The past year was a turbulent one in Morgan Hill, encompassing
controversies, financial hurdles and an election that brought four
new faces to the city council and school board.
The past year was a turbulent one in Morgan Hill, encompassing controversies, financial hurdles and an election that brought four new faces to the city council and school board.
The story that garnered the most attention, including from news outlets across the country, was the Cinco de Mayo incident at Live Oak High School. When Assistant Principal Miguel Rodriguez and Principal Nick Boden insisted students wearing patriotic-themed clothing turn their shirts inside out or go home, it ignited a firestorm of media attention that put Morgan Hill in a negative light.
But, cooler heads prevailed after a community meeting the following week, and students organized their own peaceful demonstration to show solidarity.
What we wrote then still stands: “We’re light years ahead of most of the world when it comes to assimilation and tolerance. Let’s remember that, and remember that respect, applied without an agenda, is key when it comes to human relations. That’s important to remember for students, and the rest of us.”
Election brings change
The November election saw 19 candidates heed our call and file papers to run for mayor, city council and school board. The number gave residents a variety of choices. In the end, despite a vocal minority calling for change, voters elected the seven candidates endorsed by the Times. Mayor Steve Tate was reelected, and Gordon Siebert and Richard Constantine – two newcomers – were elected to the city council. They saw the city as the editorial board did: largely on the right path. We wrote: “Unlike some council and mayoral candidates, Siebert and Constantine by and large like the decisions the city has made, the direction that it’s heading, and would work to preserve and continue that. Each might quibble with details here and there, but they recognize that Morgan Hill is a well-run city with a great quality of life.”
In the race for school board, two newcomers and two incumbents were elected. Again, voters elected the four candidates endorsed by the Times. They were first-time candidates Ron Woolf and Claudia Rossi, and incumbents Don Moody and Shelle Thomas. As we wrote back in October: “They should provide a broad perspective of ideas and help move the district forward as it struggles to close annual budget deficits. These four have said the opportunity to work with new Superintendent Dr. Wes Smith played into their decision to run, but the new board needs to also examine Smith and his staff’s ideas.”
Budget woes impact city, school district
The deep and ongoing budget deficits have both the city and school district struggling to provide even basic services. The city council cut about $2 million last year by trimming administrative expenses, eliminating 16 unfilled staff positions, and laying off one employee. That leaves almost no more stones to turn except salaries and benefits, which comprise about 55 percent of the city’s $28 million general fund.
Facing a $2.8 million deficit, the school district slashed 12 elective periods for the 2010-2011 school year. And that comes after the district sliced about $9 million in the past two years, including 16 classified employees, such as maintenance workers and bus drivers, and several teachers. Salaries and benefits make up 87 percent of the district budget.
What we said back then may be even more appropriate as both agencies look to balance budgets: “In the past, elected officials set priorities and made decisions based on those priorities. Now, the really tough decisions are going to be made, and the public must re-examine our priorities and let elected officials know what we want from them. It’s down to basics and we need to examine everything. Not everyone will get help. Some are going to lose out. So where do we start?”
Last ditch effort to save Granada Theater
Finally, there is the Granada Theater. Although the theater has not been in operation since 2003 and is slated to be replaced with retail shops and homes in the city’s long-term redevelopment plan, a group dubbed “Save The Granada” came forward in 2009 with deceitful “Save the Granada – No on Measure A” signs in a last ditch effort to save the old building. Save the Granada asked the city to abandon its plan for a new cinema on the corner of Monterey Road and Second Street in favor of a multi-purpose development at its current location. But they were unable to gather the required number of signatures in time to put it on the ballot.
As we wrote back in June: “It’s time to put away fanciful notions of renovating the old theater and build a new one for today’s children to make their memories.”
