Dear Editor,
News item
– Gilroy Dispatch (Dec. 8) – In his third year on the (Gilroy
Unified School District) school board, Tom Bundros was denied the
opportunity to serve as vice president when newly elected board
member Pat Midtgaard received the majority of board support for the
position.
Dear Editor,
News item – Gilroy Dispatch (Dec. 8) – In his third year on the (Gilroy Unified School District) school board, Tom Bundros was denied the opportunity to serve as vice president when newly elected board member Pat Midtgaard received the majority of board support for the position.
In response to the board’s deliberate and mean-spirited denial of its standard procedures, Dispatch columnist Denise Apuzzo wrote an insightful, detailed and knowledgeable column (Dec. 16) highlighting the action as “completely unprincipled.”
Then came Ernesto Olivares (Letters – Dec. 17) who, in convoluted self-righteousness, condemns Apuzzo at least seven times. He wrote of Bundros with condescending arrogance and ignorance, downplayed his years of Board experience, made a myopic interpretation as to how Bundros acts (in direct contradiction to Apuzzo’s more accurate assessment) and offered Bundros patronizing advice based on Olivares’ need to pass judgments he’s totally unqualified to offer.
The negative imaging changed when, with self-proclaimed omnipotence, he presumed to speak knowingly for the four Board Untrustables whose conduct created the “unprincipled” action! His 608-word contribution is nothing more than a GUSD-style shuck-and-jive, a smoke-and-mirrors to make right seem wrong and wrong appear right.
One Untrustable, Jim Rogers, had a snide little shuck-and-jive of his own: “Each Board member probably had their own reasons (for deliberately voting against Bundros). They’re not personal reasons.” What nonsense! Apuzzo was too polite to say so. Oliveras was too afraid to say so. The four Untrustables voted as one for one reason only – her name was Kristin Porter.
Miss Porter challenged the Board. That triggered resentment and a lynch-mob mentality. With then Board president Jamie Rosso leading the Board reacted in it’s usual style: Kristin Porter was fired as “not a good fit.” Bundros did not take part in their collective ego-stroking. It cost GUSD students more than $18,000 – money that will not be spent on their needs – and earned Bundros the irresponsible animosity of the six Untrustables at that time.
Following the recent election, the VP opening was their chance to “get even” – and they did. Rather than elevate a two-year Board member with knowledge and understanding, they contemptuously gave the position to newly-elected Pat Midtgaard, a longtime educator and no-time Board member.
Midtgaard did herself no honor accepting the title. As Denise wrote: “Midtgaard squandered an opportunity to make a good first impression.” Less politely put, she aligned herself with the myopic and mean-spirited majority who put themselves first and student needs second. By going along to get along, Midtgaard showed self-interest has priority over all else. Her campaign promises became so much puffery – her actions have spoken louder!
The Board now has five Untrustables (Midtgaard, T. J. Owens, David McCrea, Jamie Rosso, Jim Rogers) and two Trustees – Bundros and new member Rhoda Bress. They’re positive – two members who’ll speak openly and candidly of the issues.
Another positive – an election coming soon letting voters be heard by the Board – positively.
James Brescoll, Gilroy
