Comments on: Mt. Diablo school closures prompt continued questions

By: Marta Vanegas

Marta Vanegas — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:40:43 +0000

If you are on Facebook, like our Cause Page and start contributing there: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Holbrook-Elementary-School-Concord-CA/193841240642966

I will definitely pursue all avenues to stop this nonsense. Holbrook is an excellent school, the children are happy there, and it’s an integral part of our community. I will fight to the last drop.

By: Kelly Van Boekhout

Kelly Van Boekhout — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:31:40 +0000

#35-Thank you!
#44-Every revolution has to start somewhere.
#45-Thank you for the suggestions!! I’m off to implement them right now!

By: Concerned College Student

Concerned College Student — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:28 +0000

I want to know for the schools that are closing down, has anyone done any student walk outs? I help fight for all areas of education, i am a college student but have children of my own in another county and have had to deal with these same questions and problems. Has anyone set up a comittee to help educate and explain to the parents of the schools closing, what they can do to fight the closures? Marching in March was created last year by students and activists all over the country. Schools across the US walked out for the first time in history as one to let there voices be heard. The more this is done and repeated eventually they take notice that we are not goping to deal with all the BS that is handed us. We have a right to an education and if want our children to suceed in anything they must be properly educated and with all these massive budget cuts and school closures how is this going to be possible. Education must come first there are other areas to cut!
March 31st is another National Day of Students walking out, fighting for what they believe in!!

Defend Public Education – Education for the People! – Organizing Group Can be found on Facebook!!

We must show the power that we have in the education system. Without students – there can be no schools, there can be no classes. We need to be bold, walk out of class, and show that we have to power to change the system. We know where the money is – its in wars and bailouts. We say bring …that money back to our schools and communities! Walkout and Strike March 31st!

Build and organize in your area – if you do think you can walkout/strike, then rally, speak out, hold teach-ins, talk about what’s going on in your state and nationally and why we need to strikes and mass action to win.

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We call on students to take part in a national day of walkouts and strikes on March 31st. We call for walkouts and strikes nationwide to fight back the attacks on public education. We have the answers to the problems of this system. in order to stop these attacks, we must shut the system down.

We must unite and refuse to take part in a system that is destroying our communities! We must unite and fight for the system that we need! Walkout, Strike, Shut it Down on March 31st!

Link to flyer: http://www.defendpubliceducation.org/sites/default/files/m2011%20copy.jpg

By: Wait a Minute

Wait a Minute — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:47:55 +0000

Forgot to mention that the Federal Office of Civil Rights for this area are located in SF. You simply go online and read their website for guidance on how to make a complaint.

By: Wait a Minute

Wait a Minute — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:45:40 +0000

Kelly,
your best bet to get the MDUSD investigated for this debacle is to make a complaint to the Federal Office of Civil Rights. They have the mission and the resources to come in and analyze every document and piece of evidence both on the fiscal side and on the criteria for closure side.

If the MDUSD cannot prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that closing Holbrook saves substantial money then it will be assumed that other reasons (like singling out the low income community) is the real reason for this decision.

The OCR can and does go so far as to put people under oath and make them explain to a trained team of investigators/lawyers. If this were to happen it could get really interesting since someone is bound to spill the beans to protect themselves.

You could also try the State Dpt of Ed as they also have a Civil Rights division but the Feds are the gold standard in this realm.

Good luck.

By: 4Students

4Students — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:01:03 +0000

Good luck Kelly, but the County will tell you that there’s NO accountability. There’s NO system of government checks and balances here. MDUSD can do whatever it wants until it goes bankrupt. To create some kind of accountability, MDUSD should be working with City of Concord (and all the cities) to decide on school closures.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:56:49 +0000

Trustee Cheryl Hansen said in a voicemail message this afternoon that she had not known about the plan to allow the Flex Academy to use the Glenbrook campus before the agenda was released.
“So,” she said, “that was a surprise.”
Hansen and Trustee Linda Mayo said during the board retreat that they would like “no more surprises.”

By: anonamom

anonamom — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:22:58 +0000

Granted Glenbrook did not fare well on any scale; but looking down the road a couple of years , (after the heat has let up) that piece of dirt may well be the very best piece of real estate in North Concord outside of CNWS. Keep in mind that this Board and this City are good-buddies.

Holbrook was, for the Board, just a major Flub. Now it’s become a growing cow-pie in the middle of the dais, and they’re looking for Lawrence to clean it up with just about anything he can come up with. They still don’t quite acknowledge that he gave them the old 2-school or 3-school routine that threw them off in the first place.

By: Another MDUSD Mom

Another MDUSD Mom — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:51:12 +0000

Anonamom,
Why do you think they chose to close these two schools? I agree that they are not saving money.

By: anonamom

anonamom — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:22:40 +0000

I suppose it would be asking too much for THIS committee to actually involve homeowners in Holbrook/East Sun Terrace neighborhoods, unlike the last committee.

Maybe they want to relocate certain “special kids” to maybe control, confine and hide them in the center of an old lower income neighborhood?

What will it cost to turn Holbrook into a proper high school environment–fields, furnishings, science labs, taller drinking fountains , etc. Seriously??

I call BS on they decided to rush headlong into closing schools to “save money”.

I say Lawrence “played” the closure committee like Three Card Monte and then sweetened the pot for the Board by drawing attention away from the fact that Holbrook scored much better than Wren, and that Glenbrook and Holbrook were “exact same neighborhood” schools.

Not one thing they do with either of these schools will save a dime over what they will give up in Grant money, and all the rest of you sitting smug in your “safe” school…don’t count on it! Now they really DO need to get to work to fix the budget!