Fwd: Please do not place the Community Day School at the Berkeley Adult School
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Caryn Graves
May 23, 2011, 11:26:45 AM5/23/11
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Hi everyone- here's the letter that I just sent off, to all of the addresses that were kindly provided by Erika. I wonder though if any of them will actually read the whole thing... I know these sorts of letters are supposed to be brief, but I just had so much to say, based on all that I was reading from the posts to this list. I honestly doubt that I'll be able to attend the next meeting this coming Wednesday, so I felt at the very least I ought to get this letter out. Well,
lets hope for the best, and thanks for all your efforts,
-Caryn
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Caryn Graves <caryn....@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 23, 2011 at 8:23 AM
Subject: Please do not place the Community Day School at the Berkeley Adult School
To: lm...@cityofberkeley.info, rcr...@acoe.org, jri...@acoe.org, she...@acoe.org, william...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, susan...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, Beatriz_Le...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, john_s...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, Leah_...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, karenh...@comcast.net, Josh_D...@berkeley.k12.ca.us
Hello. I'd like to respectfully request that the Community Day School not be placed at the Berkeley Adult School.
I live near the corner of Curtis and Virginia, and I'm the mother of 2 children (ages 5 and 9). I understand that those who wish to place the CDS at BAS are motivated by a desire to help the students who have been expelled from high school (by sparing them the commute to Hayward, where their classes are currently located), but whatever potential help you might wish to give to some, must be weighed against the consideration to prevent harm to others.
Based on what I have been reading regarding the activities of students facing expulsion from high school, I feel that placing these students at BAS poses a safety risk to the neighborhood in the vicinity of BAS. Honesty, if these were kids who, say, only got caught with joints in their pockets, I wouldn't really be all that concerned. But these students sound like some seriously bad apples, so to speak. I've read of incidents of Berkeley High School students being robbed, and/or beaten by some of these fellow students, and not too long ago there was even an incident of a student bringing a loaded gun onto the BHS campus. And the statistics show that crime has been higher in the downtown area near the high school, so it is not unreasonable to fear that bringing the most serious offenders to BAS could result in there being an increase in crime in the vicinity of BAS (and no one around here wants to be the next statistic...)
I have also heard the concern from neighbors, that bringing the CDS program to BAS could be the start of a "slippery slope", where what starts out as only 1 CDS class then gradually expands to 2 classes, then 3, and so on and so on until BAS effectively becomes the repository for the criminal youth in the area. Even if we're given assurances that the CDS won't ever be more than 1 class, well to be frank, there isn't much confidence in such promises. There is a general feeling that even proposing having the CDS at BAS in the first place shows that there is not much regard for the interests of the community.
When BAS was moved to its current location, the community put in a substantial effort to turn it into as much of an asset to the area as possible. Through collaborative efforts, an empty space on the BAS campus was transformed into a lovely park, that my kids (and many other kids in the neighborhood) frequently go to and enjoy playing in. If BAS becomes a hub for these expelled students, the sad result could be that parents no longer feel safe bringing their children to the park.
So, perhaps these students have complained about having to go to Hayward for their classes, and you don't want to have to go back to them and disappoint them with news that their commute won't be shortened. Then perhaps you could respond to them with something like, "Sorry- we made an attempt, but then we got these letters from mothers of young kids in the neighborhood, and they've heard of your exploits at Berkeley High, and so now they're plain scared to have you around. Well, actions have consequences. Had you not done what you did, you could have still been attending Berkeley High, and not have had to go to Hayward, but you squandered that opportunity. Now we are still providing you with an opportunity to get an education, so you can become respectable, productive members of society, so don't squander this opportunity also." And perhaps such "tough love" might even be better for them, in the long run.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely,
Caryn Graves
1642 Curtis St.
Berkeley
From: Caryn Graves <caryn....@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 23, 2011 at 8:23 AM
Subject: Please do not place the Community Day School at the Berkeley Adult School
To: lm...@cityofberkeley.info, rcr...@acoe.org, jri...@acoe.org, she...@acoe.org, william...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, susan...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, Beatriz_Le...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, john_s...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, Leah_...@berkeley.k12.ca.us, karenh...@comcast.net, Josh_D...@berkeley.k12.ca.us
Hello. I'd like to respectfully request that the Community Day School not be placed at the Berkeley Adult School.
