READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: Some say Smith is most interested in criticizing the

Newport-Mesa Board of Education; others agree with his views on school

bond.

Has Steve Smith forgotten what a democracy is? If he has, I refuse to

vote no on the upcoming bond initiative until he takes full

responsibility for allowing his civics knowledge to erode into ignorance.

And he should apologize for subjecting us to it.

Smith is content to continue sending his kids and mine off to schools in

a state of disrepair. That is a travesty. Why? Because he wants an

apology from the trustees for allowing the schools to get that way before

he’ll vote yes for the $110-million bond.

The school board owes no one -- not even Smith -- an apology.

Why? Because we are the school board. We elect the representatives who

sit on it. If Smith wants an apology, he should harangue every voter in

this community to issue a mea culpa to every child attending Newport-Mesa

schools for perpetually electing boards that ignore the physical state of

our campuses.

That said, if Smith had attended any recent board meetings or read the

bond resolution, he would know that the accountability mechanism

established by the board for the disbursement of bond proceeds is

multilayered, elaborate and citizen-based.

If Smith wants to argue against the bond initiative from a position of

knowledge, that’s fine. But if he plans to lobby against it by merely

trumpeting ignorance disguised as moral indignation, please spare us.

Our kids deserve better than the unintended consequences of Smith’s

intellectual laziness.

BYRON DE ARAKAL

Costa Mesa

I do believe Steve Smith cares much more about chastising the school

board than looking for a solution to a very grave situation. He made it

very clear why he is unable to support a property tax bond for the

district.

His reasons of lack of trust, responsibility and accountability are

shared by many in this community. The one thing Mr. Smith does not make

clear or even address is what his solution to this daily growing problem

would be.

As a parent of three children who attend Newport-Mesa schools, and an

employee, I am surprised at some of the conditions that I see. Our

schools are in dire need of repair.

This community needs to move forward, trust in our elected trustees and

lift our school facilities up to equal the excellence of the education

that our children are getting.

MAXINE M. MACHA

Costa Mesa

I appreciated your March 4 column, in which you ask the school board to

accept responsibility for allowing our schools to fall into such extreme

disrepair.

I believe your position on this issue: that the board has been

principally responsible for this long decline into disrepair.

I believe this because of my abiding faith in the ability of boards and

bureaucracies to always act in the most illogical and inefficient manner

possible. In this case, however, you have given us no examples.

I would appreciate a column outlining specific examples over the years,

of how the board has allowed this situation to occur. This would give me

and other readers a much better understanding of the situation.

Thank you.

BILL BENNETT

Newport Beach

Thank you, thank you! At last a voice of reason. You are so right that

this board has lost its credibility with the citizens. If any business

were run as this board has run the district, it would be bankrupt in no

time.

You mean to say the board members do not have a fund set aside for normal

maintenance and repairs? All the repairs they want to do are normal

maintenance items. You mean the roof might be leaking on some buildings?

It is only natural that things wear out.

We elect these people to watch out for things like this. Yet they give

the money away on other projects, knowing they can always come to the

public for more money to take care of the things they should have taken

care of earlier.

Again, thank you, thank you.

I had two daughters graduate from Newport Harbor High School in 1974 and

1975.

DON THOMAS

Newport Beach

This is in response to the March 4 article written by Steve Smith. It

articulates a true concern that the Newport-Mesa school board’s bond

issuance will not be overseen by capable citizens with a sense of cost

effectiveness.

Smith asks that the school board apologize for methods used in past

spending policies, which allowed schools to fall into such disrepair. He

also wants an apology for Dana Black’s remark that she is thrilled for

the kids (that the bond will be on the ballot).

In addition, Smith suggested the board ensure construction specialists

and accountants oversee the spending of the bond funds and citizens be

more than advisors.

Steve, I agree that the disrepair of the schools are unbelievable. In

fact, at the board meeting in which the trustees voted to place the bond

request on the ballot, a small band of citizens stood up to question the

reality of the disrepair.

As an involved parent who walks these halls and has been walking the

halls for 11 years, let me make it clear: They are understating the

disrepair!

Because I have not been involved with the decision-making policies of the

board, I, too, do not understand the methodology in which trustees make

their decisions. However, this will soon change because I noticed an

invitation in the Pilot to join the board’s budgetary advisory committee.

There are still four openings. To anyone reading this, please join us!

I have decided to put my time where my mouth is. You can, too!

Also, if the bond measure passes, a number of citizens will be needed to

oversee the spending.

As far as Dana Black’s comment, I am not thrilled at all to be taxed.

But, should I point fingers or try to solve the problem? It is my

understanding the current board went to the state for funds. The most the

state will do for our district is to match funds given by the citizens.

At first, I thought along the same vein you wrote in the column. But then

I realized, if this bond is for a span of 20 years of repairs and

improvements, how much of that money would we have to give toward 20

years of salaries for these “required” specialists? If the district

required specialists in the ballot, then specialists we must have.

If the district is having a difficult time gathering a budgetary advisory

committee, then how hard is it going to be to get people to commit to

this even larger committee?

Steve, in thought it sounded good, but in actuality I cannot support

paying salaries for 20 years to two employees for the oversight of money

meant to be used for repairs. This is the business of the citizens whose

money is in the “pot.”

The board has restructured itself, giving the advisory committees

leverage (but it could be made formal policy). Concerned citizens are

needed to volunteer! Step up and be a leader!

JANE ALTMAN-DWAN

Newport Beach

Well, Steve, everyone likes to take issue with your column, so I will

take my turn.

Your statement that schools should have asked for bond money five years

ago to do repairs is not the problem. To me, I believe it is that money

for the maintenance and repairs either was never budgeted or the money

budgeted was used for more “important” things.

I know from experience in the school system that money is wasted, e.g.,

expensive equipment was purchased that was neither needed nor used.

Any basic household knows how to budget the available dollars so that all

necessities are covered. School board, please do the same. It is never

too late to start.

Steve, keep writing your great column.

ADA COLE

Costa Mesa