AT A moment far too early in the day to be convenient for attendance by employed voters in Hayward Unified School District, the proponents of the schools' master plan went into self-described "round two" of public discussion dealing with the need to consolidate schools. The consolidation will occur with or without the passage of the bond issue as proposed.

I am fully aware that the physical conditions found at many schools require our attention and would, in good conscience, recommend to any who ask that they vote yes for bond issuance.

What I am really alarmed about is the matter of student absenteeism, which, if my math is anywhere near being correct, reflects major annual loss.

Nearly $30 per day is paid by the state of California for each student in attendance on a daily basis. It is commonly referred to as ADA money. On each daily absence, $30 is withheld by the state.

At the meeting held at Mt. Eden High School on April 24, I learned that on any given school day, 7percent of HUSD high school students are absent, 5.5 percent of middle school students are absent and 3.7 percent of elementary school students (K-6) are absent.

Would someone please advise how this community is unable to require parents to deal with the value of their children's attendance at school at every moment of all possible days in a school year? I view the reported rates of absenteeism as being outrageous.

I estimate the annual loss to be in excess of $5million! I want to hear an explanation of how that is possible without suspecting parental negligence. What solutions are we able to craft in response to the problem?

John W. Kyle

Hayward

New residents should

acknowledge older communities

IF YOU can print one more letter about the flap over Five Canyons people not wanting to be associated with the older neighborhood into which their development was placed (as Laura Comstock noted, not without a fight!), here is my two cents: It is justification for one of the arguments used against building this huge development in our hills, and it just underscores more problems to come as more and more big, expensive homes are built, many in "gated communities" that close themselves off from the neighborhoods into which they are inserted.

The residents send their children to private schools, refuse to support taxes to improve neighborhood parks and other amenities, and generally do not act as if they are part of a larger community. For example, the residents of Blackstone (a group of custom homes built along Fairview Avenue) object to having people ride horses through their neighborhood, even though an equestrian trail begins at the end of Blackstone Court.

Those of us who have lived in this diverse community for many years and had to put up with the noise and mess of the construction of their lovely homes can't help but feel some resentment toward their elitist attitudes.

JoEllen Rice

Hayward

Let's put the squeeze

on oil companies

JUST STAY home -- don't go anywhere for just three or four weekends. Only police, fire and medical personnel on duty. These six or eight days would back the oil tankers all the way back from where they came -- and down will come gas prices.