The most concerning aspect of this for me is that the school district is just opening a new elementary school, Korematsu. Korematsu had not even opened yet, when in June, a special task force recommended the closure of Valley Oak due to declining enrollment.
Right there, a red flag goes up for me. Because now you are opening a new school in the wealthy Mace Ranch neighborhood, while you are closing an old school in the part of Davis that is the most racially diverse and economically disadvantaged. Some have suggested that Valley Oak was the target because its population is the least organized and politically powerless. Let us examine that question.
The June 27, 2006 Davis Enterprise cites task force member Jan Bridge, a former school board trustee, who suggests that given declining enrollment there are inherent problems with opening the new Korematsu Elementary campus in Mace Ranch, while operating the eight existing elementary schools. So if that’s the case, why are you opening a new school?
School Board Member Gina Daleiden: “The minute Korematsu opens, it starts to bleed students from Valley Oak. That’s just a fact.” Korematsu is in the newer, more affluent Mace Ranch area, while Valley Oak is in Old East Davis, surrounded by smaller homes and several apartment complexes. “I don’t want to relegate our students with the fewest resources to a site with the fewest resources.”
On the other hand, Daleiden ignores the drawbacks of closing the school. The students once the school is closed would be dispersed into three neighboring schools. This would put a large hardship on those families. Presently, with the neighborhood school open, the kids are able to walk or bicycle to school with ease. Many of these families do not have access to reliable transportation which put new burdens on the students and their parents.
Moreover, Valley Oak has been a major success story, with a very diverse student population that outperforms many of the neighboring schools that the students would be sent to.
Unfortunately, this appears to be a case where the wealthy parents and families in Mace Ranch, where Korematsu lies are getting a new school at the expense of the poorer students who go to Valley Oak.
I want to make this clear–I am not advocating the closing of Korematsu. I agree with those who suggest it is a bad idea to pit school against school. I urge the school district to come up with creative solutions in order to keep both schools open.
However, I also agree with Mr. Tezcan who wrote a letter to the editor last night pointing out in many ways this is as much about socio-economic issues and race relations as it is a debate about facilities. Unfortunately, I am forced to agree. Politics is about the distribution of scarce resources by government. Who wins in the political battle? Generally, those who have the most resource, influence, and are best organized. Unfortunately that appears to be Korematsu over Valley Oak.
The most perplexing part of this for me is the reason cited for why Valley Oak. Task force member Bridge, again in the June Davis Enterprise article, suggests that there are 420 kids on the school site. So what is the problem? There are 175 students who are in the GATE program at Valley Oak, many of those students come from outside of the school’s attendance area. Reassigning the GATE program to another school and opening Korematsu would drop that figure to 225 according to task force chair Kirk Trost.
So let me get this straight, they are proposing closing a school that has a program that is so successful that kids from other parts of town attend?
Mr. Tezcan in a letter to me suggested that this might be a good issue for the Davis Human Relations Commission. I agree, too bad we do not have one anymore that can actually do something. I do not wish to continue beating a dead horse, (okay, yes I do), but already there are two issues that the Human Relations Commission should be dealing with, and both involve the school district.
A long time ago, in another town, I was heavily involved in school board issues. The commitment of parents to their neighborhood schools is tremendous. The advantages of smaller neighborhood schools over larger schools are many. I understand declining registration numbers. And I understand the need to best utilize our facilities in such a way that maximize our resources to create a strong learning environment. But part of doing that is giving people good safe neighborhood schools where their children can attend.
While closing down a school may (and I stress may) serve the needs of the school district, it certainly does not serve the needs of the students at Valley Oak Elementary School, students who appear to need as much help as possible in order to get a good and strong foundation for their future. Why would a school district pick on the weakest and most vulnerable segment of our population? That is beyond me.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
as a former valley oak dragon, i was pretty shocked to see talk of closing it down.
couldn’t they just move the portable classrooms somewhere else and go back to the pre-overcrowding enrollment numbers? it worked well enough for us back in the 80s, and they’d have a lot more space on the blacktop.
this strikes me as not unlike grocery stores saying that the old sized stores are unviable these days, so we won’t open a store in stonegate; it begs the question of the shift in metrics that makes what once worked just fine for decades become suddenly unworkable today.
smaller schools aren’t an evil. keeping korematsu and valley oak should be possible, especially in a town with the collective resources we’ve got, and for a community that bases much of its identity and self worth on the quality of its public schools.
as a former valley oak dragon, i was pretty shocked to see talk of closing it down.
