I am the PTSA president at Alameda High School. I have been involved with PTA for 12 years. I was born and raised here in Alameda, enjoying my educational years at the West End of the Island. My high school years at Encinal High were especially wonderful and I have only the fondest memories of amazing teachers and programs that I was lucky enough to enjoy there.

I have one thing to say to those that continually attempt to divide our community, pitting the East and West ends against each other — stop it!

Once again the budget cuts laid before us are being showcased by some as an East vs. West issue by a very small group (thank goodness) of whiney, misinformed parents and community members. This is not an East vs. West issue at all. Snap out of it, folks; we're all in this together.

As our students filed up to the podium at the meeting I felt so proud. They are the reason I do what I do year after year. I admired they way they spoke out on behalf of music, athletics and education and their eloquence makes me believe that everything is going to be OK. Our kids have their heads on straight. They know what's important. They took their three-minute allotment of time and expressed to the school board that these programs on the cutting board are critical to kids — not just some kids — all kids.

As the whining from the divisive faction came to a pitch I heard one elderly community member allude to past and current cuts hitting only the West End. (She was) misinformed at the highest level. The last budget slashing that occurred was a direct hit at Alameda High, eliminating a head counselor's position, coaches' stipends, a dramatic reduction of our book room clerk, career counselor and support staff hours. You need to do your homework and stop with the negative rhetoric. This time around Alameda High School will enjoy additional cuts such as athletic programs, class-size reduction at the ninth-grade level and closure of an important on-campus facility.

I think the most eloquent speaker of the evening was Encinal High School's student body president. He rose to speak on behalf of students at both high schools, asking only that when changes come down the pike that they be kept informed. It is especially insulting to our youth when they are left out of the loop on issues that directly affect them.

There are many incorrect perceptions about Alameda High School floating around out there. Those that keep these misperceptions alive are ignorant. Alameda High School has approximately 1,950 students crowded onto a relatively small campus. We enjoy a diverse population of students; many of our Asian students are first-generation Americans and they struggle with issues we know nothing about. The crossover between cultures is not always easy for these kids. Many of our parents struggle with language barriers and all want the American Dream for their kids.

Our aged school site, although spiffed up with Measure C monies, leaves much to be desired. We have 600 aging computers on our campus; 200 of those are at the end of their lifespan and there is no money anywhere to replace them. Our sports facilities are lacking; our gym is adequate, but Thompson Field is nothing but a mud pit. The pool needs major work. With the dedication and hard work of parent volunteers the tennis courts, which were a true embarrassment, were re-surfaced. I can only imagine what visiting schools must think. Alameda High teachers grapple with the same issues that Encinal teachers are experiencing. As a PTSA president I am very conscious of how much money our teachers spend out of their own pockets. It's a crying shame.

And, by the way, there are no money trees growing in the backyards of citizens in the East End. Money is tight everywhere. We are all working hard to provide for our kids. Kofman Auditorium and the Little Theatre, by the way, were built in the early 1900s and are available for use by the community at large. Just file a use permit and follow the procedures like everybody else is required to do.

Stop your whining and let's pull up our collective bootstraps and get going. We're a community joined together by our kids. I say we follow their lead and take the high road toward successful solutions to our existing challenges.