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Dear Editor:
For those of your readers who bother to read the
lengthy articles of George Heidcamp, I wish to
share my perspective as a former School Board
member of last week's article.
School Board members are volunteers. I served
with a number of people who now sit on the Board
and I know them all. Ridicule of Board members,
especially constant ridicule, does not encourage
anyone to want to serve. Our children, our school
district, and our community suffer as a result. I
have not heard that any Board member stole money or
property, or acted in an unethical or corrupt
manner. George's ridicule is petty. It seems to
give him pleasure, but it does nothing to enhance
the educational environment for which we pay so
dearly.
This latest article encourages Board members to
betray their fellow Board members by breaching
executive session confidences. Many difficult
personnel, contractual, and legal issues are
properly discussed behind closed doors. If our
Board members can not be confident that private
discussions will remain private, the work of the
Board and of the District will stall. Difficult
decisions will not be made. The cooperation among
our Board members will disintegrate.
George, the police officer, is really urging
these community leaders and trustees to ignore
their oath of office.
If anyone reads this letter, I hope they realize
the harm this man is doing.
Sincerely,
Lanny Walter
Saugerties Post Star
9-28-06
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