BVN Opinion

***UPDATE BELOW****

This week board president Maria Velarde-Garcia called a special meeting for two items, new attorneys for the school district and an item approving training for the staff at Madera High School. The second item passed with very little fanfare, the first was proof that our current board president is in way over her head.

EDITORIAL - Yes the Madera Unified School District needs a third high school. There is no doubt that both MUSD high schools are facing overcrowding and deal with the problems that brings. The only thing in doubt is whether or not the voters can trust the MUSD board of "trustees" and district administration to actually do what they say they will and not come up with other uses for the bond money, then come back to the voters in two years and ask for another bond.

We've been here before. The district came to the voters and asked for money under a proposed general obligation bond for the Madera South High School but instead of completing the high school with the first bond, they build several elementary schools and half of a high school. Then came back and asked the voters to pass a second bond to complete the high school. And to build a pool.

EDITORIAL - Where does Madera Unified Trustee Lynn Cogdill really live? He and his wife own houses in both Madera and Bakersfield. His wife hasn't lived here in Madera for years and when Mr. Cogdill had his heart attack earlier this year he was treated at a Bakersfield hospital. His cell phone number is a Bakersfield phone number. The bank for his re-election campaign is Kern Schools Federal Credit Union in Bakersfield. In the last four years he has written editorials in the Bakersfield Californian Newspaper where he is credited with being a member of the Madera Unified School District's Board of Trustees but in the same story identified as a resident of Bakersfield. So where does Lynn Cogdill call 'home?'

EDITORIAL - Where does Madera Unified Trustee Lynn Cogdill really live? He and his wife own houses in both Madera and Bakersfield. His wife hasn't lived here in Madera for years and when Mr. Cogdill had his heart attack earlier this year he was treated at a Bakersfield hospital. His cell phone number is a Bakersfield phone number. The bank for his re-election campaign is Kern Schools Federal Credit Union in Bakersfield. In the last four years he has written editorials in the Bakersfield Californian Newspaper where he is credited with being a member of the Madera Unified School District's Board of Trustees but in the same story identified as a resident of Bakersfield. So where does Lynn Cogdill call 'home?'