It's reassuring to see that our tax dollars are being spent wisely and only after serious thought and consideration. Don't count on my vote for any future school bond measures.

Why did the district sit around for 3 years and do nothing and then suddenly decide that it's rush-rush-rush? If they hired a construction manager early then they could have gotten lots of input and avoided the escalating construction costs.

Was the June meeting the one where Steve Nelson went crazy and then Chris Chiang resigned? It sounds like the board really dropped the ball at that meeting and now the kids at these two schools are paying the price.

Trustee Nelson has gone crazy at more than one meeting! Last June was also all of the turnover at upper level district staff. All of the work could not have been done at once anyway, so some school or another would have scope reduction due to cost escalation. Slater and the District Office are not fully funded yet. Just like teachers prefer new classrooms, at some point the current district office will be come a disincentive for all but top leadership staff.

"Improvements to the district office could be cut out of the budget entirely."

Let's hope so. The district office staff should be put in portables if it comes down to it. Portables have been good enough for the children for years, so they should be just fine for the district office. Shipping containers would even do for the current lot.

I heard district office employees say at the last board meeting that they would be happy to be portables. The current office doesn't have the infrastructure to handle today's technology and is a huge waster of heat and air conditioning. By the way the district. Reds the people who work there to pay teachers etc.

The reality is that construction inflation is driving much of t these kinds of decisions. I've heard estimates that costs are increasing $200,000+ per week. So, we need to get cracking on construction. Additionally, because resources are limited, we need to reconsider how we're spending the money, and consider sharing resources where it makes the most sense. The Stevenson and Thuerekauf communities can hopefully craft a way to share facilities where it matters because it means money can be spent on other important needs for each of the schools.

Our District Office is pretty sad. It needs to be worked on but everyone agrees it's not the most pressing project. But we do need a facility that we can be proud of since the people who work in it are responsible for keeping our schools operating at the highest levels. At your office, I'm sure you'd prefer that your work place to be inspirational. We should want the same for our school district.

I'm glad about the changes we've made. We probably don't have enough money to do all the things we want to do for our schools. So, we need to start thinking about how to have everything we want.

Has anyone heard anything about the Mistral/Castro campuses and how they are doing in regards to sharing? I hear that there is a lot of negativity between the two sides. I hear that there is no communication between the schools and often delayed communication in regards to emergencies. Where is the "working together" concept? We should watch this closely before we put Theuerkauf and Stevenson in the same situation. We also don't need issues regarding your school/students gets this, our school/students don't and why not. The have's and have not's. Don't try to sell us a dream that will really be a nightmare for our communities.

Standing under the cinnamon tree, I heard the same thing. And then I heard the opposite thing. And then I saw the action of the Mistral Principal- who was willing to give up a nice Admin building of Her Own, in order to facilitate district-wide multi-million dollar savings and better classrooms for learning (21st century - dual-classroom "walls" in modulars). I do not at all think this is a perfect and everlasting solution. Perhaps actions are more important than words that I hear.

I "assume good intent" and that is what I have generally found at Castro/Mistral and Stevenson/Theuerkauf.
That is the rumor I would like to spread! An "impossible dream."

SN sometimes is mistaken as a "crazy" old guy with a lance, but he is really Steven Nelson, an elected Trustee of MVWD, and these are but his opinions - no offense intended to old Mr. Sherman or anyone.

Mr. Nelson- when have you ever assumed positive intent in any situation???? Since you put it out there, you are not mistaken as a crazy old guy - you are one. None of your posting on Town Square make sense. You have less than a year as an elected trustee. This district will be so much better a place when you are no longer on the Board.