Willow Glen, did you know that if six of the 11 members of the San Jose City Council—those in the "other city"—vote in favor of a new rezoning proposal at the old Alma Bowl site, you will soon be staring up at two 11-story monstrosities right on your easterly boundary? Yes, you heard right. How will it feel to have the sun and horizon blocked, or your gardens shaded? Get ready to experience the setting of a precedent for more of the same or even taller structures now proposed to be located outside of the downtown area.

You just got through fighting the "monster house" issue and ended up with a somewhat fair compromise. So wake up and ask, "Where is the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and where is our representation?"

Who is protecting our small-town atmosphere, with the likelihood of facing two Goliath-sized skyscrapers right here in our "side yard"? And what about the ramifications of increased traffic?

And that's just for starters.

You have to question the argument about the benefits of building next to the light rail, since we all know that everyone, yes, every single person who lives near a light rail station always takes the light rail everywhere they go, even when shopping for perishable groceries.

It's not too late. It takes six votes to approve or deny, and the vote has not happened yet.

—Gary Jansen, Specer Avenue


Third-graders benefit from 20:1 class ratio

The San Jose Unified School District has decided to eliminate the 20:1 teacher-student ratio in third grade this fall.

Class size reduction has been valuable. The 20:1 ratio allows teachers to concentrate on individual needs and complete individual assessments more often.

Third grade is often the age when learning difficulties come to light. But larger class sizes mean teachers will be less likely to identify students with learning difficulties.

I recognize that the district has budget problems and that the state's handling of the budget has caused many of these problems. However, I feel strongly that other cost-saving measures need to be studied and implemented.

I also recognize that the state can be tremendously helpful by relaxing its restrictions on class size funding. Currently, the state provides partial funding to support the 20:1 teacher-student ratio, but the requirements are strict. If a school needs to have a 21:1 ratio the state disqualifies the school from the funds. I urge the state to consider changing these requirements. I strongly urge the district to preserve the 20:1 ratio because by next year additional cost-saving measures may be realized that will protect this valuable program.

I urge parents to attend the school board meeting Thursday, Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the district offices at 855 Lenzen Ave., San Jose, 95136.

—Melinda Gedryn, PTA member, Booksin Elementary School


School district is still misusing its funding

Desegregation at the San Jose Unified School District is a failure. The district receives $32.5 million every year from the federal government requiring our children to leave their neighborhood schools to be bused across town, a practice that has gone on since 1983.

Since that time, the results have been horrible. The children are bused to schools based on their skin color and ethnicity and now school district trustees want to remove Willow Glen High School's tennis and sand volleyball courts and baseball batting cages to make room for school buses.

But while spending money and reconfiguring the campus, test scores continue to drop, and students are failing to graduate.

Parents who can afford to are sending their children to private schools, while other families with limited options are still required to bus their children to designated schools.

Many children who are bused across town are unable to participate in after-school activities such as sports, music and drama activities because they have no after-hours transportation home, so again the question of value is raised.

These are only a few of the problems created by desegregation. Yet the district continues to implement a failed policy.

—Michael Johnson, Jonathan Avenue


Statue of Liberty story has Colburns smiling

We want to thank the Willow Glen Resident so much for the wonderful article on my husband and myself in the July 2 issue of the newspaper, Lady Liberty.

First of all, we want to thank staff reporter William Jeske and staff photographer Jacqueline Ramseyer for taking time out to come to our house. The article was very well-written and we were pleased with the photos.

It is a pleasure to have been interviewed and photographed by two knowledgeable people. We received many nice compliments from our friends and neighbors.

The article was so well-written we couldn't believe it was us.

Our hats are off to the newspaper's fine staff. We appreciate and enjoy the Resident very much.

Thanks for making this a truly memorial Fourth of July.

—Charles and MaryAnn Colburn, Johnston Avenue

Correction

The July 16 story in the Willow Glen Resident about the San Jose Unified School District's meeting with the community should have read that because of funding cuts, class size reduction programs will be eliminated for the third and ninth grades.