Foothills Sentry May 2021

Foothills Sentry May 2021 Page 7 JOHNSON MOTORCARS 31 Years of Specializing in the Service and Repair of Mercedes-Benz Gary Johnson 714-997-2567 982 N. Batavia # B13, Orange, CA 92867 gary@johnsonmotorcars.com Guest Commentary Kids are IN SCHOOL, IN PERSON in OUSD By Kathy Moffat The coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed the world for more than a year. Many activities were suspended and many have yet to return to normal. But in Orange Unified School District (OUSD), our students have been in school, in person, since September! When the pandemic was de- clared in March of 2020, OUSD immediately instituted distance learning without missing a day of school. Many teachers were already adept at preparing online les- sons and teaching children virtu- ally. The district administration ramped up training programs for teachers who needed help. All of our students attended classes via computers. OUSD used reserve funds and grants from businesses and foundations to purchase Chromebooks and hot spots for students whose families could not afford computers. Even the school lunch program continued, with OUSD distribut- ing lunches to students in need throughout the spring and sum- mer of 2020. Education - and nutrition - did not skip a beat for kids in OUSD. By summer, Orange Unified was planning in earnest for the new school year. Important col- laborative discussions with teach- ers and support staff resulted in agreements about how classes would operate, incorporating COVID safety requirements. Appropriate classroom sanitiz- ing protocols were developed. Cleaning supplies, materials and equipment were ordered, as were masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment. Schools were deep-cleaned and sanitized, and special new filters were installed in HVAC systems. Classrooms were redesigned with six-foot distancing and Plexiglas shields surrounding desks. Hand- washing stations were installed around campuses. High school schedules were re- imagined to ensure that students spent the school day in small co- horts. That way, if a student did become ill, only a handful of students would be quarantined, rather than a whole school. In September, with over $9 million invested in training, per- sonnel, supplies and equipment, OUSD opened its doors to stu- dents in transitional kindergarten through grade eight for in-person learning. High schoolers began their on-campus classes a bit later, and a virtual option was al- ways available in all grades. Miracle workers I recently visited some of our elementary schools, where ex- traordinary educators are pulling off a miracle. One teacher has 25 kindergarteners in-person in her class, with eight more at home on their computers. She also teaches several students with spe- cial needs. Another teacher has a “combo” class of kindergarteners and first graders, some in-person and others at home. Each grade has its own curriculum, so the teacher plans for both. These teachers, like many oth- ers, go home exhausted and wor- ried that they may not be doing enough for each child. I saw another school at lunch time. The school once needed only two lunch periods, but now has five so that the children can be socially distanced while they eat. Between lunch periods, the custodian cleans and sanitizes the tables and benches. The play- ground equipment gets the same. This custodian was just named OUSD’s Classified Employee of the Year, and when I congratu- lated him, he said, with a huge smile, that he is honored to work in Orange Unified. I spoke to two of our brilliant principals. They manage an operation that is unbelievably complex, and they know just how vital their mission is. They understand, too, that it is critical to nurture and encourage staff that has been asked to do so much more than a reasonable person can imagine. They know their tired and stressed-out teachers and staff are doing heroic work, and they tell them so each day. Today, the pandemic seems to be heading in a positive direction. We look forward to the day when all restrictions are lifted, and we get back to normal at long last! OUSD has been first out of the gate each time new permissions have been granted, and we’ll be first on that great day, too. So, let’s be thankful for today’s improving conditions, and grate- ful and supportive of the extraor- dinary educators we have in our exemplary local schools. I am be- yond proud of them all. As a community, let’s also be strong in our resolve to continue to act with caution and restraint, so the end of this pandemic ar- rives sooner rather than later. Kathy Moffat is president of the OUSD Board of Education. Honorable mention Dear Editor: My wife and I are the very proud parents of three daughters, two of whom are athletes. They both play softball: the oldest, a senior at Chapman University (Foothill High alumni), and our youngest, a junior who pitches at Foothill. As with all parents of athletes, we are thrilled with the fact that they get to see all their hard work play out on the field this year. As much as we were excited to see your article about high school sports opening up, we were very disappointed by the fact that not one girl was featured in your article. Girl’s teams were mentioned in the text, but con- sidering the conversation of in- clusion and diversity today, how can it be that the girls are ignored for their individual contributions? Very disappointing. Aram Chahbazian North Tustin Where's the money? Dear Editor: The following was sent to Shawn Reid, Field Representa- tive, Community Development Block program, HUD. We ≠Grant in the El Modena Barrio in the City of Orange are requesting the HUD/CDBG Office to investigate and