Grand Terrace High School

Robbing Grand Terrace

For many years the city of Grand Terrace has asked for its own high school. Now we are about to have one. It will be rallying point for community pride and city representation throughout the Inland Empire.

What better name for that school than Grand Terrace High School? But against the wishes of the city residents, who asked for that name, the Colton Joint Unified School District board voted to name the school after Ray Abril Jr., a former board member.

This is a direct slap in the face to the city of Grand Terrace.

Do not the cities of Colton, Bloomington, Rialto, Fontana, San Bernardino, Redlands, Riverside, Moreno Valley, Beaumont, Banning, Corona, and many others, all have high schools named in their honor? Why is Grand Terrace not given that sense of pride and community unity? That opportunity?

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Mr. Abril. I don't know him, and neither do most of the students who will attend the new high school. If he deserves to be honored, then name a building on campus after him, or the football field, or the gymnasium. But the school should be Grand Terrace High School, named after the city I've lived in for 23 years.

Don't rob Grand Terrace of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

BILL NORMAN
Grand Terrace