I’ve recently remarked that there is much more to Cambria than the joyous complications of the CCSD and that AboutCambria.com would start covering a wider variety of goings on in our village. With schools recently starting up again, a new superintendent on the horizon and Board members up for election in November….the time is ripe for talking about our schools here in Cambria.
Now, I must admit I am not as up-to-date on the personalities, issues and successes at the schools. But I don’t have to rely on my memory of being a student to try to understand: I don’t have kids, but I did teach high school English in New Orleans for 5 years, including 2 years as department chair, and know a little about Cambria’s teens from the 2 years I worked at the Cambria Community Center (AKA the Youth Center).
A flurry of emails has been flying through the ether about the fields at the elementary school, a discussion launched by the always passionate and sincere Steve Kniffen. Apparently, the fields at the elementary school are unusable. There was an effort to get the grass growing again over the summer, but for whatever reason, there has been little success. And in considering the frustration of no fields at the NEW school, Steve thought of more questions about budget issues and irrigation and quality.
Teri Mertens wrote a coherent and useful reply. While it didn’t offer any specific solutions, it did offer a clear sense of values and another first-hand view of the situation:
I supervise lunch recess on the 3rd tier at the grammar school. The small patch of grass on that upper level is currently the only open field. The lack of field space creates congestion on the rest of the playground. I am grateful that Steve Kniffen volunteers regularly to run an afternoon softball game (on the blacktop) to keep a LARGE group of students involved and positive.
I know where Steve’s passion about the fields comes from. I have seen his commitment to the children in this town. He is a taxpayer who volunteered his time to pass our school bond. A parent who installed tether ball courts at the old school. A dedicated coach of many sport teams. A regular volunteer on campus who teaches the rules of games and encourages fair play. A fundraiser who barbecues for many worthy causes. A homeowner who can appreciate the beauty and pride of a well kept yard.
We all know Steve deeply cares about Cambria.
I have witnessed the fields at their best and at their worst. At the end of last year they were a travesty. I know that the District maintenance has been trying to rectify the problem. I believe that the parents and staff have been patient. I think that Steve has been (and is continuing to be) an important advocate for the children. We can’t drop the ball again… we can’t let the fields die this year.
Last year, I was walking by the Old Grammar School and a tourist asked me if it was going to be demolished. The knee high thistle under the climbing structure and the dead fields gave the appearance of abandonment. I remembered living near the school when my kids were toddlers. On the weekends we would walk over to swing on the swings, hang on the bars, and look through the windows to admire all of the beautiful artwork. It was quality family time. How sad that the neighbors of that site no longer have a welcoming “gem” to enjoy. How sad that the school district doesn’t maintain this “playground space” to encourage a healthy community.
All district sites should be places of community pride: Places that encourage and welcome good, clean fun. I am hoping that our new Superintendent will see our school sites as community assets to be loved by more than just the K-12 population.
It’s worth my time,
Toni Mertens
Cindy Fratto responded that the issue is “of utmost concern to me” and offered to meet with Steve and anyone else about the concerns Steve raised. She went on to say :
Many of these concerns have been misunderstood, as often happens in our small town. They are still vaild concerns and deserve a sincere response. Please contact me if you would like to meet to go over these and any others. I will discuss/answer to the best of my abilities, and find out what I don’t know.
I don’t think I speak out of turn in saying that the entire Board cares very much about this District and is not ignoring these concerns.
Cindy Fratto
The back and forth among some of the more verbal folks was revealing. It’s the same basic complaint I’ve been hearing at the CCSD for at least a year now: the public complain about the lack of information dissemination and the scheduling of the meeting while members of the Board argue that if the public would attend the meetings, they would be informed and have a say. In a way, both sides are right. And this is precisely why I started AboutCambria.com…to provide another way for people to get information on their own time, at their own pace. Ideally, it would serve as a place for conversation and finding solutions, too.
From one of Steve’s later responses on this issue of information sharing:
“…elected representatives have a responsibility to diseminate information to their constituantcy beyond the attendence at a meeting…Thursday nights are impossible for me and maybe others as well, that should not preclude us from information. I spend lots of time at events where this information should be forthcoming: PTA meetings, site council, recess, reading the Cambrian. The problem is this, we live in a feel good society, we don’t want to discuss failures, problems and mishaps. We just want them to go away, but they are not. If my circle of friends don’t posses this information, then we are not trying to hard to get that information out. The number of people who are now informed because of the reply all button on my computer should prove the point that it is not to hard to get the information out there…”
Cindy Fratto will be meeting with the PTA on Tuesday September 2 at 6pm, so jot it on your calendar if you’d like to go find out what is being done to fix the fields and address other concerns about the quality of the facilities.
AboutCambria.com is a reflection and creation of those who participate, which means you’re quite likely to run into some strong opinions and biases. But I work to provide both sides the time and space to have their opinion heard – not unbiased, but working toward balance.
Last 5 posts by Amanda Rice
- Gail Robinette Chosen to Complete DeMicco's Term as CCSD Director on Unanimous Vote
- California Coastal Commission Unanimously Denied Army Corps Desal Tests
- Cambria CSD Agenda for November 27, 2011 Meeting Includes Water Conservation & New Tank Project
- Sunken Oil Tanker Off Cambria's Coastline Will Be Checked Again Soon
Pingback: About Cambria » Blog Archive » School Fields Follow-Up