couldn’t they just move the portable classrooms somewhere else and go back to the pre-overcrowding enrollment numbers? it worked well enough for us back in the 80s, and they’d have a lot more space on the blacktop.
this strikes me as not unlike grocery stores saying that the old sized stores are unviable these days, so we won’t open a store in stonegate; it begs the question of the shift in metrics that makes what once worked just fine for decades become suddenly unworkable today.
smaller schools aren’t an evil. keeping korematsu and valley oak should be possible, especially in a town with the collective resources we’ve got, and for a community that bases much of its identity and self worth on the quality of its public schools.
as a former valley oak dragon, i was pretty shocked to see talk of closing it down.
couldn’t they just move the portable classrooms somewhere else and go back to the pre-overcrowding enrollment numbers? it worked well enough for us back in the 80s, and they’d have a lot more space on the blacktop.
this strikes me as not unlike grocery stores saying that the old sized stores are unviable these days, so we won’t open a store in stonegate; it begs the question of the shift in metrics that makes what once worked just fine for decades become suddenly unworkable today.
smaller schools aren’t an evil. keeping korematsu and valley oak should be possible, especially in a town with the collective resources we’ve got, and for a community that bases much of its identity and self worth on the quality of its public schools.
as a former valley oak dragon, i was pretty shocked to see talk of closing it down.
couldn’t they just move the portable classrooms somewhere else and go back to the pre-overcrowding enrollment numbers? it worked well enough for us back in the 80s, and they’d have a lot more space on the blacktop.
this strikes me as not unlike grocery stores saying that the old sized stores are unviable these days, so we won’t open a store in stonegate; it begs the question of the shift in metrics that makes what once worked just fine for decades become suddenly unworkable today.
smaller schools aren’t an evil. keeping korematsu and valley oak should be possible, especially in a town with the collective resources we’ve got, and for a community that bases much of its identity and self worth on the quality of its public schools.
additionally, the way that neighborhoods get shafted on decisions like this are one major reason why i support district elections for city council, instead of citywide ones.
additionally, the way that neighborhoods get shafted on decisions like this are one major reason why i support district elections for city council, instead of citywide ones.
additionally, the way that neighborhoods get shafted on decisions like this are one major reason why i support district elections for city council, instead of citywide ones.
additionally, the way that neighborhoods get shafted on decisions like this are one major reason why i support district elections for city council, instead of citywide ones.
Although this is a school board issue, this is the first time I’ve really seen a good strong reason for having district elections. When an issue strongly harms one part of the city over another, that is a strong reason for it. Still don’t know if I support it overall.
Although this is a school board issue, this is the first time I’ve really seen a good strong reason for having district elections. When an issue strongly harms one part of the city over another, that is a strong reason for it. Still don’t know if I support it overall.
Although this is a school board issue, this is the first time I’ve really seen a good strong reason for having district elections. When an issue strongly harms one part of the city over another, that is a strong reason for it. Still don’t know if I support it overall.
Although this is a school board issue, this is the first time I’ve really seen a good strong reason for having district elections. When an issue strongly harms one part of the city over another, that is a strong reason for it. Still don’t know if I support it overall.
It is instructive for all of us, even those who no longer have school-age children, to pay attention to our School Board representatives’ statements on the issues that come before them. We all know that our School Board is a political stepping-stone to our City Council. If available, I would like to hear more details about each of the school board member’s public statements explaining their vote.
It is instructive for all of us, even those who no longer have school-age children, to pay attention to our School Board representatives’ statements on the issues that come before them. We all know that our School Board is a political stepping-stone to our City Council. If available, I would like to hear more details about each of the school board member’s public statements explaining their vote.
It is instructive for all of us, even those who no longer have school-age children, to pay attention to our School Board representatives’ statements on the issues that come before them. We all know that our School Board is a political stepping-stone to our City Council. If available, I would like to hear more details about each of the school board member’s public statements explaining their vote.
It is instructive for all of us, even those who no longer have school-age children, to pay attention to our School Board representatives’ statements on the issues that come before them. We all know that our School Board is a political stepping-stone to our City Council. If available, I would like to hear more details about each of the school board member’s public statements explaining their vote.
“I assumed it was merely an issue of facilities rather than something much larger. However, the more I have read about it, the more concerned I get.”
Doug,
You’re wrong. It is an issue of facilities. Of course for those who will be impacted, it is something larger. But there is no conspiracy here to ruin the lives of children and families who live in East Davis. Any implication otherwise is unfounded and unfair.
