Letters

Keep fire district as it is and stop stirring the pot

I am a third-generation resident of Saratoga, and my family and I have operated a business on Highway 9, one mile above the city limits, since the 1870s. Unfortunately, we have had several occasions when we or someone on Highway 9 have needed emergency help. The Saratoga Fire District is the first to respond to us, even though we are in the unincorporated area of Saratoga. They have always responded extremely quickly and professionally to our fire needs and medical emergencies. I can personally recall three occasions in my lifetime when they have saved our property from possible total destruction due to fire.

In addition I know they have aided in saving many lives that were in danger due to accidents in the Saratoga foothills. And they have accomplished all of this with literally thousands of volunteer hours supporting a well-managed professional team.

Why would anyone want a change? Could it be for the betterment of Saratoga or for their own personal advancement, where they perceive more opportunity in a bigger organization? I'd guess the latter and I couldn't blame an individual for wanting what may be advancement in their career. I strongly suggest that they do the right and moral thing for themselves and their families; move on to another department that will serve them better and quit stirring the pot in Saratoga. We have an outstanding fire and emergency services department that we deserve to keep.

Bill Giannini
Palomino Way

Firefighters union should prove need for change

For over a year now I have followed the controversy between the firefighters' union and the Saratoga Fire District about whether if the fire district should be closed and the fire department placed under the jurisdiction of the County Fire District.

I have been a resident of Saratoga all my life and during that time my family, friends and neighbors have been exceptionally well served by the Saratoga Fire District. I have seen them respond in fires, disasters and medical emergencies with the paramedics. They are an excellently trained group and well organized, and do an exceptional job both of fire prevention and associated services.

The concern at this time is why the fire district should consider closing the fire district to become a part of the county district. I have not seen any persuasive argument regarding this proposal by the firefighters' union, but I have seen a very aggressive action on the part of the administration and the fire commissioners to replace a very outmoded firehouse with a brand new modern one.

What it appears to me is that the firefighters are trying to convince the fire district and the Saratoga fire administration that they are outmoded and no longer functional in today's environment. No evidence has been shown to prove their point. A second point of the firefighters is that they say it would be more economical to provide the same services under the auspices of the County Fire District.

Perhaps what the union ought to do is put together some plan, or a rationale, showing that it would be economical or efficient to have the fire department under the County Fire District. Then the citizens could rally to their support a little better than they have. Up until that time I'm afraid I have to remain with the existing Saratoga Fire District, as far as their performance goes.

My hat's off to the commissioners, to Chief Ernie Kraule, and certainly to the firefighters that staff the station. They have done an exceptional job over these many years. I have lived in Saratoga for over 62 years. We have always had our own fire department and there is no reason to change now.

Dave Pitman
Horseshoe Drive

District shouldn't use money for expansion

It does not come as a surprise to this writer that the Saratoga Union School District has a shortfall in funding needed to complete the repair and modernization of its four schools. I served as a member of the Foothill School site planning committee.

It was obvious to me during the process that the ultimate cost of completing the work on the existing buildings, plus the new structures could not be accomplished given the escalating cost of construction. Now the loss of the anticipated state money only complicates the situation.

It is unfortunate that as Redwood and Saratoga are essentially completed, Argonaut and Foothill will bear the brunt of the cost reductions. However, the issue is how do we now get the best possible projects for Argonaut and Foothill with the remaining funds?

Buried within the Measure D planning documents, which were not distributed to the general public, was a SUSD requirement to construct sufficient kindergarten rooms to enable each class to have a dedicated, nonshared room. As a result, four kindergarten rooms are needed at Argonaut and five at Foothill.

This abandons the current tradition at SUSD (and in fact at most school districts) where two kindergarten classes share one room on a two-shift basis: morning and afternoon classes. The apparent justification for the single-class, single-room requirement is SUSD's goal of lengthening the kindergarten class hours, possibly going to all day kindergarten.

Thus, repair and modernization funds are being used to provide facilities for program expansion. There was nothing about program expansions in the message from SUSD when asking us to support Measure D. The only message was that our schools were crowded and in desperate need of repair.

Elimination of two kindergarten rooms each at Argonaut and Foothill will save over $1 million dollars. I urge SUSD to make this their first action in resolving the funding shortfall. Providing one room for each kindergarten class, even though the requirement was in the Measure D documents, violates the spirit of trust the SUSD asked the community to place in them when they sought our votes. One that I gladly gave.

The SUSD may state that any room built as a kindergarten can be used on an interim basis for the higher grades. However, kindergarten rooms are larger and more expensive than those for grades one through five, and are geographically isolated from the rest of the student body. It's crunch time! SUSD needs to forget any lofty objectives and provide the best possible projects that current funds will allow and get them built for the benefit of all Argonaut and Foothill students. Delays will not save money.

James Ousley
Seaton Avenue

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