School District Trustee Area Plan Good News/Bad News

Great News- After months of meetings, effort and public imput last evening  the San Diego County Board of Education (SDCOE) voted to move forward to the State the plan to designate Trustee Areas within the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD).   The demographer's plan #5 will be heard by the State Board of Education who will take action on it in May.  
That is the last hurdle to cross in getting this long awaited change for the South Bay communities.  People for many years have waited to make this change and it means that we will finally have a representative on the SUHSD Board of Trustees that understands our community and it's needs, because the person will have to reside within the area designated in order to run for a seat!  What a concept!  Now a person that speaks for the schools in our community will actually live among us, not on the other side of Chula Vista!  Access to a board member who understands our needs will happen unless for some reason the State does not approve this change as submitted by the SDCOE.
Yes, people of the South Bay have for many years tried to get this change through but efforts were thwarted by the incumbent board members that live in the area of Bonita/Eastlake - far far from the realities of our communities.  Who has even seen one of them at our schools?  Not any of the times I can remember and I've been involved in schools in our community - 25 plus years.
Bad News - there is a risk that this WILL NOT BE APPROVED by the State to be  in effect for the November 2014 where at least three seats will be up for election.  Not pass?  Yes. and it's because the Mayor of Imperial Beach has been quoted* as saying he will go to the State to testify in May against this action!  Can you believe that?  A Mayor will not support it?  What's wrong with this picture?  Has he even stepped foot in our schools?  Spoken to the teachers?  The parents?  Those in our community who understand the politics of Ed Brand, Jim Cartmill and those who have manuvered to shut out the southwest communities from viable change by leaving our schools in a state of disrepair?  Yes, stop by the school and see what is really going on.
Speak up Imperial Beachians!  Pick up your phones and call the mayor's office and let him know that you support this change - and that you will not support him speaking against it!  Thank you.     
*the mayor of National City in public meeting held by SDCOE Board on March 27, 2014.