“Right there, a red flag goes up for me. Because now you are opening a new school in the wealthy Mace Ranch neighborhood, while you are closing an old school in the part of Davis that is the most racially diverse and economically disadvantaged.”
The wealth or poverty or race of the families in Mace Ranch had nothing to do with this decision. To imply it did is disingenuous and misguided.
“Some have suggested that Valley Oak was the target because its population is the least organized and politically powerless.”
I don’t know if the people of East Davis are “politically powerless.” However, until this Korematsu vs. Valley Oak conflict arose, it’s fair to say that the Mace Ranch folks were better organized. They had been rallying and lobbying for years to get Korematsu opened, despite the fact that there were too few elementary kids in Davis to justify that.
“So if that’s the case, why are you opening a new school?”
It was opened solely because the Mace Ranch families, who had been led to believe that they would have a neighborhood elementary school in place once their homes were built, lobbied and cajoled for years and years until they finally got their way.
“Korematsu is in the newer, more affluent Mace Ranch area, while Valley Oak is in Old East Davis, surrounded by smaller homes and several apartment complexes.”
Money is not the key factor. There are three factors: 1) the organization and lobbying efforts of the people of Mace Ranch for over 10 years; 2) the greater concentration of elementary school-aged kids; and 3) the quality of the facilities at the new campus.
“Unfortunately, this appears to be a case where the wealthy parents and families in Mace Ranch, where Korematsu lies are getting a new school at the expense of the poorer students who go to Valley Oak.”
It may “appear” that way. But it’s a bad and ignorant misreading of the facts.
“I urge the school district to come up with creative solutions in order to keep both schools open.”
I agree with that. Hopefully, that will happen.
“However, I also agree with Mr. Tezcan who wrote a letter to the editor last night pointing out in many ways this is as much about socio-economic issues and race relations as it is a debate about facilities.”
That kind of paranoid thinking, which assigns malicious motives to others in this community, when in fact they have nothing to do with the decision, is destructive to our democracy. It concerns me that you, as someone who is new to Davis and who likely will not be living here a decade from now, would malign the people of Davis, as such, when you know nothing about this situation. That is shameful of you.
“Who wins in the political battle? Generally, those who have the most resource, influence, and are best organized.”
Maybe if you had followed this issue, and were not predisposed to believe the worst about your fellow citizens, you would understand that the Mace Ranch people — many of whom, I’m sure, are not white or wealthy — are so well organized and have had success in arguing their case, because they have been motivated for over a decade to see their own elementary school open, which was promised to them from the beginning.
By contrast, the East Davis neighborhood never had reason to organize to fight the opening of a Mace Ranch school, because it didn’t seemingly affect them. However, now that this idea to close Valley Oak is out there, the East Davis people will stand up as one, and we’ll see where things go. It’s not over yet. Valley Oak is not closed.
“There are 175 students who are in the GATE program at Valley Oak, many of those students come from outside of the school’s attendance area.”
“Mr. Tezcan in a letter to me suggested that this might be a good issue for the Davis Human Relations Commission.”
God forbid! The Human Relations Commission, set up originally to “bring the community together,” will now take on the task of calling the people of Mace Ranch a bunch of rich racists? It’s time the HRC did less, not more.
“I assumed it was merely an issue of facilities rather than something much larger. However, the more I have read about it, the more concerned I get.”
Doug,
You’re wrong. It is an issue of facilities. Of course for those who will be impacted, it is something larger. But there is no conspiracy here to ruin the lives of children and families who live in East Davis. Any implication otherwise is unfounded and unfair.
“Right there, a red flag goes up for me. Because now you are opening a new school in the wealthy Mace Ranch neighborhood, while you are closing an old school in the part of Davis that is the most racially diverse and economically disadvantaged.”
The wealth or poverty or race of the families in Mace Ranch had nothing to do with this decision. To imply it did is disingenuous and misguided.
“Some have suggested that Valley Oak was the target because its population is the least organized and politically powerless.”
I don’t know if the people of East Davis are “politically powerless.” However, until this Korematsu vs. Valley Oak conflict arose, it’s fair to say that the Mace Ranch folks were better organized. They had been rallying and lobbying for years to get Korematsu opened, despite the fact that there were too few elementary kids in Davis to justify that.
“So if that’s the case, why are you opening a new school?”
It was opened solely because the Mace Ranch families, who had been led to believe that they would have a neighborhood elementary school in place once their homes were built, lobbied and cajoled for years and years until they finally got their way.
