Letter to the editor

In response to the Independent’s Question of the week and related

Editorial “If At First You Don’t Succeed”, I wish to take issue with our

“urge to quiet the naysayers.”

This is not about whether or not we “naysayers” are willing to pay

$1.50 a week to replace sewer lines, etc. The Independent should do its

homework before making such misleading statements.

I am a parent in the Huntington Beach City School District who

volunteers hundreds of hours each year to our schools, sports, scouts,

etc. I, like all my friends, spend hundreds of dollars each year on our

schools, PTA programs, booster programs, etc. This issue is about the

city school district board of trustees and district officials being

responsible keepers of our funds and assets. That is what they are

elected to do and paid to do. This district does not need a bond to

accomplish what needs to be done in our schools.

A bond is a last resort and we currently have other choices. We have

three closed school sites that have been studied by two 7/11 committees

and both committees recommended at least one site be sold as surplus. We

need only look to our neighbors in Fountain Valley as a model for

modernization of schools using surplus sites.

Some members of the board of trustees have an issue with open space,

to which I respond with the following:

First, their job is not to be the keepers of open space. They were

elected to ensure quality education, well-maintained facilities and

financial solvency. Second, this is not a case of our treasured wetlands,

beautiful beaches or the nature preserves of Central Park. This happens

to be about three closed school sites hidden inside three housing tracts.

To make matters worse, the tax money that we are already paying from

Proposition 1A is being enjoyed by schools all over the state, except out

own district because the board failed to act quickly and prudently in

1999 to avail us of these $16 million plus modernization funds.

Finally, this is not new information. This issue has a long history

and I urge anyone who doesn’t understand the issues to do their homework

and reach an educated conclusion.

CARI SWAN

Huntington Beach