Dedicated to Empowering and Informing the Burlingame Community

Parents Uniting for Nelson – Part 3

Scrolling through five or six pages of comments to get to the most recent ones on the issue of Mr. Nelson's transfer is tedious, so those who are interested in the history of this BHS issue can find the original post here and Part 2 here.  I have captured the essence of the current state from the comment stream in Part 2.  This will save us all a lot of scrolling and continue to give Mr. Nelson a venue to share important information.  As I read it the situation is

Oct. 7, 2017:

The United States Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is currently conducting its third (3rd) investigation of the SMUHSD surrounding the actions taken in retaliation against me.

The SMUHSD is refusing to produce ANY Public Record Requests surrounding this case.  BHS Principal Di Yim, SMUHSD Director of Special Education/504 Director Gloria Dirkmaat were "retired" over these issues.

The members of the SMUHSD Board promised an investigation of the issues at BHS. They never fulfilled this promise.  This "cover up"is getting expensive. The price tag was already over $100,000 in legal and investigation fees before this current investigation.

And from Jan. 8, 2017: 

The SMUHSD hired a Special Investigator, Chris Reynolds to interview teachers regarding issues at Burlingame High School.  Mr. Reynolds was paid over $10,000 for his services.

Despite the fact that the SMUHSD Administration explained to these teachers that the interviews were private and confidential, the BHS teachers collaborated with one another and coordinated stories to deflect guilt for their actions.

And from May 22, 2017:

The Burlingame English Department sits at the center of this fiasco as it became a "gossip pit," targeted students, and backstabbing those who spoke out against them. There are teachers who know nothing… but those who listened and did nothing are just as guilty. 

Lastly, the assertion was made that upon another teacher's retirement, Mr. Nelson qualifies for a return to BHS.  That is the central issue in my mind.  I manage a lot of people in my day job and I find value in having a few that are not afraid to speak up and point out problems.  One wonders if SMUSHD and the BHS administration feel the same?

 

Posted in

105 responses to “Parents Uniting for Nelson – Part 3”

  1. Joe

    Hollyroller, please stop asking me to stop this topic. It’s not going to happen so save your breath.
    Steve and KRN, have you had that coffee yet? 🙂

  2. KRN-

    We are setting up a meeting for that coffee and exchange of ideas!

  3. hollyroller

    OK

  4. KRN-

    Joe’s highlights above are near ground zero of the BHS issue. The next step is an SM County Grand Jury Investigation of how things went wrong.
    I have been patient in allowing the SMUHSD time to carryout their stated intent (Board Meeting of 3-24-16) of solving the problems at BHS and promising (on the record) my return. While I have filled the Board with evidence, I have allowed them time to investigate as they promised.
    According to the SMUHSD Collective Bargaining Agreement, I now have a right to return to BHS in the Fall 2018 as there is a teaching position open at BHS. I have filed an application with my intent to return. It is my hope that there are not actions taken in bad faith to cover up the opening or block my return.
    My legal and contractual right to return should stay in the sunlight for all to see. The Board should exercise ethics and good faith and live up to the contract and their agreement.
    The question is will the SMUHSD live up to its legal and ethical obligations as articulated by the Board members the night of my Involuntary Transfer?
    During the Board Meeting of March 24, 2016 -Board members advocated that they would support an Investigation of Burlingame High School in response to the Involuntary Transfer. After the transfer, the Board FAILED to direct Superintendent Kevin Skelly to conduct and investigation. Everything was covered up.
    In describing the issues.
    Board Member Marc. Friedman states ” the conflict is like a triangle. Mr. Nelson is in one corner, a group of teachers are in another corner is Ms. Yim all conflicting with each other.”
    On the record of 3-24-16,, Mr. Friedman continues to complain about the legal due process procedures as lawful complaints were filed against the legal and ethical wrongdoings of teachers.
    The Involuntary Transfer is a clear case of retaliation for blowing the Whistle. The SF Office of Civil Rights has found that all of my actions were “protected activities” but the transfer was not an “adverse employment action.”
    On the record, Mr. Friedman continues that he wished people could have “gotten a cup of coffee and talked things out to reach peace” From the beginning, I made multiple written requests for meetings with site and district administration to meet and intervene with these individuals, but these requests were all ignored.
    Mr. Friedman continues…”Under our Union rules after one year a teacher can be transferred back.”
    Mr. Friedman… do you plan to live up to your word and transfer me back to BHS?
    On the record of 3-24-16, Ms. Lees Dwyer. “After a year.. Kevin can return to BHS.”
    The SMUHSD spent over $10,000 on its initial investigation by Chris Reynolds:
    Mr. Reynolds primary finding:
    “Some (BHS) Staff exercised poor judgment when they e-mailed or made statements about Mr. Nelson to other colleagues.” –This is the foundation of the hostile work environment fortified by slander.
    Chris Reynolds Investigation Summary
    “The evidence concluded that the staff complaints about the situation were primarily based on staff problems with Kevin Nelson. Some Staff exercised poor judgment when they e-mailed or made statements about Mr. Nelson to other colleagues. Burlingame High School was very divided and the division noted during the investigation was centered around Mr. Nelson’s complaints against his colleagues over a two-year period that resulted in hard feelings and a breakdown in communications.”
    So if a Whistleblower files an official complaint, those who are accused have a right to collaborate and use district time and resources to create a hostile work environment in retaliation?
    I recently spoke to the California State Department of Education on Teacher Complaints and Credential Review. The department stated that the SMUHSD should have placed the teachers under the threat of perjury (under oath) to prevent answers that were lying or misleading. Since the Chris Reynolds investigation was only an employment inquiry, the teachers were free to lie, mislead, collaborate with one another and coordinated statements. Public Record evidence show that these actions took place at BHS.
    The SMUHSD Administration is now blocking Public Record requests (for over a year) regarding these incidents as they are aware of what will likely be produced. Initial Public Record disclosures illustrate cooperation and collusion among teachers as slander was passed from one teacher to the next.
    Why is there a cover-up? Principal Di Yim and Director of Special Education Gloria Dirkmaat were removed from the SMUHSD. (Retired) Another Associate Superintendent will leave January 28, 2018. One teacher (to be named later) filed a fraudulent Cease and Desist Order against my complaints…. a retaliatory violation of SMUHSD policy.
    In July 2015 the SMUHSD was found by FCMAT ( Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team) to be out of compliance with Federal Standards and mandates for Disabled Students. The district has spent over $200,000 to remedy the issue, but has yet to acknowledge its culpability in the matter.
    The Uniform Complaints filed against teachers are supported by evidence, Public Record documents, and the teacher’s own witness statements.
    It time to tell the truth and its time to hold the guilty teachers responsible. When the SMUHSD requests an employment investigation, they should expect that the adults they employ will tell the truth.
    I taught at Burlingame High School for 26 years.
    I started the Advanced Placement Government program at BHS in 1994
    I wrote and implemented the Advanced Placement Economics program in the SMUHSD and BHS in1997.
    BHS was the only school in the SMUHSD to offer both AP Macro and AP Microeconomics.
    These AP programs became the largest and most successful in the SMUHSD.
    I transitioned the BHS Graduation from the SMHS Auditorium to the BHS campus. I produced and directed the graduation for almost 15 years to rave reviews from the community and the School Board members who were assigned to speak.
    I took over the BHS and SMUHSD GATE (Gifted and Talented) Program and transitioned it into one of most recognized enrichment programs in the state.
    Ethical responsibility requires elected officials to back up individuals who are willing to take a stand against unethical actions that place our children in jeopardy.
    The teachers (The Mean Girls as they are known) not only abused students, but are willing to allow students to suffer so that they can avoid the consequences of their actions.
    More to come.

  5. Cathy Baylock

    Both our sons benefitted greatly from all three of your AP classes and shared a lifelong love of Economics thanks to you!

  6. hollyroller

    I am sorry that you have to go through this BS in order to get conformation of the Truth.
    KRN, you have an excellent “grasp” of the ideology of your peer’s.
    You will most likely win this “Case.”
    Do you believe you are “Strong Enough” to walk back into the BHS “Teachers Lounge?”
    Why would you even want to ?
    In my opinion, you are much better than this situation. Especially the “Sophomoric” BHS Educators.
    I guess it is difficult to adjust to being “Adult” when surrounded, and interacting with Teen-Agers.
    In every “published” event regarding your-KRN, BHS problems there was a complete lack Maturity, work ethic of “Adult/Educators, and ZERO Guidance from SMUHSD board members.
    Thank you KRN for fighting the “Good Fight.”
    This “Nightmare” you have lived through the last few years may even be a “Stepping Stone” for another special place.
    Thanks for sharing all.
    PS
    What was the reason for all this “Hooey” anyway?
    Thank you again KRN.
    The strength you have shared with us is inspirational.