“Korematsu is in the newer, more affluent Mace Ranch area, while Valley Oak is in Old East Davis, surrounded by smaller homes and several apartment complexes.”
Money is not the key factor. There are three factors: 1) the organization and lobbying efforts of the people of Mace Ranch for over 10 years; 2) the greater concentration of elementary school-aged kids; and 3) the quality of the facilities at the new campus.
“Unfortunately, this appears to be a case where the wealthy parents and families in Mace Ranch, where Korematsu lies are getting a new school at the expense of the poorer students who go to Valley Oak.”
It may “appear” that way. But it’s a bad and ignorant misreading of the facts.
“I urge the school district to come up with creative solutions in order to keep both schools open.”
I agree with that. Hopefully, that will happen.
“However, I also agree with Mr. Tezcan who wrote a letter to the editor last night pointing out in many ways this is as much about socio-economic issues and race relations as it is a debate about facilities.”
That kind of paranoid thinking, which assigns malicious motives to others in this community, when in fact they have nothing to do with the decision, is destructive to our democracy. It concerns me that you, as someone who is new to Davis and who likely will not be living here a decade from now, would malign the people of Davis, as such, when you know nothing about this situation. That is shameful of you.
“Who wins in the political battle? Generally, those who have the most resource, influence, and are best organized.”
Maybe if you had followed this issue, and were not predisposed to believe the worst about your fellow citizens, you would understand that the Mace Ranch people — many of whom, I’m sure, are not white or wealthy — are so well organized and have had success in arguing their case, because they have been motivated for over a decade to see their own elementary school open, which was promised to them from the beginning.
By contrast, the East Davis neighborhood never had reason to organize to fight the opening of a Mace Ranch school, because it didn’t seemingly affect them. However, now that this idea to close Valley Oak is out there, the East Davis people will stand up as one, and we’ll see where things go. It’s not over yet. Valley Oak is not closed.
“There are 175 students who are in the GATE program at Valley Oak, many of those students come from outside of the school’s attendance area.”
“Mr. Tezcan in a letter to me suggested that this might be a good issue for the Davis Human Relations Commission.”
God forbid! The Human Relations Commission, set up originally to “bring the community together,” will now take on the task of calling the people of Mace Ranch a bunch of rich racists? It’s time the HRC did less, not more.
“I assumed it was merely an issue of facilities rather than something much larger. However, the more I have read about it, the more concerned I get.”
Doug,
You’re wrong. It is an issue of facilities. Of course for those who will be impacted, it is something larger. But there is no conspiracy here to ruin the lives of children and families who live in East Davis. Any implication otherwise is unfounded and unfair.
“Right there, a red flag goes up for me. Because now you are opening a new school in the wealthy Mace Ranch neighborhood, while you are closing an old school in the part of Davis that is the most racially diverse and economically disadvantaged.”
The wealth or poverty or race of the families in Mace Ranch had nothing to do with this decision. To imply it did is disingenuous and misguided.
“Some have suggested that Valley Oak was the target because its population is the least organized and politically powerless.”
I don’t know if the people of East Davis are “politically powerless.” However, until this Korematsu vs. Valley Oak conflict arose, it’s fair to say that the Mace Ranch folks were better organized. They had been rallying and lobbying for years to get Korematsu opened, despite the fact that there were too few elementary kids in Davis to justify that.
“So if that’s the case, why are you opening a new school?”
It was opened solely because the Mace Ranch families, who had been led to believe that they would have a neighborhood elementary school in place once their homes were built, lobbied and cajoled for years and years until they finally got their way.
“Korematsu is in the newer, more affluent Mace Ranch area, while Valley Oak is in Old East Davis, surrounded by smaller homes and several apartment complexes.”
Money is not the key factor. There are three factors: 1) the organization and lobbying efforts of the people of Mace Ranch for over 10 years; 2) the greater concentration of elementary school-aged kids; and 3) the quality of the facilities at the new campus.
“Unfortunately, this appears to be a case where the wealthy parents and families in Mace Ranch, where Korematsu lies are getting a new school at the expense of the poorer students who go to Valley Oak.”
It may “appear” that way. But it’s a bad and ignorant misreading of the facts.
“I urge the school district to come up with creative solutions in order to keep both schools open.”
I agree with that. Hopefully, that will happen.
“However, I also agree with Mr. Tezcan who wrote a letter to the editor last night pointing out in many ways this is as much about socio-economic issues and race relations as it is a debate about facilities.”
