Incumbents Williams, Meyer win school board race

When he was a teacher at Wilson High School, Dee Andrews was arrested and convicted for using and selling marijuana and crack cocaine.

Dee Andrews violated the sacred trust given to him by parents. He would show up to class “high” and expose his students to his lifestyle of drug abuse.

When Andrews ran for city council in the recent special election, he downplayed his criminal record in order to avoid responsibility for his criminal actions.

He lied to the voters and reporters, when he stated that “he was caught with star athletes..” when in fact, he was using and dealing drugs in our community, while teaching at Wilson High.

Most people deserve a second chance, but criminals who hurt our youth through sexual or drug inducement, deserve no second chances!

Dee Andrews is unfit for public office!!!

He is a fraud... he is a dishonest man who has manipulated many and has shown no remorse for the crimes he has committed.

The above was taken from another website and I whole heartedly agree. It is not Andrews fault that he won re-election, it's the fault of the voters who don't care anymore about personal responsibility and integrity. These voters are just as bad as the ones who elected that crackhead Marion Berry back in the day.

Everyone deseres a second chance. Mr. Andrews has epresented the 6th district very well otherwise he would not have won by a landslide. It is time to put all of the namecalling and fingerpointing behind us and work together with Mr. Andrews to make the 6th district the best it can be.

Everyone deserves a second chance. Mr. Andrews has represented the 6th district very well otherwise he would not have won by a landslide. It is time to put all of the namecalling and fingerpointing behind us and work together with Mr. Andrews to make the 6th district the best it can be.

Congratulations to Meyer and Williams on thier election. I hope that they remember in the future that it is not their job to sue the city over the airport or any other public issue. It is their job to educate the children, and to keep them safe while at school. The measure of success is not the Broad Prize, as welcome as that recognition is. The only real measure is how many children are graduating from High School on time, and how many have been convinced of the benefit of education and therefore go on to college. Great improvements have been made, thank God. Please don't lose focus.

What a sad day for LBUSD! How anyone could keep the status quo for another 4 years is beyond me. Sure the teachers union has some internal strife, but us teachers truly do represent what is best for our students. LBUSD's waste of taxpayer money over the past 3 years is unbelieveable. Whether it be wasting almost a half a million dollars for a union-busting attorney to negotiate a contract or wasting it on various lawsuits, this school board has far more issues to settle than TALB looking out for its members. Oh yeah, did they ever find the guy who embezzled some 50 million dollars? Everything I read lately about how bad TALB is for students, how they only think of raising their pay, or how they want to control the school board is a bunch of b.s. This is just a bunch of paranoid people afraid that us teachers may actually know what our students need. We did not get into this profession for money. I myself have completed over 10 years of college education pusuing various degrees and certificates to make me a better teacher. I think I deserve to paid a fair salary.(And if you think my salary is bloated, I invite you to compare mine to that of someone in corporate USA with my level of education.)I am in the classroom everyday teaching students whose parents could care less if they do well, who give absolutely no support to them or their teachers, and expect me to bring them up and teach them how to be good citizens. I think I should have a say in what should be taught and how it is taught. Sure LBUSD is a great district, we receive national attention and awards. But let's not forget who is doing the work here. It is not Mr. Steinhauser or the School Board, it is the teachers in the classroom. We deserve more respect. TALB is out to get us respect (and maybe some decent toilet paper at our school sites?) So when you hear a candidate is backed by a teachr's union, what is wrong with that?

The work is being done by all participants in LBUSD. Not only are LBUSD employees working to educate the children of Long Beach, but so are the business partners, community, city departments, religious institutions and families. Teachers are given lots of respect and it is true that they deserve more because the profession is a highly unrecognized one. However, to claim that only teachers are responsible for the success in Long Beach is very ego-centric. A sports team does not win because of one person. It is a team, a collective body working together to accomplish a common goal.

