I read that Merced City Schools is going to spend $132,000 for growth planning information from some outfit outside the area (Nov. 16). Don't we have competent people in those areas that work daily on school sites and see what will be needed to get through another school year?

Don't we have people in the district that follow the Average Daily Attendance? They should know where the growth is headed and know where a school should be built. It never fails that the north and south sides are always put on the bottom of the list. Why is that?

Why do we spend money that is very hard to come by? Many of us worked very hard on a campaign for a long time to ensure there would be money for school districts to breathe a little easier and students could get the education they deserve. Thank you to the voters who believed education and police and fire are important.

Who knows what the future will bring us? Merced City Schools reached this point by making sensible choices. In the last four to five years education has been hit so hard when it came to the state budget. Why spend $132,000 now?

EDDIE PADILLA

(Bus driver) Merced City Schools, President CSEA Chapter #530

Merced