2-10-05 By Bernard Schwab Your local school watchdog
On January 13, 2005, during a school board meeting, 2 local moms suggested forming study sessions to help the District make decisions thru inputs by the Community.
Such a meeting took place on February 3, 2005 at the VHS Culinary Arts Room. I predicted a low turnout. I was wrong. There was not enough room to seat all the visitors. Approximately 100 plus showed up. Some left because there was only standing room left... The meeting started a half hour late with a presentation by Dr. Wagner, the Superintendent of the District. She painted a rosy picture of the state of the District. She talked about the District's pulses, challenges, resolutions, Acton Elementary, Meadowlark, consolidation savings, developer fees, a Needs Assessment and planning for the future. Later, during the meeting, she made it clear that she is not going to change the boundaries. Most of it was just “faded wallpaper” and “make belief” comments. Each board member made a statement... Steve Harbeson stood out by saying: “not to believe any rumors and propaganda” spread in town. He told us that we don't know what's going on behind closed doors. We all know that and that is the problem. I have news for you Mr. Harbeson: “We the residents of Acton and Agua Dulce have enough of your rhetoric. Your buzz words “it's for the Kids” is old music by now. Most of the present problems facing us today were born under your watch as President of the Board”.
The meeting and the discussions finally started at 7 pm. The present President of the Board, Mr. Fred Heslep acted as the moderator. He was receptive and responsive to many questions.
It would take pages and pages to document all the details and concerns by the Community. Following is a description of the issues brought forth: school attendance, poor communication with schools authorities, teachers leaving the district, closed enrollment at Meadowlark, disappointment and no confidence in the school's education, lack of counseling for students, students have no direction for their future, poor academics, lack of sports support, the re-opening of Acton Elementary, the sudden ugly removal of Mr. Pinkston as principal at Vasquez causing the morale killing of students and parents, nothing done about developers fees one year later, paying the salaries of two principals at VHS, the removal of Mr. Brink by a sheriff during a school board meeting for using the word “crap”, drug and bullying problems still present, un-acceptance of volunteer workers. The comments were loud and clear.
I have to thank all the parents and speakers who were present. They all acted with civility and determination.
Now the pressure is on the Superintendent and the Board: they need to listen and communicate with the community, reopen Acton Elementary, stop spending money on relocating portables, start working on a Needs Assessment and a strategic multi-year plan. The board needs to be transparent and act according to the whishes of the parents. Open up those closed doors. We need a balance between Academics and Sports. Many volunteers want to make their time available.
Local residents from various committees and groups and many other moms and dads made their views known in their strongest way possible: just to name a few: CEC co-chair Mark Distaso, Fire Chief Jeff Eastman, Fund raiser Leona Sexton, Realtor Sheila Cook, Attorney Larry Layton and Mike Hughes, President of the Lions Club. After the break, Charles Brink of Vanguard News commented on education, sports, developer fees, class size reduction. In his flyer, he describes the superintendent's claim that the District would be in the “black” by the end of the school year 2004-2005 as “outrageous”. The next school board meeting takes place on February 10, 2005. Is the board going to act on any or all suggestions and wishes? We can only hope at this time.
The meeting has been recorded, it has been written in stone, not a real stone but a CD-Audio.
A “WARM THANK YOU” to all the students who prepared delicious baked goods. That was a real treat. We appreciate all the student in our schools. They deserve a better school management.
Bernard Schwab Your local school watchdog