Trustee was available
As a member of the Fremont Union High School District Board of Trustees, availability to my constituents is very important to me. I was surprised to see it reported in the Oct. 2 issues of The Sun and The Courier that I was unavailable for comment when I had, in fact, returned the reporter's call and had been told he was not available. The reporter subsequently told me that the deadline for his article had not passed, and he could have spoken to me the day I called.
Secondly, comment was made about my referencing the Fremont Union High School District's complaint procedure. As a board member, I must support and encourage the following of board policy and the use of established procedures in the resolution of any complaint by an employee or member of the public. Furthermore, the board's Code of Ethics states that the board resolves to "support all decisions and policies of the board, whether those decisions and policies are made unanimously or by a majority of the board, and to support staff members who are responsible for implementing those policies and decisions." District policies and procedures are designed to maintain confidentiality while supporting full investigation and resolution of employee and community concerns.
Nancy A. Newton
Vice President of the Board of Trustees
Fremont Union High School District
AYSO kicks off successful event
On behalf of the Sunnyvale Chapter of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), we would like to extend a sincere thank-you for your overwhelming support of our second annual Soccer Kick-Off Carnival. The day was a huge success, with those in attendance appearing to enjoy the many game booths, delicious food and pre-season soccer action.
Special thanks to San Jose Clash players Rafael Amaya, Missael Espinoza, Dave Salzwedel, Eric Wynalda and mascot Crazy George, who generously shared their time, talents and humor with our players. We would also like to acknowledge the Sunnyvale Sun, Cupertino Courier and Mercury News for their promotional help, as well as the many businesses generously sponsoring this event, including Air Products Manufacturing Company, Mitsubishi Electronics of America, Olympic Trophy Manufacturing Company and Soccer World. A sincere thanks also to the City of Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation Department and the Santa Clara Unified School District (Peterson Middle School) for the ongoing support of our program and use of your facilities.
Most importantly, we would like to recognize our AYSO families who volunteer as coaches, referees, linespeople, Kick-Off Carnival workers and the many other commitments necessary to run a youth soccer league of this quality and size. As our co-commissioners Ed Lechner and Steve Krow-Lucal would have us all remember, "It's for the kids!"
Susan Hall, Mike Moller, Kim Reed
AYSO Carnival Chairpersons
Teachers deserve adequate raises
Wow! I agree with Robert Hendrickson. We have lost the Fremont Union High School District. We have one board member, Randy Okamura, who jokes about how he had the chance to get a raise for a position as a data-processing analyst from a low $30,000 to a high $50,000 starting salary without a degree requirement in the job description. That's $15,000 more than we pay our starting teachers who have five-year degrees! Mr. Okamura knows the job of data-processing analyst because he works with those people as they create and maintain the logic that drives computers; too bad he doesn't know the job of teacher as they create and maintain the logic that drives society.
We have another board member, Frank Pelkey, who helped eliminate music, art and shop classes in the Sunnyvale Elementary School District (feeder schools to Sunnyale's Fremont High School) when he was assistant superintendent there. Now, Sunnyvale's Fremont High School art and music programs and the city of Sunnyvale Vanguards suffer for Pelkey's direction then. Why did Pelkey do that? He says it is because the teachers in the Sunnyvale Elementary School District get paid too much. Now Pelkey is issuing letters to the community, stating the Fremont Union High School District can not give teachers a raise without cutting programs. Can't teach an old dog new tricks, hey, Frank?
We have another board member, Nancy Newton, who can't get over teachers in the district picketing her house last time there was a contract negotiation. What a vendetta, Nancy. You're going to teach those teachers! Come on! We have nationally and state-recognized excellence in our classrooms. Let's give the people who did that for our kids, our parents, our community and our future the raise they deserve. What do we, the community, have to do to get that message to the Fremont Union High School District Board? Get back to the table and get real! Stop telling us what you cannot do, and show us you can do what you were elected to do. You found the way to give associate superintendents a raise. Give the teachers a raise that will compensate total increases since 1991 of just 4 percent. Let them enjoy life at least as much as they did in 1991. They deserve it.
Bob White
Sunnyvale
Interns wanted
The Sunnyvale Sun is seeking news and photography intern applicants. Ideal candidates are college students working toward undergraduate or advanced journalism degrees. Position includes a stipend for academic credit. Applicants should send a cover letter, résumé and 5-6 writing samples to Mike de Give, editor, 20465 Silverado Ave., Cupertino, 95014.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 23, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.