With more than 16 years of employment with the San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) I became familiar with its practices, professional outlooks, and pernicious policies. I try to keep abreast of what is going on at the schools after retirement, and I recently discovered an enormous 20-yard dumpster full of new and slightly used office chairs.
This shouldn’t surprise me. Over my tenure, I was told to throw out hundreds of thousands of dollars in classroom equipment, decades of sports memorabilia, yearbooks, school history, and if I didn’t do it someone else would. If the public knew how much bought and paid for by our tax dollars was sent to rot in landfills, it might give pause.
How much could still be used, or connection to our history is now lost? It gives one pause as we consider the nearly half-billion-dollar bond for elementary schools. We will purchase more things and throw out perfectly good equipment and materials. No one will bat an eye.
I cannot fault the employees just “following orders.” I just shake my head to believe I was once one of them and that no one can find a better solution. Shame on you SLCUSD.
William Johnston
San Luis Obispo
This article appears in Volunteers 2024.
So why didn’t you bring it to the school board when you were there?
William here. I was afraid of reprisals and wish I did in retrospect. Custodians are discouraged by superiors from voicing to the board or even other staff. My hope is some will read this and do the right thing or the board will find a way to.
William here. I wish I did in retrospect but was afraid of reprisal. As a custodian I was discouraged from voicing my opinion by certain superiors. My hope is others will read this or the board will and will do the right thing.
Sorry for the double post there, was trying to correct the way I wanted to word my answer.