Maintain balance in school budget
Editor: Regarding comments on the school budget community input meeting 1/6/09:
It was very, very sad when community questions of making cuts to Creekside/Gateway, Adult Education, and Teen Parenting Program are mis-interpreted as a lack of support for the Latino community. I have personally sat on school SITE councils, fund raised, and reviewed the school budgets for 9 years and even if these programs are cut, there is still a great deal of funding and effort to educate and assist English Language Learners, Immigrants and Low Socio Economic students. To name a few such funding sources as noted on the current budget: Title 1 – $552,000; Title 3 – $31,000; Title 3 – $136,000; ELAP – $51,000; and EIA – $657,000. This totals $1,427,000 that can only to be spent on English Language Learners and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged (SED) students.
Ask anyone of any heritage which is the better way for a poor school district to spend a scarce $115,000.00.
1) A “last chance for your high school degree” program for 40 students who have failed the system?
2) A Teen Parent Program serving 21 students?
3) Third Grade Class Size Reduction, allowing for more individualized instruction for over 300 third-graders, at least 35 percent of whom are Latino?
It is sad to hear the accusation that “the system fails the student” as so many within the system in fact work to help the underperforming and at risk kids. When a student ends up in the Teen Parent Program, in Creekside, or in a situation where they are out of traditional schools – it is typically a result of a series of decisions that they made, so in this case it may be fair to say “the student failed the system.”
The greater community sentiment on where to cut is a matter of balance, return on investment and improving efficiencies in a system that has been cut to the bone as far as funding. We must come together and encourage the Administration and our School Board to make effective and balanced decisions to best serve a greater majority of the population. In spite of it all, let us not lose site of the great work going on every day in classrooms for and by our students!
Britta Johnson
Much more to the story
Editor: It is very easy to sit in the privacy of one’s home and read the paper/computer and cast stones on another person. I am guilty of that myself. I have often said to my husband after reading a story in the paper, “Where are this kid’s parents?” or “Who is raising this child?” However, I have a challenge for the letter writers who have done just that in the case of the teenager who hit Wendy Mitchell while riding his bike. For just one moment please think of the possibilities or thoughts of the other side of the story – the boy’s family. Please try to contemplate the other side of all of your accusations and assumptions. I know I will try to do the same in the future. For instance, is it possible they were advised not to contact Mitchell or her family/friends for legal reasons? Is it possible they tried to find out information through the hospital, but were told they couldn’t have access to that information? Is it possible they contacted their insurance company and were ready to assume any responsibility the law saw fit? Is it possible they have sought counseling as a family for the awful traumatic feelings they are coping with due to such a horrible accident and how it has harmed this poor woman? Is it possible they feel nauseous daily and lose sleep nightly because they feel horrible for Mitchell and her friends/family? Furthermore, is it possible they are an amazing family who not only raise their children to be caring and compassionate beings, but treat all members of our community with the same grace? Is it possible trees were in the way of vision for both the boy and Mitchell? Yes. All of these possibilities are true facts which are not being discussed publicly because of the age of the boy and wanting to protect him from further scrutiny from the almighty assuming public jury.
The friends and family of Mitchell are understandably reeling with sorrow and pain, but this was an accident. The boy had no weapon and he had no intent to harm anyone while riding his bike so please stop berating, public or otherwise, him as if he is a criminal. As a child of admirable parents and a parent myself I know it is possible to give a child all the lessons and tools to become a wonderful person. However whether children choose to use those tools or as in this case even if they do use those tools, unfortunate happenings will occur to them and others around them.
On the topic of the legality to ride a bike on the sidewalk in Sonoma, I can understand how this would seem wrong. If I were walking with my three children on the sidewalk I wouldn’t want to have to worry about bikes running us over. On the other hand, when I have tried to ride my bike to school with my children I ride on the sidewalk in many spots because there are no bike lanes en route and it is easier to worry about pedestrians and driveways then to add oncoming traffic to the mix. I can only hope this tragedy will somehow improve bike and walkway accommodations in Sonoma.
Jennifer Cordero
Sonoma