Saratoga News

Letters

Parents respond to plea for science aid

The good news is that, since December, Saratoga High School Principal Kevin Skelly has raised over $80,000 for the school's science department by appealing to the community for donations. Teachers have already begun using these funds to purchase lab supplies and new equipment so that they may partially modernize the science program. This strong show of support from the community has been very encouraging.

The bad news is that the high school is still in desperate need of a new science facility. A reviewer from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which accredits the high school, described the facilities as "lousy." The science labs are almost 40 years old and are so inadequate that they hamper efforts to carry out a laboratory/problem-solving curriculum.

At a recent meeting with parents, Cary Matsuoka, science department chairman, cited a long list of inadequacies ranging from non-functioning sinks to insufficient storage and lab prep areas. Classrooms are too small to meet the needs of current class sizes, which range from 28 to 36 students. During lab time, students crowd the counters, making it difficult to carry out experiments. Inadequate space and electrical wiring make it almost impossible to integrate computers into the labs.

As it is now, we have six science classrooms and seven science teachers. Obviously, two teachers must share a classroom. Those of you with younger children know how the elementary and middle school enrollment has swelled in recent years. As these children reach the high school, the problem will become even more acute. It is projected that we will need eight to nine science classrooms at the high school within five years.

Mr. Matsuoka estimates the cost of a new science wing to be $2.5 to $3 million. Ouch! This is a daunting figure, to be sure. How much and in what manner public schools are to be funded is a subject on which there are many opinions. I feel confident, though, that a community like Saratoga, which has both the financial resources and the will to provide our children with a quality education, can figure out a way to get this done.

Joanne McFarlin
SHS parent
Harleigh Drive

SEF Phoneathon was a huge success

The Saratoga Education Foundation (SEF) Phoneathon, held Feb. 2, was a huge success! We received 700 pledges totaling more than $100,000. This would not have been possible without the support and commitment of parents, community and local businesses. For the second consecutive year, Alain Pinel Realtors and First America Title provided the use of their spacious offices and many phone lines here in Saratoga. SEF thanks them for their commitment to the education of our children and the leadership role they have taken in our community.

We had more than 150 volunteers, including parents, principals, teachers, school board members and the superintendent, helping us throughout the day. Thanks to this support, SEF is well on its way to achieving its fundraising goal of $400,000. These funds will benefit the children of the Saratoga Union School District for the 1997-98 school year. Than you all.

Jill Van Hoesen
SEF president

Mr. Peake's dairy should be saved

I just recently heard of the efforts of citizens of Saratoga and Los Gatos to preserve Mr. Peake's Guernsey farm. In 1976 and 1977, as a young woman of 24, I had the opportunity to work at Mr. Peake's dairy.

At first, as a group of apprentices from Saratoga Community Garden, we came to help build Mr. Peake's compost pile, which was as big as a house. This we used in the garden to grow beautiful vegetables and flowers. In this way I was taught how vital is the connection between plant and animal.

Later I helped with farm chores and milking the cows. How sweet it was! Mr. Peake knew all of his cows by name, and the cows knew their name when called by Mr. Peake. The care of each animal made the cow's gift of milk akin to gold. Nor did the blessings of Mr. Peake stop with the care of the cows. The milk was delivered door to door at dawn, with the golden cream rising to the top. The lucky customers could slip to their doors discreetly, still dressed in their previous night's attire, and behold the "gold" in glass bottles. This is the quality of life that emanates from true farming. I am so happy to hear of its continuation.

As I am co-owner and manager of an organic vegetable seed company, I know this quality of learning at Mr. Peake's farm had a great significance for my life. What a benefit that Mr. Peake's dairy will continue to be a beacon for people both old and young in the years to come. Congratulations, Saratoga!

Beth Evert Corymb
Loveland, Colo.

Convert city hall to help crowding

We object to any reduction of funding at Hakone Gardens, and are opposed to any suggestion to sell or to develop Hakone property into anything other than a city park, authentic and historic Japanese garden, cultural exchange and arts center. With increased fees and taxes collected in rampant development, we should be living in fat city! We realize that there is no simple solution to the demise that the mismanagement of the city business and finances have caused, but we could suggest that rather than even considering the purchase of El Quito School from the Moreland School District, Saratoga might consider converting Saratoga City Hall into a school campus to accommodate the hundreds of new students entering our schools from the many new housing developments springing up throughout the city.

Saratoga city government would be forced to fully utilize its resources and properties for the administration of government and to develop an economic plan to recover from poor financial management. Hakone could use the funds generated from facilities rentals and use fees to expand its already active, viable and resourceful programs.

How shortsighted to even consider abandoning another park and recreational facility in a city that collects horrendous taxes and offers few services! Maybe it is even time to join another city, such as Los Gatos or Cupertino or San Jose or Campbell, so that the citizens of the Saratoga area would be better served and represented, but we doubt that any of these cities would be interested in taking on our problems.

The November 1996 utility tax vote was not about money; it was about government not representing its citizens and taxing citizens without following the law. Now, the same high-handed government that illegally extended a petty tax, and applied the taxes it collected to other than the original intent of the tax, wants to get back at the citizens by cutting where it hurts the community. Start by cutting city hall!

Bernard and Luanne Nieman
Padero Court

Correction

The names of three Saratoga High School varsity soccer players were misspelled in a recent sports story. The correct names are: Cole Sternberg and Elliot Jones, co-captains; and Doug Avondet, player.