More on the inner deal

Pico Park / RAJ High School...

To: grandterracenews@

Sunday, March 29, 2009, 7:58 AM

I noticed the posting of Thursday the 26th, in that is essentially what I had mentioned a year ago. Even if every single voter in the city limits of G.T. said NO, the simple majority of Colton residents could overide the vote. Thus I would then think it easy to have City of S.B. come in and annex in the whole of Colton. They have the votes which could override the results the NO opposition by Colton residents.

Much as we may think that our decisions are independent they really are not.

I think the City council of G.T. knew that they could be over-ruled and any instant by the bigger agency.

Now, next fight seems to be as to who will be paying for the widening to Michigan and acquisition of R/W, the scheduled improvements to the OAC area all as required and mentioned in the environmental report, and as guaranteed by the former Planning Director.

Do I smell another Bond Issue coming up?---


On Tue, 3/24/09,

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 5:09 PM

May want to investigate, but neighbor kid went to Soccer practice this morning (Saturday) at Pico Park and was kicked off field by representatives of Colton School District not long after arriving. Was told "This is Our Property Now, you kids got no right...."

Gramps Reply to the above email:

Voter Power...

You are right, the point in this weeks post is that the Mayor's statement of the Importance of the Grand Terrace Support for the Bond or School being built is an example of the inflated ego and lack of political savvy on the part of the Mayor and City. Their conduct predicated and continues to support the action of the CJUSD by not naming the High School after the City so the Mayor of GT and Co can not claim credit and authority over the school. They will do this but their conduct will be all the bolder and more credible if it is named Grand Terrace High School. So although I don't like the idea, I understand why the high school is not Named Grand Terrace High School.

I like Ray... I feel sorry he has been put in to this situation. His "friends" on the CJUSD Board have done him no favors, I hope the public does not hold it against him that they responded to GT Mayor/Council conduct with conduct equally childish. There are other names like Blue Mt. High School, or Gage High School that would not have put him in such a public prickly spot.

Regarding the Pico Park and the CJUSD Employee...

I don't know if this happened or not... If it did, or does I would think the child should ask the workers name and the phone number for the district office where he works and report the problem to the Adult who should have been there with them at the time... or gone home to tell their parent who no doubt was at home... providing adult supervision ah... parenting to the other children in the family.

Then the adult should call the CJUSD and ask about the statements reported and inquire what the policy is regarding the use of Pico Park. Then this should be followed up by a call to the City Hall of Grand Terrace as there was to be a Shared Aspect to the Park's transfer to the CJUSD.. that was to be "Worked Out".

I believe it was Herman Hilkey who said: Shared Facilities work for Elementary Schools but for a High School you have just given away the public use of the park. It will be a locked facility with no public access.... mark my words. So marked and this may be the beginning of it.

Here is what I do know. Children not in the company of an adult are not welcome on the school facilities, be it play ground, office or class room. For CJUSD there is an insurance issue about having unattended children on their property. In addition, there are classifications of employees that are allowed to provide that supervision and custodial or maintenance people are not responsible to supervise children dropped off or waiting for practice.

The problem is perhaps with a child or youth being un-attended by an adult on CJUSD/GT Property.

Once upon a time.... our school yards did not have a fence around them, they did not look like day jails and we were welcome to walk in the halls, play on the grounds any time of they day or year when school was not in session. Long Long Ago.....

Fences keep good people out and actually increase the damage done by vandals who are protected by the fence as they break in and rummage and destroy. If it looks like a jail, soon folks act like criminals. School Environment and the School's non school relationship with the surrounding community is an important aspect to school management. Unfortunately this is often managed in reverse terms. Have a problem, lock out the community. Where the answer should be have a problem, increase community use and access to the facility. More eyes, more connection, more ownership.... less problem...

How is that fence working for you... or against you? This is the question...
For example the Cage Built around the CJUSD CHS Foot Ball Field... does nothing to modify the conduct of the people at a game or graduation,,, it in fact encourages bad conduct as to say it is ok we fence you in, act badly. Where as a more effective approach is or would be a police escort out of the facility for those demonstrating a lack of public civility.

By allowing public conduct to degrade, put up a fence that will eventually be a crush point when a run to the exits happens as a result of the decline of civility and expected social conduct.

I won't go to a Football Game, or a Graduation until there is a standard of conduct that fits the respect one should show to other humans. You can cheer on your team without suggesting they be hurt, killed or stomped on. Perhaps this agression is why there were so many pennalties on our players.... this is a coaching problem... and a school community problem.

You can clap for your graduate, but air horns, and yelling... Please... this is disrespectful... Do you do that in church, or in court? How dare you... and how dare the CJUSD Board allow it and not ask the people to leave, or have the PD Remove the offenders for being a public nuisance. The first blat of an air horn or yell is escorted out of the facility. It would take perhaps 3 times to teach the attendents the new standard.