Fosters Opinion: ORCSD coverage

From the July 2, 2011 edition of Fosters Letters to the Editor:

ORCSD coverage

To the editor: Thanks for your coverage of the ongoing controversy in the ORCSD.

In particular, I read with interest recent letters from M. Gooze, T. Bebbington and M. McClurken. I agree with Gooze's assessment that the ORCSD is an excellent one. Bebbington claims that the School Board is acting as a body with free and open discussions without an agenda and implies that the resignations of three excellent administrators was coincidental. McClurken points out that elections have been held and that the community elected the current board.

Certainly, improvement should be strived for in our district. However, it must be emphasized that none of the newly elected board members ran on a specific platform of changes they supported. We still have no explanation from the board for their rejection of a principal brought forward after an extensive search nor their distaste for a highly regarded superintendent. We have heard nothing from the board regarding their education philosophy.

The election did not give the board the mandate they think they have to take actions of this significance. Actions like these and changes in the direction of the ORCSD require extensive community input. I hope that the board begins to show us this respect.

In fact, I voted for the most recently elected board members. Their recent decisions do not reflect their pre-election comments and I certainly do not support the pathway they are moving down.

Kenny Rotner
Durham