Support education with vote

I have been a member of the Whitefish School Board for four years and am a native of Montana. The local school board provides a system of local control unique to any public agency. Trustees have an eye towards what is best for the community, as well as the future of the students. I take offense with Derek Skees allegations that any problems with education are the results of administrators.

According to Skees Web site, “the dollars they (teachers) are supposed to receive are bled dry ... through all the district level redundant staff.” He clarifies that by redundant staff he is referring to superintendents and administrative staff and principals, all of which are apparently hired to fill seats, not because there are needed. Skees later goes on to prove he has no idea what such a move would mean.

One of the few things that his plan would cut out of the equation is local school boards, since a board serves an entire district and makes decisions for that district. In justifying his support of vouchers, Skees reasons that he favors curriculum shopping. This allows a parent, who is opposed to some curriculum at a local school, to go to another school with different curriculum (which they can do now).

Apparently Skees fails to realize that unless that other school is in a different district, hence a different county, a single board would have made that curriculum decision for both schools, and each would have the same curriculum. Worse yet, that board might have only one voice from any given community.

Skees has said public schools (and public police) should not exist as a public forum, yet in his Web site says he does not support privatization. His ideas tell us all we need to know. Mr. Skees’ ideas are not about what would help public schools.

I still believe public dollars should be spent on public-owned institutions. I believe in public education, and I believe in Whitefish schools because of, not despite, good staff. I believe Whitefish has a very good educational model. Derek Skees would prefer a profit model. I believe in local control. Skees would prefer corporate control. We can not afford Derek Skees.

Shannon Hanson lives in Whitefish