Last week you published an editorial condemning the school board
recall attempt in the Aromas-San Juan school district, noting that
it was fueled by emotion rather than common sense.
You must have felt that your opinion was validated by the
vitriolic letters you received from recall proponents attacking you
for your editorial.
Dear Editor:
Last week you published an editorial condemning the school board recall attempt in the Aromas-San Juan school district, noting that it was fueled by emotion rather than common sense.
You must have felt that your opinion was validated by the vitriolic letters you received from recall proponents attacking you for your editorial.
These letters were full of misrepresentations and hyperbole. They typify the nasty rumor-mongering that “citizens for better schools” has been using to poison goodwill in our community.
Michelle Nobel McCain (an attorney, she wants us to know) makes two outrageous claims which must be corrected. She states that “the district and current board plans to give (trustee) Sylvia Rios-Metcalf lifetime medical benefits…This will cause the district to lose millions of dollars for an expense that is not benefiting our children.”
The fact is that school district policy and government code do not allow board members to receive paid benefits after their service. Such a plan would be against the law, and has never been discussed by the board (and “millions of dollars”? Please!)
This is an example of the kind of unfounded slurs that are being circulated in the community by the Aromas recall group.
Another “big lie” being propagated by McCain and her handful of friends is the assertion that ASJ schools are losing huge amounts of money because some local students choose to attend other school districts. They apparently oppose school choice.
They ignore the fact that all school districts have students coming from and going to private schools and neighboring school districts. The fact is that the district’s track record in relation to inter-district agreements is similar to other districts in the area, and that many parents are opting their children into our district’s schools.
It is unfortunate that our school district’s energies are being distracted by these false claims. I thank the editorial staff of the Free Lance for its attempt to provide reasoned coverage and opinion in our community.
Katy Stonebloom,
Aromas
