Parents frustrated by Harbor View delay

Thank you for attending Wednesday’s meeting regarding Harbor View

Elementary School and the article discussing parental concerns.

I do feel, however, that your question does not encompass the

problem faced by parents. It is not just that Harbor View should be

moved so school can start on time -- the question should be: “Should

the school district move Harbor View Elementary students until the

construction is completed on the campus?”

We are not willing to have our children attend school during

ongoing construction and will be happy to return once construction is

complete. The projected completion date is now Dec. 12, pending no

other delays or other problems that have continued to plague this

site.

At yesterday’s meeting, an administration official described the

expected campus construction situation to be an “adventure for our

students”. If we wanted our children to have an adventure, we would

take them to Disneyland.

The bottom line is clear to many parents: The school district

expects us to drop off our children at an active construction site

from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with their assurances that the site -- although

not perfect -- is safe and that ongoing construction will not

interfere with the teaching and learning process.

We expect a clean, safe, educational environment that is conducive

to learning for our children. The Newport-Mesa Unified School

District should not force us to accept less.

DENNIS J. GORDON

Newport Beach

How absolutely wonderful there are remaining Measure A funds to

restore the unusual construction “discoveries” at Harbor View

Elementary, such as termites, dry rot and asbestos. Most construction

work has problems that cause delays and require more money.

The cost of shipping kids to another school, shifting the set-up

and breakdown of learning centers for the teachers and moving

equipment, etc., is prohibitive. Even if the district receives state

money for a child’s attendance, it would not offset that cost. In

these lean times, those costs impact all the other schools in the

distribution of district money. I say, “Please, no,” to the cost and

disruption of shipping kids out and “Yes” to proactive alternative

thinking.

Asst. Supt. Paul Reed is a great partner to help come up with

solutions at Harbor View and has a set of very bright parents who can

collaboratively come up with temporary alternative solutions. No

matter how you break this up, there will not be a perfect,

effortless, convenient outcome. But anything can be done for a few

weeks.

On another note. The important questions that the Daily Pilot

should ask Reed are:

(1) Now that the district will have additional costs resulting

from Harbor View issues, how will that impact the other schools on

the list for renovation from Measure A funding? Will our district

have less money and therefore less renovation for other schools?

(2) Has the District Budget Plan for Measure A accounted for

reserved funds for over-budget discovery problems? If yes, how much?

If no, again, what is the impact to others schools?

(3) Does this delay impact start dates at the other schools on the

list and how will that be solved?

My best wishes to all involved in the impact of these issues.

DIANE JONES

Costa Mesa