Cedar opening represents an 'historic occurrence'

May 12, 2008 - 3:52PM

By PETER DAY

Star Editor

Just days earlier, the school district celebrated the opening of Mission Crest Elementary. The previous week was the lively grand opening ceremony for Canyon Ridge, Hesperia's second alternative high school. And so on this day, Friday, May 9, district administrators and city dignitaries gathered to celebrate the third school grand opening in less than two weeks.

"This is a very historic occurrence for Hesperia," Robert Kirk, president of the Hesperia Unified School District board of education, said of the Cedar Middle School opening festivities. "This has never happened before in the history of Hesperia."

And at a cost of about $63 million for all three new schools, the school district made smart choices.

"What a tremendous investment," Kirk said. "It took support and leadership from the supintendent and his cabinet."

Cedar Middle School opened last August, which some people doubted could be done, principal Dave Olney said after the ceremony.

"But we were ready to go on the first day of school."

Olney credited the hard work of his staff, which he said is a close-knit team.

"They work so well together."

With the school year nearly over, Olney looks back with a strong sense of satisfaction.

"We had a great year," Olney said. "This is a community that if they're not happy with you you'll hear about it. So far, I haven't heard anything bad."

But more work is to be done. The gymnasium and cafeteria will soon open, and next year the school will have full computer labs.

"We all is said and done, not only we'll we have the best middle-school facility, but we'll have the best technology."

For the 2007-08 school year, Cedar Middle School had 550 students, all seventh-graders. Next year, the school will have both seventh- and eighth-graders, bringing the total student body to about 1,200.

"It's built for 1,700. We'll be in the unique situation of having room to grow."

The opening of Cedar Middle School enables HUSD to provide neighborhood schooling for a total of 3,500 middler-schoolers, according to superintendent Mark McKinney.

But the district has its sights on other opportunities to meet the growing demands.

"Hesperia is building schools as fast as it can for our children and our future," Kirk said.

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Reader's comments

whoever wants to take credit for the building so be it but a building is nothing without the people in it. ask donald trump and his bankrupt casino. dave olney is the right guy for the job and his school proves it. agree with the best - he is awesome, a true people person who cares and his history with the district has been nothing but great. So whoever built the school - woo for you - take the credit, whatever but dave IS the school.
its the people - May 17, 2008 07:41:11 PM	Remove Comment


This IS the construction company that this board selected on a 3 to 2 vote when they stopped a conflict of interest contract that the previous board awarded to a firm that a district employee was part owner and was married to the owner of the company. This saved the district almost a million dollars and avoided some lawsuits.
geez - May 17, 2008 06:28:49 AM	Remove Comment


I also find it amazing that this school wasn't even build using construction mgmt and Kirks friend. How did they ever do. Kirk praises and praises the school without realizing that a mile away the same company is building Oak Hills and making a lot of progress.
Good Job - May 16, 2008 12:20:45 PM	Remove Comment


LBO, I never said Kirk took the credit. What I didn't like is that it took the previous board, previous Super's and the cabinet. Really, McKinney did what? He's been Super how long? It was Olney, Landon, the previous board, and facilities that deserve a huge amount of credit. And again, I was there and those quotes were not the only words said by Kirk.
Good Job - May 16, 2008 12:18:32 PM	Remove Comment


"It took support and leadership from the supintendent and his cabinet." Direct quote from the article. Either the quote is wrong or Kirk gave credit to other individuals. "Hesperia is building schools as fast as it can for our children and our future" Another direct quote and he never said the words I or We to indicate he or they were taking sole credit. Certainly these magnanamous past board memebers and supervisors didn't do it for the 'credit' or the recognition.
LBO - May 15, 2008 01:29:17 PM	Remove Comment


Truth. Kirk stated that closing Cypress would not cause over crowding. What do you call having to put in portables in the back of Mission Crest this summer to accommodate the current 5th graders who would be leaving to go to Cypress but instead will remain at Mission Crest as 6th graders. I call it CAUSING over crowding. Cypress is done in three weeks at the end of the school year. You are right it is not CURRENTLY closed but it is on its death bed with the plug about to be closed. How is that hate speech.
Good Job - May 14, 2008 12:50:54 PM	Remove Comment


LBO I was at the ceremony and Kirk DID NOT thank the previous board and Sup. And I give credit to the District staff for keeping the project going, not the board who micro manages. Olney deserves a BUNCH of credit. I actually asked him to go after the Oak Hills job since he opened Cypress and Cedar.
Good Job - May 14, 2008 12:43:33 PM	Remove Comment


The day mr kirk thanks the previous board and the previous supers by name I will not think he wants the credit for himself. Do you think that will ever happen? Can you imagine that? Kirk says, I'd like to thank Mr. Bray and Hank Richardson as well as Jack Hamilton, Nellie Gogley, Bruce Minton, etc. for all the work they did to make sure Cedar Middle is a great school. When pigs fly.
Pablo - May 14, 2008 09:51:19 AM	Remove Comment


I don't see any attempt from Kirk to take credit for this accomplishment. By giving credit to the Supervisor and cabinet he, not only did the opposite, but left it open for anyone who has been part of the sup or cabinet to claim credit. However to say that the current board and supervisor and cabinet can't claim some measure of credit for keeping the project on track while starting other similar projects would be wrong.
LBO - May 14, 2008 08:23:38 AM	Remove Comment


Good job, Good Job! You are absolutely right. The three try to take credit for everything. Their egos are unbelievable! Amazed and truth have to be two of the three! They're the only ones that could be idiodic enough to think they should get credit for what the former board did!
JD - May 13, 2008 07:59:17 PM	Remove Comment


Sorry Buckley. Ever heard to the victor go the spoils? This board is working hard to get schools built and when they are completed they have the right to join in the celebration and take credit for these accomplishments.
geez - May 13, 2008 07:54:10 PM	Remove Comment


Would someone please tell Good Job that the sixth grade schools HAVE NOT CLOSED. So please explain how this can cause overcrowding? More of the hate speech that we don't need.
truth - May 13, 2008 07:42:56 PM	Remove Comment


The truth is neutral. The previous board did enact the process of this school. One should not take credit for others' success.
Buckley - May 13, 2008 05:13:07 PM	Remove Comment


Only in Hesperia would you see a negative blog like Good Job. At a time when we can all be celebrating and working together this person continues with the old whine! Move on!
amazed - May 13, 2008 12:04:15 PM	Remove Comment


Kirk is right, it did take leadership from the Sup and his cabinet. Unfortunately for Kirk, he failed to point out that the bulk of the work in getting the school built came from previous Sup's and the previous board. The only claim to fame this board can have is the closing of the 6th grade school to bring in their choice school to the tune of 6 plus million dollars. And by the way, even though Kirk said it wouldn't, it has caused over crowding at Mission Crest.
Good Job - May 13, 2008 09:57:03 AM	Remove Comment


dave is the best lucky you, Cedar Middle School and you have one of the best counselors in the world Miss Yadira she is AWESOME!
the best - May 12, 2008 08:31:11 PM	Remove Comment

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