LETTER: Time for a New Deal on our school board

Talk about it

To the Editor:

In Response to Superintendent Joe Graves’ April 17 column, I share the following comments.

“Rip Van Winkle” (Joe Graves) woke up in February 2012 mumbling to himself, “Self, I must go to Pierre and help our governor pass House Bill 1234.” Once again, our five elected school board members failed to object to “Superintendent Van Winkle’s” biased, partisan decision to support HB 1234.

Under HB 1234, a favored teacher would receive a 20 percent salary increase. Our two local representatives voted for HB 1234; it passed with only one vote to spare. Cast a vote for the “Smiling Retired Mailman” (Jim Schorzmann) in November 2012. Jim does not support HB 1234.

Why did “Superintendent Rip” try to tell the SDEA (South Dakota Education Association) that it should not refer Bill 1234 to a vote by the people? Merit pay does not work in public education. HB1234 would stifle teamwork among educators, inflame animosity between educators and lower staff morale.

Under a merit-pay system, would “Superintendent Van Winkle” ultimately determine who would receive the 20 percent merit pay increase? Why do Mitchell teachers feel that they may lose their job if they publicly support referring HB 1234 to a public vote in November 2012?

With regard to the June 5 election, I share these final thoughts. It is time for a New Deal on the Mitchell Board of Education. Some readers may remember FDR being elected to four terms due to his concern for the needs of all of the people and the leadership demands of WWII. Folks, it is time for a change. We need to focus on the educational needs of all of the students and all of the educators, not just on the needs of a favored few. We need board members who believe “The Buck Stops Here,” instead of just nodding their heads promoting “Superintendent Rip’s” biased, partisan agenda.

Tags: election 2012, school board, opinion, updates, letters, local, mitchell