Monrovia School Link

Monrovia School Link ~ Number 156 ~ March 1, 2006

The school board's 3-2 decision to NOT put a bond measure to refurbish Monrovia High on the next ballot has certainly caused a reaction. I've had people write me directly and I've been copied on quite a few other letters. Below are a number of letters on either side of the question, including a response - just a few minutes ago - from Monrovia Mayor Rob Hammond. There's no board meeting report here, just letters.
~ brad@sacklunch.net

LETTER: EDUCATION FIRST ~ I think it is very sad that we have put the education of our students on hold. Science is a very important subject. Has anyone taken a look at our high school? It is very old and needs a upgrade. So because the City waited so long for a bond for the library, (I believe 5 years? What is up with that?) the students of Monrovia have to wait because of them. Our youth are the future of this city. I believe that the city should have waited. (November) I believe that the education of the students should have been first. I also believe that the mayor and city should be thinking of the education of the students in their city. The school board shouldn't have attacked in the manner they were by the city. Not good! The library is an important issue, but I believe that if we do not get an upgrade at the High School soon we will just be sending more and more students to private schools or other districts in the area with better facilities. Take a look at the other high schools in our area. That means less and less funds for the district. There are many families that already send their students to private schools that live in Monrovia. And people will not want to come to Monrovia and purchase homes with an outdated high school ( not a good selling point)! I feel that we have let the students in Monrovia down! I am very sorry that the board voted that way. Student education should come first to the board before a city library!

Debbie Elliott-Penzer
Sad Monrovia Parent :-(

LETTER: LIBRARY BENEFITS ALL ~ Not only am I a teacher in Monrovia, but I am a resident as well. Thank you for presenting an objective overview to the Board Meetings. I agree with the consensus that the school bond would not pass. I realize we need new science facilities but we also need to improve the quality of instruction not just the quality of the buildings. The current library was new when I moved to Monrovia in 1957 and it is smaller than many homes at this point. A new library benefits all ages in our city and contributes to our city's literacy. Thanks for letting me vent.
Suzette Williams

LETTER: FRUSTRATED ~ Dear School Board Members,
I would like to add my name to the large list of parents with children in the MUSD who are disappointed and highly frustrated with the fact that the board has rejected the idea of placing the school bond measure on the June ballot. The facilities at MHS are in dire need of improvement and this is an issue that needs to be put before the citizens of Monrovia. Please, please change your mind about this and do the right thing for the children of Monrovia. It is important to upgrade the quality of the school to give the students a better learning environment, and give them an advantage in their road to success.

Thank You!
Laura Williams,
Future MHS Parent

LETTER: LIBRARY AND SCHOOL ~ I believe that all of the citizens of Monrovia want to live in the best possible community. That means a first class library as well as first rate schools. I also believe that we will have both. I believe that the School Board and the City Council can, and will, continue to work together for the good of the community. But as with every other issue that has caused public outcry, it may take time for wounds to heal and trust to be re-established. I urge my fellow Monrovians to request information from both sides, City Council and the School Board. I urge both sides to present comprehensive information regarding their issues with the proposed bonds, as well as presenting the findings of the survey commitees. I would like to suggest that they post the information on their respective web sites as well as other public forums. There really is no such thing as "too much information" when it comes to these issues. The vote is over, we can't go backwards. Let's work together to move forwards and make sure that we can fund improvements for the High School and build a new library.
June Richetts

LETTER: WHAT HAPPENED? ~ With all due respect, I had to write this message. I feel that I would be letting my children down if I didn't send this message out to you right away. It was my ONE optimistic hope for our high school that you would put a bond measure up before us (the parents, the voters) so that one day soon, help, hope and encouragement would be theirs to own. A school that has through the years been the victim of criticism and negligence, a school trying so hard to do so much with so little, a school in dire need of our help. Instead, it is with great sadness and disappointment, I come to learn that you have taken that one small glimpse of hope that I as a parent and a citizen had for that school. I cannot comprehend how it is that you, our board, said "NO" to our children? I don't understand how it is that you listened to members of this community who DO NOT EVEN have children in our schools? As I recall, throughout your campaigning days, didn't you ALL state that the high school would be a "top priority?" What happened, gentlemen? When did you loose sight of our school? It couldn't be the timing - this is years and years long overdue! It couldn't be the money - I will quote you, "...if we wait much longer, the building and restoration costs will only go up and up, how much more will it then costs the taxpayers?" Who said that during a recent board meeting? I am saddened to say, but I feel like you have somehow let us down. I feel that you are keeping us from creating an opportunity for that school. I urge you please to reconsider what you've just voted down. Right now, there is no greater challenge before you than that high school. Please, see to it that the children of Monrovia don't miss out on having a better education, because YOU didn't see the forest for the trees!

