Readers Respond

I read with great interest the Huntington Beach City School District’s

attempt for another bond issue for school repairs. It is no secret that

our schools are in need of many repairs. As a parent of children who

attend those schools, I am acutely aware of how vital these repairs are

both to the quality of education our kids receive and the quality of

their lives within the school community.

The school board had been hoping, since 1999 that a bond issue would

pass in our district. They have remained indifferent to the warnings that

bond issues aren’t popular in our community and it would a tough sell.

Additionally, when pressed for alternatives as to how we would

generate money to repair our schools in case the bond issue failed, there

were no answers given.

Since 1996, it has been recommended that the closed Gisler School site

be sold. While the site has been leased, providing some money to the

district, it will take years to realize the same revenue that a sale

would generate.

Additionally, there have been two 7-11 committees that have

recommended the sale of the Gisler school site. The board ignored those

recommendations time and time again effectively undermining not only the

process, but the time and energy citizens spent in examining this issue.

In 1999, all city school district elementary and middle schools came

together in an unprecedented town hall meeting to present unbiased facts

to the community on our budget crises and to encourage the board to make

the decision to sell a closed school site.

It was ignored.

One board member did tell the community that “open space” was an issue

and people in her area wanted space to walk their dogs. Perhaps this

board member should be reminded that open space issues are not the

concern of the school board -- education and facilities are.

Hasn’t this issue gone on long enough?

When the board examines the possibility of another bond issue I would

urge it to come before the community and explain why it continues to sit

on its assets and deny our district the ability to move forward.

Cindy Stapleton

Huntington Beach