To the editor:
As an educator who taught for 32 years, I know we have an important school board election on November 7.
After attending many school board meetings, I have become appalled by the obvious attempts made by a few of the newly elected members to create chaos rather than do the important work they were elected to do. This chaos has led to wasted time and money. In fact, our district has paid for the attorney to be at several of the meetings to provide clarification for disagreements between board members. This recent movement is getting in the way of the true work of the board. We need a school board that will focus on students, not personal agendas.
When our district receives a data request, they are required by law to fulfill the request by a specific deadline. Prior to 2021, our district typically received 4-5 data requests per year. The requests were logical and easy to fulfill. For example, local unions requested compensation information to use in negotiating a new contract.
In 2021 and 2022, there were a total of 65 requests—including requests from school board members and their friends. Not only were there 600% more requests, but several were time-consuming and expensive. For example, someone requested all recorded information that ISD 200 has—including paper, email, texts, flash drives, CDs, and DVDs of all communication between all the school board members—over a two-month time frame. These exorbitant requests cost our district thousands of dollars in hours and lawyer fees and are clearly a distraction meant to damage our public schools.
Please vote for trusted advocates who will work together to stop the chaos and continue providing amazing opportunities for our students. Vote for Matt Bruns, Matt Seeger, Mariah Ring, and Brandy Wentzler.
Thank you,
Lin Warren