As for the mismanagement of funds and lawsuit issues, let's be serious. The State of California has continually cut funding for public schools and yet the teachers had a 10% raise over two years followed but the new 4.5% raise. If any money is being mismanaged it is the funding taken out of the general budget to pay for raises and not being used in the classroom to give more resources to your students who from what it sounds like don't have them at home. Long Beach has not laid off teachers, cut music or art, or any of the saddening realities that budget cuts mean. Also, LBUSD was right in suing the city over the Airport issue because children are affected by the flight paths over the schools and LBUSD wanted to make sure there learning would not be interrupted. Would you like to teach when you hear a plane take off every 5 minutes? The issue at Wilson Classical High School is a sad one but despite the judge's decision the room is underused and now 1200 students suffer for the sake of a few dozen.

A teacher's endorsement or their unions can be a powerful tool for guidance during an election. However, TALB has lost its creditability by wasting $400,000 over the past 3 years in political affairs and smearing a District and Board that has done nothing be accomplish the impossible.

LB Resident wrote:

The work is being done by all participants in LBUSD. Not only are LBUSD employees working to educate the children of Long Beach, but so are the business partners, community, city departments, religious institutions and families. Teachers are given lots of respect and it is true that they deserve more because the profession is a highly unrecognized one. However, to claim that only teachers are responsible for the success in Long Beach is very ego-centric. A sports team does not win because of one person. It is a team, a collective body working together to accomplish a common goal.
As for the mismanagement of funds and lawsuit issues, let's be serious. The State of California has continually cut funding for public schools and yet the teachers had a 10% raise over two years followed but the new 4.5% raise. If any money is being mismanaged it is the funding taken out of the general budget to pay for raises and not being used in the classroom to give more resources to your students who from what it sounds like don't have them at home. Long Beach has not laid off teachers, cut music or art, or any of the saddening realities that budget cuts mean. Also, LBUSD was right in suing the city over the Airport issue because children are affected by the flight paths over the schools and LBUSD wanted to make sure there learning would not be interrupted. Would you like to teach when you hear a plane take off every 5 minutes? The issue at Wilson Classical High School is a sad one but despite the judge's decision the room is underused and now 1200 students suffer for the sake of a few dozen.
A teacher's endorsement or their unions can be a powerful tool for guidance during an election. However, TALB has lost its creditability by wasting $400,000 over the past 3 years in political affairs and smearing a District and Board that has done nothing be accomplish the impossible.

YOO obviously haven't been in a classroom lately and YOU obviously have NO clue of what it is to be a teacher. Never has any of the above people you mention been in my classroom whenit come time to have parent conferences, do report cards, or discipline unruly students. Nor do they ever share the blame when my students don't meet state or federal standards. As for our raises, we have also received 0% in some years, even when the governor gave the state a cost of living adjustment. Plus, 10% and 4% is not much when you add it to an already low salary. What I am trying to say is that people outside of our profession have no idea of what it takes to be a teacher, and you are obviously one of them people!

TALB may have a lot of teachers behind it, but it's primary flaw is that it represents them at the expense of the parents, students and teachers who do not totally agree with their special-interest agenda. They are so loyal to their polarizing agenda that they STILL haven't had the moral courage to come out and condemn Ellis for all of his immoral actions. I would have thought by now that they would have cut that weight off of their necks long ago, but they continue to support this loser.

Both Meyer and Williams have had the moral courage to stand up for what is right, sometimes having to be at odds with their constituents that have been influenced by the TALB propaganda machine.

The Long Beach Unified School District voters made the right decision yesterday to reward this courage with their re-election, and I hope this inspires others to challenge this self-serving special interest group that cannot even see fit to get rid of a board member as bad as Ellis!

The next election is only 2 years away, and the TALB-loyalist board members will both be up for re-election. I look forward to getting them out of office!

FutureEXLBUSDTeacher wrote:

<quoted text>
YOO obviously haven't been in a classroom lately and YOU obviously have NO clue of what it is to be a teacher. Never has any of the above people you mention been in my classroom whenit come time to have parent conferences, do report cards, or discipline unruly students. Nor do they ever share the blame when my students don't meet state or federal standards. As for our raises, we have also received 0% in some years, even when the governor gave the state a cost of living adjustment. Plus, 10% and 4% is not much when you add it to an already low salary. What I am trying to say is that people outside of our profession have no idea of what it takes to be a teacher, and you are obviously one of them people!

