32 February 3 - 16, 2007
Opinion
www.SanTanSun.com
Letters
to the
Editor
Changing school lines
the boundaries did not accommodate opposition doesn’t have the correct no common ground between the two
School boundary changes are some
future growth the board would be facts, then again this is one-sided. parties.
of the most challenging decisions we
forced to move students as the schools It would be benefi cial if there is an No matter at what level of
make at the Chandler Unifi ed School
inevitably become overcrowded. independent consultant to state the
government, as Americans, we should
District board. Some families and
Once the boundaries are set, the facts about toxic unknown, and not
be grafted by our national heritage,
communities can be deeply attached
district offers fl exible policies such approved by the FDA, chemicals in
rule of law, and our democratic roots.
to a particular school and the idea
as open enrollment and “grand
the incinerators, water, and air. This
Whether one is a Democrat or a
of change can be diffi cult, others
fathering” exceptions to help families
consultant should not be paid for by
Republican, liberal or conservative,
have expectations of attending a new
with unique, individual issues and
Covance or have any relationship with
our roots should serve as our guide
school.
desires. The open enrollment policy
the council or with Fife Symington
and protection to surmount domestic
Rapid student growth in the district
makes it possible for parents to place
like AZ Cure and their public relations
and international challenges. Even
over the past fi ve years has driven new
their student at a school of their choice
fi rm. It is evident that the council
though debate and dissension are
school construction and inevitable
provided space is available and they
is pro-Covance, but it is also more
signs of a healthy democracy, the
boundary changes. The district has
provide transportation. Also in some
evident that the residents are against
three aforementioned strongholds
opened ten new schools since 2002 and
cases families are “grandfathered”
Covance.
provide a common foundation to
each one required new boundaries.
into a school allowing siblings to
Joyce Eckman, Clemente Ranch
work from. Furthermore, they are
The majority of these changes have
attend the same school even though
the core of our identity as a people
been done with few problems thanks
the boundaries have changed.
who are committed to the cause of
to the district administration working
I believe the board and
Is the U.S. capable
perennial freedom.
closely with parents and the school
administration are both committed
of unifi cation?
David Church, Springfi eld Lakes
board encouraging and supporting
to providing an equally outstanding
After the contentious and exhaustive
district fl exibility.
education at all district schools
campaign season of 2006, it is easy
Defi ning new school boundaries
while providing fl exibility to address
to conjecture that division ostensibly
The vanishing
is a process of balancing several
individual parent and student needs.
runs throughout our country.
$175 million
important factors and based on
Boundary decisions can indeed be
As Americans, we must ask
developing accurate enrollment
challenging, but student achievement
I have just learned that in the last
ourselves: do we settle for the
forecasts. Some of the critical factors
ultimately drives all our decision-
four years the Federal Government
contention or do we do the harder
include school size, maintaining
making.
has sent 175 million dollars to this
right and fi nd common ground to
viable older schools, allowing for
Robert Rice, CUSD Board Member
State in Homeland Security grants
keep us united through these diffi cult
projected growth in new schools, and
supposedly to make our State more
times? In today’s post 9-11 era, the US
minimizing future boundary changes
secure. During this period of time
is confronted by a realistic and defi ant
in the same neighborhood.
The horse is dead
the State Dept. of Homeland Security
enemy, beleaguered by growing anti-
Studies have consistently shown
I wonder how the anti-Covance
who received this money was in the
Americanism, and challenged socially
that elementary schools of 450 to 650
people feel – beating a dead horse! I control of our Governor. What was this
and culturally. Without a doubt,
students provide the best opportunity
can’t believe they’re still showing up money spent for? I would think our
America has her hands full, and the
for higher student achievement.
at Council meetings.
last thing that we need is division
Governor would be shouting about
Chandler Unifi ed’s elementary schools
Judy Pelino, Ocotillo
on the homeland. The strongholds
how much more secure our state now
are built for about 950 for several key
of our national heritage, rule of law,
is for having this many Federal dollars
reasons, however. This larger size has
and fundamental governance, should
to spend at her disposal. Is the border
been a compromise driven partly by
Can Covance be stopped?
