As an adult who tutors at Belle Haven twice a week, I find these political machinations in the Hernandez-Goff administration to be sad, sad, sad for the kids. Todd was very popular, energetic and a strongly positive influence at Belle Haven. The improvements speak for themselves. The district is worse off with him in an isolated staff position.

From those last two quotes it sounds like the supe considers her teachers to be children.

Thank you for showing just how incompetent Gloria Hernandez Goff really is at this job. Ravenswood was on its way towards a better future. She single handily has ruined it. It’s time to clean house. Tragically I am not willing to post my name because I am in fear of some kind of retaliation. I hope more people come forward with their negative experiences with GHG.

I'm not a Ravenswood parent or community member, but I do support (fiscally and through volunteerism) several organizations that partner with the district. Over the last couple of years, I've heard nothing but frustration and concern from community members about district leadership. I hope the community is able to come together to make the best decision possible for the students of Ravenswood. They deserve it!

I am a Menlo Park resident and support Ravenswood School District through volunteering and financial donations. I have been saddened and disturbed by the lack of transparency and leadership by the superintendent. I have witnessed the dedication and hard work Todd and the teachers at Belle Haven commit to their school. With bare minimum resources, they have made huge progress and truly care about the children in the Ravenswood community. I hope the community can organize and make the positive changes in leadership they deserve!

Why wait? If things really are as bad as it sounds, why isn't the Board acting to replace her right away? Then she could be placed on "special assignment" until her contract runs out.

Sorry, Mr. Gaviglio that you were treated like this after you help Belle Heaven to improve in all areas.
I feel for you. You are going through what went 3 years ago when I worked there as a special education teacher. I raised concerns about special education services students were not given as it stated in the IEP's, about an employee leaving marks on kids when disciplining them in two occasions, touching students privates, and I was sent home with payment because they could not fire me. It is very shocking when you are trying your very best for the student, and someone does not like when you raise concerns and as a result, they retaliate against you and because of their power they find ways to fire you, move you around or send you home as if you had done something really, really bad, and the employees who are doing wrong get to stay and even get a promotion for lying to protect the administrators who did nothing about the issues. This is called corruption, and it needs to stop. This is one of the biggest reasons I decided to run for School Board Member, I knew things were bad then, and they continue to be the same, but now people are talking and are no longer afraid to speak up. Some of them still are, and it is very understandable.
Something is wrong here. I do hope that Ms. Hernandez reconsidered her decision and she places back Mr. Gaviglio where he belongs (Belle Heaven). This needs to be done before any regression occurs on students academic skills and before other good teachers leave the district. Teachers tend to leave when they see that their job can be taken away anytime without a valid reason.
Please attend school board meetings and let your voice be heard.

Keeping the students at home will work because Gloria does not care about students, but about money. I believe that keeping students at home, not for a day, but until she sends back Mr. Gaviglio to Belle Haven and letting the office know that they are not sick, but it is because they want the principal back, will make her think twice. She will lose money for every student absent when they are not sick. Whoever had that idea is a genius. Hope Gloria takes time to think what is she getting into and changes her mind about moving the principal somewhere else just to humiliate him and to punish him for speaking up. Gloria shall be fired right now she is so corrupted. "Someone once said at a meeting: who needs a Chapo Guzman, when we have our superintendent Gloria Hernandez". I think that person was right. The district is acting more like a mafia.

How did most of the board members let Gloria go this far? How can they not see the corruption that is going on right under their noses? They are corrupted too. They are part of the whole problem. They do not want to admit that Gloria has failed to do the job she is getting paid to do. Time for them to go out along with Gloria. Shame on them too. Finally, there is somebody who risking everything by coming to the press and exposing the truth. Now everyone knows the truth, not just the terrorized employees who suffer in silence because they do not want to end with no job. know the truth. Again the CDC is getting closed because Board member Sharifa Wilson made a big no, no when she was the director of the CDC and had to be fired after licensing came and investigated the case. Sharifa, Glenda Savage, Gloria Hernandez, and Ana Pulido are upset because Glenda had to resign or retire unexpectedly. Karma does exist, when Glenda worked at CDC she forced one of the best teachers at CDC to retire when she had not even planned for it. By the way, Glenda was hired because Sharifa Willson asked Gloria to give her the job, and Gloria did give it to her, knowing that she did not have the credentials or knowledge to do the job, and this is why she made such a big mistake that cost her job. It is not fair that the board members voted yes to close the CDC just to retaliate those who operated with the investigation or file the complaint with licensing. After Glenda retired Gloria never intended to find her a replacement because she already had the plan to close down the CDC. What goes around comes around. One day Gloria will be treated the same way she is treating her employees. She only gives promotions to those kissed her a.. even if they do not have the proper credentials or experience to do the job.

