Two local charities and three incumbent school board members have taken strong stands in the current economic downturn.
Glendale Healthy Kids and Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chapter have each decided not to apply this year for community development block grants awarded through the city, with the belief that there are other charitable groups that have greater need for the funds right now.
Incumbents Joylene Wagner, Chuck Sambar, and Greg Krikorian have decided as a group to run for reelection for the three open board positions in the Glendale Unified School District, citing the district’s need for experience in dealing with projected cuts in education funding and the potential cost savings to the district if no other candidates decide to run.
The Glendale News Press has details (see the Paperweight section).
As a community, let’s be thankful there are civic groups that have established a strong and independent base for themselves, and think of greater community needs instead of trying to claim every dollar available.
As for the school board, it will certainly save them time and effort, while saving the district some money, if they run unopposed. But all stakeholders in the school district should continue to voice concerns to the board, as well as to state and federal politicians. Teacher union demands and increased expenditures per pupil haven’t improved the quality of education in this country. The Glendale school district has a good record, but much could be done to reallocate resources (as I discovered while reading Brian Crosby’s book).