I was recently asked to send letters to some people and organizations offering a King City resident’s point of view regarding the proposed separation of the South Monterey County Joint Union High School District, and in taking up the task what came to mind was a repeated phrase, cadenced like a military chant, which began in low voice getting louder with each repetition. Without sound, using font size to emphasize, it went like this:
“Thunder, thunder, thunderation. We are Greenfield Congregation. When we fight with desperation, we create a great sensation! Thunder, Thunder, Thunderation. We Are Greenfield Congregation. When We Fight With Desperation, We Create A Great Sensation! THUNDER, THUNDER, THUNDERATION. WE ARE GREENFIELD CONGREGATION. WHEN WE FIGHT WITH DESPERATION, WE CREATE A GREAT SENSATION!”
(This was one of two vocal expressions we filled buses with on field trips in my elementary school days. The other was the universally popular “100 bottles of beer on the wall, 100 bottles of beer. Take one down, pass it around; 99 bottles of beer on the wall. 99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles …” and on until the wall was empty. As I think about this particular vocal expression now, I wonder why no parent ever approached the school district about the appropriateness of minors singing about passing around bottles of beer. But I digress.)
We were Vikings back then (changed to Grizzlies in the early 1990s) and we were proud of our school and our sports teams. And so were the students in Gonzales, Soledad, King City and St. John’s. Until the advent of two new high schools, graduating eighth graders from Soledad went north to Gonzales High and Greenfield grads went south to King City High, where one-time rivals, at least on sporting fields and courts, came together, found mutual respect and formed what would in many cases become lifelong friendships and associations. It wasn’t long before we became loyal to a school, to a class. We were Mustangs and we were proud of it then and proud of it now. Some of us were lucky enough to be members of the Class of 1970; universally regarded as the greatest class to ever pass through the hallowed halls of King City Joint Union High School (see how we are!).
When the populations of the Valley towns increased during the ’70s and ’80s, the need, and desire, for both Soledad and Greenfield came to the social forefront and discussions and meetings took place. I cannot speak at all about how this played out in Soledad, I do not know today if that city’s new high school started as an independent district or was and still is part of Gonzales district. But I do recall conversations and the one big meeting where the superintendent from King City heard the public’s opinions on the subject.
Held in the Memorial Hall one evening, the seats filled with a cross section of citizens with only one person, a member of the school board, not in favor of an independent high school district. When discussing the availability of classes that person got the loudest jeers of the night, and there were a few, when they suggested all students could be accommodated by busing Greenfield students to and from King City. That was just one issue where the residents made their feelings known to the superintendent that by the end of the evening it was clear no matter how difficult the path to Greenfield autonomy, it would be the best choice in the long run. It seemed to me at the time all the complexities of such a choice paled when pride of school was factored into the equation. I believe that today.
I am not privy to all of the financial and academic machinations involved in this movement toward separation, but I understand what it means to belong to one’s own school and class, as foolish as that sometimes is. How many remember claiming their class was the best (I signed many a yearbook with ’70 Rules) all the while knowing we really ruled no more or less that the years before or after us; nonetheless we had that sense of togetherness that made us seem invincible. I know this sense of belonging is strong because way back when Greenfield High School was established, the kids going to KCHS, the Mustangs, were allowed to continue there until graduation; such was school and class loyalty.
I’m not sure what value the opinion of a Greenfield-raised septuagenarian has regarding this issue, but now as a resident of King City and a graduate of KCHS, I do realize my alma mater may take a few hits if this separation comes to pass, most acutely in the loss of average daily attendance funds, but I am confident the city and school can overcome these situations. My confidence is rooted in the knowledge that King City first established a public school in 1887, the present location established in 1913, and any district so established is not likely to fall apart when confronted by the change that is proposed.
The Mustangs will survive and re-group, the Bruins will struggle for a while but will ultimately overcome, and both will have what we all desire; pride in our schools and our communities.
I realize the above offering does not address the nuts and bolts of the issues that will face Greenfield, things like possible position eliminations, another board of trustees to be established, a separate scholarship foundation needed; and for both districts the neverending efforts to financially support not just STEM academics but also fine arts and sports programs, and myriad other considerations most of us common folk have no idea of. But it would seem that now is the time for this separation, the momentum is there and the expertise of teachers and administrators and the citizenry of both cities is enough to make it happen, and happen successfully. After all, it is all about the students and the future.
Take care. Peace.
King City and Greenfield columnist Steve Wilson may be reached at sc**********@***oo.com.
