At the town hall meeting discussing the Sagebrush transfer issue, representatives from the La Cañada and Glendale school districts stated that Sagebrush kids and parents should always feel “welcomed” or “invited” to participate in either community’s activities. Community leaders from both LCF and Glendale have repeatedly echoed these same sentiments to Sagebrush families. As comforting as some make think that sounds, as a parent of two young kids and taxpayer living in the Sagebrush area of La Cañada Flintridge, it doesn’t sound so good to me.
When you are invited or welcomed to join a group or community, it simply means that you currently lack ownership or a sense of belonging. As an LCF family, we should never feel that we lack ownership or a sense of belonging to our community, La Cañada Flintridge. But the current policy that requires families living in LCF to attend Glendale schools creates such feelings. It seems both LCF and Glendale always feel the need to extend invitations to Sagebrush families because both parties recognize the current policy is flawed. As communities, we can debate who may be harmed if the policy is changed. But, not up for debate is who is currently harmed — families residing in the Sagebrush area.
