APS Supt Winston Brooks' golden parachute is a little less golden after the APS School Board decided to not give him his usual; a three year extension worth $750K.
If last year, APS School Board President Marty Esquivel had been asked why he and the board voted to give Brooks a three year extension on his contract, he would have lead you to believe it was because the school board has confidence in him.
And now, Esquivel would have interest holders believe that the school board's confidence in their superintendent is undiminished, despite everything that Brooks has done lately and over the years to diminish it.
What is a golden parachute after all, except a vote of confidence?
And what is a smaller golden parachute after all,
except a vote of lesser confidence?
Why did Marty Esquivel deny an allegation that hadn't yet been made? Why did he then try to make it all about better relations with the NM PED, as opposed to Brooks' record of misconduct?
Because Winston Brooks' evaluation took place in meetings in secret, interest holders have no idea what actually happened or what exactly, was considered in his evaluation.
For example; were the lawsuits in which Brooks is and was a named respondent considered?
The Board is supposed to have reviewed the facts in those lawsuits in order to protect their constituents' interests. It is likely that they were not reviewed as part of the evaluation. It is likely in fact, that the board has never reviewed the case analyses of any those cases, this though they have that oversight obligation on behalf of their constituents over administrative spending on litigation.
They didn't allow public input during the evaluation.
Was any input from anybody considered, or was the
discussion only about what to do to save face?
Was student discipline under the Brooks superintendency evaluated? What data did they consider?
Were teacher and employee morale considered? What data did they review?
There are good and ethical reasons for politicians and public servants to discuss and act on some issues in executive session; meetings in secret from interest holders. The law allows politicians to redact records and discuss issues in private in order to accommodate legitimate public interests.
The APS School Board has gone way beyond ethical redaction of this very important process. They have hidden more truth than the law requires. They have told far less truth the law will allow.
They are hiding the record of Winston Brooks' public service from the people whose power and resources are entrusted to him and his public service.
- They didn't fire Brooks because it would mean they had picked the wrong guy in the first place and, then over-compensated him afterward.
- They didn't let Brooks go because it would cost $100K and a year to find his replacement. And because they would have to buy out whatever is left in his current contract extensions.
The people have no idea how their power and resources were spend in these meetings in secret. No records have been produced, no record was made, no data has been shared. Why hide everything? What hide any thing if there is nothing to hide?
Esquivel would have you believe the Superintendent still has their full confidence and by logical extension is worthy of their full confidence - and ours.
Esquivel can hide the public records of Brooks' evaluation because he has full confidence in the Journal; that they never ask him to produce the records that were considered as part of Winston Brooks evaluation.
 |
| Journal Editor Kent Walz |
vote no confidence in
the Journal and Kent Walz?
Esquivel photo Mark Bralley
Walz; ched macquigg
6 comments:
A new lawsuit against Winston Brooks was recently filed. He covered up Janet Neal's battery on a school administrator.
Case details:
Susana Stanojevic v. Board of Education for Albuquerque Public Schools, et. al.
CASE NUMBER D-202-CV-201308750 FILING DATE 11/01/2013
CURRENT JUDGE Huling, Valerie ALBUQUERQUE DISTRICT
PARTIES TO THIS CASE
PARTY TYPE PARTY DESCRIPTION PARTY # PARTY NAME
D Defendant 1 BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
D Defendant 2 NEAL JANET
P Plaintiff 1 STANOJEVIC SUSANA
ATTORNEY: GILPIN DONALD G.
CIVIL COMPLAINT DETAIL
COMPLAINT DATE COMPLAINT SEQ # COMPLAINT DESCRIPTION DISPOSITION DISPOSITION DATE
11/01/2013 1 OPN: COMPLAINT
COA SEQUENCE # COA DESCRIPTION
1 Tort: Assault and Battery
PARTY NAME PARTY TYPE PARTY #
REGISTER OF ACTIONS ACTIVITY
EVENT DATE EVENT DESCRIPTION EVENT RESULT PARTY TYPE PARTY # AMOUNT
11/21/2013 SUMMONS RETURN P 1
Served Def 11/21/13
11/07/2013
11/01/2013 ARB: CERT NOT SUBJECT
11/01/2013 JURY DEMAND 6 PERSON
11/01/2013 OPN: COMPLAINT
Complaint for Damages
JUDGE ASSIGNMENT HISTORY
ASSIGNMENT DATE JUDGE NAME SEQUENCE # ASSIGNMENT EVENT DESCRIPTION
11/01/2013 Huling, Valerie 1 INITIAL ASSIGNMENT
Posted at: 04/19/2013 9:59 PM | Updated at: 04/19/2013 10:18 PM
By: Danielle Todesco, KOB Eyewitness News 4
It has only been a little over two weeks since UNM named Craig Neal the new head coach of the Lobo men's basketball team. Now, Coach Neal's wife is in the spotlight.