serve as common ground to help us
more secure? Is the largest nuclear
the high cost and scarce availability
Is there still time to stop Covance?
overcome the current division and
generating plant in the country more
of land and the explosive student
I am against allowing companies
keep the US a formidable beacon in
secure? Is anything in our State really
growth that has forced construction
with questionable track records to
the international community.
more secure now that the Feds have
of one to two schools per year. It
relocate in Chandler. In general, past
Unfortunately, today our national
dished out that amount of our tax
would be unreasonable to attempt to
performance of any business is a good
heritage is obscured by modernism,
dollars? I thought the place of the
build three to four smaller schools per
predictor of future performance.
ultra-tolerance, and multiculturalism.
press in our society was to act as the
year. Also building smaller schools
Chandler can afford to be selective as
Understanding the roots of our nation
public’s watchdog on Government so
risks future closures when eventual
to which companies we allow because
should serve as an impetus to keep
where are the investigative journalists
falling enrollment makes them too
it’s a great place to live and work. Why
expensive to operate and maintain.
would we settle for a company like
us united in the face of foreign and
who should be asking these questions?
Utilization of existing schools
Covance?
domestic enemies and pressures.
Our Federal Government just throws
is another critical factor in
Please is there anyway to stop this?
Secondly, our rule of law is essential
around bunches of money and
boundary decisions. The board
Julie Haven, Chandler
to who we are as Americans and sets
doesn’t seem to care how it is being
and superintendent strongly value
an example for others to emulate and
used because they have not asked for
maintaining existing schools. The
acquire. Our rule of law is designed
any kind of accounting so who is to do
district commitment is that all Letter to Mayor & Council
to be free from the usurpation of
it? Since our Governor is the darling
students receive the same high level I have a few questions that I would
personal opinion and ideological
of the local liberal media, it is not
of education regardless of the school like answered. You have insisted on
viewpoints … and our rule of law is
surprising that little has come to light
they attend. In support to this policy numerous occasions that there is
capable of remaining implacable.
on this issue. Is objective journalism
over $120 million has been spent in nothing that the council can do to
If we allow external forces to really an oxymoron in this State?
the past fi ve years to upgrade existing stop Covance. But if that is clearly
transgress our rule of law, then we Roger Pazul, Sun Lakes
school facilities. As a part of this the truth, then why is Covance/AZ
run the risk of becoming ungrounded.
commitment, new boundaries are CURE at every council meeting? If
For example, by condoning illegal Publisher’s note: We are not familiar
drawn to ensure an adequate student there is nothing that council can do,
immigration, we are setting an with this particular grant. While we
population and proper utilization of why are they spending the money
ominous precedent for future are community journalists and not
existing schools. to fl y in their employees? I have
generations. America’s union is necessarily investigative reporters, we
Boundaries are also designed to attended several of the previous
strengthened by its ability to practice will contact Gov. Janet Napolitano’s
promote long-term stability. The council meetings & noticed that the
and adhere to its rule of law. offi ce and see what we can fi nd out.
board works to avoid frequently Covance/AZ Cure get more than their
Lastly, everything that the US
moving students from school to school required 3 minutes. This is due to
stands for is represented by its
by making boundary decisions that the council asking them questions,
fundamental governance. Our enemy
Letters to the Editor
We know you have your opinion! Share it with
consider the total number of students but it appears to be one-sided as
in the war on terrorism is rapt in an the SanTan Sun News. Unless you’re the Mayor,
a neighborhood will produce at full council does not ask the opponents of ideology that totally contradicts the
please keep your letters around 200-300 words, or
they may be edited for length. Include your fi rst
build out. Because new schools are Covance as many questions, thus not tenets of our democratic principles,
and last name, community or development name in
Southern Chandler (Cooper Commons, Ocotillo, Sun
built in communities that are still giving them additional time to speak. Judeo-Christian foundation, and our
Groves, etc.) or zip code and daytime phone number
growing, the schools open at less than If your intention from Covance/AZ will to expand freedom. There will
for verifi cation. Anonymous letters are not typically
accepted. Email is the preferred submission method,
full capacity and fi ll up over time. If Cure is to inform the residents that the be no compromise because there is to Letters@SanTanSun.com.
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