Letter To The Editor: Schools' Union President Says It's "Time For Change"

Dear Editor:

The Cotati ­Rohnert Park Unified School district has been under the leadership of Superintendent Robert Haley for the past five years.

Superintendent Haley has changed the special education program to save money, threatened harassed and intimidated respected teachers who stand up for students, and spent exorbitant amounts on legal fees to defend his actions.

Over $100,000 went to the law firm of Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly in less than nine months. Since June of 2015, this Superintendent has spent $230,485.68 on legal fees. This is money that could be spent to improve the learning conditions for our students.

$230,485.68 is a lot of money! Since the economy has improved, the state has increased funding to the District. Isn’t it sad that instead of benefitting students, some of this new money is benefitting attorneys?

Our students, community, schools, educators, and staff deserve better leadership. The Superintendent is the School Board’s only employee. It’s time for a change in CRPUSD. The School Board needs to be more responsible to our students and community, and not just act rubber stamping the Superintendent’s actions.

Sincerely,

Maha Gregoretti, President

Rohnert Park Cotati Educators Association

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Fact Sheet

The Legal Services Spending Continues:

6/5/15 Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly $31,779.52

6/24/15 Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly $14,557.51

8/14/15 Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly $18,709.12

9/23/15 Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly $7,136.72

10/2/15 Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly $6,683.59

10/21/15 Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly $11,850.00

10/23/15 Girard & Edwards Attys at Law $1,305.00

11/20/15 Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly $20,360.33

12/18/15 Girard & Edwards Attys at Law $4,490.50

1/6/16 Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly $11,410.00

1/6/16 Girard & Edwards Attys at Law $10,405.00

1/20/16 Dannis, Wolliver & Kelly $36,282.39

1/22/16 Franza Giffen J.D. $29,000.00

1/27/16 Girard & Edwards Attys at Law $290.00

2/26/16 Girard & Edwards Attys at Law $16,226.00

3/2/16 The Law Office of McTier Makens $10,000.00

Total $230,485.68

The St. Helena School Board was recalled in part because they failed to curtail Superintendent Haley’s spending for legal services.

According to community members the district went from spending about $50,000/year in legal fees to about $700,000/year in Haley’s short tenure there.