Respectfully,
Maria A. Gray
(Parent and Citizen)

LETTER: RECONSIDER ~ To all members of the School Board:
I am deeply thankful for all you do and the selfless gift of time and energy that you provide to all of our community. However, I must say that I am deeply disappointed that the plans to improve Monrovia High School seem to have been placed on hold and that this critical issue won't be brought up to the voters. I am a parent of four children and three have attended Monrovia schools. I am a graduate of MHS and my oldest child just began attending there this year. I was quite surprised that while Mayflower Elementary and Clifton Middle School have gone through great renovations, the High School looks so run down. It was brought out at the last school board meeting that our science labs have not experienced any renovation since 1928! Our child is a GATE student and was accepted to Cal State LA during her 6th grade to begin attending summer classes at the university. So it is quite shocking for her to go from Mayflower to Clifton and to Cal State and then go to Monrovia High School and see the tremendous difference in facilities. I wasn't too concerned at the beginning of the year, since I knew that renovations were in the works, but I am now reconsidering whether my child will stay at MHS. I strongly urge you to reconsider this very important matter and to put it in the ballot and let the voters decide. I know that Monrovians take very seriously the education of our children. The success of our students benefits all of us. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Miriam Childers
Monrovia resident and parent of Monrovia School District students

LETTER: ARE WE OBTUSE? ~ To Monrovia School Board Members, After hearing about the recent school board meeting I was in disbelief, I had to watch the replay on KGEM. One speaker after another talked emotionally but without real substance, that is except one -- former board member Bruce Carter. Dr. Carter stated very simply that the bond measure is long overdue and that unless we move forward we will be failing our children. Other speakers kept focusing on problems with the bond measure, however, their only solution was to wait and "educate" the community. Are we as a community so obtuse that we can't understand what a bond measure is and what it means to our children between now and June? What I do understand is that waiting only raises construction costs and interest rates. One speaker after another spoke of relationships and so-called deceptive tactics related to the bond measure. Unfortunately, the biggest deception was the smokescreen they were trying to create. None was willing to say that their real agenda was getting support for a library parcel tax. Instead, each used faulty reasoning and misinformation in their attack on the bond measure. I currently have three children in the Monrovia schools, the oldest is in 6th grade at Clifton. Given the time it take for construction, unless the bond is passed this year, he will not have time to benefit from changes to the high school that are needed for a first class education. That is unacceptable to me. Please, please reconsider your decision to place the bond measure on the ballot and let the community have a voice and a choice. I understand that your job is extremely difficult, however, as elected board members your duty is to place our children first.

Sincerely,
Ann Hodgdon

LETTER: CHANGE YOUR MIND ~ Dear School Board Members,
I would like to add my name to long list of parents with children in MUSD who are truly disappointed and highly frustrated with the fact that the board has rejected the idea of placing the school bond measure on the June ballot. The facilities at MHS as I have heard and seen are in great need of improvement. My daughter is going to attend MHS next year and I had to talk her into going there. she has been pleading to go to another school due to the fact that the high school doesn't even have an up to date science lab and also the 4 X 4 schedule. I feel that since you are going through with that "Block Scheduling" and the students will be in the same room for a longer amount time, it would be beneficial that they have a place that is more conducive to learning. My daughters have had a great education so far in the Monrovia schoolS and I have convinced many parents on my street to send their children to Bradoaks, Clifton and Monrovia High instead of private schools, but know I feel that I might have led them astray. It is important to upgrade the quality of the school to give the students a better learning environment, and give them an advantage in their road to success. Please, please change your mind about this and do the right thing for the children of Monrovia.

