MAILBAG - May 31, 2001

I have recently learned that the Ocean View School District has passed

up $21 million in state grants from Proposition 1A to finally fix up our

schools.

The district knew it was eligible for these grants since early 1999,

yet it failed to apply for this free money. Proposition 1A was funded by taxpayers and has now been granted away to hundreds of other school

districts that diligently applied for the money.

The Ocean View School District has let down our kids and the

taxpayers. In my opinion, the district is guilty of poor planning and

fiscal irresponsibility.

For years I’ve heard the district cry poverty when it came to repairs

and upgrades for our schools. Then along comes a perfect opportunity like

Prop 1A and what does the district do? They sit on their duffs and

largely ignore a $9.2-billion pile of state money with a “free” sign on

it.

The district’s irresponsibility of Prop 1A has left them holding an

empty bag with millions of dollars in school repairs and upgrades undone.

Westminster Elementary School District, with 17 schools, received $19

million; Fullerton Elementary School District, with 19 schools, received

$20 million; even Compton Unified received $16 million.

What did Ocean View receive for its 15 schools? Only $1.2 million --

a mere 5.6% of what they could have gotten.

Although the taxpayers in this district are paying the price for Prop

1A, we are only getting a pittance in return. Because Supt. James

Tarwater and the board of trustees failed to apply for the $21 million,

the 10,000 kids of the district won’t soon enjoy the $2,100 of school

improvements that they are each entitled to.

As part owner of the Ocean View School District, I ask that the board

of trustees wake up and go find the $21 million that our schools have

coming. If our elected trustees can’t do their job, it’s time we remove

them from office and elect someone else who will.

ED FALZON

Huntington Beach

*

EDITOR’S NOTE: The “recent” information the writer refers to is the

Proposition 1A funds the Ocean View School District didn’t apply for in

1998.