rebuttal

Dedicated groups of community leaders, parents and students are

working very hard to assure that the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District’s Facilities Master Plan will be implemented.

These groups have spent several years assessing the condition of our

local schools and in the process have identified specific projects to

bring each school up to a basic standard of a safe, healthy learning

environment. These projects will happen only if voters approve Measure A

on the June 6 ballot, which will raise up to $110 million to be spent on

upgrading, safety, modernization and rebuilding 29 public schools in

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

If approved, the state could provide $53 million in matching funds. To

assure that the money raised from the school bond is well spent, an

independent Citizens Oversight Committee will ensure that every dollar

goes only to the specific repairs and renovations identified in the plan.

It is insulting to all community members involved to continuously read

Steve Smith’s articles where his distortions and bias appear as fact (“Do

your homework on bond issue,” April 25.)

For example, he defines “implementation” as “how much it will cost to

spend your money.” In reality, implementation includes architects’ and

contractors’ fees, since projects must be designed and built. It includes

temporary housing of students, since some projects cannot be completed

over the summer months, and a 10% contingency, which will only be used if

needed. However, anyone who has built or remodeled a home realizes the

necessity of a contingency budget.

Smith also lambastes funding for lunch shade covers, which are

included in the plan for several school sites. He names three schools and

correctly remarks that “they all already have lunch shade covers.” These

lunch shades are in place because they were separately funded after the

master plan was written. However, bonds will not be sold for previously

funded projects.

Smith ridicules money allocated to the Loats Performing Arts Facility

at Newport Harbor High School. This facility was last renovated in 1977

and is used by every high school and many of the elementary schools in

our district. Smith speculates about an imaginary school board study

claiming the Loats renovation “will be directly responsible for an

increase in test scores.” Ignoring his sarcasm, we do feel that a

renovated facility will benefit an enormous number of students through

performing arts, concerts, lectures and forums.

We in this community should strive to make our schools the best they

can be. Good schools help maintain property values and provide a strong

sense of community. We don’t think that the Daily Pilot should provide a

forum for Smith’s continuous unsubstantiated and misleading school

bashing.

SUSAN KRAMER

KAREN YELSEY

Co-Presidents, Corona del Mar High School/Middle School PTA