Dublin’s Top 10 Accomplishments for 2008-2009
Taking a page from David Letterman, here are the Around Dublin Team’s Top 10 list of Dublin’s accomplishments in 2008-2009. Please see Mayor Tim Sbranti’s website for a listing of additional accomplishments:
#10 – Adopted and implemented a waste management/recycling plan for the City’s large public venues and events, which consist of events that serve more than 2,000 individuals per day.
#9 – Coordinated ten (10) first Saturday Workshops with an expanded focus on diversity.
#8 – Developed a Homeowner evening inspection program to provide a convenience for Dublin residents.
#7 – Conducted six (6) Personal Emergency Preparedness (PEP) training sessions for Dublin residents.
#6 – Identified and purchased site for Maintenance Yard Facility saving residents over $11M.
#5 – Developed and implemented an Economic Incentive Program.
#4 – Completed construction of Shannon Community Center.
#3 – Completed construction of Dublin High School Math & Science buildings.
#2 – Successfully bid and started Fallon Sports Park and Historic Park construction projects with both projects coming in under budget by more than 20%.
And drum roll please…
#1 – Dublin Unified School District’s API score improves for 7th straight year to 840.
The City of Dublin has thrived in the midst of the toughest economic times since the Great Depression by maintaining service levels, improving administrative efficiency, and bidding out contracts and buying assets at huge discounts – saving Dublin residents millions of dollars.
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10:06 AM on July 14th, 2009
If not for the schools in the East the #1 accomplishment would not be possible.
Dublin Elem. -38
Frederiksen -3
Murray +8
Nielsen -42
Wells +6
11:44 AM on July 14th, 2009
Good data!
2:55 PM on July 14th, 2009
Anonymous: 10:06…and your point is?
Who cares where those schools are. Are you taking personal credit for their success? (or failure?)
3:16 PM on July 14th, 2009
Nobody wants to speak this out. But I am not afraid. The truth of the matter is the student quality in East Dublin is much better than that of West Dublin. The overall API score improvement for Dublin schools is really due to students from East Dublin. Student quality is THE deciding factor for a good school. That is why a lot of parents from East Dublin want a new high school in East Dublin.
4:05 PM on July 14th, 2009
Actually, to correct you, you are afraid to say this trash talk as your posting was anonymous. Pretty brave!
John B. Ledahl
DUSD
6:02 PM on July 14th, 2009
John L.,
Truth hurts, right? You are exactly the kind of board members East Dubliners need to kick out in the next election.
8:18 PM on July 14th, 2009
Thank you Victor for saying what I believe only a few people feel, “the student quality in East Dublin is much better than that of West Dublin.” Of course, you still didn’t share your last name so I’m not sure how brave you are.
This statement is counterproductive. I believe that Tim Hall and John Z. would never say it and should repudiate it. As I’ve said, I am open to hearing a well thought out plan for a Charter School that would bring added resources and focus to the district. Charter schools can be powerful if done correctly.
Your first and largest obstacle is devising a plan for the district overcoming over $6M in cuts over two years. If more cuts come this summer, basic services will be eliminated. I can’t see how a Charter School can emerge when our ability to serve all K-12 kids is in jeopardy. BTW, Pleasanton and San Ramon districts are in worst shape financially.
The debate is healthy. Bringing in an “East is Superior” attitude is not only destructive, its incorrect.
John B. Ledahl
9:33 PM on July 14th, 2009
Next thing you know, people will write that Upper East Side Dublin has much better students than lower East Side Dublin. But Upper-Upper East Side (Above Gleason) has even better, as long as you don’t go to up. This never ends.
10:13 PM on July 14th, 2009
John L.,
Nobody is talking about a Charter school in the next two years. It is impossible to set it up in such a short time. The time frame we are looking at is most likely five years down the road and hopefully the economy will come back up at that time (and it will). So your argument about the financial difficulties in the next two years is not so relevant.
12:45 AM on July 15th, 2009
Hi Victor,
As seen with the success of Livermore’s effort, much can be accomplished in two years. The Livermore Valley Charter Preparatory High School (LVCP) petition was initially submitted to the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) in November 2007. The petition was denied by LVJUSD in January 2008 and denied by the Alameda County Board of Education (ACBE) in September 2008. The County’s decision was then appealed to the State. The LVCP petition was considered by the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS), a division of the State Department of Education (SBE), in December 2008. The ACCS gave its endorsement in March 2009, and the SBE ultimately approved the charter in July 2009. The LVCP is expected to open in the fall of 2010, almost three years after the initial submission of the petition.
11:09 AM on July 15th, 2009
Thanks for correcting my time estimate, John Z. No matter what, it is more than two years down the road, so John L.’s argument about financial difficulties in the next two years is not relevant.
1:17 PM on July 15th, 2009
Hi Victor,
I am glad you found the dates I cited useful. Just to clarify, I am not John Z. I am one of his team members, and I happened to be doing some additional background research on the Livermore Valley Charter Preparatory High School, when I saw your comment. It was precisely your time estimate that motivated me to write down the sequence of events that led the LVCP petition’s approval. Thank you for your very timely remark.
