Review of NJESD Authorizer Oversight Released

A third party review of the NJESD's Charter School Authorizer Oversight was released on March 30, 2017, after several months of analysis by an external panel.

The purpose of the groundbreaking review, a review no state, regional, or district has embarked on previously in California and likely the nation, was to ensure that NJESD is providing effective program and fiscal authorization and oversight for its independent charter schools and for any future charters approved by the district’s governing board. NJESD implemented a self-study of its practices and procedures in the summer of 2016 and invited a panel of charter school experts in the fields of charter authorization and oversight to review it, validate its findings, and make recommendations for improvements to its current and new practices, policies, and protocols. NJESD convened this panel on September 30, 2016.

The panel was:

• Carol Barkley, retired Director of Charter Schools, California Department of Education
• Dr. Mick Founts, retired San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools
• Cathi Vogel, retired Chief Business Officer, San Francisco Unified School District

Dr. Ting Sun, California State Board of Education, was invited to be on the panel but did not participate in the Third Party Evaluation to avoid appearance of conflict of interest. Attorney Megan Macy did not participate in the Third Party Evaluation after the introductory meeting due to her role as counsel to the district.

NJESD's Self-Review can be found here.

The full report can be found here.

Associated Media Release

California Public Records Act Requests

Fiscal Year 2018-2019

SmartProcure.Com (See Request and District's Response)

REQUEST
From: Samantha Lemessy [mailto:slemessy@smartprocure.com]
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2018 8:23 AM
To: Lisa McHugh <lmchugh@njes.org>
Cc: David Thoming <dthoming@njes.org>
Subject: SmartProcure Public Records Request - Status Update

Good morning,

I hope this email finds you well. This is a follow up to the voicemail I left earlier. Just touching base with you to see if we can possibly receive a status update in regard to the public records request submitted to the New Jerusalem Elementary School for any and all electronic purchasing records from 2018-05-25 (yyyy-mm-dd) to current. The request is limited to readily available records without physically copying, scanning or printing.

The specific information requested from your record keeping system is:

1. Purchase order number. If purchase orders are not used a comparable substitute is acceptable, i.e., invoice, encumbrance, or check number
2. Purchase date
3. Line item details (Detailed description of the purchase)
4. Line item quantity
5. Line item price
6. Vendor ID number, name, address, contact person and their email address

If you would like to let me know what type of financial software you use, I may have report samples that help to determine how, or if, you are able to respond.

Please email the information or use the following web link. There is no file size limitation:
http://upload.smartprocure.com/?st=CA&org=NewJerusalemElementarySchool

If this request was misrouted, please forward to the correct contact person and reply to this communication with the appropriate contact information.

If you have any questions, please feel free to respond to this email or I can be reached at the phone number below in my signature.

Regards,
Samantha Lemessy
Data Acquisition Specialist
SmartProcure
Phone: 954-420-9900 ext. 555
Email: slemessy@smartprocure.com

DISTRICT RESPONSE:

Hello Samantha,

We will work on this request, but I have to tell you I think your approach is horrible.  While your request is 100% legal, and we will comply, what your company does is bad for kids.  We are a small school district and we have to spend time (money) to respond to your requests so you can make a profit.   The money lost by responding to your numerous requests could have been spent in our classrooms, on field trips, or on art supplies.  You and your business are disgusting and I plan to utilize social media, the press, and any other outlet I can think of to expose how you do business.

(Jeff, please post this request and my response on Facebook so our families know that there are companies out there using the California Public Records Act for profit.  I’m sure they will be shocked.  In addition, please prepare a press release.)

Sincerely,

David Thoming

California Teachers Association

Fiscal Year 2017-2018

Transparency California

California Teachers Association

Fiscal Year 2016-2017

Tri-Valley Learning Corporation

Manteca Unified School District

Tri-Valley Learning Corporation