Education: Debate Over Bond Issue and a Lesson on High Schools in San Gabriel

I am a seventh-grade student at Jefferson Intermediate School and will be in the second class to go through Gabrielino High School. Myself and other students are ashamed of the members of our community who have been campaigning against the bond measure.

Whether you like it or not, or whether the bond passes or not, there is going to be a high school. Don’t you want it to be the best it can be? What have we done that gives you the right to take away our hope and future? Someone before you paid for your education. Why can’t you do the same for us?

Since unification of the district, the music program has been reinstated in the elementary and intermediate school levels. I now play two instruments, and many other students have benefited from the new program as well. None of this, or any other of our recent and future improvements, would be possible without unification.

CHRISTOPHER OLSEN

San Gabriel

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Another high school in San Gabriel is not needed. The residents of San Gabriel living within the San Gabriel Unified School District have been told by the school board that they will run the school bond issue for a new high school over and over again until the voters get tired of fighting it. On Tuesday, it will be on the ballot again.

There is already an excellent San Gabriel High School under the direction of the Alhambra City High School District. The district has been allocated $25.7 million in state funds for expansions and improvements of San Gabriel High. In addition, the school has been awarded a state grant of more than $82,000 for instructional technology. This will help our students be better prepared for the 21st Century. All this will not cost the San Gabriel taxpayers any additional tax.

How sad it is that the San Gabriel school board wants to pull our students away from this fine school and deprive them of the superior curriculum at San Gabriel High and offer them a limited choice of classes. All six of my children attended San Gabriel High and received an excellent education.

FAYE JARVIS

San Gabriel