Weighs in on school election

As a community member and someone who cares deeply about the quality of the public institutions that we all share, I am increasingly concerned about what I see as an unwarranted attack by some members of our community on the public school system. Holding public education accountable is right and necessary, but an increasingly vocal minority within our community seem intent on wanting to tear it down instead of build it up. 

Insinuating that the incredibly dedicated men and women that do the hard work of educating our kids are part of some sinister “liberal agenda” that must be stopped at all cost is ridiculous.  Spare me. 

Your public schools are filled with professional, compassionate, hard working Americans (Republican and Democrats alike) that care deeply about our country’s greatest asset- our children.  They have performed heroically throughout the pandemic, answering the call to duty because our community needed them to — despite the risks to their, and their families, health and wellbeing.  So I ask all of you in our great Columbia Falls community to consider carefully who you vote for during the school board elections.  Vote for common sense, caring leadership that seeks to build up public education, not tear it down.  Leadership that seeks to solve the issues before our schools with the best ideas, not with narrow ideologies. 

I feel that Justin Cheff, Heather Mumby and Alice Biel are those candidates and deserve your consideration.

Matt Ford

Columbia Falls