From Christine Wellington
Monroe
To the Editor:
We are fortunate to have six competent individuals running for three school board positions in April. The candidate forum held at the Monroe Art Center on Monday was a wonderful opportunity to meet the candidates and become informed. Each of the candidates shared thoughtful answers to the questions that were posed by the organizers and the attendees.
I have known Mike Davis for many years. I see him at just about every school event — sports, music, theater, and fundraising. I know Mike to be kind, thoughtful, respectful, intelligent, and prepared. I am certain that he has the good of all children as his highest motive for running for school board. Mike has been a community leader since moving to Monroe in 1984, dedicating his time and energy to Big Brother, Big Sisters; Kiwanis; the YMCA; and as a volunteer in the schools. His wife Mary was a teacher in the Monroe School district, and their four children all graduated from MHS. I am certain that Mike will take the time and make the effort to be fully informed about all the issues facing the district. In my experience as a past school board member, preparation, commitment, meeting attendance and community listening are crucial.
Our public schools hold the keys to the future of our nation. The Republicans in our state legislature are failing to provide the necessary funding for school programming at the local level. Instead, they are giving money to private schools through the voucher program. The Republicans in Washington are threatening to dismantle the Department of Education, also with the intent of funding private schools at the expense of our public schools. School board members are faced with extremely difficult decisions due to these unwise political decisions. It will take the efforts of our entire community and excellent school leadership to work towards solutions. I know that Mike Davis will take these challenges seriously and work with school staff and the community to best serve the children of Monroe.