  7. KRN-

    There is a reason people don’t speak out or take a stand. Look what has happened to me.
    When the SMUHSD made its decision to force my Involuntary Transfer (AFTER Di Yim resigned) one Union official stated to the SMUHSD, ” If you force the Involuntary Transfer of Nelson, you are sending a very loud and clear message the ANYONE who takes a stand will be punished. This is the clear message of the transfer.” That was the message of the transfer. Anyone who takes a stand against lies, slander and targeting of students will be punished.
    The short answer is that I took a stand for students who were being targeted and abused (bulling and emotional abuse) by a select group of teachers. The same group who then targeted me. I do not trust these individuals to abide by standards of ethics and the law as they are willing to “drag students through the mud” in order to demonstrate their “authority” or shift blame form their own actions.
    Federal law mandates that student issues and privacy remain confidential. This protects all students against the communication and disclosure of private information among teachers and/or the public. When private information regarding a student is disclosed to a teacher, the law mandates that the information remain private. The group of retaliatory teachers does not adhere to or respect the Federal Law and instead, acted as vigilantes by targeting children. When caught in their actions, they lied and blamed the students, parents, and others in order to deflect their guild.
    The did not expect that Public Record requests of their school based communications would be discovered to prove their actions.
    Through the negligence of the SMUHSD, it failed to recognize or take action to support these students. The negligence was disclosed in July 2015 when the state found the SMUHSD out of compliance with Federal standards.
    http://fcmat.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/07/San-Mateo-UHSD-management-letter1.pdf

  8. KRN-

    This is just one of a series of incidents at BHS
    The $5,000 – $10,000 Disciplinary Letter
    In Spring 2015, Principal Di Yim issued me a Disciplinary Employment Letter. (I have NEVER had a employment discipline issue in 26 years of teaching.) The issues listed in the by Yim were not only false, but were the product of her own negligence. I was assisting a student and family to drop my AP Macroeconomics class as the student did not have the proper preparation due to a scheduling error. This was very simple…. drop a class. The counseling staff and I approved the drop (at the start of the semester) but Yim rejected it. (Principals NEVER reject these types of agreements between teachers and counselors when it is in the BEST interest of the student.) Why did Principal Yim protest? Many-many-many students across BHS were dropping courses as Principal Yim had screwed up the BHS Master Schedule. She had failed to properly structure course pre-requisites and placed a non-required Speech course for Seniors during 7th period in the second semester. (they don’t need and won’t attend-basic knowledge in running a school) The Speech course was a “gift” to the teacher and now the course was going to be closed due to low enrollment and Yim would be blamed for the financial loss due to her poor planning. Principal Yim’s negligence was being communicated to the District Office (complaints by parents and staff) and she was fearful of losing her job.
    Yim decided to drag this student and family through the semester, ignored their requests to meet and used them as a pawn to cover up her negligence and look like she was doing her job. (She had already “lost” battles with multiple parents regarding dropping courses in the second semester.)
    After the school year was ended, Principal Yim issue me a Disciplinary Letter claiming that I had engaged in “Unprofessional Behavior,” for advising the student and parent on the process of dropping the course and appealing Yim’s decision to the SMUHSD District Office. Yim made the slanderous statement to the parents and the student in front of the Associate Superintendent Kirk Black. (I was informed of Yim’s comment by the student and family who came to me very upset that Yim was not only negligent, but blaming the student and teacher for HER error.) Public Records show that Yim and Black communicated regarding this issue as Yim pushed to file for discipline. Public records also show that Yim attempted to use the family meeting with administration against me, only to have the issue backfire as the student and family gave their full support to me and blamed Yim
    While the student/parent meeting took place in March, Principal Yim specifically waited until after the school year was over in June to request a meeting with me to issue the Disciplinary Letter. Principal Yim had waited because she was “Under Fire” from the BHS parents group who had requested Lame Duck Superintendent Scott Laurence to remove her from BHS at the end of the year. Most people expected Yim to be let go.. Laurence was leaving the district and stuck BHS with Di Yim for another year extension on her contract. Once Principal Yim had secured her employment, she came after me… that is why she waited. She feared that if she had filed the Disciplinary Action before getting her contract renewed, that the BHS Parents would push harder to get rid of her. She knew she was in trouble
    I declined Yim’s request for a disciplinary meeting (the date was outside of the school year and my contract requirement) and she then failed to properly issue the letter, holding it “over my head” for two months of summer. I finally had to contact the district administration and ask if they were going to file or was I free to go?
    Once I received the Disciplinary Letter, the issues outlined in it were fraudulent. The actions and policies cited by Yim were works of fiction. The evidence available to counter her claims was so readily available (some of it were actually posted on the BHS Schoolloop site)
    Prior to the end of the school year, the SMUHSD mysteriously “dissolved” my position as district GATE Coordinator, a position I had successfully held for eight years. The job had been posted and I was the only applicant. The only way that the SMUHSD could not rehire me was to eliminate the position….. so they did.
    I filed an employment complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing against Yim for slander and retaliation. It became clear that Yim issued the letter because I properly reported her for the now famous “Dick in the Box” sexually charged dance during the Little Big Game.
    The SMUHSD used its law firm Lazano-Smith to defend the district in answering the DFEH. Yim not only lied/mislead lawyers in her statement to the Lazano-Smith but the narrative written defend Yim was comical and in conflict with established policies and practices at BHS. In short, she BS’s her way through the lawyers and attempted to blame others at BHS for her actins, In addition, Lazano-Smith also added non-related information to its DFEH response in an attempt to further attack me. Since I had already filed Uniform Complaints against BHS teachers, the Lazano-Smith law firm went for the “jugular” to slam me in more ways than the complaint in its response to the DFEH. The Lazano-Smith law firm also padded its legal bill by doing the “extra” research and writing that was not necessary in the response.
    In the end, the SF Office of Civil Rights stated that my actions were “protected activities” in supporting a student and family and Principal Yim should have taken no action against me.
    During the semester of the incident and the filing of the complaint with the DFEH, I became the target of Di Yim. This was retaliation for reporting her for her “Dick in the Box” and the complaints filed against others for their unethical and inappropriate actions.
    After meetings and protests newly appointed Superintendent Kevin Skelly “threw out” the Disciplinary Letter but he could not reverse the damage done to me by Principal Yim through the process.
    The student dropping the class was a “non-issue.” Principal Yim was using it as a power play as she was forcing me out of teaching Advanced Placement.
    It backfired and continued a series of events that led to her removal and the Quid Pro Quo of my Involuntary Transfer. (There is no way the district administration is going to remove a principal and not take out the teacher as well)
    The Disciplinary Letter should never have been written. It was produced and presented with the backing confidence of the pre-Kevin Skelly SMUHSD District Office Administration..
    The cost to the SMUHSD for this fiasco is well above $5000 in legal costs at it served as yet another stimulus for the Office of Civil Rights to investigate the SMUHSD for discriminatory actions.
    Why did the SMUHSD knowingly allow Di Yim to make false accusations against me and then have to spend a large amount of public tax dollars to defend her lies?
    Someone on the Board should be able to answer that question.
    By the way… there were two students who wanted to drop the class. Superintendent Laurence approved the request to drop of the second student overriding Yim’s decision.
    Why didn’t Laurence just grant the requests of both students and save the time, money, and pain?
    This is why a Board member refers to him as our “$300,000 absentee Superintendent,”

  9. LM

    There seems to be a need for board member re-selection as well. Which of the board members supported the previous superintendent and Yim? Or if not overtly supporting but supporting by staying silent through this messy situation?So I don’t inadvertently vote them back into the board?

  10. KRN-

    Here is another one. Below is a different Disciplinary Letter.
    Employees who report the negligence of the SMUHSD become a target of retaliation.
    In May 2016 an email communication was sent to the SMUHSD Board Members (as they have received many) and the Office of Civil Rights.
    The communication was informing the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) that “information submitted by the SMUHSD in a previous investigation was in conflict with documents produced via Public Record and the SMUHSD’s statement needed to be reviewed.” A OCR review of the information could be problematic.
    Upon receiving the email communication, a SMUHSD Board Member contacted the SMUHSD Administration an instructed them to take action against me for sending the email. (This statement was made to me by the SMUHSD Administrator)
    I was issued a Disciplinary Employment Letter placing me on a “path to termination” for “Misuse of Work Time, this was the violation classification for allegedly “sending an email during student class time.”
    This was interesting considering that a BHS teacher has been running a Mary K. Cosmetics business out of her classroom and using the district email to communicate orders and billing with her customers (BHS staff).
    It is also interesting that the person who issued the disciplinary letter was also the focus of the communication being challenged with the Office of Civil Rights
    We live in an era where emails and other communications are sent via schedulers to ensure delivery and confirmation of these documents. The time stamp on the document is not an indication of when the “human” constructed the document or even pushed a button.
    The email questioned by the SMUHSD was not on an @smuhsd.org account, but one from a private source where multiple people have access. The SMUHSD was so quick to issue a reprimand that no one took the time to find out “where” it actually originated.
    “Shoot first and aim later.”
    The SMUHSD issued the Disciplinary Letter before completing any due diligence, including finding out if I was even sitting in the classroom.
    What is this important?
    I am a homeowner in the SMUHSD District. I am a tax-paying constituent with a right to contact my elected representatives without fear of retaliation in any manner.
    An SMUHSD Board member used their position to single me out (from any an all other communications) and requested my employer (whom the Board member supervises) to take action against me. Only employees who are also constituents can fear this action.
    As employees of the SMUHSD, should we fear speaking up when things are wrong because the district can actually taken employment action against us for expressing our points of view?
    Is it normal procedure for our elected School Board representatives to contact the employers of their constituents and target them for retaliation?
    Ethical Governance?
    Upon receipt of the Disciplinary Letter from the SMUHSD, I requested the name of the Board member who forwarded the letter.
    The SMUHSD official refused to name the Board Member who forwarded the document and requested action against me.
    I wrote to the Board and requested that the member who requested the retaliation, identify themself, so that I could review the communication sent to the SMUHSD Administration to take action against me.
    I received silence, as the Board member refused to take responsibility for their action.
    I then filed a Public Record request for the communication that generated this Disciplinary Action, the Board.
    The SMUHSD ignored the Public Record request as they have been refusing others over the past year.
    I was issued an employment Disciplinary Letter placing me on a path to termination for allegedly “sending a personal email during class time” without any proof to support that the communication was actually sent by a human or that I was even sitting in the classroom.
    This action was taken against me on the last day of the school year.
    This is just another retaliatory action against me for pushing to promote the truth. The SMUHSD wants to continue to bury its negligence.
    By the way… this Disciplinary Letter was forwarded to the Office of Civil Rights and it is the reason they opened investigation #3 into the SMUHSD.
    OCR Investigation get expensive with legal fees.
    This is just another reason why the SMUHSD does not want the SM Grand Jury taking a look inside the district.

