By now, you should have received your ballot from the county to vote on Measure B, the measure to fund the San Carlos School District. As I have written a lot in this blog about the absolutely crucial need for this funding, I won’t repeat myself here. But suffice is to say that every vote counts, and given that the measure needs to pass by a 2/3 najority, please vote YES and mail in your ballot today. It’s an all mail election, so please fill it out and return as per the instructions on the ballot. All of the children in San Carlos will thank you!
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Yes on B — Send Those Ballots Back5 comments to Yes on B — Send Those Ballots Back |
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Copyright © 2012 Seth Rosenblatt – San Carlos School Board - All Rights Reserved 
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When you guys figure out the White Oaks mess, I’ll consider giving money to Measure B. Until then, I reserve the right to send my kids to private school — and will NOT pay even more taxes to a broken public school system. It’s unconscionable to claim that there’s “no room” for inbound kindergarteners, while giving classroom space away to a private company.
First of all, I understand your frustration with the overenrollment at White Oaks, although it’s completely unfair and patently incorrect to refer to our public school system as broken. In fact, we have one of the most successful school districts in the State. Particularly given how low our funding is (even compared to other districts in the county and the state, let along other states), we do an amazing job at giving every child in San Carlos an excellent education. And that education is excellent regardless of whether your Kindergartner goes to White Oaks, Brittan Acres, Arundel, or Heather.
Now of course, all things being equal, it’s better to go to your neighborhood school. But having your child go to another elementary school in your district will serve them just as well as any other. Although you certainly have the right to go to private school, you will likely not be giving your child a better education and certainly you won’t be going to any closer school.
Also, some of your facts are incorrect — for example, classroom space is not given away to any private company.
Measure B and the enrollment problem are two separate issues. First of all, its crucial that Measure B passes to preserve this excellent education. Voting against it would be the equivalent of cutting off your nose to spite your face. If it doesn’t pass, everyone will be affected — even if your child is in private school, you will be affected by weaker public schools, including the value of your home.
As far as enrollment is concerned, we are indeed limited on physical space, and White Oaks has the smallest physical campus of any school. I encourage you to come to Board Meetings and speak with Board members and the administration to understand the details. I have commented a number of times on this blog (and will continue to) regarding the School Board’s effort to look at boundary changes to minimize the likelihood of this problem re-emerging. It’s a very complex issue, and there are no simple solutions.
I invite you to e-mail directly at seth@rosenblatt.org to talk through any of these issues. Again, I really do appreciate your frustration, but only by working together can we best serve all of the children of San Carlos.
Gee Seth, I was looking for information regarding Measure B and found your blog. I am disappointed by your lack of respect for private schools and parent’s choice. Responsible parents choose the best school for their child. That school can be a public, private or even home school. I respect the parents in my neighborhood’s decisions (one public, three different privates and one home schooler)…without feeling threatened. I am shocked at your disrespect! Shame! If the White Oak parent above feels that a Private School meets her child’s needs better, why should that send you on a rant? I seriously think you lost votes with your approach!
What rant is that? Looking at the above comment I made, I said “Although you certainly have the right to go to private school, you will likely not be giving your child a better education and certainly you won’t be going to any closer school.”
How is that a statement against parent choice or showing any disrepect? With all due respect to you, you’re reading something that wasn’t there. All I was demonstrating is that our public schools in San Carlos happen to be as good or better than most private schools in this area. Parents of course have any choice they want to do what’s best for their kids, and I both respect and encourage that. How you read that into my comments I can not see.
My job as a School Board member is to be an advocate for public schools — that is what you voted for me to do!
By the way, I went to private school myself for High School.
Don’t worry, Seth. Your clarity is actually refreshing. The parents above need to separate their emotions and look at what is best for San Carlos Schools and the kids of San Carlos.
School choice is what is important here. However, if someone is spreading misinformation, then I applaud your courage to ensure the facts are known.
Keep up the great work!