Reader wrote on Oct 14, 2009 12:29 PM:

" The comment by 'Positive Parent' has the Shawn McCollough writing style ALL OVER! You had to resort to defend yourself, because no one else has done it! Good one, Shawn! "




Excuse Me wrote on Oct 14, 2009 2:54 AM:

" Excuse me, but, since when the misuse of public funds is a 'petty' issue or complaint? The use of a school district car for personal favors or personal errands IS misuse of public funds. Ask any attorney! "




I want his job too wrote on Oct 14, 2009 2:12 AM:

" And as usual, Mr. Coppola has censored a couple of comments that do not necessarily fail to stick to the protocol, but have a hint of inconvenience with his relationship with McCollough. Do you owe him a big "favor", Mr. Editor Coppola? "




NUSD employee wrote on Oct 13, 2009 9:22 PM:

" Dear "Makes you Wonder": I agree. Why isn't this letter and subsequent comments posted on the Front page or the Editorial page? The community has a right to know the number of highly intelligent individuals who are questioning those in charge of NUSD. Academic achievement is not being discussed because the person in charge of this department is more concerned with justifying their salary and placating favorites. Has the SID person come out to sites to help? No, all that has come from this individual/department is forcing teachers to give up individuality and creativity by mandating PACING guides that are enforced by principals or their designees who are not qualified to do so, since they have not had training in supervision. The SID person helps only certain sites, and during board meetings treats the members as if they are 5 year olds by speaking down to them, not that they would notice. And what about all that stimulus money the District was going to receive? Why, it went directly to teachers' salaries. What do you bet that these teachers are the ones on ESI, so that they can be riffed next year when these funds no longer exist? If I were on ESI, I would check my paystub to see from where I'm getting paid. Thank goodness I'm planning to retire soon. "




Ambitious wrote on Oct 13, 2009 3:33 PM:

" Yes, some employees are VERY ambitious! To the point as to have personal and very close relationships with the McCollough's 'crew'! What a way to negotiate administrative contracts! "




Makes you wonder wrote on Oct 13, 2009 2:05 PM:

" Why isn't this letter posted on the front of the NI website with 20+ comments? Hmm! It makes one wonder! "




Positive Parent wrote on Oct 13, 2009 8:20 AM:

" When people say or write "Only in Nogales!" it only means that following that overture will follow some sort of personal attack.
I don't hear solutions, proposals, recommendations for more parent involvement etc.
I also don't hear or see any comment having to do with the District's successes in the past year, or years.
From the Teachers and Aides, to the clerical and custodial staffs, all the way to the Central office and the superintedent, the first focus should be what is happening in our academic achievment first, NOT POLITICS!!
There are schools being recognized, there are programs that are being praised around the state, and there were gains in the AIMS test results in basically all categories among all schools.
The rise of Lincoln, Welty and Carpenter is not an accident, but proof that something positive is going on.
Instead of attack and attack, why don't parents visit the schools, talk to their principals and ask what they can do to help bring more change about.
Presently, the schools seem to have been sailing the dangerous waters of State budget cuts in a sensible and caring way, making sure no one is left without a job. I think this is a very important fact.
Nogales should be proud of its schools, be more supportive and more importanlty, stop with the personal attacks, that is not what our students need to see. "




NUSD employee wrote on Oct 12, 2009 10:03 PM:

" Dear Just Like That: Many individuals did DEMAND that someone hold McCollough accountable. Those individuals were the PEN people who were brave enough to stand up and file a grievance against the Superintendent. Do you recall what happened? The board slapped him on the wrist - rather, Nash probably told McCollough to play nice and apologize to PEN and it would all go away. And so it did, but the apology was only accepted by Krug. Investigate what happened at Coronado, and the ineptitude of the Grants and SID individuals. What exactly are they doing to earn top salaries? If Barajas was doing such a great job at Welty, why has he been shifted from position to position? If you want to investigate the top dogs of NUSD, you also need to start with what occured with PEN, how the mayor has bought into what's going on and other high officials in Nogales. But that would only occur in a perfect world, which we do not live in. "




