LETTERS COUNCILMAN MAKES LETHARGIC LEADER.

Lancaster Councilman Jim Jeffra's opening campaign remarks indicate a councilman who is out of touch with taxpayers. Speaking of the $25 parcel tax, Jeffra states: If the initiative doesn't get the two-thirds approval it needs to pass, the city would find another way to pay for the deputies.

Why not institute alternative funding measures first? Turning to the city's residents should be last on a long list of options. This is the kind of tax-and-spend mentality residents of Lancaster can do without.

On retail sales, the hot button for many residents, Jeffra emphasizes patience: Antelope Valley Mall is getting exhausted and that retail will start moving north toward Lancaster. Residents have been patient and have listened to promises, and what has that gotten us? Nothing!

Waiting for the overflow ``once AV Mall is exhausted'' is not the kind of aggressive leadership Lancaster deserves. It represents the kind of indolent, lethargic, lackluster performance that has so adversely affected retail procurement and development.

Jeffra referred to city planning as ``more than throwing hot air out,'' and yet for eight years ``hot air'' is all we've received in return. Jeffra has talked the talk, but hasn't demonstrated the ability to walk the walk.

Darwin M. Ochs

Lancaster

Contract benefits teachers, district

Reading the Rosamond teachers union comments about the approved three-year contract with Southern Kern Unified School District would lead one to believe that either nothing was accomplished or our teachers got shafted and will be back for another round starting in February.

Sadly, giving a false impression, or posturing, seems to be the norm these days.

But the truth is, because the rank and file, including the teachers in our school district, worked so hard at doing more with less this past year, the contract offered a number of good things for teachers while helping the district at the same time.

First, and foremost, is the opportunity to increase the annual salary $6,000 this year, next year, and beyond, for middle school and high school teachers. How? By teaching an extra class.

This gives teachers nearing retirement a chance to increase their base salary by $6,000, which pays dividends in retirement.

New teachers can substantially augment their income. At the same time, the district saves money by not having to hire a new teacher and pay benefits.

According to our accountants, the Southern Kern Unified School District was one of a few districts that were able to remain fiscally sound even after the state's budget failed and deeper cuts were required. It appears the district will again be able to keep class-size reduction for kindergarten through third grade in place. In addition, for grades four through 12, the district was able to keep the agreed class size at 31. This means if class sizes go larger than 31, the teachers will be compensated for their additional hard work.

Our schools continue to excel. All five schools in our district (Rosamond High, Rare Earth High, Tropico Middle, and Rosamond and Hamilton Elementary) exceeded their API goals this past year.

There is an ``employer's market'' (kind of like a ``buyer's market'' in real estate - so many homes for so little money) because of teacher layoffs in other districts. However, our district strives to do the most we can within our budget so that our students continue to learn from the best teachers.

Olaf Landsgaard

Trustee, Southern Kern Unified School District