Tracy Press

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written by Jill Costa , May 03, 2008

Mr. Jess makes a completely false statement about the amount of money being spent on the two high schools in town. It is comments like this that lead people to believe untruths. Educate yourselves. The lions share of the Measure E money is being spent at Tracy High School. The completion of the West High Sports complex (stadium, football field, track and pool) and the theater are being done because they have never had these facilities at West.

If you want to know the truth about what is being spent and where, go to the School Board meetings and the Measure E. Oversight Committee meetings.

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written by B-dub , May 03, 2008

His statements may be completely false but it's the way people think of the situation. And he's got a good point about West High being down the street from the TUSD offices. Measure E would not have passed with the residents of west Tracy if West High were not included in the measure because residents on the west side of town would not have supported a Tracy High only measure. That's what most of us think and it's pretty darn close to truth.

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written by Shelly2 , May 03, 2008

The Tracy Press should publish this type of info about Measure E so everyone is equipped with the facts. From what I have heard according to the finance department, in the end West will have gotten more money Not that it should matter as long as everyone gets what they needed. So far West has gone through about $50 million for the phase 1 and THS about $12-16 million. That is just what I have heard - it should be public record. Hey Tracy Press, can you get that info for us, please???

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written by TRAQC suks , May 03, 2008

Maybe they can use some of Garymanders smart-er growth???

LOL!!!

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written by Ignorance Is Bliss , May 05, 2008

Earl Jess,

If you have the ability to type then you have the ability to read and research. Know your issue before you speak. WHS has been incomplete since its opening and THS has had to share it stadium that whole time. Be thankful that THS does not have to share anymore. THS athletic facilities are just fine and will be in better condition now that they don't have to share.

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written by notnice , May 05, 2008

To "Ignorance Is Bliss"

What "issue" are you talking about? The issue where THS has been falling apart for years and the school board turns a deaf ear? The issue that Measure E would not have passed voters if West High was not included to have a stadium or pool? The issue where the school board was once "housed" in the condemned part of THS but had the Taj Mahal built on Lowell because they wanted a new building and something safe? The issue that even after the school board left there were still students being taught in that condemned building?

I don't think Mr. Jess is referring to the sports field when he penned the above. He's taking about THS's athletic department facilities as a whole. Take a stroll through the locker rooms and bathrooms. They don't look anything like the bathrooms at the district office. Sure, THS is being repaired but how long did it take to get voters to approve this rebuild?

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written by oh get over yourself , May 05, 2008

wow sometimes people just dont open their eyes. Before you wrote this letter do you know where the TUSD offices were? Do you know where 80% of the votes come from based on where funds should go? Do you really think that people who moved into the west side of town and therefore were going to attend whs would vote for something that would only improve a school that had been around for ages yet do nothing for the school where their own child would attend leaving it with only classrooms and not being completed? For years, and it still happens today, this town has been all about THS and forget about WHS, blaming all the teen issues on the students who attend there. its about time whs gets some money to finish building, they can finally have a stadium and pool of their own so that when they hang those championship banners they can say they did it on their own fields an pool.
Whatever ol school Tracy ppl only think of Tracy and forget about the rest of us. I wonder what they will do when kimball opens in another year

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written by Ignorance Is Bliss , May 06, 2008

notnice,

The last time I was at La Costa I remember seeing a nice new building being erected across the street. Please stay grounded and realize that THS is getting some new additions, also.

The only issue that Earl Jess could have been referring to is the Field and Pool addition to WHS. That is all that is near completion so, that is where his focus is being directed. Why else make the statement he "penned" above? If you truly think about it, why rehab a school when you have an incomplete school that originally was planned on being built in stages? The district failed to complete WHS before THS was nearly condemned and consequently was bailed out by the city. Don't frown on the West High attendance boundary because they helped pass Measure E and received a little sugar for their efforts.

Your team will get to play on the field this year against WHS and though I doubt it, may have a good experience. Be thankful that THS has their own field and they will never have to stand on the visitor side and take beaten by WHS anymore, they will just get accustomed to scratching their heads on the home side of the field.

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written by G. Silva , May 06, 2008

This issue is too important to allow the misinformation noted above to stand uncorrected. I was at the measure E meeting last night, and learned the following:

The bond measure allowed the selling of $51 million of bonds. When passed, it was expected we would receive $17 million of matching funds from the State. Largely through prudent oversight of how the $51 million in bond funds have been allocated, the school district has actually qualified for $38,409,627, which is over $21 million more that originally estimated. As a result, the total amount now available for the Measure E project list is $90,462,230. The total current and/or projected expenditures for the West High School stadium, pool, and theater are $16,113,080. The remaining $74,349,150 is allocated to the renovation and modernization of Tracy High School.

These are the facts. Clearly, Tracy High is receiving the vast majority of Measure E funds, which is as it should be. It is important to scrutinize any public project, but it is only fair to use the correct information.

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written by Michelle Trew , May 06, 2008

Again, it does not matter who gets what as long as everyone gets what they need. Of course THS is having a lot of construction done, as they are the older school with needed renovations. Common sense people. All we are trying to point out is that we fought long and hard to get this done and we were resisted for many reasons you have heard before. Again, the just of my letter was that it should not be a THS vs. WHS debate. Just give us what we voted for and move on people.

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written by K.D. , May 06, 2008

Wow, it took all of 3 seconds on Google to locate the information requested.

http://www.tracy.k12.ca.us/measuree.htm

Both schools are a work in progress. Have patience people- Rome wasn't built in a day.

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written by Michelle Trew , May 06, 2008

Thank you K.D. great site. I'm still not happy with the recent changes to the phases and my question is how did that come about and why? Now I want everyone to go to the site above in K.D.'s comment and look on page 4 for the money facts. Then review the entire document. All the projects to come from this look fabulous! Thank you to all the voters.

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written by Sports Fan , May 06, 2008

ignorance is bliss,

As Tracy's softball team where they practice. Tracy is not complete.

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written by Ignorance Is Bliss , May 09, 2008

Softball sucks...how much money do they generate for the athletic department.