I remember wrote on Oct 12, 2009 6:37 PM:

" I just remembered OTHER privileges that particular employee has had in NUSD. Who else would be able to take a 1 year sabbatical to go away and look for another job and then return to the same position (and pay) that has been kept "waiting" for him? ONLY in our little ol' Nogalitos Buddy System and Bambi's privileged support services!!! Any other employee would have had to re-apply and wait in line to get re-hired! "




I want his job too wrote on Oct 12, 2009 2:20 PM:

" Ay!!! el otro, you're ALWAYS defending Batman and Robin!!! You're definitely one of those favorite employees, too! Raising the test scores is no big merit as it was done. DEMANDING to the principals to do it and FORCING teachers to teach the test is definitely no big accomplishment. ANYONE can do that! ...On wanting the job... have you ever heard of SARCASM?!?!?! Petty complaints??? You call 'petty complaints' pointing out all the illegal practices your protector leads by? How much do YOU get paid??? "




Just like that wrote on Oct 12, 2009 1:56 AM:

" It is very simple: DEMAND from the Governing School Board a thorough investigation of those and other alleged illegalities (like the recommendation and hiring of an Assistant Superintendent (Zimmerman), whom has a letter of censure placed in his permanent certification record for falsifying certification information. Hiring done by McCollough without performing a background check and without posting or announcing the position. The hiring of another Assistant Superintendent disguised as a Grants Director. If the request of an investigation is not awarded by the school board, then a recall election of the school board members proceeds. It is that simple. "




el otro wrote on Oct 11, 2009 9:29 AM:

" So you all want a job that pays $500 every two weeks??? Looks like you should have some bigger ambitions. Maybe THAT is the problem with Nogales...not enough ambition. By the way, do you remember that NUSD increased test scores the largest margin in over 10 years? Could it be that McCullough and Crew are doing things correctly?? Or is that irrelevant? Probably is, as that would negate all your petty complaints. "




D. Enicks wrote on Oct 10, 2009 5:55 PM:

" I have been reading the comments on this outrageous situation. Yes, everybody knows, as we say in Spanish, Es un Secreto a Voces! Is there anyone with enough courage to say anything outloud??? Yes, a lot of people, but the point is the lack of support from colleagues and the subtle threats from top administrators. It is a slap on teachers' faces to notice that their hard work is not appreciated unless they are pleasing their bosses . Is this what hard working teachers need to do in order to be able to get an addendum or even raises? How demeaning!! We need to start appreciating our teachers' efforts if we want a better education for the children of Nogales. "




Butler Boy wrote on Oct 9, 2009 1:44 AM:

" Yes Nogalian Parent, all that favoritism does make you wonder: What does the driver know or what does he do? What are the favors given in reciprocity? Why does Mr. de la Rive allow his employee to perform those 'extra' duties? His driver duties have had to be delegated to other employees because he is too busy pleasing the bosses and does not have time to do his regular work. Only in Nogales "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours!" "




Another Tax Payer - and voter wrote on Oct 7, 2009 9:55 PM:

" It is truly sad our Governing School Board allows all this to happen.... I wonder: are they aware? Isn't there anybody with enough fortitude to notify them of the illegal practices of the school leaders? Do they just hear about all this during their weekly card games or rounds of golf and simply ignore it all? They forget they are ELECTED OFFICIALS and are: [authorized under the laws of the state of Arizona to adopt all needed policies and regulations for the organization, evaluation, and governance in the District] and ultimately responsible for everything that goes on within -and outside- the walls of the schools and offices. "




Concerned Nogalian Parent wrote on Oct 7, 2009 4:00 PM:

