One of the side effects of "district" elections appears to be a lot fewer contested elections. For B'game city council, we have races for two out of three seats this time, but at the school board level--Burlingame and SMUSHD--not so much. The DJ gives the run down
In the Burlingame School District, all trustee races are unopposed. Chaitanya Bhuskuyte is running for Area 2 seat, Katie Jay is running for Area 3, and Nicole Mustafa is running for Area 5.
The San Mateo Union High School District will likely see the same board as it has the past two years, with incumbents Greg Land and Ligia Andrade Zúñiga running again in their respective trustee areas unopposed.
If you are still trying to figure out how two candidates in a town of 31,400 people that live maybe a mile apart differ in skills and abilities because of their addresses, join the club. Would the races be more crowded without the arbitrary address limits? There's no way to be sure, but as far as school boards go, you couldn't have less choice.
Hey Greg! Where is the $40 Million?
An election would bring out these issues.
There is no election and therefore the candidates do not feel the need to be truthful with the public.
The SMUHSD has been awash with serious issues that require action and disclosure by the Trustees.
1. The incidents reported to the San Mateo and Burlingame Police are not going away.
2. The defrauding of the local and state investigators will now fall upon the Trustees as the Board was "well aware" of the extreme negligence and cover up.
3. The $40 million "loss" of the Crestmoor property debacle cannot be hidden from the public forever. The Trustees may have been "victims" but are now enablers and participants.
4. Public Record Act requests are being ignored as they will disclose the extreme negligence and violations of the law by the SMUHSD.
Trustee Land is the Burlingame representative and has an obligation to report to the PEOPLE.
$40 Million -Real Estate Sandal- What is being covered up and why?
In December 2020, the SMUHSD signed a contract with DR Horton for the sale of the 40-acre Crestmoor property for $125 million.
In late July, 2021, DR Horton cancelled the contract… but the SMUHSD administration suppressed the information from the Trustees and the Public.
The public was defrauded as DR Horton continued to be listed as the BUYER on the public agenda for August 5 and 12.
The fraud continued UNTIL Superintendent Skelly was unanimously granted his two -year $329 per year a contract extension on August 12, 2021.
On August 26, 2021- SMUHSD changes the name of the BUYER on the Agenda to SummerHill Homes and announces the Crestmoor property sale at $85 million
Zoom Links to President Griffin- August 26, 2021 SMUHSD Meeting-
A clearly embarrassed SMUHSD Board President Robert Griffin (a Certified Public Accountant by profession) announces an "Exclusive Deal" with Summerville Homes
“The builder placed a binding deposit with the SMUHSD,
prohibiting the district from negotiating with ANY other builder.
Zoom-cued to SMUHSD President Griffin
https://www.youtube.com/live/4eAUECntVZ4?si=kZ1sUOWpKZJoB6eg
Simple Math and Fraud
December 2020- Buyer- DR Horton- $125 Million
July 2021- DR Horton cancels the $125 Million Deal
August 2021 -Buyer- Summer-Hill Homes - $85 Million
How does the exact same Crestmoor High School property lose $40 million in value from July to August in 2021?
Trustee Land- Why does this continue to be withheld from the public. This is $40 million of the people's money and not YOUR money. The SMUHSD is mandated to act in a responsible, ethical, legal, and transparent manner.
Posted by: Where is the $40 Million-SMUHSD- Answers and Ethics needed | August 19, 2024 at 07:28 AM
This whole trend to walking into seats is very disturbing. What is to be done?
Posted by: Mom | August 19, 2024 at 09:20 PM
Hopefully we'll not only move away from by district elections but also folks will step up and run for these important roles.
Posted by: Jen | September 01, 2024 at 04:17 PM
“Vote for Pedro and all your dreams will come true.”
Napoleon Dynamite
Posted by: Spurinna | September 02, 2024 at 08:12 AM
Silence = Incumbency
- A public accountability by the Trustees could inform the public of the “issues and problems” of the district rather than just a continual drain on the public tax-dollars and a destruction of positive educational environments.
If the following information were made "public" there would be more candidates for SMUHSD School Board in Burlingame, Millbrae, and San Mateo.
Silence = Incumbency
How about Trustee Land hold a "State of The District" Town Hall here in Burlingame with a Q and A session? Some facts and truth would be refreshing.
Where is the $40 million from the botched Crestmoor Sale?
-$125 million contract price (12/20) slashed to $84 million “sale price”(8/21)
-Do the math and disclose to the people- Where is the $40 million?
-The SMUHSD Trustees “leveraged” by superintendents Skelly and Black (who were under investigation) to defraud the state and its investigators- September 10, 2021 “Letter of Support for Melissa Murphy.”
-The September 10, 202, document, submitted to the state investigators was constructed with a significant amount known fraudulent information “coordinated” with the Ms. Murphy to mislead and defraud the state.
Why have the Trustees engaged in multiple Brown Act violations and continue to refuse to produce Public Record Act requests? Acts of the Board MUST be ethical and transparent.
