Collins is also aware of the importance of backing up his promises with actions. Hopes are high that he can regain our trust and unite us in support of his plan to get Proposition H back on track. The superintendent is a respected professional in education, and he deserves praise as he meets our expectations.

Previous district administrations demonstrated lackluster professionalism. They mishandled important district business, planned poorly and then failed at their attempt to self-manage the Proposition H modernization projects.

In the past, transparency as a policy was questionable at GUHSD. Prior to Collins' arrival, backpedaling on words, resolutions and promises too often was the norm. We expect these undesirable management practices to end under the present administration.

Our trust can be regained only by the district – both staff and policy-makers – acting honorably as it corrects its past mistakes, including the Proposition H program mishandling. The current governing board and Superintendent Collins have begun this process.

We must scrutinize this administration's every word, and critique every governing board decision regarding Proposition H and its listed projects in the coming months.

In putting the past behind and tackling the future, we must place our hope for the future with the current administration. Collins wants to re-establish trust at GUHSD. He also wants our support for his soon to be released update of the district's Long Range Facilities Master Plan as well as a strategic plan that he has just introduced.

Collins has begun a two-way dialogue within this district that is unprecedented in the past several administrations. He is encouraging team collaboration with the principals at each high school.

He is talking with the various education departments within each school, with the members of the Bond Advisory Commission, with the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, with the parents and teachers independently, and with their associations.

He has promised a streamlined flow of information to all concerning Proposition H, the budget and the district's strategic planning process. The district's Web site is presenting far more information for us to view than previously provided.

A districtwide demographic study with a longer perspective has been ordered, and the Long Range Facilities Master Plan is undergoing its first comprehensive revision since 2003.

I echo the governing board in openly praising Collins' actions to date, and thank him for his commitment to education. East County is anxiously waiting as he develops his plan to complete all of the Proposition H projects. We also want to support his much-anticipated plans for district-wide facility upgrades, beyond what Proposition H originally envisioned.

Bill Weaver, 
Alpine Resident & Parent