" Amazing, really? No, not really! Some district staff really DOES work and have many responsibilities as in a case I am familiar with. This man works as a lab specialist but accomplishes a technician’s duty without the pay. In the district for 5+ years and getting paid $1.00 more than minimum wage. WOW! Yeah but other people without a college diploma whether international or not are getting paid mega bucks $40,000.00 - 60,000.00 a year with a "maybe" associates or less. Yes, an associate’s degree or none and getting paid that obscene amount. Educators who have a masters plus do not get paid near to those amounts and they have the degrees. NUSD has new district cars and cushy jobs for people who are privileged or do not have the adequate papers, get paid an incredible salary. Hum it makes you wonder, why? Why are some soooooo privileged what do they know or what do they do to be so supported? You ask does the Board know, but of course they do they approve it, or don’t they? Like one author said little ol' Nogi living it up with the good old boy system. "




citizen wrote on Oct 7, 2009 11:43 AM:

" Are we really surprised by this behavior? Are we really shocked that this happens in Nogales? Unfortunately this town will never change. It seems that people in leadership positions are only in it for their own personal benefit, not the benefit of the citizens of Nogales. As candidates and employees, these people love to bash those in power for their behavior, but once they get into that position, they do the same if not worse. Take some responsibility!!!!! Help this struggling town! Do something for the students and citizens not for yourselves! "




We Are Watching wrote on Oct 6, 2009 7:53 PM:

" Yes, Mr. McCollough... we know you are reading this... (or someone is reading it to you)... The community is watching! "




NUSD employee wrote on Oct 6, 2009 2:46 PM:

" I had to laugh when I read the new comments today. McCollough & Zimmerman, and the School Board and everyone else in Nogales reads their slogans or mission statements or belief sentences WHEN IT SUITS THEIR PURPOSE OR CUANDO LES CONVIENE!! Sorry I hope I spelt it correctly. "




That makes 4 of us wrote on Oct 5, 2009 8:37 PM:

" Who is the warehouse driver's supervisor? Why does he/she allow this to happen? How come he doesn't make him 'accountable' of those lousy practices? C'mon, McCollough! Isn't one of your mottos "Accountability'? Where is the accountability? The mottos are posted all over the schools and the offices... Don't Zimmerman and McCollough read them everyday? What is the excuse? "




Disappointed Tax Payer wrote on Oct 5, 2009 8:20 PM:

" What an interesting town we live (survive?) in! The Mayor wastes the tax payers' hard-earned dollars by racking up thousands of miles driving the Tahoe everywhere he pleases. The leaders of our school system have their own personal chauffer-butler paid by the community. The guy drives around town wasting gas and wasting his time when he is supposed to be working!... And all of us who pay taxes pay for all this nonsense! I just LOVE little ol' Nogalitos! Why does our community and our school board permit all this to happen??? "




NUSD employee wrote on Oct 3, 2009 3:55 PM:

" I can remember back a few years when everyone saw Bambi drive Marsy around. Look where that got Bambi! So yeah, I want that job too! Too bad the School Board tabled promoting this current chauffer to NHS security. But never fear--he'll get his promotion, you betcha! "




I want his job too wrote on Oct 3, 2009 1:04 AM:

" Isn't that the same guy that the Superintendent recently tried to 'promote' to security officer without even opening a position or announcing it? Talk about the Nogales Buddy System at work! It did not take long for the 'new guys' to learn it, huh? That is what they want a tax override passed by the Nogales voters for, to have more money to waste in butlers paid for by our taxes!!! "




Poker Buddy wrote on Oct 3, 2009 12:38 AM:

" The warehouse driver IS NOT the only 'butler' the Supers have; just ask the Support Services and Tech Directors... among others! "




Shawn Zimmerman wrote on Oct 2, 2009 5:18 PM:

" Yes, Daniel, it is OK. Who asked you to write this, McCollough? "




Daniel wrote on Oct 2, 2009 6:11 AM:

" It's okay to publish a letter to the editor that's anonymous? "

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