From: Vickie Carr <vcarr_at_(domain_name_was_removed)>
Date: Fri Feb 23 2007 - 11:40:27 PST

All,

It has been brought to my attention that the decision to move Vanessa Carlisle from the Belle Haven Child Care program is apparently going to happen regardless of the feelings or the opinion of the parents and children who attend this program.

This whole situation is very disheartening to me.  Not only due to the fact that you are removing a very intricate and important person from the program, who has been a fixture for the past twenty plus years, you have the audacity to say that she does not have the credentials to continue working at the Belle Haven program but apparent she has enough to work at the MCC program.  Aren't both of the programs run by the city, and if so what is the difference in the two that requires certain credentials for one and not the other?  Check your records, because Vanessa has a B.A. degree, or does that not count for anything?

What I have gathered from this whole situation is this.  Regardless of what the parents of the children in the Belle Haven Child Care program say or do, you all will make this move without any regard for either.  I am aware that you all have been trying to shut down this program for years, as I have been fighting for years to keep it open.  I believe that this is your way of being able to do this.  You all know the loyalty that the parents and children have towards Vanessa, and you figure if you remove her, the children will stop coming, and that will be your excuse to close the program....low admissions.  It is not bad enough that you have cut the activities in the program to little to none, and that didn't stop us from coming, but now you are removing one of the only good things that the program has had in years, and that is Vanessa Carlisle.  

We know that the safety and happiness of our children, the children of East Menlo Park has never been a concern of yours, but they have always been a concern of Vanessa's, and she has fought very hard for our children, which is why we will fight very hard for her.  I believe you all want an Uncle Tom/Aunt Jemima running the program, that will not put up a fight and go along with your plans so that it will be easier for you to shut the program down without any complications. 

I guess providing our children with a safe place to go as well as providing them with decent programs to assist and aid them in their growth and development as healthy adults is not a concern of your, because it never has been in the past.  I suppose putting our children out on the street corners is not a concern of your either, as long as they are not hanging out on your street corners.

I would like to know that once you have moved Vanessa, because it is apparent that you all will move her regardless, will you make room in the MCC program for those of us who would like to move our children to that program with Vanessa, or is that not an option?

By no means do I expect any of you to answer or reply to any of my concerns, as you have yet to in the past, but I want you all to understand my feelings regarding this whole situation.  Although this may not seem important to you, it is very important to me as a parent and resident of East Menlo Park.

We the parents would just like all of you to understand this.  The fight is not over and we will continue to fight until we feel that our opinions are respected by the City of Menlo Park.

Regards,

Proud Parent of Belle Haven Community
Received on Fri Feb 23 11:42:05 2007