The Desert IndependentTM

Serving Blythe, California & the Desert Regions of the Southwest

Layoffs and Travel Expenses

PVUSD Sheds Staff

Assembled from A Variety of Sources

At last count, the Palo Verde Unified School District has shed a lot of staff - unofficially, it's three administrative positions, 15 teachers and 37 classified employees. All explained, of course, by the Governor's budget cuts. However, one wonders how many of these positions could have been spared the axe if this district didn't have to travel so far afield to find replacement staff? One wonders how much it cost the district in hotels, meals, mileage, plane fare and even aviation fuel for the Supt.'s own plane(s)? How much did it cost to "recruit" in Spain, Minnesota, Michigan, Baltimore, North Carolina and Salt Lake City? How can a citizen find out?

It's easy! Just clip this form from the article you are presently reading and just fill in the blanks with your name and address. Then mail it to the Supe's address on the form. Dr. Alan Jensen then has ten (10) days in which to respond to your perfectly legal request.

As a matter of fact, it's not only a legal request - it's your civic duty!

For instance:

#   #   #   #

Date: ________________________

Name: _______________________

Address: ______________________

City/Zip: _______________________

Phone: ______________________

To: Dr. Alan Jensen, Superintendent, Palo Verde Unified School District, 295 N. First Street, Blythe, CA 92225

Subject: Request to inspect and copy public records.

Alan,

This letter is to request access to records in the possession of Palo Verde Unified School District officials and elected officials for the purpose of inspection and copying pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et seq.).

The information that I ask to inspect is as follows: I would like to view all financial records concerning travel, including air fare and other transportation, hotels and other lodging, meals and all related expenses used by Superintendent Alan Jensen, Assistant Superintendent Yul Whitney and Jacob Jenson, dated between January 2005 to the present day.

This request reasonably describes (an) identifiable record(s) or information produced therefrom, and I believe that there exists no express provisions of law exempting the record(s) from disclosure. Pursuant to Government Code Section 6253(b), I ask that you make the record(s) "promptly available," for inspection and copying, based on my payment of "fees covering direct costs of duplication, or statutory fee, if applicable."

If a portion of the information I have requested is exempt from disclosure by express provisions of law, Government Code Section 6253(a) additionally requires segregation and deletion of that material in order that the remainder of the information may be released. If you determine that an express provision of law exists to exempt from disclosure all or a portion of the material I have requested, Government Code Section 6253(c) requires notification to me of the reasons for the determination not later than 10 days from your receipt of this request.

Government Code Section 6253(d) prohibits the use of the 10-day period, or any provisions of the Public Records Act "to delay access for purposes of inspecting public records."

Thank you for your timely attention to my request.

Name) __________________________________