saw that the plaster was cracked and Fitzpatrack interjected that is why students cut their feet. Major Rogers (water polo coach) was out at the pool and saw Boren. He went over to Boren and introduced himself. Boren recognized his name as someone who writes letters to the editor. Rogers had a short conversation about the polo team.
Fitzpatrick indicated he was taken Boren to other schools as well.
Color me naive but I have yet to have any problems with Fresnos school system.
Granted my daughter just started 2nd grade at a brand new elementary that I can not rave about enough.
So I have yet to enjoy all of what Fresno school has to offer. The last school she attended was older and I thought her teachers and curiculum where excellent.
So altough I know there are problems with unions, funding allocation ect. The only thing I can base my opinion on is how well my child does there.
Great job to the teachers and schools my daughter has attended. =)
Jim,
I think that there is another way to look at this. You have incredible power and influence in the Fresno metro area. Your words are read by thousands, including all or the local decision/opinion makers. This is terrifying to most normal people. A visit from you will be a concern to people who are trying their hardest to rebuild a sinking ship (Fresno Unified). Much of their success will come from a community that believes in their mission and their ability to carry our their mission (Jim Collins). An editorial or column from you can either help or hurt their effort. So I'm not surprised that a visit from you would make a few folks nervous.
Hell, I write little blogs on fresnofamous.com or mindhub (with a circulation of only 2,500) and it gets people's panties in a wad.
I assure you that when you come out to the Incubator for a tour, our on site business folk will be very nervous too.
Now you've done it - they'll be spending the next week trying to find the "mole" who forwarded that email to you. All other District business will grind to a halt!
What's a bit disturbing about all this is that the Bee has given Hanson nothing but positive publicity ever since he arrived. If he is this paranoid about an investigation into a pool maintenance issue, how will he react if you guys start digging into more serious matters?
The "panic" at Fresno Unified might be in response to the media’s propensity to practice "gotcha journalism."
They're afraid of "gotcha journalism" over a cracked swimming pool??
Why do you think money has not been spent on maintenance or replacement of the pool(s)? That's a bigger story than Jimbogate. Stop the wandering around and stick your nose in the finances.Where's all the money going? What next-asking the gardener about a brown spot in the grass?
Being a teacher in FUSD, I can only say 'Welcome to our world." This veil of secrecy says a lot about this administration. Last spring, at Easterby Elementary, a girl was grabbed in the bathroom. The only reason the public found out was because a teacher contacted them. The district responded by hiring a private investigator to find out who called the media.
What is sad about that situation is that 1)the girl was grabbed in the early morning by an unknown assailant, but no lock down was initiated and 2)despite police on the scene with crime tape up,the teachers weren't notified about what happened until after school. This hush hush culture has been fostered by Hanson. Remember the Dewolf High teachers who had to go public about the lack of adninistrator action about attacks on both students and teachers? The district denied it. Curiously, that principal has since been fired. How about the loaded shotgun found at Cooper Middle School? That principal only fessed up after a teacher made it public. What the Bee didn't hear about was that a big gang fight was supposed to go down at that time. To make matters worse, there are so many attacks and robberies against staff, but they won't even give us a heads-up e-mail to keep us safe.
So, if they will risk student and teacher safety for fear of the public knowing that we have some safety issues, why is it surprising that they'd be so paranoid about Jim's visit? The most interesting part of the district memo is the reference to the teacher and what he discussed with Jim.
It is hard to be productive in that type of environment.
This sort of silly , cloak and dagger closet behavior
has been a production within the schools B.H.--before HANSEN.