BVN Opinion

Conflict of Interest in Madera National Little League Photos

ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE BIG VALLEY NEWS EDITORIAL

Madera - This Saturday my kids are taking their baseball photos for the Madera National Little League. Except this year there is a new photographer with a new contract. That photographer is Gomes Images owned by Billy and Cathy Gomes.

Both of the Gomes are on the board of directors for the Madera National Little League. Only Mr. Gomes was elected by the general population of the league. Mrs. Gomes was appointed weeks after the general election.

One Bad Apple Might Spoil Madera Schools Success

Another Exclusive Big Valley News Editorial

Madera - Madera Unifiedâ€™s John Adams Elementary School is being led by a "lame duck" principal who was recently reassigned back to the classroom by the school district. Under his leadership the multiple award winning â€œCalifornia Distinguished Schoolâ€ failed to meet its federal goals last year for the first time. One more failure and the school that was once the â€œGolden Appleâ€ of the district with the highest test scores, will fall into Program Improvement (PI) status and be on probation.

Teacher Work Slow Down: MUTA Needs Leadership Without A Personal Agenda

Another Exclusive Big Valley News Editorial

Madera - On the front page above the fold of Saturdayâ€™s Madera Tribune there was a photo of a smiling lady with the headline, â€œTeachers call for work slow downâ€. Why is this lady smiling and what is the story behind her smile?

A work slow down will only hurt the students; our children. Grades wonâ€™t be recorded in a timely manner. Progress reports wonâ€™t get to parents so that a student falling behind can get the help they need. Appropriate time will not be put into the development of lesson plans so that our students get the information they need to learn.

Why is this lady smiling when our children are going to suffer from a work slow down?

Garibay Attacks Public Comments at MUSD Meeting

Madera - Oh what a four years it is going to be at Madera Unified with the likes of Lynn Cogdill and Robert Garibay on the board of trustees. During public comment at last night's board meeting I brought up how Trustee Cogdill has been contacting my teenage step-son on Facebook with friends requests; requests that have been ignored and deleted. I questioned why a man of Mr. Cogdill's age would be contacting high school students on Facebook and whether or not that was appropriate.

With the way board president Garibay scolded me following my comments you would have thought I accused Cogdill of cheating on his wife, fighting to not pay his kids child support or saying he had no idea which of his kids were really his. He said my comments were out of line and inappropriate for that forum but where else would they be brought up?

EDThe Real PTA Shuts Down Clandestine Madera PTA GroupITORIAL:

EDITORIAL - If you are a fan of Facebook you have probably ran across a group on the web site who claims they are interested in helping the children of our local schools with purchasing supplies for the classroom. Madera Unified District PTA is a Facebook group created by an employee of Madera County Mental Health Department, Lynn Cogdill.

Cogdill is a candidate for the Madera Unified School District Board of Trustees District 2 as he returned his paperwork to the Madera County Clerks Office Friday afternoon. Realtor Edward McIntyre is also a declared candidate for the seat currently held by Phillip Jansen. McIntyre is the husband of former Madera County Supervisor Gail Hanhart-McIntyre.