READER’S EDITORIAL: JAY STEIGER AND CHRIS FITE FOR GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD TO PROTECT STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL SAFETY
By Laura Preble, El Cajon
October 28, 2024 (El Cajon) -- As a 20-year veteran of Grossmont Union High School district (West Hills and Monte Vista High School), I want to strongly urge East County voters to elect Jay Steiger and Chris Fite to the school board.
The incumbents running have done numerous things this year to make the district unsafe and unworkable. They do not deserve to be re-elected. First, they eliminated all of the TOSA (teacher on special assignment) positions at the district level. As a person who worked with students and teachers directly, I can tell you that these TOSA staff were instrumental in making sure students and teachers kept up with the latest technology, both hardware and software. Eliminating these positions ensures that teachers won’t be able to use new technology nor troubleshoot problems, and therefore students will miss out. These incumbents chose NOT to listen to employees who directly work with students, opting instead for ‘cost savings’ that no one can seem to explain.
They also TOTALLY ELIMINATED the district School Safety department. In an era when school shootings are all too common, why would these board members think getting rid of comprehensive safety planning is a good idea? The School Safety department is integral to the safety and well-being of employees and students, and for anyone in a position to make that decision to choose to just get rid of it is puzzling and troubling. I have huddled with students in lockdown because of the threat of gun violence. We’ve had two deadly gun violence incidents at our schools. I absolutely cannot understand the reasoning behind this decision, other than perhaps the trustees are hoping to decrease enrollment and lessen the number of employees?
Please vote for Jay Steiger and Chris Fite for Grossmont Union school board. We need board members who care about our teachers and our kids.
The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.