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EDITOR:
I am the oldest of five siblings to be proud to call Ponderosa High School our alma mater. My family has been a part of the local community for 25 years, with my parents being actively involved in several schools in the district as we grew up and called the local community home. We grew up learning to speak our mind, stand by our beliefs and our faith, and stick up for our friends and “good people” in general. I have always been proud to say I hailed from Ponderosa, but recent events make me ashamed to do so.
It has come to my attention that recently a local company who contributes back to the local community and economy, Ammo Depot, has been mistreated by Ponderosa High School and the El Dorado Union High School District, my alma mater.
Ammo Depot recently paid to have an advertisement for their company placed on the Ponderosa High School football field scoreboard, and followed district and school policies in doing so. The advertisement was approved and a contract was made.
After the advertisement was displayed, the district and the school have covered up the advertisement. I am disappointed to hear this, as the education and guidance I received played a role in shaping me into the man I am today, and to hear that something such as what happened to Ammo Depot occurred under the shadow of the Ponderosa pine makes me wonder about the lesson current students will take from this situation, and how they will be shaped by such behavior by their mentors. .
Ammo Depot feels strongly about encouraging other family friendly activities in addition to the shooting sports. They contribute to the local Boy Scout troop, Union Mine Football, Ponderosa’s FFA program, as well as individual students through charitable contributions to programs such as Race Across America. The result of the treatment of them by the school and district could result in losing their support, which would be unfortunate indeed.
The signage that was displayed was paid for by Ammo Depot, designed with guidance from and approved by the school’s official booster, The Bruin Den as well as the district, and then after being installed, was covered up due to what I understand to be a result of a bias by a few administrators.
The advertisement is legal, does not violate any school or district policies, and yet it still was covered up without cause. Ammo Depot is now not only not getting the advertising that they paid for, but are actually seeing the effects of negative advertising as the impression of having the advertisement covered up is one of a vendor being in distress or unable to live up to their side of the contract they signed. The reality of course, is that the district and the school are the parties violating the terms of the contract as I understand it.
I urge Principal Garrett and the district to reconsider their decision and uncover the signage. In the event that simple request cannot be accommodated, they should allow Ammo Depot to redesign the sign, as they have graciously offered to do.
Barring that, as a last resort, Ammo Depot’s money should be returned, compensation for the expense of having the advertisement created provided, the signage completely removed, and an apology for approving an advertisement that is apparently not welcome issued. The school and district should be thankful that they have not been sued by Ammo Depot for breach of contract — yet.
PETER REILLY
Fresno
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
JillAugust 27, 2012 - 10:31 am
Well said Peter! As a parent of a current Ponderosa student I find this entire ordeal ridiculous. I feel the sign should be uncovered, and left as originally agreed upon. I can tell you that many parents and students alike find this just plain silly. Whomever started this entire debacle should find something better to do with their time.
Larry & Debi AndersonAugust 27, 2012 - 11:39 am
Thank you Peter for stating the views that so many of us have. We are both Alumni of Ponderosa Class of 1973 and have been embarrassed by these recent actions of the administrators. We sent off a letter to the Editor as well, however not nearly as eloquent as yours, requesting the resignation of the Vice Principal and Assistant Superintendant. These gentleman have no respect for our First or Second amendment rights.
HangstownAugust 27, 2012 - 2:11 pm
Why does someone from Fresno need to tell us what our local high school can or cannot do? Don't they have schools in Fresno to worry about?
Dave in KelseyAugust 27, 2012 - 2:27 pm
Troll
Ethan CavenderAugust 27, 2012 - 5:57 pm
I fully agree with you. I think that the school should either return the money to Ammo Depot or show the adversidemt. It doesn't seem like the school to do something like that, so there might be some sort of misunderstanding that nobody knows about. I do think it is wrong for the school to do that to Ammo Depot though.
PeterAugust 27, 2012 - 8:06 pm
Hangstown, I believe I clearly stated at the start of my letter why I feel I have the right to state my opinion on the current state of events at Ponderosa High School. Not only is it my alma mater, but my family still resides in the area, I have four brothers nd sister's who also attended, the youngest of which graduated in the past couple of years. Regardless of all of these things, the issue at hand is one of integrity, a universal moral code that we should all strive for, and a place that influenced my early years having apparently lost it. If you ever keep in touch with your roots, your eritage, nd try to help guide them back to the right path when they stray, well, my sympathies go out to you.
NancyAugust 28, 2012 - 12:11 am
Ponderosa, give Ammo Depot their money back.
AJAugust 28, 2012 - 10:45 am
The lesson being taught here is that the narrow minded views of a few select people are more important than any specific contractual obligations. It does not matter if the administrators disagree with the products being sold. If they have an issue, they should follow what I am sure is a very clearly laid out process to dispute whether a sponsor is "appropriate" or not, just as the sponsor had to go thorugh a very specfic process to be approved. By allowing this to happen, we only encourage closed mindedness, and reinforce that it's OK to suppress the opinions and activities of others when they are not in line with our own. Ammo Depot is a legal business selling legal items and training. If you choose not to be a customer, that's fine. But these select few administrators are violating a contract. Too bad most of the people in the area don't realize that the cost is on them and not the school, since the school doesn't have any money that didn't come from John and Jane Q. Taxpayer first.
Vince WardeAugust 29, 2012 - 11:31 am
This action by EDUHSD raises both 1st and 2nd Amendment issues. After the Heller & McDonald Supreme Court decisions, the right of law abiding adults to own and use firearms is now a civil right. Refusing this ad, while accepting others aimed at adults, is as much a civil rights violation as refusing an ad based upon the race, gender, or sexual orientation of the advertiser. Furthermore, a car dealership has purchased an ad on the other side of the sign - in spite of the fact that those under 18 are no permitted to buy automobiles. In addition, far more high school students die in auto accidents than are killed with firearms. Given that owning an automobile is not a constitutionally protected right and owning a firearm is, the district should reverse this decision at once.