Opinion
You reported on April 22 that in the process of continuing contract discussions, Middletown teachers have decided to go ahead with a possible strike. This is important and relevant because it speaks to a larger, continuing dilemma in education, where dedicated, hardworking educators are frequently pushed to accomplish more with less and frequently go unappreciated. Something has seriously gone wrong when educators believe they have no other option than to go on strike.
I have personally witnessed the impacts of this while I was growing up in Lake County and now as a UC Berkeley student. In the Konocti Unified School District, where I went to school, I saw a concerning pattern of instructors arriving and disappearing. It always seemed that a brilliant instructor would quit because they were worn out, underpaid, or just couldn't afford to continue, just as a student would connect with them and succeed under their guidance. In retrospect, I strongly think that a similar collective movement at the time may have had better results, possibly even preventing some of those amazing educators from leaving the community.
What people don't realize is that when a teacher decides to leave, it has an impact on not only one classroom but also the school's overall atmosphere, student achievement, and the general well-being of the community. Teachers are essential to the future prosperity of the public, mental health support, and young development. We really cannot afford to lose them, or have them battle for recognition.
One thing that would genuinely make a difference is having a significant commitment to investing in teachers, not only financially but also through legislative reforms that emphasize education as the fundamental public benefit that it is. Before things become worse, Middletown teachers deserve to be valued, heard, and supported through more fair contracts for teachers.
Nishta Waland lives in Berkeley, Calif.
I have personally witnessed the impacts of this while I was growing up in Lake County and now as a UC Berkeley student. In the Konocti Unified School District, where I went to school, I saw a concerning pattern of instructors arriving and disappearing. It always seemed that a brilliant instructor would quit because they were worn out, underpaid, or just couldn't afford to continue, just as a student would connect with them and succeed under their guidance. In retrospect, I strongly think that a similar collective movement at the time may have had better results, possibly even preventing some of those amazing educators from leaving the community.
What people don't realize is that when a teacher decides to leave, it has an impact on not only one classroom but also the school's overall atmosphere, student achievement, and the general well-being of the community. Teachers are essential to the future prosperity of the public, mental health support, and young development. We really cannot afford to lose them, or have them battle for recognition.
One thing that would genuinely make a difference is having a significant commitment to investing in teachers, not only financially but also through legislative reforms that emphasize education as the fundamental public benefit that it is. Before things become worse, Middletown teachers deserve to be valued, heard, and supported through more fair contracts for teachers.
Nishta Waland lives in Berkeley, Calif.
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- Written by: Nishta Waland
Lake County’s Community Action Project, or LC CAP, wholeheartedly supports the Lake County Board of Supervisors’ decision to send letters to state and federal government agencies, urging a halt to PG&E’s attempt to decommission Scott Dam on Lake Pillsbury. This issue is far too significant to be decided without meaningful input from Lake County residents, yet our community has been sidelined from critical discussions about our own future.
This dam’s removal will profoundly and detrimentally affect our local economy, environment and public safety. Both Scott Dam and Lake Pillsbury are completely inside Lake County’s boundaries. Yet for years, PG&E, along with agencies and coalitions from outside of Lake County systematically failed to engage with the people who will bear the greatest burden of such an action and continue to trivialize the negative impact on Lake County. It is unacceptable that such a major action is being pushed forward without ensuring the residents of Lake County — those who live, work, and rely on Lake Pillsbury — have a real seat at the table.
Lake Pillsbury is not just a body of water; it is a vital resource for our region. Economically, the lake supports tourism, recreation, and local businesses, all of which depend on its existence. Without the lake, we risk devastating financial losses for small businesses and property owners who rely on its steady flow of visitors. The dam also plays a crucial role in wildfire mitigation, as it provides an essential water source for firefighting efforts in an area that has been repeatedly ravaged by wildfires.
The potential removal of Scott Dam without a clear plan to protect Lake County’s interests is reckless and irresponsible. That is why the Board of Supervisors is right to demand that the state and federal governments intervene. PG&E must not be allowed to move forward without a thorough, transparent process that genuinely includes local stakeholders.
Lake County deserves better. We deserve the right to be heard, to have our concerns addressed, and to ensure any decision about Scott Dam prioritizes the well-being of our community.
LC CAP urges all residents to stand with the Board of Supervisors in calling for a fair and inclusive process — one that recognizes the undeniable importance of Lake Pillsbury to our county’s economy and wildfire resilience.
Lake CAP Community Action Project Founding Members are Peter Luchetti, Angela Amaral, Jesse Cude, Holly Harris, Margaux Kambara, Tom Lajcik and Chuck Lamb.
This dam’s removal will profoundly and detrimentally affect our local economy, environment and public safety. Both Scott Dam and Lake Pillsbury are completely inside Lake County’s boundaries. Yet for years, PG&E, along with agencies and coalitions from outside of Lake County systematically failed to engage with the people who will bear the greatest burden of such an action and continue to trivialize the negative impact on Lake County. It is unacceptable that such a major action is being pushed forward without ensuring the residents of Lake County — those who live, work, and rely on Lake Pillsbury — have a real seat at the table.
Lake Pillsbury is not just a body of water; it is a vital resource for our region. Economically, the lake supports tourism, recreation, and local businesses, all of which depend on its existence. Without the lake, we risk devastating financial losses for small businesses and property owners who rely on its steady flow of visitors. The dam also plays a crucial role in wildfire mitigation, as it provides an essential water source for firefighting efforts in an area that has been repeatedly ravaged by wildfires.
The potential removal of Scott Dam without a clear plan to protect Lake County’s interests is reckless and irresponsible. That is why the Board of Supervisors is right to demand that the state and federal governments intervene. PG&E must not be allowed to move forward without a thorough, transparent process that genuinely includes local stakeholders.
Lake County deserves better. We deserve the right to be heard, to have our concerns addressed, and to ensure any decision about Scott Dam prioritizes the well-being of our community.
LC CAP urges all residents to stand with the Board of Supervisors in calling for a fair and inclusive process — one that recognizes the undeniable importance of Lake Pillsbury to our county’s economy and wildfire resilience.
Lake CAP Community Action Project Founding Members are Peter Luchetti, Angela Amaral, Jesse Cude, Holly Harris, Margaux Kambara, Tom Lajcik and Chuck Lamb.
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- Written by: Peter Luchetti, Angela Amaral, Jesse Cude, Holly Harris, Margaux Kambara, Tom Lajcik and Chuck Lamb
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