Fwd: Please do not place the Community Day School at the Berkeley Adult School

[Caryn Graves]

FYI, I finally actually got a response (see below, from Leah Wilson), although this probably isn't really any new information since it is already known that she is opposed to putting the CDS at BAS.  To date, the only other reply I've received so far to my letter was the following from Josh Daniels (which I would consider to be a "non-answer"):

"Good evening Caryn, thank you very much for taking the time to email me your
perspective.  I really value the input of community members and neighbors as
it always gives me new insights to the issue.  I encourage you to continue
to contact me with any concerns or questions on this issue or any others."

And other than that, nothing whatsoever, from anyone else. 

If this is going to be decided on at the June 22nd school board meeting, then unfortunately it will be impossible for me to attend, since I'm going to be in Boston at that time, on a 2 week vacation with my family.  But I'll be keeping my fingers crossed, and let's hope for the best.  Thanks everyone,
                                                                                                                                   -Caryn

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Caryn Graves <caryn....@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 10, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Subject: Re: Please do not place the Community Day School at the Berkeley Adult School
To: Leah Wilson <leah.w...@yahoo.com>

Thank you so much for your response.  It is heartening to me that there is at least one person among the recipients of my letter, who acknowledges the validity of the neighborhood concerns.  Regrettably, it seems the prevailing attitude that we have encountered thus far towards our position has been very callous and uncaring.  Thus it would be greatly appreciated if you could please continue to try to influence this matter towards a more sensible course.  Thanks again,
                                                                                                         -Caryn Graves     

On Thu, Jun 9, 2011 at 2:58 PM, Leah Wilson <leah.w...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hello Ms. Graves:

 

Thanks for taking the time to send. As you may know, the last time this issue came before the Board we indicated that we had a number of questions about the proposed initiatve; subsequent to that meeting, we sent our questions directly to staff. Many of our questions relate to issues you have raised below. To date, they have not been answered. Thus, all I can say at this point is that I remain skeptical about the need for and viability of either a BUSD or County operated community day school in Berkeley, and look forward to receiving additional information from staff should they bring the proposal forward again.

 

thanks,

Leah Wilson

---

From: Caryn Graves <caryn....@gmail.com>
To: leah.w...@yahoo.com; 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 Wilson <leah_...@berkeley.k12.ca.us>; karenh...@comcast.net; Josh_D...@berkeley.k12.ca.us
Sent: Mon, May 23, 2011 8:16:21 AM
Subject: Please do not place the Community Day School at the Berkeley Adult School


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