Glad to hear it wrote on Aug 9, 2006 10:16 AM:My daughter starts at TVHS this year. I have talked to several people who attended the school and have heard really bad things about it. I got the impression that a lot of the cause was the age of the school and the set-up of the campus. It is nice to see that the administration recognizes this and putting some effort towards bringing it to the level of Chapparal and Great Oaks.

Rambo wrote on Aug 9, 2006 10:30 AM:Thank you Mrs. Tooker, Mr. Brown, Mr. Ray, Mr. Morris, Mr. Schaefer, Chris Cordner, Dickie Glock, and Jeff Okan for improving TVHS. With the teachers begging for all that money from you all, I am surprised there is any left over for are kids. But that just goes to show everyone that you guys know how to handle school finances even though those teachers complained aboout mismanagement of money. You all are my heroes and the kids thank you for it to. Keep up the good work, I made my fortune selling couches and arm chairs on the mean streets of Watts and Buffalo. I plan to help out the campaigns financially for the three gentlemen up for reelection. Let me know what else I can do. The teachers have deep pockets with there union and we must stop them from hurt ing are kids. rambo semper fi

Jay wrote on Aug 9, 2006 2:12 PM:I'd be curious to know how much the new sign out front costs? I bet it is $250,000.00 or more. If anyone knows please tell me in this bolg. Also I have to question how important it is to our children's basic education to have swimming pools, tennis courts and fancy theaters. I don't know how I managed to get an education in the 60's without a swimming pool or computer! We used to hold our public meetings and school plays in the gym. What a novel and inexpensive idea! When teachers, administrators, parents and politicians complain about the lack of "money" in education, remind them that they approved this wasted appropriation.

sick of Rambo wrote on Aug 9, 2006 2:43 PM:If Rambo really understood what really goes on behond the doors of the school board. These people only have a desire to improve this campus because it is a key election year for them. Glock, Cordner and Okan all are up for contract renewal. Rambo you need to go back to the ghettos and sell your goods. The cheap stuff for high prices I'm sure. The teachers cmplained about the facilities for years. The students and staff have had to do fundraising to keep things going the board must go. You must be Tookers husband or significant other you have sniffed her with every article that has been published. Just so you know the teachers are still not the best paid teachers in the area but they produce the students that score the highest test scores around. My daugther has recieved an excellent education from these teachers. Maybe it is time for you to talk with these teachers face to face. You would be surprised how dedicated they are. Their working conditions prove that. They have several times over the past several years worked without contracts. It is time to start working on the next contract we will see if the board really cares. I wonder if they will give themselves another raise and I wonder if they will continue to use Tookers consultation business? There have been people willing to consult for free but Tooker put and end to it so she could continue to make money off the district. Several issues ago you brought up Sue Wells program, you realize that is an evauation program. It educates Adminstrators on how to evaluate teachers. Get your facts straight.

To Jay wrote on Aug 9, 2006 3:21 PM:I agree with you that swimming pools and fancy theatres are not necessarily needed in a school, but you need to take a look at where you live. Temecula is made up of a majority of middle to upper class citizens that spend every penny and second they have focusing on their children. Without these amenities to provide the parents an idea that thier child may actually 'shine' while in High School, the parents would not be satisfied and cause a great deal of greif for the district until these ammenities were provided. It is sad what the schools are forced to do because of the naive ideas of the parents.

Jake wrote on Aug 9, 2006 3:30 PM:Hey Jay - Ever hear of the sports called "swimming" and "tennis" - they're played not only at the high school level, but also on the collegiate level. Same goes for what happens in those "fancy" theaters..they actually do teach theater arts and acting. I know they're a little far away from that antiquated but lovely phrase "the three R's", but that kinda went out with bomb shelters and Frankie Valli. And yeah, let's dump teaching on those expensive computers - just give them each some chalk and a mini blackboard. That will help them in their eventual professional lives ! Come on Jay - join us in 2006. Even with all these new fangled contraptions, the water's fine !

Jake wrote on Aug 9, 2006 7:37 PM:Jake: Believe it or not I was able to learn how to use a computer when they came in general use though I was well into my middle-age. I can even drive a car and learned to fly all without the help of the public schools AND on my own money. These kids can do the same. Actually the kids aren't being taught that much in the use of computers in school. Most learn at home though of course they need a few for those that don't have access. The real waste is that the computers are made available to all the employees for their own use. As I recall teachers used to keep their grade records and so forth in inexpensive note books. Seems like a viable alternative to an expensive electronic device thats barely used. I assume that most teachers have one at home and probably use that as much for their record keeping. As for tennis and swimming; I didn't know it was the role of our schools to teach these "subjects". I think you are the one that needs to "join us". Yes, they need a roof over their head, a white board and a good teacher. It would help if they would read some books too. I am told by an employee of that school that there are virtually none in their library. Perhaps you haven't noticed that the great minds of our time didn't have these fancy and expensive items. It has nothing to do with education. It's a pork barrel mentality. Another commentator above hit it right. It's the parents of that district (and by inference, others)that want that stuff. I feel bad for you that you think athletics is an avenue to a profession for the average student. Very few will go on to become pros. As for theater, I have worked in amateur and school theater for years. I think this money is best spent at the Jr. College level. If they would transform our high schools into leaner organizations more focused on the basics there might be enough left over to give everyone that wanted a low cost(or free) education right through the Jr. College level. I would support that and be happy that my tax dollars were being properly spent.

Jay wrote on Aug 10, 2006 1:30 AM:The comment attributed to "Jake" and dated Aug 9, 7:37 PM is a misprint. I wrote that.

Roby wrote on Aug 11, 2006 12:43 PM:Of course we need to upgrade this school. This district has already elected to delay the building of the 4th high school in French Valley due to a decline in growth. TVHS is ancient and many of the classrooms & facilities are health hazards to our children & our teachers. Have any of you been to this school or perhaps to a board meeting where teachers, parents & students have complained about the rat problems & mold in the classrooms? What bothers me is the delay in fixing these things. Painting over urine stains rather than replace tiles & airing out classrooms was NO fix. Our district administration either did not agree that there even were problems or would say they were doing all that they could. Why wait to do what they did regarding rodent abatement ONLY after SEVERAL years of complaints? Why delay on the capital improvements that were scheduled to be done & then delayed because there was supposedly no money? Isn't that why we have deferred maintenance and capital improvement funds? Where did that money go? We spent a ton of money on the new schools because we get money from the State & developers but fail to maintain the schools we have. One elementary school will sit vacant this year because we have in excess of 200 EMPTY classrooms in this district. Isn't there anyone else out there that thinks our board & admin. need a reality check & should perhaps adjust their priorities? It will be interesting to see how our new Superintendent will handle the needs of this district but what may be even more interesting will be to see how this community votes in November. If you're happy with what's been going on & how things have been handled here, you may want to back the three incumbents who will run to retain their positions. If you are not satisfied, I urge you to get to know the challenges who have stepped up in an attempt save our district.

The Rat Catchers wrote on Aug 21, 2006 11:44 PM:It is good news to hear that rat habbitat was mowed down in July. Why not sooner since rat urine, etc. is documented as being prsent in older classrooms for one fiscal school year? Why, if classrooms can't be cleared of rats in one year would you wait until last to build new classrooms? Student safety should be before a swimming pool with no swim team budget, etc. Safety first, then looks, Ken, Bob, Rick, Barb, and Stew.