Letter: Keep big picture in mind

Dear Editor,

The decision to purchase St. Croix Meadows occurred not because it was jammed past an unsuspecting public but because voters felt the facts showed this was the most cost effective school site option because of its existing infrastructure of sewer, water, access, etc. It’s now the job of the district administration and school board to make the voters’ will a reality.

It gets so tiring, petty and predictable to watch opponents refuse to support the community decision, and instead go on the attack, tearing down people — the superintendent, the communications specialist, the school board members. It’s not only a logical fallacy but a typical ploy to distract the public to defeat the measure in slide-slight underhanded ways of name calling and misinformation.

Tracy Habisch-Ahlin was hired for the communications position not because she was an entrepreneur who founded a farm pre-school (though she should be respected as a small business owner and job creator, with a teacher on staff). Instead she was hired for her many qualifications in grant-writing, strategic planning and communication experience. She demonstrated a phenomenal ability to research complex problems and assemble coherent packages of information for the school board and public to get them informed in as thorough way possible.

Prior to her hiring, the community (and present opponents) had been vehemently complaining that the school district was not communicating enough with the public and getting input. It is immensely time-consuming work to gather, sum up and disseminate information in coherent and effective ways to many different audiences on an ongoing basis, especially when the information is constantly developing as events happen, decisions are made, and new players get involved.

It demands specialized professional skills that are not found in the general public (as a university professor of writing, I can attest to that). Not only did Habisch-Ahlin exhibit these skills and experience prior to being hired in former positions and as a school board member, but she has excelled in this since working with the district, investing far more than the typical 40-hour work week.

Let’s not be pawns to the attack-and-distract ploy. Let’s keep to the facts about the dog track and remember 1) we need land for a new school and 2) St, Croix Meadows was not being purchased as a move-in-tomorrow property but for its location and infrastructure. 3) It proved to be the most economic solution. Let’s just get on with it!

Tags: opinion, letters, education