  11. KRN-

    The incident above was May 2017… not 2016
    This was one year after leaving BHS… What was the point?

  12. KRN-

    How can a School Board member order/influence a school administrator to take action against an employee for submitting a lawful communication to the Board and the Office of Civil Rights?
    Dr. Kevin Skelly stated to me in a meeting November 2017 that the district was instructed by a Board member to “take action against Kevin Nelson” for sending the email.
    The Board member remains silent in the darkness, refusing to take responsibility for their action.
    No one cares about when an email was sent. The concern was the contents of the communication.
    These are just the “small items” that have transpired..

  13. Steve Kassel

    Just wanted to post some good news. I attend many music and sporting events at Burlingame High and quite a number of games involving BHS played at other venues.
    I’m very happy to say that I see Principal Belzer at virtually everything I attend, both home and away. I’ve told him how much it is appreciated and that families and students notice his attendance.
    Mr. Belzer has high school age children of his own so it’s particularly impressive that he makes the tremendous effort.

  14. KRN-

    In the letter outlining my Involuntary transfer from Burlingame High School; SMUHSD Superintendent Kevin Skelly cited two key elements:
    • “At the staff meeting when Ms. Yim announced her resignation, numerous staff members expressed grave concerns that the decision regarding your transfer might be reversed.”
    • “I have received numerous indications from BHS staff members that your presence at the school will negatively impact the necessary improvements at BHS.”
    I responded to Dr. Skelly’s letter with a simple request for evidence, “if there is a grave concern about the reversal of my transfer, then I believe that it can be supported with evidence.” What is the compelling concern and who is making it?
    Contrary to Dr. Skelly’s statement, an investigation by an outside individual (hired by the SMUHSD) found the OPPOSITE to be true at BHS. The investigation found that it was the SELECT GROUP of teachers who were responsible for creating and spreading the hostile work environment at BHS created as retaliation to the Uniform Complaints.
    BHS faculty members present at Di Yim’s resignation reported (to me) that it was these same teachers who went to Dr. Skelly, telling their lies and no evidence…
    The 2014 Investigation concluded:
    “The evidence concluded that the staff complaints about the Nelson situation were primarily based on staff problems with Kevin Nelson. Some Staff exercised poor judgment when they e-mailed or made statements about Mr. Nelson to other colleagues. Burlingame High School was very divided and the division noted during the investigation was centered around Mr. Nelson’s complaints (Uniform Complaints in line with Federal Law) against his colleagues over a two-year period that resulted in hard feelings and a breakdown in communications.”
    “Some Staff exercised poor judgment when they e-mailed or made statements about Mr. Nelson to other colleagues” (That is called slander)
    When I contacted Superintendent Kevin Skelly for the names and specific allegations of the BHS teachers as reported to him, I received the following response:
    Kevin:
    You have asked in your email below for the identity of your colleagues who have expressed their concerns about you. What is required by the collective bargaining agreement is to provide you with the reasons. That I have done. To protect the district and teachers at Burlingame High School who have spoken their concerns, I will not disclose their identity. I do not want you to be accused of further antagonizing those staff members, which will be less likely if you do not know their identity. I firmly believe that your transfer is in your best interest by giving you a clean new start as well as in the best interest of Burlingame High.
    Kevin Skelly, Ph.D.
    Superintendent
    San Mateo Union High School District
    Direct: (650) 558-2201
    In order to obtain copies of these allegations, I filed a public records request for all communications from BHS faculty sent to Superintendents. Kevin Skelly and Kirk Black as well as communications sent to SMUHSD Board members.
    The public record request turned up zero responses. There were no complaints filed by any BHS faculty against me. So where are the complaints?
    A fundamental element of due process and ethics is the right to review and defend against false allegations. In this case, even upon request, I would not be presented with the allegations or who made them.
    To this day, I have not been presented with a single piece of evidence to warrant my Involuntary transfer from BHS.
    The SMUHSD Board was elected to protect the students, parents, and community in the district, not protect those who retaliate against them.
    Lies are a powerful thing, but they have no roots and will come back to bite you.
    Thats a pretty good idea… the BHS teachers coordinated their stories and blamed the person who makes the report, charging them as the hostile individual in order to protect yourself and crime.
    The only problem is that they forgot their emails were subject to public record request.

  15. hollyroller

    Wow!
    You have really presented an incredible defense, and case in your favor.
    I believe you should not go back to BHS. However, I understand your reason to fight for your Honor.
    I am sure this BS is grinding you down.
    Take care of yourself, as well as those close to you.
    Good Luck.

  16. KRN-

    H-roller,
    I have not even posted the “Good Stuff.” The SMUHSD District Admin allowed BHS to get “out of control,” failed to properly address the issues, and are now covering up their own negligence.
    The SMUHSD Board Members took a position of “Restoring Peace” to BHS, but failed to hold responsible teachers who targeted students and parents in creating the conflicts.
    Superintendent Skelly actually defended Principal Di Yim for her “Dick in the Box” dance, blaming the senior boys for the action, after stating the dance was highly inappropriate. The dance was sexually inappropriate… before Yim came running on the field to join them in the “bump and grind.” Why does a well-paid public official defend inappropriate sexual misconduct by a principal in the workplace? Why wasn’t Yim held accountable for her actions? It was part of the deflection, Yim was never a central issue, she just screwed things up.
    During a district investigation of teachers at BHS, the SMUHSD “caught” a teacher who was targeting students and stalking their social media accounts to collect content to use against the students. When caught, the teacher explained that this “guilty pleasure” of stalking students was her “Time Suck” as she spent hours “clicking and clicking and clicking” through student Facebook pages.
    After being caught, a Uniform Complaint was filed against the teacher. In response, a SMUHSD high level administrator granted the teacher, “Anonymous Status” so that her identity could not be revealed to the public as she claimed she needed to “protect her identity.” Protect her identity from what? She was the one stalking the students!
    A detailed complaint was filed against the teacher naming her and outlining her actions and the SMUHSD responds by issuing a statement that it would not confirm her identity. WTF is that?
    In a legal filing with the San Mateo Superior Court where this same teacher was attempting to block the disclosure of her identity and record she writes,
    ” If my identity in this legal action is revealed to the public and the memo (documentation of getting caught) in question is disclosed to the public, I will suffer great humiliation and embarrassment. Not only would the release of the memo disclose private, embarrassing information about me, but I also am concerned that disclosure of memos of this nature will fuel gossip, be posted on social media, and lead to dissension among co-workers. I have young children and I do not want them to face embarrassment or questions about me.”
    So… after getting caught stalking students (to collect information) and being granted “Anonymous Status” to protect her identity (after getting caught), the teacher then asserts HER right to privacy because SHE is concerned about being embarrassed…for behaving like a teenager. There is a reason this/these BHS Teachers are nicknamed The Mean Girls,” because they act just like the bitchy/clique teens in the movie!
    In order to deflect guilt, the Mean Girls then collaborate and slander those students, teachers and parents who report them.
    This is just one more chapter in the world that was Burlingame High School… and these were the teachers.
    Federal Law prohibits teachers and school staff from identifying (in any way), sharing or making public student names and/or private information. These teachers did not believe that the law applied to them and got angry when they got caught and became the subject of scrutiny.

