The following organizations and individuals deserve either
CHEERS or JEERS this week:
JEERS: For the Gilroy Unified School District administration for
denying the public access to the legal opinion that will,
presumably, guide an important decision on teacher classroom
latitude.
The following organizations and individuals deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
JEERS: For the Gilroy Unified School District administration for denying the public access to the legal opinion that will, presumably, guide an important decision on teacher classroom latitude. Will GUSD adopt a stronger policy that would prohibit teachers from not speaking for a day in the classroom to support a political position? The Day of Silence is a community issue. In order to understand and evaluate the district’s position, the community must be provided with the information. There is no pending legal action. The opinion should be made public.
CHEERS: For the 370 residents who responded to the firefighter’s compensation survey posted on our Web site. The answers were interesting, and the respondents clearly indicated that they think Gilroy’s firefighters should receive the 9 percent increase and retirement benefits they are asking for. The City Council should seek a community referendum by placing binding arbitration before voters. If it passes again, then the residents will have spoken and the city will have to make long-term adjustments to meet the priorities of pay and benefits for police and firefighters.
JEERS: For San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales who knows no bounds when it comes to empire building. Gonzales doesn’t like the rules that his own city wisely imposed for development in Coyote Valley, so he wants to change them to allow rapid-fire development of an area that will change the character of South Valley forever. The Coyote Valley plan is poor by definition because the development is unnecessary. This latest move fully exposes the ego of Ron Gonzales, master and commander of Coyote Valley, and it’s not a pretty sight.
CHEERS: For the vision of a downtown Gilroy with bronze sculptures, wide sidewalks, attractive lighting, ample parking and outdoor music. The pain of construction will begin soon, but without that pain there won’t be any gain. In the end, a revamped downtown will once again become the heart and soul of Gilroy.
CHEERS: For Antonio Del Buono School which received a prestigious state award for academic achievement. Forty percent of the ADB student body is at or below the poverty level, yet students keep improving. Superintendent Edwin Diaz attributes the gains to staff teaching commitment and consistency in the curriculum. It can be done, despite all the challenges, and ADB is a living example of progress in education.
