Letters to the Editor: Newport-Mesa should speed up process to cool down classrooms

Re: “Commentary: Overheated and frustrated in Newport-Mesa schools”: The school district ought to speed up installing air conditioning in the remaining half of Newport-Mesa schools.

School days are a precious, nonrenewable commodity. A day lost to heat can’t be retrieved.

I attended schools in Portland, Ore., and Seattle, two cities in the Northwest not regarded in the 1940s and ’50s as having a hot climate. I vividly recall that the last couple of weeks of school in June were regularly so hot that I wilted.

I couldn’t concentrate. I would, instead, stare wistfully out the windows, longing to get outside where there might be a breeze.

My strong memories of lassitude to the ’nth degree tell me that I couldn’t have been learning much if that’s what I remember of the final days of each school year.

Fortunately for me, it was only a couple of weeks each year that were less productive. But N-MUSD students in schools without air conditioning must be missing out on many more days of quality instruction throughout the year.

While we have always seen many hot days in this Mediterranean climate, the coast seems to rapidly be growing warmer each year. I hope the school board can find a way to speed up getting air conditioning to all students, since the need is dire and is getting worse.

The trustees have already committed to air conditioning all schools, so that part is not an issue. Speeding it up seems to be the largest, albeit difficult, challenge.

Perhaps the number of wasted days has reached a critical level that would justify extraordinary financial wizardry to budget the money now, rather than later, when it’s fiscally easier. The many instruction days gained should be worth it.

Tom Egan

Costa Mesa

Sentence in car crash is inadequate

Re. “Column: Doctor’s sentence highlights legal system’s shortcomings”: Thank you for your timely and insightful commentary regarding the glaring inequality of sentencing for those with privilege and those without.

I bear no ill will against Dr. Robert Pettis, but there is no question that, due to his negligence, two innocent men died. I hardly think that a sentence of 240 hours of community service is just.

I’m sure he is incredibly remorseful, and one has to wonder what good it would do to put him in jail. But on the other hand, two lives were lost, and giving up one month’s worth of eight-hour work days as punishment is far less than a slap on the wrist. It is a slap in the face to the families of those who were killed.

I can only hope that Dr. Pettis faces a more harsh penalty next spring with the civil suit, and one that may bring the bereaved families some level of comfort.

Leslie Chew

Laguna Beach

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