INDIAN VALLEY BEACON
Local, relevant, thought-provoking news and stories to inspire and empower
Local, relevant, thought-provoking news and stories to inspire and empower
By Dan KearnsTonight, May 12, 2025 there will be a special meeting of the PUSD/PCOE board. One of the agendized items in this meeting is the appointment of a new Board Trustee for Area 5. The two candidates for this seat are Kieth Barnett and Mathew De La Montonya. I would love to provide links to the candidates' resumes and info, but none have been provided by the district, as they were in the last election. School Board Trustees are generally elected by Plumas County residents in the local election process. However, the resignation of Leslie Edlund has left a vacancy on the board. The current Board Trustees are now voting to appoint one of the two candidates. This vote may happen tonight.
The purpose of this article is to inspire as many folks as possible to attend in order to witness board behavior and exercise their right to participate in the process which governs our schools. Tonight's meeting will be held at the Quincy High School Cafeteria. Closed session begins at 4 PM and the public portion of the meeting begins at 5:30 PM. This and all meetings can be viewed live on YouTube. Kieth Barnett is a husband, father of a child in the school system and a local business owner. I am aware that he has been publicly calling out our school district for questionable and potentially illegal behavior for some time. I do not know Mathew De La Montonya. Does he have kids in the school system? What are his relationships with the other board members? I have nothing bad to say whatsoever about Mathew, and I do not presume him to be a poor candidate. My criticism is for the behavior of the Board, not for Mathew. Why is the district not providing resume and background information for the candidates? Does this have anything to do with the fact that certain trustees or staff members may not like the criticism Keith has been offering? Is the PUSD board is attempting to limit support for Keith Barnet (who has been skeptical of the district's behavior and has much public support)? While these questions are based on my personal opinions, my opinions are backed by the fact that this particular appointment has seen the removal of public comment from the board agenda, no candidate resumes have been included as they were in the last elections, and the candidate interview process has been altered, to include a private meeting of the board members before they vote. Keep in mind, this is the appointment of a Trustee who would generally be elected by the People. Why would the Board want to take away the voice of the Public? Below is the content of an email I sent to the board this morning: Good Morning All, I have some concerns regarding tonight's meeting. The public comment opportunity for members of the public to show their support for the Trustee Candidates, as was the case during the last election between Cindy and Tommy, has been removed from the agenda for tonight's meeting. You have replaced the public's opportunity to speak with an interview by Jo Dee. This is an unethical diversion from the norm and one that limits the legal right of the Public to participate in meetings. You are reminded that the public is allowed to discuss any agendized item, as it comes up in the meeting, provided the public's comments are relevant to the item. Tonight's agenda also states that, after Jo Dee interviews the candidates, the board will take a break to discuss the upcoming vote in private. What is the purpose of this special little closed session? Why are you discussing the results of a public process in private before voting? This appears to be very questionable behavior. The candidates' resumes are not included on the agenda. Are they available somewhere else? Also, the candidates' resume and background were not shared with the Plumas Sun, as they were last time. Why is that? Furthermore, prior to the last election there was a Zoom meeting with members of the public, teachers, staff and union representatives present in order to get to know the candidates and their intentions for running. Why did this not happen this time? There are major inconsistencies between how this election is being run and how the last one was run. What is the reason for these new, inconsistent practices? Over the past several months the public's concerns over mismanagement of the district have been confirmed. Now the public is trying to bring new voices to the board, ones we believe will be honest and transparent as we work our way through this crisis. It appears that those who have caused the problem are now trying to interfere with the public's ability to participate in elections. If this is not true, it would be proper and appropriate to see this election postponed until the interviews and resumes have been posted, the public, teachers, staff and union reps have had an opportunity to interview the candidates and, when the election comes back to an agendized meeting, the public has the opportunity to voice their support for each candidate. I remind the trustees of the board that they have the ability to vote against the approval of the current meeting agenda (Agenda Item 6). I would also appreciate answers to my above questions. Thank you for your continued commitment to the highest and greatest good of our children and those who educate, feed and transport them. All the Best, Dan It is my opinion that the current financial crisis the school district finds itself in is not the result of bad accounting practices. Rather, it is the result of a culture which exists within the district office and board members which is not transparent, honest, ethical, legal or moral. It is also my opinion that the appointment of Keith Barnett would bring more transparency, honesty, ethical, legal and moral behavior to the board. Isn't it interesting that those who have allowed the district to collapse into a $12 million deficit appear to be trying to keep Keith out? Please contact the board with your concerns and questions. Please consider coming to the meeting tonight and to future meetings. This is, after all, about ensuring the greatest possible education for our children. It is important (and apparently necessary) that we stand up for what is right in this case.