School Board Members do not renew her contract, you cannot ignore this article. It shows the poor job the superintendent is doing. Renewing it will be wrong and will cost the district a lot of money to get rid of her later when you realize that the community was right. Our kids deserve much better, we are a poor district, but do not have to have this corrupted woman guiding our district. Time to clean house. We need fresh new and competent administrators. Gloria shall take all those administrators she brought to our district from Twin Rivers School District (Lorena from Curriculum &, Maria Sevilla, etc.).
Another one who shall go is Mr. Maurice who does not follow up with parents complaints, and Steven Eichman who has shown so many times at the board meeting how incompetent he is at keeping the budget.

Shame On Board Mwmbers - what exactly did Glenda do wrong at the CDC which triggered an inspection/investigation? Does she have a childcare background?

@Hmmm: Yes the children are her teachers and staff. The attitude that she will get what she wants her way!!! Why hasn't the San Mateo Civil Grand Jury or Criminal Grand Jury investigate.

I've met Todd Gaviglio, at a public meeting in Belle Haven, and he impressed me with his dedication to students in Belle Haven. Since then, I've heard nothing but praise for him when his name comes up. He should be commended for his results at Belle Haven Elementary instead of Hernandez-Goff's transparent attempt to silence him. For whistleblower of his caliber to come forward, what he's reporting is likely just the tip of the iceberg of what needs investigating. It's time for the School Board to investigate without worrying about how Hernandez-Goff might respond. Stay strong, hire good lawyers and stand up to her bullying! In parallel, parents, teachers and supporters -- this is the time for you to push the issue of having Belle Haven Elementary become part of the Menlo Park School District. Try to remove the school from her control! Henandez-Goff's quotes in the last two paragraphs are shocking. Her autocratic leadership style alone shows her unsuitability as the overall school leader.

Why can't she be placed on immediate leave ad not renew her contract??

Dear School Board Member,

You said, "Something is wrong here. I do hope that Ms. Hernandez reconsidered her decision and she places back Mr. Gaviglio where he belongs (Belle Heaven). This needs to be done before any regression occurs on students academic skills and before other good teachers leave the district."

Unfortunately, we have already lost some of our most...

Amazing
Brilliant
Creative
Daring
Effective
Friendly
Gregarious
Happy
Imaginative
Joyful
Knowledgeable
Logical
Meticulous
Nurturing
Observant
Patient
Qualified
Resilient
Smart
Talented
Unflappable
Vivacious
Wonderful
Xenial
Young
Zestful

...teachers as a result of the instability within the district leadership.

The Belle Haven community is calling out for help Web Link

The last major change on this front occurred in the 1980s with the rezoning of specific neighborhoods in Menlo Park, creating an island around Willow Oaks school. Much has changed in the Valley since the 80s, but human nature carries on in predictable patterns. The rich, privileged and powerful protect their wealth and status by sharing opportunities with family and close associates who typically resemble themselves.

Gaviglio could spearhead the school and continue the work he started at Belle Haven three years ago - only this time working within a system free of corruption. Yes, the changes may potentially lead to a lose in state/federal dollars for these students, but there's enough money and compassion in this area to cover the cost of meals for these kids and maybe even a few teaching assistants and custodians (that would be a luxury). Besides, fund raising is one of Gaviglio's talents. He works with teachers to identify specific needs and seeks funding to meet those needs. There's never been a question about money entrusted to him, unlike Gloria Hernandez. This is a season of change in Menlo Park. For better or worse, Belle Haven is part of Menlo Park - the school, the library and the people.

Gaviglio has a track record of turning around schools just like Belle Haven. He was removed because he blew the whistle on a corrupt superintendent.