Thank You!
Nora Eskew
MUSD Parent

LETTER: RECONSIDER ~ (This appeared to be addressed to the City Council)
I am very disappointed that you let the citizens of Monrovia and the students of Monrovia down by casting a no vote against the bond measure to repair the High School. I as a citizen feel I have the right to make the decision as to how my tax dollars are spent and when you were campaigning you made it clear that the High School would be a top priority. I urge you to please reconsider your vote and bring back hope to Monrovia's students, parents, grandparents and future Monrovia's.
Sincerely,

Claudia Banando
Tax Payer and Parent

LETTER: FROM MAYOR HAMMOND ~ Hello All, I usually do not write lengthy emails because sometimes the way you would speak does not translate in the way it is written, but try I must.

I wholeheartedly agree with your statements regarding our high school. My children have gone through Monrovia schools and I know first hand of the need. Yet there are other aspects that need to be considered. To fully understand I have to start in 1995. A large group of people were assembled to look at the needs of Monrovia schools. Every school site was under review and every possible problem/solution was being discussed. After a series of meetings the needs of every school were identified and ranked using a phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3 criteria. Simply put, problems that needed immediate attention were phase 1. Problems that needed to be addressed in the near future were phase 2. And finally if money were available it would be nice to see these things done, phase 3. This process took over a year and evolved many times. The needs of each of the campuses were very different and the solutions to the needs were equally different. It is important to note that the high school was very much a part of this study and ultimately was determined that almost $12.3 million be earmarked (both phase 1 and phase 2) for the renovation/addition of the science building, gym, and general repair of the facility. Fully a significant percentage of the bond that passed was to be used for the high school. Anyway back to the story. All during 1996 there were many public hearings talking about the upcoming bond election (June 1997) and expressly seeking public input and encourage folks to take field trips to the schools and see first hand the need. Literally bus loads of people were taken to see the conditions that our children were being asked to learn in. This was very important to let the community know first hand what the needs were as well as to get their buy-in to the solution. After all this leg work was done the real work began. Running the campaign. Running a campaign is different than just saying, here is our ballot statement, vote for this idea. For all the people that took the time to see first hand the conditions of the schools there were probable 3 times that many that did not, yet were going to vote. The big question was, "how do you educate the electorate so that they agree with your ballot initiative"? There is no easy answer. It takes plain old hard work. Day in and day out being single mindedly focused on the education of over 6000 people to the needs and the solution. Thankfully, in June of 1997, the voters returned a yes vote for our schools.

All this leads me to answering your email. What is different today than in 1995, 96 and 1997? Are any campaigns run differently? Should the community be left out of process? Should the problems that face Monrovia High School only be known by those on the inside? While it is true that under Proposition 39 the threshold for a bond to be successful is 55%, there still needs to be extensive community involvement and education to ensure that when the measure is put before the voters it has its best chance of passing. To put an item on a ballot that has not gone through the tried and true steps endangers the outcome, and ultimately dooms the chances of success for years afterward.

I think that the new board members (for that matter the entire board) did a tremendous job in debating this matter. If you have not seen the board meeting please get a copy of it. During the meeting it was fully discussed that the need is there, but the preparation was not done. No one can doubt that the entire board is sympathetic to the needs of Monrovia High School. I will assure everyone that the City Council is waiting to and willing to help when the issue comes forward, but the steps of involving our community to see what the need and desire of our citizens are should not be brushed aside, or ignored. Equally important is the financing of the bond. Full disclosure of the cost of the money should be brought before the community. If it cost $127 million to borrow $30 million then I believe it should be talked about up front. Not involving the community at every avenue courts an unpleasant outcome and is not the way we in Monrovia have always worked together to solve our needs.

I and other members of the city council stand ready to put our collective shoulders to the wheel to help not only Monrovia High School, but the entire district.

Respectfully,
Rob Hammond

Also on the Web at www.monroviaschoollink.com