Sick of Your Local School Board? Then Run for It.
School board races are not symbolic, sleepy local contests. They are oversight jobs with real power, real consequences, and a practical path for communities ready to turn frustration into action and change the direction of a district.
$31.5 Million, Verified Training, and the Harder Question: What Does “Meaningful Oversight” Actually Mean?
EL CAJON, CA — The civil lawsuit arising from the death of 11-year-old Arabella McCormack has now been resolved through settlement. Public reporting confirms that the City of San Diego, the County of San Diego, Pacific Coast Academy (PCA), and Rock Church collectively agreed to pay approximately $31.5 million to resolve claims brought on behalf of […]
Santana High shooter resentencing: a 2001 case collides with modern juvenile sentencing law
A resentencing ruling in the Santana High School shooting case is setting up a new legal fight—over juvenile sentencing, the scope of recall authority, and what happens next in juvenile court.
Thirteen Points of Spin: How Dehesa’s Superintendent Tried to Rewrite the Record
When Dehesa’s superintendent fired off a thirteen-point defamation threat over my coverage of his tiny district’s massive charter empire, he didn’t just dispute a story—he became part of it. What began as an investigation into Dehesa’s charter footprint, land deals, and sliding Dashboard scores is now also a case study in how a public official tried to intimidate a critic, and instead guaranteed that every uncomfortable fact would be pulled into the light and laid out in one place.
Rethinking Charter Oversight: A Path Toward Fairness, Representation, and Educational Integrity
California’s charter dilemma isn’t about charters—it’s about who oversees them. This blueprint replaces district authorizers with independent regional boards, returns oversight fees to public benefit, gives charter families a voice, and stabilizes schools by ending political whiplash and conflicts of interest.
When the Tail Wags the Dog: How Tiny Districts Like Dehesa Are Raking in Millions While Educating Almost No One
A small East County school district with under 100 students authorizes more than 13,000 charter enrollments across Southern California. As oversight fees rise and land deals expand, questions emerge about governance, priorities, and whether this model echoes past controversies in California’s charter school history.
If I Weren’t a Responsible Journalist I Would Name-Drop
A reporter’s reflection on restraint, ethics, and the stories I chose not to publish—yet.
What the Law Allows, What the Record Shows, and the Most Honest Answer We Can Give
What weighs on me is knowing how much this community invested and still having to say: it’s over, legally. The records are sealed, and because we aren’t a party, there’s no court order to be had. That disappointment sits with me.
Setting The Record Straight
In my view, based on the documented sequence, you pause long enough to let volunteers cure the filings—you don’t drop a public hammer and then route a notice to the bank on your own school’s parent group over fixable paperwork.
Rio Seco: An Expanded Investigation
A credible new lead—centered on Education Code and the collective bargaining agreement—has shifted the Rio Seco story. We are examining how decisions were made and whether the processes those rules require were followed. Earlier items are consolidated while this review proceeds.