Letters to the Editor
April 30, 2010
Opinion
Unification
To the Editor:
We agree with our new City Manager’s opinion (reported by Peggy Kelly in the Santa Paula Times on April 21st) that people want good schools when they come into a community, and we congratulate Santa Paula’s new “Distinguished Schools,” Thelma Bedell and Grace Thille, which join the ranks of previously cited McKevett School. However, we know that unification can improve all schools in the city of Santa Paula.
Simply put, unification makes it possible for teachers, administrators and Board members to work together to do more for our kids and their families and will close the gap between the elementary and high school districts. A unified district would have one goal - to put the success of our “Kids First” - before the separate interests of two districts that have different budgets, priorities, and goals. Some may disagree.
Who decides? Ultimately, the voters decide if the districts should be unified. But first, the County Committee on School District Organization must determine if unification is feasible and should go to the voters. Their decision will be based upon an independent study of all five districts and upon public opinion.
Unification is a critical issue for our kids and for the future of Santa Paula. Please attend the upcoming Public Hearings or send a letter to prosser@vcoe.org. Your input is important.
Unification Group -
Rob Corley
Marcia Edwards
Ginger Gherardi
Santa Paula
School unification puts our kids first
We want to do everything we can in the most economical way possible to help Santa Paula students. Why? Because California is bankrupt and cutting funds to our local schools, and Santa Paula’s school districts are having to fire teachers and cut back on available programs and staff.
Parents know that unification and cooperation between the two Santa Paula districts will improve all our schools. Unfortunately some “bureaucrats” want to fight to maintain the status quo at our children’s expense. There are two legal ways to accomplish school unification; one, the good way, is “FRIENDLY,” and the other is not. The “FRIENDLY” way allows us to work together locally without going to Sacramento and saves time and money in getting “unification” for our schools. We want every dollar possible spent in the classrooms. More instructors, teachers, fewer administrators and fewer administrative expenses!
With unification, we will have ONE School calendar so families can plan their times together without conflict. There will be continuity in the curriculum from elementary grades into high school. There will be more dollars for our educators to spend in the classroom. Having two administrations doing the same job just does cost more than having one administration. No one can deny this fact. Continuity, better planning and dollars saved… our Kids win. Our children come first.
Please urge our school district board members to adopt a “FRIENDLY” process to get unification for Santa Paula schools to help save our school dollars for our Kids.
David Kaiser
Santa Paula
Re: Heroes? By Tomas Jina
To the Editor:
Mr. Jina is a courageous man. His comments are akin to Theo van Gogh and Comedy Central’s South Park making comments of Muslims; there will be repercussions. In Mr. Jina’s case I wholeheartedly agree with his analysis of the “state of the city” and our current collective culture. I’m sure there will be the “usual suspects” coming out against Jina with their accusations of racisms and bigotry. Add to the latest unrest in Arizona by mostly illegal alien supporters and you have a perfect storm that will be aimed at Mr. Jina’s direction.
The worst perpetrators of these accusations will in all probability be the “all perfect” white liberals that always seem to come out of the woodworks in time to assail their own counterparts. The white liberal folks are the ones that seem to find fault with the “white American male”. Personally, I don’t have a problem with anybody erecting a monument for farm workers, construction workers, gay/lesbian/transsexual workers but leave the tax dollars out of the entitlement scenario and as well as on public property and you have my support.
Unfortunately our society has become used to asking for government (taxpayer) funding whether it is an art/culture organization, a member of our local airport society or a low income housing company. Either way, the dependence and addiction to government funding never seems to end which is why our city, state and federal coffers are in such dire straits.
Andrew F. Castaneda
Santa Paula
