Incumbents are set in their ways This...

Incumbents are set in their ways

This year we have the chance to elect three new members to the

Burbank school board.

* Vote for partners in education, not for individuals who have

mismanaged the district’s affairs and misled the stakeholders during

their tenure as sitting Burbank Unified School District Board

members.

* Vote for leaders who will not take credit for successes made

possible by teachers, classified staff, parents, students and

community members.

* Vote for leaders who will not violate the Brown Act by holding

informal discussions (in person, by phone and by e-mail) regarding

any BUSD matter.

* Vote for leaders who will effectively listen to you as a

parent, teacher and community member and who will actually consider

your individual (and collective) points of view before making a

unilateral decision that directly affects your children.

The incumbents want the public to believe that their years on the

board make them the only ones qualified to run BUSD. We beg to

differ. What matters is a willingness to listen to the Burbank

community. Unfortunately, the incumbents are so set in their ways

that they no longer wish to hear our concerns. The incumbents’ legacy

is evident. They are responsible for the largest budget deficit this

school district has ever experienced -- $3 million. This deficit has

translated into the detrimental loss of staff and the end of critical

programs for our students.

The present board members have mocked teachers, classified staff

and parents with their arrogance and disregard for our opinions and

requests for the truth. We have a chance to bring in new blood to a

stale and archaic Burbank school board. On Tuesday, do not vote for

any incumbent. Use the power of your vote to bring in qualified

individuals with new concepts and renewed energy to BUSD.

MARITZA AND PAUL UMPIERRE, SANDY WALKER, CAROL SIMPSON, JANET

WHITE, ERICA AND HARRY PHILLIPS, MATILDE HANNA, JODY FROELICH, CARLOS

AND NANCY CASTRO, SUE EVERHART, AL ALFONSO

Burbank

City should come up with money

Count me as one “NO” vote for Measure L next week. Much as I would

like to see upgraded library facilities, I don’t want another

burdensome “voted indebtedness” on my tax bill, no matter how few

“dimes per day” it will be.

It wasn’t many years ago that a bond issue was put before Burbank

voters to fund a new police and fire facility. It failed, but

miraculously the facility was built anyway. If the state will provide

two-thirds of the funding to replace two libraries, then the city

should make it a priority to find the remaining one-third from its

coffers.

The wonderful new Buena Vista Branch Library has resulted in

accolades for our public officials, so they understandably want to be

able to replicate this success. However, I do not support a bond

issue as a way of getting the funding.

SHARON RANSHAW

Burbank