Estancia leaders to blame for the coach’s...

Estancia leaders to blame for the coach’s departure

Something does not add up in the March 15 article, “Estanica asks

Fertig to step aside,” regarding Craig Fertig’s firing, reassignment

or whatever Principal Tom Antal and Athletic Director Tim Parsel

would like us to believe is the case.

Antal and Parsel are likely correct that the ideal situation in

high school athletics is to have a teacher on campus to coach the

football team -- or any team, for that matter. However, as anyone who

has followed Estancia athletics the past few years knows, Estancia

has unfortunately proved to be hardly an ideal situation because of

reasons both in and out of its control.

Given the problems of the football team on and off the field prior

to Fertig’s arrival, one would think the administration led by Antal

and Parsel would be ecstatic with the state of the program. The

school not only had a man with impeccable credentials in Fertig, but

it had someone who lived up to those credentials in his two-year

stint.

A team that went 1-18 the previous two years, finished 7-13 under

Fertig.

More importantly, enthusiasm returned to the program. The number

of kids in the program more than doubled, while discipline and a

strong work ethic extended to the classroom.

Despite all of the aforementioned improvements -- on top of

strides made in the training facilities and increases in fundraising

-- the administration still pushed Fertig out the door in search of

some utopian, ideal situation.

Can we take seriously the story from Antal and the rest of the

administration? What can an on-campus coach do that Fertig has not

done?

If an on-campus coach is supposedly the foundation of a successful

program, how does the administration explain the success of a certain

winter sports team that made it to the semifinals in the CIF playoffs

this year, lacking a “superior” on-campus coach? Is this coach next

in line to be shoved out the door?

This event is just one in a series that makes Antal and his

administration look like the gang that couldn’t shoot straight. Antal

and Parsel should have stood up at the re-leagueing meetings, thanked

the almighty CIF bigwigs for their thoughts and concerns and simply

said: “Thanks but no thanks.”

As the administrator of another Newport-Mesa school cited in the

article stated, there is no rule on the books prohibiting Fertig from

coaching as a walk-on. If Antal and Parsel were up to the job, they

would realize imperfect situations call for pragmatic action as

opposed to an impractical search for what is likely not possible,

given the situation at Estancia.

The story at Estancia would be improved if only those in charge

could recognize good as good and leave well enough alone.

Then again, my perception of the situation and its inherently

contradictory rationale may be off base. Maybe Fertig was fired for

beating Costa Mesa.

BILL THOMSON

Costa Mesa

Council correct to

close Job Center

I totally support the City Council’s decision to close the Job

Center. I think it’s ridiculous for the taxpayers to pay $100,000 a

year to support day laborers.

I think it’s ridiculous for them not to pay insurance or not to

pay taxes. I think through the private sector, they will be able to

pay their share of income tax, and they will also be protected by

having workman’s comp insurance.

I think this is the only way to go. I applaud the City Council for

having done this.

Martha Grove

Costa Mesa

Local Job Center

worth the price

I am terribly upset at the closure or proposed closure of the Job

Center. I think it’s an extremely bad idea, it’s been very helpful.

I think in terms of money, the city and/or the private people

could collaborate to keep it open. The money spent is nothing

compared to the benefit the Job Center brings.

It’s been a considerable success; it exists in most other cities

that I know about; and I just want to express my opinion, even though

I don’t live in Costa Mesa.

IRMELI DESENBERG

Corona del Mar

Good things come

from open Job Center

I’m in favor of the job center because if anybody watched the

movie “A Day Without a Mexican,” they would realize how important a

job force is to constitute more jobs and have people work instead of

having no labor at all.

I think it’s a very good thing. I have used it many times, and the

workers come in handy, and they are clean, neat and honest. They come

here to make a living doing work that others won’t.

TERRY TEPPER

Costa Mesa