Letter to the Editor: Board of Education

by Wendy Myers
February 6, 2010

The Board of Education recently interviewed nine brave individuals for open positions. Thank you to Mary Ann Chamberlain, Ron Feathers, Toni Henry, John Lehman, Eric Pickrell, Lhan Weppler and Randy Wilson for your interest and willingness to serve.

We are happy that Don Atkins and Bill Hutchinson will join our ranks. We know they will bring forth energy and ideas to help our schools.

We have some tough times ahead—we are looking at serious financial deficits. There is no fat in our budget—instead, there is a short list of things that actually can be cut, and I would consider most of these not in the best interests of children. I know that all parents in this community want their children to have more options and offerings, not fewer.

With this in mind, it is very possible we will ask the community for more money. And it is too depressing to ask for only enough money to keep from making further cuts. Instead, we want to think more positively and develop a list of “Adds”. When we come back to the community for money, we want to ADD to our children’s education.
This is not to say that there will be no cuts. The Board will be meeting with administration, teachers and staff to analyze finances. We also want the community to consider options. But more importantly, we want you to talk to your neighbors and friends and help us develop a plan that ADDS back to our school. When we go on the ballot for money, we want everyone fully invested in what we are trying to do. You may provide us with your list of Adds by email, regular mail, or by attending a meeting on the fourth Monday of the month, the regular time set aside for board business.

This brings me to my second point:
When Greg, Karen and I interviewed candidates, the same point came up again and again. We asked everyone what serious obstacles the district faced, and besides money woes, everyone cited lack of community support. I know that times are tough. But the schools should be our shining star—this is our future. Our children need to know that they come first. If we demand excellence, we will get it. If we point fingers, complain incessantly and take glee in failure, our children will be mediocre and set up for failure themselves. Some students will escape to college, and knowing that their community doesn’t support children, will not be inclined to come back and raise families.

It is time to shift gears and become positive. I would like to walk in a room and not hear people complaining about a coach or teacher or lost game. Instead, I would like to hear people talking about great things happening here. Because for every bad thing you see, I can guarantee there are a hundred more positive ones. My daughter’s fifth grade teacher stays after school every day, helping kids with math. We have parents who volunteer hundreds of hours. We have cool programs in the middle school and high school, with Model UN, Gateway to Technology, and Project Lead the Way.
We can continue down a road of making cuts and making do. But that isn’t going to help our future and best educate our kids. Come to our meetings, get involved, and most importantly, start talking up the school to everyone. The past is the past—we have five people sitting here who are committed to this process and need to move forward fast. Please support this Board and help us make our schools shine.

Wendy Myers, Marietta OH