I live near the corner of Curtis and Virginia, and I'm the mother of 2 children (ages 5 and 9). I understand that those who wish to place the CDS at BAS are motivated by a desire to help the students who have been expelled from high school (by sparing them the commute to Hayward, where their classes are currently located), but whatever potential help you might wish to give to some, must be weighed against the consideration to prevent harm to others.
Based on what I have been reading regarding the activities of students facing expulsion from high school, I feel that placing these students at BAS poses a safety risk to the neighborhood in the vicinity of BAS. Honesty, if these were kids who, say, only got caught with joints in their pockets, I wouldn't really be all that concerned. But these students sound like some seriously bad apples, so to speak. I've read of incidents of Berkeley High School students being robbed, and/or beaten by some of these fellow students, and not too long ago there was even an incident of a student bringing a loaded gun onto the BHS campus. And the statistics show that crime has been higher in the downtown area near the high school, so it is not unreasonable to fear that bringing the most serious offenders to BAS could result in there being an increase in crime in the vicinity of BAS (and no one around here wants to be the next statistic...)
I have also heard the concern from neighbors, that bringing the CDS program to BAS could be the start of a "slippery slope", where what starts out as only 1 CDS class then gradually expands to 2 classes, then 3, and so on and so on until BAS effectively becomes the repository for the criminal youth in the area. Even if we're given assurances that the CDS won't ever be more than 1 class, well to be frank, there isn't much confidence in such promises. There is a general feeling that even proposing having the CDS at BAS in the first place shows that there is not much regard for the interests of the community.
When BAS was moved to its current location, the community put in a substantial effort to turn it into as much of an asset to the area as possible. Through collaborative efforts, an empty space on the BAS campus was transformed into a lovely park, that my kids (and many other kids in the neighborhood) frequently go to and enjoy playing in. If BAS becomes a hub for these expelled students, the sad result could be that parents no longer feel safe bringing their children to the park.
So, perhaps these students have complained about having to go to Hayward for their classes, and you don't want to have to go back to them and disappoint them with news that their commute won't be shortened. Then perhaps you could respond to them with something like, "Sorry- we made an attempt, but then we got these letters from mothers of young kids in the neighborhood, and they've heard of your exploits at Berkeley High, and so now they're plain scared to have you around. Well, actions have consequences. Had you not done what you did, you could have still been attending Berkeley High, and not have had to go to Hayward, but you squandered that opportunity. Now we are still providing you with an opportunity to get an education, so you can become respectable, productive members of society, so don't squander this opportunity also." And perhaps such "tough love" might even be better for them, in the long run.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely,
Caryn Graves
1642 Curtis St.
Berkeley
Heather Wood
May 23, 2011, 10:26:07 PM5/23/11
to bas-acc...@googlegroups.com
Caryn,
GREAT letter! Thanks so much for posting and getting it out to the Entities that Be. We have had quite a few letters, and more "petition" signors who are opposing the Adult School.
It is likely that the Board will vote on this, if it comes to a vote, on Wednesday, June 8th -- if it is likely to start up in September it has to be voted in sooner than later. It is imperative that we have as many people present at that meeting as can be there.
Again, thanks for your excellent letter.
-- Heather Wood
--
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others - Groucho Marx
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others - Groucho Marx
Stephen Smith
May 23, 2011, 10:28:52 PM5/23/11
to bas-acc...@googlegroups.com, bas-acc...@googlegroups.com
What happened to the May 26th vote? Great if we have another few weeks.
Best, Stephen
Best, Stephen
Stephen Smith
Solvida Energy Group
Heather Wood
May 23, 2011, 10:35:23 PM5/23/11
to bas-acc...@googlegroups.com
Stephen,
Based upon the 5/11/11 meeting, it was apparent that they wouldn't be considering it until June 8th -- but it could come up June 1st. Right now the Board has a pile-up of issues to deal with, including budgetary issues that must be dealt with as the school year comes to a close and another one looms on the horizon. The good news is that there may enough lack of information, in conjunction with the Board's backlog that they wll not be able to get it on the agenda in time for the September 2011 start of the new school year. Keep your fingers crossed -- but know that this doesn't end the topic, rather it allows more time for both us, and the Board -- as well as ACOE and BUSD to reconfigure our and their plans.
We'll keep everyone posted.
-Heather
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