Foundations need to be attached to...

Foundations need to be attached to schools

I attended the Costa Mesa City Council meeting held Nov. 12 to

discuss management of the Segerstrom Home Ranch education grant.

After hearing the comments and reading the City Council’s

recommendations, I have come to the conclusion that the ad hoc

committee that developed these recommendations does not understand

how an annual amount such as the approximately $25,000 per school can

best be spent.

I am a new parent member of the Costa Mesa High School site

council. This council consists of the two co-principals, teachers,

parents and students. In our recent meeting, we approved proposals

ranging from $281 for chemistry lab equipment to $8,475.96 for

computers. One item that was discussed was if we should approve a

full-day substitute for $105 or a half-day substitute for $55 to

cover for a teacher during a field trip. The half-day substitute was

approved because the principal knew that the teacher in question

would not require a full day. I don’t feel that the proposed

foundation and its board of directors will have this level of working

knowledge to manage as effectively these expenditures, and I don’t

think the added time and expense of the additional foundation the

City Council proposes can be justified.

If the recommendations of the City Council’s ad hoc committee is

implemented, we will have three foundations managing spending at

these two schools. They will be the proposed City Council foundation,

the foundation being formed at Costa Mesa High School plus the

foundation at Estancia High School and TeWinkle Middle School.

It is also clear from the public’s comments at the City Council

meeting that the principals, parents and even the Segerstroms feel

the money should be divided and then managed on a local school level.

The Segerstroms have demonstrated their position by assisting Costa

Mesa High School in setting up a foundation and recommending that two

foundations be set up. Dividing the management among the schools

receiving the Home Ranch education grant agreement will result in

lower costs, more effective use of the money and one less foundation.

GERRY GRANT

Costa Mesa

Judge Chris Cox has a nice ring to it

One of the positive factors of our recent election is the partial

untying of our president’s hands. For instance, the subject of

judgeships. President Bush talked about previous submissions [for the

positions]; it is my understanding they have never been revoked and

therefore they will be resubmitted.

I would like to remind the president that at one point he

considered Rep. Chris Cox for a judgeship, but Democratic California

Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer shot Cox down.

I would surely muster all the help I could to help Cox get his

judgeship.

I am not enamored with Cox at all. What has he done lately for our

district? Let’s see:

* He helped mess up the El Toro issue.

* He helped a Chinese-American get out of China. Good, but

showboating a bit.

* He helped a Palestinian-American doctor get out of Israel.

Good, but showboating again.

* His latest adventure was to recover a piece of a plane shot

down in World War II back to a crew member. Nice, but showboating

still.

In February, the cost of my medication at the Veteran’s Affairs

increased 250%. This increase went back to the VA to help more vets?

Come on. Is that not a special tax on our VA group? I wrote Cox an

initial letter in January 2002 and then last July on another subject.

No reply, no action. The veterans’ organizations (including the

American Legion) endorsed this concern.

As a 76-year-old World War II veteran, this is a very serious

situation. Where is our representative when we need him? For some

reason, does Cox not feel the veterans in his district and the entire

country are serious enough for his attention? Maybe he is too busy on

his goodwill scavenger hunts.

Judge Chris Cox, a lifetime job, sounds good to me. Just think

about it.

BOB BRENNAN

Newport Beach