Janet Neal is accused of aggressively confronting an Eldorado High School administrator.
A police report says Janet Neal had been feuding with Assistant Principal Susan Stanojevic at Eldorado where their son Cullen starred on the basketball team.
The report says Janet Neal felt like Stanojevic was bad mouthing her to other people about swearing at the games. The report says it came to a head in February when Neal confronted Stanojevic after a game at Sandia High School.
Stanojevic told police Neal grabbed her arm and pulled her in a jerking motion. She says Neal started yelling in her face so closely that she spit on her face. Stanojevic reported that even after she pulled her arm away from Neal and started to walk away, Neal's son Cullen had to pull his mom away from her.
Neal's attorney would only say that she categorically denies the allegations.
An Albuquerque Public Schools Police Officer backs up Stanojevic's story, saying that she saw what happened in February and that Neal is known for how "hot headed" she can get at the games.
Stanojevic told police she was afraid of Neal because she is a "scary person" who is "volatile" and "unpredictable."
The school district officer, who claims to have witnessed what happened, also reported that Eldorado's principal recommended that Janet Neal be suspended from attending the basketball games because of her behavior. But an school district spokesperson said Friday that they are denying what the officer is saying.
Janet Neal told the Albuquerque Police Department she was suspended from one game, but she contacted school district Superintendent Winston Brooks and that was lifted.
APS said Janet Neal was never suspended from any games. The district's spokesperson also denies that the officer saw the fight between Neal and Stanojevic.
The police report has been forwarded to the Office of the District Attorney for review. If charged and convicted of battery, Janet Neal could face up to 18 months in prison.
Let's analyze this sentence from the Ch. 4 story from the above comment #2: "Janet Neal told the Albuquerque Police Department she was suspended from one game, but she contacted school district Superintendent Winston Brooks and that was lifted." Since when does a parent contact Brooks directly and gets her way? Wait...we are talking about the wife of UNM men's basketball coach. Brooks has season tickets to Lobo basketball games. Hmm...Now let's analyze these two sentence from the Ch. 4 story from the above comment #2: "The school district officer, who claims to have witnessed what happened, also reported that Eldorado's principal recommended that Janet Neal be suspended from attending the basketball games because of her behavior. But an school district spokesperson said Friday that they are denying what the officer is saying." So, APS denies what a sworn law enforcement officer witnessed and said about the unruly parent. Really? I wonder if that police officer still has her job with the district. No wonder then the assaulted Eldorado assistant principal is suing APS. Shame on APS for trying so desperately to spin the truth to yet again cover up the superintendent's arrogance and incompetency. Luckily there are courageous APS employees like Eldorado's assistant principal who are willing to stand up for their rights to perform their duties without having to fear of being assaulted and battered by any unruly parent from whom Brooks benefits in any way.
According to the APS police witness (report edited by communications staff). APS police officer statement (name redacted because it's a personnel matter); "I saw nothing. nothing.
Janet Neal was never out of control and abusive with the principal. Neal was 'hot-headed,' having an emotional breakdown, and swearing at Stanojevic and shoving her but I saw nothing."
Yes, even though there was corroborating evidence of a violent incident and witnesses, the report will be changed to the following: high blood sugar, borderline personality disorder or possibly rabies (Neal was foaming at the mouth angry and spittle was flying). It was Definitely a medical incident (seems to be contagious). I hope Neal has been cut off from her twitter account and has been instructed to count to ten before responding.
New Mexico coach Craig Neal's wife accused of battery
USATODAY 2:29 p.m. EDT April 19, 2013
craig-neal-on the move-gallery-4-17-13
(Photo: Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports)
Story Highlights
The wife of newly hired New Mexico basketball coach Craig Neal has been accused of battery
She allegedly grabbed a school official after one of her son%u2019s high school basketball games
Susan Stanojevic told police that Janet Neal lunged at her, aggressively grabbed her arm and yanked her
SHARE 32 CONNECT 23 TWEET 8 COMMENTEMAILMORE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The wife of newly hired New Mexico basketball coach Craig Neal has been accused of battery for allegedly grabbing a school official after one of her son's high school basketball games, police reports and the district attorney's office confirm.
The Neals' son, Cullen Neal, was a high-profile player for Eldorado who recently signed scholarship papers with New Mexico after being let out of his letter of intent with St. Mary's.
