Admin assistant off base; Elementary re-opening clearly best use of bond funds
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to the letter published last week written by Julie Zintsmaster, who happens to be Superintendent Wesley Smith’s administrative assistant. It is inappropriate that she should write such a letter without full disclosure of who she is and her bias.
What is more inappropriate is to compare a group of parents who recognize the need for a community elementary school to “the ugly mob that demanded Jesus’ death”. Sadly, the superintendent and at least one trustee has defended her actions as acceptable. When you are in a position such as hers you must remain objective. When she speaks publically on matters that concern her employer, she is representing the organization for which she works. She goes on to extole the virtues of kindness and loving one another yet she hurls some pretty ugly and offensive words at those who are looking out for the best interests of our growing youth community.
The heart of the matter is that $7 million is being spent to update the Burnett Elementary site to be used for 120 students. This site is the largest facility we have in Morgan Hill and is capable of serving 600 students. This site needs to be re-opened as an elementary school to make more prudent use of the Measure G funds. How can this school board think that using our largest facility for the smallest school population is the best use of the site?
North Morgan Hill is expecting 400 new homes by the end of 2014. Where do they intend for these children to go to school? The plan we have heard is to just send those students to surrounding schools – schools which are already crowded and under-performing. We aren’t going to help under-performing schools by overcrowding them. Additionally, the school board has now said that if we need more room for elementary school students we will build another elemenary school. Where is this money coming from? Why would they build another school when we have a very large facility right here now? The word is that they are so worried about losing the site if they don’t make use of it right away that they are just moving Central to make sure they get to keep that property. This has become a purely political move. Politics have no place when it comes the welfare of our kids.
And last, to address the alegation that “we don’t want Central in our neighborhood”, those of us who are trying to get the school board to hear us have NOTHING against Central. We believe that Central does need to also be upgraded. If more space is needed the acreage adjacent to the existing school is for sale and they can purchase it. That is surely cheaper than buying land and building an entirely new elementary school. We applaud the efforts of students and staff at Central. They are doing great things. It’s not a matter of “we don’t want them in our neighborhood” as Ms. Zintsmaster is stating. Nobody involved with the Re-Open Burnett Elementary initiative has said that to her. If Ms. Zintsmaster got emails from individuals who said hurtful things about Central students as she claims, and which I do not doubt given her position, it still does not give her the right to publicly vilify those of us who are simply trying to look out for our children who need a quality school to attend. What we want is a smart use of funds and what is best for a larger population of students.
For all who are like minded, please join our Facebook group called Re-Open Burnett Elementary.
Shelley Ball, Morgan Hill
Sobrato students demonstrate a wonderful caring side and the goodness in today’s youth
Dear Editor,
Initiative, commitment, dedication – the Ann Sobrato National Honor Society Chapter demonstrated these qualities recently when they put on the Brooke Bailey Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Admiration, inspiration, and gratitude are what I felt as I experienced their amazing accomplishment. Once more, this community should be immensely proud of its young people.
Francis of Assisi, whose name the new pope has adopted, taught us to ask “How may I serve?” instead of “What’s in it for me?” It often takes a lifetime for an adult to learn how important that lesson is, but these high school students have already learned it because of their strong characters and over-flowing hearts. Under the guidance of their advisor, AP English teacher Nina Audino, these students worked diligently for months to put on the 12-hour-long event on April 13.
Much appreciation goes out to the local businesses – Anritsu, Anaerobe Systems, Booksmart, Logo Locker, and Thinker Toys – as well as individuals Chris Bosso and Swanee Edwards, who contributed money and effort to make the walk possible. The Sobrato staff also showed their support, signing up for hour-long shifts to help supervise throughout the day, as well as coming out – some with their own children in tow – to walk the track. They are the ones who set the example for these young people. We are so fortunate to live in a community that has great role models and produces children of such caliber. These Ann Sobrato High School NHS students demonstrated leadership and selflessness beyond belief to pull together the Morgan Hill community in support of this worthy cause.
I am personally touched by their efforts and love, but I want them to be recognized for their act of service on a larger scale. Cancer will attack one out of every two females and one out of every three males in their lifetime. As evidenced by the beautiful handmade luminary bags surrounding the track, many of the students have been affected by the nightmare of cancer.
Thanks to teachers like Nina Audino, their learning extends far beyond the classroom, and thanks to their parents and other significant adults in their lives, the compassion these teens demonstrate reaches way beyond their years. These young ambassadors of our community would make Francis of Assisi proud.
Brooke Bailey, Sobrato English teacher
