Letters to the Editor (8/13)

Incident at Cerritos Elementary handled well by all

Dear Editor:

(Editor's Note: The following was sent to Kyrene Superintendent David Schauer)

Last week was quite a crazy week for us at Cerritos Elementary - and before too much more is said about the incident that happened on Monday, Aug. 4, involving a man running through the school campus - I wanted to give you my take on things.

I've heard that there have been a few parents who contacted the district about the incident; complaining about the vague letter that was sent home to parents - and at least one parent complaining about how our principal, Darcy DiCosmo, handled the suspect.

As a parent who picks up her children from school each day (not in the parent pick-up lane, I am physically on the campus at pick-up time) - and as someone who regularly chats with a great number of parents who wait for their children outside the school - I would like you to know that the vast majority of us think DiCosmo did an excellent job of handling this very scary and difficult situation.

Yes, a strange man entered the campus through the only unlocked door (the front door into the main office), which is terribly frightening. But DiCosmo really did her best to immediately stop him and try to find out what he wanted. When she couldn't get him to respond and he took off toward the hallway, she chased after him.

The complaining parent I'm referring to seemed to blame DiCosmo for chasing this man out of a door in which parents and children were standing at release time. I think it's pretty clear that DiCosmo didn't have a choice in the matter. The man was heading toward that door and there wasn't anything she could do to stop him. She did keep chasing after him though - all the way to the Altadeña parking lot - to try and get his license plate number. That's where he threatened to run her down with his car.

I happened to be standing outside the door that the man ran out - as were many other parents - and I never saw or heard any parent say they saw DiCosmo shoving parents during this chase. In fact, all of the parents I talked to couldn't believe that she kept chasing after him. We all thought she acted in a pretty heroic fashion.

In any case, I would hate to have one or two parent's negative comments somehow represent how the majority of parents at Cerritos feel about the incident and how DiCosmo handled it. I think the overwhelming majority of us think she went above and beyond the call of duty.

As for the letter that was sent home, I do agree that it was much too vague. I'm guessing that the district or school officials (whomever wrote it) felt that maybe people had already read all the facts about his incident in the newspaper. However, even if they had, it is still critical for the school to give parents as much factual information as possible. Otherwise, there is a perception that the district/school is hiding something and is therefore dishonest. More information is always better than less.

If the district has concerns about putting such information in a letter that goes home with young children, then perhaps notes like that can be stapled shut or put in a sealed envelope.

As far as security at our schools go, the only thing I can think of that we might be able to improve is possibly adding a security door in the area that leads into the main hallways of our schools. Such a door would be activated by code or magnetic card key that allows people to click through.

Obviously, with all of the parents that come to school each day to volunteer, drop off lunches, papers, medicines, etc., we simply cannot lock the front doors. However, I know we all agree that we don't ever want some crazy person to be able to get into our main school hallways again.

This is an issue our PTO will be taking up at our first meeting Aug. 12. Perhaps such a door is something the PTO can raise funds to purchase.

Stephanie Hayden

PTO President, Cerritos Elementary School

John McComish deserves your vote

Dear Editor:

At the beginning of the early voting process, I think it is important to note that only one of the Republican primary candidates has the experience needed to help get us through these tough times. That candidate is John McComish.

Only McComish has a proven track record of getting things done for our district and our state. He has been called "thoughtful, hardworking and competent."

McComish is all these things and more. He was a corporate executive for 24 years and president of the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. As the majority whip in the House of Representatives McComish has shepherded numerous pieces of legislation through the legislative process and has shown himself to be a proven and effective leader.

McComish has received numerous awards and other forms of recognition through the years: Arizona Chamber Legislator of the Year; 50 Emerging State Leaders; Arizona Technical Council Legislator of the Year; National Federation of Independent Businesses Eagle Award and the list goes on.

Only McComish has the extensive experience and proven track record needed in these tough times. He has shown himself to be a true friend to the people of our district. He deserves your vote.

