Letters to the Editor 05/13/2009

To the Editor:

I am running for Position 2 on the Sisters School Board and would appreciate your vote. I am passionately committed to high-quality public education and believe my professional human resources background, in-depth knowledge of our schools and my experience at the state level will bring new skills to the board.

My many volunteer efforts in Sisters schools make me a well-informed, strong choice. Locally, I have: Served on district budget committees/recent budget reduction committee; actively worked to pass local option; worked with SPTC, site councils and parent-teacher groups; served on the superintendent selection committee; assisted many teachers in many classrooms; worked with many students; volunteer with the SMART program; frequently attend school board meetings.

At the state level, I have worked as a policy advisor and citizen activist. I am active in the Chalkboard Project, a nonpartisan organization whose mission is to unite Oregonians to make Oregon public schools among the best in the nation. I will bring in-depth knowledge and contacts in state education policy and reform efforts to the table.

I am willing and capable of challenging the status quo. I believe that there are times we must do this to ensure all students benefit from the best teachers and staff and best educational practices.

I will work tirelessly, consistently and collaboratively to support: Quality educators and student achievement being front and center of the district focus; a school-wide culture of high expectations and continuous improvement; full accountability for instructional hours, tax dollars, and students' academic performance; retaining extracurricular activities that provide students diverse opportunities; parents/community volunteers being actively involved, fully welcomed, well utilized.

If elected I will serve the students, the district and the community to the best of my ability.

Cheryl Stewart

[email protected]; 382-7962

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To the Editor:

Our family would like to encourage you to lend your support and vote to Cheryl Stewart for Sisters School Board. We have known Cheryl for several years (both in Bend and Sisters) and found her to be an effective and consistent advocate for children, both academically and socially. She is a mother of four children who will attend each of the Sisters schools next year.

Cheryl has great insight on what it takes to work cooperatively with the district staff, parents and boards as she has served on the budget committee, site council, and has countless volunteer hours in classrooms.

Cheryl will provide a well-informed view and advocate for high academic achievement and a consistent focus on improvement in these uncertain times ahead for our school district.

If you want someone who has a sincere and active commitment to education and student achievement, while being fiscally responsible, join us in casting your vote by May 19 for Cheryl Stewart.

Sue Boettner

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To the Editor:

Regarding Mr. Berryhill's letter on the school bond issue, to clarify:

I'm not paying any of the district's costs.  The district paid my legal fees in the first lawsuit because of a provision in law granting a prevailing party award in a dispute over meeting law. I've asked the legislature to create similar law in a dispute over taxes but this will have no effect on the current suit.

Full faith and credit obligations are paid from available funds and taxing authority up to the constitutional limit; i.e., no new taxes. The debt must be serviced from the operating budget funded by the State School Fund Formula.  This takes money out of the classroom.  My letters to state regulators were ignored; the lawsuit was the last and least desirable remedy to stop this practice.

The Beaverton School District recently sold $22.6 million of these obligations without voter approval. This debt plus interest will be serviced from dollars intended for teaching and learning. The legislative scheme for school funding requires capital construction projects be paid by voter approved general obligation bonds that create new taxes; the classroom is not affected.

Mr. Berryhill makes a strong argument regarding decent facilities but this argument should have been made to voters in support of a general obligation bond.  Having good intentions is no justification for violating the plain language of current law.

Mike Morgan

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To the Editor:

Dandelions have been around for many years. Some folks used to make dandelion wine. I've heard the tales of folks making dandelion greens.

But dandelions are a weed and they spread profusely, thereby making everybody in your neighborhood equal owners of many dandelion flowers in their lawns and flower beds.

When they have grown tall enough to be mistaken for daffodils in a yard, they do add color all right, but do you think it's fair to let your yard get so out of control with weeds that all of your neighbors have to buy weed spray, or get down on their knees and dig out dandelion weeds in order to extricate them?

Let's use a little courtesy to your neighbors - who may not be as young as you anymore - that it creates a hardship for them to maintain a groomed yard.

Please control your weeds, especially dandelions. It's only right and fair.

Diana Raske Lovgren