audit the City of Orange CDBG funds for the last 20 years in regards to the El Modena Barrio. We have asked the City of Orange CDBG program to provide data and information on how the funds have been spent in the El Modena Barrio during the last 20 years. The El Modena Barrio has been a poverty pocket in the City of Orange since the 1940s, but has been excluded from CDBG funds that have gone to City of Orange pet projects. We ask HUD/CDBG to provide the oversight to ensure that the El Modena Barrio is re- ceiving its fair share of CDBG funds for blighted areas. We look forward to communicating with you on this very important issue to the people of the El Modena Barrio. Sammy Rodriguez Orange Slings and Arrows Dear Editor: It was shocking and disappoint- ing that the Orange City Council majority recently voted to appoint someone to fill the vacant seat in District 3, instead of letting the voters decide who would repre- sent them on the City Council. Back in November 2020, Mike Alvarez got the most votes for that seat, but when litigated, a judge ruled Alvarez had violated the term limit ordinance, and he resigned last month. The city council majority could have at least appointed the runner-up, John Russo, who actually ran for the District 3 seat in November and who received close to 3,000 votes. But no, a person who didn’t run or receive a single vote in that race was mysteriously appoint- ed. Several residents of District 3 spoke at the meeting in strong support of a special election, and Councilmembers Arianna Bar- rios and Ana Gutierrez also made strong appeals for the same. But it was to no avail, as the majority (Murphy, Nichols, Monaco and Dumitru) voted for the appoint- ment – basically stripping away our right to vote for someone who will represent our best interests in District 3. This is especially trou- bling with the important land use and budgetary issues facing our city. I don’t believe the voters in District 3 will take this quietly. Michael Fischer Orange, District 3 Dear Editor: I am a 29-year resident of District 3 in Orange. I recently became aware of the appointment of Kathy Tavoularis to be my representative in our district. I know nothing about Kathy Tavoularis other than what I read on the City of Orange website after her appointment. She never even ran for the office, and I was never afforded the opportunity to vote for or against her. This does not feel like democracy. I do not endorse or agree with her appointment to represent me and the over 10,000 other voters in District 3. We did not vote for Tavoularis, nor was her name on the ballot. Though we will vote again Nov. 8, 2022, Tavoularis will be the incumbent without being chosen by the voters. Timothy Smith Orange, District 3 Dear Editor: My wife and I have lived and raised our children on Cumber- land Road in Orange (District 3) for almost 35 years. We have seen many changes in our neigh- borhood during those years, in- cluding the conversion of Peralta Junior High into a golf driving range and a long-term, gradual decline in the economic viability of The Village (aka the Orange Mall). A few years ago, there was a (failed) push to convert the driv- ing range into high-density hous- ing. That development would have made our neighborhood a much less desirable place to live and would have hurt our prop- erty values. Given that the driv- ing range is still in operation, I am sure a similar development will be proposed again, sooner or later. I have also heard talk about replacing the mall with high- density housing, similar to what was proposed for the driving range. Amazon has not indicated that it is interested in setting up shop at The Village, and I don’t know if The Village is courting them. I also have not seen evidence of any concrete plans to build high-density housing on the site. However, I am sure that The Village will do something with its property, and its plans could be bad for the atmosphere and value of our neighborhood. With all the changes that have happened, and those that are certainly coming in the future, it will be important for us to have someone on the Orange City Council who will look out for our interests. For this reason, the city council should have a special election to replace Mike Alvarez, rather than just appointing someone, so that we in District 3 can decide who will represent us. Carl Nagy Orange, District 3 Dear Editor: How are we supposed to have confidence in council members who can’t get basic concepts right and flip-flop on their positions from year to year? At the last city council meeting (April 13), Councilman Chip Mo- naco kept insisting he couldn’t support spending $150,000 for “16 months of leadership only for that person to have to run again” in 2022. Councilmember Ari- anna Barrios and the city attorney politely explained he was incor- rect, and that a special election in November 2021 would actu- ally be for the remaining three- year (36-month) term ending in 2024 for the existing District 3 vacancy. Monaco then argued that a special election would be “an ineffective, inefficient way to spend taxpayer dollars,” yet in 2019 he voted to spend $450,000 for a special election and stated, “investment of city funds is ap- propriate to support democracy.” If this weren’t such a serious matter, the hypocrisy would be comical. District 3 voters should not be deprived of our right to vote for our city council member, like we were when Monaco joined Murphy, Nichols and Dumitru to appoint their selected person. I would definitely support a recall of the appointed candidate. Jacob Haines Orange, District 3 Dear Editor: The sign of a good leader is to be able to admit when one makes See "Letters" continued on page 8