Burbank baseball netting imperative As a parent...

Burbank baseball netting imperative

As a parent involved in the Burbank High baseball program for five

years, I speak from firsthand experience that it is a definite

mistake not to put up netting to keep balls from leaving the field.

And it’s not just foul balls that cause the problem. It’s the

homerun balls over the right and center field fences, which could hit

those using the track and field area, and the home run balls that fly

over the left field fence onto Glenoaks Boulevard, a very heavily

traveled street.

The longer it takes for the protective netting to be installed the

greater the risk that someone is going to be seriously hurt and

therefore greatly increases the exposure to the school district.

I understand a claim has already been filed this year against the

district for damage caused when a foul ball hit a BMW stopped at the

traffic light at Delaware Road and Glenoaks Boulevard.

Luckily, no one was injured in this incident. We need to keep our

priorities straight, and when our students’ and community members’

safety is at risk, we must take immediate steps to correct the

problem.

Whatever the problems were that caused the delay of this project

are moot at this point; let’s expedite the process and make this a

priority before someone gets hurt.

DEBBIE S. KUKTA

Burbank

District saving money at students’ expense

My vote is for a raise for our teachers. No one knows the

difficulties faced by teachers in the classrooms and face to face

with parents of the students.

Their work is to be commended, not degraded by low pay. They

deserve the highest possible pay for all the time they devote, to

improving the standards for all our children.

At present, their pay is below that of many of the surrounding

areas. Burbank is not a poor city and all efforts can and should be

made to provide the teachers with what they need to do their jobs.

They need good working conditions, available supplies of quality

classroom materials and equipment, and the best financial

compensation.

JANE BERNSTEIN

Burbank

Teaching the value

of good planning

Sometimes old adages stay with us forever because they contain

great wisdom. With regards to the fiscal policy of the Burbank

Unified School District, I can only think of “penny wise and pound

foolish.”

Each year, by inflating the amount of expenses and underestimating

revenues, the district adds to the already bloated reserve fund. This

has been accomplished at the cost of great harm to the teachers and

students.

As a district teacher for many years, I have seen young teachers

leave the profession. In the past, this was mainly due to

disillusionment with teaching or a desire to return to their

hometown.

Today, many teachers are not leaving the profession, just Burbank.

In fact, for many, this is their hometown. They see greener pastures

elsewhere and we are the sorrier for it.

Moreover, the students lose valuable opportunities to learn from

this fine people.

Of course one can’t see this from gazing over rosy fiscal reports.

BARRY FINNEGAN

Burbank

Online edition

lacking for natives

Up until about last year your online edition was very good. It

allowed us who grew up in Burbank to stay in touch.

Now, whomever has taken the helm has eliminated all the alumni

news and obituaries. That’s the most important part of reading about

your hometown online. I notice people who live in Arizona, where I

do, can read just about all the news in the communities where they

grew up in Minnesota and Chicago, but not for us from Burbank or the

Valley.

How about a little better news for us aging boomers from Burbank.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, when did it become Bob Hope Airport?

Our class of 65 is having a reunion and we have no feedback on

whether there is still a golf course in Burbank or the Castaway’s. We

do know Bob’s is still there.

How about some around town news?

JOAN HUNT

Arizona

Thank you voters,

for the support

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the recent City

Council election.

Whether you supported me or not, making your voice heard is a very

important part of what makes Burbank a special city.

One overriding concern that I heard time and again was traffic

congestion. The message was loud and clear that the community wants

this council and future councils to redouble their efforts to make

sure our streets and intersections continue to remain reasonable.

I hope to get the opportunity to hear more of what this community

wants in the coming weeks before April’s general election.

Burbank is a great city and I am proud to have been able to

represent it and hope for the chance to continue to do so for another

four years.

With the general election coming up in April, I plan to work hard

to connect with you.

I have worked hard to preserve and enhance our excellent senior

services, institute violence prevention programs in our schools,

achievement centers in our most needy neighborhoods, the youth

transportation system and youth employment programs.

I will continue to work to re-establish our city’s Performing Arts

Grant program that makes music programs possible in our schools. I

believe all of these are the things that make our city a better place

to live, raise children and enjoy senior years.

If you supported my bid for re-election, a heartfelt thanks. If

you did not support me, I would like to hear from you.

DAVE GOLONSKI

Burbank