Kerry G. Wangberg

Schmuck's track record cannot be overlooked

Dear Editor:

In my two-and-a-half years as a member of the South Mountain Citizens Advisory Team representing the nearly 3,000 homeowners of Lakewood, I have had the opportunity to meet a wide range of elected officials from both sides of the spectrum.

A few local leaders have stepped up to lend time, expertise and energy to participate in the important South Mountain Freeway issue.

One of those leaders is Frank Schmuck, candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 20. Schmuck has a proven record of helping communities like the city of Tempe with freeway-related issues. That proven record can not be overlooked.

You see, this is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue - it's a community issue. My point is not endorsing a party but a person I believe will protect the Ahwatukee Foothills community and Lakewood, who has appointed me to represent its 15,000 residents.

That is why I have decided to endorse Schmuck. He is a proven leader in freeway issues of the past. He is passionate about protecting Ahwatukee from this $3 billion fiasco while protecting all of Ahwatukee's children and the elderly. I have talked to at least 12 elected officials or would-be officials and Schmuck has already done more for Ahwatukee and Tempe than most of the others.

Schmuck is my only official endorsement of any candidate and most have asked for my endorsement given the years of work on this project and aggressively challenging it, which I will continue as the vote for the freeway is nearing.

John D. Rodriguez

Lakewood Representative

South Mountain Citizens Advisory Team

Vote McComish and Dial for a strong economy

Dear Editor:

With the rising food and gas prices, I'm feeling the strain. We need state representatives who understands economic matters if we ever hope to improve our economy and strengthen the job market.

John McComish has long been one of those representatives who I trust with fiscal matters because of his demonstrated ability in the State House and strong background in business.

I've been told that another seat in the house will be vacant. Jeff Dial proposes smart solutions to everyday problems and important issues. He, like McComish, has a lot of experience in business management and offers a solid position on how to improve the economy.

Among many things, McComish was national sales manager with Johnson & Johnson and has decades of business experience. Dial has worked for his family business for 20 years and serves as executive vice president.

I feel confident that with McComish and Dial in office, economic matters will be dealt with by experts who have learned from real life experiences. And with fuel and food prices soaring, that's what Arizonans need right now.

D.R. Shebesta

A ‘green' tip Dear Editor:

Do you ever wonder how many people think about how to water their lawn and keep their vehicle clean without wasting water?

My family fits into that, but it is mostly my dad. I propose a solution (a way that you don't have to waste water): wash your car while its on your lawn so the water will run off the vehicle and into the soil. Makes the grass greener and your car cleaner - without wasting water!

Joshua Ekstrom, 13

I think the following information needs to be disseminated to the public

Dear Editor:

A school Principal writes a letter (on August 6, 2008) to the parents of children attending Cerritos Elementary School describing an incident (occurring on August 5, 2008) "of a man driving erratically in the parking lot".  That is all that was said in the letter about the incident. When one reads the letter it appears to be a parking lot incident. In actuality children and parents getting together at an exit of the school building (as children were being dismissed for the day) witnessed the Principal pushing and shoving a man out of this same exit of the school building and through the crowd of children and parents. The Principal was shouting "get out, leave" ... and the man was walking rapidly towards the parking lot. The children and the parents saw what happened at the exit of the building. The principal and the man came OUT of the school right into a crowd of children and parents ... the incident at that time was not the parking lot!

The letter the principal sent to the parents is a half truth as to what happened and certainly does not address what the children and parents SAW and experienced!!!! Or more to the point what was this person doing in the school in the first place and how did he get in? Scared to tell the truth? The children were scared to see their principal acting in this way and deserve to know why she was behaving in such a manner. They are witnesses to the faceable exit from the school of the person who allegedly was "driving in an erratic manner in the parking lot." I am appalled that the Principal chose to cover up, or better yet suppress information to the children and the parents.

Truth is strong, half-truths lead to disrespect and distrust. Tell the children the truth, they know what they saw and deserve to know why the Principal chose to act in the manner that she did. As just as important what to do in the future if it happens again. Give them some credit, they handle truth very well and the Boy Scout motto still is good "Be Prepared".

Marge Kennedy