  17. hollyroller

    Sometimes the Truth is not the issue in these type of cases.
    It is about Power.
    Think about it…
    The entire SMUHSO Board, unable to address and come to terms with these “Unusual and Minor” management/ employee “complaint, should resign and direct a San Mateo County Grand Jury to review this case from beginning to end.
    The SMUHSO should all resign. Immediatlly.
    NO FAITH
    NO HONOR
    PS
    I can not stop considering the “Scuttlebutt” regarding Sex and the Race of both complainants.
    * believe me, I am aware of the communications between parties. Not all, but a few.

  18. Culture eats strategy for breakfast…

    My parents insisted that my sister and I start going to private school in 6th/7th grade because of the bullshit that public school culture /union bully culture creates to the disregard of the best interest of students, education, ethics, and even the law.
    I went on to graduate from a very competitive private high school with a top GPA, graduated from a top ranked private university, and a top ranked business school with my MBA.
    The essence of what makes most private schools better than public schools is that the private schools understand that their priority is to deliver the best possible education to their students. The students and their parents are the customer, and the customer is the boss, not the teacher’s union or the state government crumbling corruption.
    Principal Yim was a Wellesley alumnae and from a private school culture. She is probably very bright and successful individually, but might not have been the ideal leader for a public high school with high-strung, self absorbed parents matched with the heart of darkness teacher’s union HQ’d in Burlingame itself.
    She might have mis-cast in that principal role, but I’d blame the leadership of the school board who I also know well. The school board is full of close-minded, weanies with little to no leadership and charisma except having sucked hard enough on the Left wing teet to get their endorsements.
    Kudos to the charter schools that are intended to bypass the clusterf*ck that is California State Government and it’s Public School indoctrination machine.
    Best wishes to BHS and its students. I’d encourage The Parents of these students and those throughout California to get involved with your children’s education by directly tutoring them, and by electing school board members that aren’t just towing the party lines, but really focused on providing the best possible education for the students.

  19. KRN-

    Since the start of these issues, I trusted the SMUHSD Administration and Board to do the right thing.
    They failed.
    I agree…. this is a political power trip.
    I have the audio recording of the Board Meeting (3-24-16) the night I was transferred. Board Member Friedman takes the microphone and starts preaching about what everyone else should have done to “find peace” yet he isn’t willing to do the right thing himself.
    The Administration and Board’s failure to properly remedy these issues has cost the SMUHSD an additional $100,000 in investigation and legal fees.
    Rule #1. When you are a boss (Principal or Asst. Superintendent) you don’t get be friends with your employees. (Nor do you get to bump and grind with the teenage boys)
    Its one thing with your Rep in DC lets you down.
    This is the local School Board who can’t do right by the kids.

  20. Culture eats strategy for breakfast…

    KRN, Friedman is the King Weenie / Left Wing Suck-Up I was thinking about. He’s a University of Chicago Nerd-Non-Leader…
    However, I think that when Principal Yim agreed to join the pep rally dance with the male cheerleaders, she didn’t expect those cheerleaders to choose an inappropriate song. She probably neither knew the song or had taken the time to read the lyrics. Perhaps that was reasonable for any principal to trust that students wouldn’t play inappropriate music, and those students should have been reprimanded as a result.
    Principal Yim was hoping to be cool and fit in, and she overlooked double checking the music. That whole situation was blown way out of proportion.
    At the heart of the matter, seemed to be alot of parents with high-Burlingame-expectations that their child could get an AP class if they qualified/wanted to, etc.
    However, that’s where Union/Left Wing Rule fails. The Left Wingers always try to force utopia, and all they get is Animal Farm instead.
    You can’t agree to educate the entire world’s population, and also have enough funding for excellence like enough AP class capacity.
    And, Left Winger/Union types aren’t in it to help your child achieve excellence, but rather they want to provide a “Big Lift” for every last child, regardless of whether their families have committed crimes (misdemeanors) to enter our country and to enroll in our school system – illegally.
    Then, some of those teenagers (and their parents) bring their Imported Gang Culture with them as well. Some of my children’s classmates’ parents are MS-13 gang members, because they get bused in from EPA, and allowed to enroll and operate freely in our communities because the Left Wingers think that they’re being nice to pick and choose which laws that they will follow.
    Culture eats strategy for breakfast…
    You want a culture of excellence? Elect and hire people who have achieved excellence and who are independent thinkers and great leaders as well.

  21. KRN-

    You are right and wrong
    “Principal Yim was hoping to be cool and fit in, and she overlooked double checking the music. That whole situation was blown way out of proportion.”
    Nothing was blown out of proportion. The SMUHSD Administration (Pre-Skelly and Board) knew of Yim’s actions and did nothing.
    The skit was planned with Yim and she agreed to it The REASON she came out on the field was because the dance WAS highly sexual and inappropriate.
    This was the selling point to the students. The sexual content violated the rules and EVERYONE KNEW IT. The former Leadership Advisor (who was there) was outraged that the dance took place as it VIOLATED EVERY POLICY that had been established at the school.
    Principal Yim though she was going to gain popularity for her actions. She was not tricked, she was part of the show. Everyone looked to the “Dick in the Box” song but the real story was that Yim approved the entire thing.
    A responsible High School Principal WHO HAD BEEN TRICKED would have immediately addressed the students and parents that HER actions were wrong. She would have addressed the entire BHS school population THE NEXT DAY and explained that the dance was inappropriate and should never have taken place. Principal Yim DID NOTHING as she was a in on the entire thing. Principal Yim was reprimanded by Superintendent Scott Laurance (Never get involved in another school rally) but no one tole Superintendent Skelly who defended her.



    The proof…. the students were boo-ing Yim as they though she was going to stop the dance… instead she joins in with the boys She knew everything that was going to happen.. It would make her popular !
    One last thing in light of the sexual assaults on students by teachers.
    If there were reports of a MALE teacher stalking the social media accounts of a 16 year old FEMALE student, the teacher would be arrested.
    Why is a 40-ish FEMALE teacher who stalks young boys is given a free pass? It s just Murphy’s Law.
    The SMUHSD just got lucky this time. TimesUp goes both ways. Schools cannot ignore FEMALE teachers who are stalking male students for ANY reason.. just because its a reversal of fortune.
    And Yes… Yim was cutting AP courses to provide for “other” items on “her”agenda. Di Yim’s personal agenda was to “Destroy every element of history of BHS from existence.” (as stated by another BHS teacher)
    Lastly… A single member of the SMUHSD Board ordered the SMUHSD Administration to take legal Human Resource Action against me. On the last day of school, June 2017, I was issued an official employment reprimand (placing me on a path to termination) after a communication outlining a false report (filed by the SMUHSD) and evidence of extreme negligence of the SMUHSD was sent to the Office of Civil Rights. The SMUHSD Board member refused to identify themselves, but had no problem ordering an Administrator to go after me.
    Cover Up.
    No Trust
    No Confidence.

  22. KRN-

    The SMUHSD Board is blocking over a year’s worth of Public Record requests into these issues. It must be the Board as no individual in the Administration would flaunt the law and risk the SMUHSD getting sued by a pubic interest law firm.
    The requests are for documents, emails, text messages, etc of employees using tax payer funds to carry out the business of the school.
    The Palo Alto Schoo District is in deep trouble for suppressing the collection of evidence in investigations. The District Administration ordered their administrative leaders to NOT take notes on electronic systems as these items were subject to Public Record search and could be used in legal cases AGAINST them. The Office of Civil Rights investigating violations of sexual harassment discovered the practice of suppressing evidence and are taking the district to task for their failure to follow the law.
    The SMUHSD may have been led to believe that the BHS issue was a “squabble” among teachers.
    It was not.
    The distinct group of teachers believed that they were free to target and retaliate against teachers, students, and parents without any redress against them.
    The Board needs to produce the documents… This is why we have transparency laws and elections.
    Hanley, Griffen, and Dwyer are all up for re-election this year.

  23. Bruce Dickinson

    Guys, not to detract from the interesting discussion and revelations, but Bruce Dickinson distinctly remembers the dance video which gave the rise to Yim-gate. Yim didn’t just randomly walk into the performance and start dancing, you could tell it was practiced and highly choreographed, meaning she knew exactly what she was getting into–it was rehearsed!! Any student at BHS could refute this, but notice that so far, no one has.
    It’s pretty clear she was persona non grata and post her departure, no one seems to miss her other than a few people that have been left exposed. What’s the deal with some of the posters above defending her?
    Makes the daily White House press briefings look honest in comparison!