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Below is the PCOE/PUSD 4/9 meeting video. This includes the financial update from the FCMAT team, which is the first official, real look we have received regarding the financial state of the district. -Public Comment begins at 2:04:10 -The FCMAT presentation begins at 2:37:30 -The current financial situation overview begins at 2:56:50 Many of us feel angry, betrayed, heartbroken, etc. These emotions are perfectly justified given what we are learning. Trust has been broken. Community members and staff who have been attempting to raise a red flag on this issue have been ignored, belittled and threatened for years. Our emotional responses are justified. How we use these emotions is up to us. I encourage us all to use them to fuel activities and behaviors that will be part of the solutions to this crisis. Let's respectfully reengage with our school leadership - let's get the whole story so that we can make educated, calculated decisions. Let's hold those responsible accountable so that we can prevent this from happening again. Let's do what we do best and come together to find solutions that will enable our community - our CHILDREN AND THEIR TEACHERS - to thrive into the future. By Dan Kearns
As many of you are aware, our school district finds itself in is serious and unique financial situation which has been in the making (and kept quiet) for years. The intent of this article is to shed light on the reality of the situation in response to the misleading information given out by PUSD officials so that citizens may engage with clarity and purpose. The 2022 Audit Report provides excellent examples of the severity and extent to which district has failed to uphold its Core Value and Strategic Goal of fiscal responsibility. The findings of the audit can be found on pages 81-91 of the document linked above and show that the district: did not record revenues and expenditures in the amount of $1,049,342; failed to recognize and record appropriate entries in the amount of $1,671,492; could not locate personnel files possibly resulting in incorrect payment of employees or payments to employees no longer working for the district; unable to reconcile cash amounts in bank accounts; not preparing bank reconciliations at Portola High for an entire school year; a teacher teaching a class of 20+ students without proper authorization and credentials; withholding teacher salaries in the amount of $1,909,931 and many more. One would think that that such findings would be a staunch dose of reality and a wake-up call to the district's Business and Payroll team, administration and board members. Apparently not, despite the years they have had to address these issues. The district received the 2023 Audit Report in August of 2024 but just made it public at the March 5, 2025 board meeting (YouTube Video HERE public comment begins at 2:01:20, proof that the board members voted to accept the audit without reading it begins at 2:34:50). This audit contains findings (starting on page 86 of the document) that are similar to the previous one, such as: payables and receivables for a total of over $700,000 not accrued; not reconciling cash amounts in bank accounts; deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting; inability to prove that 13 awarded construction projects for over $15,000 each followed proper bidding processes; 2 accounts of not following policy related to time accounting; potentially misplaced records; withholding teacher salaries in the amount of$1,511,071 and, again, many more. You will recognize many of these findings as repeat findings of continued failure to follow state and district policies. Again we ask, what are the members of the Business and Payroll team doing if they are not correcting these issues? The audit includes simple and specific instructions on how to correct these findings. Why have the suggested internal controls and procedures not been implemented and followed? How much are we spending on the salaries of these 8 individuals who apparently cannot perform the tasks we have hired them to do? Why is the interim superintendent Mr. Frost not asking these questions? Why are the Board Members not asking these questions? Why are we considering laying off teachers to save money when there is so much dead weight in the administrative office? Why has the board not read the most recent audit in the middle of a financial crisis? Why are the persons responsible for this financial crisis being moved to new positions within the district office instead of being let go? Why are the Board Members and Superintendents turning a blind eye to blatant nepotism within the administration? If you would like answers to these questions, please utilize the contact information at the end of this article. To further illustrate the severity and uniqueness of this situation, I direct your attention to an article in which Mike Fine, CEO of California's Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team states that "We’re very, very