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Speak Out
Many support Lee-Hiraoka's demotion
We, the staff of Fremont High School Phoenix newspaper, were very displeased with the low quality and lack of professionalism displayed by the cover story "Parents oppose administrator reassignment to teaching job," which appeared in the May 31 edition of The Sun.
The piece was one-sided, vague and poorly researched. Those who should have been interviewed as major sources, such as students, teachers and other Fremont High School community members, were not quoted or even acknowledged as having any opinion differing from the one presented.
While the lead of the story cites "racism and politics" as reasons behind Lee-Hiraoka's reassignment, nowhere in the article is any evidence offered that would indicate the validity of this claim.
Let us, students at the school of Lee-Hiraoka's employment, assure you that there was more--much more--than "politics" involved, and that the assistant principal's race played no role in this conclusion. For decision-makers at FHS, an extremely diverse and racially accepting school, to be charged with racism is nothing short of ridiculous, especially when there is no evidence to support it.
Due to legal rather than "policy" issues, Fremont Union High School District and FHS administration are unable to discuss the nature of the complaints brought against Lee-Hiraoka, but students and teachers are under no such restrictions. Many of us support the school board's decision and, if asked, could have explained to you that the problems we have experienced with our assistant principal have been much more far-ranging than a single conflict with an individual student or parent.
In April of this year, FHS students participated in the statewide STAR testing program. Lee-Hiraoka was the coordinator of the administration of the test. During the second round of testing, a detrimental and possibly illegal fiasco involving poor organization of testing materials occurred.
Any teacher or student on campus could describe the chaos when more than 150 students lined up outside the cafeteria to collect their test booklets and answer documents. Some received them, some did not. Most had their time cut short and their peace-of-mind and test-taking mood destroyed.
Poor performance on these tests can affect FHS heavily in terms of funding and reputation. Events such as this one surely cannot overlooked by the FUHSD school board, and all steps likely to prevent them from reoccurring should be taken.
As a publication covering the community of Sunnyvale, The Sun should seek to express the opinions of those within Sunnyvale first and foremost. The extensive quoting of a Lynbrook High School parent makes little sense in this context. Lee-Hiraoka has not been employed at LHS for the past three years; she currently works at FHS, Sunnyvale's only high school. No matter how parents at Lynbrook feel about her, the opinions of Fremont students and staff are an important part of the picture, one that The Sun failed to cover.
Daniel Aguirre, Bernard Badion, Ryan Barzee, plus 27 staff-members of Phoenix
Fremont High School
Staff supports demotion
We the undersigned staff members of Fremont High School support the action of the Fremont Union High School District Board of Education in their decision to reassign Ms. Cecelia Lee-Hiraoka. We also believe the article "Parents oppose administrator reassignment to teaching job," in the May 3 issue of The Sun is factually inaccurate and lacking objectivity.
If you want to hear the voice of staff, students, and parents of Fremont High School, you need to go beyond the administration who are legally required to say nothing. While we respect the input of those associated with Lynbrook High School, their voices do not represent our voice. We do not feel they have experienced the events that we have this year.
The Fremont High School community is diverse and celebrates diversity. We take pride in making decisions that are based on achieving and maintaining high standards that support and care for all within our diverse community. Our school community is not one that makes arbitrary and/or racially-motivated decisions.
We support the decisions made by the Board of Education to reassign Ms. Lee-Hiraoka. We encourage those who question and report on these decisions to do further research in order to obtain a well-rounded perspective of the situation.
Sara Accornero, Sue Atkinson, Danny Beaudry, Plus 34 additional signatures of staff members
Fremont High School
Happy to have left city
I used to live in Sunnyvale but moved away in October of 1983. I moved because of the massive influx of refugees into the Santa Clara Valley and the unbearable traffic jams that resulted. I also saw what would happen in the valley due to unchecked growth that would eventually have put an undue strain on natural resources.
I have seen a pathetic evolution take place fueled by money hungry individuals who have no regard for their neighbors or the environment. I see kids killing kids because their parents are too concerned for their own careers instead of raising their children. I see the continued evolution of a perverted society in San Francisco where I was born in 1955. I hear the San Francisco government will now pay for sex change operations for its workers. Well, my opinion is no one cares anymore there in the valley and it is going to get worse before you all finally succumb to the apathetic lifestyle that is worshipped in the valley.
I am glad I live here, where people care, and not there, where it seems that you're all in competition for the almighty dollar and don't give a hoot for your non-English speaking neighbors.
I am so glad I left. I used to love California but now I don't because of what is has become and the uncaring pathetic people that put up with it.
Dave Pina
Colorado Springs
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
