Support for Measure E and Community Input

By Roy Tolles

I support Measure E as long as we maintain full community input, technical excellence and a maximum of fiscal responsibility. Letter printed in Piedmont Post Feb. 15, 2005.

I want to commend the School Board for the announcement at their last meeting on February 8th that defines a public input process for comments and review after a successful Measure E vote. I strongly applaud these efforts as it provides the community a future road map, assures that the process will be discussed and debated publicly and that the community opinions will be considered directly by the School Board.

My letter to the editor last week was an anxious plea because of my concern about moving our Havens children into portable buildings without adequate discussion. The School Board also informed us that the decision-making on this issue would be tabled until the community meetings had taken place.

I strongly hope that we, the Piedmont community, can now move forward towards resolving our schools' seismic problems. Passage of Measure E is the first step in this process. There is a REAL need to address the hazards that exist in our schools; hazards that ALL the experts agree are much higher than acceptable. Our children's safety and security is at stake. Let's support Measure E with the resolve to maintain the highest level of community input, technical diligence and fiscal responsibility. This will help to ensure that we arrive at the best decisions and with the full support of our community.

Sincerely, E. Leroy "Roy" Tolles, P.E., Ph.D.