Dear ER: In the 1980s, Hermosa Beach schools had an enrollment crisis, similar to today’s declining enrollment (“Hermosa cuts six teachers, including sole physical education teacher,” ER Mar 4, 2021). The answer was to get rid of the district and be absorbed, as the stepchild, into the Manhattan School District. Aviation High School was already on the chopping block. A small group of parents fought hard to remain a self-controlled district, albeit, a much scaled down version. The plan was to retain much of the property, for our posterity, should future needs arise. We were assured, by all the experts, that this area was too expensive for families to live here. School Board member Mary Lou Weiss, saved the day. A deal was carved out to allow Hermosa students to elect which high school they preferred, Mira Costa in Manhattan or Redondo Union in Redondo Beach. The city received what is now the Community Center and other perks. The school district leased out North School to a day care center and several other uses. We became a lean machine. I was never in favor of borrowing over $60 million in bonds to build the monstrosity at the North School site, for approximately the same number of students we had in the ‘80s. Brick and mortar buildings don’t make our kids smarter; good teachers do. We can blame this disaster on the pandemic if you wish, or perhaps it’s just ego? Just be glad we didn’t go with Manhattan Beach.