PREVIOUSLY: Neal hired to replace Steve Alford
Eldorado High School assistant principal Susan Stanojevic told police that after a Feb. 21 game, Janet Neal "lunged at me and aggressively grabbed my left arm, yanking me to face her," according to an Albuquerque Police Department report. "At the same time, she put her face close to mine and in an angry, loud voice, stated, 'the next time you want to accuse me of using profanity at a basketball game, you need to talk to me first.'"
The confrontation apparently stemmed from a prior incident in which Stanojevic claimed to have overheard Neal making verbally abusive remarks about the referees following a game also involving her son, according to the police report.
Neal denied the allegations to police and through her attorney, Michael Danoff.
The case was referred to the Bernalillo County district attorney as battery on a school employee, a fourth-degree felony that carries a maximum prison sentence of 18 months, and is under review, according to spokeswoman Kayla Anderson.
Following the initial confrontation, Albuquerque Public Schools officers asked Neal to leave the area, but she resisted, reports show.
"I then advised (Mrs.) Neal she could leave in handcuffs or on her own. That was up to her," community service officer L.G. Valenzuela said in his report.
In a supplementary report by APD investigator officer Christian Baker, Neal said that she "did not grab Susan forcefully nor did she threaten her."
Later in the report Neal said she did not "grab her, I did not threaten her and I did not feel physical towards her."
This Whole District Stinks
Updated: Coach Neal's wife accused of battery
College
UNM Lobos
By Geoff Grammer / Journal Staff Writer | Fri, Apr 19, 2013
The wife of recently hired University of New Mexico men’s basketball coach Craig Neal denies allegations asserted in a police report that she grabbed and yelled at an Eldorado High assistant principal after one of her son’s February basketball games, according to Janet Neal’s attorney.
Susan Stanojevic, assistant principal at Eldorado, says Janet Neal “lunged at me and aggressively grabbed my left arm, yanking me to face her” after a game at Sandia High School on Feb. 21, according to a report filed with the Albuquerque Police Department that recently was forwarded to the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office.
Janet Neal, the report states, was allegedly angry with Stanojevic for accusing her earlier in the season of using profanity at a game involving her son, Cullen Neal, who has signed scholarship papers to play for the Lobos and his father next season.
“At the same time,” Stanojevic’s side of the story goes in the police report, “she put her face close to mine and in an angry, loud voice, stated, ‘The next time you want to accuse me of using profanity at a basketball game, you need to talk to me first.’ ”
The DA’s Office will review the police reports and determine whether the matter warrants being presented to a grand jury for potential indictment on a charge of battery on school personnel.
Police with Albuquerque Public Schools already reviewed the case, according to APS spokeswoman Monica Armenta, and determined it did not warrant criminal charges. When that happened, and Stanojevic still wanted to pursue the matter, Armenta says APS stepped aside and allowed APD to take over the case.
“I can tell you as her attorney she categorically denies this — categorically denies these allegations,” Janet Neal’s attorney, Michael Danoff, told the Journal.
A charge of battery on a school employee is a fourth-degree felony in New Mexico, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 18 months.
The Associated Press broke the story Friday on the police report, and the story was picked up by USA Today.
Community Service Officer L.G. Valenzuela, in police reports, said he saw Janet Neal “rush to (Stanojevic’s) side, grabbing her left arm, making a statement to Miss Stanojevic in a very threatening manner.”
He said he warned her to leave, and when she refused, he “advised (Mrs.) Neal she could leave in handcuffs or on her own. That was up to her.”
APS Officer Ginger Walker wrote in her report that she then told Janet Neal to calm down and that she could discuss the matter later. Janet Neal began to leave but ended up going into the stands to wait for her son to come out of the locker room. Walker wrote that she decided to simply keep Neal under observation.
UNM women’s basketball head coach Yvonne Sanchez, whose brother, Roy, teaches and coaches at Eldorado where Stanojevic is assistant principal, was at the Feb. 21 game and said she saw Neal and Stanojevic talking after the game.
“It didn’t seem heated from what I saw,” she said. “… I was there waiting for Roy; she was waiting for Cullen. There was hardly anybody in the gym. … ”
Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed against Albuquerque Public Schools by Stanojevic three years ago is pending. Stanojevic and Lyndon B. Johnson Middle School Principal Michael Bachicha filed suit in 2010, alleging they were unfairly transferred from positions at Sandia High, where Bachicha was principal and Stanojevic was assistant principal.
According to federal court records, that case is still ongoing.
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