Is it possible to investigate some of the investigators?

ROGER CARLSON

I found myself mildly amused the other day while reading an article

by a Daily Pilot news columnist, I believe it was Steve Smith, who

found himself running into a block wall while trying to ferret out

some information regarding teachers’ complaints in the Newport-Mesa

Unified School District.

Seems no one wanted to talk, for the record. They had plenty to

say, it’s just that they would not put their necks out and say what

was true or on their mind for fear of retaliation from superiors.

There’s a lot of that mind-set in the reality of the world, but

when it comes to teachers and coaches, I find it hard to swallow that

this portion of society must also feel the cloak of intimidation

because someone in a position of power can wield such authority, and

get away with it.

Having worked at the Daily Pilot most of my life, this sort of

intimidation does not often surface. I spoke my mind, out loud, from

Day 1.

Except for one brief moment, I was never afraid to say it,

regardless of my station.

That one exception came in the early ‘90s when a very respected

publisher, the innovative and outgoing Robert Page, was purged by an

opportunistic band of investors.

The “new” publisher, flushed with the success of getting Page

shoved out the door, complete with police cars in the parking lot,

marched into the newsroom of the Pilot and called for everyone to the

center of the room.

“Anyone,” he said, “who calls the Register and talks about this is

fired, right now, and that means anyone in this room or at this

paper.”

I didn’t have anyone to call, everyone at the Register was a

“competitor.” But I wanted so badly to rush to a phone and start

calling someone, anyone, right in the middle of that scene as a

matter of statement.

The timing wasn’t right, retirement was quite a ways off, and like

anyone else, I needed a paycheck.

So, I kept my mouth shut and swallowed the bitter taste.

It was not too long before he and the “investors” and their

hatchet were gone, order was restored and the Pilot made a 180-degree

turn. But I shall never forget how one individual could come in and

threaten our existence.

I’ve got some coaches who have plenty to say, but they, too,

muscles and all, are hamstrung by an authority such as the

Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

It all started this fall with the pathetic sequence of events at

Estancia High where former basketball coach Chris Sorce was the

victim of charges by two unhappy “boosters,” who of course,

complained of various coaching “shortcomings” as a springboard to get

their way.

The school’s administration waved a white flag, the district

followed up with a contemptible “investigation,” complete with a gag

order for everyone, and Sorce resigned his coaching post.

I’ve yet to uncover one knowledgeable coach in the district who

does not disagree with the notion Sorce was a scapegoat for the

district’s own shortcomings.

District Superintendent Robert Barbot had Mike Murphy as the

“investigator” with Lorri McCune, the assistant superintendent in

charge of human resources, serving as the “judge, jury and

executioner,” although about the only thing she would tersely concede

was that I had her name spelled right.

What I’d like to know is who investigates the investigators?

One of the more funny quotes to come out of the district’s glass

palace which has made its way around the circuit goes like this:

“I’m going after Newport, next.”

- “No, Lorri, you don’t want to go there.”

The first, the voice of aggressive and mean-spirited authority.

The second, the voice of reason.

It can only be classified as “rumor,” but considering the source,

it’s a very believable moment. It is very easy to run roughshod over

Estancia. Probably, Costa Mesa, too. It’s not going to happen at

Newport Harbor or Corona del Mar.

One coach complained, bitterly, of his attempt to receive a

complete guide to receiving compensation for summer coaching.

The district’s response? “Don’t worry, it doesn’t matter that you

don’t have it in writing, and that it is ambiguous. We’ll take care

of it.”

It’s that very scenario which the district was able to twist the

circumstances against Sorce.

Another pointed out a format which the district had delivered to

provide coaches with $4,200 for 160 hours of pay for summer classes

and instruction, only to see the coaches finding themselves

shortchanged to the tune of accepting $13 per hour because the

district had mismanaged its figures.

There was no appeal. Take it or leave it.

This is the same “district” which was demanding that there be no

athletic competition on Oct. 31 (Halloween) before common sense was

finally pushed into the equation. They didn’t want Estancia and Costa

Mesa’s varsity football game played that night, and decided every

other athlete at all four district schools should follow with no

competition, at all, on that day. It was the mind-set of total

ignorance to the big picture.

Fortunately, with guidance, they finally figured it out. They made

the switch for the football game and left everyone else alone.

Question: Why doesn’t the Irvine School District have these

problems?

Maybe it’s because they don’t believe in ambiguity. With ambiguity

there is a cushion to fall back on, giving one the power to twist.

And, I would believe, there is an integrity factor in Irvine.

Are people like board members Martha Fluor, Dana Black, Serena

Stokes, David Brooks, Tom Egan, Judy Franco and Linda Sneen really

comfortable with all this? Or do they even count? Or care?

In another arena a question begs: Is it really true that the

district has already spent $5 million from the $35 million set aside

from bond money for “soft costs,” regarding proposed improvements at

Costa Mesa High?

Soft costs -- that’s what they call drawing pictures and

chit-chat.

That’s not a claim, just a question.

There is a power structure at the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District which, for years, has had no leash. At some point, an

investigation is needed for no more reason than simply to make sure

the right things are being done.

Hey! See you next Sunday!

* ROGER CARLSON is the former sports editor for the Daily Pilot.

His columnappears on Sundays. He can be reached by e-mail at

[email protected].