Welcome to Galtsnewhighschool.com, official web site for Art Oelsner, Galt High Board Member, elected November 2006. The entire content of this site should be considered my own personal political opinions.

Not much. Because the current board has been busy running the district in a professional manner.

I ran for the GHS Board 4 years ago because of frustration watching a dysfunctional board, and a crippled High School staff unable to operate because of micro management, and unethical behavior. The last FOUR years we have seen a shift in our district. Gone is the circus like atmosphere. Gone are the days of running the district from the front porch of the general store.

I have lived in the community for over 15 years, and run the Galt Lady Hoop Basketball Club for the last 13 years. Both my daughters have attended Galt High. I run a successful restaurant supply company, attended college, and have been a member of the Galt High Board the last FOUR years.

GALT, Ca. (November 22) - 2 years on our Galt High Board. My sincerest apologies for not keeping up this page. Hope to give the community a clear picture of my experiences the last several months.

I campaigned to get elected to our local school board for 1 reason. To serve the community. I have no other hidden agenda. I have a child attending Galt High, and another that graduated and currently attends Chico State.

Our district is like many others in California. Plenty of terrific teachers, administrators, and staff. Award winning programs, and talented students.

Sometimes our district falters, sometimes we make mistakes. My goal is not to demand perfection, but instead to see a change in the way the district address's concerns from the community. I want to see a Cultural Shift in the Galt High School District. I shift towards Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency. GaltsNewHighSchool is about this change.

GALT, Ca. (November 23) - Standards should be returned to the original fair firm and consistent pattern of insisting on the same level of behavior in any extracurricular activity as in the classroom.

GALT, Ca. (March 20) - Probably one of the most frustrating issues a board member faces is dealing with employee issues. Understanding the methods and procedures our district uses to hire, evaluate and discipline employees is daunting. As a board member, accountable to the community of voters that elected me, I have asked for specific procedures concerning our districts hiring procedures. "The Board will approve a framework for hiring,". As of this date, after asking for over 2 years, I have not seen the "framework". Our community deserves accountability on this issue.

GALT, Ca. (November 20) - A local gadfly accuses me of stealing gas from the district. As always with this individual, untrue. (Some call him a quitter, but fact is he's never quit lying.)

My initial concern was with accountability concerning fuel purchases by district employees. A coach gave me a credit card he had been issued months before to purchase fuel for a trip with the team in a district vehicle. He had used the card one time but forgot it was in his wallet. Knowing I was on the board he handed it to me and asked that I return it next visit into the district office. I had also heard a rumor that fuel was available at the local convenience store to anyone claiming to be "district personnel".

Concerned the distinct might actually want the card back, I called immediately and informed the district office personnel that I had the card and that I would be bringing it in on my next visit.

District office personnel sent me an e-mail indicating , "In October 2007 Chevron re-issued four new gas cards and all other prior issued cards are invalid." GREAT! They also indicated they did not know which card was missing.

Any of you that know me could have figured this one out. I of course immediately drove to the closest gas station and tested the card. IT WORKED, not even requiring a ZIP code verification. Immediately I sent an e-mail to the district expressing my concern and desire to address this situation. (Yes I did use the word "bullshit" in my e-mail.)

Fuel was available at the local convenience store to anyone claiming to be "district personnel". This just couldn't be true! Especially knowing how accountable our previous board had been concerning monetary issues!

I first called the district office to express my concern. I was assured this was not the case. The staff even suggested they might stop by and "give it a try". I stopped by the local convenience store in question. Never having visited before, I asked the clerk for fuel and told the clerk I was with Galt High School. She asked me for a number. Terrific I thought, some kind of control measure was in place. When I informed her I had no number, her response was, "What pump number? Fill up and come sign the receipt when your done." No request for I.D., no request for vehicle number or license number, nothing. So, I put $10.00 worth of fuel in my 10 year old Cadillac, (clearly not a district vehicle) walked back in the store, signed the receipt "M Mouse" and drove away.

I immediately called the superintendent and expressed my concerns and met with him and the CBO within an hour. They drove to Sacramento to address this issue at my office immediately. I repaid the $30.05, ($20.00 on the "canceled card and $10.00 for Mickey's gas, and asked that procedures be changed to insure Mickey could no longer get free gas.

The District has changed policies and procedures concerning the purchase of fuel for district personnel and vehicles. The local convenience store has now instituted procedures to check I.D. vehicle numbers, etc., all at no additional expense to the district.

The WHAT in this situation was a complete lack of control concerning fuel purchases by our Public High School District.

The HOW was, is this case, almost as big a problem as the WHAT. How our district personnel handled the initial concern is why I was motivated to address this issue outside the normal "business as usual", "everything is fine, you don't understand" arena.