  24. KRN-

    There is not a peep about Principal Yim… except from the core of Mean Girls who befriended her, preyed upon Yim’s low self esteem,and used her to remain “above the law.” One of the Mean Girls stated, “I hated the way ‘they’ treated Yim!” Many of “these” teachers love teaching at BHS, but hate Burlingame parents, despise the wealth of Burlingame and mock the Burlingame moms (and dads) who contribute time to the school.
    The SMUHSD Board and administration were overwhelmed by the amount of complaints received about Di Yim… yet allowed her to stay at BHS and destroy the history, traditions, and culture of the school.
    Public records show via email communicaiton that Yim incompetence as a leader was known and documented. One small group of parents brought in Professional Management trainers in an attempt to help Yim to work with people, communicate, lead, delegate… well do the job she was hired to do.
    Public record of parent letters and communications show that in the last year, Parens just “lost it” in their letters to the Superintendent and were flat out outraged by the unprofessional and childish behavior of Principal Yim. (Adults do not walk around the campus sampling the lunches of students)
    Records show that Yim not only allowed the Mean Girls to do “as they pleased” but also allowed faculty to abuse one another. Despite requests on multiple occasions, a single teacher was verbally and emotionally abused by his department peers.
    The leader of the group had already abused three other teachers who left the campus in year’s prior due to the treatment.
    Principal Yim wanted the teacher gone, so she allowed to his peers to “gang up” on him with continued verbal and emotional abuse.
    They did not know that he documented the daily torment as well as verbally reported the incidents to peers each day.
    The abuse included an altercation by the Señor Leader of the teachers and the incident included conflict with a student. The student filed an incident report outlining the “irrational” behavior of the Señor Leader.
    Principal Yim did nothing… as did the SMUHSD. Superintendent Skelly was not in charge at the time and the Board was allowing Superintendent Lauraunce to take a $300 sabbattical from his job.
    The Board and District Office Administration are responsible for the environment created at BHS.
    The male leadership at the district needs to be trained in how to manage female staff. Ignoring the failures of a leader are not a matter of gender. They are a failure to lead. Female staff were given a “pass” for negligence while males were transferred or let go. The record on gender is clear and available.

  25. Culture eats strategy for breakfast…

    KRN, very interesting insight, thanks for clarifying. I was just trying to be positive, but I hear what you’re saying.
    Although Friedman is still King Weenie.
    That’s why so many families pay a tremendous amount of additional money to send their kids to private schools- they don’t want to be beholden to King Weenie and Left Wing Extremists like him. BHS probably fueled demand for our local private schools tremendously.
    I hope that one day male and female staff, and male and female students, and staff and students of different races and even of different political parties can just be treated equally.
    So-called Affirmative Action must go, it’s hypocritical and wrong.

  26. KRN-

    The name and the statement “Culture does eat strategy for breakfast” is very true. its not just the culture for students… but for all participants in the environment.
    Burlingame High School lost its way and allowed immature “adults” to abuse students.
    When A’s hire B’s and B’s hire C’s and C’s hire D’, then your organization is in trouble … but the C’s feel important about themselves.
    The culture of caring for and educating students shifted to culture of controlling and abusing students. This was the result of hiring less than competent teachers.
    Uniform Complaints regarding the violation of district, state, and federal laws were filed against teachers for ignoring and abusing the rights of students. Because the SMUHSD was out of compliance with their knowledge, training, and application of the law, while these incidents were “investigated,” teachers were allowed to lie and mislead the administration and these issues were “swept under the rug.” The teachers who were the recipients of the complaints and investigations (and were very aware of their embarrassing and humiliating actions-as stated in legal documents by one English teacher-) retaliated against the students and their families and created a dysfunctional and hostile work environment at BHS.
    In 2014-15, the SMUHSD spent over $30,000 in legal and investigation expenses to look into these issues. The investigator failed to place the teachers under “oath (as suggested by the State Board of Education) and these teachers lied about or suppressed information about their actions. (The teachers failed to understnd that their emails would later be subject to Public Record requests and their lies would be exposed.)
    In July 2015 The SMUHSD agreed to participate with the Fiscal Crisis Management Assessment Team to allow a collaborative investigation of the SMUHSD’s negligence with ADA-504 and Special Education. The FCMAT findings held that the SMUHSD was out of compliance with the Federal Law. The district was negligence in constructing or implementing a coherent policy to apply legal protections for students with disabilities. These are EXACTLY the issues where Uniform Complaints were filed against negligent teachers and administrators.
    A 350% increase in legal fees
    “A final factor in reviewing the overall special education delivery system is the expense of legal costs and settlements. A brief analysis of district data on legal costs for the past three years found that legal fees increased 350% from 2012 to 2013. The director of special education and the associate superintendent of student services should review the past three years of complaints and analyze trends as well as review legal and settlements costs. This analysis should be provided to the SELPA director, and a professional development plan should be developed and implemented.” FCMAT
    • v The SMUHSD Division heads who were responsible for this negligence were “removed.”
    • The Director of Special Education/ADA-504 Director -Gloria Dirkmaat
    • The Associate Superintendent of Student Services- Andy Parsons
    • BHS Principal Di Yim was also “removed” for her own negligence of leadership.
    The SMUHSD then was required to spend at least $200,000 to corrent the issue and more to implement new programs.
    I was a Whistle Blower on these issues and took stand for students. Yes, I crossed the line and reported unethical teachers.. and they retaliated against me.
    The SMUHSD allowed this tight group of teachers to slander me (and the students) as they were in fear of getting caught. Despite multiple requests for intervention, the SMUHSD refused to intervene and remedy the situation. BHS was allowed to fall apart because the SMUHSD was negligent in its duty to understand and apply the law. Many students were damaged as a result of the childish behavior of these teachers.
    The SMUHSD Board is fully aware of these issues, but it had taken no action besides removing me.
    Here is an open invitation. Lets put all of these teachers, members of the Board, and the members of the administration in a room and have an Open Conversation about what transpired. The evidence in place tells a much different story than the actions taken by the Board.
    This has been a very expensive fiasco that could have been avoided.
    A culture of negligence prevailed at BHS and allowed an dysfunctional environment to prevail for both students and teachers.
    The A’s hired the B’s, the B’s hired the C’s, the C’s hired the D’s… and now the C’s think they are the Best of the Best.
    No… you are not. You are negligent.
    http://fcmat.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/07/San-Mateo-UHSD-management-letter1.pdf

  27. KRN-Boys and the “Mean Girls”

    This is what happens when C’s hire D’s
    The “Mean Girl” teachers and gender at BHS.
    The “Mean Girls” would often verbally complain about how unfair they were treated only to then target male students and faculty. Principal Di Yim allowed the “Mean Girls” a platform and allowed them to do whatever they wanted.
    These adult female teachers would openly engage in conversations/texting with female students about their personal issues and sex lives. These female teachers would openly trash BHS boys in conversations with the female students and among themselves in the staff room.
    The “Mean Girls” behavior became unacceptable as allegations against young males become commonplace. After a “boy-girl” weekend incident involving BHS students,, these female teachers fueled the “rumor” mill, spreading false allegations against the male teens. The adults were worse than the students as they gossiped to one another and created an adverse environment for the teen males. One teacher, who had been off BHS campus at a conference for Mon, Tue, and Wed, stated “by Thursday at noon, I knew every piece of dirt and filth that went on. These women could not stop themselves from spreading rumors about students.”
    Principal Yim also actively discriminated against young males by openly shaming them and focusing on male students as those who were to blame. In the incident mentioned above (where Yim also sent out daily summaries via email to the faculty) Principal Yim announced at a faculty meeting that in this incident, the girls were the “accusers” and the boys were the “abusers.” According to the person in charge of the school, the boys were guilty. The police investigation concluded that Yim statement was not true.
    Principal Yim also presented the following to the BHS faculty for discussion:
    Memo from Principal Di Yim to staff January 27, 2014
    CONCERNS:
    • Latino students test scores
    • Discipline is a huge issue
    • School 5:1 suspends boys (district 3:1)
    • Reverse bell curve re: Grades (start strong, finish weak)
    • Predominately female staff vs. male behavioral issues
    SUCCESSES:
    • Females are not discipline issues. 

    The data collected from BHS staff reports a Predominately Female Staff who has issues with males. The 5:1 suspension ratio of males is a product of the conflict between female staff and teen boys.
    Female staff reported problems with male behavioral issues results in males being suspended at a 5:1 rate (at BHS) over the SMUHSD rate of 3:1. Female staff did not like the fact that teen-age boys, can’t sit still, posture themselves, talk, smell, etc. (normal teenage boy behavior) and would “write them up” for these issues. If you don’t like or understand teen boys then why are you teaching high school? Therefore at school with a properly educated female staff, the suspension ration of males would be lower. At BHS, boys were suspended for being boys. The report also cited that females were NOT a discipline issue.
    Rocket Science analysis. BHS is a school with a predominately female staff who states that they have fundamental issues with male behavioral issues and that results in a 5:1 suspension ratio for boys, BUT girls are not a discipline issue. This is a school that is discriminating against male student for being male.
    When Principal Yim was asked to divulge the source of her data, its meaning, or hold a meeting to discuss the content, she refused.
    When the SMUHSD Title IX Officer was forwarded this information and asked to review the data and the situation for possible federal violation, he refused.
    If you were a parent of a male student at Burlingame High School under the reign of Principal Yim, this data may resonate with you.
    One female senior English teacher is known for her dislike of males and will not engage with them. She often uses her position as a teacher to shame boys in class or set them up for disciplinary action. She will call them out (in class in front over everyone) and use schoolyard taunts to put down the student or his work. When the male student responds to defend himself, he gets detention or suspension for defiance.
    A few years back she flunked ten students on the day of graduation. Eight were males and most were Latino. She refused to speak with the students or the parents and failed to take any action to intervene.
    Discrimination.
    This was the environment at BHS.

