Letters to the editor

Students have a right to fully functional representation on the School Board

To the editor:

During my more than 25 years in the Army, I was stationed all over the world. From Vietnam, to Grenada, Rwanda, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Kuwait, I saw enough of combat that all I wanted when I retired was to move to a beautiful place and be a teacher—because public education is the single best way to preserve the freedom that I fought for. I moved to Alaska and taught and coached all over the state for more than 20 years, 15 of those in MatSu. I find the recent actions of our School Board disturbing. I didn’t put my life on the line all over the world in the Army so that our School Board could tell people what they were and were not allowed to read, or so that they could restrict teachers’ and counselors’ ability to talk to students, or so that they could limit public testimony so they don’t have to listen to those who don’t agree with them.

If you support the United States and the freedoms it guarantees, you have to support people as they exercise those freedoms. Students have a right to fully functional representation on the School Board; they are the very people the Board’s actions affect the most. They are allowed to protest without being interrogated, and they should be free to read a wide variety of books. Teachers, counselors, and librarians need freedom so that they can work with families appropriately and do their jobs effectively. In the two School Board races this November, vote for the candidates who support students and education, not those committed to their own selfish agenda.

Fred McKenney,

Wasilla

Can’t ignore this behavior

Once again, Shibe’s highway campaign signs have been vandalized with filthy epithets. That makes 5 highway signs in addition to the nearly 100 yard signs that have been destroyed or stolen.

The vandals are so insistent that the democratic process is thwarted that they actually took the time and energy to saw in half the lumber that holds the signs! They are desperate that we--the public--not have an option at the ballot box.

I’ve also witnessed lies about Shibe on social media from her opponent’s supporters AND at the latest school board meeting! They accuse her of defending a self-confessed child molester when she was MSEA president. This is not true. The teacher went to the district office, confessed, and was taken to jail and never contacted the union. These are researchable facts.

The other candidate, Sydney Zuyus running against McCullom, has had death threats and had her parents’ address posted online.

Why don’t Larson and McCullom come out emphatically against these tactics? Have either of them called upon their supporters to problem solve so that the democratic process can be restored to this campaign?

Ignoring this behavior does not just harm this election, but future elections as well. When these tactics become the norm, who in future will want to run for these offices?

Do your own research, vote for who you feel is best for the job, but don’t degrade the community and show our children that it is ok to threaten, intimidate, and vandalize the property of your opponents.

Let’s stand up for our democracy! Let’s demand that Larson and McCullom denounce the actions of their supporters who choose to break the law and insist that the other candidates—and therefore our community—be shown the respect they deserve and demand a civil election process!

Stephanie Haase,

Wasilla