Letter: Lists ideas for School Board

Dear Editor,

With election fatigue abating, I wearily eyed the announcement of another School Board election coming up on the calendar. Just what do we want from the Hudson School Board that we are not getting yet?

How about a School Board that is responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students and the community? A board that encourages open dialog? Is it not ridiculous citizens must wait hours to speak before those that were elected to represent them?

A board member should be a trustee of the community, someone who is accessible. If our schools are truly here to serve the educational needs of all the children, then all stakeholders must be willing partners in this endeavor if we are to be successful.

We need to fight for choice in education and let parents decide what education is right for their children. It is time schools fight for tax vouchers for our children to go where their parents decide. That is how a free market might work.

It is time for change in our community’s way of thinking. Many believe we have institutionalized mediocrity for education in our nation and are not preparing our children for a promising future. How can the board combat such a belief?

By fighting for choice in education. By allowing parents to vote with their vouchers, the board will get the feedback they need to make our public schools’ outcomes better. The schools should want the competition as a catalyst for betterment. If our schools are the best with the resources provided, what is there to fear?

The board must be fiscally responsible to the community. I applaud the recent announcement to put off discussions for more referendums for more money to build more schools. Perhaps it is time the School Board looks at actually reducing the amount they spend on our behalf every year. Is it not time to lower our tax levy? We are taxing many of our property owners out of their homes. When will it stop? When is it enough?

Education takes place in the classroom, and the board’s efforts must focus on enhancing and enriching what goes on there while being fiscally responsible. The board has a responsibility to work with other stakeholders and then share in the knowledge and satisfaction that they have provided for the educational needs of our children while being responsible to the community represented.

Isn’t it time for change?

Tags: opinion, hudson, letter, school_board