7-31-08 pm Even after four failures out of four tries, they intend to go for version five of the same failed bond. The proposed bond is to build a new gymnasium at Vasquez High School and scrap the existing gym without fixing it.
Ron Bird repeatedly called for a vote on the bond, which Distaso refused. Distaso continued for what seemed to be hours with his tirade supporting the bond and refused to let Ron present his arguments concerning the bond. After multiple refusals to allow the vote or to allow Ron to speak, Ron left the meeting with the statement that "he votes no on the bond". When the election finally occurred Distaso refused to record Ron's vote and called the election 4-0 for the bond's support.
Not one cent of money is to be used to improve the four other schools in the district and with $10 million of the $13 million bond going to build a gym, not many educational facilities will be built at Vasquez. The gym does not qualify for state matching funds.
The parents of the 1200 others kids in the district need to understand that this Distaso group doesn't want to give them a dime for bathrooms or improvements, those same parents should deliver a resounding no vote. Without bond funding to complete the Acton and Agua Dulce Elementary schools modernization, these projects will not be accomplished, leaving several million dollars worth of state aid sitting on the table. The Distaso group provided no viable alternatives as how to fund these much needed modernization projects. They have no vision beyond the high school sports complex that their supporters dictate needs the funding.
The parents of a majority of students at Vasquez, that are interested in their education, need to vote the same resounding no on this bond money, that is not going to educational facilities, but will be wasted on sports.
The bond gives the power to the three members of the Brighter Group (the majority of the school board) who always vote together, to designate the money totally to the gym and to ignore educational facilities. ; And to add insult to injury,
Distaso is quoted that if the community doesn't vote for a bond, (with the majority of the school board under his influence) they will vote to de-unify and merge our school system with Palmdale and the Antelope Valley.
This fool believes he can close down our District without a vote of the people. He surely forgets that if he could, it would require us to pay for the taxes assessed by Palmdale Unified and Antelope Valley High School. p>Distaso and his "Brighter" group needs to be run out of town on a rail because of the damage he is doing to our school district.