LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

School board could use a more inclusive approach

As a retired administrator and educator from District 51, I am highly familiar with the dedicated and hardworking staff we are privileged to have in D51. We are also very privileged to have a choice in the Nov. 4 D51 school board election.

While the current board has certainly been involved and supportive of the strategic plan which involved many stakeholders in the community along with teachers, parents, administrators and students, I am hesitant to attribute the recent successes of our schools to current board members solely.

Students, teachers, and the voters who approved funding to purchase evidence-based curriculums are the true stimulus for these improvements. In addition, district and school-based leadership have supported teachers and students in these achievements. In my observations, there are board members who have uncharacteristically micro-managed many aspects of crucial decision-making processes to fit their ideological world views rather than the needs of our students. In addition, they have refused to meet with teachers and administrators in the collective negotiations process for the past four years. This was never the case in the history of our district and truly impacts the trust of employees in D51.

We have an opportunity to elect candidates who have a more inclusive approach to working with families, teachers, and our community. Academic achievement is crucial for our students, but so is the social and emotional well-being of our students and our teachers. I have worked with Vicki Woods and Kaci Cole. I have met and listened to Mike Rathbone and heard his heartfelt and balanced approach to community concerns. These three candidates understand and embrace the need to recognize academic and social needs. They are willing to listen and seek solutions that honor the needs of our most vulnerable students whose needs may lie beyond the mainstream. They recognize the importance of community partnerships to accomplish meeting those needs.

Our district has been able to raise student achievement. Think how much more success we can find when we are fully addressing the needs of our families, our students and our staff by providing a board fully embracing the diversity of our community’s needs.

Voter turnout for school board elections are historically low. Please register and vote this November. You are eligible to vote for all three areas, C, D, and E, if you live in District 51. It truly matters for our kids and our teachers.

DEB BAILEY

Grand Junction