Round one of school upgrades offers lessons...

Round one of school upgrades offers lessons

I am responding to the article titled “Parents vent about school

delays” as the chairwoman for the Measure A Site Committee at Kaiser

Elementary School and as a member of the committee at Woodland

Elementary.

I know firsthand, from both schools, the level of frustration that

the parents and teachers at Harbor View Elementary are experiencing.

Our frustration level has escalated to the point where we felt it

necessary to set up a meeting next week with Assistant Supt. Paul

Reed, who is in charge of the Measure A process.

Our committees have worked hard to carry out the duties set by the

Citizens’ Oversight Committee but feel that the lack of communication

between our committee and the district has not permitted us to

successfully complete our jobs and feel proud of the work at our

schools. Going back through all our quarterly reports, there are

records of the lack of follow-through, resulting in these

frustrations -- despite having an exceptionally dedicated project

manager at Kaiser.

We have followed what we thought was the appropriate chain of

command and requested help directly from Reed and the Citizens’

Oversight Committee. A few issues have been resolved, but many, many

issues remain unresolved, resulting in a learning environment that

may be detrimental to both students and teachers.

I find it hard to believe that the district would be surprised at

the problems being expressed at Harbor View. I would hope that, as

the schools in the second phase begin their construction work, more

care will be given to these very important issues so that something

will have been gained by our experiences. I also believe that all

work should be completed in a satisfactory manner, before a

contractor starts work on another school.

I invite those interested in Measure A work at their school to

attend meetings, be involved in the process and don’t let any details

drop. We want the best for our community, and being involved and

working together is the most effective way for this to occur.

A huge “thank you” to those volunteers currently working at their

schools and doing their best to make this a successful project, given

the fact that funds for Measure A are limited. Perhaps it is also

time for the community to think about Measure B, since the scope of

work from Measure A will not be completely met due to costs.

NIKI PARKER

Costa Mesa

Center dividers are not centers of attention

I have been driving up Irvine Avenue for many years and never paid

much attention to the center divider found just past 19th Street

traveling north. About a month ago, traffic was suddenly diverted

into one lane. Bulldozers, dump trucks, back hoes and lots of

manpower showed up to remove the ice plant from the center divider.

Now, this is a plant that requires no maintenance. Weeks have gone

by, and the work is still going on. The plants are being removed, and

it looks like water lines are going to be installed, which leads one

to believe a costly, high-maintenance situation will follow.

My question is, what was the matter with the ice plant in the

middle of the center divider? It appears that no effort was made to

be conservative with taxpayer funds. And who marvels at the beauty of

the center divider when they are driving down Irvine Avenue, anyway?

MILT MEEHAN

Newport Beach

Not all on peninsula oppose Regent Resort

I am a longtime Balboa Peninsula resident responding to Thursday’s

letter from Adel and Mel Mann concerning the planned Regent Resort.

In preparation for the Oct. 29 meeting the Manns refer to, the

city of Newport Beach mailed notices of the meeting to 500 homes

nearest to the Regent site. I attended that meeting with

approximately 25 other residents. Of the 25, about 10 people were

from Newport areas other than the central peninsula, where the

planned Regent Resort is to be built. In my opinion, this certainly

does not represent much of an outcry of residents, as the Manns

claim.

I would like to say the Manns do not speak for me or for many of

my friends and neighbors. Many residents I have spoken to are excited

and supportive of this small resort that does so much for so many: it

remodels the American Legion Post at its current 15th Street

location; builds a new, modern and secure Girl Scout House and

Community Center; and improves view corridors to the bay.

There will be a positive effect on the water quality of the bay

the utilization of a new, state-of-the-art drainage systems that skim

oil, dirt and debris-laden runoff water from rainfall before it

enters the bay. In addition, it is likely that the future tidelands

boundary will include the resort site and that will result, by state

law, in more than $1 million per year being placed in the city’s

Tidelands Trust Fund for use in improving our bay.

To allege that city staffers are in “partnership” with the

developers is patently false and absurd. Aside from the few who will

always oppose a project such as this, I believe the majority of

Newport Beach residents will favor the Regent Resort and will show

that support at the ballot box in 2004.

CHRISTINE DABBS

Newport Beach

Wildfires should prompt legislation

I was disappointed to read on Friday that the Senate had rejected

the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 sponsored by Sen. John McCain and

Sen. Joe Lieberman.

The Environmental Protection Act article of September 1997, titled

“Climate Change and California,” indicates that the Earth’s climate

is changing as a result of human activities that are altering the

atmosphere and “warming” the planet -- the greenhouse effect.

The act also states that “hotter, drier weather could increase the

frequency and intensity of wildfires, threatening both property and

forests.”

Currently, one of the worst droughts recorded in Southern

California history has weakened our pine forests to such an extent

that they have become vulnerable to infestations by colonies of

voracious native black beetles. Last week, these dry, dead and dying

trees provided substantial fuel to the raging wildfires that burned

almost 1 million acres in our state, causing 20 deaths and $2 billion

in damage.

In light of this disaster, which is considered the largest in

California history, isn’t it about time President Bush stopped

dragging his feet and started to combat global warming instead of

pandering to the polluters who are causing this environmental

calamity?

JOAN IRVINE SMITH

San Juan Capistrano