That kind of paranoid thinking, which assigns malicious motives to others in this community, when in fact they have nothing to do with the decision, is destructive to our democracy. It concerns me that you, as someone who is new to Davis and who likely will not be living here a decade from now, would malign the people of Davis, as such, when you know nothing about this situation. That is shameful of you.
“Who wins in the political battle? Generally, those who have the most resource, influence, and are best organized.”
Maybe if you had followed this issue, and were not predisposed to believe the worst about your fellow citizens, you would understand that the Mace Ranch people — many of whom, I’m sure, are not white or wealthy — are so well organized and have had success in arguing their case, because they have been motivated for over a decade to see their own elementary school open, which was promised to them from the beginning.
By contrast, the East Davis neighborhood never had reason to organize to fight the opening of a Mace Ranch school, because it didn’t seemingly affect them. However, now that this idea to close Valley Oak is out there, the East Davis people will stand up as one, and we’ll see where things go. It’s not over yet. Valley Oak is not closed.
“There are 175 students who are in the GATE program at Valley Oak, many of those students come from outside of the school’s attendance area.”
“Mr. Tezcan in a letter to me suggested that this might be a good issue for the Davis Human Relations Commission.”
God forbid! The Human Relations Commission, set up originally to “bring the community together,” will now take on the task of calling the people of Mace Ranch a bunch of rich racists? It’s time the HRC did less, not more.
“I assumed it was merely an issue of facilities rather than something much larger. However, the more I have read about it, the more concerned I get.”
Doug,
You’re wrong. It is an issue of facilities. Of course for those who will be impacted, it is something larger. But there is no conspiracy here to ruin the lives of children and families who live in East Davis. Any implication otherwise is unfounded and unfair.
“Right there, a red flag goes up for me. Because now you are opening a new school in the wealthy Mace Ranch neighborhood, while you are closing an old school in the part of Davis that is the most racially diverse and economically disadvantaged.”
The wealth or poverty or race of the families in Mace Ranch had nothing to do with this decision. To imply it did is disingenuous and misguided.
“Some have suggested that Valley Oak was the target because its population is the least organized and politically powerless.”
I don’t know if the people of East Davis are “politically powerless.” However, until this Korematsu vs. Valley Oak conflict arose, it’s fair to say that the Mace Ranch folks were better organized. They had been rallying and lobbying for years to get Korematsu opened, despite the fact that there were too few elementary kids in Davis to justify that.
“So if that’s the case, why are you opening a new school?”
It was opened solely because the Mace Ranch families, who had been led to believe that they would have a neighborhood elementary school in place once their homes were built, lobbied and cajoled for years and years until they finally got their way.
“Korematsu is in the newer, more affluent Mace Ranch area, while Valley Oak is in Old East Davis, surrounded by smaller homes and several apartment complexes.”
Money is not the key factor. There are three factors: 1) the organization and lobbying efforts of the people of Mace Ranch for over 10 years; 2) the greater concentration of elementary school-aged kids; and 3) the quality of the facilities at the new campus.
“Unfortunately, this appears to be a case where the wealthy parents and families in Mace Ranch, where Korematsu lies are getting a new school at the expense of the poorer students who go to Valley Oak.”
It may “appear” that way. But it’s a bad and ignorant misreading of the facts.
“I urge the school district to come up with creative solutions in order to keep both schools open.”
I agree with that. Hopefully, that will happen.
“However, I also agree with Mr. Tezcan who wrote a letter to the editor last night pointing out in many ways this is as much about socio-economic issues and race relations as it is a debate about facilities.”
That kind of paranoid thinking, which assigns malicious motives to others in this community, when in fact they have nothing to do with the decision, is destructive to our democracy. It concerns me that you, as someone who is new to Davis and who likely will not be living here a decade from now, would malign the people of Davis, as such, when you know nothing about this situation. That is shameful of you.
“Who wins in the political battle? Generally, those who have the most resource, influence, and are best organized.”
Maybe if you had followed this issue, and were not predisposed to believe the worst about your fellow citizens, you would understand that the Mace Ranch people — many of whom, I’m sure, are not white or wealthy — are so well organized and have had success in arguing their case, because they have been motivated for over a decade to see their own elementary school open, which was promised to them from the beginning.
By contrast, the East Davis neighborhood never had reason to organize to fight the opening of a Mace Ranch school, because it didn’t seemingly affect them. However, now that this idea to close Valley Oak is out there, the East Davis people will stand up as one, and we’ll see where things go. It’s not over yet. Valley Oak is not closed.
