To the editor:
What a harsh lesson.
Dr. [Gary] Woods and Jim Kelly do all that posturing at the [Grossmont Union High School District] board meeting Feb. 9 and schedule the emergency meeting that we had last Thursday.
All I can say is: Why? If there never was any intention of responding to our concerns, then why bother having another meeting? I am still unclear as to what the purpose of the boundary change was for.
On one side, the district is claiming that attendance is out of balance and must be adjusted. However, based on Thursday’s meeting it appears that if you live in a transition zone you don’t have to transfer!?
This makes no sense. If the changes were about enrollment numbers, then the way the board and district have gone about this will only undermine the goals of increasing attendance as the transition areas will opt to charter [schools]. I think that these things were pointed out clearly and eloquently by all of you who took the opportunity to speak your mind.
At this point, I am out of ideas. The board, to be very honest, is beyond helping (they are entangled in a political tug of war with too many personal and petty issues). These changes will only lead to further fracturing of the school district with parents and teachers advocating for Granite Hills and Grossmont to become charter schools.
These ideas were all voiced to the board and perhaps they don’t believe that these things can come to pass. I don’t know, but I still don’t think their conduct will alleviate any of these proposed trends. Some people in the community would like to replace the nonperforming board members which in the long run could only improve the district’s relationship with the public.
I am happy to provide assistance as well as any and all information that I have gathered to any individuals who are interested in continuing this process. Politics is not my bag, baby!
I think for many of us, this was a crappy deal. The board knows it. The board acknowledges that the process was screwed up. The board does not care. They never will care unless you can kick them out. I am not sure I even want to bother. I almost would rather have them sit there and watch the district disintegrate due to their thoughtless actions.
Gregory Kerrebrock
La Mesa