As I review the steps taken by the 5-10 Livermore parents and community leaders who spearheaded the petition, I still cannot get over how they made what is a Herculean task seem manageable. John’s article, “Livermore’s Future Charter High School”, is only the first of many we will have on Livermore Valley Charter Preparatory High School, as we’ve only scratched the surface on this very rich subject. Please stay tuned.
1:52 PM on July 15th, 2009
Thanks for your comments, Around Dublin Team. I have become a very frequent visitor of Around Dublin blog:-)
11:27 PM on July 14th, 2009
Let’s be more specific. East side students produce higher APIs. That statement we can ALL agree on, right?
2:27 AM on July 16th, 2009
I agree with you on this, they have new teachers, new infrastructure, and also they are smaller then the West side schools.
10:52 PM on July 14th, 2009
Mr. Ledahl,
You wrote, “I am open to hearing a well thought out plan for a Charter School that would bring added resources and focus to the district. Charter schools can be powerful if done correctly.” I believe that you would hear it; however most of the time, your comments on the Charter school are negative and critical, so I think you’re only hearing it, and not supporting it.
Most of the postings I have read authored by you are critical and almost seem like you’re “attacking” someone for their comments. For this reason, I strongly believe that’s why people perceive you is a negative fashion on the blogs.
To show that you’re truly open to the ideas of a new high school that will meet the interests of Dublin residents, Charter or public, how about helping the community with positive information? Where is the “can-do” attitude that you portrayed when running for your Board position? Given your experience in education, you could provide advice and information on processes, funding alternatives, and even loopholes in the “system.” You are likely also well connected with people who could help in this effort as well.
Even if the State funding doesn’t support it, that doesn’t mean that the Board couldn’t support it conceptually. How about helping with the research so that those who are interested in a new high school can get it further along? The collaboration, in my opinion, would show some level of support with the concept, but you and the Board are not even showing that.
11:52 PM on July 14th, 2009
You make some good points. I truly wish you could start attending school committee meetings, and board meetings, and state meetings I attend where we are focusing on just what you mentioned – trying to find ways to work around this diasterous time we are having in California education. I’ll be gone this week to Sacramento to do just that.
Perhaps you should also go back and look at some of the postings I have made about scheduled meetings, school issues, etc. I asked for a meeting with Tim Hall and others last fall to talk about a second high school and my reasons for previous decisions. But you know, I am not here trying to defend what I do for our schools. Frankly I feel uncomfortable doing that. I am here to help provide some insight.
I know it will take years for a charter school, and you folks are not the first to bring it up. Others have discussed it as a possibility over the years as well. A Magnet school for math and science? A technology driven curricula? So, let me clarify, I am open to listening to this, not just lip service.
The first thing you have to show people in town is that a charter school is really what you want, not just an excuse for a second high school in East Dublin. I think some of you also have to start putting more time into our schools, school and district committees and fundraisers, and the like – whether you have kids in school or not. I know some of this exists today, but we need more. It really is adangerous time.
Finally, I have followed this blog over the last year or so in order to stay current with your thinking. I mean, why else? What I am seeing is that what was an East side blog is starting to include others. That is a good sign for healthy, balanced debates.
9:22 PM on July 15th, 2009
I think you’re making the assumption that many bloggers are not involved. Just because we don’t publish our names here doesn’t imply that we don’t get involved.
I was hoping you didn’t just turn it around and say that the community needs to go to the Board meetings. Your message is still reiterates “I’ll listen once you have your ducks in a row.” instead of “I’ll help you get your ducks lined up.” That is not collaboration.
As an elected member of the board, it’s just as important for you to meet on the parents’ and volunteers’ grounds — outside of the Board room — and help and give ideas to come up with the solid proposal.
If there weren’t an economic crisis right now, would you support a second high school? If the answer is Yes, then it would be great to have you support the concept and help so that when the economy turns around, you are the advocate of a second high school and not a critic.
10:56 PM on July 14th, 2009
Since we are so concern about money, perhaps we should close down some more schools in the West with low attendance.
9:46 AM on July 15th, 2009
John Z.
Do you support or condemn the statement – “the student quality in East Dublin is much better than that of West Dublin.” I believe people need to know your opinion.
John B. Ledahl
11:14 AM on July 15th, 2009
John L.,
You do not need to drag John Z. into this. This is supposed to be a free forum. I have my right of freedom of speech. You just cannot condemn all the speeches you do not like, can you?
11:30 AM on July 15th, 2009
Actually, he can condemn whatever he wants. Is that not HIS right to freedom of speech? Nothing is being censored here.
1:44 PM on July 15th, 2009
You are right. He can condemn whatever he wants. But he has no right to force somebody else to condemn with him.
12:32 PM on July 15th, 2009
Hello John Ledahl – if we want to compare student performance in east Dublin schools to west Dublin schools, then I think that we need to look at quantitative measurements. The most widely used quantitative measurement to assess performance is the API score.
