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Disappointed in school district’s response

Editor, Index-Tribune:

    

  What’s Halloween without a costume?

  This was one of the questions that ran through my mind last week as I waited at El Verano School for my 7-year-old son and my 6-year-old nephew to be dismissed from class. Their school was having a Halloween parade that day and I was there to help them change into their costumes.

  Yet the children were asked not to wear masks (which I agree interferes with their vision) or makeup. If you think about it, 90-percent of costumes include makeup. And it was 90-percent of my son’s costume, which I permitted him to wear anyway.

  After all Halloween is a day for the children, a time for them to have fun, laugh and dress up to the extent of their imaginations. Why take something we all loved as children away from them??

  So my mother and I found ourselves expressing just this thought to the school’s principal. We were shocked by her negative response and, offended by her actions, we made an appointment with the school district’s deputy superintendent. When we arrived at the appointment he stated his knowledge of the situation and, although he allowed us to offer our side of the story, I was appalled that there was no true attempt to resolve the issue or at least indicate he partly understood our feelings. His rudeness and sarcasm only added to our frustration.

  We’ve been residents of Sonoma for more than 30 years. This is the first negative experience we’ve encountered with any of the district’s schools. We stand by our schools. I too attended K-12 here. I firmly believe that our teachers are dedicated and the relationships they have with our children contribute greatly to their successful development. However unfortunate an event this was, I will not let it reflect the positive beliefs I have for the teachers.

  B. Griego

  Sonoma