According to the LBUSD School Accountability Report Cards, the Average Teacher Salary is $57,051 (District); $57,560 (State). Remember, that is the annual salary for only nine months of work. Not bad considering all the time off for holidays (plus Winter and Spring breaks) and employee benefits. No amount of salary would be enough to satisfy the over-inflated egos of some teachers. Many teachers are paid substantially more than the average salary, depending on school site and experience, not necessarily competence. Any salary disparity between school sites and experience should be addressed. Why doesn't TALB address these issues?
http://www.lbschools.net/Schools/SARCs/

Where is Accountability wrote:

<quoted text>
According to the LBUSD School Accountability Report Cards, the Average Teacher Salary is $57,051 (District); $57,560 (State). Remember, that is the annual salary for only nine months of work. Not bad considering all the time off for holidays (plus Winter and Spring breaks) and employee benefits. No amount of salary would be enough to satisfy the over-inflated egos of some teachers. Many teachers are paid substantially more than the average salary, depending on school site and experience, not necessarily competence. Any salary disparity between school sites and experience should be addressed. Why doesn't TALB address these issues?
http://www.lbschools.net/Schools/SARCs/

Teacher's should be paid like pro-athletes! They are critical to society and to our children. From my personal experiences as student K-12 in LBUSD and now as parent, I see how much my kid's teachers have given of their time and their own money in EXCESS of what is "required" of them.

I give them a standing ovation and a big hurrah.

FutureEx-LBUSDTeacher wrote:

What a sad day for LBUSD! How anyone could keep the status quo for another 4 years is beyond me. Sure the teachers union has some internal strife, but us teachers truly do represent what is best for our students. LBUSD's waste of taxpayer money over the past 3 years is unbelieveable. Whether it be wasting almost a half a million dollars for a union-busting attorney to negotiate a contract or wasting it on various lawsuits, this school board has far more issues to settle than TALB looking out for its members. Oh yeah, did they ever find the guy who embezzled some 50 million dollars? Everything I read lately about how bad TALB is for students, how they only think of raising their pay, or how they want to control the school board is a bunch of b.s. This is just a bunch of paranoid people afraid that us teachers may actually know what our students need. We did not get into this profession for money. I myself have completed over 10 years of college education pusuing various degrees and certificates to make me a better teacher. I think I deserve to paid a fair salary.(And if you think my salary is bloated, I invite you to compare mine to that of someone in corporate USA with my level of education.)I am in the classroom everyday teaching students whose parents could care less if they do well, who give absolutely no support to them or their teachers, and expect me to bring them up and teach them how to be good citizens. I think I should have a say in what should be taught and how it is taught. Sure LBUSD is a great district, we receive national attention and awards. But let's not forget who is doing the work here. It is not Mr. Steinhauser or the School Board, it is the teachers in the classroom. We deserve more respect. TALB is out to get us respect (and maybe some decent toilet paper at our school sites?) So when you hear a candidate is backed by a teachr's union, what is wrong with that?

You wouldn't last a day in corporate America nor do you possess the requisite skill set to perform the duties necessary. Degrees in education are not the same thing as degrees in more difficult disciplines and salary tends to correspond to difficulty accordingly. Additionally, respect is earned not an entitlement as you seem to think.

Corporate Employer wrote:

<quoted text>
You wouldn't last a day in corporate America nor do you possess the requisite skill set to perform the duties necessary. Degrees in education are not the same thing as degrees in more difficult disciplines and salary tends to correspond to difficulty accordingly. Additionally, respect is earned not an entitlement as you seem to think.

You are obviously a MORON. Many teachers have MBA's, degrees in Psychology, Chemistry, Physics, etc. The last time I saw a college catalog, EVERYONE had to take the same general ed classes. Come teach in my classroom, where you can't threaten your workers with a demotion, or fire them. Come to my neck of the woods where you can't take a coffee break every 15 minutes, or stop what you are doing to go to the bathroom. And by the way, I may not want to work in corporate America, but remember this; YOU are depending on ME to train your future employees!!!