If we look at 2008 API scores, we find the following:
Average API for Fallon, Dougherty, and Green – 921
Average API for Dublin El, Fred, Wells, Nielsen, and Murray – 831
Simple average change in API for east Dublin schools – +15
Simple average change in API for west Dublin schools – (13)
The west Dublin school change is due to a drop off in the Nielsen and Dublin Elementary scores – which can probably be attributed to the merger. We should see a huge boost in the 2009 API score for the combined Dublin Elementary now that the growing pains have been worked through.
Thx, John Z.
12:41 PM on July 15th, 2009
John Ledahl – it is fantastic to have a DUSD Board member actively involved in reading and commenting on the Around Dublin Blog. Something that I’ve seen from other readers that I just want to reiterate is the importance of looking at the characteristics of great schools and using these features to create a benchmark for what Dublin schools can become. Every school has room for improvement and every student in Dublin deserves the opportunity to fully achieve their academic and educational aspirations.
Can you share any insight into how the DUSD creates the benchmarks that are used to evaluate school performance?
Thx, John Z.
2:11 PM on July 15th, 2009
Mr. Ledahl,
There’s no need to drag others into this. John Z is not the only person who posts on this blog or shares his opinions. I don’t think John Z EVER said anything about the student quality or the school quality being better or worse.
The API scores are factual, though, and represent the academic caliber and aptitude of the majority of the students in any particular school. Nowhere in API scores does it state that the quality of students are better or worse.
12:32 PM on July 15th, 2009
Regardless of opinions, we all need to keep our minds open about either a Charter High School or a Second Public High School. The reason some residents are leaning towards the Charter School idea is that it poses a lesser burden on the School District, short term and long term. At the same time it offers parents East and West a second option for a High School. A Charter School option not only helps East Parents who so want a High School closer to home, it also offers Westside residents another option too if they choose to, possibly even driving up home values in the West and throughout Dublin if we have two highly regarded High Schools to boast.
We need to drop the East vs West thing to have any productive collaboration and support of all of Dublin, The School District and City Leaders. I truly believe a Charter School is good for all of Dublin, including Dublin High. It is not about a West vs East thing and who is better. We are all Dubliners thus we must work together with an open mind, not only towards the District and Dublin High for what they are trying to accomplish, but also towards the idea/concept of a Charter High School to compliment. It could be a win for all if we can finally stop good family from moving out and instead become the envy in which people vie to move into Dublin instead because of the lofty reputation of our schools, Charter included.
12:44 PM on July 15th, 2009
I don’t know if I have missed it or if it just has not been stated yet, but I’ll ask the question again. Has the DUSD determined why it is a lower scoring district that it’s neighbors? Is the increased graduation requirements their solution to lower scores or just an honest attempt at improving the education of it’s students?
I don’t think anyone thinks Dublin schools are terrible, they just want them to be more competitive with their neighboring schools.
2:23 AM on July 16th, 2009
We go on and on about how we are short on money and we fixed that by cutting a bunch of teachers, whom gratefully we rehired. Why do we keep going after the teachers they are the ones who actually educate the children, they are the ones who break open the text books and teach the children there math, science, and other subjects? If money is such a big issue, why don’t we cut the Board of Directors salaries, so we can keep paying the teachers?
10:31 PM on July 18th, 2009
Seems Dublin city is making fantastic progress! I really hope our economic base will grow stronger and stronger. In the tri-valley area, Dublin is standing out in terms of economic development potential. Let’s make our potential a reality!
Our strong economy will bring high paying jobs to Dublin residents. Our highly paid residents will require high quality education opportunities for their children. A great Charter High School will help our businesses to recruit best employees and improve their competitive position. Our successful businesses will expand and create more high paying jobs for Dublin residents. It is very important to keep a positive feedback loop going.
So forget about time consuming debates based on west-east egoes!!
Instead, let us
1. Focus our energy on bringing good businesses to Dublin to fill up our fantastic but vacant commercial buildings and land. Such as software companies, bio-tech companies, medical services, green tech enterprises and other high paying job producers in addition to great retail stores and restaurants.
2. Get the Charter High School planning going ASAP.
If you support the idea, please contribute your time and brain. Charter school is solely dependent on its supporting parents. The objections from other parents are totally irrelevant. Do not waste your energy to argue against objections to a charter high school. Instead, working in a positive way, spread the idea of charter high school to other parents. Supporters means all; objections means nothing!
If you object to it, please keep it to yourself since your objection is meaningless to a charter school. The reason to start a charter high school is to avoid unnecessary waste of energy to pursuade other irrelevant people to agree on how I want my tax dollars to be spent.
Go Dublin!
Go Dublin Charter High School!
8:45 AM on July 21st, 2009
If we object to a charter school we should keep it to ourselves? What country do you live in, Iran?
12:54 PM on July 21st, 2009
You don’t need to keep it to yourselves if the feedback is productive, but to outright “slam” an idea wouldn’t be productive. In my generation, many of our parents taught us – if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. This should even apply today.