Making resolutions is a time-honored New Year
’s tradition. Although these are a bit belated, we ofer these
suggestions for city and school district leaders and the Morgan
Hill community as a whole:
Making resolutions is a time-honored New Year’s tradition. Although these are a bit belated, we ofer these suggestions for city and school district leaders and the Morgan Hill community as a whole:
• For the Community Development Department: We know the staff tries hard to meet the needs and expectations of builders and residents renovating their houses and businesses. We know the public is often unaware of the scope and need to secure proper permits and follow codes. But we also know that these two paths frequently lead to conflict and misunderstandings. Morgan Hill has a reputation – fair or not – of being business-unfriendly. Council asked staff to fix this in 2003. Possibly it is time for an effective public relations effort to erase the perception that nothing has changed.
• For the Redevelopment Agency directors (all City Council members): Because of the changing economic picture, the RDA needs to rearrange its priorities. Use the remaining funds to build a library available for free to everyone and whose maintenance and operations would not be paid for by the city makes more sense than using the money to build an indoor recreation center. That center would charge admission to pay for its maintenance and operations costs and duplicate and/or compete with other public and private services in town. Instead, follow Councilman Steve Tate’s idea of finding alternates to the rec center. We’d also like to see the money left – the library would cost less than an IRC – used for the outdoor sports fields next to the aquatic center.
• We think it’s time the city got together with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to find at least a temporary fix for Little Llagas Creek where it continually floods downtown houses and businesses during heavy rains. Public Works Director Jim Ashcraft said there is an interim project available; it just needs funding. Would our Congressional representative, Richard Pombo, be able to find some funding in Washington, D.C., to help these unfortunate folks out? People really shouldn’t have to sandbag their houses every time it rains.
• For the school district as a whole: That despite overwhelming state and federal mandates concerning student assessment, students shall be taught more than just what they are expected to regurgitate on the tests.
• For school board: That 2004 will be the year trustees take back the reins and decide that they are the ones running the show. There have been steps in that direction, and they need to continue. Perhaps 2004 will be the year that trustees learn that having questions answered by district administration in public view rather than in private is a good thing, because then the public learns, too. Again, there have been steps in that direction, but too often they are viewed with impatience or as a waste of time.
• For Morgan Hill public school teachers: That they will endure and rise above the tensions and uncertainties in the district because they are committed to providing students with the best possible education, and they will find ways, as they always seem to do, to make sure students succeed and move forward.
• For parents of Morgan Hill School District students: That they will become, or continue to be, as involved in their children’s education, both at home and at school, as possible. And perhaps in 2004, parents will remember to work in a positive way to make the district a better place.