  28. KRN–SM County Grand Jury

    The posts on this site are for the consumption of the San Mateo County Grand Jury.
    On March 24, 2016 SMUHSD Board Member March Friedman express grave concern that the Grand Jury would evaluate the SMUHSD’s action (or lack thereof) in this case.
    During a previous era, the SM County Grand Jury read the BV to pick up information on the SMUHSD scandal regarding the use of General Fund money for Capital Expenditures.
    The SMUHSD allowed Superintendent Sam Johnson to spend $85 million from classroom expenses to pay for construction…. then he resigned… and then the SMUHSD named an Auditorium after him.
    Please feel free to post you comments for the SM County Grand Jury to consume.

  29. KRN–SMUHSD -refuses to produce public documents

    2007-Taking a stand against Unethical Behavior
    2018 Same issues- new era Why am I in trouble now? –
    Why is the SMUHSD Blocking Public Information Requests?
    In 2007, the SMUHSD was an organizational and financial mess.
    February 09, 2007
    The SMUHSD must pay down its debt
    An Ethical Solution to the SMUHSD Financial Mismanagement
    http://www.burlingamevoice.com/2007/02/the-smuhsd-must-pay-down-its-debt#comments
    “The San Mateo Union High School District will soon be selling bonds to raise $278 million approved by voters for school construction in Measure M. The district is also restructuring $73 million of Certificates of Participation (COP’s) that were dubiously issued by the district to pay for additions? to its first bond, Measure D. ”
    After the SMUHSD spent $73 million from its classroom fund on construction and then hid the debt from the voters in a ballot measure, the district was going to “skimp” on security for the schools.
    I took an active role in calling out the SMUHSD Superintendent and Board for their highly unethical behavior and for failing to protect teachers and students.
    I wrote to the Board and Superintendent and demanded Columbine Locks for the Schools. I took an active role in calling out the SMUHSD leadership on its fiscal impropriety.
    Was I wrong them?
    “San Mateo Union High School District campuses are getting special locks to safeguard students, faculty and staff in case of a lockdown.
    Superintendent David Miller announced at Thursday night’s school board meeting plans to install the locks, which can be engaged from inside a classroom.
    Miller said teachers from Aragon and Burlingame high schools approached him last week about the locks. The district’s goal is to have them installed in all 450 of its classrooms by the Thanksgiving break at a cost of $80,000 to $120,000.
    Burlingame High School economics teacher Kevin Nelson said recent school shootings like the one earlier this year at Virginia Tech highlight why the locks are needed. He referred to them as “Columbine locks” after ColumbineHigh School in Colorado, which experienced one of the worst school shootings in history in 1999.
    Nelson said an incident last school year at Burlingame high, in which the school went on lockdown after a suspicious person was seen on campus, shows the need for the locks. One teacher barricaded a classroom door with desks, he said.
    “With the inside locks, that gives us another level of protection,” Nelson said.
    https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/09/14/schools-install-interior-locks/
    Removed for Speaking Out! – Di Yim was a deflection
    I was given in Involuntary Transfer from Burlingame High School because I took a hard stand against illegal and unethical behavior that was having an impact on students. The SMUHSD was also negligent in updating and implementing its Americans with Disabilities Act-504 practices, damaging many students. (The number of ADA-504 identifications have skyrocketed now that the SMUHSD has properly implemented the law… yet they don’t want to admit they were wrong.)
    Rejection of Public Record Request- Public Trust?
    Public Record Requests have already produced evidence of lies and wrongdoing by BHS teachers and SMUHSD Administration. As a result, the SMUHSD is now refusing to produce requested public documents and refuses to follow the legal requirements mandated when rejecting these documents.
    The SMUHSD has been in violation of Gov’t Code § 6255(a) as it has failed to meet the standard set out in the statute to produce Public Records.
    The district’s rejection, cites what is known as the so-called “catch-all” exemption found in Gov’t Code § 6255, is not enough to meet the standard of law.
    ” In terms of your subsequent CPRA requests, those requests are unduly burdensome as they are overly broad, unfocused, duplicative, and the information sought has no reasonable value. Per Government Code section 6255, the public interest served by not disclosing the records clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure. Accordingly, the District does not intend to respond to those requests.”- This is the response I received AFTER the SMUHSD’s law firm Lazano Smith approved the disclosure of the records. Why is the local SMUHSD Administrator able to shut down this request?
    The catch-all exemption requires the SMUHSD to demonstrate “that on the facts of the particular case the public interest served by not disclosing the record clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record.” Gov’t Code § 6255(a).
    The use of the “catch all” exemption does not justify non-disclosure, as the district must set forth facts showing that the public interest in not releasing the documents “clearly outweighs” the interest in disclosure. While I am sure that some individuals at the SMUHSD would not like their negligence out in the open, the public has a right to know.

  30. Union Power Corrupts…

    Union Power Corrupts…
    https://www.facebook.com/prageru/videos/1707136319329217/

  31. KRN–SMUHSD -No Unions Involved in this one.

    Union Powe Corrupts…
    The Union is not representing me in this case.
    It is the SMUHSD Board of Education and the SMUHSD Administration that has failed to take action.
    The Union’s position is that “they do not engage in Teacher against Teacher actions… that is the responsibility of the district.”
    In this action… I am a parent, teacher, member of the Burlingame Community (BHS is the home school of my address and I have a RIGHT to send my children or any children who rent my home there) and tax paying member of the community.
    If my elected officials on the SMUHSD Board cannot see fit to protect our children, abide by the laws and policies of the state and federal government, then maybe they should give up the free Health Benefits and move on.
    The SMUHSD Board is blocking the public from the truth…. Ethics 101, “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants”
    More to come…..

  32. hollyroller

    I am glad that you are putting all this information forward.

  33. KRN–SMUHSD -Election Year is coming

    To quote the Film Jaws, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat!”
    It would have been one thing to just screw up. Its quite a different story to screw and then continue to cover it up because you “think you can get away with it!”
    A Lie has no roots……
    When a Board member takes an action against a constituent for reporting issues they are no longer serving the public… they are serving themselves.
    When is the last time an elected official called your boss and requested that an action be taken against you?

  34. Deep Throat-Liar-Liar-Pants on Fire-SMUHSD Lies

    In any other work place, these employees would be fired by their company for colluding and lying about work place incidents.
    In the SMUHSD, its called another day at work.
    This is only one of many pieces of evidence covered up the by SMUHSD of teachers engaged in unethical behavior. After this email, BHS teachers openly discussed the investigation and “coordinated” stories to ensure they would not get caught.
    They didn’t realize their school based emails or school computers were open to Public Record requests.
    In July 2013, SMUHSD contacted Burlingame High School teacher Melissa Murphy (and others) to informed her that she would be under “further investigation” for a complaint filed against her. Public records show that Murphy had already been interviewed three times by the school site principal, district office HR, Assistant Superintendent Kirk Black, and then Black and Superintendent Scott Laurence. According to Public Records, in each of these interviews, Murphy had made “lies of omission” by knowingly withholding information and acting in insubordination to her superiors. She also gave misleading statement to throw off the investigation and failed to comply with a workplace investigation. In addition, SMUHSD leaders accepted her “lies of omission” as the truth (despite evidence and detailed complaints to the contrary) and granted her “anonymous status” causing significant problems in conducting an ethical investigation.
    Murphy was informed (again) by Associate Superintendent Kirk Black’s office that the investigation was private and confidential (like all issues that involve students) and that she was not to communicate with anyone about the details or proceedings.
    Teacher Melissa Murphy was under investigation for stalking the social media accounts of students and making false reports to school officials against the students. (Public Record shows that Murphy personally states that SHE engaged in this process for over a year, and detailed her “guilty pleasure” as her “Time Suck.” Murphy was a vigilante against the students she did not trust, like or had issue with. The SMUHSD was opening a “wide scale” investigation of Murphy (and others) after she lied and mislead site and district administrators about these issues during initial investigations.. Public records show that in at least three initial and different interviews at the site and district level, Murphy misled administrators and withheld information about her activities against students.
    If an adult MALE teacher were stalking the social media accounts of teen FEMALE students what would be the response of the SMUHSD?
    Immediately after receiving word that she would be investigated, Murphy used the SMUHSD email server to contact fellow BHS teacher Jen Rohrbach to inform her of the investigation (Murphy believed she had evaded complete investigation and this announcement was devistating)
    Murphy had lied to her BHS faculty peers about her actions and had instead pushed blame on the students and parents. Public records show that despite her claims of having no knowledge of the incidents, Murphy had been engaged in monitoring and tracking these students for a significant period of time . Public Records show that Murphy stated that she been working with her English Department peer Shane Karshan on tracking students.
    While Murphy’s comment show that she was initially distraught over the announcement of the investigation, she responds to Rohrback:
    Melissa Murphy writes to Jen Rohrback: “Actually, this may be what we want. More teachers will be interviewed—the pool will widen-more crazy will be public. And Di is sure to know.”
    Jen Rohrback responds to Melissa Murphy,
    “Then you need to “Covertly reach out to Nicole Perrea, Josh Gnass, Shane Karshan and Kathy Payne… start with the first three…beware of the 4th, not sure where she stands. Again I encourage you to chat with Morgan Hallabrin …make it personal with her…Maybe her family will take you under their wing and represent you because its just….oh..and crush Craig’s balls… he needs it. Remind him women have bigger and there is more pain to come.:) ”
    (These are real emails from Public Record Documents on SMUHSD servers)
    Teachers plotting against students and parents! Lets just lie!
    Somehow… BHS teacher Jen Rohrback knows most ALL of the teachers involved in the incident (despite it being private) and encourages Murphy to get these teachers to collude and align their stories. English Teacher Morgan Hallabrin’s family are lawyers and Rorhrback is strongly suggesting that Murphy get them on her side. Craig Childress (crush Craig’s balls) is the CTA President and was initially representing Murphy during the initial stages of the case. Public Record shows that Murphy actually had a lawyer in place BEFORE a complaint was filed against her. (How do you KNOW you need a lawyer unless you committed a crime?)
    This email is just the start of a three-year journey where BHS English Teacher Melissa Murphy and others will continue to slander the student and parents on the BHS campus in order to deflect attention from their unethical actions.
    These statements and others are Pubic Record of the SMUHSD. The SMUHSD Administration had an obligation to intervene in these issues… and did nothing. Why?
    The Administration took the bait. They bought into the lies hook, line, and sinker. They are now too embarrassed… and liable to reverse course.
    .
    Other BHS teachers “bought” the story they were told. Blame the WhistleBlower. Too many people know Murphy is crazy… SMUHSD Administration does nothing.
    In the end… its the students who are damaged.
    What did the Associate Superintendent know and when did he know it?…..

