Letters to the Editor

Teachers thank board, administration for listening, changing their minds

Open Letter to the Ramona School Board, Dr. Robert Graeff, and Cabinet:

The Mt. Woodson learning community would like to thank you for genuinely listening to our comments and concerns at the board meeting held Tuesday, March 13. It is rare to hear of representative governing board members seriously considering the opinions of their constituents and having the strength and courage to publicly change their minds like you did.

Since our administrator had no knowledge of our intention to appeal to you, your decision is even more impressive, because it means that you responded to a community-based request. Your willingness to listen and consider our vantage point was truly impressive, and we would like our entire district to be aware of the integrity, character, and commitment you displayed.

The Ramona Unified School District mission statement promises a high level of learning for all students through a culture of collaboration with families and the community. Collaboration very clearly occurred at that board meeting.

Together we can accomplish anything. Your actions on Tuesday showed our learning community that you value our opinion and will work to be our partners in success.

Thank you again for your reflection and decision, and we look forward to many years of working together for student success.

Roberta Nau

On behalf of The teachers of Mt. Woodson Elementary School

Preserve means preserve

There seems to be a frightening misunderstanding about the Ramona Grassland Preserve. People are acting as though they believed that the Nature Conservancy, a huge organization with thousands of projects worldwide, had saved and donated our little grassland for the sole enjoyment of Ramona residents.

Preserve means keep safe from danger or spoilage. Reserve means save for future use. Conserve means keep from wasting. Conservation means planned management of natural resources.

Housewives: What happens to the food you have taken so much trouble to preserve if you don’t put lids on the jars?

Athletes: What happened if you don’t conserve a little energy for the end of the race? Gardeners: How long does Stay OFF the Grass deter the general public, even if there are laws?

Our Ramona Grassland is like the Albertine Rift in Africa, teeming with unstudied plants and animals. That very richness that attracted people is now gone, trampled into dirt by the general public.

The Nature Conservancy discovered and rescued into our care the Ramona Grassland because it is a unique community of teeming unstudied biodiversity so fragile that hardly any others like it are left.

The Enjoy-It-Now Ramonans are not bad people. They just don’t understand. Before it was discovered, our grassland was a largely ignored piece of private property with a fence around it. It would take a miracle, but if only it could be restored to private property with a fence around it; the private property of Ramona’s great-great-great grandchildren.

With their new technology and greater understanding, they would thank us for our vision. Or will they sadly regret our human, enjoy-it-now short-sightedness?

Edalee Orcutt Harwell

Ramona