Schools and senior center issues
EDITOR: I sympathize with the plight of the Cloverdale Unified School District as it attempts to be fiscally responsible and to solve its budget problems.
Unfortunately, cutting the teaching staff seems more like a business solution that eclipses the heart of the mission of educating and supporting the children rather than possible cuts of some of the administrative salaries, positions in bureaucracy, of materials or in some other ways.
This recent “business” approach is also affecting the Senior Center that is also facing a deficit but with no apparent concern about fiscal responsibility.
What used to be a creative playground for the participants run by two staffers has now become a “service business” run by five staffers. The monthly in-house newsletter is now sent out to be published at more than three times the previous cost and is now only bimonthly. At the same time, the membership fees have increased and class “fees” have increased instead of asking for a suggested donation.
What is typical here of today’s business model is: more staff/bureaucracy and less quality, quantity and efficiency. The major focus has been shifted from members-oriented to now being staff-oriented. The heart-orientation of the past brought heart-felt gifts, donations and sponsorships in excess of what is now coming in under the business model.
Since Cloverdale is a small town that is known for its sense of community, perhaps we can find solutions that are not impersonal but more appropriate to our community needs and reputation of being genuine and in our hearts. Cloverdale is unique from any other community in our county.
Mardi Grainger
Cloverdale
