Good neighbors

Dear Editor:As we look forward to our Facilities Master Planning process, safety and security needs are at the forefront. We recognize that without the support of our community, and especially those neighbors living close to our schools, vandalism to our facilities would have been greater. For that reason, we want to thank the community for keeping an eye on our schools after hours and for reporting suspicious activity to the Downey Police Department. We are fortunate to have neighbors who are willing to take action. In many communities, neighbors turn the other way, but our community is different. Our school neighbors have helped thwart would-be vandals and worked with the public agencies to keep our facilities protected for students to continue to get a top-notch education. Donald E. LaPlante William A. Gutierrez Tod M. Corrin D. Mark Morris Barbara R. Samperi Martha E. Sodetani Nancy A. Swenson John A. Garcia, Jr., Ph.D. Dr. John Garcia is superintendent of the Downey Unified School District while the other authors comprise the Downey board of education.

********** Published: Oct. 17, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 27