Pros
Milpitas has really stepped it up providing raises and better working conditions for the employees. It's very much of a "do what is right for the kids" environment. The technology support has been phenomenal. It's a full Google Apps environment and all the software is bought with flexibility of learning in mind. The technology is fantastic for kids as well as for the teachers. Our kindergarten kids all learn how to login with their userid and password and by the time they reach my classroom, they're all pros. All sites are 100% wireless and very reliable. Plenty of teacher support if you know where to ask but you have to ask. Students have benefitted from the online assessments and technology. I know my students have been accelerating. How do I know? Because now I have data to prove it!
Cons
It's a school district with a union structure but with the great PERS and STRS retirement perks that come with the union hassle. There will always be some naysayers and they too exist in small numbers in Milpitas Unified. Old union guard still has some "control" but the progressive teachers are too nice to say they disagree with the union. Frankly, we would do better without the current union leadership listening to a minority of the membership without ever taking a transparent polling of the membership of ideas and controversies.