  35. Deep Throat-Liar-Liar-Pants on Fire-I’m embarrassed… and stupid

    If you doubt the above statement, you only need to look to the following about BHS Teacher Melissa Murphy was posted above…
    In a legal filing with the San Mateo Superior Court where this same teacher was attempting to block the disclosure of her identity and record she writes,
    ” If my identity in this legal action is revealed to the public and the memo (documentation of getting caught) in question is disclosed to the public, I will suffer great humiliation and embarrassment. Not only would the release of the memo disclose private, embarrassing information about me, but I also am concerned that disclosure of memos of this nature will fuel gossip, be posted on social media, and lead to dissension among co-workers. I have young children and I do not want them to face embarrassment or questions about me.”
    So… after getting caught stalking students (to collect information) and being granted “Anonymous Status” to protect her identity (after getting caught), the teacher then asserts HER right to privacy because SHE is concerned about being embarrassed…for behaving like a teenager.
    The document was filed ad DOE 1, but Murphy signed her actual name to the document which is posted ONLINE to the San Mateo Superior Court for all to see.
    Who was Melissa Murphy’s immediate friend at BHS… new Principal Di Yim….. Girls Club.

  36. KRN

    The SMUHSD failed to require its employee to follow local, state and federal law. This negligence created significant conflict between teachers and students as well as among teachers on the BHS site. BHS teachers openly violated these policies as they not only refused to adhere to and implement federal and local policy, but also lied when questioned by SMUHSD investigators. During an investigation, employees are informed (via district policy) that they are expected to cooperate (telling the truth) and the absence of this act is insubordination.
    When a teacher lies about her actions in order to protect her own identity or actions, in violation of state, local and district policy, this is in subordination.
    When a principal and Associate Superintendent are made FULLY aware of slander and highly unethical behavior by teachers against students and parents, this is insubordination.
    When a Spanish Teacher is ORDERED by an Assistant Principal to stay away from a student, his work, and his online schooloop gradebood, and the teacher violates that order, its insubordination.
    Burlingame High School is a “dumpster fire” because of insubordination.
    Former Principal Di Yim flat out lied about students and teachers to save her own job… it failed.
    The SMUHSD is currently blocking Public Record requests that would further disclose these actions and make the public aware of the arrogance and negligence of the SMUHSD leadership.
    The SMUHSD Board had been made fully aware of these actions and has done nothing. Why?
    The three elements of Insubordination
    The local, state, and federal laws are clear.
    Work Directive
    Insubordination starts with the employee receiving the supervisor’s or employer’s order to perform a job task. Examples of a supervisor’s work directive include verbal or written instructions to perform a job task, whether it’s a temporary assignment or duties that a supervisor expects the employee to perform on a consistent basis. The first element of insubordination is the existence of a work directive, supervisor’s order, formal job description or implied set of duties.
    Acknowledgment
    The acknowledgment doesn’t need to be in writing and in most cases isn’t. It simply means that the employee understands the work assigned and that it’s been assigned to him. By the mere acceptance of a job offer, an employee has indicated that he understands what’s expected of him and agrees to perform the job duties.
    Refusal
    After the employee receives the assignment, work directive, instructions or job offer, her refusal constitutes the third element of insubordination. The refusal could be overt, as in the employee saying she won’t do the work, or covert, in which case, she just does not do the work. This element of insubordination needn’t be blatantly disrespectful to be insubordinate.

  37. hollyroller

    Wow.
    Holy Cow.
    I am very concerned that you-KRN, are spending to much time with this issue.
    The minutia you are sharing with the BV is obviously not creating a wave of Citizen support.
    Please consider your defeat.
    Sometimes,(and it is a fact)the wrong people win.
    The good/righteous loose.
    For your own welfare please seek professional help ASAP.
    Move on to the next part of your life.

  38. KRN

    Thanks Holly… but the its not about a Citizens Wave of Support.
    Its about making sure that our elected public officials know that the public is aware of what they are doing…. or not doing…. while they collect their fully funded healthcare
    I don’t have the money for three billboards

  39. KRN

    Holly… while many do not post, they come to this watering hole to have a look at what transpired at our high school.
    This blog has issues covering everything from vaping in class to PSAT scores…..
    Wouldn’t you want to know of your student was required to sit in front of a teacher who was stalking her at night?

  40. KRN

    Still going…..
    Why should these people “get away with it?”
    “The SMUHSD has made known false statement to the Office of Civil Rights as it has refused to correct its statement despite the presence of substantial evidence to refute the statement.”
    In November 2017 I met with SMUHSD’s Superintendent Dr. Kevin Skelly and Associate Superintendent Dr. Kirk Black regarding my Public Record Requests that the district is refusing to provide. While Dr. Skelly acknowledged the receipt of the requests and his responsibility to fulfill them, there has been no action to produce these documents. Despite the acknowledgement and approval to produce the CPRA’s by the SMUHSD’s law firm Lazano-Smith, the SMUHSD has refused to fulfill CPRA requests for over year. Lazano-Smith requested that I “narrow the scope” of my requests. I agreed to the offer of Lazano Smith and agreed to the reductions specified by the SMUHSD. (see Lazano-Smith rejection of request) Despite my acceptance of the legal offer of Lazano-Smith, the SMUHSD refused to fulfill the public record request.
    At the end of our conversation, Dr. Skelly brought up the communication to the SMUHSD School Board member which produced a Human Resources Written Warning to me, placing me on a track to termination.
    Dr. Kevin Skelly stated to me that the district was instructed by recipient of the email, a member of the SMUHSD Board of education to “take action against Kevin Nelson” for sending the email.
    Why does the Board want action taken against me?
    In the comfort of the Superintendents Office, this Board member was “feeling their power” “talking with the boys” and used their authority as an elected official to punish an employee.
    I have made multiple requests for the identity of the Board Member who made the request. They refused.
    If you are an elected official you stand up and take responsibility for your actions.
    The board member is hiding behind the office rather than taking an ethical stance.
    Coward.
    If I come to the next Board meeting and ask…. in public for you to stand up for your actions will you admit to your actions?
    We need elected officials who take responsibility for their actions,
    Holly… this is why I post.
    We need honest representatives… not those the take a hit on others and hide.

  41. hollyroller

    Thank you for the Good Fight you are putting up.
    Get some rest, keep working out, and don’t forget to take care of the people who love you.

  42. KRN

    By the way…. I have traded hundreds of emails with SMUHSD District Office and Board members.
    There has NEVER been any type of negative communication towards me until…
    In the communication where I was issued a warning and the communication where I was given a written write up each detailed the actions of an SMUHSD Administrator who submitted false/misleading information to the Office of Civil Rights and/or was blocking the disclosure of Public Records where this same individual was a central figure in the disclosure request.
    Why would ONLY these two items centered around the same individual cause an employment retaliation?
    It would be funny if the person who was the central figure also issued the employment reprimand….. or would it.
    Don’t blame the messenger for the message… or the Whistleblower.

