She also forgot to mention that as a result of the sound fiscal management of the district by the present board, teachers such as Ms. Harris will have jobs in Glendale. Glendale Unified is one of the few or maybe the only district in the area not proceeding with teacher layoffs. Could it be that Ms. Harris is bitter over the fact that the 15% plus salary demands made by the teacher’s union in the recent past was turned down by this board? This board has been insightful in acting to protect the future of our students, teachers and community.
I clearly understand that Ms. Harris and the union leadership would be pleased to deal with rookie board members like Walters and Sahakian, whom they have endorsed and spent thousands of dollars on as challenging candidates. I know how unions work, and I clearly understand their affects on the Los Angeles Unified School District as well as the automobile industry that I work in everyday.
When the pressure is on, as it is it now due to our debacle in Sacramento, we need to do as a winning baseball coach does when he finds himself in the ninth inning and down by one run: You keep your starters in the game and don’t substitute them with untested rookies — in this case those that are blinded by special interests like the union.
We need our home run hitters with a proven batting average coming to the plate. We need players like Sambar, Wagner and Krikorian up to bat for our Glendale Schools. They have proven themselves to be all-stars.
— Howard Hakes
La Crescenta
Editor’s note: Howard Hakes is the current honorary mayor and former president of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Advises critics to ‘lighten up’