concerned about Plumas. They have already borrowed to a point they can’t pay back, and there has been some finessing of the data to make it look better than it is." Mr. Fine can be heard testifying in front of the California State Senate explaining that PUSD is likely to need an emergency loan in order to avoid going under. In the last 34 years, a state emergency loan has only been given out 9 times. To watch the video of Mr. Fine's testimony, go to the California Senate Media Archive, scroll down to 02/27/2025 Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education, click on WATCH and proceed to time stamp 1:25:50. Additionally, in a final attempt to help our district avoid the need for emergency state funding, the California Department of Education has sent Robert Shemwell to assist our districts business officials in doing their jobs. Mr. Shemwell can be heard addressing the PUSD board at time stamp 1:43:50 of the March 5 board meeting. In light of the obvious reasons for our district's serious and rare financial situation, one has to wonder what the intent of Interim Superintendent Jim Frost's letter to Staff, Parents and Community Members was. In this letter, Mr. Frost accuses the community of having "creative ideas" regarding the reasons for the district's financial situation. Interestingly enough, our "creative ideas" appear to be more in alignment with the findings of two consecutive, independent auditors than his whimsical explanations do. Mr. Frost continues to mislead the public by stating that "We are not the only district in this state facing the same situation." The statements and data provided in the previous paragraph directly refute this bogus claim made by our interim superintendent. How much are we paying him? Where did he come from? Who recruited, vetted and hired him? Why is Mr. Frost avoiding the elephant in the room instead of simply coming up with a plan to follow the clearly laid out corrective actions provided by the auditors? If you would like answers to these questions, I suggest you email him at [email protected]. We need a superintendent with the courage and intestinal fortitude to get to the root of the issues we are suffering from. We need a superintendent who will call out nepotism, incompetence and waste instead of sweeping it under the rug if we are going to fix the mess we are in. We need a superintendent that will tell the truth, be transparent and accountable and hold their subordinates to the same standards. Finally, and most importantly, we need a superintendent who will prioritize what is best for the children of this district, above all else. The district is currently seeking someone to fill the superintendent position. It appears they need our support in making wise decisions. While the hole we find ourselves in is deep, the way out is simple. We the people have lost control of our board, partially because they have forgotten that we are their bosses, and partially because we the people have become complacent and distracted from our duties. It is our duty and right to regain control of the board. We do that by simply paying attention, participating and holding those we have elected to do our will accountable for their actions. We are out of practice in this regard, but it is well within our capabilities and the system is designed to support us in this endeavor. The financial solutions to the current deficit are also simple and are provided in a few lines on less than 22 pages of both audits combined. We need to ensure that the persons we elect and hire to conduct our business for us are doing so in accordance with the law, internal policies and our will (and possibly find out what they have been doing in the meantime). If you would like to learn more about the importance and role of citizen participation, please watch my YouTube Video on this topic. Your voice and opinions matter. The state of our schools is the direct result of the community's lack of engagement with the school board. If you would like to become involved in the recovery of our school system or learn more about what is going on, please attend the next PUSD board meeting which will be held today, Wednesday, March 12, at the GES Multi-Purpose Room or watch it live on YouTube. OR, email each or any of the following persons: Interim PUSD Superintendent Jim Frost [email protected] PCOE Superintendent Andrea White https://www.pcoe.k12.ca.us/apps/email/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2718079 Board Member JoDee Read [email protected] Board Member Chelsea Harrison [email protected] Board Member Leslie Edlund [email protected] Board Member Joleen Cline [email protected] A discussion about how and why the citizens of Plumas County have lost control of our school board, how we can reclaim control and why it is our duty to do so (if we what to maintain sovereignty and thrive as a community). While this video discussion focuses on a specific topic, the principals discussed can be applied to all levels of government in the United States.
