‘Pretzel’ logic Dear ER: Last week Miyo Prassas wrote in righteous indignation to excoriate the Hermosa school board for spending a million dollars on computers in this economy [“School expense,” letters, ER April 21, 2011]. Attentive readers will recall that Ms. Prassas occasionally misrepresents goings-on at the local schools, and in her letter she continues her familiar pattern, keeping her accuracy batting average well below the Mendoza line. I write yet again to correct her. The state of California requires that a District prepare and update its technology plan every three years. In its plan, each district is required to state how it would use technology to improve student learning and what it costs and would cost to do so. The technology plan is a prerequisite to seeking grants and other state funding. This is what our District prepared. Significantly, although the Board approved the plan as a statement of objectives, there was no budgetary approval for plan expenditures.
This is not of course what Ms Prassas wrote. In her view, the District’s not spending money really means it is spending money. This is the kind of cognitive whiplash you have to endure if you try to follow her down the rabbit hole. Not that she’s been interested in getting the facts right; it’s too good a story the way she’s telling it.
Ms Prassas is justified in scrutinizing the School District or any other public body and in demanding accountability. However, I cannot believe hers is a citizen’s initiative to hold the District accountable in light of her pretzel-twisting of relevant facts. Certainly she has made no secret of her desire to punish the school district, whether by honest or other means, for perceived transgressions against her personal desires and for not doing as she dictates (the “Me” in Miyo, perhaps?).
Ms. Prassas and her sidekick, Ms. Tagliaferro, are entitled to their opinions, no matter how much I may disagree with them. They are not, however, entitled to their own facts, and it is to their dissemination of misleading information that I object. The issue is not really with them, though – they will continue to disseminate whatever twaddle they can invent. The real issue is with those members of our community who accept their piffle without further investigation, investigation that is relatively easy to perform.
The school district for the last year has engaged in community meetings and has solicited the input of residents to determine its future, whether as a part of another district, as a shrunken district, as a community funded district, or other. Our community is right to hold the District accountable and to provide input and to participate in the decision making that affects all of us. However, it is not right for charlatans to pose as reformers and to cut off deliberation and discussion.
Greg Breen
Hermosa Beach
Saving money Dear ER: I wanted to thank Easy Reader for providing the informative article on the school funding issues and the approach Hermosa is taking to get ahead of the curve [“Bottom Line,” ER April 14, 2011] and we look forward to the upcoming article on finance issues [see cover].
Perhaps in response to the article there was a letter to the editor last week from Miyo Prassas questioning the approval of a Technology Plan by the School Board at our last meeting. While I understand the concern she has relative to expenditures, I would like to point out that the “Technology Plan” that was adopted is just that, a “plan.”
In particular, in order for the school to apply for E-rate and California Teleconnect Funds (CTF), the state requires each school district to have in place an approved Technology Plan. E-rate will allow us to receive 40 percent off of our Internet connection, point-to-point connection from View to Valley schools, as well as our phone bills.
CTF funds will give us an additional 50 percent off of the balance of what is left. By having the Technology Plan in place the district will save on our telecommunications bills. This was explained at the meeting prior to our adoption. Also, if you would like to contribute to the cause of funding computers for the classrooms, please check out Donorschoose.org.
We hope that the community will continue to support our research into all of our available options and we welcome your input. Our commitment is to continue to provide an outstanding education for our students at the level that our community expects and deserves. You may review our Strategic plan, offer input and receive continuing updates on our website, www.HBCSD.org.
Cathy McCurdy, Board President
Naked bodies Dear ER: Hard to believe the cover photo [“Where beauty is skin deep,” ER April 21, 2011]. My 11, 9, and 6 year old brought it into the house from the driveway and couldn’t stop talking about and looking at the naked bodies, nipples and all. That was the topic of all conversation yesterday. Do you really think that was appropriate material for a magazine that is distributed for free throughout the Peninsula? I would have to say that was too risque and bordering on pornographic.
Abigail999, Web comment
More nakedness Dear ER: I can understand being initially startled to see that image on the cover of the magazine being handed to you by your 6-year-old. The paintings sure are gorgeous though, don’t you think?
Were the kids upset? Or just curious? I think they’ll be fine — unless you freak out and send the message that the human body is shameful and embarrassing.
By the way, tattoos are widely accepted these days, if not a required accessory.
Note: To help folks adjust to a world in which nudity is less frightening, I took the trouble, before writing this comment, of removing my clothing.
Lola9073, Web comment
Buried headDear ER: Bondo Wyszpolski’s story ‘Where Beauty Is Skin Deep’ [ER April 21, 2011] brought to my imagination a colorful quilt of skin canvass bringing public attention of tattooing, which is a most unique art as well as a lasting graphic statement.
I love motorcycles, as did the group of Australians I rode with. There is no greater life than that life seated over a muscle engine as one lives behind the handle bars of a Norton, Triumph, BSA or particularly a Harley Davidson, which had onto itself the sound of an oversized full ordinance artillery range.
Calin McQuarter’s family owned an ostrich farm, repeatedly when Calin on his Harley approached the farm, the ostriches would stampede.
Finally Calin was inspired to document upon his body a tattoo appropriate to his point of view concerning ostriches. His tattoo was an ostrich over the front of his torso with its long neck draped down his back, and since ostriches are known to bury their heads, so its head mysteriously disappeared below his belt line.
Think of the indelible possibility of Calin’s ostrich. We are all now into our 70s.
Chuck (of Chuck n’ Dora), Torrance
Public art Dear ER: The City of Redondo Beach is setting an example in the South Bay and in LA County by creating a transit center that features a cool structure and original artistic design [“’Gate Wave’ chosen for transit center,” ER April 21, 2011]. Framing the planned bus depot is an aluminum and wood “wave.”
When the City Council and mayor promotes infrastructure that brings beauty to the community as well as expanding public transit, they are serving the public’s interest and also honoring the future.
In the 1930’s the government built libraries, train stations, post offices, parks, museums, city halls, fire stations and other public works which featured beautiful architecture to compliment the community all around the country.
We still enjoy and utilize those public spaces, and those investments defined several decades of growth and progress.
The new Redondo Beach transit center and public art project is reminiscent of that era and it will be a welcome addition to our pursuit of a vibrant public transportation network throughout LA County. Keep up the good work.
Chuck Levin
For the workers Dear ER: May 1-7 is Public Service Recognition Week. Designated by the president and Congress in 1985, PSRW offers an opportunity to “honor the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees.” It is an ideal time to express appreciation for their contributions to the quality of life in our South Bay communities.
I am especially appreciative to the employees of the City of Manhattan Beach and the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. My profession for four decades as a consultant and educator centers on those in the public service. I know the indicators of quality customer service in the public sector. In Manhattan Beach, our employees surpass those standards.
As a resident for over 28 years, they have contributed inordinately to the betterment of my children, my wife, and our elderly parents in: the education of our children (Grand View, Middle School, and Mira Costa); life and death situations (fire and police); social services (parks and recreation); the maintenance of critical services (public works); our intellectual development (library); permits, planning, code enforcement (community development); and those who provide support services (finance, city clerk).
We know their challenges – the challenges of meeting the needs of residents who are often at opposite sides of an issue; of citizen appreciation where they lack flexibility because of legal requirements; of responsiveness when required to follow policies and procedures that “we” have mandated.
Please join me in showing an added “Thank You” to them during Public Service Recognition Week.
Edward C. Caprielian, Ph.D., Manhattan Beach