“There are 175 students who are in the GATE program at Valley Oak, many of those students come from outside of the school’s attendance area.”
“Mr. Tezcan in a letter to me suggested that this might be a good issue for the Davis Human Relations Commission.”
God forbid! The Human Relations Commission, set up originally to “bring the community together,” will now take on the task of calling the people of Mace Ranch a bunch of rich racists? It’s time the HRC did less, not more.
By the way, I have a creative solution to this whole problem, and I will suggest it in my Enterprise column in a few weeks. I’m still doing some background work on it.
By the way, I have a creative solution to this whole problem, and I will suggest it in my Enterprise column in a few weeks. I’m still doing some background work on it.
By the way, I have a creative solution to this whole problem, and I will suggest it in my Enterprise column in a few weeks. I’m still doing some background work on it.
By the way, I have a creative solution to this whole problem, and I will suggest it in my Enterprise column in a few weeks. I’m still doing some background work on it.
Valley Oak is not the great school that some make it out to be. The GATE program overwhelms the school. Remove the GATE program from the test scores and then compare the results to other schools. My child suffered through 3 long years of bullying there before transfering to North Davis. North Davis elementary is surrounded by low income housing, but the elite are not allowed their own separate classrooms and program. I feel it was a much healthier environment for my child.
Valley Oak is not the great school that some make it out to be. The GATE program overwhelms the school. Remove the GATE program from the test scores and then compare the results to other schools. My child suffered through 3 long years of bullying there before transfering to North Davis. North Davis elementary is surrounded by low income housing, but the elite are not allowed their own separate classrooms and program. I feel it was a much healthier environment for my child.
Valley Oak is not the great school that some make it out to be. The GATE program overwhelms the school. Remove the GATE program from the test scores and then compare the results to other schools. My child suffered through 3 long years of bullying there before transfering to North Davis. North Davis elementary is surrounded by low income housing, but the elite are not allowed their own separate classrooms and program. I feel it was a much healthier environment for my child.
Valley Oak is not the great school that some make it out to be. The GATE program overwhelms the school. Remove the GATE program from the test scores and then compare the results to other schools. My child suffered through 3 long years of bullying there before transfering to North Davis. North Davis elementary is surrounded by low income housing, but the elite are not allowed their own separate classrooms and program. I feel it was a much healthier environment for my child.
On this one, I’m with you Rifkin.
Too much heat and little light would probably be the result of getting the HRC involved in this one. Yes.. the parents of Valley Oak will now try to organize and bring their political strength to this issue. How the individual Board members respond to this challenge to Davis’ principles of community will be revealing.
On this one, I’m with you Rifkin.
Too much heat and little light would probably be the result of getting the HRC involved in this one. Yes.. the parents of Valley Oak will now try to organize and bring their political strength to this issue. How the individual Board members respond to this challenge to Davis’ principles of community will be revealing.
On this one, I’m with you Rifkin.
Too much heat and little light would probably be the result of getting the HRC involved in this one. Yes.. the parents of Valley Oak will now try to organize and bring their political strength to this issue. How the individual Board members respond to this challenge to Davis’ principles of community will be revealing.
On this one, I’m with you Rifkin.
Too much heat and little light would probably be the result of getting the HRC involved in this one. Yes.. the parents of Valley Oak will now try to organize and bring their political strength to this issue. How the individual Board members respond to this challenge to Davis’ principles of community will be revealing.
I read my blog again–I’m really bothered by the insinuation by Rifkin that I was somehow attacking Mace Ranch residents as racist. Where exactly does that notion come from? As far as I can tell, Mace Ranch people organized to get their own school. I have no problem with that. They had nothing to do with whether or not Valley Oak closes. They did not make the decision to close it. So where does one get the sense that I am attacking the people of Mace Ranch?
I read my blog again–I’m really bothered by the insinuation by Rifkin that I was somehow attacking Mace Ranch residents as racist. Where exactly does that notion come from? As far as I can tell, Mace Ranch people organized to get their own school. I have no problem with that. They had nothing to do with whether or not Valley Oak closes. They did not make the decision to close it. So where does one get the sense that I am attacking the people of Mace Ranch?
I read my blog again–I’m really bothered by the insinuation by Rifkin that I was somehow attacking Mace Ranch residents as racist. Where exactly does that notion come from? As far as I can tell, Mace Ranch people organized to get their own school. I have no problem with that. They had nothing to do with whether or not Valley Oak closes. They did not make the decision to close it. So where does one get the sense that I am attacking the people of Mace Ranch?