  43. WASC Report-BHS Teachers don’t like one another and don’t feel safe

    Burlingame Backstabbing: The following data is from the BHS WASC report- teacher comments about the work environment
    The problem really isn’t with the students. Almost 1/3 of the teachers don’t like each other and don’t feel safe at work.
    I guess now we know why the students are complaining. It the teachers don’t like one another, it must be much harder on the students.
    (This data was collected from the teachers)
    Table A4.10
    Supportive and Inviting Place to Work (29% do not approve)
    
Disagree -23%
    Strongly disagree 6%
    Question A.12: This school is a supportive and inviting place for staff to work..
    Table A4.12
    Staff Support and Treat Each Other with Respect (31% say no)
    Some adults 23
    Few adults 7
    Almost none 1
    Question A.41: How many adults at this school support and treat each other with respect?
    Table A4.13
    Promotes Staff Trust and Collegiality (43% say no)
    
Disagree 33%
    Strongly disagree 10%
    Question A.13: This school promotes trust and collegiality among staff..
    Table A4.14
    Staff Have Close Professional Relationships (42% say no)
    Some adults 35 %
    Few adults 7 %
    Almost none 0
    Question A.40: How many adults at this school have close professional relationships with one another?

  44. hollyroller

    I do not understand the point you are making/sharing with us all.
    In my opinion, as well as first hand experience, your description is “Norm” of 96% of every workplace in the US.

  45. WASC Report-#BHSCleanhouse

    Most companies make “products.” The data above is about a place that will impact your children for many years.They are required to attend. Is this the type of place where you want to send your children?… to a place where the adults “report” that they do not trust or support one another?
    A place where almost half of the staff cannot have a “professional relationship” with one another.
    A place where one third of the teachers do not respect one another.
    Kids are not stupid. They see right through all of this…. and then they emulate it.
    How is this safe for the students?
    Bitchy judgmental teachers create bitchy judgmental kids!
    Is this reflective of the most successful public schools?
    No.
    #BHSCleanhouse
    Our children do not need a toxic environment.

  46. Consider the Source

    This information above comes from the Healthy Kids Survey from the 2016 school year. The faculty scores around issues of trust, collegiality, and relationships are best understood as a consequence of one teacher’s treatment of the majority of the faculty over the course of the 21016 school year. The problem was resolved through that teacher’s transfer to another school. The 2018 data for BHS school climate, respect, and trust among faculty shows a completely different reality from the picture presented above, which uses obsolete and selective data to support one person’s views and obsessions. The atmosphere at BHS is anything but “toxic” since that teacher was transferred to another school, and has since become, once again, a community of teachers who work together well and work hard to meet the needs of every student. Great place to work and my own son is getting a great education at BHS.

  47. Onlythecriminalwouldknowthismuchaboutthecrime@#BHSCleanhouse

    Et tu, Brute?
    Consider the Source….. the information was factual data and submitted as part of the BHS WASC report… isn’t that a reliable source?
    Consider the Source, you must be an insider to know where the data was derived and to contradict it with “new data” the 2018 data (which is referenced but not presented ) and then draw conclusions from the non-existant information.
    Without any information, you then correlated the “perceived ” change in atmosphere (not presented) with the transfer of the teacher rather than other factors….such as the departure of Principal Di Yim
    Amazing conclusion…you must be an insider.
    While you personally may feel this way, its quite a leap (or a relief) to correlate the events and the transfer as you have in your post.
    I’m sure this could be a Time Suck…
    As you must well know, the complaints against Principal Yim by teachers, students and parents (written and documented) (and subsequent YimGate) were more than substantial…. but that couldn’t be the reason for your argument of a change in attitude….from your inside position…
    You must be an insider and a participant with your personal knowledge of these events to be able to “see” these facts without any other sources of information. Amazing…
    Read a few posts up…
    “lead to dissension among co-workers. “- Yep… it did.
    In a legal filing with the San Mateo Superior Court where the BHS teacher was attempting to block the disclosure of her identity (why would she block the disclosure of her identity if her actions were lawful and ethical?) and she writes…
    ” If my identity in this legal action is revealed to the public and the memo (documentation of getting caught) in question is disclosed to the public, I will suffer great humiliation and embarrassment. Not only would the release of the memo disclose private, embarrassing information about me, but I also am concerned that disclosure of memos of this nature will fuel gossip, be posted on social media, and lead to dissension among co-workers. I have young children and I do not want them to face embarrassment or questions about me.”
    Some people have nothing to hide…. others are fearful of exposure.

  48. Onlythecriminalwouldknowthismuchaboutthecrime@#BHSCleanhouse

    Consider the Source… watch what you step in or who you take your information from…. once you get the stink on you, its hard to get it off.

  49. Deep Throat-Liar-Liar-Pants on Fire-Deep Lies Deep Damage

    Consider the Source… as a member of the BHS English Department… do you really trust your peers?
    Do you believe that your are looking into the gates of the Asylum when you are actually looking outward as you are surrounded by those who are responsible for the issues at BHS and not the victims as they may claim.
    “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”
    You should take a look at the facts rather than the “stories” told. The guilty have woven stories to deflect their guilt.
    Investigation Summary-Issued to the SMUHSD
    “BHS Staff exercised poor judgment when they e-mailed or made statements about Mr. Nelson to other colleagues. Burlingame High School was very divided and the division noted during the investigation was centered around Mr. Nelson’s legal complaints against his colleagues over a two-year period that resulted in hard feelings and a breakdown in communications.”
    Murphy lied to her BHS faculty peers to deflect from her actions and had instead pushed blame on the students and parents. Public records show engaged in monitoring and tracking these students for a significant period of time, collecting information on the students to use against them. Murphy called her practice or tracking down students on the internet, a “Time Suck.” Public Records show that Murphy states that she engaged in this practice with the collaboration of her peers, specifically citing English Department peer Shane Karshan. This collaboration took place AFTER Karshan threw “a fit” in the BHS English Department about an issue which was later attributed to his own negligence.
    Parents have filed complaints against Karshan for making false allegations of cheating against their children in order to make himself “look tough.” How did the parents find out… somehow they all contacted the SAME lawyer over three different years. The lawyer saw the pattern.
    Upon learning of an investigation into her behavior… Murphy was initially distraught and emails BHS Teacher Jen Rohrback:
    Melissa Murphy writes to Jen Rohrback: “Actually, this may be what we want. More teachers will be interviewed—the pool will widen-more crazy will be public. And Di (BHS Principal Di Yim) is sure to know.”
    Jen Rohrback responds to Melissa Murphy,
    “Then you need to “Covertly reach out to Nicole Perrea, Josh Gnass, Shane Karshan and Kathy Payne… start with the first three…beware of the 4th, not sure where she stands. Again I encourage you to chat with Morgan Hallabrin …make it personal with her…Maybe her family will take you under their wing and represent you because its just….oh..and crush Craig’s balls… he needs it. Remind him women have bigger and there is more pain to come.:) ”
    “Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind.”
    Consider the source… is this what you mean when you describe ” a community of teachers who work together well?” They have been able to collaborate and collude… up to now…. but the shit is about to hit the fan.
    Murphy’s signed statement (mentioned a few time up in this thread) to the Superior Court has already sealed the deal. She did it… she just “spun” it to you… and your peers.
    As an English Teacher at BHS, If you participated or had knowledge of these issues at the time and did not report them (since there is evidence that this was a discussion item among the members of the English Department) then you may also be held liable for the actions against students… These teachers “sucked up” to Di Yim who was eventually shown the door for her own behavior. Its easy to blame others when attempting to deflect guilt. But its not like a nationally published author is going to get damaged by being linked to this type of behavior when the shit hits the fan. Remember…. if you go forward and tell the truth first… you are most likely not going to get charged.
    The damage done by this these types of lies by adults run deep.
    … there is much more where this came from.
    “They whose guilt within their bosom lies, imagine every eye beholds their blame.”

  50. Deep Throat-Liar-Liar-Pants on Fire-Lawyered UP-Getting Up with Fleas-

    BTW Consider the Source… ask your colleague who is a member of the “community of teachers who work together well and work hard to meet the needs of every student” why she spends her time stalking students.
    How is that meeting their needs? How about the BHS English Teacher who purposely trashed the GPA’s of prospective Valedictorians by grading them on the family status and wealth (documented) That is really screwed up!
    One last thing… According to Pubic Records, Melissa. Murphy had a CTA lawyer in place before a complaint was filed against her. CTA does not issue lawyers unless there is a request. This would mean that Ms. Murphy knew that she was in “deep shit” for her stalking actions and “lawyered up” before things got started.
    Be careful who you defend as Professional Colleagues… it may come back at you.
    “He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas”

Leave a Reply

RECENT COMMENTS

RECENT POSTS

CATEGORIES

ABOUT THE VOICE

The Burlingame Voice is dedicated to informing and empowering the Burlingame community.  Our blog is a public forum for the discussion of issues that relate to Burlingame, California.  Opinions posted on the Burlingame Voice are those of the poster and commenter and not necessarily the opinion of the Editorial Board.  Comments are subject to the Terms of Use.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

All content subject to Copyright 2003-2026

Discover more from The Burlingame Voice

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading