By Claire Leeds

Monroe

To the Editor:

Last October, in retaliation against the School Board and District Administrator’s COVID policy, a group organized to replace the School Board’s public agenda with their own private agenda at the Annual Meeting. The powers of the Annual Meeting allow the majority present to underfund the school district, and refuse to provide textbooks and school lunch to students, but not to alter COVID policy. It’s clear to me who’s hurt by retaliatory underfunding — the district’s kids. Ultimately, the group was unsuccessful because district residents came out in numbers and voted with the board to fund the district. It was a proud moment for our community. The public has the right to know whether Visel Blackburn Hitchins participated in this unsuccessful effort, and what their agenda for the Annual Meeting was. It’s public knowledge who supported funding the district — Deprez Eckdhal McGuire. 

Visel Blackburn Hitchins have invoked the bogeyman of “special-interest groups” on their campaign Facebook page, referring to endorsements for Deprez Eckdhal McGuire by the Monroe Education Association and the Monroe Association of Support Staff. Without talented staff, we don’t have a public school district to educate our children. District staff are our friends, our neighbors, and our fellow district parents, not some anonymous “special-interest” opposition. We have tons of talent in this district. I see it everyday in my daughter’s second grade education at Northside. Deprez Eckdhal McGuire are the only candidates talking about talent retention. 

Our District Administrator retires in May. Finding a qualified replacement is pivotal for our kids futures. A supportive community and school board are essential to attracting qualified candidates. Deprez Eckdhal McGuire have the experience necessary to recruit and support a qualified District Administrator. All you proud parents of Cheesemakers out there: vote for funding and staffing your child’s education! All you senior citizens out there: strong public school districts make resilient communities that attract and keep families here, families who broaden the tax base and staff services! Vote Deprez Eckdhal McGuire for School Board April 5th! 

— Claire Leeds, Cheesemakers Class of ‘99