Sounds like a PR spin. And the fact that the only thing we have is a barbecue flyer that was passed out earlier this summer. Where are all the updates we were promised?

As far as this statment goes “last week we had the sheriff observing traffic, and they didn’t see anything wrong,”–the reason they didn’t see anything wrong is that from either direction of Palm, you could see the police cars (about 4) parked in front of the school. Who is going to speed or break any laws when they are right in front of you?

I hope our local officials will take some action, including the neighbors. Making calls and writing letters and e-mails is very powerful.

I personally find the principal’s comment about rehab facilities very off-putting. That sort of assumption of moral superiority usually goes along with a sense of entitlement, and I think that’s what is happening here.

The principal’s claim that his school “actually affects the neighborhood less than when it was the former Bienvenidos” clearly shows his lack of appreciation for this neighborhood or his school’s impact on it. I live within 500 ft of the property; it is ludicrous for him to assert that the school now affects the neighborhood less than Bienvenidos did. All one has to do is to observe Palm St around 8 AM and 3 PM on schooldays, or listen to the noise levels during the day. It was NEVER like this with Bienvenidos.

Bienvenidos served less than 80 small children for short periods of time after they were removed from abusive households, until they could be placed in foster homes. This principal runs a school of currently 240 children from K through 5th grade, and they want to expand to 800 students through high school age! How can he honestly believe that a school of that size will affect our neighborhood less than Bienvenidos?

Flyers inviting the neighborhood to visit? Funny, no one I know on our street (Highview Ave) ever mentioned receiving a flyer to me. I certainly didn’t get one, and I work out of my home so I’m always around. If they tried to engage the neighborhood, they obviously didn’t try very hard.

I knew of the property sale last spring, and I had been watching for a public notice to be posted so I could find out more about their plans. But there never was one, nor any hearing; not even a “Welcome to our School” sign out front. There was just a flurry of activity at the property in late August, and then a long line of cars suddenly appearing on Sept 2.

Bienvenidos had similar issues with the neighborhood when Lorri Castro first applied for her Conditional Use Permit in the early 1990s. The neighborhood was very concerned. But to me, the differences couldn’t be more significant. Castro obeyed the law. It took Bienvenidos several years to get their permit approved. They waited patiently before opening. During that time, they listened to neighborhood concerns and responded with compassion and respect. They worked hard to be “good neighbors” then and all during their time here. Contrast that with this principal’s stated position above and the school’s flagrant ignorance of the law.

Christian values? Since when do Christian values include disobeying the law and acting in your own self interest at the expense of your neighbors? We teach our children far more by our actions than by our words. And I do not like the lessons these children are learning. They deserve better, and so do we.

(edited slightly by Altadenablogmaster)

I take exception with almost everything the Sahag-Mesrob school principal has stated.

“Better neighbors than Bienvenidos?” -How would he know? I’ve lived on Raymond Ave. at the north end of their property for the past eleven years. Bienvenidos was highly responsive to the fact they existed in a residential neighborhood. Certainly the children were noisy at times, but it was NOTHING in comparison to what I’ve lived through since Sept. 2nd.

The principal states that the children have a 10 min. recess and a 40 min. lunch break -that’s true, although, by my watch, I’d add another 10 minutes to each of those times. But what he doesn’t include is the excessive noise beginning around 7:30 to 8:15am during drop-off period and then from 2:30 to 3:30pm during pick-up time. AND then he forgets to add that P.E. classes are conducted throughout most of the day. We have been bombarded with a steady stream of screaming, yelling, clapping, whistle-blowing, car door-slamming noise pollution ALL DAY LONG!

To make matters worse, the geography of the site and all the concrete turns this property into a giant amplifier.

I’ve called the school many times and was able to speak with the principal only once when he assured me that they were doing “everything they could” to alleviate the problems. Nothing has changed with regard to the noise. It’s actually gotten worse since the first week due to
the P.E. classes -because now it’s constant.

The principal and the head of the school board told me they cared about the neighborhood. I find this very hard to believe for if they did, they would have shown us the respect we deserve by obeying the law instead of arrogantly inserting themselves into our lives in this belligerent manner.

Flyers inviting us to a barbeque? Was that suppose to replace the C.U.P. hearing? Do they think we’re stupid this side of Lake?

If, as stated, “…closure is truly going to create a hardship…” the principal and school board should have considered this before placing their children in such a precarious situation- in a facility which they knowingly opened illegally.

Lastly, I’m offended by the principal’s reference to “teaching Christian values” and his insinuation that the mission of their school is morally superior to that of Bienvenidos, especially in light of their flagrant violation of the law.

I thing everyone should stop and think of putting themselves in their position. What if you had children and you came to find out that your school might possibly close down. would you not fight to keep your school alive. I think every one needs to take a vacation and stop complaining…or you should find another hobby besides complaining and writting letters.

Ok, Angela, first, our problem is not with the parents and the children, it’s with the school administration who are operating a school with legal permits in a place that clearly cannot accommodate a school of that size. That they are nevertheless proceeding to operate, flouting regulations and the concerns of the neighborhood is a primary reason we are complaining and writing letters. Your final sentence is both ill-informed and offensive…this is not a ‘hobby’, this is people with legitimate concerns about our neighborhood, and making our views known, not only here but to county government and to the school, whom I am sure read this. This is a primary route to make sure matters proceed as they should, and that our friends and neighbors are informed and have a voice in what happens. I hope next time you devote more thought and less disdain to your letter.