By Dan Kearns
In light of the fact that many are becoming aware of PUSD's financial situation, the following is intended to assist those who wish to dig into this topic. It is not surprising that PUSD finds themselves in financial dire straits. They are known to spend money on things that are unrelated to their stated Mission, Vision, Values and Goals such as purchasing and managing rental property. The Taylorsville Elementary campus, which has been used as a campground for Sierra Institute's summer programs for many years, sits empty all school year (despite the fact that the lights and heat are on). This inappropriate use (and wasteful non-use) flies in direct conflict with the wishes of the residents and taxpayers of Indian Valley. While the district spends money buying new buildings, the existing building is not in use for the education of our local kids. Additionally, there is the national issue of overspending on administrators. Student populations have grown by 7.6% nationally between 2000 and 2019. While the number of teachers as grown by 8.7%, the number of administrators has grown by 87.6%. Could the increased cost of unjustified administrators be part of the problem too? The turnover rate of district superintendents is alarming for several reasons. The fact that so many have quit over such a short time raises concern over why they may be doing so. Frequent changes in leadership also create instability in the workplace, which one would only expect to trickle down hill into the teaching ranks and classrooms. Additionally, the district has hired a consulting firm to help fill the superintendent position. How much is this costing taxpayers? All of this financial trouble comes after the district has received, roughly, an extra, unbudgeted $5.7 million over the past few years. That's right, as they announce a $2 million deficit, they cannot account for where this roughly $5.7 million has gone. This extra $5,712,005 in income comes in the form of $3,712,005 in ESSER III funding (covid relief) received between 2021 and now and $2 million in PG&E good faith funds given to the Plumas County Office of Education Foundation (PCOEF) in 2022. Where has this money gone? That is a question you may be able to have answered at the next PCOE/PUSD board meeting scheduled to be at Greenville Elementary School on March 12. Closed session begins at 4pm, open session starts at 5:30PM. What will happen to the $1.2 million in additional insurance money received from a Dixie Fire insurance claim? That is up to us to keep track of. Perhaps the following information is part of the explanation as to how the district has lost control of their finances. After submitting a Public Records Act Request to PUSD for the district's bank statements, it was learned that the items in PUSD's bank statements are encoded. As such, it is impossible to know what each deposit/withdraw was from/for without the code which is held by an IT tech for the county. According to the district's Chief Business Official, Mallory Marin, not even she can read it. So how is the Chief Business Official able to keep track of income and expenditures if she is unable to read district bank statements? Additionally, it was discovered that control of the districts accounts lies within the Plumas County bureaucratic system. This means that income for the district is sent to Plumas County and deposited in the appropriate account. When the school district needs to make a payment, an invoice is sent to the county, who them makes the payment. This means that the districts accounting responsibilities rest almost solely withing the bureaucracy of Plumas County. Additionally, it seems that the PCOE/PUSD board members would rather take more money from county residents to cover their deficit than they have created than hold themselves and the district accountable for their failure to manage district finances. This ordinance was rescinded by the board after receiving major backlash from county residents and officials. In conclusion, Plumas Unified School District's board of directors and administrators have misused funds, wasted assets, lost control of the budget, lost millions of dollars and tried to force the taxpayers to cover their mistakes. It is time we took control of this board and ensured that they refocus on their self-appointed duties of inspiring every child in every classroom every day, ensuring an exemplary education, having a balanced budget and being responsible and accountable for their actions and the results. To view the most recent board meeting, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFjCmmo-gKE To contact your representative board member, go to: https://www.pcoe.k12.ca.us/apps/pages/BoardMembers To contact district administrators, go to: https://www.pcoe.k12.ca.us/apps/contact/ |
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