No intent to defraud or steal from the district. Only an intent to address a clear lack of accountability, and pursue a direct, honest, and transparent approach to solving this obvious problem.

Lease/lease back option being pursued

March 20, 2007 | By: Art Oelsner

GALT, Ca. (March 20) - A special board meeting was held to discuss the lease/lease back option for the construction of the new high school along with presentation by representatives of F & H Construction.

The "Lease" in Lease Back

The term "lease" creates a bit of confusion with this issue. The fact is that the district takes ownership back from the construction company a short time after construction is completed.

The history of Lease/lease back with Galt High

Although proposed in the past, the process has finally moved forward with the support of our new board and in particular the leadership of our Board President Norm Pearson. The Oakview School District has completed previous projects with the use of the Lease/lease back method and F & H construction, and is VERY happy. Thanks to Norm Pearson and the president of the Oak View Board for their input on Lease/ lease back.

Cost Savings

Traditionally bid construction projects allow for only a single bid from on each area of the project. Lease/lease back will allow the bidder to bid the original items but also supply a Value Added bid on the item. Value Added bids are the bidders modified price based on different specifications, materials, or construction methods. This method allows each bidder to supply 2 separate bids on the same item, and present both to the district for approval. Significant cost savings can be had using this method.

The Bottom Line "Maximum Guaranteed Price"

The construction company will supply the district with a Maximum Guaranteed Price for the construction of the new high school. The bids will be available in mid April and we are hopeful the price of this project will be within our budget. (See Below)

Insurance slashed, Blackberry's saved!

March 12, 2007 | By: Art Oelsner

GALT, Ca. (March 12) - Another Galt High board meeting, another late night. Interesting start as a member of the audience came to lecture the board about not bring egos into the meeting. Too bad this particular gentleman hadn't been to any of the previous meetings to observe that we really are a much tamer bunch than he wanted to imply.

Key issues addressed:

The "Blackberry Initiative"

The board voted unanimously to "discourage" the use of electronic communication devices during open session. Unfortunately this became an issue, for the first time ever, because I apparently gave the perception to another board member that I was "text messaging" someone in the audience during my first board meeting. I confess, I was. The message was from my wife, in the front row, it read, "Sit up straight." Guilty as I am, I am sad that it took the time and resources of the board to address this issue. It is really about TRUST between board members, and not about technology. Interesting that Mr. Maple has been using his cell phone the last couple of meetings.

The Insurance Issue:

We voted on Health Insurance for board members. The vote was 3-2 in favor of an $800 cap on benefits for board members. The old program allowed board members to take as much as $1600. from the district. We now have a cap that is within $10.00 of what an employee with a 4 member family would pay for health insurance at Galt High School. Pat made a motion to eliminate the benefit altogether. That should serve him well in the next election.

Crime on Campus

Vice Principal, Joe Saramago, presented an excellent response to the issues concerning crime on campus mentioned at a previous meeting. Very proactive and specific in addressing the individual concerns expressed.

Short term goals:

Lines will be painted on the concrete outside restrooms stating "no loitering".
Campus security personnel have been briefed about the importance of monitoring restrooms and questioning anyone that does not belong on school grounds.
Teachers have been encouraged to use proper passes for restroom use, and report excessive bathroom breaks or suspicious behavior.
Campus security will attend training in April that will cover the roles and responsibilities of school security, laws and liability, security awareness in the educational environment, mediation and conflict resolution, disasters and emergencies, and the dynamics of student behavior.

Long Term Goals:

Work with local police on using an undercover officer to help uncover illegal activity.
Hire a full time Resourse Officer to increase the number of campus security personnel.
Create a parent volunteer group to monitor activity on and around campus.
Implement the use of drug dogs on campus.
Increase the number of security cameras on campus.
Put a fence around the campus.

The Change Order Process

Contrary to Mr. "let's keep doing business from the front porch of the general store" objection, we now have an excellent change order procedure. It's not about "rubber stamping" everything that comes in front of us Pat, it's about doing business in a professional manner. With the help of Darlene Waddle and our district's construction manager, Trevor, a policy has been developed that is clear, concise, and brings the whole process up to a business standard we can be proud of.

The new Liberty Ranch High school cafeteria, as drawn by the architect is without a doubt the finest food service facility in the area, featuring 6 different "restaurant" themes. Our children will be able to select from dozens of different entrées each day. Click here for a PDF version.

Welcome to Galtsnewhighschool.com - The entire content of this site should be considered my own personal political opinions. Paid for by Art Oelsner

Recently Written

Lease/lease back option being pursued

Cost Savings

The Bottom Line "Maximum Guaranteed Price"

Insurance slashed, Blackberry's saved!