Former Superintendent Skelly and Deputy Superintendent Black were under state investigation by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing TWICE in eight months (2021) and Trustee Land and the Board knew NOTHING. Land states to the SM Daily Journal, “Land also shared disapproval for the CTC’s decision and claimed the investigation was “not done well.” Reflecting on the final appeal process, he said, “we have to see where that lands.” – (Aug 14, 2021- Trustees send fraudulent letter to the CTC on September 10, 2021)
While Skelly was under investigation by the state, Trustee Land and Board gave Skelly a Two-Year Contract Extension at $329,000 per year (8/21) knowing he had lied to, misled, deceived and withheld information from the Board. Once “caught,” Skelly resigned. (1/22)
The Board of Trustees is now fully aware of a long series of unethical and criminal actions from the SMUHSD district office, yet does nothing. The Trustees should not only contact the San Mateo and Burlingame Police, but FULLY COOPERATE with the police, providing evidence and requiring administrators and teachers to provide evidence against their peers.
Why did the Trustees enable and support these acts of extreme negligence and waste of public funds.
Trustee Land there are at least TWO cases with the Burlingame Police and the San Mateo Police that need your attention. These cases of violations of the law by teachers and the Trustees have helped to cover up the actions and black proper investigations.
The actions above are fully documented and the evidence has been submitted to the SMUHSD Trustees. In the aftermath, the complainants have been the targeted with retaliation by the administration and fully supported by the Trustees.
Trustee Land, based on the evidence you are holding, you have a right to blame Skelly, Black, Yim, and Murphy and hold them responsible for Gross Neglect of Duty and Gross Unfitness. If the Trustees will not hold these employees responsible, then the negligence is on the Trustees for its failure to carry out its Duty of Care.
-Gross Neglect of Duty
“… knowing falsification of any document or knowing misrepresentation directly related to licensure, employment, or professional duties.”
-SMUHSD Online Training Materials. (2024)
-Gross Unfitness
1. Fraud or misrepresentation
2. Admission of or engaging in, acts constituting criminal conduct, even in the absence of a conviction.
-SMUHSD Online Training Materials. (2024)
There is fraud... lots and lots of fraud!
Posted by: Silence = Incumbency-- No Incentive to Disclose-- No Challengers | September 02, 2024 at 08:48 AM
Where is the $40M? Are you suggesting someone got a kickback for the reduced price or what?
Posted by: HMB | September 02, 2024 at 05:27 PM
The Crestmoor property was under contract with DR Horton in December 2020 for $125 million.
The contract was "cancelled" by DR Horton in July 2021.
Superintendent Skelly made no report of the cancelled contract to the Board. There is NO REPORT of the cancelled contract to the public.
The SMUHSD Agenda's were constructed to "look like" the deal was active- Brown Act violations (how about criminal?)
The SMUHSD Board Agendas show DR Horton as the Buyer on its August 5 and August 12 2021 Public Agendas.
https://agendaonline.net/public/Meeting.aspx?AgencyID=126&MeetingID=84277&AgencyTypeID=1&IsArchived=False
August 12, 2021- Superintendent Skelly is given a Two-Year $329,000 contract extension.
August 26, 2021- The SMUHSD Trustees "announce" the sale to SummerHill Homes for $85 million.
How does a 40 acre Bay Area property "lose" $40 million?
SMUHSD Zoom Meeting
https://www.youtube.com/live/4eAUECntVZ4?si=za0-0upayGdnVDiT&t=850
Board President Griffin (making the announcement) is a CPA.
It is assumed that Griffin can read a Real Estate Contract and see that
$125m - $85m = loss.
The contract at $125 was an agreed upon price by the Buyer and Seller.
Fraud 101-
Trustee Land... where is the $40 million.
The document trail is the SMUHSD, SM Daily Journal, and the San Bruno City Counsel who "stumbled" on to this fraud.
Posted by: $40 million Fraud - SMUHSD | September 03, 2024 at 12:17 PM
How does a property "lose" $40 million in value, even in the Bay Area where land is scarce? Changing economic circumstances. But the misleading public agendas definitely need explaining -- a coverup to hide a deal gone south and subsequent fire sale for a district desperate for cash? Or something even more nefarious?
Posted by: HMB | September 03, 2024 at 09:25 PM
The SMUHSD was investigated for Brown Act Violations in July 2021 as a result of manipulating the public agenda.
The district office administration knew EXACTLY what they were doing.
They were defrauding the public to cover up extreme negligence.
The SMUHSD was "flush with cash" but there would be no commissions of fees paid without a "deal."
Posted by: July 2021 -Brown Act- Skelly KNEW what he was doing- screwing the public | September 04, 2024 at 08:24 AM
Redwood City has an open school board seat that no one wants to run for. Another districting failure.
Posted by: Mom | September 04, 2024 at 11:37 AM
Deep S%$T-
- How embarrassed will the SMUHSD Board of Trustee be when the $40 real estate scandal breaks?
The San Mateo Daily Journal's Mark Simon and Sue Lempert each wrote columns on the sale of the Crestmoor site.
They each offered nostalgic memories of the campus and the SMUHSD Boards actions to build and then to close the school.
Current Trustees Land, Griffin, and Andre-Zuniga are covering up the $40 million scandal.
The Crestmoor debacle and the Skelly-Black investigation by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing share the same calendar weeks.
These events also share the same law Firm- Lozano Smith.
The Trustees were legally represented (in each case) by the San Mateo County Counsel... who was taken for a long ride on a short rode.
These documented act of willful negligence have come at a great cost to the tax-payers.
Far more than just the $40 million loss from Crestmoor.
The public forgives those who investigate and not those who engage in a cover up.
Posted by: Deep S*#T- Crestmoor Sale Scandal Continues | September 09, 2024 at 07:28 AM
When the scandal breaks???? This is not breaking news. But things sure are broken.
Posted by: HMB | September 09, 2024 at 03:04 PM