READER’S EDITORIAL: DIVORCE? YES. FROM GUHSD? NO.

By Lou Russo

September 11, 2012 (Alpine) -- East County has recently been treated to columns by Bill Weaver and Sal Casamassima on the need for a “divorce” from the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) by the citizens who desire a new high school be built in Alpine. While I agree a “divorce” is necessary, those who truly desire a high school be built in Alpine should file divorce papers against the Alpine High School Citizens Committee (AHSCC) and the past/present chairs, e.g. Bill and Sal. Thinking it a good idea to follow the recommendations of the AHSCC is akin to trusting Sacramento’s work on your household budget. 

Recently, Dr. Tim Caruthers and I were interviewed on FM 107.9 here in Alpine regarding the high school. You may listen to the podcast here if you wish:  http://my1079.com/programs/politics/east-county-undergroud-with-steve-hunyar/101-the-alpine-high-school  That interview aside, let me give you the “thumbnail sketch” of why it is NOT a good idea to throw your fate in with Bill and Sal.

High schools cost tens of millions of dollars to build. In ANY endeavor of that size, there will be competing agendas at work. It is part of human nature. No single entity can force its will upon all the others and an atmosphere of cooperation is vital.  Acknowledging that, one must remember that Reagan once said, “Trust, but verify.” There is nothing wrong with this philosophy, but it is one the AHSCC failed to follow. In fact, the AHSCC exhibited, and continues to exhibit, a political naivety that in the end will must assuredly leave East County without another high school.

Just some of the political missteps on the part of the AHSCC are: First, if one wants/needs the support of various communities, one must be inclusive. A more appropriate name for this “citizen’s group” should have been the Alpine/Blossom Valley Citizen’s Committee or perhaps the Eastern Grossmont Citizen’s Committee. When an organization won’t even acknowledge a community, how can it expect that community to throw its support behind it?  Second, because of special interests in Alpine, a GIFT of land for the high school, valued at $20 million, was turned away. Let me repeat that. A citizen was going to GIVE GUHSD the land for the high school and some local citizens, including a number on the AHSCC turned their back on the offer and pressed for GUHSD to BUY the land in a different location.

Third, the AHSCC whole-heartedly endorsed a curriculum model for the new high school that, for various reasons, would have been extremely expensive. How did the AHSCC ever believe that GUHSD could justify that to the rest of the taxpayers “down the hill”?  Fourth, not finally but for this article enough, GUHSD offered to build a high school in Alpine if it were named Ronald Reagan High School.  This is where the AHSCC’s political naivety truly shined through.  This offer was made a time that would have enabled the ground breaking to take place as part of the 100th celebration of Reagan’s birthday. Knowing politics and politicians as I do, it is an offer, which if accepted, would have ensured a full comprehensive high school of unparalleled quality.  Instead, the AHSCC, including Bill, opposed this.  Think about this for a second.  Does the name on the side of a building mean that the entire building should be refused?  I won’t even mention that Reagan was the governor, the president and that other high schools are already named for him.  Oh, yes I will.

Now, Sal and Bill want you to vote for Bill and “divorce” GUHSD.  As to the first, the last time I checked, Alpine had a total of 9,950 registered voters.  Bill wants to replace Dr. Woods on the GUHSD board.  In 2010, Dr. Woods received 65,444 votes.  So, if EVERY registered voter in Alpine voted for Bill, he would only lose by 55,494 (if you can think of a reason for ANYONE in the valley to vote for Bill, good for you).   Also, Bill and Sal implore you to “divorce” GUHSD.  So, who would be in charge then?  Bill, Sal, the AHSCC?  It is a recommendation, on so many levels, that has not been thought through.

Ladies and gentlemen, I agree that we are in a bad situation vis-à-vis a new high school in eastern Grossmont District.  I have two young children that I don’t like sending for long commutes any more than you do.  However, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” -Albert Einstein. It’s time we stop the insanity and divorce AHSCC, not GUHSD.

The views in this editorial reflect the views of its author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.