CA City Councilwoman Criticizes Education System, Shows Little Education City Councilwoman Lauren Hammond doesn't like the performance of Sacramento city schools Superintendent Jim Sweeney. "I don't doubt that Jim Sweeney loves children and had dedicated his life's career to improving education," she said. "The school district has done some wonderful things ... but (on state tests) half the students are still below the 50th percentile. That's a problem." Well, yes, if you don't understand math, it's a problem. If half of anyone was not below 50% it would mean that math simply does not exist. Aside from her being really stupid, her criticism seems a little unfounded in the broader sense. "I have no idea why she'd say that or where that came from," Sweeney said. "In any case, let's look at the record. When I started we had 18 low- performing schools and now we have one." Indeed, many view him as a champion of underperforming kids. "My greatest successes and greatest joy have been going out to the low-performing schools to see the changes going on there."