Re: Oct. 22 Mike Rosen column.
The amount of misinformation concerning the school board election is alarming.
The Douglas County Federation (DCF) is made up of 3,200 teachers, educational assistants, nutrition service providers, secretaries, custodians, grounds workers, industrial tradesmen, and security guards. We are the real people working for the taxpayers of Douglas County, providing our students with a quality education and a safe learning environment.
Politically, our members are almost equally divided between registered Republicans and Democrats, as well as some unaffiliated. The DCF has intentionally chosen not to participate in partisan politics. However, we have taken an active role in supporting school board candidates we feel have the best intentions for the students of our district, and who are willing to engage school employees in decisions directly affecting us.
This year, the executive board voted unanimously to endorse and support four candidates. The students of this district deserve to be represented by board members who are knowledgeable about and concerned with increased class sizes; reduced spending on special education and gifted and talented programs, elementary band and orchestra, and literacy and math support for classroom teachers; and other changes resulting from $53 million in cuts over the last two years. The candidates we have endorsed are extremely knowledgeable about the current state of the budget.
In July, the Douglas County Republican Party endorsed four candidates even though school board races are nonpartisan. These candidates currently refer to themselves as the “reform” candidates. These reform candidates took part in Mike Rosen’s radio show. During this broadcast, Mr. Rosen stated that the teachers union wants to raise taxes in order to benefit its members. Our members are teachers, secretaries, building engineers, and educational assistants who work every day with the students of Douglas County because they want to, not because of their high salaries. No educator goes into this line of work with any illusions of making a lot of money.
Our teachers and staff have been presented with a salary freeze this year because of the budget constraints. They accepted a change in their health care plan at the end of last year because of budget constraints. They have done these things with the understanding that if the staff doesn’t take the hit, the students will.
We believe the candidates we have endorsed are to be commended for their exceptional commitment to the students of the Douglas County School District and will hold themselves and the district accountable to taxpayers while making sure the district will remain successful and globally competitive.
Courtney Smith is a member of the Douglas County Federation.
